The Journal #30
Finances. Swagger. TRT. Hormones.
01. NXT45 - Joe Gaunt
Our NXT45 Health Pillars - Pillar #4 - Financial
Our financial wellbeing can dictate and have bigger lasting effects on our lives than possibly all the other pillars combined. If we re-term our financial health as our socioeconomic status linked to our upbringing, this variable has been shown to impact every element of our lives, future health across all pillars and even all cause mortality.
As we become adults it is as important to take ownership and be as mindful about our financial wellbeing like any other pillar aspect of our health (such as our fitness, diet etc).
Financial wellbeing can be defined as;
‘The perception of being able to sustain current and anticipated desired living standards and financial freedom’ (Brüggen et al 2017)
Top tips to support financial wellbeing (but as always apply personal context and seek further advice/ invest in support from a professional as needed!)
Learn to budget - See my other post on reframing mindfulness - this applies here too. Conscious effort to take control of your financial circumstances and plan accordingly.
Have a rainy day fund - shit happens. Work from the emergency fund not sacrificing good investment in healthy foods, gym memberships and ‘luxuries’ to support your health
Champagne income, lemonade lifestyle - not the other way around. That said it's about balance so build up to and look forward to treats and indulgences - not as standard.
Get advice from professionals and specialists within specific fields - tax, investments, savings, pensions. Huge subjects individually and circumstances, laws and regulations etc change. Learn from the experts.
There are lots more points here but as I am not personally a regulated advisor these are tips from advisors I have worked with or talking from personal experience.
Back to my areas of expertise my last tip is around value and parenting. Taking the time to give our children a sense of value (linked our personal values of humility or consideration for those less fortunate) is essential for giving young people perspective. It is always a great opportunity to link good times and successes to hard work and focus to attain those moments from my perspective.
If you are a member of our NXT45 Community then you can access the recording of our monthly masterclass with financial wellbeing coach Leigh Dunkley of Schroders titled ‘The Power of Financial Planning’.
02. HEALTH - Guest - The Spine Guy
This week our good friend Jeff aka The Spine Guy joins us again ahead of his postural clinic at The Hundred 2024 to shed some light on how our posture can impact how others perceive us.
Want that promotion at work? Less trouble on the streets? To be more attractive to the opposite sex?
‘cause you do….here’s how to fix all that in just a few seconds!
From Slouch to Swagger: Transform Your Posture Confidence
Ever notice how some command attention as soon as they enter a room?
It's not just about physique or style—it's posture. Emulate confidence by practicing good posture habits daily.
With time and dedication, you too can transform your slouch into swagger, exuding strength and presence in every step.
Your posture is a powerful tool that can influence how others perceive you and how you perceive yourself.
By prioritising good posture, you'll not only look taller and more confident, but you'll also feel it too.
So, stand up straight, roll those shoulders back, and walk with purpose. The world is yours for the taking when you stand tall and proud.
03. HEALTH - Mike Bates
TRT
This week I turn 44.
I’m Smack-bang in the middle of mid-life.
I feel like I’ve crammed quite a bit physically into the first half of life. I’ve been to war twice, chased terrorists around for 20 years, trained in the gym for 30 years, practiced Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for 23 years and rowed an ocean alone.
Yet, surprisingly both my body and my health are in really good shape.
I have a vascular age of 37, a resting heart rate of 45 and walk around at somewhere between 10-12% body fat depending on the time of year.
Sure, I try to help myself; I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I don’t take drugs - yet! (see below before you choke on your cuppa), I dial in my sleep, I train 6 days per week (sometimes twice or three times a day) and monitor it all through Whoop. I enjoy a loving marriage and family life and cherish relationships with others outside of the home. I reckon I work on average around 60 hours per week.
There’s lots going on and lots to be grateful for and long may that continue.
My health is good, I work hard to maintain that and I’m proud of it.
But there’s one health marker which I know hasn’t been good for a long time.
Testosterone.
A couple of years ago I started to wonder if something was wrong. I began to feel a little more tired than usual, I was struggling to focus and forgetting simple tasks, the erection that greeted me every morning throughout my twenties now visited less often than the Asda delivery driver.
I arranged for some detailed blood work and to my surprise my T level was around 11 nmol/L.
With the average T level for an adult male landing somewhere between 8-35 nmol/L I was definitely on the low side but not so low that it would enable me to access NHS TRT options.
I decided to leave it and row across an ocean on my own instead.
When I returned to the U.K I tested again and it was at the same level.
I agreed with my consultant that I would start to take Clomiphene or Clomid as it more widely referred to. Clomid is typically prescribed as an infertility drug for females but is also has the effect of stimulating more natural testosterone production in males. Clomid is typically taken as one tablet per day.
I tested again after 3 months and my T level had risen to 25 nmol/L.
I was a ‘normal man’ again, phew!
Then I listened to Andrew Huberman discuss this stuff on his acclaimed Huberman Lab Podcast and how he raved about natural supplements which were ‘scientifically proven’ to naturally raise T levels in men. Specifically the cocktail of drugs that include Tongkat Ali, Turkesterone and Fadogia Agrestis.
Looking for a more natural way to ‘normalise’ my T level I agreed with my consultant that I would stop taking Clomid and replace it with natural alternatives for a 3 month trial.
I tested again.
My T level had dropped back to my natural baseline of 11 nmol/L.
I decided to go back onto Clomid for a period of 6 months and test again.
You guessed it…25 nmol/L.
Throughout this journey I had discussed the idea of commencing Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) with my consultant but I was hesitant due to the lack of long term testing data available and the scaremongering surrounding those abusing it, particularly those in the bodybuilding world and elite sport.
I also felt strange at the thought of putting something extraneous into my system that I should be producing myself.
Was it cheating? Is it normal? What the hell should normal feel like anyway?
It has become more apparent to me over the course of this 2 year process that I had probably forgotten what normal felt like and anyway, why the hell wouldn’t I want to live my life feeling and looking my best?
I finally made the decision to start TRT.
1ml of Sustanon injected once every fortnight.
I start this week, on my 44th birthday.
This is a personal decision and one only I can make. It’s right for me. It might not be right for you.
But, deep inside I feel like there’s also a role here for me to be honest about my health with the aim of helping break the stigma men face when the topic of testosterone and masculinity is discussed. I want to talk openly about my decision to start TRT and to share my journey throughout this process so that in some way it may help others too.
So, I’ll be checking in periodically in this blog to let you know how it’s all going.
What will it feel like to self-inject? Will it make me feel any better? What if I feel no different?
There’s only one way to find out and I don’t intend to die wondering.
We only get one shot at this game we call life.
I want to be the very best Mike that I can be.
Wish me luck!
***Before commencing any medical intervention or significant lifestyle change consult your doctor or a qualified health professional***
04. QUOTE
"Testosterone to me is so important for a sense of well-being when you get older."
Sylvester Stallone
05. TIP
Before you consider whether or not TRT might be the right path for you it pays to exhaust all other natural ways to improve testosterone production and overall hormonal health. Here are a few tips:
Sleep
Get enough total and restorative sleep.
Exercise
Mix cardio and strength training to help you lose weight or maintain a healthy weight and body composition.
Diet
Eat a balanced, healthy diet complete with adequate protein, complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, fibre, and a wide range of fruits and vegetables. Some studies suggest that flavonoids, like those found in cocoa, may help increase testosterone production (that’s not a green light to smash into a family bar of Dairy Milk!).
Stress
Reduce stress, which can affect your natural testosterone levels. If stress or anxiety are affecting you, you may consider seeking professional support and/or advice like talking therapy, exercise, or alternative ways to improve relaxation.
Avoid substances
Avoid tobacco products, excessive alcohol, opioid pain medications, and xenobiotics. You should also be careful about what you store your food in, as some plastics and other food packaging contain chemicals including bisphenols and phthalates that can affect your natural hormone-making process.
Body weight
Maintain an ideal body weight. If you're overweight, losing weight can help increase your testosterone levels.
See you next week
We believe that when men live happier, healthier & more fulfilled lives…everyone wins! - NXT45
The Journal by NXT45
