Muscle/strength loss?

[Shepherdsflock (imported)]

I have an appointment with an endocrinologist in October to discuss HRT. In the mean time, I have a question about strength/muscle loss. On androgen blockers how drastic is the loss of strength/muscle? It's one of the things about chemical castration that I don't find appealing. I am fairly active, enjoying running, biking, and swimming. I am wondering if I will find it difficult to maintain these activities. I'm not scared of a small drop in performance, but don't want to find doing these activities so hard that I no longer enjoy them.

[Tany Squirrel (imported)]

a body in motion tends to stay in motion. a body at rest tends to stay at rest. whereas you are active, I don't think your muscles will waste verses a seditary person. if at all, it would or should be minor.

[betamale (imported)]

If you will stay active I doubt it will come up except for times when you go to lift something really heavy. An example I can point to is I had a trailer that we owned weighing about 350 lbs. We would stand it on end to keep it in storage. I could do it by myself with a bit of difficulty, but not any worry about completing the task solo. After about six months without testosterone the only indication I had of a strength loss was this trailer was just a touch too heavy and I had to ask for a little bit of help to get it up on end/take down. Maybe one other time I had a bunch of stuff in the car and instead of taking everything in one big manly load, I make a second trip. As for your day to day fun activities, unless you are a power lifter, you will probably not notice any loss in that regard. If, however you take six months off from being active for whatever reason, be aware that you Will lose some of it. So it will be a use it or lose it situation.

[sftineun (imported)]

I have a question about strength/muscle loss. On androgen blockers how drastic is the loss of strength/muscle? It's one of the things about chemical castration that I don't find appealing.

When I was on Androcur, I lost a lot of energy. I just wanted to sleep. I used to go to the gym regularly (4 or more times a week, switching between weights and cardio). But I lost the drive to keep going. For a year or so, I completely stopped. I did lose strength and muscle, and gained fat, by about 20 lbs or 2+ inches around the waist.

I later supplemented anti-androgen with an anti-estrogen (SERM), such as raloxifene. It greatly helps me regain energy and drive to stay active. It supposedly also helps prevent osteoporosis.