Starting a cycle after initial treatment from doctor
CYCLE LAYOUT
Week Testosterone Cyp HCG Anastrozole
1-12 200mg 1000UI 1mg
1 600mg 1000UI 1mg
2 600mg 1000UI 1mg
3-12 Planned to continue
13-16 Recommended PCT
Note: No PCT after weeks 1-12. Treatment increased and continued into next cycle.
DESCRIPTION, CONCERNS AND EXPECTATIONS
Began test treatment 4 months ago
Background health:
- 4 months ago total T was 150.
- Doctor initiated treatment as follows: 200 mg/test cyp/week,1000IUs of HCG/week, 1 mg/Anastrozole/week.
- 5x/week lifting,2,000cal/week diet with no concentration on protein. Maintained total cal intake around 2,000.
- Weight increased 20lbs, my max lifting strength 20-30% (ex. bench, presses,etc...), minor size increase in some muscle groups.
- Age 53, 6"2". Health issues of note: Shoulder, hip, and knee replacements.
Present day - I would like to improve, lean muscle mass, strength, definition.
- Increased test cyp to 600 mg/week. All other treatment stays as is. STARTED IN DECEMBER less than 30 days.
Blood and related tests:
- Doctor stated all measures appear normal.
- Total Cholesterol is 144, HDL 40/LDL 110
- AST/ALT high normal range.
-Estradial below 5.
- Otherwise all other results are in normal range.
Other efforts:
- Maintain 5x/week lifting
- Change diet program to approx. 2,200 total cals (220 grams of protein min., carbs next with low fat intake)
Concerns:
- Size slightly increased. Strength continues to increase.
- No real muscle base created.
- % body fat is still high 24% - can't seem to lose the fat since beginning treatment. Even at 2,000 cals, no weight is lost.
- Added cardio - 3x/week medium intensity 50-60 min per session. Biking primarily due to the limitations/pain with joints - HIIT can't do.
Expectations:
- I am thankful a doctor was willing to begin test treatment or I may not have started nor found the value treatment can give someone who knows how to work within this type of program.
- I like the progress (even though slight), I am the strongest I've ever been, I do have noticeable size in areas. So overall, I am glad to have started.
- Need the experience of this site and other sources to help me take myself to another level.
- Expect to reduce overall body fat to 10-12% as a six month goal.
- Continue to monitor overall health through doctor and individual testing on a regular interval.
NOTE: I will remain humble, with my eyes and ears open to advice/suggestions for me to become successful during 2016. I will take each step necessary to achieve max results with a well-planned process and will monitor my results throughout the program.
Thank you for giving of your time/knowledge to help me succeed. Best wishes to all.
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If you want some help drop me a friend request, holiday season has me in the mood to help I guess.
Thanks, tony-
I am going to take you up on that. I appreciate it.
I will be sending some thoughts in the near future.
B
First things first. Congrats on giving all your efforts into improving yourself. But I think if you're only four months into Dr prescribed trt I'd be concentrating on getting that dialed in to the tee. Continue on the workout regimine and dial in your diet. You'd be surprised what this will bring you for results. Then after a year or so on the trt maybe think about running a cycle. Good luck.
Thanks, you are correct. I get impatient and want results now. I really did underestimate the diet part.
Take care.
You started four months ago. What is your blood work schedule with your doctor? You really shouldn't be doing anything until you are twice a year or once.
Fats shouldn't be of concern. Focus on protein and low carb. You need to track macros not calories right now.
Thanks, Pez. Any suggestions how to track macros? I never have done that.
Blood work:
-Beginning of initial treatment
-Retest at 60 days
-Retest at 60 days again.
Reason: I had other blood work done so I could throw in the basic testing at the same time for no cost. I thought no harm if free.
Note- now doctor has me on a yearly schedule now. With increasing my test cyp to 600mg, I thought to get tested at some point to see how the increase has effected me, right?
Thanks, Pez. Any suggestions how to track macros? I never have done that.
Blood work:
-Beginning of initial treatment
-Retest at 60 days
-Retest at 60 days again.
Reason: I had other blood work done so I could throw in the basic testing at the same time for no cost. I thought no harm if free.
Note- now doctor has me on a yearly schedule now. However, if I do have other tests done, it's ok to ?
For iOS, I use My Macros +. It's my favorite. Easy interface and you can scan the barcode from your foods for the nutritional information. It is $2.99. I have not had a barcode ever not pull the correct information. On Android, My Fitness Pal with the $49/annual subscription is best.
You do all the private blood work you want. I only comment on your doctors blood work schedule because you don't want obvious testosterone abuse on your results. I've lost a couple doctors because my test was too high go what was prescribed.
This be learning as I go, but sounds like a plan.
Question - I don't see where you can scan the barcodes in My Fitness Pal? I bought the premium.
Any ideas?
Good point with the docs. I only used my current doc to start the process. I will take notice from this point forward.
In the area you log food, to the right of the search for food there is a barcode icon you touch.
Thanks, Pez. It's going to take a few days and some recording to get the hang of this app.
It sure does a lot of good things.
TronI like all the info posted but I'm having a hard time figuring out what you're asking. I thought it was to critique your cycle but apparently you already did the listed cycle and are on one now. Are you simply asking why your body fat is still high? You keep saying 2000 calories a day....WHAT are you eating and how often?
Tron- thanks for the reply. Sorry if I am unclear. It started per doc and low test level my initial program as stated with test cyp at 200mg/week. It appears to have made a difference in size, strength. I did gain bulk and overall 20lbs in the process. I like the idea of cycles, so I increased test cyp to 600/week. This cycle is only 2 -3 weeks old. Size and strength are slowly increasing, but my weight even increased slightly, but is still 20-25 over from when I initially started a little over 4 months ago.
My first question is about increasing to 600mg/week ok as a next step in working with cycles?
Second, what's is the issue of weight gain. I know some has been lean mass, however, the "thick look" and body check shows %body fat 25%. I don't know what to do.
So looking at my diet, it is close to 2200 cal/day, 60-30-10% (protein,carbs,fat). 4-5 smaller meals a day. 100 grams through egg white protein shakes. Turkey,chix, and some beef. Fat is 2-3 oz almonds, cereal grains. Sugar is low use. Some green vegetables. Plenty of water daily.
I thought there is no way to be gaining 20-25 lbs when lifting 5x/week and only at 2200 total daily calories.
So my last question is what the heck am I not seeing correctly or overlooking? If I'm looking to gain lean mass, I should probably increase my intake - I'm scared to do it for being afraid of getting fat!
Does this make better sense? I hope so. Any thoughts/changes you think are important to note, please let me know, Tron. Thanks so much!
50-10-40 or 60-10-30. Your body will not burn fat if it has carbs to burn. You remove the carbs and your body uses fats for energy.
So I go low carbs, correct? Doesn't energy level become an issue?
Yes low carbs. The fat will fly off you. Energy levels have never been an issue for me. I do get short tempered. You can gradually bring your carbs down to ease yourself into it, but that is your ticket to weight loss.
I are your thoughts on overall total caloric intake? Don't worry?
I shouldn't be too concerned about protein and fat % as long as carbs are low, correct?
How low on carbs is safe?
Thanks.
Calorie intake is important. You don't want to be losing more than two pounds a week. You'll need to research this some. There are calculators to calculate your caloric needs to lose two pounds a week. You then hit your macros within the allotted calories. If you want to maintain your current weight but lose BF, you can do that too. You can get really exact with this and hit your goals easily if you stay on track. Think of it as a food budget.
I do 100g of carbs. You can get to 6-8% BF is with that. You can go lower but 100g works for me.
RustyhookerId let trt do its thing a good 6months first. Bloodwork to establish your doctors protocols and adjustments. Many folks get right where they want to be with just trt
Hi Rusty-
What do you think about jumping up from 200 to 600 mg of test cyp/week? I was planning on keeping everything else the same.
I have to be honest, my size/bulk has increased with overall weight 20 lbs. It's a "thick" look without a real lean look or definition. I just can't shed the extra fat and don't know why. My overall calorie intake is only 2200, what is going on with me. Does age matter in this case?
I am also worried about getting too anxious and feel I need to be taking more of something to get what I want as a goal. I hope I make some sense.
My bad fat thumb, I fixed it.
Any thoughts, Madman? I tried to put things in order. I hope this is ok?
taychawBefore we even talk about calories in vs out, are you hitting your daily ESSENTIAL fat requirements? What about trace minerals and vitamins through a really good multi vitamin? You are older so by default your body will need high quality substrates to break down as its harder for you to break it down now.
After you've hit your essential daily fats whats your macro break down of protein, fat and carbs?
taychaw - My overall fat intake remains at 10% of total cals. I supplement with the following:
B-Complex, L-Glutamine,L-Glutathione,L-Arginine, L-Ornithine, Acetyl L-Carnitine, L-Carnitine, Quercetin,Turmeric, Alpha Lipoic Acid,Mult. Amino Acids, Pythistle, Pantothenic Acid, Pycenogenol, SBO's (digestion), Astragalus Root, Vit C and E, Mag/Calcium/Zinc, D3, Q10, Saw Palmento, and Milk Thistle.
I use 100g/day egg white protein powder.
I aim for 220 gram/day/protein (egg whites,chicken,turkey, some beef.
Carbs 30% - Multi grain crereal, brown rice, oatmeal,
Fats - as stated about 10% of total cals. Pick up from what's in the foods mentioned. Hoever, 2-3 oz of almonds/day.
taychawSo at a 2000 calorie diet thats 22 grams of fat a day? thats WAY too low. how much mono saturated fat and DHA AND EPA are you getting? You can go look at the studies and if you give someone the same amount of calories but different macro ratios they will loose or gain weight, its determined by the insulin response. If your body isn't getting the correct micro and essential nutrients it will think its starving anyways, feed the body correctly and it will think there is a abundance of everything around and the weight will come off easier. I see it with women all the time, up there essential fats to a good range and the weight drops.
Are you familiar with the Evolutionary diet. Yes or no doesn't matter, but I only mention it because it raises the fats twice as high than protein and keeps carbs low 5% max. Over a few weeks it should bring about a metabolic shift resulting in fat coming off like water! Then after, you maintain, reload, maintain, reload, etc... with your fats and carbs. Only raise protein to build the lean mass, but after I get this shift in place and get my body using fat as fuel.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not obese, but sure need to trim it up.
I hope this is along your train of thought. Bottom line - Fats are my friend and keep the carbs low.
I think I got the idea - I really underestimated the value of essential fats in a body's overall health and functioning, especially when you want your best going forward.
Best,
B