Without symptoms, there’s flat out no demand. I had to be VERY candid with my doctor to get my first hormone profile, after which point, when they saw the numbers, they immediately went for another.
I should have included some backstory - but you are right.
I saw this guy in 2015 with low T symptoms, asked him to test, came back at 310. He told me I was in range so he would not prescribe. I then went to a clinic, tested at 170 and got on TRT. I then switched to a different PC and he prescribed for me and let me inject at home. Since then I went UGL, and that is why I was hoping he would test. But, I didn’t want to ask because I didn’t want to confess to self medicating.
End result is that I will pay for a private test and continue self medicating. Not the best scenario, but I have been doing it for over five years. I feel like since I am in this T-hole I am kind of stuck.
Oh well.
1/25/25 W3D1 - OHP
Hicksville
OHP Machine (no racks available) 80/100/110/120x10/140x5/160x5, IncBP 70x10x5, Fps 28/33/38/43, Tpds 28/33, OHTE 33/33
Place was jammed and I went full misanthrope mode, got a pump and got out. I’m not going to count this as W3D1. Will fly home this afternoon and continue week three there and redo OHP before starting the next cycle.
Didn’t get into the gym much while traveling - jetlag and spending time with my kids. Also took a week off from the gain train and things seemed to have tightened up in the mirror, will be interesting to see what I weigh and what my BF is when I get back tomorrow. Probably the same, lol.
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1/26/25 W3D2 - DL
45/95/135/155/175x10, BBShrugs 135/145/155/165, Lat PDs 80/100/110, PreaCurls 30/40, Cable Curls 8/12/15.
Slept in after flight last night, expected gym to be packed but it wasn’t. W.
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1/27/25 W3D3 - BP
45/95/135/155/175x9/195x2/215x1/95x10x5
Incline BP Machine 80x10x5
PD 85/90/90
TPD’s 30/35/35
OHTE Ropes high 35/35/35
Fasted, but with 14 hours of sleep, lol.
EDIT: 35 minute walk.
1/28/25 Ramblings
Figured I would leave this here in case any one else is going through it. Had a physical last week, mostly good - the usual suspects, cholesterol and blood sugar.
Nothing crazy but do better moving forward.
Two new issues - Vitamin D deficiency and PSA levels. The PSA was 3.35 and not necessarily concerning in itself as I am 61 and that is considered in range, but the Dr. had no reference to go off since I had never seen him before and my last physical was five years ago and I don’t know what my level was then.
The vitamin D think I basically ignored, I’ll supplement and that will be that.
He wanted me to see a urologist.
So, as usual, I got busy with Google Fu and found that I was in range for my age, that high PSA levels were associated with low vitamin D levels, which could be caused by prostate cancer.
Which leads me to the question, does low vitamin D elevate PSA levels or indicate prostate cancer?
I started on the Vitamin D3 with K2 a few days ago, seem to have gotten a bump in energy. I plan on getting another PSA in a few months before hunting for a Urologist.
Figured I would leave it here in case anyone else is going through similar learning experiences.
203@17.8
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1/28/25 - Rest day
AbCrunch Machine 40/50/60/40
Torso Rotary 100/80/80
Treadmill 20 minutes
Short night of sleep but felt good, probably positive result of fifteen hours of sleep the night before, but it could be the D3 . . . or placebo.
Been whining about body comp while eating like an asshole and not doing any cardio. I have gotten bigger, stronger, but need to clean up the diet and continue with cardio.
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1/29/2025 W3D4 - Squats
45/95/135/155/175x10
LP 115/120/125
LE/LC 85/90/95
AB/AD 120/125/130
BB Shrugs 140/150/160/170
Prepping for a 5000 mile, four week road trip - getting excited.
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1/30/2025 C3W1D1 - OHP
45/65/85/100/115x10/135x4/155
Smith IncBP 85x10x5
Rear Delt PD 55/60/70
Cable Laterals 9/9
TPD’s 33/38
OHTE 38/43/48
I think this is my third cycle but am not positive - been consistent for about ten weeks and typically skip deload week. Think my TM’s are where they should be - started low, progressed slowly - and expect things to get more difficult. I have been doing 531 5’s pro and might switch to FSL to lighten the training load. I will almost certainly de-load after this cycle, but am trying to figure out the timing with the upcoming road trip. I will have 3-4 days of travel followed by 4-5 days of being in one place, rinse and repeat. It will be difficult to coordinate travel and consistency in the gym, so I want to coordinate off days and de-load with driving days. I’m also thinking about Eat Less Exercise Less on travel days and trying to stabilize my weight. I’m still hoping to get to 210 or more in the next six weeks, then stabilizing, then a slow cut for beach weather.
Too much thinking for a guy that doesn’t think well.
EDIT - Twenty minutes on TM, evening.
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1/31/25 Off Day
Crunches 45/55/65/75
Roatries 85/90/95
TM - 20 minutes
205@17.1
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2/1/25 W1D2 - DL
45/95/125/145/165x10/185x4/205x4/225x4
BBshrugs 140/150/160/170
Chins 100/85/85
Preacher machine 30x10/40x8
Cable Curls 12/18
Wrist Curls 22.5/25/27.5
Happy about the 225 DL as a small milestone on my journey to 4 plates, lol. Disappointed by the failure to hit ten reps on the preacher curls, but the chins take it out of my and they are progressing, so I will take a W.
EDIT - Evening walk 1.7 miles.
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2/2/25 W1D3 - BP
45/95/125/145/165x10/195x2/215/225
IBPM 90x10x5
PD 90/95
TPDs 35/40/40
OHTE with EZ bar 43/48/53
Weight and BF same.
Road trip a week from today - dental appointments confirmed in Mexico, lodgings booked. Just have to figure out my stops on my way, a few logistical things, but going to point my truck south and wing it mostly.
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FWIW, this might be a part of the problem.
Sorry to drag you over to my thread, but I am not able to post in the Pharma section.
Isolation, or the feeling of isolation, can cause some issues. Finding your tribe now might help.
I got no suggestions how to do that.
Hey no worries. Yea im positive you’re onto something there. And i do miss it alot. I wanted to be a lifer but the covid thing hit and, having a heart history, I especially did not feel comfortable getting the shot. Went from being the golden boy to the black sheep of the company in like 2.5 seconds. Was pretty obvious they were gonna make me regret saying no, so i pursued a medboard to keep myself safe and get out on my term’s.
Unfortunately, since i medboarded theres no going back in. Wife is joining as an officer and heading to basic in March so i’ll be “back in the military community” but itll be as a spouse now so it wont be the same.
To make matters worse i am a FULL-BLOWN introvert. So i already self isolate a lot naturally. I can absolutely hang with the boys but at the end of the day ive always valued my own alone time. That probably works against me though because I dont pursue a lot of relationships if any.
And of course i just dont really talk to any of the guys i served with now either anymore. We all just kind of dropped off the face of the earth.
2/3/25 - Off
20 minutes treadmill.
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I have a lot of ideas, been through some similar things, not sure I have any answers but am happy to suggest a few things.
You are likely grieving the loss of “the boys.” Normal. Consider the loss as making room in your life for something new, possibly better.
I am also an introvert, but reframed that lens to recognize my sigma male tendencies. I’ve shed many friends over the last five years, to the point that my circle of friends is now a triangle. I’ve gone minimal - possessions and friends. I see it as freedom from the passion for possessions, and it has been liberating.
I attend a twelve step fellowship almost daily when I am in my hometown. I don’t socialize with others outside of the meeting, but I do chat while I am there. I also attend a men’s group once a month that I find very cool. Mankind Project has something similar, and they do have online meetings. I don’t necessarily enjoy going, but it always feels good having gone.
Not sure if any of this helps, or will help, but figured I would share a few things.
Best.
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Thanks man. Im gonna check them out today. I appreciate you taking the time to share your experiences with me.
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I looked that up. It seems interesting. I am a hermit. Socializing would be good.
I have become a fan of reframing my narrative. Hermit = Sigma.
Frankly, when I was teaching, I found holding space for 150 kids over five periods a day exhausted my capacity for human contact.
Mankind Project was a little funky, shamanistic influenced with banging a drum and other rituals. Cool idea, just a little left of center for me. I go to a Men’s Group run by the local Psychedelic Society. The facilitator is a Jungian Psychologist and creates a cool space, presents on a topic germane to the group, and then guys share. Most of them have used psychedelics, are considering psychedelics, or want to use psychedelics therapeutically, but there isn’t a lot of conversation about psychedelics. Mainly just dudes hanging out.
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I can understand that. Though, being at an alternative school, I have 13 students all day. I would not trade that for 150 students in 5-6 different classes. But I still grocery shop at 6:00 AM. I have tickets for the symphony that I have not used yet this year. The thought of being around people just puts me off.
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