An enigma--I need some help

[DrJMW]

I got a client last month and I need some expert comments from the group. 41 yo male with 25 years of experience in the gym. He used to compete in Olympic Weightlifting and Powerlifting competitions over 25 years ago. Since college, he hasn't really worked out on a regular basis, except for maybe a year here and a year there. He weighs 235# and BF% is 30%. Only significant medical problems is he seems to be insulin resistent--his fat distribution is typical--abdominal and pectoral. He also has suboptimal Test and IGF-1 levels. He hasn't done any gear. He states that in the past, a low carb/high protein diet seems to work where low fat/higher carb/clean diets have failed, even with exercise. His weight goes down, but his bodyfat changes very little while on a lowfat, higher carb, protein, clean diet. This person is a chronic dieter.

Question 1: What kind of diet would work to help this person lose fat quickly?

Question 2: What type of exercise program to help this person lose fat quickly and please be specific.

Question 3: He is open to using gear, specifically anabolics and HGH. Forget about T3/Clen and DNP. What would be an optimal cycle for this person to lose fat quickly?

Thanks for your help--I am baffled.

 

[BigAndy69]

I think he should train with a high volume approach. Many sets with very little rest between sets. You can add a few drop sets and supersets every 2-3 weeks or so.

This works great for me:

Day1: chest/ tris
Day2: Back / bis
Day3: off
Day4: Shoulders/abs
Day5: Legs
Day6: off
Day7: off or repeat day1

Cardio in the morning on an empty stomach or a small whey shake(25g). BCAA's are a great idea at this time. 40-50mins of low intensity cardio(60-65 % of max heart rate). 3-4 times a week. (not on leg day). Day2, Day 4, Day 6 for example.

Reps should be kept fairly high in the 12 rep range, but he should still train to failure.

As for diet, nothing works better than a 20/60/20 diet IMO.

 

[needleboy]

I would think that a Heavy Duty/ H.I.T. training program would be best for him. Basically a 3 day split Chest tri's and delts- Back bi's -traps- Legs. 2 exercises per bodypart, 1 set of 12 or more to total failure per exercise. 30 minutes per workout. Idea is to fail the muscle, but to keep heart rate up and get cardio-vascular exercise as well. A high protein, low carb(COMPLEX ONLY), and low fat(unsaturated) diet. On his off days should begin walking for cardio. At 30% bf he'll need to ease into cardio, as I am sure his heart is in bad shape, and woul think his cholesterol is high as well. NO GEAR untill his bf and cholesterol are better!!!!!!

 

[DrJMW]

The exercise philosophies here are very similiar and I like the ideas. The diets conflict, though. My experience seems to lean toward the high protein/low carb/low fat regimen. This client may need Glucophage in order to tolerate the high carb diet. Incidentally, the only elevated cholesterol was LDL's. A ketogenic diet will lower these levels in a couple of weeks. Any gear suggestions?

 

[mlomker]

Any gear suggestions?

He'd be better off getting into a good routine and diet first.
Anabolics don't seem to help in fat loss beyond the fact that additional muscle burns more calories.

HGH works best when run with anabolics so I think he should just wait a few months. It shouldn't take more than 3 months to halve his bodyfat percentage.

I agree with the diet. High protein/low carbs/low fat works great for me.

 

[needleboy]

REad Huck's sticky on protein manipulation for increased anabolism.... It will show the benefits of higher protein intake.

As for gear- NO, get his bf down below 20% and then think about gear.

 

[Scotsman]

Have him get his thyroid checked out for levels to see if natural level is low. With low test he probably isn't having proper protein synthesis at the muscular level. Also if unsulin sensitivity if high that can by caused by the low test level or by low thyroid. A diet high in protein with moderate fat and carbs can help manipulate insulin reuptake. Adding alpha lipoic acid can help with sensitivity also natural regulators like cinnamon can be very helpful.

For a workout a mix high low volume routine will help with shocking the body into building muscle and losing fat. Alternate mini-cycles of heavy and light work are very effective for this. Also he needs to do low intensity cardio mixed with maximal burst output such as hill surges or sprints. For the low intensity try walking or stationary bike etc. for periods of around 45min. For burst cycling 30min. of bursts with short 30-60sec. rests in between. These are maximal suggestions so he will probably have to work into the full time scheme. Though the pattern will still work with lower overall times.

A weight program like this should help.
Mon chest/Triceps
Tuesday Back/Biceps
Wednesday abs
Thursday Legs/Calves
Friday/ Shoulders/Abs

Mix high rep and sets for a couple of weeks with high weight low reps/sets for the same period of time. I usually use four week cycles for weight interchange. Cardio should be done 3-4 times per week apart from the lifting regime. I would suggest beetween 2-4 exercises ber body part depending on the heavy or light phase.

 

[DrJMW]

Scots--

got his bloods. Thyroid was suboptimal also as was IGF and Test. Estrogen and progesterone levels were low, so no significant aromatization. LDL were elevated but total cholest and HDL were normal. All the other blood levels were within normal limits.

 

[Scotsman]

He should be able to get thyroid prescribed, and also androgel. One of my friends is on both now and is a completely different person now. His energy levels are way up, he is getting lean quickly and all in all he is much happier now. With low levels the doc should prescribe these to him. Otherwise test enthate 200mg/wk is about the normal dosage they hand out for injectables. Not sure on the thyroid dosage as it is dependant on his actual levels. The cholesterol should be managed if he lowers carbs and saturated fat intake. That is a standard suggestion for people who are borderline diabetic also, but will be very beneficial to your clients case.

Cheers,
Scotsman

 

[liftsiron]

High carb diets are fucked. There the most bone headed way to try and lose body fat. High protien moderate carb low fat is the way to go. Put him on a diet that he can live with 60-30-10 to find the number of calories multiply his weight in pounds by 10 or 11. Right now 200mg test 200mg primo a week and 2 to 3 i.u.s of hgh at bedtime without insulin would do wonders for this guy. Remember this cycle is to maximize fat loss while gaining some lean muscle, it is not a mass builder. This will work, Good day.

 

[gethard1]

I am not

a trainer but my situation was very similar, low test and same bf ditribution, so far I have lost 3 inches on my waist and weight has increased only 10lbs or so.
High protien low carb low fat diet work out 4 to 5 times a week.
the gear I used was.
deca weeks 1-6 at 500mg per week
sust weeks 6-10 at 750 a week
duarabolin 6-10 at 400 a week
dbol 6-10 30mg a day

11-? is as follows: test enanthete 1000mg a week, test sup. 350 a week fina 37mg a day and 50 winny ed

The deca helped my joints and increased nitrogen balance, sust increased strength durabolin and dbol helped in various areas.
I continue to lose weight at 5000 calories a day 2000 from mrp's and looking great compared to starting point. No cardio at all, except for lots of sex.

 

[liftsiron]

gethard1 you said that you do no cardio, eat 5000 calories a day, gained 10 pounds but continue to lose weight, what are you smoking bro?

 

[gethard1]

Quit smoking years ago

I gues what I should've pointed out that INITIALLY I lost weight about 30 lbs and have SLOWLY been putting on wieght after reaching a stagnation point. Went from a fat 268lbs and week to a 235 strong as hell and I am at 242 presently and hardening up pretty good.
My body composition is changing at a rate equal to fat loss= muscle gain or at least close.
I basically used a mass cycle to increase strenth and cut fat, the fat cut should end up being directly proportional to the muscle gain, by using my diet to manipulate what type of gains I make.

 

[overrx]

anavar(50mg ed)/t3 for 50 days
should be good
reduce abdominal fat significatnly and anavar is very safe
stack w/ clen 2 weeks on 2 off 2 on
eca all 50 days for appetite control
diet should be a state of constant carb depletion, not ketosis, but no more than 50 g of carbs a day....fat should also be kept as low as possible.

 

[liftsiron]

gethard1 I was wondering, sounds like you have a real good matabolism and are doing a good job. Keep up the good work give yourself some time and post a pic, before and after if you have them.

 

[DrJMW]

Thank You All

I really appreciate the suggestions. I like the idea of using anabolics and GH to optimize the endogenous Test and GH levels. Obviously, training to failure and lots of low intensity cardio do the trick when the body is optimized. And High Protein, moderate carb, and low fat works too once the bosy is optimized. I will suggest these ideas and see what happens. it's nice to get some practical advice from guys on the frontline.