FitnessDose

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

What is "HIT"?

The acronym "HIT" stands for HIGH INTENSITY TRAINING. HIT simply means organizing your workouts so that they are:

1. HARD - as hard as possible IN GOOD FORM.
2. BRIEF - 1-3 sets of a few basic exercises performed in an hour or less.
3. INFREQUENT - No more than three times per week, often times two, or even one.
4. SAFE - HIT is meant to be extremely productive in terms of size/strength gains AND also has a built-in safety component. One of the fundamental goals of strength training is to act as INJURY PREVENTATIVE

HIT is a disciplined style of training which is based on the two universally known factors affecting muscular growth - OVERLOAD and PROGRESSION.

The reps should be done in a controlled fashion so tension is placed on the muscles. Some use a 2 second count for the concentric (lifting) phase while others use a 20 second count. The key is performing QUALITY repetitions to a point of volitional fatigue.

One set IS productive, although some high intensity advocates sometimes choose to perform more than one set. Some people may require additional sets. As a general rule, with of course some exceptions, one set performed in a high intensity manner will provide all the stimulation you need.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Nolvadex and Clomid (estrogen receptor antagonists)

Estrogen receptor antagonists, more simply referred to as anti-estrogens (though this term is often loosely applied to all estrogen maintenance drugs), are drugs that block estrogens from exerting activity in the body. This is actualized by the ability of a particular substance to bind to a segment of the estrogen receptor, yet not activate it. This in turn prevents other estrogens from binding and activating the same receptor site. In a clinical setting an estrogen antagonist, most prominently the drug tamoxifen citrate (sold under the brand name Nolvadex) is typically used as the first line of defense during advanced breast cancer therapy. Its use can efficiently deprive estrogen responsive cancer cells of necessary hormone, allowing a high rate of response in patients with such forms of cancer.
Stronger agents such as aromatase inhibitors (discussed below) are usually a second choice, substituted when conventional antiestrogen therapy fails to elicit the desired response.
A drug like tamoxifen is preferred over other agents as the first course of breast cancer treatment for a number of reasons, most due to the fact that that it is both extremely effective yet does not inhibit the actual formation of estrogen in the body. Among other things, this may allow Nolvadex therapy to be somewhat more comfortable for the patient. Although many women (particularly pre-menopausal) seem to suffer menopausal-like side effects with virtually all estrogen maintenance drugs, estrogen antagonists are often somewhat more tolerable than agents that block the synthesis of estrogen. In fact the activity of tamoxifen is itself variable, such that in certain target tissues it may actually act as an agonist (activator) of the estrogen receptor. It therefore does not completely diminish the biological activity of estrogens, though it does considerably reduce it nonetheless.
It is also well understood in medicine today that estrogens play a supportive role in the cardiovascular system. For example, studies show that a rise in the estrogen level (as in post-menopausal estrogen replacement therapy) is typically linked with a reduction in LDL (bad) cholesterol, and a rise in HDL (good) cholesterol. The ability of tamoxifen to act as an estrogen agonist in the liver likewise gives it what may be its most welcome property, namely that it exhibits an estrogenic, rather than antiestrogenic, effect on blood lipid (cholesterol) values. As a 1998 study by the Department of Clinical Oncology in the Netherlands Cancer Institute shows, during long-term treatment with tamoxifen (6 months) a lowered LDL cholesterol level, and significantly elevated HDL cholesterol level and HDL-C/total-cholesterol ratio may result. This trend should reduce an important risk factor for heart disease, obviously a welcome effect during treatment.
For the steroid-using athlete already faced with negative alterations in lipid profiles, such an effect could obviously an important consideration.
Clomid (clomiphene citrate) is very similar in structure to Nolvadex, both drugs being classified as triphenylethylene compounds and used clinically for similar purposes (breast cancer as well as female infertility treatment). As well as we see with Nolvadex, Clomid is a partial agonist/antagonist of the estrogen receptor depending on the target tissue in question. Although athletes most commonly think of Clomid as a testosterone-stimulating drug only (another effect of antiestrogenic compounds), to be used at the conclusion of steroid treatment, its activity in the human body is not at all dissimilar to Nolvadex. It should likewise be thought of not as a drug with its own niche of use, but instead as another efficient remedy for gynecomastia similar to Nolvadex (with the related ability to support the release of testosterone). It could clearly replace Nolvadex as a preventative measure against gynecomastia during cycles with aromatizable steroids without noticeably altering the level of effect received, just as Nolvadex can be used effectively to increase the synthesis of testosterone in the body at the conclusion of steroid use.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Protein Supplementation


Protein-powder is a very popular supplement, and is available at most local drug and health food stores. Before proteins can be used for muscle hypertrophy in the body, they must be broken down to amino acids in the liver. In the liver, they can be resynthesized into muscle proteins, and transported to the muscles for hypertrophy.
Obviously, if the proper stimulus is given, the more amino acids responsible for muscle growth that are present in the body, the more muscle hypertrophy will occur. Simply put, the more protein in the body, the more muscle hypertrophy will occur.
Studies show that ingestion of protein with carbohydrate increases insulin and/or growth hormone level, thus assisting the process of muscle growth. The intake of protein and carbohydrate before exercise boost the efficiency of the workout and lessens recovery time, allowing the athlete to endure more vigorous training sessions. As much as 1.3 to 1.8 g of protein for every Kg of body mass, or 2.2 g at high altitudes, is recommended for weight trainers per day. It is shown that 20 calories per pound of body mass is required to sustain muscle mass, and 25 to 30 calories per pound to actually build muscle mass. Thirteen to seventeen percent of those calories should come from proteins, with twelve to sixteen percent coming from fats, and the rest obtained from carbohydrates.
Tests show that taking protein supplements along with creatine monohydrate works better than just taking protein supplements alone. The positive effects include leaner tissue mass, and increase in bench press power. Another independent study shows how a combination of protein and creatine helps boost muscle GLUT-4 (glucose transport proteins) matter and increases glucose tolerance in the athlete. Human subjects’ right leg was immobilized for the time period of two weeks, and then resistance exercises were put in place for six weeks. GLUT-4 content was decreased in creatine-taking subjects, creatine and protein-taking subjects, and placebo-taking subjects during the 2 weeks of immobilization. When the resistance exercise program was introduced, the GLUT-4 content in creatine-taking subjects were up by 24%, creatine and protein-taking subjects’ GLUT-4 content were increased by 33%, while placebo-taking subjects’ GLUT- content remained constant. Muscle glycogen content in both creaine-taking and creatine and protein-taking subjects, but not placebo-taking subjects.

Friday, August 3, 2012

How to Avoid the Suppression of Testosterone Production by Using Steroids?

How can we intervene in such a complex biological process as testosterone production? How not to harm and to keep the natural level of testosterone?

Classic steroid cycles that operate around the clock (for example, with the use of injectable testosterone esters), necessarily lead to the suppression of the production of LH, and hence the most testosterone. Are there ways to avoid this? There, with as many as three:

1) Not to use highly androgenic steroids around the clock. This can be done, for example, using oral steroids, which have half-lives of only a few hours. In this half of the dose is taken in the morning, and half - around noon. Even 100 mg per day of methandrostenolone can be used in this manner with a slight suppression of testosterone production. The problem with this method is that the efficiency effects of oral steroids is not comparable with the effect of taking injectable drugs.

2) To use moderate doses of so-called "soft" steroids, which slightly upset the production of testosterone. For example, Primobolan in a dosage of 200-400 mg per week is perfect for this purpose. However, the results of such a cycle would be comparable with the effect of taking drugs like Sustanon, Omnadren, testosterone cypionate, etc. However, these steroids significantly inhibit the production of testosterone, even at a dose of 100 mg per week. By the way, so the use of these drugs in low dosage does not make sense.

3) In principle it could be used anti androgens, but it's just completely stop the growth results in a mass and strength.

And the longer the cycle is, the more difficult in the future to restore the normal situation in the body. Therefore, by the way, there is little difference between the use of steroids for 3 or 8 weeks - recovery will take the same time. Between cycles lasting 8 and 12 weeks the difference is more noticeable, even though the 12-week cycle typically does not create too many problems, and restoration of testosterone production would take several weeks. But the cycles are more than 12 weeks can create substantial problems with recovery. It is not known what changes occur in the hypothalamus and pituitary gland in the course too long, but in practice it appears that the longer the cycle after 8 weeks, the longer and more difficult to subsequent recovery. There are suspicions that there are some violations in the mechanisms of secretion of LHRH hypothalamus.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

HGH Human Growth Hormone Effects in Bodybuilding

For young athletes under 27 years, human growth hormone (HGH) acts as a powerful anabolic, positively influencing on increase in body size. This applies to length and thickness of the bones, as well as the amount of muscle. In later years the effect of growth hormone is less noticeable, but its ability to some extent, increase muscle mass, as well as significantly reduce body fat, used in bodybuilding.

Effect of growth hormone

    enhances protein synthesis, provides a steady but slow increase in muscle
    strengthens the bone and connective tissue
    improves metabolism
    increased use of fat for energy needs
    increases in liver glycogen
    at speeds up healing of injuries and rehabilitation

The level and stimulators of growth hormone
Receiving a command from the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland produces growth hormone, which is getting into the blood reaches the liver and converted it into the main working material - somatomedin. Number of growth hormone production increases from birth and reaches a peak of about 21 years, with the same slow down in life. During the night may take place before the 10ti releases the hormone into the bloodstream.
For effective training in bodybuilding, prevent injuries and fatigue, normal growth hormone levels is vital. Even better - if we can improve it.

Stimulants
- Good night's sleep
- The state of stressful
    exercise stress
    pain
    a sharp temperature drop
    Hunger - sleep on an empty stomach is useful in many ways

- The use of protein food. The greatest influence on the production of growth hormone has an intake of protein such as arginine (pork, cheese, cottage cheese, nuts).

Obstacles for the development and effectiveness of HGH can be:

- Exhaustion of the nervous system
- Violations of the liver
- High levels of cortisol
- Receipt of carbohydrate foods

Friday, June 15, 2012

Mythical Danger of Steroids

  Despite the variety of side effects of anabolic steroids, it should be noted that at present the information on them is greatly exaggerated. In the press and on television is often heard that use of anabolic steroids inevitably leads to infertility, impotence, liver damage, and so forth, when in fact, even excessive doses of steroids do not always lead to irreversible consequences. In addition, we must distinguish between the concept of "use" and "abuse". For example, taking anabolic steroids, according to the instructions in the 95% does not cause any complications or adverse reactions, even 4% of the side effects are completely reversible, it is clear that in reality the risk of complications is very low. Abuse involves steroids in high doses or excessive duration of the course. In this situation the risk of side effects increases significantly, while increasing the frequency of irreversible complications. Typically, steroids are presented in the media against the "abuse", so they create a false impression of the picture.


How to prevent adverse effects:

  •      Do not exceed recommended dose (abuse)
  •      Do not combine multiple anabolic steroids, if it does not provide a course  
  •      Do not exceed the duration of the course
  •      Women do not take anabolic steroids, or to make a choice of drugs with a high anabolic index. 
  •      Do not use anabolic steroids under the age of 20 years
  •      Be sure to include in the course of PCT, this will substantially reduce or prevent many side effects.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Breaking Stereotypes About Anabolic Steroids

Most of us perceive anabolic steroids only as a means to build muscle and improve athletic performance. Indeed, according to various sources, about 80-90% of professional athletes, bodybuilders, weightlifting and power lifting, take anabolic steroids. These drugs have become a mandatory attribute of the youth sports movement in the world.

From 30 to 60% of boys practicing in athletic clubs regularly use anabolic steroids. There is a struggle with every possible means with their irregular distribution. In some countries, young people are bullied with "terrible" consequences of taking anabolic steroids, in others - their distribution and use is punishable by law. Great attention is paid to this topic in the media, especially during competitions and championships. We forget only one ... The fact that anabolic steroids are drugs that showed high efficacy and safety in treating of a wide range of diseases.

When anabolics are indicated?
The term "anabolic steroids" and "anabolics" comes from the word "anabolic" which means synthesis, the formation and renewal of the structural parts of the cells and tissues. Thus, anabolic - it's a whole group of different structure and origin of chemical substances that can enhance the anabolic processes in the body, especially protein synthesis.

In varying degrees, different substances have anabolic effects: hormones (androgens, pituitary hormones, growth hormone, insulin, gonadotropin), synthetic hormone-active drugs (anabolic steroids, anti-estrogens), vitamins, coenzymes, vitamin-like substances, herbal adaptogens, nootropics, and antihypoxants amino acids. However, the most active of which are anabolic steroids.

Why did we choose anabolic steroids?
In addition to the basic mechanism of action - stimulation of protein synthesis, anabolic steroids carry a whole range of other functions in the human body. They contribute to the fixation of calcium in the bones, increasing bone mass in osteoporosis. Keep in mind that taking anabolic steroids leads to a sharp increase in the assimilation of protein by the body. If the normal adult needs 70 to 100 grams of protein per day, against the backdrop of these drugs need for protein may increase up to 300 g / day. In this regard, during therapy with anabolic steroids proportion of protein in the diet should be increased, and the fats and carbohydrates - to decrease. It is well known that in the context of low protein supply anabolic steroids are not active.

It is also important to note that the excess of therapeutic doses of anabolic steroids, gives only a slight increase anabolic effect, while the risk of side effects increases dramatically. In severe overdose can occur even with increased catabolic effect of the decay rate of muscle proteins and the development of nitrogen deficiency. This is probably due to the fact that an excess of anabolic steroids can improve thyroid function and, therefore, cause a power shortage. In addition, these substances at higher serum concentrations can be transformed in the liver to estrogens, which inhibit the anabolic response in men.

Currently, the claim that anabolic steroids negatively affect male function, may be considered devoid of good reason. On the other hand, anabolic steroids in therapeutic doses cause increased sex drive and to improve the morphological state of the gonads. To avoid negative side effects and also to save a lot of money buy anabolic steroids from proven and reliable online steroid shop. One of such online shops is HalfPriceGear.com. To buy steroids at the best prices just browse http://www.halfpricegear.com/