So im readimg the forums amd seeing so many people with less than stellar experiences on TRT, im curious what the consensus is on what percentage of the total TRT population that represents. In other words, for every 1 bad experience, there are x number of good/great outcomes. Obviously no way of knowimg for sure, id just be curius on all of your thoughts on the subject.
I ask partly from curiosity, but also to segway to a follow on topic, which is… to what do you believe is the prinary culprit in the less than desirable outcomes? Is it an expectation management issue? Different peoples response to T in general? Poor health conditions going in to TRT? Bad protocol, etc. Etc. Etc.
I think the answer/thoughts on the follow on question could be helpful to those browsing the forums looking for solutions and guidance on TRT.
As for my answers, i cannot speak to question one, if i had to guess based on my experience with TRT… id say 10 to 1 good to bad.
To the second part, id say easily expectation management seems to be the biggest issue in good and bad outcomes. My own TRT path has given me back large portions ofy strength, stamina and drive… but i think i really was defficient, and i had both deviated far from my prime, and also got on TRT early enough that getting back to some semblance of youth wasnt a giant leap. I never quit training, workimg hard, etc.
I’d wager many men (no idea the ratio) of guys on TRT are just out there living their lives, ignoring the forums and Reddit and doing just fine on whatever they’re taking. What you tend to see on here are those with issues looking for solutions
Sorry bud you know its 7.35% which rounds to 7.4% if representing in tenths. Sheesh.
This is one of the top I see. But there are also those that didn’t need TRT in the first place and I think many of those guys are dissappointed. I personally have a friend in his low 40s that hopped on with mid range TT and FT. Absolutely mid range, perfectly normal levels. He thought it would make him more muscular and energized. His results… pretty much nothing.
This is actually why when I read “TRT transformation” I think to myself, “what transformation?” If one is on ACTUAL TRT there will be no amazing transformation.
I think a lot of guys start lifting when they start TRT. There is also the fact that a lot of people assume you will be jacked if you’re taking testosterone. That’s a motivating factor to look the part.
Also, I’d be willing to bet guys that lift are over represented in the TRT population.
I do think there is an advantage on TRT in general. Not crazy. You’re not getting you’re pro card lol. But especially when cutting, having good levels helps. If natty, the levels would likely drop.
Ehhhh if we play those semantics you can see it this way…. If you are natural you will get sick, have shitty sleep at times, horrible diet, possibly do an insane calorie deficit diet which can all alter your T let alone the fact it changes through out the day anyways.
With that in mind let say you do very simple TRT and keep it cool with levels between 600-700. Well that’s it and that’s what it is. You can be sleeping 3 hours a day and completely shot your metabolism with starving yourself and then all of a sudden catch a bed ridden cold, check your labs and your T is still 600-700.
Just personal anecdote but when I went 140mg a week people, average non gym enthusiasts, were already asking me “what are you taking”. That had put me in the 700s on trough on a E5D protocol so there was some TOT territory there I guess but nothing insane.
If a man is hypogonadal and then is appropriately given TRT, he will start physically functioning better, as if he were a eugonadal man. So there will be some change in strength, muscle mass, and leanness if he knows what he’s doing with diet and physical activity. He will function as a man with normal T values, little if anything more.
I’ve been on TRT since 2002. After the initial phase of restoring normal function, nothing dramatic happened. And I’m talking real TRT, 100 mg cypionate per week or 10 g of Androgel or Testim per day. No “optimizing,” no gunning to be 800-plus ng/dl every waking moment.
Just a phrase coined by dudes pushing outer TRT limits. Testosterone Optimization Therapy they called it. I just use it loosely now with liberal T protocols that are still not in the “juicing territory” but won’t be tolerated by a tight ass doctor.
I’ll add that for whatever reason, for the past two years I’ve been testing at 800-plus on Wednesdays (the day I usually see my urologist thrice per year) after injecting 100 mg on Sundays.
Ok but I am saying there is some benefit over having a conservative level no matter what the hell happens to you rather than having a decent level on your best days that can change depending on situation (go lower). You can make your level 700 on average no matter what rather than 700 only when everything in your life is in absolute check.
Like was pointed, something like hardcore cutting.
That makes total sense. Ive seen tremendous benefits and “gains” at 140mg/week. Gains is loose, im much closer in strength and musculature to my 27-30 year old self.
Definitely the gym population is going to be over represented in the TRT population. Body and health conscious people and all. That said, ive been consistent in training for a good while, and diet is always 80% or so… being on TRT that i pay for out of pocket is certainly a motivating factor to work a little harder and eat a little cleaner. Im sure many feel and behave the same way.
The ranges of successful outcomes with TRT is definitely interesting, the more i browse and post here the more intersted i become. People are fascinating creatures.
I find TRT is massively hampered by alcohol. If I cut it out completely the benefits of TRT are 5x as if I’m drinkjng alcohol regularly. I’m high SHBG so may have somehing to do with alcohol making SHBG rise.
Maybe an inflammatory response, because alcohol consumption contributes to systematic inflammation by interfering with the bodies natural defenses against gut microbiota.
Myself im not a heavy drinker, no hard stuff anymore, couple beers here and there, nothing more. I am not experienced enough in TRT yet to know, but i could see it being the case. Over the last year or so, ive consumed less and less alcohol outside the occasional night out with the old lady where i might drink 4 or 5. My general effectiveness is definitely higher as a result.
Its ok, you get a pass just this once.