GH Log Long-Term with DEXA and Bloodwork

[Marcus]

Hey all,

I wanted to start a long-term GH log to discover the benefits for myself from a bodybuilding and strength training aspect. The purpose of this will be to assess the change in body composition in terms of fat mass and muscle mass over the long haul, along with change in strength from using GH mainly.

Also, any labwork I post is not to credit or discredit a source but rather used for reference for results of any kind. I'll post in labwork section as well as I have done in the past.

I went and got a DXA scan yesterday and while it's not a perfect method (as they basically don't exist), it's the closest to it I can come. Started GH on 6/2/17 and have been running it at 8iu per day roughly up until a few days ago when I moved dosage down to 6iu/day (split 3 times a day).

Age 32
Height 5'11

Stats according to DXA:
Bodyfat 17.2%
Total Mass 232.7 lbs
Fat Tissue 39.9 lbs
Lean Tissue 186.0 lbs
Bone Mineral Content 6.8 lbs
Resting Metabolic Rate 2,189 cal/day

TDEE Average 3,000 cal/day
Diet and training coming up...

 

[Marcus]

Diet:

Total daily calories 2,600-3,000 most days. Intermittent fasting will be utilized 2-3 days a week for 14-18 hour blocks, calories will drop on these days, usually end up around 2,000

Fat 40%
Protein 30%
Carbs 30%

On fasting days, carbs will be knocked down significantly to make up difference. Protein always kept around 225g per day.

Sources will be from all kinds of animal meat, lean and fatty. Dairy including whole milk, Greek yogurt, butter, and cheese. Eggs, nuts, avocado, olive oil, variety of fruits and veggies, and a variety of whole grains.

 

[Jeffg353]

Think this is a great idea. Do u plan on sticking with the blacktops or changing to different brands throughout the duration? Also how long do u think u'll keep running it?

 

[Marcus]

Think this is a great idea. Do u plan on sticking with the blacktops or changing to different brands throughout the duration? Also how long do u think u'll keep running it?

I am going to add in a kit of serostim in the middle at 4.5iu per day (split twice per day) for the sake of bloods and comparison, but other than that I'll stick with the tried and true for me... Black Tops.

I'm not sure how long I'll run it. Probably till beginning of December, so 6 months with another DXA scan in 3 months and one in January. Then some bloodwork on lipids and everything around that time too, cause I want to see how everything comes around. Then I'll reassess and see from there

 

[Evom1]

@Marcus this is an amazing contribution to the community and I wish we could do something in return. That kind of testing will be very beneficial for everyone. Thank you

 

[Marcus]

@Marcus this is an amazing contribution to the community and I wish we could do something in return. That kind of testing will be very beneficial for everyone. Thank you

Dude nothing in return needs to be done. This place has given me so much knowledge, testing, personal experiences, etc... I don't think I can ever repay. Just hoping everyone can find it beneficial.

So much talk about the "actual" benefit it has to aesthetics as it relates to bodybuilding and possible benefits as it relates to strength training, I wanna know for certain what it does to my body. I mean, I don't have a control group but hey... still should be able to figure some things out considering the amount of actual calories I'm eating and body comp changes.

 

[CAswole]

@Marcus are you trying to drop a few lbs with your calorie intake? Seems like just a little bit of food. Or maintain perhaps?

 

[Jeffg353]

For the DXA scan were u able to get it done thru ur insurance?

 

[Marcus]

@Marcus are you trying to drop a few lbs with your calorie intake? Seems like just a little bit of food. Or maintain perhaps?

I am trying to cut some fat and hopefully increase LBM, I guess we'll see how that goes with this. I put on muscle pretty easily but at the same time I also put on fat. Trying to minimize this through control of insulin and intermittent fasting. Hoping the GH will at least keep me anti-catabolic at the least and I guess I'll see from there

For the DXA scan were u able to get it done thru ur insurance?

Paid out of pocket... $65 in my area

 

[CAswole]

I am trying to cut some fat and hopefully increase LBM, I guess we'll see how that goes with this. I put on muscle pretty easily but at the same time I also put on fat. Trying to minimize this through control of insulin and intermittent fasting. Hoping the GH will at least keep me anti-catabolic at the least and I guess I'll see from there


Paid out of pocket... $65 in my area

Sounds good buddy. Just don't starve yourself LOL

 

[Jeffg353]

$65 in my area

Wow that's cheaper than I thought. I expected it to be way more than that. Have to look into if there's one in my area.

 

[Marcus]

Sounds good buddy. Just don't starve yourself LOL

Haha... I've actually felt pretty good so far around this amount. But I'll try

 

[CAswole]

Haha... I've actually felt pretty good so far around this amount. But I'll try

Cool. Subbed.

 

[penche]

Good thread bud.

 

[Marcus]

Training:

Day 1:
Deadlift Wendler
Barbell bench press
Romanian deadlift
Incline barbell press
Quad extensions

Day 2:
Barbell bench press Wendler
Squats
Incline barbell press
Hamstring curls
Rows

Day 3:
Squat Wendler
Deficit deadlifts
Paused high bar squats
Rear flys
Lat pulldowns

Day 4:
Accessory movements- arms, shoulders, and core

I have the Wendler log set up to reach 95% of 1RM every 4 weeks and de-load every 4 weeks. I am pushing it on this current setup I have in my 6th week I think, and I should've de-loaded at week 4.

Outside the primary compound lift on each of those days, I utilize undulating periodization, so there is a slightly different rep/set range I'm working with, within each movement each week. It seems to keep things interesting and growth continues

@Perrin Aybara set me up with a badass powerlifting program, but I just think I'm not advanced enough yet. So I added in the some ancillary movement to work on building muscle aesthetic as well thicken them up, make em more dense.

 

[Marcus]

Also, don't know why, but my right knee is giving me trouble on my push movements lately so squats haven't felt the best. Reason I believe I should've de-loaded in week 4 as the log originally told me

 

[ZDogg]

Like some of these guys said, thanks for putting this effort in brotha! I'll be following closely, as I started the black tops close to the same one as you, and I'll be curious as to the changes made..

 

[Marcus]

I lowered dosage to 4iu per day split AM/PM due to some extra fluid retention in knees. It was causing problems with my squats

 

[ZDogg]

I'm running the same protocol.. it's still affecting my hands, and wrists.. I can barely bend my wrists anymore, front squats and OHP are fucking brutal, where I used to have pretty decent mobility in them.. I'm just living with it, because I'm not running any less than 4iu..

 

[Marcus]

I'm running the same protocol.. it's still affecting my hands, and wrists.. I can barely bend my wrists anymore, front squats and OHP are fucking brutal, where I used to have pretty decent mobility in them.. I'm just living with it, because I'm not running any less than 4iu..

Ya man, the wrist and ankle thing is not comfortable for some movements but I can tolerate, even on higher doses. But my knee has always given me problems and squats are too important to me to sacrifice mobility