Re: Helton's Log (531 Stuff)
Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2022 12:30 pm
Thanks, Jan. Not easy, but that was just because it was 8 reps. My slowests rep was .44 m/s, which is still pretty fast.
Leaving false strength conventions behind
https://www.exodus-strength.com/forum/
Thanks, Jan. Not easy, but that was just because it was 8 reps. My slowests rep was .44 m/s, which is still pretty fast.
LOL. We live in an older house with a detached garage. The garage has never been renovated. There was some old water damage to the ceiling, and the sheetrock just fell off. All the walls and ceiling need to be repaired, but it is more like a barn at this point.
Don't. It's almost impossible to only reduce it a little and if you bottom it out you will feel like hell, your joints will get sore, and you will fairly likely pull something. The E2 will be a little unnaturally high on Clomiphene, because your body is tryng to increase your E2. That's what Clomiphene does, you get the test bump because virtually all of your E2 is made by aromatizing testosterone so your body HAS to bump test production to increase E2. The aromatase blocker will shut down aromatization everywhere across the board, and at therapeutic doses it will crush it next to zero. The AI they will give you is almost certainly going to be Anastrozole, which is horrible. Just ride it out.JohnHelton wrote: ↑Wed Nov 02, 2022 10:37 am T levels are up on clomiphene, but estrogen levels up too. Going to try an estrogen blocker. I guess I feel a little better. Strength has been good. Not as tired. Etc. Feels pretty subtle. I don't know if getting the estrogen levels down will help with the fat loss.
When I get this dialed in, I might have to go on a bulk just to see what happens.
You could be right, but I'm going to trust the doctor. Plus, it is only a 2 week trial before he draws blood again. Interestingly, my estradiol was clinically low before starting treatment.Hardartery wrote: ↑Wed Nov 02, 2022 12:58 pmDon't. It's almost impossible to only reduce it a little and if you bottom it out you will feel like hell, your joints will get sore, and you will fairly likely pull something. The E2 will be a little unnaturally high on Clomiphene, because your body is tryng to increase your E2. That's what Clomiphene does, you get the test bump because virtually all of your E2 is made by aromatizing testosterone so your body HAS to bump test production to increase E2. The aromatase blocker will shut down aromatization everywhere across the board, and at therapeutic doses it will crush it next to zero. The AI they will give you is almost certainly going to be Anastrozole, which is horrible. Just ride it out.JohnHelton wrote: ↑Wed Nov 02, 2022 10:37 am T levels are up on clomiphene, but estrogen levels up too. Going to try an estrogen blocker. I guess I feel a little better. Strength has been good. Not as tired. Etc. Feels pretty subtle. I don't know if getting the estrogen levels down will help with the fat loss.
When I get this dialed in, I might have to go on a bulk just to see what happens.
If your test is low, it's not unusual to have low estradiol as well. When I started TRT I blew up like the Michelin Man initially. Not exagerrating, I swelled up like I was inflated. 1/4 tab of anastrozole later I pissed out all the water and multiple mild pulls and one slightly more serious pec strain next time I hit the gym. I was by no means ego lifting either, this was all low strain stuff that should not have bothered anything. My E2 came back at <8 (Because I can just go to a lab and get work done whenever I want for cheap, so I did). You balance out over time. I currently have no bloat at all and a normal E2 level on TRT, and it was the same when I used Clompiphene last year to try and restart and see if I could get off of TRT. I'm not telling you to take my word over a doctor, I'm telling you don't trust a regular doctor to know. They don't, and shouldn't be expected to. This is stuff that not even all endo's are actually versed in. An endo that specializes in HRT is a better choice.JohnHelton wrote: ↑Wed Nov 02, 2022 1:14 pmYou could be right, but I'm going to trust the doctor. Plus, it is only a 2 week trial before he draws blood again. Interestingly, my estradiol was clinically low before starting treatment.Hardartery wrote: ↑Wed Nov 02, 2022 12:58 pmDon't. It's almost impossible to only reduce it a little and if you bottom it out you will feel like hell, your joints will get sore, and you will fairly likely pull something. The E2 will be a little unnaturally high on Clomiphene, because your body is tryng to increase your E2. That's what Clomiphene does, you get the test bump because virtually all of your E2 is made by aromatizing testosterone so your body HAS to bump test production to increase E2. The aromatase blocker will shut down aromatization everywhere across the board, and at therapeutic doses it will crush it next to zero. The AI they will give you is almost certainly going to be Anastrozole, which is horrible. Just ride it out.JohnHelton wrote: ↑Wed Nov 02, 2022 10:37 am T levels are up on clomiphene, but estrogen levels up too. Going to try an estrogen blocker. I guess I feel a little better. Strength has been good. Not as tired. Etc. Feels pretty subtle. I don't know if getting the estrogen levels down will help with the fat loss.
When I get this dialed in, I might have to go on a bulk just to see what happens.
JohnHelton wrote: ↑Fri Nov 04, 2022 6:26 am 531 - 1.2.3
Friday, November 4, 2022
BW: 87.1 kg
Deadlift:
in kg
TM: 243
170 x 3
195 x 3
217.5 x 7 @ 9.5 (e1RM = 268/591)
170 x 3
Notes: I cut this a bit short given total stress. I think I was carrying some fatigue from last week's deadlifts. Strength is definitely down from when I pulled 500 lbs x 8.
Pause SSB Squat:
52.5 kg x 10 x 3
Maybe experiment with grip width and stance? Or not?JohnHelton wrote: ↑Sat Nov 05, 2022 9:15 am
Notes: I'm not sure I am going to keep pressing as a 5/3/1 movement. My sciatica doesn't like it.
Given the rods in my back and limited shoulder mobility, it is just a tough movement. I might just stay light with high rep. Treat it like a bodybuilder movement.slowmotion wrote: ↑Sat Nov 05, 2022 11:48 amMaybe experiment with grip width and stance? Or not?JohnHelton wrote: ↑Sat Nov 05, 2022 9:15 am
Notes: I'm not sure I am going to keep pressing as a 5/3/1 movement. My sciatica doesn't like it.
Worth a try, if your shoulders agree with it.JohnHelton wrote: ↑Sat Nov 05, 2022 12:01 pmGiven the rods in my back and limited shoulder mobility, it is just a tough movement. I might just stay light with high rep. Treat it like a bodybuilder movement.slowmotion wrote: ↑Sat Nov 05, 2022 11:48 amMaybe experiment with grip width and stance? Or not?JohnHelton wrote: ↑Sat Nov 05, 2022 9:15 am
Notes: I'm not sure I am going to keep pressing as a 5/3/1 movement. My sciatica doesn't like it.
Maybe incline bench? That would arguably transfer to bench better too. Or some other further removed bench variation? Like a floor press or something? I could suggest JM press but I'm very biased.JohnHelton wrote: ↑Sat Nov 05, 2022 9:15 am 531 - 1.2.4
Saturday, November 5, 2022
BW: 87.3 kg - retaining a bunch of water for some reason
Press:
in kg
42.5 x 3
50 x 3
55 x 8 @ 9 (e1RM = 70/154)
42.5 x 5 x 4
Notes: I'm not sure I am going to keep pressing as a 5/3/1 movement. My sciatica doesn't like it.
Bench Press (BBB)
67.5 kg x 10 x 5
Notes: 10 minutes total. Nice pump. Will keep adding weight as long as I can get all 50 reps in 10 minutes.
Pull-ups
4,4,4,5,5
I would love to do incline, but I don't have an adjustable bench at home. I think I am just going to do lateral raises, etc. for the medial delts. Day 4 will just be another bench day, focused on hypertrophy.MarkKO wrote: ↑Sat Nov 05, 2022 1:56 pmMaybe incline bench? That would arguably transfer to bench better too. Or some other further removed bench variation? Like a floor press or something? I could suggest JM press but I'm very biased.JohnHelton wrote: ↑Sat Nov 05, 2022 9:15 am 531 - 1.2.4
Saturday, November 5, 2022
BW: 87.3 kg - retaining a bunch of water for some reason
Press:
in kg
42.5 x 3
50 x 3
55 x 8 @ 9 (e1RM = 70/154)
42.5 x 5 x 4
Notes: I'm not sure I am going to keep pressing as a 5/3/1 movement. My sciatica doesn't like it.
Bench Press (BBB)
67.5 kg x 10 x 5
Notes: 10 minutes total. Nice pump. Will keep adding weight as long as I can get all 50 reps in 10 minutes.
Pull-ups
4,4,4,5,5