Training & Nutrition - Request help with complex nutrition/training issues

Ok

I forgot to add that I would like to increase the duration of my rides. Currently I am not able to top 1.5 (very good day 2) hours for metabolism reasons. I have places to ride that would require 3-4 hours.

I found a good solution in Perpetuem. It really helps on longer rides.

Thanks

As far as how you can increase testosterone naturally, nothing will match the results of androgel. If you don’t believe me, take a baseline Total testosterone, Free testosterone, weakly bound testosterone measurement. After you take your supplement, re-draw and check it. You will have your answer. If your wondering, I work in a lab and did this numerous times. I found nothing will work like androgel. BTW I have seen first hand the drinking, excessive exercise, and lack of sleep can cause your testosterone levels to drop like a stone.

I have never heard of Epstein Barr virus causing symptoms to the extent you describe. You symptoms sound more like a beta strep infection. I will have to do some research on this.

You sound like you need more help than you may get here. You really need an experienced Professional trainer. May I recommend Dr. John Berardi? You can check out his services at”

http://www.johnberardi.com/services/

OK, I'm a 43 yr man 190lb and have been a bit more than casual cyclist for 16 years. I am an avid (ex A level) dirt bike rider. I currently ride 5-7+ times week for 16-36 miles.

9 yrs ago, I got mono, a really nasty variety. It infected my heart (right ventricle), thyroid, nuts, spleen, kidneys and liver. The Hospital thought I had Dengue fever! Today, my heart performs poorly , as do my kidneys, plus thyroid and nuts are inop. So, I have nearly no testosterone without androgel, which I can tolerate part time. Synthroid/Armour is working ok. By the way, my heart performs poorly if I do not warm up and I get horribly out of breath.

Muscle strength is pathetic without androgel/protein powder.
Thyroid issues create major metabolism issues. I eat very, very carefully.

I get low blood glucose upon eating carbs or if I wait too long after eating healthy. Blood glucose is never high. 1000 cal/day results in major tiredness, but no weight loss. 800 day = weight loss.

So, I can only pack on cal before a ride. Fail to eat enough and I bonk big time with low blood sugar (55). Eat too much and not ride (say a flat tire) same thing!

Legs are never tired and quite strong right now (androgel +protein). After 1 hour I get way faster and much less out of breath.

Some days I do good (pulling 22-24mph solo), especially if I ride twice that day, other days not so good. It seems I train and train and get nowhere, and fall to pathetic levels (13mph) if I do not use androgel/protein.


I need training advice and nutritional advice. Those here with success can probably help me out a bunch. How can I increase testosterone naturally? How about strengthing my heart? I am strong enough to perform, but cannot take in enough air.

Thanks in advance! I'll try about anything, as what I am doing is not working well.

Chris

Chris,

Given your medical history, I'm somewhat loathe to make any recommendations because your body probably doesn't respond the way mine does.

But, I'll tell you what I think, and you can decide what you think of it.

I noticed two things in your account. The first was that you feel like you can't get enough air in (out of breath), and the second is that you are training and feel you are getting nowhere. Oh, and the third is that some days you are pulling 22-24 solo.

That leads me to suspect two things:

1) You are working out too hard
2) You are aerobically under-trained

and perhaps

3) You are under-recovered

There are many riders who work out as hard as they can whenever they ride, but while that can get you started, it doesn't get you far.

My suggestion: Drop off the intensity for a while, and spend a couple of weeks riding at a level where you can speak comfortably. Don't worry about the speed. Don't ride every day.

If that seems to even out how you feel, I'd suggest keeping with that for a couple of months, only with a very small amount of harder work.

If you get a couple of months into this, then you can start adding in speed work.

My other suggestion is that given your medical condition, if you can handle it financially, find a coach who can look at your situation and give you some advice more tailored to your situation.

Thanks for the advice! I will consider using a pro trainer to point me in the right direction.

I have to wonder about the "working out too hard" theory, as if I back off, I feel and perform much worse. In fact, the more I ride, the better I perform.

One thing I was trying to ask but was not clear was a question about nutrition. This is a big factor for me.

Can some of you provide what works for you? Maybe a detailed list of foods/supplements consumed before/after a ride?

If something does not work for me, I like to change what I am doing in hopes of a better result. The problem is that I am not able to come up with all the answers myself. This is where you can help me out, by providing what works for you. For instance, I had no idea that protein supplements help when consumed after a workout. \
Thanks

CHris

Also, what is up with the ultra long warm up (1 hour)? This I cannot understand.

Thanks!

Thanks for the advice! I will consider using a pro trainer to point me in the right direction.


Can some of you provide what works for you? Maybe a detailed list of foods/supplements consumed before/after a ride?

For instance, I had no idea that protein supplements help when consumed after a workout. \
Thanks

CHris

Chris, again, I could tell you, but you mentioned “Today, my heart performs poorly, as do my kidneys”. Too much protein with poor kidneys could kill you or put you on dialysis. Again, I do not know you financial situation. Be sure you have a great doctor and a hire great professional trainer. If you can’t afford Dr. John Berardi, call him and ask if he can recommend someone in your area who may be more affordable.

I did some research. EBV can cause all of the infections cujet mentions, but usually not at once and usually not so severely. I would suspect that there is more than just EBV at work (Hepatitis C or B, lymphoma, other?). It’s an odd case history for just an EBV infection.

Thanks for the advice! I will consider using a pro trainer to point me in the right direction.

I have to wonder about the "working out too hard" theory, as if I back off, I feel and perform much worse. In fact, the more I ride, the better I perform.

One thing I was trying to ask but was not clear was a question about nutrition. This is a big factor for me.

Can some of you provide what works for you? Maybe a detailed list of foods/supplements consumed before/after a ride?

If something does not work for me, I like to change what I am doing in hopes of a better result. The problem is that I am not able to come up with all the answers myself. This is where you can help me out, by providing what works for you. For instance, I had no idea that protein supplements help when consumed after a workout. \
Thanks

CHris

Sure.

I eat roughly along the lines of what "south beach diet" proposes as my base diet. Lots of fresh food, quality protein, not a ton of fat, and complex carbs. "Food for fitness" is another good book with a more athletic bent (south beach is *not* a diet for athletes)...

Yesterday I had a night ride (6:30 to about 8:45). I had a clif bar at about 4:30, and then a couple of clif bloks right before the ride to get some real sugar in my system. During the ride I had a big bottle (22 oz) of accelerade (the blue raspberry, yum!) and a couple of fig newtons. After the ride, I had about 16 oz of Endurox R4 (orange for me), and then a small burrito with black beans, a bit of chicken, and some cheese. Then I went to bed.

The protein/carb mix is very important for recovery. Accelerade also has the same protein/carb mix.

You mentioned that it takes you forever to warm up. It could be that you don't have enough carbs to start. I'd recommend trying a few clif bloks, a gel and some water, or (the best choice), perhaps 16 oz of a good sports drink, taking that in perhaps 15-30 minutes before you start your ride.

Wow....too many issues to really advise you well upon without being a PHD in sports science, but I'd look into why you can only partially tolerate androgel and maybe look at natural boosters like tribulus, as well and getting test cyp in needle form. You can also, if your blood work shows you can tolerate it, up your saturated fat intake, which has bearing on natural test production.

I would also add to make sure you get blood levels checked on a regular basis to make sure your diet is ok with the kidney function being low.

Finally, listen to univega's recommendations and if you're going to make changes to diet and continue your level of exercise, make sure you have a damned good doctor and see him often!

FWIW, I have had serious success with the trial and error method. This is why I posted here, looking for new ideas.

ericqu, that is some serious calorie consumption. I'll try that.

There were some great ideas posted here, and some that I had not thought of. I generally do not eat much before a morning ride.

Thanks!

Chris

my wife takes her thyroid meds at night for this very reason.

And if you're having trouble with water retention, your endoc needs to prescribe you arimidex, which will stop that from happening. Though if you're truly low/no test, I can't see how your body would convert enough of the T into estrogen to give you that problem.

There were some great ideas posted here, and some that I had not thought of. I generally do not eat much before a morning ride, as the thyroid meds need an hour to absorb.

Thanks!

Chris

One more thought on this...

Even if I get a little simple carbs in my system, I'm much slower to get started on my morning rides than on afternoon or night ones. I think it's partly because I'm not quite awake and partly that I'm glycogen depleted from the night before.

And if you're having trouble with water retention, your endoc needs to prescribe you arimidex, which will stop that from happening. Though if you're truly low/no test, I can't see how your body would convert enough of the T into estrogen to give you that problem.


Well, I hope to avoid man-ly breast cancer, so maybe arimidex is not necessary. I will see the endo tomorrow.

Found a few solutions. Reducing water retention helps breathing. Also, the proper nutrition (for me) before a ride is quite specific. I have that mostly worked out.

I tried riding every other day, with terrible results. Ave speed dropped to 15.7. Felt good after the ride though. That does not work, as I rode the next day, speed was back up.

I neglected to mention that blood pressure is 160/90 if I am sedentary and do not ride often, yet 120/80 or less when I ride regularly. Is it possible that regular riding keeps blood vessels dialated, and me feeling human?



Thanks for the suggestions, it is a big help. Things I never think of always cause a change.

Chris

Well, I hope to avoid man-ly breast cancer, so maybe arimidex is not necessary. I will see the endo tomorrow.

Chris

The reason aikigreg recommended arimidex was not to help you avoid breast cancer. You would take arimidex or clomid because you said: "partially tolerate androgel"" This is due to water retention and man boobs, which I cannot stand, no other reasons.”

It would block the estrogen receptors or prevent Testosterone converting to estrogen and therefore allow you to take androgel and NOT get Gynecomastia, or as you put it "man boobs".