At the young age of 17 I was already experiencing some strong signs of low testosterone. I was an avid athlete training non stop for the later half of my teens. I was strong, fast, and incredibly lean. At first, I figured I was just tired from always pushing the throttle in my training. But soon I began to have more and more symptoms pop up. The most alarming being issues with libido and erectile function. I had gotten my first real intimate girlfriend at 17 and for months we just kissed and cuddled. It never even crossed my mind to have sex. At 17!! She was beautiful, kind, and patient - but after a several weeks, she understandably began trying to initiate sex. Thats when I realized something was really wrong. Not only was I not interested, I couldn't get it up either. This happened again, and again. I was devastated.
A couple years go by and I try everything to fix whatever the hell was going on. My brain felt broken. I couldn't focus, I had zero libido or arousal around girls, and I began developing chronic joint pain in my hips and neck. I often spent 10-12 hours in bed tossing and turning all night. I had gone to multiple doctors and they all turned me away saying that what I needed was a therapist. One finally prescribed viagra, but it still didn't solve any of my issues. So that's when I took matters into my own hands.
Chapter 1 (19 years old): The Discovery Of Mold
I reached out to a functional medicine practitioner I had been following for quite some time. I had recently gotten another girlfriend and was determined for the same issues to not occur again - plus I had aspirations to go back to school and study - but my brain fog was so bad that I needed drastic change before that was a realistic goal.
I spent thousands of dollars in coaching alone, and thousands more in blood tests and supplements. I ordered everything I could get my hands on.
After looking in depth at my DUTCH and OATS test, my practitioner believed the root cause was from my exposure to mold. I most likely had been not only living in a house riddled with mold, but I was also training for hours in a dungy basement. Yikes..
We started by cleaning up my diet and going on a modified elimination diet. Oxalates were likely contributing to my chronic joint pain as my OAT test showed them coming back SKY HIGH. Along with that we used some antiviral, anti bacterial herbs and digestive enzymes for my chronic bloating (likely SIBO). We even went as far as doing a temporary liquid diet. This, along with focusing on cellular hydration (creatine, taurine, electrolytes and lots of water) and binding any toxins like mycotoxins - I was mentally feeling much, much better. My focus and cognition had gone up tremendously. However, libido was really left unchanged - and I had experienced the same erectile problems as I had in my last relationship. Almost a year goes by and she leaves me - never once being able to have sex.
Chap 2: From Vegan To Carnivore
My mind had been feeling better but I had yet to figure out why my testosterone levels felt like they were at ZERO. Despite trying to rid myself of the mycotoxins, and fix my gut, my body felt depleted of all hormones. As one does in times of desperation - I went to all the extremes. Starting with veganism. I had read that erectile function was strictly a cardiovascular issue and so I began focusing on lowering my cholesterol and saturated fat consumption to near zero. I hate a Whole Foods plant based diet for 8 months. The crazy thing? I began getting erections from stimulation again!! However I had lost all the progress I made in every other area. I was chronically bloated, my brain fog and joint pain came back with a vengeance, and my training was worse than it ever had been before. Sadly I also began addicted to corn at this time. This led to 2 years of fighting this.
Why did my erections get better but everything else suffered?? My theory is that the chronic carb loading paired with the high levels of nitrates and folate in the diet let to higher free testosterone levels (from high carb) and higher nitric oxide levels (from lower fat and lots of nitrates and folate). However it was simply too much fiber and oxalates and not enough protein or essential vitamins like choline or taurine from the lack of meat.
After testing my OATs again, I confirmed that my SIBO and oxalate toxicity was back and worse than before. So what did I do? The next craziest thing... THE CARNIVORE DIET. This diet reversed my chronic fatigue and brain fog, but I was still stuck with subpar erections and really poor sleep. My free testosterone also plummeted.
Chap 3: The Power of Carbs
It was at this point I began understanding that carbs in the right amount were essential for my own levels of steroids and overall quality of life. Too much = brain fog and fatigue, Too little = no sleep and almost a manic type state. I began at about 150 carbs only in the evenings for sleep and found that my sleep scores and training had greatly improved again. I kept titrating this up to nearly 300 grams of carbs throughout they with the use of the GDAs.
Chap 4: Ray Peat-esque lifestyle
My diet now consisted of eggs, beef, liver, heart, some cheddar cheese and yogurt, and lots of rice and potatoes.
I began to focus on lowering estrogen and serotonin first. I used aspirin, calcium d glucarate and even low doses of exemestane. I stopped doing daily cardio, and switched to weight training 3-4x/week. My mood and creativity increased dramatically!! I began experiencing dreams again, and even caught myself day dreaming once more. I felt youthful once again.
The next step was gonadin, and low doses of preg/dhea with K2. I also upped my caffeine intake to 3 cups a day (only in mornings though). B vitamins also were used topically.
My thought process: Use gonadin to increase androgen receptor density, and up dopamine production. DHEA/preg and K2 for the androgenic and potential boost in free testosterone, and the b vitamins to help with the increase demand for cofactors in creating steroids.
This is when everything began to change.
I had already seen great changes in my markers before adding any steroids or gonadin (heightened libido, morning wood, stronger muscles etc) but this stack brought me back to what I assume most 17 year olds felt like. My T was 1100, and DHT and free testosterone had 3x'ed!! I put in a few solid pounds of lean tissue and began developing a more masculine face and body. I started being able to grow a beard and had chest hair for the first time. But the best part, was that I had successfully healed myself of libido and erectile issues. I was having sex multiple times a day with very very low refractory periods. Not only that, but I had control AND sensation - something I didn't even know was possible.
I've experimented with hundreds of supplements and protocols and to go over them in one article would be near impossible - but I'm happy to share more with everyone down below and plan to make more uploads soon.
I hope this brings some people the peace and motivation they need to keep pursuing their health goals.
Stay Strong,
-S
A couple years go by and I try everything to fix whatever the hell was going on. My brain felt broken. I couldn't focus, I had zero libido or arousal around girls, and I began developing chronic joint pain in my hips and neck. I often spent 10-12 hours in bed tossing and turning all night. I had gone to multiple doctors and they all turned me away saying that what I needed was a therapist. One finally prescribed viagra, but it still didn't solve any of my issues. So that's when I took matters into my own hands.
Chapter 1 (19 years old): The Discovery Of Mold
I reached out to a functional medicine practitioner I had been following for quite some time. I had recently gotten another girlfriend and was determined for the same issues to not occur again - plus I had aspirations to go back to school and study - but my brain fog was so bad that I needed drastic change before that was a realistic goal.
I spent thousands of dollars in coaching alone, and thousands more in blood tests and supplements. I ordered everything I could get my hands on.
After looking in depth at my DUTCH and OATS test, my practitioner believed the root cause was from my exposure to mold. I most likely had been not only living in a house riddled with mold, but I was also training for hours in a dungy basement. Yikes..
We started by cleaning up my diet and going on a modified elimination diet. Oxalates were likely contributing to my chronic joint pain as my OAT test showed them coming back SKY HIGH. Along with that we used some antiviral, anti bacterial herbs and digestive enzymes for my chronic bloating (likely SIBO). We even went as far as doing a temporary liquid diet. This, along with focusing on cellular hydration (creatine, taurine, electrolytes and lots of water) and binding any toxins like mycotoxins - I was mentally feeling much, much better. My focus and cognition had gone up tremendously. However, libido was really left unchanged - and I had experienced the same erectile problems as I had in my last relationship. Almost a year goes by and she leaves me - never once being able to have sex.
Chap 2: From Vegan To Carnivore
My mind had been feeling better but I had yet to figure out why my testosterone levels felt like they were at ZERO. Despite trying to rid myself of the mycotoxins, and fix my gut, my body felt depleted of all hormones. As one does in times of desperation - I went to all the extremes. Starting with veganism. I had read that erectile function was strictly a cardiovascular issue and so I began focusing on lowering my cholesterol and saturated fat consumption to near zero. I hate a Whole Foods plant based diet for 8 months. The crazy thing? I began getting erections from stimulation again!! However I had lost all the progress I made in every other area. I was chronically bloated, my brain fog and joint pain came back with a vengeance, and my training was worse than it ever had been before. Sadly I also began addicted to corn at this time. This led to 2 years of fighting this.
Why did my erections get better but everything else suffered?? My theory is that the chronic carb loading paired with the high levels of nitrates and folate in the diet let to higher free testosterone levels (from high carb) and higher nitric oxide levels (from lower fat and lots of nitrates and folate). However it was simply too much fiber and oxalates and not enough protein or essential vitamins like choline or taurine from the lack of meat.
After testing my OATs again, I confirmed that my SIBO and oxalate toxicity was back and worse than before. So what did I do? The next craziest thing... THE CARNIVORE DIET. This diet reversed my chronic fatigue and brain fog, but I was still stuck with subpar erections and really poor sleep. My free testosterone also plummeted.
Chap 3: The Power of Carbs
It was at this point I began understanding that carbs in the right amount were essential for my own levels of steroids and overall quality of life. Too much = brain fog and fatigue, Too little = no sleep and almost a manic type state. I began at about 150 carbs only in the evenings for sleep and found that my sleep scores and training had greatly improved again. I kept titrating this up to nearly 300 grams of carbs throughout they with the use of the GDAs.
Chap 4: Ray Peat-esque lifestyle
My diet now consisted of eggs, beef, liver, heart, some cheddar cheese and yogurt, and lots of rice and potatoes.
I began to focus on lowering estrogen and serotonin first. I used aspirin, calcium d glucarate and even low doses of exemestane. I stopped doing daily cardio, and switched to weight training 3-4x/week. My mood and creativity increased dramatically!! I began experiencing dreams again, and even caught myself day dreaming once more. I felt youthful once again.
The next step was gonadin, and low doses of preg/dhea with K2. I also upped my caffeine intake to 3 cups a day (only in mornings though). B vitamins also were used topically.
My thought process: Use gonadin to increase androgen receptor density, and up dopamine production. DHEA/preg and K2 for the androgenic and potential boost in free testosterone, and the b vitamins to help with the increase demand for cofactors in creating steroids.
This is when everything began to change.
I had already seen great changes in my markers before adding any steroids or gonadin (heightened libido, morning wood, stronger muscles etc) but this stack brought me back to what I assume most 17 year olds felt like. My T was 1100, and DHT and free testosterone had 3x'ed!! I put in a few solid pounds of lean tissue and began developing a more masculine face and body. I started being able to grow a beard and had chest hair for the first time. But the best part, was that I had successfully healed myself of libido and erectile issues. I was having sex multiple times a day with very very low refractory periods. Not only that, but I had control AND sensation - something I didn't even know was possible.
I've experimented with hundreds of supplements and protocols and to go over them in one article would be near impossible - but I'm happy to share more with everyone down below and plan to make more uploads soon.
I hope this brings some people the peace and motivation they need to keep pursuing their health goals.
Stay Strong,
-S
