[Harry Demetriou]

Personally I am a bit of a lazy person originally but over the years I just got in the mindset that if I put in the work I feel better and improving my diet to slightly above maintenance helped

[Harry Demetriou]

I’ve tried a ton and SSRI ruin training for me

I’ve started taking Effexor an snri it’s amazing. I highly recommend it

In what way did it ruin training for you bud I’m interested? I’m currently on sertraline and I have experienced exactly the same thing [/quote]

Personally for me I’m on 200mg sertraline and notice no difference in my training mentality. In fact for me it makes me want to go more. Only issue I have is excessive sweating [/quote]

Do you have any side affects such as feeling lethargic, sluggish, increased cravings/appetite, low libido, emotionless or anything like that mate?[/quote]
No not really. I do get short term memory loss like the kind when you walk through a door and forget why you walked through it.

[Harry Demetriou]

I’ve tried a ton and SSRI ruin training for me

I’ve started taking Effexor an snri it’s amazing. I highly recommend it

In what way did it ruin training for you bud I’m interested? I’m currently on sertraline and I have experienced exactly the same thing [/quote]
Personally for me I’m on 200mg sertraline and notice no difference in my training mentality. In fact for me it makes me want to go more. Only issue I have is excessive sweating

[Harry Demetriou]

Saturday 9/7/22 Shoulders and Abs

Last session for a weak point I need to bring up before my weekly check in. I do have to ask before I get into the log. Does anyone have any tips on how to do check in photos as in angles and lighting etc? Thanks in advance.

Log:

1. Warm Up Lateral Raises (4×10) – 6, 8, 8 ,8 KG each side
2. Warm Up Seated Plate Loaded Shoulder Press (2×10) – 20, 20 KG
3. Seated Plate Loaded Shoulder Press (3×10-12 Last set 3x Drop set , Back Off x 20) – 30, 30, 30-25-20 KG
4. Dumbbell Shoulder Press (3×10-12, Back Off x 20) – 16, 20, 28, 20 KG total
5. Front Raise (3×10-12, Back Off x 20) – 12.5, 15, 15, 10 KG
6. Arnold Raise (3×10-12, Back Off x 20) – 20, 20, 32×6(+4 after 5 sec rest), 20 KG
7. Shrugs (3×10-12, Back Off x 20) – 40, 60, 60, 60 KG
8. Ab Circuit – Crunches, Knee Raises, Decline Weighted Twists 8kg Kettlebell, Ab Roller (3×10)

[Harry Demetriou]

Update 09/07/22:

So I should probably update this as I haven’t in a week or more.

Current Macros:

• 3600cal
• 315g protein
• 375g carb
• 100-110g fats

Training:

Monday 4/7/22 Push

1. Warm Up: Pec Dec straight handle (4×10) – 50, 57, 57, 57 KG
2. Warm Up: Flat chest bench press (2×10) – bar, 30 KG
3. Flat chest bench bench (3×10-12, Back Off x 20) – 40, 50×6, 40, back off 35×18 KG
4. Plate loaded chest press (3×10-12) – 20, 20, 20 kg
5. Incline Dumbbell chest press (3×10-12, Back Off x 20) – 16kg*6 ,14kg ,14kg ,10kgx20
6. Dumbbell flys (3×10-12) – 10,10, 10 KG
7. Assisted Dips (3×10-12, Back Off x 20) – -50,-45,-40,-55xamrap KG
8. Tricep push down straight bar (3×10-12, Back Off x 20) – 30, 35, 40, 30 kg
9. Tricep Rope push down (3×10-12, Back Off x 20) – 20,20, drop 20,15,10, Back off 15 kg

Tuesday 5/7/22 Legs

1. Warm up Leg extension (2×10) – 53kg
2. Leg extension (3×10-12, Back Off x 20) – 63,70,70, Back off 42kg for 20
3. Hack squat (3×10-12, Back Off x 20) – banded 10,10,20, no weight) Note: this machine feels like 100kg by itself at the bottom.
4. Leg press (3×10-12, Back Off x 20) – 100, 100, 100, back off 60 for 19
5. Seated leg curl (3×10-12, Back Off x 20) – 65,65,70,45 kg
6. Seated calf machine (3×10-12, Back Off x 20) – 20, 20, 25, 10xamrap

Friday 8/7/22 Push

1. Warm up Seated row machine (2×10) – 25,30kg
2. Seated row machine (3×10-12, Back Off x 20) – 45, 45, 40, 30 kg
3. Plated row with triangle grip (3×10-12, Back Off x 20) – 0, 10, 10, 5 kg
4. Single arm lat pull down (3×10-12, Back Off x 20) – 20, 25*8, 20, 15kg
5. High to low lateral row (3×10-12, Back Off x 20) – 15, 20, 15, 10 kg
6. Super Set Straight arm pull down rope into Face pulls with rope (4×10) – Pull down -20, 25, 30, 30 kg, Face Pulls – 20, 25, 20, 20 kg
7. Reverse fly machine (3×10-12) – 40, 40, 40 kg
8. Single arm seated curl DB (3×10-12, Back Off x 20) – 30, 35, 35, 25kg
9. Straight bar cable curls (3×10-12) – 25,25,25 kg

[Harry Demetriou]

Firstly it is my pleasure –

So the sertraline is documented to have a negative effect on tester one levels. This may be the issue

I dont have much faith in those natural supplements doing much especially if it is the ssris causing the issue but in your situation I would be trying everything to increase this so would give them ago and retest in 8 weeks

Yea the plan right now is to try 450mg B6 P5P, 1500mg tribulus and 2000mg d aspartic daily for the next 5-6 weeks. Retest and if similar result I’ll talk over my options with my GP or private healthcare professional depending on who is more willing to have an appointment sooner.

I know there is little stock in natural test boosting supplements but even if it puts me a bit higher probably worth it as they aren’t particularly expensive.

[Harry Demetriou]

27/06/22 Pull Day

Weight: 87.7kg
Macros: 2931cal, 250P, 328C, 73F

1: Unilateral Lat Pulldown (20kgx12, 25kgx12, 25kgx12)

2: Bent over rows (5×6-8 @55kg) RPE 9

3: Pullover Machine (3×15 @ 40kg) RPE 8.5

4: Lateral Row: (3×10 @ 40kg.) RPE 8.5

5: Iso Lateral High Low Row (3×10 @ 30kg) RPE 8

6: Unilateral Bicep Curl Machine (3×12 @ 20kg)

7: EZ Bar Curl (3×8 @ 25kg)

8: Seated Hammer Curls (3×10 @ 10kg a side)

[Harry Demetriou]

Cheers Peter for the advice.

I do currently train 2 on 1 off. And I should mention I am currently on 200mg of sertraline ssris.

I’ve been looking into getting some B6 P5P supplementation. I’ll try putting some more nuts and avacado in my diet for increasing testosterone. I’ll try adding some soya milk into the diet as well for increasing estrogen back into normal range. I plan on retaking the test in 4-5 weeks time after implementing this.

I did have the recommendation in the doctors notes to take over the counter testosterone boosters such as tongkat Ali, tribulus and d aspartic acid. Would these be of any benefit to me you think?

Thanks again for all the help not just in this reply but all across the forum.

[Harry Demetriou]

DHEA sulphate is 17 umol/L

[Harry Demetriou]

25/06/22 Push Session:

1:Pec fly machine: 3×15 (40kg, 50kg, 58kg)

2:Bench Press Warm Up: 2×12 (30kg, 35kg)
Bench Press Working: 2×8 (45kg, 52.5kgx6) RPE 9
Bench Press Back Off Set: 1×12 (35kg)

3: Seated Barbell Shoulder Press Warm Up: 2×12 (25kg) Working: 2×8 (30kg) RPE 9

4: Chest Supported Lateral Raises: 3×12 with drop set on last set (10kg, Dropset 8kg>5kg til failure of partials)

5: Flat Chest Press Machine 3×10 with last set cluster set of x6,10s,x6 (60kg) RPE 9.5

6: Superset French Press 3×10 (20kg) with Unilateral Tricep Pushdowns 3×10 (10kg)

[Harry Demetriou]

Harry, the academic literature also entirely botched any and all volume training studies that I can refute with 100s of real world examples, if not 1000s of examples . Sometimes the literature takes a bit to catch up

I haven’t heard any reports of lowering libido

I will agree it’s in it’s early stages right now in terms of human testing on the academic level. Also I should add that the studies I have seen have been mostly on edycerone which is a similar compound afaik.

I am one who is all for more academic testing. Purely because I find it interesting.

Personally from my own findings it’s not for me but others may benefit from it and if it works for a person taking it that’s great for them in my eyes.

[Harry Demetriou]

Is there any need for Creatine when taking turk or should both be used to maximise results?

I don’t see why you can’t take it with it.

[Harry Demetriou]

Honestly from the stuff that I’ve seen academically it’s not got enough research in humans to warrant buying for me. Anecdotal evidence ranges anywhere between boost in strength gains to nothing to show for an 8 week cycle.

So if you willing to part with £80+ for an 8 week cycle that’s up to you. Just be sure that your diet has been on point for a while.

For something that has good strength gains and lots of research behind it I’d go with basic creatine monohydrate 5g a day. Tried and tested.

If you think you have low testosterone I would suggest ordering a blood test of some sorts to check your levels.

Tldr: Turk may or may not work for you. If £80 is something you are willing to part with by all means go for it.