END WEEK #3
13 WEEKS OUT FROM SHOW
Week 3 was when things really started coming together..
Weight: Holding in the 189-190lb range. Still amazed that I am packing away these amounts of cals, and struggling to hold on to weight. A cheat meal was added mid-week, on a non-WO day, on top of my regular fare -- this put the totals cals on that day ~5000.
Strength: I'm not one to judge & gauge effectiveness or progression by simply how much poundage I can move..still, I'm tossing around weights like they're toys. Yesterday was an intense leg session, best one yet of prep, and my ATG squats were strong, moving like a machine in there..very pleased in this department.
Stamina: After builiding myself up gradually in terms of activity first 2 weeks, I really let things all hang out during week 3. I feel, well, like a youngster again.
Libido: LOL. Well, I been focused on a great many things currently, so the "desire" part has receeded..
(the dude downstairs just hasn't been on the same page; he seems to be always on the prowl, at the slightest whim)
Drive: If there is one thing that shines out to me even with all these positive facets, it is this category. I want to hit my sessions each day with ferocity..I want to train when I'm scheduled to rest..I dream about my workouts, and I even mess up my purchases at the grocery store because I have my training on the brain.
Recovery: No letdown, continues to be impeccable, despite my brutal and intense sessions.
Discussion:
The steroidal education of (and introduction to) Snag continues, and this week I was finally able to spend some more time researching and self-edifying. And there's a reason for that (other than my normal thirst for knowledge)..
First - all the minor nusances have mostly dissipated. Night sweats are gone (my sheets are thankful), no problems peeing (was only isolated few times)..no abnormal feeling in my testicles. The one nusance that remains, is a bit of acne. Nothing bad, but my back is broke out a tad, a little on my chest (chest could also be irritation from shaving it & tanning, no biggie).
One thing that did not go away but rather increased, was L nipple irritability and swelling. And so - safeguards were put in play to combat estrogen-related side effects going forward, in the form of Aromasin (exemestane), an aromatase inhibitor. Dosing started yesterday, at 12.5mg ED. So now, I'm taking 2 steroids. (watch out, I'm off the hook)
This stuff of course was new to me, altho I see it has been around and in use for well over a decade.
(and of course - on this site, I'm sure this is very old news)
Very intriquing..as is the whole field of steroidal compounds. So much here to learn..
Anyway, a small bit of info on exemestane below, for those who are curious or do not know.
Updated pics to follow later, gotta wait for the photographer.
OVERALL RATING, WEEK 3: Rolling. Like a boulder. Feel great!
ABSTRACT FROM JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRONOLOGY AND METABOLISM
Suppression of estrogen, via estrogen receptor or aromatase blockade, is being investigated in the treatment of different conditions. Exemestane (Aromasin) is a potent and selective irreversible aromatase inhibitor. To characterize its suppression of estrogen and its pharmacokinetic (PK) properties in males, healthy eugonadal subjects were recruited. In a cross-over study, 12 were randomly assigned to 25 and 50 mg exemestane daily, orally, for 10 d with a 14-d washout period. Blood was withdrawn before and 24 h after the last dose of each treatment period. A PK study was performed (n = 10) using a 25-mg dose.
RESULTS :
The 25- and 50-mg doses of daily exemestane had comparable effects in suppressing circulating estrogen concentrations, with 38 ± 24% (mean ± SD; P = 0.002 vs. baseline) and 32 ± 29% (P = 0.008) decreases in estradiol concentrations, 71 ± 12% (P < 0.0001) and 74 ± 12% (P < 0.0001) decreases in estrone concentrations, and 45 ± 27% (P = 0.004) and 51 ± 20% (P = 0.02)
There was an increase in circulating testosterone concentrations after both 25 mg (60 ± 58%; P = 0.001) and 50 mg (56 ± 48%; P = 0.003) exemestane. Androstenedione concentrations were increased as well after 25 mg (32 ± 36%; P = 0.004) and 50 mg (47 ± 59%; P = 0.052) exemestane, respectively (Fig. 1Go and Table 2Go).
SHBG concentrations were decreased by 21 ± 7% (P = 0.0003) and 19 ± 39% (P = 0.18) at 25 and 50 mg exemestane, respectively.
Free testosterone concentrations were increased by 117 ± 74% (P = 0.0001) and 154 ± 95% (P < 0.0001) at both doses, due to the decrease in SHBG and the increase in total testosterone.
There were no changes in circulating serum triglycerides, cholesterol, or LDL or HDL cholesterol concentrations with either dose of exemestane.
