Very on topic question, but I don’t know where else to put it. Probobly no other hormone higher on the wishlist with it’s effects on muscle size&strength, mental confidence, courage…etc. I thought it would come in handy to have a complete list as possible on how to increase T, which I’ll hang up in front of my toilet, on the roof over my bed, on my bench in my class, in front of my tv…etc
I’ll start:
1: Sleep (8-10 hours)
2: Fat intake (25-35% of total energy intake)
3: Zinc
4: High protein
5: Unstressfull days
6: Added (steroids, prohormones)
7: Having high insulin sensitivity
8: Water (at least 3l pr day)
9: 1g of vitamin C pr day
10: Enough food (is t-prod higher if you eat more then maintaince?)
11: T-boosters like Tribulus (What is the main ingredient there? Highly expensive to buy over Atlantic, and we still have nazis from world war 2 guarding our borders, and will burn even the slightest trace of evil steroids like Power Drive)
12: Licorice cream taken when you have low cortisol and low DHEA
…[questionable]
13: Lifting heavy compound lifts (Have an old memory of have read something about working out actually drains T over the long run. Is this true?)
14: Taking risk, like extreme sports, fighting, buying a braw to your girlfriend without knowing her size (Is courage an effect of high T, or does doing courages acts increase T, or perhaps both ways. Like where one exists, the other will soon follow?)
15: Not wearing too tight stuff around your balls, neither be around girls that thinks kicking the balls is comparable to a punch in the shoulders.
16: Sex or the do-it-yourself version aka Masturbation (altough I seem to remember it results in an equal decrease afterwards, some even say stimulation too often actually decreases T over the long run OMG OMG!)
Do you think your psychology has a great impact on your T-level? Roaring, punching yourself on your chest, takings risks and generally being a man stuff that is. Is T the only hormone responsible for courage and confidense? Except for knowing your shit offcourse. Or does knowing your shit about everything increase T, and therefore increase your confidense? Hmm…
Any corrections, critics, add ons, added details, or even ratings of effectivity is veery welcome. In the meantime I’ll prepare my posters :).
Yes, I think keeping or getting your bodyfat down at a reasonable but not extreme level (10-15%) depending on the male individual. If your 20% fat and you drop to 13%, your T will go up.
If sex and msturbation decrease testosterone, I am screwed (no pun intended).
I think that bashing your chest, slapping your self in the face etc would increase adreneline, but propbably not testosterone. Is good for a short-term boost, but you don’t want your adreneline to be too high for too long or your CNS will fry.
Oh yeah. Watching the movie, Predator, repreatedly will definitely increase testosterone.
Great thread. I’m interested to hear more responses.
In Dr. Lowery’s article, “Meditation for Muscle”, he states that meditation can increase T. Maybe we should all awaken the buddha within. Well, no, scratch that.
But here’s exactly what he said regarding its benefits:
“2. Reduced stress hormone concentrations like cortisol and aldosterone.”
“3. Higher DHEA-Sulfate as well as increased Testosterone and growth hormone response to stress.”
I have found that having a few days off to recharge is also a good idea. Same with not training to failure. Lift heavy, lift fast, lift often, and do not ignore recovery protocols.
I have found cycling (3 weeks on, 3 weeks off) between Zinc and Tribulus to be quite effective. If I took Tribulus for more than about 4 weeks straight, my balls started to hurt (not joking).
[quote]Massif wrote:
I have found that having a few days off to recharge is also a good idea. Same with not training to failure. Lift heavy, lift fast, lift often, and do not ignore recovery protocols.
I have found cycling (3 weeks on, 3 weeks off) between Zinc and Tribulus to be quite effective. If I took Tribulus for more than about 4 weeks straight, my balls started to hurt (not joking).[/quote]
Another questionable boost is tanning. I think it might be true. After a few months of a cold norweegian winter without too much sun, I feel a great boost from a 20 minute in the gay-grill ;). More energy, better mood. Allso many fishing boats has tanning beds, where the fishermen reports increased well-feeling afterwards. And no, just the vitamins does not do the same trick.
And yes, would be really cool seeing this topic go to TTD or an article. Does begging for a really really long time help?
As far as tanning, UV light is an almost essential nutrient in moderation. I read up on Zinc the other day. Guess what: too little is linked to several forms of cancer. Too uch is linked to several forms of cancer. Anyone know what dose is reasonable.
May sound funny, but can I just dissolve a little piece of Zinc in some orange juice and drink it? Or put zinc powder into water? May cause hydrogen gas in the stomach.
Also, is magnesium important like zinc?
I also read that Calcium leeches zinc out of the body. Maybe that’s why dropping dairy for a few weeks seems to boost T.
So basically, I’v looked back over some of these. There seems to be a few things that keep coming up:
Big #1: People have mentioned a lot of things that affect insulin sensitivitiy in one way or the other. (reasonable bodyfat, exercise, sleep, stimulants, diet) The commonality here is INCREASE INSULIN SENSITIVITY
Big #2: THE RIGHT DOSE IF HIGH INTENSITY INJURY FREE WEIGHT TRAINING.
This also effects#1, but I think we know that the right amount of kick ass workouts helps, but at a certain point it has a negative effect. And general avoiding stress.
#3: Testosterone stimulators. Zinc, as well as Alpha Male and M, fat soluble vitamins.
I almost think that sex is a SIGN of where your at, not a cause. I also truly believe that if the big 2 above are in line, then your state of mind/imagination can have a big impact on testosterone.
I have read in more than one place that tanning, or direct sun exposure, stimulates testosterone production.
I always hit the tanning bed for 5 to 8 minutes before I do my workout. Not only does it make my body look even better, but if I’m getting a small test boost, then bonus!
Here are some of my own personal observations regarding the natural enhancement of T levels:
Sleep, as stated many times already, is one of the most important elements that you can add to increase T levels. I notice that when I get less than 8 hours of quality sleep more than one or two nights my training suffers and I feel like I have less umph!
Vitamin C. While I do not have any studies, (I think they exist) I think that my daily intake of 1,500 to 2000 mg’s of Vitamin C have helped through the years. I feel a difference after a few days without it.
Sun exposure is also important, and mentioned many times on this thread. I think the reason might be that we derive usable Vitamin D from the sun which in turn makes us feel good. It is an anti-depression vitamin. How this is tied into T-levels, I’m not sure, but I bet it is.
Body Fat is another very important factor. Perhaps the most important factor. I have noticed that when my body fat climbs up even 2% (I’m normally 8.5% to 10%) I feel a difference to the negative side energy wise. Again, is it T-levels, or simply carrying around the extra fat, not sure. However, I bet it’s T-levels.
My final one is eating natural food. When I avoid “anything in a box” basic manufactured crap, I feel far better. Sometimes I feel like I could train all day. I think this one is very important as well. We have no idea the natural substances that are in such things as vegetables and fruits which help us not only stay healthy, but produce T.
We have not talked much about reducing estrogen levels. The following is an article from another one of my favorite sites “Life Extension.”
Heavy lifts with short breaks between sets. If morning wood and spontaneous boners are an indicator.
The adrenal glands also produce test. stimulating them may also help.
I remember reading here about how a powerlifter could have lower free or unbound test levels because of the amount that as actively occupying a receptor. Low levels may not allways mean that there is low production.
[quote]NateN wrote:
I’ve read that for the tanning to be really effective as far as rasing T levels, doing it naked is best.[/quote]
Argh, I have no idea if you’re serious or not. On one hand, this sound like a trick to get me tan naked so somebody could rush in, take pictures and sell them for fat money on the internet. On the other hand, the UV light directly at the testicles, I suppose maybe could be more effective, I have no idea how it works. I’ve always been afraid to be naked in the tanning bed, in case the evil UV lights would make my balls explode or something :(.
