hey fellas, i just got my t-levels checked recently, and they said that my Free Levels were 12.5, % Free 3.0, and Total of 416. He said i was fine, but after looking around it says my free is fine, but my total is low. im 20 years old, am currently doing the Waterbury Method Program and have a very good diet in place. any input from anyone?
That is Kind of low but no where near getting worried or thinking abnout replacement. Check your diet. your rest, was the test after a training session that alone can lower he results. Also was the test first thing in the morning within and hour or two max of waking??
Get rest check that nutrition, strss how is it?? Maybe think about using Alpha Male
Phill
For your age, those numbers are terrible.
What is your estradoil level? If you didnt get that checked, go back. Its just as important to know, maybe even more important.
As far as replacment, thats up to you to decide.
I agree somewhat with Phill. Also, don’t forget that healthy fats are needed to maintain test levels. How’s your fat intake? Consider fish oil. Not enough calories, overtraining, etc etc.
Damn there’s allot of factors you need to consider…
So, learn them… And make sure you are following them… Then get retested in 4-6 months.
At least, that’s what I’d do.
Just as a sidenote, why’d you get tested in the first place?
i got them checked because someone told me that males with one testicle have lower t-levels, and i always seem to feel tired and sluggish and irritable so i went to get it all checked out. i think im going to give it another try, go to an endocronologist in about 6 months. should i stay away from t-boosters till then?
[quote]skimmy_jimmy wrote:
i got them checked because someone told me that males with one testicle have lower t-levels, and i always seem to feel tired and sluggish and irritable so i went to get it all checked out. i think im going to give it another try, go to an endocronologist in about 6 months. should i stay away from t-boosters till then?[/quote]
Actually, people with one testicle, to a certain age, are perfectly fine. There is lots of studies showing this as well. One testicle can produce healthy testosterone just fine. It simply picks up the slack, carries out instructions from the pituitary gland, and does its work.
HOWEVER, there is some evidence though that as one advances in age they are more likely to experience a loss in test quicker. Something to think about.
Problem is, your only 20. Your free test and total test is terrible for a 20 year old. There are plenty of 20 year olds, in fact most of them following so so diets and training programs, or lack therof, with total and free test levels that are almost double yours.
Its really impossible to say whats going on. Your free test should be double what it currently is. Your total test should be at least somewhere in the 600’s for your age. I don’t know for sure without you seeing, but Im betting that your estradoil numbers are less than ideal. Just a hunch.
Again, its your life, and yea your still young, and if you feel fine, just wait awile. But Im willing to bet that since your numbers are already low, plus with one testicle, it won’t be long before you need replacement. No rush, but be educated about the options you have. Research research research.
yeah, problem is i raelly dont feel all that great… like i said im always tired, my gains in the gym are slow, im really irritable all the time, i just dont feel like someone my age probably should. i really do need to start looking into the hormone replacement therapy, i guess the whole thing makes me nervous.
Poliquin has stated that the CORTISOL-testosterone ratio is a better test to look at than just total and free test.
Lowering your cortisol. He said he had guys who were under 200 total that got their cortisol in check, who put on enourmous gains.
i would recommend getting a saliva test done that shows your cortisol, tstosterone, dhea, estradial, and insulin levels throughout the day!
I think their is a test called a 205.
[quote]skimmy_jimmy wrote:
yeah, problem is i raelly dont feel all that great… like i said im always tired, my gains in the gym are slow, im really irritable all the time, i just dont feel like someone my age probably should. i really do need to start looking into the hormone replacement therapy, i guess the whole thing makes me nervous. [/quote]
I might be wrong, but do I remember being overtrained affects free testosterone levels? I’d take a couple of weeks from training, then get a retest. Better to be sure before you blow money on treating something that may not even be a problem.
-Cloth
PS Seek confirmation on the overtraining effects, I’m not positive on this.
[quote]skimmy_jimmy wrote:
hey fellas, i just got my t-levels checked recently, and they said that my Free Levels were 12.5, % Free 3.0, and Total of 416. He said i was fine, but after looking around it says my free is fine, but my total is low. im 20 years old, am currently doing the Waterbury Method Program and have a very good diet in place. any input from anyone?[/quote]
Hey at least you are ahead of me…I am 24 with a low 400s total and free levels around a high 9 or low 10 (I’ve gotten tested a few times). I’d look at your fat levels, overtraining, etc. I know I took some Alpha Male for a while and I felt better on it, so you might want to try that.
The big thing is trying to find what is causing the low levels and fix that, it’s just there is so many things that could be affecting it.
Of course, I really haven’t found that yet either, am planning on going to an endo in about a month to see if they can figure out what’s going on. Best of luck to you.
I think the easiest thing for you to do would be to cut your workout vol. or freq. a little bit and start taking ZMA for starters and see if you feel any different.
Do you think you’re exercising enough to be overtrained? A lot of fit people actually have low T-levels. I am NOT recommending stopping exercise though.
Also, maybe a bit more red meat in the diet?
I don’t know anything about you so maybe you’ve got all that sorted, but that’s probably my first step. After that, if finances were able I’d be getting onto some TRIBEX or Alpha Male.
I think we need more info here to give good advice. What is your exercise routine like? What’s your diet like? Weight, height, years training, etc. Perhaps some lift numbers as well.
[quote]mithious wrote:
I think we need more info here to give good advice. What is your exercise routine like? What’s your diet like? Weight, height, years training, etc. Perhaps some lift numbers as well. [/quote]
I train 3 times a week, MWF doing the Waterbury Method, in the gym no longer than 30-45 minutes, lift hard and get the hell out. I just started 2 weeks ago after a month-off break. My diet consists of 6eggs, 4 w/o yolk, 2 with, or “bodybuilders pancakes”, megaman sport vitamins, flamout, lunch either tuna or ham and turkey sandwhich, supper is 93/7 lean ground beef on days i lift, chicken on non lift days. i make sure i get at least some veggies and fruits, but its hard being in college and always runnin around. i drink a serving of surge before and after a workout. 3 scoops of grow whey before bed, scoop of pb or some cottage cheese, then liek an hour later zma.
i am 6’ 200 lbs, have been REALLY training for about a year and a half now.
I went in to the doctor for hair loss issues. He gave me a basic testosterone test to see if that might be the cause.
I tested 395ng/dl.
He might as well have told me I had a terminal disease. At that point in time I was irritable all the time and cranky and had a bit of sexual disfunction.
The cause? I was overtrained as shit and had a bad night sleep before the test(right after I took the test I went and had a 3 hour nap). I found out I hadn’t been recovering properly because I was getting complete shit for sleep (waking up a billon times a night).
The fix? I started taking high quality magnesium aspartate supplements (the kind that’s in ZMA) and begin to get better quality sleep. I also reduced the total volume in my powerlifting routine. I’m more of a high intensity/low volume kinda guy.
I have felt much better ever since and I’m making good gains in the gym.
I’m going to go get a sex hormone test again. Could someone make a suggestion to me and the original poster as to what things we should ask our doctors to test for?
Hey guys, since we’re on the topic…silly question: can a regular doctor’s office test T levels et cetera, or do I actually have to go to an endocrinologist to get tested? My birthday’s in less than a month and as a result, so is my physical. I was hoping that I could just ask my doc if he could run those tests on me. Thanks.
i had my t-levels tested when i had my regular physical. just ask the doc during the exam.
Maybe not the right place for this post, I can’t seem to find the page i’m looking for.
I have been on trt for two months, just had my numbers checked.
total t 246 (250-1100)
free t 47.1 (20-120)
free t % 1.9 (1.1-2.8)
Should I be happy with this?
5 grams androgel 5%
seems awfully low to me
[quote]oldpipes wrote:
Maybe not the right place for this post, I can’t seem to find the page i’m looking for.
I have been on trt for two months, just had my numbers checked.
total t 246 (250-1100)
free t 47.1 (20-120)
free t % 1.9 (1.1-2.8)
Should I be happy with this?
5 grams androgel 5%
seems awfully low to me[/quote]
Bro your on TRT and have numbers below the range NO dont be happy.What were they prior to TRT why you had to start TRT??
Id search and read and article titled “Level with me Doc how long have I got”
By Cy willson it will help you understand your blood work
Phill
[quote]skimmy_jimmy wrote:
My diet consists of 6eggs, 4 w/o yolk, 2 with, or “bodybuilders pancakes”, megaman sport vitamins, flamout, lunch either tuna or ham and turkey sandwhich, supper is 93/7 lean ground beef on days i lift, chicken on non lift days. i make sure i get at least some veggies and fruits, but its hard being in college and always runnin around. i drink a serving of surge before and after a workout. 3 scoops of grow whey before bed, scoop of pb or some cottage cheese, then liek an hour later zma.
i am 6’ 200 lbs, have been REALLY training for about a year and a half now.[/quote]
Not enough fat. No wonder your T levels are low. Eat the yolks for all the eggs (get Omega-3 eggs if you are concerned about the saturated fat). Forget about the ultra lean beef.
It seems that too many people these days think they can eat low carb and low fat and still be healthy.
I suggest you check out the Anabolic Diet thread.