Family History, Gear, and Age

[endofitall22]

Background. I'm 22 years old, I've been lifting since I was 13, though really only fifteen because I only properly started doing the big lifts then. I'm currently ~190 pounds at 6' with 10% bodyfat per caliper testing, though I'd guess it's more like 12%. I've got a 505 pound DL, 375 pound squat, 295 pound bench, and I can do a chin up with an additional 150 pounds strapped to my waist.

I've been training very seriously, and have never really fallen too far off the nutrition wagon. Anyway, I have over the past year or so been feeling extremely lethargic, unmotivated, borderline depressed despite my nutrition, water intake, sleep, and supplementation being in check. So I finally got around to ordering a hormone panel on my blood and lo and behold I had me a free test level of 327 ng/dl. Low test runs in the family. FML. So I started researching and researching and researching. I figured out pretty quickly that if I were to just do a TRT level dose I could very easily afford it, hell, it would be cheaper than the total amount I spend on all forms of protein per month.

So I figured if I'm gonna do that, why not eventually just go all the way and "do" steroids ? I'd planned on it eventually, as I've never viewed them as a bad thing or cheating, I just wasn't planning on doing it this damn early in my life.

That being said, I want to start with a super conservative cycle, something like this:

16 weeks-
250mg Test E / week
250iu HCG / 2x week
.5 Arimidex EOD

PCT 4 weeks
50mg Nolva /daily
50mg Clomid /daily

I may be way off, but I really would appreciate pointers. I understand I'm very young, but I'm not going to settle for my family's history of low T. I want to at least have average levels to work with the rest of my life. Guidance will be very appreciated. Also, I'm aware of the fact that the endocrine system doesn't stop developing until you're 25. If anyone could give me any indication of what I could expect out of my body coming from a family history of low testosterone? I don't want to fuck up my endocrine system for life, but on the other hand I really do not want to wait if my levels naturally are never even going to be average for my age. I'm willing to accept input and guidance, but unless there's a change I could see at least average T levels without administering exogenous hormones, I really don't want to tough it out another three years feeling as shit as I do now.

[boisebeast]

Sounds like you've been killing it! It also sounds like deep down you know that there is no such thing as a conservative cycle at your age. The family history is especially a red flag for me as it pertains to your risk of being able to fully recover after PCT. With your experience and knowledge, you know your best bet is just to wait a few more years, otherwise you may regret it forever. Think long term and keep making those natural gains for now!

[The Deadlifting Dog]

Do you mean fee test or total test?
What is the range?

Never make a diagnosis off of a single sample point.
What time of day was the test taken?

If you truly have low T it is much better to figure out why then to try to play doctor yourself.

[Sh0tsf1red]

Do you mean fee test or total test?
What is the range?

Never make a diagnosis off of a single sample point.
What time of day was the test taken?

If you truly have low T it is much better to figure out why then to try to play doctor yourself.

I agree with this, it took my a while to get my TRT situation diagnosed,and then took some time to find the right dosage.

I agree with the original poster, TRT led me to AAS, would have never considered it until I "broke the injection plane" and got on TRT. However I would caution this, there is a good chance you won't be able to have kids and adding AAS to the mix makes that chance even lower.

While it seems like a logical next step, and one I took myself, I have had to accept that I'll never be able to give my son a brother or sister. I have a few years on the OP so that's an easier pill to swallow but at 22 I know I would have said I don't want kids anyway and today I know my son is the best thing to ever happen to me.

[Myers]

I agree with this, it took my a while to get my TRT situation diagnosed,and then took some time to find the right dosage.

I agree with the original poster, TRT led me to AAS, would have never considered it until I "broke the injection plane" and got on TRT. However I would caution this, there is a good chance you won't be able to have kids and adding AAS to the mix makes that chance even lower.

While it seems like a logical next step, and one I took myself, I have had to accept that I'll never be able to give my son a brother or sister. I have a few years on the OP so that's an easier pill to swallow but at 22 I know I would have said I don't want kids anyway and today I know my son is the best thing to ever happen to me.

I'm 23 and on TRT for 2 years already, but im on nebido , i went to my endo checkup last week , my balls haven't shrunk much , maybe like 20% , so i'm still going good, if u get HCG i don't see a problem with having kids? My dad was a steroid user since 19 , and he got me when he was 26, never PCTed , never used HCG or anything ..

Just keep ur balls working and it's good in most cases , we are all individual organisms so u never know how you're gonna react, but i could never handle low T at these years again , i felt like total disaster

[endofitall22]

Do you mean fee test or total test?
What is the range?

Never make a diagnosis off of a single sample point.
What time of day was the test taken?

If you truly have low T it is much better to figure out why then to try to play doctor yourself.

That's free test. I had my blood drawn in the AM.

I get all of your concerns. But my intention is once I'm on is to never really get off of at least a TRT dose. Especially if I'm going to have shit T levels anyway for the rest of my life.

Again, all this being said, if there's a way to increase my T naturally I'm all ears. I already take vitamin D, fish oil, a multi, and I make sure to get enough fat in my diet to produce T. Is there anything I might be missing?

[michael30]

Op I'm going to play devils advocate here. First, if you were actually serious about fixing your t levels you would be going to an endocrinologist to find out what is going on and if there is a fix. Second as stated above you should not make your decision on one lousy test. There are a million things that could be effecting your natural t levels? You need to give it time, eat right, rest right, and not over train. Then go back and get your levels rechecked. Then do it again to see if there climbing or dropping. If you went to an endo he will not just put you on trt right away. If you really want to do this the right way. Go see a specialist. But i have a feeling your mind was made up before you made this post. Honestly its easy to see. Don't get me wrong we all justify our decisions. Go see an endo, if he puts you on trt. Do your thing. If he waits, then see what happens. In the mean while, do your best to make gains naturally. Then when the time comes kick some ass.