Not gaining weight like last time

[Arcânn]

Hey guys, it's been a LONG time since I've posted here

So I'm currently eating 3500+ calories a day. The last time I was eating this much, I easily made it up to ~210 lb, granted, it wasn't an extraordinarily lean 210, but non-the-less. Here we are 2+ years later, I'm back to that calorie range (on a pretty different diet) and I'm fluctuating in the low-mid 190's, which is what I would normally weigh on 3000 cals.

Now, there are some changes from last time.
-I'm currently running a (HIGH) TRT dose, 275mg/week total, whereas I wasn't taking anything last time I was eating this much.
-I also took some Metformin inconsistently for a short while because I've been pre-diabetic since I first started keeping track of that sort of thing over 2 years ago. Metformin seems to have "permanently" increased my insulin sensitivity because instead of my fasted glucose being 103-104, now it's usually mid 90's. And I haven't taken Metformin in well over a month now.
-I also have a bit more protein in my diet than last time. I'm currently eating as much COMPLETE protein as I was TOTAL protein last time. I'm averaging 260g complete protein out of 300g total protein right now.
-Lastly, my diet resembles more of a "Remington James" or "Greg Doucette" style of diet this time, as opposed to the last diet where I was eating the very basic "ground beef, chicken, rice, beans, cheese, potatoes, etc" type of diet.
-I'm also significantly more cut than I was last time, I'm sure due to the fact that I'm 15ish lb lighter than the last time I was doing this.

These are the only differences I can think of. Does this sound like enough to have this much impact on my weight?? Or might something else be going on?

 

[Canknucklehead]

Has your activity level changed?

 

[Canknucklehead]

Also protein takes more calories to digest than carbs and fats. But that would only account for a small amount.

 

[Upbeatrawfish]

Last time you most likely gained more fat, but now your body has a constant flow of test to mitigate the fat gain. Not saying if you eat too much you won't get fat, just that your body is now using those calories better.
Is the scale moving at all?

 

[may2021]

Hey guys, it's been a LONG time since I've posted here

So I'm currently eating 3500+ calories a day. The last time I was eating this much, I easily made it up to ~210 lb, granted, it wasn't an extraordinarily lean 210, but non-the-less. Here we are 2+ years later, I'm back to that calorie range (on a pretty different diet) and I'm fluctuating in the low-mid 190's, which is what I would normally weigh on 3000 cals.

Now, there are some changes from last time.
-I'm currently running a (HIGH) TRT dose, 275mg/week total, whereas I wasn't taking anything last time I was eating this much.
-I also took some Metformin inconsistently for a short while because I've been pre-diabetic since I first started keeping track of that sort of thing over 2 years ago. Metformin seems to have "permanently" increased my insulin sensitivity because instead of my fasted glucose being 103-104, now it's usually mid 90's. And I haven't taken Metformin in well over a month now.
-I also have a bit more protein in my diet than last time. I'm currently eating as much COMPLETE protein as I was TOTAL protein last time. I'm averaging 260g complete protein out of 300g total protein right now.
-Lastly, my diet resembles more of a "Remington James" or "Greg Doucette" style of diet this time, as opposed to the last diet where I was eating the very basic "ground beef, chicken, rice, beans, cheese, potatoes, etc" type of diet.
-I'm also significantly more cut than I was last time, I'm sure due to the fact that I'm 15ish lb lighter than the last time I was doing this.

These are the only differences I can think of. Does this sound like enough to have this much impact on my weight?? Or might something else be going on?

I noticed a gain of 15lbs after 4 months of about the same amount of test while eating 3K calories and working out like a mad man and I weight FAR less than you do: like, almost 50 lbs less. Just give it a little time.

 

[daron_e]

If u are really watching calories that close..just add 500 and check the scale at 2 week intervals and go from there. This nutritionist I used to date once told me, in similar circumstance " you aren't eating enough because if u were u would at least be gaining some fat. If the scale isn't moving u are undereating, period". I always remembered that and it worked for me. Also, as I became heavier it required me to increase calories just to maintain. Good luck.

 

[Piromanu87]

There can be many vectors that make you not gain what you want, like hormones in your body, different energy expenditure or even stress. I think you should increase your calories in small 200 cal increments and check your progress in 1 week. You dont need to get fat.

 

[Chieftain]

There can be many vectors that make you not gain what you want, like hormones in your body, different energy expenditure or even stress. I think you should increase your calories in small 200 cal increments and check your progress in 1 week. You dont need to get fat.

A very sane approach. I agree with your versions. You need to smoothly add calories

 

[MadBret]

Being on the exogenous testosterone is likely the reason your insulin sensitivity is better, even though you dropped the metformin.

When I started trt, after I had my blood work at 8 weeks, my Dr. advised me to drop the metformin from 2000mg a day to 1000mg. I either take 500 or a 1000mg a day now and my insulin sensitivity is better than ever. My last two a1c tests were 5.2 and 5.0 respectively.

 

[Chieftain]

Being on the exogenous testosterone is likely the reason your insulin sensitivity is better, even though you dropped the metformin.

When I started trt, after I had my blood work at 8 weeks, my Dr. advised me to drop the metformin from 2000mg a day to 1000mg. I either take 500 or a 1000mg a day now and my insulin sensitivity is better than ever. My last two a1c tests were 5.2 and 5.0 respectively.

This is the right move, your doctor is a good specialist. And from your words, we can conclude what was beneficial, beneficial to your progress.

 

[Chieftain]

Being on the exogenous testosterone is likely the reason your insulin sensitivity is better, even though you dropped the metformin.

When I started trt, after I had my blood work at 8 weeks, my Dr. advised me to drop the metformin from 2000mg a day to 1000mg. I either take 500 or a 1000mg a day now and my insulin sensitivity is better than ever. My last two a1c tests were 5.2 and 5.0 respectively.

I think you are right. I also think that it is precisely because of exogenous testosterone that such insulin sensitivity occurs.