Diet-and-Nutrition-for-bodybuilding

Interleukin-6: Catabolic Agent or Growth Factor?

2007-10-17T00:29:00.000-07:00

Interleukin-6 : Catabolic Agent or Growth Factor?

THE PROTEIN in our muscles undergoes a continual process of synthesis and degradation. Athletes and weightlifters know that after a strenuous workout, muscle tissue is damaged and needs time to regenerate and be repaired. If we provide sufficient rest and adequate nutrition, the body will usually overcompensate and produce stronger and larger muscles.
Most analyses of strength training are concerned with two phases: the work phase where we apply physical stress to our muscles to cause microtrauma and resulting overcompensation, and the anabolic phase in which we seek to enhance protein synthesis. But there's a third phase, a period of breakdown and recovery, which is rarely discussed. We are told to rest and to do what we can to avoid cortisol, but very seldom is there any mention of the signal molecules which accomplish the work of bringing the body back to a state of homeostasis.
Weightlifters talk of "destroying" their legs in a squat workout; of loading the muscles with weight and stressing them until they are barely able to function. What are the mechanisms that permit the body to recover from such punishment? Is it possible to optimize recovery so that less tissue is broken down, and we get into the anabolic phase more quickly?
The essay that follows will deal with some very technical concepts. I'm including a glossary containing brief definitions for the scientific terms used. The purpose of such a technical essay is twofold: First, it introduces some basic ideas in cell biology that will enable a better understanding of exercise physiology. Once the basic concepts are learned, one can view this area of science not as a collection of disparate facts, but as a coherent system that runs on a logical -- but complicated -- basis. Secondly, by going into detail concerning the stages whereby the body detects damage, disposes of damaged tissue, and ultimately replaces or strengthens the affected tissue, we can identify areas where we can intervene with nutrition or chemical agents to reduce damage and enhance our muscular gains. Also, it may be possible to take advantage of this intimate knowledge to design training protocols that coincide with the catabolic and anabolic stages that follow exercise.
Cytokines and Interleukins
There are four types of signaling molecules in the body: neurotransmitters, endocrine hormones, autacoids and cytokines. Cytokines are soluble proteins which act non-enzymatically to regulate cell function. There are various types of cytokines, among them being interleukins, hematopoietic regulators, interferons, growth and differentiation factors and chemotactic polypeptides. Interleukins (abbreviated IL) are cytokines that are produced by leukocytes (white blood cells) and that function during inflammatory responses. They may also be produced by other types of cells. Typically, interleukins have the twin properties of pleiotropy and redundancy. Pleiotropy means that an interleukin may have several different effects, depending on the environment and the tissue acted upon. Redundancy in this case refers to the ability of other cytokines (interleukins or not) to produce some of the same effects as the interleukin being studied. This redundancy can be due to the fact that receptors for interleukins often share common subunits, or it may also be caused by identical effects on transcription factors or on the DNA itself.
As of October 1998, eighteen different ILs have been described. We'll be focusing on interleukin-6 (IL-6), which has some special properties that make it interesting to bodybuilders. For those who might be curious, here is a brief survey of all the interleukins:

Figure 1.IL-6 molecule
Interleukin Description
IL-1 An inflammatory cytokine. One of the first cytokines to be secreted following trauma, infection, etc. Induces IL-6.
IL-2 Secreted by Type 1 T-helper cells (Th1) of the immune system. Stimulates cell-mediated (as opposed to antibody-mediated) immunity. Generally a beneficial cytokine. IL-2 levels decline with age, but are upregulated by DHEA.
IL-3 Growth factor for hematopoietic cells. Acts in a similar fashion as granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). Secreted by activated T lymphocytes, it induces formation of macrophages, neutrophils, etc. Also induces secretion of immunoglobulin from B cells.
IL-4 Anti-inflammatory cytokine. Related to IL-13. Released by activated T cells, it initiates the humoral response (antibodies).
IL-5 A B-cell growth and differentiation factor; also stimulates eosinophil precursor proliferation and differentiation. Secreted by activated T cells.
IL-6 Pro- (and sometimes anti-) inflammatory cytokine. Pleiotropic. The subject of this article. Main signal of cellular injury, and main mediator of the body's response to injury. Most important stimulator of acute phase proteins. Has an important role in hematopoiesis. Produced by a variety of cells.
IL-7 Growth factor produced by a number of different cells. Unlike other interleukins, IL-7 in not redundant, i.e. its function can not be duplicated by other cytokines. It is required for lymphocyte development.
IL-8 Pro-inflammatory. A chemokine. Can be induced by IL-1 and lipopolysaccharide from bacteria. Produced by many different cells.
IL-9 Cytokine produced by T cells, particularly when mitogen stimulated, that stimulates the proliferation of erythroid precursor cells. May act synergistically with erythropoietin. Synergizes with IL-4 to produce immunoglobulins.
IL-10 Anti-inflammatory. Produced by Th2 cells, plus some B cells and monocytes. Stimulates growth of stem cells and thymocytes. Stimulates B and T cell development. Suppresses cytokine production by macrophages.
IL-11 Pleiotropic cytokine originally isolated from bone marrow. Stimulates B cell maturation, and production of erythrocytes (red blood cells) and megakaryocytes. Synergizes with IL-3. Induces synthesis of acute-phase proteins in the liver.
IL-12 Formerly known as Natural Killer Cell Stimulatory Factor (NKSF). Produced by monocytes, macrophages, B cells, NK cells. Acts synergistically with IL-2 to transform T cells into cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Stimulates the proliferation of activated T cells and NK cells and induces them to produce interferon-gamma.
IL-13 Anti-inflammatory. Related to IL-4. Produced by activated Th2 cells. Inhibits IL-6. Stimulates antibody production.
IL-14 A high molecular weight B lymphocyte growth factor. One of the least researched cytokines.
IL-15 Anabolic for skeletal muscle. IL-15 receptor contains some sub-units with the IL-2 receptor.
IL-16 Pro-inflammatory. Formerly called Lymphocyte Chemoattractant Factor.
IL-17 Pro-inflammatory. Produced by T cells. Activates NF-kappaB.
IL-18 Pro-inflammatory. Induces the cytokine interferon-gamma.
Interleukins and the Acute Phase Reaction
Fig. 2. Top mouse was continuously exposed to IL-6. Bottom mouse received antibodies against IL-6. From DeBenedetti1997.
EXERCISE modulates the immune system. Following even moderate exercise, there is an elevation in the number of neutrophils, the most common type of white blood cell (Boyum1996, Cannon1994, Tidball1995).
After acute or short-term exercise, the total number of lymphocytes increases, but if the exercise is intense and of long duration the number of lymphocytes decreases (Pedersen1997). A lack of glutamine resulting from exercise stress can impair the ability of lymphocytes to proliferate and to function (Sharp1992, Rohde1998).
Prolonged low intensity exercise may lower levels of interleukin-6 in the blood (Boyum1996), while intense or eccentric (negative) exercise causing muscle damage induces a dramatic rise in this cytokine (Bruunsgaard1997, Weinstock1997, Ullum1994).
In short, intense exercise increases cytokines which may act to break down muscle, while extensive exercise decreases cell- mediated immunity (i.e. the ability of Natural Killer cells, cytotoxic T lymphocytes, and phagocytes to eliminate potentially harmful cells and materials).
Massage therapy has been shown to increase cell-mediated immunity (Ironson1996), so there may be some benefits in combining massage with some forms of exercise.
The immune system
The human immune system is a network of active and passive defenses against substances and cells that would harm the body. It includes innate immunity from barriers like the skin, body temperature, pH (acidity) of the stomach, the inflammatory response and the action of phagocytic cells. It also includes acquired immunity, which is usually based on recognition and response to an antigen. This generally involves white blood cells called lymphocytes. There are two kinds: T cells (from the thymus) and B cells (from the bone marrow). Acquired immunity may be humoral, meaning it involves substances like antibodies and cytokines that are dissolved or suspended in the blood, or it may be cell-mediated, involving the cytotoxic activity of specialized cells.
Because the effects of exercise on the immune system do not involve antigens, such immune activity is fundamentally different from what you might read about in a text on immunology.
The Acute Phase Response
PARTS of the immune system are depressed following a workout. However, this is not to say that the body is defenseless. There is a "rapid deployment" system called the acute phase response that kicks in after trauma, and exercise is generally interpreted by the body as trauma. Exercise subjects the body to oxidative stress, and that generates reactive oxygen species and other free radicals that act as alarm molecules. Also, the body can sense potentially dangerous changes in osmolarity (e.g. swelling), hyperthermia (heat), hypoxia (oxygen starvation), pH (acidity) of the blood, ionic contents of cells, and a variety of other conditions.
Once initiated, the response is in the form of a cascade. Local to the injury there is acute inflammation and blood clotting. Systemically there is fever, leukocytosis (increased white blood cells), increased levels of hormones like cortisol, and in particular a major increase in synthesis of proteins called acute phase proteins (ACPs). Let's look at this process in more detail.
Initialization
During exercise, free radicals known as reactive oxygen intermediates (ROIs) and reactive nitrogen intermediates (RNIs) are formed. Additionally other reactive intermediates such as carbonyls may be produced. All these free radicals can signal and in some cases activate cells of the immune system.
When intense exercise causes damage to cells, the contents of the breached cell enters the surrounding lymph. This also has the effect of signalling that there has been damage.
Monocytes are white blood cells with a single nucleus that are formed in the bone marrow. When they arrive in the tissues of the body they may differentiate (mature) into macrophages, and lose some of their motility (ability to move independently). Muscle tissue contains a number of macrophages, and these are the first immune cells to react to exercise trauma. When a macrophage is activated, it undergoes a "respiratory burst" of oxidation, which produces even more ROIs, thus extending the signal to surrounding cells. Macrophages also secrete signal molecules like IL-8 which act as chemokines to attract other immune cells, in a process called chemotaxis.
Prostaglandins are secreted by macrophages as well. These, plus some metabolic byproducts of exercise like lactic acid, physical changes involved in pumping the muscle, and the effects of the first immune phenomena just described, combine to initiate inflammation in the effected muscles.
Neutrophils in the blood sense the alarm molecules and chemokines, and race to the defense of the injured tissue. The inflamed blood vessels are more permeable, and in a process called extravasation the neutrophils escape from the bloodstream, enter the muscles, and home in on the damage. They in turn are activated, undergo a respiratory burst, and begin secreting cytokines.
Cytokines
The first cytokines to be released as a result of exercise are the "pro-inflammatory" substances interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1 (IL-1). Also the chemokine IL-8 is released. IFN-gamma, TNF and IL-1 have a number of different effects on the body. They travel through the bloodstream and stimulate the liver to synthesize acute phase proteins like C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A and fibrinogen. They influence complement, which is yet another factor in the immune system, and kinins, which can produce vasodilation, pain, and may make you lose your lunch in the squat rack. They cause body temperature to increase. Most important for this article, all three act on T lymphocytes to cause them to secrete interleukin-6.
IFN-gamma, TNF and IL-1 all have the reputation of being catabolic cytokines which will reduce muscle mass. For example, IL-1 activates the enzyme "branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase" to oxidize amino acids in the muscles (Cannon1991). However as we'll see below, at least part of the wasting effect may be mediated by IL-6, so that if the effect of IL-6 is blocked some of the catabolism is stopped.
T cell activation
A second part of the cytokine cascade derives from activated lymphocytes. As we've mentioned, under normal exercise conditions, immune cells are not activated by antigens. There are alternative methods by which they can be activated. For example, lymphocyte proliferation can be artificially stimulated with a chemical that increases the level of glutathione, an antioxidant (Berridge1997). Also it is known that reactive oxygen intermediates like hydrogen peroxide ( H2O2 ) can activate the nuclear transcription factor NF-kappaB. So there is good reason to expect that the reduction/oxidation changes resulting from exercise may result in T cell activation.
Also it is known that certain cytokines can activate lymphocytes. For example, IL-1 was originally called "Lymphocyte Activating Factor."
B lymphocytes are involved in antigen-based antibody formation, so although they also secrete some cytokines we won't consider them further. T cells differentiate under the influence of cytokines into cytotoxic T lymphocytes and T helper (Th) cells. We need only consider the latter. Th cells in turn differentiate into type 1 and type 2 T helper cells (Th1 and Th2). It is the Th2 cells that produce the bulk of the interleukin-6, although macrophages also produce it, and even muscle cells seem to produce some under stress. We'll cover IL-6 in detail below.
Termination of the acute phase
Cytokines and acute phase proteins have a brief half- life in the body, so even without anti-inflammatory signalling this phase would inevitably end. However a number of substances produced by the body have the effect of bringing it to a conclusion more quickly.
As we all know, cortisol is secreted as a result of exercise. A product of the adrenal glands, cortisol is a member of a class of compounds called glucocorticoids. We normally think of glucocorticoids as being catabolic, but they also has the effect of inhibiting the synthesis of all acute phase cytokines. Since many of those cytokines are catabolic, this is actually an anti-catabolic action of cortisol. To put this in another way: if you are successful in limiting cortisol production after a workout, you might find an increased level of cytokines, and thus no net prevention of muscle loss!
Cytokines sometimes have soluble receptors. One way these are produced is from membrane receptors that are cleaved and "shed" from cells. The receptors then circulate in the blood. Soluble receptors for IL-1, IL-4 and TNF have the effect of binding to and thus deactivating their cytokines. You might say they "mop up" the cytokine. The production of these soluble receptors is a second way in which the body limits the acute phase. On the other hand, soluble receptors for IL-6 have the opposite effect: they can cause IL-6 metabolic effects on cells with incomplete receptors that normally wouldn't be effected.
A protein called IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) binds to IL-1 receptors, blocking the effect of IL-1. IL-1Ra is secreted from cells upon stimulation by TNF, and its production is enhanced by IL-10 and IL-4. As levels of these last interleukins rise, IL-1 declines.
IL-10, IL-4 and IL-13 are anti-inflammatory cytokines. They inhibit the production of inflammatory cytokines and also reduce induction of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), an enzyme involved in inflammation which is the target of drugs like aspirin. Whereas IL-1 and TNF are produced early in the acute phase response, the anti-inflammatory cytokines come from activated T cells, so they are a way in which the body gracefully concludes the acute phase.
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IL-6
INTERLEUKIN-6 stands out among the interleukins in several ways. It is the main signal of tissue damage in the body (Sehgal1995). Although IL-1 and interferon initiate the synthesis of some acute phase proteins by the liver, IL-6 stimulates the liver to produce a larger and more complete set of these proteins (Hilton1992, Baumann1987). IL-6 is thought by many investigators to be the main factor in cachexia -- the wasting syndrome that accompanies AIDS, cancer, and some autoimmune diseases. Yet IL-6 is also a growth factor, intimately involved in the production of new cells, including new muscle cells.
A better understanding of the pleiotropic roles of interleukin-6 should provide insight into methods of improving physical development through training, nutrition and supplementation.
The IL-6 family of cytokines
IL-6 belongs to a family of physically similar or "homologous" cytokines, including Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF), Ciliary Neurotropic Factor (CNTF), Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF), IL-11, Oncostatin M (OSM), and Cardiotropin-1 (CT-1). IL- 6 type cytokines feature four anti-parallel helices, arranged as shown in Figure 1.

Receptors for IL-6 family cytokines are mulitimeric, having a specific component for binding with the cytokine, plus a transmembrane transducer protein called gp130 for delivering the signal to the nucleus of the cell. For example, the LIF receptor is composed of a gp130 molecule plus a specific component called LIFR-beta. IL-6 receptor is a trimer, with two gp130 molecules, plus a specific component called IL-6R-alpha. When IL-6 first contacts the cell, it binds with IL-6R-alpha. Then the gp130 molecules dimerize and bind with it to form the ligand-receptor complex.
While all this may appear a bit technical, study of the receptors and how they are bound tells us much about the actions of these cytokines. By means of this knowledge we can often block their effects.
Signal transduction
Once the IL-6 receptor complex is assembled and bound, chemicals within the cells called Janus kinases (JAK) phosphorylate the amino acid tyrosine on the gp130 molecules. We have an effective tyrosine kinase inhibitor (genistein) that can block this process. We'll return to genistein in the section on IL-6 blockers, below.
The phosphotyrosines link up with a substance previously termed "acute phase response factor" (APRF), but which is now called STAT3 (for "Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription"). STAT1 and STAT3 become phosphorylated and dimerize. Then these dimers travel to the nucleus of the cell. Meanwhile the IL-6/IL-6R-alpha combination is taken into the cell ("endocytosed") and is broken down and destroyed. The gp130 units are recycled.
The STAT dimers bind with IL-6 response elements which then activate gene transcription factors.
NF-IL-6 (Nuclear Factor IL-6) is a member of the C/EBP (CAAT/Enhancer Binding Protein) family of transcription factors. It is almost undetectable in normal circumstances, but when cells are stimulated with IL-6 it is produced abundantly. C/EBP regulates fat tissue. It increases differentiation from pre-adipocytes to adipocytes, activates the glucose transporter GLUT4, etc. In short, it makes you fat. When adipose tissue is treated with TNF -- which reduces fat -- C/EBP is reduced, but NF-IL6 increases. It seems that the ratio of C/EBP to NF-IL-6 is a determinant of fatness. Both IL-6 and LIF are known to drastically reduce fat, so the activation of NF-IL-6 may be one of the mechanisms of that fat reduction.
STAT3 can also bind to the IL-6 response element of the junB gene (JRE-IL6).
Apart from the JAK/STAT pathway, there is a second pathway from the IL-6 receptor to the nucleus. It involves a protein called ras, and Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK).
As a result of the alternate pathways, a variety of transcription factors can be activated, including AP-1 (Activator Protein-1) and NF-kappaB (Nuclear Factor kappa B).
NF-kappa B
NF-kappaB deserves special mention. The name derives from its discovery in B cells expressing kappa immunoglobulin. Subsequently it was found that NF-kappaB exists in nearly all mammalian cells. It regulates inflammation, immune reactions and acute phase response, and it is generally bad news for athletes. Elderly people and people with AIDS or chronic inflammation may have NF-kappaB almost permanently activated, which accounts for some of the tissue loss and poor health in those groups. On the other hand, NF-kappaB regulated genes encode hematopoietic growth factors, which can be useful to athletes.

Nuclear Factor kappa B
NF-kappaB is activity is low is a normal cell, due to an inhibitor named I-kappa-B. IL-1 and TNF act to degrade I-kappa- B, and by this means NF-kappaB is activated. As a result of transcription regulated by NF-kappaB, many cytokines -- including Il-6 -- are expressed. This is one way that IL-1 and TNF induce the secretion of Il-6. NF-kappaB can also be activated by reactive oxygen intermediates, and by IL-6 as described in the previous section.
There are several effective methods of inhibiting NF-kappaB, some of which will be described below.
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Effects of IL-6
MYOGENESIS -- the creation of new muscle tissue -- occurs when muscle satellite cells (also called sarcoplasts) or myoblasts (also called sarcoblasts) are activated. Often the terms "myoblast" and "satellite cells" are used interchangeably. Once activated, these cells proliferate, and then differentiate, and finally fuse with other cells to form myotubes or to join existing muscle fibers. The signal for these cells to proliferate is Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF). HGF is induced by heparin, which is liberated from the basal lamina of muscles when they are damaged. It is also induced by interferon-gamma, and is very potently induced by prostaglandin E2. All of these substances appear as a result of trauma to the muscle. In addition to activating the myoblasts, HGF increases their motility, so that they can migrate to the site of damaged muscle.
This same trauma results in the expression of IL-6, LIF, and Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF). These three act as growth factors (yes, in this case IL-6 is a growth factor), increasing the proliferation of myoblasts. See Figure 3: response of IL-6 and LIF to muscle injury (source: Kurek1996). LIF is a stronger inducer of proliferation than IL-6, and whereas the effect of IL-6 is short-lived, a brief exposure to LIF will result in proliferation over an extended period. Injections of LIF have been suggested as a therapy for muscle trauma and disease (Kurek1996).
When cells divide, the telomeres at the end of their chromosomes shorten. Since the telomeres become shorter with each division, this sets a limit (the "Hayflick limit") on the number of times that a cell and its descendent cells can divide. This is particularly important in germ cells like myoblasts. An enzyme named telomerase can prevent the telomeres from shortening. Certain cytokines, including IL-6, can induce telomerase, hence increasing the number of times a cell can divide (Engelhardt1997). This appears to be a unique contribution made by IL-6 to the muscle regeneration system. IL-6 also has a similar effect in hemopoietic tissue.
Effect on Fat
Experiments on mice that were reported in 1989 and 1990 showed LIF inhibits the action of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), which is instrumental in uptake of fatty acids by adipose tissue (Hilton1992). A "dramatic and rapid loss of virtually all subcutaneous and abdominal fat" was reported. More recently, it has been shown that while administration of recombinant IL-6 to mice reduces LPL, it has almost no effect on fat reduction in mice (Fujita1996).
We've previously mentioned that IL-6 activates a regulator of fat tissue called NF-IL-6. NF-IL-6 is actually a repressed transcription factor which is normally inhibited. Signalling from IL-6 through the MAP kinase pathway overcomes the inhibition (Akira1995). In this way, while IL-6 may not be as successful at blocking fat uptake as LIF, it may decrease body fat by slowing the maturation of adipocytes.
Effect on Muscle
There are three main proteolytic pathways in skeletal muscle: cathepsins functioning in the lysosome, calpain proteases in the cell's cytosol, and the ATP-ubiquitin (Ub) pathway. IL-6 acts to destroy muscle through the cathepsin and ATP-Ub pathways. Fujita et al. showed that mice inoculated with a cancer (adenocarcinoma) developed high levels of IL-6 after 11 days: while untreated control mice had a level of 7.9 pg/ml of IL- 6, inoculated mice had an average of 1,142 pg/ml (Fujita1996). These inoculated mice had cathepsin B levels 236% higher, and cathepsin B levels 826% higher than controls. Tsujinaka et al. showed that in transgenic mice carrying DNA for human IL-6, treated mice had cathepsin B levels 20 times higher than controls (Tsujinaka1996).
IL-6 shortens the half-life of proteins in the myotubes that make up muscle fibers. It has been demonstrated that mRNA levels of proteosomes, which are involved with the ATP-Ub pathway, are increased by IL-6 (Ebisui1995, Tsujinaka1996). Strangely, TNF, which is often named as the main culprit in cachexia (wasting syndrome), has not been shown to have this effect. In fact, several studies have failed to show a direct effect by TNF on muscle proteolysis (reviewed in Fujita1996). Therefore it seems that the proteolytic action of TNF may actually be mediated through IL-6. In other words, without IL-6, TNF would not destroy muscle (although it would reduce fat). Therefore, IL-6 appears to be the primary agent in muscle wasting.
IL-6 is a catabolic agent in many disease states (Papanicolaou1998). It is present in rheumatism and other autoimmune type diseases, and is responsible for joint deterioration and muscle loss. DeBenedetti et al. found that transgenic mice with human IL-6 had stunted growth, attaining only about half the size of normal mice (Figure2). They also showed that in humans as well as mice, there is a negative correlation between IL-6 and IGF-1. In other words, the more IL-6 in the body, the less IGF-1. This relationship was unique to IL- 6: TNF and IL-1 were not correlated with IGF-1 (DeBenedetti1997).
In summary, the effects of IL-6 are mostly harmful for athletes. It plays beneficial roles in resisting infection, stimulating the acute phase response in case of trauma, and in hematopoiesis and production of stem cells. However, excessive IL-6 resulting from exercise or chronic inflammation will destroy muscle tissue and reduce IGF-1.
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Manipulation of IL-6
Now that we know the actions and effects of interleukin-6, let's consider ways to manipulate IL-6 secretion.
In the unlikely event that we'd want more IL-6, the method is obvious: just exercise. Any exercise that causes trauma to the muscles would suffice. If we want to start an acute phase response without the temporary immune suppression caused by exercise, there are herbs like Echinaceae and Rudbeckia speciosa that contain polysaccharides the body mistakes for bacteria, so that they can initiate an immune response (Bukovsky1995).
For inhibition of IL-6 and its effects there are many options. We'll first cover nutrition and supplements, and then drugs. Not all the options mentioned will be suitable for athletes; the goal here is to compile a comprehensive list from which people can choose according to their needs.
Nutrition and Supplements
Caloric restriction is perhaps the simplest method of reducing IL-6 (Volk1994). This is a technique employed by life- extensionists. It might have some application to dieting athletes, providing they don't use weight-loss drugs.
Oils and fatty acids.
oEicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) supplementation significantly reduced IL-6 ecretion from mononuclear cells in patients with cancer (Wigmore1997).
oSupplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and EPA reduced production of IL-1, IL-6, TNF and IL-2 by mononuclear cells in normal individuals and in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and with Multiple Sclerosis (Calder1997).
o The fatty acids gamma linolenic acid (GLA), EPA and DHA reduce serum IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, TNF alpha and IFN-gamma in cancer patients. Three months after cessation of fatty acid supplementation cytokine values returned to normal (Purasiri1994).
o In human endothelial cells, DHA decreased secretion of IL- 6, IL-1, IL-4, IL- 8 and TNF (DeCaterina1994).
o Blackcurrant seed oil rich in GLA reduced production of IL- 1 beta, TNF alpha IL-6 and PGE2 (Watson1993).
Sources of GLA: evening primrose oil, borage seed oil, blackcurrant seed oil.
Sources of EPA and DHA: fish oils (e.g. cod liver oil, salmon oil, etc.).
Lactoferrin (found in milk) reduces IL-6 (Mattsby1996).
Estrogen and androgens reduce IL-6 and block NF-kappaB. Therefore, foods like soy which are estrogenic and supplements like androstenedione would be expected to have a similar effect.
Since one of the signal pathways from the IL-6 receptor depends on tyrosine kinase, genistein, which is an effective tyrosine kinase inhibitor, should block it. Genistein is a component of soy, and can be purchased in purified form.
Zinc induces Heat Shock Protein HSP-70 and reduces cytokines and apoptosis (Klosterhalfen1997).
Antioxidants. Since antioxidants provide some of the initial signals in the acute phase response, and since NF-kappaB can be directly activated by reactive oxygen intermediates, antioxidants can prevent secretion of IL-6 and the effects of NF-kappaB transcription.
o Vitamin E supplementation (400 units twice per day) almost completely eliminated increased secretion of Il-6 in athletes following three 15 minute sets of downhill running (Cannon1991).

o L-ascorbic acid inhibits secretion of IL-1 and IL-6 (Tebbe1997).
o Black tea extract lowers concentrations of IL-6 (Amarakoon1995).
o Melatonin reduces oxidative stress, improves immune function. etc. (Reiter1997).
o Since expression of IL-6 mRNA is dependent on NF-kappaB binding to the IL-6 gene, supplementation with the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) can block the process (Shibanuma1994).
o A number of experimental antioxidants have been employed in studies of NF-kappaB inhibition. They include glutathione, NADPH, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), and various forms of superoxide dismutase.
Since IL-1, IFN-gamma, and TNF induce IL-6 production, any substances that inhibit them will usually have the effect of inhibiting Il-6.
NF-kappaB can be inhibited by nitric oxide (NO). One substance that induces NO is the amino acid arginine.
Aspirin and salicylate inhibit NF-kappaB. Also salicylate inhibits protein kinase activity, and so would prevent signalling by IL-6 via tyrosine kinase (Beauparlant1996). Since methyl salicylate is a common ingredient of ointments for sore muscles, this raises the possibility that a topical application could be effective against IL-6.
There is a negative correlation between dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and IL-6 in the blood (Straub1998). Therefore supplementation with DHEA will reduce IL-6.

Drugs for IL-6 reduction
Since IL-6 is a factor in many diseases, a number of drugs and pharmaceutical techniques have been investigated for lowering IL- 6 levels. Some of the substances mentioned below are experimental or unapproved.
Glucocorticoids like dexamethasone block transcription factors NF-kappaB and AP-1 (Brattsand1996). Unfortunately they are also catabolic to muscle, and so are of little use to the athlete, except in case of injury.
RU486 (mifepristone) can block NF-kappaB induced by TNF, although not as well as glucocorticoids (Beauparlant1996). It has the advantage that it also blocks glucocorticoid receptors, but unfortunately the receptors soon upregulate.
The immunosuppressant drugs FK506 and cyclosporin A will suppress T cells, but this would be an insane way to inhibit IL-6, due to the side effects.
Anti-inflammatory cytokines like IL-10, IL-4, IL-13, and Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGF-beta) will inhibit synthesis of IL-6 and other inflammatory cytokines. IL-10 also enhances synthesis of IL-1 receptor antagonist, downregulates TNF receptors and inhibits T cell proliferation (Koj1998, Xing1997, Dokter1996).
Soluble cytokine receptors and receptor antagonists are effective against IL-1 and TNF, which induce IL-6. Unfortunately, the IL-6 soluble receptor only increases the effect of IL-6. Enbrel, a soluble receptor for TNF made by Immunex, will be on the market soon for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and similar inflammatory conditions.

Rolipram, an antidepressant sold in Europe by Schering, is also very effective at inhibiting TNF, and so has an indirect effect on IL-6.
Tenidap, a new anti-rheumatic drug, showed a great deal of promise against cytokines, but the FDA decided not to approve it because of problems with proteinuria (protein in the urine). This side effect may make it unsuitable for athletes. It is available from Europe (Breedveld1994, Bondeson1996).
Polymyxin B administration results in a prompt reduction in interleukin-6 levels in burn patients (Cone1997).
For women, medroxyprogesterone acetate has reduced IL-6 in breast cancer patients. Reduction was correlated with plasma levels of MPA, not dosage (Yamashita1996).
Use of a monoclonal antibody against CD-54 (ICAM-1) reduced IL-6 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients (Schulze1996).
Antibodies against TNF have been used to reduce IL-6 (Fekade1996).
Indomethacin reduces Il-6 by inhibiting prostaglandin E2 (Hinson1996).
Tyloxapol, a potent anti-oxidant used in the treatment of cystic fibrosis and chronic bronchitis, inhibits NF-kappaB and IL-6 (Ghio1996).
The anti-rheumatic drug minocycline decreases serum levels of IL-6 (Kloppenburg1996).
The anti-rheumatic drug tepoxalin inhibits the production of IL-2, IL-6 and TNF alpha and inhibits activation of NF- kappaB (Ritchie1995).
Pentoxifylline is a methylxanthine derivative that acts as a phosphodiesterase inhibitor and is prescribed to improve capillary flow. It inhibits TNF and IL-6 and counteracts the respiratory burst of phagocytes that produces free radicals (Lundblad1995), Koj1998, Mandell1995).
Torbafylline, a xanthine derivative that suppresses TNF, has been used with some experimental success in the treatment of cachexia (Sinha1995).

The sex hormones estrogen and testosterone block IL-6 (Bellido1995, Vaananen1996, Stein1995). In fact, it seems that nearly any steroid inhibits IL-6: estrogen, testosterone, DHEA, glucocorticoids, and probably most androgenic/anabolic drugs.
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors decrease the levels of angiotensin II or limits its action, thereby interfering with the permissive effect of Angiotensin on IL-6 (Klahr1998).
Antibodies that destroy IL-6 receptors are effective at preventing muscle proteolysis caused by IL-6 (Fujita1996).
Conclusion
EXERCISE activates the immune system, which then cycles through an abbreviated version of the acute phase response. Damage to muscles results in IL-6 secretion, which signals the body to produce acute phase proteins. Depending on the amount of muscle damage, the acute phase response will terminate sooner or later, by the action of cortisol and anti-inflammatory cytokines.
IL-6 is the main mediator of muscle wasting. It may have some beneficial actions at the onset of the acute phase response, but chronically high IL-6 levels must be avoided for good health and optimum muscular development. We have a number of ways to accomplish that, from the simple use of antioxidants to specially designed antibodies. Through the use of these agents in coordination with training activity, we can effectively reduce the unnecessary muscle breakdown that normally follows intense exercise.
References
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Supplement Performance - Creatine Plus Phosphate

2007-10-15T02:37:00.000-07:00

Supplement Performance - Creatine Plus Phosphate

Creatine Supplementation

Creatine is a naturally occurring amino acid that is obtained from the diet
and/or synthesized endogenously (within the body) from the amino acids glycine,
arginine and methionine. Creatine has become a popular nutritional supplement
among athletes. The most commonly used protocol is to ingest a daily total of 20 to
30 grams of creatine, usually creatine monohydrate, in four equal doses of five to
seven grams dissolved in fluids over the course of day. (For a detailed review on
creatine supplementation strategies, see my article Creatine Loading Strategies in
November issue of MD).
Although not all studies report significant results, the preponderance of
scientific evidence indicates that creatine supplementation appears to be a generally
effective nutritional ergogenic aid for a variety of exercise tasks in a number of
athletic and clinical populations.1
For example, short-term creatine supplementation has been reported to
improve maximal power/strength (5-15%), work performed during sets of maximal
effort muscle contractions (5-15%), single-effort sprint performance (1-5%) and work
performed during repetitive sprint performance (5-15%).1 Moreover, creatine
supplementation during training has been reported to promote significantly greater
gains in strength, fat-free mass and performance, primarily of high- intensity
performance tasks.1
In the 1970s, Soviet scientists showed that creatine supplementation
improved athletic performance in short, intense activities such as sprints.2 According
to Dr. Michael Kalinski, a former Chairman of the Exercise Biochemistry Department
in the Kiev State Institute of Physical Education (Kiev, Ukraine, USSR), the Central
Institute of Physical Culture (CIPC) in Moscow initiated a long-term research
program to characterize the role of creatine in muscular performance and its use to
enhance muscle function. Also, Soviet scientists redirected their research from
academic studies on creatine metabolism in animals to applied studies on the
effects of creatine supplementation on human physical performance.2
For example, members of the USSR national track and field team who took
creatine supplements improved their performance in the 100-meter dash by one
percent and in the 200-meter sprint by 1.7 percent.2 As a result of these studies,
the CIPC officially recommended use of creatine supplements to enhance physical
capacity and the efficacy of exercise training. In additon, USSR national athletes
were routinely given these supplements.2
Some clinicians have expressed concern about the effects of creatine on
renal function. Drs. Pritchard and Kaira reported a case study of renal dysfunction
associated with creatine,3 but their conclusion that creatine was responsible for the
renal dysfunction is clouded by previous history of renal nephritic syndroma that was
stabilized by cyclosporine. It was unclear whether the observed improvement in
renal function following creatine withdrawal was due to adverse effects of creatine
itself, impurities in the creatine products, creatine/drug interactions and/or other
factors.
In three small studies, no adverse effects of creatine on renal function were
reported following either short-term4,5 or long-term supplementation of two to 30
grams per day for up to five years.6 Moreover, Dr. Richard Kreider and co-workers
recently reported that long-term creatine supplementation (up to 21 months) does
not appear to adversely affect markers of health status (metabolic markers, muscle
and liver enzymes, electrolytes, lipid profiles, etc.) in athletes undergoing intense
training in comparison to athletes who do not take creatine.7 There have also been
anecdotal reports of muscle cramping and strains associated with creatine
supplementation. However, Dr. Greenwood and colleagues recently reported that
creatine supplementation does not appear to increase the incidence of injury or
cramping in Division IA college football players.8
Phosphate Supplementation
Among the inorganic elements, phosphorous is second only to calcium in
abundance in the human body. Approximately 85 percent of the body´s
phosphorous is in the skeleton, one percent is found in the blood and body fluids,
and the remaining 14 percent is associated with soft tissue such as muscle.9
Phosphorous is of vital importance in intermediary metabolism of the energy
nutrients, contributing to the metabolic potential in the form of high-energy
phosphate bonds, such as ATP, and through phosphorylation of substrates.
Phosphate also functions in acid-base balance. Within cells, phosphate is the main
intracellular buffer.
Further, phosphate is involved in oxygen delivery. In red blood cells,
synthesis of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate requires phosphorus. Decreased 2,3-
diphosphoglycerate diminishes release of oxygen to tissues. Phosphorous is widely
distributed in foods. The best food sources are meat, poultry, fish, eggs and milk
products. Nuts, legumes, cereals, grains and chocolate also contain phosphorous;
however, animal products are superior sources of available phosphorus compared
with cereals and soy-based foods. Many phosphate-containing supplements are
available commercially, including K-Phos® and Neutra-Phos K®, which also provide
potassium. For maximum bioavailability, these supplements should not be ingested
with zinc, iron, or magnesium.9 Calcium (as calcium acetate or calcium carbonate)
also inhibits phosphorous absorbtion.9
Phosphate supplementation (“phosphate loading”) has been proposed as an
aid to athletic performance (Table 1).10 Studies investigating the ergogenic value of
phosphate supplementation date back to the 1920s. Early studies suggested that
phosphate salt supplementation could be used to increase physical working
capacity.10
Much of the contemporary interest in phosphate supplementation as a
potential ergogenic aid emanated from a report by Dr. Cade and colleagues in the
early 1980s.11 Results revealed that phosphate supplementation significantly
increased resting serum phosphate and red cell 2,3-diphosphoglyserate levels. In
addition, phosphate supplementation decreased submaximal lactate while
increasing maximal oxygen uptake. The greatest increase in maximal oxygen
uptake occurred in subjects ingesting sodium phosphate for two consecutive testing
trials.
Dr. Richard Kreider and co-workers conducted the most extensive study to
date to evaluate the ergogenic value of phosphate supplementation.12 In this study,
six highly trained male cyclists participated in a placebo-controlled, double blind
crossover study to determine the effects of sodium phosphate supplementation on
metabolic and myocardial adaptations to maximal exercise and 40-km time trial
performance. Subjects ingested either four grams per day of tribasic sodium
phosphate or a glucose placebo for five days. On the fourth day, subjects performed
either an incremental maximal cycling test or a 40-km stimulated time trial under
controlled laboratory conditions using the subjects’ racing bicycle attached to a
computerized race stimulator.
Analysis of maximal test results revealed that phosphate supplementation
significantly increased pre-max serum phosphate levels (17%), maximal oxygen
uptake (9%), minute ventilation (8%), ventilatory anaerobic threshold (10%),
echocardiographically-determined mean ejection fraction (4%) and myocardial
fractional shortening (8%). During the 40-km time trial, phosphate loading
significantly increased mean power output (17%), oxygen uptake (18%), ventilation
(15%), heart rate (8%), ejection fraction (13%) and fractional shortening resulting in
an eight percent reduction in performance time. These findings provide evidence
that sodium phosphate supplementation provides ergogenic value to highly trained
athletes.
According to recent review with Dr. Kreider, “Most studies investigating the
effects of sodium phosphate supplementation (three or four grams per day for three
or four days) on maximal aerobic capacity and/or endurance exercise performance
have reported ergogenic benefit… On the other hand, it appears that acute and/or
chronic calcium phosphate supplementation provides little ergogenic value.”10
Table 1. Proposed Theoretical Ergogenic Value of Phosphate
Supplementation
• Elevates extracellular and intracellular phosphate concentration
• Stimulates glycolysis and energy metabolism
• Increase the availability of phosphate for oxidative phosphorylation
and creatine phosphate synthesis
• Increases 2,3-diphosphoglycerate synthesis and peripheral extraction
of oxygen.
• Enhances myocardial and cardiovascular responses to exercise
• Serves as a metabolic buffer
• Increases anaerobic threshold and maximal oxygen uptake
• Improves exercise performance and/or efficiency
• May enhance psychological responses to exercise
Data from Kreider, 1999
Creatine Phosphate Supplementation
In their recent book Supplements for Strength-Power Athletes13, Drs. Jose
Antonio and Jeffrey Stout quoted results by Dr. Wallace and colleagues published in
Coaching and Sports Science Journal and unpublished results by Dr. Eckerson. Dr.
Wallace and co-workers investigated the effect of supplemental creatine alone
versus creatine plus phosphate on muscle power. Male and female subjects were
given either five grams of creatine four times per day or five grams of creatine plus
one gram of phosphate four times per day for five days. The combination of creatine
plus phosphate resulted in a significantly higher muscle power output, suggesting
performance benefits more from a combination of phosphates and creatine than
from creatine alone.
Dr. Eckerson and colleagues examined the effects of creatine alone versus
creatine plus phosphate on anaerobic working capacity. Male subjects were
randomly put into one of three treatments: placebo, five grams of creatine, or five
grams of creatine plus one gram of phosphates. Each subject was asked to dissolve
the supplement in 16 ounces of water and ingest it four times per day for six
consecutive days. The subjects performed a cycle ergometry test to determine
anaerobic working capacity. The placebo and creatine groups increased anaerobic
working capacity by –3.0 percent and 16.0 percent, respectively. The creatine plus
phosphate group increased anaerobic working capacity by 49 percent.
Phosphate and Resting Metabolic Rate
Phosphate supplementation has also been suggested to affect energy
expenditure. For example, Dr. Kaciuba-Uscilko and colleagues reported that
phosphate supplementation during a four-week weight loss program increased
resting metabolic rate.14 Further, Dr. Nazar and co-workers reported that phosphate
supplementation during an eight-week weight loss program increased resting
metabolic rate by 12-19 percent and prevented a normal decline in thyroid
hormones.15 Consequently, it’s possible that phosphate could serve as a potential
thermogenic nutrient in diet supplements.
Summing Up
The preponderance of scientific evidence indicates that creatine
supplementation appears to be a generally effective nutritional ergogenic aid for a
variety of exercise tasks in a number of athletic and clinical populations. There is
some evidence suggesting that sodium phosphate supplementation may enhance
aerobic capacity. Recent data suggest that combined creatine and phosphate
ingestion improves anaerobic working capacity more than creatine ingestion alone.
According to Drs. Jose Antonio and Jeffrey Stout, take a one-gram serving
phosphates (preferably a sodium-potassium mix) with every serving of creatine
during the loading phase, which would be four times daily for six days.

clenbuterol FAQ

2007-10-10T22:33:00.001-07:00

clenbuterol FAQ
Clenbuterol FAQ:
Everything you need to know about Clen I wrote this because of all the confusion that surrounds this drug. Enjoy.
What is Clenbuterol? Clenbuterol is a beta-2 agonist and is used in many countries as a broncodilator for the treatment of asthma. Because of it's long half life, Clenbuterol is not FDA approved for medical use. It is a central nervous system stimulant and acts like adrenaline. It shares many of the same side effects as other CNS stimulants like ephedrine. Contrary to popular belief, Clenbuterol has a half life of 35 hours and not 48 hours.
Dosing and Cycling Clenbuterol comes in 20mcg tablets, although it is also available in syrup, pump and injectable form. Doses are very dependent on how well the user responds to the side effects, but somewhere in the range of 5-8 tablets per day for men and 1-4 tablets a day for women is most common. Clenbuterol loses its thermogenic effects after 6-8 weeks when body temperature drops back to normal. It's anabolic/anti-catabolic properties fade away at around the 18 day mark. Taking the long half life into consideration, the most effective way of cycling Clen is 2 weeks on/ 2 weeks off for no more than 12 weeks. Ephedrine can be used in the off weeks. Clenbuterolvs Ephedrine vs DNP
Ephedrine will raise metabolic levels by about 2-3 percent and 200mg of DNP raises metabolic levels by about 30 percent. Clenbuterol raises metabolic levels about 10 percent and it can raise body temperature several degrees.
DNP is by far the most effective fat burner but many people will never use it because of the risks associated with it. It also offers no anti-catabolic benefit. Although it does have anti-catabolic effect, ephedrine short half life prevents it from being all that effective.
As far as side effects, Clenbuterol's are certainly milder than DNP's, and some would even say milder than an ECA stack. There is no ECA-style crash on Clenbuterol and many users find it easier on the prostate and sex drive. This may in part be due to the fact that Clen is generally used for only 2 weeks at a time.
Side effects
NAUSEANERVOUSNESSDIZZINESSDROWSINESSDRY MOUTHFACIAL FLUSHINGHEADACHEHEARTBURNINCREASED BLOOD PRESSUREINCREASED SWEATINGINSOMNIALIGHTHEADEDNESSMUSCLE CRAMPSTREMORSVOMITINGCHEST PAIN
The most significant side effects are muscle cramps, nervousness, headaches, and increased blood pressure.
Muscle cramps can be avoided by drinking 1.5-2 gallons of water and consuming bananas and oranges or supplementing with GNC potassium tablets at 200-400mg a day taken before bed on an empty stomach.
Headaches can easily be avoided with Tylenol Extra Strength taken at the first signs of a headache. You may need to take double the recommended dose.
Common Uses
Post-Cycle Therapy: Clen is used post cycle to aid in recovery. It allows the user to continue eating large amounts of food, without worrying about adding body fat. It also helps the user maintain more of his strength as well as his intensity in the gym. Diet: Roughly the same as on cycle.
Fat loss: The most popular use for Clen, it also increases muscle hardness, vascularity, strength and size on a caloric deficit. For the most significant fat loss, Clen can be stacked with t3. Diet: A high protein(1.5g per lb of bodyweight), moderate carb(0.5g to 1g per lb of bodyweight), low fat diet(0.25g per lb of bodyweight) seems to work best with Clen.
Alternative to Steroids: Clenbuterol has mild steroid-like properties and can be used by non AS using bodybuilder to increase LBM as well as strength and muscle hardness. Diet: A moderate carb, high protein, moderate fat diet work well.
Stimulant/Performance Enhancement: It can be used as a stimulant, but an ECA stack may be a better choice because of it's much shorter half-life. Diet: To take full advantage of the stimulatory effects of Clen, Carbs must be included in the diet. Keto diet do not work well in this case.
Precautions: Is Clen for you?
The same precautions that apply to Ephedrine must be applied to Clen, although some people find ECA stacks harsher than Clen. It should not be stacked with other CNS stimulants such as Ephedrine and Yohimbine. These combinations are unnecessary and potentially dangerous. Caffeine can be used in moderation before a workout for an extra kick, although its diuretic effects may shift electrolyte balance. Drink more water if you use Caffeine.
What else do I need to know?
Most users that report bad side effects and discontinue use are those who use high doses right at the start of the cycle. The worst side effects occur within the first 3-4 days of use.
A first time user should not exceed 40mcg the first day.
Example of a first cycle:
Day1: 20mcgDay2: 40mcgDay3: 60mcgDay4: 80mcgDay5: 80mcg(Note: Increase the dose only when the side effects are tolerable)Day6-Day12: 100mcgDay13: 80mcg (Tapering is not necessary, but it helps some users get back to normal gradually)Day14: 60mcgDay15: offDay16: offDay 17: ECA/ NYC stack
Example of a second cycle:
Day1: 60mcgDay2: 80mcgDay3: 80mcgDay4: 100mcgDay5: 100mcgDay6-Day12: 120mcgDay13: 100mcgDay14: 80mcgDay15: offDay16: offDay 17: ECA/ NYC stack
Do not take Clen Past 4pm and drink plenty of water: 1.5-2 gallons a day.
All brands are not equal when it comes to Clen, different brands will yield different results.
That about covers everything.

Anabolic Workout Guide

2007-10-09T03:50:00.000-07:00

You should take the following factors to heart since they are absolutely necessary for a successful training. What role does the use of anabolic/androgenic steroids play- Very simple: athletes who take steroids will make clearly faster, better, and greater progress than their natural colleagues. They will also obtain a much higher development stage than would have ever been possible without taking pharmaceutical compounds. Such stupid statements that one will achieve the same mass as a bodybuilder without taking steroids -it only takes longer- is nothing but a completely absurd publicity by the authorities who in their own interest conceal the truth. Read the following lines with an open-minded attitude and try to adapt this information for your own needs. 1. High-intensity training: The human organism vehemently refuses any unnecessary change since it feels best in a constant condition, a homeostasis. In order to lure it out of its passivity, several efforts and exertions must be made. The signal that the body needs in order to build up strength and muscle mass is triggered by heavy, hard, and intense training routines. These should consist of relatively few sets. Five to eight sets for large muscle groups and three to four sets for small muscle groups are completely sufficient when every set is carried out until muscle failure. 2. Training with relatively low repetitions: The body has two different types of muscle fibers: Since the muscle hypertrophy almost completely occurs in the fast-twitch white muscle fibers of type 2, a sensible bodybuilding workout must be developed in a way that these are sufficiently stimulated. For this purpose relatively few, heavy reps in the range of 6-10 are suitable. 3. Training with progressively heavier weights: In order to build up massive muscles they must be challenged and exposed to regular progressively-higher resistances. This can be achieved when the athlete continuously increases the weight during exercises. The stronger the muscles the larger their appearance. There is no mass without power. The basic exercises such as squats, bench presses, presses behind the neck, rows, barbell curls, dips, etc. are the most suitable. 4. Sufficient rest periods: The muscles are stimulated through training but only grow during their rest phase. The higher the intensity, the higher the damage of the muscle cell and the longer the resting phase. When you train with adequate intensity you simply cannot train each and every day nor should you attack a muscle twice a week. Learn to accept rest and recovery as important factors of your training success. Every day you train in the GYM should be followed by a complete off day. Bodybuilders who are interested in an optimal strength and muscle gain should train every muscle once very intensely every 7-8 days. 5. Plateau and phase training: The body can be put under maximum stress only for a limited time. If this time is exceeded, development comes to a stop and if continued the performance will regress. For this reason the intensity and extent of the training program should be changed every 12-14 weeks. The athlete should enjoy several days off training and then change to a several-week long maintenance training (plateau training). The following training program considers all essential factors which are necessary for a quick buildup of strength and muscle mass. In combination with the nutrition tips included in this book its effectiveness can be considerably increased. Based on the high intensity it is not suitable for natural bodybuilders over a long time. This training schedule is obviously only intended as a suggestion and can be changed by every athlete to meet his individual needs, as long as the discussed principles are met. Eight-Day Training Cycle: One day training, one day rest(One day on, one day off)Day 1: Chest, biceps Bench presses 3 sets 6- 8 reps Incline bench presses 2 sets 6- 8 reps Dips with added weights 2 sets 8-10 reps Barbell curls 3 sets 6-10 reps Dumbbell curls 2 sets 6-10 reps Day 3: Thighs Squats 3 sets 6-10 reps Leg presses 2 sets 8-10 reps Leg curls 2 sets 8-10 reps Day 5: Shoulder, triceps Presses behind neck 3 sets 6- 8 reps Upright row 2 sets 8-10 reps Side laterals 2 sets 8-10 reps Lying triceps presses 3 sets 6-10 reps Triceps pulley pushdown 2 sets 8-10 reps Day 7: Back. calves Chins with added weight 3 sets 8-10 reps Lat pull to neck 2 sets 8-10 reps Barbell bent-over row 2 sets 6-10 reps Seated cable row 2 sets 6-10 reps Standing calf raise 3 sets 8-12 reps Seated calf raise 2 sets 8-12 reps Note: Training is only on uneven days, i.e. every 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th day is a complete rest day. The intervals between the various sets should be 3-4 minutes. The athlete should pay attention that the exercises -as much as possible- are carried out with free weights and not on machines. Every muscle is directly trained only once every eight days. It is important that every set is carried out until muscle failure meaning that the athlete is unable to do another rep-etition on its own. Only in this case are the relatively few sets and especially long rest periods justified. The muscle cell must be brought in a strongly catabolic condition since only then the distinct anticatabolic effect of anabolic/androgenic steroids develops fully. The required intensity of training, however, can only be achieved when you start (after a short warmup) with the heaviest weight possible and then decrease the weight in every following set because of the losing body strength so that the desired repetitions can still be obtained. In order to avoid any misunderstandings we would like to quickly explain this principle on an example. Our athlete is able to carry out a maximum of six repetitions with 300 pounds on bench presses. 1st warmup set: 10 reps with 140 pounds 2nd warmup set: 2 reps with 200 pounds 3rd warmup set: 2 reps with 240 pounds 1st working set: 6 reps with 300 pounds 2nd working set: 7 reps with 280 pounds 3rd working set: 7 reps with 260 pounds The first warmup set serves to bring blood to the muscles and joints. The second and third warmup set are an approach to the weight of the first working set. The interplay between the muscle and nerve is stimulated, meaning the athlete gets a feeling for the heavy weights without wasting strength and energy at the same time. During the following chest exercises the warmup sets are completely omitted which means that they are only necessary for the first exercise of the muscle to be trained. Do not forget, however, that during every exercise or set you should try to squeeze out an additional one or two repetitions than during the previous training in order to in-crease training weights in the following week. This continuous tire-some struggle to increase repetitions and weight is the only way to a massive body. Always remember: HEAVY WEIGHTS BUILD BIG MUSCLES. http://www.isteroids.com/

DNP (2,4-Dinitrophenol)

2007-10-06T02:24:00.000-07:00

DNP (2,4-Dinitrophenol), an industrial chemical with various applications, has gained steady popularity as a fat loss tool. Boasting an astounding 50% increase in metabolic rate, it is able to contribute to reported fat losses of 10-12 pounds in 8 days of use. Classified as an "uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation" medically, it is quite dangerous as there is no negative feedback system that may deal with overdoses. Specifically, there is no upper limit to the increase in body temperature that may be obtained with its use.
Introduction/History
Competitive bodybuilders and many others are continually on a quest for leanness. Used by the hardcore since Dan Duchaine's reporting of it a couple years ago, DNP (2,4-Dinitrophenol) has managed to steadily gain popularity as a powerful tool for weight loss. Interestingly, DNP was first used to ignite TNT in the early 1900’s. In 1931 a study released by Stanford University declared that DNP was able to cause amazing weight loss; subsequently it found its way into many diet potions and medications; regulation was much less strict during this time than the present, and many of these products were available over the counter. Two years later DNP was banned by the FDA as a dieting agent due to its inclusion in many OTC dietary supplements. The FDA was a new organization at this time and acted in a rather brazen manner, with the absence of any set procedures for taking substances off the market. Granted, there was only a 1% incidence of cataracts over a large population (around 100,000); nonetheless it happened (although interestingly, exclusively women). However, there are now ways to counter this which will be covered thoroughly.
The comparisons to the current drugs used for dieting are astounding, at least in terms of thermogenesis. While the ECA stack has been shown to provide approximately a 3% increase in metabolic rate, DNP can deliver a relatively controlled 50% elevation in resting metabolic rate. The thermogenic aspect of clenbuterol, while sometimes overestimated due to the high CNS stimulation that yields a "wired" feeling, can vary according to prior exposure to various amphetamine-like compounds and certainly is not much greater than that of ECA. DNP does not have the anorectic effects of ephedrine or other thermogenic agents; rather, it tends to increase hunger, particularly appetite for carbohydrates. This problem is easily solved with appetite suppressants, and one may even use ECA itself for this purpose while on DNP.
Molecular Basis for Efficacy
DNP accomplishes the astounding boost in metabolic rate via inhibition of the F0F1 ATP synthase molecule, located in the inner wall of each mitochondrion. While the electron transport chain still functions to pump hydrogen ions into the intermembrane space, the coupling of the proton gradient to ATP production is rendered impossible by DNP. As a result, ATP production is dramatically reduced, and the energy is instead thrown off as heat. This results in an astounding production of heat; when using dinitrophenol, the athlete will radiate so much heat that it is uncomfortable to be within any proximity of them. Luckily, this heat does not fully contribute to body temperature increases, and is instead thrown off from the entire body surface, particularly the head. As a result, adequate doses of DNP will usually only elevate body temperature by about 1-1.5ºC. This is a good thing for your central nervous system and other delicate tissues; if the heat produced by ATP contributed in a more direct matter to body temperature, effective doses for fat loss would cause supraphysiological body temperature increases on a level unwitnessed at this time. Nonetheless, overheating is a very real danger; this and other side effects shall now be addressed.
Risks/Side Effects
Hearing all of these wonderful things probably has you wondering what the side effects and risks are. They are quite formidable and contribute to making DNP one of the most intolerable (though effective) drugs used in bodybuilding. Starting with the most significant, and descending in importance, are the following risks and side effects of DNP use.
Risks:
Overheating - There is no upper limit to DNP's body temperature increase, meaning that one may literally "cook from the inside" if they take too much. Dosage considerations will be given later, but even an overdose of 4-6 times the recommended dosage may be lethal. Much smaller overdoses may result in damage to the brain and/or other body systems.
Carcinogenesis - Phenols in general are reputed to be carcinogenic. Although 2,4-dinitrophenol has never been implicated in a cancer diagnosis, some are nonetheless concerned, and understandably so. In addition to the inherent carcinogenic potential caused by its status as a phenol, production of free radicals and the release of various compounds stored in adipose tissue stores during DNP's rapid oxidation of fat may also potentially be harmful.
Death - This is self-explanatory and has occurred with several bodybuilders who chose to use this compound.
Side Effects:
Discomfort and sweating - This is the single most noticeable effect of DNP use, both by the user and those around him/her. Even in the winter, while indoors at ambient temperatures, one may expect his or her shirt to be completely soaked through with sweat. Those with jobs requiring formal or semi-formal apparel are advised to consider other means of fat loss (or a new job, if preferred). Other obvious considerations lie in the areas of social life, personal appearance, etc. and the user must prioritize.
Insomnia - Second in frequency of reports to sweating and discomfort is insomnia; this may be at least partially attributed to discomfort. Possible means of countering this include such supplements as Valerian root or melatonin. Alternatively, one may deal with this via prescription or OTC sleep medications or GHB-A precursors. However, these may be addictive if used on a regular basis and if their use may be avoided, by all means abstain from using them.
Yellow bodily fluids - Some don't notice this, but others find that all of their bodily fluids take on a yellowish appearance. Urine is a darker yellow, and even semen and vaginal secretions may be affected. According to current knowledge, this is not known to be harmful in and of itself.
Muscle Soreness - This is yet another thing that may be minimized via cerebral function. Dan Duchaine has recommended using a weight such as to allow no fewer than 15 reps per set of any weight training workout; judging from anecdotal reports and personal experience, this seems to be good advice. Low levels of ATP are a cause of muscle soreness in and of itself; the additional factor of encumbered recovery mechanisms make extreme soreness (and if not careful, catabolism) quite possible.
Allergic Reactions – These are highly individualized but may be summarily discussed. Various reactions are common with DNP use, and approximately 10% of users will be extremely allergic to it. Allergic reactions can include hives, blisters, and/or inexplicable rashes. If you suffer any of these side effects, and they are extremely bothersome, it is the recommendation of the author to cease usage immediately. If so desired, another trial may be made at a later date with a lower dosage, but do not attempt to continue the drug cycle at that point.
Carbohydrate Cravings - To counter this, some methods will be touched on later. As with most diets, willpower is sometimes the single most important factor.
Obtaining DNP and Making Capsules
If, given these considerations, you still are ready to take the plunge and use DNP, you will need to learn how to obtain and/or make your own capsules. DNP is shipped industrially in large metal tins holding a glass jar containing the wet DNP, which is wetted with enough water to total 15-35% of total mass to prevent explosion while in transit. Ample cushioning material around the glass jar is included to further prevent ignition of DNP (it is highly flammable) and the obvious possibility of breaking the jar. Chemical sellers will not sell this chemical to individuals or any other entity without an account. However, if you are resourceful enough to get some, the following are instructions on how to properly prepare capsules.
Extreme caution is necessary when making the caps. DNP is bright yellow and will even go through gloves. This stain will not go away for up to 2 weeks. If it does get on your hands or other parts of yoru house, you can usually get it off with 2(3H) Furanone dinitro (butyrolactone). It usually will come out of clothes with laundering. Care is of the utmost importance when measuring out the amount one would need. Dan recommends 5 to 8 mg/kg bodyweight in Dirty Dieting #0, assuming that the person is under 15% BF. He subsequently told me that he was really suffering on 6-8 mg/kg, and that is excessive in his opinion. Note that the calculation is bodyweight, not lean body mass. With the exception of obese persons, this method is sufficiently accurate. Obtain a reliable scale, a Cap M. Quik device, and some size "O" caps ($60-$200 minimum, approximately $10, and $2 respectively). Corn starch, available at the grocery, is also needed. Since DNP ships at about either 15% or 35% water by weight, it is necessary to dry out the material overnight before attempting to deal with it. No matter how dry it looks, this step is absolutely necessary for accurate dosing. The next day, mix 15 grams DNP with 10 grams corn starch, and pound it into a fine powder. Spread resulting mixture into the Cap M. Quik, finish the capping process, and you have 50 caps of 300mg potency. Repeat as above with 10 g DNP and 15 g corn starch in order to make 50 caps of 200mg each, or with 12.5g DNP and 12.5g corn starch to make the same number of 250mg caps. Bear in mind that the preparation process, in the absence of a laboratory equipped with a chemical hood, will destroy the immediate area. It gets in the air, and fine particles will stain everything. Wear clothes that are dispensable, at least 2 pairs of gloves, and a fume mask. Preferably, do this outside on an extremely calm day, or alternatively, place protective covering everything in sight if it is necessary to perform the encapsulation indoors.
Timetable of Effects and Symptoms
The following table describes the condition most users will find themselves in during a typical DNP cycle; it is by no means complete and mainly intended to drive home that users typically look at their best 3-5 days following cessation of DNP use.
Day(s) Effects 1 None; possibly elevated carbohydrate cravings and/or temperature elevation. 2 T4-T3 conversion has begun to decrease; lethargy possible. Temperature should be elevated, and radiation of heat is noticeable. 3-5 Body temperature is elevated, with all the effects that one expects from DNP use. In addition, water retention usually becomes manifest here. 6-8 Definite water retention, along with other symptoms of use; user most likely feels fatter due to having "flatter" muscles (mainly the result of glycogen depletion) and holding water. Final DNP dose taken in the evening of Day 8. 9-10 DNP is clearing the system slowly. All symptoms are still present. 11-12 Water should be gone by now, or getting there. Mild diuretics will expedite this. The user will probably notice perceived greater cardiovascular and muscular endurance. 13-14 This is when someone tends to look their best. Their glycogen stores are usually compensated at this point and the retained water should be gone.
Dosing Schedule
As touched on previously, getting the right dosage of DNP is rather easy to do although the importance of proper dosage cannot be overstated. It is far better for one to err on the side of too little rather than too much, certainly in the case of the novice who does not know if they are allergic to the substance. As stated before, the commonly used dosage by bodybuilders and other reasonably lean persons is 3-5mg/kg of bodyweight. This would mean that a 100-kilogram bodybuilder would use anywhere from 300-500mg per day. Experienced users commonly are found using up to 800mg/day relatively safely, and beginners sometimes find that they enjoy 3-5 pounds of fat loss per week with as little as 200mg/day. Dosing is highly individualized and most generalizations tend to collapse quite quickly; as a result, none will be attempted. Start on the low end of the scale and see how you react. It is not recommended to take more than 300mg at any one time; a larger man taking 600mg per day should divide the dose into a 5:00PM portion and another portion taken approximately 30 minutes before bedtime. Someone taking 300mg/day could easily take one dose in the evening. The typical cycling program is to do 7 or 8 days on, followed by 7 or 8 off; this should not decrease thyroid output dramatically and makes use of T3 (triiodothyronine, brand name Cytomel) unnecessary in most cases. T4-T3 conversion does decrease dramatically in the liver due to excessive heat; this begins within 24 hours of the first dose. However, there is usually adequate active thyroid hormone to make it through 8 days of using it while maintaining elevated body temperature. After approximately 3-5 days, the user may find themselves with a waking temperature that is no longer elevated, even though they are still using DNP. This is due to the decrease in T3 and may signal the necessity of either the use of exogenous T3 in subsequent cycles or shorter cycles of the drug. In addition, the schedule given works nicely because the user is able to enjoy the anabolic rebound effect on a relatively regular basis. Also, longer cycles might leave the muscle fibers in a state of relative dehydration and "starved" of ATP for too long; both of these readily contribute to catabolism.
Supplementation
While using DNP, supplements can greatly aid both in the effectiveness of the therapy and the comfort of the user. Of particular importance are antioxidants and the following quantities are recommended:
Magnesium (1500mg)* Vitamin C (3000mg in divided doses)* Vitamin E (1200 IU in divided doses)* Glutathione (200mg in divided doses)***) NAC (various amounts)** T3 (dose according to personal preference)** Calcium (2000mg not taken with the Magnesium) 5-HTP (if not on antidepressant medication) (various amounts)**** Meridia, Redux, or Fenfluramine (various amounts)**** Hydroxycitric Acid (particularly in the evenings to curb cravings)**** Pyruvate (2-6g/day in divided doses) Glycerol (3 tbsp/day in divided doses) Alpha-Lipoic Acid (500-1000mg daily in divided doses) Key:
* = Integral component of DNP program** = Of questionable (although possible) importance)*** = Of particular importance to women for prevention of cataracts**** = For the purpose of appetite suppression (may not be needed)
Practical Considerations
Given all of this information, there are nonetheless more things to know before you undertake your first DNP cycle. The following tips and tricks gathered from personal experience and consultations with users are presented for your aid:
Aim a fan at your head at night. Your head is the most precious thing on your body and is a prime site for heat loss. Any air flowing over it will aid in cooling via convection. Wash your bedding daily. It is a good idea to have some spare pillowcases on hand, if nothing else. Most likely, you will be sweating profusely while you sleep, and this will make your bed smell as enticing as a locker room. Cleanliness is also essential in the prevention of disease, not to mention the fact that you are breathing out DNP "fumes" all night and they collect on your bedding. Prevention of disease goes beyond washing your clothes, and includes all of the normal precautions that you would make to avoid infection, although in a more exaggerated way. DNP depletes your body of energy needed to battle pathogens and weakens your immune system, leaving you ripe for infection and incapable of fighting off most diseases once they have taken hold. This is rather intuitive, but be certain to wear loose, light clothing, preferably of a light color. Similarly intuitive is the desire to remain in a cool area … be CERTAIN not to overheat. Proper hydration is necessary – I have personally consumed up to 8 liters of water per day. Glycerol specifically aids in muscle hydration, so its use may be very important, particularly when considering that muscle cells in even a semi-dehydrated state are prime sites for catabolism. Cardiovascular work while on DNP – This is a strange issue that I have been asked about regularly, but am undecided in the direction to take and generally recommend that the user decide for themselves. My personal preference is to do cardio with a fan focused on me for 30-35 minutes at a relatively high intensity. This is an area for personal preference; barring other considerations, just see if you can handle it or not and go from there. Always be ready to stop if you feel yourself getting extremely overheated or weak. Diet - One may wonder why this issue receives such limited attention; after all, most methods of fat loss require a restrictive diet of some nature. However, there is no set diet that one must use to achieve good results with dinitrophenol, only certain factors that allow the user to decide intelligently how to eat: Insulin - DNP blunts the effects of insulin; this is a huge boon for dieters because insulin blocks lipolysis and causes the storage of adipose tissue. This means that carbohydrate intake does not need to be strictly limited, although it should stay reasonable for optimal results.
Body Temperature and Comfort - A general guideline is that the more carbohydrates eaten, the hotter the user will get while on DNP. Similarly, overfeeding also produces extreme heat; any excess calories are thrown off as heat quite readily. For this reason, along with certain hormonal factors, Duchaine espouses an Isometric diet while on DNP, and I have followed this personally with good results.
CKD's - These are extremely impractical while on a cyclical ketogenic diet (CKD), and are especially dangerous. This brings up blood glucose considerations; it is important to try to maintain relatively stable, or at least not severely depressed, blood glucose levels. If this guideline is not followed, the user may experience blurred vision and/or extreme fatigue possibly augmented by fainting or lightheadedness.
Anabolic rebound effect – I still remember the first time I spoke to Dan Duchaine regarding DNP, and he told me about what, at the time, seemed impossible. But I have experienced this phenomenon, and it indeed happens. Possible causes include, but are not limited to, either an anabolic effect from glycogen supercompensation-induced cellular expansion, or due to increased mitochondrial density. Increased mitochondrial density is an adaptive mechanism of the body and takes place surprisingly quickly in the presence of an uncoupler such as DNP (or anything else that inhibits oxidative phosphorylation). Whatever the mechanism of the anabolic rebound effect may be, the user can expect to gain about 5-7 pounds of intramuscular water or muscle and lose about the same amount of subcutaneous and intraperitoneal water within a week after their last DNP dose. This is probably the most pleasant aspect of using DNP; the user not only experiences unrivaled fat loss, but also enjoys a fair amount of hypertrophy without any other supplements or drugs. Muscle retention, and possibly gain, is improved with careful attention to several previously discussed considerations such as proper hydration and intelligent cycling. Conclusion
Currently, DNP is the most powerful weapon against fat loss in the bodybuilder's arsenal; however, this does not necessarily mean that it is right for everyone or is by any means safe. The possibility also exists that PGF2 may be better for some people, particularly when taking the fact that it may kill fat cells into consideration. However, the guidelines given here will allow the user unrivaled fat loss, and will do so quite safely provided that precautionary measures are taken. While certainly quite dangerous, it is nonetheless the most effective tool available today for the loss of bodyfat.

Aromasin

2007-10-05T02:24:00.001-07:00

Anabolic Steroids Profile
Aromasin
Exemestane Aromasin (Exemestane) is a steroidal suicide aromatase inhibitor, which means that it lowers estrogen production in the body by blocking the aromatase enzyme, the enzyme responsible for estrogen synthesization. (1)(2)(3)
This stuff was developed to fight breast cancer in post-menopausal women, who need a particularly aggressive therapy, and for whom first line defenses such as SERMS (Tamoxifen) have not worked. This should be our first clue in inferring that this stuff is pretty strong, or at least stronger than some of the other compounds which are used to fight breast cancer.

Aromasin and Side Effects
Aromasin averages an 85% rate of estrogen suppression (4), so it´s clearly a very effective agent for bodybuilders and other athletes wanting to avoid estrogen related side effects such as gyno, acne, or water-retention brought on by aromatizing steroids. Specifically, Exemestane dose this by selectively inhibiting aromatase activity in a time-dependent and irreversible manner (hence the "suicidal" portion of it´s name, I guess).(7)
As with most of the compounds in this class, it also causes a reasonable rise in testosterone levels (6), and as you may have guessed, this rise in testosterone means that Exemestane can also cause androgenic sides(8)(9)(10). As you can see from the chart below, exemestane is very effective at both lowering estrogen (estradiol) and raising testosterone:

FIG. 1. Estrogen and androgen plasma levels after 10 d of daily exemestane (25 or 50 mg) in healthy young males (mean ± SD; n = 9-11). To convert to Systeme International units: estradiol, picomoles per liter (x3.671); estrone, picomoles per liter (x3.699); androstenedione, nanomoles per liter (*0.003492); and testosterone, nanomoles per liter (x0.03467). (13)
So we can see that 25mgs is a very effective dose from that chart, right? As an added benefit, exemestane not only increases testosterone and lowers estrogen, but it also increases IGF levels (11).Additionally Worth noting is that Aromasin may possibly be less harsh on blood lipids (14)than some of the other (similar) compounds we use in the world of bodybuilding or athletics (other AI´s). It also has, at best no effect on IGF, and at worst could lower (13) it. AI´s are very tricky with regards to inconsistencies in IGF levels.

Unfortunately, you need to take Exemestane for a week to reach steady blood plasma levels of it, and exemestane has a ½ life of 27 hours (12.).
The ability of exemestane to lower estrogen levels by the aforementioned 85% makes it a very nice choice for use in any cycle where aromatizing steroids are used. In addition, since it´s not too harsh at all on blood lipid profiles, it´s a very good choice for longer cycles. It´s ability to raise both testosterone levels also seem to suggest that it would be a very nice addition to a Post-Cycle-Therapy (PCT).

clenbuterol FAQ

2007-10-04T04:37:00.001-07:00

clenbuterol FAQ Clenbuterol FAQ: Everything you need to know about Clen I wrote this because of all the confusion that surrounds this drug. Enjoy. What is Clenbuterol? Clenbuterol is a beta-2 agonist and is used in many countries as a broncodilator for the treatment of asthma. Because of it's long half life, Clenbuterol is not FDA approved for medical use. It is a central nervous system stimulant and acts like adrenaline. It shares many of the same side effects as other CNS stimulants like ephedrine. Contrary to popular belief, Clenbuterol has a half life of 35 hours and not 48 hours. Dosing and Cycling Clenbuterol comes in 20mcg tablets, although it is also available in syrup, pump and injectable form. Doses are very dependent on how well the user responds to the side effects, but somewhere in the range of 5-8 tablets per day for men and 1-4 tablets a day for women is most common. Clenbuterol loses its thermogenic effects after 6-8 weeks when body temperature drops back to normal. It's anabolic/anti-catabolic properties fade away at around the 18 day mark. Taking the long half life into consideration, the most effective way of cycling Clen is 2 weeks on/ 2 weeks off for no more than 12 weeks. Ephedrine can be used in the off weeks. Clenbuterolvs Ephedrine vs DNP Ephedrine will raise metabolic levels by about 2-3 percent and 200mg of DNP raises metabolic levels by about 30 percent. Clenbuterol raises metabolic levels about 10 percent and it can raise body temperature several degrees. DNP is by far the most effective fat burner but many people will never use it because of the risks associated with it. It also offers no anti-catabolic benefit. Although it does have anti-catabolic effect, ephedrine short half life prevents it from being all that effective. As far as side effects, Clenbuterol's are certainly milder than DNP's, and some would even say milder than an ECA stack. There is no ECA-style crash on Clenbuterol and many users find it easier on the prostate and sex drive. This may in part be due to the fact that Clen is generally used for only 2 weeks at a time. Side effects NAUSEANERVOUSNESSDIZZINESSDROWSINESSDRY MOUTHFACIAL FLUSHINGHEADACHEHEARTBURNINCREASED BLOOD PRESSUREINCREASED SWEATINGINSOMNIALIGHTHEADEDNESSMUSCLE CRAMPSTREMORSVOMITINGCHEST PAIN The most significant side effects are muscle cramps, nervousness, headaches, and increased blood pressure. Muscle cramps can be avoided by drinking 1.5-2 gallons of water and consuming bananas and oranges or supplementing with GNC potassium tablets at 200-400mg a day taken before bed on an empty stomach. Headaches can easily be avoided with Tylenol Extra Strength taken at the first signs of a headache. You may need to take double the recommended dose. Common Uses Post-Cycle Therapy: Clen is used post cycle to aid in recovery. It allows the user to continue eating large amounts of food, without worrying about adding body fat. It also helps the user maintain more of his strength as well as his intensity in the gym. Diet: Roughly the same as on cycle. Fat loss: The most popular use for Clen, it also increases muscle hardness, vascularity, strength and size on a caloric deficit. For the most significant fat loss, Clen can be stacked with t3. Diet: A high protein(1.5g per lb of bodyweight), moderate carb(0.5g to 1g per lb of bodyweight), low fat diet(0.25g per lb of bodyweight) seems to work best with Clen. Alternative to Steroids: Clenbuterol has mild steroid-like properties and can be used by non AS using bodybuilder to increase LBM as well as strength and muscle hardness. Diet: A moderate carb, high protein, moderate fat diet work well. Stimulant/Performance Enhancement: It can be used as a stimulant, but an ECA stack may be a better choice because of it's much shorter half-life. Diet: To take full advantage of the stimulatory effects of Clen, Carbs must be included in the diet. Keto diet do not work well in this case. Precautions: Is Clen for you? The same precautions that apply to Ephedrine must be applied to Clen, although some people find ECA stacks harsher than Clen. It should not be stacked with other CNS stimulants such as Ephedrine and Yohimbine. These combinations are unnecessary and potentially dangerous. Caffeine can be used in moderation before a workout for an extra kick, although its diuretic effects may shift electrolyte balance. Drink more water if you use Caffeine. What else do I need to know? Most users that report bad side effects and discontinue use are those who use high doses right at the start of the cycle. The worst side effects occur within the first 3-4 days of use. A first time user should not exceed 40mcg the first day. Example of a first cycle: Day1: 20mcgDay2: 40mcgDay3: 60mcgDay4: 80mcgDay5: 80mcg(Note: Increase the dose only when the side effects are tolerable)Day6-Day12: 100mcgDay13: 80mcg (Tapering is not necessary, but it helps some users get back to normal gradually)Day14: 60mcgDay15: offDay16: offDay 17: ECA/ NYC stack Example of a second cycle: Day1: 60mcgDay2: 80mcgDay3: 80mcgDay4: 100mcgDay5: 100mcgDay6-Day12: 120mcgDay13: 100mcgDay14: 80mcgDay15: offDay16: offDay 17: ECA/ NYC stack Do not take Clen Past 4pm and drink plenty of water: 1.5-2 gallons a day. All brands are not equal when it comes to Clen, different brands will yield different results. That about covers everything.

DHT - Is It All Bad?

2007-10-03T05:39:00.000-07:00

A considerable chunk of my work day is always spent answering people’s questions about prohormones and steroids. Of course, one of the biggest concerns people have is about estrogen and estrogen related side effects. Right behind that however are questions about DHT. It seems that people have the misconception that DHT is some evil androgen by product that serves no purpose in the body but to make our prostates blow up and our hair fall out.
The real situation is of course much more complex. DHT is one of those good guy / bad guy hormones that is sorely misunderstood. For many people, it is NOT something that you want to reduce or eliminate in the body. For some others though, keeping DHT levels under control is probably a prudent course of action. Knowing the facts about DHT will help you decide just which group you belong to.
Testosterone is a prohormone?
The main androgen secreted by the testes is of course testosterone. However, in most of the body, the androgenic signal is not carried through by testosterone. In these tissues, which include the brain (CNS), skin, genitals – practically everything but muscle – the active androgen is actually DHT. Testosterone in this case simply acts as a prohormone that is converted to the active androgen DHT by the action of the enzyme 5alpha reductase (5-AR).
5-AR is concentrated heavily in practically every androgen dependent area of the body except for skeletal muscle. This results in very little testosterone actually getting through to these parts of the body to bind to androgen receptors. Instead, it is quickly transformed into DHT, which then interacts with receptors.
This transformation serves a very important biological function in these tissues. You see, DHT is a much stronger androgen than testosterone – it binds about 3-5 times more strongly to the androgen receptor. If you took away 5-AR from these tissues and blocked the formation of DHT, then you would see some dramatic changes in physiology.
A good case in point is demonstrated in male pseudohermaphroditism due to congenital 5-AR deficiency. This is a relatively rare disorder, however it is actually quite common in the Dominican Republic. In this disorder, males are born with little or no 5-AR enzyme. They have ambiguous genitalia and are often raised as girls. When puberty occurs, their testosterone levels elevate normally although their DHT levels remain very low. Their musculature develops normally like that of other adults, however, they end up with little or no pubic / body hair and underdeveloped prostate and penis. Their libido and sexual function is often disrupted also.
Testosterone is the active androgen in muscle
Skeletal muscle is unique from other androgen dependent tissues in the body. It actually contains little or no 5-AR, so little or no DHT is actually formed in the muscle. In addition to this, any DHT that is formed, or that is already present in the blood and travels to the muscle, is quickly deactivated by an enzyme called 3alpha-hydroxysteroid reductase (3a-HSD).
So at least as far as muscle is concerned, testosterone is the primary active androgen. This is not to say that administering exogenous DHT is not without any anabolic effect. It actually does have some anabolic activity in the muscle, albeit significantly weaker than that of an equal amount of testosterone. This is due to its quick breakdown by 3a-HSD into the weak metabolite 5alpha-androstan-3a,17b-diol. If this enzyme were somehow blocked, it is likely that DHT would exhibit very potent anabolic effects on muscle.
It is important to understand that even though testosterone is the active androgen in muscle, and DHT exhibits relatively little direct anabolic effects on muscle in men, DHT is still very important for the full performance enhancement effects from testosterone. What I specifically mean here are the effects of DHT on the central nervous system, which lead to increased neurological efficiency (strength), and increased resistance to psychological and physical stress - not to mention optimal sexual function and libido.
I have heard several anecdotal reports of individuals who have stacked testosterone with proscar (a 5-AR inhibitor) and have noticed significantly reduced performance enhancement effects. What’s going on here? We know it couldn’t be due to the inhibition of the direct anabolic activity of testosterone on muscle anabolism. Most likely it is due to the reduction of androgenic effects in other parts of the body that contribute to the ergogenic effects, specifically the CNS, which is stimulated by androgens to increase neural output leading to greater strength and greater recoverability. Another possibility is a reduction in the production of androgen dependent liver growth factors (such as IGF-1), since DHT is an important androgen in the liver.
Anti – Estrogen effects of DHT
One important function of DHT in the body that does not get much discussion is its antagonism of estrogen. Some men that take Proscar learn this the hard way – by developing a case of gynecomastia. By reducing DHT’s protection against estrogen in the body, these men have fallen victim to its most dreaded ramification – bitch tits!
How does DHT protect against estrogen? There are at least three ways that this likely occurs. First of all, DHT directly inhibits estrogens activity on tissues. It either does this by acting as a competitive antagonist to the estrogen receptor or by decreasing estrogen-induced RNA transcription at a point subsequent to estrogen receptor binding.
Second of all, DHT and its metabolites have been shown to directly block the production of estrogens from androgens by inhibiting the activity of the aromatase enzyme. The studies done in breast tissue showed that DHT, androsterone, and 5alpha-androstandione are potent inhibitors of the formation of estrone from androstenedione. 5alpha-androstandione was shown to be the most potent, while androsterone was the least.
Lastly, DHT acts on the hypothalamus / pituitary to decrease the secretion of gonadotropins. By decreasing the secretion of gonadotropins you decrease the production of the raw materials for estrogen production – testosterone and androstenedione (DHT itself cannot aromatize into estrogens). This property of DHT comes into particular utility when it is administered exogenously, and this is to be discussed in further detail in the next section.
DHT, estrogen, and the prostate
When it comes to sex hormones, few things are as misunderstood by the general consumer as the relationship of the prostate to DHT. The inaccurate and overly simplistic attitude that DHT is responsible for prostate hypertrophy, and even prostate cancer predominates amongst most people.
The real situation is, of course, much more complex. One must understand that there are marked differences between healthy prostate growth (developmental growth), prostate growth due to BPH, and cancerous prostate growth.
The first period of prostate growth, deemed developmental growth, is connected to puberty and the testicular secretion of androgens. This takes the prostate from its prepubertal dormancy to the normal sized, healthy, and functional prostate gland of an adult. During the early and mid adult years the prostate stays at this stage, despite the constant high levels of androgens in the body. However, if androgens are blocked in the body then the adult prostate will shrink in size. This can occur by castration, or even by blockade of 5-AR (recall that DHT is the active androgen in the prostate).
Later in life, there is often a second stage of growth. This growth is deemed benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH) and this growth occurs in a wholly different hormonal environment than that of developmental growth. Evidence is mounting that the existence of a high estrogen / androgen ratio – a condition common in older men – is highly correlated to the development of BPH.
Experimental studies have shown the inability of androgens with saturated A rings (DHT related) to induce an initial condition of prostate hypertrophy. These compounds are non-aromatizable. Aromatizable androgens on the other hand, such as testosterone or androstenedione can induce hyperplasic modifications of the prostate of monkeys, but these effects are reversed by the addition of an aromatase inhibitor.
So apparently, estrogen is a causative factor in BPH or, probably more accurately, estrogen in the presence of a minimum, permissive amount of androgen.
None of this may come as news to many of you, but I bet that very few of you know that DHT can actually be used to treat BPH!! How can it do that? It basically does this by replacing the testosterone in the body, which then has the effect of reducing the amount of estrogen in the body. As I started to explain before, DHT is a strong androgen that will signal the pituitary to decrease the production of gonadotropins. The decrease in gonadotropins will then cause less testosterone to be produced which will in turn cause the estrogen levels to drop. The resulting change in the hormonal milieu (high DHT, low estrogen) then apparently results in a regression of BPH.
The clinical application of this theory is discussed in US patent 5,648,350 "Dihydrotestosterone for use in androgenotherapy". The following illustrates the results:
"In 27 subjects in which the plasma DHT level was controlled, so as to modulate the administered doses, said levels have been increased to 2.5 to 6 ng/ml. There resulted a decrease in gonadotrophy as well as in the plasma levels of testosterone which exceeded at least 1.5 ng/ml (from 0.5 to 1.4 according to the case); as to the estradiol plasma levels, these decreased by 50%.
Among this group of subjects, the volume of the prostate diminished significantly, as was evaluated by ultrasound and by PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen). The mean volume of the prostates was from 31.09.+-.16.31 grams before treatment and from 26.34.+-.12.72 grams after treatment, for a mean reduction of 15.4%, the treatment having a mean duration of 1.8 years with DHT (P=0.01)."
This kind of flies in the face of the traditional thinking concerning BPH now doesn’t it?
Conclusion
People have a natural tendency to classify things as either good or bad, with no gray areas. DHT (like estrogen) has recently been on everyone’s bad list, and is often considered to be a hormone that serves no function in the body except to cause harm. As you can see, this view is far from the truth. In my opinion, the widespread use of 5-AR inhibitors such as Proscar as a prophylactic agent for people that really don’t need it should be reconsidered. So give DHT a break.

Steroids Like D-Bol Helped Me Build Muscle Fast

2007-10-02T02:57:00.000-07:00

Steroids Like D-Bol Helped Me Build Muscle Fast "I am in my early 20's and have been into bodybuilding for quite awhile. I had been natural for about 3-4 years before I decided to give steroids a shot due to natural plateaus in my lifts and size. I was weary about steroid use when I was younger due to all the bogus claims about how dangerous they are, then I found out that when used properly with care they are usually perfectly safe unless high doses of orals are taken or there is a lack of preperation for a cycle of steroids. Of course, I was always reading articles about training and bodybuilding tips in muscle magazines such as Flex, MuscleMag, and Muscle and Fitness, which were my favorite 3 magazines at the time and still are. I tried all the supplements, few if any really worked except Growth Factor-1 and the Ephedrine/caffieine/aspirin stack which is illegal now but clenbuterol cleared that little problem up for me, hehe. Anyway I found a great site on the web that lists several popular, well-known and legit steroid dealers on the net for a decent price and set out to get buff and ripped in record time. For my first cycle I combined 2mL's (500mgs) of sustanon every 10 days with 30 mgs/day of 5mg thai D-bol while combining clomid to maintain natural testosterone levels while preventing gynecomastia and water retention due to estrogen conversion. The sustanon didn't really kick in until the 3rd week but the D-bol went to work immediately and I made really impressive gains right off the bat. My benchpress went up about 12.5lbs a week (for the 1st 3 weeks) of pure muscle gain along with the gains that come with water retention. I also made equally impressive gains in other areas of my body. I put on approximately 1 inch on my arms in those first 3 weeks. At week 4 I stopped the D-bol and continued with the sustanon for a full 7 weeks or so. During the rest of the cycle my benchpress went up about 7.5lbs a week with proportionate gains on other areas of my body. So, in all, my benchpress went up about 65 solid pounds (from 215lbs. to 280lbs) and my arms grew about 1 1/2 inches (I was curling 65lb. in each arm for reps) with proportionate gains throughout my physique. For my 2nd cycle I decided to kick it up a notch so I decided to go with 750 mg of sustanon a week along with 35 mg of D-bol/day for the first 3 weeks along with clomid and nolvadex to block estrogen, gynecomastia and water retention. This time I made incredible gains... for the 1st few weeks my benchpress went up about 17.5 lbs per/week along with equal gains throughout my body, especially in my arms which grew like weeds. Once the sustanon kicked in my bench went up about 10lbs per week and the rest of my body grew equally while burning about 5lbs of fat. The entire time I was consuming about 400grams of protein/day along with varied amounts of carbs and fat. I tapered off this cycle on clenbuterol which is a strong fat burner and anti-catabolic (preserves muscle from breaking down due to cortisol build up from a cycle) and t3 a strong thyroid horomone which burns fat along with trenbolone acetate (like parabolan) and masteron/winstrol for about 7 weeks. By the end of my cycle I was completely shredded and strong as an ox. I even gained alittle more strength from the trenbolone which is rated a 10 in size and strength gains with no water retention or gyno, but is hard on the kidneys. I could easily have competed in any middle weight competition and got plenty of compliments from my friends and acquaintances along with others. I was ripped at 175lbs. 5'9 in height at 5% bodyfat. I have managed to hold on to that size due to a steady dose of 250 mg of testosterone every 7-10 days and continue to bodybuild mostly for athletic reasons but the improvement of my physique is equally pleasing. This is my experience with anabolic/androgenic steroids, I hope it was informative. Take care everyone. "

Clomid: Frequently Asked Questions

2007-10-01T02:59:00.000-07:00

Clomid: Frequently Asked Questions Something I put together that may help some of the new comers out there as well as some of the more experienced. Question: What is Clomid? Answer: Clomid is a synthetic estrogen and is generally prescribed by doctors to trigger ovulation in females. Question: Why Should Bodybuilders use Clomid? Answer: Almost all anabolic androgenic steroids will cause an inhibition of the bodies own testosterone production. When he comes off the steroids he has no natural test production and no more steroids. The body is left in a state of catabolism (catabolic hormones are high and anabolic hormones are low) and as a result much of the muscle tissue that was gained on the cycle is now going to be lost. Clomid stimulates the hypophysis to release more gonadotropin so that a faster and higher release of follicle stimulating hormone aud luteinizing hormone occurs. This results in an increase of the body's own testosterone production. Question: Does Clomid also work as an anti estrogen? Answer: Clomid is a synthetic estrogen, however it does also work as an anti-estrogen. How does it work? Because it is a weak synthetic estrogen, it will bind to the estrogen receptor (ER) and not cause any problems. At the same time the increase in estrogen from steroids are blocked from attaching to the ER. Question: How effective is Clomid as an anti-estrogen? Answer: It is very weak and should not be relied upon if you are going to be using steroids that aromatise at any rapid rate, or if you are pre disposed to gyno. arimidex, Proviron and Nolvadex will all make better choices for this purpose. Question: Some say Clomid during a cycle is a waste, is this true? Answer: Lets first examine what happens when someone is using anabaolic androgenic steroids. When the level of androgens in the body get too high, the androgen receptor becomes more highly activated, and the hypothalamus stops sending a signal to the pituitary. In short the signal tells our body to stop producing testosterone. During a cycle the body has higher levels than normal of androgens and as long as this level is high enough Clomid will not help to keep natural test production up. It will be almost all but completely shut off. The only purpose of Clomid during a cycle is as an anti-estrogen. Question: When do I start Clomid? Some say 2 weeks others 3. Answer: When you start using your Clomid all depends on what steroids you were using during your cycle. Different steroids have different half lifes and you should adjust your Clomid intake accordingly. As we have seen above, if we take Clomid when the androgen levels in our body is still high it will be a waste. We need to wait for androgen levels to fall before implementing our Clomid therapy. However if we take it too late we could possibly lose gains. Look at the list below to determine when you should start Clomid therapy. By selecting from the list all the steroids you used in your cycle and which ever one has the latest starting point then go with that. For example if I cycled dbol, sustanon and winstrol I would use sustanon as it remains active in the body for the longest period of time. Anadrol/Anapolan: 8 - 12 hours after last administration Deca: 3 weeks after last injection and Clomid for 4 weeks Dianabol: 4 – 8 hours after last administration Equipoise: 3 weeks after last injection Fina: 3 days after last injection Primobolan depot: 10 – 14 days after last injection Sustanon: 3 weeks after last injection Testosterone Cypionate: 2 weeks after last injection Testosterone Enanthate: 2 weeks after last injection Testosterone Propionate: 3 days after last injection Testosterone Suspension: 4 – 8 hours after last administration Winstrol: 8 – 12 hours after last administration Question: What is the most effective way for Clomid therapy. Answer: Clomid has a long half life and as such there is no need to split up doses throughout the day. I read some where that it was 5 days (any feedback on this). Now if we used sustanon and we start using Clomid 3 weeks after our last injection we anticipate that androgen levels are low enough to start sending the correct signals. If androgen levels are still a little high then the normal 50mgs/day of Clomid for 1 week is not going to be effective. We need to start at a high enough amount that will work or help even if androgen levels are still a little high. 300mgs on day 1. I know I said don’t split it up due to its long half life but try and split this up 2 tabs 3 times a day. After we have finished this first day we seek to use 100mgs for 10 days and then followed by 50mgs for 10 days. Question: Do I need to use Clomid for 3 weeks? Answer: Why don’t you want too? It is very cheap, very effective and can mean the difference between maintaining gains and losing them. Question: How cheap is Clomid? Answer: Clomid normally comes in 50mg tablets but also comes in capsule form of 25mgs. A 50mg tablet can be anywhere between 25 cents and $2.50. (15 pence and 75 pence in England). Question: Do all steroids cause shut down of the hpta. Answer: Not all steroids do. Everyone is different and you must also take into account how long you have been using a certain steroid and at what dose in order to determine if you need Clomid or not. However as the price is so cheap, why risk not using it.

DNP (2,4-Dinitrophenol)

2007-09-29T04:37:00.000-07:00

DNP (2,4-Dinitrophenol)

2007-09-28T02:28:00.000-07:00

DNP (2,4-Dinitrophenol), an industrial chemical with various applications, has gained steady popularity as a fat loss tool. Boasting an astounding 50% increase in metabolic rate, it is able to contribute to reported fat losses of 10-12 pounds in 8 days of use. Classified as an "uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation" medically, it is quite dangerous as there is no negative feedback system that may deal with overdoses. Specifically, there is no upper limit to the increase in body temperature that may be obtained with its use. Introduction/History Competitive bodybuilders and many others are continually on a quest for leanness. Used by the hardcore since Dan Duchaine's reporting of it a couple years ago, DNP (2,4-Dinitrophenol) has managed to steadily gain popularity as a powerful tool for weight loss. Interestingly, DNP was first used to ignite TNT in the early 1900’s. In 1931 a study released by Stanford University declared that DNP was able to cause amazing weight loss; subsequently it found its way into many diet potions and medications; regulation was much less strict during this time than the present, and many of these products were available over the counter. Two years later DNP was banned by the FDA as a dieting agent due to its inclusion in many OTC dietary supplements. The FDA was a new organization at this time and acted in a rather brazen manner, with the absence of any set procedures for taking substances off the market. Granted, there was only a 1% incidence of cataracts over a large population (around 100,000); nonetheless it happened (although interestingly, exclusively women). However, there are now ways to counter this which will be covered thoroughly. The comparisons to the current drugs used for dieting are astounding, at least in terms of thermogenesis. While the ECA stack has been shown to provide approximately a 3% increase in metabolic rate, DNP can deliver a relatively controlled 50% elevation in resting metabolic rate. The thermogenic aspect of clenbuterol, while sometimes overestimated due to the high CNS stimulation that yields a "wired" feeling, can vary according to prior exposure to various amphetamine-like compounds and certainly is not much greater than that of ECA. DNP does not have the anorectic effects of ephedrine or other thermogenic agents; rather, it tends to increase hunger, particularly appetite for carbohydrates. This problem is easily solved with appetite suppressants, and one may even use ECA itself for this purpose while on DNP. Molecular Basis for Efficacy DNP accomplishes the astounding boost in metabolic rate via inhibition of the F0F1 ATP synthase molecule, located in the inner wall of each mitochondrion. While the electron transport chain still functions to pump hydrogen ions into the intermembrane space, the coupling of the proton gradient to ATP production is rendered impossible by DNP. As a result, ATP production is dramatically reduced, and the energy is instead thrown off as heat. This results in an astounding production of heat; when using dinitrophenol, the athlete will radiate so much heat that it is uncomfortable to be within any proximity of them. Luckily, this heat does not fully contribute to body temperature increases, and is instead thrown off from the entire body surface, particularly the head. As a result, adequate doses of DNP will usually only elevate body temperature by about 1-1.5ºC. This is a good thing for your central nervous system and other delicate tissues; if the heat produced by ATP contributed in a more direct matter to body temperature, effective doses for fat loss would cause supraphysiological body temperature increases on a level unwitnessed at this time. Nonetheless, overheating is a very real danger; this and other side effects shall now be addressed. Risks/Side Effects Hearing all of these wonderful things probably has you wondering what the side effects and risks are. They are quite formidable and contribute to making DNP one of the most intolerable (though effective) drugs used in bodybuilding. Starting with the most significant, and descending in importance, are the following risks and side effects of DNP use. Risks: Overheating - There is no upper limit to DNP's body temperature increase, meaning that one may literally "cook from the inside" if they take too much. Dosage considerations will be given later, but even an overdose of 4-6 times the recommended dosage may be lethal. Much smaller overdoses may result in damage to the brain and/or other body systems. Carcinogenesis - Phenols in general are reputed to be carcinogenic. Although 2,4-dinitrophenol has never been implicated in a cancer diagnosis, some are nonetheless concerned, and understandably so. In addition to the inherent carcinogenic potential caused by its status as a phenol, production of free radicals and the release of various compounds stored in adipose tissue stores during DNP's rapid oxidation of fat may also potentially be harmful. Death - This is self-explanatory and has occurred with several bodybuilders who chose to use this compound. Side Effects: Discomfort and sweating - This is the single most noticeable effect of DNP use, both by the user and those around him/her. Even in the winter, while indoors at ambient temperatures, one may expect his or her shirt to be completely soaked through with sweat. Those with jobs requiring formal or semi-formal apparel are advised to consider other means of fat loss (or a new job, if preferred). Other obvious considerations lie in the areas of social life, personal appearance, etc. and the user must prioritize. Insomnia - Second in frequency of reports to sweating and discomfort is insomnia; this may be at least partially attributed to discomfort. Possible means of countering this include such supplements as Valerian root or melatonin. Alternatively, one may deal with this via prescription or OTC sleep medications or GHB-A precursors. However, these may be addictive if used on a regular basis and if their use may be avoided, by all means abstain from using them. Yellow bodily fluids - Some don't notice this, but others find that all of their bodily fluids take on a yellowish appearance. Urine is a darker yellow, and even semen and vaginal secretions may be affected. According to current knowledge, this is not known to be harmful in and of itself. Muscle Soreness - This is yet another thing that may be minimized via cerebral function. Dan Duchaine has recommended using a weight such as to allow no fewer than 15 reps per set of any weight training workout; judging from anecdotal reports and personal experience, this seems to be good advice. Low levels of ATP are a cause of muscle soreness in and of itself; the additional factor of encumbered recovery mechanisms make extreme soreness (and if not careful, catabolism) quite possible. Allergic Reactions – These are highly individualized but may be summarily discussed. Various reactions are common with DNP use, and approximately 10% of users will be extremely allergic to it. Allergic reactions can include hives, blisters, and/or inexplicable rashes. If you suffer any of these side effects, and they are extremely bothersome, it is the recommendation of the author to cease usage immediately. If so desired, another trial may be made at a later date with a lower dosage, but do not attempt to continue the drug cycle at that point. Carbohydrate Cravings - To counter this, some methods will be touched on later. As with most diets, willpower is sometimes the single most important factor. Obtaining DNP and Making Capsules If, given these considerations, you still are ready to take the plunge and use DNP, you will need to learn how to obtain and/or make your own capsules. DNP is shipped industrially in large metal tins holding a glass jar containing the wet DNP, which is wetted with enough water to total 15-35% of total mass to prevent explosion while in transit. Ample cushioning material around the glass jar is included to further prevent ignition of DNP (it is highly flammable) and the obvious possibility of breaking the jar. Chemical sellers will not sell this chemical to individuals or any other entity without an account. However, if you are resourceful enough to get some, the following are instructions on how to properly prepare capsules. Extreme caution is necessary when making the caps. DNP is bright yellow and will even go through gloves. This stain will not go away for up to 2 weeks. If it does get on your hands or other parts of yoru house, you can usually get it off with 2(3H) Furanone dinitro (butyrolactone). It usually will come out of clothes with laundering. Care is of the utmost importance when measuring out the amount one would need. Dan recommends 5 to 8 mg/kg bodyweight in Dirty Dieting #0, assuming that the person is under 15% BF. He subsequently told me that he was really suffering on 6-8 mg/kg, and that is excessive in his opinion. Note that the calculation is bodyweight, not lean body mass. With the exception of obese persons, this method is sufficiently accurate. Obtain a reliable scale, a Cap M. Quik device, and some size "O" caps ($60-$200 minimum, approximately $10, and $2 respectively). Corn starch, available at the grocery, is also needed. Since DNP ships at about either 15% or 35% water by weight, it is necessary to dry out the material overnight before attempting to deal with it. No matter how dry it looks, this step is absolutely necessary for accurate dosing. The next day, mix 15 grams DNP with 10 grams corn starch, and pound it into a fine powder. Spread resulting mixture into the Cap M. Quik, finish the capping process, and you have 50 caps of 300mg potency. Repeat as above with 10 g DNP and 15 g corn starch in order to make 50 caps of 200mg each, or with 12.5g DNP and 12.5g corn starch to make the same number of 250mg caps. Bear in mind that the preparation process, in the absence of a laboratory equipped with a chemical hood, will destroy the immediate area. It gets in the air, and fine particles will stain everything. Wear clothes that are dispensable, at least 2 pairs of gloves, and a fume mask. Preferably, do this outside on an extremely calm day, or alternatively, place protective covering everything in sight if it is necessary to perform the encapsulation indoors. Timetable of Effects and Symptoms The following table describes the condition most users will find themselves in during a typical DNP cycle; it is by no means complete and mainly intended to drive home that users typically look at their best 3-5 days following cessation of DNP use. Day(s) Effects 1 None; possibly elevated carbohydrate cravings and/or temperature elevation. 2 T4-T3 conversion has begun to decrease; lethargy possible. Temperature should be elevated, and radiation of heat is noticeable. 3-5 Body temperature is elevated, with all the effects that one expects from DNP use. In addition, water retention usually becomes manifest here. 6-8 Definite water retention, along with other symptoms of use; user most likely feels fatter due to having "flatter" muscles (mainly the result of glycogen depletion) and holding water. Final DNP dose taken in the evening of Day 8. 9-10 DNP is clearing the system slowly. All symptoms are still present. 11-12 Water should be gone by now, or getting there. Mild diuretics will expedite this. The user will probably notice perceived greater cardiovascular and muscular endurance. 13-14 This is when someone tends to look their best. Their glycogen stores are usually compensated at this point and the retained water should be gone. Dosing Schedule As touched on previously, getting the right dosage of DNP is rather easy to do although the importance of proper dosage cannot be overstated. It is far better for one to err on the side of too little rather than too much, certainly in the case of the novice who does not know if they are allergic to the substance. As stated before, the commonly used dosage by bodybuilders and other reasonably lean persons is 3-5mg/kg of bodyweight. This would mean that a 100-kilogram bodybuilder would use anywhere from 300-500mg per day. Experienced users commonly are found using up to 800mg/day relatively safely, and beginners sometimes find that they enjoy 3-5 pounds of fat loss per week with as little as 200mg/day. Dosing is highly individualized and most generalizations tend to collapse quite quickly; as a result, none will be attempted. Start on the low end of the scale and see how you react. It is not recommended to take more than 300mg at any one time; a larger man taking 600mg per day should divide the dose into a 5:00PM portion and another portion taken approximately 30 minutes before bedtime. Someone taking 300mg/day could easily take one dose in the evening. The typical cycling program is to do 7 or 8 days on, followed by 7 or 8 off; this should not decrease thyroid output dramatically and makes use of T3 (triiodothyronine, brand name Cytomel) unnecessary in most cases. T4-T3 conversion does decrease dramatically in the liver due to excessive heat; this begins within 24 hours of the first dose. However, there is usually adequate active thyroid hormone to make it through 8 days of using it while maintaining elevated body temperature. After approximately 3-5 days, the user may find themselves with a waking temperature that is no longer elevated, even though they are still using DNP. This is due to the decrease in T3 and may signal the necessity of either the use of exogenous T3 in subsequent cycles or shorter cycles of the drug. In addition, the schedule given works nicely because the user is able to enjoy the anabolic rebound effect on a relatively regular basis. Also, longer cycles might leave the muscle fibers in a state of relative dehydration and "starved" of ATP for too long; both of these readily contribute to catabolism. Supplementation While using DNP, supplements can greatly aid both in the effectiveness of the therapy and the comfort of the user. Of particular importance are antioxidants and the following quantities are recommended: Magnesium (1500mg)* Vitamin C (3000mg in divided doses)* Vitamin E (1200 IU in divided doses)* Glutathione (200mg in divided doses)***) NAC (various amounts)** T3 (dose according to personal preference)** Calcium (2000mg not taken with the Magnesium) 5-HTP (if not on antidepressant medication) (various amounts)**** Meridia, Redux, or Fenfluramine (various amounts)**** Hydroxycitric Acid (particularly in the evenings to curb cravings)**** Pyruvate (2-6g/day in divided doses) Glycerol (3 tbsp/day in divided doses) Alpha-Lipoic Acid (500-1000mg daily in divided doses) Key: * = Integral component of DNP program** = Of questionable (although possible) importance)*** = Of particular importance to women for prevention of cataracts**** = For the purpose of appetite suppression (may not be needed) Practical Considerations Given all of this information, there are nonetheless more things to know before you undertake your first DNP cycle. The following tips and tricks gathered from personal experience and consultations with users are presented for your aid: Aim a fan at your head at night. Your head is the most precious thing on your body and is a prime site for heat loss. Any air flowing over it will aid in cooling via convection. Wash your bedding daily. It is a good idea to have some spare pillowcases on hand, if nothing else. Most likely, you will be sweating profusely while you sleep, and this will make your bed smell as enticing as a locker room. Cleanliness is also essential in the prevention of disease, not to mention the fact that you are breathing out DNP "fumes" all night and they collect on your bedding. Prevention of disease goes beyond washing your clothes, and includes all of the normal precautions that you would make to avoid infection, although in a more exaggerated way. DNP depletes your body of energy needed to battle pathogens and weakens your immune system, leaving you ripe for infection and incapable of fighting off most diseases once they have taken hold. This is rather intuitive, but be certain to wear loose, light clothing, preferably of a light color. Similarly intuitive is the desire to remain in a cool area … be CERTAIN not to overheat. Proper hydration is necessary – I have personally consumed up to 8 liters of water per day. Glycerol specifically aids in muscle hydration, so its use may be very important, particularly when considering that muscle cells in even a semi-dehydrated state are prime sites for catabolism. Cardiovascular work while on DNP – This is a strange issue that I have been asked about regularly, but am undecided in the direction to take and generally recommend that the user decide for themselves. My personal preference is to do cardio with a fan focused on me for 30-35 minutes at a relatively high intensity. This is an area for personal preference; barring other considerations, just see if you can handle it or not and go from there. Always be ready to stop if you feel yourself getting extremely overheated or weak. Diet - One may wonder why this issue receives such limited attention; after all, most methods of fat loss require a restrictive diet of some nature. However, there is no set diet that one must use to achieve good results with dinitrophenol, only certain factors that allow the user to decide intelligently how to eat: Insulin - DNP blunts the effects of insulin; this is a huge boon for dieters because insulin blocks lipolysis and causes the storage of adipose tissue. This means that carbohydrate intake does not need to be strictly limited, although it should stay reasonable for optimal results. Body Temperature and Comfort - A general guideline is that the more carbohydrates eaten, the hotter the user will get while on DNP. Similarly, overfeeding also produces extreme heat; any excess calories are thrown off as heat quite readily. For this reason, along with certain hormonal factors, Duchaine espouses an Isometric diet while on DNP, and I have followed this personally with good results. CKD's - These are extremely impractical while on a cyclical ketogenic diet (CKD), and are especially dangerous. This brings up blood glucose considerations; it is important to try to maintain relatively stable, or at least not severely depressed, blood glucose levels. If this guideline is not followed, the user may experience blurred vision and/or extreme fatigue possibly augmented by fainting or lightheadedness. Anabolic rebound effect – I still remember the first time I spoke to Dan Duchaine regarding DNP, and he told me about what, at the time, seemed impossible. But I have experienced this phenomenon, and it indeed happens. Possible causes include, but are not limited to, either an anabolic effect from glycogen supercompensation-induced cellular expansion, or due to increased mitochondrial density. Increased mitochondrial density is an adaptive mechanism of the body and takes place surprisingly quickly in the presence of an uncoupler such as DNP (or anything else that inhibits oxidative phosphorylation). Whatever the mechanism of the anabolic rebound effect may be, the user can expect to gain about 5-7 pounds of intramuscular water or muscle and lose about the same amount of subcutaneous and intraperitoneal water within a week after their last DNP dose. This is probably the most pleasant aspect of using DNP; the user not only experiences unrivaled fat loss, but also enjoys a fair amount of hypertrophy without any other supplements or drugs. Muscle retention, and possibly gain, is improved with careful attention to several previously discussed considerations such as proper hydration and intelligent cycling. Conclusion Currently, DNP is the most powerful weapon against fat loss in the bodybuilder's arsenal; however, this does not necessarily mean that it is right for everyone or is by any means safe. The possibility also exists that PGF2 may be better for some people, particularly when taking the fact that it may kill fat cells into consideration. However, the guidelines given here will allow the user unrivaled fat loss, and will do so quite safely provided that precautionary measures are taken. While certainly quite dangerous, it is nonetheless the most effective tool available today for the loss of bodyfat.

Hardcore Bulking (bodybuilding)

2007-09-27T04:55:00.000-07:00

Hardcore Bulking Off season is a bodybuilders favorite time of year and the favorite words whispered after a recent contest. So the time is here, what are you going to do about it? First step is to determine what you want to do and set some goals. You cannot achieve anything without a plan. Those who fail to plan, plan to fail. So let’s set some clear cut goals. You are going to need all the tools at your disposal before you begin. You are going to work on written goals, nutrition, training, and finally the hardcore cycle. Write down your goals. Have everything written down and in plain sight as a reminder of what you are trying to achieve. So write down your target weight, your training days, your daily calorie goals, your cycle, etc. Keep a master log book of everything you are trying to do. Like I stated, you must plan for success. First thing is to determine your target weight and body fat goals. Don’t be overly concerned with fat. This is, after all, the off-season, but there is no need to go above 13-14%. At that point you can still see some abs if you flex them hard enough and you will have acquired the mass point necessary for massive gains. Picking a target weight is very dependent on your level of experience. Since this series of articles is targeted primarily at advanced lifters, I recommend trying to achieve 20lbs of pure mass; some fat, mostly muscle. So now that you know you are trying to get another 20lbs of size, how do you go about doing this? First and foremost is diet. You cannot make gains if you are not feeding yourself at the goal you want to achieve. So since you know you are trying to get 20lbs, you are going to eat as if you you’re already at that weight. The best way to achieve this is to take in a total daily calorie intake of 30 kcals per pound of bodyweight for ectomorphs, 25 kcals for mesomorphs, and 20 for endomorphs. So for the 230lb average size ecto/meso bodybuilder, he is going to need to eat almost 7500 cals per day. Sounds incredible, I know, but it can be done quite easily. During the off-season you will eat calorie dense foods, some fast food, and some bulking shakes. I am not going to outline an exact diet for you, but I will give some general guidelines that I highly recommend. Variety is very important in bulking, eating the same foods over and over is boring and there is no reason to. Save the tuna and rice for show time; you can get very creative when bulking and actually enjoy eating. So let’s look at some calorie dense foods that fall in the category of bulking and are acceptable bodybuilding foods. I love cheese when bulking it is high in protein, goes on everything and it is a very easy way to add calories to every meal. I don’t mean Velveeta or cheese in a can here; I am talking about quality cheese, like Tillamook extra sharp. My other favorite is milk. I love milk with every meal and protein shake when bulking. Oh, and don’t forget my extra special, super bulking treat……natural peanut butter. Tons of calories, high in complete chain protein and essential fatty acids. So now you have my favorites, let’s go shopping. Grab a pen and paper and write down a shopping list. Don’t just go in the store and wing it. Remember earlier I stated you are going to write everything down. This includes shopping. You write down your weekly shopping list, your training schedule, your cycles and your goals. So back to shopping, you are going to need a lot of food to get to 7500 cals per day. Here are my shopping list recommendations: Breakfast ideas:7-10% lean ground beefHoney Nut Cheerios cerealOatmealBagelsWhole eggsCheeseBananas Lunch ideas:TortillasGround beefSalsaCheeseBreadWhite rice Dinner ideas:FishBroccoliWhite riceGround beefBell peppersPotatoesSteak Snack ideas:Roast beefBeef jerkeyNatural peanut butterGraham crackersString cheese Now remember, I am not going to set up a diet for you, just give you some ideas of my favorite calorie dense foods. It is up to you to plan some meals and make sure to eat 5-6 meals per day. I don’t see a need to eat more than that because you are not trying to speed up your metabolism; you are trying to slow it down by eating more food at each meal and eating less often. I am a huge proponent of high calorie shakes during the off-season. I personally belong to Muscle Milk anonymous! All kidding aside, they have the most incredible flavors and are highly addictive. Instead of the usual 2 scoops, I use 4 scoops in 16oz 2% milk for a 900+ calorie shake. I have two of those per day, plus my 3 solid meals and then my night time snack. My favorite night time bulking snack is 4 graham crackers spread with tons of natural peanut butter and then made into two sandwiches, 2 string cheese and a huge glass of milk. It is totally yummy, and I highly recommend it. You probably won’t wake up hungry in the middle of the night. The peanut butter will hold you over until you get up for breakfast. People are always highly concerned about percentages of protein, carbohydrates, and fat. I am not so concerned, so long as I am getting 2 grams of protein per pound of body weight that I want to be, the rest will just naturally be carbs and fat. So for our hypothetical diet of 7500 calories per day to get to 250lbs, I need 500 grams of protein, which is 2000 calories of protein. That still leaves me 5500 calories of fat and carbs to enjoy. You must eat protein first in every meal, if you are going to get full while eating, it better be on protein and not anything else. It is always easy to squeeze in extra carbs, and needless to say, fat is too easy. So for our 6 meals, of which 2 are already Muscle Milk and have 170 grams of protein, you don’t have far to go. The next 4 meals just have to have about 80 grams per meal. One glass of milk at each meal is 10 grams, so now you have just 70 grams. See how easy this is? Carbs add up real fast, especially with dense foods like cereal, bread, bagels, and rice / pasta. Now you are beginning to see how easy bulking while eating clean is. A couple of days per week, I recommend you head over to McDonalds and get 2 or 3 Big Macs or double cheese burgers. Go to In and Out, Burger King, or whatever your favorite is, and do a major feast. You can easily get in 3000 cals in one sitting with 3 Big Macs, a large fry, and a shake. So if you do that 2 times per week, you are going to have two days of about 10,000 cals per day, something that is really going to help with the metabolism and bulking.We also need to address the very important issue of post-workout (pwo) nutrition. I cannot stress enough how important it is to consume the majority of your daily calories in the first 3 meals pwo on training days. The primary source of energy when training is the conversion of glycogenesis in the formation of glycogen from glucose. Glycogen is synthesized depending on the demand for glucose and ATP (energy). If both are present in relatively high amounts, then the excess of insulin promotes the glucose conversion into glycogen for storage in liver and muscle cells. When you have completed a workout, your muscle cells are depleted of glycogen and it must be replenished as quickly as possible to promote recovery, and cell repair. Protein cannot be utilized for cell repair if we don’t first address the depletion of glycogen. The best way to replenish depleted glycogen stores is to use a very high glycemic carbohydrate in conjunction with a rapid and easily digested protein to shuttle into the cell for repair. I personally use a custom made shake that costs me literally pennies to consume. I shop at the local beer brewer’s store and purchase bags of pure glucose or dextrose which they use for home beer brewing. I mix 40 grams of glucose with 16oz (84g) of grape juice and 3 scoops (66g) Nectar whey protein. Nectar is an ultra high quality, flavored whey isolate. This is one of the fastest digested proteins on the market, so in conjunction with my high glycemic pure glucose and grape juice, I have just made a super high quality, muscle repairing shake that costs literally nothing to make. I also recommend you throw in 10 grams of creatine and 10 grams of glutamine at this time. Your muscles are sponge’s pwo and this is the optimal time to feed them and prepare the tissue to utilize the nutrition for primary protein absorbtion instead of feeding the intestinal tract, a primary scavenger of ingested proteins, especially glutamine. Your next two meals of extremely important because you are still within the so called “window of opportunity” for muscle repair with nutrition. Your pwo shake should not leave you feeling full for long; it is easily digested and is intended to be so. You are going to want to eat again one hour after you drink your shake. At this time, you still want an easily digested, low fat protein but you should move into moderate glycemic carbs as we are still “filling the tank” so to speak but no longer need fast carbs as most of our glycogen was replenished with the glucose. This meal should be preferably a light, white fish, or chicken breast. I consume mahi-mahi, tuna, or chicken with broccoli and rice or a baked potato. Eat a large portion of protein, the carbs are just a means to an end to shuttle the protein, so fill up with protein first, then eat your carbs to shuttle the amino acid chain into muscle cells. Our third and final pwo meal of importance while bulking will finally include some essential fatty acids which are also necessary for tissue repair, primarily tendon and ligament tissues. So now we get to really consume the calories and have fun with this meal. I like to eat 8-10 whole eggs, avocado, 6 pancakes, bacon and a glass of orange juice. Another favorite is 1lb lean ground beef in tortilla shells with avocado, salsa, cheese, a baked potato or rice and some milk. So there you have the three most important meals of your day on training days. It is critical to watch your nutrition at this time, especially since you are trying to repair damaged muscle tissue, replenish glycogen stores, repair connective tissue, and cells. I cannot stress enough how important it is to eat, your body is willing and able to consume massive amounts of calories pwo without spilling into excess body fat storage. Another critical issue we need to address is the use of insulin and nutrition pwo. The three meals I have outlined fall well within the acceptable specs for humalog use, not humulin-r so that cover pwo nutrition. I will cover the use of R in later articles, as well as proper eating if you choose to use it. For now just use 10-12iu humalog pwo only following the former meal guidelines and you will be utilizing proper protocol and nutrition to maximize your growth. As stated, look for a future article on insulin use and proper nutrition with it for maximum off season bulking. Insulin is going to be one the greatest products we can use when bulking, especially since you really can’t go hypo if you are going to be eating that many calories each day. We will address multiple use per day on training days to maximize your gains, especially how to super-charge your diet. I have said it before and I will say it a million more times until you get it through your thick heads. Without nutrition, no gains are possible. Bulking or dieting, it doesn’t matter what your goals are, nutrition is about 80% of our battle. Training and drugs are a means to an end. I can entirely change my physique from fat to lean, from thin to bulk all with diet manipulation. Try doing that with just training and a cycle but only eating 2 or 3 meals per day. Nutrition is your greatest anabolic agent, everything else is just the icing on the cake. In the next installment of this series we are going to tackle hardcore training principles and eventually what you are all dying to know, the hardcore bulking cycle. For now, read and re-read the information presented before you. Learn to eat right and you can easily put on another 10lbs without even touching a weight or sticking a needle in your glute.

DHT - Is It All Bad?

2007-09-25T03:38:00.000-07:00

Nolva vs. Clomid for PCT

2007-09-24T10:27:00.000-07:00

Nolva vs. Clomid for PCT
It seems like everyday questions concerning PCT pop up, and weather one should use either Clomid or nolva or a combo of both. I hope that this article written by BigCat may help to clear up some misconceptions.

While practically similar compounds in structure, few people ever really consider Clomid and nolva to be similar. Its not just a common myth in steroid circles, but even in the medical community. This misconception originates from their completely different uses. Nolvadex is most commonly used for the treatment of breast cancer in women, while Clomid is generally considered a fertility aid. In bodybuilding circles, from day one, Clomid has generally been used as post-cycle therapy and Nolvadex as an anti-estrogen.

But as I intend to demonstrate this is in essence the same. I believe the myth to have originated because nolva is clearly a more powerful anti-estrogen, and the people selling Clomid needed another angle to sell the stuff, so it was mostly used as a post-cycle aid. But few users really understand how Clomid (and also Nolvadex, logically) works to bring back natural testosterone in the body after the conclusion of a cycle of androgenic anabolic steroids. After a cycle is over, the level of androgens in the body drop drastically. The body compensates with an overproduction of estrogen to keep steroid levels up. Estrogen as well inhibits the production of natural testosterone, and in the period between the return of natural testosterone and the end of a cycle, a lot of mass is lost. So its in everybody's best interest to bring back natural test as soon as humanly possible. Clomid and Nolvadex will reduce the post-cycle estrogen, so that a steroid deficiency is constated and the hypothalamus is stimulated to regenerate natural testosterone production in the body. That's basically how the mechanism works, nothing more, nothing less.

Both compounds are structurally alike, classified as triphenylethylenes. Nolvadex is clearly the stronger component of the two as it can achieve better results in decreasing overall estrogen with 20-40 mg a day, than Clomid can in doses of 100-150 mg a day. A noteworthy difference. Triphenylethylenes are very mild estrogens that do not exert a lot, if any activity at the estrogen receptor, but are still highly attracted to it. As such they will occupy the receptor and keep it from binding estrogens. This means they do not actively work to reduce estrogen in the body like Proviron, Viratase or arimidex would (by competing for the aromatase enzyme), but that it blocks the receptor so that any estrogen in the body is basically inert, because it has no receptor to bind to.

This has advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantage is that when use is discontinued, the estrogen level is still the same and new problems will develop much sooner. The advantage is that it works much faster and has results sooner than with an aromatase blocker like Proviron or arimidex. Therefor, when problems such as gynocomastia occur during a cycle of steroids one will usually start 20 mg/day of nolva or 100 mg/day of Clomid straight away, in conjunction with some Proviron or arimidex. The proviron or arimidex will actively reduce estrogen while the Clomid or Nolvadex will solve your ongoing problem straight away. This way, when use is discontinued there is no immediate rebound.

So which one should you use? Well personally, I'd have to say Nolvadex. Both as an on-cycle anti-estrogen and a post-cycle therapy. As an anti-estrogen its simply much stronger, demonstrated by the fact that better results are obtained with 20-40 mg than with 100-150 mg of Clomid. For post-cycle, this plays a key role as well. It deactivates rebound estrogen much faster and more effective. But most importantly, Nolvadex has a direct influence on bringing back natural testosterone, where as Clomid may actually have a slight negative influence. The reason being that tamoxifen (as in Nolvadex) seems to increase the responsiveness of LH (luteinizing hormone) to GnRH (gonadtropin releasing hormone), whereas Clomid seems to decrease the responsiveness a bit1.

Another noteworthy fact about Nolvadex is that it acts more potently as an estrogen in the liver. As you remember, I mentioned that clomiphene and tamoxifen are basically weak estrogens. Well, tamoxifen is apparently still quite potent in the liver. This offers us the positive benefits of this hormone in the liver, while avoiding its negative effects elsewhere in the body. As such Nolvadex can have a very positive impact on negative cholesterol levels2 in the body, and therefore too should be considered a better choice than Clomid. It will not solve the problem of bad cholesterol levels during Steroid use, but will help to contain the problem to a larger degree.

Another reason why I promote the use of Nolvadex over Clomid post-cycle (as if being 3-4 times stronger and having more of a direct effect on restoring natural test wasn't enough) is because it's a lot safer. Not just because it improves lipid profiles, but also because it simply doesn't have the intrinsic side-effects that Clomid has. Clomid causes more acne for sure, but that's mainly because you need to use a 3-4 times higher dose. But Clomid seems to also affect the eyesight. Long-term Clomid therapy causes irreversible changes in eyesight3 in users. Irreversible. For me that alone is reason enough to prefer Nolvadex.

Lastly, one should be aware that use of these compounds can reduce the gains made on steroids. Nolvadex more so than Clomid, simply because it is stronger. Estrogen is responsible for a number of anabolic factors such as increasing growth hormone output, upgrading the androgen receptor and improving glucose utilization. This is why aromatizing steroids like testosterone are still best suited for maximum muscle gain. When reducing the estrogen levels, we therefore reduce the potential gains being made. For this reason one may opt to try Clomid during a cycle instead of Nolvadex. Although I would imagine that the problem that needed solved would be of more concern, in which case nolva remains the weapon of choice. It's a plain fact that there is a high correlation between gains and side-effects. Either you go for maximum gains and tolerate the side-effects, or you reduce the side-effects, and with it the gains. That's life, nothing is free.

Stacking and Use:

If problems of Gynocomastia or other estrogen related symptoms tend to pop up during a cycle the use of 20-30 mg of Nolvadex or 100 mg of Clomid daily should easily contain the problem, and be used until a few days after the problem subsides. For best results and the least amount of problems upon cessation it is best stacked with proviron (50 mg) or arimidex (0.5 mg) for this duration as well. Its not advised that these products be ran concomitantly with the steroid for the entire duration of the stack, as this will reduce your gains. Instead cease the usage of anti-estrogens once the problem is contained, and should the problem resurface, simply recommence the use of the products in the same manner as described above.

Once a cycle of steroids is concluded one should always initiate a post-cycle therapy to help bring back natural testosterone as soon as possible. This will help you to retain the mass you gained. How this is done depends highly on the type of steroid used. If only orals were used, therapy should start immediately, even the last day of the stack. If short-acting esters or water-based injectables were used, therapy should commence within 4-7 days after last injection, and if long-acting esters were used then it should commence 1.5 to 2 weeks after the last injection was given. The length of the therapy will vary as well, from 3-5 weeks. The longer acting the product was, the longer therapy should be continued to make sure all suppressive factors are cleared before use of Clomid/Nolvadex is discontinued.

The questions you will hear from athletes over and over is if they can get legal steroids clomid and nolvadex, is it possible?well I say yes you just have to look.
For best results, it is best stacked with HCG (Human Chorionic gonadotrophin), which functions as an LH analog and can help bring testicle size back up. HCG use starts the last week of a cycle, and on from there every 5-6 days (usually 1500-3000 IU) and discontinued 1.5 to weeks prior to the cessation of Nolvadex/clomid. The reason being that HCG itself is also suppressive of natural testosterone and should be out of the body before therapy is over, or it will inhibit natural testicle function. But I can not stress enough that HCG possibly plays a more important role in post-cycle therapy than clomid/Nolvadex. For Clomid and Nolvadex, doses are usually tapered down. Its best to start with 40-50 mg of Nolvadex or 150 mg of Clomid for the first week or the first two weeks, and then finish the program with 20-25 mg of Nolvadex or 100 mg of Clomid for an additional two weeks.

References

1 Vermeulen A., Comhaire F., Hormonal effects of an anti-estrogen, tamoxifen, in normal and oligospermic men, Fertil. Ster. 29 (1978) 320-27

2 Bruning PF, Bronfer JMG, Hart AAM, Jong-Bakker M, tamoxifen, serum lipoproteins and cardiovascular risk, Br. J. Cancer 1988 Oct, 58 (4) 497-9

Clenbuterol

2007-09-21T05:14:00.000-07:00

Clenbuterol Let me just start by saying that this is the single most mis-understood compound in use for athletics and bodybuilding today. Most of the information out there is ½ truths and conjecture. Ok…having said that, I’m going to make an effort to dispel some myths and give everyone a better understanding of Clen.
First, lets plow quickly through some of the basics: Clenbuterol (Clen) is a beta-2 agonist/antagonist bronchodilator. What this means, is that it stimulates your beta-2 receptors. And this in turn stimulates you (clen has stimulant effects which will make you feel….well…stimulated). All of this serves to increase your body temperature a bit, increase your basal metabolic rate, and decrease your appetite (Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1994 Jun;18(6):429-33.). Clen also can decrease insulin sensitivity (Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Jul;283(1):E146-53.). Clen is a very effective repartitioning agent, and this is what it’s most often used for. What this means is that it will increase your ratio of Fat Free Mass (FFM) to Fat Mass, by decreasing your Fat and possibly increasing your FFM (J Appl Physiol. 2001 Nov;91(5):2064-70). Want me to quantify that a bit? In one study, horses given a reasonable dose of clen (slightly over 1mcg/lb) and excercised for 20mins, 3x a week ( I suppose they were Mentzer disciples) had significant decreases in %fat (-17.6%) and fat mass (-19.5%) at week 2, which was similar to Clen given to horses who didn’t excercise; however, the excercised group had a different FFM response, which significantly increased (+4.4%) at week 6. Week 6! Clen and clen+excercise produce roughly the same results for the first 2 weeks! Remember the old 2 weeks-on/2weeks-off schedule? It’s officially dead and buried. If you want the quasi-anabolic effect from the clen, it’ll take more than 2weeks on (6 weeks apparently). And in fact, since clen alone is similar to clen+excercise for those first 2 weeks...why would you ever use a 2on/2off protocol? Keep in mind that animal responses to beta-agonist/antagonists differ a bit from ours…but you get the picture. 2on/2off? Ha ha... Clen has a biphastic elimination, which means that it is technically reduced in your body in 2 different stages. This isn’t particularly important, as a recent study has shown that for most intents and purposes, clen concentrations in the body decline with a ½ life (approximately) equivalent to 7-9.2hours and again up to as much as 35 hours later(J Anal Toxicol. 2001 May-Jun;25(4):280-7. and J Vet Pharmacol Ther. 2004 Apr;27(2):71-7. and J Pharmacobiodyn. 1985 May;8(5):385-91. ). If you’re really interested, though, clen technically declines biphastically at 10 and then 36 hours. But really, in our little world, where we use ½ life to tell us when to take our next dose, who the hell is going to take clen, then a dose 10 hours later, then a dose 36 hours later. We’ll stick with the earlier 7-9 hour ½ life for dosing purposes, and take our clen every 3.5-4.5 hours that we’re awake, stopping early enough to still be able to get to bed. Clen can, in some people, cause insomnia (and as with all stimulants, can cause anxiety in some). Clenbuterol can also cause a downregulation in testicular androgen receptors and in pulmonary, cardiac and central nervous system beta-adrenergic receptors(J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl). 2004 Apr;88(3-4):94-100.)…possibly making steroids less effective while you are on clen, but definitely making clen less effective as time goes on and you keep taking it. To counteract this, you can take some ketotifen or periactim every 3rd or 4th week that you remain on clen. Both of these are prescription anti-histimines, so they’ll make you drowsy (take before bedtime). Basically, the way both of these work is to reduce beta-2 receptor activity. A lot of people claim that clen is quite anti-catabolic and/or anabolic. This hasn’t been confirmed in human studies (Ann Pharmacother. 1995 Jan;29(1):75-7.). And the doses given to the animals in these studies where clen is shown to be very anticatabolic or highly anabolic are so absurdly high that no human could ever take them (1mg/kg of bodyweight and higher). The best you can hope for is the very mild anabolic effects I cited earlier. Oh yeah…I guess I should get around to the proper dosing of clen. My recommendations are the same for both men and women. You’ll need to take 20mcgs upon rising, and then repeat that same dose again later in the day, and then once again in that day (if you find you can tolerate the effects). So you’ll start with 20mcgs, and then repeat that dose 2 more times that same day if you can tolerate it (side effects will determine this…hand shaking, sweating, etc…classic stimulant sides). Then you can start increasing the dose gradually. Personally, I wouldn’t work my way up to more than 200mcg/day. 60-120mcg/day is an average dose. Also, bear in mind that clen isn’t great for your heart, and can cause some issues there (enlargement of ventricles, etc…) but most studies showing clen to cause heart problems are with animals, and even though the dosing is similar to what humans take (in some studies) it’s important to remember that animals have more beta-2 receptors and they cause certain event chains that humans’ beta-2 receptors may not. Clen causes cardiac hypertrophy to some degree, in some cases. Again though, many studies showing more significant heart problems are with mg dosing. We humans take clen in mcg doses. If we want to duplicate the “theraputic” levels of clen in the more conservative studies, we’d be taking just over 1mcg/lb of bodyweight. I’d suggest a bit less, though. Performance issues with clen also vary. Some studies show reduced exercise (cardiovascular) performance with clen (Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2002 Dec;34(12):1976-85.), while some show that clen can alleviate exercise induced asthma (Respiration. 1987;51(3):205-13.)! Sometimes you feel like a nut…sometimes you don’t, I guess. What this means, to me, is that you’ll need to figure out how clen affects your performance individually. Which brings me to the issue of cramps while on clen. I don’t get them. My friends don’t get them. Most of us are athletes who use clen during the season as well as the off season, and one of my friends even claims that it gives him more “wind” (cardiovascular stamina). Take on enough water every day and you should be fine. If you’re really concerned, you can take some extra minerals and taurine, since clen depletes taurine (Adv Exp Med Biol. 1996;403:233-45) as do most if not all beta-agonists. I don’t take anything more than my usual vitamins and minerals. Well…there it is…pretty much all I know about clen. I hope this answers some questions and clears up some misconceptions.

EPO (Erythropoietin)

2007-09-20T20:29:00.000-07:00

EPO (Erythropoietin)

EPO gained notoriety in 1998 when a bunch of cyclists in the Tour de France got caught in posession of it.
EPO increases RBC in the blood. This will basically raise your energy levels (Cancer. 2003 Sep 1;98(5):1072-9), and thus will improve recovery, etc...A50 was developed for a very similar purpose as EPO, and I suspect that alot of the muscle enhancing effects/potency of A50 (increased muscle fullness, etc...) can be attributed to the much of same mechanisms which are at work in EPO. Its worth noting that EPO increases protein synthesis, just like A50 as well. Primarily, though, its effect is to increase RBCs.
Having more RBCs, thus having more oxygen delivered to muscle tissues is directly associated with a substantial improvement in athletic performance, i.e speed, endurance, strength, etc...(Sports Med. 2003;33(3):187-212.). EPO is associated with improved bodyweight, excercise capacity, oxygen uptake, respiration, whole body metabolism and energy efficiency (Semin Oncol. 2002 Jun;29(3 Suppl 8):69-74) In addition, cognitive function (learning, etc...)is also improved with EPO(Clin Breast Cancer. 2002 Dec;3 Suppl 3:S116-20).
Ok...so how much do you take? I'd say you'll need about 8,000-10,000IU for 2 weeks. Thats it. You take it all at once over 2 weeks (maybe a little over 1,000IU or so per day for 14 days) and then thats it. Then, sometime in week 3, you'll start feeling the results...which will last...for 3-6 months! Yeah, you read that right.
Watch your BP, and don't let it get out of hand, because that could mean your hematocrit is getting too high....and remember to keep well hydrated to avoid any possible issues with clotting & keep some aspirin on hand just in case you find that you need to thin your blood out a bit.

Hardcore Bulking (bodybuilding)

2007-09-19T03:56:00.000-07:00

Hardcore Bulking

Off season is a bodybuilders favorite time of year and the favorite words whispered after a recent contest. So the time is here, what are you going to do about it?
First step is to determine what you want to do and set some goals. You cannot achieve anything without a plan. Those who fail to plan, plan to fail. So let’s set some clear cut goals. You are going to need all the tools at your disposal before you begin. You are going to work on written goals, nutrition, training, and finally the hardcore cycle.
Write down your goals. Have everything written down and in plain sight as a reminder of what you are trying to achieve. So write down your target weight, your training days, your daily calorie goals, your cycle, etc. Keep a master log book of everything you are trying to do. Like I stated, you must plan for success.
First thing is to determine your target weight and body fat goals. Don’t be overly concerned with fat. This is, after all, the off-season, but there is no need to go above 13-14%. At that point you can still see some abs if you flex them hard enough and you will have acquired the mass point necessary for massive gains. Picking a target weight is very dependent on your level of experience. Since this series of articles is targeted primarily at advanced lifters, I recommend trying to achieve 20lbs of pure mass; some fat, mostly muscle.
So now that you know you are trying to get another 20lbs of size, how do you go about doing this? First and foremost is diet. You cannot make gains if you are not feeding yourself at the goal you want to achieve. So since you know you are trying to get 20lbs, you are going to eat as if you you’re already at that weight. The best way to achieve this is to take in a total daily calorie intake of 30 kcals per pound of bodyweight for ectomorphs, 25 kcals for mesomorphs, and 20 for endomorphs. So for the 230lb average size ecto/meso bodybuilder, he is going to need to eat almost 7500 cals per day. Sounds incredible, I know, but it can be done quite easily. During the off-season you will eat calorie dense foods, some fast food, and some bulking shakes.
I am not going to outline an exact diet for you, but I will give some general guidelines that I highly recommend. Variety is very important in bulking, eating the same foods over and over is boring and there is no reason to. Save the tuna and rice for show time; you can get very creative when bulking and actually enjoy eating. So let’s look at some calorie dense foods that fall in the category of bulking and are acceptable bodybuilding foods.
I love cheese when bulking it is high in protein, goes on everything and it is a very easy way to add calories to every meal. I don’t mean Velveeta or cheese in a can here; I am talking about quality cheese, like Tillamook extra sharp. My other favorite is milk. I love milk with every meal and protein shake when bulking. Oh, and don’t forget my extra special, super bulking treat……natural peanut butter. Tons of calories, high in complete chain protein and essential fatty acids.
So now you have my favorites, let’s go shopping. Grab a pen and paper and write down a shopping list. Don’t just go in the store and wing it. Remember earlier I stated you are going to write everything down. This includes shopping. You write down your weekly shopping list, your training schedule, your cycles and your goals. So back to shopping, you are going to need a lot of food to get to 7500 cals per day. Here are my shopping list recommendations:
Breakfast ideas:7-10% lean ground beefHoney Nut Cheerios cerealOatmealBagelsWhole eggsCheeseBananas
Lunch ideas:TortillasGround beefSalsaCheeseBreadWhite rice Dinner ideas:FishBroccoliWhite riceGround beefBell peppersPotatoesSteak
Snack ideas:Roast beefBeef jerkeyNatural peanut butterGraham crackersString cheese
Now remember, I am not going to set up a diet for you, just give you some ideas of my favorite calorie dense foods. It is up to you to plan some meals and make sure to eat 5-6 meals per day. I don’t see a need to eat more than that because you are not trying to speed up your metabolism; you are trying to slow it down by eating more food at each meal and eating less often. I am a huge proponent of high calorie shakes during the off-season. I personally belong to Muscle Milk anonymous! All kidding aside, they have the most incredible flavors and are highly addictive. Instead of the usual 2 scoops, I use 4 scoops in 16oz 2% milk for a 900+ calorie shake. I have two of those per day, plus my 3 solid meals and then my night time snack.
My favorite night time bulking snack is 4 graham crackers spread with tons of natural peanut butter and then made into two sandwiches, 2 string cheese and a huge glass of milk. It is totally yummy, and I highly recommend it. You probably won’t wake up hungry in the middle of the night. The peanut butter will hold you over until you get up for breakfast.
People are always highly concerned about percentages of protein, carbohydrates, and fat. I am not so concerned, so long as I am getting 2 grams of protein per pound of body weight that I want to be, the rest will just naturally be carbs and fat. So for our hypothetical diet of 7500 calories per day to get to 250lbs, I need 500 grams of protein, which is 2000 calories of protein. That still leaves me 5500 calories of fat and carbs to enjoy. You must eat protein first in every meal, if you are going to get full while eating, it better be on protein and not anything else. It is always easy to squeeze in extra carbs, and needless to say, fat is too easy.
So for our 6 meals, of which 2 are already Muscle Milk and have 170 grams of protein, you don’t have far to go. The next 4 meals just have to have about 80 grams per meal. One glass of milk at each meal is 10 grams, so now you have just 70 grams. See how easy this is? Carbs add up real fast, especially with dense foods like cereal, bread, bagels, and rice / pasta.
Now you are beginning to see how easy bulking while eating clean is. A couple of days per week, I recommend you head over to McDonalds and get 2 or 3 Big Macs or double cheese burgers. Go to In and Out, Burger King, or whatever your favorite is, and do a major feast. You can easily get in 3000 cals in one sitting with 3 Big Macs, a large fry, and a shake. So if you do that 2 times per week, you are going to have two days of about 10,000 cals per day, something that is really going to help with the metabolism and bulking.We also need to address the very important issue of post-workout (pwo) nutrition. I cannot stress enough how important it is to consume the majority of your daily calories in the first 3 meals pwo on training days. The primary source of energy when training is the conversion of glycogenesis in the formation of glycogen from glucose. Glycogen is synthesized depending on the demand for glucose and ATP (energy). If both are present in relatively high amounts, then the excess of insulin promotes the glucose conversion into glycogen for storage in liver and muscle cells.
When you have completed a workout, your muscle cells are depleted of glycogen and it must be replenished as quickly as possible to promote recovery, and cell repair. Protein cannot be utilized for cell repair if we don’t first address the depletion of glycogen. The best way to replenish depleted glycogen stores is to use a very high glycemic carbohydrate in conjunction with a rapid and easily digested protein to shuttle into the cell for repair.
I personally use a custom made shake that costs me literally pennies to consume. I shop at the local beer brewer’s store and purchase bags of pure glucose or dextrose which they use for home beer brewing. I mix 40 grams of glucose with 16oz (84g) of grape juice and 3 scoops (66g) Nectar whey protein. Nectar is an ultra high quality, flavored whey isolate. This is one of the fastest digested proteins on the market, so in conjunction with my high glycemic pure glucose and grape juice, I have just made a super high quality, muscle repairing shake that costs literally nothing to make. I also recommend you throw in 10 grams of creatine and 10 grams of glutamine at this time. Your muscles are sponge’s pwo and this is the optimal time to feed them and prepare the tissue to utilize the nutrition for primary protein absorbtion instead of feeding the intestinal tract, a primary scavenger of ingested proteins, especially glutamine.
Your next two meals of extremely important because you are still within the so called “window of opportunity” for muscle repair with nutrition. Your pwo shake should not leave you feeling full for long; it is easily digested and is intended to be so. You are going to want to eat again one hour after you drink your shake. At this time, you still want an easily digested, low fat protein but you should move into moderate glycemic carbs as we are still “filling the tank” so to speak but no longer need fast carbs as most of our glycogen was replenished with the glucose.
This meal should be preferably a light, white fish, or chicken breast. I consume mahi-mahi, tuna, or chicken with broccoli and rice or a baked potato. Eat a large portion of protein, the carbs are just a means to an end to shuttle the protein, so fill up with protein first, then eat your carbs to shuttle the amino acid chain into muscle cells.
Our third and final pwo meal of importance while bulking will finally include some essential fatty acids which are also necessary for tissue repair, primarily tendon and ligament tissues. So now we get to really consume the calories and have fun with this meal. I like to eat 8-10 whole eggs, avocado, 6 pancakes, bacon and a glass of orange juice. Another favorite is 1lb lean ground beef in tortilla shells with avocado, salsa, cheese, a baked potato or rice and some milk.
So there you have the three most important meals of your day on training days. It is critical to watch your nutrition at this time, especially since you are trying to repair damaged muscle tissue, replenish glycogen stores, repair connective tissue, and cells. I cannot stress enough how important it is to eat, your body is willing and able to consume massive amounts of calories pwo without spilling into excess body fat storage.
Another critical issue we need to address is the use of insulin and nutrition pwo. The three meals I have outlined fall well within the acceptable specs for humalog use, not humulin-r so that cover pwo nutrition. I will cover the use of R in later articles, as well as proper eating if you choose to use it. For now just use 10-12iu humalog pwo only following the former meal guidelines and you will be utilizing proper protocol and nutrition to maximize your growth.
As stated, look for a future article on insulin use and proper nutrition with it for maximum off season bulking. Insulin is going to be one the greatest products we can use when bulking, especially since you really can’t go hypo if you are going to be eating that many calories each day. We will address multiple use per day on training days to maximize your gains, especially how to super-charge your diet.
I have said it before and I will say it a million more times until you get it through your thick heads. Without nutrition, no gains are possible. Bulking or dieting, it doesn’t matter what your goals are, nutrition is about 80% of our battle. Training and drugs are a means to an end. I can entirely change my physique from fat to lean, from thin to bulk all with diet manipulation. Try doing that with just training and a cycle but only eating 2 or 3 meals per day. Nutrition is your greatest anabolic agent, everything else is just the icing on the cake.
In the next installment of this series we are going to tackle hardcore training principles and eventually what you are all dying to know, the hardcore bulking cycle. For now, read and re-read the information presented before you. Learn to eat right and you can easily put on another 10lbs without even touching a weight or sticking a needle in your glute.

DHT - Is It All Bad?

2007-09-18T20:17:00.000-07:00

clenbuterol FAQ

2007-09-13T20:07:00.000-07:00

Anabolic Workout Guide

2007-09-13T01:08:00.000-07:00

You should take the following factors to heart since they are absolutely necessary for a successful training. What role does the use of anabolic/androgenic steroids play- Very simple: athletes who take steroids will make clearly faster, better, and greater progress than their natural colleagues. They will also obtain a much higher development stage than would have ever been possible without taking pharmaceutical compounds. Such stupid statements that one will achieve the same mass as a bodybuilder without taking steroids -it only takes longer- is nothing but a completely absurd publicity by the authorities who in their own interest conceal the truth. Read the following lines with an open-minded attitude and try to adapt this information for your own needs.
1. High-intensity training: The human organism vehemently refuses any unnecessary change since it feels best in a constant condition, a homeostasis. In order to lure it out of its passivity, several efforts and exertions must be made. The signal that the body needs in order to build up strength and muscle mass is triggered by heavy, hard, and intense training routines. These should consist of relatively few sets. Five to eight sets for large muscle groups and three to four sets for small muscle groups are completely sufficient when every set is carried out until muscle failure.
2. Training with relatively low repetitions: The body has two different types of muscle fibers: Since the muscle hypertrophy almost completely occurs in the fast-twitch white muscle fibers of type 2, a sensible bodybuilding workout must be developed in a way that these are sufficiently stimulated. For this purpose relatively few, heavy reps in the range of 6-10 are suitable.
3. Training with progressively heavier weights: In order to build up massive muscles they must be challenged and exposed to regular progressively-higher resistances. This can be achieved when the athlete continuously increases the weight during exercises. The stronger the muscles the larger their appearance. There is no mass without power. The basic exercises such as squats, bench presses, presses behind the neck, rows, barbell curls, dips, etc. are the most suitable.
4. Sufficient rest periods: The muscles are stimulated through training but only grow during their rest phase. The higher the intensity, the higher the damage of the muscle cell and the longer the resting phase. When you train with adequate intensity you simply cannot train each and every day nor should you attack a muscle twice a week. Learn to accept rest and recovery as important factors of your training success. Every day you train in the GYM should be followed by a complete off day. Bodybuilders who are interested in an optimal strength and muscle gain should train every muscle once very intensely every 7-8 days.
5. Plateau and phase training: The body can be put under maximum stress only for a limited time. If this time is exceeded, development comes to a stop and if continued the performance will regress. For this reason the intensity and extent of the training program should be changed every 12-14 weeks. The athlete should enjoy several days off training and then change to a several-week long maintenance training (plateau training).
The following training program considers all essential factors which are necessary for a quick buildup of strength and muscle mass. In combination with the nutrition tips included in this book its effectiveness can be considerably increased. Based on the high intensity it is not suitable for natural bodybuilders over a long time. This training schedule is obviously only intended as a suggestion and can be changed by every athlete to meet his individual needs, as long as the discussed principles are met.

Eight-Day Training Cycle: One day training, one day rest(One day on, one day off)Day 1: Chest, biceps Bench presses 3 sets 6- 8 reps Incline bench presses 2 sets 6- 8 reps Dips with added weights 2 sets 8-10 reps Barbell curls 3 sets 6-10 reps Dumbbell curls 2 sets 6-10 reps Day 3: Thighs Squats 3 sets 6-10 reps Leg presses 2 sets 8-10 reps Leg curls 2 sets 8-10 reps Day 5: Shoulder, triceps Presses behind neck 3 sets 6- 8 reps Upright row 2 sets 8-10 reps Side laterals 2 sets 8-10 reps Lying triceps presses 3 sets 6-10 reps Triceps pulley pushdown 2 sets 8-10 reps Day 7: Back. calves Chins with added weight 3 sets 8-10 reps Lat pull to neck 2 sets 8-10 reps Barbell bent-over row 2 sets 6-10 reps Seated cable row 2 sets 6-10 reps Standing calf raise 3 sets 8-12 reps Seated calf raise 2 sets 8-12 reps
Note: Training is only on uneven days, i.e. every 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th day is a complete rest day. The intervals between the various sets should be 3-4 minutes. The athlete should pay attention that the exercises -as much as possible- are carried out with free weights and not on machines. Every muscle is directly trained only once every eight days. It is important that every set is carried out until muscle failure meaning that the athlete is unable to do another rep-etition on its own. Only in this case are the relatively few sets and especially long rest periods justified. The muscle cell must be brought in a strongly catabolic condition since only then the distinct anticatabolic effect of anabolic/androgenic steroids develops fully. The required intensity of training, however, can only be achieved when you start (after a short warmup) with the heaviest weight possible and then decrease the weight in every following set because of the losing body strength so that the desired repetitions can still be obtained. In order to avoid any misunderstandings we would like to quickly explain this principle on an example. Our athlete is able to carry out a maximum of six repetitions with 300 pounds on bench presses.
1st warmup set: 10 reps with 140 pounds 2nd warmup set: 2 reps with 200 pounds 3rd warmup set: 2 reps with 240 pounds 1st working set: 6 reps with 300 pounds 2nd working set: 7 reps with 280 pounds 3rd working set: 7 reps with 260 pounds
The first warmup set serves to bring blood to the muscles and joints. The second and third warmup set are an approach to the weight of the first working set. The interplay between the muscle and nerve is stimulated, meaning the athlete gets a feeling for the heavy weights without wasting strength and energy at the same time. During the following chest exercises the warmup sets are completely omitted which means that they are only necessary for the first exercise of the muscle to be trained. Do not forget, however, that during every exercise or set you should try to squeeze out an additional one or two repetitions than during the previous training in order to in-crease training weights in the following week. This continuous tire-some struggle to increase repetitions and weight is the only way to a massive body. Always remember: HEAVY WEIGHTS BUILD BIG MUSCLES.

http://www.isteroids.com/

The "Secret" to Getting Huge Revealed

2007-09-11T10:03:00.001-07:00

The "Secret" to Getting Huge Revealed
Dave, what is the secret to getting huge? Does it mean taking huge amounts of steroids?
I am addressing this topic because this is the most prevalently asked question. My answer to you is in the form of the question, "how many people do you know who take large amounts of steroids yet look no better than they did before they started?" And the answer to that question is "TOO MANY!" The problem is that people think that if you take 1000mg of testosterone a week, you will get huge. What they forget is the most important part of the equation : THE FOOD! NO protein, NO carbs, and NO fat means NO muscle. If you are taking adequate amounts of "STUFF" and you still aren't growing, don’t assume that you need to take more stuff. EAT MORE FOOD (especially protein) and EAT MORE FREQUENTLY! I cant stress this enough. The difference between the massive bodybuilder and the mediocre bodybuilder is that the MASSIVE one views eating as a JOB (not as a luxury).
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Growth Hormone Vaccines
What's the deal with this new growth hormone vaccine that is being put out by Genentech? How does it last for up to a month?
According to my sources, Genentech’s new GH Vaccine is not actually growth hormone. Basically, upon injection, it blocks the hormone somatostatin. Somatostatin is the hormone responsible for inhibiting the production of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) from the hypothalamus which in turn inhibits the release of GH from the pituitary gland. By blocking the Somatostatin hormone, you essentially enable the pituitary to produce unlimited amounts of GH (i.e. there is no shut off mechanism). The problem with this approach is that the amount of GH released is a very person-specific event. In other words, one individual may produce a lot of GH and another may produce very little (it becomes a genetic thing). I liken this product to attempting to increase testosterone levels using hCG. Why worry about how much GH the individual can produce naturally, when you can just administer the GH (in a known amount) using the current GH formulas that are out there? I don’t foresee that the bodybuilders will replace the use of GH with this new product. They will probably just add it into their stacks or they will use it when in an off cycle.
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Micronized Water-Based Steroids
What have you heard of the new "micronized" water-based steroids (Winstrol and testosterone suspension)? Is this a better formula? AND why doesn’t it settle out?
The term micronization refers to the crushing or pulverizing of the Winstrol or Test suspension powder into a very fine dust that once suspended in sterile water forms a milky looking colloidal mixture (i.e. the steroid tends to remain in suspension much longer without settling out).
Micronized creatine, on the market, is a similar theme to the micronized Winstrol and suspension we a talking about. It mixes in water more thoroughly, and thus is absorbed better through the GI tract thus causing less diarrhea and bloating.
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The Ultimate Precontest Stack for a Competitive Bodybuilder
Dave, what is the ultimate "STACK" for a precontest, dieting, bodybuilder? Please include dosages.
Given the current available anabolics (and starting from a point at around 8-10 weeks out), I would have to say that the following would be an ideal anabolic combination:
1000mg Sustanon per week (necessary to maintain base of muscle mass) 200mg Primobolan per week (great on low calorie diets) 50mg Winstrol every other day (hardening agent) 400mg Deca per week (keeps the joints feeling good) 50mg Anadrol per day (keeps the strength elevated, meanwhile, the hunger-blunting effect is welcome) 2-4 IU GH per day (fat burner and muscle preserver) 2-4 clenbuterol per day (fat burner and strength increaser)
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How to Kick My Nubain Addiction
I have a question, I use Nubain 4-6 times a day it is an addiction for me. I want to stop using it. I am also currently taking 4.5iu of Serostim a day and I use it yr round. I would be able to use 9iu of Serostim a day yr round if I could get off of Nubain. My question is will I be able to quit Nubain cold turkey? And will I see more of a significant result using 9iu of Serostim a day instead of 4.5? I don't want to waste my money if its not going to have more of a dramatic effect. What do you think?
Stick to the 4.5IU GH (Serostim) per day. That's plenty to grow with (with little side effects). IF you want to get off the Nubain as well, get down to small amounts (.15 cc) spaced every 3-5 hours. When you get to that point, switch to Ultram (they are pills). They will kill the withdrawal symptoms then and take Ativan or Valium for the anxiety. It should take about 1 week of doing this to be totally off (3 days for the physical withdrawal to go away and another 4 days for the mental desire to wane).
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How Do I Use Synthol?
What are the best bodyparts to inject Synthol into? How often and how many CCs per injection?
Synthol is used to enhance or augment a weak or lagging bodypart. The muscles that respond best are the small, rounder, muscle groups such as the biceps, triceps, and calves. Usually, 3cc amounts of Synthol are placed DEEP into the muscles 2-4 times per week for the first 3-4 weeks. Thereafter, 3cc amounts are injected on a once per week basis for the next 20-24 weeks until the size increase has become permanent.

Hardcore Bulking (bodybuilding)

2007-09-09T22:15:00.000-07:00

Hardcore Bulking

Off season is a bodybuilders favorite time of year and the favorite words whispered after a recent contest. So the time is here, what are you going to do about it?
First step is to determine what you want to do and set some goals. You cannot achieve anything without a plan. Those who fail to plan, plan to fail. So let’s set some clear cut goals. You are going to need all the tools at your disposal before you begin. You are going to work on written goals, nutrition, training, and finally the hardcore cycle.
Write down your goals. Have everything written down and in plain sight as a reminder of what you are trying to achieve. So write down your target weight, your training days, your daily calorie goals, your cycle, etc. Keep a master log book of everything you are trying to do. Like I stated, you must plan for success.
First thing is to determine your target weight and body fat goals. Don’t be overly concerned with fat. This is, after all, the off-season, but there is no need to go above 13-14%. At that point you can still see some abs if you flex them hard enough and you will have acquired the mass point necessary for massive gains. Picking a target weight is very dependent on your level of experience. Since this series of articles is targeted primarily at advanced lifters, I recommend trying to achieve 20lbs of pure mass; some fat, mostly muscle.
So now that you know you are trying to get another 20lbs of size, how do you go about doing this? First and foremost is diet. You cannot make gains if you are not feeding yourself at the goal you want to achieve. So since you know you are trying to get 20lbs, you are going to eat as if you you’re already at that weight. The best way to achieve this is to take in a total daily calorie intake of 30 kcals per pound of bodyweight for ectomorphs, 25 kcals for mesomorphs, and 20 for endomorphs. So for the 230lb average size ecto/meso bodybuilder, he is going to need to eat almost 7500 cals per day. Sounds incredible, I know, but it can be done quite easily. During the off-season you will eat calorie dense foods, some fast food, and some bulking shakes.
I am not going to outline an exact diet for you, but I will give some general guidelines that I highly recommend. Variety is very important in bulking, eating the same foods over and over is boring and there is no reason to. Save the tuna and rice for show time; you can get very creative when bulking and actually enjoy eating. So let’s look at some calorie dense foods that fall in the category of bulking and are acceptable bodybuilding foods.
I love cheese when bulking it is high in protein, goes on everything and it is a very easy way to add calories to every meal. I don’t mean Velveeta or cheese in a can here; I am talking about quality cheese, like Tillamook extra sharp. My other favorite is milk. I love milk with every meal and protein shake when bulking. Oh, and don’t forget my extra special, super bulking treat……natural peanut butter. Tons of calories, high in complete chain protein and essential fatty acids.
So now you have my favorites, let’s go shopping. Grab a pen and paper and write down a shopping list. Don’t just go in the store and wing it. Remember earlier I stated you are going to write everything down. This includes shopping. You write down your weekly shopping list, your training schedule, your cycles and your goals. So back to shopping, you are going to need a lot of food to get to 7500 cals per day. Here are my shopping list recommendations:
Breakfast ideas:7-10% lean ground beefHoney Nut Cheerios cerealOatmealBagelsWhole eggsCheeseBananas
Lunch ideas:TortillasGround beefSalsaCheeseBreadWhite rice Dinner ideas:FishBroccoliWhite riceGround beefBell peppersPotatoesSteak
Snack ideas:Roast beefBeef jerkeyNatural peanut butterGraham crackersString cheese
Now remember, I am not going to set up a diet for you, just give you some ideas of my favorite calorie dense foods. It is up to you to plan some meals and make sure to eat 5-6 meals per day. I don’t see a need to eat more than that because you are not trying to speed up your metabolism; you are trying to slow it down by eating more food at each meal and eating less often. I am a huge proponent of high calorie shakes during the off-season. I personally belong to Muscle Milk anonymous! All kidding aside, they have the most incredible flavors and are highly addictive. Instead of the usual 2 scoops, I use 4 scoops in 16oz 2% milk for a 900+ calorie shake. I have two of those per day, plus my 3 solid meals and then my night time snack.
My favorite night time bulking snack is 4 graham crackers spread with tons of natural peanut butter and then made into two sandwiches, 2 string cheese and a huge glass of milk. It is totally yummy, and I highly recommend it. You probably won’t wake up hungry in the middle of the night. The peanut butter will hold you over until you get up for breakfast.
People are always highly concerned about percentages of protein, carbohydrates, and fat. I am not so concerned, so long as I am getting 2 grams of protein per pound of body weight that I want to be, the rest will just naturally be carbs and fat. So for our hypothetical diet of 7500 calories per day to get to 250lbs, I need 500 grams of protein, which is 2000 calories of protein. That still leaves me 5500 calories of fat and carbs to enjoy. You must eat protein first in every meal, if you are going to get full while eating, it better be on protein and not anything else. It is always easy to squeeze in extra carbs, and needless to say, fat is too easy.
So for our 6 meals, of which 2 are already Muscle Milk and have 170 grams of protein, you don’t have far to go. The next 4 meals just have to have about 80 grams per meal. One glass of milk at each meal is 10 grams, so now you have just 70 grams. See how easy this is? Carbs add up real fast, especially with dense foods like cereal, bread, bagels, and rice / pasta.
Now you are beginning to see how easy bulking while eating clean is. A couple of days per week, I recommend you head over to McDonalds and get 2 or 3 Big Macs or double cheese burgers. Go to In and Out, Burger King, or whatever your favorite is, and do a major feast. You can easily get in 3000 cals in one sitting with 3 Big Macs, a large fry, and a shake. So if you do that 2 times per week, you are going to have two days of about 10,000 cals per day, something that is really going to help with the metabolism and bulking.We also need to address the very important issue of post-workout (pwo) nutrition. I cannot stress enough how important it is to consume the majority of your daily calories in the first 3 meals pwo on training days. The primary source of energy when training is the conversion of glycogenesis in the formation of glycogen from glucose. Glycogen is synthesized depending on the demand for glucose and ATP (energy). If both are present in relatively high amounts, then the excess of insulin promotes the glucose conversion into glycogen for storage in liver and muscle cells.
When you have completed a workout, your muscle cells are depleted of glycogen and it must be replenished as quickly as possible to promote recovery, and cell repair. Protein cannot be utilized for cell repair if we don’t first address the depletion of glycogen. The best way to replenish depleted glycogen stores is to use a very high glycemic carbohydrate in conjunction with a rapid and easily digested protein to shuttle into the cell for repair.
I personally use a custom made shake that costs me literally pennies to consume. I shop at the local beer brewer’s store and purchase bags of pure glucose or dextrose which they use for home beer brewing. I mix 40 grams of glucose with 16oz (84g) of grape juice and 3 scoops (66g) Nectar whey protein. Nectar is an ultra high quality, flavored whey isolate. This is one of the fastest digested proteins on the market, so in conjunction with my high glycemic pure glucose and grape juice, I have just made a super high quality, muscle repairing shake that costs literally nothing to make. I also recommend you throw in 10 grams of creatine and 10 grams of glutamine at this time. Your muscles are sponge’s pwo and this is the optimal time to feed them and prepare the tissue to utilize the nutrition for primary protein absorbtion instead of feeding the intestinal tract, a primary scavenger of ingested proteins, especially glutamine.
Your next two meals of extremely important because you are still within the so called “window of opportunity” for muscle repair with nutrition. Your pwo shake should not leave you feeling full for long; it is easily digested and is intended to be so. You are going to want to eat again one hour after you drink your shake. At this time, you still want an easily digested, low fat protein but you should move into moderate glycemic carbs as we are still “filling the tank” so to speak but no longer need fast carbs as most of our glycogen was replenished with the glucose.
This meal should be preferably a light, white fish, or chicken breast. I consume mahi-mahi, tuna, or chicken with broccoli and rice or a baked potato. Eat a large portion of protein, the carbs are just a means to an end to shuttle the protein, so fill up with protein first, then eat your carbs to shuttle the amino acid chain into muscle cells.
Our third and final pwo meal of importance while bulking will finally include some essential fatty acids which are also necessary for tissue repair, primarily tendon and ligament tissues. So now we get to really consume the calories and have fun with this meal. I like to eat 8-10 whole eggs, avocado, 6 pancakes, bacon and a glass of orange juice. Another favorite is 1lb lean ground beef in tortilla shells with avocado, salsa, cheese, a baked potato or rice and some milk.
So there you have the three most important meals of your day on training days. It is critical to watch your nutrition at this time, especially since you are trying to repair damaged muscle tissue, replenish glycogen stores, repair connective tissue, and cells. I cannot stress enough how important it is to eat, your body is willing and able to consume massive amounts of calories pwo without spilling into excess body fat storage.
Another critical issue we need to address is the use of insulin and nutrition pwo. The three meals I have outlined fall well within the acceptable specs for humalog use, not humulin-r so that cover pwo nutrition. I will cover the use of R in later articles, as well as proper eating if you choose to use it. For now just use 10-12iu humalog pwo only following the former meal guidelines and you will be utilizing proper protocol and nutrition to maximize your growth.
As stated, look for a future article on insulin use and proper nutrition with it for maximum off season bulking. Insulin is going to be one the greatest products we can use when bulking, especially since you really can’t go hypo if you are going to be eating that many calories each day. We will address multiple use per day on training days to maximize your gains, especially how to super-charge your diet.
I have said it before and I will say it a million more times until you get it through your thick heads. Without nutrition, no gains are possible. Bulking or dieting, it doesn’t matter what your goals are, nutrition is about 80% of our battle. Training and drugs are a means to an end. I can entirely change my physique from fat to lean, from thin to bulk all with diet manipulation. Try doing that with just training and a cycle but only eating 2 or 3 meals per day. Nutrition is your greatest anabolic agent, everything else is just the icing on the cake.
In the next installment of this series we are going to tackle hardcore training principles and eventually what you are all dying to know, the hardcore bulking cycle. For now, read and re-read the information presented before you. Learn to eat right and you can easily put on another 10lbs without even touching a weight or sticking a needle in your glute.

Hardcore Bulking (bodybuilding)

2007-09-07T03:38:00.001-07:00

Primobolan® Tablets (methenolone acetate)

2007-09-04T05:02:00.000-07:00

Primobolan® Tablets (methenolone acetate)

Quick overview:

Active Life: 4-6 hours
Drug Class: Anabolic/Androgenic Steroid (Oral)
Average Dose: Men 50-150 mg/day......Women 50-75 mg/day
Acne: Rare
Water Retention: No
High Blood Pressure: Rare
Liver Toxic: Very low and only in very high dosages
Aromatization: None
DHT Conversion: No
Decrease HPTA function: Low
Comments: Moderately Anabolic/Low Androgenic

This section refers to the oral Primobolan® preparation, which contains the drug methenolone acetate. It is very similar in action to the injectable Primobolan® Depot (methenolone enanthate), but obviously here the drug is designed for oral administration. At one time Schering was in fact also manufacturing an injectable methenolone acetate (Primobolan® acetate, out of manufacture since 1993), which proved to be very useful for pre-contest cutting purposes. This steroid is now gravely missed, as it was once a favorite among European competitors. Although we still have the acetate in oral form, it is a close, but not equal substitute (injection is a much more efficient form of delivery for this steroid).

Methenolone regardless of the ester is a very mild anabolic steroid. The androgenic activity of this compound is considerably low, as are its anabolic properties. One should not expect to achieve great gains in muscle mass with this drug. Instead, Primobolan® is utilized when the athlete has a specific need for a mild anabolic agent, most notably in cutting phases of training. It is also a drug of choice when side effects are a concern. A welcome factor is that Primobolan® is not c17 alpha alkylated as most oral steroid are. Due to the absence of such an alteration, this compound is one of the few commercially produced oral steroids that is not notably stressful to the liver. While liver enzymes values have been affected by this drug in some rare instances, actual damage due to use of this substance is not a documented problem. Unfortunately the 1 alkylation and 17-beta esterification of Primobolan® do not protect the compound very well during first pass however, so much of your initial dose will not make circulation. This is obviously why we need such high daily dose with the oral version of Primobolan®.

Primobolan® will also not aromatize, so estrogen related side effects are of no concern. This is very useful when leading up to a bodybuilding contest, as subcutaneous water retention (due to estrogen) can seriously lessen the look of hardness and definition to the muscles. Non-aromatizing steroids are therefore indispensable to the competitor, helping to bring about a tight, solid build the weeks leading up to a show. And of course without excess estrogen there is little chance of the athlete developing gynecomastia. Likewise there should never be a need for anti-estrogen use with this steroid. Primobolan® is also said to have a low impact on endogenous testosterone production. Although this may well be true in small clinical doses, it will not hold true for the bodybuilder. For example, in one study more than half of the patients receiving only 30-45 mg noted a suppression of gonadotropin levels of 15% to 65% a. This is a dose far less than most bodybuilders would use, and no doubt increasing it would only lead to worse suppression. One would therefore still need a testosterone stimulating drug like HCG or Clomid®/Nolvadex® when concluding a low-dose Primobolan® cycle, unless a deliberately small dose were being used.

It is also important to note that although the androgenic component of Primobolan® is low, side effects are still possible. One may therefore notice oily skin, acne and facial/body hair growth during treatment. Men with a predisposition for hair loss may also find it exacerbates this condition, and wish to avoid this item (nandrolone injectables are a much better choice). While always possible, side effects rarely reach a point where they interfere with the progress of cycle. Primobolan® is clearly one of the milder and safer oral steroids in production. Female athletes, older or more sensitive individuals and steroid beginners will no doubt find this a comfortable steroid to experiment with.

The dosage for men is somewhere in the range of 75-150mg daily. This can obviously be tedious (and costly) if one can only obtain the 5mg tablets from Mexico and S. America. A mild anabolic such as Primobolan® is often used in conjunction with other steroids for optimal effect, so some users find a slightly lower dose effective when stacking. During a dieting or cutting phase, thought to be its primary application, a non-aromatizing androgen like Halotestin® or trenbolone can be added for example. Such combinations would enhance the physique without water retention, and help bring out a harder and more defined look of muscularity. Non-aromatizing androgen/anabolic stacks like this are in fact very popular among competing bodybuilders. This compound is also occasionally used with more potent androgens during bulking phases of training. The addition of testosterone, Dianabol or Anadrol 50® would prove effective for instance, although the gains are likely to be accompanied by some level of smoothness due to the added estrogenic component.

Among women, Primobolan® is one of the most popular steroids in use. At a dosage of 50-75mg daily, virilization symptoms are extremely uncommon. One would of course not expect a tremendous amount of muscle mass with this drug, and instead should expect a slow and steady (quality) increase. Some women choose to further add-in other anabolics such as Winstrol® or oxandrolone, in an effort to increase the muscle building effectiveness of a cycle. While both of these compounds are quite tolerable to women, one must be sure not to use too high an accumulated dosage. Troublesome androgenic side effects are always a possibility with steroid use, even with very mild substances. Taken at too high a dosage, these weak anabolics can become a formidable danger to femininity. It would therefore be the best advice not to use the normal dosage range of both, but instead start with a much lower dosage of each steroid to compensate for the other. On the black market Primobolan® orals are popular, but still much less commonly found than the injectable. This is due to the higher cost effectiveness of the injectable, which uses the same active compound but with 100% bioavailability due to the form of administration.