Blasting and Cruising at 48 on HRT - Beginner's Cycle Log

Pharma
121

Nah, it’s a fair question.

I, like yourself, had high free T with low over all T (310)
I had decent libido, decent beard, two children. Yet, I could never
really add much muscle, or strength and once I did get it, I had
a hard time maintaining it.

I believed that Test was the answer. AndroGel sucked, and the 200mg T-CYP / 2 weeks barely
did shit. Even 200-300-350 per week didn’t help much either,
and it lead me to ask questions as to why. It also lead to experiments with other compounds,
one of which had T-Prop in it. I think I wrote about the experience within this thread,
but I really thought Masteron was responsible for the great feelings and results. I found later
it was the T-Prop.

On the high v. low SHBG and amounts of free test, you can see where that got you pre TRT,
Even now, your free T is through the roof, but I suspect you aren’t pleased with the results, you may even be a little disappointed (I know I was). What I have read is that low SHBG is as bad as very high. Too high and the T isn’t useable, too low and its eliminated too fast.

There is a ton of research I can point you to, but I don’t think T-Nation allows links to other sites. Google the words “low shbg and trt.” pick the entry labeled TRT in men with low SHBG from MESO-RX and read the thread.See if anything that is discusses rings true for you.

The only T I use now is Prop, blast or cruise, and because I have
low SHBG, and use PROP, it gets into my tissues quicker than my liver
eliminates it, I get more results using smaller amounts while making
noticeable gains at least every two weeks. AND, I don’t get the sides that come
with huge amounts of T.

I see you have a lot of T-Cyp bought and paid for, Trust me, I have a good 20 10ml btls of
different hormones I purchased that are on the shelf and will probably never get used.

Get some prop, try it for a week to ten days, it will give you the results that you thought you would get when you started trt.

122

Cool, thanks for the reply.

123

Interesting, about 48 hours in from my first injection, after completing my workout this morning I definitely felt more of a pump. My libido (already high) is seemingly higher, and I’m having to wash my face 4-5 times a day with soap I’m getting such greasy skin.

Other than the greasy skin, the other perceived effects could just be placebic. I was under the impression that the half-life of testosterone cypionate was 5-8 days…

124

Maybe placebo effect, but I’m lifting heavier now and feel awesome(r). Looking forward to the rest of this blast cycle, presumably things will be even better.

125

[quote]threepercenter wrote:
Maybe placebo effect, but I’m lifting heavier now and feel awesome(r). Looking forward to the rest of this blast cycle, presumably things will be even better.[/quote]

Ow the feeling is real! As for the weights; it seems to take awhile. Personally, I have bumped up from 200mg to 400mg for about 8 weeks now and the weights haven’t moved up much at all. I will say I feel tighter and more packed. Just wondering, where are your weights at now?

The oily skin thing can be an issue depending your ethnicity. Showering more and use a bath brush for my back has kept my skin clear.

126

I can easily say that my lifts have gone up 15-20% on my compounds. I’m not trying to single rep PR at all these days, I’m not lifting for strength I’m lifting for hypertrophy. On all my dumb bell assists solid 20%-40% increases. I’ve begun to go to failure, something I didn’t push so hard previously.

This could also be the result of me getting serious on my training, e.g. going to failure on all sets, increasing weights per set if I feel capable and eating protein like a meatosaurus.

I’m your standard white guy, oily skin - mostly face. I just wash my face with real soap a few times a day.

127

[quote]threepercenter wrote:
I can easily say that my lifts have gone up 15-20% on my compounds.[/quote]

Help me with the math; maybe these aren’t your numbers but that’s like 300 lbs in the bench now at about 350 lbs and a 400 lbs squat going to 470 lbs. Really? In what time frame?

128

If I was at those numbers yes 15-20% would be along those lines.

129

[quote]threepercenter wrote:
If I was at those numbers yes 15-20% would be along those lines.[/quote]

Ok, just checking. Since we are about the same age and I’m sure your not new to the gym, I am wondering why I am not seeing those gains. What time frame are we speaking about?

130

[quote]doublelung84 wrote:

[quote]threepercenter wrote:
If I was at those numbers yes 15-20% would be along those lines.[/quote]

Ok, just checking. Since we are about the same age and I’m sure your not new to the gym, I am wondering why I am not seeing those gains. What time frame are we speaking about?
[/quote]

About two weeks now. Mind you this is my first cycle ever and my normal TRT dose is 200mg/week t-cyp. I’m on triple that for my first ever blast.

e.g. I can now do 8x8 squats at 85% of PR (235) - 195 - which is 20lbs heavier than the 175lbs I was doing before. That’s significant in my book.

131

[quote]

About two weeks now. Mind you this is my first cycle ever and my normal TRT dose is 200mg/week t-cyp. I’m on triple that for my first ever blast.

e.g. I can now do 8x8 squats at 85% of PR (235) - 195 - which is 20lbs heavier than the 175lbs I was doing before. That’s significant in my book.[/quote]

Those are good gains! I am unfortunately at the point of diminishing returns. :frowning: I would say my best lifts came when I was 35 y.o. and not on TRT. Truthfully, I didn’t get back there even after 200 mg/wk. Now after 8+ weeks of upping my dose to 200 mg 2x/wk I am close on my bench but after a groin issue 4 weeks ago and at 47 y.o. I doubt those weights are ever going to be reached again in the squat. I’m trying to come to terms with not squatting heavy. I have kept my b.w. the same but see and feel tighter.

What AI are you using? Anything to keep your prolactin in check or not an issue for you?

132

After this morning’s workout I’m wrecked.

Probably just a lack of sleep - only got about 7 hours. I’m using .5 mg Adex eod, my normal TRT does is .25 eod.

133

From what I read (please correct me if I missed something) you were/are working with a Doc who brought your T up over 1200, yet you weren’t pleased with your gains.

However, when you mentioned your training, it sounded decidedly poor.

My point is wIth that 1200+ T level, unless you’re really challenged genetically – or up near your genetic limit – you should make very good gains, provided you’re eating well and training intelligently.

So post your training. I’ll bet there’s much improvement that can be made there.

You likely aren’t using enough volume, and it sounds like you have really poor work capacity – both of which we can help you fix.

134

For those interested, here is my thread on my exercise regimen and experience:

My current regimen:

FREE WEIGHTS ONLY BODYBUILDING SHOULDERS/ARMS WORKOUT DAY 1
Dumbbell Shoulder Press 3 sets of 8-10 reps (Rest: 60 seconds)
Dumbbell Upright Rows 3 sets of 10-12 reps (Rest: 60 seconds)
Side Laterals (Rest: 60 seconds) 3 sets of 10-12 reps (Rest: 60 seconds)
Bent Over Lateral Raises 3 sets of 12-15 reps (Rest: 60 seconds)
Incline Curls 3 sets of 10-12 reps (Rest: 60 seconds)
Concentration Curls 3 sets of 10-12 reps (Rest: 60 seconds)
Hammer Curls 3 sets of 12-15 reps (Rest: 60 seconds)
Lying Dumbbell Triceps Extensions 3 sets of 10-12 reps (Rest: 60 seconds)
Overhead Dumbbell Triceps Extensions 3 sets of 12-15 reps (Rest: 60 seconds)
Triceps Dips (on parallel bars) 3 sets of 12-15 reps (Rest: 60 seconds)
Sprints

Rest Day 2

FREE WEIGHTS ONLY BODYBUILDING LEG WORKOUT DAY 3
Wide Stance Squats 4 sets of 8 reps (90 sec rest)
Medium Stance Squats 4 sets of 8 reps (Rest: 60 seconds)
Lunges 3 sets of 12 reps (Rest: 90 seconds)
Dumbbell Stiff Legged Dead-lifts 4 sets of 12 reps (Rest: 60 seconds)
Hanging Dumbbell Leg Curls 4 sets of 8-10 reps (60 sec rest) Note: I performed this exercise with a dumbbell in between my ankles and hanging from the pull-up bar. (Rest: 60 seconds)
Walking Lunges (pressing with the heels in order to emphasize the glutes and the hams) 3 sets of 13-15 repetitions. (Rest: 90 seconds)
One Legged Dumbbell Calf Raises (using the doorstep to inside the house as my platform) 6 sets of 15-25 reps (Rest: alternate back and forth without resting)
Sprints

Rest Day 4

FREE WEIGHTS ONLY BODYBUILDING CHEST/BACK/ABS WORKOUT DAY 5
Incline Bench Press 3 sets of 8-10 reps (Rest: 60 seconds)
Chest Dips 3 sets of 8-10 reps (Rest: 60 seconds)
Incline Flyes 3 sets of 12-15 reps (Rest: 60 seconds)
One Arm Dumbbell Rows 3 sets of 12-15 reps (Rest: 60 seconds)
Deadlifts 4x8 (alternate with either close grip or widegraip pull-ups)
-Close Grip Chins (Reverse Grip) 3 sets of 8-10 reps (Rest: 60 seconds)
-Wide Grip Pull-ups to Front 3 sets of 8-10 reps (Rest: 60 seconds)
Hanging Leg Raises 3 sets of 15-20 reps (Rest: 60 seconds)
Bicycle Crunches 3 sets of 20-25 reps (Rest: 60 seconds)
Weighted Crunches 3 sets of 12-15 reps (Rest: 60 seconds)
Sprints

Rest Day 5

Day 6 - start again

I had been doing this 3 on 1 off. Recently switched to 1 on 1 off.

You mention that my splits are “decidedly poor” pray tell, whats wrong with them?

[quote]Bryan Krahn wrote:
From what I read (please correct me if I missed something) you were/are working with a Doc who brought your T up over 1200, yet you weren’t pleased with your gains.

However, when you mentioned your training, it sounded decidedly poor.

Mt point is wIth that 1200+ T level, unless you are really challenged genetically – or up near your genetic limit – you should make very good gains, provided you’re eating well and training intelligently.

So post your training. I’ll bet you there’s much improvement that can be made there.

You likely aren’t using enough volume, and you likely have really poor work capacity – both of which we can help you fix.

[/quote]

135

Well, the volume seems to be there.

With the absence of lower rep-ranges in your training you could probably push the frequency somewhat. I’d like to see 2 on 1 off.

Also, I wouldn’t do the sprints after those workouts – unless it was 4-6 hours later – and I wouldn’t do the sprints more than twice a week (unless fat loss is the primary goal).

However, you could push a Prowler immediately after those workouts. Its easy to recover from and will build your work capacity.

Another alternative is to include 1 day a week of Strongman training. That will also improve your work capacity while getting you stronger.

136

Thank you for your perspective Bryan. May I ask how old you are?

[quote]Bryan Krahn wrote:
Well, the volume seems to be there.

With the absence of lower rep-ranges in your training you could probably push the frequency somewhat. I’d like to see 2 on 1 off.

Also, I wouldn’t do the sprints after those workouts – unless it was 4-6 hours later – and I wouldn’t do the sprints more than twice a week (unless fat loss is the primary goal).

However, you could push a Prowler immediately after those workouts. Its easy to recover from and will build your work capacity.

Another alternative is to include 1 day a week of Strongman training. That will also improve your work capacity while getting you stronger.
[/quote]

137

[quote]threepercenter wrote:
Thank you for your perspective Bryan. May I ask how old you are?

[quote]

The big 4-0.

138

Checking in. Today is my 15th day on 600mg/week of t-cyp (3x my “normal” trt dose). I feel pretty good, not much trouble with anything. Gym gains are steady, not massive. Adding 5lbs here and there on dumbbells, squat up another 5lbs. I pretty much lift at my limit for rep range and go to failure, which is typically pretty close to the set since I have increased the set weight as I felt stronger. I get 8-10 hours of sleep and I sleep well. Seriously considering dropping the sprinting.

I’m eating very cleanly as I have for a few years. meat, veggies, high quality carbs in the form of sweet potatoes etc. Pre/Post workout egg protein shakes. I’m sitting here stuffing my face with sweet potatoes - ugh. Just had 3/4lbs of ground beef on top of a huge salad for lunch, also a can of tuna. Dairy makes me puffy so I try to avoid it, and I’m vaguely wheat intolerant, so I avoid it as well.

So here’s the frustrating part: I just weighed myself expecting to have gained 3-5 lbs. I’ve lost 1lb. This is not the scale I normally use, but I have no reason to think it isn’t accurate. T-shirts feel tighter through the chest and biceps, I’m more aware of my physique, etc.

I’m just wondering how the frak I’m going to get more calories into myself without tossing. Per the caliper for my age range 46-50 I’m at ~11% bf. I’m just wondering if my “fighting weight” is more like 175lbs and my body is going to go down to this, before going back up. I’m 5’9" with about 30 months of relatively serious weight training behind me.

Thoughts? Anyone?

139

[quote]threepercenter wrote

Thoughts? Anyone?[/quote]

Ya, I’ll jump in. You got to use the same scale at the same time in the day, best in the morning. I don’t know if you measure yourself but that’s 1 of the best indications. Your weights are climbing and you feel tighter. There’s a good chance you’ve lost some fat, you will be just fine.

140

[quote]threepercenter wrote:
I’m eating very cleanly as I have for a few years. meat, veggies, high quality carbs in the form of sweet potatoes etc. Pre/Post workout egg protein shakes. I’m sitting here stuffing my face with sweet potatoes - ugh.
[/quote]

Put cinnamon and protein powder in those sweet potatoes to liven them up.

Do you drink enough water?

You’re only in about 2.5 weeks don’t worry with the scale. You should see bigger results by week five and six. Hang in there, you’re doin good.