Question for those of you on TRT

[GiffMeReta]

I’ve started on Reta and I’m still ramping up the dosage but I want to maximize the weight I have now to try and build some muscle.

The undisputed king appears to be TRT but I’m a chicken 🐥 and don’t want to be dependent on it forever. But I need muscle, particularly arms.

Is my understanding roughly correct here on TRT dependence? Is there alternate supplements/peptides/stack that I should consider while minimizing long term side effects?

Right now I do resistance training and take Whey, Creatine and hydrolized Collagen supplements. I continue to read and research but I’m not a bodybuilder just a guy with too much body fat.

 

[5byfive]

1) Get your levels tested. 2) Have you lifted seriously before? If not, and your levels are fine, don't do it. You will be getting those sweet newbie gains for awhile. You should have lifted seriously for years before considering it; if you are young, probably closer to a decade. You need to really have diet and training locked in before going down that road (unless your levels are really low).

 

[Don]

I usually wouldn’t go for TRT with a high body fat percentage. Ur more likely to run into estrogen issues even on lower TRT doses, and honestly the benefit will probably be bigger if u just wait, get leaner first, and build muscle from there

As it sounds, ur a beginner anyway, and that’s actually a good thing here. Beginners can build muscle while losing fat pretty easily if they train and eat properly

I’d go weightlifting 3–4 times a week, heavy, and train each muscle with hard sets close to failure. Failure doesn’t mean it burns. It means u literally can’t move the weight anymore with correct technique, it just doesn’t lift.

Stay in a small calorie deficit, nothing crazy, maybe 200–300 kcal. Get around 10k steps a day and aim for about 2g protein per kg bodyweight.

For carbs, I’d keep most of them before and after training. Not because carbs are evil, but because that’s where they’re most useful for performance and recovery. Starting the day with a protein shake or a big portion of protein without many carbs also makes sense, especially after 7–10 hours of sleep with no nutrition. If u also didn’t eat 3–4 hours before bed, that can easily be 10–14 hours without protein

Whey and creatine are already solid. Collagen is fine too, especially for joints/tendons, but it’s not really a muscle-building supplement

TRT isn’t just a supplement. It suppresses ur natural production and may become a long-term commitment. So unless u bloodwork clearly says u need it, I’d first get leaner, lift hard, eat enough protein, and milk the beginner gains

 

[Skidude]

The 2 previous posts seem spot on and relate well to your question.
If you don't have Low T, then TRT is not what you mean.
If you are looking for Muscle gains, you might want to post that question in a new thread.

TRT is a commitment and beneficial if you are low. It is not designed for cycles.
If you get blood work and need it, the above advise in previous posts would still apply.

There are a few threads going now in the AAS forum, read here: https://glp1forum.com/forums/hrt/


You can also search forums for how to add muscle, etc..

 

[Mood]

Just reiterating what others are saying. Don't jump on "TRT" because you hear people get results from it. Not sure your age, but unless you've had a complete hormone panel and know the numbers, I suggest you just buckle down and keep chipping away via diet and exercise.

I was symptomatic and had blood work done at 31 (my test was 278 at that time). I've been on TRT for the last 14 years, so its a long term commitment. It helped me, because I needed it. If you're levels are already sufficient, you're likely to get the side effects, shut down your natural production and end up in the same spot you are at now.

There are options (like hcg, etc.) to try and kick start your body into producing more test, especially if you are still of an age where fertility is a concern. But, again, you need to know where you are before looking into any of these options.

 

[Vash]

Define TRT…

Legitimate TRT does wonders for people with low testosterone. But the “undisputed king” is blasting steroids. Recently the two are starting to become mixed up. People calling 250mg/week are really stretching the term trt. Even 200 is pushing it depending on your response.

As others have said, get your levels tested before doing anything.

As for dependence, there are options to retain natural production. Sometimes those options are all you need. I’ve been on test for a few years. I’ve gone off once and had no issues. Not everyone is like that.

If you do hop on… bloodwork, bloodwork, and more bloodwork.

 

[cujet]

I've been on TRT due to 'none' for nearly 30 years. I'd love to provide a glowing review of my success with TRT, but in the end I only do it due to need. My natural levels are as low as 25ng/dl due to severe illness at age 33. It's been a shit sandwich of epic proportions. TRT injections make me cough, every time. Androgel causes skin problems. I settled on daily 20% T creme as it is the only thing I can tolerate. Brings my levels to 700ng/dl. The 20% creme is very expensive (last batch was $475), causes secondary health issues, requires expensive labs, blood donations if hematocrit is too high and so on.

Do anything you can to increase your natural levels. Get your girlfriend to play with you, excite you, do squats, you get the idea. If you can get your natural levels over 450, you are golden. More is not necessary or better.

 

[5byfive]

I've been on TRT due to 'none' for nearly 30 years. I'd love to provide a glowing review of my success with TRT, but in the end I only do it due to need. My natural levels are as low as 25ng/dl due to severe illness at age 33. It's been a shit sandwich of epic proportions. TRT injections make me cough, every time. Androgel causes skin problems. I settled on daily 20% T creme as it is the only thing I can tolerate. Brings my levels to 700ng/dl. The 20% creme is very expensive (last batch was $475), causes secondary health issues, requires expensive labs, blood donations if hematocrit is too high and so on.

Do anything you can to increase your natural levels. Get your girlfriend to play with you, excite you, do squats, you get the idea. If you can get your natural levels over 450, you are golden. More is not necessary or better.

Sounds like a reaction to the carrier oil. Have you tried both cypionate and enanthate? They tend to use different oils (Cypionate is usually suspended in cottonseed oil, which is thin, flows easily, and is readily absorbed. Enanthate typically uses sesame oil (per Gemini). Also have you tried both IM and Sub-Q? Some people have issues with lumps Sub-Q so you may need to use smaller doses more frequently (which will give you best results anyway).

 

[TacoLifter420]

Check all of this first, let's make sure you're hypogonadal and not just metabolically broken. If you're truly hypogonadal then no amount of anything over the counter will fix that. If your not, getting leaner, adding muscle and more active will help increase your natural T levels.

No matter what, get your nutrition on point, training on point, cardio daily, and limit or stop alcohol.

Make sure to do the sensitive estradiol test, not the standard.

• Total and Free Testosterone: Measures both the total amount of testosterone in your blood and the "free" portion that is usable by your body.
• Luteinizing Hormone (LH): A pituitary hormone that signals the testes to produce testosterone. High levels indicate testicular failure (Primary), while low/normal levels point to a pituitary issue
• Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH): A pituitary hormone responsible for sperm production. Like LH, it helps differentiate between primary and secondary causes.
• Prolactin: High levels of prolactin can suppress testosterone production. Testing for this helps rule out pituitary gland tumors or disorders.
• Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG): A protein that binds to testosterone. SHBG levels can alter the amount of usable, free testosterone in your system.
• Estradiol (Estrogen): Checked to ensure optimal balance and to investigate if testosterone is rapidly converting to estrogen.
• Thyroid Panel (TSH, T3, T4): Hypothyroidism can closely mimic the symptoms of hypogonadism and affects SHBG levels.

 

[quicksilver80]

^what this guy said. Primary vs secondary hypo will tell you how to move. Hcg and enclomiphene are also on the table even if many poopoo it versus just stomping on the pedal with trt or even orals like var with a blocker and regular bloods. All depends on what you plan to do in the future and if you want kids or not. Have fun be safe. Dont let big roid get ya down. Literally 😂

 

[TacoLifter420]

A big thing to consider long term health isn't about quick fixes and instant gratification. That's what got most of us in poor health in the first place.

A solid long term plan that you can stick with is the best way to go in my opinion.

Nutrition, Lift, Cardio, limit alcohol. Start small and build momentum.

You can only rent being in shape, and rent is due every day!

 

[cujet]

Sounds like a reaction to the carrier oil. Have you tried both cypionate and enanthate? They tend to use different oils (Cypionate is usually suspended in cottonseed oil, which is thin, flows easily, and is readily absorbed. Enanthate typically uses sesame oil (per Gemini). Also have you tried both IM and Sub-Q? Some people have issues with lumps Sub-Q so you may need to use smaller doses more frequently (which will give you best results anyway).

Your post and suggestions are spot on. I've tried all of it. BTW, sub q works as well as IM. But I do get injection site reactions that itch for weeks. That's annoying when injecting T every 3 days!

Even the peptides now cause bright red injection site reactions that itch. Things like this tend to develop over time as the body adjusts and knows how to react. The creme was suggested by my dermatologist after dealing with so many issues. We started out at 5% moved to 10% then 20%. Seems to be the right way.

Back to the OP. I can't stress strongly enough how important it is to ensure natural production. You can't travel with T to many locations, as it is wildly off limits. And you do not want to 'revert' to a worried old lady when levels plummet on an international trip.

 

[Sumblime81]

Get your blood tested. If you’re in range, I wouldn’t even consider it. I started TRT at 40. I started noticing I could lift as heavy anymore. Recovery was trash. Want sleeping well. Most people, with a healthy lifestyle, do t need it until they’re in their 40s.

Getting your blood tested may say you need it. Either way, you gotta lose the fat before you start. You’ll have serious issues with your E2.

Wish you the best!! Keep grinding, buddy! Nothing worth doing is easy!!!

 

[sfkid]

Do not do any steroids until you lose the weight unless your are truly diagnosed with the low t. Once you get to about 15% body fat then we can talk.

 

[woundcarping]

Gotta figure out where you are (labs/symptoms) vs where you want to be. Get labs done before any decision making.

You definitely don’t “have to lose fat” before starting treatment for low testosterone. TRT is great for helping preserve lean mass during a long cut.

I’m 50lb lighter than when I started 22 weeks ago. No E2 problems (symptoms or labs) running 120-180mg/week, and very low lean mass lost over that period (DEXA measured).

 

[TacoLifter420]

Gotta figure out where you are (labs/symptoms) vs where you want to be. Get labs done before any decision making.

You definitely don’t “have to lose fat” before starting treatment for low testosterone. TRT is great for helping preserve lean mass during a long cut.

I’m 50lb lighter than when I started 22 weeks ago. No E2 problems (symptoms or labs) running 120-180mg/week, and very low lean mass lost over that period (DEXA measured).

Same, I started when I was almost 70 pounds heavier than I am now. I feel like it helped keep a lot of the muscle i had and I was in a heavy deficit when I cut the bulk of my fat. Im lucky that I dont aromadise a lot of estrogen. Ive never needed an aromataise inhibitor.

The big theme we all can agree on is get your bloodwork, go over that in detail with a doc the specializes in TRT and go from there.

 

[woundcarping]

Same, I started when I was almost 70 pounds heavier than I am now.

Nice, I dropped 15lb between starting Tirz on 12/12/25 and starting TRT on 1/19/26.

...I feel like it helped keep a lot of the muscle i had and I was in a heavy deficit when I cut the bulk of my fat...

From 1/30 to 6/3 I lost less than 2lb of lean mass while losing 39lb on the scale.

...Im lucky that I dont aromadise a lot of estrogen. Ive never needed an aromataise inhibitor...

Same.

My Estradiol level started at 13pg/ml and peaked at 26.2pg/ml on 120mg/week. I increased my dose to 180mg/week and my Estradiol level dropped to 21pg/ml. My total test started at 239ng/dl and hit 775ng/dl on 180mg/week. The only lab that didn't stay happy was hematocrit, so I've dropped down to 150mg which preliminarily seems to have done the trick. My 8 week labs for the last dose change are next month.

 

[TacoLifter420]

Tirzepatide and trt worked wonders for me when added to all the hard work I put it.

 

[Justatechdude]

this forum is absolute top notch quality in comments.

Definitely get labs. Know your stuff. And maybe consider enclomiphene or clomid to boost production instead of TRT (not as potent but it’s something).

 

[lessthanhalf]

By an enormous margin exercise will produce more muscle growth than any chemical or hormonal add ons. Hence the standard meso advice to focus on training first second and third before considering other options.

You are already on a GLP , as you lose weight natural testosterone levels are likely to rise.
If you have symptoms of low testosterone such as low libido or maybe even if not get hormone levels checked. That way you know.

TRT is not going to make much if any difference if test levels are fine, and supraphysiological levels of androgenic anabolic steroids can increase muscle growth if used with enough exercise, but are a very long way from free of adverse effects, including the ones less often talked about , psychological and psychiatric ones.

 

[BigScout]

I suspected I had low testosterone for a while. I did everything else to help move things in the right direction. Lost 65lbs and hit 15% body fat, stopped smoking, stopped drinking and ate healthy. I continued for over a year and the low testosterone symptoms I was having were still there. When I got my levels tested I was extremely low and now I started on trt.

Lots of others have great advice already for you. If you’re already hesitant to be dependant on it then wait until you have done most everything else and then go get tested. I didn’t want to have to be dependent on it either but really had no choice.

My goal is to run a marathon and not a sprint. Get that body fat way down first before jumping on test. Be patient and keep doing what you’re doing!

 

[alphaskunk65]

I’ve started on Reta and I’m still ramping up the dosage but I want to maximize the weight I have now to try and build some muscle.

The undisputed king appears to be TRT but I’m a chicken 🐥 and don’t want to be dependent on it forever. But I need muscle, particularly arms.

Is my understanding roughly correct here on TRT dependence? Is there alternate supplements/peptides/stack that I should consider while minimizing long term side effects?

Right now I do resistance training and take Whey, Creatine and hydrolized Collagen supplements. I continue to read and research but I’m not a bodybuilder just a guy with too much body fat.

My muscle mentor recommended HGH secretagogues not HGH somatropin. The first stimulates pituitary gland to release Natural HGH . The other scares me a bit after reading on it. I'm getting ready to stack it on top of my TRT. I'm 60 yrs old , so it's John Wayne time. Younger folks have bodies that can produce enough natural hormones they don't need synthetics for help.