I know there's mostly only chicks here but this is simply a last ditch effort to see if some of the trainers have any ideas.

My testosterone levels have bottomed out to only 223. Normal levels are usually considered between 300 and 1,000 even for guys alot older than my 31 years. The problem appears to be due to my low LH levels, which is what signals testosterone production. My pituitary gland isn't pumping that out. Yesterday an MRI came back normal and ruled out a tumor.

I've read that it could be diet or exercise related. But, on the diet side, I think it's usually due to either extremely high fat and otherwise unhealthy food, or extremely low fat diets. I've also read about protein deficiencies, which I don't think that I have. Also I've read that weight loss can do it, but I purposely stopped losing weight after all my abs area above my belly button got pretty defined. The only thing I've seen that I believe that is applicable to me is stress, but I'm doing alot better in that department yet it's still low. The only condition that I'm still kind of scared of is hemochromatosis, which is where your body absorbs too much iron, and can build up in your pituitary gland. I'm not sure if an MRI would show that or not, I would assume that it would.

I guess the biggest things that it's affecting is sex drive and aggressiveness. As an athlete it kind of concerns me, but these are the only two things that I can consciously tell that has changed.

Since somebody is probably going to ask since it's typical in the harsh truth section, here's my situation:


5'9", 153 pounds, about a 29" waist...

typical eating habits:
1. bowl of kashi and soy milk first thing in the mornings
2. 1 egg or sometimes fruit smoothie with yogurt as a late breakfast
3. 1 banana as a mid-morning snack around 10
4. black bean soup, fish and veggies, red beans and rice, venison bbq and potatoes, or that kind of thing for lunch
5. 1 apple afternoon snack
6. pistachios, beef jerky, a clif bar, dried apricots, and that sort of thing right before riding or running in the afternoons
7. usually I'll have a soy protein shake, fruit smoothie with milk and yogurt, or quite a bit of cottage cheese immediately after a workout.
8. for dinner I have something that's a good dose of protein and complex carbs, such as salmon and sweet potatoes, grilled chicken and basmati rice, that kind of thing
9. at least a gallon of water every day.


typical exercise habits (usually 6 days a week total, this varies a little):
1. one day a week mountain biking hard for 2 to 3 hours
2. three days a week running 3 to 10 mile distances at 7.5 to 8 minute mile paces.
3. one day a week intervals, usually 200 yard sprints on the track
4. one day a week circuit training with weights, and about 1,400 jump rope reps
5. stretches, 50 crunches, 50 leg lifts, 20 Hindu pushups, 40 normal pushups nearly every day
6. always take Monday's off.

If anything stands out, ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO TESTOSTERONE PRODUCTION, please let me know.

This is not something I would be asking a trainer. My advice....

Find a good doc.

Sorry if you mentioned, but how did you get you T tested?

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Uh... Soy? Low Fat? Low sat fat? Not enough sleep? Stress? All those could apply to YOUR low test levels. If you've ever messed with your HPTA, :::cough,exogenous hormones,chogh::: then there's your reason right there.

To be honest 231 @ 31years old isn't as bad as it gets. After your doctor clears you of any medical condition, look into HRT if you feel compelled to.

My exact next post Mreik.

HRT.

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I'm waiting for that day to come with me, better believe I'm going straight to the 'Aging Clinic' lol...

On a side note, serious and consistant aerobic training has shown to decrease test levels and increase GH levels. So maybe try throwing some real weight around. Also, what were your free test levels? As total has little to do with how you feel, heal, and perform.

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I got it tested after seeing a doc, a urology specialist actually. However, he doesn't seem to understand fit people or anything that is exercise related. Numerous things make me say that, but the last thing he said that was odd was that after he did my first set of blood work, he gave me a lecture about me eating so many Wendy's burgers after seeing that my total cholesterol was a little high at 202. Before I got it checked, I was tip-toeing around cholesterol as if it were death incarnate. Soy milk instead of regular milk, usually ate beans for lunch instead of meat, any meat intake was very lean (no greasy burgers or ribeyes), only ate egg whites and rarely any yolks... all kinds of stuff like that, yet I still get lectured about Wendy's burgers. I kind of gave up after that, I figured if I could try that hard and it's still high, I'm not sure what the point is. I've eaten a few burgers and egg yolks since then. I'm not sure if avoiding daily cholesterol could have affected testosterone or not.

jiminey boys - age and sex drive are not related - otherwise why would viagra be such a big seller don't worry you have it now -you will be horndawgs w hen you're older than I am - and for that the wimminfolk will be grateful

carry on ... none of this aging clinic talk

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I don't know what you mean, don't know what a free test level is. As far as how I feel, heal, and perform... I'm in the best shape of my life, I feel great. I'm able to push myself as much as I want to (extended periods of 95% max heart rate) and recover quickly. Like I said, this aspect concerns me, since I wonder if I'm missing out on healing and recovering even faster, but the only things that I can consciously tell that is affected is sex drive and aggressiveness. I find myself not wanting to screw or fight as much as I used to. I'll enter a race and I just don't have that same drive to get that competitive edge on somebody, I feel more passive than I used to be. Sex drive is the biggie though. I'm only 31 and I rarely want to have sex anymore. Maybe one day a week I'll truly want to, and that's about it.

There are two different values of testosterone measurement in your body (there's actually TONS, but 2 important). Free and total, the number you gave is total. Which is a good guide, and actually used to determine if you qualify for HRT. But when testosterone is bound to sex hormone-binding globulin (SBHG) or albumin it's next to worthless for muscle building and libido purposes. Total testosterone actually includes test that is bound to one (and others) of these so called transport proteins. So there is a second number, which is called Free testosterone, which holds more meaning in terms of testosterone activity. Keep in mind that a low total number could indicate and underlying problem, which is why your doctor gave you an MRI looking for a cause. But if you were to just genetically, or self induced, have low total test levels, and high (not low) free levels you should still be fine. In a health and performance aspect, assuming there is no underlying issue.

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It actually can, steroids (testosterone included) are derivatives of the 4 ring cholesterol model. Good luck with this, and keep us updated.

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Shut up and lift, princess.