How Low T Levels Can Negatively Impact Fitness Goals
Males with low testosterone may find themselves struggling with building muscle. Read here to learn how low T levels can negatively impact your fitness goals.
Testosterone is a fundamental building block in every male’s genetic makeup. But not every man has the same amount.
These differences in t levels affect your ability to build muscle and meet your fitness goals. Understanding how testosterone works is crucial to developing the body you want.
If you’re a man with low t levels, it’s important that you have all the facts to devise a plan to break through the plateaus you’re experiencing at the gym.
Read on to get a fuller story about how testosterone interacts with your body and what you can do to maximize your gains.
What is Testosterone?
Let’s start at the beginning. Testosterone is part of a group of hormones known as androgens, or steroid hormones.
It’s found in both men and women, but in much larger concentrations in men. It’s produced in the sex organs primarily, though some testosterone originates in the adrenal glands.
Your body actually produces three kinds of testosterone: albumin, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), and free testosterone. Unlike the first two, free testosterone is not protein bound. Of the three, free testosterone is the one most responsible for your body’s anabolic activity.
It handles stimulating muscle growth, maintaining normal erectile functions, restoring energy, and keeping healthy bone density. It gives males the secondary sex characteristics that make them appear male.
Men who suffer from low testosterone, or hypogonadism as it’s sometimes called, experience a reduction in these growth-producing benefits. The effects spill over into many areas of a man’s social and sex life.
How Testosterone Affects Men’s Fitness
Fewer hormones will affect your fitness as a man more than your t levels. Specifically, it plays a major role in your ability to lose fat and gain muscle.
Testosterone promotes your pituitary gland’s responses and influences protein synthesis in muscles. This helps influence how you distribute fat throughout your body.
No matter how hard you’re working in the gym to make gains, if your t levels are working against you it will be hard to see results.
If you’ve tried the most intense workouts and aren’t seeing the improvements you want, it might not be your dedication that’s to blame. Before you make another switch to your exercise regimen or get discouraged, consider consulting a specialist to discuss your t levels.
Why You Might Have Low T
There are many reasons why you may suffer from hypogonadism. For some men, the causes of low t can begin before birth. If your testes are underactive as they develop, they’ll produce little or no sex hormones.
Also known as gonad deficiency or low serum testosterone, this problem can be the result of complications originating in either the testicles or the pituitary gland.
Beyond birth defects, there are many factors that can contribute to this condition. Diseases like the mumps, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS all increase your likelihood to have low t.
If you’ve been subject to chemotherapy, endured a testicular injury, or suffer from high anxiety you may see negative changes in your t levels. Obesity and normal aging also play a role.
Take inventory of all your risk factors to stay on top of your health. If you think you may be at risk of hypogonadism, consult a medical professional.
Symptoms of Low T
Too many men miss the symptoms of low t and remain untreated, causing them to live below their physical and mental potential. Other health problems share similar symptoms with low testosterone. This makes it important to consult an expert to get a true diagnosis and create an action plan.
Some of the symptoms include:
- unexplained weight gain
- loss of energy or libido
- decreased strength and muscle mass
- lack of focus
- poor sleep
- depression
See a doctor as soon as you begin experiencing symptoms. A major concern with low T is that one symptom can compound the others. If you aren’t sleeping the way you used to, you lose focus and energy. These things make depression worse.
Remember, aging is normal. As we get older we slow down somewhat and aren’t able to perform at the levels we used to. However, low t isn’t normal and you don’t have to accept it as a part of your life.
Recognize the symptoms so you can work with your healthcare team to restore your body to maximum performance.
Improving T Levels
You can return your testosterone to ideal levels with the proper course of treatment and lifestyle. If you’re burdened by the effects of low t, there are things you can do to help.
Improving sleep habits, diet, and losing weight are great natural ways to increase t levels. Consider this diet plan full of zinc-rich foods to help restore your body naturally.
Some men also opt for testosterone boosting supplements. They’re designed to work with your diet and exercise plan to maximize the free testosterone in your body.
For men that want the best results, testosterone replacement therapy is a smart option. Healthcare professionals customize the treatment to your body’s responses to testosterone.
Most patients begin to see noticeable results within three to five weeks, but everyone is different. There are potential side effects of testosterone replacement therapy to consider. Your risk is minimal when working with trained professionals, however.
Perform Better at the Gym and Everywhere
Live the life you want to live. Perform better at the gym, in the bedroom, and everywhere else.
Get your t levels in check and you’ll have the energy and stamina to be the best man you can be. We’ve developed a safe and effective treatment process that delivers amazing results.
You can’t stop father time, but you can slow down the effects of aging and meet all your fitness goals no matter how old you are. We want to help you get there.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
