How can I mitigate face bloating/water retention on 120mg TRT?
My face gets so bloated. Usually first thing in the morning fasted it's not as bad, but once I eat it gets bloated. Example: today was 2 eggs, red potatos, top sirloin steak and some banana. I drink about 4-5 Liters a day.
120mg split up into three doses each dose on Monday, Wednesday, Friday,
Also 100 units HCG those same days. I'm sure this is what's causing it so I am dropping the HCG completely to see what happens.
Last labs my Total test was 732 ng/dl and E2 was 24.6 pg/ml. Is that an ok ratio?
Face is absolutely not bloated 24/7, some times it looks lean asf, but those times are far and few in between and I can't understand why. Only doing 250g carbs on training days and 150 non training days (in a cut phase). Dropping carbs to 100 on non training days. I have my electrolyte mix which I take maybe half a scoop every other day.
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What test ester are you using?
Cypionate my friend
Have you tried test e or any other ester? I’ve heard cypionate can cause people to retain water, as well.
Ranger3252One would automatically think estrogen, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Has this just started with taking test? You could always add in a small dose of adex or Aromasin. Maybe too much salt or not enough water intake. Have you had your kidneys checked recently? Could be circulation related.
Your E2 isn’t elevated. Dropping the HCG won’t drop the bloat. It doesn’t seem to be elevating your E2 too much.
Our bodies hold fat and water in different places. For example my arms will be lean and veiny no matter if I’m 10% bf or 18% bf.
You, unfortunately, might have genetics that keep some water/fat around your face. Problem might go away once you get leaner. Or the problem could be all in your head. We do all have a little body dysmorphia around here after all lol. Does your wife/gf say it looks bloated? Or is it just you see bloated in the mirror?
Or try natural diuretics like Panda said. Dandelion root extract, celery seed extract, etc.
Other guys at the gym have pointed it out to me (respectfully) and I agree. I will say I have noticed this is new since I started getting into the gym and TRT more seriously now. It could very well be carbohydrate mismanagement. IE, too many carbs. Or could be the PED's.
Yea but you’re not eating that many carbs. Your total carbs on training days is like one meal for me. Definitely the PEDs. Gotta find out why your body is reacting this way. Could even be as silly as inflammation from the specific carrier oil in the test you’re using.
Like everyone said, watch the sodium, drink lots of water, do some cardio but also you could look into doing a Winny cycle. Winny helps shed water.
I’m about 10 days into a 50 mg/day Winny run and the definition and muscle separation I’m seeing is already impressive. Albeit, I started lean at ~10-12% bodyfat and dry- but Winny is a fucking amazing tool to use to chisel out the end of a cutting cycle.
OP- just know that Winstrol it’s not a long-term fix. It is liver toxic, and should not be run for more than 4 to 6 weeks at the absolute longest. Also, the improvements you see from it will mostly dissipate when you discontinue use.
I think the best thing you can do for yourself has already been mentioned numerous times which is watch your sodium and get a little bit of cardio in in the mornings.
If you’re really struggling with chronic water retention, you may talk to your TRT provider about a mild or low dose diuretic. By the way, how is your blood pressure? Most people who struggle with high blood pressure also were taking a good bit of water, which is why a lot of pharmaceutical blood pressure medication are combo pills with a diuretic.
If your blood pressure runs high, it may even be worth looking into getting on a blood pressure medicine regimen with your doctor that is stacked with a mild diuretic.
Bro, cardio daily, even just a light session can do wonders for circulation and water balance.
Also, don’t just look at sodium alone. The sodium-to-potassium ratio is way more important than just going “low sodium” like most people say. Get those two in check.
Sleep quality and stress levels matter more than people think. Elevated cortisol will have you holding water like crazy.
Your water intake looks solid (35–50ml/kg is a great range), just keep it consistent throughout the day. Personally, I taper mine a bit at night so I’m not waking up to pee and ruining sleep.
Also, watch your food quality, processed fats or too many additives can cause low-grade inflammation and add bloat.
Now, if I were in your shoes, I’d try adding some mild natural diuretics like dandelion root or nettle leaf. They’re gentle, but can help.
And don’t skip checking estrogen levels even on TRT, some guys aromatize more than others.
Water retention is usually one of the first signs E2 is creeping up.
What’s your body fat by the way? That plays a big role here too.
Mate I do cardio 3 times a week, 40 mins on stairmaster which is why I'm so confused. Water intake is good I think. Cortisol may be high tbh. Also that HCG which I am dropping. Bodyfat is probably around 14%. I also added more context to my post about my stack.
My first thought is high E2, but I find it hard to believe your estrogen is out of range on that low of a dose. As far as diet, you could lower sodium and increase potassium, which should help marginally.