Schedule your appointment with Gameday Men’s Health today and discover the difference that targeted testosterone therapy can make. More serious risks, although rare, can include an increased risk of blood clots, sleep apnea, and prostate enlargement. Testosterone therapy works best when combined with regular exercise, proper nutrition, and adequate rest and recovery. A healthcare professional specializing in hormone optimization can interpret your results and provide personalized recommendations based on your unique situation. It’s important to assess your individual needs, goals, and overall health status before embarking on any hormone optimization journey. Furthermore, based on changes in physical activity, serum testosterone levels only significantly increased in our HPA group. Thus, a significant increase in physical activity possibly contributed to the increased serum testosterone levels. In comparison, although the average weight reduction in the HPA group was similar to that in the LPA group, serum testosterone levels significantly increased only in the HPA group. In the present study, although the average weight reduction was similar in both groups, serum testosterone levels did not significantly increase in the LPA group. "However, you may feel a good boost of energy with exercise because of a surge in cortisol level rather than testosterone," El-Zawahry says. While there’s research on the subject, McNeil says yoga and pilates, which incorporate aspects of strength training, likely have a positive impact on testosterone. Don’t worry so much about just focusing on resistance training because you think it raises your T. "If they're a casual resistance trainer, they're probably not going to see any substantial mark in testosterone changes," he adds. Endurance-based exercises, like cardio, can potentially reduce testosterone. Burst training involves exercising at 90 percent to 100 percent of your maximum effort for a short interval in order to burn your body’s stored sugar, followed by a period of low impact for recovery. Testosterone is important for muscle mass and strength, as we know, and that relationship is actually reciprocal. And according to research conducted by the University of Virginia Medical School’s Department of Internal Medicine, short-term fasting can increase testosterone by significant margins. So don’t skip your workout—it’s good for your T levels and your overall health. And you definitely want to kick your sugar addiction, because sugar can throw off hormones, particularly testosterone. Some of the best natural stress relievers include exercise and yoga, meditation, acupuncture, cognitive behavioral therapy, spending more time in nature, keeping a journal, and using adaptogen herbs and essential oils. I recommend hitting the gym at least three days a week and lifting heavy weights on larger muscle groups like the chest, shoulders, back, hamstrings, and quads.