Advice on testosterone suppliments?

**taijidude** · Posted On: 4/11/2012 9:05am

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with supplements intended to raise testosterone. I'm closing in on my mid fifties and have noticed over the last year or so that my strength is diminishing some, even though I work out strenuously several times a week. (boot camps, and ma training total of 4 or 5 times a week) I'm thinking that it could be the result of lowering testosterone levels, although admittedly the only reason I think that is because of the loss of strength, and it seems to be a bit more difficult to keep my weight in check (although I'm sure the Chipotle burritos and double Whoppers don't help).
So I'm looking for insight into these supplements, do they work, if so which ones have you had luck with, what kind of benefits, how long did it take for them to start working, that sort of thing.

***JohnnyCache*** · Posted On: 4/11/2012 9:23am

Are you talking legal or?

**taijidude** · Posted On: 4/11/2012 9:28am

Definitely legal, the OTC stuff, like the herbal supplements. I'm not interested in pharmaceuticals. Sorry, I should have been more specific about that.

**Diesel_tke** · Posted On: 4/11/2012 9:56am

The best thing would be to go to your doctor and ask for them to test your testosterone levels. If they are low, or going down, then they can give you legal doses and keep everything regulated.

Otherwise, most of the suppliments don't work. Best thing OTC, would be to eat protien right after your work out, perform certain exercises that increase the anabolic rate in your body, like squats. Watch your diet really close and eat clean.

The natural ways are going to be better, because if you start increasing muscle mass beyon what your body is capable of, you may put extra stress on your tendons and ligaments, which could cause joint instability and injuries.

**Scrapper** · Posted On: 4/11/2012 10:15am

D-Aspartic acid looks promising, but not particularly spectacular.

30% increase in test or so. Which is pretty lame by test-booster standards, but it's supposed to help.

**taijidude** · Posted On: 4/11/2012 10:43am

Originally Posted by Diesel_tke

The best thing would be to go to your doctor and ask for them to test your testosterone levels. If they are low, or going down, then they can give you legal doses and keep everything regulated.

I'm not a fan of pharmaceuticals. I don't even like to take aspirin. The thought of hormone replacement through prescription methods actually scares me a little. The side effects can be worse than the problem itself!

Otherwise, most of the suppliments don't work. Best thing OTC, would be to eat protien right after your work out, perform certain exercises that increase the anabolic rate in your body, like squats. Watch your diet really close and eat clean.

This is probably a big issue for me. When I eat clean, I eat *really* clean. The problem is I can't seem to stay on track, I know lately I've spent far too much money at KFC.
Damn you mashed potato bowls and your delicious gravy. Damn you to hell!

The natural ways are going to be better, because if you start increasing muscle mass beyon what your body is capable of, you may put extra stress on your tendons and ligaments, which could cause joint instability and injuries.

I'm sure you're right about this, although that was also why I was wondering about herbal supplements. As for increasing muscle mass beyond what my body is capable of....little risk of that. I'm not any kind of beefcake by any stretch. (although my wife seems to think I am, God love her) I'm not looking to bulk up at all. Mainly I would just like to be able get back to where I'm not asking myself WTF throughout my workouts.

**Scrapper** · Posted On: 4/11/2012 10:48am

Originally Posted by Diesel_tke

The natural ways are going to be better, because if you start increasing muscle mass beyon what your body is capable of, you may put extra stress on your tendons and ligaments, which could cause joint instability and injuries.

This is really ahrd to do unless you are cycling some really potent (illegal) stuff. If you are working out, and not into the heavy pharmaceuticals, your joints will grow with your muscles. As ever, consult your physician, ymmv, caveat emptor..

**Lindz** · Posted On: 4/11/2012 11:40am

Originally Posted by taijidude

I work out strenuously several times a week. (boot camps, and ma training total of 4 or 5 times a week)

I don't see any mention of strength training. Try some of that and see what happens

**taijidude** · Posted On: 4/11/2012 11:50am

The boot camps are pretty well rounded. A lot of cardio mixed in with a lot of strength training, albeit largely body weight type of stuff. The one downfall is most of it is timed as opposed to doing sets, which makes it tough to work with big weight. I *am* about to change my routine though. I'm going to drop to one or two boot camp sessions a week, and add in a weight session. So yeah, that will probably help, but my performance in the boot camps is what has me concerned, as I don't have the stamina or strength I did a year ago. I *did* take a month off around November of last year as I have a shoulder that gives me problems and I thought it would be good to let it rest, but it seems all that did was set my conditioning back and didn't do much for the shoulder.

**elipson** · Posted On: 4/11/2012 2:08pm

Heavy Leg workouts.

I did some research into T-supplements a while ago, and I found that every supplement that showed signs of increasing T levels also had studies that showed they did nothing. There isn't much consistency in the research. Very annoying.

The new one I've heard is L-Carnitine. I'm currently taking it for fat-loss (come on 6 pack!) but apparently it has some impact on Androgen levels as well. I'm looking forward to additional research being done.