HRT and working out

[funkymonk]

Speaking of TRT and its effects on working out, did anyone notice a massive body recomp after starting a proper TRT protocol? I've been cutting for the past 3 weeks with a protocol (500cal deficit, EC 3x daily) that always worked well for me even with low test, but now the scale seems not to budge. The weird thing is, I could swear I've lost fat and anctually look more muscle that before. Am I just fooling myself?

[GotNoBlueMilk]

I was doing aerobics and lifting for 6 months prior to starting HRT. I saw little improvement in body fat %. Very little!

After 3 months on HRT my body fat went from 29% to 19%. Now I was working out not sitting on the couch. If you do nothing you get nothing. Although I dropped my body fat % down 10 points, I was not able to really loose any weight. Still have a hard time losing weight. Turns out the body is very adept at burning off protein when you diet, and fat loss is always slow. With HRT the body is in a building cycle, so weight loss is harder. You will have to keep an eye in the mirror and get bf% tested once every 6 months for a true record. But most importantly, I found out how slow and hard it is to lose fat. It takes time and you have to do it over a long period of time. Since your body isn't going to canabilize protien like it did before HRT, you are not going to see fast results on the scale. This is a good thing, just takes a mind shift.

[Bigfoot66]

Mine the same. My BF percentage was nearly 20 but all in obliques and chest. Testim didn't do much to help. But when started injections it mostly fell off. I'm probably 15% now but weigh 225 still. Having weighed 170 prior to any TRT I'm pretty happy.

My workout buddies all say to forget the scale and use clothing and mirror. Works for me.

[zaggahamma]

agree with the above....why would you think you need to weigh less to look better/have a better body comp

[NOSUPERMODEL]

I have been really slacking in the gym since Memorial Day. I am just now fixing to get back in on my regular schedule. I can tell I have lost some muscle mass because the scale number has gone down and my strength has gone down.

[funkymonk]

agree with the above....why would you think you need to weigh less to look better/have a better body comp

I've always been a firm proponent of the first laws of thermodynamics applied to bodybuilding (you can't create something (IE: muscle) out of nothing (IE: calories). I know hormones sort of "break the rules" by working around them (IE: using more fat stores as energy, etc), but I'm just unclear to what a resonable effect is, and I just want to make sure I'm not spinning my wheels due to what I would like to imagine is happening.

I have been really slacking in the gym since Memorial Day. I am just now fixing to get back in on my regular schedule. I can tell I have lost some muscle mass because the scale number has gone down and my strength has gone down.

Get that fire back man!! As soon as you get back on a solid and consistent training/diet regimen, it'll all come back twofold.

[zaggahamma]

I've always been a firm proponent of the first laws of thermodynamics applied to bodybuilding (you can't create something (IE: muscle) out of nothing (IE: calories). I know hormones sort of "break the rules" by working around them (IE: using more fat stores as energy, etc), but I'm just unclear to what a resonable effect is, and I just want to make sure I'm not spinning my wheels due to what I would like to imagine is happening.



Get that fire back man!! As soon as you get back on a solid and consistent training/diet regimen, it'll all come back twofold.

i hear you....

usually if we see ourself getting leaner/more muscular its true because arent we usually more critical of ourselves?

that scale can trick you in that way and with water flux...if you have bf to lose then the belt and the reflection will hold a lot of truth...oh and pictures

[zaggahamma]

]I was doing aerobics and lifting for 6 months prior to starting HRT. I saw little improvement in body fat %. Very little![/B]

After 3 months on HRT my body fat went from 29% to 19%. Now I was working out not sitting on the couch. If you do nothing you get nothing. Although I dropped my body fat % down 10 points, I was not able to really loose any weight. Still have a hard time losing weight. Turns out the body is very adept at burning off protein when you diet, and fat loss is always slow. With HRT the body is in a building cycle, so weight loss is harder. You will have to keep an eye in the mirror and get bf% tested once every 6 months for a true record. But most importantly, I found out how slow and hard it is to lose fat. It takes time and you have to do it over a long period of time. Since your body isn't going to canabilize protien like it did before HRT, you are not going to see fast results on the scale. This is a good thing, just takes a mind shift.

i had very similar experience

[JD250]

The scale was a great measuring tool when I was 65 lbs overweight and trying to lose fat as fast as possible but now that I'm only 10-12 overweight the scale is nearly useless, I bust my ass in the gym and am starting to get the diet closer to where it needs to be.......the scale has stayed the same for 2 months but the mirror says that what I'm doing is right on target, huge changes in body comp absolutely ZERO change on the scale.

By far the biggest game changer for me has been the diet, it's the most difficult too, I'm still far from where I need to be.

[NOSUPERMODEL]

The scale was a great measuring tool when I was 65 lbs overweight and trying to lose fat as fast as possible but now that I'm only 10-12 overweight the scale is nearly useless, I bust my ass in the gym and am starting to get the diet closer to where it needs to be.......the scale has stayed the same for 2 months but the mirror says that what I'm doing is right on target, huge changes in body comp absolutely ZERO change on the scale.

By far the biggest game changer for me has been the diet, it's the most difficult too, I'm still far from where I need to be.

Can you give an example of your diet. This is one thing I struggle with badly.

[zaggahamma]

Can you give an example of your diet. This is one thing I struggle with badly.

i love food too bro...but its either win that struggle or stay the same...any improvement is going to get you one step closer..you dont have to change it all at once...each time you make a positive change you will feel pride of being in control and it will give you strength to take another step and eventually you will crave those healthy foods and the less nutritional foods will be craved only seldom...most guys on this forum will have a cheat meal or cheat day depending on your goals...
come on bro...we want this for you as much as you do

[NOSUPERMODEL]

i love food too bro...but its either win that struggle or stay the same...any improvement is going to get you one step closer..you dont have to change it all at once...each time you make a positive change you will feel pride of being in control and it will give you strength to take another step and eventually you will crave those healthy foods and the less nutritional foods will be craved only seldom...most guys on this forum will have a cheat meal or cheat day depending on your goals...
come on bro...we want this for you as much as you do

I appreciate the support. Food as always been a big enemy of mine. I also have that addictive trait in me which makes me want to have the foods that taste the best at the time I am eating them. I am starting over this week though and getting back into it. I have a birthday this Friday and I want to make 34th year on this earth the best one yet.

[zaggahamma]

I appreciate the support. Food as always been a big enemy of mine. I also have that addictive trait in me which makes me want to have the foods that taste the best at the time I am eating them. I am starting over this week though and getting back into it. I have a birthday this Friday and I want to make 34th year on this earth the best one yet.

thats a great plan bro....you are going to be suprised how amazing you can look....your almost 10 years my junior...i get mistaken for your age all the time....gonna love seeing your story unfold man i know u can do it

[Bigfoot66]

You can also measure success by picking up a new pair of jeans or a shirt. When you can wear certain brands that looked like crap before you know you are doing something right..

[JD250]

Diet is everything, I just went on ONE of many kayak trips last weekend, 9 guys on the river and camping for 3 days, everyone eats brats and guzzles copious amounts of booze all weekend.......everyone except me......I took some premade dishes like chicken and veggies, cottage cheese with blueberries and lean cuts of beef, instead of drinking 24 beers OR MORE I had less than a 6 pack all weekend. Thats still a BAD weekend for me anymore but NOBODY even noticed that I was eating or drinking differently than they were and we all had a blast but on monday morning I would guess that I was the only one who felt good and still weighed the same as when we left.

Point being, YOU can do it bro!! Even on game day when all your buddies are living it up, MAKE SOME SMALL CHANGES and slowly add to them and before you know it you will cringe when someone offers you something unhealthy even if you used to love it.

Don't try to make your diet perfect right now, maybe start by getting rid of those snacks in the cupboard....you know the ones I'm talking about....replace them with several tubs of cottage cheese and blueberries in the fridge, learn to make oatmeal and eggs for your breakfast on workout days, it takes time to discover ways to make things taste good but it will be worth it, slow and steady wins the race, it wont be long and this stuff will be second nature to you.

[APIs]

thats a great plan bro....you are going to be suprised how amazing you can look....your almost 10 years my junior...i get mistaken for your age all the time....gonna love seeing your story unfold man i know u can do it

x2. OP, you'll really know success when people give you the "stare" and ask questions and/or comment.

I jumped in a cab this morning, the driver turned around and said; "Wow, you go to the gym a lot huh?" LOL I hardly notice it now, but this happens quite often.

The best is when my girl will just stop sometimes, look at me & say; "Man, you're getting big!" Also, people are always thinking that I'm in my early to mid 30's, and shocked to hear I'm actually 45.

Make sure you do the work (gym/diet) & Enjoy the ride...

[bass]

Diet is everything, I just went on ONE of many kayak trips last weekend, 9 guys on the river and camping for 3 days, everyone eats brats and guzzles copious amounts of booze all weekend.......everyone except me......I took some premade dishes like chicken and veggies, cottage cheese with blueberries and lean cuts of beef, instead of drinking 24 beers OR MORE I had less than a 6 pack all weekend. Thats still a BAD weekend for me anymore but NOBODY even noticed that I was eating or drinking differently than they were and we all had a blast but on monday morning I would guess that I was the only one who felt good and still weighed the same as when we left.

Point being, YOU can do it bro!! Even on game day when all your buddies are living it up, MAKE SOME SMALL CHANGES and slowly add to them and before you know it you will cringe when someone offers you something unhealthy even if you used to love it.

Don't try to make your diet perfect right now, maybe start by getting rid of those snacks in the cupboard....you know the ones I'm talking about....replace them with several tubs of cottage cheese and blueberries in the fridge, learn to make oatmeal and eggs for your breakfast on workout days, it takes time to discover ways to make things taste good but it will be worth it, slow and steady wins the race, it wont be long and this stuff will be second nature to you.

Right on JD, great approach, its very hard to do it all at once, so little at a time and you'll get there before you know it! i was a fat slob less that three years ago weighing at 240 pounds and i am only 5'9", lost 40 pounds and gain lots of muscle! still got a long ways to go but the rewards are so much more fun than food! in fact food is a burden for me now, i used to look forward to food but now i look forward to hit the gym!

[bass]

x2. OP, you'll really know success when people give you the "stare" and ask questions and/or comment.

I jumped in a cab this morning, the driver turned around and said; "Wow, you go to the gym a lot huh?" LOL I hardly notice it now, but this happens quite often.

The best is when my girl will just stop sometimes, look at me & say; "Man, you're getting big!" Also, people are always thinking that I'm in my early to mid 30's, and shocked to hear I'm actually 45.

Make sure you do the work (gym/diet) & Enjoy the ride...

i love it! i too get second looks and it feels great to know that my hard work is finally noticeable!

[GotNoBlueMilk]

After I gave blood, the nurse told me, "take it easy for 24 hours and no using those big shoulders for anything."

[calaphir]

have you ever heard of HT7116?ıts a semi-synthetic compound which enhances follistatin expression through cGMP activation.Could anyone be familiar with this Can Alkoclar?As far as I know he was producing neurotrophic formulations but now they came up with this myostatin antagonist, there was a small trial regarding the efficiency and results were amazing.It would supposed to be used for wasting diseases and for anti-geriatric purposes.Please anyone inform if you know a way for me to reach this guy.thank you

[bass]

have you ever heard of HT7116?ıts a semi-synthetic compound which enhances follistatin expression through cGMP activation.Could anyone be familiar with this Can Alkoclar?As far as I know he was producing neurotrophic formulations but now they came up with this myostatin antagonist, there was a small trial regarding the efficiency and results were amazing.It would supposed to be used for wasting diseases and for anti-geriatric purposes.Please anyone inform if you know a way for me to reach this guy.thank you

i have no clue what i just read!

[zaggahamma]

i have no clue what i just read!

i was left with a similar impression....3 posts check out the other 2

[GotNoBlueMilk]

Randy Newman sang about people who could benefit from Alkoclar once: "Short People"

[APIs]

have you ever heard of HT7116?ıts a semi-synthetic compound which enhances follistatin expression through cGMP activation.Could anyone be familiar with this Can Alkoclar?As far as I know he was producing neurotrophic formulations but now they came up with this myostatin antagonist, there was a small trial regarding the efficiency and results were amazing.It would supposed to be used for wasting diseases and for anti-geriatric purposes.Please anyone inform if you know a way for me to reach this guy.thank you

Please put down the crack-pipe...

[calaphir]

Randy Newman sang about people who could benefit from Alkoclar once: "Short People"

Do you really know anyone who knew him bro?I need that formula after I have seen what it does.Please inform my friend