Protocol VPROTOCOL V

IGF Growth Protocol — 6-Week Multi-Phase System (DES, LR3, PEG-MGF)

Fri Jan 09 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Educational use only. Not medical advice. Not instructions.
This document explains research-discussed timing logic, food separation principles, and signal sequencing models used in IGF-focused training systems. Human data varies by compound and delivery model.

Why This Exists

Most IGF protocols fail for one reason:

Everything gets stacked at once.

IGF signaling is not “more is better.”
It is location-dependent, time-dependent, and nutrient-dependent.

This protocol separates:

  • local contraction signals
  • systemic growth signals
  • delayed repair amplification

So each signal gets a clear window instead of competing at the receptor level.

The Three Lanes (What Each Compound Is Actually For)

Lane 1 — Local Contraction Signaling (minutes)

IGF-1 DES

DES is the short-acting, locally dominant IGF fragment.

It binds quickly, clears quickly, and is best aligned with acute mechanical tension.

What it’s for:

  • amplifying the training signal itself
  • favoring the muscle that was just loaded
  • avoiding systemic spillover

Key concept: DES works best when insulin and circulating nutrients are low, so the contraction signal stays dominant.

This is why it is conceptually paired with:

  • fasted or protein-only states
  • immediate pre-training windows

Lane 2 — Systemic Growth Signaling (hours)

IGF-1 LR3

LR3 is the longer-acting systemic growth signal.

It stays active long enough to influence:

  • satellite cell activity
  • amino acid uptake
  • whole-body recovery signaling

What it’s for:

  • turning the training signal into a growth environment
  • supporting tissue remodeling beyond a single muscle

Key distinction: LR3 is not about targeting a muscle.
It’s about supporting the body’s global growth response after training.

Because of that, nutrient timing matters more here than with DES.

Lane 3 — Delayed Repair Amplification (days)

PEG-MGF (the big molecule)

PEG-MGF is not a workout-window compound.

It is slow, delayed, and biased toward:

  • tissue repair
  • satellite cell migration
  • structural remodeling

What it’s for:

  • reinforcing recovery signals after the training wave
  • supporting connective tissue and muscle repair
  • avoiding repeated acute IGF spikes

This is why PEG-MGF lives hours later or on non-training days, not stacked around the lift.

The 6-Week Structure (Big Picture)

This is not three peptides run “together.”

It’s one system, three time domains:

  • DES → minutes
  • LR3 → hours
  • PEG-MGF → delayed repair (24–72h)

Over six weeks, the goal is to:

  • keep DES sharp and local
  • prevent LR3 from flattening receptors
  • let PEG-MGF do slow structural work without interference

Timing Windows (Conceptual, Not Instructions)

Pre-Training Window (Local Signal Priority)

DES lane

  • training proximity matters
  • low insulin environment favored
  • carbs before this window blunt locality

Why food matters here: High insulin turns DES into a systemic signal — which defeats its purpose.

Think:

  • contraction first
  • nutrients later

Post-Training Window (Systemic Growth Priority)

LR3 lane

This is where food becomes an ally, not an enemy.

  • carbohydrates support insulin-mediated uptake
  • amino acids reinforce growth signaling
  • timing aligns with the recovery cascade

Key rule: LR3 works with food, not against it.

Trying to keep this window fasted often leads to:

  • weaker recovery
  • unnecessary fatigue
  • people blaming the compound instead of the sequencing

Delayed Window (Repair Priority)

PEG-MGF lane

This window is intentionally separate.

  • not pre-workout
  • not immediate post-workout
  • not stacked with DES or LR3

PEG-MGF is about:

  • reinforcing repair signals
  • not competing with acute IGF activity
  • letting inflammation resolve before amplification

Food Separation Rules (Why They Matter)

The most common IGF mistake:

“I ate the same way around everything.”

That collapses all three lanes into one noisy signal.

Clean separation looks like:

  • DES → low insulin environment
  • LR3 → fed recovery window
  • PEG-MGF → neutral, low-interference timing

This preserves signal clarity and reduces the urge to escalate exposure.

Weekly Rhythm (Why 6 Weeks Works)

IGF signaling adapts.

Running this system longer without breaks often leads to:

  • diminishing response
  • water-weight confusion
  • “it stopped working” narratives

Six weeks is long enough to:

  • reinforce tissue changes
  • but short enough to avoid flattening responsiveness

What This Protocol Is Not

  • Not a daily stacking plan
  • Not a “more peptides = more gains” system
  • Not a shortcut around training quality or recovery debt

IGF amplifies what you already earned.

Protocol V Takeaway

This system works when:

  • DES stays local and sharp
  • LR3 supports recovery with food
  • PEG-MGF amplifies repair after the dust settles

Most people fail because they stack timing.

This protocol succeeds because it respects it.