Experiment
My follistatin experiment
Most people go to Mexico for the beach. I went for gene therapy.
On June 27, 2026, I received experimental follistatin gene therapy in Mexico. Baseline testing was already done. Over the next six months, I am documenting what happens through body composition, strength, fitness, bloodwork, and weekly photos, so there is a record with real numbers, not just a flattering angle.
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Why I went
The plateau I wanted to move past.
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What follistatin is
A protein that can turn down the signal that limits muscle.
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How I’m tracking it
Training, testing, and six months of public notes.
Why I chose to explore it
After losing the weight and staying consistent with training, I wanted to see if I could move past a plateau: build more muscle, increase strength, improve body composition, and find out what is possible from here.
The body produces myostatin, a protein that limits how much muscle you can build. Follistatin can turn that signal down for a while. The protocol I received uses a mini-circle DNA plasmid, given as a one-time injection, with a roughly six-month window. It is among the more experimental edges of longevity medicine, which is also why it is not available in the United States.
I went looking for a woman who had documented this with real numbers. She didn’t exist. So now that’s the job.
What I’m tracking
Body composition
Changes in lean mass and fat mass measured by DEXA.
Strength
Major lifts and grip strength against my baseline.
Cardiorespiratory fitness
VO₂ max testing as another measure of physical capacity.
Bloodwork
Follow-up biomarkers considered alongside training, recovery, and other changes.
The timeline
Baseline
Testing before treatment, including DEXA, VO₂ max, grip, bloodwork, and strength.
June 27, 2026
Treatment in Mexico.
Three months
Planned first follow-up with the same tests.
Six months
Planned follow-up, review, and public notes on what changed.
Alongside the measurements, I am training four days a week, keeping protein high, and taking weekly photos. My original essay explains why I chose this approach and how I set up the experiment. This page brings the writing, videos, and follow-up observations together as they become available.
This is a personal account of an experimental intervention. Changes in one person cannot establish cause and effect or predict someone else’s results. This account is not medical advice.