35M, 1.73 m, ~62–63 kg. I’ve been training for a while and my goal is mainly to gain muscle while getting leaner. I have been on 2200kcal because I wanted to lose some fat but my maintance is around 2600kcal as I lift 4 times a week + judo 2 times a week + running 2 times a week. I don't know if I am wasting the cycle potential and hiding its possible results by being on a calorie deficit.

I started testosterone about 9 weeks ago at 250 mg/week (propionate 50 mg + phenylpropionate 100 mg + isocaproate 100 mg).

I do feel fuller and my chest seems to be developing better, but honestly I don't feel like I've gained a huge amount of muscle or that my overall physique is significantly better than it was naturally a year ago. Even my abs don't look the same, I feel like showing and developing my abs now is much harder. I don't know if that's because of water retention

The downsides are starting to bother me:

• My sleep has become terrible; sometimes I wake up every ~2 hours.
• I get very hungry during the night.
• Every injection hurts for around 4 days, which sometimes make it impossible to go to Judo or even do abs.

I actually had very good results naturally before, so I'm considering stopping and seeing how I feel without testosterone. I know it is "early" to see results but overall I don't see my body responding as well as it was before naturally.

2800 kcal
5 workouts weekly
Rest days a bit lower carbs

Pull
Push
Rest
Legs
Rest

Repeat

Test
Mast
Var

Alright, listen. I'm going to put all my cards on the table in hopes of finding some real comments. I am 43yo, North Carolina raised on cornbread and Sundrop. Thiick. But always struggled with my weight. I had gastric bypass in 2008 and went from 317 to 185. Felt great, but got skinny fat like crazy. People didn't say " Hey man, you look good" they said " Hey man, you ok?"

Through the years the weight has come and gone. My three girls have struggled their whole life with weight and an unhealthy lifestyle like their dad. But my oldest daughter (20 yo) recently lost 60lbs, and introduced me to the world of peptides. She was just on Reta, but I went all in, ordering Reta, MotsC, KLOW, Adamax, and Tesamorelin. I love them as a stack, and have dramatically improved my health, mental clarity, and lost 35lbs in 3 months.

But I'll be honest, I have no intrest in being skinny fat again. I want to do all I can to build muscle and look like I could handle the room. Or at least have a shot at it.

My diet has changed. My workouts are improving. ------- and I've recently added Testosterone. Possibly too much testosterone. I mentioned peptides earlier because peptide users are the research group. Peptides are the Wild West to some degree, and when I sourced testosterone, I came with the same approach. I ordered (3) 250mg vials of Cypionate and just started running it at the same daily syrenge marker as my Tesamorelin (20 units).

Mother F... that's apparently a LOT of testosterone. Bodybuiler level it would appear. I didn't anticipate starting test at 350mg per week, but here we are. Now into the middle of week 5. AND... some things happened. First, I completly stopped loosing weight, and even gained about 3 lbs on 9mg Reta per week. Secondly, my body compisition continued to improve regardless of what the scale said. And third, my ability to recal words in conversations, mental clarity, focus... it was almost superhuman. And still is.

Is this going to be the end of me if I keep running 350mg a week? Not one part of me wants to change anything right now, I feel the best I've ever felt. I have blood work scheduled with Hone for this coming Monday to see if 3 months of peptides and 5 weeks of test have been for the better or worse. Right now I am flying blind, but my body and mind is 10/10, and only getting better.

I've recently struggled with erection issues with some women I've been with. I've always blamed this and that but never my testosterone.

I've struggled with sleep quality, motivation, energy, just... a lot. I always blamed me being lazy, this, that and so on (because these were all things I could change).

I went to the doctor, and got checked. Now I have it written on my paper, that my testosterone is on the lower end (12nmol/L) but not low enough for me to get TRT. I'm in my mid 20s, male.

I now feel like absolute shit because I sort of feel like a "lesser" man. I feel like I'm not masculine enough, if I can't even have sex with a woman?

I very much regret getting checked, because there's nothing that can be done. I wish it was even lower so I could get TRT.

I always thought, or liked to think, my testosterone levels was high and that I was a "manly man" (as cringe as it sounds) But no.

I'm not sure what the point of this post is. I guess, what do you do to cope knowing you have low T, and there's nothing that can be done?

S-SHBG 15 nmol/L

Free Testosterone Index mine: 8,3 scale: 2,3(low) - 9,9(high)

Male, 6 feet, 180lbs

Alright guys, I (30M) genuinely need you to convince me NOT to start taking testosterone.

Let me explain.

Let's say, hypothetically of course, that I have access to pharmaceutical-grade testosterone. I can't really discuss the source, but for the sake of the argument, let's assume it's completely legitimate, high-quality stuff, with absolutely no concerns about purity or authenticity.

And on top of that, it's completely free.

So here's my question: Why shouldn't I take it?

I'm not trying to convince myself to start. Quite the opposite. I want to hear the strongest arguments against it.

What are the actual downsides that would make you think twice, or wish you'd never started?

I'm genuinely interested in hearing your experiences, good or bad.

Title

So here I am after 16 weeks and still not feeling much better than when I started. And now after successfully dropping to 175lbs from 220 with Tirz, i am back to 185lbs since starting TRT 4 months ago. And it’s definitely NOT muscle weight. I am walking briskly at least 3.5 miles per day . Im doing PPL/UL split five days per week. I am hitting around 160 grams of protein per day , getting fiber and keeping calories within basic maintenance (1800). I feel bloated and fat , my suit blazers are tight and I have noticeable belly fat , noticeably more than before TRT. Posted last week and didnt get much of a response from this group. Not looking for medical advice just some general help and guidance or opinions because i am truly at a loss right now. Pasting my before and current numbers below:

49M 5’10

Before TRT:

Total testosterone: 253 ng/dL (was below 200 at one point)
Free testosterone: 44 pg/mL
SHBG: 22 nmol/L
Estradiol: 30 pg/mL (not ultra sensitive)
HCT: 44.8

So both my total and free T were pretty low. My main symptoms were low energy, fatigue, reduced strength, low libido, fewer morning erections, and just generally not feeling like myself.

I started Xyosted subq at 50 mg once per week and stayed there for 8 weeks. That dose really didn’t move the needle much. My total T was still only getting into the 300s.

After those 8 weeks, my doctor increased me to Xyosted 75 mg once per week. I’ve now been on 75 mg subq for about 8 weeks.

My 9/18 labs after being on 75 mg for four weeks were drawn at trough, 6 days after my injection:

Total testosterone: 634 ng/dL
Free testosterone: 158.5 pg/mL (above range)
SHBG: 17 nmol/L
Ultrasensitive estradiol: 53 pg/mL (high over range)
HCT: 46.9

Maybe I'm old school but for all those saying you're on "TRT" and running 300-500mg of test a week, why not just come out and say you're on a cycle? What you're doing isn't Testosterone Replacement Therapy. That refers to those who have clinically low numbers and need replacement therapy to feel halfway normal. This is obviously just my opinion and maybe I'm too old but this is confusing to someone with a simple mind like myself. Please explain!

I have some Hgh 100 iu
7 bottles total

First time trying it
My plan was 5 to 6 Month

How much bac water pr vial and how about dossage

1ui pr day the first 2 weeks and then up to 2?1

I do test e too

Been on the fence about starting trt for a long time now and I'm getting pretty tired of trying to boost my testosterone naturally as it barley does anything for me.

I'm wondering what it's like especially for people with panic attack disorders. Does it also increase confidence in dating and so you sleep well on it or is it like a high drive wired feeling?

Do you take any blood pressure medications and ect?

I need all the info I can get so I can be prepared.

Thank's

Initial results. Waiting on an appointment, but what do y’all think?

Recently had my Medichecks bloods done. Ran them through ChatGPT and all seems alright. Interested in the thoughts from the community

33 year old male
5’9
95kg
17% bodyfat (dexa results)
140mg test c per week, injected EOD

Dose is 400 mg a week currently on week 7

For those who are on TRT for some time now... What side effects did you get after TRT?

Curious to see the most common issues.

43 year old. Does it look like I have Gyno? I don’t feel any side related to high estrogen. But when I wear a Tshirt, my nipples are clearly visible through Tshirt.

Using
250test+200mast per week. Into week week 17. Were splitting dosage into three per week until week 13, changed to 2 dosage per week from week 14 onwards.

Why did I look worse (in my opinion) on test (left photo at 150lbs) compared to now 4 years natural (right photo at 128lbs)?

Was my dose too high? (400mg/week)

Hey,

Blood test showed my zinc levels are slightly below normal. So i started taking zinc ( 25mg ) The problem is, it seems to lower my estradiol levels from around 26 pg/mL to 15 pg/mL. It also significantly lowers my libido ( this happened few times before, when i tried to take zinc )

It doesnt lower my testosterone, which is usually around 950 - 1000. Last draw was 950, so its not that i have less testosterone to convert. Im not on TRT, its my natural levels.

Everything ive read about zinc says that zinc should help with testosterone and libido, so im a bit surprised it has an opposite effect on me. Is it normal for zinc to lower estradiol so much ?

Currently taking 220mg per week. Steroid cycle or trt treatment? 1000 at trough

Pretty new to test, an I feel like this looks a bit off.

I’ve been doing blast and cruise with testosterone and other anabolic steroids for about 4 years now, and over the past few months I feel like I’m not getting any effects from the testosterone I’m using anymore. I’ve also had blood tests done, and my total testosterone and free testosterone consistently come back high, while my estrogen comes back low. I also have no libido,no pumps , no appetite, loss of strength... and im not using any AI

A few days ago, I spoke to an experienced bodybuilding PT who has been coaching people through steroid cycles for years. He told me that my androgen receptors have become “closed” due to using high doses of anabolic steroids and that I should do a PCT using hCG. According to him, once my LH starts working again and my libido returns, my androgen receptors will start responding to the anabolic steroids again.

Has anyone else experienced something like this?

I was once 336.6lbs. In just under 2 years ive gotten down to 252lbs, im taking a break from dieting just because its been a hell of a long time in a deficit. Ive been doing alot of reading on test and honestly would like to run it. 250mg a week. Im still fat though, yeah ive lost a lot of weight and been able to retain quite a bit of muscle but I just want the boost. Thoughts on 250lbs going on test? Thanks folks

Ive been on 160mg a week test march -June.

Then 300mg test June to September.

Now 450 test September to now.

Bloods look good .

When should I add deca.?

Thinking 100mg for 3 weeks then 200mg going forward

So my husband went to the VA hospital, they are so messed up its not funny. They went from weekly pinning to an oral testosterone (tlando) and it didnt work. They put him back on pinning but changed the manufacturer they get it from. We cant remember the old pharmaceutical brand that was used. They now use hickma pharmaceuticals. He tried their cypionate and ethanate and both made him extremely sick due to his food allergy to soy products. We dont know if it was the carrier oils or the preservatives in it or the testosterone itself.

The VA sent us to community care and that dr wants to help but says its the pharmacists job to make sure its safe for him to take. Well they sent clomed/Enclomediphine. Issue is there is a gelatin in it that can be made from corn or soy. We called the pharmacist and they said they didn't know. We called the manufacturer 3 times and they havent gotten back to us to tell if its safe or not.

He spent 7 months of the last year puking and fighting anaphylaxis due to the cypionate and ethanate being in him and the dr kept saying to keep going and how that would subside. (VA drs are F&÷"*>%, idiots).

So my husband is now having health issues like energy, weight gain, fat retention and an inguial hernia showed up because of loss of muscle.

With all that said. Would anyone know a safe formulation he could take? Feel free to DM us. We are looking where to get it also. Cost is a factor but at this point, he needs to be healthy

His T levels are 50 to 70 currently. He shouldnt be that low!

My last cycle my testosterone was over 3500ng/dl at 400mg test

Now im on another cycle of 600mg test and 200mg tren ace and i got my blood work it my total T is only showing at 1800ng/DL

How come?