Before and after photo of a man using TRT
Health

I Dropped 70 Pounds and Went From Aging Rocker to Rock God

TRT helped me lose weight and regain the energy I needed as a drummer.

At 31, I was 140 pounds of pure drumming energy. That year—2016—my bandmates and I toured up and down the East coast playing rock and metal. At our biggest gig (Warped Tour in Montreal) I felt unstoppable as we played for thousands of screaming fans.

Then almost overnight, my energy levels crashed and my weight started to climb. Within two years I put on 40 pounds.

I worked in call centers during the day and rehearsed or gigged at night. I could never get enough sleep and felt like garbage every morning.

After one local concert, I was so drained I could barely break down my drum set. Once I finally made it down three flights of stairs into my band’s trailer, I had nothing left to help my bandmates with their gear.

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The Beat Stopped

By 2018, juggling my day job with my dream felt impossible. It depressed me to think I had to give up on my passion.

During a rehearsal I got into an argument with my band’s guitarist. He was upset that my tempo was lagging. The truth is I didn’t have the energy to keep up.

It was the final straw. I left the studio and packed my drums away in the closet.

When I told my dad about what was going on, he suggested I get my T levels checked. He shared that he was being treated with testosterone cream for low energy and irritability and that it had really helped him, so I made an appointment with my GP.

When I got there, my doctor brushed me off. He said at my age, low T couldn’t be an issue. He wouldn’t even test my levels.

Every day was a struggle to get up. I desperately tried to find the energy to work out and would occasionally run a few miles, only to be drained and couch-bound after. I cooked healthy meals and didn’t snack on junk food, but I still piled on 30 more pounds.

By the time I was 35, I weighed 210 pounds. I felt depressed and alone. I started drinking more and most nights would end up passed out.

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.”

Back Behind the Drums

I knew I couldn’t live like this and started researching low energy and unexpected weight gain in men under 40.

During this online research, I saw an ad for Hone Health. I was apprehensive given my previous encounter with my doctor. Plus, I was worried about some of the things I’d read about TRT, like that it was somehow cheating to use testosterone. But I had nothing to lose.

My first test came back at 130 ng/dL and my doctor—who squashed all misconceptions about testosterone therapy—put me on TRT.

Bill Rice playing drums

Two months in, I woke up one morning and hopped right out of bed. I ran to the closet, and pulled out my drums.

For the first time in 2 years, I sat behind my set. As I played “Again and Again” by Taproot, I felt alive, banging out the metal beat like I was on tour again.

I’ve been on TRT for 2 years and have lost 70 pounds.

I work out 5 days a week doing both functional exercises and compound movements, like squats and deadlifts. At the end of every workout I run a few miles or walk on a steep incline for 15 minutes. When I need a break from the gym I go on 5-plus mile long hikes.

With my weight down and my energy up, I’m drumming with as much intensity as I was at 31 and am looking forward to getting back on the road and touring again.

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.”

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