Cured my low test!! Really?

[tall76]

While trying to find out what was wrong with me over the past few months I've done a ton of research on low test and how to bring it up myself. BW from oct 12 I had posted before, total test 288 (250-1100) 31 yr old best shape of my life just low energy. My new BW total test at 528 (250-1100) so I am pumped. I have been feeling much better especially this last month or so.
This is what I have changed in my routine since oct. I'm a good subject to experiment with bc I am very regimented with my diet/ workouts.
More dietary fats in my diet. Protein sources were only ground turkey white fish and chicken- I have added ground beef or salmon for 1 meal per day.
Added fish oil pills 6 per day, the good ones.
Added ground flaxseed
Taking ZMA everynight before bed.
Make sure I get 7-8 hrs sleep per night. I hadn't been gettin much at all before.

So I'm not super lean like I was before but still low bf- Probly 11 or 12%. Before I was 10 or lower.
Dr had a theory that my test levels were low bc I just had a baby in July and my son did not sleep well for a long time. I wanted some feedback- what do u guys think? Going for more BW in 3 months

[slfmade]

I'm confused. Your Dr's thoery was lack of sleep was the cause of your low test????

[tall76]

Yes lack of sleep, lack of dietary fat and being a new father.
I didn't believe it until I typed in "new father low testosterone" into google and was like holy shhhht

[Brohim]

I'm surprised you were able to be at such a low bf with low test.

[tall76]

I was in a show Sept 24th and was probably the leanest I have ever been. Not sure exactly how low but below 7% probably. And the 288 test BW was drawn in October.

[Brohim]

Oh I gotcha. I was cutting for 5 month's and my test came back low as well not 288 but 454. Your body will lower hormone when cutting cal's. I think I got adrenal faluire as well from ECA stack and lack of salt in my diet. Did you use any stim's while dieting?

I found it hard to loose fat and my metabolism stalled even though I was cycling calories. I am 30 as well.

[Brohim]

Maybe I was not getting enough fat's either. I added Avacado in my diet and got some flax seed oil and I cook my eggs in a little butter now. I am thinking about adding in 100mg cyp a week when cutting so hormones won't go down and can aid in fat burning.

[tall76]

That is a good point about the cutting. 5 months is a long time to be cutting- I was really really strict for this show for 8 weeks. I haven't ever taken any stims or AAS either. But maybe this was my body's response to going too low with carbs/ cals bc I never felt that crappy prepping for a show

[Brohim]

Yes I hear it's best for natural guy's to taper down carb's

[txnhb]

I'm not saying I'm an expert but I do listen a lot to Robb Wolf's paleo solution podcast and fixing sleep habits has a lot to do with fixing cortisol levels. He talks a lot about a book called "lights out." this books has a lot of research about sleep. I'm talking sleeping hours you are supposed to sleep so as to keep cortisol low when its meant to be low, making your room dark as a cave to prevent any light including artificial light from entering your eyes. Without getting too much into it, fixing sleep will definitely fix a lot of things.

So yeah too high cortisol levels can lead to adrenal fatigue etc. Try googling Robb Wolf and low testosterone. Should bring up the article he wrote on how he naturally brought up his test levels much the same ways you did. He also used some supplements I think dhea? I can't remember off the top of my head. Just thought I'd put my 2 cents in.

[jamotech]

Yes lack of sleep, lack of dietary fat and being a new father.
I didn't believe it until I typed in "new father low testosterone" into google and was like holy shhhht

Yup, the new father low t thing, mother natures/evolution's way of making the male more caring and nurturing when its really needed.

[zaggahamma]

makes total sense bro

glad your feeling better

[txnhb]

Here's a pretty good read

http://robbwolf.com/2011/11/02/paleo-and-testosterone/

[yannick35]

Saturated fats = more cholesterol = testosterone production, this is why most people on ultra low fat diets feel horrible all the time.

I like coconut oil, red meat.

[steroid.com 1]

OP - You may want to reconsider the Flax seed in your supplement protocol.

Flax is a known estrogen mimic.

[jamotech]

OP - You may want to reconsider the Flax seed in your supplement protocol.

Flax is a known estrogen mimic.

^^^ yup
I bought 3 bottles a few months ago when I decided to start lifting again, used it back in the day for omegas. After researching estrogen, I switched to krill oil after I learned what GD stated. The price difference between krill and flax is night and day, but I want E numbers to go down not up!
I have 2 1/2 bottles if anyone needs their E numbers to go up

[txnhb]

I agree with gdevine. Try some Carlson's fish oil. You should be good with that alone.

[brazey]

Good news, Tall. Not enough healthy fats in the diet as well as overtraining/lack of rest will definately hinder test production. Glad you're feeling better and keep us posted on your progress. Fermented cod liver oil is one of my favorite supps.

[tall76]

Thank u all for the feedback- the flax is def out now I had no clue. Gonna keep working on all this stuff and hopefully be even higher at my nxt BW in 3 months

[swllce]

I have also heard family men tend to score lower on the testosterone range.

Very good post ,starting trt is a very big deal, this post proves that one should explore all other options before starting a life long commitment to trt.

[tall76]

Exactly- when I first got the real low test results I was sure I just needed test to replace it. I'm glad I found this forum to see how really complicated this whole thing is. A lot more than just replacing test bc of the cascading effect it has on a lot of other things. The other thing is finding a great dr. The stories about drs messing guys up even more than they were before scared me- so for my next bloodwork instead of keeping things the same and testing low again to get on trt I tried everything I could to boost test myself. I leaned a lot about my body and feel much better

[steroid.com 1]

^^^^ A success story all the way around.

Nice work Tall!