Actual Client Case Study
By Dr. Andreas Boettcher
The Power of the Peak Performance Protocol: A Real Case Study in Reclaiming Energy, Strength, and Longevity (in Under 90 Days)
(All identifying details have been removed to maintain client confidentiality.)
From Sluggish and Stuck to Strong and Sharp Again - All Without A Single Orange Mini Bottle, Injections, Pellets or Creams
When this client began his Peak Performance journey, he was a familiar story.
A driven 35 year old professional, family man, and former athlete — but lately, his energy was flat. His workouts were inconsistent, motivation had waned, and the mirror told a story that didn’t match the man he knew himself to be.
He described feeling“foggy,” “sluggish,” and “disconnected.”His midsection had softened, his sleep was inconsistent, and his libido had faded into a memory.
Like many men, he had accepted these changes as “normal aging.”
But what we uncovered — and reversed — proved that aging is optional when you take a systems-based approach to rebuilding health.
In less than 90 days, this client’s lab work and lived experience transformed — not through synthetic shortcuts, but through rebalancing the body’s natural hormonal and metabolic pathways.
This is what happens when you stop treating symptoms and start restoring function.
1. Adrenal Recovery: From Burned Out to Fully Engaged
Cortisol (AM): 4.0 → 14.1 µg/dL
Improvement: +252%
At the start, his cortisol — the hormone responsible for morning energy and focus — was bottomed out. This isn’t “stress” in the emotional sense; it’s adrenal fatigue physiology.
Low cortisol means you’re waking up tired, needing caffeine to function, and hitting an afternoon wall.
After just 90 days of structured sleep optimization, mitochondrial repair, and circadian rhythm alignment, his cortisol rebounded by more than 250%.
He began waking up alert, motivated, and focused — no caffeine crutch required.
This restoration laid the foundation for everything else to improve. When adrenal output normalizes, testosterone production, thyroid conversion, and energy metabolism follow suit.
2. DHEA and Pregnenolone: The “Foundation Hormones” That Fuel Performance
Pregnenolone: 43 → 91 ng/dL (+112%)
DHEA-S: 229 → 407 µg/dL (+78%)
These two hormones are the master precursors for every other hormone in your body — including testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol.
When they’re low, your body is in survival mode. It doesn’t have the resources to produce downstream hormones. Energy feels flat, motivation dips, and recovery lags.
By doubling pregnenolone and increasing DHEA nearly 80%, we didn’t just “boost testosterone.”
We rebuilt the foundation of his entire endocrine system.
Here’s why that matters:
Pregnenolone supports memory, focus, and mood. It’s nicknamed“the mother of all hormones.” It’s produced in the mitochondria — the energy centers of your cells — meaning it’s directly tied to cellular vitality and anti-aging.
DHEA is a key adrenal androgen that supports lean muscle mass, immune function, libido, and resilience to stress. Low DHEA is one of the earliest biomarkers of accelerated aging.
Together, these two hormones tell us the body is no longer depleting itself — it’s building back capacity.
Clinically, he described it this way:
“I feel like the lights came back on. I’m sleeping better, recovering faster, and my focus is laser sharp again.”
3. Testosterone Optimization: It’s About Balance, Not Bragging Rights
Now we come to the hormone everyone wants to talk about — testosterone.
Here’s what the data showed:
Total Testosterone: 361 → 491 ng/dL (+36%)
Free Testosterone: 59.8 → 99.1 pg/mL (+66%)
SHBG (Sex Hormone Binding Globulin): 40.8 → 35.1 nmol/L (–14%)
And here’s where we need to address the elephant in the room.
Some men might see that total testosterone number and dismiss it —“That’s not high enough.”But that’s the wrong lens.
The goal isn’t to chase an arbitrary high number. The goal is functional balance— the right synergy between total testosterone, free testosterone, cortisol, thyroid, pregnenolone, and DHEA.
Here’s what’s remarkable about this case:
Free testosterone— the bioavailable form your tissues actually use — increased by 66%.
SHBG, the binding protein that locks testosterone away, dropped by 14%, freeing up more of what was already there.
And those improvements compounded, amplifying the effects of every molecule of testosterone his body produced.
So while total testosterone rose a modest 36%, the usable testosterone available to his brain, muscles, and metabolism increased exponentially.
That’s why this client didn’t just see a lab improvement — he felt it.
He went from sluggish and disengaged to fit, lean, strong, and driven.
Energy was up.
Mood and focus sharpened.
Libido and performance in the bedroom reignited.
This is the difference between chasing numbers and chasing results.
You don’t optimize testosterone in isolation.
You create balance across the entire hormonal network — and that’s exactly what we did.
4. IGF-1: Reigniting Recovery, Growth, and Regeneration
IGF-1: 88 → 169 ng/mL (+92%)
IGF-1 (Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1) reflects growth hormone activity — your body’s ability to repair, rebuild, and regenerate.
Low IGF-1 means slow recovery, soft tissue breakdown, poor muscle tone, and fatigue. Nearly doubling this value in under 90 days means his recovery chemistry is fully back online.
He began sleeping deeper, building muscle again, and noticing faster recovery from both training and stress.
This is “youth biology” reactivated.
5. Inflammation and Oxidative Stress: Cooling the Fire Within
hs-CRP (Inflammation): 0.78 → 0.60 mg/L (–23%)
Ferritin (Oxidative Stress): 183 → 95 ng/mL (–48%)
Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress are the silent killers of performance and longevity.
Reducing both by nearly half tells us his liver, gut, and cellular detox pathways are functioning efficiently.
This is why his energy stabilized and his recovery improved — inflammation is no longer stealing his reserves.
6. Metabolic Mastery: Clean Fuel, Efficient Engine
Hemoglobin A1c: 5.2 → 5.1 (–2%)
LDL Cholesterol: 123 → 107 (–13%)
Triglycerides: 42 → 38 (–10%) Already excellent when we started
HDL: 62 → 59 (stable and excellent) But still an area of focus to improve
TG/HDL Ratio: 0.68 → 0.64 (–6%)
We saw a consistent trend toward metabolic optimization — improved insulin sensitivity, lipid balance, and blood sugar control.
This means his body is burning fat efficiently, not storing it. Energy production is stable, inflammation remains low, and cardiovascular protection is strong.
And unlike traditional TRT scenarios where LDL often rises, his LDL actually dropped 13%while testosterone, DHEA, and IGF-1 all increased — proving his hormonal system and metabolism are now working together, not against each other.
7. Methylation and Detox Pathways: Clearing the Roadblocks
Homocysteine: 11.0 → 6.2 µmol/L (–44%)
Homocysteine is one of the most powerful predictors of cardiovascular and neurological health. Elevated levels signal poor methylation — your body’s ability to detoxify, repair DNA, and regulate neurotransmitters.
A 44% improvement here shows enhanced detox efficiency, reduced vascular stress, and better long-term protection for the heart and brain.
His B-vitamin utilization, methylation cycle, and liver detox pathways are now fully operational — another sign of true system-wide recovery.
8. Thyroid Function: The Metabolic Accelerator
TSH: 1.42 → 3.44 µIU/mL
Free T4: 1.20 → 1.29 ng/dL
Free T3: 2.4 → 2.8 pg/mL
While still within a healthy range, the rise in TSH suggests the brain is signaling the thyroid to work a bit harder.
We’re addressing this proactively through selenium, zinc, and iodine support, optimizing liver conversion (T4 → T3), and ensuring adrenal and mitochondrial support remain strong.
This ensures sustained energy, efficient fat metabolism, and continued high performance.
9. The Transformation in Numbers (and Why They Matter)
10. The Real Transformation: What You Can’t Measure in Numbers
He’s no longer tired halfway through the day.
He’s leaner, more muscular, and sleeping deeply again.
His drive, confidence, and performance — in all aspects of life — have returned.
He’s not chasing lab numbers anymore; he’s chasing results.
Because true optimization isn’t about “raising testosterone.” It’s about building balance across the entire hormonal and metabolic network — where every system supports the next.
When cortisol, DHEA, pregnenolone, testosterone, thyroid, and insulin sensitivity align… you don’t just feel better.
You become better — mentally, physically, and emotionally.
The Road Ahead
Our next 90–180 days will focus on:
Supporting thyroid conversion and mitochondrial function.
Continuing lean muscle development and metabolic resilience.
Strengthening detox and methylation for long-term cardiovascular and brain protection.
Sustaining natural hormone optimization without pharmaceutical dependence.
Because in this journey — there is no finish line.
Final Thoughts
In less than 90 days, this client completely redefined what was possible. Every measurable system improved — adrenal, hormonal, metabolic, and cellular.
Best part, we are not done yet! I fully expect based on years of experience that his markers will continue to improve as continue to work together in Optimizing his health, NATURALLY!
And here’s the most important takeaway:
We didn’t replace his physiology.
We restored it.
That’s the essence of the Peak Performance Protocol— rebuilding health from the inside out so men can reclaim their energy, strength, and vitality naturally.
Because at the end of the day, we’re not chasing numbers.
We’re chasing outcomes.
We’re chasing longevity.
We’re chasing life.
And for this client — as for every man who commits to this process — it’s clear:
The second half can absolutely be the best half, when you decide it’s only halftime.
⚡️ Ready to Raise Your Game?
If you’d like to go deeper — to uncover the root causes behind your energy, hormones, metabolism, and performance — I invite you to book a complimentary consultation.
Together, we’ll review your lab analysis, genetics, and lifestyle data to create a personalized Peak Performance Protocol designed to help you reclaim your edge — naturally.
👉Click here to schedule your complimentary consultation.
To learn more about our approach and success stories, visit www.itsonlyhalftime.com— where we help men like you turn your second half into your best half.
Finish Strong,
Dr. Andreas
Still Kicken A** Medication Free at 55 Despite What the "Narrative" Would Like You To Believe!
Medical Disclaimer:
The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. It should not replace professional consultation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before making any changes to your health regimen or lifestyle.
