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Written by Dave Palumbo
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Thursday, 08 April 2004 |
I realize my column typically consists of information pertaining to hardcore bodybuilding issues; however, this month I feel the need to first voice some of my frustrations with the sport. First off, I find the current state of the bodybuilding Internet message boards to be a vile, negative environment fostered by jealous, envious individuals who seem to enjoy living their lives vicariously through the “thrill of victory” and “misery of defeat” of the hard-working bodybuilders of our sport. A very wise Korean healer named Ilchi Lee explained what true success and fulfillment is, when he said, “If you achieve enlightenment through positive energy and deed, you will be invincible.”If more bodybuilders embraced this insightful philosophy, we would have a tight-knit community of successful, self-fulfilled athletes with no need for jealousy, greed or envy.Secondly, I wish to comment on George Bush’s new policy of non-tolerance with regard to performance-enhancing substances. For the first time in the history of this country, bodybuilders have become “public enemy number one” and as a result, are being arrested and interrogated for their use and sale of anabolic steroids and growth hormone. The recent “crackdown” and ensuing media fervor would have you believe anabolic steroids (which are nothing more than male hormones) are in the same health risk category as “crack” cocaine and heroin. I guess we should all thank President Bush for locking up all the bodybuilders so the streets are safe for all the crooked stockbrokers, murderers and terrorists!I have an interesting proposition. Instead of putting all the ”dangerous” bodybuilders in the already overcrowded jails, why not force them to wear a huge letter “S” on their shirts so the rest of the community can be alerted that they are convicted “Steroid” users. Think of this punishment as Megan’s Law meets the SCARLET LETTER! Q: I've been training for a few years now, not at the competitive level, but for myself. I used to be a fat dude weighing 300 pounds at 6'1". I started by taking a little clenbuterol and Ripped Fuel (which contained ephedra) and I lost most of my fat and dropped down to 224. For the past couple of years, I've been training extremely hard and I’m up to 267 pounds. Here’s my problem: My chest is pretty big, but I have this ugly looking fat at the bottom of my pec muscles. I've been tested for gynecomastia and it's not that. I watch what I eat and keep my carbs low. I just can't lose this damn “chest” fat. What should I do?
A: I’ve had a lot of experience with fat loss problems in various populations of individuals. Abdominal fat deposition is common among men and post-menopausal women, whereas hip, thigh and gluteal fat is found almost exclusively in pre-menopausal women. Stubborn pectoral fat (especially around the nipple) is almost always caused by glandular hypertrophy (in other words, gynecomastia, or “bitch tits”). You claim to have been tested for gynecomastia, yet there is no definitive lab test (aside from taking a biopsy) to diagnose the condition. What you must realize is that not all gynecomastia is hard, lumpy and sore to the touch. Most gynecomastia is a diffuse, glandular condition that feels (to the touch) like huge chunks of fat. The only solution to your problem is to have the glandular tissue removed. If you choose this permanent solution, I recommend using a board certified plastic surgeon with experience operating on bodybuilders.
Dr. Mordcai Blau removed my gynecomastia over 10 years ago and since that time, he has worked on over 500 additional bodybuilders ranging in age from 16 to 75. In my opinion, his knowledge regarding gynecomastia removal is unsurpassed. To contact Dr. Blau or to find out more about the condition, log on to his website, www.gynecomastiaUSA.com. Q: I am 28 years old, 6'6", 310 pounds, 17.4 percent body fat (I get hydrostatically tested every 12 weeks) and have been weight training for over 12 years (for the last four years I have been very serious). I have changed careers (from computer geek to personal trainer and nutritionist) to ensure that I make my bodybuilding goals a priority. I'm currently on my very first anabolic steroid cycle, taking 600 milligrams of Deca per week and 40 milligrams of Dianabol daily. I'm not seeing any difference at all. I feel "pumped up" (more often) and my workouts are going great, but I've been measuring my body parts (and taking pictures) every week and nothing has gotten bigger. I'm eating clean— 400 grams of protein per day (whey, tuna, eggs, chicken, turkey), 400 grams of complex carbohydrates per day (with 100 grams coming from simple sugars, post-workout) and no more than 50 grams of fat per day. I want to put on size without putting on too much fat (since I have such a hard time getting lean). I'm 99 percent sure the “gear” I have is legitimate. I desperately want to get huge (but I also wish to stay as ripped as possible). Which anabolic steroids should I take to get huge and shredded? Why can’t I grow? A: If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times: Anabolic steroids do not burn fat; they build muscle. Therefore, it doesn’t matter which drugs you take. If your body fat levels are “low” (under eight percent), you’ll look hard and ripped (especially when you take anabolics). However, if your body fat levels are high, no matter which steroids you take, you’ll always appear “fat.” Additionally, while your diet seems “foolproof” to you, your fat intake is pathetically low (only five percent of your total caloric consumption) to support the kind of muscle gains you’re attempting to accrue. Increase your fat intake to 150-200 grams per day. Try consuming at least six whole eggs, eight ounces of red meat or eight ounces of salmon, one cup of cashew nuts or almonds and 2,600 milligrams of primrose oil daily. Once you incorporate this missing variable into your carefully designed diet regimen, you’ll notice immediate gains in lean muscle.With regard to “gear,” my suggestion to you is to take 1,000 milligrams of testosterone cypionate per week with 50 milligrams of trenbolone every other day (EOD) for the next 12 weeks (nothing too fancy) and see what kind of results you get. I have a feeling, assuming you follow my dietary suggestions, you will be happy with the results. Q: Now that ephedrine is illegal and virtually impossible to obtain, what would you recommend that I take to help burn fat? I don’t want to take any stimulant-based fat burner that’s going to make me a nervous wreck. I respect your opinions and advice.
A: Usnic acid is the newest class of fat burner to hit the marketplace. Brought to public attention in the late 1990s by the now deceased “Steroid Guru” Dan Duchaine, no one took immediate interest in ths relatively unknown fat burner until now (probably due to the recent criminalization of ephedra-based Fat Burners). According to the website, www.UsnicAcid.net, in the world of biochemistry, Usnic acid is what is known as an uncoupling agent. When fatty acids are oxidized inside the energy-producing units (or mitochondrion) of the muscle cell, an invaluable high-energy compound known as ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is produced. Usnic acid “uncouples” or disconnects the ATP-producing machinery and releases the wasted potential energy as heat. In turn, the muscle cell must oxidize additional fatty acids to compensate for this energy loss.Usual dosages of Usnic acid are in the range of 30-50 milligrams per day (usually taken 10 milligrams per dose with food). As far as I know, the only name brand products that currently contain Usnic acid as the main active ingredient are Perfect Physique’s Shred (www.perfectphysique.com) and Icon Nutrition’s Lipogenesis.
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