Day 30 - Testosterone

Age and Testosterone - two words that many believe are at odds. I'm living proof that this isn't necessarily true. Yes, even with a demanding NFL career behind me. Watch this…

After leaving the NFL, exhaustion took over my body, mind and spirit. I underwent a series of tests, revealing shocking biomarkers. My testosterone was a dismal sub-300, while the norm is between 300 and 1,000 ng/dL. I needed a game plan to boost these numbers and regain normal levels.

Unlike many other men and athletes I knew, T-Boosters, with their myriad of side effects, weren't an option for me, personally. The downsides do not outweigh the upsides. I aspire to live long enough to enjoy the presence of my grandchildren, so for me, the tradeoff of short term performance enhancement simply does not align with the practical goal of long term, sustainable health. Instead, I took a natural route - long term water only fasting. The results? My testosterone levels shot up! But why did this work? Let's explore.

Testosterone in men plays a vital role in sex drive, sperm production, muscle growth, bone health, mood, energy, just to name a few benefits. I noticed an uplift in all these areas as my testosterone levels improved. As far as I can tell, this was all thanks to fasting.

Fasting put my body in a long term state known as ketosis. This is when the body burns stored fat for fuel. It's like your body tapping into its natural reserves, and the process can enhance testosterone production. Many of my carnivore diet and intermittent fasting friends strive to achieve ketosis by through their diet choices because of its wide range of health benefits

But the burning question - can fasting safely increase testosterone levels? In my case, the answer is an emphatic yes! Not only did my testosterone levels normalize, but my overall health improved significantly.

Age, career pressures, or lifestyle choices need not dictate your health. We have the option to harness the natural power which already exists within our own bodies. In the fight against low testosterone, fasting was my natural, effective ally.

Reflection:

The discussion about steroids is not comfortable. Many athletes and former athletes choose to avoid the topic entirely due to its associated stigma. But the facts are, a variety of performance enhancing supplements permete your favorite sports and go largely unchecked. As discussed in Day 7, it is not only spiritually significant, it is also detrimental to the long term health of the body. Our society largely chooses to ignore these side effects in exchange for the short term pleasure of enhanced entertainment. Consider the implications and the degrees of complicitly we all share.

Practice:

In what ways are you currently trading short term gains and sacrificing long term health? Consider changing those areas of your life by prioritizing the health of your future self.