Training with low T

[bbrsimon50]

So I'm 38 years old I've been lifting weights recreationally for around 13 years. I started to try and get more serious about it 5 years ago. I was tracking macros and experimenting with different programs. And I don't mean I was program jumping, I was giving different styles an honest try for at least 12 months at a time.

It seemed no matter what I tried I stayed relatively weak and didnt see much change in my body.
I topped out at a 225 5x5 on bench and my squat and deadlift numbers were too embarrassing to even mention.

I've never been a big eater, but I decided I'd better add fuel to my body and went on an 8 month bulk. I cant remember exactly, but I was eating something like 210p 400c and 80f for a total of 3200 calories. I did get slightly stronger, but one day 17 months ago I looked in the mirror and saw a fat, weak 6'1" 225 lb slob. Balloon face and all.

I gave up on everything. The diet, quit the gym for a few months and just took a break. I lost 15 lbs just by eating what and when I wanted.

I learned through a Joe Rogan podcast about traumatic brain injuries and the effect they can have on hormones and Test levels and what that can do for your well being. It struck a chord, since I've rode a lot of dirtbike and took several hits to the head. Ive woke up laying in the dirt on a race track several times. I've also battled with depression and alcoholism my whole life. I have, however been sober since a life changing experience in November 2011.

So I started on my journey looking into trt. I had my test levels checked and over 4 separate blood samples in the course of 2 or 3 weeks, they came back averaging somewhere around 250. I found an endo who prescribed me 100 mg test e every 10 days. It changed my life. Very quickly I noticed changes in my mental state, along with changes in my body. I did an short run of 350 test e/ week and saw amazing results. I've since had my test prescription bumped to 120mg/ week. I also ran into some e2 problems and side effects, but have since been working on my AI protocol and have eliminated those.

The point of this is that while I was training with my natural test levels I was desperately trying to sift through advice and choose what made sense and saw little effect. I always heard experienced people say to take your natural training and nutrition as far as possible then when you are ready think about gear. The advice was that if you aren't making progress there is obviously a problem with your training, your nutrition or both. Nobody ever mentions having your hormones checked.

My experience has been that no matter what I did, it didn't matter. I now believe that i never would have made any progress without trt. I've been dieting and I'm down to a reasonably lean 194, I'm as strong as I've ever been and though it is a lot of work (the doctors I've been seeing have been of no real help at all) it's totally worth it.

Has anybody else been through this? Do you believe that with test levels in the range that mine were somebody could actually make real gains? What's your experience with low T been?

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

[kelkel]

Welcome to the forum!

And yes, plenty of guys here have been through what you have, unfortunately. Me personally, I went through a long period where I was losing weight no matter what i did and I've been a BB'er all my life, so I've got a solid grasp on training and nutrition. I finally ended up with a doctor who did the proper tests and discovered a small adenoma on my pituitary that shut down my T production. It was at a 59 and probably dropping when discovered. I've no clue how long I was functioning like that or whether the adenoma quickly suppressed me or if it was a slower degradation. To this day my GP says it the lowest level he's seen. At that point it was off to the races, making progress and getting back to a normal. Funny thing was I have no memory of feeling bad at that low level. Just not making gains. Libido was fine, everything.

That's my story, or a readers digest version anyway. Regarding AI usage. Do what you can to eliminate using them. Look at your numbers, particularly free T as that is what works for you. Total T is irrelevant really. If your E2 is really elevated, and I say really as if your doc is checking standard estradiol if tends to read higher in men as the test is not sensitive enough for the lower levels of estrogen in men. This can cause the unnecessary dosing of AI's when they're not really needed. The proper test is an E2 Sensitive Assay. Many doc's aren't aware of this. So, in otherwords dropping your dose a little can help and in most cases you don't feel a difference anyway.

All that said, E2 is always better a little higher than lower. Guys tend to have a better libido and feel better this way. Remember, estrogen is anabolic as well just like testosterone is.

Take a minute and read the sticky thread titled "Best Practices" as it can help you greatly!

[bbrsimon50]

I know I felt better with my e2 higher. It was quite a but out of range, but emotionally I felt great. Since lowering it I have noticed a drop in libido.
The problem was body acne. It was cystic and horrible all over my back and shoulders I had it for a few months after ending my first 350 mg/ week test only "blast". It wasn't getting better. I have wash clothes stained with blood. It was awful. Within a week of starting aromasin I stopped forming new spots and the cysts that were there started shrinking and it hasn't been a problem since. I will check out the sticky you noted. Thanks for your reply.

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk