At 31, I was 140 pounds of pure drumming energy. That year—2016—my bandmates and I toured up and down the East coast playing rock and metal. At our biggest gig (Warped Tour in Montreal) I felt unstoppable as we played for thousands of screaming fans.
Then almost overnight, my energy levels crashed and my weight started to climb. Within two years I put on 40 pounds.
I worked in call centers during the day and rehearsed or gigged at night. I could never get enough sleep and felt like garbage every morning.
After one local concert, I was so drained I could barely break down my drum set. Once I finally made it down three flights of stairs into my band’s trailer, I had nothing left to help my bandmates with their gear.
TRT
The Beat Stopped
By 2018, juggling my day job with my dream felt impossible. It depressed me to think I had to give up on my passion.
During a rehearsal I got into an argument with my band’s guitarist. He was upset that my tempo was lagging. The truth is I didn’t have the energy to keep up.
It was the final straw. I left the studio and packed my drums away in the closet.
When I told my dad about what was going on, he suggested I get my T levels checked. He shared that he was being treated with testosterone cream for low energy and irritability and that it had really helped him, so I made an appointment with my GP.
When I got there, my doctor brushed me off. He said at my age, low T couldn’t be an issue. He wouldn’t even test my levels.
Every day was a struggle to get up. I desperately tried to find the energy to work out and would occasionally run a few miles, only to be drained and couch-bound after. I cooked healthy meals and didn’t snack on junk food, but I still piled on 30 more pounds.
By the time I was 35, I weighed 210 pounds. I felt depressed and alone. I started drinking more and most nights would end up passed out.
Back Behind the Drums
I knew I couldn’t live like this and started researching low energy and unexpected weight gain in men under 40.
During this online research, I saw an ad for Hone Health. I was apprehensive given my previous encounter with my doctor. Plus, I was worried about some of the things I’d read about TRT, like that it was somehow cheating to use testosterone. But I had nothing to lose.
My first test came back at 130 ng/dL and my doctor—who squashed all misconceptions about testosterone therapy—put me on TRT.
Two months in, I woke up one morning and hopped right out of bed. I ran to the closet, and pulled out my drums.
For the first time in 2 years, I sat behind my set. As I played “Again and Again” by Taproot, I felt alive, banging out the metal beat like I was on tour again.
I’ve been on TRT for 2 years and have lost 70 pounds.
I work out 5 days a week doing both functional exercises and compound movements, like squats and deadlifts. At the end of every workout I run a few miles or walk on a steep incline for 15 minutes. When I need a break from the gym I go on 5-plus mile-long hikes.
With my weight down and my energy up, I’m drumming with as much intensity as I was at 31 and am looking forward to getting back on the road and touring again.
