You too! And if there’s ever anything I can do to help you on the nutrition/diet front - just holler! I’ve spent the bulk of my career working in the performance, bodybuilding/figure and Crossfit arenas, so if you’ve ever got a tough case or question - I’d love to help! 
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Hi Bronwen, glad to see you back on the forums and thank you for this thread! I finally decided to create an account.
Goals currently are to lose some fat and gain muscle while eating better and drinking less. Yes, I did read your post in the other thread, a work in progress for now
A bit of back story, I am 5’11, 41Y/O and currently at my heaviest at about 173lbs. Two kids ages 18 and 16. I was always thin (probably too thin with no muscle til I had kids) although most of my family is overweight until about four years ago. I know some of it has to do with Covid times/lack of gym, drinking and food choices but also think my hormones are playing into it.
I do not have an active job at all, but we have started building a decent ‘gym’ in the basement and I have GOALS! I may start a training log just to keep myself accountable.
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These aren’t separate from each other - inactivity, drinking and bad diets are directly related to your hormone levels. Activity, abstaining and good diets can transform your hormonal profile.
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Welcome @TacosandTequila
Thanks for joining the forums and sharing with us. It sounds like you know where your problems are and I’m glad to hear that you’re on the right path to reaching your goals.
I love home gyms! I’ve been training at my house since 2015 and really enjoy it. It will be great as long as you’re very self motivated. What kind of equipment do you have in your basement gym?
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I agree with this ^^ 
@TacosandTequila like you said, everything is a work in progress right now. Start making changes and stick with your plan… with time and dedication you will reach your goals.
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This can be tested if you are really that sure of it. BHRT (bio-identical hormone replacement therapy) or HRT (hormone replacement therapy) could alleviate these things, but only if you’re actually having hormonal issues. As @flappinit said, lifestyle choices affect hormones significantly and can present symptoms that could be remedied with better choices.
You should start a training log. It will help you, and also be a value added to the community. Food for thought. I mean, not literal food, but ya know…
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I concur! It would be extremely beneficial for you to start a training log. I would be interested in following and I know a lot of other people will learn from your journey.
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@flappinit You are right, they are not separate. I guess, it feels more like my metabolism isn’t what it used to be.
@Bronwen_Blunt Thanks for the welcome! I think I know where my problems are and am willing to make changes. Consistency will be key. So far we have dumbbells 5-90lbs, the bowflex barbell and curl bar set, an adjustable bench and an elliptical. Hubby wants to upgrade to a real Olympic barbell set and squat rack now that we have moved his office and made more room.
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@Andrewgen_Receptors Thank you! Yes, food for thought 
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An Olympic barbell set and squat rack would be a great addition! Bands would be another suggestion because they are inexpensive and very versatile. I’m all about the basics… I trained for 5 years with just a barbell, 450lbs in plates, 5-30lb dumbbells, a bench and some cheap squat stands. I couldn’t afford anything fancy at the time and I bought more weight for the barbell as I progressed. Needless to say, I had to be very creative with exercises and you will have to do the same… that’s part of the fun when you have a home gym!
Your home gym sounds awesome and I look forward to hearing more from you on here.
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What it doooooooo.
PlanetCybertron. Been in the forums for a hot min. Y’all know me lol.
Powerlifter through and through. Best lifts were 405 squat, 215 bench, 380 dead. Had a handful of competitions. Gnarly back and shoulder injury. Will eventually want to compete again though. Also hit a 135 and 150lb PR for push press and overhead press earlier this year.
Recovering from a 14 year journey from an eating disorder. Some days are good some days are bad.
Psych major. Am a therapist/psychotherapist and a licensed nail tech in my spare time. Love what I do, love helping people, listening, being a shoulder to cry on. Love all things mental and emotional health.
Just working on whatever I please. And doing things I suck at or am brand new to. Try to be a Jack of all trades when it comes to conditioning or anything that deviates from more powerlifting style training for a bit. PL will always be my bread and butter though. I’m obsessed with high volume squatting. Bike riding, rowing, and a bunch of rehab/prehab stuffs in between. I’m 5 feet clocking in at 195lbs, 27 years old.
Uhh what else…I collect comic books?
I collect comic books.
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HI!!! @planetcybertron
Powerlifter through and through, I can definitely relate to this. When was your last competition? Wow… a 405lb squat, great lift!
Congrats on the PR’s for your push press and OH press. Very impressive.
How did you hurt your back and shoulder?
What do you suck at? Is there anything you have discovered that you neglected while you were competing in powerlifting?
I haven’t been on the platform since 2018 and since that I’ve been concentrating on a lot of hamstring and glute work because I needed it. I do a lot of stretching and mobility work now and my body appreciates it and doesn’t feel broken anymore!
Thank you for sharing your story. It’s great to have you here in this thread. Feel free to post some of your lifting vids, it’s always impressive and motivational to see women throwing around big weights 
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20…18? I believe? Yeah 2018. It’s somewhere up in my log.
Lower back injury came from a PR attempt back when I was first trying to break the two plate barrier (225) for deadlifts. I was straining quite a bit and if I recall correctly I had my foot placement in an odd position and I ended up herniating a disc a bit. Have healed up nicely since then but I have sciatica as a symptom of it.
Shoulder, came about quite slowly but mostly from benching. That muscle that retracts the shoulder blades I pulled it some time ago so im still mostly recovering from that. Don’t bench nearly as much as I used to.
Mostly agility-type training. Jumping, fast changes in direction, power production (oly lifts), etc. so I try to program them in just to be a bit more well rounded. Can always stand to keep throwing various forms of endurance/cardio work in there.
I definitely neglected more pre-hab work. Back then I was very heavily focused on rehab, but having a good “before” absolutely helps in the long term.
Definitely this as well. Active rest days are amazing too.
Aww thank you! I’ll be sure to get some up soon.
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This maybe the right place to ask:
I am just finishing Thib’s complete power look, second time doing. Got good result but 3 time in a row get a bit boring.
I do enjoy the one lift per day, so debating
going with
5/3/1, Best darn strength plan (thib again) or something in the like.
I do best with 4 to 5 days per week, don’t care about women program.
Goal get stronger without adding too much fluff.
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I have always thought this one looked interesting.
And this one is fun once you get the hang of it
Definitely planning on running 6 weeks again if I can get sorted out.
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5/3/1 is always a good choice! Are you training for a competition or just want to get stronger in general?
I haven’t tried either of the programs that @ChickenLittle suggested but they look good… I’m interested in trying the 6 Weeks to Superhero!
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Damn, that sucks! I’m glad you are healing up nicely. Amazingly enough I didn’t hurt my back while lifting… I hurt mine when I crashed on my dirt bike and I dislocated my shoulder at the same time 
Do you have sciatic pain when you deadlift now?
https://www.t-nation.com/training/tip-the-paused-sumo-deadlift/
How about this for a throw back from 5 years ago! I love these ^^^^
What is everyone’s favorite deadlift variation?
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I compete against myself at the moment.
I have competing horses since I was a teen up the doing the PanAm qualification trials.
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