Few Questions on Testosterone therapy

[username1]

I'm considering testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) and wondering if I'm making the right decision.

I'm about to turn 31 next month and lately I've started working out regularly, lifting 3x a week and running/walking on treadmill on off-days. I feel like I'm going to be limited to how much I can gain naturally since I'm pretty weak, I can only bench 2x 8 sets of 60 lbs. and then I can't do anymore. I weigh 175 lbs. and 5'11

I also think it's in my genes and that I'm probably testosterone deficient, as my parents are indian decent and we're not known for our muscularity or anything.

So, at first I was looking into HGH but, after researching it seems that it's too expensive (I'm going to go through anti-aging clinic), though I was still considering it but, it seems everybody agrees that it takes too long to see effects from HGH you have to be on it for about 6 months it seems and you don't gain as much muscle.

So, I'm thinking I should get testoserone instead, do you think this would be the right thing based on what I've stated?

I had posted in the wrong part of the forum before and another user mentioned that they won't prescribe a high enough dose for 'massive gains' but, I'm not actually interested in being 'massive' i want to be able to build muscle, and lift/bench decent weight instead of the girly levels i'm at now. i also don't want to be massive as i don't want people around me to think i'm on something.

will i be able to get enough dosage to meet my goals as stated above?

As stated I'm going to go through a clinic and find out if I have a testosterone deficiancy and try to get them to prescribe it to me. I don't want to order anything illegaly, can't get into details even though I'm aware of the chances etc. but, when I was younger I've had issues getting in trouble with other substances so I don't want to risk anything.

A couple questions/concerns I had,

if I can only lift as much as I stated and pretty weak, will i just get fat or gain water weight? I've heard like from people that take steroids if you don't work out enough you can gain water weight? not sure if this is a myth or fact, I'll need to research it. i will work out regularly as i stated i've already started and will stick to it, i have a beginners work out routine I do which gets me tired and I have a home gym with so I can do 4-5 different weight lifting exercises.

Also, Im' already pretty hairy as it is, as many indians or middle eastern people are. If I take testosterone, will I get even more hairy? I don't like all the hair I have as it is, don't want to get even more. I'm kind of worried that I'll end up looking like a freak or something lol if I start on testosterone.

I guess that's about it, if anybody has any other pointers or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Vigilante]

Where to start with all these questions lol.

Firstly, do you have symptoms of Low T other than not being able to gain muscle or feel weak?

Sexual symptoms? - no morning errections? poor sex? premature? cant get it up?

Low mood? Depression?

Fatigue or tiredness?

Sleep problems?

Brain fog?

Low Concentration?

No Drive?

if you have any number of that lot then yeah go get some blood work done for:

Total Testosterone
LH
FSH
Prolactin
E2
TSH

If its low end of the scale or under the scale at your age then you are indeed deficient in T (hypogonadism)

Treatment Dosage is enough to get you into normal range for your age group not more.

Hair growth is Andro-genetic, meaning Testosterone does play its part but so does genetics, if you have the hair follicles then Testosterone might influence more growth over a period of time ie a woman changing sex will develop a beard over a period of 12 months +

about your training you say you do 2 sets of 8 reps?, I would alter that too and do 1 warmup set of 15 reps with a very low weight then aim for 3 sets of 8-16 reps making sure you fail in that. The fail is the most important part here. then each week just push yourself to do 1 more rep between those sets, you might even find you can do 2 or 3 more reps between those 3 sets each week. soon as you get to 3 sets of 16 reps then add more weight.

Dont get me wrong strength gain is damn hard with Low T but not impossible, I couldnt even do a single pushup this time last year with Low T, before I started treatment 3 months ago I was at around 30 pushups.

Nothing is impossible.

ps for training tips check out scoobysworkshop at google and his vids on youtube, he gives some great advice.

 

[cjw2021]

Just get labs before you start asking qs like will testosterone increase the size of my pinky toe. Without labs you are just spinning circles. Even when my test levels were in the gutter I could still bench more than 60 lbs. That is pretty shocking to me. Obviously something is probably up which is why you need to be medically evaluated. If you are that weak you could be deficient on multiple hormones or have other issues.

On a typical testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) regimen in the average person water retention isn't really an issue as long as estrogen levels are kept in check.

 

[Misc]

yeah get bloodowork...

besides just not putting on muscle is there any other symptoms of low T? depressed? insomnia? frequent mood swings? trouble concentrating? ed?

ive had all those i just listed.

 

[username1]

Thanks for the replies.

Yeah, I have most all of those symptoms. morning erections sometimes is the only time that i actually do get an errection and that's only if I have to piss and i researched it since i was wondering what the issue was in normal waking hours even if i try to get hard it's still not a full hard-on it still pretty flacid . so i found out that having piss in your bladder can get you an erection in the morning.

pre-mature ejac? is that what you meant? if so, definately like 10 seconds probably lol

insomnia - yeah i recently got on lunesta for sleeping. or else i can only get a decent nights rest every 48 hours. even on lunesta sometimes i cant sleep until like 4am, like last night.

tired - yes all the time, exercising is the only thing that gets my blood pumping but, shortly after then i'm back to being tired. it makes it difficult for me to do even simple tasks like reading a thread or anything that requires energy i can feel myself being drained or trying to concentrate, making simple mistakes like the other day i was completing my mom's social security paperwork and my dad noticed i put in his wrong year, i make these kinds of mistakes all the time since my lack of concentration makes it difficult to pay attention. brain fog also plays a part, i definately notice this.

no drive - yes whenever things aren't going right, i feel hopeless not motivated.

i used to be really depressed but, that's the only thing i'm starting to get in control and the only reason is since i've found an interest in business and spending all my time with that or else i would be back to being depressed all the time.

as for the training i thought that lower reps and higher weight equals how you gain strength and more reps and less weight is for endurance or something else? i was told to do 2x10-15 of benchpress but, at 60 lbs. i fail at 2x8. I can do 2x10 if I decrease it to 50 lbs.

I'm going to go in for the consultation tomorrow, I'll see what happens after the lab work.

 

[DJ77]

Username1, along with the blood test get a physical at the same time. Have your dr fill out the physical exam form off of Maximushrt's website.... Chip and his crew are the best at TRT. That way if you do have Low-T you won't have to go back to get it filled out later.

Dont do like the rest of us and waste tons of cash/time with family docs and anti-aging clinics.

 

[Vigilante]

Thanks for the replies.

Yeah, I have most all of those symptoms. morning erections sometimes is the only time that i actually do get an errection and that's only if I have to piss and i researched it since i was wondering what the issue was in normal waking hours even if i try to get hard it's still not a full hard-on it still pretty flacid . so i found out that having piss in your bladder can get you an erection in the morning.

pre-mature ejac? is that what you meant? if so, definately like 10 seconds probably lol

insomnia - yeah i recently got on lunesta for sleeping. or else i can only get a decent nights rest every 48 hours. even on lunesta sometimes i cant sleep until like 4am, like last night.

tired - yes all the time, exercising is the only thing that gets my blood pumping but, shortly after then i'm back to being tired. it makes it difficult for me to do even simple tasks like reading a thread or anything that requires energy i can feel myself being drained or trying to concentrate, making simple mistakes like the other day i was completing my mom's social security paperwork and my dad noticed i put in his wrong year, i make these kinds of mistakes all the time since my lack of concentration makes it difficult to pay attention. brain fog also plays a part, i definately notice this.

no drive - yes whenever things aren't going right, i feel hopeless not motivated.

i used to be really depressed but, that's the only thing i'm starting to get in control and the only reason is since i've found an interest in business and spending all my time with that or else i would be back to being depressed all the time.

as for the training i thought that lower reps and higher weight equals how you gain strength and more reps and less weight is for endurance or something else? i was told to do 2x10-15 of benchpress but, at 60 lbs. i fail at 2x8. I can do 2x10 if I decrease it to 50 lbs.

I'm going to go in for the consultation tomorrow, I'll see what happens after the lab work.

sounds like you do have low T yeah so next step is get the bloods and show us here as well.

About the reps, low reps does indeed produce more strength gains but reps within 8-16 produces more hypertrophy.

Can you do pressups? I would also do incline/decline/flat presses until you fail each time. a few sets of each and make sure you do fail...physically shaking unable to press yourself up anymore to save your life. They will help your bench press.

 

[username1]

Username1, along with the blood test get a physical at the same time. Have your dr fill out the physical exam form off of Maximushrt's website.... Chip and his crew are the best at TRT. That way if you do have Low-T you won't have to go back to get it filled out later.

Dont do like the rest of us and waste tons of cash/time with family docs and anti-aging clinics.

ah ok, so is this kind of like doing it online? i send them my reports and they do an evaluation and prescribe the meds to me if i have low-t?

what's the difference between going through them and a clinic? i've never injected myself and i'm kind of creeped out by needles, i can take a shot but, doing it myself i dont know. i think my clinic said everything including meds and visits is about 200-300 a month which i don't think is bad especially if they would do the shots, i didn't confirm it though.

is there any specific reason i shouldn't go through the clinic? will chip and them (i'm assuming this is maximumhrt? prescribe 'good' doses eventually/gradually to get the results i need if i'm not satisfied, or do they do the same and will prescribe only up to the average?

thanks

 

[Motiv8ed]

MaximusHRT will prescribe based on how you feel, not just by getting you anywhere into the "Normal Range". Some of your levels may need to be in high end of normal while others may need to be at the low end. Every person responds differently. Hence, their Docs treat you based on how you feel.

The tests levels are used as a reference point only. Once they get you dialed in and your feeling good, you have your blood tests done again. The results will tell you and the Doc where you need to be in order to feel good. If you start feeling poorly down the road, you run your labs again and see what has fallen out of YOUR normal levels.

 

[username1]

ok it sounds like i should really go through maximushrt. i guess i should call them, since i'm kind of confused on one part, do i go to any general doc and then have them fill out his reports and send it to him and they probably have another questionnaire from me and prescribe based on that?

i clicked on one of the links that said "click here to order your blood work" didn't understand that either. i'm going to be doing this online right? not going in? so wasn't sure how I was going to get that test done

i'll try to call them tomorrow to get the details.

 

[Tide14]

@username1 - get any doc to fill out the medical questionnaire an send it to Chip, once you follow the link for bloodwork and pay you'll get an email within about 24 hours that has the orders for your bloodwork. Take that form to any labcorp and they'll pull your blood and send the results to Chip. He'll discuss it with the docs and he'll give you a call.

 

[methos]

Then of course it helps to know your diet. Curious what you eat and how often. The timing of foods and such can have a dramatic effect on how you feel.

Also, you can even go to the local clinics inside CVS pharmacies or Walgreens for the physical. Go early and you can get right in.

 

[username1]

Thanks for the help, I wasn't expecting this much help I thought I might get flamed actually since i'm new here. I should have searched on the forum about chip before asking those questions as I did after i made the post and now I see why you guys are recommending him and last night I completed the questionnaire online and he has a post which explains the entire process etc. now I need to put my bloodwork in. I had an apppointment today actually in a few hours with the anti-aging clinic i was going to go through but, I'm going to skip it since it's pointless. I don't want to go through them if it's just going to be a waste of money and it's not going to achieve my personal goals and they are just going to off the books.

I just made a change in my diet recently a few weeks ago once I started working out regularly. I used to not eat health and i used to drink a lot of alcohol like a 6 pack a night of beer and junk food / eating out 2-3 times a day, usually no breakfast since I get busy with work in the mornings. Sometimes just eat once a day, eat in the middle of the day then drink in the evenings and either eat left overs from lunch or eat right before I sleep, since I used to like eating while drunk. I started drinking because of insomnia but, i started realizing that if i continue drinking this much it's going to have worst effects on me and i have to cut it out to get in shape and i have a beer belly.

since oct. 7th somebody recommended some sleeping pills that actually work, lunesta, i've tried everything else and nothing has worked except for this. so now i dont need alcohol to sleep but, i still have about 1 to less than 2 drinks a night. it's a mixed drink with just water, vodka and lemon juice, no more beer because of the carbs. i've heard people that try to get in shape say to cut out beer completely.

since oct. 7th i've been working out regularly, and as for my diet i changed that i don't fast food regularly only ocassionaly like once or twice a week and i try to get something healthy, i checked the menus / nutrition info, i'm trying to keep my carbs low and sugar low, (i might possibly have an issue with high blood sugar so i have to watch the carbs and my mom is diabetic and since it runs in the family i have to watch my sugar).

at home, i'm juicing 3 times a day, got a high end juicer, i juice all vegetables a lot of greens. i'll have one in the morning with a protein shake, around 11am when i wake, then either fiber one cereal or egg whites (equivelent of 2 or 3 eggs). for lunch usually around 2pm or sometimes 3pm i'll have tuna or chicken salad, or turkey, roastbeef sandwhich wrapped in lettuce, no bread for the carbs reason or very occasionally and only whole weat or multi-grain.

for snacks between lunch and dinner, around 4pm i'll probably have beef jerky or wheat crackers maybe a granola bar. around 4:30-5:30pm i'll exercise and juice vegatables for a juice right before exercising then a protein shake right after. for dinner around 7pm almost every night i've been eating fish, either salmon or tilapia the other day i got a bunch of different types of fish for variety, if it's not fish, it'll be baked chicken breast or turkey burgers, i only bake but, i grill if it's a turkey burger or steak, and then have more vegetables with it, lettuce and carrots, and/or celery then juice again for another vegetable juice. i don't eat before i sleep anymore, after dinner i'll have an alcohol mixed drink or two (less than 2 for sure) and then sleep by midnight.

i dont know if i'm eating enough for strength building but, i know a little bit about eating nutritious since i've tried in the past to go on diets and eat healthy but, never stuck with it but, this time i feel like i will, i'm getting older and realizing that i need to be healthy.

i like to eat steaks but, i've only had one since i started the diet should I eat more for the protein? should i have one, once a day? any other suggestions? as mentioned i have to watch my carbs because of blood sugar, is it going to be difficult to gain strength without carbs?

 

[EnhancedAthlete]

Just noticed your post, at first glance I thought it was a college entrance essay or a term paper. You need to up your protein intake to at least a gram per pound of bodyweight and chronically undereating will damage you in the long run and effect your metabolism. How about eating some egg whites, toast and oatmeal in the morning as opposed to skipping meals? Juicing is good but for 2-3 days as a cleanse or to detoxify once in a while. You need to start eating properly and consistency with food is key.

 

[DuRsT]

Not to discourage you from pursuing testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), but I would check in with 3J on your diet as well.

 

[TR2838]

Stop Drinking

Not to discourage you from pursuing testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), but I would check in with 3J on your diet as well.

^^Agreed.. Ditch the alcohol all together and sign up w/ 3J to get your diet in order.. It's not relly possible to know if your symptoms are from low T or a continuous mild hang over. I think you should give yourself a chance before jumping on TRT.. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) will do nothing for you if you continue the way you are going.
Good luck

 

[3J]

yea alcohol will suppress test levels... your food/liquid intake is probably horrible.. why drink so much??

you cants do the alcohol and get where you wanna go..

if you wanna become a client hit me up at 3jdiet@gmail.com

we will start you on a basic package.. and slowly make lifestyle changes... getting your shit together doesnt happen overnight... but taking the first step happens in an instance

 

[username1]

well i dont drink that much anymore, it's less than 2 a night is that still too much? i mentioned that i started drinking that much because of insomnia i can only sleep every 48 hrs. but after i got on lunesta (sleeping pills) i'm able to sleep so i have less than 2 a night now it's about 1.5 and i changed my diet as i mentioned oct. 7th, so i'm not skipping meals anymore, i'll juice and also eat egg whites or fiber one cereal for breakfast. maybe i posted too much and ya'll didn't see that part? or you did and i'm still on the wrong path? if so, then i'll hold off on the testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) until my nutrition is in order.

i thought i was eating healthy now, no fast food, and only baking fish, doesn't that have protein? and eating vegetables, and trying to get fiber, cutting out carbs, etc.

also i think i am getting about my bodyweight of protein since each protein drink has 60 g. protein and i have 2 a day, and i weigh 175 and that's not including meals each fish i think has about 20, so i'm almost there but, i'll start drinking 3 a day so that way I'm getting more protein than my bodyweight not including meals.

3j, i'll contact you to talk about nutrition shortly

 

[Motiv8ed]

Assume an alcoholic drink is a jelly filled glazed donut. How many of those could you eat in a day and still consider your diet to be healthy?

 

[TR2838]

well i dont drink that much anymore, it's less than 2 a night is that still too much? i mentioned that i started drinking that much because of insomnia i can only sleep every 48 hrs. but after i got on lunesta (sleeping pills) i'm able to sleep so i have less than 2 a night now it's about 1.5 and i changed my diet as i mentioned oct. 7th, so i'm not skipping meals anymore, i'll juice and also eat egg whites or fiber one cereal for breakfast. maybe i posted too much and ya'll didn't see that part? or you did and i'm still on the wrong path? if so, then i'll hold off on the testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) until my nutrition is in order.

i thought i was eating healthy now, no fast food, and only baking fish, doesn't that have protein? and eating vegetables, and trying to get fiber, cutting out carbs, etc.

also i think i am getting about my bodyweight of protein since each protein drink has 60 g. protein and i have 2 a day, and i weigh 175 and that's not including meals each fish i think has about 20, so i'm almost there but, i'll start drinking 3 a day so that way I'm getting more protein than my bodyweight not including meals.

3j, i'll contact you to talk about nutrition shortly

I didn't miss the part that you said that you cut down to 2 drinks.. Cut it out all together is my suggestion.. I'm really not trying to be rude, but, you led an alcoholic lifestyle for a long time and it'll take time for your body to recoup. If you're drinking still, it's not going to recoup
Your diet is still not good.. Post your diet in the diet section to get some good feedback.. Maybe ask them not to flame you because some of them can be quite blunt. You're in the right place.. We're all learning.. Everyone starts somewhere!

I took all the guess work out of it and had 3J formulate a diet to my specific needs. He gives you exactly what to eat, when, and how much for each meal.