[quote]EasyRhino wrote:
a) good progress
b) I may have missed it in this gigantor thread, but when did you start the HRT?[/quote]
I started on low-dose testosterone cream about two and a half years ago, with a few breaks here and there as my doctor prescribed. Then a little over a year ago, I started T injections, which work a LOT better than the cream.
My doc kept me on the injections for about a year (low dose, but probably too long). He just took me off them about a month ago. I can definitely feel the difference: Skin cleared up, sex drive dropped off, I’ve lost five pounds, etc., etc. But I don’t want my body to lose its natural ability to produce T, so I know I need to take a break. So, right now just taking HCG, and he still has me on low dose HGH. Also, we’ll do a T injection (350 units) once per month for the time being, so not going completely cold turkey.
The most important thing (I think) is that so far my strength seems to be maintaining…
Have you tried Rack Pulls? Rack Pulls helped my deadlift quite a bit.
Also, if you’re doing deadlift always do it first.
The deadlift is a very primal exercise. I’ve failed at even lifting a weight for one rep before, getting myself focused and psyched up, then banging out 4 reps with the same weight. Sometimes it’s just in your head.
Most people try to turn the deadlift into a squat because they are afraid their back will snap. Your back will be fine as long as you are following proper form and aren’t jerking it around. The deadlift is really a low back exercise as much as anything else.
Also, you could just not be “built to deadlift”. If you naturally assume a squat position while deadlifting this is probably the case.
Have you tried Rack Pulls? Rack Pulls helped my deadlift quite a bit.
Also, if you’re doing deadlift always do it first.
The deadlift is a very primal exercise. I’ve failed at even lifting a weight for one rep before, getting myself focused and psyched up, then banging out 4 reps with the same weight. Sometimes it’s just in your head.
Most people try to turn the deadlift into a squat because they are afraid their back will snap. Your back will be fine as long as you are following proper form and aren’t jerking it around. The deadlift is really a low back exercise as much as anything else.
Also, you could just not be “built to deadlift”. If you naturally assume a squat position while deadlifting this is probably the case.
Alan[/quote]
Thanks for the advice. I’ve definitely been working on my deadlift form. The article I posted above has REALLY helped.
Also, since I tweaked my lower back and it hasn’t seemed to be getting much better (which has been negatively impacting my deadlift and other things), I’ve started using a weight belt. Curious what the group thinks about this, but, in any event, it seems to be helping a lot…
I’ve never used a belt and pull twice my bw (I’m 32, just started lifting 18 months ago). My opinion is that it artificially makes a weak point strong (ie: your core/back). Some will say it is absolutely necessary. I say you make the call. You’ve already strained your back, so I’d say keep the belt until your back is strong again.
Your back is obviously a weak point if you’ve strained it. Do hyperextensions and reverse hypers as well as core work (planks, side planks, resisted rotations, etc).
[quote]BantamRunner wrote:
I’ve never used a belt and pull twice my bw (I’m 32, just started lifting 18 months ago). My opinion is that it artificially makes a weak point strong (ie: your core/back). Some will say it is absolutely necessary. I say you make the call. You’ve already strained your back, so I’d say keep the belt until your back is strong again.
Your back is obviously a weak point if you’ve strained it. Do hyperextensions and reverse hypers as well as core work (planks, side planks, resisted rotations, etc).
Alan[/quote]
This is incorrect. EMG studies have shown greater TA activation when wearing a belt as opposed to not wearing it. It does allow you to lift more weight, but it doesn’t make your core “weak”.
Speakman, work on your form, wear a belt, and do accessory work for your abs and low back.
Just discovered this thread today, read through it.
Great progress man, good to see someone with dedication like yours. Taking a look back from being 250lbs and now to where you are now is a great thing.
Thanks for the advice on the belt, guys… I’m sticking with it for now for sure (lower back still a little sore) and hope Stronghold is right (he usually is!): The belt is helping me but likely won’t diminish my work in any way. Either way, not much choice at the moment…
Also, confession time: Recall that my doc took me off the testosterone about seven weeks ago. I didn’t want to report on the full effect until I was pretty sure I could give a complete picture. I seem to be holding steady now, so here goes: Within three weeks of quitting the injections, my weight dropped from around 181 to around 171 after holding steady at 181 to 183 for at least a year. I hadn’t changed anything else (food, workouts, effort, etc.), but just goes to show how much of an affect T really has! (like everyone here doesn’t already know that…)
My strength also went down by about 10% on everything. On the deadlift, I just could not pick 315 off the floor no matter what. So I fell back to 285 for about the last month. Then, last Thursday, I finally pulled 315 for one rep. Thank God!! My weight is up to about 174 now, so maybe the HCG is helping me to bounce back - HCG is supposed to tell my body to start producing T on my own again, and other symptoms are indicating as much as well.
Just wanted to report this for the purpose of accuracy, and also to emphasize to the group how great those shots were!! But just have to keep going without them for now…
Pulled 315 pounds off the floor for 3 reps yesterday. After the T shots ended and my strength fell off, I was afraid I wouldn’t be seeing 315 again for awhile… So, not bad for an old man with no testosterone in his blood!!
[quote]speakman wrote:
Pulled 315 pounds off the floor for 3 reps yesterday. After the T shots ended and my strength fell off, I was afraid I wouldn’t be seeing 315 again for awhile… So, not bad for an old man with no testosterone in his blood!![/quote]
[quote]speakman wrote:
Pulled 315 pounds off the floor for 3 reps yesterday. After the T shots ended and my strength fell off, I was afraid I wouldn’t be seeing 315 again for awhile… So, not bad for an old man with no testosterone in his blood!![/quote]
Since you have some low-back history, have you ever tried pulling sumo style? Makes a world of difference for those with low-back risk. Maybe you are already but I didn’t see it.
Just a quick update on the HRT: After two months of essentially getting off the T, my doc told me that he could tell just by looking at me that my hormones were off. So, did a blood test, and sure enough my T was way back down to elementary-school-girl levels. Sucks!!
The good news is that he’s put me back on T, only at a lower dose than before. Instead of 350 units per week, I’m getting 200 units. Fine by me! Just glad to have that stuff back in my veins… Been about three weeks now, and my strength (which I believe I mentioned before dropped by at least 10% after dropping the T) seems to be coming back…
BTW, pulled 315 three times today on the deadlift. Pretty close to where I was before, but that’s the point - at best, I’ve been completely plateaued!
[quote]andersons wrote:
Cool to see your progress.
Whatever you do, DO NOT hurt your back deadlifting. (Or anything else.) [/quote]
Good advice! LOL… Been there, done that. Not sure if everyone here would agree with me, but I think that the deadlift is the simplest, most effective, and also the single most dangerous lift there is. At least seems to be true for me.
I’ve posted this link before, but this article will get someone into the safe zone for deads better than anything else I’ve read:
The best tip herein seems to be to keep one’s a** as high in the air as possible at the start and finish of the movement. This has really helped me to keep my back in the right position at all times. Add to this the lifting belt (which I know some guys are against using), and deads aren’t quite as scary as they used to be…
[quote]andersons wrote:
Cool to see your progress.
Whatever you do, DO NOT hurt your back deadlifting. (Or anything else.) [/quote]
Good advice! LOL… Been there, done that. Not sure if everyone here would agree with me, but I think that the deadlift is the simplest, most effective, and also the single most dangerous lift there is. At least seems to be true for me.
I’ve posted this link before, but this article will get someone into the safe zone for deads better than anything else I’ve read:
The best tip herein seems to be to keep one’s a** as high in the air as possible at the start and finish of the movement. This has really helped me to keep my back in the right position at all times. Add to this the lifting belt (which I know some guys are against using), and deads aren’t quite as scary as they used to be…
[/quote]
Mike is not saying to keep your ass as “high as possible”. He just doesn’t want people setting up with their hips too low and essentially squating the weight to start the movement. But, for back health, this is potentially very bad advice depending on how it is implemented. If you keep your chest high AND your hips “as high as possible”, then you may in a position to stiff leg the lift. Tough on the low back. And not saying you are doing this.
For those with back risk, I highly recommend pulling sumo due to the higher back angle at setup and the greater emphasis on lower body vs. low back during the pull.
Been awhile since I posted an update… Mainly because I haven’t budged since then! Still “stuck” at 315 pounds on my deadlift and squat. But at least I look cool pulling that much weight!!
The last couple of weeks, I’ve started to “feel” a little stronger, so I might see if I can push my weights up in the next couple of weeks…
