TRT Progress

[nwjt]

Cliffs:
Oct 2009 I was at 205 lbs, somewhere around 26% bodyfat. The first picture is about a month after I started dieting by eating 1600 cals per week, lifting 3 times per week.

I made it to around 174 lbs in 6 months, and what I think should of been 15% bodyfat? This is the second pic, taken 5/30/2010 one week after I started TRT (200 mg per week of test cyp).

The last pic is today, 6 weeks after starting TRT, and I am back up to 190 lbs. My strength has increased nearly 30%, but I am not sure if I am getting fatter, bloating, or getting more muscle. Any thoughts? My scale says I am now 28% bodyfat today, does that sound right, I am worse than I started? Any idea on my current bf? I am uploading some more pics later, will get a side view up.

I didn't track my legs at all but I have gained a lot of strength there. I am flustered because I was shooting for 160 lbs and 12% BF. I went backwards but not sure if it is due to LBM increase or if I just got fat again. If it is all fat, that's 2.66 lbs per week gained back, which means I ate over 3300 cals per day and didn't do anything but sleep.. No way! But my diet has been crap but certainly not over 2500 daily. I'm back on the wagon, eating 1800 calls this time.

[CanYouDigIt]

Why would you go on TRT? doctor prescribed?, it somewhat looks like your like 22-26, and never went to the gym,

[Exilus]

you've done some progress....traps are bigger and more defined and shoulders are broader. you've lost a bit of fat too.

[nwjt]

I'm just baffled between pics 2 and 3 there is a 15 lb difference. Where is it?

[nwjt]

Why would you go on TRT? doctor prescribed?, it somewhat looks like your like 22-26, and never went to the gym,

Yes, I think I killed my hormones from dieting so long. So I got on TRT and gained 15 lbs and lots of strength. Look wise I am not seeing much between pics 2 and 3, despite a 15 lb difference between the two.

In terms of looking like I never went to the gym, I find that people who usually make insults like that, usually don't have pics up. And this is the part where you run out and post a pic from the internet and act like its yours.

[gbrice75]

You've definitely made progress, don't listen to the haters. Do you have a long road ahead? Sure. Do most of us? Absolutely, so don't feel badly.

I'd put bodyfat at around 22% or so. Muscle has definitely increased, more definition, etc. Don't trust those body compostion scales; it put me at 20% bodyfat when I was 177lbs and calipers were reading 12.5%. I understand a little deviation, but that's way too big a gap.

[cjw2021]

You are wasting your time eating 1800 calories. With all of that testosterone and weight lifting you should be burning fat like crazy and adding lean muscle mass even on a 4k calorie diet. You have only been on T 6 weeks. Eat more saturated fat and please stop trying to eat like Lindsey Lohan. (serious bro) Workout 3 times a week and I bet in another 6 weeks you'll be happy with yourself. Your body fat looks fine and you need to stop worrying about it and focus on making strength gains and eating lots otherwise you will end up looking like Pamela Anderson or something - and I doubt that is your goal here. I have worked out with guys with more chub than you that made progressive strength gains and could get shredded in an instant if they want. You need to stay above 200lbs and stop worrying about body fat or you will just stagnate. This whole cutting craze is absurd if you ask me. Every guy here wants to get stronger - and fat is needed on the body to lift heavy weight and provide energy. As long as you don't have gyno and your estrogen levels are in check on TRT then it is ridiculous to design your workouts around cutting bodyfat when that will naturally happen as needed.

[nwjt]

My goal is not to get stronger, but rather to lose fat honestly. I don't want ot be shredded but I was way fat before. I'd like to get down to 12%.

[cjw2021]

I think if you keep pumping the iron hard and eating saturated fat and enough calories you'll get more out of your TRT. Whatever is working for you man..but I guarantee if your body had to produce that T it wouldn't under that diet. 1 pound Muscle requires something like 40,000 calories to build and any muscle mass you add will constantly burn fat for you in your sleep at all times. Work on your back a little more and your chest and tone up your abs while eating a 4k diet and you'll be the object of every female's attention in no time. T makes me hungry, I'm surprised you could pull off 1800 calories - though cyp to me is a totally different animal than daily compounded cream.

[gbrice75]

I think if you keep pumping the iron hard and eating saturated fat and enough calories you'll get more out of your TRT. Whatever is working for you man..but I guarantee if your body had to produce that T it wouldn't under that diet. 1 pound Muscle requires something like 40,000 calories to build and any muscle mass you add will constantly burn fat for you in your sleep at all times. Work on your back a little more and your chest and tone up your abs while eating a 4k diet and you'll be the object of every female's attention in no time. T makes me hungry, I'm surprised you could pull off 1800 calories - though cyp to me is a totally different animal than daily compounded cream.

Sorry, but this is bad advice IMO. This is now the 3rd time i've seen you carrying on about saturated fat. At least offer some insight as to why your big on it. Secondly, the OP hasn't worked out his TDEE, or at least hasn't posted it - so how can you blindly suggest a 4k diet? That's just wreckless IMO.

Sorry man i'm not trying to beat up on you, but you have no idea if he can handle 4k calories. Is 1800 calories low? Probably, but he needs to find his maintenance to be sure.

OP - get your bodyfat measured, find what your LBM is and stop guessing. You'll sleep better at night. Work out a diet based on your TDEE and at least you'll know then that you're on the right track.

[assymacgee1]

i see progress! the last picture shows quite a bit of progress and thats only 6 weeks! can't wait to see the pics after 12 weeks

[F4iGuy]

Muscle burns fat by increasing metabolic rate, even at rest. DO NOT prioritize cardio over weights.

After you've got a good diet together add some HIT cardio on days you're not lifting. Shoot for 1.5 grams of protein per pound of body weight. If you're REALLY serious about getting the ripped look cycle your carbs in realation to your activity level.

[DocBman]

Definite progress man!!!

You can tell most in your arms, lateral tris stick out. I agree with the others, continue to train hard and get a solid diet down. Definitely 1.5-2 g per lbs of bodyweight. Start of with 100 grams of carbs and 100 grams of fat to see how your body reacts, from there you can toy with it according to your gains or losses. I know I get shredded with high fat low carb diets and 20min cardio 3x a week. But everyone is different, just don't make the mistake thinking you can lose BF by cardio alone. If you lower your Lean Body Mass, you actually stunt your metabolism....