Journey Through 2016

[Joshua H]

You down from your stage weight at 174?

stage weight was 175 so yes down just a hair. today was 175 at 1 full week post show/shoot weekend. got new macros today from pete after sending pics and stats.

as of today new macros are:

225p, 205c, 60f (M-Sa)
210p, 325c, 60f (Sun) Today!!

cardio dropped to 25 minutes 4x a week from 5x30.....love that!!

[The Solution]

Damn your macros crush mine

[Joshua H]

got my latest labs in from quest via the blueprint for athletes testing services i use.

mid july first month of prep and then 1 day before show day were blood draws. amazing to see how much the body changes during a 20 week prep on the inside as well with these lab insights!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxK...ew?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxK...ew?usp=sharing

[The Solution]

Mate that testostone is deadly low.
Get that addressed ASAP

[Joshua H]

Day 7, week 1, block 1. Weight today: 175.5

5PM-615PM

CARDIO: 5 min pre and post bike

DYNAMIC MOVEMENT SERIES
10 minutes

PRIMARY MOVEMENTS
Squat 5x3 @75% (245lbs)

ACCESSORIES
BB Good Mornings: 3x10 @ 135
Leg Extension: 3x12
Hamstring Curl: 3x12
Seated Calf Raise: 3x15

CORE: NONE

[Joshua H]

The cort, test, T4 and WBC counts all have me on high alert but not freaking out. Saw this same thing although not quite as low as this (very close) in 2014 when I did this 2 weeks AFTER the show.

Not much I can do about now other than to give it time, sleep lots, eat very well (keeping it nutrient dense and wholesome/natural) and keeping kcals climbing up. Cardio coming down will help also of course. Time is the key. Several case studies in naural bodybuilders have shown 60-70% declines in total test after 11 weeks or longer prep periods so I am at the higher end of that statistical finding.

These being taken 1 day pre show remember is pretty well the deepest/hardest point in prep where my body was likely suffering the most. It should be on the mend already....I hope! Feeling better then ever already this week. Max strength, weight and sex drive still lagging behind I do admit.

Pete is well aware of the labs and my feelings as well BTW.

[The Solution]

Yeah luckily my test did not drop below 350-400 ng/dl after prep. Still. Get that fat intake up there... You need it to help those hormones.. That is the range where people are placed on HRT/TRT because its so low. I don't want you to go that route for it being that low

[Joshua H]

Yeah luckily my test did not drop below 350-400 ng/dl after prep. Still. Get that fat intake up there... You need it to help those hormones.. That is the range where people are placed on HRT/TRT because its so low. I don't want you to go that route for it being that low

After my last show prep got done (2 shows in Oct 2014) I got checked and then reffered to a endo doc just for that reason as I was in the 200's and free Test was also clinically too low. He wanted to put me on T-Cyp right off the bat but I was reluctant to do so given the drug testing rules within USAPL and UNBA/INBF/ANBF orgs. Plus the idea of being 30 (then) and going on exogenous hormones with plans to have kids some day bothered me.

We opted for mild dose HCG injections which worked well and in 2-3 months my T was back up in normal-upper ranges and weight, libido, appetite came back pretty quick also.

I hope I can bypass all that and get them back up 100% naturally through rest, food, recovery methods this time around. But yes.....they are lower than ever this time as well along with super high Cort levels. Not the best place for being anabolic and adding size is it......

[The Solution]

With very high cort and very low T your body may be super depleted (which it is) but I dont want it IMPACTING your long term health. You have to be very careful right now. especially because with both of those out of range and totally whacky adding size for you will come more fat then muscle because your hormones are basically in the dumps.

[Joshua H]

With very high cort and very low T your body may be super depleted (which it is) but I dont want it IMPACTING your long term health. You have to be very careful right now. especially because with both of those out of range and totally whacky adding size for you will come more fat then muscle because your hormones are basically in the dumps.

All the more reason I have NOT BEEN compelled to go ape-shit with diet and eat shit or eat way too much right out the gates. Letting Pete be the objective eye to keep the reins on me to gradually but as quickly as we can.....get cals up. I feel that recovery and proper progression back in the gym will be half my battle since my job is mostly active exercise instruction based 5 days a week outside what I do in the gym for myself.

I would pursue TRT and may down the road if I do not see hormone normalization by 8 weeks post show when these are tested again. Weight gain, feelings, training status etc....also be considered at that time.

[The Solution]

With how much activity you have, and how bad your hormones are. Your mood could be 100x better once they get normalized. lets just hope that this last prep did not jeopardize them. Again long term health is the key focus here. Just want to see you healthy because we only get our health once!

[Joshua H]

week 2, workout 1, block 1

weight this am....unknown....up early for flight, did not take. 175lbs yesterday morning. yesterday cardio only day, 25 minutes LISS


Today: 430-6pm back in sand diego baby!

10 minutes elliptical cardio warm up, 10 minutes dynamic movements

PRIMARY MOVEMENTS
Bench 4x5 @80% (160lbs)


ACCESSORIES (5-10 rep range)
Pull Ups (various grips) 3x10 @ bw
Dips: 3x10 @ bw
Chest Supported Rowing: Bilateral Row Machine: 3x10 @ 80lbs pps
Bicep Curl: FatGripz DB Bilateral Curls: 3x10 @ 25's

CORE
TRX Knee Tucks: 3x20
TRX Fall Outs: 3x20

10 minutes incline speed walking post lift

[Joshua H]

With how much activity you have, and how bad your hormones are. Your mood could be 100x better once they get normalized. lets just hope that this last prep did not jeopardize them. Again long term health is the key focus here. Just want to see you healthy because we only get our health once!

to be frank and honest.....my mood is shockingly good as is my energy levels this past week or two now since show. i feel good. motivated. happy. sex drive is lacking yes, gym strength is certainly down. sleeping well. for how low my numbers are in Test and how high in CORT i am surprised i dont feel like ass yet as i did pre peak week and into early peak week.

ill take what i have as its not that bad really.

[The Solution]

Its not bad. but could be 100x better if everything was normal. You would be shocked, as you konw when you are healthy how much better you feel and your body functions.

to be frank and honest.....my mood is shockingly good as is my energy levels this past week or two now since show. i feel good. motivated. happy. sex drive is lacking yes, gym strength is certainly down. sleeping well. for how low my numbers are in Test and how high in CORT i am surprised i dont feel like ass yet as i did pre peak week and into early peak week.

ill take what i have as its not that bad really.

[Joshua H]

wednesday: week 2, workout 2, block 1:

5pm-630pm

5 mins stepmill warm up + 10 mins dynamic movement prep

primary movement:
squats: 4x5@ 80% (260) could not hit depth at all, had to drop to 240....not happy!
sumo deadlifts 3x5 @ 80% (315) struggle but got them!

assessory movements:
single arm KB bulgarian split squats: 3x10 each
GHD: 3x8
single leg bw calf press: 3x10 each

core:
ab wheel roll outs: 3x15
bench leg raises: 3x15

5 mins treadmill speedwalk cool down.