There is something to be said about not skipping leg day, and defiantly don't skip doing squats!!!! I only bought these jeans a few months ago!

WOW, I can't believe it has been a week since my last post.  Last I hit the gym was Monday did arms FELT AMAZING AND HUGE!  But at times life gets in the way,  I did go back to the Doc on Wed afternoon for more blood work and already set up my next procedure for April 21 at 6pm.  I guess since it is friday and I did not hear back from the doc, my levels are ok.  I did bring up that i have been more tired lately and was wondering if it is the weather we are having or something in my levels that are off?  Guess I have to wait and talk to the doc more when I see him?

Friday Feb 14th 2014

I have only been to the gym once this week on Tuesday 2/11.  I am really starting to feel it.  I am dragging, and feeling down.  I have to hit the gym tomorrow, this can not keep going I need that pick me up and need to clear my head.

2014 NPC Branch WarrenGASP Classic in July!

Here is the poster for the 2014 NPC Branch WarrenGASP Classic in July! 

Tuesday 2/11/14 workout

Took Monday off to rest.  I went to the gym Tuesday 2/11/14 to do an upper body workout. I have to say I did not want to go, all I wanted to to all day was go home hit the the sofa and go back to bed!  I hate this feeling.  I have to keep pushing my self to keep going. When I got to the gym I hit my chest, arms, and shoulders.  I pushed myself as hard as I could.
I have to say I felt good once I got to the gym,, and I felt great leaving!  I went home had my protein shake and went to bed and had a great night sleep!
I got up this morning and feel good!  See how today goes????

66 year old man overcomes depression through weight training. A true inspiration.

AdvoCare WE BUILD CHAMPIONS

If you want to order any products call me at 516 637 4253 or email me at mcozelino@gmail.com

Pine Pollen

It has been about  three weeks now that I started to try Pine Pollen to help with the production of testosterone.  I will give it one more week and post if I have felt any difference or seen any difference in my self.

LEG DAY!

Sat. was leg day, OMG what a workout!  My legs were on FIRE!  I could not even sleep Sat. night, my legs were killing me.
I do have to say HARD workouts like that are great for clearing your head!  It is so true about how endorphins make you feel!  

Tonight is Arms and Calves

Tonight I am doing ARMS and CALVES!!  This is going to be one hell of a workout!!! BIGGER BIGGER BIGGER!!!!

Starting around 2004 - February 2014

Testosterone 

My issues started about 10 years ago now, I was in my mid 30’s.  This was an average type of a Saturday for me, went to eat with my brother and wife and we were having a nice time.  We had only been sitting at the table for a few min when I felt my face start to get really HOT!  By hot I mean I could feel the heat come off of it my eyes felt hot and very dry and I started to get a funny taste in my mouth.  I went to the bathroom and was SHOCKED by what I was seeing…  my face was bright red my ears were almost brown (that is how dark red they were)  I could feel the heat coming off of my face.. I tried to put cold water on my face and that did NOTHING.  I took a benedril and about 15/20 later it started to sub side.  I was just thinking it was some kind of reaction to either something I ate or drank.  

A few days had gone by and nothing happened so I was just going with it was just that one time 

On the following Thursday about 5 days later I was out for work, I was having a beer at the bar and a friend came walking over saying what is wrong with you???  I said why, he said your face is all red!  I told him I would be right back as I was going to the bathroom I felt my face getting hot again!  Same thing happened again as 5 day earlier.   And in about 20 min it was gone.  

NOW I KNOW I HAVE TO GET TO A DOC!  

Not knowing at the time, I was having other issues that I did no know were related to this:.

Facial flushing ( Hot flashes)

No energy 

No sex drive 

Mood changes 

Lack of concentration 

Erratic sleep

  Depression

Low Energy

Testosterone helps to boost energy levels in a normal situation. But when you have low testosterone, your energy levels can be compromised in a number of ways. You can feel constant daily fatigue, tasks that were once routine can take longer and need more effort to do, and your recovery time from exercise can be longer. You actually might get so run down that you need to stop exercising completely.

Muscle Wasting

Muscle is metabolically active tissue, meaning it burns calories when you are just sitting around doing nothing. Testosterone is a major muscle-building hormone. When your levels are low, your muscle mass can deteriorate and your strength levels can become compromised. As a result of this, you can also experience a gain in weight. This excess weight is most commonly gained in the stomach area and it can exacerbate your fatigue.

Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction, also known as "impotence," is a condition where you are not able to maintain an erection long enough to complete a sexual experience with your partner. This is a symptom of low testosterone. You can also experience a lower sex drive and infertility.

Breast Development

Estrogen is a female dominant hormone that men have in small amounts. When the amount of estrogen becomes elevated and testosterone becomes low, a side effect called "gynecomastia" can take place. This is the development of male breasts. This symptom is also partially caused from the decrease of muscle mass.

Reduced Bone Mass

Osteoporosis is a condition that commonly takes place in women as they age. The bones lose their density and become weak and brittle. If you have low testosterone levels, you are also susceptible to have low bone mineral density and develop osteoporosis.

Mood

When your testosterone levels are low, you can also suffer emotional symptoms. You can become depressed, things you used to find interesting will no longer interest you and you can also get mad easily at irrelevant issues.

Depression

Sex hormones may play a role in the development of depression. Women have a higher risk of depression than men until they reach age 65, at which time sexual differences wane. Sex hormones may be responsible for the difference in susceptibility to depression, according to several studies. Men produce seven times the testosterone that women produce, and abnormally high or low levels of testosterone may also increase risk of depression.

Most people were telling me your getting older (your not 20 any more) 

I was in a rut 

Needed to take a multi vitamin 

Needed to rest more

I kept telling everyone I KNOW ME and this was not ME  there is something wrong.  

I went to see my MD who told me he would send me for some test  (test went on for a year or two) I was tested for tumors all types gland issues blood issues (of cause this was not picked up on since this is not normally tested for)  Heart issues. All came back NEG except for the heart which only showed a small mitro valve leak. Nothing I needed to worry about

At one point I was hoping for something

By this time since there was nothing physical showing up I was put on all different types of med for anxiety  rozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro, and Celexa.  I was kept on the celexa for a while but in the end the flushing (hot flashes ) were just getting worse and lasting longer.  By this time hours.  And it was getting harder and harder just to do normal everyday things   like getting out of  bed each morning, going to work staying focused on any one thing.  (if I was able to get out of bed)

The fact I had to talk myself to get of bed every day was getting harder and harder!!! By this time I new this was not in my head!

I was in my office this one particular day and I felt my face getting hot (I new what was happening ) so I got up and closed my office door

As I sat there in my desk chair I felt not only my face getting hot but the back of my eyes as well.  I just sat there and tried to talk myself out of what ever was going on.   I guess about an hour went by and someone came into my office and asked mw what was happening?  

I told her everything and asked if  I fall asleep just leave me here and if anyone was looking for me I was out of the office.

She told me in no uncertain terms that I was having a hot flash and to get over it!

She told me everything I just told her she went threw when she went threw her change in life.

I said no way men don’t get hot flashes She said ask your doc!

It was kind of funny I had a doc appt that afternoon.  I was going to my urologist for a kidney stone, so I thought what the hell I would say something to him since was going to be their.  

After my check up I was in my doc’s office I brought this up to him. I explained all that was going on and all med  I was on and off of as well as test I was sent for by my MD.

He called a nurse in to take some blood from me and said let me check your testosterone levels.   He said I would hear back from him in a few days.  ( I have to say I did not think he was going to find anything).

Less the 24 hours later I got a call from him telling me to get to his office NOW!  I said ok and I could be there in about 15 min.  

When I got to the office I was sent right to his office.  He came in with a needle and told me to bend over!  He gave me a shot and said now sit we have to talk.  

He said my testosterone level was down to 87, and that a normal low was between 325-350.  At the point I am at my body is producing estrogen.  He put me on an estrogen blocker and we tried the gels and patches for a few months.  They did not work at all!  He said I would do good if I gave my self a weekly shot.  I said ok, but I had trouble giving myself that shot.  I spoke with the doc and we came up with a routine of my coming in every other Friday for a shot.  

I did this for about a year.  WOW I felt AMAZING 18 AGAIN!  

But even with the shots and feeling a lot better I was still having some ups and downs.  A couple of days after the shot I would feel good and then by the following wed. I would feel myself coming down and then the shot on Friday and by Monday feeling better.  This was starting to become a problem as time went on.  My MD subjected Zoloft low dose to help.  So I said ok been on everything else.  It did help to control my mood as my body started to run low  and keep me OK till Friday to Monday when I would feel the shot kick in.  

This was great for about a year.  Went to the doc for a normal blood work and was told my red blood cell count was threw the roof!  He stopped the shots and want me to see a blood doc if the was no change e in my levels in a few days.  

I went back to him after 6 weeks of no testosterone in me the hot flashes had started again and I was becoming depressed.  

He Told me about this new procedure, he would implant a pellets in me and as the drake down my body will take what it needs and this will last me 6 moths.  

I  had it done the following Monday  he put in in my upper thigh area bad spot for sitting and bending LOL.  Was off my feet for about a day and I would say in a couple of days I started to feel good again.  

I made my next appt for 4 months.  I HAVE TO SAY I WAS A BIT SURPRISED THIS WAS WORKING!

When I had my next blood work done the doc called and said he wanted to do another set a 5 months.  My numbers were already dropping .  I said ok and make the appt for two weeks  he put the next set in on the other side and waited for another 4 months for my next visit.

I had the next set of blood work and made another appt for the next set a week later.  Seems that my body was using the testosterone faster then had hopped.  After about a year and a half  my doc decided to do this procedure every three month.  I was already at the max he could implant.  

Once my ins co gave the ok we started every 3 months, It is a pain doing it that offetin but seems to be working better.  

While this was all going on I decide to go back to the gym.  I looked into Tae Kwon Do again, or MMA fighting even Boxing.  I was talking to a friend and decided to go back to the gym.  

I started hitting the gym in February 2012, after being out for a long time.  I was 43 in this Pic and I was 250 pounds.  A lot had changed inside the gym from when I was in the gym last.
I am a 3rd Degree Black Belt in TAE KWON DO.  I trained for 14 years.  Back then my work outs were more Cardio  and lighter weights to stay quick.  Now I am in the gym to put Mass on!!   I want to put mass on my chest, shoulders, and arms.  I know I still have to do back and Legs.  I always had big strong legs due to the karate, and well all the fighting I did really screwed up my lower back over many years.
I competed for a while and won several big matches.  But my BEST fight in the 1983 Empire State games.  I was 14 and fighting men!  I took home 3rd place.
This is the 1983 Empire State team

When I started back in the gym was was going 2-3 days a week, and now I go 5-6 depending on the week.  I started working out with a friend and really got back into working out.

Bull Dawgs Bodybuilding blog

Tonight training  Back!

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