Dear Nelson and the Excel Male Community,
I've been a follower of Jay Campbell and learned of Excel Male through the hangouts he's organized with Nelson. Thank you all for a wealth of valuable information.
Writing to introduce myself:
- 31 years old, living in Florida- 5'11, 168lbs, 32" waist, 15" neck, 39" chest
- Regular recreational athlete- I play basketball and weight train 3-4x week.
- Macronutrient balanced clean diet, with an emphasis on home-cooked foods.
- After years of feeling soft, and a spring 2013 attempt at bulking that produced mostly fat gain, I started working with a weight training coach in fall 2013. I lost 30lbs+ over 10 months, from a peak of 190 down to ~155 at my lightest, slow and steady no more than 1-2lbs per week, through close dietary tracking, rec sports and weight training.
- By summer 2014, my attempts at gaining strength and muscle in a slight calorie surplus were repeatedly stalling. Despite consistent training, my strength (and rate of strength gain) seems to be low compared to most. I've always had a hard time putting on muscle and losing stubborn love handles. The more I trained, and the harder I worked, the more I felt like I was running on empty.
- Coach recommends I get blood work and test my T levels, as my rate of progress seemed off given my otherwise healthy habits and consistency.
- Tested total T 327 July 2014. A local men's clinic recommended me for T therapy, but I was hesitant to jump on board immediately, and did not like their standard protocol (in office injections every two weeks)
- Worked on raising my T levels naturally, focusing on regular sun exposure, an emphasis on quality sleep, scaling back training, and ensuring enough food (after that long cut and prolonged periods in a calorie deficit)
- Tested total T at 566 November 2014. It seemed like my attempts were working, though my subjective experience was mixed. Energy levels and focus were still low, and strength and recovery at the gym were better but I continued to stall and not put on much muscle despite hard work and consistency. The perception of continually running on empty, though intermittent, largely persists.
- Tested total T at 288 April 2015.Levels fell back down. I had been stressed and sleeping poorly at this point, so I wondered whether my drop was acute, or more a return to baseline after whatever I was doing back in the fall that got the levels higher.
- Spoke with my primary care physician in July 2015. I brought in my blood work and was chastised for doing these tests without proper medical supervision. I explained that a physician had already recommended TRT for me, but I wanted to explore my options for raising my levels naturally and, absent health insurance, I had ordered this lab work out of pocket through Private MD Labs just to monitor my progress. Not the best physician experience, but she did agree that these levels were low. She asked if I had been tested for thyroid function, and I reminded her that she had tested me the previous year and everything came back in range. With no family history of thyroid issues, no other significant reason to believe thyroid dysfunction is at play, and demonstrated low T levels, I've tentatively come to believe thyroid is not a likely culprit.
- Tested total T at 337 September 2015. Before testing, I told myself that after more than a year of research and attempts at raising my T levels drug free, and in making other changes to my work and lifestyle habits to decrease my stress levels, that if my levels continued to be low, I would revisit the possibility of TRT. That is where I find myself now.
I'm familiar with Jay Campbell and Fab Fit Over 40, and have spent a lot of time recently poring through the resources here at Excel Male. Based on my bloodwork and constellation of symptoms, it seems likely that I will be deemed a good candidate for TRT. I am fortunate to live in an area where I have access to a number of fairly progressive men's health clinics. Ultimately I do think this is the appropriate next step for me, but I'm writing to share my story and get any additional feedback.
My questions for you fellow members:
a- Based on the abbreviated summary provided above, would you agree that I'm a reasonable TRT candidate? I know how powerful TRT can be and respect it enough that I don't want to be cavalier here. I value level-headedness and deliberation, and think I've done my due diligence, and that I am not acting hastily, but I would love for others to weigh in.
b- One of my biggest hesitations has been fertility. I have no near-term plans to conceive, but I would like to at some point. I know many men on TRT (and even supraphysiological dosages of testosterone) have conceived successfully using some of the various PCT and fertility drugs available. It's no immediate concern, but I would love to hear form others for whom this issue was important, and what it was (if anything) that eventually convinced them to take the plunge and begin TRT.
This has gone on long enough, so thank you all for reading and for your active participation in this great resource for men like me out here.
I've been a follower of Jay Campbell and learned of Excel Male through the hangouts he's organized with Nelson. Thank you all for a wealth of valuable information.
Writing to introduce myself:
- 31 years old, living in Florida- 5'11, 168lbs, 32" waist, 15" neck, 39" chest
- Regular recreational athlete- I play basketball and weight train 3-4x week.
- Macronutrient balanced clean diet, with an emphasis on home-cooked foods.
- After years of feeling soft, and a spring 2013 attempt at bulking that produced mostly fat gain, I started working with a weight training coach in fall 2013. I lost 30lbs+ over 10 months, from a peak of 190 down to ~155 at my lightest, slow and steady no more than 1-2lbs per week, through close dietary tracking, rec sports and weight training.
- By summer 2014, my attempts at gaining strength and muscle in a slight calorie surplus were repeatedly stalling. Despite consistent training, my strength (and rate of strength gain) seems to be low compared to most. I've always had a hard time putting on muscle and losing stubborn love handles. The more I trained, and the harder I worked, the more I felt like I was running on empty.
- Coach recommends I get blood work and test my T levels, as my rate of progress seemed off given my otherwise healthy habits and consistency.
- Tested total T 327 July 2014. A local men's clinic recommended me for T therapy, but I was hesitant to jump on board immediately, and did not like their standard protocol (in office injections every two weeks)
- Worked on raising my T levels naturally, focusing on regular sun exposure, an emphasis on quality sleep, scaling back training, and ensuring enough food (after that long cut and prolonged periods in a calorie deficit)
- Tested total T at 566 November 2014. It seemed like my attempts were working, though my subjective experience was mixed. Energy levels and focus were still low, and strength and recovery at the gym were better but I continued to stall and not put on much muscle despite hard work and consistency. The perception of continually running on empty, though intermittent, largely persists.
- Tested total T at 288 April 2015.Levels fell back down. I had been stressed and sleeping poorly at this point, so I wondered whether my drop was acute, or more a return to baseline after whatever I was doing back in the fall that got the levels higher.
- Spoke with my primary care physician in July 2015. I brought in my blood work and was chastised for doing these tests without proper medical supervision. I explained that a physician had already recommended TRT for me, but I wanted to explore my options for raising my levels naturally and, absent health insurance, I had ordered this lab work out of pocket through Private MD Labs just to monitor my progress. Not the best physician experience, but she did agree that these levels were low. She asked if I had been tested for thyroid function, and I reminded her that she had tested me the previous year and everything came back in range. With no family history of thyroid issues, no other significant reason to believe thyroid dysfunction is at play, and demonstrated low T levels, I've tentatively come to believe thyroid is not a likely culprit.
- Tested total T at 337 September 2015. Before testing, I told myself that after more than a year of research and attempts at raising my T levels drug free, and in making other changes to my work and lifestyle habits to decrease my stress levels, that if my levels continued to be low, I would revisit the possibility of TRT. That is where I find myself now.
I'm familiar with Jay Campbell and Fab Fit Over 40, and have spent a lot of time recently poring through the resources here at Excel Male. Based on my bloodwork and constellation of symptoms, it seems likely that I will be deemed a good candidate for TRT. I am fortunate to live in an area where I have access to a number of fairly progressive men's health clinics. Ultimately I do think this is the appropriate next step for me, but I'm writing to share my story and get any additional feedback.
My questions for you fellow members:
a- Based on the abbreviated summary provided above, would you agree that I'm a reasonable TRT candidate? I know how powerful TRT can be and respect it enough that I don't want to be cavalier here. I value level-headedness and deliberation, and think I've done my due diligence, and that I am not acting hastily, but I would love for others to weigh in.
b- One of my biggest hesitations has been fertility. I have no near-term plans to conceive, but I would like to at some point. I know many men on TRT (and even supraphysiological dosages of testosterone) have conceived successfully using some of the various PCT and fertility drugs available. It's no immediate concern, but I would love to hear form others for whom this issue was important, and what it was (if anything) that eventually convinced them to take the plunge and begin TRT.
This has gone on long enough, so thank you all for reading and for your active participation in this great resource for men like me out here.
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