What is insulin sensitivity? How can I optimize the amount of insulin in my body (without getting fat)?
Insulin is released from the beta cells of the pancreas in response to a rise in blood glucose (sugar) levels. Insulin, in turn, facilitates the transport of glucose into the cells of the body so it (glucose) can be used as an energy source in fueling cellular functions. Each cell in the body possesses receptors for insulin. The number of insulin receptors dictates how easily the body will be able to clear sugar from the blood and push it into the cells. If the number of insulin receptors located on the cell membrane is very low, we say the cell is in a state of “insulin resistance.” The body’s first response to this state is to release more insulin from the pancreas (thinking there isn’t enough insulin present). When insulin is over-secreted, the body has a much greater tendency to store glucose as fat; therefore, it’s very important for the body to be as receptive as possible to the insulin it produces. Insulin sensitivity, then, defines how responsive the insulin receptor is with regard to shuttling glucose into the various cells in the body. Individuals who have numerous, responsive, insulin receptors tend to under-secrete insulin and thus tend to be leaner by nature, whereas individuals who are highly insulin resistant tend to over-secrete insulin and thus, tend to put body fat on more readily. People who fall into the first group (under-secreters) might find that by adding “small” amounts (2-4IU) of exogenous insulin (Humulin-R) to their daily regimens, they will increase the amount of lean muscle tissue they accrue, since they will have a greater anabolic drive (more Amino Acids and glucose will be pushed into the muscle cells).
On the other hand, people who fall into the second group (over-secreters) will benefit from taking supplements or drugs that increase insulin sensitivity. One new drug, in particular, that recently hit the market is called Avandia (rosiglitazone maleate). Avandia improves glycemic (blood glucose) control while lowering circulating insulin levels. Therefore, it will restore an insulin resistant individual (someone with low insulin receptors and high insulin secretion) to a healthier, more normal state in which they will maintain a leaner body composition while simultaneously possessing better control of blood glucose levels.
I know you would understand this problem because of your medical background. I'm a 38-year-old male who happens to be a very experienced lifter of 20+ years. I weigh around 270 pounds. I just got off a small cycle of steroids that lasted five weeks. I took 50-75 milligrams of trenbolone every other day and 500 milligrams of Deca a week. I made good gains in a short time. The cycle ended with 25 milligrams of Proviron per day for 20 days and 100 milligrams of Clomid per day for five days. After I finished the Clomid, I went to the doctor for blood work. I told the doctor I just finished a steroid cycle. My cholesterol was great! It was at 132 with an HDL of 46 and LDL of 71. The doctor said my liver values were just a little high, but nothing to be concerned with; however, he was concerned was my high CPK levels. Also, my creatinine levels were high and the protein in my urine was a bit elevated. I know steroids can raise all these levels, but the doctor thinks that because of the high CPK I have some sort of muscle wasting in my body. He wants me to go for an echocardiogram. He wants to check me for hepatitis and mononucleosis. I'm scared to death here! I feel good! I know getting off the gear can cause catabolism; however, Dave, what, in your opinion, is going on here? How can I lower my CPK? CPK (Creatine phosphokinase) is an enzyme found within all cells of the body. Its primary function within the cell is to convert Creatine into the higher energy substrate Creatine phosphate. The largest percentage of this CPK enzyme is usually found in skeletal muscle cells, cardiac (or heart) muscle cells and liver (hepatic) cells. The problem with athletes who weight train on a regular basis is that they are constantly breaking down a tremendous amount of muscle tissue. This breakdown of muscle is the stimulus that, ultimately, causes the muscle cells to rebuild themselves bigger and stronger. As muscle tissue is damaged through intense training, this CPK enzyme gets released into the blood stream. When blood from a bodybuilder is taken and analyzed, high levels of CPK are usually observed. Occasionally, these levels can be thousands of times higher than what would normally be measured. This CPK anomaly leads unknowing doctors to assume the unusually high CPK levels are coming from either damaged heart muscle (possibly caused by a heart attack) or destroyed liver cells (indicating some form of hepatitis may be present). The best way to determine the true nature of the elevated CPK is to perform what’s called an Iso-Enzyme Test. This test enables the physician to determine exactly where the particular CPK is coming from (whether from heart, liver, or skeletal muscle). A safe assumption is that when CPK levels are elevated so far off the charts that even a heart attack seems like a remote possibility, chances are the elevation is caused by destruction of skeletal muscle tissue due to intense weight training. The only way to get those CPK levels to return to normal would be to take a good one to two weeks off from the gym. And who really wants to do that?Dave, I’m told I have great genetics for bodybuilding. I have good muscle size, good symmetry and I lean out rather easily. My problem always seems to arise in the final week or so before a contest. I always seem to get sick, or injure myself, or do something stupid to sabotage my chances of winning the “big” show. What is wrong with me? Am I cursed or what? As he lay in jail contemplating the imminent execution of a fellow prisoner for the murder of his wife, the great author and poet, Oscar Wilde, once wrote,
Yet each man kills the thing he loves
By each let this be heard,
Some do it with a bitter look,
Some with a flattering word.
The coward does it with a kiss,
The brave man with a sword!
The impulse to “kill and suppress the image of what we most desire but have never had” is strong within us all. Do not throw away all your talents and gifts due to fear. It has been written that fear is nothing more than false evidence appearing real. Dave, I really need to know if there are any new companies producing anabolic steroids. The current market is flooded with tons of counterfeits. I am actually afraid to use the stuff that is circulating out there right now. Please, help out a fellow hardcore bodybuilder!
Animal Power is a new international company (located in Mexico) that combines the talents of French and Australian scientists to produce high- quality anabolic pharmaceuticals. The patented “vehicle” (oil delivery system) they use in all their injectable products has special characteristics, such as an almost neutral pH; low irritation on injection site (virtually no pain); optimum absorption levels; a density level similar to water (easy injections); and low viscosity levels (which makes it easy to disperse). For a full list of their products (complete with photos) and for verification of lot numbers and expiration dates, check out their website at www.animalpower.com.mx.
The following is a list of Animal Power products that should hit the market in the very near future.
(1) METHAN TABS (methandrostenolone, 10mg/pill; 100 pills), commonly known as Dianabol tablets. (2) STAN TABS (stanozolol, 10mg/pill; 100 pills), also known as Winstrol tablets (10mg is much more desirable than the usual two-milligram pink pills from Zambon). (3) OXANDRO TABS (oxandrolone, 5mg/pill; 100 pills), called Anavar or Oxandrin in the United States. (4) METALON TABS (oxymetholone, 75mg/pill; 100 pills), another name for Anadrol (only in 75mg strength) (5) CYPIOTEST (testosterone cypionate, 250mg/mL; 10mL), at 250mg/mL, it is the most potent testosterone cypionate on the market. (6) DECA 300 (nandrolone decanoate, 300mg/mL; 10mL), incredibly potent at 300mg/mL (7) BOLD 200 (boldenone undecyclenate, 200mg/mL; 10mL), also known as Equipoise or Ganabol. It is being produced in 200 milligrams, rather than the usual weak 50mg, strength. (8) STAN 50 (micronized stanozolol, 50mg/mL; 10mL)— injectable Winstrol (9) ENANTEST (testosterone enanthate, 250mg/mL; 10mL) (10) PROPIOTEST (testosterone propionate, 100mg/mL; 10mL), buffered in such a way as to cause the least possible pain at the injection site. (11) TRENBO 75 (trenbolone acetate, 75mg/mL; 10mL), also known as Finajet
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