65: Why Testosterone Affects Your Drive to Do Hard Things

Have you ever noticed how on some days, powering through a tough workout or jumping into the freezing water of a cold plunge feels almost effortless, while on others, it’s as if your ability to push through discomfort has vanished? It’s not always just a matter of motivation or willpower. Low testosterone can directly impact both your physical and mental performance, making it more difficult to stay focused and deal with hormetic stressors like extreme temperatures and intense activity.

Despite my relatively healthy lifestyle, my testosterone levels have always been less than optimal. In other words, my levels are consistently on the lower end of normal, which means there are times when I struggle to maintain the drive to push myself in the gym, or when I suffer from mental fatigue that makes it harder to see tough projects through to completion. 

So in this episode of the Primal Shift Podcast, I share my personal journey of battling fluctuating testosterone levels and explain what I’ve learned over the years about how to increase testosterone naturally, why it’s so important for your overall health, and how to recognize the low testosterone symptoms that could be holding you back. 

The good news is that making the right lifestyle changes, getting proper nutrition, and using the right supplements can help support your hormone production. Unfortunately, testosterone production is a multi-level biological process, so these interventions don’t work for everyone. Still, they’re worth trying before turning to more serious options like hormone replacement therapy. 

If you’ve been struggling to maintain the energy and focus you once had, or if you’re finding it harder to push through discomfort, it might be time to take a closer look at your testosterone levels. Understanding the role testosterone plays in both your mental and physical resilience is key to unlocking better performance and well-being. Tune in to this episode to learn how to recognize the signs of low T, as well as what you can do today to start addressing the problem.

In this episode:

00:00 - Intro

01:15 - Struggling with hard things? It could be testosterone

02:25 - My experiments with testosterone levels

03:07 - Research on testosterone and its impact on motivation

03:53 - How low testosterone affects endurance and pain perception

04:49 - Testosterone levels: Why the range matters

05:43 - Advice for men struggling to push themselves

06:35 - Teaser for next episode:: Bates on relationships and health

Learn more:

Primal Shift Podcast #32: Testosterone Replacement Therapy | The one downside nobody talks about: ​​https://www.primalshiftpodcast.com/32-testosterone-replacement-therapy-the-one-downside-nobody-talks-about/ 

How Xenoestrogens Make You Infertile and Sick: https://michaelkummer.com/xenoestrogens/ 

Ice Barrel 500 vs. 400: In-Depth Review 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_TsS7eknmE&t=36s 

Thank you to this episode’s sponsor, OneSkin!

OneSkin’s lineup of topical skin health products leverage the power of the company’s proprietary OS-01 peptide to remove dead skin cells, improve collagen production, increase skin hydration and more. Check out my before and after photos in my OneSkin review and visit OneSkin here.

Get 15% off with my discount code MKUMMER: https://michaelkummer.com/go/oneskinshop 

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[Medical Disclaimer]

The information shared on this video is for educational purposes only, is not a substitute for the advice of medical doctors or registered dietitians (which I am not) and should not be used to prevent, diagnose, or treat any condition. Consult with a physician before starting a fitness regimen, adding supplements to your diet, or making other changes that may affect your medications, treatment plan, or overall health.

[Affiliate Disclaimer]

I earn affiliate commissions from some of the brands and products I review on this channel. While that doesn't change my editorial integrity, it helps make this channel happen. If you’d like to support me, please use my affiliate links or discount code.

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