42 and new to gear

[Lord Me of There]

42 y/o
6'2"
227lbs
10% bf

Well that all looks pretty good when you type it out but the reality is quite different. The problems started about two years ago with what I thought was a minor shoulder injury, I mean doesn't everyone have a chasis slip in a jig and pin their shoulder to the floor everyday? I did go to the doctor, who told me how lucky I was, put my shoulder in a compression sling and told me to take it easy on it for six weeks, no major damage. Fast forward six weeks and I'm slobbering to get back to the gym. First rep of first set...BOOM. The crack made people on the the other side of the gym look and the girlish scream brought in passerbys from the street. Shoulder exploded. Everthing is in new and extremely painful places. Surgery. Pain medication. Rehab post 40. A new reality.

I've never used gear. Never needed to. I was genetically blessed and driven to max it all on my own. I never looked down on gear, or those who used it, it just wasn't for me. Now things have changed. The only way I've been able to stay in anything like shape is to ride and stairclimb like a fiend. It keeps the fat off, but I"ve lost most of a lifetimes worth of work and no matter how hard I work now, I just can't get it back. My diet is spot on and has been tailored over 25 years of total condition training. I'm currently running my cutting diet and can't drop any fat, despite an 800-1000 calorie deficit, but I am losing muscle at an alarming rate.

Went to the doctor to have my Test panels run, tring to sort out if age had a hold on me or if it was all in my head. My doctor tells me my Test levels are on the low side of normal, 343 but my free test levels were actually quite good...number escapes memory at the moment, but he recommended a Test booster containing DAA. Started a cycle of 3.12 grams per day of DAA contained in a supplement. Retested panels after 8 weeks to no significant change. Doctor recommended keeping up the supplement regime, but was absolutely against TRT. refused to even discuss it as an option. And at that point I decided two things. This dolt was fired, and I'd handle it myself from here on.

I do have questions.

1-My supply of Test/Steriods can only be obtained in pill form and I'm concerned with oral dosage amounts, dosing schedule and any support supplements to keep my liver in line. I've read that milk thistle and fish oil are both indicated, but I can't seem to get a solid idea of how much and when I should be taking.

2-My first cycle will be Test alone. I don't want to confuse results, and while I fully expect to cycle again with the addition of one or more anabolics, the first go 'round will be purely to raise my test/free test and see where that takes me. Perhaps it alone will help refire the plant.

3-I'm confused about what to take during cycle and PCT to keep gyno at bay. Clomid, Novla, HcG ...how much of what, when and how long. I think for me, this is the least understood aspect of the whole thing. It seems a bit like diet, everyone has to tailor it a little to themselves. 40/40/20 may sound like awsome diet macros, but it's not if your body isn't responding.

I feel very fortunate that this forum has an over 40 section where this sort of info can be openly shared, and thank all of you for the help I've already gotten here just reading the posts contained in this Folder.

[austinite]

Welcome.

Sorry about your shoulder. I completely understand how so much effort over the years can diminish and the effect it has on us, mentally. Hang in there.

Firstly, Oral Test is not effective enough to build muscle, frankly it's not enough to retain it properly. You would have to take excessive amounts and I don't know if you've tried it before, but it is absolutely horrible tasting. Its more effective than a topical but not by much.

If you want TRT, you can get on it by walking into a longevity clinic. Over 40, just pick up a prescription. It's that simple.

Aside from all this, your shoulder should be of concern. Luckily you should still be able to cardio with a shoulder injury.

With respect to 25 years of perfecting a diet, I would still recommend that you seek critique from the pros in the nutrition section.

A typical first (injectable) cycle would consist of Test only. Most 1st timers will prefer a long ester so that you don't have to inject every other day. Twice a week rather with Test E. 500mg weekly will suffice for 12 weeks.

On Cycle, you could use HCG @ 250iu twice weekly to speed up recovery and prevent testicular atrophy. Elevated Estrogen level are of concern, so with that said, an Aromitaze Inhibitor is needed, such as A-dex, which can be used @ .25mg Every other day, up to .5 if needed.

As for PCT, this should consist of both clomid and nolva, however, if you are going on TRT, then there will be no need for PCT.

Best of luck to you.

[austinite]

Here is an interesting log you could follow: http://forums.steroid.com/showthread....#.UC5LAKllSDk

[Lord Me of There]

First let me say that the option of a wellness/longevity center had never occured to me. I just took a second and googled wellness/longevity centers in a nearby population center and was richly rewarded. I will be contacting them shortly. Second, I've never used Test, oral or otherwise, but noting the limitations you pointed out, and the possibility of procuring a prescription through a center of some sort, I believe I'll set on that idea for awhile.

With respect to my shoulder now, I am fully cleared to train and have been for close to a year, but the layoff has just killed my upper body and I just can't get the response anymore.

I will post up my diet in the nutritional section as it has been a real evolution over the years and I have logs back to when I was 23. No idea what happened to the ones back to 17, but I suspect that burried somewhere in the attic next to my old letter jackets and yearbooks, they lay collecting dust.

Finally, another thank you for the link. Watching a peptide journal by a guy with shoulder issues himself, may be one of the more enlightening things I've read yet. As a matter of fact, I'm off there now to read it up to current.

[O40]

Sorry to hear of your troubles, turned 50 last year and nagging injuries seem to be part of it past 40, not to mention a car chasis. I had some major surgery and was off for 3 years, got fat and then got fed up. When I started lifting again everything came back very quickly and I attribute that to muscle memory. Didin't help with fat but the shape, width and size came back quick in my upper body and legs. I am on TRT which put me at the high end of normal. I was like you thinking all that time and effort down the tubes, but it wasn't. Ask the Powerlifters about shoulder injuries, they know. I would say don't rush and take it slow, it's about the journey mostly...

[Times Roman]

Most of what you said sounds pretty level headed. Not so sure about oral test. very expensive, and popping pills every 4 hours, PLUS harsh on the liver sounds like a "no~go" to me. infinitely prefer weekly injections.
If you have any questions or need advice, the "post a new thread" button can be your best friend.

cheers!
---Roman

[Lord Me of There]

Sorry to hear of your troubles, turned 50 last year and nagging injuries seem to be part of it past 40, not to mention a car chasis. I had some major surgery and was off for 3 years, got fat and then got fed up. When I started lifting again everything came back very quickly and I attribute that to muscle memory. Didin't help with fat but the shape, width and size came back quick in my upper body and legs. I am on TRT which put me at the high end of normal. I was like you thinking all that time and effort down the tubes, but it wasn't. Ask the Powerlifters about shoulder injuries, they know. I would say don't rush and take it slow, it's about the journey mostly...

Yeah, I remember back to my dad telling me that one day Desire would remain but Ability will have broke camp and headed for West Palm to live out its days playing shuffleboard. Dad was always a little odd, but he's 70 now and can still work circles around 50% of the gym. I've worked through nagging injuries in the past, and I'm in no real pain now, nor am I while training, the problem here lies in a complete lack of body response and a waning desire to keep slamming steel around without result.

Most of what you said sounds pretty level headed. Not so sure about oral test. very expensive, and popping pills every 4 hours, PLUS harsh on the liver sounds like a "no~go" to me. infinitely prefer weekly injections.
If you have any questions or need advice, the "post a new thread" button can be your best friend.



cheers!
---Roman

I agree with you on the orals, it was, in the end, my only option at the time of my initial post. However, I now have an appointment with a longevity center in a nearby city, and will wait to see how that works out before deciding what my next move is. They do offer extinsive HRT options and after my brief conversation with them on the phone I have a pretty good feeling that, based on my previous bloodwork, they'll set me up.

[Vettester]

Lord, come over and visit us in the HRT forum. There are several stickies that will be beneficial for you, including one about finding a GOOD HRT physician. I was 42yo when I started my journey on this, and now it's almost 4 years later. There's several factors to consider for a successful HRT regiment, including not just TRT, but HCG , estrogen management, B12 & D3, & other upstream hormonal therapies to consider like Pregnenolone & DHEA. Again, all the education and experience is sitting over there. We will gladly help if you invest the time to make this work.

[Lord Me of There]

Lord, come over and visit us in the HRT forum. There are several stickies that will be beneficial for you, including one about finding a GOOD HRT physician. I was 42yo when I started my journey on this, and now it's almost 4 years later. There's several factors to consider for a successful HRT regiment, including not just TRT, but HCG, estrogen management, B12 & D3, & other upstream hormonal therapies to consider like Pregnenolone & DHEA. Again, all the education and experience is sitting over there. We will gladly help if you invest the time to make this work.

Thanks for the heads up on the HRT section, I'll certainly make time to go through it.

[Far from massive]

Lord good to see your post. Think we might have simalar backgrounds (the car part not the 10% bodyfat). At 50 and terrribly out of shape I hurt my shoulders after making a couple of passes in my buddies alky dragster. I was way too big (fat) for the car and actually hurt both rotator cuffs extracting myself after the runs LOL.

Anyhow both shoulders are fine and AAS has definalty helped me get back into decent shape as well as speeding recovery.

PS for those unfamiliar with shoulder injuries. Although most AAS does little for joints, a shoulder injury without surgery is unique in that the first steps to recovery are building adjacent muscle tissue to reduce strain on the supraspinatis.

[Lord Me of There]

Funny, it was a race car that got me as well. Short track oval stuff. When I started we bought old junked Camaros, cut the roof off, dropped in a roll cage, built an engine as illegal as we figured we could get away with...knife edge the crank, hog out the runners on the intake and ports on the cylinder head and went racing. less than 3 grand. Now my chasis cost $17,000. Another 20 grand for the engine...lump to my friends from across the pond.., hell the seat cost $4500. Upshot to it all is, now it cost 60 large to field a competitive short track car. And to have it try and kill me was a horrible betrayal. The real lesson is pay attention, especially to the crap you've done a thousand time before.

Hopefully, after my appointment with a center here locally, I'll be on my way back. Your post gives me hope that AAS will provide that extra dimension that will get me back to being the man I remember.