Time to say goodbye friends

[Elektrobot]

When my training created almost zero pump, getting very light headed, and extreme exhaustion, I knew something was very wrong. I already use a walker but still could barely make it out the door of the gym, and my blood sugar was perfect. All red flags.

Same. I kept telling myself it was my deficit, but got a glucose meter and saw otherwise.

Curious if you have your vitamin D levels checked regularly and if you were ever low.

My vitamin D was very low, 25 on my last test. And I found this study suggesting that vitamin D treatment in persons with low LV EF created an improvement.

Effects of Vitamin D on Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Patients with Systolic Heart Failure: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial - PMC

Heart failure is a pathophysiologic state in which the cardiac output is not able to supply the body with enough oxygen and nutrients. The prevalence of heart failure has increased dramatically over the last decades. Vitamin D levels in patients ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[malfeasance]

Thanks for the compliment. Cardio is a thing of the past for me now.

I don't know all the details of what is wrong with you, but I would figure out a way to get your heart rate elevated for more than 20 mins a day most days of the week. This is especially so given your heart issues, unless, of course your doctor is advising against it.

I know you are on a walker and have a hard time getting around, but I would experiment to find something I could do and then do it.

If you have tried everything and simply can't, then there is no need to get frustrated by my comment. I just want to encourage you to do it if you can find a way.

"Cardio" is probably one of the most important but underused things for middle aged bodybuilders.

 

[4Drago]

Same. I kept telling myself it was my deficit, but got a glucose meter and saw otherwise.

Curious if you have your vitamin D levels checked regularly and if you were ever low.

My vitamin D was very low, 25 on my last test. And I found this study suggesting that vitamin D treatment in persons with low LV EF created an improvement.

Effects of Vitamin D on Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction in Patients with Systolic Heart Failure: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial - PMC

Heart failure is a pathophysiologic state in which the cardiac output is not able to supply the body with enough oxygen and nutrients. The prevalence of heart failure has increased dramatically over the last decades. Vitamin D levels in patients ...

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Actually yes. My vit D was finally normal on my last blood work about a month ago. It dropped as low as 20 but is now 57.

 

[Elektrobot]

Actually yes. My vit D was finally normal on my last blood work about a month ago. It dropped as low as 20 but is now 57.

Did you start a vit D supplement? If so, which one?

 

[4Drago]

Did you start a vit D supplement? If so, which one?

Just prescription cholecalcif 50mg a day.

 

[Elektrobot]

Just prescription cholecalcif 50mg a day.

Thank you, I'm going to ask for that. I've been using an OTC liquid vit D the past few weeks. I'd be fckn thrilled if increasing vit D helps resolve this.

 

[Red Bastard]

Sorry to hear this.
I remember you from CJM. You’re a good one, for sure!
I hope that you’re navigating this hurdle well.
Best wishes to you!

 

[4Drago]

Sorry to hear this.
I remember you from CJM. You’re a good one, for sure!
I hope that you’re navigating this hurdle well.
Best wishes to you!

Sorry, what's CJM? I'm old and not so good with acronyms lol.

 

[HeatherSwanson]

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.

Im 5'9" ish and 200lbs lean as fuck and healthier than I have ever felt in my life. Get used to feeling skinny and weak but enjoy feeling fast ad fuck, better sleeps, more energy and limber. Sorry you're going through that

 

[4Drago]

Im 5'9" ish and 200lbs lean as fuck and healthier than I have ever felt in my life. Get used to feeling skinny and weak but enjoy feeling fast ad fuck, better sleeps, more energy and limber. Sorry you're going through that

Thanks. I'm kinda liking 5'9" 225lbs approx 12% bf. I feel great. I'm not even half way thru my blast. No more being in the 250s but this is pretty nice so far. Being leaner really helps make the muscles pop, so the illusion of being bigger is still there.
Due to my disability I tend to fall often. Just sprained my ankle pretty bad 4 weeks ago. It turned all black and blue and I gotta wear a boot. I can't really put any weight on it yet. But muscle memory is still kicking in even with just using some bumbells at home.
I'm starting to look even better then this pic here that I posted before I sprained my ankle.

 

[Red Bastard]

Sorry, what's CJM? I'm old and not so good with acronyms lol.

Maybe it’s just a popular screen name.
Drago was (is?) the Admin of Canadian Juice Monsters.
I just assumed that you were he! Lol!

But I still wish you the best, of course!

 

[Slicknyc]

Thanks. I'm kinda liking 5'9" 225lbs approx 12% bf. I feel great. I'm not even half way thru my blast. No more being in the 250s but this is pretty nice so far. Being leaner really helps make the muscles pop, so the illusion of being bigger is still there.
Due to my disability I tend to fall often. Just sprained my ankle pretty bad 4 weeks ago. It turned all black and blue and I gotta wear a boot. I can't really put any weight on it yet. But muscle memory is still kicking in even with just using some bumbells at home.
I'm starting to look even better then this pic here that I posted before I sprained my ankle.

Came across your thread and just wanted to say that you look great besides that foot. Were you a heavy gear user for a long time? I’m 54 years old and started using at 18 and used a good amount of gear for many years. My body couldn’t handle the amount of gear that was needed to maintain the look that I was trying to maintain. It’s so difficult to adjust psychology and 210lbs at 5ft 9 and low bodyfat is still impressive. Thing is that when you see yourself a certain way in the mirror for so long- it’s hard to adjust. I’m having a really tough time adjusting as I have cut back my doses to 200mg test a week. I’m terrified of going to the cardiologist in fear of an enlarged hearts and/or clots. Reading your thread and his positive you are is helping.

 

[Adi18]

Stick around. You have a lot of knowledge to share. Keep going to the gym just go really light. It's not like you can't workout without gear. After so many years of training, its not good mentally to just stop. Just go, train light, its about getting out and doing something.

 

[Adi18]

I’m having a really tough time adjusting as I have cut back my doses to 200mg test a week. I’m terrified of going to the cardiologist in fear of an enlarged hearts and/or clots. Reading your thread and his positive you are is helping.

But wouldn't you want to know if you're having heart problems so you can be proactive about it? Do you have kids, grandkids, wife etc. You have one life.

 

[malfeasance]

My body couldn’t handle the amount of gear that was needed to maintain the look that I was trying to maintain.

What does that mean? What was going on?

 

[4Drago]

Came across your thread and just wanted to say that you look great besides that foot. Were you a heavy gear user for a long time? I’m 54 years old and started using at 18 and used a good amount of gear for many years. My body couldn’t handle the amount of gear that was needed to maintain the look that I was trying to maintain. It’s so difficult to adjust psychology and 210lbs at 5ft 9 and low bodyfat is still impressive. Thing is that when you see yourself a certain way in the mirror for so long- it’s hard to adjust. I’m having a really tough time adjusting as I have cut back my doses to 200mg test a week. I’m terrified of going to the cardiologist in fear of an enlarged hearts and/or clots. Reading your thread and his positive you are is helping.

Thanks. I was never a "heavy gear user". I didn't really get too much into gear until my 40s actually (I was natural and in the military prior). Did it a little in my 20s for a very short period (then joined military) My genetic max potential is about 225lbs 5'9" 13-15% bf. I'm good with that now that I'm older. Now it's trt with one mild blast per year. It's been working so far and I feel good about my size. Being 257lbs was just to much strain on the body and eating to maintain was just a chore.