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New Member - Seeking Guidance and Advice

MusclePupSC

MusclePupSC

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Hello ASF!
I appreciate being on this forum from the administrators and looking forward to chatting with members.

I started my bodybuilding journey about 6 years ago weighing 215 pounds with 32% body fat and had my ebbs and flows during these times. This includes changing personal trainers 13 times and changing gyms due to them closing or not providing me with the right training.

My previous trainers #11-#12 introduced me to gear and helped me compete in my first bodybuilding and classic physique competition last year. (See picture).

Currently, I'm on my 13th personal trainer (lucky me) and has no insight on steroids or SARMS but doesn't mind if I decided to take them.

This is what I currently look (see the other picture) and looking to compete in November.

I am looking for guidance and advice on what to take and how I can get myself back into contest shape. I still have my current cycle stack but don't know where to begin since I stopped in October. I appreciate anyone with insights and can reply on this thread or message me directly.
 

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Valdosta said:
what kind of workouts does #13 have you doing?
Click to expand...
Here's what I'm doing today for back as an example:

Warm up with each exercise with 2 sets of moderate weight for 6-8 reps to loosen up.

Weight has to be within 1 to 2 reps shy of going to complete failure...
Lat Machine Standing Straight Arm 3 sets 12-15 reps
Machine Seated Neutral Grip Row 3 sets 8-12 reps
Cable Seated Single Arm Row 3 sets of 8-12 reps
Close Grip Lat Pulldowns 3 sets of 10-15 reps
Smith Machine Shrugs 3 sets of 10-15 reps
Machine Back Extension or Hyperextensions 2 sets 15-20 reps
 
MusclePupSC said:
Here's what I'm doing today for back as an example:

Warm up with each exercise with 2 sets of moderate weight for 6-8 reps to loosen up.

Weight has to be within 1 to 2 reps shy of going to complete failure...
Lat Machine Standing Straight Arm 3 sets 12-15 reps
Machine Seated Neutral Grip Row 3 sets 8-12 reps
Cable Seated Single Arm Row 3 sets of 8-12 reps
Close Grip Lat Pulldowns 3 sets of 10-15 reps
Smith Machine Shrugs 3 sets of 10-15 reps
Machine Back Extension or Hyperextensions 2 sets 15-20 reps
Click to expand...
i do 4 sets total for my back per week. sometimes 3 :/ sounds to me like hes just trying to get u pumped up so u feel like it was a good workout. instead of emphasizing progress. my main complaint about pt's
 
Wardamn said:
Welcome,

Is there no true bodybuilding coach around you? That's what you need to find.
Click to expand...
I have been looking in my area directly including the gym I was at which closed and online to no avail. Most coaches do not want to help someone who was or would like to be on gear.
 
MusclePupSC said:
I have been looking in my area directly including the gym I was at which closed and online to no avail. Most coaches do not want to help someone who was or would like to be on gear.
Click to expand...

Those aren't bodybuilding coaches. Ask around your local bodybuilding community.

Not a trainer at planet fitness or crunch.
 
Wardamn said:
Those aren't bodybuilding coaches. Ask around your local bodybuilding community.

Not a trainer at planet fitness or crunch.
Click to expand...
Thank you for clarifying. The gym I went to was a hardcore gym and was an affiliate to the bodybuilding community.
I will look to see if there is another one in my area.
 
Welcome.

First of all, congratulations on your weight loss and body recomp.

With that out of the way, some tough love.
You really shouldn't be fucking around with steroids at your physique and experience level. especially without a baseline of training knowledge and experience.

I would HIGHLY encourage you to learn more and build more of a baseline before adding steroids that aren't even going to help you that much without that base or knowledge.
 
13 trainers in 6 years?! I know guys who don’t cycle that many women in and out. Maybe research the trainer and talk to former clients before hiring?
Welcome
 
Thank you @TomJ and @GrindingGray for your valuable feedback and suggestions. I'm looking at all options before I make a final decision on anything. In the meantime, I look forward to hearing about your journeys and other insights from your posts and forums along with everyone else.
 
If you've been through 13 coaches that tells me that you may have difficulties in following protocols. I don't know if that is true or not. Just from my experience when you see that kind of track record there is an underlying issue at hand.

You aren't anywhere near ready to start cycling. You need a good 6 months of consistent training and diet before even thinking of gear. It would actually be a good idea to do a natty show to get that consistency and everything dialed in so if you want to start cycling, the rebound after a show is perfect and head into an off-season to where your body will soak up calories.

Also, if you are eventually going to run gear, you hire a coach that is all inclusive. It never works out well when you have a natty coach, while running gear on someone else's protocol as they go hand in hand with everything.
 
Regarding the 13 coaches @Meetketchup, here's what has happened in the 8 year span:

#1: Gym A - Went back to college after working together for 4 months.
#2: Gym A - We worked well together but when I mentioned I wanted to change my goals to become a bodybuilder, they laughed. I spoke to the manager about this and they didn't seem to care.
#3: Gym B - When my schedule changed to where I was able to workout more in the afternoon than 5 o'clock in the morning, they weren't able to go on my schedule. They had issues with my account and actually double billed me and almost didn't get my money back. Left the gym.
#4: Gym C - The gym closed down and went bankrupt.
#5: Gym D - The personal trainer moved out of state.
#6: Gym D - The personal trainer left after 3 weeks.
#7: Gym D - The personal trainer quit without notification. The gym never informed me.
#8: Gym D - This was the best personal trainer I had with a great relationship but he left because the gym didn't care about clients but more on obtaining clients. He didn't like this and left.
#9: Gym D - When I worked out with him, he focused on talking to his friends and not on me during my time with him. I spoke to the manager and he didn't care so I decided to leave.
#10: Gym E - Started gear and things were working well but they left because they were not happy they were treated with management.
#11: Gym E - Stayed at the gym and had an online coach who helped me with gear and then all of a sudden disappeared.
#12: Gym E - Stayed at the gym and had an another online coach who helped me with gear then I got ghosted. Now this gym closed due to being bankrupt.

#13: Currently have and I understand there is a conflict between his protocols in nutrition and routine but he is open minded if I do use steroids despite he has no knowledge on it and to inform him on what I am taking, when, how I am feeling, and doing bloodwork as needed.
 
MusclePupSC said:
Regarding the 13 coaches @Meetketchup, here's what has happened in the 8 year span:

#1: Gym A - Went back to college after working together for 4 months.
#2: Gym A - We worked well together but when I mentioned I wanted to change my goals to become a bodybuilder, they laughed. I spoke to the manager about this and they didn't seem to care.
#3: Gym B - When my schedule changed to where I was able to workout more in the afternoon than 5 o'clock in the morning, they weren't able to go on my schedule. They had issues with my account and actually double billed me and almost didn't get my money back. Left the gym.
#4: Gym C - The gym closed down and went bankrupt.
#5: Gym D - The personal trainer moved out of state.
#6: Gym D - The personal trainer left after 3 weeks.
#7: Gym D - The personal trainer quit without notification. The gym never informed me.
#8: Gym D - This was the best personal trainer I had with a great relationship but he left because the gym didn't care about clients but more on obtaining clients. He didn't like this and left.
#9: Gym D - When I worked out with him, he focused on talking to his friends and not on me during my time with him. I spoke to the manager and he didn't care so I decided to leave.
#10: Gym E - Started gear and things were working well but they left because they were not happy they were treated with management.
#11: Gym E - Stayed at the gym and had an online coach who helped me with gear and then all of a sudden disappeared.
#12: Gym E - Stayed at the gym and had an another online coach who helped me with gear then I got ghosted. Now this gym closed due to being bankrupt.

#13: Currently have and I understand there is a conflict between his protocols in nutrition and routine but he is open minded if I do use steroids despite he has no knowledge on it and to inform him on what I am taking, when, how I am feeling, and doing bloodwork as needed.
Click to expand...
Research coaches in your area that train bodybuilders. It sounds like you are walking into gyms wanting training and getting assigned a trainer. You have every right to interview them. Ask them about former and current clients, their experience with enhanced clients, how long they have been training. You might end up with a great coach with limited availability meaning they design a training, nutrition, and drug protocol and are available to answer questions but might only be able to meet with you once a week. Don’t go to a commercial gym like 24 Hour Fitness to find a trainer for bodybuilding.
 
MusclePupSC said:
Regarding the 13 coaches @Meetketchup, here's what has happened in the 8 year span:

#1: Gym A - Went back to college after working together for 4 months.
#2: Gym A - We worked well together but when I mentioned I wanted to change my goals to become a bodybuilder, they laughed. I spoke to the manager about this and they didn't seem to care.
#3: Gym B - When my schedule changed to where I was able to workout more in the afternoon than 5 o'clock in the morning, they weren't able to go on my schedule. They had issues with my account and actually double billed me and almost didn't get my money back. Left the gym.
#4: Gym C - The gym closed down and went bankrupt.
#5: Gym D - The personal trainer moved out of state.
#6: Gym D - The personal trainer left after 3 weeks.
#7: Gym D - The personal trainer quit without notification. The gym never informed me.
#8: Gym D - This was the best personal trainer I had with a great relationship but he left because the gym didn't care about clients but more on obtaining clients. He didn't like this and left.
#9: Gym D - When I worked out with him, he focused on talking to his friends and not on me during my time with him. I spoke to the manager and he didn't care so I decided to leave.
#10: Gym E - Started gear and things were working well but they left because they were not happy they were treated with management.
#11: Gym E - Stayed at the gym and had an online coach who helped me with gear and then all of a sudden disappeared.
#12: Gym E - Stayed at the gym and had an another online coach who helped me with gear then I got ghosted. Now this gym closed due to being bankrupt.

#13: Currently have and I understand there is a conflict between his protocols in nutrition and routine but he is open minded if I do use steroids despite he has no knowledge on it and to inform him on what I am taking, when, how I am feeling, and doing bloodwork as needed.
Click to expand...
these are clearly commercial gym pt's getting paid 9 an hour that habe no clue what theyre doing. u didnt pick up on that after 2 or 3? or 13?
 
If I were in your situation (you are clearly motivated) with the unavailability of consistent coaches, do you have the opportunity to find a good training partner?
With your motivation, you should be able to self-educate on the main topics you are relying on from your past coaches. The training partner would be for gym assistance/motivation if the coach served that role in the past.

Keep fighting the good fight brother!
 
@Valdosta You are correct that most of the gyms I went to were commercial gyms; 4 out of 5 to be exact. The last gym I went was not a commercial one and was a hardcore gym with there was a good amount of people who are taking steroids. My problem has been to start a conversation with anyone about it or chime into a conversation when it was being discussed. I am trying to find a way to find a forum within my bodybuilding community and anyone who is in my local area.

@KingoftheNorth14 Thank you!

@bigdadybry This is a great idea and will create a thread asking if anyone is looking for a training partner. I feel like I do have plenty of knowledge of creating a workout routine but still need someone to help me on what steroids I could take (there are a few people I am talking to right now about it). The training partner does not have to take steroids but we would hold each one of us accountable.

@Meetketchup I competed at the NPC Victory Classic on June 24th, 2023 in Shelby, NC. Please let me know if you need more information and can DM if you like.

Speaking of DM, I am open to this and look forward to our discussions. In the meantime, I greatly appreciate everyone's openness, honesty, and feedback. This is the forum site I have been on in a long time. Thank you!
 

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