Mr_Gains
New member
Lately, I've been noticing more and more cutting cycles that include T3 and T4 as standard components. I’m not here to lecture anyone or dictate what decisions to make in your own training, but I do want to share some personal insights based on my experience. Some of you may have heard parts of my story before, but I think it's worth providing a bit more context, especially for those considering the use of thyroid medications like levothyroxine (T4).
For most of my life, martial arts was the central focus. I started training at the age of 5, and by 20, I had the privilege of representing my country. During my university years, balancing a demanding academic schedule with a rigorous training routine was tough, but I loved the sport. What I didn’t enjoy, however, was the challenge of making weight. I often had to drop significant amounts of weight through strict dieting and intense cardio, which wasn’t something I looked forward to.
My coach was a fitness fanatic—a guy who walked around with 6-7% body fat and never ate junk food. In contrast, I was more relaxed with my nutrition and typically carried about 12-14% body fat. Throughout my competitive career, I fluctuated between several weight classes, but the 95kg (about 210lbs) category was my sweet spot. Outside of competition, I would weigh in at around 220-230lbs, and let’s be honest, I hated the process of cutting weight. Cardio wasn’t my favorite, and dropping 10-20lbs before a competition always took a toll on me. But, this weight category was where I performed best, and my results supported that.
In my search for a more manageable approach to weight cutting, I started looking into "chemical assistance." At the time, I was finishing up my biochemistry degree and had worked in a lab where I gained exposure to endocrine medications. This knowledge led me to experiment with levothyroxine (T4), a thyroid medication, just before my 22nd birthday. It seemed like a simple, cost-effective way to enhance my cutting without the extremes of diet and cardio.
And, for a while, it worked beautifully. With a low dose of T4 (around 50mcg), I didn’t have to suffer through the usual 8-week cut before a competition. I could keep my diet clean, but not obsessively strict, and still shed the necessary weight in about 4 weeks. This method lasted until I was 28, and I continued to use T4 cautiously, never pushing the doses or duration.
At 28, I won the biggest competition of my martial arts career. However, that victory also marked the end of my competitive career. As I got older and naturally put on more muscle, it became harder to stay under 95kg. To make the weight, I was cutting down to a dangerously low body fat percentage—around 6%—which was not only tough for the sport, but also for my health.
After the competition, even though I stopped using T4, I continued to lose weight uncontrollably. I increased my food intake, reduced cardio, but my weight kept dropping. Three months later, I was 8kg under my competition weight and had lost significant muscle mass. I was also experiencing shaky hands, constant mild headaches, shortness of breath, and, for the first time, mood swings. At that point, I went to the doctor for the first time in 7 years.
My doctor ran some tests and discovered that my resting heart rate was 105 bpm—quite a shock for someone who had been in peak physical condition just a few months earlier. The cause? An overactive thyroid. My T4 levels were through the roof—143, compared to the normal range of 11-22 in the UK. I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and put on a drug called carbimazole, and was referred to an endocrinologist.
The endocrinologist I saw was familiar with cases like mine, but the situation rapidly deteriorated. Despite medication, my weight continued to drop, and I began to look unhealthy—like a drug addict, to be honest. I struggled at work, and people probably thought I was on something. Eventually, the carbimazole stabilized my thyroid, but I still felt terrible. I had developed a heart murmur, which wouldn't resolve, and I ended up needing my heart to be stopped and restarted. (Trust me, that's an experience you never want.) At 30, I underwent a total thyroidectomy, and now I take T4 for the rest of my life.
While I’m stable now, my life has been significantly impacted by this experience. I still struggle with overheating (I wear a T-shirt in the winter) and the inconvenience of daily medication and regular blood tests. Every time I have a health issue, the doctors’ first suspicion is related to my endocrine system. It’s an ongoing challenge that I still deal with daily.
I apologize for the long read, but if this can help even one person avoid what I went through, it will have been worth it. Cutting weight through cardio and diet may seem tough, but I can tell you from experience, you don’t want to deal with thyroid issues or thyrotoxicosis.
For most of my life, martial arts was the central focus. I started training at the age of 5, and by 20, I had the privilege of representing my country. During my university years, balancing a demanding academic schedule with a rigorous training routine was tough, but I loved the sport. What I didn’t enjoy, however, was the challenge of making weight. I often had to drop significant amounts of weight through strict dieting and intense cardio, which wasn’t something I looked forward to.
My coach was a fitness fanatic—a guy who walked around with 6-7% body fat and never ate junk food. In contrast, I was more relaxed with my nutrition and typically carried about 12-14% body fat. Throughout my competitive career, I fluctuated between several weight classes, but the 95kg (about 210lbs) category was my sweet spot. Outside of competition, I would weigh in at around 220-230lbs, and let’s be honest, I hated the process of cutting weight. Cardio wasn’t my favorite, and dropping 10-20lbs before a competition always took a toll on me. But, this weight category was where I performed best, and my results supported that.
In my search for a more manageable approach to weight cutting, I started looking into "chemical assistance." At the time, I was finishing up my biochemistry degree and had worked in a lab where I gained exposure to endocrine medications. This knowledge led me to experiment with levothyroxine (T4), a thyroid medication, just before my 22nd birthday. It seemed like a simple, cost-effective way to enhance my cutting without the extremes of diet and cardio.
And, for a while, it worked beautifully. With a low dose of T4 (around 50mcg), I didn’t have to suffer through the usual 8-week cut before a competition. I could keep my diet clean, but not obsessively strict, and still shed the necessary weight in about 4 weeks. This method lasted until I was 28, and I continued to use T4 cautiously, never pushing the doses or duration.
At 28, I won the biggest competition of my martial arts career. However, that victory also marked the end of my competitive career. As I got older and naturally put on more muscle, it became harder to stay under 95kg. To make the weight, I was cutting down to a dangerously low body fat percentage—around 6%—which was not only tough for the sport, but also for my health.
After the competition, even though I stopped using T4, I continued to lose weight uncontrollably. I increased my food intake, reduced cardio, but my weight kept dropping. Three months later, I was 8kg under my competition weight and had lost significant muscle mass. I was also experiencing shaky hands, constant mild headaches, shortness of breath, and, for the first time, mood swings. At that point, I went to the doctor for the first time in 7 years.
My doctor ran some tests and discovered that my resting heart rate was 105 bpm—quite a shock for someone who had been in peak physical condition just a few months earlier. The cause? An overactive thyroid. My T4 levels were through the roof—143, compared to the normal range of 11-22 in the UK. I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and put on a drug called carbimazole, and was referred to an endocrinologist.
The endocrinologist I saw was familiar with cases like mine, but the situation rapidly deteriorated. Despite medication, my weight continued to drop, and I began to look unhealthy—like a drug addict, to be honest. I struggled at work, and people probably thought I was on something. Eventually, the carbimazole stabilized my thyroid, but I still felt terrible. I had developed a heart murmur, which wouldn't resolve, and I ended up needing my heart to be stopped and restarted. (Trust me, that's an experience you never want.) At 30, I underwent a total thyroidectomy, and now I take T4 for the rest of my life.
While I’m stable now, my life has been significantly impacted by this experience. I still struggle with overheating (I wear a T-shirt in the winter) and the inconvenience of daily medication and regular blood tests. Every time I have a health issue, the doctors’ first suspicion is related to my endocrine system. It’s an ongoing challenge that I still deal with daily.
I apologize for the long read, but if this can help even one person avoid what I went through, it will have been worth it. Cutting weight through cardio and diet may seem tough, but I can tell you from experience, you don’t want to deal with thyroid issues or thyrotoxicosis.
Thanks for sharing! 
