[...]Straight Talk for Gay Men about Testosterone | Magnetic Fire[...]…

I have been using the gel pump for my testosterone replacement and am satisfied with it. I have however considered switching to the injectable which is recommended by Dr. Abe Morgentaler in his book, Testosterone for Life: Recharge Your Vitality, Sex Drive, Muscle Mass, and Overall Health.

One other note of mention is while it does work, the method in which you get it will vary from man to man. I find that the IM injections are what work for me, but know some who use the patch and topical ointment, so talk with the doctor about the opption that works best for you.

John

I am one of those people who’s struggled with weight through the years. The only time as a mature man that I reached my recommended weight was when I was running about 25 miles per week. Not only could I not sustain that life style because of the time it demanded, but as a big man, it was hard on my knees.

I agree with your comment about focusing on exercise rather than dieting alone. Not only does it lead to weight loss but it has a multitude of other benefits as well. Exercise may even act as an appetite suppressant.

Having had both a total knee replacement and a total shoulder replacement, exercising became a little complicated. About while back I discovered water aerobics at our local Y. I have been participating in it now for about a year now. I go three times per week.

I have lost weight and inches around the middle. Because of the buoyancy of the water, I could use my knee even within a couple of weeks following my surgery. What I have also found is that my shoulder and knee are both much stronger and I have increased the range of motion of both. I no longer need medications for high blood pressure.

My message is that even with compromised health, it is possible to find some exercise that can work for you. You may find that water aerobics is a good choice.

Loren Olson

Doctors declare that over weight people suffer from a variety of disorders that can be perfectely attributed to their excess weight. The great news is that people that are overweight plus suffering from several diseases are able to reduce the severity of their particular illnesses by simply losing weight.

It’s possible to see a progressive but noticeable improvement in health whenever even a small amount of weight reduction is attained.

There really is no male “menopause” as there is for women. By that, I mean that when women’s ovaries stop producing hormones, there are definite physiological changes that occur. No parallel exists for men; we continue to produce testosterone and remain fertile well into late life. For women, it closes a definite biological chapter in their lives.

I am also not real fond of the term — even for women — because it has come to mean decline, the beginning of old age. The term “mid-life crisis” has taken on a simlar meaning.

I prefer to think of this time in our lives as a new freedom. We do change physically, for certain, and we do begin to recongize our mortality. But when we realize there is limited time left in our lives we must not waste it on meaningless endeavors. It allows us to examine some of the things we have been socialized to do and to think. Do we really want to continue to think and believe those things?

As mature men who are attracted to men it may mean re-examining our sexuality in a new way. Have you put your life on hold for too long? Do you want to continue to do that? Have you been much too concerned about what others think of you?

Mid-life allows us to recognize that we can make choices, and there is limited time to make them. We may re-commit to the same values we’ve always held, but we have the freedom to let go of those things that no longer fit.