5 ms·

I think this is something we all fight, we live in a vampiric system in terms of the various ways in which our energy is drained off. Biggest things that have

I think this is something we all fight, we live in a vampiric system in terms of the various ways in which our energy is drained off. Biggest things that have helped me have been paying attention to endocrinology (avoid things / activities that deplete your testosterone), supplementing things like magnesium, heavy workouts, and good diet / sleep. Avoid screen time as much as possible. Read more books, etc.

s-shellfish 8y ago
Why testosterone? Asking as a female.
- jxub 8y ago
  As it improves brain activity in both sexes, see https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4330791/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4330791/
  - s-shellfish 8y ago
    I've read a lot of this literature in the past, but I can't say I agree with it with certainty. The researchers who performed these studies seem to have just as much uncertainty about it, and underlying that sentiment, I think there's quite a bit of subtext in the conclusion that explains why. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4330791/#__sec16title https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4330791/#__sec1... I'm not looking to pick at the trope argument here. I just really don't know if these kinds of evidence are evidence enough to use such research to support oneself in one's own sense of what it means to take care of oneself. When you lead with a statement that is an absolute, with a citation to a respectable publication, I mean, the conclusion in the publication simply is not an absolute, and there are many reasons given as to why that is the case.
    - brailsafe 8y ago
      I appreciate the fact that you're setting a reasonably high bar for the evidence that you'd base potentially large lifestyle changes on. In a si milar vein, it really gets me when close friends go down farcicle paths of "cleansing" their body, heavy fasting, or others, with barely anything to go on.
      - s-shellfish 8y ago
        I often think that on the other side of flippant commentary like "I'm going to cleanse because XYZ", that often goes down to issues that are quite a bit deeper and more complex. The person making the comment may additionally be quite aware of this fact (how you see it, how they see it), but as there may be a deeper issue at play - whether it's biological, social, psychological or whatever - that may not come across, because it may be something the individual has dealt with for a long time, and may simply be exhausted at the sheer lack of a solution. Doctors, procedures, medication, introspection, conversations, research, plus the burden of the actual issue - whatever it may be. When there's barely anything to go on, I think that can be one of those instances where you can be simply, overloaded with the sheer amount of information available and sheer amount of information you've tried to work with. People exhaust their own minds trying to go through all of that, because there's probably a real issue they are really dealing with and don't know how to fix. This is a kind of tolerance(?) I've developed by growing up with family of people who either have total careless attitudes about health or a level of hypochondria that death often seems preferable to (but isn't, but can really seem preferable than looking forward to a lifetime of 'find problem/solve problem' for literally everything - missing out on the whole everything else of life, perfectionism yo-yoing with "i do not care about anything"). I'm like my family in many ways as well, probably similar to your friends in person. I just know that what looks 'stupid' isn't always, and likewise, what looks like intelligence, isn't always. I have my own problems with self care, but I'm often feeling as though I am carefully treading a line that I would rather call a tightrope, than anything so simple as 'balanced'. Try to have a sense of humor about it, and sigh. I don't know if the problem is just a problem of doubting oneself. I don't know if what I say helps. I know understanding this aspect of it helps me feel less like my family is driving me insane, just having some tolerance for it, acceptance, and trust that they can deal with their own stuff as independent people, and if they need help, they'll ask. I guess my point is having all of the science can be as good as having none, because that's what science is. Sometimes it doesn't know what it does. Sometimes all the research we've done simply isn't enough. That's not said with the attempt to rationalize 'go do crazy XYZ everything is fine ignore consequences etc all science is stupid'. It's just literally, what looks like having a lot of information can be comparable to having next to none, and what looks like having next to no information can actually be having a lot of information. It's always puzzling though.
- ctrl-j 8y ago
  I'm pretty sure low testosterone is pretty solidly linked to concentration[0]. If your hormones are out of balance - it makes sense that your brain isn't going to be working optimally. That being said, I believe it's a hormonal deficiency issue - and not a gender issue. So it's going to be rare for most people to be affected by this. [0] - https://www.webmd.com/men/features/how-low-testosterone-affects-your-health#1 https://www.webmd.com/men/features/how-low-testosterone-affe...
  - rgrieselhuber 8y ago
    Right, hormones. I’m a man, so I focus on testosterone. I’m assuming the same would be true for women / estrogen but that’s outside my area of expertise.
- rarec 8y ago
  Low testosterone has deleterious effects for men [1]. For women, offhand I don't believe having "low" testosterone is as big of a deal, but that may be because the range from high to low is greater for a man than a woman and due to the lack of focus on studying it in particular with women. [1] https://www.healthline.com/health/side-effects-of-low-testosterone https://www.healthline.com/health/side-effects-of-low-testos...
  - mirimir 8y ago
    I was diagnosed with low testosterone about ten years ago. Since using supplements, several issues have resolved: 1) I've stopped losing muscle mass, and exercise builds muscle, instead of causing inflammation and tendonitis; 2) I'm no longer prediabetic; 3) I've lost weight, even with more muscle, and that seems self-reinforcing; 4) I have much less acne, especially cystic acne; 5) my hair is darker, but maybe pattern baldness has worsened; and 6) focus and mood stability have improved, although modafinil may account for that.
    - rgrieselhuber 8y ago
      What supplements did you use?
      - mirimir 8y ago
        I prefer transdermal testosterone. I think that daily dosing better emulates the natural rhythm. Also, I don't want to deal with injections and/or physician visits. My favorite is Androgel. Testim and generics suck, because they leave a sticky film. Custom compounded creams are also good, and they generally cost less. I apply to my lower legs, so I can hug women and children without fear of poisoning them.
        owlmirror 8y ago
        How does androgel affect your natural production of testosterone? What I mean is, can you safely stop using and your body keeps producing testosterone on your own? Since this is a major issue with enhancing yourself, which effectively stops your natural testosterone production and as far as I understand does so irreversibly or at least for a long time. So my question is, is that only a matter of quantity or does that happen with low quantities such as antihero as well?
- matthewgingell 8y ago
  Testosterone is an important hormone for women too. If you're concerned, it makes sense to go talk to an endocrinologist. They can do a broad panel of tests and let you know if anything is out of wack. Take a look at: https://www.healthline.com/health/low-testosterone-in-women https://www.healthline.com/health/low-testosterone-in-women
chillwaves 8y ago
> (avoid things / activities that deplete your testosterone) Want to share any tips? It feels like a big problem in my life. Sleep disruption is a bigger issue, not sure the root cause but the outcome is dreadful. As I understand, heavy workouts, supplement Vit D and magnesium, take creatine, avoid flaxseed, any others?
- rgrieselhuber 8y ago
  Sure I’ll write more later.
  - rgrieselhuber 8y ago
    Also check out AJ Cortes on Twitter. Tons of great info.
    - chillwaves 8y ago
      Thanks, checking now
  - rgrieselhuber 8y ago
    Please see my other comment / writeup.
- mrks_ 8y ago
  Why do you avoid flaxseed?
  - ams6110 8y ago
    Seed oils in general are not healthy. Prefer nut oil, animal fats, coconut oil.
    - mythrwy 8y ago
      Nuts and coconuts are seeds though.
    - 8y ago

s-shellfish 8y ago

Why testosterone? Asking as a female.

jxub 8y ago
As it improves brain activity in both sexes, see https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4330791/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4330791/
- s-shellfish 8y ago
  I've read a lot of this literature in the past, but I can't say I agree with it with certainty. The researchers who performed these studies seem to have just as much uncertainty about it, and underlying that sentiment, I think there's quite a bit of subtext in the conclusion that explains why. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4330791/#__sec16title https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4330791/#__sec1... I'm not looking to pick at the trope argument here. I just really don't know if these kinds of evidence are evidence enough to use such research to support oneself in one's own sense of what it means to take care of oneself. When you lead with a statement that is an absolute, with a citation to a respectable publication, I mean, the conclusion in the publication simply is not an absolute, and there are many reasons given as to why that is the case.
  - brailsafe 8y ago
    I appreciate the fact that you're setting a reasonably high bar for the evidence that you'd base potentially large lifestyle changes on. In a si milar vein, it really gets me when close friends go down farcicle paths of "cleansing" their body, heavy fasting, or others, with barely anything to go on.
    - s-shellfish 8y ago
      I often think that on the other side of flippant commentary like "I'm going to cleanse because XYZ", that often goes down to issues that are quite a bit deeper and more complex. The person making the comment may additionally be quite aware of this fact (how you see it, how they see it), but as there may be a deeper issue at play - whether it's biological, social, psychological or whatever - that may not come across, because it may be something the individual has dealt with for a long time, and may simply be exhausted at the sheer lack of a solution. Doctors, procedures, medication, introspection, conversations, research, plus the burden of the actual issue - whatever it may be. When there's barely anything to go on, I think that can be one of those instances where you can be simply, overloaded with the sheer amount of information available and sheer amount of information you've tried to work with. People exhaust their own minds trying to go through all of that, because there's probably a real issue they are really dealing with and don't know how to fix. This is a kind of tolerance(?) I've developed by growing up with family of people who either have total careless attitudes about health or a level of hypochondria that death often seems preferable to (but isn't, but can really seem preferable than looking forward to a lifetime of 'find problem/solve problem' for literally everything - missing out on the whole everything else of life, perfectionism yo-yoing with "i do not care about anything"). I'm like my family in many ways as well, probably similar to your friends in person. I just know that what looks 'stupid' isn't always, and likewise, what looks like intelligence, isn't always. I have my own problems with self care, but I'm often feeling as though I am carefully treading a line that I would rather call a tightrope, than anything so simple as 'balanced'. Try to have a sense of humor about it, and sigh. I don't know if the problem is just a problem of doubting oneself. I don't know if what I say helps. I know understanding this aspect of it helps me feel less like my family is driving me insane, just having some tolerance for it, acceptance, and trust that they can deal with their own stuff as independent people, and if they need help, they'll ask. I guess my point is having all of the science can be as good as having none, because that's what science is. Sometimes it doesn't know what it does. Sometimes all the research we've done simply isn't enough. That's not said with the attempt to rationalize 'go do crazy XYZ everything is fine ignore consequences etc all science is stupid'. It's just literally, what looks like having a lot of information can be comparable to having next to none, and what looks like having next to no information can actually be having a lot of information. It's always puzzling though.
ctrl-j 8y ago
I'm pretty sure low testosterone is pretty solidly linked to concentration[0]. If your hormones are out of balance - it makes sense that your brain isn't going to be working optimally. That being said, I believe it's a hormonal deficiency issue - and not a gender issue. So it's going to be rare for most people to be affected by this. [0] - https://www.webmd.com/men/features/how-low-testosterone-affects-your-health#1 https://www.webmd.com/men/features/how-low-testosterone-affe...
- rgrieselhuber 8y ago
  Right, hormones. I’m a man, so I focus on testosterone. I’m assuming the same would be true for women / estrogen but that’s outside my area of expertise.
rarec 8y ago
Low testosterone has deleterious effects for men [1]. For women, offhand I don't believe having "low" testosterone is as big of a deal, but that may be because the range from high to low is greater for a man than a woman and due to the lack of focus on studying it in particular with women. [1] https://www.healthline.com/health/side-effects-of-low-testosterone https://www.healthline.com/health/side-effects-of-low-testos...
- mirimir 8y ago
  I was diagnosed with low testosterone about ten years ago. Since using supplements, several issues have resolved: 1) I've stopped losing muscle mass, and exercise builds muscle, instead of causing inflammation and tendonitis; 2) I'm no longer prediabetic; 3) I've lost weight, even with more muscle, and that seems self-reinforcing; 4) I have much less acne, especially cystic acne; 5) my hair is darker, but maybe pattern baldness has worsened; and 6) focus and mood stability have improved, although modafinil may account for that.
  - rgrieselhuber 8y ago
    What supplements did you use?
    - mirimir 8y ago
      I prefer transdermal testosterone. I think that daily dosing better emulates the natural rhythm. Also, I don't want to deal with injections and/or physician visits. My favorite is Androgel. Testim and generics suck, because they leave a sticky film. Custom compounded creams are also good, and they generally cost less. I apply to my lower legs, so I can hug women and children without fear of poisoning them.
      - owlmirror 8y ago
        How does androgel affect your natural production of testosterone? What I mean is, can you safely stop using and your body keeps producing testosterone on your own? Since this is a major issue with enhancing yourself, which effectively stops your natural testosterone production and as far as I understand does so irreversibly or at least for a long time. So my question is, is that only a matter of quantity or does that happen with low quantities such as antihero as well?
matthewgingell 8y ago
Testosterone is an important hormone for women too. If you're concerned, it makes sense to go talk to an endocrinologist. They can do a broad panel of tests and let you know if anything is out of wack. Take a look at: https://www.healthline.com/health/low-testosterone-in-women https://www.healthline.com/health/low-testosterone-in-women

chillwaves 8y ago

> (avoid things / activities that deplete your testosterone) Want to share any tips? It feels like a big problem in my life. Sleep disruption is a bigger issue, not sure the root cause but the outcome is dreadful. As I understand, heavy workouts, supplement Vit D and magnesium, take creatine, avoid flaxseed, any others?

rgrieselhuber 8y ago
Sure I’ll write more later.
- rgrieselhuber 8y ago
  Also check out AJ Cortes on Twitter. Tons of great info.
  - chillwaves 8y ago
    Thanks, checking now
- rgrieselhuber 8y ago
  Please see my other comment / writeup.
mrks_ 8y ago
Why do you avoid flaxseed?
- ams6110 8y ago
  Seed oils in general are not healthy. Prefer nut oil, animal fats, coconut oil.
  - mythrwy 8y ago
    Nuts and coconuts are seeds though.
  - 8y ago