Testosterone Supplements?

[gzregorz]

(1) Lift heavy weights using compund movements (squat, deadlift, press, bench press and power cleans) for 3 sets of 5 two to three times per week, except the power clean do this for 5 sets of three. Starting Strength explains all of this. As an older guy you may only be able to pull this off twice a week due to recovery.

Thanks, it makes sense that if you do things that require testosterone your body will produce more testosterone. I know that when I do a lot of kettlebell stuff my body naturally wants to do more.

I know a retired Marine is his fifties who can kick ass and he's a big runner. Perhaps this might have a similar effect.

[gzregorz]

how about ginseng?

also qigong

I do qigong, but since I work everyday and have a family it's tougher to find time to do the more involved stuff at home. At home I usually only have a few minutes for some kettlebells these days. When the kids get older that'll change but for I can't just go stand for an hour like old times.

I use to buy good ginseng when I lived in SF. Worked well, anyone know exactly what it does? It's hard to know since they can't make too many claims because then they could face possible lawsuits.

[Peacedog]

Ginsing is an adaptogen. It is helpful and used in a variety of tonic formulas.

My main advice is that you need to start making choices regarding lifestyle. Work and kids are important and largely have to be worked around.

Start with the things you can impact. Like your diet. Clean that up. Also work on your quality of sleep and sleep more if possible. Sleep quality is important. Make the place you sleep pitch black at night. No lights. Cover the glass on the windows or use blackout curtains. Lower the temperature in your bedroom as well.

Those two things with a good mix of multivitamins should help. Throw the resistance training in where you can. Avoid cardio as this suppresses testosterone levels as well. Sprints can help if you can recover from them and don't get hurt doing them.

Good luck,

Peacedog

[Michael]

I never had any blood work done, but as soon as I began pushing myself when riding my bicycle, in two weeks I experienced the symptoms that weight lifters describe as being associated with increased testosterone production from dead lifts and such. It didn't take much to get there either, just "one notch" higher on the effort scale sustained for at least 20-30 minutes, but it was technique dependent, meaning I had to really isolate my legs when peddling and not wiggle my body around at all.

I did not experience any other benefits besides increased quad size, tingling sensations in the yin meridians in the quads, and increased leg strength. It went away as quickly as it appeared when I changed my bike's frame and gearing. I've never lifted weights, bores me to tears.

What does this mean to me? The body will provide what it needs. For me the only shortcut type practice for increased energy that is really time efficient is some kind of meditation or focused, mental relaxation. Five minutes of that goes a long way, and I think it's mainly stress relief. To sort of echo Peacedog, that's to do with lifestyle and getting enough sleep.

[LittleBigMouth]

Tongkat Ali (http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/37/5/464.full#BIBL a small study, probably biased since they most likely want to you buy a Malaysian sourced Tonkat Ali product ;>) and a good source of plant-based fats; an avocado a day is said to keep a one's 'Manhood' strong into old age in Mexican and some Central American cultures- a tablespoon of Virgin Olive Oil, or other high qaulity plant-based fat should work as well. Many people reduce good fat intake along with the bad, without realizing fats are 'building blocks' of Harmones&Neurotransmitters. Combine this with Peacedog's recommends. Bodyweight exercises seem to work just as well as 'pumping 'Iron' with a lower chance of injury, at least in my personal experience; beats the hell outta me why I'm sharing this with you folks- relieved to remember that it will likely be ignored

[Peacedog]

I would strongly advise staying away from the suppliments/pharmacology until you optimize the supporting factors.

Since all of this stuff is taken orally, your liver needs to process it. This is hard on the body overthe long term.

Also, even things like shi shui gung, which is a great health practice, will be fighting to get your body to produce more of something that it doesn't want to given non-ideal supporting factors. I can't imagine this is a good idea long term.

Work on the lifestyle factors first. Then address the other stuff.

[gzregorz]

The only time you might consider testosterone injections (which is still the only effective delivery) is if you are hypogonadal - in other words, if you are low in testosterone. Oral testosterone is preferentially converted to estrogen, and patches and creams have very low availability .

I saw a doctor today for another reason and brought up the subject. He said that these things do allow you to do more reps and that they're essentially legal steroids but as Ken said they can also give a man some boobs from the testosterone that becomes converted to estrogen. He said people have taken then for years without any problems but there are signs that too much boron citrate can cause heart and liver problems. He also confirmed that fish oil and garlic is good but the effects are small in comparison.

My thoughts are I can see why cross fit guys would love this stuff since they measure results through reps. But it's not something I would take daily. I am going to look into other more natural ways to get results.

Thanks Ken, I had thought you were busting my balls, I was wrong, my apologies.

[gzregorz]

I would strongly advise staying away from the suppliments/pharmacology until you optimize the supporting factors.

Since all of this stuff is taken orally, your liver needs to process it. This is hard on the body overthe long term.

Work on the lifestyle factors first. Then address the other stuff.

Thanks, I am focusing on more on making healthy lifestyle choices. As it is I drink a gallon on water a day and that's pretty much all I drink. The two exceptions being coffee and wine. Yet since cutting sugar my coffee I drink much less these ays and feel a more energized because I don't rely on a sugar spike to get me through the day. I've also noticed that going to sleep earlier is very important especially when you do a lot of training.

There seems to a lot of good information available if you're willing to sift through the internet.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/fit-to-p ... 50022.html

[vadaga]

I would strongly advise staying away from the suppliments/pharmacology until you optimize the supporting factors.

Since all of this stuff is taken orally, your liver needs to process it. This is hard on the body overthe long term.

Work on the lifestyle factors first. Then address the other stuff.

Thanks, I am focusing on more on making healthy lifestyle choices. As it is I drink a gallon on water a day and that's pretty much all I drink. The two exceptions being coffee and wine. Yet since cutting sugar my coffee I drink much less these ays and feel a more energized because I don't rely on a sugar spike to get me through the day. I've also noticed that going to sleep earlier is very important especially when you do a lot of training.

There seems to a lot of good information available if you're willing to sift through the internet.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/fit-to-p ... 50022.html

I have been using my blender and making a lot of fresh fruit juice these days... I can't say that it is improving my performance in martial arts or sports but dang it tastes good

[gzregorz]

Is it anything like this?

[Azer]

Can also try beetroot juice (not pure, max 90% purity). Boosts stamina/energy levels quite effectively (for me anyway) and works quite quickly too.

Here is an article on it. Lots more info online too.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8186947.stm

[vadaga]

Is it anything like this?

Boh. The preparation method (which is to say, chuck it in the blender on high) is basically identical although I use fruit instead of vegetables.

I just got a 5 pound bag of blackberries at Costco yesterday so pretty much that plus apple cider is what I am using as a base and then I chuck in whatever other fresh fruit I have around the house and sometimes a couple of ice cubes. apples oranges bananas pineapple canteloupe strawberries blueberries etc. every once in a while I will mix up by using soy or almond milk as a base or chucking in some peanut butter or sesame seeds

[yeniseri]

Excess fat (high BMI and waist hip ration (WHR)) figures prominently to the extent that it promotes estrogen at the expense of testerone so a better idea is to lose this "excess" with increased physical activity and exercise. The supplements are only partially absorbed and for some people, it will not be beneficial based on ADME. State of health will determine Adsorption, Distribution, Metabolism and subsequent Excretion of supplement. Additionally, be careful what you mix the supplemets with since that needs to be taken in consideration!

[Dmitri]

plus apple cider is what I am using as a base

Try replacing that with good mineral water (sparkling is fine), like Pellegrino, etc. Less sugar, more minerals... You already got a lot of sugar coming from the rest of the ingredients there, so... Just a thought anyway.

[gzregorz]

I appreciate all the feedback on this thread. I've been applying the suggestions regularly over these last few days and I can already feel the difference. I also added garlic and ginko to my pill intake.