Lifting with low testosterone?

duhhhh · 2015-10-22T20:52:04+00:00

IME primary's are idiots when it comes to hormone issues. Make an appt with an endocrinologist and ask about taking Clomiphene Citrate to double those numbers without destroying your fertility.

consistentstrength · 2015-10-22T21:10:20+00:00

Google the drug tested WOMEN'S powerlifting records.

If you're not beating the ones for your weight class, then don't make testosterone your main focus.

Focus on less stress, more vitamins and minerals, and lifting more.

rpscrote · 2015-10-22T22:59:32+00:00

It's not impossible to make gains, just a lot fucking harder. I tested at 375, 360, and 325 about 6 months ago (forget what the units are). The 325 was just below the low range and that's what finally "allowed" my doctor to start me on TRT at 100mg of test cypionate per week (inject every 3.5 days at half of that). I'm 22 yrs old right now. But let's go back to before that happened.

I started lifting in high school. In 8th grade gym class, I couldn't even bench the bar. But then I learned about squatting, did SS for 2 years, and started going balls deep with lifting. By the end of junior year, I was deadlifting my max of 445 lbs. My squat was even more insane, around 375 for 5 reps, ass to the grass. My bench was pretty shitty, but I maxed out at 245 once. And this is because squats and deadlifts use more Central Nervous System recruitment, where as bench uses far less muscles and is more dependent on your triceps/pecs instead of full body muscle recruitment.

So even without high test, it's possible to get good gains. You just have to work a lot fucking harder. I was insane with my lifting due to depression and suicidal rage.

But anyways, I started TRT about 6 months ago. I was stalling at about 210 bench press max. My test levels probably dropped since high school. But after a month or two of starting TRT, I skyrocketed up to about 275 bench. Last week I did 225 for 8 god damn reps. That's like the worst player you'll see at the NFL Combine haha. But oddly enough, my squat and deadlift haven't improved very much. Which leads me to believe that muscle mass and muscle strength are very dependent on test levels, but CNS intensive lifts aren't as much. This could possibly explain why females can reach decent squat/deadlift numbers but never bench in comparison to men.

But my advice, you should definitely get TRT. The side effects are nothing to worry about at all if you're sensible and follow a standard dosage regiment. There's no point in something being difficult when you could make it easy with barely any cost. But, DEFINITELY:

Inject 2x a week. Monday at 10AM, Thursday at 10PM. That's honestly the best schedule and easy to stick to.
Go for test cypionate. It's the longest lasting ester, even slightly more so than test ethanate.
At normal TRT dosages (100mg - 200mg), you might not even need an AI (lowers your estrogen, since having extra test will also make your body produce more estrogen). Not using an AI is definitely preferable because it's less shit to worry about.
100mg should honestly be fine. But if possible I would even try to get your doctor to go up to 120mg or even 140mg if you think it would be beneficial.
Go do some research on r-testosterone or r-steroids

-firemelon- · 2015-10-22T23:05:26+00:00

Check your thyroid levels. tsh , t4, free t3 , reverse t3 and calculate (there are websites for this) free t3 to reverse t3 ratio. get full iron panel blood test and b12.

onenifty · 2015-10-23T00:14:38+00:00

Read this book

FaustoRMD · 2015-10-23T07:29:32+00:00

Lifting with low testosterone is a waste of time. Hell, even life without it is. Start drinking raw millk if you can find it and get your dht and estrogen levels checked. Good luck.

pcadrian · 2015-10-23T12:31:35+00:00

Normal my ass. Find a different doc if u can afford it, or self administer trt if u can't. Pm for questions.

rp_valiant · 2015-10-22T19:53:16+00:00

it's worth lifting, but it's also worth getting a second opinion from another doctor. If you can find relevant information by yourself to suggest it's low and your doctor decides you don't need treatment, it's well within your rights to reject his opinion and demand a referral from your doctors/insurance to a better doctor.

Derbi50 · 2015-10-22T21:29:48+00:00

That is very much not normal.

I mean you aren't going to die from it, but you will be much more of a man if you can up your T either naturally or otherwise.

PrinceLeon · 2015-10-22T22:50:14+00:00

[permanently deleted]

davemustaine13 · 2015-10-23T05:37:43+00:00

Those aren't normal at all.

Art of Manliness website had a series of articles on T, check it out.

The T range you find in clinics is an absolute joke because 90 year olds test for their T levels alongside virile bodybuilders. What you need to be aware of and pay attention to are what your T levels need to look like FOR YOUR AGE. Art of Manliness has a useful chart in this regard.

I got mine checked last year (mid twenties here) and total T was 570. I want something closer to 800.

What I've come to realize is upping T levels is a holistic lifestyle thing. Oh and stress is a big T killer. Get meditating, if you aren't.

DAD_FISTER · 2015-10-23T00:40:28+00:00

You need trt. Find a new doc.

BleauGumms · 2015-10-23T00:50:36+00:00

Thats WAY fucking low! Mine was around that level and im middle aged. The doc jacked me up to 1100. Lifting is good!

michael_wilkins · 2015-10-23T01:24:35+00:00

Go find a GP that will prescribe you testosterone. I don't think it['ll be hard with that low test levels.

"Normal" is such a wide range it's almost useless. I'm not a doctor and I have no medical training or background, but this is one area that I feel confident in saying Dr's are idiots in.

The "normal" range is from memory from about 250 up to 1200 (is it nanograms per litre?) of free testosterone.

That's an absurd range to be considered normal.

balmylips · 2015-10-23T15:46:04+00:00

https://www.endocrine.org/~/media/endosociety/Files/Publications/Clinical%20Practice%20Guidelines/FINAL-Androgens-in-Men-Standalone.pdf

The above is a link to the long-winded summary of guidelines published by the Endocrine Society on treatment of testosterone deficiency in men. Here is a summary of it:

The low end of normal testosterone level is 200. While testosterone does decrease with age, the decrease is relatively small, as men who have fathered children in their 80's can attest. Remember that a man's testosterone production is far greater than necessary for normal sexual function, so a decrease would have to be quite dramatic to cause any notice.
Symptoms of testosterone deficiency could include low energy, low mood, and sexual dysfunction. Some suggest it could also lead to obesity. It can also cause male osteoporosis.
Testosterone level should be rechecked at least twice, if they're less than 300, preferably in the morning, because they tend to fluctuate rapidly.
Men who are confirmed to have low testosterone level should be evaluated for specific causes, such as testicular dysfunction and pituitary dysfunction. Only if these are not found should treatment be initiated, in the form of testosterone replacement (routes vary and are somewhat controversial), should be initiated.
Those of you who are taking clomiphine (clomid) are playing with fire, as this is not accepted treatment. Clomiphine blocks estrogen receptors in the hypothalamus, which forces higher levels of gonadotropins to be released (LH and FSH). These gonadotropins then are supposed to stimulate the testes to produce more sperm and testosterone, but if testosterone production is the problem, it won't work. I'm not even sure if this will have any effect in a man, since we produce very little estrogen as it is.

riverfish7 · 2015-10-23T18:49:44+00:00

Lifting, especially the big compound lifts, increase your testosterone.

hohamocha · 2015-10-23T19:33:58+00:00

Check your sleep cycle. Also check what you eat. How can a young adult have virtually nonexistent testosterone levels?

pdtrading · 2015-10-23T21:44:46+00:00

I heard and read that taking ZMA and L-arganine do wonders for the T level. Does anybody here on TRP use these two as a combo? Has it helped you in anyway?

trpMilo · 2015-10-22T22:14:42+00:00

This is below below normal, even than the lower modern average testosterone level. Before you try TRT though (I'm personally against taking hormones simply because I'm an athlete and can't) I'd try:

Zinc - 100 mg/day for a week, then 50mg maintenance
Vitamin K2 - 100-200% RDA/day
Vitamin D - 10,000 IU/day for a week, then 5,000 IU maintenance
Vitamin B - standard pill, just make sure there's a lot of folic acid
Broccoli, cauliflower, and/or spinach - 2 cups/day (fights conversion of Test. to estrogen)
Lift Weights and do HIIT
9 hours sleep a day
Cut down to 1-2 cups of coffee a day if current consumption is higher (long-term stimulant effect of caffeine reduces Test.)
Lose weight if overweight, body fat above 12-15% kills Test
Cut alcohol consumption to 0-3 drinks per week if higher, especially fuck beer and specifically hops
Fuck body lotions, deodorant, shampoo and soaps that aren't natural. Even dryer sheets have bad shit in them. Avoid parabens, BPA, and some other p-word I can't remember right now but basically just get the most natural basic shit.
Don't microwave anything in plastic or drink out of plastic water bottles for the same reason
Eat enough saturated fat through healthy sources - beef and egg yolks

This is what I do and the cumulative effect of living like this just makes you feel awesome. The sex hormone is the first thing to go if you're living unhealthily, since the body deprioritizes fighting and fucking when it has to struggle just to live. But man testosterone makes you feel awesome. Hope this lists helps!

testonator · 2015-10-22T20:30:04+00:00

Your testosterone levels are heavily influenced by different factors, even the test that showed 239 might be off. Check your levels every two months for atleast 6 months and you will have a better idea of where you are.

You have a couple of different options regarding your low T.

TRT which is a lifelong treatment, dialing in the right amount and all the hassle that comes with just getting it at your age sucks you should view this as a last resort kind of thing, same with pinning yourself (steroids). If there is anything in that regard that you should try its restarts with clomid, hcG etc.

Hows your diet, workout regime, lifestyle in general like?

thisornothing · 2015-10-23T09:12:59+00:00

I thought lifting actually increased your testosterone in itself? Try not jerking off so damn much.

LeftShark86 · 2015-10-23T12:24:06+00:00

Med student here. Just finished a urology rotation, so I've dealt with testosterone levels a bit. If you don't have any symptoms (high fatigue, hair growth abnormalities, ED, low libedo, etc) it's unlikely that adding testosterone to your system would have any beneficial effects. Also, keep in mind that testosterone can vary widely from day to day and by the time of day.

Why were your levels checked in the first place?

McLarenX · 2015-10-23T05:56:57+00:00

Did you jack off right before the test or something?

Title	Lifting with low testosterone?
Author	sandbm5
Upvotes	8
Comments	70
Date	October 22, 2015 7:48 PM UTC (10 years ago)
Subreddit	Posted in /r/TheRedPill
Original Link	https://old.reddit.com/r/TheRedPill/comments/3ptb16/lifting_with_low_testosterone/
Archive Link	https://theredarchive.com/r/TheRedPill/lifting-with-low-testosterone.37436 https://theredarchive.com/post/37436

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