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Joe55
02-10-2006, 07:04 PM
Over 35? I wish I were that young! But,hey, when I was 35 I thought 35 was old.

I've gone through periods of trying to get in shape before, but I realize there was always some component missing. Also, even the things I was doing right would get screwed up because I'd let work take priority. But this time I'm serious.

First component: cardio. I started off doing Spin classes a few months ago. Initially, I'd puke after a session. I'm now able to complete an hour session, no problem-- except I'm so well trained that it's really difficult to get my heart above 80% effort. That's a good thing. Do this 3X a week.

In January I started with a personal trainer on non-cardio days. Haven't worked this hard since I was on the swim team in high school. I can't give you my workout because the guy works intuitively "Let's see... let's do this today... try this... how does this weight feel..." May seem undisciplined to some people, but I like it. And my muscles never know what to expect. I work out 3X a week hitting one body section per week.

So that's two components I got right. Next, nutrition. I'm eating 6 meals a day doing 40/40/20. I use fitday.com to track nutrition.

Final component: Testosterone.* Made an appointment with a reputable doctor for replacement therapy. I'm a candidate.

Think getting all four components in place is going to do the trick this time. Maybe I won't be an example of an amazing transformation, but at least I'll be healthy and in shape.

And as far as letting things interfere with my goals. I got a new attitude. I have been screwed by the system so often-- given my all, gotten super evaluations, worked umpteen unpaid hours only to be told "Ooops, sorry, gotta downsize." I realize that the ONLY reliable assets I've got are my body and my health. I'm not gonna destroy myself with stress, overwork, and poor eating and health habits only to be rewarded with "Don't get whacked in the place with the crack."

*Re Steroids: If you're older and thinking about taking testosterone-- please get at PSA test. There's conflicting evidence but taking steroids with elevated PSA could set off raging prostate cancer.

If you're younger, like a teen. Steroids could do permanent damage-- like permanently shut down your gnads, halt natural growth, etc. Over 21, though, and fully matured body? There are risks and rewards. You're old enough to make informed decisions.

Oh, and PS, I live in California. Arnold? What a hypocrite! "I used drugs to advance my career but YOU can't." Auslander raus!

Original Poster
02-10-2006, 07:58 PM
Welcome Joe !

jtroster
02-11-2006, 06:55 AM
Welcome Joe.

Baldsnake
02-11-2006, 07:38 AM
Hey Joe...welcome. California? Almost enough of us to form an old fart basketball team in here now. Mostly old farts from the Great White North, a few mid west ice/snow carvers plus a bunch in various mountain hideouts here in the States. I saw our Gov. recently. Except for those genetic baseballs hanging from his arms...I'd pose down next to him in a heart beat. WTF happened to him??

Gunn27
02-11-2006, 07:41 AM
Welcome to the boards, looks like you have a pretty good plan going.

jaguarr
02-11-2006, 01:51 PM
Welcome aboard, Joe!

jag

Joe55
02-15-2006, 09:46 AM
Thanks for the welcome.

Well, wuddenchaknowit, I'm just gettin into a good groove. Bam. Sick.

Not a simple cold. No. Like: So sick had to go to the doctor and drink down this disgusting anti-biotic to clear the s*** outta my system.

Overtraining? Dunno. When I first got the sniffles I went and did spin classes anyway. Guess I shoudda just rested. OTOH...A bunch of the people in my office have the same thing and were kind enough to come in and spread it around. They don't work out. So, I wuddabeen sick anyhow.

I think I'll be outta action for almost two weeks. The best I can do is to continue to stick to the diet. I am NOT gonna "feed a cold" or whatever.

PS. Re HRT. Got a blood workup and am going back for results next week. Oddly, it's not so much PSAs that the doc worries about, but high cholesterol. High cholesterol can disqualify older guys with low T. I'm near the Mexican border. If I AM a candidate for safe HRT I will probably go to Mexico for periodic Sustenon injections. Cost: $16 a month plus drive time vs. $130 for andogel/derm for gringos stateside. Apparantly androderm used to cost about $1 a day, then the f'in drug company quadrupled the price. (These people are blood suckers... as well as being c***suckers.)

joed
02-15-2006, 10:45 AM
[QUOTE=Joe55]...Oddly, it's not so much PSAs that the doc worries about, but high cholesterol...[QUOTE]

Welcome J55. I read this article awhile back in the internal medicine edition of the Cleveland Clinic Journal; thought you might find it interesting too.

http://www.ccjm.org/PDFFILES/Albertsen6_05.pdf#xml=http://search.ccf.org/SCRIPTS/texis.exe/Webinator/search/pdfhi.txt?query=psa&pr=ccjm&prox=page&rorder=500&rprox=500&rdfreq=500&rwfreq=500&rlead=500&sufs=0&order=r&uq=%25www.ccjm.org%25&cq=&id=4384c7877

Braindrop
02-15-2006, 11:11 AM
Welcome aboard! What are your stats? You trying to gain or lose or what?

Joe55
02-15-2006, 05:07 PM
Thanks for the article braindrop.

Yeah, a lot of mixed messages on PSA testing. Fortuantely, mine are normal. But if they're elevated, you face agonizing decisions.

Joe55
02-21-2006, 11:27 PM
Welcome aboard! What are your stats? You trying to gain or lose or what?

I'm trying to lose fat because the standard wisdom seems to suggest doing that first, THEN try to gain muscle.

I'm 5' 9". All I have are my weight & Bf.

1/6/06 - weight 178, bf 26%, waist 38
2/21/06 - weight 168, bf 20%, waist 35-36
One nice dividend: Drop in cholesterol from about 200 to 160!

My initial goal was by April 6: weight 165, bf 19%, waist 32"

I think I may do better. Also I'm extending my deadline to April 15 because I was out 2 weeks with a very serious flu.

I haven't thought much beyond my initial goal. I'll never be big-- just not in the genes. I'd be happy with "toned and defined." Most important, healthy-- low blood pressure, cholesterol, bf. But if I can add some muscle, that would be great.

I guess my next step is trying to figure out HOW low I want to get my weight/bf before I try to bulk-- 160? 150? I'd hate to lose so much that I lose muscle too.

I do spin class 3X a week (been doing that for about 5 months) and in January added 3 weekly sessions with a personal trainer on non-cardio days. I do a 3 way split routine. Sundays rest.

I eat 6 clean meals a day and track a 40.40.20 intake using fitday.com

I have a followup visit with a doc tomorrow and will probably start HRT with androgel or androderm

Joe55
02-27-2006, 10:31 PM
I'm a frugal guy. Always hit the odd-lot stores for bargains. This weekend, got a motherlode from a 99 cent-type store in downtown San Diego. Oh yeah, I should support Bodybuilding.com by buying products through the site, but how could I pass up bargains like these....


Beef jerky - $1.29 for 4 oz. (Albertson's wants $7.49 for Pemmican brand)
I bought 35 bags.

EAS - Drinks. 25 cents each. (vs. $2+ on websites)
I bought 30 -- their entire stock.

Fuze Enegy Drink - 59 cents.
Only bought 20. Still some left.

PS: At the same store a while back I got boxes of ProMax bars for $3.99. (GNC has them on sale for $19.99)

Speaking of GNC, hit them up for 6 pounds of whey for $27. That's even cheaper than Wal-Mart! (Sale goes on 'till Tuesday.) And...

the very knowledgable lady at the store even helped me out in my quest for maltoextrin. GNC doesn't carry it but she suggested a simple (& cheap) solution: Buy Ovaltine. (Has sugar in it. But maltodextrin is the second ingredient.)

I did get the Ovaltine at Albertson's and coincidentally, ran into a Celestial Seasonings Green Tea Sale.

ANyway, this will definitely help me to continue clean eating. The Fuze drink really revved me up at spin class. Lots a caffine and guarn-somethingerother. And the green tea really is an appetite suppresant-- it's almost bedtime and I'm still running a 1,500 calorie deficit for the day!

Joe55
03-04-2006, 07:38 PM
Well, today was the date for my 2nd month pictures. I just look like an old fat slob. And I've put in so much work, 3x spin, 3x weight lifting with a trainer. Eating clean (except for planned cheats). Down 4% body fat and 10 #. But all I see is a old fat slob.

jtroster
03-05-2006, 05:50 AM
Don't be discouraged. Body changes happen slowly.

acfueler
06-17-2009, 04:00 PM
Hey Joe,
I am new to this site but I just couldn't help replying to your posts! First of all, are you serious? Spinning classes? Why??? So you got a cold, with sniffles? Come on be a soldier, you didn't over train because you haven't lifted any weight yet!! Grab your purse Grandma cause you left it over at the Squat Rack!! HAHA
Well, wuddenchaknowit, I'm just gettin into a good groove. Bam. Sick.

Not a simple cold. No. Like: So sick had to go to the doctor and drink down this disgusting anti-biotic to clear the s*** outta my system.

Overtraining? Dunno. When I first got the sniffles I went and did spin classes anyway. Guess I shoudda just rested. OTOH...A bunch of the people in my office have the same thing and were kind enough to come in and spread it around. They don't work out. So, I wuddabeen sick anyhow.

I think I'll be outta action for almost two weeks. The best I can do is to continue to stick to the diet. I am NOT gonna "feed a cold" or whatever.

PS. Re HRT. Got a blood workup and am going back for results next week. Oddly, it's not so much PSAs that the doc worries about, but high cholesterol. High cholesterol can disqualify older guys with low T. I'm near the Mexican border. If I AM a candidate for safe HRT I will probably go to Mexico for periodic Sustenon injections. Cost: $16 a month plus drive time vs. $130 for andogel/derm for gringos stateside. Apparantly androderm used to cost about $1 a day, then the f'in drug company quadrupled the price. (These people are blood suckers... as well as being c***suckers.)[/QUOTE]