36 y/o with Low T. Want to Increase Naturally if Possible

[ZBoT]

Age: 36
Height: 6'4
Waist: 38"
Weight: 230 lbs
Body/facial hair: some facial hair (not full) and little body hair
Carry fat: midsection and chest under nipples
Health conditions: none that I know of
RX and OTC drugs: never used any hair loss drugs, don't take any OTC drugs, never used steroids or anything like that
Lab results:
1/5/2016

Diet:Was eating very low fat/high protein diet (10% fat calorie intake) and on a calorie deficit. Since the results have increased fats to 35-40% and switched to maintenance calories ~2800.
Training:I'm pretty sure I was overtraining. Lifting heavy 5 days/week and doing HIIT cardio rowing sessions 4 days/week. Maybe only 1 day a week rest without either lifting or cardio. I've since stopped and just walk everyday. Would like to get back to some training though if possible.
Testes ache:No, never.
Morning wood:Never for over a year. No libido at all.

Hi all,

I'm exciting to find this site. I recently had my T tested and here were the results:

Free 3.28
Total 234

I've felt pretty bad (sour mood, tired, low libido, not sleeping well) for about a year and half. Here's more background to my story. About 3 years ago I weighed almost 400lbs (I'm 6'4"). I decided to start losing weight so I limited myself to three healthy meals/day. This went on for about a year and I lost 100lbs. Then I started working out to lose more. Within months I was running every day (5-8k) and also doing a P90x style workout everyday. I would take maybe 1 rest day a week and doing all this while in a caloric deficit. I got down to 200lbs but was skinny/fat looking. During this time of intense cardio (about year and half ago) was when I started having all the low T symptoms I described above. I didn't realize you could overtrain.

At this point I wanted to gain muscle back because I didn't like how I was looking so I started to lift weights. I started doing that pretty seriously over the past year (squats, deadlifts, presses, etc). I started tracking calories at this point and was going through cuts and bulks. Up until last week I was lifting 5 days/week and doing heavy HIIT rowing about 4 days/week. Rarely taking a day of from either. I also in a about a 20% calorie deficit and eating a high protein, low fat diet (~35% protein, 15% fat, 50% carbs).

So after getting my test results just over a week ago I have been researching and realized all the mistakes I have been making (overtraining, no rest/recovery days, calorie deficit, low fat/high protein diet).

For the past week I have stopped all training and just started walking about 45 mins/day. I've increased my calories to maintenance (~2800) and started including more fat and carbs (red meat, avocados, rice, etc) and less protein (shooting for 40% fat, 40% carbs, 20% protein). I already take a good multi-vitamin, fish oil and vitamin D daily. I've order some Boron, PS, Ashwagandha and Forskolin to try.

I'm hoping these changes will correct my low T levels soon. I have a few questions though.

1.) Are there things I'm missing that I should be doing to try and correct this?

2.) I plan to just walk for 1-2 weeks and do no other training. I'm wondering if I should start lifting after that or not (would only do that 3 days a week to start). Should I start this back up after a 2 week rest? I'm not sure if I should rest longer until I feel better or stick with the heavy lifting (no cardio) since from what I read is supposed to help increase T.

3.) Saying my issue is just overtraining, does anyone have any guesses on how long it might take before my T will go up and I start to feel better?

My doctor recommended I see an endocrinologist. So I have an appointment with one in 2 months (takes a while I guess). I really think I did this to myself by doing what I described above but I'm going to get checked out further just to make sure. Also I think it will be good to get my T re-tested in two months to see if these changes are helping.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to any response!

[KSman]

In the 2nd post of the 1st topic in the forum, follow these links:
- advice for new guys
- things that damage your hormones
- thyroid basics

TSH-2.51 is too high, should be closer to 1.0. The thyroid ranges are bogus.
Check your oral body temperatures as per the last sticky above.

You need these labs: - you have some now
TT
FT
E2
LH/FSH
prolactin
fT3

Your liver enzymes my be up from training, or some problem that might be reducing your ability to clear estrogens.

I do not think that you will solve this problem "naturally".

[ZBoT]

Check your oral body temperatures as per the last sticky above.

Will do. I'll post the results back. Thanks for the response!!

[ZBoT]

I measured my temperature (under tongue, 3 mins w/ glass thermometer) when I got home from work yesterday around 4:30pm. It was 97.7F. I had my wife measure hers to check the thermometer and it was 98.6F. I measured it twice later after dinner and it was 98.3F both times.

This morning I measured it before getting out of bed and it was 97.6F. I should mention I have been having really bad night sweats lately and this was the case last night as well. Not sure if that would affect this temperature reading or not.

I will continue to monitor temperature and post back.

I'm curious, there be any harm in trying a small dose of iodine? Perhaps 12.5mg/day of the Iodoral?

Thanks!

[KSman]

That would be a good idea if you have not always used iodized salt.

Get a multi-vit that lists iodine+selenium that does not have any iron. You should have selenium when taking large amounts of iodine.

[ZBoT]

Temp in the morning yesterday was 98.1 and 97.1 in the afternoon. I took my first 12.5mg Iodoral last night. Imagine it will take a couple days of taking it before I feel anything if at all.

[ZBoT]

I also should note, my hands have been super cold all day long for the past few days. Even after walking on the treadmill for 45 mins. I never used to have cold hands.

[BrickHead]

Barring one being malnourished, there is no way to to raise T naturally. No food or supplement or exercises practices will do the trick!

[KSman]

Crazy groundless guessing and speculation will not help. Labs needed.

Re Iodoral: Did you read those stickies?

[ZBoT]

I did read the stickies. Good information thanks! I probably won't get more lab results for like 6 weeks until I see the endocrinologist. That is why I wanted to try Iodoral in the meantime. It seems like it might be helping. (only been taking it for 4-5 days). I'm considering up'ing the dose slowly up to 50mg/day which seems to be what most people are taking. Thoughts?

[KSman]

With Iodoral, not if temperatures and metal clarity improve. Reduce dose if guts get uncomfortable. Iodine will kill off some gut bacteria and digestion change.