Testosterone Therapy — Creams vs Pellets vs Injections The simple truth (no marketing, no hype) I get this question constantly: “What’s the best way to take testosterone?” Creams? Pellets? Shots? Here’s the straight answer: The delivery method matters just as much as the dose. Most people choose based on convenience… not results. Creams / Gels Easy. No needles. Daily. But: - inconsistent absorption - fluctuating levels - can transfer to spouse/kids - often under-dosed Fine for mild symptoms. Rarely great for true optimization. Most people feel “a little better”… not great. Pellets Inserted every few months. Sounds convenient, but: - minor procedure - dose is locked in - spike early, crash late - if it’s wrong, you’re stuck Good marketing. Poor control. I rarely see pellets dialed in perfectly. Injections Simple. Affordable. Adjustable. Clinically? Gold standard. - stable levels - easy to fine-tune - fewer side effects - better energy - better body composition - better performance Small, frequent doses = steady and predictable. Hormones hate spikes. They love consistency. Biggest mistake people make It’s not what form you use. It’s how often you dose. Big shot every 2 weeks → rollercoaster Smaller 2–3x/week → smooth and stable Stability wins every time. My take after years of doing this Creams → convenience Pellets → hands-off Injections → optimization If you want real results — strength, leanness, mental clarity, steady energy — injections almost always outperform. And remember Testosterone isn’t magic. If you don’t fix: - sleep - lifting - protein - inflammation - insulin sensitivity Nothing works well. TRT amplifies good habits. It doesn’t replace them. Bottom line: This isn’t about “anti-aging.” It’s about feeling strong, clear, and capable at any age. Dose smart. Stay consistent. Do it right. Medical Disclaimer This content is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Hormone therapy should always be discussed with and monitored by a qualified healthcare professional with appropriate lab testing and supervision. Individual needs, risks, and dosing vary. Do not start, stop, or change any medication without medical guidance.

64 vs 45. Bill and I are the owners of Asension PL. We built BioOptimization Collective to serve you on your peptide journey better. For those of you who don't follow us on social media, here is some fun stuff we are doing, and to let you get to know us better and what we are about. Not because we’re trying to prove anything… But because we want to remind people of something most of the world forgot: Age is just a number. Bill is 64. Ex-49er. Bodybuilder. Martial artist. 40+ years of training. Nutritional therapist. Blood analysis certified. SSRP certified through Dr. William Seeds. Working on his PhD. Fully optimized. Still competitive. Still hungry. I’m 45. Gym rat. World-level CrossFit competitor. Held 8 CrossFit specialty certifications. Now focused on longevity, health, performance, and keeping my edge in the best way possible. Different paths. Same mindset. Once a week, we’re running a 64 vs 45 challenge not to show who’s better… but to show what’s possible when you stop letting age define your ceiling. You’ll see our competitive side. You’ll see our goofy side. You’ll see how we push each other. You’ll see how experience meets hunger. And most importantly, you’ll see that it’s never too late to start. And never too early to take it seriously. We don’t do this for views. We do this because this is our passion. Helping people optimize their bodies. Helping people believe in themselves again. Helping people realize that your best years don’t have to be behind you. Whether you’re 25, 45, or 65 plus, you still get to choose who you become next. We’re here to show you what’s possible. We’re here to walk it with you. And we’re here to have fun doing it. Welcome to 64 vs 45. Let’s go. We would love a flow on IG, Meta & TikTok You can find Bill by searching for Bill Haynes, and me by searching for Travis Dickey. We appreciate all the support! 💪

This comes up more often than people talk about, so it’s worth clearing up. Some peptides can cause temporary skin sensitivity in certain people. That might feel like itching, tingling, flushing, warmth, or just skin feeling more reactive than usual. Most of the time, this is not an allergy and not a sign that something is “wrong.” What’s usually happening is related to how peptides interact with circulation, inflammation, histamine signaling, or the nervous system especially early on or when dosing moves too fast. A few important things to understand: First, dose matters. Skin sensitivity is very often dose-related. Starting too high or increasing too quickly is one of the most common reasons people notice this. Slowing down almost always helps. Second, hydration and electrolytes matter more than people realize. When appetite drops or metabolism shifts, people often under-hydrate or under-consume electrolytes. That makes nerve endings more reactive and can amplify skin sensations. Third, histamine and blood flow play a role. Some peptides increase blood flow or indirectly affect histamine pathways. That can show up as itching or flushing, especially in people who already have sensitive skin or a history of histamine reactions. Fourth, heat makes it worse. Hot showers, saunas, or intense heat exposure can amplify skin sensitivity when you’re first starting a peptide. Giving your body time to adapt before layering heat usually helps. So what actually helps? The most effective strategies are: - Lowering the dose - Slowing down how quickly you increase - Staying well hydrated - Making sure electrolytes are adequate - Avoiding heat exposure early on - Simplifying stacks if too many things are added at once Most people find that when they do this, skin sensitivity settles down on its own as the body adapts. What’s important is not to panic or push through aggressively. These compounds work through signaling pathways, and sometimes the nervous system just needs time to recalibrate.

Cold plunging isn’t about being tough. It’s about training your body and nervous system to work better under stress. The real, proven benefits: - Helps reduce muscle soreness after hard training - Activates brown fat and slightly increases calorie burn - Increases dopamine and norepinephrine (focus, mood, motivation) - Improves circulation control - Trains stress tolerance at a nervous-system level What it does not do: It doesn’t magically burn fat, cure disease, build muscle, or replace training and nutrition. How long: 👉 2–3 minutes is plenty. More is not better. How often: 👉 3–5 times per week is ideal. Daily is fine if recovery feels good. When to avoid: 👉 Right after strength training, if muscle growth is your main goal. Why do I do it: Not for calories. Not for ego. I do it because it sharpens my mind, improves my mood, and reminds me I can stay calm in uncomfortable moments. Cold plunging doesn’t change your life. But it trains the part of you that can. Consistency > intensity. If you’re using it, use it for discipline, clarity, and control, not for hype.

I want to pause for a minute and actually ask you something, not assume. This platform is built around human performance and optimization, but everyone in here is at a different place. Different goals. Different experiences. Different levels of curiosity. Some of you are deep into blood work and numbers. Some of you are just starting to learn what labs even matter. Some of you are on TRT, some are thinking about it, and some want nothing to do with it. Some of you are already using peptides. Others are just trying to understand what’s real and what’s hype. So instead of guessing, I want to hear it straight from you. What do you actually want to see more of in here? Blood work — how to read it, what really matters, optimization ranges. Supplements — what’s worth your time and money and what’s not. TRT — education, long-term thinking, pros and cons. Peptides — recovery, sleep, performance, longevity, real-world use. Training and recovery — especially as we get older. Sleep, stress, hormones, energy, focus. Or something else I’m not even thinking about. Also curious… What are you currently using or experimenting with? What have you tried that actually worked for you? What have you tried that didn’t? What are you still unsure about or hesitant to explore? There’s no right or wrong answers here. This isn’t about selling anything or pushing an agenda. I just want to make sure this platform is actually serving you at the level it should. Drop a comment below or message me directly if you’d rather keep it private. I’m listening. This community gets better when the conversation stays real.