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TRT Helped Me Lose Weight, Become a Fitness Champ, and Revive My Libido

I look and feel healthier at 41 than I did at 14.

James Vega TRT before and after

I’ve always struggled with my weight. Growing up, my family only had access to cheap, processed foods—unhealthy eating habits that continued into adulthood. By the time I was 27, the number on the scale peaked at 285 pounds.

I felt insecure about my weight and desperately wanted to make a change, so I turned to social media for advice. I tried multiple fad diets touted by trim health influencers. While their advice seemed to work well for them, I never saw significant results. I found myself falling into the same cycle over and over again: after little to no success with a new diet, I’d quickly lose motivation and regain the few pounds I’d lost. Dejected, I’d turn to unhealthy snacks and fast food for comfort. Eventually, I resigned myself to being overweight forever.

So, I started directing energy to other areas of my life. I found the love of my life and married her when I was 31. I couldn’t have been happier at our wedding, but soon after, my health took even more of a nosedive. 

A dark cloud loomed over what should have been the carefree honeymoon stage. I was constantly depressed and lethargic. It didn’t matter if I got three or eight hours of sleep, I’d still wake up feeling like I hadn’t slept a wink. My wife and I stopped going on dates because I couldn’t muster the energy or motivation to leave the house. 

Our sex life also suffered, too. Instead of feeling like a passionate newlywed, I felt like one of those disinterested spouses you’d see in an old sitcom. Whenever my wife was in the mood, I’d say, “Sorry honey, I have a headache,” or, “Oh, I’m too tired tonight.” It wasn’t that I wasn’t attracted to her—I genuinely couldn’t shake my exhaustion, and I felt ashamed. 

One night in my late thirties, my wife looked me directly in the eye and said, “OK, what’s really going on with you?” This wasn’t the first time she asked, but I usually brushed it off, saying nothing was wrong. 

This time, her tone was different. I could sense my lack of desire and low energy were beginning to weigh on her. It had been several months since we last had sex, and I decided it was time to be honest with her. I explained how I’d felt fatigued and depressed for years. I also told her how unhappy I was with my weight. She listened intently and brought up something I hadn’t considered before. “Maybe your testosterone is low,” she suggested. I thought that was only a problem for older men, but she insisted I get my levels checked. 

I searched for hormone doctors online and saw an ad for Hone. I ordered an at-home hormone assessment, and a few weeks later, I got my results: 199 ng/dL of total testosterone. My wife was right; my T was very low. 

My Hone doctor explained that low testosterone can make weight loss challenging—and cause fatigue, low libido, and depression. Everything finally made sense. For years, I thought something was wrong with me. Turns out, the culprit was low testosterone. 

Editor’s Note: Normal testosterone falls between 300 and 1,200 ng/dL, depending on symptoms, age, and other health factors.

My doctor prescribed testosterone injections, which I took three times a week. Within a month, I was sleeping like a baby. I felt energized every morning, even if I didn’t clock eight hours of sleep. For the first time in my marriage, our sex life was on fire.

While TRT improved my libido, energy, and sleep, one thing hadn’t changed: my weight. After two years on T, I had only lost about ten pounds. I wanted to lose a lot more. To be fair, I hadn’t made any big changes to my diet or exercise routine—I still struggled with motivation in those areas.

At one of my follow-up visits, my doctor told me about the Hone Community, a forum where guys talk about their hormone health journeys. I joined—and it was a total game-changer. When I introduced myself, others in the community immediately hyped me up. They shared helpful resources, including links to credible workouts and diet plans. I started lifting weights consistently for the first time ever and began following a balanced, protein-rich diet.

The guys from the community encouraged me to join the Hone Summer Fitness Challenge to see if I could lose weight and increase my muscle mass and definition in just eight weeks. Challenge accepted, I thought. I bought some home gym equipment and committed to lifting weights and doing cardio for at least 30 minutes a day. 

By the end of the challenge, I had gone from 267 to 239 pounds. I haven’t seen the scale drop below 250 since I was a kid. I was shocked when I learned I had won the category for the biggest weight loss out of all the participants. My prize was $500! I look and feel healthier at 41 than I did at 14, and I couldn’t be prouder.

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Hone’s at-home testosterone assessment is the simplest way to uncover whether your levels are low. If you qualify for treatment, TRT can be sent right to your door.

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About the author

James Vega is a Hone Customer and one of four winners from the 2024 Hone Summer Fitness Challenge.