The body-comp effects have been real, and I’ve noticed them more so since switching to injections. I am both putting on size and getting more vascular. I also much prefer the injection mode of delivery for convenience purposes. However, the libido effects were much more pronounced with cream, without a doubt. My libido is currently nowhere near what it was on cream.
At this point, I can’t definitely say which protocol I prefer. Seems like there are some inevitable trade-offs.
Yep, libido is better than it was before starting. That said, it’s not what it was on cream. And that said, it wasn’t consistent on the cream. So I haven’t really figured out that problem.
Yep, I switched for convenience (both method of delivery and frequency of ordering). It’s been way better.
Condidering doing the same because of the convenience factor.
My libido didn’t change a whole lot but didn’t have an issue with it prior. It makes me nervous that it could though, switching to injections. If you have only being doing injections for a month maybe it will come back after settling in.
Awesome progress though man! That is a hell of difference from your first pic.
Thanks bro! All in all, I would say I’m definitely glad I made the switch to injections. Applying the cream was really throwing off my lifestyle and workflow, plus ordering was a pain in the ass. I’m hoping the libido will pick up and think it will just take time to get my protocol (including Danazol) dialed in.
How would you say your libido has been on the cream in comparison to pre-TRT? You apply to the scrotum?
Lol, sounds like we have different baseline libidos! Mine has been weak for a long time now.
Danazol is an oral that is supposed to suppress SHBG. @traveling-man has a great log on here about his journey with it. I have been taking 25mg EOD, which is a very low dose, but is the dose my doc thinks is best (despite my astronomical SHBG) because I want to maintain fertility. I haven’t had bloods since I started taking it. It’s hard to parse out what could be the Danazol and what could be the injectable delivery system because I made these switches at the same time.
Thats right, now that you say that i remember reading about it. Just needed my memory jogged. With all the stuff i read its hard to remember it all lol
Considering going on a 10-week cut to get peeled for summer – dropping from ~12% to ~8% so the abs are really popping. That said, I don’t want to mess up my hormones. Getting those sorted out is the top priority. Do you think that’s a reasonable concern, or is it just an excuse?
Weighed in at 174.8 and 12% BF on the nose yesterday for Day 1 of the 8-week fat-loss challenge I’ve entered, with the goal of hitting 8% BF. Time to reach new levels of leanness while maintaining muscle! Thanks to quality input from @jackolee@Frank_C@mortdk and others, my nutrition for Day 1 couldn’t have been any better — maybe the most dialed day of my life! Everything was on point.
…spaced out across 4 meals and 1 pre-bed Casein shake. Pretty much all natural foods, too! I’m trying to mitigate artificial sweetener consumption, which is tough when cutting, but I am allowing myself to have some.
I also consumed 220 oz water…which led to me peeing 5 times during the night. This is a big jump from my normal water consumption. I tried to taper it during the day but still ended up peeing nonstop.
In the morning, I had a solid lift (legs) and did one tabata (jump rope). Later, I went for a walk to hit 10K steps. I will ramp up cardio as this challenge goes on. I don’t want to come out of the gates too hot and then need to keep increasing from a crazy-high baseline. I imagine by the end, I’ll be doing some LISS and HIIT, and maybe hitting 15K+ steps. My lift wasn’t amazing — I am accustomed to PM workouts, with more in my stomach — but still good all things considered. Figuring out how to have optimal juice for the AM workouts will require some fine-tuning and probably some bodily adaptation, too.
All in all, I wasn’t too hungry during the day and started this thing with strong momentum! I woke up this morning 0.2 lbs heavier, but BF (per my imperfect scale) had gone from 12.0 to 11.9, waist had gone from 30.1 to 29.8, and muscle mass had increased by 0.2 lbs. I imagine these numbers are also impacted by my high water consumption.
Few questions for the crowd:
Do you have the premium version of MFP, and is it worth it?
As you can see in the thread above, I am on TRT and have been getting myself (mainly my libido) in order. I don’t want to mess up my hormones — am I risking anything by running fat this low? Don’t know if there’s a minimum threshold I should keep in mind.
The Mrs. and I are going to see Avengers for date night tonight! Recommendations on movie snacks that would align with my bodybuilding-ish nutrition approach? We smuggle in our own stuff. Thinking about Skinny Pop and Sparkling Ice, but maybe something with some protein too. But, above all, don’t want to mess up my nutrition!
No and no. I can’t imagine spending that kind of money when I can do the same thing myself. I can do the math in my head to know how much of each macro I need at each meal.
It’s only eight weeks and you are now getting your T from an outside source. I think you’ll be fine, but I’m not an expert on either matter.
I don’t really eat snacks at then movies. It’s only 2-3 hours of the day so I’d eat a normal meal before and/or after.
If you feel like you need a snack so you can have a normal experience then start searching for recipes for protein snacks. I’m sure you can find some good ideas. And if you get caught by movie staff then you can always point out that you brought something they don’t sell so you’re not cheating them out of anything.
@Frank_C Thanks, fellas. I’ll pass on premium MFP. And it’s encouraging to know I shouldn’t be worried about my fat intake. I ate keto for a few years and really liked it, so I have a soft spot for dietary fat! Eating keto probably played a role in jacking up my hormones, though.
Gonna go with some Skinny Pop and a Casein shake for the snack – really liking the thickness of the Casein. Just feels more satiating.
My lift was better this morning! Had more energy going into it and crushed chest, shoulders, and triceps, followed up by ab rollouts, one tabata (jump rope), and a long walk. Still early in the process, but starting to adapt psychologically to these morning lifts.
Pre-lift meal: 1 cup cream of rice, 1 scoop whey, 4 medium strawberries (cut up in the rice), 1 chocolate rice cake, 4 oz. almond milk in 2 cups of coffee
Post-lift meal: 3 chocolate rice cakes (these things are a game-changer, so tasty), 1/2 banana, 1.25 scoops whey in water with 4 oz. almond milk for flavor
Yesterday, I felt kind of moody/out of it in the afternoon, despite eating well. I think this was because it was my injection day for both TRT and hCG (1/2 for the week). I always seem to feel better on the day after an injection.
My levels are pretty unusual due to crazy high SHBG:
(Start of HOT in July 2018 / Most recent bloods)
SHBG: 168/114 (Ref 16.5-55.9)
E2: 61/50 (Ref 16.5-55.9)
Total T: 1148/2338 (Ref 250-1100)
Free T: 174/215 (Ref 35-155)
The conversion of Free T:Total T still is not very good, despite the sky-high Total T, because of SHBG.
My prescription is 200mg Test C, split into two weekly injections. I’ve been running this a little bit higher – about 250mg. I also take 600 IU HCG (injecting 300 2X/week), as well as Danazol (25 mg EOD) and Ibutamoren (25 mg ED). I do not take an AI at this point – Neal Rouzier’s work influenced me to drop it.
I’m a strange case as well, but not sure why. On 250mg split twice weekly I usually hover around 650-800 when I get my labs done. Most everyone else I’ve heard of would be in the 1500 range on that dose. My shgb is pretty normal. I even had labs done during a mini blast where I was taking 360mg weekly and levels were right at 1000.
I’m blasting right now at 750mg so I’m sure it’s pretty stinking high right now lol.
