In my most recent installment, I discussed my experience after 18 months of testosterone replacement therapy. It’s now been two years since I chose to undergo testosterone optimization therapy at the age of 28. And I’m still here to tell the tale! I didn’t suffer a heart attack, develop bitch tits, grow an enlarged prostate or turn into a raving lunatic. Surprise surprise (well, not really). I cannot overstate enough the positive impact testosterone has had on my life. So I will continue to beat the drum and write about my experience, so guys really know what to expect from testosterone optimization therapy. Not just after 6 months, but several years down the road. Far too many men continue to buy into the bullshit about testosterone being dangerous. Yet, they happily pay out of pocket for dumb supplements that don’t work, in the vain hope they will raise testosterone. I have made it my mission to dispel this crap once and for all, especially for young men,
Table of Contents
ToggleFrom Strength to Strength
I am very proud of all I have achieved since I underwent TOT. This is especially true in the gym. I take pictures every few months to monitor my progress, otherwise it’s hard to see the changes in yourself. And I see small, incremental improvements every time. Seeing progress keeps me motivated to train hard and eat right because my efforts are rewarded. It’s a positive feedback loop. In contrast, when I had low testosterone, although my nutrition and training habits were similar, I struggled to make progress. My strength has dramatically across the board. I’m 10X stronger than I was 2 years ago, and my muscles are thicker and denser. I believe this is in no small part from training to failure with the Forged training program. Aside from the physical benefits, my mental strength has also soared: Shortly after starting TOT I quit a job I didn’t enjoy, packed my bags and went to live in a another country. However, this wasn’t an impulsive decision due to testosterone, testosterone just gave me the courage to unashamedly go after my dreams. With optimized hormones, I feel much more composed and calm, and many of my friends have remarked on it. Previously, getting cut off in traffic or a delayed flight would infuriate me. Now I take a more relaxed approach to everything and focus only on the things within my control.
No More Second Guessing
One of my biggest frustrations I had before testosterone optimization was the struggle to make decisions. I’d weigh up the pros and cons of doing something, then weigh it up again, and weigh it up once more. In the end I never took action because I would always overthink it. I was paralyzed by fear and doubt. Little did I know at the time this hesitancy and indecision was the result of low testosterone. But now after 2 years of testosterone optimization, I get the facts and just make a decision. I’ve got better things to do than overthink a stupid scenario that may never happen. Nevertheless, I’m humble enough to know I won’t always make the best choice. Sometimes I’ll fall flat on my face. But I’d rather take action and learn from my mistakes so I continue to grow We’re all human; and there are times when I ask myself if I did the right thing. Although, as soon as I catch myself thinking like this I immediately change my train of thought. No more second guessing: Just doing.
What’s Your Excuse?
Everyday I speak to men in the dire straits of low testosterone: Anxiety ridden, depressed and no sex life. I mean honestly, who would want to put up with that crap? However, even in the face of overwhelming evidence that they need testosterone optimization, i.e. blood tests demonstrating a clinical need and the presence of symptoms, they still refuse to face reality. The truth is, they’re scared SHITLESS – and that’s perfectly normal. Because undergoing testosterone therapy represents a leap into the unknown. It’s not like first humans exploring Mars here guys. If you’re the least bit discerning, you can find plenty of scientific evidence to support the benefits of testosterone. Contrast this to the abject quackery of the mainstream media, which wants you to remain a cuckolded, supplicating dork. I myself have written plenty of articles on the subject. Hell, Jay Campbell and Jim Brown did a 600 page masterpiece on the subject: The Testosterone Optimization Bible. So essentially, all these men are doing is making excuses about why they can’t go on testosterone therapy. The following are some of the most common excuses I hear. ‘Hormone optimization is too expensive!!’ Look, I understand the financial implications of testosterone optimization therapy. We all have bills to pay. You have a car payment because you view your car as a necessity to go to your job every day and make money. However, if you say hormone optimization is expensive, then is it really the money? Or is that you haven’t begun to see your health as a necessity? The way I see it, great health is not optional – it’s indispensable. If you had cancer, you’d move heaven and earth to pay for treatment. Testosterone optimization is a fraction of the cost, yet you’re willing to put up with the horrendous effects of low testosterone? You must view low testosterone as serious as any terminal illness – because it really is. Its effects may seem less threatening or benign vs. other illnesses, but it trust me when I say: It packs just as deadly a punch. ‘My wife/girlfriend doesn’t want me to go on testosterone!’ You know what? I don’t give a fuck and neither should you. Do you know why? Because your health is more important than your wife’s/girlfriend’s misguided opinion on whether testosterone is safe or not. When it comes to my health, I make the decisions. It’s my body and I live in it. I am not outsourcing this to anyone EVER. My doctor supports me and gives me solid advice. But in the end, I make decision: I am the keeper of my health – nobody else. ‘It’s for life!’ The idea is that you trial TOT initially, and remain on it if it relieves your symptoms. And if it doesn’t, you can come off it. It’s not like you have a court order to stay on testosterone. There are only a couple of instances I can think of when testosterone doesn’t work for a man. One is when someone is put on a dreadful protocol, e.g. injections every 3 weeks (or 8 weeks with Nebido), by an incompetent doctor. The other instance is when someone has totally unrealistic expectations, fuelled by the instant gratification society, that testosterone will fix everything within a month or two. You must be patient to allow testosterone to work. Some individuals have complex hormonal imbalances that must be addressed by a competent physician before testosterone can truly work. This can take several months in some cases. In short, yes testosterone is for life. But so is your low testosterone, deteriorating health and shitty quality of life unless you do something. But hey, if you like living this way and you’re too much of a pussy to address it, then good luck!
The Natural Testosterone Boosting Myth
In the Testosterone Optimization Bible, I wrote an entire chapter dedicated to the snake oil industry of testosterone supplement ‘boosters.’ I surgically dissected the most common ingredients, such as Fenugreek, D-Aspartic acid and Tribulus Terrestris, showing how worthless they are at raising testosterone. I thought we drew a line through the Natural Testosterone Boosting Myth. But it continues to rear its ugly head. The latest craze sweeping the internet that claims to naturally boost testosterone is through a combination of targeted supplements and lifestyle changes. For example, a well-known author claims you can ‘triple your testosterone’ with the following regime:
- Vitamin D – 3000 – 5000 iUs per day
- Cod Liver Oil / Blue Ice Royal Butter – 2 caps upon waking and before bed
- 10 minute cold showers
- Brazil nuts – 3 upon waking and 3 before going to bed
I nearly fell off my chair when I read this.
Now don’t get me wrong, getting your lifestyle factors in order, i.e. lifting weights, sleep hygiene, proper nutrition, etc., is VITAL. But imagine this scenario; you’ve been training hard in the gym, your diet is dialled in and you supplement intelligently. You’ve maxed out all your lifestyle factors. Yet nothing seems to work, and you still can’t boost your testosterone levels. So you resort to buying more supplements, organic foods and trying ‘natural’ boosting methods, as per the internet guru’s recommendation. But still nothing works, and you’re disappointed and out of pocket. At this point allow me to ask, where’s the science behind these ‘natural’ methods? Oh, you read about it on some bio-hacking website? Must be good then! Show me one fucking study. Better yet, show me a man who has naturally raised his testosterone levels and MAINTAINED it. And if he did raise it, it was transient and he probably spent thousands of dollars on supplements and had to build his life around raising his testosterone ‘naturally.’ No thanks. Optimized hormones are a key part of my life, but they’re not my WHOLE life. I will show you mountains of studies that validate the safety and positive benefits of testosterone optimisation for men, however. What none of the guys who push these stupid methods talk about is the environmental cesspit we live in. Our towns and cities should have warning signs when you enter: Hazardous to humans!
The daily assault from chemicals, car fumes, plastics and poisoned water all conspire to mess up your body. Yet, you think some cod liver oil, vitamin D and cold showers are going to magically fix it? Give me a fucking break. The aforementioned things are adjuncts to a healthy lifestyle; but you deceive yourself if you think they’ll boost your testosterone permanently.
Final Thoughts
I know I come off a zealous evangelist of testosterone, but I’ve been through what you’re going through: I’ve had the doubts, the sleepless nights and endless anxiety. ‘Do I really need testosterone?’ Round and round in circles. Believe me, I would have taken a ‘natural’ solution if there was one. But it’s just a pipe dream. However, don’t take my word for it, go and try and raise your testosterone levels through these ‘methods’ then report back to me in a few months. Nonetheless, allow me to be crystal clear on one thing: Testosterone optimization therapy is NOT for everyone. For example, a young man in his 20s who has secondary hypogonadism, i.e. a failure of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus, may well benefit from human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) as a monotherapy instead of testosterone. And I know plenty of young men who’ve benefited from this type of therapy. Of all the options on the table; clomid, hCG, testosterone, etc – testosterone is the most disruptive because it shuts down the HPTA, lowering your sperm count in the process. So for a young man who wants to retain his fertility, it may not be the best option. But if you’ve done your research and understand the risks; all that remains is to pull the trigger. I know without a shadow of a doubt that I would not be the man I am today without testosterone. Today I go after what I want. Although I still have dark moments where I question whether I’m capable of achieving them. Like you, I struggle with my own demons, and yours may be different to mine. We all have them, and it’s how you face them that counts. Some days I allow the voice in my head to get the better of me, but not for long. Since optimizing my hormones, I know I have a deep reservoir of strength to call upon to conquer adversity and doubt. Men were meant to be towers of strength in hard times, and not fold like a house of cards at the first sign of trouble. I hope this article will inspire you to take action and make a commitment to your own health.
Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. – W.H. Murray
No amount of overthinking will fix the problem, but taking ACTION will. What are you waiting for? PS. If you liked this article, you’ll enjoy my new book coming out later this year – Optimized Under 35: The Ultimate Hormonal Health Guide for Young Men