I wish I knew about Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) when I was struggling with low energy and motivation in my late 20s.
The Unexplained Funk
My late twenties were a slog. I was tired all the time, had zero drive at work, and my gym progress stalled. I thought I was just “getting older” or depressed. I wish I had known about TRT then. It took me until my thirties to get bloodwork and discover my testosterone levels were shockingly low. Starting a medically supervised TRT protocol was like flipping a switch on my life. The energy, the focus, the motivation—it all came roaring back. I lost years to a medical condition I thought was a personality flaw.
I wish I knew how effectively peptides could control appetite and fat loss when I was struggling with yo-yo dieting.
The Battle Against My Own Brain
For years, every diet was a miserable battle against my own brain. I would use all my willpower to restrict calories for a few weeks, only to have my ravenous hunger win in the end. It was a cycle of failure. I wish I had known about peptides like Semaglutide then. The first time I used it, it was a revelation. The constant “food noise” in my head just went silent. It wasn’t about willpower anymore; the biological urge was simply gone. I could have achieved my goal effortlessly instead of fighting a losing war.
I wish I knew about Propranolol for public speaking anxiety when I was in college.
The Fear I Thought Was Unbeatable
I was crippled by public speaking anxiety in college. My mind would be clear, but my heart would pound, my hands would shake, and my voice would quiver. It sabotaged every presentation. I wish a doctor had told me about Propranolol then. It’s a simple beta-blocker that silences the physical symptoms of anxiety. It doesn’t affect your mind, just the panicked physical response. Knowing I could have taken a small pill and presented with calm authority would have fundamentally changed my academic and early professional career.
I wish I knew that “natty” fitness standards were a lie when I was starting to lift weights.
The Impossible Ideal
When I started lifting, I idolized fitness influencers who swore they were “all natural.” I followed their workouts and diets to the letter, but I never came close to their physiques. I spent years feeling frustrated and inadequate. I wish I had known then that the “natty” claim is often the biggest lie in the fitness industry. Many of those top-tier physiques are built with a foundation of testosterone and other performance enhancers. I was comparing my natural progress to a pharmaceutically-assisted result, an impossible and demoralizing standard.
I wish I knew I should have gotten comprehensive blood work done at 20 to establish a baseline.
Flying Blind
For the first decade of my adult life, I was completely flying blind when it came to my health. I had no idea what my baseline hormone levels, vitamin deficiencies, or inflammatory markers were. When I finally got a comprehensive blood panel done at 30, I had nothing to compare it to. I wish I had known to spend the few hundred dollars at age 20 to get a full workup. That data would be an invaluable blueprint now, allowing me to track changes over time and make precise, informed decisions about my health, diet, and any potential therapies.
I wish I knew about Modafinil for studying when I was in university.
The All-Nighter vs. the All-Day Focus
I pulled so many miserable, caffeine-fueled all-nighters in university. My studying was frantic, inefficient, and I’d be useless the next day. I wish I had known about smart drugs like Modafinil. It’s not a jittery stimulant like coffee. It provides hours of clean, calm, unwavering focus. I could have studied with incredible efficiency for 12 hours straight, retained the information perfectly, and still gotten a good night’s sleep. I was using a chainsaw when I could have been using a laser scalpel.
I wish I knew how powerful prescription retinoids were for anti-aging when I was 18.
The Preventative Power I Wasted
At 18, my idea of skincare was a bar of soap. I thought “anti-aging” was something for my mom. I wish I had known then that the single most powerful tool for preventing aging is a prescription retinoid like Tretinoin. Every single day I used it in my late teens and twenties would have been an investment in my future skin, banking collagen and preventing wrinkles before they ever had a chance to form. I’m treating the damage now, but I wish I had spent that crucial decade on prevention.
I wish I knew that human growth hormone wasn’t some mythical, dangerous drug when I was trying to maximize my potential.
The Boogeyman Drug
I grew up hearing that HGH was a dangerous, “boogeyman” drug that only pro bodybuilders used to get huge. I was scared of it. I wish I had known the truth sooner. In my thirties, I learned from an anti-aging doctor that in low, medically supervised doses, HGH is a powerful tool for recovery, skin quality, and vitality. It’s not about becoming a “freak”; it’s about optimizing your body’s own repair mechanisms. I let an unfounded fear keep me from a powerful tool for years.
I wish I knew that a lean physique was more about hormonal control than endless cardio when I was starting out.
The Treadmill Trap
My first approach to getting lean was to spend hours on the treadmill. I was constantly trying to outrun my fork, a battle I usually lost. It was exhausting and unsustainable. I wish I had understood from the beginning that for most people, extreme leanness isn’t about burning more calories; it’s about hormonal control. Things like managing insulin sensitivity, optimizing thyroid function (T3), and controlling appetite with peptides are infinitely more powerful levers to pull than just spending another 30 minutes on the elliptical.
I wish I knew how to properly cycle performance-enhancing drugs instead of making beginner mistakes.
The “More is Better” Fallacy
When I first experimented with performance-enhancing drugs, I made the classic beginner mistake: I thought “more is better.” I ran a poorly planned cycle with no thought for ancillary drugs or post-cycle therapy. The results were okay, but the side effects and the hormonal crash afterwards were brutal. I wish I had known then what I know now: that a proper cycle is a science. It’s about using the minimum effective dose, managing side effects intelligently, and having a solid plan to recover your natural production. I learned the hard way.