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Can the constant use of B-12 and Testosterone shot help me loose weight ?

Im 46,195,5'6',and back in thed gym after four months(injuries).I've eaten everything under the sun and ballooned up to 200 from 170 lean and cut. I need help getting back.
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Avatar universal
You say you're taking testosterone -- the only legal way to do that is by doctor's prescription, so is that what you're doing?  That part has me confused.  If you're taking a supplement, say from GNC, that purports to increase testosterone, first, it might not actually do that, second it might not have in it what it says it does, and third, the amount of increased testosterone from supplements can help with energy but probably not do what you think it does -- and this is in addition to the above correctly noting that it isn't good for you.  It also won't make you lose weight if your diet isn't a good diet for you.  When you're really into muscle building, a high protein diet is essential, but a lot of ways of getting that diet means eating supplements that aren't necessarily good for you or for weight loss.  The can build muscle, but overdoing protein is also potentially unhealthful.  You don't really mention what it is that you're doing, but so far what you have mentioned is to build bigger muscles and give you more energy so you can work out longer, which doesn't necessarily mean you're doing that or that it will overcome other things going on with your health or your diet that are setting you back.  Because you're aging, it will take more time to recover from layoffs than it did when you were younger -- it is what it is, and as a 65 year old male, I must tell you, it only gets worse.  Be careful not to let vanity overcome sense -- I'm injured all over because I used exercise to overcome other issues and don't sleep well, and I'm all broken.  You don't want to do that -- better to do it slowly and properly than overdo it.  Respect aging.  Relax with it, don't press.  Find a diet that works for you, find an exercise routine that works for you, vary it -- blend cardio in with the weight training -- and alter it as you age as you need to.  You'll get there without needing potentially unhealthful gimmicks.  Now, where are you getting that testosterone?  By the way, keep in mind that taking too much B12 regularly when your body is getting enough from your diet can lead to imbalances in your B6 and folate levels, which in turn can lead to a risk factor for heart disease.  Be careful out there.  
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Hi Paxiled... I didn't get that the O.P. is already taking the B-12 and testosterone; I took it that he was just asking if he "did" take them, would they help him lose weight... I hope I understood correctly because I'd hate to see anyone headed for trouble.

46 isn't so old that one can't bounce back from injuries and be in pretty good shape again - I did, not only in my upper 40's but again at 60... I think it depends on the condition we're in when the injury happens as to how well we recover.  It's also not so old that one shouldn't be able to lose weight relatively easily just by eating a healthy diet and getting moderate exercise unless there's a medical reason for the weight issues.

I totally agree that one needs to find the diet and exercise that works best for them and work on that.  Of course, we have to alter everything according to our abilities as we age, but hopefully, if we stay healthy and fit, our abilities won't change all that much.  I still do most of the things I did when I was in my 40's, though I don't work as hard at them so it might take a little longer and I might find that the muscles cry a little louder if it's something I don't do on a regular basis... lol

I second the "be careful..."

I think this depends on what you're doing, and we really don't know what the poster is doing.  I also don't know if the poster is already using this stuff or not, which is why I included the bit about supplements just in case.  For me, I did things that required a lot of exertion, playing hard court basketball, practicing kung fu, running.  Because the poster mentioned testosterone, the only people who take that who don't have a medical condition requiring it are severe bodybuilders and pro athletes, and to make it work you have to work out intensively and so I'm just guessing the poster might be one of those folks but you're right, I don't know.  The ability to recover from injury depends on luck and the severity of the injury and how much you sleep and your overall health, but if you do intensive exercise and not just the ordinary workouts most people do you very much notice the age milestones.  At 35, I could run up and down the court with anyone, at 36 I couldn't.  It is what it is.  It's why pro athletes are done in their thirties.  The body can only be pushed for so long and then it starts to break down, and if you end up needing surgery, you've permanently weakened your body if you continue to do the things that are very intensive because other parts of your body compensate for the weakened parts and then they get injured.  So going on someone who even considers taking testosterone, I'm just assuming the person wants to do very intensive exercise and get oversized results.  I don't know if that's what the person wants, and when he responds we'll know and can respond better.  I can't do anything I did in my 40's, but I probably did a whole lot more in my 40's than you did -- I was kung fu fighting 20 year olds.  I just really like a good burn, but a good burn does get harder and harder once you start getting injured.  My only point.  Also, I'm a guy, and we start losing testosterone in our late twenties -- I think we notice what we can no longer do more because of that than most women do.  Again, look at how incredibly short most pro athletes careers are and how many are virtual cripples at the end of them.  So I just warn folks to be careful so they can stay fit for a lifetime -- most of us aren't earning millions of dollars to do what we do, we just do it because it's fun.  
"So going on someone who even considers taking testosterone, I'm just assuming the person wants to do very intensive exercise and get oversized results."  You might be right on that... I was looking at it from the other angle - perhaps he wanted oversized results without a lot of intensive exercise because that's what many people think they can get with B-12.  

For multiple reasons, I don't think there's any way we can compare what we were doing in our 40's but you know that.  I was working on a farm in Iowa for a good share of my 40's and trust me, there were many days that kung fu fighting 20 yr olds might have seemed like a walk in the park.   :-)  :-)

You're right; we'll know more when/if the O.P. responds again.  
Wow, topped me with working on a farm.  My only response is that I did it after working 10 hours a day managing health food stores, but that still isn't working on a farm.  Unless, of course, it was all mechanized.  Hmmm.
LOL - nope not all mechanized... chores included penning pregnant sows that didn't want to go where they were supposed to; chasing cattle out of a cornfield when the stalks are several feet taller than you are - sometimes in the dark or pulling weeds out of soybean fields (by hand); shoveling manure; tossing hay bales around; shoveling snow - that's probably enough, although that's only part of the work I did on the farm while I was raising 2 children, raising a garden, working an outside job and trying to keep a decent home...  Oh - the bulk of the field work was done by tractor, but my husband did most of that.  When I think back on it all, I wonder how I managed to have time to sleep...   :-)  

I was glad when we moved to Florida so all I had was my daily job and house/yard work to deal with, but by then I was almost out of my 40's... I still do my own yardwork/ landscaping, etc.  I just do things a lot slower than I used to...  :-)
649848 tn?1534633700
Too much of anything isn't good for you.  Vitamin B-12 isn't a weight loss supplement; it merely gives you energy if you're too tired/fatigued to work out on a regular basis.  It won't help you if you already have normal levels though.  In other words, more isn't better.

There are risks with testosterone supplementation, such as cardiovascular problems like heart attack, stroke, and death from heart problems.  Other issues caused by testosterone use include acne, disturbed breathing while sleeping, breast swelling or tenderness, or swelling in the ankles.  You might also get high red blood cell counts that could increase the risk of clots.   Some doctors believe that testosterone supplementation may increase the risk of prostate cancer... Always see your doctor before taking any supplement that contains testosterone or declares that it increases testosterone levels. For more information, check out the following link:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/mens-health/is-testosterone-therapy-safe-take-a-breath-before-you-take-the-plunge

The best way to lose weight is to implement a healthful eating plan that consists of whole, unprocessed foods, including adequate protein and healthful fats and a moderate exercise plan.
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2 Comments
Thanks!
You're welcome... safe weight loss is 1-2 lbs/week.  It apparently took you 4 months to gain 30 lbs.  If you're diligent and cut out the junk food/drinks, losing 2 lbs/week, you can have that 30 lbs back off pretty easily unless you have a medical condition that caused/helped you to gain it.  

I've seen people lose 2 lbs/week just cutting switching from sodas or beer to water.  If you cut out chips and other snacks as well, you can lose even more.

Good luck... Let us know how it goes.

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