Time to say goodbye friends

[RekTest]

Well come to find out both my sister and I have a heart defect (genetic). Enlarged left ventricle. My hearts ejection fraction has dropped to 34% so it's time to turn to actual trt only from now on.

It was a good run. I'm now in my 50s so it's just not worth it to me. I'm also diabetic so I'm prescribed ozempic now. Without it I don't think I'd be able to drop muscle mass quick enough. I've gone from 254lbs to currently 225lbs. I'm lean and happy with this size at 5'9". Cardio doc won't let me bodybuild anymore. So looks like my end goal will be a lean, mean 210lbs. I haven't been below this weight since my senior year in high school (ped free).

It was great while it lasted. I'll still post every now and then. I'm just not gonna bodybuild ever again.

I wish you and your sister the best brother, absolutely the best, I bid amazing good health on you and her.
Nothing with the heart is fun, my dad has (he isnt a bb, just normal guy) a bulging heart artery and Im so scared to get mine checked. because enlargements can run in the family. He gets checked yearly now at a heart doc.
I find it better living life just not knowing, because the last thing in my life I can fully control is my death and that would take my last basin away.
I absolutely run far too much gear without knowing, Ive pretty much permablasted 95% all of 2024 and pretty much plan to all of 2025.



May I ask what entailed for you and your sister to get checked?
No worries if you dont want to get into details, Im just curious like if you started noticing certain things at the gym or etc..

 

[4Drago]

Sorry to hear of this and is this defect fixable via surgery and have you discussed all the options with your doc? Wishing the best for you man and why not stick around. Your health is #1 and you should still still keep in shape and not turn to a fat ass lol.

Still under going more testing to figure out the best plan of action. Right now just taking meds and taking it easy.

 

[4Drago]

I wish you and your sister the best brother, absolutely the best, I bid amazing good health on you and her.
Nothing with the heart is fun, my dad has (he isnt a bb, just normal guy) a bulging heart artery and Im so scared to get mine checked. because enlargements can run in the family. He gets checked yearly now at a heart doc.
I find it better living life just not knowing, because the last thing in my life I can fully control is my death and that would take my last basin away.
I absolutely run far too much gear without knowing, Ive pretty much permablasted 95% all of 2024 and pretty much plan to all of 2025.



May I ask what entailed for you and your sister to get checked?
No worries if you dont want to get into details, Im just curious like if you started noticing certain things at the gym or etc..

My sister told me about her heart issue. Then when training I'd be so out of breath and weak I could barely walk. Wasn't getting enough blood pumped to where it needed to go. I just wasn't getting a pump anymore, which isn't normal for me at all. My Ankles would swell during calve exercises. Also this all started after a covid shot.
I never really knew my dad but he died of a heart attack at 60 so it's just not worth it anymore.

 

[RekTest]

My sister told me about her heart issue. Then when training I'd be so out of breath and weak I could barely walk. Wasn't getting enough blood pumped to where it needed to go. I just wasn't getting a pump anymore, which isn't normal for me at all. My Ankles would swell during calve exercises. Also this all started after a covid shot.

Do you mind telling me what you were running, gear wise, when you started noticing the out of breath and weak?

 

[4Drago]

Do you mind telling me what you were running, gear wise, when you started noticing the out of breath and weak?

Just some sustanon and masteron. 400mg sust 200mg mast. Now I'm just doing a mix at 100mg per week and I feel fine. Doc wants me on a med that's basically an anti androgen. It's just to keep me from retaining water. I refuse but the masteron does this just fine. I pee all day. Even more then just from being diabetic

 

[4Drago]

Sorry to hear than and god bless u and ur sisters I wish the best. But a lot of gear heads get that after years of blasting, generic or not. Plus u pushed high doses at a old age. I’d bet u have a enlarged heart also that’s not genetic as far as I know, it’s from gear or athletic heart in most cases.

Try eating 50g protein a day w caloric deficit and tell me u won’t loose muscle, come on?

Sorry to hear, we will miss having u around.
Just keep it under 150 mg test or what ever keeps u at say 400 or so.

I understand but my sister has the same issue and she has never used peds.
The ozempic is to help with diabetes plus it makes eating less, easier. Don't school me on how easy it is to lose muscle. I've been doing this for years. Even at trt of 100mg per week I keep a lot! Starving yourself to lose 45lbs isn't fun so the help is much appreciated.
My heart isn't enlarge, just the left ventricle is enlarged which reduces flexibility and efficiency pumping blood.
I'm not an idiot and I'm sure gear hasn't helped, but this is a genetic issue. I'll go with what my doc says.

 

[readalot]

I absolutely run far too much gear

Nice self awareness. You think you could have used 25% of what you took and still had same results?

 

[4Drago]

That’s a tough shift, but it sounds like you’re approaching it with the right mindset. First off, I’m really sorry to hear about the heart defect and the challenges you’re both facing, but it’s inspiring to see how you’re taking control and prioritizing your health. Not everyone has the discipline to make those hard changes, especially when it means stepping away from something you’ve been passionate about for so long.

Dropping from 254 to 225 is no small feat, frustrating….but being lean and healthy at 210 is an impressive goal—especially at 5’9”. It’s clear you’re still putting in the work and keeping that drive alive, even if the focus has shifted.

Bodybuilding may be off the table, but the strength, discipline, and knowledge you’ve gained over the years will carry over into whatever comes next. It’s not the end of the road, just a different path. Please do keep posting—you’ve got a lot of wisdom and experience that can help others in this community, especially those navigating health challenges or transitioning out of competitive fitness.

Stay strong and take care of that heart. You’ve got this.

While in the military I was ped free and dropped to a lean 210lbs for a bit. So I know I can do it. I'm getting past the psychological part pretty easily. I thought it would be more difficult. Guess that's the benefit of being a little older.

 

[4Drago]

Sorry to hear of this and is this defect fixable via surgery and have you discussed all the options with your doc? Wishing the best for you man and why not stick around. Your health is #1 and you should still still keep in shape and not turn to a fat ass lol.

I refuse to be fat! That will never happen. Even a slight belly puts me on edge daily.

 

[RekTest]

Nice self awareness. You think you could have used 25% of what you took and still had same results?

100% yes and I know that, Ive said it before and Ill say again when I started I had no plans of how “crazy” it was going to get or how fast. It all just happened.
I, 100%, should have taken the longer, safer route because when I get my TRT bloods done I would not be surprised if I walked too close to the sun.
I don’t recommend anyone to do what I did and never have when I comment on helping people losing weight, it is always just TRT HGH Tirz with keto, which is what I should have done but I dont even follow what I preach.

 

[RekTest]

I refuse to be fat! That will never happen. Even a slight belly puts me on edge daily.

Preach brother

 

[lukiss96]

I wish you well. Trt or peds, you still belong here. A team of enhanced ones.

I don't think bodybuilding and steroids should be associated like that. You will never stop to bodybuild like you say, you are only stopping your use of anabolics except for TRT.

It doesn't make you disabled at all. You can still enjoy training and benefits that Testosterone provides you. It is you and your regime, that dictates how you do.

Don't give up. All is good and hopefully you will find some balance in life. Take care.

 

[laclark89]

I understand but my sister has the same issue and she has never used peds.
The ozempic is to help with diabetes plus it makes eating less, easier. Don't school me on how easy it is to lose muscle. I've been doing this for years. Even at trt of 100mg per week I keep a lot! Starving yourself to lose 45lbs isn't fun so the help is much appreciated.
My heart isn't enlarge, just the left ventricle is enlarged which reduces flexibility and efficiency pumping blood.
I'm not an idiot and I'm sure gear hasn't helped, but this is a genetic issue. I'll go with what my doc says.

Cool i get it, not trying to be an ass, I may be in the same boat. I’m only 36 and both my parents are dead already due to heart issues, and that’s from 2 sides not just 1.

But I’ve had ekg and all and I’m fine so far, thank the lord. But I’ve never ran over 1.5 g gear and that was too much, probably will never go over 1g again.

It is easy to starve weight off if ur life depends on it, and u like like living. I just mentioned cutting protein way back not total cal.

But like @Spaceman Spiff said ozempic sounds dumb on your situation ask ur doc for a second opinion. If you been that jacked and lean u know how to suffer?

My wife knows what I do and asked me to get it for her I said ur a retard start with diet and cardio.

Look at Cali muscle, with 99% blockage.

 

[twreck555]

Good luck to you brother. When you apply the discipline and hard work of bodybuilding to a more health focused lifestyle, you will absolutely crush it. I have no doubt.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Cool i get it, not trying to be an ass, I may be in the same boat. I’m only 36 and both my parents are dead already due to heart issues, and that’s from 2 sides not just 1.

But I’ve had ekg and all and I’m fine so far, thank the lord. But I’ve never ran over 1.5 g gear and that was too much, probably will never go over 1g again.

It is easy to starve weight off if ur life depends on it, and u like like living. I just mentioned cutting protein way back not total cal.

But like @Spaceman Spiff said ozempic sounds dumb on your situation ask ur doc for a second opinion. If you been that jacked and lean u know how to suffer?

My wife knows what I do and asked me to get it for her I said ur a retard start with diet and cardio.

Look at Cali muscle, with 99% blockage.

Semaglutide looks like a good option. Check the study out.

 

[laclark89]

Semaglutide looks like a good option. Check the study out.

Well I feel like an idiot. I read something els that it only helped obese people reduce heart failure. But ur right.

 

[Trainedbytylerlofthouse19]

Well come to find out both my sister and I have a heart defect (genetic). Enlarged left ventricle. My hearts ejection fraction has dropped to 34% so it's time to turn to actual trt only from now on.

It was a good run. I'm now in my 50s so it's just not worth it to me. I'm also diabetic so I'm prescribed ozempic now. Without it I don't think I'd be able to drop muscle mass quick enough. I've gone from 254lbs to currently 225lbs. I'm lean and happy with this size at 5'9". Cardio doc won't let me bodybuild anymore. So looks like my end goal will be a lean, mean 210lbs. I haven't been below this weight since my senior year in high school (ped free).

It was great while it lasted. I'll still post every now and then. I'm just not gonna bodybuild ever again.

Hopefully you inspire a few more guys in similar position to do the same thing.. It has certainly made me think about things..

We still need you input so stick around my dude.. Good luck in your future..

 

[malfeasance]

I understand but my sister has the same issue and she has never used peds.
The ozempic is to help with diabetes plus it makes eating less, easier. Don't school me on how easy it is to lose muscle. I've been doing this for years. Even at trt of 100mg per week I keep a lot! Starving yourself to lose 45lbs isn't fun so the help is much appreciated.
My heart isn't enlarge, just the left ventricle is enlarged which reduces flexibility and efficiency pumping blood.
I'm not an idiot and I'm sure gear hasn't helped, but this is a genetic issue. I'll go with what my doc says.

What does your doctor say about cardiovascular exercise moving forward?

"For those with existing LVH, regularly performed aerobic exercise of moderate intensity improves fitness and lowers BP at absolute workloads and the daily hemodynamic load, as is reflected by lower BP. Consequently, the daily exposure to a substantially lower hemodynamic load removes the impetus for cardiac remodeling and eventually leads to LVM regression."

Left ventricular hypertrophy in athletes and hypertensive patients - PMC

Systemic hypertension and physical exercise are both associated with cardiac adaptations. The impact is most prominent on the left side of the heart, which hypertrophies leading to left ventricular hypertrophy. This article reviews structural and ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

and

Exercise Effects on Left Ventricular Remodeling in Patients with Cardiometabolic Risk Factors - PMC

Left ventricular (LV) remodeling is a dynamic process, which is characterized by changes in ventricular size, shape, and wall thickness, thus altering myocardial geometry and function, and is considered as a negative prognostic factor in patients ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Wish you well.

 

[4Drago]

What does your doctor say about cardiovascular exercise moving forward?

"For those with existing LVH, regularly performed aerobic exercise of moderate intensity improves fitness and lowers BP at absolute workloads and the daily hemodynamic load, as is reflected by lower BP. Consequently, the daily exposure to a substantially lower hemodynamic load removes the impetus for cardiac remodeling and eventually leads to LVM regression."

Left ventricular hypertrophy in athletes and hypertensive patients - PMC

Systemic hypertension and physical exercise are both associated with cardiac adaptations. The impact is most prominent on the left side of the heart, which hypertrophies leading to left ventricular hypertrophy. This article reviews structural and ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

and

Exercise Effects on Left Ventricular Remodeling in Patients with Cardiometabolic Risk Factors - PMC

Left ventricular (LV) remodeling is a dynamic process, which is characterized by changes in ventricular size, shape, and wall thickness, thus altering myocardial geometry and function, and is considered as a negative prognostic factor in patients ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Wish you well.

I have many other issues. I'm disabled and was only able to use machines anymore. After some more testing and imaging I'll know more about what I'm able to do. Cardio is a no go for me. I had to use a walker in the gym. It was pretty funny seeing a 250lbs man at the gym with a walker. It was just planet fitness but easy to say I was the biggest guy there most days. I'm diabetic and suffer from a neurological disorder of the peripheral nerves, plus chronic pain everywhere pretty much. But I never gave up.

 

[malfeasance]

Sorry to hear all of that. I hope it gets sorted out for you.