Budda's weight gain log...

Training Training Logs
401

[quote]txhawkeyes wrote:
Hey Budda, here’s something interesting re: weight gain.

I hit 206 yesterday morning at the gym. First time ever. Have hit 205, but have been sitting at 203 for the last few weeks.

How’d I get those 3 pounds, in less than a week? Good question.

At the local show here couple weeks ago, I got a bunch a samples of Dymatize ELITE Mass Gainer. I loved the way it dissolved in milk, made great chocolate milk. So I ordered a 10 pounder, $ 54.95 USD delivered.

Good? There are 55 g protein in a 130 g serving. Thats 4 scoops, but it still dissolves. Plus, that’s an extra 700 calories I need, and another 75 or so Carbs. Lotsa good stuff in it.

I started using it post workout, and also at night pre bed. As a result, I gained 3 quick lbs.

But the other side of it is… I now have to eat REALLY clean due to getting all those extra kcals and carbs…as the weight showed up around my waist mostly. Also, the lower half of my back broke out lightly.

So yeah, it is a mass gainer, and it works. BUTTT I am going to have to stay pretty clean with food while I use it to keep the weight from just going to my waist. The light acne on my back? May be a reaction that will go away. I think it is from all the stuff in it. Luckily, it only has like 1 g sugar in 4 scoops, so I don’t think it has Fructose in it.

Haven’t figured it all out yet, but I kinda like the stuff.
[/quote]

I used to use a lot of those mass gainers when I was younger and couldn’t afford decent protein powder. They taste MUCH nicer, especially in milk, just like, if not nicer than chocolate milk shakes. Nowadays I prefer to increase (healthy) fat intake to gain extra calories and I usually get my ‘bad’ calories (in the form of carbs) from food. Throwing large tea spoon fulls of peanut or almond butter into my protein shakes is a favorite of mine, eggs work well, too.

The most important thing is that it works for you, there is no denying that those weight gain powders are effective, where I went wrong with them (out of ignorance) was ignoring the timing of them. Seeing as they contain so many carbs maybe try and consume them all before 1400? This should hep mitigate the fat gaining effects.

402

DL speed:

Conventional DL 100KG (50% 1RM) 25 x2

4 sets on the pull-up Lat machine
5 sets on calves
4 sets of kneeling ab crunches with pulley (maxed out on the stack, I never used to be able to do this)

403

[quote]buddaboy wrote:

[quote]txhawkeyes wrote:

[quote]buddaboy wrote:
BP max effort:

Pretty lousy workout today really. I worked all day plus I didn’t sleep too well last night. I wanted to do the floor press again but was training on my own so didn’t want to risk it, so opted for incline BP instead. In hindsight I should have waited for tomorrow and had an extra days recovery.

Incline BP: 50 x6, x8; 60 x3, x3, x3, x3; 70 x3; 80 x3, x1; 90 x2; 95 x1; 80 x3

The 95 is actually a PR but it felt crap and i’ve done 90 x3-5 before anyway, so I wasn’t too pleased with it really. I was going to stop there but did a bit of rotator cuff and rear delt stuff first.

rotator L&R x12, x12, x12

rear delts x25, x12, x15[/quote]

Do I take that 95 and multiply it by 2.2 to get pounds? That’s 210…and after all those
other lifts, that’s great.[/quote]

Hey TX, yup: 95KG x2.2 = 210LB’s :slight_smile:
[/quote]

BITCH ! :slight_smile: You’re now ahead of me. I have put up the 100 lb Dumbells…
now I’ll have to put up the 105’s !!! Seriously, good job.

I have been, due to my age, doing a lot of 20 rep sets. Keeps me outta pain
with my elbows, etc. I put up the 95 lb Dumbells 20 times…all three sets
this last week.

404

[quote]buddaboy wrote:

[quote]txhawkeyes wrote:
Hey Budda, here’s something interesting re: weight gain.

I hit 206 yesterday morning at the gym. First time ever. Have hit 205, but have been sitting at 203 for the last few weeks.

How’d I get those 3 pounds, in less than a week? Good question.

At the local show here couple weeks ago, I got a bunch a samples of Dymatize ELITE Mass Gainer. I loved the way it dissolved in milk, made great chocolate milk. So I ordered a 10 pounder, $ 54.95 USD delivered.

Good? There are 55 g protein in a 130 g serving. Thats 4 scoops, but it still dissolves. Plus, that’s an extra 700 calories I need, and another 75 or so Carbs. Lotsa good stuff in it.

I started using it post workout, and also at night pre bed. As a result, I gained 3 quick lbs.

But the other side of it is… I now have to eat REALLY clean due to getting all those extra kcals and carbs…as the weight showed up around my waist mostly. Also, the lower half of my back broke out lightly.

So yeah, it is a mass gainer, and it works. BUTTT I am going to have to stay pretty clean with food while I use it to keep the weight from just going to my waist. The light acne on my back? May be a reaction that will go away. I think it is from all the stuff in it. Luckily, it only has like 1 g sugar in 4 scoops, so I don’t think it has Fructose in it.

Haven’t figured it all out yet, but I kinda like the stuff.
[/quote]

I used to use a lot of those mass gainers when I was younger and couldn’t afford decent protein powder. They taste MUCH nicer, especially in milk, just like, if not nicer than chocolate milk shakes. Nowadays I prefer to increase (healthy) fat intake to gain extra calories and I usually get my ‘bad’ calories (in the form of carbs) from food. Throwing large tea spoon fulls of peanut or almond butter into my protein shakes is a favorite of mine, eggs work well, too.

The most important thing is that it works for you, there is no denying that those weight gain powders are effective, where I went wrong with them (out of ignorance) was ignoring the timing of them. Seeing as they contain so many carbs maybe try and consume them all before 1400? This should hep mitigate the fat gaining effects.[/quote]

Thats good info… I have used it to my liking in just the Post Workout shake, and the before bed shake on lift days. That kinda controls things pretty well. I looked at the Waxy Maize I was mixing in with protein in my post shake, and this stuff has all of it in one product. I’ll keep on it and see how it goes.

405

TX, if you consume your chocolate bars pre workout to protect glycogen stores, which we both accept works, then maybe one of these ‘gainer’ shakes post work out will replace the ‘used’ carbs nicely? Surely promoting anabolism and preventing catabolism.

I like high reps now, I am aiming for a set of 20 in the incline press with the 30KG (66LB) dumbbells, I also like the high rep shoulder presses, which I haven’t done for a while, and the timed belt squats, which I also haven’t done for a while. They are a great way to vary stimulus and improve conditioning. I’ve recently been doing 25x2 as quickly as conditioning will allow me to with good form.

Re the incline barbell press, I think 90kg x 3 is my best, but I’d have to trawl back through my log to confirm. You are definitely stronger on the dumbbells though. In fact it time I re tested my max on them, I may go for a heavy triple or set of five; I think I’m training with a friend tomorrow and the main exercise is the floor press, but we’ll do dumbbells after: watch this space!

Congratulations on the weight gain! I think it’s all down to finding out what works best for you re nutrition, we both seem to have been increasing our weight via implementing nutritional ‘tweaks’.

406

[quote]buddaboy wrote:
TX, if you consume your chocolate bars pre workout to protect glycogen stores, which we both accept works, then maybe one of these ‘gainer’ shakes post work out will replace the ‘used’ carbs nicely? Surely promoting anabolism and preventing catabolism.

I like high reps now, I am aiming for a set of 20 in the incline press with the 30KG (66LB) dumbbells, I also like the high rep shoulder presses, which I haven’t done for a while, and the timed belt squats, which I also haven’t done for a while. They are a great way to vary stimulus and improve conditioning. I’ve recently been doing 25x2 as quickly as conditioning will allow me to with good form.

Re the incline barbell press, I think 90kg x 3 is my best, but I’d have to trawl back through my log to confirm. You are definitely stronger on the dumbbells though. In fact it time I re tested my max on them, I may go for a heavy triple or set of five; I think I’m training with a friend tomorrow and the main exercise is the floor press, but we’ll do dumbbells after: watch this space!

Congratulations on the weight gain! I think it’s all down to finding out what works best for you re nutrition, we both seem to have been increasing our weight via implementing nutritional ‘tweaks’. [/quote]

Hey, glad you mentioned that. I asked BBB to talk more about it…but can you? Protect my glycogen stores…I agree. Can you explain further what that choc is doing? Ive been asked by a few people, and can’t explain it. The carbs and sugar obviously help keep your glycogen tank full? And, is Glycogen a straight energy source, or converted into something for energy? I have wondered more about it a lot.

I agree on the post shake. Before the gainer, I always had a shot of protein with 30-40 g of straight Complex carbs. I agree there too.

Last week, I put up 230 lbs on the Decline Barbell press. I put it up 3 sets of 20…the first was 20, the second was 22 and the last was 25 reps. The hilarious thing bout that, is if you put it in a max bench calculator, it shows I can bench 365 as a one rep max !!! LOL
I could never put that up in one shot. Fun to calculate, but no way.

Next, looking at trying a vial of PEG MGF. I finally figured out why the GHRP does not do much for me. Cause I am 47, and I am not spitting out GH like a young man. So when I use GHRP, it creates a pulse…but either the GH I spit out is not a very high amount, or it is not that high in quality at my age. Makes perfect sense.

Thinking about running a 12 week cycle of boosted T amount. Like 300 % of what I run each week now on TRT. Then when done, just go back to TRT at normal routine. Thought about using PEG MGF when I go back to normal too…just wondering. Would love to do IGF lr3, read a lot about it being better than IGF rh, but the lr 3 is like 50 USD a vial. hmmm bit expensive for poor me.

407

TX: I would blast and cruise on the test. 750mg test a week is a nice amount for say, 10-12 weeks; then, go back onto TRT and use GHRP-6 and CJC to increase appetite and help keep the weight on. Blasting and cruising is very effective. The first few weeks of a cruise (assuming it is following on from a blast should yield good gains in weight as your body will be recovering and crying out for calories and will subsequently grow when it gets them. A blast would be great for you as it would allow your body to absorb and utilize a lot more calories due to the increase in metabolism.

I cannot explain the chocolate bar thing either. All I know is that it works, well! The guy you mentioned who’s protocol that is has had his account closed so is on another forum now, you dat one I mean?

Maybe we could try a run of the peg MGF together and log our results here?

3 x20 with 230LB on the decline is awesome! I couldn’t do anywhere near that. Re the one rep max: if your joints allowed I think you’d be surprised if you switched to triples for a few weeks and ‘translated’ your strength into low reps. That isn’t really a big deal though, what is a big deal is that you’re still in the game and making progress, despite setbacks like tendonitis.

I think the next obstacle will be (and this is partly conjecture, and partly opinion from an empirical perspective) that your body will adjust to the high reps and progress will slow down as your body ‘accommodates’. There are still plenty of options though: switching to dumbbells, squatting in Olympic shoes, incline presses etc, you know what you’re doing…

Glad to hear you’re getting on well anyhow :wink:

408

Max effort BP:
Flat BP, medium grip: 60 x5, x5; 70 x4, x3; 80 x3; 80KG plus 60KG chains: x2, 85 chain x1 (wider grip) x1 (closer grip - easier); 90 chains x1; 95 chains x1; 100 chains x1! new PR, thats 160kg at the top; 85 chains x5

calves: x15, x12, x10, x15

dips: x5, x12, x6, x6, x10, x5, x10 (54 in total)

neck x3 static holds

rear delts: x12, x10, x10, x10

409

[quote]buddaboy wrote:
TX: I would blast and cruise on the test. 750mg test a week is a nice amount for say, 10-12 weeks; then, go back onto TRT and use GHRP-6 and CJC to increase appetite and help keep the weight on. Blasting and cruising is very effective. The first few weeks of a cruise (assuming it is following on from a blast should yield good gains in weight as your body will be recovering and crying out for calories and will subsequently grow when it gets them. A blast would be great for you as it would allow your body to absorb and utilize a lot more calories due to the increase in metabolism.

I cannot explain the chocolate bar thing either. All I know is that it works, well! The guy you mentioned who’s protocol that is has had his account closed so is on another forum now, you dat one I mean?

Maybe we could try a run of the peg MGF together and log our results here?

3 x20 with 230LB on the decline is awesome! I couldn’t do anywhere near that. Re the one rep max: if your joints allowed I think you’d be surprised if you switched to triples for a few weeks and ‘translated’ your strength into low reps. That isn’t really a big deal though, what is a big deal is that you’re still in the game and making progress, despite setbacks like tendonitis.

I think the next obstacle will be (and this is partly conjecture, and partly opinion from an empirical perspective) that your body will adjust to the high reps and progress will slow down as your body ‘accommodates’. There are still plenty of options though: switching to dumbbells, squatting in Olympic shoes, incline presses etc, you know what you’re doing…

Glad to hear you’re getting on well anyhow ;-)[/quote]

Funny you mentioned triples. I saw the article on here yesterday, and am going to use the program for a month for my Track Throwers. We had been doing a lot of higher reps, but I think it would be good to change into low reps to try and get the last bit of strength we can going into Districts in 3 weeks. I may do it with them.

I am going to go a lot lower on the T…probably go 300 extra each week on top of my 100. That’s only 400, and I can manage that increase with my family, work, etc.
But good info, esp. on having to eat a bunch after the 12th week. Glad you told me that. I can pound the gainer in those weeks as well.

I still have that PEG MGF in the fridge, powder form…don’t know when, but gonna hit it one day. I go to Doc to get blood work Tuesday, after my last dose was ten days prior. Later Tuesday, gonna start my extra 300. Probably split the first week into two 200 doses.

410

[quote]buddaboy wrote:
Max effort BP:
Flat BP, medium grip: 60 x5, x5; 70 x4, x3; 80 x3; 80KG plus 60KG chains: x2, 85 chain x1 (wider grip) x1 (closer grip - easier); 90 chains x1; 95 chains x1; 100 chains x1! new PR, thats 160kg at the top; 85 chains x5

calves: x15, x12, x10, x15

dips: x5, x12, x6, x6, x10, x5, x10 (54 in total)

neck x3 static holds

rear delts: x12, x10, x10, x10[/quote]

Your bench is going well ! We are not that far apart in strength… if you add up all the reps you do, we both do about 40-60 by the time we are done. If you moved over to the 20 reps x 3 sets, or I moved over to the program you are doing, I bet we would be pretty close.

I am behind you on Squats. Finally doing them perfectly, with the bar on my shoulders…but only doing 3 sets of 10, with a total of just 100 lbs. That’s only like 45 kg…so not much.
Then again, can’t recall where you are at, but at least you are tall and have the same issues I have with that move !!! :slight_smile:

411

TX: With your shoulders and elbows I can’t recommend enough the safety squat bar. Unless you plan on competing I see no need to stick with the regular bar unless you simply cannot access a safety squat bar. Front squats are king for us tall guys IMO, the harness for them is great too, a little uncomfortable but it saves the shoulders.

I think 400mg test a week will effect a nice difference, especially if its pharm grade. I’m looking forwards to seeing how you get on.

I have trouble going higher than sets of 15 in the bench, though I think I’ve reached 30 in the dumbbell shoulder press and about 36 in the belt squat. Anything higher than 10 in the bench I use dumbbells.

Im off on holiday in a couple of months so I’m going to try and lose a little fat and pump my chest, biceps, and calves up a little!

Personally, although doing a one rep max is fun, I see no real need for doing it if you don’t compete (though conversely I have been lately). I’ve always been more comfortable with doing a 3-5 rep max, or a heavy double if I must. I think the two reasons for this are that 1: I’ve suffered some serious lower back issues which I don’t intend to re aggravate, and 2: I’ve nearly always trained alone.

One thing I’ve observed the last couple of weeks is that whilst I’ve been using the WSB template and have been focusing on DE, whilst I’ve been getting better with chains and bands my ‘absolute’, or ‘max effort’ strength has felt a little more uncomfortable. It’s because I’m accustomed to focusing on either or, high reps or low reps; the WSB method requires you to work both (well three actually: speed, repetition and DE) in the same week on an ongoing basis, this is physically and psychologically taxing, requiring a mental ‘shifting of gears’. I think it is beneficial to try and include heavy triples and higher reps in a program, 5/3/1 does this and it kicked my ass whilst I was getting used to it.

PM me your email address and I’ll send you a copy of 5/3/1 if you’re interested. One of my favorite books is Bill Starr’s ‘the strongest shall survive’, have you read it?

412

Extra workout: dynamic stretching full body routine
hammer curls x15; band face pulls, x30, x10, x10; close grip bench press: bar x30, 50 x10, x10; wide grip x20

413

Training looking good man. Keep killing it. IDK how you get that high with the Dumbbells, I feel awkward as shit with them. lol

414

[quote]Spidey22 wrote:
Training looking good man. Keep killing it. IDK how you get that high with the Dumbbells, I feel awkward as shit with them. lol[/quote]

Thanks man, I’ll drop in your log soon, sorry I’ve been quite busy lately.

415

Squat/DL ME:

12.5" wide (as wide as rack will allow) safety bar box squats: first time with this exercise

bar x10; 65 x5, x3; 75 x4; 85 x3; 95 x2; 105 x2; 115 x2

105KG 60 kG chains: x2, 2nd rep HARD, I forgot to push shoulders up into the bar

115KG chains: x1, easier than rep 2 on last set, x1 easier than last 2 reps, pushed shoulders up, but still hard, but more crisp and mechanical than the last couple.

Front squats in olympic shoes with harness down to 12.5" box:
60 x3; 70 x5; 80 x6; 90 x3; 100 x3, x3

this took over 90 minutes so quit as thighs were fried. I tried to do a set of reverse hypers with no weight but my hammies were too fucked - job done!

27/03/2012
Decided to go to commercial gym today for DE Bench day. Been so long since I trained regularly at a commercial gym that I naively thought I’d easily get a place on a flat bench press station…

Anyway, there is always a positive which can be taken from every negative… this gym has a great slanted calf raise machine and a great incline bench which I managed to get onto, and today was only 25 x2 on the flat bench with 50% - no biggy if I couldn’t do that.

– indicates drop set

Calves on slanted raise machine: 50 x20 --x15; 90 x11, x11, x11–50 x15; 50 x11, x13

incline BP: 50 x12; 60 x8; 70 x5; 80 x5, x5, x5, x5

Plate loaded pull-up machine: 60 x10; 80 x15, x6; 100 x6 too hevay; 80 x8, x10

leg press calves x20, x17 x15, x6

plate loaded chest press 3 sets

walked home from gym

416

I wasn’t going to train today but decided to get an extra workout in seeing as I felt like i had it in me - no point repressing it is there?

Yesterday’s flat bench presses 25 x2, I just decided to go for 50 in total in the end.

Warm up: bar x45; 60 x6; 60KG plus purple bands: x3, x3, x3, x4, x5, x2, x2, x5, x5, x5, x5, x5, x5 (52 in total)

green band ab crunch: x20

calves 60 x18, 70 x15, x12

chain suspended good mornings: regular bar. I had to fuck around to get the height right but I liked these. Ended up 44.5 inches from the floor, prolly an inch or two above (but I can’t be sure) where I’d be in the starting position of a conventional DL
60 x5, x5; 80 x5, x1, x4, x3, x5

GM- Squat down to a 12.5 inch box: bar x5; 65 x6, x5, x5

417

[quote]Spidey22 wrote:
Training looking good man. Keep killing it. IDK how you get that high with the Dumbbells, I feel awkward as shit with them. lol[/quote]

I started really concentrating on doing Dumbell Bench about 3 months ago. It was right after I read an article about the Squats and Milk program. That program has you doing sets of 20 reps on a lot of stuff, including the Dumbell Bench. Back then, I started with the 75 lb Dumbell. In three months, I am using the 105’s now. And I’m old !!! :slight_smile: AND, recall, my program has me doing a lot of 20 rep sets. I can to 20 reps with the 105’s…and do 3 sets.

A max out calculator tells me that I can bench 380 pounds as a one time max, do to doing
the 105’s for 20’s. But honestly, there is no way !

And another result of doing Dumbells for a while, is that I can move good weight now the the Barbell. I do 245 lbs and 2 sets of 20.

And brother, I am NOT bragging. If you saw how skinny I still am, at 6’1" and 203, you would
laugh. I’m just saying that practice with Dbells makes perfect.

Good luck to you !!!

418

[quote]buddaboy wrote:
TX: With your shoulders and elbows I can’t recommend enough the safety squat bar. Unless you plan on competing I see no need to stick with the regular bar unless you simply cannot access a safety squat bar. Front squats are king for us tall guys IMO, the harness for them is great too, a little uncomfortable but it saves the shoulders.

I just looked up the safety squat bar…never seen that before in my life. My gym is too cheap to have one. It looks like a great way to do em though…

I think 400mg test a week will effect a nice difference, especially if its pharm grade. I’m looking forwards to seeing how you get on.

I started yesterday after my blood “letting” and did the end of my last bottle and it had 220 mg left in it according to my syringe. Got call back from Dr’s nurse today, and after doing 100 mg shots for 6 months now, on a weekly basis, I leveled off my Test level better. Got it up to…a WHOPPING 252 !!! Scale is 250 - 800. Nurse tells me to stay as I was, and I instantly corrected her. I told her it was due to her that I waited for 6 months to go from 220 to 252…after starting at 142 a year ago. She comes back with, GET THIS… “You level is fine!” I then went all Math on her, told her that 252 on a scale of 250-800 is only two points from dropping off, etc… My TRT is now going to 150 a week.

It looks like the new T I am getting is 500 mg per ml, so I will use a dose of 250 every three to four days…that will end up being 500 a week. I am sure it will be plenty. I think I can put on a new 20 pounds in 12 weeks. Then, I will taper off slowly so I don’t lose it, or try not to.

I have trouble going higher than sets of 15 in the bench, though I think I’ve reached 30 in the dumbbell shoulder press and about 36 in the belt squat. Anything higher than 10 in the bench I use dumbbells.

Im off on holiday in a couple of months so I’m going to try and lose a little fat and pump my chest, biceps, and calves up a little!

Personally, although doing a one rep max is fun, I see no real need for doing it if you don’t compete (though conversely I have been lately). I’ve always been more comfortable with doing a 3-5 rep max, or a heavy double if I must. I think the two reasons for this are that 1: I’ve suffered some serious lower back issues which I don’t intend to re aggravate, and 2: I’ve nearly always trained alone.

Dude, that’s ironic. I always train alone. I’m kind of an asshole when I work out, and I don’t think anyone would like lifting with me. I do get a spot occasionally though, I bring out the salesman and I am very nice to people when I need a spot. :slight_smile: Interesting though…when you train alone, you train differently due to what you can do alone…makes sense.

One thing I’ve observed the last couple of weeks is that whilst I’ve been using the WSB template and have been focusing on DE, whilst I’ve been getting better with chains and bands my ‘absolute’, or ‘max effort’ strength has felt a little more uncomfortable. It’s because I’m accustomed to focusing on either or, high reps or low reps; the WSB method requires you to work both (well three actually: speed, repetition and DE) in the same week on an ongoing basis, this is physically and psychologically taxing, requiring a mental ‘shifting of gears’. I think it is beneficial to try and include heavy triples and higher reps in a program, 5/3/1 does this and it kicked my ass whilst I was getting used to it.

PM me your email address and I’ll send you a copy of 5/3/1 if you’re interested. One of my favorite books is Bill Starr’s ‘the strongest shall survive’, have you read it?
[/quote]

I’ll get you a PM right now…I will read ANYTHING you send me. No doubt.
I got a Nick Nilsson email the other day, they always want to sell something, but
he also throws in a new excercise. The last one was kneeling in a Smith machine,
and doing a shoulder press, then pushing weight back up arms extended, locking it
up with the clips, and then doing a wide arm pull up while your toes are still touchinng
the ground. I did it, and had my Track guys do it…it works the shoulder and then
the back side of it too.
I appreciate and welcome any help from you man.

419

That’s sent TX.

DE squat: I trained for over two hours yesterday, so my hips were a bit fried today. I still had a go though.

15.5" safety bar box squats: 60 x5

60 plus chains: x4, x3, x5, x5, x3, x6, x5

80 plus chains: x5, x3, 80 with no chains x3

finished.

420

Hey B, thanks for the pdf ! I missed it last year, but in the Fall there is a local powerlifting contest. I will use the 5 3 1 deal to get prepped for that. Imagine how many guys 48 years old powerlift…not a LOT. I would imagine it would be fun, and if only one other guy showed up in Masters, I would get a minimum of second place for sure !!!

Did bloodwork to renew TRT Rx Tuesday morning early. Went home and dosed 220 mg of T (end of the bottle). Last night I dosed another 200 mg before bed. Need to get up to 250 twice a week, on Sun night and Thurs mornings…

Woke up this morning, and my body doesn’t ache all over like usual. I also noticed how clear headed I am. Can juggle tasks and thoughts very well this morning. What a nice relief !

Nurse calls Wed. “Well, everything looks just fine.” (Std phrase to get you off phone quick.) Your Test level is up to 252, so it looks just fine.
(A year ago, it was 142. Oh, and BTW, the scale for the test? 250 - 800 !)
Me: " NO ITS NOT! "
Her:" Yes, its just fine. Its 252. "
ME: " NO ITS NOT. YOu don’t have to be a genous to see that 252 on a scale that starts at 250, is only 2 pts from falling off!!!"
Her: silence
Me: " Ma’am, you did this to me 6 months ago. It went up to 220 and you said it was FINE and blew me off for 6 months. I told the Dr what I am probably going to do is go from 100 a week, to 150 a week. Told the nice nurse too."
Her: silence
Me:" Write down in the file, that patient discussed with Dr that if level still low they should move to 150 a week. Patient is doing that, due to contd low level of 252."
Etc.

(this nurse is older, and whenever I get a shot with antibiotics she uses…get this…an 18 GAUGE NEEDLE.)

I think her name is Nurse Cratchett. ( see the movie, and you’ll get it. )