+ 8 investing in myself
I decided to pursue a interest of mine now that my kids are grown and I have more time. I have always loved bodybuilding and the lifestyle and thought time is not on my side being 50 but it's never too late so I decided a few months ago to really invest in myself. I joined a commercial gym and bought a package for personal training but realized they are not what I was looking for. I wanted something far more professional then some dude double booking his time and trying to help me and some other client and on top of that he just finished smoking a joint and that was really annoying and I didn't get what I thought I was paying for so I started networking and found a professional bodybuilder who had plaed 5th at Mr. Olympia, has his own gym and the type of training and trainers I was really looking for. Real professionals. Guys working on their pro card. So I hired him as my coach/trainer to get my nutrition and training on point! I want to see exactly what I can do with this body and look the best I ever have! He also referred to a clinic he refers his clients to for TRT and blood work so I have someone besides my PCP who can properly monitor his prescription for testosterone and knowing I wil be taking additional compounds so that is a relief to have a professional who can monitor my health and not feel judged or have to listen to the nonsense. I don't make a lot of money but I certainly don't mind working some overtime to pay for all this which is not cheap because it's like I tell my friends who don't understand my desire that I am just investing in myself and I can't express how much better I feel about myself and how this has positively effected my self esteem. You guys can ask anything you want but a little history for this to make sense is almost 3 years ago I was on my 3rd DUI and literally dying from drugs and drinking myself to death. I post this because maybe someome might find something about this they can relate to, appreciate or whatever but I made a decision to do whatever the hell I have to do to live my best life and a bodybuilding (which I am not, lol) lifestyle was a dream I gave up on 30 years ago. Maybe in 3-6 months from if I get the type of results I hope for I will feel comfortable posting pics I just took for my coach and what I look like in 6 months. Anyways, I hope this might help someone out there. I am 50 and it's never too late to try!
- Bookmark
- 8
- 0
A recent pic of me at the gym and that's what I looked like less then 3 yrs ago when I about 987lbs, lol
That's great bud! Keep going and move forward. That's a lot of progress and imagine a lot of work physically and mentally. Stick with it brother.
If I post a pic on this post, should I scribble out my face?
Yes mate. No point identifying yourself, “just in case”.
I am truly humbled with the feedback. This was not expected. Eventually I am going to post before pics and maybe monthly progress pics.
You're the posterboy for proper entry in AAS use. A model for others. Respect for showing responsibility. Godspeed on your endeavors. I'll tell ya... I can almost guarantee that once you get dialed in, the trt will have an amazingly positive effect on your life. It can give help people make positive changes in their lives. The fact that you're gonna be trying trt when your body probably actually needs it, even a small dose should have a very noticable effect on your performance in the gym, bedroom, life in general.
Thank you but I do have a confession to make. I didn't listen to the suggestions on how to run your first cycle and the importance of starting with the lowest doses possible first. My addiction mind and my personality kind of took over and told me more is better and I started taking too many compounds and doses I don't have any busines doing and I have not been right since, lol. That was another reason I wanted a professional coach. Someone with experience and resources such as this trt clinic he uses and he takes care of all the bodybuilders health and needs for example so I can get that blood work done and have proper medical monitoring. The first thing he asked me to do is stop everything and bring my testosterone down to 200mg a week and he wants to give my body a break and get some blood work and then we can start a cycle properly and hopefully get effecient results.
Amazing to hear brother! As a former alcoholic myself, I know the struggle and the amazing experience that comes with getting past it and starting to get the well deserved fulfillment out of life. We can’t get back lost time, but we can certainly make the most of what we have left!!
Thank you for the compliment. I have tried to work out in the past but something I learned was I couldn't stay away from the obsession of drinking so as you know it's kind of hard to work out and drink in the same day so something has to give and alcohol kept winning, lol. I realized I needed real professional help and getting to a great rehab facility, working the steps with a sponsor changed me. I didn't realize I couldn't just replace my obsession and need to drink with working out. That isn't a solution for me. What did work is when I got right, worked on my soul, my spirit, my spiratuality and let that heal me from the inside first, then and only then could I work on my physical body. It's an inside job!!! If you or anyone else has what I have or had there are ONLY 2 possibilities. We die or accept help and work our ass off to learn to love again. I literally was drinking myself to death. It's hard to do anything when I drank a fifth of vodka with pain pills for breakfast, repeat another fifth. and more pills for lunch and for dinner and throw in some ambian in there just for shits and giggles because that was my secret to blacking out because I didn't want to remember the day. That ambian would erase my memory mixed with pain pills and vodka and as far as I was concerned, it was like being dead.
I know from hanging around these forums and hearing testaments from other members that we all found it within ourselves to take the correct steps to getting our lives back. Whether that was doing it on our own, or seeking professional help, we all found the inner strength to take that first real step in the right direction. This is a great place to share stories and find motivation from like minded people. This is very positive environment full of good people that are here to support others. Again congratulations on finding the strength and good luck on your path to reinventing yourself.
This is a BRILLIANT post mate - very uplifting and humbling to read. I honestly believe there is no better natural drug and feeling than lifting weights and the way it will make you feel afterwards, and mentally set you up for the next 48 hours. You can discover a whole new outlook and view of your life when you first pick up that barbell, its very hard to put into words quite how that feels to other people. Sure, we cannot get away from the fact we are all getting older and sometimes it makes training and recovery a little more difficult, but we will all go through it at some point in our lives and just have to adapt to it. It annoys me that I wasn't fully committed during my early 20's and instead chose to follow a life of partying and drink up until I was 30, then got left with an addiction till I was 34. We would have all done things differently in a past life - but what is important is that you live for the now, because all you really ever have is the present, this moment. Have to let go of the past and continue on in this new and amazing life you have found for yourself right now, I wish you much happiness with it all mate
I’m in the exact same boat (minus a trainer). I was a drunk for 30 years and now at age 47 I’ve been working out again for about 2 years. I’ve been on TRT for a year and a half.
I literally just got home from the gym at 11:00pm on a Friday night as I have 3 young kids that I had to get to bed. Lol. Crazy (and sad) how I spent the last 30 years getting wasted on about every single Friday. Feels great though, and I wish you the best!!! Never too late!!! Invest in yourself, I like that.
Awesome brother, congrats on the sobriety as well. I'm in recovery also. There is a forum here called the recovery lounge if you're interested in that, @press1 could tell you how to join.
I found it. Thanks!!!
Just added him buddy!
That's great you're investing in yourself bud. It's a good way to look at it because if you make an investment and stick with it you want the most out of it and best return. I've been in your spot for the past 15 plus years. Drugs were my go to which led me in and out of jail. I always out everything I had into finding some happiness that never really existed in that frame of mind. It was until 8/15/21 that I had enough and went to rehab. In 37 now almost 38. I did the rehab, halfway house and sober house. They work good jut it wasn't until I got into the gym and lifting is where I found my outlet and a good chunk of happiness. I believe that it does more for me than alot of programs that are offered to addicts. Not knocking them because if they work for people Im happy for them of it's keeping them clean. I love the whole bodybuilding aspect from the different workout to hitting to PR's figuring out diets for bulk and cuts to even the pumps and dopamine I get when I'm working out. It's a high all in itself to me and also an outlet of whatever is going on with me. I hold alot of anger and some resentments from the past and hold some guilt which all Im still working on but when I'm lifting im just in a whole other world and even if in looking mad in the gym lifting, internally I'm happy as fuck lol. I'm glad you see that it worth lifting and investing in yourself and life even at 50 it still worth it to live life and throw some weights around in your spare time. I wish you the best brother and hope you take it as a stepping stone to life and kinda has a way to show you in life that if you keep working at it and yourself you will get where you need to be. Like working on different parts of your body you can use it as a metaphor as working on parts of your life. That's just my perspective that I use to help me with my life and being an addict. Good luck to you and hope keep in touch on here later down the road to let us know how you are making out. Stay strong and stay invested!
Thank you and yes I have a similar experience. Multiple arrests, hospitalizations, multiple rehabs and when the pain got too bad I made a decision to accept help and I found the 12 steps of AA to be helpful personally and as a former competitive swimmer in college I knew I always found peace in working out but something more intense then just your causual person coming to the gym to just get the body moving. I always had a deep appreciation for bodybuilding and to me it's art being able to transform and display the body. Plus, it's a dedication and I need that type of structure personally
anvilWell I happy you are felling better and bodybuilding is the cure. Eat well, train hard, and some test will have you well on your way. If you need anything along the way just ask, you will have our full support. 50 is a great age by the way, I say that because I am 48 and feeling awesome, so I wish you the same brother!
Thank you and I have found this site to be very helpful.