I’ve been working hard change my body composition for several months. I’ve lost about 25 pounds, and have about that much yet to go. I’ve been following the Physique Clinic, especially Gus, Bartl, and Naya. Great job you guys!
Is anyone else out there currently doing the same? I think it would be helpful to share ideas, experiences, motivation, etc. As I’m new to the forums (I’ve been reading T-Nation for a while though), I’m not sure if this is the right place. I could easily set up a private email list, and perhaps just post monthly results here. Anyone interested?
Anyway, I’m a former marathoner/ultrarunner. I developed arthritis a couple of years ago (elbow, knee and ankle), and have basically quit running, at least until I lose a few more pounds. I’ve lifted on and off since high school, but up until the last year or so, my main exercise was running. Now, it’s lifting.
I’m 54, and have a desk job (engineer). I’m currently doing a full body workout 3x per week, and walking, jumping rope, doing some GPP type exercises to boost my metabolism.
My goal is to get down to about 8% body fat for the first time since High School, and see what my abs look like! Then, I’ll probably try to put on some muscle mass without gaining the fat back.
I hope to hear from others going through a similar transformation.
I expect all of my parameters need adjusting! OTOH, I’m really pretty healthy. There’s no real indication of any problem. The arthritis is caused by old injuries (elbow - spiral fracture of the humerus, knee and ankle - meniscectomy). Strengthening the muscles around the knee joint has helped a lot with pain in that joint.
I take glucosamin/chondroitin, and fish oil. Other than those and vitamins/minerals, I don’t really take any other supplements (unless you count whey powder - I just think of it as food).
I’ve noticed that there are a lot of discussions of HRT on the over 35 forum. Maybe I need to read up on some of those. I have read a few posts, and ran across at least one horror story. Is it really worth messing around with in the absence of any known problem? And BTW, I’m already at my wife’s limit of “once per week whether I need it or not.”
I’m 37, and had a lot of parameters that needed to be adjusted because of metabolic issues and low T (secondary hypogonadism).
As KSman suggested, get thorough blood tests.
Lately I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I started on Armour Thyroid at the end of 2007 and about a month later I am feeling excellent and am looking a bit leaner.
There’s a lot of good discussion here, but remember we are all different and what may be a good therapy for one man may not be exactly what another needs. Hopefully you have an up-to-date, thorough doctor.
We’re here for you to share what has worked for us, and what has not.
I’ve gotten a lot of good info from the T-Nation site. Up until about a year ago, my weightlifting info came from Arnold’s and Weider’s books on body building. I did lot’s of isolation exercises, and very little squatting and deadlifting. Well, that has changed!
I guess I thought I was “advanced” or something. Now I realize I’m still pretty much a beginner.
First, I discovered CrossFit. They have a lot of good ideas, and I started doing more multi-joint exercises and gradually weaned myself off of most of the isolation stuff. Then I found T-Nation, and started reading all of the many great articles here. I’ve worked my way backwards through 2005. I try to follow the “take what works for me, and discard the rest” approach.
As of this morning, I’m a little over 165 lbs (down from over 190 last year). Based on previous experience, and skinfold measurements (I went so far as to buy my own calipers), I expect to hit 8% body fat somewhere in the low 140’s.
I’ll post my diet strategy and current weight routine later. The weights I’m lifting certainly won’t impress anyone here. I’m on a very gradual progression to give my bones, ligaments, and tendons plenty of time to adapt. I’ve pushed things a bit too fast, and managed to injure myself several times in the last few months. I think the slow and steady approach will get me there faster in the long run! I gotta keep telling myself I’m 54, not 45! Of course, next year that whole “age dyslexia” thing won’t make any difference.
I’ll probably start running some again when I get my weight below 160, although I’ll probably never do the big miles again that I used to do.
