How to Raise My Testosterone Level… is the Wrong Question

Greetings!

If you’re asking yourself “How can I raise my testosterone level?” you are likely asking the wrong question. I went to my PCP about 10 years ago and asked him to test my testosterone levels and he chuckled a bit and said, “why do you want to test your testosterone level?” Good question! Like you, I am bombarded with warnings about low testosterone and how supplements can help you get more strength, stamina, energy and muscle. I like to keep fit and want to age well so of course I jumped on google and started searching for the answer. What I found was a plethora of information out there and a TON of supplements all claiming to raise testosterone levels. There was Ashwagandha, Boron, Fenugreek, Ginseng, Vitamin D, Zinc, Tribulus Terrestris among others and I wondered do they really work? Again – I was asking the wrong question.

The question you should be asking is do I have “clinically” low levels of testosterone? Yes, testosterone begins to decrease in your 20s and continues to do so until the day you leave the earth. So what? Your body, based on years of evolution, is made that way. Yes – low testosterone may “possibly” lead to a myriad of problems that we all see in the news and in all the ads. Low energy, lack of muscle definition, depression, lack of sex drive, lack of motivation in the gym. The list goes on and on but the reality is that for men tested for low testosterone, only 20% actually have clinically low levels. That means that 80% of those that, were tested, are fine. The number of men with clinically low levels, where you actually may need some medical intervention is very low to the general population.

If you’re reading this you fall into one of two groups. The first is the younger man in his 20s or 30s who is looking to gain muscle mass. There is little evidence to support the claims that supplements that boost your testosterone levels make a big difference in muscle mass gain. You should instead be looking at your workouts, diet and other supplements that have been proven to help you increase your muscle mass. Oh – and you should probably stay away from steroids or other new fad products that will help you increase muscle mass but have possible side effects to your long term health.

The second group is the man who is over 40 looking to age well. You are tired, have a hard time focusing, lack sex drive, can’t seem to workout as hard in the gym, you’re gaining weight, you are losing muscle definition. Guess what? There are lots of other culprits that are more likely responsible for these than your testosterone levels. What could those possibly be?

  • Work – Work – Work
  • Finances – just trying to make it!
  • Buying or maintaining a house
  • Keeping the wife happy. Happy wife – Happy life
  • Your kids who are likely in their teens and just a joy to be around
  • Your diet – who has time to eat healthy?
  • Your lack of hobbies – who has time to relax when tending to all the above
  • Your one week trip to the gym (if you’re lucky) – you can’t get fit on one day per week
  • Your lack of sleep – um… yeah. Eight hours a night! Sure thing

These are things you CAN control, more so than your testosterone levels.

Bottom line – for the typical male, there is not a significant amount of research for ANY of the supplements out there that definitively prove that any of them will raise your testosterone levels to the point where you will see a difference in any of the above. There is a comprehensive blog by Mike Matthews from Legion Athletics that you can find here that breaks this down in great detail.

Having said that – I am not a doctor and if you think you have low testosterone or are struggling with low testosterone, you should consult with your doctor to get his or her opinion.

So – what can you do if you are feeling any of the symptoms listed above? Make getting fit a priority. You aren’t going to be the best you, the best husband, the best father, the best worker, the best friend, if you aren’t the best you. I could write a book on each of the topics above. The main thing here – is to understand that you can control these and it is a choice. You will often feel like you are the victim of circumstances and that you can’t get your life back. The truth of the matter is that you can. I’m not saying it won’t be hard. I can already here most of you saying – but you don’t understand! Believe me – I do. But there are those who can control these things and so can you! Taking a testosterone supplement won’t do it for you!

All the best!
All the time!
JT

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