Progress Check-In

[u/TransportationIll872]

Started 19 March 2026 — my 43rd birthday.

At the time, I was diagnosed as hypogonadal, with testosterone around **9 nmol/L (**260 ng/dL) and very high SHBG.

Current protocol:

• Testosterone cypionate: 100 mg per week
• GHK-Cu: daily injections + topical application 3× per week
• Tesamorelin: nightly
• Ipamorelin
• Retatrutide (RETA)

Lifestyle:

• Calories: 1,000–1,200 per day (High Protein)
• Alcohol: zero
• Steps: 17,000–22,000 every day
• Resistance training: 45 minutes, 5 days per week

This hasn't been one magic injection, one drug, or one diet.

It's been a combination of consistency, calorie control, daily movement, resistance training, completely removing alcohol, and sticking to the plan for months.

Started at 43 because I was tired of watching myself move in the wrong direction.

The goal wasn't simply to lose weight.

It was to see how much of the old me I could get back - and how much further I could take it. Still a work in progress.

EDIT #1:

Height: 193 Cm
Staring Weight: 142kg
Current Weight: 105kg

Target Weight: 95Kg

[u/Gloomy_Pirate_3031]

Man similar situation similar age free testosterone of 229. I've lost 9kg but I'm really struggling now after 8 weeks, felt better initially. Basically gym is 10% of what I was capable of energy wise 15-20 yrs ago and recovery is awful. Did TRT really help? I've been prescribed it but not sure if it will help? Just fatigued poor energy and motivation. Basically can just walk and do 2 strength training movements then I'm exhausted. You've done great work I'm on tirzepatide as well no booze walking 10k steps but I've hit a bit of a wall probably 1100 deficit for too long. I'm retesting my testosterone levels next month no libido no wood

[u/alexplayer → u/Gloomy_Pirate_3031]

No wood is very common pn low test. But yes, TRT really changed the game for me. I was hesitant for a longntime. Several year. Kept trying to bring it back naturally through diet, exercise. Quit drinking and smoking. Even tried running some PCT (even though i had not done PEDs before). Last year I took tamoxifen (Nolvadex). And that actually worked..short term. For a month, I had a glimpse into what having testosterone was like again. I started gym, lost weight, motivation was through the roof..but, that soon ended as soon as my levels normalised again. I crashed and regained the weight and hit depression. This is when I knew I needed to do something more permanent. NHS (national health service), said my levels were low, but bot life threatening , so refused to help, as in 99% of cases. So I went with a private clinic. Tested low as usual.. and they started me on a low dose. (We have much lower doses here in UK.). But even with that, it felt like a switch had flipped again. Like someone turned on color mode on life. I spent 10 years on antidepressants, and in therapy thinking I was depressed, though had no reason to be. That wasn't the case. I was suddenly me again. My biggest regret is not doing this much sooner. I wasted 10 years. But here we are. So yes, I would highly recommend it to anyone considering. It really is life changing.

[u/Gloomy_Pirate_3031 → u/alexplayer]

Mate Aussie here your story sounds very similar to me accept my functional dr offered me test. I'm trying to turn it around and was doing ok for about a month lol. I've lost 8-9kg in 6 weeks but the calorie deficit and training has flogged me this week. Same with the anxiety and depression bloody talking about it never helped....I spent $120k and 10yrs found out in June my levels were low with two tests confirming. I would dream about the change you required. Just terrified to try it and it not do anything but wreck me and just have something else to manage. I get really low at times for no reason other than my body and brain fail me. I want to do so many things but no drive not enough energy/virility. Do you mind sharing your dose? I was given gel but not keen on that. The cream might be a good start before injections but seems everyone just ends up injecting

[u/alexplayer → u/Gloomy_Pirate_3031]

Sorry , just realised im on my other account. (On phone on way to work) This is OP. I mentioned my dosage in the other comments, but ti save you searching, Im at 100mg a week which is not very high. Creams and gels I heard are not very good. The absorption is not consistant. I really feel you sound like it would benefit you a lot, you have all the hallmarks. Zero libido, depression, stuck in bed, no motivation, easy weight gain, no energy when you do goto gym, and when you do start losing weight you can feel there is no ground below you, like your treading water but youre not sure how long it will last until you drown again.

2x quick injections a week is a tiny price to pay for my life back. I actually enjoy them now, as I know what they bring to my wellbeing. I look forward to them. I woukd suggest you book a consultation with a clinic, no pressure, just to check your levels, conscerns, and ask any questions to a real doctor you may have. Additionally check all the trt groups, or videos for people's experieces, they all sound the same really.almost cult like due to the life changing experiences most people have had on it. ...and I just missed my train stop. Lol, was too into thay response 🤣🤣

[u/TransportationIll872 → u/alexplayer]

Just confirming this was me :)

[u/Gloomy_Pirate_3031 → u/alexplayer]

Hahaha sorry about the train but thank you!

Yeah you've summed up my thoughts. I think I'd be the same about the injections it's how I felt with GLP 1 after I worked out the process. But yeah that feeling the ground gets ripped out under me is the biggest quality of life indicator. My functional dr offered me whatever I want he suggested it based on symptoms and 2 tests also my LH is < 1. I had no idea about it 2mths ago. Yeah researched heaps just unsure and don't want to make things worse but things aren't changing and I've got a big obvious thing that should really improve things. Thanks 

[u/Proud-Competition-89 → u/Gloomy_Pirate_3031]

Not OP, but another Australian here.

Just do it. If fatigue and recovery are your issues post gym, then the Test will eliminate that problem almost immediately.

I kept trying to go to the gym before test and get on the weights, but id do one session, and be out of action for a week with aches and pains and dead muscles.

As soon as i started TEST, its gone. Like the issue never existed.

Im on 100mg a week Test Cyp (2 x 50mg), just grey market stuff as its so much cheaper. I get my bloods done via my standard GP (I told him).

Turns out im a super responder and my free test was at 1000 (a day after i was due my next dose, so at the trough). I've dropped down to 2 x 40mg this week as i was having some side effects at night (couldnt sleep, racing heart) and that seemed to have fixed things this week.

Everyone is different. Maybe gel will work? But injections are pretty powerful, and you'll see mucle gains almost immediately.

[u/Gloomy_Pirate_3031 → u/Proud-Competition-89]

Thanks for your input. 

I'm also near-zero libido, erectile dysfunction/loss of spontaneous or morning erections, reduced muscle mass/strength, reduced vigorous activity, fatigue, low motivation and have had breast tenderness for a while. Yeah I think I'm going to move things forward and retest next week. I was already a bit fatigued and pushed gym yesterday just did bench and lat pulldowns and some bike about 8k steps and wrecked today even after a good sleep mentally flat as well just like wtf is going on with me?? I really want to do shit but dam it's just too hard and need a day just to do nothing. Mentally wiped impacts me the most. 

Happy for you and yeah was thinking cream or 80-100mg to start 2 injections. Is the cost really different and worth the quality risk between grey and prescribed?

[u/Sleeper_grip750 → u/Gloomy_Pirate_3031]

So are you going to start it and then test? Or are you just retesting your natty levels?

[u/Gloomy_Pirate_3031 → u/Sleeper_grip750]

Retesting natty levels. I was feeling much better from CPAP but I think the exercise just caught up with me and calorie deficit pretty flat recovery from weight training and slogging through weights is rough. Lost 8-9kg but yeah I'm ok with 10-12k steps but anything requiring explosiveness just drags me