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I am 36, 5'7", 155#. My journey started 2 years ago at 230#. Old fashioned eat less + work more = get small, took 9 months to lose 80#, I have kept it off for the last 18 months. My regimen has been less than 2000 cals per day and weight training 6 days a week WITH cardio 45 mins (climbing actual stairs with weighted backpack) for the last 2 years. A few months ago I bought a power rack and hopped on to the allpro routine full body 3x week with the carido on off days and for half the duration. Overall I am pretty solid except the midsection has some loose skin and a permanent (I think) bulge from several abdominal surgeries.
It is nearly impossible to accurately measure body fat with all this loose skin but based on some pictures of other people I would safely say 15-17%.
My strength numbers are pretty low (due to the low cal diet for years) and are somewhat out of whack considering I just started squatting a couple months ago but here are my 10RM if it is all relevent. The big 4 are:
Squat 180
bench 130
Deadlift 150
OHP 65
I should also disclose I was formerly hyperthyroid and took radioactive iodine, I am now recently diagnosed hypothyroid (high TSH levels) but am awaiting results for free T3 before beginning any medication.
Once all that is sorted am I a good candidate for a basic test cycle? My goal is to be about 170 at 10%-12%. I want people to know I work out. I don't want to cycle on and off for the rest of my life, I see conflicting info about being able to keep gains but since I believe I am well below my genetic potential I would like to get there and then continue to put in the work to stay there as I have the last 2 years. Is it possible? Is it realistic? I am no better than anyone else so I have to imagine the benefits are so great and the feelings so rewarding that it is natural instinct to want to continue cylcing so there is always that aspect of it. Please advise.
if it is advisable that I would be a good candidate, what would a good basic cycle look like? Obviously I would like to minimize the number of required chemicals being acquired and introduced but the must haves. I don't know why but I feel strongly with no evidence whatsoever that I will be prone to gyno and acne. The former is obviously unacceptable but the latter can be dealt with. Thank you for your time.
It is nearly impossible to accurately measure body fat with all this loose skin but based on some pictures of other people I would safely say 15-17%.
My strength numbers are pretty low (due to the low cal diet for years) and are somewhat out of whack considering I just started squatting a couple months ago but here are my 10RM if it is all relevent. The big 4 are:
Squat 180
bench 130
Deadlift 150
OHP 65
I should also disclose I was formerly hyperthyroid and took radioactive iodine, I am now recently diagnosed hypothyroid (high TSH levels) but am awaiting results for free T3 before beginning any medication.
Once all that is sorted am I a good candidate for a basic test cycle? My goal is to be about 170 at 10%-12%. I want people to know I work out. I don't want to cycle on and off for the rest of my life, I see conflicting info about being able to keep gains but since I believe I am well below my genetic potential I would like to get there and then continue to put in the work to stay there as I have the last 2 years. Is it possible? Is it realistic? I am no better than anyone else so I have to imagine the benefits are so great and the feelings so rewarding that it is natural instinct to want to continue cylcing so there is always that aspect of it. Please advise.
if it is advisable that I would be a good candidate, what would a good basic cycle look like? Obviously I would like to minimize the number of required chemicals being acquired and introduced but the must haves. I don't know why but I feel strongly with no evidence whatsoever that I will be prone to gyno and acne. The former is obviously unacceptable but the latter can be dealt with. Thank you for your time.
