A1c might be down, but it’s still way too high. Shoot for something that starts with a 4. Tri’s are also a concern. A good diet should cut your numbers in 1/2.
Shooting yourself full of T might make you feel good, but really getting the diet dialed is what is going to make you healthy.
[quote]The Myth wrote:
My brother in law is also on TRT through a plastic surgeon, and he is pimping me for info.[/quote]
That just made me spray coffee right out my nose. 
Pumping I’m thinking.
What can you do with diet besids avoiding sugar that will help with a1c?
[quote]sweet-t wrote:
[quote]The Myth wrote:
My brother in law is also on TRT through a plastic surgeon, and he is pimping me for info.[/quote]
That just made me spray coffee right out my nose. Pumping I’m thinking.
What can you do with diet besids avoiding sugar that will help with a1c?
[/quote]
In short, a paleo-type diet is going to do a lot for A1c. Keeping a lot of veggies and a good chunk of natural protein in your diet will work wonders. Avoid sugar and processed foods, but also drop grains. In general, you need to keep your insulin low. A1c is a measure of your average insulin level over the last 6-8 weeks.
2-3 cardio workouts per week would also help, specifically if they were on the higher intensity side. This will burn the glycogen in your muscles and liver and so when you do eat carbs it will give those carbs a place to go. These don’t have to be long workouts. 20-30 minutes of busting your ass will make a big difference.
Hey Fat Boy, thanks for the response. Currently I long walk, but I have done HIIT and karate in the past. My diet is okay, but light on veggies. Does steel cut oatmeal raise A1c? I eat this on weekends, and old fashioned oatmeal during the week. I typically have raisins with it and a banana in the morning with my protein shake.
I am worried about being diabetic, since my father is (but morbidly obese). I would very much like to cut my A1c in half, but think that’s not likely to happen. It’s down from 5.9 but I typically run about 5.7.
I lift 2-3 times weekly and walk between 18 and 30 miles per week. I’m in week 10 of TRT and am wondering if I should start seeing body fat loss soon. Most abstracts of research say week 12 is where you see physiological changes, and I am looking forward to that.
But, again, I feel much mo betta. Ten weeks ago I was a train wreck.
Regards,
The Myth
Does anyone have any experience with CoQ10 with respect to blood pressure?
Myth
[quote]The Myth wrote:
Hey Fat Boy, thanks for the response. Currently I long walk, but I have done HIIT and karate in the past. My diet is okay, but light on veggies. Does steel cut oatmeal raise A1c? I eat this on weekends, and old fashioned oatmeal during the week. I typically have raisins with it and a banana in the morning with my protein shake.
I am worried about being diabetic, since my father is (but morbidly obese). I would very much like to cut my A1c in half, but think that’s not likely to happen. It’s down from 5.9 but I typically run about 5.7.
I lift 2-3 times weekly and walk between 18 and 30 miles per week. I’m in week 10 of TRT and am wondering if I should start seeing body fat loss soon. Most abstracts of research say week 12 is where you see physiological changes, and I am looking forward to that.
But, again, I feel much mo betta. Ten weeks ago I was a train wreck.
Regards,
The Myth[/quote]
A1c is a measure of your bodies average insulin level. Oatmeal (any variety) is a relatively slow burning carb, but people often load it up with sugary sides. Raisins and bananas are better than some other alternatives (i.e. brown sugar and maple syrup), but they are going to raise your total insulin load.
In general, you want to reduce your carbs and increase your fats to reduce A1c. I try to keep my carb intake right around my workout time. A bit before to top up the glycogen tank and a bit after to refill it. I think most people tend to consume way more carbs than necessary. I personally don’t operate well when going ultra low carb (ketogenic), but I have surprised myself at how few I actually need. On a workout day, I might have 150-250 grams of carbs. On non-workout days, that’s probably closer to 100-150 grams. As an endurance guy, I was used to really loading up on carbs, but I’ve found it’s not really necessary or even warranted in most cases.
I think walking is a completely under-rated exercise. If you can do it in a woods or park, it’s even better. There’s something about stomping around a woods that always makes me feel better. Walking is one of those things that can easily be completely fueled by burning fat. There’s no need to add any carbs to your diet for that. Having said that, I also think that a day or 2 a week of sprints, hill runs, sled drags, etc. can be hugely beneficial. It hits completely different energy systems than either weight lifting or walking. Intentionally turning over those glycogen stores really helps on the insulin sensitivity side of the coin, for sure.
How many grams of carbs do you think you eat during any given day? Most people that watch their diets are still eating a lot of (whole wheat) bread. That alone can be a big carb load. You don’t have to avoid bread, but understanding that even the “healthy” stuff has a down side is important. Sweets, ice cream, etc. are the obvious places to look, but dry fruit carries a bunch of sugar with it. Things like yogurt can be sugar bombs as well.
Can you post a ‘normal’ days’ diet?
Normally, I have a protein shake and a banana when I get up at 6 AM. About 10 I have a cup and a half of old fashioned oatmeal with a handful of raisins. At 11:30 I have about eight ounces of chicken with a cup of brown rice and a half cup of vegetables. At 2:45 I typically eat three eggs with some cheese. By five thirty, I’ll have another eight ounces of protein with a cup or two of vegetables. And, here’s my downfall, before bed, I’ll have a piece of whole wheat toast with peanut butter and jelly and a big glass of nonfat milk.
If I am hungry in between, I’ll eat peanuts or fruit. I know this is calorically low, but it’s what I normally eat. When I snack in between, it’s mainly protein - leftover chicken or pork or steak. I do jones for carbs often, and I get jiggy with cereal, typically my son’s, which is Cap’n Crunch or Apple Jacks - but it’s typically only one or two days a week that I do that, and normally post lifting.
But, and here is the big but, I drink a few beers during the week and I think that’s my A1c issue. Going to try to quit that. It was 5.9, and is going down. My dad is diabetic, but morbidly obese, and my grandfather was diabetic when he was 70. I know it’s a concern, and that it is coming if I am blessed to live long enough.
On another point, I have a new PA and she asked me about an AI. I know this is a question oft repeated, but, if my estradiol is 17, do I need to be on an AI?
Thanks
Re: your estradiol of 17 we need to know if that’s the standard or sensitive test, but either way, it’s too low in my opinion. If 17 is standard test, your sensitive is probably in the basement. Having had my own journey of “you need an AI as standard script”, I lived for a few months feeling an E2 crash because of this supposed need for an AI, this take .25mg EOD rhetoric that is getting passed around as standard practice.
I would only suggest you look at an AI like Anastrozole if you’re having negative symptoms of high E2, and then, only in very small doses like .25mg E3D, or less.
I’ve been trying to digest all the information and tend to get confused. I’m not medically inclined and understanding all of the interactions has gotten the best of me. The E2 has me concerned - I’ve been sleeping more than usual lately and wonder if it’s because of the E2. I’ve always been a good sleeper but it seems to have gotten worse in the last three to four weeks.
To recap:
Pre TRT my TT was 170, Free was 5 and am not sure what my Estradiol was.
Six weeks in, on 110 mg of Test Cyp weekly, TT was 515, free was 14, Estradiol was 17.
I’ve been on 130mg of Test Cyp for five weeks now and started the sleeping thing about three weeks ago. My provider will bump me to 140mg if I want but I’m wondering if I should get blood tests again before bumping. I’m inclined not to since my E2 was low after six weeks, I expect it may still be low. I would rather just bump than test again.
I’m sure I’m missing something, or many things. Any thoughts?
Free T and E2 seem to be tracking pretty close. I would aim for free T towards the top of the range. I don’t think it really matters if you test now or after bumping to 140. That’s not a big jump and tweaks from there should be minor. Injecting two or three times a week makes adjustments pretty straight forward.
Just an update, got bumped to 140mg today, blood work in three weeks. Started Paleo last week, hope to see my A1c go down. Thanks for the responses.
TM
I’d suggest 40 MG EOD injections.
And testing in an in between day. Definitely check your E2 with the sensitive test an adjust from there.
Just an update, things are going well.
Summary
I was feeling lethargic, brain fog, low libido, the usual. Got tested and had a low number, TT 170 and Free something like 5, and started TRT 17 weeks ago on Test Cyp 110 weekly injections.
After six weeks my TT was 515, Free was 14.9, Estradiol was 17.3. We raised the weekly dose to 130.
Six weeks later, I was feeling better but not great and we bumped the test to 140 weekly.
I was tested again last week and got the results today. I’m currently at TT 720, Free Test at 20, and Estradiol went down to 12.
I went Paleo about a month ago and my A1C went down from 5.7 to 5.6 - high normal.
My BP has gone down from 150/90 to 130/85.
I take supplements - protein, fish oil, a multivitamin, and the only AI I am taking is Grapeseed extract, 150 mg daily.
My weight and BF per my crappy Tanita scale haven’t changed much, but I am a little more vascular and look leaner.
Per my provider’s advice, I bought and read “Testosterone for Life” by Abraham Morgentaler. It was informative - simplistic, but good.
The biggest thing I have learned is to have patience. The effects are slow in coming and tend to lag a few weeks behind therapy. I feel pretty good. Most of the fog has lifted and I have more energy.
Just wanted to share in the interest of providing information.
Update:
My blood pressure continues to drop, 112/76 last week, my BF is down to 17 percent per the crappy Tanita scale, my mood and libido continue to be good, and I continue to be without side effects without an AI (other than the Grapeseed extract).
Wondering about A1c, lipids, and hematocrit, but will find out with blood tests again in three weeks and I will continue to update in the interest of contributing to the pool of information.
Regards.