1. What is it and where does it come from?
N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine, or melatonin, is hormone produced naturally by the body in the pineal gland of the brain. The release of melatonin correlates with the body's cycle of day and night.
The highest levels of the hormone are produced at night. Trace amounts of melatonin appears in foods.
2. What does it do and what scientific studies give evidence to support this?
Melatonin may play an essential role in sleeping and much more. As light inhibits its production, and darkness stimulates it, melatonin regulates the body's internal clock. Double blind research shows that this hormone helps people sleep, shortens the number of awakenings in the night, and improves the quality of sleep. It is also very useful in treating jet lag, as it promotes quicker recovery from that "out of it" stage one may experience after extended periods of flight. Research has also shown that having enough melatonin exhibits positive psychological benefits on a person's mood.
3. Who needs it and what are some symptoms of deficiency?
Frequent travelers and those who work rotating shifts could benefit by taking melatonin supplements. Sleep is definitely important to weight-trainers, bodybuilders, and athletes, as muscles grow and repair during sleep. Melatonin has been used by millions of people to gain quality rest on a more consistent basis.
4. How much should be taken? Are there any side effects?
Levels of melatonin intake should vary with a person's age. The body produces some melatonin naturally during sleep and many doctors and experts recommend a level similar to the body's own production, between one to three milligrams taken two hours or one-half hour before a person wants to go to sleep. Melatonin should not be taken during the day. Some uncommon side effects are reports of grogginess, sleepwalking, and disorientation. Pregnant or breast-feeding women should not take it. All in all, melatonin has great sleep promoting effects.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
7 Steps To Brutal Arms
If your arms have not improved over the past year, whatever you're doing in the gym is obviously not working. So-and-so many sets of barbell curls, followed by some dumbbell curls and a couple of sets of skullcrushers and tricep pressdowns - sound familiar? Well, it's time to do something drastic or you'll be stuck forever. Here are 7 steps that will give you a kick in the pants so you get back into the growth zone!
7 Steps To Kick Start Growth
Step 1: Assessment.
Bring out your training log and step back, looking at it as if you were reading someone else's. What you're looking for is stuff like favorite, ineffective exercises (identified as showing up frequently but always having the same weight and reps), stupid combinations (why first do preacher curls with a barbell and then do the exact same thing with a plate-loaded preacher machine while skipping dumbbell hammer curls?) and lack of variation from workout to workout.
Heck, pretend it's some cocky schmuck you'd like to put in his place, so be cruelly honest - the more mistakes you can dig up, the better. Every mistake you find brings you one step closer to getting some productive workouts for a change.
Step 2: Out With The Old, In With The New.
When studying the training log you probably spotted a number of exercises that show up just a little too frequently. I bet these coincide with exercises where you're either naturally strong and can use a lot of weight, or have a neat machine that you like to use. Well, not anymore. Cut them entirely for a month and only use exercises that you normally avoid.
Habit is one of the biggest enemies of progress, right up with laziness andovertraining, so smash that comfortable routine of yours with a vengeance. Hate forearm rolls, cable hammer curls and dips? Tough luck, you're doing them now! After a month or so you can bring back your old favorites, rotating them through your workout like you would any other exercise.
Step 3: Getting The Balance Right.
It's a classic mistake to focus primarily on biceps for arm growth. Sure, they look impressive once you get a nice peak worked up, but they're literally the tip of the iceberg. To get the kind of biceps you want you must train the brachialis, which is located UNDER the biceps and pushes it up. In addition, triceps make up almost two-thirds of the total arm thickness, and let's not forget the importance of the forearms to avoid "reverse-Popeye"-syndrome (beefy upper arms and twig-like forearms).
Furthermore, biceps is a relatively small muscle that grows best with a hit-hard-and-brief approach, so avoid the 16 set bicep workouts and spread the time and efforts appropriately. For example, 6 sets for biceps (making sure 2 of them hit brachialis), 8 sets for triceps and 4 sets for forearms is a reasonable split. See the sample workout for how such a setup could work.
Step 4: Timing & Frequency.
Overtraining arms is easily done. You often involve biceps and forearms during back training, with triceps getting a beating on chest day. If you're on a split that has you train through the entire body twice per week you could be hitting the same muscles almost every day, directly or indirectly. If you've read my articles in the past you know that I advocate a less-is-more approach of training each muscle group once per week as soon as you're past the beginner-stage. That should decrease the risk of overtraining considerably.
As for timing, keep your workouts short and brief: 30-45 mins is ideal, anything over 60 mins is borderline counterproductive. Last but not least, don't forget to use periodization so that you cycle between low-rep/high-rep training. Click here to read more about periodization.
Step 5: Pump Up The Intensity.
With a 30-45 min window (not counting warmup and stretching) you have to move pretty fast between exercises. You shouldn't have to walk around with a stopwatch, but aim for about a minute of rest between sets. Compound exercises like squats and deadlifts require a few minutes to catch your breath, but small muscles like those found in the arms recover relatively quickly - hit'em hard, then hit'em again to keep the intensity up.
You may also want to include some specific intensity boosters, such as forced reps, negatives, drop-sets and controlled cheating, to trigger that extra growth.
Step 6: Checking Secondary Factors.
Looking beyond the gym, try to see if you're short-changing yourself elsewhere in your life. Do you consistently get 8 or more hours per sleep per night? If not, you're robbing yourself of natural growth hormones and additional recovery. Do you eat enough calories every day?
Most bodybuilders know to eat enough protein, but that's not enough - you need a surplus of calories for the muscles to grow. If you've stayed the same weight for a while, try adding 500 calories per day and adjust as necessary. Just keep an eye on the gut - measure it with a measuring tape first thing every Monday morning.
Step 7: Track & Reassess.
The measuring tape comes in handy for tracking the progress of your arms too. Flex and measure at its thickest - repeat once a month to make sure you're making gains. If you gain a quarter-inch one month, half an inch the next, and then nothing for 4 months you know it's time to go back to Step 1 and figure out what's going on. This kind of frequent reassessment makes helps you avoid slipping back into the comfort zone.
7 Steps To Kick Start Growth
Step 1: Assessment.
Bring out your training log and step back, looking at it as if you were reading someone else's. What you're looking for is stuff like favorite, ineffective exercises (identified as showing up frequently but always having the same weight and reps), stupid combinations (why first do preacher curls with a barbell and then do the exact same thing with a plate-loaded preacher machine while skipping dumbbell hammer curls?) and lack of variation from workout to workout.
Heck, pretend it's some cocky schmuck you'd like to put in his place, so be cruelly honest - the more mistakes you can dig up, the better. Every mistake you find brings you one step closer to getting some productive workouts for a change.
Step 2: Out With The Old, In With The New.
When studying the training log you probably spotted a number of exercises that show up just a little too frequently. I bet these coincide with exercises where you're either naturally strong and can use a lot of weight, or have a neat machine that you like to use. Well, not anymore. Cut them entirely for a month and only use exercises that you normally avoid.
Habit is one of the biggest enemies of progress, right up with laziness andovertraining, so smash that comfortable routine of yours with a vengeance. Hate forearm rolls, cable hammer curls and dips? Tough luck, you're doing them now! After a month or so you can bring back your old favorites, rotating them through your workout like you would any other exercise.
Step 3: Getting The Balance Right.
It's a classic mistake to focus primarily on biceps for arm growth. Sure, they look impressive once you get a nice peak worked up, but they're literally the tip of the iceberg. To get the kind of biceps you want you must train the brachialis, which is located UNDER the biceps and pushes it up. In addition, triceps make up almost two-thirds of the total arm thickness, and let's not forget the importance of the forearms to avoid "reverse-Popeye"-syndrome (beefy upper arms and twig-like forearms).
Furthermore, biceps is a relatively small muscle that grows best with a hit-hard-and-brief approach, so avoid the 16 set bicep workouts and spread the time and efforts appropriately. For example, 6 sets for biceps (making sure 2 of them hit brachialis), 8 sets for triceps and 4 sets for forearms is a reasonable split. See the sample workout for how such a setup could work.
Step 4: Timing & Frequency.
Overtraining arms is easily done. You often involve biceps and forearms during back training, with triceps getting a beating on chest day. If you're on a split that has you train through the entire body twice per week you could be hitting the same muscles almost every day, directly or indirectly. If you've read my articles in the past you know that I advocate a less-is-more approach of training each muscle group once per week as soon as you're past the beginner-stage. That should decrease the risk of overtraining considerably.
As for timing, keep your workouts short and brief: 30-45 mins is ideal, anything over 60 mins is borderline counterproductive. Last but not least, don't forget to use periodization so that you cycle between low-rep/high-rep training. Click here to read more about periodization.
Step 5: Pump Up The Intensity.
With a 30-45 min window (not counting warmup and stretching) you have to move pretty fast between exercises. You shouldn't have to walk around with a stopwatch, but aim for about a minute of rest between sets. Compound exercises like squats and deadlifts require a few minutes to catch your breath, but small muscles like those found in the arms recover relatively quickly - hit'em hard, then hit'em again to keep the intensity up.
You may also want to include some specific intensity boosters, such as forced reps, negatives, drop-sets and controlled cheating, to trigger that extra growth.
Step 6: Checking Secondary Factors.
Looking beyond the gym, try to see if you're short-changing yourself elsewhere in your life. Do you consistently get 8 or more hours per sleep per night? If not, you're robbing yourself of natural growth hormones and additional recovery. Do you eat enough calories every day?
Most bodybuilders know to eat enough protein, but that's not enough - you need a surplus of calories for the muscles to grow. If you've stayed the same weight for a while, try adding 500 calories per day and adjust as necessary. Just keep an eye on the gut - measure it with a measuring tape first thing every Monday morning.
Step 7: Track & Reassess.
The measuring tape comes in handy for tracking the progress of your arms too. Flex and measure at its thickest - repeat once a month to make sure you're making gains. If you gain a quarter-inch one month, half an inch the next, and then nothing for 4 months you know it's time to go back to Step 1 and figure out what's going on. This kind of frequent reassessment makes helps you avoid slipping back into the comfort zone.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
HMB
1. What is it and where does it come from?
HMB is short for beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate. It is a new and exciting supplement that is one of the most popular body building supplements today. HMB is a metabolite of leucine, one of the body's essential amino acids.
There are small amounts of HMB present in many foods, primarily catfish, grapefruit, and alfalfa.
2. What does it do and what scientific studies give evidence to support this?
Many of the world's champions and athletes are using HMB and receiving dramatic results. Specifically, HMB plays a role in the synthesis of muscle tissue. It has the ability to burn fat and build muscle consistently in response to exercise. Backed heavily by science, HMB works for NFL greats like Shannon Sharpe and Olympic medallists throughout the globe. New scientific studies are being conducted on this supplement all the time. Recently, a study showed in a control group supplementing with HMB, that after taking 3 grams of HMB per day for three weeks, those who took HMB versus the random placebo takers gained three times more muscle on their bench press! Animal studies also suggest that it may increase lean muscle mass. A study conducted on humans showed that those who supplemented with HMB experienced enhanced strength, greater endurance, and increased fat loss. It's ability to boost endurance alone is an incredible result. A seven week long study showed a much greater gain in muscle when a group of 28 participated in a regular weight-training program. How does HMB do all this? It appears to increase the rate of protein being used to increase muscle growth, while decreasing the atrophy or tear down of muscle that occurs.
3. Who needs it and what are some symptoms of deficiency?
Basically anyone who is ready to experience some awesome muscle-building effects can benefit from HMB. Deficiency is not an issue, but building strength, getting cut, and trimming off the extra fat is. It is safe for men and women.
4. How much should be taken? Are there any side effects?
Generally, the research done involving HMB used 3 - 5 grams of HMB in combination with regular exercise (like weight lifting). Take it before training or before bedtime for best results. There are no known side effects when taken properly only BIG gains!
HMB is short for beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate. It is a new and exciting supplement that is one of the most popular body building supplements today. HMB is a metabolite of leucine, one of the body's essential amino acids.
There are small amounts of HMB present in many foods, primarily catfish, grapefruit, and alfalfa.
2. What does it do and what scientific studies give evidence to support this?
Many of the world's champions and athletes are using HMB and receiving dramatic results. Specifically, HMB plays a role in the synthesis of muscle tissue. It has the ability to burn fat and build muscle consistently in response to exercise. Backed heavily by science, HMB works for NFL greats like Shannon Sharpe and Olympic medallists throughout the globe. New scientific studies are being conducted on this supplement all the time. Recently, a study showed in a control group supplementing with HMB, that after taking 3 grams of HMB per day for three weeks, those who took HMB versus the random placebo takers gained three times more muscle on their bench press! Animal studies also suggest that it may increase lean muscle mass. A study conducted on humans showed that those who supplemented with HMB experienced enhanced strength, greater endurance, and increased fat loss. It's ability to boost endurance alone is an incredible result. A seven week long study showed a much greater gain in muscle when a group of 28 participated in a regular weight-training program. How does HMB do all this? It appears to increase the rate of protein being used to increase muscle growth, while decreasing the atrophy or tear down of muscle that occurs.
3. Who needs it and what are some symptoms of deficiency?
Basically anyone who is ready to experience some awesome muscle-building effects can benefit from HMB. Deficiency is not an issue, but building strength, getting cut, and trimming off the extra fat is. It is safe for men and women.
4. How much should be taken? Are there any side effects?
Generally, the research done involving HMB used 3 - 5 grams of HMB in combination with regular exercise (like weight lifting). Take it before training or before bedtime for best results. There are no known side effects when taken properly only BIG gains!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Testosterone
If you had asked a doctor 10 years ago about bumping testosterone into the high-normal range to enhance one's physique, chances are slim you would have gotten a positive response. "Testosterone is bad for you," he would probably say. "It will shrink your grapes to raisins, give you liver disease and make you backhand your Grandma!"
Enter 1996 and the legal availability of androstenedione (a-dione) and otherprohormones. For the first time, "steroids" were legally available over the counter and testosterone became user-friendly. It could not only enhance strength and muscle size, but also improve body composition, bone density, libido, and immunocompetence. Some research even suggested T could make you smarter! Unfortunately, as supplement sales skyrocketed, so did marketing hyperbole. And so, too, did the bull about which company had the most potent prohormone concoction and how effective these "legal steroids" were.
If you are tired of being confused by "diones", "diols" and "19-nor" something-or-others - and want to know the real benefits and risks associated with testosterone boosting - read on. The information presented may just clear some of that fog in your noggin'.
The Basics
Testosterone is a 19-carbon steroid hormone produced primarily by the Leydig cells of the testes (in men) and the ovaries (in women). Smaller amounts are produced in the adrenal glands of both sexes. As a "steroid", testosterone belongs to the androgen class of hormones that also includes dihydrotestosterone (DHT), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenedione, and androstenediol. Six other classes of steroid hormones exist, including estrogens (the bane of male bodybuilders), progestins (some female contraceptives are made of these), mineralocorticoids (which help control water balance), glucocorticoids (mainly anti-inflammatory compounds), vitamin D, and bile acids.
In men, approximately seven mg of testosterone is produced each day, and blood levels range between 300 and 1000 ng/dL (10-28 nmol/L). Females, on the other hand, produce about 1/15th of this amount, leading to average blood levels of only 25 to 90 ng/dL (1-2.5 nmol/L). All steroid hormones are derived from the sterane ring structure, composed of three hexane (6 carbon) rings and one pentane (5 carbon) ring.
In healthy humans, the "rate-limiting" step in testosterone biosynthesis is the conversion of cholesterol into a hormone called pregnenolone. This hormone is then first converted to either DHEA or progesterone before being further degraded in a stepwise fashion to testosterone. Schematically, the two possible pathways look like this: (Enzymes have been omitted for clarity.
After testosterone is secreted into the bloodstream, 96-98 percent is bound to proteins called albumin and globulin. This binding is thought to serve three purposes: 1) it makes testosterone soluble for transport within the blood, 2) it protects testosterone from degradation by the liver and kidneys, and 3) it serves as a reservoir or storage depot that can be used to dampen fluctuations in plasma testosterone.
The two to four percent not bound to plasma proteins is known as "free testosterone" and is thought to represent the biologically active fraction of the hormone; in other words, the amount that is capable of interacting with cells to cause physiological changes. And although recent data suggest this is most likely an oversimplification, we'll leave that discussion for another time.
Regulation of testosterone levels is governed by two factors: the total amount of testosterone in the blood, and the binding capacity of the plasma proteins. Obviously, as binding capacity goes up blood levels of free testosterone go down. Not surprisingly, certain drugs (anabolic-androgenic steroids, insulin, etc.) and perhaps nutritional supplements (like avena sativa, urtica dioica, etc.) can reduce the binding capacity of the blood and result in higher free-testosterone levels.
There is also mounting evidence that some types of pollution and pesticides can do the opposite. So much for running sprints in downtown Detroit! Also, testosterone production from the testes occurs the entire period of fetal development until about 10 weeks after birth. Then the gears screech to a stop until puberty - a time when men know all-too well their T levels are screaming.
This is a time when young men really blow past their female counterparts in body weight and muscularity - and get drawn toward sports like high school football, along with other aggressive pastimes. Sadly in many ways, testosterone levels begin to decline between the third and fourth decade of life. And by 80 (if we make it that long) we are only one-third the man we used to be, testosterone-wise.
The physiological actions of testosterone in males are far reaching. For example:
• Growth of the penis, scrotum and testes during puberty
• Enlargement of the larynx (voice box) that results in a deepening of the voice
• Formation of functional sperm
• Stimulation of hair growth - especially in the pubic area, chest, face, and, sometimes, the back
• Increases in skin thickness and darkness
• Increases in libido (sex drive)
• Increases in basal (resting) metabolic rate
• Increases in red blood cell number and total blood volume
• Promotion of sodium and water retention in the kidneys
• Increases in muscle protein synthesis resulting in increased muscle mass
• Reductions in muscle glycogen breakdown during exercise
• Increased calcium retention in bone
• Decreased growth of hair on top of the head
• Increased activity of the sebaceous (sweat) glands, sometimes resulting in acne
• Promote a narrowing and strengthening of the pelvis
Of the "free" testosterone that interacts at the tissue level, much of it is converted within the cells to DHT - a more potent androgen - by the enzyme 5-alpha reductase. In the prostate, for example, this conversion is thought to be necessary for physiologic effects. Other tissues (like the epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, skeletal muscle, and bone) lack the 5-alpha reductase enzyme and therefore are thought to respond to testosterone directly.
The conversion of testosterone into estrogens (estriol, estrone and estradiol) is governed by the aromatase enzyme complex and occurs mainly in the liver, brain and fat tissue. Some bodybuilders attempt to avoid / reduce the conversion of testosterone to DHT or estrogens by maintaining low bodyfat and using drugs or nutritional supplements that block 5-alpha reductase and aromatase. Chrysin, saw palmetto and indole-3-carbinol are three examples of legal plant-derived supplements that may maximize testosterone levels by minimizing its conversion to DHT and estrogens. Unfortunately, the bio-availability of many "bioflavanoid" compounds when ingested is poor. Some cutting-edge supplement companies have trick "delivery systems" that attempt to address this problem.
It is important to recognize that blood levels of testosterone - all hormones for that matter - represent a dynamic balance between biosynthesis (which occurs in a pulsatile fashion) and biodegradation. As mentioned, the testes, adrenals and ovaries are responsible for testosterone biosynthesis, while the liver and kidneys are responsible for its biological degradation and excretion. So, for instance, increases in plasma testosterone commonly observed following a hard weight-training session are not just the result of increased production of testosterone from the testes, but also from a reduction in its clearance (blood flow to the liver and kidneys is reduced during exercise).
This balance between synthesis and breakdown also make a single blood testosterone value extremely difficult to interpret. As noted decades ago, testosterone levels rise and fall throughout the day; therefore a single testosterone value could represent a peak or valley on the daily testosterone roller coaster.
Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids
So what is the difference between testosterone and anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS)? Well, while testosterone is produced naturally in the body, AAS are synthetic analogs of testosterone that were first used medically in the US around the time My Three Sons and The Honeymooners were beaming with popularity.
By synthetic, I mean AAS are synthesized by guys in lab coats who, for most of their lives, have been taking science and chemistry courses. Several "relatively safe" AAS are used clinically to treat osteoporosis and muscle-wasting disorders. These are nandrolone decanoate (Deca Durabolin) and oxandrolone (Anavar), respectively. Examples of more potent, but potentially dangerous, AAS are fluoxymesterone (Halotestin), trenbolone acetate (Parabolan), methandrostenolone (Dianabol), and oxymetholone (Anadrol). In general, injectable steroids are more potent, safer and remain in the system longer than oral steroids. There are, however, a few exceptions.
Potential Side Effects From AAS Abuse
Though you may already be aware of potential side effects from testosterone abuse (note I said abuse and not use), here they are again: lowered HDL-cholesterol levels (good cholesterol), testicular atrophy, reductions in sperm count, prostate enlargement, liver damage (primarily with oral steroids that have been modified with a 17-alkyl substitution), menstrual irregularities, suppression of endogenous hormone levels (like LH and T), development of palpable breast tissue in men (also known as gynecomastia), clitoral enlargement, and acne.
Whether an individual using AAS will develop any of these side effects is difficult to predict because of the complex interaction between factors like drug type, dosage, duration of use, and individual (genetic) differences. Suffice to say there are safer ways to boost testosterone levels and gain an edge in the gym. More importantly, there are legal ways - at least for now.
Enter 1996 and the legal availability of androstenedione (a-dione) and otherprohormones. For the first time, "steroids" were legally available over the counter and testosterone became user-friendly. It could not only enhance strength and muscle size, but also improve body composition, bone density, libido, and immunocompetence. Some research even suggested T could make you smarter! Unfortunately, as supplement sales skyrocketed, so did marketing hyperbole. And so, too, did the bull about which company had the most potent prohormone concoction and how effective these "legal steroids" were.
If you are tired of being confused by "diones", "diols" and "19-nor" something-or-others - and want to know the real benefits and risks associated with testosterone boosting - read on. The information presented may just clear some of that fog in your noggin'.
The Basics
Testosterone is a 19-carbon steroid hormone produced primarily by the Leydig cells of the testes (in men) and the ovaries (in women). Smaller amounts are produced in the adrenal glands of both sexes. As a "steroid", testosterone belongs to the androgen class of hormones that also includes dihydrotestosterone (DHT), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenedione, and androstenediol. Six other classes of steroid hormones exist, including estrogens (the bane of male bodybuilders), progestins (some female contraceptives are made of these), mineralocorticoids (which help control water balance), glucocorticoids (mainly anti-inflammatory compounds), vitamin D, and bile acids.
In men, approximately seven mg of testosterone is produced each day, and blood levels range between 300 and 1000 ng/dL (10-28 nmol/L). Females, on the other hand, produce about 1/15th of this amount, leading to average blood levels of only 25 to 90 ng/dL (1-2.5 nmol/L). All steroid hormones are derived from the sterane ring structure, composed of three hexane (6 carbon) rings and one pentane (5 carbon) ring.
In healthy humans, the "rate-limiting" step in testosterone biosynthesis is the conversion of cholesterol into a hormone called pregnenolone. This hormone is then first converted to either DHEA or progesterone before being further degraded in a stepwise fashion to testosterone. Schematically, the two possible pathways look like this: (Enzymes have been omitted for clarity.
After testosterone is secreted into the bloodstream, 96-98 percent is bound to proteins called albumin and globulin. This binding is thought to serve three purposes: 1) it makes testosterone soluble for transport within the blood, 2) it protects testosterone from degradation by the liver and kidneys, and 3) it serves as a reservoir or storage depot that can be used to dampen fluctuations in plasma testosterone.
The two to four percent not bound to plasma proteins is known as "free testosterone" and is thought to represent the biologically active fraction of the hormone; in other words, the amount that is capable of interacting with cells to cause physiological changes. And although recent data suggest this is most likely an oversimplification, we'll leave that discussion for another time.
Regulation of testosterone levels is governed by two factors: the total amount of testosterone in the blood, and the binding capacity of the plasma proteins. Obviously, as binding capacity goes up blood levels of free testosterone go down. Not surprisingly, certain drugs (anabolic-androgenic steroids, insulin, etc.) and perhaps nutritional supplements (like avena sativa, urtica dioica, etc.) can reduce the binding capacity of the blood and result in higher free-testosterone levels.
There is also mounting evidence that some types of pollution and pesticides can do the opposite. So much for running sprints in downtown Detroit! Also, testosterone production from the testes occurs the entire period of fetal development until about 10 weeks after birth. Then the gears screech to a stop until puberty - a time when men know all-too well their T levels are screaming.
This is a time when young men really blow past their female counterparts in body weight and muscularity - and get drawn toward sports like high school football, along with other aggressive pastimes. Sadly in many ways, testosterone levels begin to decline between the third and fourth decade of life. And by 80 (if we make it that long) we are only one-third the man we used to be, testosterone-wise.
The physiological actions of testosterone in males are far reaching. For example:
• Growth of the penis, scrotum and testes during puberty
• Enlargement of the larynx (voice box) that results in a deepening of the voice
• Formation of functional sperm
• Stimulation of hair growth - especially in the pubic area, chest, face, and, sometimes, the back
• Increases in skin thickness and darkness
• Increases in libido (sex drive)
• Increases in basal (resting) metabolic rate
• Increases in red blood cell number and total blood volume
• Promotion of sodium and water retention in the kidneys
• Increases in muscle protein synthesis resulting in increased muscle mass
• Reductions in muscle glycogen breakdown during exercise
• Increased calcium retention in bone
• Decreased growth of hair on top of the head
• Increased activity of the sebaceous (sweat) glands, sometimes resulting in acne
• Promote a narrowing and strengthening of the pelvis
Of the "free" testosterone that interacts at the tissue level, much of it is converted within the cells to DHT - a more potent androgen - by the enzyme 5-alpha reductase. In the prostate, for example, this conversion is thought to be necessary for physiologic effects. Other tissues (like the epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, skeletal muscle, and bone) lack the 5-alpha reductase enzyme and therefore are thought to respond to testosterone directly.
The conversion of testosterone into estrogens (estriol, estrone and estradiol) is governed by the aromatase enzyme complex and occurs mainly in the liver, brain and fat tissue. Some bodybuilders attempt to avoid / reduce the conversion of testosterone to DHT or estrogens by maintaining low bodyfat and using drugs or nutritional supplements that block 5-alpha reductase and aromatase. Chrysin, saw palmetto and indole-3-carbinol are three examples of legal plant-derived supplements that may maximize testosterone levels by minimizing its conversion to DHT and estrogens. Unfortunately, the bio-availability of many "bioflavanoid" compounds when ingested is poor. Some cutting-edge supplement companies have trick "delivery systems" that attempt to address this problem.
It is important to recognize that blood levels of testosterone - all hormones for that matter - represent a dynamic balance between biosynthesis (which occurs in a pulsatile fashion) and biodegradation. As mentioned, the testes, adrenals and ovaries are responsible for testosterone biosynthesis, while the liver and kidneys are responsible for its biological degradation and excretion. So, for instance, increases in plasma testosterone commonly observed following a hard weight-training session are not just the result of increased production of testosterone from the testes, but also from a reduction in its clearance (blood flow to the liver and kidneys is reduced during exercise).
This balance between synthesis and breakdown also make a single blood testosterone value extremely difficult to interpret. As noted decades ago, testosterone levels rise and fall throughout the day; therefore a single testosterone value could represent a peak or valley on the daily testosterone roller coaster.
Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids
So what is the difference between testosterone and anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS)? Well, while testosterone is produced naturally in the body, AAS are synthetic analogs of testosterone that were first used medically in the US around the time My Three Sons and The Honeymooners were beaming with popularity.
By synthetic, I mean AAS are synthesized by guys in lab coats who, for most of their lives, have been taking science and chemistry courses. Several "relatively safe" AAS are used clinically to treat osteoporosis and muscle-wasting disorders. These are nandrolone decanoate (Deca Durabolin) and oxandrolone (Anavar), respectively. Examples of more potent, but potentially dangerous, AAS are fluoxymesterone (Halotestin), trenbolone acetate (Parabolan), methandrostenolone (Dianabol), and oxymetholone (Anadrol). In general, injectable steroids are more potent, safer and remain in the system longer than oral steroids. There are, however, a few exceptions.
Potential Side Effects From AAS Abuse
Though you may already be aware of potential side effects from testosterone abuse (note I said abuse and not use), here they are again: lowered HDL-cholesterol levels (good cholesterol), testicular atrophy, reductions in sperm count, prostate enlargement, liver damage (primarily with oral steroids that have been modified with a 17-alkyl substitution), menstrual irregularities, suppression of endogenous hormone levels (like LH and T), development of palpable breast tissue in men (also known as gynecomastia), clitoral enlargement, and acne.
Whether an individual using AAS will develop any of these side effects is difficult to predict because of the complex interaction between factors like drug type, dosage, duration of use, and individual (genetic) differences. Suffice to say there are safer ways to boost testosterone levels and gain an edge in the gym. More importantly, there are legal ways - at least for now.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Fiber For Fat Loss?
Fiber for fat loss, are you crazy? That's right folks, fiber can actually help you lose fat. We all know that fiber will help fight against heart disease, cholesterol, diabetes and colon cancer, but it also plays a role in fighting obesity. Fiber is a compound that only plants contain. The fiber we consume from plant foods is called dietary fiber. Dietary fiber only comes from plant foods (i.e. grains, oats, fruits, etc.); it is never in animal foods (i.e. meats). Dietary fiber can be broken down into two forms, soluble and insoluble fiber. Though there is no daily recommended amount of fiber, health experts recommend consuming 20-35 grams of fiber per day. On average, most Americans consume only 12 grams of fiber a day.
Soluble Fiber
Soluble fiber, as the name implies, dissolves in water. These fibers bind to bile acids and excrete them from the small intestine. Surplus cholesterol is disposed of in the liver as bile acids. Bile acids are then transported to the small intestine where they aid in lipid digestion. Bile acids are also essential for the absorption of these digested products. This binding of bile acids would help to decrease the cholesterol levels in the blood. It has also been said that soluble fibers help to regulate blood sugar levels.
Insoluble Fiber
Insoluble fiber, again as the name implies, does not dissolve in water. This type of fiber is known as roughage. Though it is not dissolvable in water, it does absorb it, causing an increase in fiber bulk. Bulking agents help to clear the gastrointestinal track of all its waste. By regular consumption of these fibers, the amount of time digested food sits in the intestine is decreased. This helps keep the body from absorbing starch and sugars in the intestine.
Insoluble fiber is responsible for the full feeling you get after eating them. This helps dieters by allowing them to eat fewer calories without feeling hungry afterwards. Insoluble fibers are hard to digest, so when they finally get to a point where they can be released into the intestine, they are still slightly intact. It is this reason that they make up the bulk of your stool. Since the insoluble fibers are only partially digested, it is hard for the undigested calories to be taken up by the intestine. By reducing calories and decreasing the amount of cholesterol in the blood, one could potentially lose weight/fat.
The Best Sources Of Fiber
The best source of fiber is from dietary foods. This is because they also provide other minerals and nutrients your body needs. If you are consuming enough fiber rich foods, there is no point in taking a fiber supplement. By following the U.S. Department of Agriculture's food pyramid it should not be hard to consume enough fiber a day. The table below lists a number of fiber rich foods.
Fiber supplements do not offer the same benefits that dietary fibers do. In 1991, the FDA banned many over-the-counter diet aids, with fiber-containing substances, because they did not show any evidence of being safe and effective weight loss agents. Before taking any kind of fiber supplement it is best to check with you physician.
Fiber is a good natural way of helping to reduce body fat. It does not metabolize fat quicker or more efficiently, but it will help you by decreasing the intake of calories. It will also reduce the amount of free cholesterol in the blood. Fiber is also a natural and easy way of preventing colon cancer, heat disease and diabetes. Fiber is something that everyone should be consuming more of; there are too many reasons for you not to.
A Word Of Caution
When increasing the fiber content of your diet, it is best to take it slow. Add just a few grams at a time to allow the intestinal tract to adjust; otherwise, abdominal cramps, gas, bloating, and diarrhea or constipation may result. Another way to help minimize these effects is by drinking at least 2 liters (8 cups) of fluid daily. (Reprinted from FDA Consumer).
Soluble Fiber
Soluble fiber, as the name implies, dissolves in water. These fibers bind to bile acids and excrete them from the small intestine. Surplus cholesterol is disposed of in the liver as bile acids. Bile acids are then transported to the small intestine where they aid in lipid digestion. Bile acids are also essential for the absorption of these digested products. This binding of bile acids would help to decrease the cholesterol levels in the blood. It has also been said that soluble fibers help to regulate blood sugar levels.
Insoluble Fiber
Insoluble fiber, again as the name implies, does not dissolve in water. This type of fiber is known as roughage. Though it is not dissolvable in water, it does absorb it, causing an increase in fiber bulk. Bulking agents help to clear the gastrointestinal track of all its waste. By regular consumption of these fibers, the amount of time digested food sits in the intestine is decreased. This helps keep the body from absorbing starch and sugars in the intestine.
Insoluble fiber is responsible for the full feeling you get after eating them. This helps dieters by allowing them to eat fewer calories without feeling hungry afterwards. Insoluble fibers are hard to digest, so when they finally get to a point where they can be released into the intestine, they are still slightly intact. It is this reason that they make up the bulk of your stool. Since the insoluble fibers are only partially digested, it is hard for the undigested calories to be taken up by the intestine. By reducing calories and decreasing the amount of cholesterol in the blood, one could potentially lose weight/fat.
The Best Sources Of Fiber
The best source of fiber is from dietary foods. This is because they also provide other minerals and nutrients your body needs. If you are consuming enough fiber rich foods, there is no point in taking a fiber supplement. By following the U.S. Department of Agriculture's food pyramid it should not be hard to consume enough fiber a day. The table below lists a number of fiber rich foods.
Fiber supplements do not offer the same benefits that dietary fibers do. In 1991, the FDA banned many over-the-counter diet aids, with fiber-containing substances, because they did not show any evidence of being safe and effective weight loss agents. Before taking any kind of fiber supplement it is best to check with you physician.
Fiber is a good natural way of helping to reduce body fat. It does not metabolize fat quicker or more efficiently, but it will help you by decreasing the intake of calories. It will also reduce the amount of free cholesterol in the blood. Fiber is also a natural and easy way of preventing colon cancer, heat disease and diabetes. Fiber is something that everyone should be consuming more of; there are too many reasons for you not to.
A Word Of Caution
When increasing the fiber content of your diet, it is best to take it slow. Add just a few grams at a time to allow the intestinal tract to adjust; otherwise, abdominal cramps, gas, bloating, and diarrhea or constipation may result. Another way to help minimize these effects is by drinking at least 2 liters (8 cups) of fluid daily. (Reprinted from FDA Consumer).
Thursday, June 3, 2010
True Back Workout
Without a doubt, the back is one of the hardest body parts to train, next to legs. Not even the fact that it is so energy draining when preformed properly, but the fact that you can't see your back when training it and that its very hard to focus on when training it. I guarantee that if you went around your gym and asked people if they were satisfied with their back workouts and back pumps you would get many people answering, no.
What Doesn't Your Back Routine Match Up?
I feel that this is due to a few different reasons. One being that the form they use is downright terrible, I mean I won't even begin to tell some of the things people do while training back. For back, form is one of the most important aspects, above everything else. I mean its great that you can throw around a 150 for a dumbbell row, but do you even get a pump what so ever after the set? This leads me to one of my most important training principles, NEGATIVES. Do a back workout with out negatives and then try one with them, the difference is incredible.
I personally think people should do 4-6 second negatives on back exercises that allow them. Of course your not going to be able to do negatives that slow on barbell rows, but pull downs, pullovers, machine rows, should defiantly be preformed with slow negatives. Another factor that I feel presents a problem, is that people cannot get the proper concentration to get the most out of the exercise. Training back requires a very high level of concentration on all of the exercises preformed, more so then any other muscle.
How To Incorporate Hardcore Training Principles Into Your Own Workout!
Now, this workout isn't an exact workout of what you should be doing, it is just merely a reference as to how to incorporate hardcore training principles into your own workout, and to get the most out of your back workouts. Why do a workout and not get anything out of it, and keep doing it over again? You must realize that something must be wrong in you training. I feel that this article will help many readers who are not getting very good results with their current back workouts, and it will help them progress faster, which is the main reason why people workout.
Dumbbell Pullovers –
The workout is started with dumbbell pullovers, a few warm-up sets are preformed before the one working set is started. I personally really like using dumbbell pullovers as the first exercise, mostly due to the fact that it loosens up you back and stretches out you upper body.
Lat Pull Downs –
The next exercise that is done is lat pull downs using a wide grip, but not going down to the kinked part. Usually two warm up sets are done prior to the working set, which is a triple drop with negatives. The pin is put around 190-200, this is only done for 3-4 reps with 6 second negatives, the weight is then dropped to 150 and another 5-6 reps are cranked out, the weight is again lowered to 120 and the final set of 8 reps is preformed before finishing. This is a very brutal set to say the least, and my back is usually pumped beyond belief after it is done.
The form is strict on this but not overly done, the concentric is usually at a normal speed but the negative is 5-7 seconds, all the while concentrating hard on feeling the lats doing the work. That is probably one of the most important things while training back, FEELING THE REPS.
Dumbbell Row
Now that my overall back is pretty blown out, I usually focus on working the lats individually. I prefer the Hammer Strength row, plus the pics of Nasser and Dorian using it are inspiring. One warm-up is done prior to the set, which is rest-pause. The set is done using two plates and a 35, and my positioning on the machine is set like a dumbbell row to hit the lats even better. I get 8 reps on the first set, while using a 6 second negative, 4 on the second with the help of my partner, and 3 on the last. After waiting for my partner to do his set, my other is preformed and my lats are blown up beyond belief.
T-bar Row –
To finish of the workout we set up a T-bar row in the corner and use the close grip handle. plates to get a deeper stretch. Two strait sets are done using 4 35's on the first and 5 on the second, with a 4 second negative. On the first set 8-10 reps are preformed, and on the second I get 6. This usually finishes off my back very well. After this workout my back is pumped beyond belief and I can't physically do anything else but lie down on a bench.
After taking a little break and downing a protein shake, I perform a stretch on the pull-up bar by hanging an 80 lb. dumbbell on my waist and hanging (with wraps, of course) for 45 seconds. I feel this helps a lot, and it also helps to make your back much wider. This also stretches out your joints and forearms, which get very, very pumped at the end of this workout even while using wraps, which everyone should be using while doing a workout like this.
Well, that's probably one of my favorite back workouts to date, and of course you can always rotate the T-bar with rack dead lifts, which I like to do sometimes. I feel this back workout hits the back from upper to lower, but the most important thing is applying the intensity to the workout. Of course someone can go in and do this workout, or one like it while using lightweight, and really bad form, and get nothing out of it. But if you go in there and use good form, negatives, and maximum poundage on you working sets, then you will leave the gym spent and with a feeling of accomplishment.
What Doesn't Your Back Routine Match Up?
I feel that this is due to a few different reasons. One being that the form they use is downright terrible, I mean I won't even begin to tell some of the things people do while training back. For back, form is one of the most important aspects, above everything else. I mean its great that you can throw around a 150 for a dumbbell row, but do you even get a pump what so ever after the set? This leads me to one of my most important training principles, NEGATIVES. Do a back workout with out negatives and then try one with them, the difference is incredible.
I personally think people should do 4-6 second negatives on back exercises that allow them. Of course your not going to be able to do negatives that slow on barbell rows, but pull downs, pullovers, machine rows, should defiantly be preformed with slow negatives. Another factor that I feel presents a problem, is that people cannot get the proper concentration to get the most out of the exercise. Training back requires a very high level of concentration on all of the exercises preformed, more so then any other muscle.
How To Incorporate Hardcore Training Principles Into Your Own Workout!
Now, this workout isn't an exact workout of what you should be doing, it is just merely a reference as to how to incorporate hardcore training principles into your own workout, and to get the most out of your back workouts. Why do a workout and not get anything out of it, and keep doing it over again? You must realize that something must be wrong in you training. I feel that this article will help many readers who are not getting very good results with their current back workouts, and it will help them progress faster, which is the main reason why people workout.
Dumbbell Pullovers –
The workout is started with dumbbell pullovers, a few warm-up sets are preformed before the one working set is started. I personally really like using dumbbell pullovers as the first exercise, mostly due to the fact that it loosens up you back and stretches out you upper body.
Lat Pull Downs –
The next exercise that is done is lat pull downs using a wide grip, but not going down to the kinked part. Usually two warm up sets are done prior to the working set, which is a triple drop with negatives. The pin is put around 190-200, this is only done for 3-4 reps with 6 second negatives, the weight is then dropped to 150 and another 5-6 reps are cranked out, the weight is again lowered to 120 and the final set of 8 reps is preformed before finishing. This is a very brutal set to say the least, and my back is usually pumped beyond belief after it is done.
The form is strict on this but not overly done, the concentric is usually at a normal speed but the negative is 5-7 seconds, all the while concentrating hard on feeling the lats doing the work. That is probably one of the most important things while training back, FEELING THE REPS.
Dumbbell Row
Now that my overall back is pretty blown out, I usually focus on working the lats individually. I prefer the Hammer Strength row, plus the pics of Nasser and Dorian using it are inspiring. One warm-up is done prior to the set, which is rest-pause. The set is done using two plates and a 35, and my positioning on the machine is set like a dumbbell row to hit the lats even better. I get 8 reps on the first set, while using a 6 second negative, 4 on the second with the help of my partner, and 3 on the last. After waiting for my partner to do his set, my other is preformed and my lats are blown up beyond belief.
T-bar Row –
To finish of the workout we set up a T-bar row in the corner and use the close grip handle. plates to get a deeper stretch. Two strait sets are done using 4 35's on the first and 5 on the second, with a 4 second negative. On the first set 8-10 reps are preformed, and on the second I get 6. This usually finishes off my back very well. After this workout my back is pumped beyond belief and I can't physically do anything else but lie down on a bench.
After taking a little break and downing a protein shake, I perform a stretch on the pull-up bar by hanging an 80 lb. dumbbell on my waist and hanging (with wraps, of course) for 45 seconds. I feel this helps a lot, and it also helps to make your back much wider. This also stretches out your joints and forearms, which get very, very pumped at the end of this workout even while using wraps, which everyone should be using while doing a workout like this.
Well, that's probably one of my favorite back workouts to date, and of course you can always rotate the T-bar with rack dead lifts, which I like to do sometimes. I feel this back workout hits the back from upper to lower, but the most important thing is applying the intensity to the workout. Of course someone can go in and do this workout, or one like it while using lightweight, and really bad form, and get nothing out of it. But if you go in there and use good form, negatives, and maximum poundage on you working sets, then you will leave the gym spent and with a feeling of accomplishment.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Taurine
Taurine is an amino acid like glutamine that is earning more and more respect from bodybuilders and protein scientists.
While taurine generally is the second most abundant amino acid in muscle, in several metabolic conditions, some muscle biologists like Eric Serrano, M.D., have determined that it, not glutamine, is the most voluminous amino represented in striated type 2 muscle fiber! Taurine has several critical functions and can act similarly to creatine in that it expands your cells by helping the muscle cell itself hold more water, increasing cell volume. For a lifter or bodybuilder, this is significant because expanded muscle cells can boost hydration resulting in a higher rate of protein synthesis and bodybuilders will appreciate the increased appearance of muscle fullness.
Additionally, another 'theory' is that taurine preferentially enhances interstitial contractile leverage and this may aid the lifter in handling heavier weights.
Nowadays, you will often find taurine added to creatine or amino acid preparations in bodybuilding supplements for a heightened effect. The best time to consume these combinations might be 30 minutes before training and again immediately after.
While taurine generally is the second most abundant amino acid in muscle, in several metabolic conditions, some muscle biologists like Eric Serrano, M.D., have determined that it, not glutamine, is the most voluminous amino represented in striated type 2 muscle fiber! Taurine has several critical functions and can act similarly to creatine in that it expands your cells by helping the muscle cell itself hold more water, increasing cell volume. For a lifter or bodybuilder, this is significant because expanded muscle cells can boost hydration resulting in a higher rate of protein synthesis and bodybuilders will appreciate the increased appearance of muscle fullness.
Additionally, another 'theory' is that taurine preferentially enhances interstitial contractile leverage and this may aid the lifter in handling heavier weights.
Nowadays, you will often find taurine added to creatine or amino acid preparations in bodybuilding supplements for a heightened effect. The best time to consume these combinations might be 30 minutes before training and again immediately after.
Monday, May 24, 2010
HIIT !!!
What Is HIIT?
HIIT is a training idea in which low to moderate intensity intervals are alternated with high intensity intervals.
HIIT can be applied to running or to exercises such as squatting. HIIT is considered to be much more effective than normal cardio because the intensity is higher and you are able to increase both your aerobic and anaerobic endurance while burning more fat than ever before.
"In research, HIIT has been shown to burn adipose tissue more effectively than low-intensity exercise - up to 50% more efficiently." It has also been shown to speed up your metabolism which helps you burn more calories throughout the day.
HIIT improves both energy systems for endurance:
Anaerobic Energy System
Anaerobic literally means "Without oxygen." The anaerobic energy system is what provides energy in all out efforts of up to 1 minute. For the first ~10-15 seconds, the phosphate pool is used up and after that, glycolysis and lactic acid are involved in the effort.
During 10-15 second bursts, there is a very small amount of lactic acid produced and rest periods of 30 seconds to a minute will provide complete recovery of the Adenosine Triphosphate-Creatine Phosphate (ATP-CP) system. During efforts of more than 10-15 seconds, a large amount of lactic acid is produced and such efforts are extremely taxing on both the athlete's muscles and their Central Nervous System (CNS).
Aerobic Energy System
Aerobic literally means "with oxygen." This energy system is utilized during prolonged exercise over a period of at least 3-4 minutes. As long as there is enough oxygen to provide energy, the fatigue that you experience will remain at a low level.
This is the reason why many track and field athletes train at higher altitudes where there is less oxygen. By training at high altitudes, they can increase the number of red blood cells which will help them to perform for a longer period of time with little to no fatigue throughout.
Workout:
What is the best HIIT workout? Be specific and make sure to list exercises, reps, sets, etc.
HIIT can be used with a few different goals in mind - to lose as much fat as possible while cutting or bulking, or to improve aerobic and anaerobic endurance as much as possible. Diet will mostly determine how these goals are achieved by manipulatingcalories and macronutrient ratios.
HIIT during a Cutting Phase:
• 500 Calories under maintenance daily
• High Protein (40% of total calories)
• Low Carbs (20% of total calories)
• High Fat (40% of total calories)
It has been proven in studies that during a low carbohydrate and high fat diet, the oxidation of fat is increased during exercise, especially cardio such as HIIT (more fat is burned). Additionally, fat is a much more highly concentrated source of energy than carbohydrates.
"A review by Hultman (1995) found that during a diet where carbs are restricted and a lot of fat is consumed, up to 70% of the energy requirement (even during high intensity activities) comes from the oxidation of fat (where during a high carbs diet, such activities would derive 80-90% of the energy from glycogen)." (Thibaudeau)
Sample: 2000 Calories Daily
• 200 Grams of Protein
• 100 Grams of Carbs
• 90 Grams of Fat
HIIT is a training idea in which low to moderate intensity intervals are alternated with high intensity intervals.
HIIT can be applied to running or to exercises such as squatting. HIIT is considered to be much more effective than normal cardio because the intensity is higher and you are able to increase both your aerobic and anaerobic endurance while burning more fat than ever before.
"In research, HIIT has been shown to burn adipose tissue more effectively than low-intensity exercise - up to 50% more efficiently." It has also been shown to speed up your metabolism which helps you burn more calories throughout the day.
HIIT improves both energy systems for endurance:
Anaerobic Energy System
Anaerobic literally means "Without oxygen." The anaerobic energy system is what provides energy in all out efforts of up to 1 minute. For the first ~10-15 seconds, the phosphate pool is used up and after that, glycolysis and lactic acid are involved in the effort.
During 10-15 second bursts, there is a very small amount of lactic acid produced and rest periods of 30 seconds to a minute will provide complete recovery of the Adenosine Triphosphate-Creatine Phosphate (ATP-CP) system. During efforts of more than 10-15 seconds, a large amount of lactic acid is produced and such efforts are extremely taxing on both the athlete's muscles and their Central Nervous System (CNS).
Aerobic Energy System
Aerobic literally means "with oxygen." This energy system is utilized during prolonged exercise over a period of at least 3-4 minutes. As long as there is enough oxygen to provide energy, the fatigue that you experience will remain at a low level.
This is the reason why many track and field athletes train at higher altitudes where there is less oxygen. By training at high altitudes, they can increase the number of red blood cells which will help them to perform for a longer period of time with little to no fatigue throughout.
Workout:
What is the best HIIT workout? Be specific and make sure to list exercises, reps, sets, etc.
HIIT can be used with a few different goals in mind - to lose as much fat as possible while cutting or bulking, or to improve aerobic and anaerobic endurance as much as possible. Diet will mostly determine how these goals are achieved by manipulatingcalories and macronutrient ratios.
HIIT during a Cutting Phase:
• 500 Calories under maintenance daily
• High Protein (40% of total calories)
• Low Carbs (20% of total calories)
• High Fat (40% of total calories)
It has been proven in studies that during a low carbohydrate and high fat diet, the oxidation of fat is increased during exercise, especially cardio such as HIIT (more fat is burned). Additionally, fat is a much more highly concentrated source of energy than carbohydrates.
"A review by Hultman (1995) found that during a diet where carbs are restricted and a lot of fat is consumed, up to 70% of the energy requirement (even during high intensity activities) comes from the oxidation of fat (where during a high carbs diet, such activities would derive 80-90% of the energy from glycogen)." (Thibaudeau)
Sample: 2000 Calories Daily
• 200 Grams of Protein
• 100 Grams of Carbs
• 90 Grams of Fat
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Glutamine a secret to gaining muscle!
Glutamine is a very common supplement found in many bodybuilders' gym bags and in their protein shakes, yet it is also a nonessential amino acid that is overlooked by many in their quest in gaining muscle. Over the years, bodybuilders have begun to realize the advertised benefits of glutamine such as prevents muscle catabolism which is basically the tearing down of muscle, promotes muscle anabolism, which is basically muscle growth, enhances the immune system, and enhances glycogen storage.
What Is Glutamine?
Glutamine is classified as a nonessential amino acid, since it can be readily synthesized by various tissues such as the skeletal muscles, liver, and adipose tissue. Glutamine is the most abundant single amino acid found in the bloodstream, which comprises 61% of the free intracellular amino acid pool [most abundant amino acid in muscle tissue], while Branch Chain Amino Acids [BCAA'S] comprise 8.4% of the pool. Glutamine's unique structure, containing two nitrogen side chains, consists of 19% nitrogen - making it the primary transporter of nitrogen into the muscle cells.
In the past couple years, Glutamine has gained importance through new studies revealing its unique contribution to protein synthesis [muscle growth], anti-catabolic [prevents muscle tissue] breakdown functions and growth hormone elevating effects. Due to these effects, Glutamine plays an important part in your body by aiding recovery of muscle cells.
What Does Glutamine Do?
During exercise or other times of metabolic stress such as a precontest diet, severeinjury, illness, etc., the demand for glutamine in your blood matrix (plasma) markedly increases. For instance, various cells of the immune system such as the lymphocytes and macrophages depend on glutamine as a primary fuel source, and thus the demand for glutamine increases when an immunological response is mounted Macrophages and lymphocytes are the primary virus and bacteria fighters in your bloodstream.
As glutamine travels through the body, the enterocytes of the small intestines are the largest consumers of glutamine accounting for about 40-50% of glutamine consumption. Also, glutamine is required for the synthesis of nucleotides. Thus, a sufficient supply of glutamine is particularly important for rapidly dividing cells such as the enterocytes and the immune cells. Therefore, the synthesis of glutamine may be insufficient to meet the physiological demand during times of severe, metabolic stress when the amount of free glutamine is rapidly depleted [3]. Therefore, it may be beneficial for people, who continuously place themselves in infectious areas or commonly get sick, to supplement with glutamine to aid virus/bacteria fighting cells.
Glutamine supplementation may also promote nitrogen retention [a positive nitrogen balance] and prevent the loss of muscle protein . A decreased ratio of testosterone to cortisol is believed to be directly responsible for losses in muscle mass since cortisol promotes the synthesis of glutamine. By maintaining intracellular concentrations of glutamine within the skeletal muscles, the synthesis of glutamine mRNA may be inhibited resulting in the loss of intracellular nitrogen through glutamine may be prevented.
Therefore, it may be beneficial for bodybuilders, who continuously place themselves through strenuous workouts, to supplement with glutamine to aid when glutamine stores are depleted. Furthermore, by enhancing plasma concentrations of glutamine, the demand for free glutamine by other tissues and cells [e.g. the small intestine and immune cells] is attenuated and thus the release of glutamine from muscle tissues is reduced.
Why Does Your Body Need Glutamine?
To fully understand why glutamine is beneficial to the body we must all endure a little Biochemistry lesson. The body uses glutamine to shuttle ammonia around in the body, so blood levels of glutamine try to maintain constant. Glutamine is craved by the digestive tract and the immune system as a fuel. Most bodybuilders eat more than enough protein from the supermarket, but they do not get enough glutamine through the digestion of meats and other proteins.
The muscles cells are the giant storehouses of glutamine. Under certain pathological circumstances the body's tissues need more glutamine than the overall amount supplied by diet and natural synthesis such as during a bodybuilder's strenuous workout.
During catabolic stress, for instance, intracellular glutamine levels can drop more than 50 percent, and plasma concentration can fall by 30 percent. It is under these circumstances that supplemental glutamine becomes necessary.
Skeletal muscle contains the greatest intracellular concentration of glutamine, comprising up to 60 percent of total body glutamine stores, and is considered the primary storage depot of glutamine, and thus the primary exporter of glutamine to other tissues [1]. In times of metabolic stress, glutamine is released into circulation, where it is transported to the tissue in need. Intracellular skeletal muscle glutamine concentration is affected by various assaults including injury, sepsis, prolonged stress, and starvation. Besides skeletal muscle, the lungs are the next largest producer of glutamine.
Glutamine is especially useful postworkout when nutrients are at a low untilrecovery. In this condition research shows glutamine levels are significantly reduced, taking up to one month to return to baseline[4]. In athletes, glutamine has been used as a marker to indicate overtraining. This fall in glutamine is catabolic to muscle tissue. BCAA's [comprising 37% of total muscle] are debranched from skeletal muscle, and the resulting molecules are used to synthesis glutamine.
In the catabolic state, glutamine is the first amino acid used to correct that deficiency. Glutamine drives protein into the muscle cell where it is synthesized for growth. This means that additional Glutamine is necessary during periods of stress [such as intense weight training which induces a catabolic state which has been shown to uniformly decrease Glutamine levels by 50%, taking several hours to return to normal levels. Additionally, L-Glutamine also decreases protein degradation [BCAA catabolism], resulting in bigger, stronger muscle cells.
Research Findings
In a recent study of glutamine's role enhancing the immune system, glutamine demonstrated that increased levels of glutamine leads to greater amounts of virus and infection fighting cells, T and B Lymphocytes. Cells of the immune system including the macrophages and lymphocytes depend on glutamine as a primary fuel source. In addition, it has been hypothesized that a high rate of glutamine consumption by these rapidly proliferating cells is required for sufficient nucleotide synthesis.
Research indicates that low levels of glutamine within the body may result in the increased susceptibility to infections and illness due to a suppressed immune system . The ability to reproduce and the activity of immune cells in vitro have reportedly been suppressed in trials lacking glutamine . Tests also demonstrated that the increased rate of infection and illness [particularly infections of the upper respiratory tract] has been reported among athletes participating in intense, long duration sports activities [e.g. marathon racing] .
It has been suggested that a decline in plasma glutamine concentrations may be one of the factors responsible for this increased rate of illness. Specifically, the activity of natural killer cells, a reduced number and proliferate ability of lymphocytes, and a reduced ratio of T-helper to T-suppressor cells may be the result of prolonged, exhaustive exercise.
In another study of glutamine's role on glucose and glycogen formation, the importance of glutamine was also emphasized. The human carbon based skeleton of glutamine can serve as a gluconeogenic precursor and may regulate gluconeogenesis, which is basically the production of glycogen, independently of the insulin/glucagon ratio. Because glutamine may serve as a precursor to glucose independently of glucacon regulation, glutamine supplementation may also enhance glycogenolysis and thus increase muscle glycogen stores even wheninsulin levels are low.
Following exercise, the subjects were infused with 30 mg/kg body weight of either glutamine, alanine+glycine, or a saline solution. Two hours following exercise, muscle glycogen concentration increased significantly more in the subjects receiving glutamine than the subjects in the other groups.
Benefits & Possible Disadvantages Of Glutamine Supplementation
In the past several years, research has indicated that glutamine supplementation is safe for humans. However, there is little data regarding long-term usage (more than a few weeks) of glutamine supplements. Furthermore, more research needs to be conducted to investigate the safety of glutamine supplementation at doses that are posited to promote nitrogen retention in the muscles.
Generally speaking, the consumption of any one, single amino acid in large doses may inhibit the absorption of other amino acids since amino acids (basic and neutral amino acids) tend to compete for transport across the intestinal epithelium. However, a study performed by Dechelotte et al. reported that glutamine is absorbed effectively in the small intestine.
Other research has indicted that the consumption of large doses of free amino acids may result in intestinal discomfort (e.g. abdominal pains and diarrhea) due to the electrolyte-like properties of the amino-acids.
Cost & Use Of Glutamine
Glutamine and L-Glutamine can be purchased as Glutamine or L-Glutamine, or in glutamine containing products. Glutamine containing products are protein shakes, protein powders, and protein drinks. Glutamine can be added to protein powder and protein shakes. Bodybuilders find taking glutamine to be more convenient when taken at the same time as their protein intake. L-Glutamine and glutamine often are tasteless.
The cost for a supply of glutamine (L-glutamine) ranges from about $14 to $54 and typically is sold in the form of gel capsules and powders.
Get all your glutamine products
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However, glutamine is relatively unstable in solution, and thus glutamine powders must be consumed shortly after being mixed into solution. Some manufacturers of the supplement recommend consuming glutamine in divided dosages throughout the day. It has also been suggested that glutamine be consumed shortly before sleep (a 6-8 hours of non-eating) and after waking. It is recommended to take at least 5 grams 30 minutes before and after you train and another 5 grams before bed.
Are There Any Side Effects?
It is completely safe. There are no known side effects.
What Is Glutamine?
Glutamine is classified as a nonessential amino acid, since it can be readily synthesized by various tissues such as the skeletal muscles, liver, and adipose tissue. Glutamine is the most abundant single amino acid found in the bloodstream, which comprises 61% of the free intracellular amino acid pool [most abundant amino acid in muscle tissue], while Branch Chain Amino Acids [BCAA'S] comprise 8.4% of the pool. Glutamine's unique structure, containing two nitrogen side chains, consists of 19% nitrogen - making it the primary transporter of nitrogen into the muscle cells.
In the past couple years, Glutamine has gained importance through new studies revealing its unique contribution to protein synthesis [muscle growth], anti-catabolic [prevents muscle tissue] breakdown functions and growth hormone elevating effects. Due to these effects, Glutamine plays an important part in your body by aiding recovery of muscle cells.
What Does Glutamine Do?
During exercise or other times of metabolic stress such as a precontest diet, severeinjury, illness, etc., the demand for glutamine in your blood matrix (plasma) markedly increases. For instance, various cells of the immune system such as the lymphocytes and macrophages depend on glutamine as a primary fuel source, and thus the demand for glutamine increases when an immunological response is mounted Macrophages and lymphocytes are the primary virus and bacteria fighters in your bloodstream.
As glutamine travels through the body, the enterocytes of the small intestines are the largest consumers of glutamine accounting for about 40-50% of glutamine consumption. Also, glutamine is required for the synthesis of nucleotides. Thus, a sufficient supply of glutamine is particularly important for rapidly dividing cells such as the enterocytes and the immune cells. Therefore, the synthesis of glutamine may be insufficient to meet the physiological demand during times of severe, metabolic stress when the amount of free glutamine is rapidly depleted [3]. Therefore, it may be beneficial for people, who continuously place themselves in infectious areas or commonly get sick, to supplement with glutamine to aid virus/bacteria fighting cells.
Glutamine supplementation may also promote nitrogen retention [a positive nitrogen balance] and prevent the loss of muscle protein . A decreased ratio of testosterone to cortisol is believed to be directly responsible for losses in muscle mass since cortisol promotes the synthesis of glutamine. By maintaining intracellular concentrations of glutamine within the skeletal muscles, the synthesis of glutamine mRNA may be inhibited resulting in the loss of intracellular nitrogen through glutamine may be prevented.
Therefore, it may be beneficial for bodybuilders, who continuously place themselves through strenuous workouts, to supplement with glutamine to aid when glutamine stores are depleted. Furthermore, by enhancing plasma concentrations of glutamine, the demand for free glutamine by other tissues and cells [e.g. the small intestine and immune cells] is attenuated and thus the release of glutamine from muscle tissues is reduced.
Why Does Your Body Need Glutamine?
To fully understand why glutamine is beneficial to the body we must all endure a little Biochemistry lesson. The body uses glutamine to shuttle ammonia around in the body, so blood levels of glutamine try to maintain constant. Glutamine is craved by the digestive tract and the immune system as a fuel. Most bodybuilders eat more than enough protein from the supermarket, but they do not get enough glutamine through the digestion of meats and other proteins.
The muscles cells are the giant storehouses of glutamine. Under certain pathological circumstances the body's tissues need more glutamine than the overall amount supplied by diet and natural synthesis such as during a bodybuilder's strenuous workout.
During catabolic stress, for instance, intracellular glutamine levels can drop more than 50 percent, and plasma concentration can fall by 30 percent. It is under these circumstances that supplemental glutamine becomes necessary.
Skeletal muscle contains the greatest intracellular concentration of glutamine, comprising up to 60 percent of total body glutamine stores, and is considered the primary storage depot of glutamine, and thus the primary exporter of glutamine to other tissues [1]. In times of metabolic stress, glutamine is released into circulation, where it is transported to the tissue in need. Intracellular skeletal muscle glutamine concentration is affected by various assaults including injury, sepsis, prolonged stress, and starvation. Besides skeletal muscle, the lungs are the next largest producer of glutamine.
Glutamine is especially useful postworkout when nutrients are at a low untilrecovery. In this condition research shows glutamine levels are significantly reduced, taking up to one month to return to baseline[4]. In athletes, glutamine has been used as a marker to indicate overtraining. This fall in glutamine is catabolic to muscle tissue. BCAA's [comprising 37% of total muscle] are debranched from skeletal muscle, and the resulting molecules are used to synthesis glutamine.
In the catabolic state, glutamine is the first amino acid used to correct that deficiency. Glutamine drives protein into the muscle cell where it is synthesized for growth. This means that additional Glutamine is necessary during periods of stress [such as intense weight training which induces a catabolic state which has been shown to uniformly decrease Glutamine levels by 50%, taking several hours to return to normal levels. Additionally, L-Glutamine also decreases protein degradation [BCAA catabolism], resulting in bigger, stronger muscle cells.
Research Findings
In a recent study of glutamine's role enhancing the immune system, glutamine demonstrated that increased levels of glutamine leads to greater amounts of virus and infection fighting cells, T and B Lymphocytes. Cells of the immune system including the macrophages and lymphocytes depend on glutamine as a primary fuel source. In addition, it has been hypothesized that a high rate of glutamine consumption by these rapidly proliferating cells is required for sufficient nucleotide synthesis.
Research indicates that low levels of glutamine within the body may result in the increased susceptibility to infections and illness due to a suppressed immune system . The ability to reproduce and the activity of immune cells in vitro have reportedly been suppressed in trials lacking glutamine . Tests also demonstrated that the increased rate of infection and illness [particularly infections of the upper respiratory tract] has been reported among athletes participating in intense, long duration sports activities [e.g. marathon racing] .
It has been suggested that a decline in plasma glutamine concentrations may be one of the factors responsible for this increased rate of illness. Specifically, the activity of natural killer cells, a reduced number and proliferate ability of lymphocytes, and a reduced ratio of T-helper to T-suppressor cells may be the result of prolonged, exhaustive exercise.
In another study of glutamine's role on glucose and glycogen formation, the importance of glutamine was also emphasized. The human carbon based skeleton of glutamine can serve as a gluconeogenic precursor and may regulate gluconeogenesis, which is basically the production of glycogen, independently of the insulin/glucagon ratio. Because glutamine may serve as a precursor to glucose independently of glucacon regulation, glutamine supplementation may also enhance glycogenolysis and thus increase muscle glycogen stores even wheninsulin levels are low.
Following exercise, the subjects were infused with 30 mg/kg body weight of either glutamine, alanine+glycine, or a saline solution. Two hours following exercise, muscle glycogen concentration increased significantly more in the subjects receiving glutamine than the subjects in the other groups.
Benefits & Possible Disadvantages Of Glutamine Supplementation
In the past several years, research has indicated that glutamine supplementation is safe for humans. However, there is little data regarding long-term usage (more than a few weeks) of glutamine supplements. Furthermore, more research needs to be conducted to investigate the safety of glutamine supplementation at doses that are posited to promote nitrogen retention in the muscles.
Generally speaking, the consumption of any one, single amino acid in large doses may inhibit the absorption of other amino acids since amino acids (basic and neutral amino acids) tend to compete for transport across the intestinal epithelium. However, a study performed by Dechelotte et al. reported that glutamine is absorbed effectively in the small intestine.
Other research has indicted that the consumption of large doses of free amino acids may result in intestinal discomfort (e.g. abdominal pains and diarrhea) due to the electrolyte-like properties of the amino-acids.
Cost & Use Of Glutamine
Glutamine and L-Glutamine can be purchased as Glutamine or L-Glutamine, or in glutamine containing products. Glutamine containing products are protein shakes, protein powders, and protein drinks. Glutamine can be added to protein powder and protein shakes. Bodybuilders find taking glutamine to be more convenient when taken at the same time as their protein intake. L-Glutamine and glutamine often are tasteless.
The cost for a supply of glutamine (L-glutamine) ranges from about $14 to $54 and typically is sold in the form of gel capsules and powders.
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However, glutamine is relatively unstable in solution, and thus glutamine powders must be consumed shortly after being mixed into solution. Some manufacturers of the supplement recommend consuming glutamine in divided dosages throughout the day. It has also been suggested that glutamine be consumed shortly before sleep (a 6-8 hours of non-eating) and after waking. It is recommended to take at least 5 grams 30 minutes before and after you train and another 5 grams before bed.
Are There Any Side Effects?
It is completely safe. There are no known side effects.
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