TRT Big but not Strong

[WhiteWolf77]

Hey, we'll I've been on TRT most my life, and I been tryin to use it to my advantage, so I been hittin the gym pretty seriously since 2000. But I got really weird results, I'm huge but not nearly as strong as I look.. To give an example, I got no more room for growth on my bis, they're like 18 inches last I measured, they're completely covered in stretch marks, but I can't curl more than 50lbs for 8 reps...wtf?! And that's the weight I started with when workin out was new to me and didn't get any stronger?! It's like that with every muscle group, big but not strong. Also, my muscles are pretty soft, totally lacking normal hardness/density & I've got shit for tone...but like I said I am pretty huge muscle wise. I wanted to know if this is normal with TRT???

[Times Roman]

before we go pointing the finger at TRT,

maybe you should check your bf% and report back to the group.

sounds like you could be retaining water and high bf%.

you may want to give us a very brief summary of your diet. (in detail should go to the nutrition section)

I've heard of this before, but not quite as extreme..

[WhiteWolf77]

Not sure total bf% but I do have a gut that's impossible to loose :s
And for diet, I been tryin to eat a lot of protein in like 4 meals per day. I'd say 80% of the food I eat is something high in protein & 20% carbs with hardly any veggies. I put a banana and some oatmeal into my morning whey shakes,,,hope this helps
Oh- I very we'll maybe retaining water, I pig right out on the stuff...2-3 quarts every day!!! Would that make me big but not strong???

[Times Roman]

sounds like you need to cut

go to our nutrition section and post up your full blown meal plan for a typical day.

to determine your bf%, pick up some $25 calipers off the 'net. make sure the type where you can check yourself. (not all types will do that)

I'm thinking on top of the gut (visceral fat), which is a surface fat, you also have significant intra muscular fat (fat mixed inbetween the muscle fiber) which will give the perception of a large size, but no correlating strength.

So I'm totally guessing you are big due to all the fat and water retention, and also explains the lack of strength.

[BBrock293]

I would agree. Sounds like your diet is not on point and you have higher than ideal BF. If we have more information, we can help. I would also add that meal timing and frequency is irreverent.

[GSXRvi6]

Not trying to be an ass here, but it just sounds like your fat and/or are holding a lot of water?

What does your TRT protocol look like, do you manage your estrogen?

If your pretty huge muscle wise you'd be stronger, and the guys I've seen that end up with a lot of stretch marks is due to lifting with a high BF%

[kelkel]

I'd suggest routine BW. Especially a Sensitive Estrogen Assay...

[WhiteWolf77]

It could be that I have too much body fat, cause when my muscles are relaxed I don't look buff at all, but when I'm flexing I totally have a physique.

[kelkel]

It could be that I have too much body fat, cause when my muscles are relaxed I don't look buff at all, but when I'm flexing I totally have a physique.

Can't judge that without pics.
BW is still the place to start.
You've yet to tell us exactly what your TRT protocol is?
Large belly can be indicative of high estrogen.

[Ryanmcd]

If you have been training for 14 years and the 50's give you a hard time you got a case of fukarounditis. After 5 years you should be able to squat 4-500 dead 4-500 and bench 300+ if not your diet / drive / workout is shit and you need to rework this.


As far as diet if you are fat you are eating crap, get a food scale and weigh out what you eat and track everything for a week and once you see your eating 3-4k a day then you will see why you cant cut, if your @ 2500 and still not cutting get your TSH T3/T4 pulled but MOST people do not have that issue 99% chance it's diet, I was the same way before I hired a nutritionist years ago and it was diet.

Biggest thing to solve BOTH of the issues is mental, have a reason to train set goals and track progress = get better.

[APIs]

After 5 years you should be able to squat 4-500 dead 4-500 and bench 300+ if not your diet / drive / workout is shit and you need to rework this.

There is no formula for strength & it varies greatly among people. Some people are genetically more prone to it & others not. Just like body building. I consider myself somewhat strong yet I've been surprised many times at watching some newbie sit down on the bench and start doing reps with twice their body weight. I remember this one fellow, he was stocky, but not overly jacked. He'd show up to the gym maybe 4 times a month and everytime he'd sit down on the bench and start doing reps with 405 lbs. Some people are just freaks...

[kelkel]

you got a case of fukarounditis.

That's funny.

[MyteeJ]

Interested to see the pics and diet details.

Ryans comments bring up interesting points about natural strength etc.

If you are focused on getting stronger, tailor your workout to strength. I gained perspective on wanting everything (size, strength, "getting cut", athletic performance etc.) and when I talked with the pro at my gym, he looked at me like I had 10 heads. Point is - have a goal and work towards it. Some guys I see are ripped but not putting up a lot of weight and others put up a decent amount but clearly eat sh** and it shows.

Looking forward to hearing more.

Cheers

J

[Machdiesel]

Just answering the strength question, it's most likely your routine. If your working every muscle once a week and killing it with volume it will be hard to make big strength gains. Try doing less volume/more frequency and your strength will sky rocket, garuntee. Post up your current routine and ill post up a routiej for your to try based off of what your doing now

[SEOINAGE]

First off, I never knew curls were a strength builder, let alone 8 reps. Training needs to be changed if you want to build strength, as well as proper progression. Basically you need proper programming. As for what others have said, it very much sounds like your body fat is high, and that you should reduce it to get what you are after, dense muscle. Everyone here has had decent input.

[BigPimpin76]

I agree with the Bros on this thread!
Its def a mix of both, diet and training!
See a nutritionist, re vamp your diet completely to shock your thyroid. Begin educating yourself in regards to diet!
Get BW done every 4- 6 weeks like Kelkel said!!
Routine is the Enemy !! Mix it all up a bit! Do Crossfit . It can impact your body differently!
Less is often times more.
And yeah... Keep it simple!

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[Machdiesel]

DONT DO CROSSFIT!!! I'll shoot you a pm

[BigPimpin76]

DONT DO CROSSFIT!!! I'll shoot you a pm

OMG what now in regards to CF?
I know The Body Building world hates Crossfit..

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[MyteeJ]

OMG what now in regards to CF?
I know The Body Building world hates Crossfit..

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Not a fan of crossfit either.

When I start playing golf that is even a drain on muscle and size. Granted, I'll play 36 in a day (and even 54) and hit several buckets on the range but I can say for sure that I am not in the shape I want to be in during that season.

Think about this as well - look at a marathoner body vs a sprinter physique. There is a lot of good reading in regard to that aspect of how we should be doing our cardio. That is of course, assuming we are looking for bodies that aren't "leaned out".

[BigPimpin76]

Not a fan of crossfit either. When I start playing golf that is even a drain on muscle and size. Granted, I'll play 36 in a day (and even 54) and hit several buckets on the range but I can say for sure that I am not in the shape I want to be in during that season. Think about this as well - look at a marathoner body vs a sprinter physique. There is a lot of good reading in regard to that aspect of how we should be doing our cardio. That is of course, assuming we are looking for bodies that aren't "leaned out".

Yeah, a lot of people arent fans of CF!
Try it though.
On the other hand, its all about your diet!

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[MyteeJ]

Yeah, a lot of people arent fans of CF!
Try it though.
On the other hand, its all about your diet!

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I wouldn't rule out giving it a try for 4 weeks to see what happens.

Agree about diet - it's work to keep the good calories coming in!

[dreadnok89]

I know a lot of guys with a lot of muscle I'm friends with and they are a lot weaker than me.