Testosterone Level and Overtraining

Bigger Stronger Leaner Competitive Bodybuilding
1

Hi, I have been reading T-Nation for three years now and this is my first post so here is a little background.

I have been training for 3-4 years now and just starting back two months ago from a year lay off due to a bad back injury.

My main interest is powerlifting and my biggest goal is to total 1500lbs+ unequipped at 198 and a triple body weight squat. Things are going good, in two months I have put on about 6lbs of muscle and 2lbs of fat, my strength is rising fast (already stronger pressing than I’ve ever done) and I’m happy with the rate things are goin.

I’m about 5’10" 169lbs now (working my way back up) and plan to hit 190 by years end. I’m working my way to a lean 200.

Ok the point of this post is I had my test levels checked for the first time. I am 23 years old and healthy. My free test was all that was checked and it came back 488. This seemed low to me for my age as I read it is between 200-1200 normally.

My eating is in check, I keep track of calories and make sure I get enough protein, carbs and fat. Take a multi and a fish oil pill a day.

The thought occurred that I might be overtraining since I just read that you should get out of the gym within 45 minutes or else your test levels suffer but I’m seeing good gains. Well my average gym time is 90 minutes start to finish. I have never used antagonists pairing, just each movement at a time, hit the set, sit and rest, hit the set, etc.

This is what I’ve been doin the last 2 months.

WEEK 1-3:
DAY I: Monday
Squat
5 x 3; 1 x 10
Bench Press 5 x 5
Incline Row 5 x 5
BTN Press 3 x 8
Cheated BB Curl
3 x 8
DB Shrug 3 x 8
Hanging Knee Raise 2 x 8

DAY III: Wednesday
Dead Lift 5 x 3
Front Squat 5 x 5
Push Press 5 x 5
Pull-Up
5 x 5
Dip 3 x 8
Side Bend 2 x 8
Roman Chair Sit-Up 2 x 8

DAY V: Friday
Squat
5 x 5
Bench Press 5 x 3; 1 x 10
Incline Row 5 x 3; 1 x 10
Skull Crusher 3 x 8
Close-Grip Chin-Up 3 x 8
DB Shrug 3 x 8
Hanging Knee Raise 2 x 8

***Every Training Day Night
Neck Flexion 2 x 12
Neck Extension
2 x 12
Neck Lateral Flexion 2 x 12

WEEK 4:
DAY I, III, V:
Core Movements 3 x 3

I’m one of those guys who has to fight to not add too much to a program though I think I respond bests to low volume high intensity.

I’m real high strung an hyper type and those that know me tell me so, natural low body fat, I have edgeyness to me so this is the type of person I am. I know sometimes training is different for different types.

Any thoughts? The low test levels baffled me. I normally have a high sex drive an all that so I’m not sure what the problem is. Think if I antagonist pair some movements, cut down on gym time and get out in 45min-60min it may make a change?

Thanks.

2

I don’t think it’s your gym time but you never know. Maybe try supplementing with something like Tribulus. Tribulus will boost your test by increasing the level of luteinizing hormones in your system. It is not a hormone and will not affect the hormones in your body. Unless you want to go to aas try a tribulus and zma stack for an all natural way to increase test. good luck

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Another thing,if your making gains then you really don’t need to worry about it, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it

4

That test level is low for your age, but there are factors to concider. As you know test levels can drop for as much as three days after intense workouts. So that may affect your level. Also, time of day the blood work was checked. If it was in the afternoon vs. with in the frist couple of hours of waking that will make a difference.

488 ng/Dl is worse if it was taken in the morning than if it was taken in the afternoon. If it was taken in the afternoon, then you very well could have been pushing between 500-600 in the morning. If you really are interested in establishing a base line.

Make an appointment for first thing in the morning after a planned 3-4 day lay off from the gym. That will be a more accurate indicator of where you are at. 488 is low but not abismal.
I too would recommened the tribulus or that Alpha Male stuff. It sure wouldn’t hurt, it definatelty bumps up your test levels you can feel it. Remember, it’s always better to have to much than not enough!

5

Incorporate a little ZMA in your supplementation regime. It boosts and frees up Test. Most of us are defiecient in these minerals, and they are important as catalysts in hormone production.

6

Thanks for the info so far guys. I think I meant to say my total test was 488, not free.

Everyone around me finds it hard to believe my test would be low, especially my wife. I’m making good gains, I feel healthy, my sex drive is up and I don’t have any of the big key indicators of low test but the test results don’t lie. I will take your guys’ advice and get it rechecked after a little time off of training and see how it is then. Maybe round up some spare change and buy some Alpha Male or tribulas.

7

This is a case of “overthinking” things. [u]You are making gains.[/u] You feel good. That is all that matters.

You basically read an article and are now looking for problems that you don’t have.

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[quote]IronSyde wrote:
Thanks for the info so far guys. I think I meant to say my total test was 488, not free.

Everyone around me finds it hard to believe my test would be low, especially my wife. I’m making good gains, I feel healthy, my sex drive is up and I don’t have any of the big key indicators of low test but the test results don’t lie. I will take your guys’ advice and get it rechecked after a little time off of training and see how it is then. Maybe round up some spare change and buy some Alpha Male or tribulas.[/quote]

Circumstances play into it, like I said. You’re rested test. level will likely be higher. There is more to making gains that testosterone so it’s not the whole story, but it sure doesn’t hurt to have plenty of test. on hand.

9

Cal and Pat,

Thanks for your input. You’re right, if I am making good gains and feel good thats all that really matters. That in mind I am taking the results with a grain of salt since there are so many different variables that can cause fluctuations.

Coincidently I am setup to see a new general practitioner next week and they will do the standard physical and bloodwork. I plan to request a test for total testosterone again and do what has been suggested. Things I am doing different are:

  1. I noticed my protein powder contains soy so I’ll get different protein powder without soy.

  2. My sleep schedule is crazy. I wake up a lot and don’t get to bed until 3 or 4am frequently. I’ll just have to wake up at 8 or 9 no matter what for a while until I fall into a normal sleep schedule. Sun up sun down type thing.

  3. I’m going to pair movements up so I don’t spend 90 to more minutes training at a time.

  4. Take more fish oil (currently one pill a day, increase to 3-5) and eat more carbs. I eat real low carb (less than 100grams per day average) I noticed since I actually sit down to check it today. I eat REAL high protein and moderate amount of fat.

  5. Stop worrying about trivial things like testosterone tests which most likely don’t even mean anything worth freaking out about. Cut stress out and MAKE time to relax.

I have a couple weeks before the test so I’m going to move training around to where I do not train 3-4 days prior to the test and I take it in the morning an hour or two from waking up.

Thanks for all the help guys, much appreciated.

10

Follow Up:

I did all that I posted above prior to a second testing. I used NO supplements other than a multi-vitamin and fish oil and these were not consistent. Sleep schedule was changed to a sun up sun down 8-9 hour basis. Training sessions were cut down to 45-60min max. No training for 72 hours prior to testing. No extra soy in diet that I don’t need (protein powder has some soy but not much).

Results as cited by my physician:

Total Testosterone Normal Range:
241 - 827

My Tested Testosterone Range:
660

The reading of 660 is a big improvement from the original 488. This should go to show that if you get tested once, it may have been bad circumstances hormonally. Re-evaluate your lifestyle including diet, training and stress levels and get retested.