Love to get some feedback and advice.

[phatdaddy]

Hello everyone. Sorry for the long, rambling post. I am brand new to the community and am excited to draw from such a vast base of knowledge. I have been browsing the articles and posts and you guys are awesome. My situation is that I am 5'8", 45 (almost 46) years old and super morbidly obese. At my highest a few weeks ago, I topped the scale at 350 lbs. Right now I am currently about 335. As part of my determination to recapture my health, I went to the doctor a few weeks ago to have a checkup and have some bloodwork done. I also asked him to have my T levels checked. (Sadly this was before I found this forum and knew that I was asking for incomplete information.) The results came back that my T level was a little under 150 ng/dl!!! He prescribed a topical compounded cream that I rub on once per day. Long story short, I used this for about 10 weeks and had my levels tested again and it was a little over 1000 ng/dl, and I felt it too! I stopped taking this because I got kidney stones (not as a result of the cream, just other stuff).
Now I have begun the cream applications again and I wanted to get some feedback from the group on an idea that I had.
The cream application is two pumps per dose. What I thought about doing is using one pump per dose so that my levels would be a little lower during the first little while, then because my numbers would still be lower, the Doc will up the dosage amount and I can (potentially) have a total T of above 1k / dl. Is this a dumb, juvenile idea?
My primary goal here is to lose weight and get in shape, but i realize that with this much weight to lose that I am going to have some serious excess skin to deal with. Rather than have surgery, I wanted to fill out my frame with muscle.
I was really considering training with a high intensity / low rep scheme like Max OT.
Also I realize that diet consistency is going to play a pivotal role in this, and can't be stressed too much.
So, thanks for reading this mini-novel of my situation.
Any advice, or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I feel like a prisoner trapped in my own skin, and that with weight training, maybe even bodybuilding I can make a huge change in my life.

Thanks everyone.

[Proximal]

350 is not that obese. Granted, you've got a lot to work at. Also think that if the weight comes off gradually, the excess skin won't be as bad as you think. I really don't think the testosterone should play a role yet, but that's just me. I'm guessing some of our senior members will be discussing that, as well as blood work.

Have you ever attempted to correct this situation before?

[Marsoc]

350lbs @ 5'8". I mean not to avoid hurting feelings here. Just being real but that's pretty obese to me. I'm 215 lbs, 6' and I'm considered mildly overweight. Then again thats medical standards. And I'm sure they are considering the average desk jockey.

[Proximal]

On a daily basis, saw & treated people in the 400 & 500 range, so again 350 is not that bad & more importantly, a much easier place to start. Congrats OP, you'll soon be below 300 - keep at it!

[bullshark99]

Sorry. To differ Prox but 350 @ 5'8" is obese, it is potentially very dangerous as well. Don't see a need to sugar coat it, no one is deliberately trying to be hurtful.
Op, much respect to you if you can develop a game plan, stick with it and methodically get your wright into a healthy range and take control of your life! Just think of the reward here.....
Regarding the T, no need to play games, do what you are told, 1000 is a very solid (high) range. You will make tremendous strides here, not gonna matter one bit if you get your levels to say 1400.
Develop a comprehensive plan, diet is everything!!! Take it one day at a time as the weight didn't come on overnight, give em hell.....

[Proximal]

Marsoc & Bull, yes I believe I said he is obese in my original post & the OP fully admitted it himself. So to make it clear, just in case the OP isn't aware, let's remind him again that he is obese.

I understand your points, but he is now 335, and with consistent diet & work, can see amazing progress relatively quickly. Something he wouldn't be able to see if in the 4's & 5's. Also speaking as a physical therapist, his current weight will be more allowing of exercise options. Lastly, as stated in my first post, I do believe the excess skin will not be as bad as expected and warranting surgery.

I do hope the OP will repost sometime, I would be interested if he has attempted this before & what his gameplay is.

[boisebeast]

Your hard work and dedication will do more than drugs could ever accomplish, congratulations on your weight loss so far

[kelkel]

Develop a comprehensive plan, diet is everything!!! Take it one day at a time as the weight didn't come on overnight, give em hell.....

This.

I understand your points, but he is now 335, and with consistent diet & work, can see amazing progress relatively quickly. Something he wouldn't be able to see if in the 4's & 5's. Also speaking as a physical therapist, his current weight will be more allowing of exercise options. Lastly, as stated in my first post, I do believe the excess skin will not be as bad as expected and warranting surgery.

And this.

[Marsoc]

On a daily basis, saw & treated people in the 400 & 500 range, so again 350 is not that bad & more importantly, a much easier place to start. Congrats OP, you'll soon be below 300 - keep at it!

O yeah of course it's a great starting point in comparison. And it's def super achievable. With a little hard work and discipline youll get down

[phatdaddy]

Hey Guys. Thanks for the posts. I am really grateful for the responses so far. No one is going to hurt my feelings with the obese comments. Right now to me it is just a starting point. I am not going to let it define anything. I was just trowing it out to the group so that everyone knew where I was beginning at. As far as ever having attempted correcting this situation before the answer is yes, I have. I have had some successes and some setbacks. I don't know what will make the difference this time other than my mindset and being more accountable to myself and those that support me.
That is also the reason I joined this group. Other than the fact that I have been a fan of bodybuilding since I was a kid.
FYI - Here is a copy of my intended eating plan. Let me know what you think and what changes might need to be made, and why.
Also, I am looking for a good multi, and wondered what the group could recommend? I am not taking any supplements right now other than a protein powder, and I was planning on adding creatine and glutamine in the not too distant future. I will also be posting my first bloodwork results in the next couple of days, although it may be a bit limited just due to the fact that I got the blood drawn before I found this site and knew to ask for additional things. In a couple of months I will be getting new draws, and can posts those results as well.
Thanks guys!!

Eating Plan


Calories Protein Fat Carbs


6:45 AM Meal 1
3 TSFL oatmeal 330 33 4.5 45


9:00 AM Meal 2
2 - Protein Drink 240 48 2 8


11:00 AM Meal 3
6 oz Chicken breast, vegg 225 40 5 5


2:00 PM Meal 4
2- protein drink 240 48 2 8


3:30 PM Meal 5 - before workout 150 24 1 12
1/2 apple, 1 drink


4:30 PM Meal 6 - After Workout
1/2 apple, drink 150 24 1 12

5:30 PM Meal 7
Banana, 1 MR Bar 230 25 2 28


7:30 PM Meal 8
Dinner 500 30 20 20



Totals 2065 272 37.5 138

[Proximal]

Diet looks nice to me, as long as YOU can live and stick with it. It's a long-term commitment, so chose a diet that you can realistically follow. If I were to tweak it, I'd look at losing meal 7 and have meal 8 (dinner) a little earlier, but that's just my preference for not eating late. So have you given something like this a shot before?

Regarding the supplements, I personally don't see much of a role for them at this stage, except the protein powder & to a lesser extent, a multi-vitamin.

Mind discussing your workout background? Personally at this stage, I'd favor workouts that are less directed at building size & more directed at burning calories. Introducing your muscles to weight training & different exercises, losing fat, developing some improved tone & building a solid foundation. It's going to be a while before you see muscle shape/definition so be prepared for a long battle and always focus on things that you can view as being positive successes.