Thanks for reading. I have read a lot of everyones articles/responses and decided it was time to post my own.
I am 34 y/o 6’4" 224lbs, 15-18% bodyfat if I had to guess (I’ve done BodPOD and InBody in the past an I am basing my estimate on the mirror). I’ve been seriously training again for 3 and a half years. I trained in the Army and then got lazy and started training again at 30 when I saw a picture of myself and realized I had a gut for the first time. I’ve done basic weight training programs, Crossfit for 2 years, and I am now doing an upper/lower 4 day split with 3-4 days of interval/cardio work. I struggled somewhat with strength for the first 3 years and really had to struggle for every 5 pound increase. Since starting TRT my numbers are going up quickly though. Bench 295#, Squat 355#, Deadlift 385#, Strict Press 195#. Still have a ways to go but happy now that the numbers are going up regularly.
My pre TRT was T level was 348. Thats all I have. I went to a men’s clinic. They are not the best. Currently working with my Integrative Health Doc to prescribe TRT.
My current TRT protocol is 70mg/2x week.I started on T cyp 100mg/2x week, HCG 500mg/1 week and Arimidex .5mg/2x wk day after shots. I dropped HCG and AI 3 weeks ago. I dropped the AI because I felt my E was too low after doing a strict diet and losing some body fat. I noticed a serious problem waking up, my knees ached and my morning wood disappeared. The Integrative Health Doc test my Estradiol and it came back 18 pg/ml. Ref 10-40. I dropped the HCG to see if I could control my E2 and water weight with T dose. I will do bloodwork again in a few weeks.
To get to the point, I have always struggled with body fat. It’s very hard to lose and I gain very easily. I have tried everything under the sun diet/training wise to try to see what works and I can’t get below 15%. I have been incredibly strict for many months at a time, weighing and measuring everything I ate and no joy. After reading here I decided to have my thyroid checked. The first test was performed by a Primary Care doc. He only did a cascading result. After seeing my TSH I went to the Integrative Health Doc.
Test results:
4/1/19 Result Ref
TSH 3.30 0.40-4.50 (mIU/L) Cascading reflex.
5/1/19 Result Ref
TSH 3.51 .27-4.20 mU/L
Free T4 1.48 .86-1.76 ng/dL
Free T3 4.23 2.30-4.40 pg/ml
Triiodothyronine, Reverse 23.4 9.0-27.0 ng/dL
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody 11 <9-34 U/ml
Thyroglobulin Antibody <10 <10-115 IU/ml
Other Results:
Cortisol:
Result Ref
Salivary Cortisol 08:00 .185 ug/dL .025-0.600
Salivary Cortisol 12:00 .035 ug/dL <0.010-0.330
Salivary Cortisol 16:00 .032 ug/dL 0.010-0.200
Salivary Cortisol 00:00 <0.010 ug/dL <0.010-0.090
Hemoglobin A1C 4.9% <5.7 . % non diabetic
Estimated Average Glucose = 94 mg/dL
[equation AG= (28.7 x HgbA1c) - 46.7]
Vit D 25-Hydroxy 48.8 30.0-100.0 ng/ml
I also have a Lipid Panel, CBC, and Comprehensive Metabolic panel from 4/1/19 if anyone wants to see them. I’ll have to post pictures though because it’s a lot to type. I had a food sensitivities test done on 5/1/19 and I am avoiding all negative results (90% of the time. It is more difficult than I would have thought. I really have to read every label.)
Thank you in advance for any comments.