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Ckmeter Road to Pro with STADA LABS 🔥— USA Prep Log

Ckmeter said:
Well, I always try to admit my fuck ups, and I’m embarrassed to share this. I ran out of gas on my way home after a brutal leg work out. I was so brain dead tired, i just wasn’t mentally there.

All day yesterday my digestion was backed up. Every meal was on the verge of vomiting/actually did vomit into my mouth after meal 3, so I was behind on meals.

Finally got home after the gas incident and showered. Drank post workout. Was waiting a bit to space my meals out, and I passed out. Literally didn’t wake up until the morning. So…I have 2 meals to make up from yesterday on top of my normal diet. Gonna be a fun day!
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Get the blender out lol
 
Fasted glucose has been between 102 and 115 this week since the food increase. Was a 107 this am.

Bumping Lantus from 35iu to 40iu today. Hopefully this also helps my appetite.
 
Ckmeter said:
Fasted glucose has been between 102 and 115 this week since the food increase. Was a 107 this am.

Bumping Lantus from 35iu to 40iu today. Hopefully this also helps my appetite.
Click to expand...
I’m glad I’m not the only one with this issues. Only difference is I’m in a cut not a bulk 🤣
 
Ckmeter said:
Fasted glucose has been between 102 and 115 this week since the food increase. Was a 107 this am.

Bumping Lantus from 35iu to 40iu today. Hopefully this also helps my appetite.
Click to expand...
Are you using anything besides lantus to get your BG under control?
 
Oakley6575 said:
Are you using anything besides lantus to get your BG under control?
Click to expand...
Nah. High bg = insulin = more gains through efficiently using carbs. I don’t believe in gda or metformin. They block glucose absorption. This is counterproductive to the amount of carbs I’m eating. Just my opinion.
 
Ckmeter said:
Nah. High bg = insulin = more gains through efficiently using carbs. I don’t believe in gda or metformin. They block glucose absorption. This is counterproductive to the amount of carbs I’m eating. Just my opinion.
Click to expand...
Yeah but neither GDAs nor metformin "block" glucose absorption.
Berberine as well as other GDAs like ALA enhance clearance from glucose from blood to tissue (muscle, liver, fat). It basically makes your cells MORE sensitive to insulin.

As for metformin, it mostly just tells your liver to chill out with the hepatic gluconeogenesis. STOP making sugar, so it helps keep your blood sugar from rising when it shouldn't. It also helps your muscle respond better to insulin. It also (although slightly) slowsss how quickly your gut absorbs sugar.

Not saying you neeed to use these if you're using lantus (i'm doing the same) but if lantus dose is rising higher and higher, its nice to put a couple other things around it to help out. My lantus dose is 18iu but im also using metformin before bed as well as MOTs-C and some low dose Tirz as just extra goodies to help keep sensitivity as high as humanly possible. Are you wearing a CGM?
 
Ckmeter said:
Nah. High bg = insulin = more gains through efficiently using carbs. I don’t believe in gda or metformin. They block glucose absorption. This is counterproductive to the amount of carbs I’m eating. Just my opinion.
Click to expand...
Damn, we have complete opposite opinions on this. :ROFLMAO:
 
Theotherone55 said:
Yeah but neither GDAs nor metformin "block" glucose absorption.
Berberine as well as other GDAs like ALA enhance clearance from glucose from blood to tissue (muscle, liver, fat). It basically makes your cells MORE sensitive to insulin.

As for metformin, it mostly just tells your liver to chill out with the hepatic gluconeogenesis. STOP making sugar, so it helps keep your blood sugar from rising when it shouldn't. It also helps your muscle respond better to insulin. It also (although slightly) slowsss how quickly your gut absorbs sugar.

Not saying you neeed to use these if you're using lantus (i'm doing the same) but if lantus dose is rising higher and higher, its nice to put a couple other things around it to help out. My lantus dose is 18iu but im also using metformin before bed as well as MOTs-C and some low dose Tirz as just extra goodies to help keep sensitivity as high as humanly possible. Are you wearing a CGM?
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10. Effects of berberine in gut​

It is interesting that berberine also acts as an α-glucosidase inhibitor. α-Glucosidase is an intestinal enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates into monosaccharides. Inhibition of the enzyme will lead to diminished absorption of dietary carbohydrates.


Sorry don’t have time to rewrite in my own words, so I quoted with the source. Same study also shows that another study reported berberine increases muscle atrophy.

Metformin also blocks glucose absorption partly by inhibiting sodium-glucose cotransporter1 (SGLT1) in the small intestine, which reduces how much glucose gets into the bloodstream from the food you eat.

I believe there is a place for both, primarily in a diet phase. For me, I’d rather just use Lantus to control my glucose levels when needed in the off season. When the dose gets too high, it means my sensitivity is fucked, and I’ll usually drop down to trt and pull carbs and gh down. My body is stupidly sensitive to gh and its effect on beta cell sensitivity. 6iu+ gh with even moderate carbs, and I’m pretty fucked.
 
Ckmeter said:

10. Effects of berberine in gut​

It is interesting that berberine also acts as an α-glucosidase inhibitor. α-Glucosidase is an intestinal enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates into monosaccharides. Inhibition of the enzyme will lead to diminished absorption of dietary carbohydrates.


Sorry don’t have time to rewrite in my own words, so I quoted with the source. Same study also shows that another study reported berberine increases muscle atrophy.

Metformin also blocks glucose absorption partly by inhibiting sodium-glucose cotransporter1 (SGLT1) in the small intestine, which reduces how much glucose gets into the bloodstream from the food you eat.

I believe there is a place for both, primarily in a diet phase. For me, I’d rather just use Lantus to control my glucose levels when needed in the off season. When the dose gets too high, it means my sensitivity is fucked, and I’ll usually drop down to trt and pull carbs and gh down. My body is stupidly sensitive to gh and its effect on beta cell sensitivity. 6iu+ gh with even moderate carbs, and I’m pretty fucked.
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fyi from your study

Muscle atrophy is a characteristic of chronic diseases including diabetes. Surprisingly, berberine was reported to promote muscle atrophy in both wild-type and db/db mice through hampering mitochondrial function and stimulating the expression of atrogin-1, which promoted protein degradation and suppressed protein synthesis67. However, in another study, berberine improved muscle atrophy, increased glycogen storage and decreased triglycerides content in skeletal muscle of type 2 diabetic rats. Further experiments revealed that reduced expression of CDK9 and cyclin T1 in the muscle was reversed with berberine68. Berberine also increased PPARα/δ expression and reduced PPARγ expression in skeletal muscle similar as rosiglitazone or fenofibrate69. The controversial data may be due to diverse methods of administration. Muscle atrophy was induced by berberine injection. Oral administration of berberine led to improvement of muscle atrophy. The actual effects of berberine remain to be explored.
 
Oakley6575 said:
Damn, we have complete opposite opinions on this. :ROFLMAO:
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Hey to each their own brother. Just my opinion and what’s worked with me.

If I got a do over for bodybuilding, I would’ve added insulin earlier on or not used gh without insulin while carbs were high. But I was so stubborn to not add it, yet my glucose levels were bad due to the gh I was using in like 2022 and 2023. Makes me wonder if it permanently affected my insulin sensitivity.
 
Ckmeter said:

10. Effects of berberine in gut​

It is interesting that berberine also acts as an α-glucosidase inhibitor. α-Glucosidase is an intestinal enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates into monosaccharides. Inhibition of the enzyme will lead to diminished absorption of dietary carbohydrates.


Sorry don’t have time to rewrite in my own words, so I quoted with the source. Same study also shows that another study reported berberine increases muscle atrophy.

Metformin also blocks glucose absorption partly by inhibiting sodium-glucose cotransporter1 (SGLT1) in the small intestine, which reduces how much glucose gets into the bloodstream from the food you eat.

I believe there is a place for both, primarily in a diet phase. For me, I’d rather just use Lantus to control my glucose levels when needed in the off season. When the dose gets too high, it means my sensitivity is fucked, and I’ll usually drop down to trt and pull carbs and gh down. My body is stupidly sensitive to gh and its effect on beta cell sensitivity. 6iu+ gh with even moderate carbs, and I’m pretty fucked.
Click to expand...
Right — Berberine can act as a mild α-glucosidase inhibitor, but that’s not its primary or clinically meaningful mechanism. The bigger, crazier effects come from improved glucose disposal and reduced liver glucose output, which is why it performs so damn similarly to metformin in studies. In lab experiments, Berberine can slow carb digestion if the concentration is very high — but at normal human supplement doses, it’s nowhere near strong enough to actually block carb absorption in a meaningful way. No worries tho, to each their own.

I was only asking because that Lantus dose you have is hiiiigh. Are you doing Lantus daily or just weak BP days? And sorry if you missed it, do you wear a CGM at all?
 
Theotherone55 said:
Right — Berberine can act as a mild α-glucosidase inhibitor, but that’s not its primary or clinically meaningful mechanism. The bigger, crazier effects come from improved glucose disposal and reduced liver glucose output, which is why it performs so damn similarly to metformin in studies. In lab experiments, Berberine can slow carb digestion if the concentration is very high — but at normal human supplement doses, it’s nowhere near strong enough to actually block carb absorption in a meaningful way. No worries tho, to each their own.

I was only asking because that Lantus dose you have is hiiiigh. Are you doing Lantus daily or just weak BP days? And sorry if you missed it, do you wear a CGM at all?
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Sorry, it’s been a crazy busy day. I’m doing Lantus daily.

I do not wear a cgm. I check 90-120 mins post prandial for all meals, and I check fasted.
 
dcdogz said:
fyi from your study

Muscle atrophy is a characteristic of chronic diseases including diabetes. Surprisingly, berberine was reported to promote muscle atrophy in both wild-type and db/db mice through hampering mitochondrial function and stimulating the expression of atrogin-1, which promoted protein degradation and suppressed protein synthesis67. However, in another study, berberine improved muscle atrophy, increased glycogen storage and decreased triglycerides content in skeletal muscle of type 2 diabetic rats. Further experiments revealed that reduced expression of CDK9 and cyclin T1 in the muscle was reversed with berberine68. Berberine also increased PPARα/δ expression and reduced PPARγ expression in skeletal muscle similar as rosiglitazone or fenofibrate69. The controversial data may be due to diverse methods of administration. Muscle atrophy was induced by berberine injection. Oral administration of berberine led to improvement of muscle atrophy. The actual effects of berberine remain to be explored.
Click to expand...
One study shows that it causes muscle atrophy. The other doesn’t, so I’d say it’s pretty inconclusive no?

My guess is it’s the same as nolvadex. Nolvadex technically lowers igf, but it’s so insignificant if you’re taking exogenous gh.
 
Ckmeter said:
One study shows that it causes muscle atrophy. The other doesn’t, so I’d say it’s pretty inconclusive no?

My guess is it’s the same as nolvadex. Nolvadex technically lowers igf, but it’s so insignificant if you’re taking exogenous gh.
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Well sorta it seemed the atrophy was induced via berberine injection, wasn't seen with oral use. I'm using berberine so I'm biased 😛
 
Theotherone55 said:
Right — Berberine can act as a mild α-glucosidase inhibitor, but that’s not its primary or clinically meaningful mechanism. The bigger, crazier effects come from improved glucose disposal and reduced liver glucose output, which is why it performs so damn similarly to metformin in studies. In lab experiments, Berberine can slow carb digestion if the concentration is very high — but at normal human supplement doses, it’s nowhere near strong enough to actually block carb absorption in a meaningful way. No worries tho, to each their own.

I was only asking because that Lantus dose you have is hiiiigh. Are you doing Lantus daily or just weak BP days? And sorry if you missed it, do you wear a CGM at all?
Click to expand...
One other thing to note, I have 4 more days of this rebound push before backing off food and dropping down to trt. Lantus was added at 15iu 4 weeks post show.

Slowly ramped up reaching 35iu around 7 weeks post show. By that point I was around 700g of carbs. My carbs barely went up from there until this past week. This increase combined with raising gh to 10iu with the pec injury and probably some insulin resistance from pushing I believe is why I need 40iu. Will let you all know my levels from today some time tomorrow.

You are the first person I’ve ever heard say 40iu is a high high dose. I was under the impression 80-100 was considered a high dose of Lantus.

At the end of the day I just listen to my coach. He doesnt want me on berberine or metformin, so I won’t take them. Even though I disagree with their use in a push, if he told me to, I would take them.
 
Back day tonight —

Newtech m torture high row straight bar wide grip overhand

1pps x 10
2pps x 10
3pps x 10
4pps x 12
4pps x 12

Megamass linear t bar row between overhand and neutral grip medium width

1pps x 10
2pps x 10
3pps x 10
4pps x 10
5pps x 12
5pps x 10

Newtech front wide grip lat pulldown underhand grip

1pps x 10
2pps x 10
3pps x 10
3pps x 10
3pps x 8

Strive chest supported pin loaded seated row — 2 second eccentric, 1 second stretch, 2 second concentric. Overhand grip.

250 x 12
250 x 12
250 x 10

Cable pullover

150 x 12
150 x 12
150 x 12
 
Ckmeter said:
One other thing to note, I have 4 more days of this rebound push before backing off food and dropping down to trt. Lantus was added at 15iu 4 weeks post show.

Slowly ramped up reaching 35iu around 7 weeks post show. By that point I was around 700g of carbs. My carbs barely went up from there until this past week. This increase combined with raising gh to 10iu with the pec injury and probably some insulin resistance from pushing I believe is why I need 40iu. Will let you all know my levels from today some time tomorrow.

You are the first person I’ve ever heard say 40iu is a high high dose. I was under the impression 80-100 was considered a high dose of Lantus.

At the end of the day I just listen to my coach. He doesnt want me on berberine or metformin, so I won’t take them. Even though I disagree with their use in a push, if he told me to, I would take them.
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Makes sense, I would trust Justin 100%.
40iu isn’t high per a couple days a week like weak body part or say high days. But 40iu ED is a high dose. It’s basically not letting your pancreas work at all in turn making your insulin resistance worse. At 10-20iu u can kinda deal with it (the bad effects) in order to deal with the wooorse effects of elevated blood sugar from high GH. But it makes sense if Justin is about to drop u down to trt basically resensitize u. He’s a smart dude. And obviously it’s workin because u seemed to have a great rebound 👍🏼
 
Awesome rebound. Thicker than grannies oatmeal , you look great bud
 
Theotherone55 said:
Makes sense, I would trust Justin 100%.
40iu isn’t high per a couple days a week like weak body part or say high days. But 40iu ED is a high dose. It’s basically not letting your pancreas work at all in turn making your insulin resistance worse. At 10-20iu u can kinda deal with it (the bad effects) in order to deal with the wooorse effects of elevated blood sugar from high GH. But it makes sense if Justin is about to drop u down to trt basically resensitize u. He’s a smart dude. And obviously it’s workin because u seemed to have a great rebound 👍🏼
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At the end of the day, I’ve given him my full
trust. We will see what my a1c is here in a few weeks.

I’ve heard doses as high as 200iu Lantus a day with Humalog on top on training days…fucking Roman Fritz lol.

Thank you man. I’d say this rebound was super successful. Still need more legs and back, but I made the improvements I wanted to.
 
Some post arm day posing fun. image0.png
 

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Pec tear is super visible here. Ortho appointment tomorrow. I’m really going to try to avoid surgery, and if it needs to be repaired, I want to postpone it until after the 2026 season. image5.png
 

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