Putting on muscle mass proves difficult when running a calorie shortage. At roughly six foot one or two my latest scan put me at two hundred thirty eight point seven pounds overall with one hundred fifty three pounds of lean tissue last week. Back on the thirtieth of January twenty twenty six the scale read two hundred fifty seven point five pounds yet lean tissue stayed identical at one hundred fifty three pounds that marked about fifty days past my initial reading. Throughout I have used HMB-FA along with testosterone replacement at one hundred twenty milligrams per week over that stretch plus Reta. I focus on hitting protein targets mix in aerobic work and lift though training slipped during March versus the earlier months. Reaching target weight I intend to eat at maintenance or perhaps slightly above to emphasize further muscle growth.
I'm a 52 year old guy standing 5 foot 9. I began at 208.6 pounds and sit at 182.8 now after dropping 26.4 altogether. Muscle started at 121.5 pounds and now registers 109.8 after losing 11.7 which equals 44.32 percent of everything shed. The scale puts my muscle share at 60.1 percent. Strength remains steady since I ski most weekends and keep up yoga without sensing any drop off. Those activities serve as my main checks on power. Target sits at 175 pounds though maybe lower because fat will still remain. I've used 2 milligrams once each week beginning January 10 2026 and just wrapped week 11. Hunger stays around so full meals work but I skip snacks and things like ice cream. Meals come from whole foods with added shakes powders and micronutrient support. The lower carb higher protein setup hydration and steady headspace all suit me. Light resistance through yoga walks and therapy moves continued until last week when three weekly lifting sessions started and that feels great. A 300 to 600 calorie gap held steady the entire period. The sticking point centers on dropping extra fat while holding muscle. Standard views suggest gains can happen in a gap especially for beginners like me though evidence stays thin and I could easily be off. Building lasting strength and keeping muscle along with fitness into older years drives me and I plan to stick with it. Routes forward remain unclear as someone new without background. Perhaps pause the current compound once the number hits then focus on adding muscle before resuming to trim fat while lifting protects what is there. Checking testosterone levels and considering replacement therapy appeals since both items look useful past age 50. Adding something aimed at belly visceral fat or a repair stack also crosses my mind. Info comes from scattered spots online yet some starting pointers from those further along would help.