I believe my insurance covers it. I also have a Dr. who I know, who will 100% prescribe without a need. I don’t want to do it unless it’s medically required. All joking aside, I’m a huge fan of knowing baselines and understanding data for future comparisons. Me testing has everything to do with turning 30.
Now, the mostly joking side, I do hope it’s low so I can B&C. Give me the DBols.
I received the test yesterday, but you have to do it before 9am and get it to post office by 10. Their instructions are very thorough and detailed. Super easy. The whole prick thing isn’t bad at all. I had to prick two fingers (ring first) and pinky. For some reason the ring finger wasn’t very cooperative. The pinky I couldn’t stop.
Yesterday, 1/30
No workout.
At office at 730, meetings all day. Left the last meeting at 530, home by 9. I didn’t eat breakfast or dinner yesterday. At lunch I had a Bacon Cheese burger (no sauce) and Sweet Potato Fries. I ate a few pretzels for a total of <1,500 cals. Still woke up at 207… my scale is broken.
This stuff can get pretty complicated and there are many things to be considered. When I’m on TRT my trough is 650, so probably 1200 or so the day after injecting. I was able to get in pretty good shape on that level, which was 140mg a week of T-Cyp.
If you’re not on replacement, be aware of the time of day that you test - much higher in the morning than in the evening. My first test came back at 302 and my Primary was a very conservative asshole so since 290-900 was considered normal, he didn’t treat. I lost some weight, underate, drank heavily, and did a shit load of cardio and a week later I was 170 at a clinic.
As far as this,
there was a very spirited discussion (argument) in the T-Replacement forum a while ago about this. The end result was pretty murky. There certainly would be a difference in ability to add mass, but not necessarily would you feel better.
If it ever comes up, hit me up. Figure you were probably joking about the DBols, but I’ve run a few blasts and am happy to share what I have learned through experience and reading.
This is a very common idea - if x makes me feel good, 2x ought to make me feel great. Of particular vocal opposition to this theory with respect to T-Levels was Brickhead. I didn’t tag him on purpose because it kind of triggers him, lol. He made valid points.
At peak, yes, but not at trough. Then you get into shooting EOD to minimize peaks and troughs, but some people think the body needs the peaks and troughs to work through the other issues like E2 and SGBH.
Then what about shooting subq? That supposedly gets absorbed slower, so you don’t have to shoot as often.
That was also a part of the thread. FWIW, it still takes a lot of work in the gym even if you’re juicing. For me, recovery was way better, and at my age, that made a big difference.
Nope, supposedly just slower. As I understand it an IM injection gets absorbed faster so subq is kind of like a time release, like the pellets @Frank_C mentioned (of which, I am not a fan).
In my opinion, there are two ways to do TRT. One is just inject and go, don’t get all obsessed with it. The other is obsess about protocols and blood tests. Of course, those are extremes and you’ll probably fall somewhere in the middle. Eventually, you’ll figure your own body out. I think if you’re just going to B&C with just Test, life is pretty simple. Blast on 300-500, cruise on 100-200. Length oc cycles don’t really matter because you’re already shut down. Going too long can be detrimental, but blasting for four weeks is effective. I know one guy on here that has been blasting for a couple of years.
I’ll just come out and say it. I want my beach muscles to grow. I’ve tried it the old fashioned ways and failed. TRT would justify my PED use. It’s legal. It’s ethical. And best of all, I’d have a doctor in my corner.
You can get them capped, dude. You just might not get them quite steroid capped, and if you take steroids and get them there, you’ll just look like you take steroids.
TRT is starting to get out of hand, and I don’t think a lot of people appreciate how little we know about it’s long term effects at this point. It’s still pretty much in its infancy, which is why we have guys on here all the time with libido problems and other things. One thing is for sure - if aesthetic goals are the reason behind “TRT”, then regardless of your dose, you’re just taking steroids. I’ve read your log long enough to see that your physique and your strength levels are not indicative of someone who needs to jab themselves for the rest of their life.
The fact that 20 yr olds are on TRT is a pretty big red flag.
I’m scared of long term implications and that’s as much of a factor as anything to keep me away. I know it’s being over prescribed for average people.
Nailed it. Blasting and cruising isn’t TRT. It’s lifelong drug use.
I’ll have to tank pretty hard in the next couple decades to cross the line. I’ll always be fascinated, though.
The worst of this category is the guys who give unsolicited advice about nutrition and physique goals. I’ve had to go to their log activity to find it, too. You should start your post with “I’m on TRT, but…” At least then we’d be able to take the advice for what it’s worth - very little.
@flappinit, you are officially the PED Angel on my shoulder keeping me in line.
I don’t mean to be a contrarian, but…Ok, guess I do mean to be a contrarian.
Long term is too vague, and may not be relevant since “replacement” therapy is just that, replacing a lack of testosterone with bio identical hormones. Bio identical being key. Hormone replacement therapy has been around in its current form for almost twenty years.
I think most of those guys fall into the former PED abuse categories, or have various underlying issues, like SHBG and thyroid problems.
Often, aesthetic goals coincide with health goals as well. T Replacement reduces the accumulation of belly fat, which can lead to heart disease (read it somewhere). There are other instances as well, just too lazy to think on the weekend.
I agree.
For legit TRT, long term implications of not taking replacement are worse than the alternative.
I’m pretty neutral on the subject so please, don’t take this as flame in any way.
For legit TRT, i’m Sure the pros outweigh the cons of low T. No arguments there. For casual users, TRT becomes blast and cruise, and it’s just gear use. Yes, TRT can help with visceral fat. But so can proper diet and exercise, and there’s no convincing me that TRT is preferable to that, or that having belly fat and using TRT to get rid of it in lieu of discipline is reasonable. You can reduce visceral fat in better ways. So no, I would 100% disagree that “this will make me look better AND healthier” is a good reason. Unless you have legitimate SYMPTOMS of low T along with a legitimately LOW, not mid-range number, I think it’s irresponsible. It’s like people who get medical marijuana cards when they just wanna get high, when there are people with MS and Parkinson’s and Glaucoma who could use it.
And 20 years is infancy, especially with regards to long term studies, which is what we need to understand what’s going on. We have functioning endocrine systems for a reason, shutting them down isn’t something to be taken lightly.
I’d say, in my opinion, 95%+ of people taking TRT right now did not need to go that route. It’s convenient. People who get a test, find a number that they don’t like, and go on without feeling brain fog, lethargy, depression, all those symptoms, are just messing with their bodies for no reason.
HGH is bioidentical. Take it with test for long enough and you’ll hypertrophy your heart, and have a heart attack.
I’m all for legal TRT. I’m just tired of seeing people use it instead of natural methods.
