41 and loosing the battle

**RickM** · 08-27-2006, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yagman

Have you ever had your thyroid checked? I think you should cut back on your cardio and lift heavy. Have you ever read Stuart Mcrobert's book, Beyond Brawn. It'll change your life. Buy a copy.

Hoping to get some of these things checked out real soon. I really need to get with my doc to have my bloodwork script changed to include a few other things. Will call again next week to see if I can get in there.

Cutting back on cardio always ends up with an incease in BF. That is part of how I get to where I am :-)

Just checked Amazon and Ebay for Beyond Brawn and they dont have it available.

FYI777 · 08-27-2006, 03:19 PM

RickM I just turned 48(almost 50 for G*** sake!!! and know exactly where you're coming from. I too am checking out those HRT clinics. Why are they all from Florida? And have you seen those prices for the meds!? Seems like gouging to me,unless I haven't seen the ones you did.

Have found that whereas when I was younger I could get away without doing cardio, just lifting, now I must incorporate cardio into my routine. Get rid of your car and bicycle everywhere!!! Then you'll have to do cadio not to mention save a bundle of $$ not going to all the oil cartels.

I be watching your thread as I need to learn more as well.

Yagman · 08-27-2006, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickM

Just checked Amazon and Ebay for Beyond Brawn and they dont have it available.

http://hardgainer.com/

**yeahright** · 08-27-2006, 03:46 PM

RickM, you really seem like you're on the right track. IT's going to take awhile but small changes will add up over time. It took many years to get out of shape it will take one or two to get back (especially given your physical limitations). Just keep at it.

Two pieces of advice from me:

1) Cut out the diet sodas. There are studies which show that consumers of diet soda actually gain weight. Drink More Diet Soda, Gain More Weight?

2) Cut out the "fat free" salad dressings and such. Fat free doesn't equal calorie free. Many people consume a lot of calories they're not aware of because they think the fat free products they are using are also low in calories. Substitute some olive oil, avocado slices, or something similar with healthy fats. It will be more satisfying and aid in your overall health.

Best of luck!

**RickM** · 08-27-2006, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FYI777

RickM I just turned 48(almost 50 for G*** sake!!! and know exactly where you're coming from. I too am checking out those HRT clinics. Why are they all from Florida? And have you seen those prices for the meds!? Seems like gouging to me,unless I haven't seen the ones you did.

Not sure why there are so many from Florida. The one I am working with is out of Palm Beach. However, I am also looking at scheduling an appointment with a doctor that does HRT "if needed".

Much depends on how my blood results come back. If it comes back normal, then I need to look at where I am going wrong with other things.

Overall, I am just trying to turn things around and start on a new path.

**RickM** · 08-27-2006, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yeahright

RickM, you really seem like you're on the right track. IT's going to take awhile but small changes will add up over time. It took many years to get out of shape it will take one or two to get back (especially given your physical limitations). Just keep at it.

Two pieces of advice from me:

1) Cut out the diet sodas. There are studies which show that consumers of diet soda actually gain weight. Drink More Diet Soda, Gain More Weight?

2) Cut out the "fat free" salad dressings and such. Fat free doesn't equal calorie free. Many people consume a lot of calories they're not aware of because they think the fat free products they are using are also low in calories. Substitute some olive oil, avocado slices, or something similar with healthy fats. It will be more satisfying and aid in your overall health.

Best of luck!

Thanks for the post

I remember hearing something about this in the past. I also have crystal light ice tea that I like. I may just skip any soda next week and stick to the crystal light.

On the salad dressings, I usually dont use them, but I will cut them out completly next week.

Anxious for tomorrow mornings weigh in

FYI777 · 08-27-2006, 04:16 PM

Even if your blood tests come back "normal",doesn't mean it's normal for you.Lots of doctors (not all I'm sure) went to med school just for the money and they just practice medicine by the numbers really not understanding that the human body does not work that way. You know your body better than any doctor does,you just have to listen.(not saying that's easy either).

**RickM** · 08-28-2006, 05:29 PM

Morning Workout:

Chest and Shoulders today. Left rotator cuff wasn't doing good on shoulder presses, so I lowered the weight.

15 minutes on the treadmill

Diet:

Following a few suggestions. Replaced coffee and soda with water and crystal light. Stuck with my ground turkey with a little salsa on it, salad with no dressing, and a grilled chicken wrap.

Weight:

Weighed in at 236 and 34%. This means I am down 4 pounds and Bodyfat stayed the same. However, the water intake in the morning may have thrown the BF calculation off. May check again tomorrow. One way or another... down four pounds. It is a step in the right direction.

**RickM** · 08-28-2006, 05:32 PM

Blood test is scheduled for Wednesday morning. Only problem I see is the 2:00 weather said the hurricane is heading this way and we will be having tropical storm gusts at 8:00 that morning.

Yagman · 08-28-2006, 10:32 PM

Good luck with the hurricane. Let us know how it goes.

**RickM** · 08-29-2006, 06:04 PM

Expecting the center of the storm to be over my head around 7:30 - 8:00 tomorrow night. Probably some large winds gusts and some tornados. Overall it looks like s afairly small storm.

**RickM** · 08-29-2006, 06:10 PM

Blood tests for tomorrow were cancelled, and I left a message at the HRT clinic to complain.

From what I have learned, the HRT clinic hires a third party to get the blood testing done around the US. This third party locates a place for me to go, or hires someone to come see me. Well, I was scheduled to go to one of those Walk In Medical Centers for my bloodwork tomorrow, but the kit they need wasnt shipped out in time. Whew... complicated.

I already invested some cash into this, so I am trying to see where it goes. If all fails with this company, it will be a learing experience for others to see.

In the meantime I already contacted someone else to schedule bloodwork. This will be a little cheaper at $175, and it is about 45 minutes from here. So.... this could actually be used as a backup to the other bloodwork results... if I ever get them :-)

**RickM** · 08-30-2006, 04:44 PM

Wednesday = cardio only for me. Was able to get some done on the treadmill at home before work. Went to the gym at lunch and they were closed due to the hurricane. Not sure what hurricane they are looking at, but some wind and rain has been it so far today.

My bloodwork is scheduled for tomorrow morning, so I am looking forward to finally having it completed. Next step is waiting for the results to be available.

**RickM** · 08-31-2006, 05:41 PM

Drove to Orlando area this morning for the physical and blood work.

So, blood pressure, three vials of blood, turn head, cough, jump in place 50 times, blood pressure, relax for awhile, blood pressure again, open and say ahhhh.

Should have results in 3-5 days

**RickM** · 09-02-2006, 11:31 AM

Haven't been that happy with the first online clinic I was working with. They stumbled a few times doing what they said they would. So, I have talked to two more clinics the past week. Each is waiting on me to receive my blood work results, and each says their prices are better.

Have almost made it a week with no soda. I did add the morning coffee back in a few days ago. Just wasn't feeling the same. Caffeine addiction I guess.

I increased the weight and lowered the reps as some have suggested. Feels good so far, except my right rotator cuff. May have to get that checked out, but don't really want to hear what the problem is. I think it was torn a few years ago, and don't want to go through the surgery to repair. Then again, I may not have a choice. The surgery helped my left one that I tore. lol.. what a mess :-)

Anyways, I am feeling good about the changes I am making.

**RickM** · 09-04-2006, 12:35 PM

I dont feel as though I dropped much weight yet, but I have received a few comments. Not sure what they are seeing, but the comments help. Should probably take some "before" pics to have for later on.

Chest, Triceps, Shoulders today.

**yeahright** · 09-04-2006, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickM

I dont feel as though I dropped much weight yet, but I have received a few comments. Not sure what they are seeing, but the comments help. Should probably take some "before" pics to have for later on.

Chest, Triceps, Shoulders today.

Could be something as small as an attitude change. It really sounds like you've decided to take charge of your health. I would imagine that you're probably walking a little taller, carrying yourself a little different. People pick-up on those things. Self-confidence projects well even if you're just starting the path towards your goals.

**RickM** · 09-04-2006, 01:14 PM

Cooking up some ground "low fat" chicken right now. A little garlic powder, and some dried chopped onion and we have lunch

One package of ground chicken equals about two meals.

Clothes still feel a little tight around the waist.

Monday is usually the weigh in day between myself and a coworker that lifts. Since we have the day off I need to wait until tomorrow morning. Should be interesting. Would like to see two more pounds gone.

Bering C · 09-05-2006, 01:54 PM

Congrats on the d