Give the old man (me) a reality check please.

[EMARTIN]

I will try to not be so long winded.

I am new to this. I have been doing serious cardio for about 10 / 11 months and lost about 30 pounds (putting me at approx 170). I started adding lifting seriously about 5 months ago. I put in about 45 - 1 hour in the basement (PowerTech home gym and DB's) 4 - 5 nights a week. I eat pretty darn clean and put on about 15 pounds in the past 3 months. Certainly not all muscle. I would be thrilled if 5 of it was new muscle!

I am now shedding the unwanted weight by increasing cardio, lowering caloric intake, and timing carbs better pre-work out and then minimal afterwards. the new USPlabs OEP is in the mix (love it) as is fish oil, Myofusion, and the last of my PowerFULL.

Once I get back down to say 170-165 I will add calories and begin a lean gain. I hated the "bulk" (read fat) that I put on this last go around! Slower gains but remaining lean are fine quick gains and lean would be finer!!!

What is "recommended" for the over 40 crowd? I do NOT want to go all crazy on Supps. I have my Myofusion, Jack3d, fish oil and a good multi.

Probably cutting out the PowerFULL as I do not feel as though I reacted to it very well. Certainly not enough to justify the price. I love the concept, just got nothing from it. Might add a ZMA instead, for the sleep - recovery.

I will once again add Creatine mono rather than a blend. Got nothing from Size ON, and the Cell Tech I got a deal on has way too much sugar.. Unflavored mono in a post workout shake will be fine (unless you have other ideas).

I have also considered Gaspari's Novadex XT but am concerned about some of the negatives I have heard that come with the positives.

What is a 41 year old to do, in addition to eating very well and busting butt in the gym? I realize this is not an overnight thing. Just looking for a bit of instant gratification along this long road and lifestyle change.

Thanks all!

[Bberforlife]

Powerfull did nothing for me as well. Are you working out at a gym now, maybe you need to refine your routine first. Also make sure your diet is spot on and figure out exactly how many calories you are eating and need to eat. The celltech has the sugar for an insulin spike which would be nice postworkout, but I think there is too much and the price is insane. With the creatine mono postworkout you can use gatorade powder for the insulin spike, but not as many g's of sugar as celltech of course.

[bioman]

I would stay away from Novadex or any other hormonal if you want to stay as natural as possible. You can do lots by refining your diet, nutrient timing and training methods. This board has a lot to offer in the diet and training sections of the forum even though it would appear we are obsessed with supplements.

[n87]

I'd say start with your physical exam, to see where you at health wise. Replace sodas in your diet with water. Alternate your lifting routine I.e high rep / light weight, low rep / heavy weight. As far as supplements go, I'd look into Primordial Performance products, sustain alpha, phyto testosterone. They seem to work according to people that tried them. Good luck!

[EMARTIN]

Have not had a soda in ages. The diet side of things is pretty good actually. Getting between 180 and 200 grams of protein a day (vast majority from whole foods), 20 - 30 grams of good fats in fishoil and olive oil, 70 - 80 grams of complex carbs pre workout (next to none post). Right around 2000 calories for a good clean fat burn. I get between a gallon and a gallon and a half of water in each day and plenty of good fruit / veggies. THIS IS A WEIGHT CUT PHASE OF COARSE...

I have a good clean bill of health from the doc. Blood work / blood preasure / general health are all pretty good and only getting better...

Mixing up the work out a bit more is a good suggestion and will be acted upon. I have lifted pretty heavy and should probably scale back for a week or two of high rep / high set to shake things up.

My wife says I look great but I look in the miror and see a body that made a lot of progress and then stalled!!!

[MacTech]

Do you have a stressful life? Sounds like you're doing everything else just fine.

[Nitrox]

What is a 41 year old to do, in addition to eating very well and busting butt in the gym? I realize this is not an overnight thing. Just looking for a bit of instant gratification along this long road and lifestyle change.

Thanks all!

Please don't shoot the messenger but there is no instant gratification in this game.

So no there is no a lot else to do besides optimizing your diet and training smart and, often forgotten, being patient. IMO diet and training are 99% of the equation - yes I think supplements are that irrelevant when the former are in check.

One thing that might help you out is to remember that apart from newbie gains, the body really cannot build muscle and lose fat at the same time, hence the are bulking and cutting diets. However, you do not have to be on one or the other for months on end. Maybe try calorie cycling such as eating bulking cals for the 24hrs after weight training and cutting cals for the 24 hrs after cardio days... This makes gains more gradual (easier on the joints and the wardrobe) and not having to go hungry for more than a couple days at a time is also a bonus.

Just a suggestion...

[EMARTIN]

Do you have a stressful life? Sounds like you're doing everything else just fine.

Wife, four kids, and a bonehead dog in this economy... It can be trying. LOL.

[EMARTIN]

Please don't shoot the messenger but there is no instant gratification in this game.

So no there is no a lot else to do besides optimizing your diet and training smart and, often forgotten, being patient. IMO diet and training are 99% of the equation - yes I think supplements are that irrelevant when the former are in check.

One thing that might help you out is to remember that apart from newbie gains, the body really cannot build muscle and lose fat at the same time, hence the are bulking and cutting diets. However, you do not have to be on one or the other for months on end. Maybe try calorie cycling such as eating bulking cals for the 24hrs after weight training and cutting cals for the 24 hrs after cardio days... This makes gains more gradual (easier on the joints and the wardrobe) and not having to go hungry for more than a couple days at a time is also a bonus.

Just a suggestion...

Thanks Nitrox. I think one of the items that NEEDS to be put into my bag of tricks is more SLEEP!!!!.. You bring up valid points and I thank you. I am doing some cutting right now and it is coming along nicely. Next will be a leaner bulk for those gradual gains, but gains....

I have been getting less than 5 hours of sleep a night and that will change starting tonight. Trying to hit the sack closer to 9:00 rather than 11ish. Rise for AM cardio / shower / commute is at 4:15 AM... Need the sleep. I am sure that will help with the afore mentioned stress as well.

[swollwilliams]

man, you are doing great. balancing the gym, a full time job, and a family, all while staying motivated and improving your quality of life, health,- my hat goes off to you. sounds like you are right on track. definitely think the added sleep will be a big help with muscle growth/repair.

[kingdong]

I would stay away from Novadex or any other hormonal if you want to stay as natural as possible.

I love this comment. When I think of nutritional supplements, I think of things that refill the nutrients we lose during training. After that Ill give a pass to herbal stimulants. Athough their not neccasarily nutritional, they are still natural supplements. If you really whant to call your self natural, do the research before trying things like Novadex/formestane, as many of these compounds were created by people in a lab.


You should also know that AI's cun be hard on the joints. Stoked made me ache, and I'm only 24, but I'm also a muscular beast.

[Blutarski]

ZMA when you have to work out the next morning and 3 mg melatonin when you just have to roll out of bed and go to work. Both are very cheap as well. Sounds like aside from sleep your doing great. Keep it up.

[wilsmash4food]

gonna play devil's advocate here...
have you given any consideration to hormone replacement therapy? my dad (who's only exercise is a round of golf on sundays) recently got a script for andro-gel and in just a few weeks gained some healthy weight and has tons more energy. after a certain age men start to loose test naturally. i know you want to stay completely natty, but give it some thought. talk to your doc and see what he/she thinks. i was amazed at the improvement in my pop's quality of life. you, as active as you are, could really see some benefits.

[MacTech]

gonna play devil's advocate here...
have you given any consideration to hormone replacement therapy? my dad (who's only exercise is a round of golf on sundays) recently got a script for andro-gel and in just a few weeks gained some healthy weight and has tons more energy. after a certain age men start to loose test naturally. i know you want to stay completely natty, but give it some thought. talk to your doc and see what he/she thinks. i was amazed at the improvement in my pop's quality of life. you, as active as you are, could really see some benefits.

Where did he say he was hypogonadal? I am 53, I don't need TRT, and it would be quite stupid to take Androgel when your HPTA is working. Your dad must have been or the doctor that prescribed it is an idiot.

[DreamWeaver]

Where did he say he was hypogonadal? I am 53, I don't need TRT, and it would be quite stupid to take Androgel when your HPTA is working. Your dad must have been or the doctor that prescribed it is an idiot.

I'm on board with that, exercise and clean diet and the battle is more than half won. Diet is first, once you've conquered that supplements can help if used intelligently. I use a lot of herbal supplements, but I have been doing this a awful long time and have really gotten to know what my body responds to, but I am still learning and always will be.

[R1balla]

I dont know if you have looked into App Nut's HGHup, but I have read great reviews and I myself am on it. One great aspect of it that I see is the sleep i get from it. I take 2 pre workout and 3 before bed and i can get 6 hours of sleep and wake up like the energizer bunny. it gives me a better quality of sleep each night. good luck

[EMARTIN]

Thanks again all... Great info!

My wife heard me talking about the Novedex XT and found it on sale/bought a few bottles on a great deal. SURPRISE to me!!!

Is this not a good idea or out of the realm of "natty"?

The current "cut" diet with the Oxy Elite pro and Recreate is going very well. Looking forward to LEAN and then packing on more quality pounds.

Thanks again all!!!!

[MEPSE]

I personally like Novedex XT the best out of the AI's I have tried, and I consider it to be natural (although it is made in a lab). I use supplements that are legal, but natural can have different meanings to different people. I believe that older guys derive benefits from using an AI and a natural test booster. I would try the Novedex XT at the recommended dosage (2 caps before bed).

[R1balla]

i have always heard that nova doesnt actually increase test, but lowers estrogen to make it seem like you have a higher ratio. im not saying i believe this, i havent done research, but ya. i would love to see some bloodwork on nova to see what it really does

[wilsmash4food]

Where did he say he was hypogonadal? I am 53, I don't need TRT, and it would be quite stupid to take Androgel when your HPTA is working. Your dad must have been or the doctor that prescribed it is an idiot.

nice comment...****. almost every male looses t levels as they age. the vast majority in fact. just because you dont agree with a post, thats no reason to call my father an idiot. it worked wonders for him. and he didnt say that he wasnt hypogonadal either. it was just an idea.