T-Levels...

[New_Lifter]

I was just wondering if anyone out there know of any foods or such that can help increase my natural testosterone levels. You see about a year ago I went on an extremely low fat diet and was getting only about 1400 cals a day, and since Im only 16 I was wondering if I could have permenantly messed up my T levels. Is this possible? Any help is welcome! Thnx...

 

[Arnold]

I do not think a low calorie diet would permanently affect T levels, it could inihibt them temporarily.

At your age your T levels should be thru the roof! Why do you think that yours are low? What signs are you experiencing? Have you hit puberty? Do you have facial hair? Are you depressed? How are you energy levels? Do you have a strong sex drive? Do you wake up in the morning with a woody? Do you have abnormal fat in the midsection? Has your voice deepened?

I highly recommend that you go to your doc and ask for a testosterone test. First go to your family practice doc and tell them your situation and be perisitent on the T level test (becuase he will not want to give you one). If it comes back abnormally low (under 300ng) he will probably (most likely) tell your to see a endocrinoligist for further tests.

Good luck!

 

[Mudge]

I'm 26 and I still don't grow sideburns

I agree, I don't think your levels would be permanently affected from a few months of dieting, I would not doubt that maybe you missed out on some growth, but don't see that it would be life affecting for such a short time.

 

[kanun]

Be careful!

Be careful when tampering with hormone levels; interference with your hormone levels can be dangerous ESPECIALLY during puberty, when you hormone levels are all over the place
I'm in the same position as you: I'm 16 now and last summer I went on this ultra-strict diet but I felt no changes, hormonically. I mean since then my body hair has increased, my acne has persisted, and I still wake up with boners. (Puberty sux )
If I was in your place (and I almost am), I would just let my body sort itself out

 

[New_Lifter]

Thanks for the replies guys, the reason I though so was because I have a hard time growing facial hair, and I have practically no body hair, and I havent been making gains for a while, and it got me worried... I think Ill just wait a while more and see what happens...

 

[Arnold]

It still would be a good idea to get a testosterone test just to make sure.

 

[Mudge]

Originally posted by New_Lifter
Thanks for the replies guys, the reason I though so was because I have a hard time growing facial hair, and I have practically no body hair, and I havent been making gains for a while, and it got me worried... I think Ill just wait a while more and see what happens...

I'm 6'2", 230, no real problems growing and at 26 like I said, I am not a very hairy guy. Talk to your dad and there is a good chance he grew up the same, my dad also had similar issues even though I do know he can grow a full beard.

I also happen to know another guy, a mexican with 20" arms who does not grow alot of chin hair.

If this is anything interesting it may be that some of us are closer and closer to being truly "hairless" monkeys, who knows!

If the gains are slow, look into your diet and training program, put them on paper and see if they add up.

I don't expect that all my body hair will fill in until I'm 30 or so, and I'm dead serious. I still find more hair on my chest every so often, but for years it was very little, still is very little, but the idea is don't freak out about it

 

[Arnold]

If his only reason for thinking his T levels might be low is because of lack of hair growth, then I agree, do not worry about.

However, I think there is probably more to it than that. He failed to answer any of my questions, maybe out of embarrassment? I don't know. If he would answer all of the questions I asked in my previous post, I could give him a more definite response to whether he might have a testosterone problem.

 

[New_Lifter]

sorry bout that, but here are the answers... I have hit puberty (i think) not very much facial hair, not depressed, not so strong sex drive, my voice has deepened, dont wake up with a woody, and I do store fat around my midsection. Hope this helps! thnx...

 

[Arnold]

At 16 if you do not have a strong sex drive and do not wake up every morning with a woody, I would be concerned.

 

[Mudge]

Could be your a late bloomer, not everyone matures at the same time. What are your stats? How do you compare to your father's size? Have you talked to him about it?

 

[Arnold]

ummm...possibly, some males hit puberty as late as age 17.

 

[Mudge]

I've liked girls for as long as I can remember, at least since I was 5, but still facial/body hair is not some thing that grows like mad on me. I could see that a 'starvation' diet could put the body into a tizzy as far as hormonal production AND overall growth, but I don't think that doing it for a short period of time like you did is that detrimental.

Actually I did the same thing when I was 17 now that I remember, I got down to about 160 or so by eating only once a day, I think I did this for about 2 months but its hard to remember.

 

[Arnold]

All I remember from the age of about 14-18 is having a hard-on 24-7!

 

[Mudge]

A walking boner, yep, I'm still pretty much that way. I do NOT wear cotton boxers because they will not hold back Wild Willy, I need something tight and elasticy.

 

[New_Lifter]

my dad doesnt live with me so I cant really ask him, as for my stats im quite small, and not very strong. Im 5'11 and I weigh 120, I can only bench 115... do you think I should try to get a test done? I hope im just a late bloomer.....

 

[Mudge]

Your not short though, so your just incredibly lean. I was friends in high school with a couple japanese guys guys that were 6 foot, and about 114 pounds. Your issue is that your apperantly starving yourself, you just need to eat.

You CANNOT gain weight, without food, unless you seriously curtail your physical activity, in other words you need to EAT. Meat on your frame doesn't come from the air you breath

 

[New_Lifter]

Really? you think I might not be eating enough? right now Im taking in about 2500 cals a day, i though it was good since its like 21 times my body weight. btw thanks for all the help ...

 

[Mudge]

2500 doesn't sound bad, if you have a fast metabolism though you may be forced to eat more if you want to gain weight. If your body weight is stagnant, then that means that you need to eat more to gain more weight, if your highly active (like working out) then your burning off some of those calories too.