aweight

I’m 6’1”, 150 lbs, in my forties and just six months into weight training. Until not too long back, my weight used to be in the high 130s, which I inexplicably never felt was too skinny because it never seemed to come in the way of anything athletic I wanted to do.

Goal: to get to deadlifting 2x bodyweight and 1.5x squats for at least 5 reps, so if my weight continues to be 150 lbs, my 5RM goals would be 300 lbs and 225 lbs respectively. A few weeks back, I had worked up to 245 lbs and 182.5 lbs respectively before I got injured and have been forced to back off a bit, so I’m questioning my caloric intake.

Caloric intake: I was aggressively eating “hard” for my first 4 months making close to 2500 C, but for the last 2 months have switched back to eating just by hunger, but still close to 1 gm/pound protein. Eating just by hunger usually makes me eat closer to 2000 C. Eating at least 2500 C every day makes me very full and is not easy for me.

Given my modest goal above, can I stay around 150 lbs eating just by hunger — which means around 2200 C — and accomplish it? I don’t mind getting bigger but am not necessarily looking to get big, just strong enough to lift 2x and squat 1.5x bodyweight a few times. Or is it folly to expect to work my way up to even that goal at not-even-2500 C while staying injury free?

Mark Rippetoe

If you're not a troll, you're posting on the wrong board. Either way, NO.

bjbrookz

I'm back for a second run of NLP, unfortunately. I would describe my current level as pre-phase I. I'm not exactly "broke legs Brian" right now, but I am unable to perform the entirety of the A/B sessions on the same day. I have taken your 3 day approach and extended it to 6 days with deadlifts being their own day (I am doing some light arm work those days as well). Squats, press/bench are performed on alternate days. After finally getting a barbell on my back for squats (thanks for the video a couple of weeks ago), I have quite a bit more soreness and I assume is impacting both deadlift and squat. I'm now 45 y/o which is several years older than when I ran my NLP originally.

How I got here - long Covid in the fall. 45 days sedated and on ventilator, +10 days tracheotomy and continued IV diet. +15 days hospital/rehab. I lost ~65lbs during my stay in ICU, but I have regained 15 of that to a whopping 175 now (225 prior). Other complications which are probably not relevant. When rehab started, I was unable to stand. My first steps unassisted occurred 12/10. My upper body was impacted of course, but I was able to use my arms to situate myself in bed and I was able to use some very small dumbbells. I'm on supplemental O2 24x7, typically between 4-6 liters when training and 1-3 when at home. I quit PT once it was no longer required for leave benefits, 1/31.

Squats and especially deadlift tax the hell out of me. My rest between sets is about 5 min for warm-ups and at least 10 min between work sets, but I am totally spent afterwards. Press and bench are not nearly as taxing. My heartrate elevates and stays much higher than before. Lung capacity has been greatly reduced of course. I have been told the damaged tissue will not heal, but I continue to wean myself from supplemental oxygen.

Would I be better off to reduce deadlift to a single day during the week or continue as-is, performing it 3 times per week on its own day? Thoughts on conditioning? Prowler is not an option (if I could even push one). Only alternative I've come up with is farmer's carry, but I will need assistance with my O2 tank if I go that route. I've gotta think I will be able to run a full A or B workout in the coming weeks, just not there yet. Given my situation and age, will the end of NLP look remotely similar to my first?

• Height: 6'
• Squat: 50
• Bench: 95
• Press: 50
• Deadlift: 105

Mark Rippetoe

What is your testosterone status?

bjbrookz

Male. Have not tested levels recently, but had planned to ask the primary care Doc for labs. I assume it is low.

Mark Rippetoe

May not be male. Why has this not been addressed? This is a very shitty situation you're in, and this hormone assay should have been done a long time ago.

bjbrookz

At this point, focus has been almost completely on pulmonology and cardiology. Primary doc has had little to no involvement, it hasn't come up with the other 2. My impression so far has been that the medical community is still fumbling with how to handle patients with similar histories. Not a lot of guidance thus far with regard to improving quality of life. "Ride a recumbent bike for 5 minutes a day..."

Mark Rippetoe

THEIR focus has been on their specialty. Duh. And you, who should know better after watching these fools for the past 2 years, have left your health in their hands, instead of being responsible for it yourself. You know your test is low. You know that the hormonal background of your physiology is critical to your systemic response. Do something about it today.