TRT is not something that I purposely chose, rather it chose me. I thought it was a fun topic to read about butI didnt expect to take it seriously until at least my mid-30s. Life often has a different way of throwing us curveballs. Thankfully my lifes curveballexposed me to the amazing benefits of testosterone replacement therapy
Due to much online research and stumbling onto the writings of Jay Campbell,I received a male hormone panelblood test and it shockinglyrevealed I had low testosterone. 29 years old and sitting there with the blood levels of a geriatric. What am I going to do?
Looking back, I now know I had symptoms of low Testosterone for a couple years proceeding the test, but I took them for granted. I never even contemplated the possibility of low T in my 20s. Who at that age really does?
Sadly, I believe this affliction affects many more men just like me. Men who are suffering in silence because they either refuse to get checked or even worse, are evaluated by a Physician unaware to even check for Testosterone Deficiency. (TD)
So now at the age of 29, after a ton of research, interviewing multiple Doctors and even more back and forth personal deliberation (likely brought on by my low T), I decided to bite the bullet and choose a physician managedTRT protocol.
Its important I tell everyone reading this, I spent hours pouring throughJays The Definitive TRT MANual(IMO, it is hands down the best book written about this very complex topic). I also spend a couple weeks reading various Excel Male Forumuser experiences on TRT.
All of this information allowed me tofeel informed enough to start down the path of TRT. Ultimately, no amount of reading can prepare you for the real life experienceof supplementalTestosterone coursing thru your body.
After a couple of months of working with my Doctor, here are the 11 most noticeable benefits of Testosterone Replacement Therapy:
I am a firm believer that your mood is the result of your thinking. However, when your hormones are out of whack, you dont realize how much effect it has on your thoughts, as mind and body are truly one.
Before TRT, my moods were lower and subject to change, I remember having slumps, feeling down for days on end and I could never understand why I had no desire to work out.
Now I feel much more on it. Its difficult to describe, but I feel as though my energy is more aligned. I still experience the ups and downs of life, but they are rare and Im overall superpositive. Testosterone just gives you that YEAH, I GOT THIS feeling.
Over time I noticed my interest in sex gradually diminished and I would feel ambiguous toward it. Thinking back on it, it seemspathetic a virile man in his late 20s had a declining desire for SEX. Yikes.
Libido is one of the hallmarks of youth, and when its diminished you definitely notice the effect it has on your energy and vigor.
Libido can be a complex issue and is not necessarily solved by testosterone alone. In my case, TRT improved my libido to a level higher than I had experienced previously.Its pretty cool to see somerecently released studies validating my own experience.
In the year prior to TRT, I became disillusioned with my training in the gym. I struggled tremendously to even put on a small amount of muscle.
I analyzed every aspect of my diet and training, I questioned myself: maybe I wasnt training hard enough? Maybe my diet wasnt that good after all? Im no Mike Mentzer, but I thought my efforts merited a little more than I was getting. I figured because I had been training a few years that I had maxed out my genetic potential and couldnt grow any more.
After undergoing TRT, its clear that mylow T stalled my progress. Now I train with greater intensity and I have an unparalleled sense of urgencyto kick ass during my workout. I have fewer off days and the majority of my workoutsI feel stronger with more stamina.
Testosterone due to its affinity for the bodys androgen receptors allows you to increase lean mass, so you can reasonably expect to gain muscle while on TRT. However, this doesnt happen by virtue of T alone. As the body is quite happy with the way things are, you have to put in the work if you want it to change. This means you need to eat above maintenanceclean carbsand understand what your daily protein requirements are.
So far, Ive gained around 10lbs while on TRT, but none of it came without busting my balls in the gym. While much of it is lean mass, I have no doubt some is water weight due to Testosterones ability to enhanceglycogen storage capacity.All in all, Im pleased with the results.
There is no doubt that lower levels of testosterone lead to hesitancy and doubt. In the past I would second guess myself a lot. These days I feel more assertive and confident in my choices, instead of being paralyzed with indecision.
Thats not to say youre going to turn into a Drill Sergeant overnight, optimal levels of testosterone just give greater clarity to your thinking and allow you to cut through the bullshit.
In the past if I had a heavy training day, particularly legs, I might be sore for several days. I still get muscle soreness (DOMS) after workouts, but its nowhere near what it was previous to using TRT.I also recover much quicker. In fact, I believe one of the unsung positive attributes regarding TRT is the ability to speed healing especially withsoft tissue injuries.
Interventional endocrinology is not an exact science and its constantly evolving. Every case is unique to the individual. In the beginning, you need to get your blood work CHEKDand then maintain ongoing follow up labs at 4-6 weeksto understandhow your body is respondingto treatment.
My Doctor and I carefully observed how I felt and we comparednotes, He also had me experiment with different injection frequencies. I eventually found my sweet-spot and can say I feel better toward the higher end of the optimal range of total testosterone levels(1100-1400). Other men (based on my reading) doperfectly fine at 600-800 total Testosterone ng/dl for example.
You must be patient and give your body time to become hormonally balanced betweentestosterone and estrogen.Every man is biochemically unique and what works for some may not work for others. Its also why working with a progressive physician expert at balancing endocrine systems is crucial.
I read a lot on Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) before I began and talked with a number of guys who were veteran users. I alsosought out a well respected doctor who was supportive of my treatment. Because of these reasons, Ive had minimal side effects.
Of course there are side effects, as with any drug you put in your body, but they can be minimized if not eliminated in many cases.
The only noticeable side effect Ive suffered is some back acne while on TRT. This is due to higher DHT levels, as DHT increases production of oil in the sebaceous glands. This wont happen to everyone and has not been a major issue for me.
As a side note, I have not suffered hair loss. I believe Im not genetically predisposed to hair loss, so this is likely why. Even if I was, it wouldnt stop me from experiencing the benefits ofTRT. For me the choice is simple Id rather lead a quality life full of passion, energy and maximum effort than worry about losing my hair.
Estradiol
Before starting TRT, one of my main concerns were the side-effects of too much estradiol, also known as E2. I think guys are paranoid about this subject in particular, after all the side-effects of high E2 arent so desirable; bloating, water retention and mood swings.
The truth is, if you take a clinical dose of TRT and inject in the right frequency for you, high estradiol is rarelya concern. Whats more, estradiol plays an important role in libido and other bodily processes, so messing with it may have unwanted consequences.
Personally, I feel just fine with my E2 toward the higher end of the range and have no side effects. Anecdotally, some guys take aromatase inhibitors (AIs) when there is no clinicalneed due to their Doctorsbeing overly concerned about E2. Often times, they end up feeling worse for it.
Mentell me they dont want to go on TRT because they dont want to inject for the rest of their lives. I get it. I actually put it off for several weeks because of a similar concern.
But when I finally got my act together, guess what? It wasnt so bad. I learned to backfillsmall needles(that are minimally invasive),and my injection processtakes less than30 seconds from start to finish. In, out, throw away the syringe in a sharps container. DONE.
Id rather have the stability of injections rather than any other delivery system fraught with potential side effects and social inconveniences. Ill go out on a limb and say most men use creams because theyre afraid of injections. Honestly, they dont take much getting used to and theyre very simple once you know how to administer them.
If you are woefully out of shape and have a crappy diet, TRT will not magically transform you into an Adonis.
TRT is however a fantastic adjunct to a healthy lifestyle. This healthy lifestyle MUSTinclude a clean diet, minimal/zero alcohol consumption and regular resistance and cardio vascular training. If you do those things, youll definitely feel like a massively different person.
Final Thoughts
Done the right way, the benefits of Testosterone Replacement Therapy will dramatically enhance your life.
TRT has worked well for me, but only because I didnt go in with a child-like naivety of rely completely on my doctor. In fact, I took responsibility for my treatmentjust as much as my Doctor did. I cant possibly recommend this approach MORE STRONGLYfor any man considering a TRT lifestyle.
The media changes its mind every day as to whether TRT is legal and or effective. And just as many writers are biased andmisinformed.In my opinion, using TRT is a choice to take full control of your personal health.
If you truly want to separate the truth from the bullshit, readJays book.It is a 100% authentic and easy to understandguideon how to experience the maximum benefits of Testosterone Replacement Therapy for lifelong health and happiness.
Go here to read the rest:
11 Benefits of Testosterone Replacement Therapy - TOT ...
