Seeking Expert Advice: Optimizing TRT with Workout, Diet, and Supplements

Pharma / TRT Testosterone Replacement
1

Hoping I can find some guidance from you seasoned veterans. I am one injection into the first delivery of TRT. I tried to think of everything I have seen asked in other posts by newbies. I am looking for any suggestions or advice to maximize the outcomes.

Age: 48
Height: 6’2.5”
Weight: 214.7 lbs

Medical History:

•	Right knee reconstruction
•	Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (resulting in 200-pound weight loss and maintaining over twenty years)
•	Colon resection
•	No family history of heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, or other significant conditions
•	Low energy, low sex drive, and ED (fails mid-journey)

Blood Pressure: 126/74 (measured on 06/24/2024)

Lifestyle:
• No smoking Tobacco
• No alcohol consumption
• Marijuana consumption daily

Current Prescription:
• Testosterone Replacement Therapy: 1cc a week, divided into 0.5cc every 4 days. Using a tri-blend of propionate (40mg), cypionate (80mg), and enanthate (80mg). 1/2” 28g insulin syringe in deltoid. Left site red and sore for 3-4 days

Recent Blood Work:
• Total Cholesterol: 175 mg/dL
• LDL-C: 124 mg/dL
• HDL-C: 35 mg/dL
• Triglycerides: 89 mg/dL
• Non-HDL-C: 140 mg/dL
• hs-CRP: 10.32 mg/L
• HbA1c: 5.1%
• Fasting Glucose: 83 mg/dL
• Fasting Insulin: 5.2 µU/mL

Supplement Regimen:
• Resveratrol: 600mg
• Beet Root Powder: 1g with 150mg of Zeno’s Grape Seed Extract
• Nicotinamide Riboside Hydrogen Malate: 500mg
• Quercetin Phytosome: 250mg
• Trans-Resveratrol: 150mg
• Iron (elemental): 18mg
• Wild Alaska Pollock Fish Oil Concentrate: 625 mg (Total Omega-3 Fatty Acids as TG: 520mg; EPA: 345mg; DHA: 130mg; Other Omega-3 Fatty Acids: 45mg)
• Boron (boron citrate): 10mg
• Multi-Vitamin: (including the following)
• Vitamin A (beta-carotene, aceto*~): 5,000 IU (1,500 mcg)
• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid, calcium and niacinamide ascorbates): 470mg
• Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol): 2,000 IU (50mcg)
• Vitamin E (D-alpha tocopheryl succinate, D-alpha tocopherol): 67mg
• Vitamin B1 (thiamine HCI): 75mg
• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin, riboflavin 5’-phosphate): 50mg
• Niacin (niacinamide, niacinamide ascorbate): 50mg
• Vitamin B6: 75mg
• Folate (L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate calcium salt): 680mcg
• Vitamin B12 (methylcobalamin): 300mcg
• Biotin: 300mcg
• Pantothenic acid (D-calcium pantothenate): 50mg
• Iodine (potassium iodide): 150mcg
• Magnesium (magnesium oxide): 100mg
• Zinc (zinc citrate, L-OptiZinc zinc mono-L-methionine sulfate): 25mg
• Selenium (sodium selenite, SelenoExcell high selenium yeast, Se-methyl selenocysteine): 200mcg
• Manganese (manganese citrate, gluconate): 2mg
• Chromium (Crominex 3+ chromium stabilized with Capros amla extract (fruit), PrimaVie Shilajit): 200mcg
• Molybdenum (molybdenum amino acid chelate): 100mcg
• Inositol: 50mg
• Alpha lipoic acid: 25mg
• Natural mixed tocopherols (gamma, delta, alpha, beta): 20mg
• Bio-Quercetin Proprietary Blend (providing 35% quercetin (5mg) from Japanese sophora concentrate (flower bud), 30% galactomannans (4mg) from fenugreek (seed)): 14mg
• Marigold extract (Tagetes erecta) (flower): std. to 5mg trans-lutein, 155mcg trans-zeaxanthin: 11.12mg
• Apigenin: 5mg
• Boron (boron amino acid chelate): 3mg
• Lycopene (LycoBeads natural tomato extract (fruit)): 1mg
• Folate: 1,700mcg DFE (1,000mcg (6S)-5-MTHF from Quatrefolic (6S)-5-MTHF Glucosamine Salt)
• BCAAs: 6g (3000mg Leucine, 1500mg Isoleucine, 1500mg Valine per scoop)
• Astragin: Enhances absorption of amino acids, proteins, and glucose

Goals:
• Continue to lose fat and gain lean muscle
• Improve energy levels, libido, and ED (mid-journey failure) Morning erections 4 days a week.

Exercise Routine:
• Workout Schedule: 5 days a week with Saturday and Sunday as rest days. 60 second rest between sets on average.

Day 1 - Chest:
• Flat Bench: 2 sets of 20 reps (warm-up), 4 sets of 8-12 reps
• Incline Bench: 4 sets of 8-12 reps
• Fly Machine: 3 sets of 20 reps
• Smith Shoulder Press: 4 sets of 8-12 reps
• Dumbbell Shoulder Shrugs: 3 sets of 30 reps
• Chest Dips: 4 sets until failure

Day 2 - Arms (Cables):
• Cable Bicep Curls: 5 sets of 20 or until failure
• Cable Reverse Curls: 5 sets of 20 or until failure
• Cable High Pulley Tricep Extension: 5 sets of 20 or until failure
• Cable One Arm Tricep Pulldown (reverse grip): 5 sets of 20 or until failure
• Machine Shoulder Press: 3 sets of 10

Day 3 - Back:
• Cable Seated Row: 4 sets of 8
• Leverage Machine ISO Row: 4 sets of 10
• Machine Lat Pulldown: 4 sets of 8
• Dumbbell One Arm Row: 4 sets of 8-12
• Dumbbell Shoulder Shrugs: 3 sets of 30
• Barbell Upright Row: 4 sets of 12
• Dumbbell Lat & Front Raise (supersets): 4 sets of 10
• Dumbbell Stiff Leg Deadlift: 3 sets of 12

Day 4 - Legs:
• Leg Press (Standard): 4 sets of 10
• Leg Press (Narrow): 4 sets of 10
• Seated Leg Curl: 3 sets of 20
• Seated Leg Extension: 3 sets of 20
• Machine Hip Abduction: 4 sets of 20
• Machine Hip Adduction: 4 sets of 20
• Hack Calf Raises: 4 sets of 20

Day 5 - Arms:
• Barbell Curl: 4 sets of 8
• EZ Bar Curl: 4 sets of 8
• Dumbbell Hammer Curl: 4 sets of 10
• Dumbbell Alternating Bicep Curl: 4 sets of 10
• Dumbbell Overhead Tricep Extension: 4 sets of 15
• Cable Tricep Pulldown - V-Bar: 4 sets of 20 or until failure

2

What is a TRT cycle? Typically, TRT is not cycled.

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3

TRT is a life long journey. Not a 15 week cycle. If you only plan on staying on for 15 weeks i would go a little higher. +/-200mg/ week for 15 weeks will do not much more than shut you down for not that much benefit.

Outcomes are based on your diet/training. Drugs are a small part of the equation.

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4

You are correct. Forgive my choice of words. I have a current 15 week in hand which will be refilled once completed.

5

You are correct. This is a lifetime move. I was referring to what I had in hand.

6

Hoping someone can dive in beyond the first paragraph lol. I am going to try to edit that “TRT cycle” since it seems to be the roadblock

7

I think we are still trying to figure out what your actual plan is here.
Are you going on TRT @200mg for life here and asking how to optimize? or is this just a 15 week cycle that will come to an end after 15 weeks.
For instance. If you were low T or hypogonadal prior to going on TRT @200 mg per week. Then it all come down to training and diet. Your supplement list will make little difference in the outcome. Just make sure your diet matches your goal and you’ll make some good gains.
Now if you’re doing a 200mg per wk. “Blast” for 15 weeks?
Then your plan needs some work.

2 Likes
8

FriscoKid - I am going to be on TRT @200mg for life here and asking how to optimize outcomes.

9

The goal of TRT is to improve symptoms from being in a low test state.
Everything you are doing currently will work better for you if it is already working now.
The advice I can give is stick with your current protocol for at least 4-5 months before making any changes.
Bloodwork
Your not posting ranges. Also where is your hormone panel and your metabolic panel?
Supps
I hope you are taking a couple of products that have all this stuff in them and not individual products. Are all of these essential to you?
Goals
These outcomes will be dependant on your training and diet. Keep training with intensity and eating for your goals whether that’s gaining or losing. As far as the ED goes it’s hard to see what’s going on without more bloods. If “fails mid journey” means losing erection while having intercourse then that could be a sign of high estrogen. I know when mine gets high i have softer erections and it becomes hard to finish sometimes resulting in losing erection mid way.
Training
Keep doing what works for you. You should notice your recovery is better but don’t make the mistake of adding in training days and overtraining. 5 days per week is plenty.

If you want something more specific you need to ask about that. Your initial question is pretty vague.

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10

Get off the Tri Blend and go for straight Cyp. The blend has no benefits for long term use and the Prop ester hurts bad.

11

I never understood why the would blend E and C. Makes 0 sense to me. I get adding the prop but the other two are virtually the same except for the slight difference in ester weight

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12

@s.gentz Why do you think they do the triblends? What would be the purpose other than half life duration.

13

@s.gentz

Hormone Panel:

  1. Total Testosterone: 319 ng/dL (Normal range: 300-1,000 ng/dL)
  2. Free Testosterone: 54.6 pg/mL (Normal range: 35-155 pg/mL)
  3. DHEA-Sulfate: 106.2 µg/dL (Normal range: 85-690 µg/dL)
  4. Estradiol: 9.4 pg/mL (Normal range: 10-50 pg/mL)

Metabolic Panel:

  1. Glucose: 94 mg/dL (Normal range: 70-99 mg/dL)
  2. Creatinine: 1.1 mg/dL (Normal range: 0.7-1.3 mg/dL)
  3. BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen): 14 mg/dL (Normal range: 6-20 mg/dL)
  4. Sodium: 140 mmol/L (Normal range: 135-145 mmol/L)
  5. Potassium: 4.2 mmol/L (Normal range: 3.5-5.1 mmol/L)
  6. Chloride: 103 mmol/L (Normal range: 96-106 mmol/L)
  7. CO2 (Carbon Dioxide): 28 mmol/L (Normal range: 23-30 mmol/L)
  8. Calcium: 9.5 mg/dL (Normal range: 8.5-10.2 mg/dL)
  9. Total Protein: 7.0 g/dL (Normal range: 6.0-8.3 g/dL)
  10. Albumin: 4.5 g/dL (Normal range: 3.5-5.0 g/dL)
  11. Globulin: 2.5 g/dL (Normal range: 2.0-3.5 g/dL)
  12. ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase): 72 IU/L (Normal range: 44-147 IU/L)
  13. AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase): 20 IU/L (Normal range: 10-40 IU/L)
  14. ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase): 22 IU/L (Normal range: 7-56 IU/L)
14

I think that they do them with the intent of keeping steadier levels but it’s really not ideal once you reach full blood saturation as you will get spikes when you inject because of the prop. Not needed IMO

15

This is where you need improvement for sure.
I’m surprised to see low estrogen. When mine is on the lower end I get great erections and libido is off the charts. Too low and libido tanks but erection still great. Too high and libido remains high but erection quality sucks and it’s hard to finish.
Was this panel done by a doc or did you get it done? You’d be a good candidate for trt.

16

At 41, almost 42, TRT is just a way to feel like I’m 25-30 again. I don’t know that it can really be optimized other than that.

Some supplements that may be worth checking out in general for your goals are HMB and Betaine Anhydrous. Both would work in tandem with TRT for better performance and outcomes at the gym plus additional general health benefits.

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17

Appreciate the suggestion. I will look into it for sure.

18

So you think drop the prop but keep the enth

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19

I would run just straight enanthate.

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