PLEASE HELP not sure what is wrong

[gmoore01]

I'm a male that just turned 19 and have found myself in a big hole. At the start of the year I decided not to pursue my football career to college. I was 6 foot 1 and a half inches and weighed 275 pounds. I had started working out in eighth grade so I had a good amount of muscle under the fat. So at the start of January I decided to lose a few pounds because I didn't need to be so big anymore not playing football. I got down to 240 lbs by start May just by eating less. I would say I went from eating 4500 cals to 3000 cals. I then saw results and wanted to see more. I was determined to get shredded.

So I bought hydroxycut hardcore elite thinking this would speed things up. Before taking this I would drink coffee some days but I wasn't dependent on caffeine in any way. So I started the hydroxycut and was feeling great. I just had so much energy and loved it. So I take that for a month and get down to 225 working out basically every day and somedays cardio at night. At the end of the bottle I was taking the rec dosage and drinking coffee. At the end of the bottle I then took a three and a half week trip to Canada to see family where I didn't really workout but still consumed a lot of coffee and did some drinking. So about halfway through my trip I noticed I was getting pretty tired and at the end I was having a sore throat. I got back to the US weighing 225 when I thought I had mono but all tests came back fine. So I figured it must of been because of all the energy the hydroxycut was giving me that's why I was feeling tired because I basically went from 700+ mg caffeine to 100 or 200 a day.

So I bought another fat burner shred jym and said this would be my last. So I start taking that for a few weeks along with drinking coffee so back to tons of caffeine. Feeling good until I would start to get very tired some days for no reason and someone said I probly wasn't getting enough carbs so upped carbs which seemed to help. Stopped that fat burner weighing about 205 at the end of August, but after stopping I just started to drink a lot more coffee 600+ mg daily. I could not go to the gym unless I had a ton of caffeine before and some kind of carbs like pop tarts. I started to notice how some days I would just feel so drained like I had no energy. But some days I would go to the gym with drinking 3 cups of coffee before and eating two pop tarts and had some unreal pumps. But I had to have a sugary carb plus a ton of caffeine to workout at this point. So it got to a point where these days of feeling drained were happening more and more but I just kept pounding the caffeine. I ended up where I was drinking basically 450 mg caffeine and pop tarts before a workout and it stopped doing anything to me. Like I had developed such a tolerance for caffeine that it didn't give me energy anymore.

Someone mentioned adrenal fatigue to me even though some don't claim it to be real. So basically I came to the point at the end of September where I was weighing 202 and had abs showing pretty good just looking good but feeling like ****. Just having no energy for anything. Also over this period of losing weight my sex drive slowly went down but didn't totally bottom out until start of October. Doc did bloodwork everything was normal. So I stopped all stims thinking maybe I was just so constantly over stimulated for the past 5 months It took a toll on my adrenals. Or maybe it was losing all the weight messed up my testosterone.

I am now 7 weeks stim free but still just feel very weak all the time. I didn't workout for six weeks I was so weak. I started going again but still feel so weak. My testosterone results came back at 270 which from what I've read is extremely low for 19 years old. I have zero sex drive now and constantly feel in a fog. Like my brain doesn't even work. So if anyone has any idea what is going on please input. All I know is when I was 240 I had a huge sex drive and now I'm at zero with low t, feeling weak, and always in a fog

Edit: I know I wasn't eating enough up until the start of august when I started to eat a lot again with a lot of carbs. That's what seemed to help when I upped my carbs but after a couple weeks I would feel weak again. Never really tracked my fat intake so not sure how to answer that.

[gbullock32]

Ok, I actually read all of that and here is one big piece of advice- paragraphs, use them. Most will not read a giant brick of text.

On to the problem at hand, so no stimms at all for a few weeks, taking in high carbs and still low energy and lower (relatively) test?

How is your dietary fat intake? A low fat intake could very well be the problem, many symptoms you listed would be found in an individual who has an acute lack of fat.

[AFC96]

Please use paragraphs.

[gbnpc]

I skimmed through your situation and besides the low T, I don't recall you mentioning the amount of sleep you're getting, or lack there of. may need more of that if requiring all of the carbs and caffeine.

[rhadam]

Syntax hates him.

[Former300lber]

Prolonged caloric deficit. Take a good month off, eat maintenance or slightly above and taper off the stims a bit.

[roba2686]

Agreed with the posters above - stimulants, sleep issues (possibly), fat intake, and caloric deficit can certainly do a number on your 'mones.

Regardless, if the doc just let you go with T levels of 270 and no game plan, I would get a second opinion.

Good luck!

[gmoore01]

Agreed with the posters above - stimulants, sleep issues (possibly), fat intake, and caloric deficit can certainly do a number on your 'mones.

Regardless, if the doc just let you go with T levels of 270 and no game plan, I would get a second opinion.

Good luck!

I agree it was probably not getting a enough cals for so long but the huge amount of stims was disguising my problems. So basically what should I do now other than up cals and fat. How can I get much sex drive going again. It I basically at zero. I really am lost on this should I take a test booster or can a doc give me something that I won't have to take forever?

[roba2686]

Honestly, dude, I'm no doctor but I'm under the understanding that low T levels are typically a symptom and not a cause.

If I were you I'd steer clear of any T-boosters and try to figure out the CAUSE of your low T-levels. You've already listed a few suspects, but you may want to work with a specialist to really get to the root of things.

You may try visiting a good endocrinologist or possibly look into finding a functional medicine doc.

[gbullock32]

I agree it was probably not getting a enough cals for so long but the huge amount of stims was disguising my problems. So basically what should I do now other than up cals and fat. How can I get much sex drive going again. It I basically at zero. I really am lost on this should I take a test booster or can a doc give me something that I won't have to take forever?

More calories, fat, and sleep; visit an endo if you want. Try that for a bit and see if it helps- if not then hit up the doctor.

[rhadam]

I agree it was probably not getting a enough cals for so long but the huge amount of stims was disguising my problems. So basically what should I do now other than up cals and fat. How can I get much sex drive going again. It I basically at zero. I really am lost on this should I take a test booster or can a doc give me something that I won't have to take forever?

About the worst thing you can do is think that you can just take a pill to fix things (anything). There are many many things that effect our libido and quality of life. Learn to relax, find a way to relieve stress, sleep more, take in proper micro nutrients, increase protein intake, increase fat intake, and maybe take a small break from exercise.

[gmoore01]

Okay well I've been going to an endo and he's been running all sorts of tests. He is saying he thinks my problems are from a concussion years ago that are giving me super low t levels. He wants to put me on testosterone replacement therapy. My question now is could my very low t levels be from not getting enough fat for the past say 7 or 8 months? I really don't think this is from my concussion and he is just trying to put the blame on something. I asked about how I've lost a lot of weight but he says no t levels will return. Please help

[roba2686]

My question now is could my very low t levels be from not getting enough fat for the past say 7 or 8 months? I really don't think this is from my concussion and he is just trying to put the blame on something.

I am not a medical professional but, from what I understand and as indicated by previous posters, low fat intake does affect your T levels. However, I am also under the impression that head trauma can also affect T levels.

Personally, if I had second thoughts I would get a second opinion. Also, I'm not sure what your financial/insurance situation is but, if you have the chance, it may be beneficial to see a functional medicine doctor or naturopath. I know I may sound like a broken record, but the reason I say this is because they should be able to diagnose your lifestyle (including dietary habits), determine what factors may be affecting your T levels, and then help you take steps to address those factors.

This is just my opinion, and I understand that not everybody will have this option, but I would take every other step possible before undergoing any kind of hormone replacement therapy.

[MetilHed]

I really don't think this is from my concussion and he is just trying to put the blame on something. I asked about how I've lost a lot of weight but he says no t levels will return. Please help

A bunch of random internet posters will definitely be able to help you much more than some stupid doctor.

Just do whatever your years and years of medical training tell you is the real solution, OP.

[Ktraybae]

Okay well I've been going to an endo and he's been running all sorts of tests. He is saying he thinks my problems are from a concussion years ago that are giving me super low t levels. He wants to put me on testosterone replacement therapy. My question now is could my very low t levels be from not getting enough fat for the past say 7 or 8 months? I really don't think this is from my concussion and he is just trying to put the blame on something. I asked about how I've lost a lot of weight but he says no t levels will return. Please help

So you would rather have help from an internet forum than a doctor who has years of training with the endocrine system.

Unbelievable.

[roba2686]

A bunch of random internet posters will definitely be able to help you much more than some stupid doctor.

Just do whatever your years and years of medical training tell you is the real solution, OP.

So you would rather have help from an internet forum than a doctor who has years of training with the endocrine system.

Unbelievable.

I'm not sure chastising him is appropriate given that he's just looking for help. He's explaining his situation to others who may have experienced similar problems. He may also just be in need of some empathy and/or reassurance. Although I agree that internet forums will be full of crappy advice, they can serve as a means to learn about options of which you were previously unaware.

I don't see any harm in that so long as the steps he ultimately takes to address his problems are at the advice of an experienced qualified professional.

[sonnydfrizzy]

Prolonged caloric deficit. Take a good month off, eat maintenance or slightly above and taper off the stims a bit.

This dude.
I quadrupled my test levels after I went too long in a caloric deficit and started eating in a surplus. Hormone levels aren't really related solely to fat intake, they are mostly effected by the amount of caloric deficit you are running.

[gmoore01]

What I'm trying to say is I know I was in the deficit for too long and caffeine was masking that. But if I was just seriously getting way too low fats for so long is it possible to wreck my t levels because I've seen other forums like it. I just don't want to go on trt if I don't need to. Hate the thought of forever. I know my levels were slowly declining but it didn't bother me. I just feel like this endo doesn't really care and just wants to give me something to shut me up.

[roba2686]

What I'm trying to say is I know I was in the deficit for too long and caffeine was masking that. But if I was just seriously getting way too low fats for so long is it possible to wreck my t levels because I've seen other forums like it. I just don't want to go on trt if I don't need to. Hate the thought of forever.

Honestly, dude, it seems like you've made up your mind and, although I still think you should seek help of a professional, I think you are making a wise move by considering other options first.

If you don't start TRT but instead get your diet/lifestyle/sleep straight for a very long time and still have issues, then TRT will still be an option down the road. On the other hand, if you bypass all lifestyle-related possibilities and immediately begin TRT, you may find yourself unable to return to therapy-free life - at least not easily.

Again, I'm not a doctor, but that's my $0.02.

[Ktraybae]

What I'm trying to say is I know I was in the deficit for too long and caffeine was masking that. But if I was just seriously getting way too low fats for so long is it possible to wreck my t levels because I've seen other forums like it. I just don't want to go on trt if I don't need to. Hate the thought of forever. I know my levels were slowly declining but it didn't bother me. I just feel like this endo doesn't really care and just wants to give me something to shut me up.

That's typically not true for a specialist, especially when dealing with someone your age. If you think he's trying to shove TRT on you, then bring it up and ask for an answer. Low fat intake can hinder testosterone production, but you're not going to "wreck" your hormone panel because of it. Likely there's something else going on. You need to have a more in depth conversation with your endo.

[gmoore01]

Just do a quick google search and you can see how many people say they have low t after cutting. I know that's the reason mine is, I mean I lost 70 pounds in under 6 months. But I've been trying to eat a lot more and more fats but have been getting nothing

[Jcart159]

More calories, fat, and sleep;

Natures T booster right there.

[gmoore01]

Bump if any one else has any info or if anyone is on trt

[gbullock32]

Bump if any one else has any info or if anyone is on trt

What more info could you need? Talk to your doctor/endo; that is the only thing to do really.

[ChaoticReignPbt]

It's pretty common to tank hormone levels with a prolonged deficit, especially if your dietary fat intake is way too low. Then add in some stims to mess with your sleep and the result is not ideal. Fix your diet, pay attention to your sleep, don't run your body into the ground in the gym. You're young enough that something would need to be severely wrong for you to actually need TRT.

So go buy yourself some whole eggs, bacon, grassfed beef, butter, veggies, fruits, put together a better diet and get to it. Also if its winter where you are and you're rarely outdoors you could probably benefit from some vitamin d3 supplementation.

The hormone of a natural athlete are NOT static. They rise and fall depending on a multitude of factors. One low reading hardly means your levels are "wrecked" just that its time to make some changes.