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Jul 18

The Secret to Regaining My Athletic Edge: Balancing My Hormones – The Edge

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My morning routine looked the same for most of my adult life: As long as the sun was up, I was working out. I picked up triathlon training at 35 years old and it stuck: For the next 15 years, I dedicated most of my free time to training five days a week. On Mondays and Fridays, I swam. On Tuesdays, I biked and ran. On Wednesdays, I biked and on Thursdays, I ran. On top of that, I would do a resistance training program daily. I felt unstoppable and competed in multiple events each year.

But when I turned 50, my years of progress seemed to backpedal. I spent 27 weeks preparing for the Chattanooga Ironman, sticking to the same grueling routine that had always helped me zip past my competitors. But something was different with this training cycle. My energy levels dipped just a few weeks into training. I felt my endurance slipping, and I woke up exhausted every morning.

At first, I chalked it up to jet lag. As an executive at an international firm, I was always taking long-haul flights. But weeks went by and my lethargy didnt improve.

On race day, the familiar rush of adrenaline didnt kick in at the start line. When the race began, I immediately felt out of breath. My muscles screamed for a break. I used to savor every second of my triathlons, but I couldnt wait for this race to be over.

I was shocked by my performance: I finished at the back of my age group. Just one year earlier I had posted one of the best times of my life at the Augusta Ironman. I felt defeated and assumed my lack of energy was the cruel reality of getting older. I decided the Chattanooga Ironman would be my last race.

For the next three years, I tried to push through the fatigue that persisted even after I quit racing. I hit the gym when I felt up to it, but I didnt push myself anymore. Some days I skipped my workout altogether.

With my newfound time, I poured myself into my career. Soon I was asked to guest lecture at my alma mater. While my performance went well, a photo of me at the event quashed my confidence. The man in the picture wasnt the shredded, confident athlete I still pictured myself as. When I got home, I stepped on the scale. Since retiring from triathlons, I had gained 25 pounds.

I confided in one of my close friends, a concierge doctor, to see if he had any suggestions. He told me that guys our age (I was 53 at the time) frequently struggle with low testosterone and that I should get my levels checked. I put it off, opting instead for a testosterone-boosting supplement, but it didnt improve my energy at all.

A few months later, I saw an ad for Hone and decided to order an at-home hormone assessment. I sent in my blood sample and wasnt surprised when my results showed I had low testosterone: My total testosterone was 497 ng/dL.

Editors Note: Normal testosterone falls between 300 and 1,200 ng/dL, depending on symptoms, age, and other health factors. However, some men may experience symptoms of low testosterone within this range.

My Hone doctor prescribed daily testosterone cream. Within 30 days I felt my energy coming back. Most importantly, I started to recognize myself again.

I began to set my alarm earlier to work out again. I challenged myself to move my body daily. After six months of treatment, I dropped the 25 pounds I had put on and regained the muscle I had lost. I wake up full of energy and power through my workouts. I feel and look better than I have in years.

At 54, I even feel the itch to compete again.

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The Secret to Regaining My Athletic Edge: Balancing My Hormones - The Edge

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