TRT Expectations & Reality

[Low Testosterone]

When it comes to TRT meeting your expectations, I find the most dissatisfying experience for men is when their expectations are not realistic. This, in my opinion, is largely due to the way testosterone has been portrayed by the media and even in the gym. Call them myths, urban legends or whatever you’d like, most have a very unclear and unrealistic view. I always find it a bit disheartening when a man discontinues his treatment because of these unrealistic expectations as he’s doing far more harm to his body than he realizes. With that in mind, I wanted to cover some of these often confusing issues, and hopefully it will prevent a few from making a mistake.

1. Fatigue – One of the most common questions I get is “why am I more tired today than I was yesterday?” Well, did you get less sleep, have you been under more stress or exhausted yourself with activity more than normal? Have you been eating less, eating crappier or all of the above? TRT is not going to make you feel like the energizer bunny 24/7.

2. Fat Loss & Muscle Gain – First and foremost, Testosterone is not a fat burner. Further, taking testosterone is not going to magically make muscle appear on your body. It is true, very true, low levels of testosterone often have a negative affect on the metabolism, which can lead to muscle loss and fat gain. Improving your testosterone levels will reverse this, but any fat loss or muscle gain is then up to you. With low levels, fat loss and muscle gain can become extremely difficult; in fact, in many cases I’d say it’s next to impossible for some men. But by optimizing testosterone levels, your body now has the ability to do what you want it to do. That’s the purpose of TRT, to provide you the ability, not to provide you the one stop fix all solution.

3. Mood & Feelings – Many, if not most men, expect some type of feeling from TRT. I don’t know if it’s a high they expect or what as most don’t really have a way to explain it, but the lack of this “Feeling” disheartens many. It is true, testosterone is labeled as a drug, but you cannot view it in the same light as other drugs. First and foremost, there is no “High” so let’s get that out of the way. Further, testosterone doesn’t work like other drugs we may be used to. For example, you’re in pain, take a pain pill and the pain goes away – it’s over and done. Testosterone does not work this way. TRT is a process, one that requires some patience. Look at it this way, low testosterone levels promote stress and damage, but it’s not stress and damage that occurs overnight. In the same light yet reversed, increasing testosterone levels is not going to fix all your problems overnight, in days or even in a few weeks. It is a process that takes time. Yes, low levels have been linked to depression and I’ve seen many men who were taking antidepressants discontinue them thanks to TRT, but I’ve yet to see it happen quickly. Again, it takes time and how long is hard to say since everyone is different.

4. Libido – Some expect TRT to turn them into porn stars. Here’s the best way to look at it: In your 20’s or whenever you experienced your best libido in your life, unless you were blessed with porn star abilities already, why would returning your testosterone levels back to where they were in your 20’s or 30’s now create something that never existed in the first place? The idea is to return you to normal, your normal. Granted, if your normal happened to always be terrible (you had low levels in your youth) your new normal will more than likely be better than your old normal.

I’m not trying to dissuade anyone from TRT, far from it, and if it seems that way here’s the crux of the matter. You have low levels and you can forgo or discontinue treatment and return to low levels. In doing so:

1. Your libido will suffer
2. You will not have the ability to burn fat or build muscle like you’d like
3. Your disposition will suffer
4. You will have less energy and a harder time with life.

The entire point of TRT is to prevent or reverse this from happening. The point of TRT is not to turn you into something you’re not. For the latter, that begins to fall into steroid cycling, but even then I believe many have a gross misunderstanding of that, again very unrealistic expectations. And that is due to the way we view testosterone – it is viewed just as we view every other drug known to man, when in fact, it’s unlike those drugs. Hormones cannot be viewed in this light.

[Lifted1]

great post LT!

I was fairly educated (from this site) on trt and still expected to "feel" something after initiating it. It seems looking back to my beginning, that I didn't "feel" anything specifically, but gradually just felt better overall.

[kelkel]

If I had feelings, they might be hurt.


Great post LT, as always.

[APIs]

The benefits in points 1 through 4 are true for me today, especially when I reflect on those past years directly leading up to TRT. It didnt happen overnight though and that's where many fail I'd guess. Their immediate expectations are not met and they move on before the gifts can be realized.

If I needed further proof of this, then I just received it this morning. I reviewed some pics from my 30 year H.S. reunion and I can tell you that 90% of my old classmates looked awful. I am truly fortunate today, but it took some hard work & dedication to get where I am...

[Chicagotarsier]

Generation Iphone

Isn't there an app that will make me gain muscle mass while I Facebook?

I was lucky to have been a peak performer then lose it (while being "treated" by inept doctors) and then find the fountain of youth again.

Testosterone + 20 weeks of busting my butt in the gym took me from 13.6 A1c to 6.6 A1c and no longer a diabetic. I am still amazed at all I have accomplished in just under 8 months + 1 cycle. As far as feeling from a TrT dose....the feeling came from knowing I was finally on the right track to solve my issues.

[Beethoven]

Great post LT. so true.

[2Sox]

LT,
Very well said. Thank you. I'd say this is the beginning of a weekly education column. What do you say?

[Beethoven]

LT,
Very well said. Thank you. I'd say this is the beginning of a weekly education column. What do you say?

Sox, every day is a learning experience on this site.

[2Sox]

Sox, every day is a learning experience on this site.

This is well said too.

[Zeake]

Very good info. Thanks for posting!

[Low Testosterone]

The benefits in points 1 through 4 are true for me today, especially when I reflect on those past years directly leading up to TRT. It didnt happen overnight though and that's where many fail I'd guess. Their immediate expectations are not met and they move on before the gifts can be realized.

If I needed further proof of this, then I just received it this morning. I reviewed some pics from my 30 year H.S. reunion and I can tell you that 90% of my old classmates looked awful. I am truly fortunate today, but it took some hard work & dedication to get where I am...

Two things come to mind....

Point one is while 1-4 may very well apply to you, they didn't happen overnight or just in a few months. It took time and I would also be willing to bet that your overall lifestyle improvements are not simply TRT related if the changes are as dramatic as it would seem you're implying, which leads to point 2.

Point two - you guys that post here regularly, you represent less than 1% of the TRT population. The majority of the men that read this section of the forum, even those that are registered members (most viewers are not registered members) are not the typical TRT'r. Most of you guys workout vigorously and eat strict diets. Many of you also take numerous other supplements. Many of you also "blast" which puts you in another completely different category that would take you out of the TRT category, you would be a cycler that sometimes cruises on a TRT dose or sometimes blast depending on how you want to put it. I'm not knocking or praising this, I'm remaining neutral on the topic, but all of these factors have to be considered.

The normal TRT patient, including the vast number of those that read this section of the message board, will not workout at the gym like a bodybuilder and will often not have a gym membership. He may eat healthy but what would be considered "normal" healthy. His exercise will be the normal activity, day to day things - could be walking, playing with kids, yard work, golf, etc.

I know this seems ridiculous to some of you, but you have a different mindset. Many of you have a background in bodybuilding or at least a background in that lifestyle but most don't and they absolutely never will. They don't have that desire.

[kelkel]

Many of you also "blast" which puts you in another completely different category that would take you out of the TRT category, you would be a cycler that sometimes cruises on a TRT dose or sometimes blast depending on how you want to put it. I'm not knocking or praising this, I'm remaining neutral on the topic, but all of these factors have to be considered.

I know this seems ridiculous to some of you, but you have a different mindset. Many of you have a background in bodybuilding or at least a background in that lifestyle but most don't and they absolutely never will. They don't have that desire.

Blasphemy! And personally, I only do calisthenics.....

[Low Testosterone]

Image 1: What the normal and most common TRT patient looks like:



Image 2: What the normal TRT patient hopes he will look like:




Image 3: What the normal TRT patient wishes he'd look like but doesn't care enough to try and probably isn't realistic based on his lifestyle to begin with:



Image 4: What many of you think a TRT patient should aspire to look like or would like to look like (even though 99% of TRT'rs would have no desire)

[bass]

^^^ haha, funny but true! nice post as usual LT.

[kelkel]

^^^ haha, funny but true! nice post as usual LT.

A Bass sighting! How you healing up?


(very funny LT)

[bass]

doing well my good friend, not 100% yet! still busy as heck with work. good to see the old guys are still around

[kelkel]

doing well my good friend, not 100% yet! still busy as heck with work. good to see the old guys are still around

Who you calling old? I'm like a teenager.........................mentally.

[bass]

yea me too, I am 25 with 30 years of experience!

[Lifted1]

Great follow up posts that have a lot of very accurate points LT.

[bruary17]

Two things come to mind....

Point one is while 1-4 may very well apply to you, they didn't happen overnight or just in a few months. It took time and I would also be willing to bet that your overall lifestyle improvements are not simply TRT related if the changes are as dramatic as it would seem you're implying, which leads to point 2.

Point two - you guys that post here regularly, you represent less than 1% of the TRT population. The majority of the men that read this section of the forum, even those that are registered members (most viewers are not registered members) are not the typical TRT'r. Most of you guys workout vigorously and eat strict diets. Many of you also take numerous other supplements. Many of you also "blast" which puts you in another completely different category that would take you out of the TRT category, you would be a cycler that sometimes cruises on a TRT dose or sometimes blast depending on how you want to put it. I'm not knocking or praising this, I'm remaining neutral on the topic, but all of these factors have to be considered.

The normal TRT patient, including the vast number of those that read this section of the message board, will not workout at the gym like a bodybuilder and will often not have a gym membership. He may eat healthy but what would be considered "normal" healthy. His exercise will be the normal activity, day to day things - could be walking, playing with kids, yard work, golf, etc.

I know this seems ridiculous to some of you, but you have a different mindset. Many of you have a background in bodybuilding or at least a background in that lifestyle but most don't and they absolutely never will. They don't have that desire.

With you on this, I just got my first injection last week; 200mg test cyp, bi-weekly. I plan to make that 200mgs weekly once I talk to my doctor again.

I want kids one day but also want to throw 10 or so pounds of dry weight on in the next 6 months that iplan on running this stuff. Then I'm done.

Anyway, pertaining to the OP's post. I eat like a body builder and train like a freak....I EXPECT to see some positive, definitive change in in my physique in months to come. Not sure where the **** I'm going with this but there it is..

[Low Testosterone]

With you on this, I just got my first injection last week; 200mg test cyp, bi-weekly. I plan to make that 200mgs weekly once I talk to my doctor again.

I want kids one day but also want to throw 10 or so pounds of dry weight on in the next 6 months that iplan on running this stuff. Then I'm done.

Anyway, pertaining to the OP's post. I eat like a body builder and train like a freak....I EXPECT to see some positive, definitive change in in my physique in months to come. Not sure where the **** I'm going with this but there it is..

If you want to have kids one day you definitely want to talk to your doctor about HCG . This will protect your fertility. It's not that testosterone is guaranteed to make you infertile, in fact, testosterone is one of the worst forms of birth control out there. Still testosterone can have a negative effect on your ability to conceive.

Just an observation over the years on the affects of testosterone and fertility:

If testosterone has such a negative affect on fertility, why does nearly ever bodybuilder out there father numerous children, often with numerous women?
If testosterone is such a powerful fertility buster, why was the FDA forced to take off the label "male birth control" in the 1970's? In all honesty, I'm somewhat surprised it's not on there considering some of the numerous ridiculous things that have remained on there and may be soon to come.

bruary17, please don't misunderstand me...you still need to talk to your doctor about HCG. I'd say you also probably need to find a new doctor.

[bruary17]

If you want to have kids one day you definitely want to talk to your doctor about HCG . This will protect your fertility. It's not that testosterone is guaranteed to make you infertile, in fact, testosterone is one of the worst forms of birth control out there. Still testosterone can have a negative effect on your ability to conceive.

Just an observation over the years on the affects of testosterone and fertility:

If testosterone has such a negative affect on fertility, why does nearly ever bodybuilder out there father numerous children, often with numerous women?
If testosterone is such a powerful fertility buster, why was the FDA forced to take off the label "male birth control" in the 1970's? In all honesty, I'm somewhat surprised it's not on there considering some of the numerous ridiculous things that have remained on there and may be soon to come.

bruary17, please don't misunderstand me...you still need to talk to your doctor about HCG. I'd say you also probably need to find a new doctor.

I really believe I need a new Dr. This guy is a urologist that my primary care physician referred me to. And I will bring up the HCG to him...then after my appointment I think I'll call his nurse practitioner and ask if he could refer me to a endo. Thanks for all your help, brother.

[Ironweb]

Great read.

[kelkel]

Uro / Endo, in my experience personally and here, Uro's tend to be a bit more in tune. That said, title does not matter, their knowledge does. Don't take a blind referral. If you have to get several names of potential docs do so. Then take the time to call their offices and speak to a nurse. Ask if the doc treats with all meds that you're interested in. They know or will get an answer for you. Simply tell them you don't want to waste the doc's time or yours.