The Official Gym & Fitness Thread

TBH, I kinda question the notion of TRT at "natural" levels increasing risks. I read that that study wasn't too relevant for a few reasons. Possibly not applicable.

As to levels, I hear the range of normal used to go as high as 1100-1200 awhile back. It's modern guys that are overall low so the range was lowered more than once to reflect that. I myself tested at 1,006 ng/dl at 38yo, not on anything.

 

Thanks. I'm not sure normal range testosterone increases those risks but low test levels have a host of problems and most are probably unknown or shrugged off as aging. Have a coworker who even had his eyesight improve and no longer needs reading glasses.

 

I'm at 1080ng/dl on trt and my Dr is good with it only because I told him I compete and cycle.

He wanted me at 600-800...

 

Low test sucks and high test has issues. It's a balance, but trt is pretty straight forward.

PM me if you want the key to injection and how to make it super easy. I'm a master now

 

Did he warn of cycling ? When on cycle, what's the highest test levels you have seen ? ... always wondered how much someone like Dallas McCarver got his levels at ?!

 

He said I shouldn't do it but as long as I stay healthy and my bloodwork looks good he trusts me. I honestly have no clue what my levels are on cycle. All I know is the on cycle bloodwork comes back as 2000+

 

Wow ..yeah I'd be nervous to know exact numbers.

 

Yeah I don't see 600-800 working for you. I suppose maybe 800 if you weren't cycling. 1k is pretty good afaik.

 

I stay around 1000 on trt and 1500-2000+ on cycle. 1000 trt feels great for me for still making decent gains. It lets me blast high and then cruise to where I don't lose anything and can keep a solid base.

 

Steroids are bad mmmk






Be well

 

Testosterone has a direct effect on gene expression, which mean receptivity to the hormone matters. This we cannot measure, just like measuring insulin resistance is virtually impossible.
You can have two men, one around 500 and one around 900. The guy who is 500 can be healthier with better testosterone receptivity, therefore his body doesn’t need to produce as much hormone. The guy with the 900 level has the problem. His body may not be utilizing his hormones effectively.
This is my issue with treating lab values vs treating patients. A lab value doesn’t paint even a sliver of the whole picture.

Testosterone in normal physiologic ranges still can have negative consequences, especially for individuals who have risk factors for cardiac events like being overweight, family history, being older, having metabolic disease, high blood pressure etc.

No pharmeceutical is free of risk. Ever.

Birth control keeps women in normal physiologic ranges yet those have lifetime health consequences as well. Same for thyroid hormone treatments.

It is important to have a good physician who is going to monitor blood levels and change doses based on symptoms.

When I worked on the TRT litigation the biggest issue was docs handing this shit out like candy, and to men who complained of like general fatigue, tiredness, and difficulty exercising.
Well yeah the Pt is 100lbs overweight, 65, years old and eats a miserable fucking diet. I’d feel like shit too.
They get thrown on a dose and end up having a stroke or MI because no one is following up with them.
We had clients as you as 19 and 23 having strokes.
The risk is there its just all about how to manage blood levels properly.

So the real risk with TRT lies with how competent your physician is.

 

My laziness is gonna end today. Gonna hit the gym this PM

 

Show that evil mental twin who's boss!

 

So, what happens if you decided to get off the gear(TRT) after being on it for like a year? Does your body go back to producing the same amount of T you had before you went on it?

 

It should. If you just go cold turkey it'll suck and take forever. If you do it right and take a SERM to restart your natural test production you'll go back to normal levels in a month or so.

 

Ok, because I have heard(and I can’t remember where) that once you start that stuff, your body will no longer be able to naturally produce its own normal T levels again. Thought I’d ask folks who have actual experience instead of reading random online info

 

It won't produce them if you are taking test. As soon as you start your body stops natural production. I'm sure something could happen where it doesn't kick back on when you quit but idk. On cycles I've done in the past, if I do a proper PCT my natural levels always come back.

 

Can someone please explain to me the real benefit of cycling other than looks?

Most who compete that I know can't cycle.

Please note, I'm not hating on anyone who cycles. I'm just curious.

 

It would be my understanding (and I could be wrong) that if one were to use for extended periods of time with really high levels (well above normal physiologic range) you eventually lose the ability to produce your own via tissue atrophy. Is that accurate?

 

Other than looks?


I can think no other reason to lift or take drugs other than looks... Not a single one....