Advice for 33 y/o male after rapid weight loss.

[Timotheus]

Stats 6'3" 215 pounds, probably 18% body fat? Need testing. 701 total testosterone 6 months ago, 664 today.

I recently lost about 225 pounds in just over a year without surgery or supplements and I've been lifting pretty consistently at what was originally my goal weight for about 15 months now.

I did Starting Strength for about 9 months, then moved on to PHAT and I've dabbled with different forms of programming, but I have stayed pretty consistently around the Big 3 lifts. I've had some muscle gains, but nothing to write home about. My lifts have really stagnated and I have retained the last bit of body fat around my mid section despite eating ridiculously clean. I literally have not had sugar or white carbs for 2.5 years now. I eat very clean, mostly lower fat paleo and I work out 5-6 times a week and stay active.

I had my Testosterone tested about 6 months ago after I read an article that rapid weight loss led to Testosterone dips and I was at 701 total testosterone. I got tested last week and was at 664. I know the difference is negligible, but I kind of hoped it would go up. I was even just getting through a cycle of DAA and I've been taking DHEA if that crap even works.

Should I seek testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)? My doc doesn't think I'm low enough but considering how much I work out, shouldn't I be higher?

Would I benefit from a cycle instead? If my diet is clean, should I consider clen to help me cut these last few pounds? I want to get stronger but I don't want to do anything too too crazy.

Sex drive is good, and I have the occasional mood dips but nothing to write home about. I'd love some input.

Thanks!

 

[halfwit]

First off, congratulations on the weight loss! That's quite an accomplishment in itself.

With that said however, 664 is nowhere near needing testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), and in fact is really pretty good for your age. For example, I was at 120ng/dl at the time I was put on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and would have KILLED to have your natural levels! With that said, I would look at two things:
1) Is your diet now consistent with your new weight? There's a pretty big difference between the dietary requirements of a person at 45% body fat and one at 18% body fat. It might be worth it to get in contact with 3J over at the diet section of the forum and see what he thinks. I know I've personally learned quite a bit from him, and feel that the biggest challenge with losing weight is KEEPING it OFF.
2) A lot of the time our bodies can become accustomed to patterns of stress, and eventually it is able to pretty much ignore it. In this case, the stress would be whatever workout plan you have going. It would probably be in your best interest to change things up a bit and see how that goes. If after a few weeks of a new routine you don't feel that you're breaking that plateau with a great diet in place, THEN I would start up a thread in the AAS section talking about cycles. (It's frowned upon talking cycles in the testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) section.)

Clen is hit or miss with people. You either love the benefits of it, or simply hate the jitters and feel no benefit from the drug. Again, this is more in the territory of the AAS section, but I can tell you here that you'll benefit more from a proper diet/exercise plan than clenbuterol alone.

My .02c

 

[Timotheus]

Thanks!

 

[willnorthwest]

Timotheus......congratulations on your weight loss! I tend to agree with halfwit on this. I think your t score is definitely in the healthy range, and that a true testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) program would not be necessary for you at this point in your life. Im only 33, and my t level was at 218! Now that I am on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), my score is around 700, which is what you are at naturally. I think there are other forums on this site that would be much more beneficial for you. Good luck to you, and I hope everything works out well for ya!

 

[a1951chevy]

Bravo on the weight loss truly amazing!