Seeking advice about investigating testosterone therapy

[anderson.bos]

For body fat, Google "Body Fat Images". You will see pics that will allow you to approximate it. You can usually get pretty close. Or google " Body Pod Scan" and spend about $45 to have one done. It takea about 10 minutes and it is painless.

On the subject of body fat reduction, how might liposuction affect my energy/strength, etc? I'm talking about removing all the fat accumulation (years worth) on my midsection. Even when my weight is ideal, that accumulation of body fat is noticeable.

Again, I'm talking about liposection as a vanity thing. I'm inquiring about its potential affect on energy, strength, etc.

Thanks in advance.

 

[halfwit]

On the subject of body fat reduction, how might liposuction affect my energy/strength, etc? I'm talking about removing all the fat accumulation (years worth) on my midsection. Even when my weight is ideal, that accumulation of body fat is noticeable.

Again, I'm talking about liposection as a vanity thing. I'm inquiring about its potential affect on energy, strength, etc.

Thanks in advance.

Here is where I would start:

1. Take a really good look at your diet. If you're not sure, 3J (the residing nutritionist here) has a free diet advice thread in the diet forums. He's even available to hire, and has reasonable prices for his services.

2. Stop messing with doses on fat soluble vitamins. You can make yourself very sick and overdose on them. More is NOT always better.

3. Invest in a gym membership, and USE it. Start out with 30-45 minutes of moderate intensity cardio if you need to. The point is to get used to going, which will eventually pay off with more energy and you'll start to feel good.

4. Get a sleep study done. Being male and over 40, on top of being overweight puts you at risk for sleep apnea. This alone can pay in dividends if you have apnea and correct it.

5. Stick with exercise, nutrition, and getting a good night's sleep - if you don't feel better in 90 days, then I'd start looking into other options to assist you. Seeking a magic fix will possibly give temporary results - but you want a lifestyle CHANGE that will be with you until you are 6' deep.

That's what I recommend, and truly feel will be of the greatest benefit to you. Whether or not you take this advice is wholly up to you.

 

[Megatron28]

Here is where I would start:

1. Take a really good look at your diet. If you're not sure, 3J (the residing nutritionist here) has a free diet advice thread in the diet forums. He's even available to hire, and has reasonable prices for his services.

2. Stop messing with doses on fat soluble vitamins. You can make yourself very sick and overdose on them. More is NOT always better.

3. Invest in a gym membership, and USE it. Start out with 30-45 minutes of moderate intensity cardio if you need to. The point is to get used to going, which will eventually pay off with more energy and you'll start to feel good.

4. Get a sleep study done. Being male and over 40, on top of being overweight puts you at risk for sleep apnea. This alone can pay in dividends if you have apnea and correct it.

5. Stick with exercise, nutrition, and getting a good night's sleep - if you don't feel better in 90 days, then I'd start looking into other options to assist you. Seeking a magic fix will possibly give temporary results - but you want a lifestyle CHANGE that will be with you until you are 6' deep.

That's what I recommend, and truly feel will be of the greatest benefit to you. Whether or not you take this advice is wholly up to you.

Perfect advice. Please listen to Halfwit.

 

[anderson.bos]

Here is where I would start:

1. Take a really good look at your diet. If you're not sure, 3J (the residing nutritionist here) has a free diet advice thread in the diet forums. He's even available to hire, and has reasonable prices for his services.

2. Stop messing with doses on fat soluble vitamins. You can make yourself very sick and overdose on them. More is NOT always better.

3. Invest in a gym membership, and USE it. Start out with 30-45 minutes of moderate intensity cardio if you need to. The point is to get used to going, which will eventually pay off with more energy and you'll start to feel good.

4. Get a sleep study done. Being male and over 40, on top of being overweight puts you at risk for sleep apnea. This alone can pay in dividends if you have apnea and correct it.

5. Stick with exercise, nutrition, and getting a good night's sleep - if you don't feel better in 90 days, then I'd start looking into other options to assist you. Seeking a magic fix will possibly give temporary results - but you want a lifestyle CHANGE that will be with you until you are 6' deep.

That's what I recommend, and truly feel will be of the greatest benefit to you. Whether or not you take this advice is wholly up to you.

Yesterday, after five or six days of vastly increased vitamin D increases -- I felt massive dry mouth and fatigue. Slept half the day. Today I'm dropping back to 1000 iu.

As for sleep studies, that's all been done. Years ago, before I lost a lot of weight, I had sleep apnea. Since losing weight, the apnea has disappeared. My sleep is still poor, but no snoring or apnea. I've consulted with several sleep in the past year, but they've proven useless. They have nothing more to offer.

I'm not joining a gym or getting involved in exercise until I feel stronger.

Let me ask this question. It is a fact that lots of guys with normal testosterone levels do get stronger and more energetic from self-administered testosterone cypionate injections. These guys are usually bodybuilders, weightlifters, or athletes seeking a competitive edge. The T injections work for them. Why -- and how --- are these injections making them stronger? Are these guys going for testosterone levels that are 1.5, 2, or several times the normal level?

I ask only because you've already told me that T injections to boost my levels from 695 to 1100 won't make me feel better.

 

[Megatron28]

I'm not joining a gym or getting involved in exercise until I feel stronger.

Let me ask this question. It is a fact that lots of guys with normal testosterone levels do get stronger and more energetic from self-administered testosterone cypionate injections. These guys are usually bodybuilders, weightlifters, or athletes seeking a competitive edge. The T injections work for them. Why -- and how --- are these injections making them stronger? Are these guys going for testosterone levels that are 1.5, 2, or several times the normal level?

I ask only because you've already told me that T injections to boost my levels from 695 to 1100 won't make me feel better.

There is a chicken-egg situation going on here. Going to the gym to exercise might help you feel stronger.

Yes, many athletes put their testosterone at supraphysiological levels by using AAS. But the key thing you are missing is that they don't have any of your symptoms prior to using AAS. They are healthy to begin with. They are elite athletes to begin with. They didn't get there by taking a magic pill. As the old saying goes, steroids don't make it so can hit a 90 mph fastball. Steroid won't teach you how to take a slap shot.

 

[halfwit]

Yesterday, after five or six days of vastly increased vitamin D increases -- I felt massive dry mouth and fatigue. Slept half the day. Today I'm dropping back to 1000 iu.

As for sleep studies, that's all been done. Years ago, before I lost a lot of weight, I had sleep apnea. Since losing weight, the apnea has disappeared. My sleep is still poor, but no snoring or apnea. I've consulted with several sleep in the past year, but they've proven useless. They have nothing more to offer.

I'm not joining a gym or getting involved in exercise until I feel stronger.

Let me ask this question. It is a fact that lots of guys with normal testosterone levels do get stronger and more energetic from self-administered testosterone cypionate injections. These guys are usually bodybuilders, weightlifters, or athletes seeking a competitive edge. The T injections work for them. Why -- and how --- are these injections making them stronger? Are these guys going for testosterone levels that are 1.5, 2, or several times the normal level?

I ask only because you've already told me that T injections to boost my levels from 695 to 1100 won't make me feel better.

To expand on what Tron stated, I'm going to give some personal insight as to why your chicken before the egg strategy will not work.

About 6 years ago I had the energy to get out of bed, throw a robe on, plop myself in front of the computer, and play MMORPG games until I could no longer keep my eyes open. I had been living this way, sliding by for years, with no interest at all with the world around me. Depression, anxiety, fatigue, and bouts of anger were what I faced when I had to venture outside my door.

When I found out that my wife became pregnant, I decided to make a change to go back to the athlete I once had been. I fought tooth and nail, clawing my way to the gym every day. I fought back tears (sometimes unsuccessfully) when the weight on the bar would refuse to move, even when my mind commanded my muscles to make it do so. I struggled for a full year, seeing almost zero results no matter how much I FORCED myself to be there - knowing that SOMETHING was wrong with me.

I had tried antidepressants, anti-anxiety meds, benzos, test "boosters", stimulants, radical diet changes, counseling, you name it - I tried it. I finally decided to research the hell out of hormone causes for how I felt. My doctor reluctantly pulled a panel, and sure enough, I had the hormone profile of a 14 year old girl. (120ng/dL total testosterone, 51pg/mL estradiol)

Why do I share this story? Because you have FIVE TIMES my natural testosterone levels, and are complaining about not going to the gym. I was 500lbs and on a pharmacy's stockpile of meds, yet I dragged my fat ass to the gym every single day. I made no excuses, and just wanted to be better.

That sir, is what hormone replacement is for. I have spent the last 6 years transforming my body and mind into the vision that I have burned into my psyche, and now that I have the proper tools (the testosterone level of a man), I have made tremendous progress.

Do I push the envelope with other hormones and supraphysiological doses of testosterone? Yes, I do at this point. However, it would be a complete WASTE of time and money if I didn't have that drive and intensity that has remained since I first struggled with pushing that damn bar with 120lbs on it, that simply would not budge. If you don't have that drive to actually want to fix things, you will go nowhere fast.

When people that have witnessed my change ask me how I can continue to push so hard, I simply tell them that I just want it THAT bad. There's a fire inside me, burning white-hot - that won't let me ease down, or stop pushing myself to the limits of what my body can do. It's also why I have little sympathy for folks that want instant results, and aren't willing to work for what they desire. NOTHING in life worth doing comes easy, absolutely nothing. I promise you this.

So my question for you is: How bad do YOU want it?

 

[flyboy9994]

Holy shit halfwit... 500 lbs?

I thought I had it bad. I'm just starting on my journey to loose 100 lbs. You sir are a huge motivation. Thanks!

 

[Megatron28]

I hope Halfwit doesn't mind that I share this, but he has swapped weighing 500 lbs for benching 500+ lbs.

Anderson: there may be something physically and/or mentally wrong with you that is holding you back and causing your symptoms. But Testosterone levels is not it. Determine what really is the problem will help you. Learn from Halfwit's experience in that he left no stone overturned to figure out why he was suffering.

 

[anderson.bos]

So my question for you is: How bad do YOU want it?

All this other stuff (that you mention) has already been investigated and is not an issue, or is not helpful. I want to take a serious look at other things now, and need to educate myself first.

 

[Megatron28]

All this other stuff (that you mention) has already been investigated and is not an issue, or is not helpful. I want to take a serious look at other things now, and need to educate myself first.

So if you have investigated all the possible physical causes -- although I am not convinced you have -- that leaves mental. Perhaps working with a good psychologist would prove beneficial. If your mind isn't right, that can be just as debilitating as any physical ailment.

 

[halfwit]

All this other stuff (that you mention) has already been investigated and is not an issue, or is not helpful. I want to take a serious look at other things now, and need to educate myself first.

Educating yourself is a good first step, and you're in a good place to do that. My entire point of my sob story is that if you don't already have that determination in place to change things, injecting yourself with drugs won't help.

You asked a question earlier about why bodybuilders somehow have this extra energy from cycling. I want you to understand that they aren't getting this from the hormones, they ALREADY had that passion going, AAS just simply is used as a tool to help them achieve their goals. We're not trying to hoard all the secrets of the universe here, and keep them from you - it REALLY is THAT simple.

If you have some rare disease or imbalance, I understand more than most what it's like to overcome that. However, if you are correlating (incorrectly) that folks taking PEDs are magically healthy and productive, I assure you that you are incorrect.

The only hormone imbalance that I can think of that even comes close is hypothyroidism combined with adrenal insufficiency. If you've already investigated that, then I agree with Tron - and perhaps a psychological evaluation may bear fruit.

 

[anderson.bos]

Educating yourself is a good first step, and you're in a good place to do that. My entire point of my sob story is that if you don't already have that determination in place to change things, injecting yourself with drugs won't help.

You asked a question earlier about why bodybuilders somehow have this extra energy from cycling. I want you to understand that they aren't getting this from the hormones, they ALREADY had that passion going, AAS just simply is used as a tool to help them achieve their goals. We're not trying to hoard all the secrets of the universe here, and keep them from you - it REALLY is THAT simple.

If you have some rare disease or imbalance, I understand more than most what it's like to overcome that. However, if you are correlating (incorrectly) that folks taking PEDs are magically healthy and productive, I assure you that you are incorrect.

The only hormone imbalance that I can think of that even comes close is hypothyroidism combined with adrenal insufficiency. If you've already investigated that, then I agree with Tron - and perhaps a psychological evaluation may bear fruit.

I respectfully disagree. I have experience in sports writing, and I have lots of reliable info about how testosterone injections can indeed boost energy and promote success at the gym, running, athletic endeavors, etc. There is no doubt about this.

My only question is whether it's worth the risks for me to indulge such a thing as well. I know myself, and I'm certain I'd get a boost from steroids. But again, that reality doesn't mean that the steroids/T boosters are worth taking.

 

[Megatron28]

You can't even bring yourself of exercise or jog a mile. Steroids are not a magic pill. They are not going to do the work for you. They enhance your performance; but there has to be a certain baseline level of performance to begin with.

Let's look at your current natural testosterone level of ~700. That is above average. Therefore, according to your logic, you should already have above average vitality, energy and success in the gym. Why isn't it translating like your theory would predict? Somehow doubling your testosterone levels will put you over the tipping point?