Can You Recommend TRT, etc.?

[ucimigrate]

Hello Everyone,

I will be 41 years old in a month.

I am about 174 cm, 170 lbs, 23% bodyfat.

In my teenage years, I was about 15% bodyfat. I could get below 12%, etc. if I trained hard with weights, etc.

On some fitness programs, like Bodyforlife, with 1800 calories a day, etc. I could get below 5% bodyfat. Still, no six pack, nothing more than mediocre.

1. I have done some TRT, etc. before. Do you guys recommend it now?

I live in mainland China. TRT and GH are not expensive at all, especially with insurance.

2. I am confused about TRT. I know the idea is just to get people back to levels they were in their 20's. Could I get even better results, energy levels, etc. than that?

3. I am very sensitive. I don't want mood swings, etc.

When I did Androgel, the only dramatic increase was the first week. I could go from one hour of exercise a day to four hours; but, then things went back to normal.

Primobolan Depot just made my moods race. Oxandrolone went from cool, calm, collected to roid rage.

My whole life, my LH is normal and my Testosterone is about 330.

4. Are results subtle, etc.?

 

[Smont]

2 things.

1. TRT has Natty results. If your test is low 300's and you bring it up to the top of the range you would probably have minor improvements in body composition. Nothing mind-blowing. But you SHOULD consider TRT for quality of life regardless.

2. Your perception of your bodyfat %i has to be really off, you definitely were not 5% without abs. 5% bf is competition ready bodybuilding show lean, even 10% is more shredded then 99.9% of the planet. Most people at 15% can still see the outline of there abs. If you were ever anywhere below 12% and no abs, then it would be because of severely underdeveloped abs (which doesn't really happen).

The truth of the matter is your just going to have to diet harder and longer. We are only as lean as our fattest body part. My arms and shoulders may look like they're 8% body fat but if my stomach has no visible ABS then I absolutely am not 8% body fat I just have to keep dieting until my abs look like the rest of me. This is actually pretty common thing for a lot of people. It just really has to do with your body fat distribution and where we like to hold body fat. Most men hold it in their midsection

 

[ucimigrate]

Thanks for the info.

During those lean years, I can tell you different ways I was measured at under 10%. Yes, I grant you, all these have margins of error:

1. A trainer at my university did the Skindex Electrical caliper. It was 6.8%, then down to 5.5% a few months later.

A regular caliper dipstick at Max Muscle did the 3 point regular caliper method, 8%, even with my Ralph Lauren sweater on.

Someone that summer did a 3 point test when fasted, first thing in the morning, dehydrated from green tea and cardio: 1.5% with the 3-caliper method.

2. My general practitioner had a close relationship with me. She said "maybe it is just that your abs are where your body stores fat."

Others have said I have very weak ab muscles, non-existent obliques, anterior and lateral pelvic tilt that is hard to fix. That is considered a "problem area."


2. More on topic, perhaps TRT will be better for quality of life. I just hope no previous psychiatric issues.

As always, work carefully with the doctors, communicate well, heed to their advice.