I have been in a dilemma for a while now. Since finasteriade triggered hair-loss in me, I am extremely suspicious of anything that can increase my testosterone level. I have been regularly jogging for over three years now and have become quite skinny as a result. I will like to increase my muscle mass but I am worried about the impact it might have on my hair loss. I am currently a NW2.5 and will like to maintain what I have. I don't plan to become a body builder but want to look strong and in an excellent shape. Commitment to regular weight training is not a problem for me. Despite hating running, I have been able to stick to it for over three years. I didn't stop even in extreme weather. Weight training is something that I actually enjoyed before I quit so it will be really easy for me. So those of you who work out regularly, what's the best way to gain muscle without risking hair loss?
How To Gain Muscle Without Risking Hair
- Thread starter pjhair
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I have had a bad experience with this.
But it might be both very personal and anecdotal.
The years I restarted weight lifting were the same years I lost more hair, to the level of thinking there was a shedding factor.
however, at that time I was not using finasteride.
I think you need finasteride to limit the extra testosterone (and DHT?) that lifting seems to generate.
This article explains that hard physical work does increase testosterone levels. I am unsure if that same testosterone becomes extra DHT though. I guess it should?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/2796409/
But it might be both very personal and anecdotal.
The years I restarted weight lifting were the same years I lost more hair, to the level of thinking there was a shedding factor.
however, at that time I was not using finasteride.
I think you need finasteride to limit the extra testosterone (and DHT?) that lifting seems to generate.
This article explains that hard physical work does increase testosterone levels. I am unsure if that same testosterone becomes extra DHT though. I guess it should?
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/2796409/
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My testosterone increased 30% when I started lifting weights, and is likely to increase more.
I don't think there's any link to hair loss. There's a difference between serum testosterone levels and scalp dihidrotestosterone levels and scalp androgen receptor levels. Within the general population, there's little to no correlation between serum testosterone and baldness.
I don't think there's any link to hair loss. There's a difference between serum testosterone levels and scalp dihidrotestosterone levels and scalp androgen receptor levels. Within the general population, there's little to no correlation between serum testosterone and baldness.
Thanks for your input. finasteride actually started my hairloss so I am extremely careful of messing with it. Unless absolutely necessary, I will avoid it.
I think what you say makes sense. More testosterone doesn't necessarily means more scalp dht or androngen receptor levels. But the problem is that the testosterone spike that I experienced due to finasteride did result in hair loss. So may be in rare cases testosterone may result in higher androgen receptor or sensitivity level . That may explain why some people experience hyperandrogenicity when they take finasteride. I am so confused!!! May be I should just forget about muscle training and gain some fat to not look so skinny
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I think what you say makes sense. More testosterone doesn't necessarily means more scalp dht or androngen receptor levels. But the problem is that the testosterone spike that I experienced due to finasteride did result in hair loss. So may be in rare cases testosterone may result in higher androgen receptor or sensitivity level . That may explain why some people experience hyperandrogenicity when they take finasteride. I am so confused!!! May be I should just forget about muscle training and gain some fat to not look so skinny
I don't think you should abandon your health due to mediocre speculation as to the link between weight training and hair loss.
Note that it's not just that my testosterone increased from 19/500 to 27/630. My SHBG also increased from 24 to 28, where low SHBG is linked to hair loss with a correlation, unlike serum testosterone. I'm getting more tests in early August. Maybe I'll break above 30, that would be nice.
You have no idea why finasteride increased your hair loss. The fact it did, if you're sure that's the case (are you?), suggests that your hair loss is not caused by serum androgen levels.
Finally, the best way to cut fat for a noob involved gaining muscle at the same time. Cardio alone will not make you slim. You might lose 10 lbs.
Unfortunately finasteride did triggered hairloss in me. I was an extremely thick Norwood 0 at age 27. I foolishly started taking finasteride because I saw my friends balding and thought it will be a good idea to take finasteride as precautionary measure. Within a week of starting finasteride my hair became extremely oily, started shedding massively and scalp pimples were formed. My hairline went from Norowood 0 to Norwood 2 in matter of 3 months. I stopped taking find at that point. It's been over 7.5 years since then and my hairloss has slowly progressed from Norwood 2 to Norwood 2.5. I recently saw a really reputed hair-transplant surgeon and he agreed that finasteride may have triggered hairloss. However, he also told me that I don't need to take any medication as I don't have any further miniaturization and the chance that my hairloss will progress is really low. He didn't really look at my hair using a microscope or even a magnifying glass so I am not sure how was he able to tell that there is no miniaturization. But he really is a very good surgeon so I trust his judgement.
Anyway, it appears that you have had your harmone levels tested. Was that to monitor changes that occur due to your workout regime? If so, is it a good idea to have these tests done before commencing a work out program?
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You should post your experience in WangMQ's thread on androgen receptor upregulation. It fits his theory.
I got my hormone levels tested, various hormones and a few other things, in July 2015 to investigate my erectile dysfunction. I then got some of the same and some other hormones tested in early June 2016 to investigate things further, in that time I had lost ~10 Kg and gained muscle and all of the hormones that were tested twice went in the expected direction. For the months of June, July, and early August I am working out with great intensity and eating much better. I plan on spending ~$400 on another test in early August purely out of vanity, I'm curious how losing another 10 Kg will affect thing. I'm also following an aggressive intermittent fasting schedule, on average having one 36-hour fast per week.
I think it's a good idea to get blood work done once every couple years at least. Include testosterone, DHT, SHBG, estradiol, DHEA, prolactin, fasting glucose, cholesterol, fasting insulin, C-reactive protein, among others. Make sure to get your blood taken early in the morning after a 12-14 hour fast (water is ok) to have consistent measurements with the general sample.
Worried about hair and wants to gain muscle naturally
try knitting, it is safer, and good requisite for being a cuck.
Wow, you actually excel at empathizing with others and understanding their fears and concerns. Good job.
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Gaining T from weight lifting can grow hair as it's needed the way it grows your body parts. Remember when you hit puberty and your T levels spiked - your hair thickened too.
If you're on finasteride or dutasteride it prevents the conversion to DHT - so you get the best of both worlds. Throw in some cardio for rapid blood circulation and it works like minoxidil.
Anyone run their hand through there hair after a good workout of the above - ya it feels thicker with more body.
If you're on finasteride or dutasteride it prevents the conversion to DHT - so you get the best of both worlds. Throw in some cardio for rapid blood circulation and it works like minoxidil.
Anyone run their hand through there hair after a good workout of the above - ya it feels thicker with more body.
infinitepain
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male pattern baldness is the biggest doom on a man's psyche. Not only it makes you look like sh*t, but it makes you paranoid about doing ANYTHING.
I want to start lifting again too, but guess what, my scalp is itching and im balding, and on a male pattern baldness-gene subhuman like us, ANY sort of inflamation fucks our hair even more. In this case, weight lifting is inflamation on the body, this can worsen the hair... there's just no solution. If RU and spironolactone and what not does nothing, im going to buy a wig and start cycling trenbolone acetate and testosterone not giving a single f***.
I want to start lifting again too, but guess what, my scalp is itching and im balding, and on a male pattern baldness-gene subhuman like us, ANY sort of inflamation fucks our hair even more. In this case, weight lifting is inflamation on the body, this can worsen the hair... there's just no solution. If RU and spironolactone and what not does nothing, im going to buy a wig and start cycling trenbolone acetate and testosterone not giving a single f***.
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My inflammation, as measured by C-reactive protein, dropped by 75% after my first year of weightlifting.
shookwun
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ridiculous thread. you are worried about loosing hair from exercising
this forum never seizes to amaze me.
Stop putting words in my mouth. At least read what I wrote before making condescending remarks. I never said that exercises in general may result in hair loss. Exercise includes several kind of activities such as running, swimming, weight lifting etc. My question was specifically about weight lifting, not about all exercises.
Also, don't pretend that there is no link between increase testosterone and hair loss. There certainly is. Since weight training causes testosterone level to go up, it is not too far fetched to think that it may some way affect hair. You sound like those who say with 100% certainty that finasteride can't cause hair loss. Well guess what, it can in rare circumstances, via up-regulation of androgen receptors. People like me who were burnt by finasteride despite being told that the medicine can NEVER cause hair-loss are of course going to look at anything that raises testosterone level with suspicion. It doesn't take much empathy to see that. But even a little bit of empathy is too much for you.
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Exercising properly will give you tremendous benefits, so you shouldn't stop exercising on the basis of mediocre speculation.
Jogging is mostly a waste of time by the way. If you're concerned about your health and your sexuality, your best bets are high-intensity interval training, martial arts, yoga, and heavy weight lifting.
Swimming is a pain to arrange properly. There's a lot of overhead involved in getting access to an olympic sized lane, they're only open in certain hours, etc.
Honestly, would you be willing to live with more ambition, more sex drive, better sleep, slimmer body, faster metabolism, lower risk of heart disease, less pain, et cetera if it means possibly having marginally faster hair loss?
more testosterone DOES mean more DHT, most guys at the gym who cycle roids also take finasteride along with it.
roids make your testosterone sky high and so it makes you lose hair faster, but if you go naturally I don't know how bad it will make your hair loss.
there is a huge different in testosterone when it's natural vs roids.
plus, in my opinion it's a better option to work out for a rocking body and take the risk for faster hair loss, than to stay a noodle just to keep your hair for another year or two.
roids make your testosterone sky high and so it makes you lose hair faster, but if you go naturally I don't know how bad it will make your hair loss.
there is a huge different in testosterone when it's natural vs roids.
plus, in my opinion it's a better option to work out for a rocking body and take the risk for faster hair loss, than to stay a noodle just to keep your hair for another year or two.
Meh.....I would take a healthy looking body over a full head of hair any day.
You have to decide what means more to you and what you believe in. I happen to think weight training benefits outweigh the cons. (Not convinced it increases baldness) Many runners, weightlifters etc. Have increased bone issues like arthritis etc. Eventually.... How come no one worries about that??? Probably because the health benefits outweigh it.
You have to decide what means more to you and what you believe in. I happen to think weight training benefits outweigh the cons. (Not convinced it increases baldness) Many runners, weightlifters etc. Have increased bone issues like arthritis etc. Eventually.... How come no one worries about that??? Probably because the health benefits outweigh it.