Hello doctors, hope you’re having a lovely week.
I’m posting this in the Medical Q/A due to the potential effects of medication.
I thought I’d come here and ask your advice. This is completely out of my league, and I seem to have lost a handle on the situation, as there are a lot of variables to this dilemma. Apologies in advance if I’m missing any information, or asking the wrong questions here.
Background:
I live in the UK, and therefore I am with the NHS for medical care. I was diagnosed with low testosterone (genuine diagnosis) a few years ago. After the diagnosis, I went private for more appropriate care. I was prescribed Clomid and Anastrazole, which had a positive effect on symptoms and blood tests.
My training has been very consistent for a good few years, but I’ve had a few bad lifting injuries, and therefore my progression has yo-yo’d wildly.
Not long ago (8 - 9 weeks or so) I switched from online coaching via a different outlet and decided to do The Bridge to get a handle of RPE. I came into The Bridge with some niggling injuries. The first two weeks were very good - not quite to previous numbers but I was still rehabbing. In week three, I twanged my hips during paused deadlifts, so simply took a conservative approach henceforth. During this rehab period of a few months I made the decision to have a recomp nutritionally, but simply kept the weight loss at around 0.5 - 1lb per week, if that. I dropped from 208lbs to 199lbs between December and April. I was on roughly 2900 calories, with a few minor tweaks here and there to encourage the recomp. During the Bridge, my RPE has been off, and I have a tendency of overshooting, sometimes just a little, sometimes quite a bit, and I have seen a perceived decrease in my e1rm for all lifts barring the accessories.
2 weeks ago, in Week 6 of The Bridge, I was placed on Testogel daily for a 3-month test period via the NHS as the endocrine consultant was concerned with the off-licence nature of Clomid and Anastrazole. I went into it fully aware that there may or may not be a bumpy start, and that the trial period was nothing to worry about in the long term, as the consultant stated he was happy for me to return to Clomid & Anastrazole if the Testogel wasn’t showing positive results.
As of this week, I have started a peaking template for a just-for-fun novice competition in three weeks.
since being on Testogel, a few unexpected things have happened - in two weeks I have dropped from 199lbs bodyweight and a 35 inch waist to 194lbs and a 33 inch waist. My lifts have taken a slight hit too. My macros stayed the same until this past weekend, where I chose to up them slightly to slow down this fast weight loss, however it’s still dropping fast. I ‘think’ my body composition has got better. My mood has been mostly positive (possibly better than before, however a few scatty moments from time to time, however I’m not certain the Testogel is to blame here). My overall energy levels have increased. I am almost completely over all niggling injuries.
I’m uncertain of what is happening here. Is the weight loss due to the Testogel? Is the decrease in my lifts due to the weight loss, or not dialling in the RPE properly? OR are either due to the GPP, extra volume and caloric expenditure (which is new to me as of The Bridge)?
Is this something that you have come across in your practice?
My immediate reaction was that GPP is not working (or more truthfully, I can’t get a hang of it). However, looking at the weight loss, my more logical side is erring on the side of the nutrition. I’m going to titrate the macros up until this odd weight loss stops and take it from there. If I’m still losing weight or if there are any other concerns, then of course I shall seek further advice from my doctor. Would this be an appropriate approach?
I must say I am a little concerned with this, but I’m going to stay positive and just think that I am have a very good response to the TRT, or at the least just admit there’s way too many variables here!
Thank you for your time and all the great info you put out.