193.4 again this morning. So roughly a pound and a half gained since I started this log, and roughly 9 lbs gained since I started training again post surgery. Making progress.
I'll tell you what, my back muscles, let's and especially rhomboids, I guess is what they are, along with rear belts are SORE today! I'm diggin this 5x5 set/rep scheme and the heavier weight. I guess the "extra" sets while going up in weight searching for the appropriate 5 rep weight add significantly to the volume; plus I'm pushing myself harder, partly because of this log. Whatever the reasons, the effect is some HARD workouts!
Regarding gear, I think I mentioned in an earlier post that I increased my test and deca slightly. I had been doing 180mg per week of test; 120mg per week deca; and 420mg per week mast. This has been my TRT protocol (self administered) for a long time. Years. Well, the test and Mast I've been doing for years. The deca is a recent addition, that's been in the mix for probably less than but close to a year. I split it into 3 equal doses, MWF. My body is very sensitive to hormone levels. Too much or too little test and I can't sleep (sleep is a problem for me anyway; test levels too high or too low exacerbates that exponentially). Likewise, too hight or too low test level and I have ED. And the vasodilators either don't work for me or give me a headache or heartburn or both. Cialis, for example, does absolutely NOTHING for performance but gives me a headache and wicked heartburn for 3 days after one dose. Viagra works but is unreliable - though it can be counted on for a wicked headache. I've tried others, too, with the same results. So, I prefer to keep my hormone levels where everything works like it should.
All that said, last week, I increased test to 210/week and deca to 180/week. Mast stayed the same at 420/week (I use mast to keep the "hydraulics" working). I was fine at first but I had an ED episode the other day. I haven't backed off anything yet but if that happens again, I'll be lowering my doses back down to previous levels. Possibly drop the deca completely until it clears my system and then add it back in at 120/week like before.
I bumped it up partly because my shoulders were hurting me pretty bad and wanted the joint pain relief deca can bring. Also because I wanted a little help regaining lost muscle. But if ED is the cost, it ain't worth it to me.
I do have a vial of EQ, which I've never tried. If I drop the Deca, I might try that out and see how I respond to it. My concern with EQ is the increased RBC production. I already donate blood roughly once a month to control hemoglobin/hematocrit levels. And one vial won't go very far anyway. But I am thinking hard about trying it out and see if I can add that in without any negative side effects.
I'm doing a low dose of HGH also, 3iu's "nightly." I say that in quotes because I am fed up with mixing it up every three nights and nightly pins. So I skip it sometimes. I think I only have one vial remaining, so I'll be out of that in 3 nights, anyway. I'd like to find a source of higher quality HGH than what I've been getting, but it is SO EXPENSIVE. But a steady low dose of it helps with shoulder and joint pain. Besides the hand surgery, I have arthritis in my hands (as well as everywhere else) and HGH definitely helps manage the pain associated with that.