GB Checking in

[gbrice75]

Hey all,

Just wanted to update you all as to where i'm at these days, if anybody cares.

I started TRT just over 8 weeks ago after I found my T levels were low and I've been fighting to gain muscle for years with very little results. Now I understand why, and should have looked into this years ago.

My goal over the next ~4 months is to add as much mass as possible. I have to see where this can take me now that i'm playing on a level field. Unfortunately I was already around 15% BF when I started, so I will only get fatter as I (hopefully) add some lean mass, but I have to give this a fair chance. I won't cut again until either February, or I hit 220-225, whichever comes first. I'm currently 205 fasted.

I'll consider posting pics, but i'm a little ashamed of my condition right now. You guys have seen me at my best and it's embarrassing to let you see me like this, flabby, tits, love handles, etc. But next summer will be my break out summer, make no mistake about it!!!

[marcus300]

Glad to hear you have things sorted and you have ssome direction now, I am sure things will hapen a lot easier now you have fix your low test. Things can only get better and the wonders of HRT are true

Best of luck

[jimmyinkedup]

Great to hear you got things squared away G !!
looking forward to your progress bro !

[Times Roman]

so you finally decided to go the trt route. ya know that officially puts you in the old bull category along with the rest us!

[jimmyinkedup]

^^ ahhhh welcome to the club G !!! TR is the ringleader of the old bull circus ..... nice to have you join us !

[marcus300]

^^ ahhhh welcome to the club G !!! TR is the ringleader of the old bull circus ..... nice to have you join us !

Thats right we are all old bulls with no nuts sweeeeet

[gbrice75]

Glad to hear you have things sorted and you have ssome direction now, I am sure things will hapen a lot easier now you have fix your low test. Things can only get better and the wonders of HRT are true

Best of luck

Thanks Marcus, always appreciate your support!

Great to hear you got things squared away G !!
looking forward to your progress bro !

Good God, me too Jimmy! Hope all is well with you. How's your son? Hit me with a PM.

so you finally decided to go the trt route. ya know that officially puts you in the old bull category along with the rest us!

I had to man. Got tired of working harder than the people around me and making less progress. It was a winless fight for me. Hopefully things will change for the better now. Yes, 37 in December. I'm getting there!

^^ ahhhh welcome to the club G !!! TR is the ringleader of the old bull circus ..... nice to have you join us !

You sure? I was pretty certain Marcus VVV had that title!

Thats right we are all old bulls with no nuts sweeeeet

Lmao. Speaking of which - there is a contingency plan. I will be getting routine semen analysis tests done. If I see a continuous decline in quality/count and/or I cannot get the wife pregnant, I will stop TRT until that happens. I do believe that following a proper protocol however doesn't automatically make you 'incapable' of producing good sperm in average quantities. In fact, one of our members here who has been on TRT for quite a few years just knocked up his girl!!

[--->>405<<---]

hey GB how is ur progress going on the TRT? u mentioned u have been on 8 weeks so u should be feeling a little better if it does u like it did me!

[gbrice75]

hey GB how is ur progress going on the TRT? u mentioned u have been on 8 weeks so u should be feeling a little better if it does u like it did me!

I guess I can say I feel better mentally... less irritable, less anxiety, just an overall better sense of well being. In the gym, strength is up but I really don't see what you described in your own experience yet... I guess i'm bigger... 205lbs up from ~195lbs 8 weeks ago, and it's not ALL fat... but probably some water retention from higher estrogen, etc. Strength is up slightly, but can't see any additional vascularity or hypertrophy at this point.

[bikeral]

GB glad to hear your on track with TRT. Looking forward to updates on how this works out for you. At 47 I know I could probably get on but I'm still on fence if I want to go that route.

Thanks for posting.

Post the pics dude, we all know BF goes up and down as we bulk, cut, or just go off our diets. Think of it this way, your fat pics probably are better then my lean pics.

[gbrice75]

GB glad to hear your on track with TRT. Looking forward to updates on how this works out for you. At 47 I know I could probably get on but I'm still on fence if I want to go that route.

Thanks for posting.

Post the pics dude, we all know BF goes up and down as we bulk, cut, or just go off our diets. Think of it this way, your fat pics probably are better then my lean pics.

lol, I doubt that, but thanks for your support brother! My body is just weird, the way I store fat. I am leaner than some guys but look fatter just because of where I store it... SO condensed to my midsection (including hips and ass, like a woman), it's ridiculous! Arms, shoulders, face, legs, etc. all still relatively lean.

[Back In Black]

lol, I doubt that, but thanks for your support brother! My body is just weird, the way I store fat. I am leaner than some guys but look fatter just because of where I store it... SO condensed to my midsection (including hips and ass, like a woman), it's ridiculous! Arms, shoulders, face, legs, etc. all still relatively lean.

Much the same as me. Love handles, ass and upper hams. 9% from the front and 15% from the ass down.

Glad to see you are getting sorted. Get my test results Tuesday!

[Ben_66]

I'm happy to hear you got that straighten out. Good luck!

I'm curious are you going to do IF when your cutting?

[--->>405<<---]

I guess I can say I feel better mentally... less irritable, less anxiety, just an overall better sense of well being. In the gym, strength is up but I really don't see what you described in your own experience yet... I guess i'm bigger... 205lbs up from ~195lbs 8 weeks ago, and it's not ALL fat... but probably some water retention from higher estrogen, etc. Strength is up slightly, but can't see any additional vascularity or hypertrophy at this point.

u know GB far be it for me to give u advice (just offering a difft point of view ) but if ur 15%bf would u not think itd be better to cut? i dont remember how long its been since ur last cycle but if it has been any length of time chances are u will pick up LBM on a cut much similar to the way i did. if u recall when i started my TRT i was in the beginning of my cut. around week 5 (or so) my weight stopped dropping but my bf% continued to drop.

i know u want to increase ur LBM but knowing how u feel about carrying extra fat (much like how i feel ) it seems to me u would get the most pleasing aesthetic (and psychological) results in the short term by cutting now. i would think 2months of cutting ought to get u around 11-12% and then u would still have time for adding lbm and cutting some more before summer!

i know u prob know all of this but figd id give u my take on it anyways.

[gbrice75]

Much the same as me. Love handles, ass and upper hams. 9% from the front and 15% from the ass down.

Glad to see you are getting sorted. Get my test results Tuesday!

lol, exactly!! The top and bottom third (just calves really) would have me around 11-12% right now. Throw in the midsection and i'm easily bumped to 17ish right now. UGH!!!

Nice bro, thinking of going the TRT route I guess? Tougher in England though from what I understand.

I'm happy to hear you got that straighten out. Good luck!

I'm curious are you going to do IF when your cutting?

Thanks Ben!! Not initially. I'm going to do what worked best for me, when I was working with Nark. Standard frequent meals diet, carb cycling, etc. Pretty much what I recommend to most people on here.

u know GB far be it for me to give u advice

Not at all bro, I appreciate any and all advice!

but if ur 15%bf would u not think itd be better to cut? i dont remember how long its been since ur last cycle but if it has been any length of time chances are u will pick up LBM on a cut much similar to the way i did. if u recall when i started my TRT i was in the beginning of my cut. around week 5 (or so) my weight stopped dropping but my bf% continued to drop.

i know u want to increase ur LBM but knowing how u feel about carrying extra fat (much like how i feel ) it seems to me u would get the most pleasing aesthetic (and psychological) results in the short term by cutting now. i would think 2months of cutting ought to get u around 11-12% and then u would still have time for adding lbm and cutting some more before summer!

i know u prob know all of this but figd id give u my take on it anyways.

I 100% see your points and you probably know I've deliberated over the choice, but at the end of the day I wanted to see what I can do with max efforts being put into adding mass. Mind you, i'm not dirty 'bulking', not even lean bulking per se, just focusing on adding mass. Eating more on workout days, less on non + cardio. More carbs on, less off, etc. Keeping it basic.

No, i'm not happy to have started around 15% (possibly higher, yikes!) but the other problem is ever since I started working out seriously, I've always been on the opposite schedule of the norm (i.e. always seem to be cutting in the winter and trying to add mass in the summer), and it's never felt right. I'm taking this opportunity to get on a more standard schedule. I realize i'll be fatter. I could easily hit 20% (or higher, UGH!!) but in my heart of hearts I know I can cut an in 12-16 weeks be back down to 10% if i'm really strict and dedicated. That's the key, as you well know, and have displayed.

[Back In Black]

Tougher in England definitely. Starting out private and we'll see. Suspecting my E2 is way high even if test is ok. Hoping to resolve some issues I am having as soon as poss. Doubtless I'll post in the TRT section next week!

[milky01623]

Thats right we are all old bulls with no nuts sweeeeet

Yay at least I'm not on me own
Welcome to the "men with no nuts" club gb

[gbrice75]

Yay at least I'm not on me own
Welcome to the "men with no nuts" club gb

HCG = I keep my nuts.

[baseline_9]

Gd luck GB

[RaginCajun]

He returns!!!!

I never thought you would make it out of the HRT section!

Hope ya get everything sorted out and I think I need to go get tested.

Hope little matty is doing well!

[gbrice75]

Gd luck GB

He returns!!!!

I never thought you would make it out of the HRT section!

Hope ya get everything sorted out and I think I need to go get tested.

Hope little matty is doing well!

Thanks guys!!!

[MickeyKnox]

right on GB! im glad you are experiencing the positive benefits of trt. the difference is night and day for me. i just need to find a doc that is on board so i don't have to continue on my own.

very happy for you

im sub'd to your other thread and following along closely.

[kelkel]

We kicked him out of the TRT Forum. Damn thread of his was taking up way to much space! So I've now decided to venture into this forum just to pay him back!



Hi gb.

kel

[Far from massive]

Hey GB,

Good to hear from you again. Also really glad to hear you have decided to go the TRT route, as it seems to me once you pass a certain age you really are essentially trying to wrestle an elephant without good base test levels.

By the way I also starting a clean bulk approach maybe in spring we can see who can get back to single digits...ahh never mind I don't have that type of commitment.

FFM

[GirlyGymRat]

GB. Nice to see u figuring it out for yourself. You have come a long way over the years, have helped soooo many members and good to take care of yourself and family. I wish u much success!!!

[gbrice75]

Thank you all for your ongoing support! Kel, please let me back in!! It's my new home away from home!! I have so many questions... and tbh i'm kind of burned out and bored with the diet stuff. *gasp*

FFM - maybe that challenge will motivate both of us!!

[gbrice75]

Just thought i'd update this thread with my lifts from today, just so you get an idea of where i'm at. Nothing impressive, but i'm not going for heavy lifts, i'm trying to build muscle. Total body workout, in this order:\

Squats: 2 warmup sets
Moderate set: 185 x 12
Work set: 265 x 10 drop set to 245 x 4

Hyperextensions:
Bodyweight x 12
45 x 12

Decline BB Press: 2 warmup sets
Moderate set: 155 x 12
Work set: 245 x 9 drop set to 225 x 4

Push Ups
Bodyweight x 12
Weighted (plates on back) 90 x 12

Pullups
Bodyweight x 15 (bw currently around 208lbs)
Weighted - 20 x 8 drop set to bodyweight x 4

Pendlay Row
Moderate set 95 x 12
Work set - 165 x 10 drop set to 135 x 6

Standing Overhead Press - 2 warmup sets
Moderate: 125 x 8
Work set: 145 x 6

Cable Curl
2 sets: 120 x 12

Bench Dip:
Bodyweight x 30
Weighted: 180 x 9 drop set to 160 x 8 (actually used the assisted dip machine to do the weighted ones instead of an actual bench)

Seated Calf Raise:
Heels out - machine on 5 (not sure of weight lol) x 30
Heels in - 5 x 30

[RaginCajun]

like the workout GB!

how many times are you doing this workout?

[gbrice75]

Thanks! This is just 1 day - I have 2 other total body workouts for a total of 3 in a week (M/W/F). 3 weeks of that and then i'll switch it up.

[RaginCajun]

Thanks! This is just 1 day - I have 2 other total body workouts for a total of 3 in a week (M/W/F). 3 weeks of that and then i'll switch it up.

sounds like a plan!

[gbrice75]

Today's total body workout:

Laying Leg Curls: 2 warmup sets
Work set: 130x9 drop set to 110 x 4

Front Squats
2 sets 165x10, 1 set 155x10

Seated Calf Raise
moderate set: 1x20 @ 20
Heavy set: 1x12 @ 14 drop set to 11 for 6 more reps

Flat Barbell Bench Press: 2 warmup sets
Moderate set : 185x8
Heavy set: 265x10

Pec Dec:
160x12, 150x12

Lat Pulldown (close grip w/ V-handle)
180x10, 170x10

One Arm Dumbbell Row:
95x8, 90x8

Seated Arnold Press:
Moderate - 60x10, 55x10

One Arm Preacher Curl:
40x12, 40x12

Close Grip Pushup:
Bodyweight x 30
Weighted (45lb plate on back) x 12

[bikeral]

Looking good GB. Like when advanced guys post workouts. Helps give good ideas for when its time for a change.

[gbrice75]

Looking good GB. Like when advanced guys post workouts. Helps give good ideas for when its time for a change.

I definitely wouldn't consider myself advanced, but thanks for your vote brother!

[gbrice75]

Today's workout:

Deadlift: 2 warmup sets
Moderate set - 225x8
Heavy set - 355x6

Close Stance Leg Press
3 sets, 340x15

Calf Press (on leg press):
320x20
415x20

Incline Bench Press: 2 warmup sets
Moderate set - 165x8
Heavy set - 225x10

Pec Deck:
2 sets, 160x12

Chin Ups (close grip w/ V-handle):
2 sets: bodyweight x 16, bodyweight x 12

Decline Dumbbell Pullover:
2 sets - 110x8

Barbell Hang Clean
2 sets - 125x8, 105x8

Seated Alternating Dumbbell Curl:
2 sets - 45x8, 40x8

Tricep Pressdown:
2 sets, 150x12

[baseline_9]

U pounding the food then gb, get growing my man!!!

[gbrice75]

207lbs this morning lol! So I'd have to say yes - although admittedly not always the right food. Unless Reese's Peanut Butter Cup cookies and brownies count...??

I am the strongest I've ever been though. 225lbs x 10 on incline bench (no lift off, no spot, perfect form, no bouncing, full ROM, etc) is a high for me as i'm not a great bencher. Putting up 275lbs x 8 on flat bench... also a personal record. I haven't attempted 315lbs lately but based on my rep lifts I should be able to get it easily. Maybe I'll try Tuesday (cardio only day!).

[baseline_9]

It's a nice feeling when ur strong.... It help u justify the added BF.....

Just go for it for a period, it help u to relax a little which is good....

[gbrice75]

It's a nice feeling when ur strong.... It help u justify the added BF.....

Just go for it for a period, it help u to relax a little which is good....

Definitely. No matter what happens with my body aesthetically, I won't be cutting again until either late winter (February-ish) or I hit 220-225. Then i'll hit the cut HARD and shoot for 190-200lbs range and see what I look like at that point.

[--->>405<<---]

207lbs this morning lol! So I'd have to say yes - although admittedly not always the right food. Unless Reese's Peanut Butter Cup cookies and brownies count...??

I am the strongest I've ever been though. 225lbs x 10 on incline bench (no lift off, no spot, perfect form, no bouncing, full ROM, etc) is a high for me as i'm not a great bencher. Putting up 275lbs x 8 on flat bench... also a personal record. I haven't attempted 315lbs lately but based on my rep lifts I should be able to get it easily. Maybe I'll try Tuesday (cardio only day!).

GB i also do 275 x 8 and i can do 315 x 4 if that helps!

[baseline_9]

Good plan....

If I didn't mess around cutting all the time I'd look much better.... Probably like a cross between jay cutler and phil Heath