Hello

Hello,

I've been a lurker for a while and thought I might introduce my self. Even if one person responds or I get one bit of advice then I'll feel like I have won! Sorry for the long post!

I'm 34, 178cm, 90kg and about 16-17% bf? I'm by no means an athlete. Married with 3 kids under 6!!

I can squat 120kg 4 sets of 6-7 reps
Deadlift 120kg 4 sets of 5 reps
Bench 90kg 4 sets of 5 reps

I get to the gym 3-4 times a week.

Try and eat clean. Currently majority of my carb intake is centered around my workouts.

I've always been 'big' and I don't necessarily mean muscle bound! I was the fat kid that everyone picked on! I put on weight easy and tends to be more fat then muscle and with the right diet I can lose weight easy but usually at the sacrifice of muscle!

Always been into sports and was ok at football. I probably picked up my first set of dumbbells at age 15. I initially started with 2L coke bottles!!

After some family health scares I decided to get serious. About five years ago I started researching which got me hooked. I'm probably more hooked on the 'science' behind it. I made the decision to start a keto diet ( eating less than 20 -30g of carbs per day). In the space of about 12 months I lost 20kg. I got down to 78kg down from about 98. Which was great but... the more I lost the worse I felt!! I was tired and my body 'shape' never really changed.

Then.....I hurt my back at work! A few scans later, it turns out I have 'spondylolisthesis' of L3 on L4 and was possibly born with it. I went to see a sports physician and was told I had no core strength and my lower back felt like 'mush' which may have contributed! I reckon I pushed the keto diet too far and was just losing muscle rather than fat so no stability in the lower back.

After some physical and mental rehab I had to get back into it! I started my journey for a strong back and good 'functional strength'. My weight ballooned out to just over 100kgs. I started slowly and stuck to the big compound moves for the first time ever!! I literally couldn't even squat 40kg when I started!

Although I have gotten stronger my body shape doesn't seem to change! When I start to increase my intensity and increase calories it just looks like I put on fat! In particular on my stomach! I've tried everything!! High carb, low carb, high protein, low protein, shakes/powders, high reps, low reps, cardio, no cardio, I've counted calories, I've weighed my food etc etc...

I feel like I'm missing something! I feel like it might be more a biochemical issue. High cortisol? Too much estrogen? I've seen my doc for blood tests and wanted to see where my test levels were at. He just refused and I haven't been to see anyone else!

I'm not sure what I'm asking for. Maybe someone might read this and may have had a similar experience in life. I know building muscle takes time. Sometimes I feel like I'm spinning my wheels!

Someone will say its my diet. Maybe, but like I said I've tried everything. Having my carbs around my workouts seems to be having some benefit and I can maintain weight.

Thanks for your time.

Plasmid.

Welcome and good intro mate,

How many cals a day are you consuming at the moment?

G'day Neddysmith. Thanks for replying.

I'm consuming somewhere between 2000-2500 calories a day. Depends on whether it's a workout day or not. I have about 6 meals a day including shakes.

I used to keep much better track of all this but after a while it does become kind of second nature. I have the occasional beer and treat. I can be easily de-railed sometimes as it can get pretty busy with three kids!

I try not to go over 20-30g carbs per meal and about the same for my protein. I try and get my good fats through almonds (which sometimes I can overdo) and olive oil through cooking. I try and consume some simple carbs (20-30 g dextrose) 60 minutes before a workout (depending on when my last meal was) and carbs/protein (50g/30g) shake post workout.

I keep things pretty simple. I like my chicken, eggs, bread, rice and cereals. I keep to mixed frozen veggies. I take one multi (TresosB plus Selenium) and a Vitamin C (500mg) immediately after a workout as it may help with post cortisol control.

I have definitely increased strength over the last couple of years but I'm not someone that would take my shirt off and go for run!

welcome to ausbb @plasmid;