We are living in an epidemic of low testosterone. Between endocrine disruption, lifestyle degeneration, and many other factors the average man has never been less manly. This effects of low testosterone are seen across society from the increasing rates of suicide and depression, to males allowing themselves to be walked on, to the very destruction of civilization can be traced back to low testosterone. And why many men do all that they can to fight against everything working against their testosterone for many it’s too little too late to recover things naturally. This is a sad state but luckily one that can be fixed with modern medicine. Testosterone replacement therapy in particular.
Testosterone replacement therapy is a God send for the average man who testosterone has been lowered (and if you live in modern society you testosterone has been). Jay Campbell runs a blog over at TRT Revolution and is the king when it comes to testosterone replacement therapy. I’ve recommend his work in many different articles as well as in my own book about natural testosterone optimization as truth be told many aren’t going to be able to get their testosterone to healthy levels naturally anymore. And not having optimized T is something you never want. The Definitive TRT Manual is the best introduction to TRT and getting set up with someone who can help you out.
The War On Men & True Masculine “Empowerment”
Jay starts this book off by talking about the importance of testosterone for men. Put simply without testosterone you are not a man plain and simple. It is testosterone that make men men and give them their mental, physical, and spritual characteristics. It is testosterone that separates men from women and what makes a man more of a man. This is a precious hormone that war has been declared on. A war on testosterone is a war on men as masculinity and testosterone are in large part one and the same. There are men in their 20’s who have the testosterone levels of retirement aged men. No man is going to have a quality life with his testosterone in the dumps.
Jay states in the TRT Manual “By raising your testosterone level to the highest end of the optimal range through litgitimately prescribed testosterone, you’ll ensure your life is enhanced in almost every capacity imaginable”. And he knows what he’s talking about. Here are just some of the things that improve when raising your testosterone decreased bodyfat, increased muscle mass, improved heart health, improved bone density, improved cognition, higher sex drive, more confidence, less risk averse (aka more ballsy), and much more. Essentially having optimized testosterone turns you into a superhuman compared to where you’d be with low testosterone.
Endocrinology & Do You Need TRT?
Jay starts out the endocrinology chapter with how testosterone is actually made in the body and how the hpg axis creates testosterone. This is a short chapter that’s heavy on science. It’s a little confusing at first to those who aren’t familiar with endocrinology I know it took me a bit to get a hang of everything that was being talked about. But though this is a bit complicated it’s also important to know. Jay also talks about how things like phthalates and BPA two things found in many plastics feminize men and screw up your testosterone. This combined with other factors can lead to hypogonadism meaning your body does not produce enough testosterone, killing your quality of life.
So how does one know if they need TRT or not? There are many factors at play and Jay lays out the most common symptoms of low testosterone. Jay lists mental fog, indecisiveness, low energy, poor work performance, lower sex drive, less strength/endurance, less enjoyment of life, and noticeable changes in behavior. Looks like Jay described a good portion of Western man with that list. Jay also gives a 10 question survey to help determine if you are suffering from ADAM (androgen deficiency in aging males). Jay also talks about the importance of bloodwork and figuring out where you’re at. Point is if you don’t feel like you used to then it’s a good bet your a candidate for TRT.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Jay takes the next section of the book and dives into the most in depth discussion of testosterone replacement therapy and its methods that I’ve come across. He keeps it relatively brief (for the scope of information he covers) but also gives you the information that you need to make an informed decision and know all of your options. Jay starts by talking about the non-injectable options as well as their potential drawbacks. He then goes into the injectable options and why in most cases they are preferable to the non-injectable options. Jay gives a run down of the various pros and cons of creams, gels, pellets, patches, injectables, and more with injectable being the preferred option.
He also talks about how to choose the right doctor for TRT (makes a huge difference). Without the right doctor you’re going to have a hell of a time getting TRT as many I’ve known have found out the hard way. Jay also covers how to procedure to properly inject yourself with TRT. Much better than random websites or the dude in the gym pointing and hoping for the best. He covers the best spots for injection as well as cleanliness and how things like foam rolling can help with injection spots to prevent the build up of scar tissue. Jay also goes on to cover mitigating potential side effects such as rising estrogen and such.
Nutrition & Fitness
Now don’t think that just because you’re getting TRT that you can go and completely forget about nutrition and fitness. You still have to eat right and hit the gym. Jay makes it clear that testosterone isn’t a magic bullet that let’s you drink booze all day, eat fast food, and never touch a barbell yet still be a superman. Your results will improve drastically when you do all that you can to maximize them. Which means getting your diet and workout routine dialed in. Jay talks about how many calories to eat depending on your goals, the importance of protein, carbohydrates, and fat. As well as how much of each macronutrient to eat as well as what types are best. He also talks about supplementation for better TRT experience which is nearly identical to my recommendations for natural optimal testosterone production. And finally talks about things to avoid like plastic water bottles and avoiding soy.
The lifting section is good as well. It explains the benefits of weight lifting (something every man should be doing). Jay recommends focusing on big compound lifts such as overhead presses, bench press, squats, deadlifts, and all the good stuff. He recommends Dr. Brett Osborn’s book Get Serious (another good read). Jay goes into how to include cardio into your routine effectively (something I’ve neglected for awhile) and finishes up with the critical importance of sleep in testosterone production as well as overall health. He also has a FAQ section as well as an interview with Dr. Brett Osborn where they talk about many differet topics relating to TRT.
The Definitive Testosterone Replacement Therapy MANual
I try to give as wide of an overview of possible with my book reviews so you can get an idea of what’s in store. Obviously I can’t cover everything and there is much more in this book then what I lay out here. Point is if you’re interested in testosterone replacement therapy or feel like you may have symptoms of low testosterone then get yourself a copy of the definitive testosterone replacement therapy manual as soon as possible. Low testosterone is not something that should be ignored or play around with. You only get one life and having high testosterone is one of the best ways to ensure that you make the absolute most of your time.
Still can’t believe men need to talk about testosterone, Eat good food, work like a man by doing physical exercise daily. I don’t believe 1 hour a day 6 days a week is enough physical activity to remain a man, men in the past used their bodies all day long, to work or for survival.
The gym is good, but the mentality of the gym is where men are built; is just funny.
You make a good point, men were once workhorses whether that was a paleolithic hunter or a neolithic farmer.
The work only properly stopped when their heads hit the pillow, not at 5pm. There must be a link between that.
Not to mention men ate 3 meals a day spread out hours between the next, kinda of intermittent fasting, worked
labor, drank water, not much sugar. Can always learn from
the past.
Absolutely. Most of the answers we’re looking for can be found by looking back. And yeah gym is nice extra not enough on its own.