54 years old taking the next step

[DeniZen]

Hello everyone. I was sitting on my ass for 25 years. 5'-9" and was up to 241 lbs at one point....yikes!!! I drew a line in the sand two years ago and have been doing the P90X workout regime faithfully. Nice gains in flexibilty, strength, stamina and overall health.

I've been stuck around 190 lbs for about a year and recently admit to myself why I'm stuck. Alcohol and nutrition!!! I play golf almost every day and ALWAYS hit the 19th hole with my buds...few beers, shot or two and a nasty unhealthy dinner at the club.

So about 6 weeks ago I pulled the plug on alcohol completely, and have my nutrition 95% in check. Now 180 lbs and have been killing my workouts like never before. Had to buy heavier weights...(wow that was pleasant shopping!). Recently bought a spinning bike to ramp up the cardio.

Anyways thats where I am today. My goal is to lose about 25 lbs of fat, replaced by 20 lbs of muscle. On the vanity side...associated with my age I have some sagging in the breasts, armpits, neck, elbows etc that I would love to firm up and fill out.

I've been lurking on these boards for about a month. I've assimilated tons of information here, and I'm considering a cycle in the future. Blood work ordered yesterday.

Thanks to all who contribute here!

[Peace Missile]

Welcome and enjoy...

[SlimmerMe]

Welcome! and when you get your BW back, post up your results for some feedback (along with stats and goals)...

[tbody66]

welcome

[Tony Stacks]

Glad to here you put the booze down. My dad is your age and did the same thing over 4 years ago. Only wish he was more focused on nutrition & training like yourself. This is a great place for information. Especially if you're considering a cycle in the future. Read as much as you possibly can, and maybe consider posting your nutrition details in the diet section. There is always room for improvement.
Glad to have you here!

[DeniZen]

Glad to here you put the booze down. My dad is your age and did the same thing over 4 years ago. Only wish he was more focused on nutrition & training like yourself. This is a great place for information. Especially if you're considering a cycle in the future. Read as much as you possibly can, and maybe consider posting your nutrition details in the diet section. There is always room for improvement.
Glad to have you here!

Putting down alcohol was the biggest game changer. In my whole adult life going back to college I've never gone more than 2 or 3 days without a drink. As many can relate it becomes part of your lifestyle...part of your routine. I was able to lose 50 lbs while still drinking, simply from hitting my workouts faithfully no matter how I felt, but for the next level of fitness I had to quit completely. After only a couple of weeks I could feel the change and proper eating habits came back naturally. My nutrition has been almost perfect for a few weeks now, but I probably need to eat more. Biggest problem is my cooking skill, which based on neccessity is improving rapidly.

[Far from massive]

Hello DeniZen,

I am in a very simalar situation to yours, except the drinking. I am 55 and worked from 42-50 at a job where I mostly sat at a computer. About 4 years ago I was 6.1 and 230 while that does not sound so bad I am an ectomorph and was probably around 35% bodyfat, over the past 3 years I have started walking and lifting progressing up to my current routine of doing a combination of walking and running 4-5 miles 5 times a week ( and of course lifting about 5 times a week). About 2 months ago I did a ill advised cycle or TrenA/Test Base but during the cycle I found this website and learned just enough about AIs PCT and nutrition to get by. I was about 210 at the start of the cycle and due to heavy cardio etc maintained that wieght during my month long cycle while loosing 2 inchs from my waist and adding 1 1/4" to my arms. Currently I am in the 11th day of PCT and am feeling great and due to the recent improvements in my diet (still learning for sure) I am continuing to loose wieght ( 202 this morning) while maintaining most of the size gains from the cycle.

I would say to spend a lot of time in the nutritional section, I have found more benefits there than from a heavy dose of Tren/Test I wish I had spent a month or two dieting before the cycle.. but to be honest the cycle and strength gains have been a great motivator to stick to a good diet.

Best luck with your progress.

[Tony Stacks]

Putting down alcohol was the biggest game changer. In my whole adult life going back to college I've never gone more than 2 or 3 days without a drink. As many can relate it becomes part of your lifestyle...part of your routine. I was able to lose 50 lbs while still drinking, simply from hitting my workouts faithfully no matter how I felt, but for the next level of fitness I had to quit completely. After only a couple of weeks I could feel the change and proper eating habits came back naturally. My nutrition has been almost perfect for a few weeks now, but I probably need to eat more. Biggest problem is my cooking skill, which based on neccessity is improving rapidly.

I trained one time after a night of drinking. For me, it simply takes away roughly 80% of my strength. I was amazed at how weak I was, and I hadn't even drank that much. Few Jack & Cokes at a comedy show. So it was easy for me to just stop. I know how important my training is not only physically, but mentally. I have never really had an issue with drinking. It was all the other crap that had me down for several years. Half my life actually. I became tired of making excuses for my BS behavior, and quit all the garbage. Soon after I was training 6 days a week and eating healthy.
Garbage in, garbage out brother!
Once again... I'm glad you're here!

[Tigershark]

Welcome.

[Vettester]

Welcome to AR! Definitely post up your BW. Check out the HRT Forum and Over 40 Forum ... Plenty of resources and knowledge to help you take the right steps.

[DeniZen]

BW came back today. This is from PersonalLabs online. No MD has reviewed the results. The only "flag" was serum glucose, which is pre-diabetic from what I found on the net. I recently quit drinking alcohol after many many years, and dumped everything unhealthy in my diet. My nutrition and workout regime are dialed in pretty tight. So I'm not overly concerned. It will come down quickly...I will monitor it closely.

Based on the PersonalLabs website criteria everything else fell within normal ranges.

I welcome any obseravations and recommendations.

Serum Glucose 105
Serum Creatinine 1.05
Bun/Creatinite 15
Serum Sodium 136
Serum Potassium 4.3
Serum Chlorie 100
Carbon Dioxide 22
Serum Calcium 9.2
Serum Protein 7.7
Serum Albumin 4.5
Alkaline Phosphatase 65

Total Cholesterol 145
HDL 50
VLDL 14
LDL 81
C-Reactive Protein Card. 1.38
TSH 2.690
Prostate Spec.Ag Serum .07
Serum Testosterone 307
WBC 6.4
RBC 5.03
Hemoglobin 15.8
Hematocrit 46.6
MCV 93
MCH 31.4
MCHC 33.9
RDW 13.0
Platelets 290
Neutrophlis 60
Neutrophlis absolute 3.8
Lymphs absolute 2.0
Monocytes absolute .05

Hematology

Specific Gravity 1.010
PH 6.5
Urobilinogen .02

[stpete]

Welcome

[bodybuilder]

welcome

[lifeforce0019]

Welcome DeniZen. Congrats on your lifestyle choices! Keep up the great work and come visit us over in the HRT forum. When I turned 40 (too long ago!) I sold my golf clubs, bought a mountain bike and joined a gym after a senior colleague gave me a pat on the belly on the 18th green and told me I was a prime candidate for a heart attack; stressful career, going through a painful divorce and custody battle, 30 pounds overweight, etc. No going back!

[Cycnasty]

welcome and good luck.

[coonhunter]

Welcome to the board.

[cwc5569]

Welcome to the site