Your Cart is Empty
A few weeks ago, my brother competed in his first ever powerlifting meet.
You can watch some of his lifting highlights here:
The event was an amazing experience.
While I am not necessarily a powerlifter, the energy at that event motivated me to want to compete in it at least once.
And it makes sense if you understand the connection between competition, testosterone, and motivation for men.
In this post we are going to explore the acute effects of testosterone production and competition. While these effects are acute spikes, surrounding yourself in a competitive environments is very healthy for testosterone production.
Without further ado, let's dive in!
As we mentioned in a previous post, healthy competition can actually improve testosterone levels. From a psychological perspective, competition is in our nature as men.
If you have a little sibling or son/daughter, you know how good it feels to go all out and completely dunk on the little guy or gal... or to beat them at Mario Kart.
No mercy.
Jokes aside, let's get into some of the studies done on competition and testosterone levels.
Our sex hormones are tied to our social behavior. This is very important to understand, as we adapt to changes in our environment (neuroplasticity).
We can explore this further in various ways by looking at Game Theory.
In a systematic review done on Combat Sport competitors, it was found that testosterone levels were elevated prior to the event. The kicker of this review was that these increases in testosterone prior to competition were only found in men. There was no response with women.
From this study we can gather that there is a difference between men and women with testosterone production.
There have been a plethora of studies done on humans and animals alike that measure competition and testosterone levels. In fact, the acute increases in testosterone also increase the motivation to compete as well.
Competition not only applies to sports.
When it comes to social status between the sexes, men will encounter a boost in testosterone when they believe they're a winner.
According to one study, it was found that men only have to believe they've bested another man in a competition to attract a woman to get a testosterone boost.
And with that boost, men will feel confident enough to approach other women.
Game Theory, baby.
Believe it or not, we can take this further with clothing and social status. When people purchase apparel from high-end companies like Burberry, it is also a status signal to other men and women alike. This means that apparel can even be used to attract others to you, making you feel like a winner.
Once you see this, you can't unsee it.
To summarize, here are a few things to consider with competition and testosterone levels:
Lastly, remember that competition is everywhere, even if you don't see it.
Go out there and be a winner.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email us at support@reforgedperformance.com or contact us via Instagram. I feel that there is a lot to cover with this that goes beyond testosterone production, so if you want me to cover more of this, I will!
Until next time, Reforged Warrior.
I have been reading quite a few articles surrounding depression and its connection to lifestyle habits.
In recent years, scientists have started to discover that depression is not just a "chemical imbalance".
It's much more complex than that, and a lot of evidence is pointing towards positive habits helping to alleviate or reduce the risk of depression.
Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that affects millions of people worldwide.
It is characterized by difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or both, despite the opportunity for adequate sleep.
This can lead to decreased energy levels, mood disturbances, decreased performance at work or school, and can negatively impact overall health and quality of life.
If you're tossing and turning at night, you're not alone.
In this post, we are going to go over the 5 natural ways to ease insomnia.
Let's dive in!
Magnesium is an essential mineral that plays a vital role in many bodily functions, including muscle and nerve function, blood sugar regulation, and bone health.
Despite its importance, many people do not get enough magnesium from their diets alone.
This is where supplements like magnesium glycinate can be helpful.
Magnesium glycinate is a highly bioavailable form of magnesium that is easily absorbed by the body and has several potential health benefits.
In this post, we'll explore the benefits of magnesium glycinate and why it may be a valuable addition to your overall health and wellness plan.
Let's dive in!