Middle aged metabolic syndrome and other questions.

[DarthJohnson]

I'm 55 years old, 5' 10" and have been lifting (never competitively) for over 25 years. I had a good weight of 185 and a 32" waist until I was about 45, then the pounds started sneaking on. Today I weigh 205. My bp and LDL are up to the point I have to take meds. My theory is that I've developed metabolic syndrome and if I could lose 20 or 30 pounds, everything would be peachy again.

Is there still a scenario where a doctor can legally prescribe steroids? I think this would be a legitimate therapeutic use for them, even if my own doc readily admits that he doesn't know anything about steroids. I am currently unable to lift due to eye surgery, but even at the best of times I've only managed to get down to 195. This is hard!

Looking for any answers to the above question or any advice about losing that stubborn pear shape!

[MFT81]

I dont know if I would say your suffering from met. syn. just yet. I think what is going on is that your at a point where you need to revamp your training. Even though what you were probably doing for the last 25years was maybe perhaps ineffecient, it still worked due to being at a younger age.

Time has caught up to you, but you'll be able to rememdy all of this through the advice given on this board.

Have you posted your regular diet in the diet forum. If not do so,

Also post in a new thread here, what you typically do for training.

What im getting at is it sounds like you've not done anything to research on how to work smarter not harder, and want to go straight to drugs instead.

Let some of us take a crack at what your doing currently, and see if we can make any gains naturally.

In the mean time, have your bloodwork done to see if you do qualify for HRT, I know it sounds like im contradicting myself, but im not. You should have the right to be at the normal range, but dont get the cart before the horse, lets see if maybe we cant tweak your nutrtion and training to further those future gains.

Not trying to sound like a dick, i just dont know what you've done/doing now.........

[DarthJohnson]

Thanks for your input, MFT81.

Straight to drugs...hmm. Nope, never juiced, only doing some research now.
I don't work out as hard as I used to, but I try to stay consistent. I have a shoulder injury and a bitchy left elbow now. 5 day program is:
Day 1,4 - 4x16 leg extensions
4x16 thigh curls
4x16 squats
4x16 calf raises
The weight stays the same on all exercises

Day 2,5 - 3x10-16 chest flyes - this is mostly warmup
2x16 bench press - more warmup
3x8 bench press
3x8 behind neck wide grip lat pull downs
3x8 seated rows
3x8 narrow grip pull downs to chest
Shoulder work varies with how I feel. I rarely do any seated military presses anymore, due to a trashed left anterior delt.
2x10 db laterals
3x10 front db raises (amazingly, this doesn't bother me much)
3x10 upright rows

Day 3 - 4x8 curls with ez curl bar
4x8 db curls
4x8 seated triceps machine (can't do the lying triceps anymore)
4x8 triceps pulldowns

Everyday I do 20 minutes on the trusty Schwinn stair stepper and a half hour of stretching. I take a 3 mile walk two or three times a week.

I'll post this in a new thread too, as suggested.