When You first started taking testosterone, did you also eat an entire family size bag of Dorito’s every evening, or was that just me?
I dreamed of gaining that masculine, triangular physique with wide shoulders and a tiny waist. But instead I ate so many Dorito's I basically became one of those instead.
(I'd apologise for the right photo being blurry, but I'm not convinced a higher quality version of that photo is going to do much to transform that physique).
I gained some tub around the 6 month mark of T. The hunger I felt was absolutely insatiable and, of course, everything I craved was processed and sugary.
My hips were getting wider, not smaller, I was working out to no avail because any muscle I built was covered in 5 inches of fat and I was the heaviest I’d ever been in my life (and I felt like shit).
This story is a great example of being able to use what I learnt during that time to help you to not make the same mistakes I did.
How do you handle your calories during this point in your life?
Should you be cutting or bulking?
How long will this desire to eat everything in sight last for?
Luckily you don’t need to turn into Patrick from Spongebob like I did. Here's 3 things to remember to help you control and use that new found hunger level to your advantage.
Reach For High Fibre & Protein Foods
When we're hungry we tend to end up craving all the "bad stuff". I'm talking bags of crisps and bars of chocolate.
Your body is asking for that extra food for a reason. With all the changes that are happening in your body, it needs extra fuel. But the problem with those quick, sugary treats is they fill you up for about 5 minutes and make you want more and more.
Instead of resisting the urge to eat full stop, reach for high protein and fibre based snacks. Yes, even if you eat too much of those sorts of foods, you'll still gain weight. But you stand less chance of overindulging in those more filling foods.
Get In The Gym
I had a full body scan taken pre testosterone and at the 2 month mark. In that time I had gained 5kg... And every single gram of it was muscle.
That level of muscle gain isn't going to last. You've got a short window to maximise that increase in testosterone level. So use that new ability to grow some serious muscle and eat enough to maximise your gains.
Understand It's Body Fat Redistribution, Not Burning
Testosterone isn't going to burn off your hip fat. Over a long period of time it's simply going to shift it from the more feminine areas (hips and legs), to the more masculine areas (usually the front stomach). If you're relying on testosterone to get you in shape, you're mistaken.
If you're serious about finally kicking the extra weight, you're still going to need to get your nutrition in check. My advice? Make a start on this before you finally start taking testosterone.
This means that, when you do finally start T, you can place the majority of your focus on building muscle. Not having to diet whilst facing increased hunger from puberty number 2.
If you've read this and thought, "shit, I don't want to become the wrong type of Dorito like Sam did." Let's have a chat here about how we can handle your training and nutrition during this period of your life.
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