Hey… “Life Happens”. If all aspects could be controlled and anticipated, it would be pretty freakin’ boring, right?!
Life ain’t always beautiful… but it is a beautiful life. Some country and western song I heard…
Doc,
Hard to explain but I guess when you contacted your wife’s Doctor, if you’d been able to consciously say to yourself “The dog is with me today and I know he’ll alter my thoughts” then perhaps (only perhaps) you might have been able to control the rage that caused your verbal tirade.
The bloke next door to me has a (real) dog that keeps barking and he refuses to try and stop it.
I really like animals but I’ll kill it - not out of rage, not out of vengeance but simply because when my Black Dog is with me, I don’t care about consequences any more.
I hope you threatened your rival due to the fire in your belly rather than the lack of respect for the consequences. I think the latter is a really dangerous place to be at.
My Mrs broke down this morning, crying, sobbing loudly, which she never does. She said she felt like she needed to make the most of our time together because I won’t be around much longer. It was heartbreaking.
Her tears can’t scare the black dog away unfortunately, all they mean is that I can’t tell her what I’m going through because she can’t deal with it. And it just makes me think that the sooner I check out, the better off those around me will be, instead of trudging through this quagmire of crap with me.
I don’t mean to steal your thread Doc, I’m just having a moment and this is a place I feel comfortable venting my thoughts, that’s all.
“You are now being returned to normal programming”
Rest day today - back in the gym tomorrow! Pump that cold steel 'til the beads of sweat blur my vision…
Hey guys, flew down, got 11 days off, kicked that dog off my back and had a great reunion with my family. Should get in at least four good workouts at the better Worlds here where I can train the way I want. My “handling” of the bad doc fortunately worked out OK, my lawyer added the legal framework to surround my tirade and the guy was a basket case of fear, rage and confusion. But he was not threatening back, in fact he was making weak attempts to explain his behavior as a “misunderstanding.”
Duke, have you had your hormones checked? I know part of my mood swings are due to, originally, my testicular failure, and since then, from the pitfalls of hormone replacement therapy. I think I have to careful, sometimes if my testosterone replacement is too high, I am capable of a rage to which I am not accustomed to. I don't think its all testosterone related, no doubt life stressors and repressed anger and sadness make for a good volcano.
And there are only two good remedies that I have found. The best of course is heavy, hard training. Interestingly, the second best for me has been deep tissue professional massage therapy. Shame it costs so much, I'd get one every day if I could afford it. Not only gets rid of mental crap, it works out alot the kinks and aches that come from 50 years olds liting heavy.
There have always been things that I can do that I know help me stay mentally and physically balanced...but I'll be damned if that black dog makes you not even want to do them!
Doc
Great your with the family. Enjoy and take care.
11 days! Fantastic Doc. I hope you thoroughly enjoy the break and the time with your family -
Glad you contained the situation with the ‘bad’ doc too.
Cheers mate.
Damn Tiger Woods. He went and spoiled an epic battle of the classic underdog Rooco Mediate against the classic heavily favored underdog. But then again, Rocco can take some solace in knowing that “Rocky” did essentially the same thing in the first movie against Appolo Creed.
But I'm not much for "moral victories." Dammit, I want the underdogs to WIN. I think many of us are underdogs or we wouldnt be in this forum and sharing our struggles and victories.
I like watching professional sports...to a point, and that point is when I contemplate the ridiculous sums of money they make and the way some of them act.
I love watching the sports I played the most, golf, basketball, football and anything weight related...I think the most fun I ever had was one weekend I was holed up post-rotator surgery and they had this ESPN marathon of Worlds Strongest Man. Watched about five years of them nonstop! I went crazy when American Phil Phister beat the arrogant, bodybuilder-esque former champion Pudzilanski at the last event, the Atlas stones. A friend of mine knew Phister and told me he was just a down to earth blue collar guy without all the advantages of some of the other athletes, and gave me the impression he was NOT a walking chemsitry experiment like most of the competitors.
Well, tomorrow I'll have a workout to report instead of a miscellaneous tangential one. But I'm curious how you guys take your sports as fans. Doc
If you like epic battles you must me watching the Lakers getting humiliated…Opps, I should say their heroic attempt to battle back against a superior foe tonight.
I’ve only just started reading the forums and have to say this by far has been the most inspirational and informative.
I discovered through a lab test my testosterone level was at 330.Supposedly normal for a 55 year old.
For the past year I have had no interest in doing much of anything (several posts here mirror my symptoms) so I went to the doc. One said loose weight and exercise the next said depression.
In the past I was a 5 ft 9 in 200 lb hulk; but the years have shrunk me to 5 ft 7.5 and spread me to 264 of flab(30 lbs of it in the past 6 months). A long time friend was diagnosed with low (250 count) testosterone and is permanently on replacement therapy.
According to the guidelines of the VA a 175 count is what they consider low. Anyway my friend gave me just less than a cc of cypiotren and even though I’m not a hundred percent; I feel better than I have in years.
Its hard to understand that if my count is in the “normal” range; why it is that within a day of the injection it was as if I had walked out of the fog and felt normal again…
I got the results of yesterdays labs from a new doctor today… I told him the truth. That I had injected .75cc of test c 2 weeks ago, and that the day before this lab I had injected .50 cc. The results were that my test had increased from 330 three weeks ago to 599 today. My estradiol is at 57. It was not tested on the original labs. The Dr wants me to suspend any new test c injs and come back in 6 weeks for new labs.
Test 599
Estradiol 57
HCG quantitative <2
LH 0.3
prolactin 5.6
The more I read (and I have been, extensively) on this and other forums, make me realize that the subject of seroid cycling and or replacement theropy is a science that would take years of study for anyone to be able to completely comprehend . The more I learn the dumber I get. Already ordered test and AI but now wonder if I could get by with legits like Alpha Male or REZ-V.
I am going to follow the Drs advice since I he is known to do TRTs. So untill I get a new lab for a base line, I’ll stay clear of everything and study. I’ll just hope to keep the “fog” at bay.
Joined the local Golds and plan on doing cardios and play with the machines till I get the knack. Look for me on Funniest Vidios. I’ll be the guy who turns on a machine and ends up thru the wall. The last time I worked out with weights was in school where free weights and a bench was high tech.
I’m so glad you guys are willing to share your experiences and training for those of us who would otherwise be out here stumbling around dangerously in the dark.
How long does it take for the gear to clear? He wants to redo the labs in 6 weeks.
Oh yea, Got to feel as though I’ve gotten to know some of ya from your posts so I chose My “handle” to become a proud part of this thread
I will try to limit my posts till I can contribute since I certainly wouldn’t want to take away from the excellence here so far.
[quote]CrazyCrew wrote:
If you like epic battles you must me watching the Lakers getting humiliated…Opps, I should say their heroic attempt to battle back against a superior foe tonight.
I’ve only just started reading the forums and have to say this by far has been the most inspirational and informative.
I discovered through a lab test my testosterone level was at 330.Supposedly normal for a 55 year old.
For the past year I have had no interest in doing much of anything (several posts here mirror my symptoms) so I went to the doc. One said loose weight and exercise the next said depression.
In the past I was a 5 ft 9 in 200 lb hulk; but the years have shrunk me to 5 ft 7.5 and spread me to 264 of flab(30 lbs of it in the past 6 months). A long time friend was diagnosed with low (250 count) testosterone and is permanently on replacement therapy.
According to the guidelines of the VA a 175 count is what they consider low. Anyway my friend gave me just less than a cc of cypiotren and even though I’m not a hundred percent; I feel better than I have in years.
Its hard to understand that if my count is in the “normal” range; why it is that within a day of the injection it was as if I had walked out of the fog and felt normal again…
I got the results of yesterdays labs from a new doctor today… I told him the truth. That I had injected .75cc of test c 2 weeks ago, and that the day before this lab I had injected .50 cc. The results were that my test had increased from 330 three weeks ago to 599 today. My estradiol is at 57. It was not tested on the original labs. The Dr wants me to suspend any new test c injs and come back in 6 weeks for new labs.
Test 599
Estradiol 57
HCG quantitative <2
LH 0.3
prolactin 5.6
The more I read (and I have been, extensively) on this and other forums, make me realize that the subject of seroid cycling and or replacement theropy is a science that would take years of study for anyone to be able to completely comprehend . The more I learn the dumber I get. Already ordered test and AI but now wonder if I could get by with legits like Alpha Male or REZ-V.
I am going to follow the Drs advice since I he is known to do TRTs. So untill I get a new lab for a base line, I’ll stay clear of everything and study. I’ll just hope to keep the “fog” at bay.
Joined the local Golds and plan on doing cardios and play with the machines till I get the knack. Look for me on Funniest Vidios. I’ll be the guy who turns on a machine and ends up thru the wall. The last time I worked out with weights was in school where free weights and a bench was high tech.
I’m so glad you guys are willing to share your experiences and training for those of us who would otherwise be out here stumbling around dangerously in the dark.
How long does it take for the gear to clear? He wants to redo the labs in 6 weeks.
Oh yea, Got to feel as though I’ve gotten to know some of ya from your posts so I chose My “handle” to become a proud part of this thread
I will try to limit my posts till I can contribute since I certainly wouldn’t want to take away from the excellence here so far.[/quote]
Crazy Crew, one of the joys I get from my thread is seeing a new poster, and then looking at their number of posts. When someone’s second or third post is on MY thread, I feel honored. Welcome.
Regarding your situation, last question first, your t use will be cleared by your next lab tests. Regarding your future course of action, if your t level comes back above 300, but your estrogen is still high (57 is way too high), I would try the Alpha Male/herbal route for increasing t while getting the E2 down with adex. Many on this site, including myself, have been disappointed with herbals for reducing estrogen. Nobody can say with any degree of scientific certainty what you can expect with herbals, I would think if you could boost your natural t production to 400-450, E2 down to 20-30, you would feel great and not have to take the monumental, irreversible step of lifetime t replacement. On the other hand, if your t levels come back 200 ish and you feel like crap and can’t clear the brain fog enough to even get in the gym, I think HRT is right for you and could turn your life around.
These are decisions not to be taken lightly and unfortunately most people in my profession have NO CLUE on how to advise you. And the above is only my opinion, I hope some of my regulars see this post and add their thoughts. I did just watch that fabulous Boston trouncing of the Lakers, and they did it by TEAM, unlike the Kobe model. T-Nation is sort of like that, a team of folks united by iron and by common challenges clearly unmet by our medical profession. Doc
Back at a gym where I can lift (Worlds in CR)
cardio-15 min
Bench-3 sets 10x135
5x185
3x225
3x245
1x265
Power Cleans+Power Jerks
3x115
3x135
3x135
3x155
3x185
2x205
1x225
HEYYYYYYY!!! I havent done power jerks in over seven months, havent done C@J’s period more than a handful of times even in my comeback phase. I know 225 aint no big deal but good God it felt great to rip that weight overhead rather easily. One key is that my left shoulder has finally healed.
I got into a mini-fight with the wife about my OL dreams which still haunt me, and she told me it let it go...HAH, thank-you, wife, I love being told what I CAN'T DO. That's was the inspiration to even do this exercise.
American record of 308, just can't give up on that yet, even if the next year will be mostly work work work. Just gotta find a way to train and eat right again.
Doc
“Eh, What’s up, Doc?” Funny thing about dreams…sometimes they come true. I would hold on to that dream of yours, Doc, for whatever it’s worth. Whether or not it comes to pass, it will provide training incentive, just like the last workout you posted, and for that alone, it’s worth it.
Your goal is reasonable and attainable; when things come together in your life, you may actually train hard and consistent enough to attain or even surpass it. What’s wrong with that? We all have our little fantasies, based on the past and projected into the future. Your wife, & I mean no disrespect, is entitled to her opinion.
So are you and me, & I think that you should hold the dream, put it on standby if you have to, but if all the variables that you need to accomplish that goal/dream come together some day, WATCH OUT! If not, it’s still a great dream that didn’t come true, nothing more, nothing less.
I am a great believer in dreams and them coming true, just as much as when somebody tells me I can’t do something that I think I can. I would like to see the record fall someday; maybe it will be yours, maybe it won’t, but I’ll bet you’ll train like a fiend and reap the benefits, record or not. Good Luck to ya!
QT speaks the truth grasshopper. Listen to the wise man. Sounds like the machines kept you in tune. 225 for a crazy 50+ shrink is damm good for my book. 6 months in a real gym you’d be near the record.
Don’t tell the wife. You can’t have conversations with folks who have never been to the fountain. I hear the same shit all the time about pitchers. This where you share the wacko goals and here is where you will find the support. Enjoy the sabatical.
National Senior Games Association (NSGA) aka Senior Olympics (50 and over) just added weightlifting to its venue. It’ll be held for the first time this September 4th-7th in Providence, Rhode Island.
All winning lifts will become records. Just announced today so I’m not sure how much participation they’ll get. Something to think about next year.
As usual, my jedi knights come out after I make a post which actually contains something of merit. QT, I’ve been dreaming all my life, and even though I’ve only realized half of my dreams, that half has made the quality of my life SO much richer. Barry, interesting comment about the machines. To be honest, they don’t help the bench much, I appear to lose about ten pounds a month on my 1RM no matter how hard I do machine benches. But what kept my shoulders in shape enough to do the power jerks had to be the dumbell presses I was doing. FREE WEIGHTS. No substitution.
And Hel, Senior Olympics…Wow, I like the sound of that even better than Masters Lifting. I kinda think Masters lifting starting at 35 and over is silly, they should still be lifting with the young guys.
I hope it really takes, and grows into a major event. I am officially fired up now.
Sore too, lol. Doc
Hey there, Dr. PowerClean.
Just stopping by to say that you’re an inspiration and good luck on your goal. I know you can do it.
A Senior Olympics could be an awesome addition to the sport/lifestyle if the main stream advocates would get behind it. It could help elevate all levels of the sport. And the founders (over 50 now) could still compete on a national stage.
I love the idea. If nothing else it could motivate many to train harder if there were an achievable goal to reach.
[quote]Dr.PowerClean wrote:
HEYYYYYYY!!! I havent done power jerks in over seven months, havent done C@J’s period more than a handful of times even in my comeback phase. I know 225 aint no big deal but good God it felt great to rip that weight overhead rather easily. One key is that my left shoulder has finally healed.
Doc[/quote]
Doc,
My shoulders haven’t healed completely yet, but once I get away from that set of muscles, I’m doing more weight at every other exercise than I did in my twenties. I’m amazed at what my body can do at this age, since I’d been told it wasn’t possible at all.
Glad it felt great, that is the way it should be.
Hey Doc, hope you do for the senior games. I bet you would have great fun with that
[quote]hel320 wrote:
National Senior Games Association (NSGA) aka Senior Olympics (50 and over) just added weightlifting to its venue. It’ll be held for the first time this September 4th-7th in Providence, Rhode Island.
All winning lifts will become records. Just announced today so I’m not sure how much participation they’ll get. Something to think about next year.[/quote]
That is neat.
Any chance they might coordinate with Master’s Judo (which is what they call it for the old guys, since senior’s judo just means the regular judokas in judo)?
As far as I can tell, these are the current events:
http://www.nsga.com/\secure\Documents\Results\Results.html
This is the current Judo group that would make a nice combination: http://www.masterathlete.com/
Got to work out with my son. Bittersweet thing, have missed him and training with him too. I did stuff he likes for the first half of the workout, and then he knew I needed to do some of “my thing.” So I did hang cleans and behind the neck power jerks off the rack.
Cleans 3,3 x135
3x185
3x205
2x225
2x245
BNJerks
3,3x135
3x185
3x205
2x225
Had to call it a day here, shoulders and wrists told me NO MAS on those jerks but I was quite happy with these lifts today. Will be off travelling the next week so no workouts for a bit…damn, I’m hungry now, juices are flowing strong. Doc
Damn, bad luck, got an elevated PSA test and now I have to worry about possible cancer and have to stop my HRT. I am trying to stay positive and not freak as I know it doesnt necessarily mean I have cancer.
I think HRT is responsible, although I also think I had building prostate problems before I started HRT. I have learned to function well recently on modest T levels (600) with no more estrogen problems. Now I know I will get some loss of drive, focus and other things as my T goes down to near zip.
I'll hang tough, but this really sucks as I JUST got my drive and enthusiasm back for real lifting...that double hang clean with 245 yesterday made me feel like most of the last seven months didnt faze me hardly at all. Doc