The Forgotten Hormone 🧬🤷‍♂️

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “hormone optimization”?

Testosterone, of course.

You know it’s essential.

You know that male and female androgen levels have been falling for decades.

And most importantly, you know what the consequences of suboptimal levels are (depression, brain fog, low libido, etc).

Sure, not all of you have taken the crucial step of getting on therapeutic testosterone.

But at least you understand why it’s important.

And in the back of your mind, you probably know that you will have to make that leap at some point down the road.

But when it comes to all the other hormones we need to function optimally, most guy’s level of awareness is…well, not fantastic.

Most men, for example, do not understand that optimized estrogen levels are just as important as testosterone.

Or that a lot of the classic symptoms of androgen deficiency are caused by the estrogen deficiency that often comes along with it (one more reason to NEVER take an aromatase inhibitor).

And amongst the hormonal systems that are so often IGNORED, the thyroid is right up there.

Many don’t even really understand what the thyroid does 🤦‍♂️

And while a full breakdown is beyond the scope of this email, I will say this…

If you think that you’re just going to optimize your testosterone and be okay, you’re sadly mistaken.

Don’t get me wrong - therapeutic testosterone will solve a LOT of problems for you as a man or woman.

But it won’t fix everything.

Unlike estrogen (which is produced by testosterone via aromatization), getting on therapeutic T won’t fix a dysfunctional thyroid.

Here are three reasons why that matters - and why optimization is NOT optional.

Metabolism & Body Composition

Let me guess…

One of the reasons you want to use testosterone is because doing so will allow you to build and retain more muscle while losing more fat.

Very true, and absolutely one of the main benefits of doing this.

But here’s the thing…

Testosterone isn’t the only hormone that’s responsible for this.

Hypothyroidism (i.e., a sluggish thyroid), in particular, is notorious for making fat loss difficult.

It's why you hear all these stories about women bottoming out hormones on some stupid low-protein, extremely low-calorie diet and now being stuck in a spot where they can’t lose any more weight.

Well, guess what - the same thing happens to guys.

Improper dieting is just one of the many causes of hypothyroidism.

So, if you’re having trouble losing weight even though you’ve done everything else right, this is the next place to check.

Energy Levels

I remember after I got on testosterone, I felt like a million bucks.

Seriously, within a few short weeks, I’d gone from feeling weak, depressed, lethargic, and on the cusp of crying multiple times per week to feeling strong, confident, and ready to take on the world.

There was just one problem…

My energy just wasn’t where it should have been 🤨

Don’t get me wrong - I had more energy than I did before starting testosterone.

MUCH more energy.

But still, I felt like something was missing.

I still had moments when I would get tired during the day (despite getting a great night’s sleep) and often didn’t have enough energy to complete the most difficult tasks.

All of that changed after I optimized my thyroid.

Mood

Do you feel “moody” sometimes?

Do you feel depressed, sad, and lethargic for no apparent reason?

Or maybe you feel anxious, jittery, and nervous (also for no apparent reason).

Yes, it DEFINITELY could be the testosterone.

And that’s certainly where I’d look first.

But assuming that’s optimized, the thyroid is the next place I’d check out.

Individuals with suboptimal thyroid function are notorious for their unstable mood.

Fixing it can mean a MASSIVE increase in your quality of life.

How To Optimize Hormone Function

The first thing I’d tell you will probably come as no surprise…

Get a blood test.

And make sure you get a comprehensive blood test that covers all your bases (TSH, T4, T3, etc).

From there, you should look into taking a desiccated thyroid supplement (check out this free video I made on the topic).

And, of course, like everything else, you’ll want to make sure you’re supporting this vital hormone with a fully optimized lifestyle and diet.

Are you confused about what a “fully optimized lifestyle” looks like?

Consider becoming a Fully Optimized Health community member for guides, resources, Q&As, and the support of over 450 members, all striving for excellence and vitality.

Best,

Hunter Williams