Thoroughbred72
New member
I have a question for anyone that knows a good bit about what happens to the body, on a cellular or molecular level when there is significant caloric deficit where muscle degradation and atrophy occurs. Let me explain my situation, and I will try to be as concise as possible.
About 8 months ago, I began having a great deal of psychological and emotional stress that involved my career. It became overwhelming and I couldn't sleep well, didn't have an appetitie, and therefore, didn't eat much (I might have had one to two meals a day, and if I had to guess, my calories were probably around 800-1500 a day). When I could get to the gym, my workouts had little to no intensity and I usually didn't finish the workout, due to thinking about my stressful situation. Therefore, over a six month period of time, I lost significant muscle mass, and was off cycle. Before this happened, I was busting out of shirts and sweaters that were size XL, but I can now fit easily into size Large shirts. I lost almost all my major muscles in terms of size, fullness, and shape. Strength went down considerably. I now look thin, and not the body builder I had been for years. During this time I quickly developed a large belly that looks like a basketball underneath my chest. If you looked at me, you would say that I had a dad bod, not a muscle bod like I did before. My energy levels plummeted, appetite was almost non existent, and I don't have the energy, unless I drink tons of energy drinks to give a great workout. I have noticed that the outer edges to my chest, continue to 'cave in' and the pectoral and back muscles (lat, middle of the back and traps) have atrophied the most. I would say that atropy and muscle degradation have occurred. I lost over 20 pounds of muscle (almost 25 pounds) in about 4-5 months, but not much fat.
I am now back on cycle and have been since the middle of December. By now, the test shouldve kicked in. I am currently taking two injections a week; first is 250 mg test (100mg cyp, 100mg enan, 50mg prop) along with 200 mg of nandrolone decanoate. After 3-4 days into the week, I take a supplemental of 100mg prop. This is all from compounding pharmacies, and it legally prescribed. I also take anastrozole throughout the week. HOWEVER, I am not experiencing any energy, muscle size and mass increase, strength increase, or muscle tone increase. Every three weeks, or so, I notice even more muscle loss in terms of size and mass. When I workout, and when I'm out of the gym, my muscles feel soft, and 'soggy.' My shirts and pants (this also goes for my quads and hamstrings, continue to get more baggy and loose fiting (size Large). I have no to little muscle tone (when I was on cycle before, the test would make my muscles tight all the time), NO muscle pumps during an intense weight workout, and it's hard for me to focus during my workouts.
Some would probably say that I need to focus on my diet by eating more calories, but I've already tried that. What happens is that the extra calories goes to my belly, love handles and ass. I would say that I have had a significant decrease in nitrogen retention, the cells of the muscles have shrunk considerably, metabolism decline, and who knows what eleseIGF-1 levels drop. I am looking for anyone that has experience or knowledge with this issue, when trying to rebuild their bodybuilding size after a prolonged period of stress/calorie deficit, etc, and what they need to do about getting back to the anabolic state when I can rebuild the muscle back. I know that this is all anecdotal evidence; I do not have any labs, nor can I afford any right now.
What do I need to do to get my body back to the muscle size and anabolic state it was in before? How can I change the cellular and molecullar changes that have occurred and get me back to where I once was?
About 8 months ago, I began having a great deal of psychological and emotional stress that involved my career. It became overwhelming and I couldn't sleep well, didn't have an appetitie, and therefore, didn't eat much (I might have had one to two meals a day, and if I had to guess, my calories were probably around 800-1500 a day). When I could get to the gym, my workouts had little to no intensity and I usually didn't finish the workout, due to thinking about my stressful situation. Therefore, over a six month period of time, I lost significant muscle mass, and was off cycle. Before this happened, I was busting out of shirts and sweaters that were size XL, but I can now fit easily into size Large shirts. I lost almost all my major muscles in terms of size, fullness, and shape. Strength went down considerably. I now look thin, and not the body builder I had been for years. During this time I quickly developed a large belly that looks like a basketball underneath my chest. If you looked at me, you would say that I had a dad bod, not a muscle bod like I did before. My energy levels plummeted, appetite was almost non existent, and I don't have the energy, unless I drink tons of energy drinks to give a great workout. I have noticed that the outer edges to my chest, continue to 'cave in' and the pectoral and back muscles (lat, middle of the back and traps) have atrophied the most. I would say that atropy and muscle degradation have occurred. I lost over 20 pounds of muscle (almost 25 pounds) in about 4-5 months, but not much fat.
I am now back on cycle and have been since the middle of December. By now, the test shouldve kicked in. I am currently taking two injections a week; first is 250 mg test (100mg cyp, 100mg enan, 50mg prop) along with 200 mg of nandrolone decanoate. After 3-4 days into the week, I take a supplemental of 100mg prop. This is all from compounding pharmacies, and it legally prescribed. I also take anastrozole throughout the week. HOWEVER, I am not experiencing any energy, muscle size and mass increase, strength increase, or muscle tone increase. Every three weeks, or so, I notice even more muscle loss in terms of size and mass. When I workout, and when I'm out of the gym, my muscles feel soft, and 'soggy.' My shirts and pants (this also goes for my quads and hamstrings, continue to get more baggy and loose fiting (size Large). I have no to little muscle tone (when I was on cycle before, the test would make my muscles tight all the time), NO muscle pumps during an intense weight workout, and it's hard for me to focus during my workouts.
Some would probably say that I need to focus on my diet by eating more calories, but I've already tried that. What happens is that the extra calories goes to my belly, love handles and ass. I would say that I have had a significant decrease in nitrogen retention, the cells of the muscles have shrunk considerably, metabolism decline, and who knows what eleseIGF-1 levels drop. I am looking for anyone that has experience or knowledge with this issue, when trying to rebuild their bodybuilding size after a prolonged period of stress/calorie deficit, etc, and what they need to do about getting back to the anabolic state when I can rebuild the muscle back. I know that this is all anecdotal evidence; I do not have any labs, nor can I afford any right now.
What do I need to do to get my body back to the muscle size and anabolic state it was in before? How can I change the cellular and molecullar changes that have occurred and get me back to where I once was?