Hi All,
I’m a 35 year old, 5’ 9", between 195-204lbs depending on water retention, pretty healthy in terms of weight lifting 2-3 times per week, cardio 2-3 times per week (max), and able to run a mile in 8 minutes (probably less if I really tried and didn’t care about burning myself up for the next training session).
Long story short - from an early age, I was given a horrible diet full of processed carbs, bad fats, etc. This developed into hypoglycemia in my teens, got worse as I got older, then at around the age of 23ish I realized I either had to change things up or suffer being a diabetic.
At that time I started my early research of health and diet, went through a LOT of trial and error, and fast forward to now (~10+ years later) I’m suffering the consequences of my overall diet in my earlier years AND the genes I have from family (family history of heart disease etc).
So nowadays once again I’m active, eating almost all organic healthy foods, and yet still suffer consequences to a degree that bothers me, despite being healthier than the majority of people in my age:
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I have ED - not 100% sure if it’s psychological or not but I used to have ZERO problems with this in the past. For the past year or two it has progressively gotten worse and I’m using ED med to overcome it (worried since I’m starting this at the age of 35…maybe the meds won’t work forever).
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I have a clean diet and am losing fat slower than I should - I’m thinking it’s either insulin sensitivity issues or stubborn fat (all in the chest/ab) area that built up during my years of bad bad eating when I was younger.
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I have slightly elevated blood pressure.
My general diet:
Morning could be 2-3 Ezekiel toasts w/ almond butter and thin layer of honey ROR banana w/ milk.
Mid-morning is usually 2 eggs, 4 whites, avocado, some beans OR oatmeal w/ banana and cinnamon (if I’m training that day)
Snack could be yoghurt, some nuts (macadamia and brazil nuts and walnuts) along with 2-3 fruits (blueberries, mangos, cherries, grapes, banana, or pineapple are my usual)
Lunch is always a clean protein with a salad, avocado, etc. Could also be w/ rice or sweet potato if training that day.
Post workout is usually an organic pop tart OR some rice pudding OR 3 bananas OR chocolate milk - if going w/ the pop tart/rice pudding/bananas I throw in a whey shake also.
After that it’s usually a clean protein with sweet potato and veggies.
I tend to not eat too much at night - I’ve cut out the ice creams and sweets altogether. IF I do eat at night it’ll be something like chicken w/ avocado and salad, or maybe a can of skipper fish, etc. Keeping insulin low at night feels better to me.
My food is 99% organic, hardly eating out, I take good supplements (quality multi, magnesium, pycnogenol, and turmeric extract), everything in my eyes is optimal.
My issues again:
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Despite being healthy with exercise, I have ED.
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I’m having so much trouble burning the fat on my chest/stomach…
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I sometimes have high BP.
My training is on point:
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Twice a week I have a HIGHLY knowledgable trainer - we do the basic moves (squats, bench, press, deadlift, shoulder presses) and we throw in a couple pump sets at the end.
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I rest well, tend to sleep well 80% of the time.
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I’m on TRT and have had my levels checked - all is within range and I feel very optimal mentally.
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Few times a week I do cardio on my own - this could be a 1 mile run, could be some sprints, could be a combo of jump rope/climber/rows, etc…get the heart going.
With all this effort, what else am I to try ?
Do I go super low carb and only take in carbs around training?
Do I go Keto despite not having enough energy with low carbs to push at training?
I’ve tried more/less workouts to make sure I’m not overtaining etc. Just at a loss of words how at 35 years old, with all this effort and looking “decent” I cannot overcome these few challenges after so many years at it.