Before and after testosterone replacement therapy
Health

I Switched From Steroids to TRT and Dropped 100 Pounds

“I was shooting up testosterone that was cooked up in somebody’s microwave for all I knew.”

I was 27 with zero energy or sex drive. My powers of concentration were at an all-time low, too. It was almost like my head was in a fog all the time; I’d be mid-sentence and my brain would stop working.

There was also extreme weight gain. I was a competitive weightlifter in my teens, so I’ve always been a bit bigger. But once I stopped competing, got married, had kids, and started working, the weight piled on. My 6-foot frame tipped the scales at 360 pounds. That was the breaking point for me. I thought, “I’m in my prime, I’m not supposed to be dealing with this right now.”

When I researched my symptoms online, everything pointed to low testosterone, a condition, I learned, in which the body doesn’t make enough testosterone to keep things like energy, sex drive, and weight in check.

With my diagnosis from Dr. Internet in hand, I set out to find treatments. But instead of getting help from a doctor, I tried to DIY with steroids.

A Dangerous Choice

Health care providers often prescribe anabolic steroids to treat low T in men. However, many guys—particularly bodybuilders and athletes—buy them from third-party sources and use them without medical guidance, like I did at first.

I didn’t know it at the time, but taking anabolic steroids without a prescription floods your body with way more testosterone than you need to be healthy. Misusing anabolic steroids has been linked to various health consequences, from mild to life-threatening.

Plus, when you buy steroids on the black market, you’re not guaranteed to get a safe product. I was shooting up testosterone that was cooked up in somebody’s microwave for all I knew.

Steroid Facts

  • Anabolic steroids may contain doses 10 to 100 times higher than doses used to treat medical conditions such as low T (1).
  • Steroids are associated with high blood pressure, heart attacks, artery damage, and strokes, even in people under the age of 30. 
  • Steroids can also lower sperm production, increase aggression, and increase the risk of testicular cancer  (2).
  • Many steroids are made in illegal labs with veterinary drugs (3).

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Steroids Vs TRT: Making the Switch

I took steroids for about four years. I guess I lucked out because the steroids I found actually worked. My symptoms cleared up, and I was feeling better. But I still didn’t feel good about putting something in my body that someone cooked up in an unsavory environment.

I was also worried about the possible legal ramifications behind what I was doing. Eventually, I decided that the chances of something going wrong—not to mention, getting into trouble with the authorities—wasn’t worth the risk.

So, I got rid of my steroids. Sure enough, all my symptoms came back. My mental clarity and libido suffered the most, but I put up with it for a couple of years before I started looking around for safer treatments. While poking around on social media, I found Hone Health.

The first thing that stood out was the fact that everything—from testing to consultation to treatment—is done from home. I thought, “Oh my god, this is what I’ve been looking for.” I hate going to doctors, and I live literally an hour away from everything. 

I started by taking one of Hone’s at-home blood tests. I sent my blood sample back, and within a few weeks, I was able to talk through the results with one of Hone’s doctors. The test confirmed I had low T, so the doctor got me started on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).

A man making coffee with Hone products on the counter
How Will TRT Transform You?

Checking your T levels is easy with Hone’s at-home assessment. You can knock it out before your AM coffee. 

If you have low T, our physicians can help you find your “after.”

Let's do this

TRT: Better Than Steroids

Results didn’t come overnight. Unlike steroids, which load the body with tons of testosterone, TRT raises testosterone gradually. The doctor and I had to work together to fine-tune the dosage until we hit the sweet spot: high enough to raise testosterone, and yet low enough that I didn’t get any side effects.

It took about six months to get my testosterone back into a healthy range. Once that happened, I noticed drastic changes: more energy, better mental clarity and a return of libido and physical strength above and beyond what I experienced with steroids. I was even able to lift the same weight that I lifted when I competed at 18 and 19 years old.

Weight loss was a lot easier, too. I managed to drop more than 100 pounds, going from 360 pounds to 230 pounds. I’m back to my fighting weight.

SEE MORE TRT TRANSFORMATIONS

TRT is Easy and Effective

I’m now 36 and going into my third year of TRT. I get my medication in the mail and inject myself twice a week. To ensure the dosage is still spot-on, I take an at-home blood hormone test every 90 days and my doctor and I go over the results on Hone’s secure portal. It’s just as convenient as it could possibly be.

Looking back, I regret not getting tested sooner. Having a doctor who can do the blood work, assess it, and give a medical opinion, versus some guy giving you a syringe with god-knows-what in it and telling you “Shoot up, you’ll be good.” I never had any adverse effects from the steroids, but it was a stupid risk I took.

 

A man making coffee with Hone products on the counter
How Will TRT Transform You?

Checking your T levels is easy with Hone’s at-home assessment. You can knock it out before your AM coffee. 

If you have low T, our physicians can help you find your “after.”

Let's do this
  1. Anabolic Steroids [Fact Sheet] 
  2. Side Effects of Anabolic Steroids (2018). NIDA
  3. Steroids (n/a). CAMH 
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