I have low test…first diagnosed in 2001 when I was a normal weight and 25…not tx until the last year…I had depression, anxiety, and insomnia and such that did not respond to multiple medications…but it was more of a fatigue/ depression…funny after I started test the “depression”, fatigue, and mental cloudiness went away…
In the past( pre- test supplement) I would lift weights and it would take at least 5-6 days for the muscle soreness and muscle fatigue to subside…
This thread is sort of useless without a discussion about estrogen levels and probable syndrome X aka metabolic disorder. T levels are a very strong influence on ones metabolic balance [anabolic/catabolic]. Elevated E2 levels and or adverse T:E ratios make fat loss very difficult and can lock in fat in the problem areas. Some understanding of optimal E2 levels has been gained by guys on TRT. For those guys, libido is the bell weather.
Alcohol increases E and lowers T. This may be the root of the beer gut. Bar food certainly is unhealthy and contains too many unhealthy fats.
We know that fat increases T–>E aromatization, which increases E and lowers T. Once one is in such a state, the situation is self re-enforcing.
Other issues such as DHEA, vitamins, minerals, vit-D [high dose], EFAs all should be considered and optimized. Most are vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D3 is stored and slowly converted to the active form 1,25-D [1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D] which is a steroid hormone. And like other steroid hormones, it is transported to the nuclei of the cells where gene expression is altered, either increasing the expression of some genes, or inhibiting the expression of others. Vit-D from typical vitamins and fortified foods is completely inadequate.
Lower or low thyroid levels also can create weight problems by lowering metabolic rates. One needs to review iodized salt intake. Many are using sea salt that does not have useful amounts of iodine unless it has been iodized. Many are iodine deficient. Low thyroid levels often also lead to lower T levels.
The whole idea of bulking when one has a weight issue or weight control issue seems insane.
Review your intake of the nutrients above and get male panel blood work, plus TSH, FT3, FT4.
By shifting your metabolic balance you will be better able to loose fat and gain muscle. As you gain muscle, the lean tissue burns more calories, further improving metabolic balance.
Iodine intake…after about 2-3 months opened iodized salt looses much of its iodine content. Furthermore, most of the sodium used in the US for food production is not iodized.
Doesn’t exercise lower estrogen levels in overweight/obese men?
VIt D…from the data I have seen most of the people in the United States are Vitamin D deficient… Another point is Vit D supplementation in Milk was used to prevent rickets not optimize health…400 a day RDA is a joke…
My question is can one increase muscle mass while decreasing fat? Not consume mega calories to bulk up…