Time for an old dude to step it up

[Old Duffer]

Weekly update and stuff:

Ave cals 2740
Weight was all over the map. Beginning of the week touched 221 but today 225. Think I'm gonna hafta ease up on cals some. Everyone wants to retain at this point but I don't need any more belt size! Need to prep for slowly dropping that away. Plan to be announced soon

The quick downhill slide is well under way. I'm almost half of peak as per halflife calculator.
Carbs 47%
Fat 25%
Pro 28%

I took a long weekend off. My falling T levels seem to be sapping my motivation a bit. Slept a lot yesterday, but hit legs hard today!

Last set of cable squats was 285x10 I'm good with that!
Other notes: cable press hit 245x6
Cable triceps 120x5
Skulls 55x5, 65x5, 75x5, 85x5, 95x5. Lifting that 95 up over my face for the last set is a bit unnerving!
My bent rows are all 100s now. 100x5, x5, x5, x5, x8
Wide grip cable lats (I'm rotating these with pull ups ) 170x5, 195x5, 225x5, 255x5, 280x4. Chained to the bench!

Got a video of some old dufus doing shrugs for you all to make fun of. I'll try to post soon

 

[Old Duffer]

This old dude has got some work ahead of him yet!
I hear tell he turns 55 in a handful of months. That's what I hear anyway...

 

[Old Duffer]

Old guy strikes again... and a cameo of his workout partner (with permission) being used as ballast :-o

Quick update from me: bent rows 100x5,5,5,5,12!
DB curls, feeling a lil puny, had to sit for last 2 sets: 30x5, 35x5, 45x5, 50x5, 55x5
And purely coincidental to that old dude in video, my cable lats: 175x5, 200x5, 230x5, 260x5, 290x5

Weight 223.5

 

[Old Duffer]

Weight 221. Got my portable BP thingy. 119/65 much more as expected with blast levels falling fast.
Today:
Cable Bench 150x5, 175x5, 200x5, 225x5, 250x5.
Cable tri's 75x5, 90x5, 100x5, 115x5, 124x6
Skulls 60x5, 70x5, 80x5, 90x5, 100x5

Energy is down some but strength so far is holding and gaining a bit. I'm getting really antsy to start dropping this fat but I'm being patient to spend some time stabilizing. I've worked pretty hard for what I have thus far and don't want to just piss it away. Literally! Haha

 

[Old Duffer]

I can relate to this guy... working his azz off for slow, slow gains.


I wonder what happened. Did he drop that 100 on his face? :-o. Cliffhanger! Stay tuned for next week's exciting episode of....

 

[Old Duffer]

Simplest of updates: cable squats 175x5, 205x5, 235x5, 265x5, 294x8..... and the workout boss-woman partner talks me into doing more. "Max the machine" she says!

That's 110 extra pounds of miscellaneous crap stacked on the cable machine plates. As much as possible without breaking out the duct tape!

So..... 305x5!!! Done, hobbled, shot, toast. ;-)

Also noted that I'm logging 'week 38' on my 5x5 charts. Now that's not actual weeks as some weeks I was doing more than 3 workout days. Time flies!

 

[Old Duffer]

Really good, productive weekend followed by kinda crap gym day. It happens.
Blood levels continue to return to trt. Blood pressure back to normal
Weekend cals we're not stable but all under 2800. I'm easing cals down some as I return to trt. Must be ok as weight stayed 222.

Did my tris day backwards so between that, less cals n less test, my bench sucked. Had to change to flat bench and short stroke last 2 sets; last being 250x5 :-( so I did extras on other pecs stuff.

Not unexpected, I guess.

 

[Old Duffer]

Hope everyone had a pleasant Labor Day. Vacation n work stuff screwed my gym time this last couple weeks.... ok, I got lazy and took a break.
After following Carverelli and how he manages to get in gym time even with all his travels, I have no excuse!

As my T levels plummet back to TRT, so does my strength. I'm just going to have to stop the 5x5 for now and do more reps at lesser weights. Today's session was absolutely depressing. Does not help that I only got in one day last week and 2 days the week before, but as example, I could barely finish my 3rd set on the bench of five sets. So I just laddered back down HIT. Arms are definitely sore, but weak. Strangest sensation too. Half way thru skulls and my left arm just stops 'functioning'. More like stops cooperating. Phooey!

Also still easing up on the cals so as to maintain weight. Cals last week Ave 2400. Weight today 222. Weight a week ago 224.
B.P. today 115/70. Schedule is better (for a while anyway) so back to regular workouts!

The last of my stuff landed so everything is in order. Just gotta be patient. Need to stabilize, but I wanna be strong again ;-)

Spent much of Friday feeding the Traeger. Meats are well stocked again chicken, steaks, pork shoulder, veggie kabobs. Love my Traeger.

 

[Old Duffer]

Good leg day! Did not have to back off any of my continuously advancing 5x5s.

Last set of cable squats 305# x 7. That is a scary looking stack of dbs precariously balanced on top of the cable machines plates! I could hear it groan :-o
Thighs are ON FIRE!

And just to brag her up, my gym partner was able to bench press a pair of 45dbs (with a bit of assistance) x3... and then wanted to go for the 50#s! And got one with minor assist and another with more help. These were her 5th and 6th sets. She pushes hard; pushes herself And pushes me!

Weight 224, yesterday's unexplained heartburn went away. Started my low dose tadalafil back up yesterday. Maybe that? Who knows.

 

[carverelli]

I have pellet smoker too. Love it! Keep up the good work and dedication
What is a cable squat? Doesn't yur gym have a regular squat rack and or leg press? I like to stick with the basics personally

 

[Die$eL~Man]

run some GH

 

[Old Duffer]

I have pellet smoker too. Love it! Keep up the good work and dedication
What is a cable squat? Doesn't yur gym have a regular squat rack and or leg press? I like to stick with the basics personally

Where I work is pushing 'exercise & health' blah blah. Gets them a break on insurance. The benefit to me is I get free 'on site gym' membership. Plus I can work out during my shift. (Lunch + breaks etc)

The negative is that the on-site gym has limited equipment for lifters. Mostly cardio. Nice selection of dumbbells (up to 100#s) but no barbells at all. Nice benches and one multifunction cable machine. No rack. No presses.

I may have to reassess this situation as I just maxed out the cable machine at 305# pulldowns. Yes, I'm being cheap. Yes, I'm also being lazy Afa getting off my recliner and to a neighborhood gym before work. Working grave shift is grueling. This is really convenient... and free... and I have my cute gym partner to push me further. ....but its limited equipment. I am worried tho. In a couple weeks I'll start my next blast and I don't want to waste it! If I'm already maxing this equipment, what then? We (gym partner & i) literally just had this conversation tonite!

I try, intermittently, to remind followers of this thread that most of my posted weights are apples vs oranges. Squat or Bench press on the cables is definitely not the same as barbells. It is a workout tho. My leg day DOMS was so bad this morn I had to pop a fistful of IBUs in order to sleep.

Thanx for following. I'll post a pic.

 

[Old Duffer]

Lemme add an update:

Really good biceps day.
Already note I've maxed out cable pulldowns for 6 (and a half) at 305#s.
My db curls looked like: standing 35s x 5, 40s x 5, 45s x 5, then moved to preachers for 50s x 5 and 55s x 5 just barely
Since I've been maxed out on db rows for a while, I had this epiphany that Ill do these 5x5s more based on tonnage. So if a set says 155x5, I do (155*5=775) which rounds up to 800#s , so I'll do 100# x 8. If that makes sense.
My rows then looked like: 100x5, 100x6, 100x7, 100x8 100x9

Weight held at 222. Weekly Ave cals = 2400. Carb 46%, fat 26%, pro 28%

As mentioned earlier, I'm having to slowly lower my cals so as not to gain weight. I got enough fat already!

Yesterday starts my TRT stabilizing at 200mg/wk. I fell from peak levels with a weekly bump of 100mg/wk. Based of halflife calculations, it's about time to 'catch' the fall and stabilize at a cruising altitude of 200mg. This is higher than my prescribed TRT level, but will be the base for my next blast so that's as far as I'm allowing myself to fall. Plus I think it will help retain the gains I've already created. I hope. ;-)

Everything is ready so far, but I've quit all workout supps for a couple weeks so I can do my Dr. Requested followup on my elevated kidney numbers. Once she gets her bloods, and assuming my kidneys, hematocrit and PSA are good..... it's go time.

 

[Old Duffer]

Still running suppliment free in prep for kidney test (bw) probably go in next week. See if doc wants to re-up my 'flomax' script too.
Found some whey blend without any adds. No creatin, etc. Pretty tasty too. I admit I miss my supps.

Weight today 221. Leg day. I gotta quit contemplating how to push this cable machine farther n further! Figured out how to squeeze the 25dbs on it so I was able to continue my 5x5 progression on cable squats with last set being 310x5! Old knees are not happy. felt a lil pinch inside left knee lifting rep #3. Finished set anyway. Then went to weighted lunges next and right knee is screaming! 2 sets only n quit. Listen to da body! Did my shrugs. Did my cardio. Some core stuff. Good day

Partner added to her squat too! Ya know how I know she is really pushing it? Some of these weights, like her last 2 sets of squats, are actually scaring her. I can see it. She gets that weight up (with my help) and holds it for a bit while getting the nerve up to squat. I'm there. I'm talking her thru it. Pushing her on. And when she says, "all done" I help her set it down again. That's where she is most scared. How to set it down without dropping it or getting slammed to the floor. I'm pretty proud. /gush off

Finished plotting out next blast too. It's looks complicated but only cuz I'm kickstarting with ace (a complex taper) until the enanth catches up and then doing the opposite at the tail end (less complicated here). Assuming I can handle the sides, it should be an ass kicker. All supplies are now in hand.

3 compounds to start (2 enanth n 1 ace), then just the 2 enanthates thru the mid and replace one enanth with the ace to end. Peaks in one week and falls back to trt in about 3 weeks. Halflife graph has lots of 'area under the curve' and is really stable. On paper anyway.
Be my 1st at eod pins. I still have to decide is how long to run at peak level. Being on TRT, recovery is not part of the equation. There's no recovery for this old husk. Bloodwork: estrogen control, hematocrit & blood pressure. Plus gotta watch my kidneys. Liver is good. Have liver support in hand also btw.

Soon.

PM me anyone interested in the exact protocol. Happy to discuss it there

 

[Old Duffer]

Couple more good days
Weight 221
Last week's cals = 2566
Carb 45%
Fat 30%
Pro 25%

BP 116/78 today

Still kicking myself; gotta get more serious about increasing protein. Dammit!

Yesterday was biceps. Pyramid, 4 standing dbs, 1 seated dbs, then back down on cables. PR lat pulldowns 310x6, (chained to bench, workout partner ballast) . And bent db rows (by new tonnage model) 100x6, 100x7, 100x7, 100x8, 100x9. Cardio as always. Skipped crunches

Today triceps. I had to freeze my 5x5 progression on cable bench since I lost some and the chart was leaving me in the dust. 150x5, 175x5, 200x5, 225x5, 250x6 (which is 2 more reps than last week) I was able to keep up with db skulls 65x5, 75x5, 85x5, 95x5, 100x4. Cable flys, cable tris, cardio. Biceps screaming today!

Was partner's pulldown day I've been waiting for. She did great! Even putting cable pulldowns as last exercise this time, did 1st 3 sets complete and alone, 4th set fully with just a bit of assist on last few reps, and last heaviest set 1 clean rep, with 2 more assisted and then I made her hold that 3rd rep as a reverse. She almost puked. Almost. Good set ;-) never complained.

Next week Dr. Appt / BW. Then donate. Then blast off. (If all checks out A-OK)

 

[Old Duffer]

Stack 'em and pack 'em

There's 315#, heaped on the cables, for my last squat. 315x6
I love an empty gym btw!

Good leg day. Also weight 219.5, so that's also moving s l o w l y in the right direction. As I desire. Carefully dropping a bit of weight in prep for next blast.

All is well..... Except I wish I could get a handle on this minor chest/heat rash. And no, it's not an E2 problem. That's in check. Benzoyl peroxide does nothing. Salicylic acid does a bit. Cortisone creme helps some. Never clears up tho. Flairs when I get hot n sweaty. Settles down once I'm cooled off again. Annoying.

 

[carverelli]

Creatine will raise creatinine levels as well as just working out and breaking down muscle. Mine is always high 1.2-1.6

 

[Old Duffer]

Yeah, my last creatinine was 1.7, BUN was 30. I figured that was the supps.

My eGFR was low at 45 also.

Doc wants to check it again, so I'll clean up a bit. Get my Flomax refilled at the same time. (I'd just run my own bloods except for that scrip)

I'll just add this simple update too:
Weight 220.5
B.P. 113/66
Strained my right latt a bit last week. Didn't help it yesterday. Stubborn me.
So did my db curls preacher, with last set 55x5
Last set cable pulldowns now 310x5... and workout pard says, "you did that too easy". Grrr. Lol. So chain myself back down, she climbs aboard the bench and I cranked out another 4 reps.

That kind of shot my load tho, so I only pumped out 3 sets of dB rows. Got some core work in & as always my 10 mins of warmup eliptical. Gets the heart pumping a bit and loosens the joints.

 

[Old Duffer]

Doc not worried, but kidney bloods in work. Flu shot while I was there. Then hcg pin and TRT pin. Pin cushion day! Prostate med re-upped too. Last script was miscommunicated. Doc wanted me on both meds all along! BP good, tho higher than my auto-cuff. Noted. Donate a week away.

Weight down to where I want it before next blast. 218.5# couple pound drop today due to fasting before bloods.
Triceps day was decent. No great expectation as cals kinda low plus flu shot.
Bumped my presses (which I froze for 3 weeks) up 5# each with last 5x5 set at 255x4
Put extra energy into cable pec stuff but bailed on last set of 100# dB skulls. 4the set of 95x5 was all that was left in the tank. Nauseous.

Back on my favorite supps again. Just what I'm used to, I guess. ;-)

So everything is ready for next launch. ... unless I'm forgetting something ??? Naw . Screw it! Let's go baby!!!

 

[Old Duffer]

Well hellz bellz. Some times the old body says, "take a break". Posted some time back that I have 3 bulging disks at my waste line. The reason I started the gym so seroiusly 10 years back. Also the excuse I used to not do squats. Knees n back. But no issues for a long time now and my back is feeling pretty strong these days. Gets tight n sore some times but settles down after a while and some IBUs.

Well got out of shower to tension ratcheting up. Tried to stretch it out. Worked sore. Loosened up some. Then at home all of a sudden I get that familiar stab. Nerve pinch. Bad. Hung on the kitchen counter cuz I couldn't walk! Have not had a bite like that in years.

Sleep, pills, heat pad. 18hours later im sore but functional. Wanted to start next blast tomorrow but this lil episode says take a break. Just a short one but none the less.

Stupid back. Stupid old age.