2005 Peel Off Results And PhotosEvery 4th of July, Morgantown Federal Correctional Institution has its annual “Peel-Off”— an unofficial quasi bodybuilding contest of sorts. The inmates watch their diet, weight-train with increased intensity and add in daily cardio sessions in an effort to get as ripped as possible. Most of the guys are quite impressive looking considering the limited food, lack of supplements and questionable weight equipment. The 2005 Morgantown Peel-Off was, once again, scheduled for July 4th. Ironically, it was also the same day I was scheduled to leave for home so the inmates, thankfully, moved the contest up to the weekend prior, so I could judge and witness this unique spectacle. It gives me great pleasure and peace, for the first time in the history of a bodybuilding magazine, to publish the official results of the 2005 Morgantown Federal Prison “Peel-Off” Bodybuilding competition. Hopefully, this will become an annual ritual for years to come. It’s important to acknowledge the hard work and sacrifices these inmates have endured to achieve the level of muscularity and conditioning they presented on this warm July afternoon.
RESULTS: 2005 Morgantown Federal Prison Peel-Off First Place: Shannon Ford Second Place: Efrain Ramos Third Place: Linell Price Fourth Place: Sherman Fifth Place: Dontes Evans
Dave, what’s the deal with essential fatty acids? How about monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats? I’m so confused by the whole omega-3 and omega-6 debate.
In our frenzy to avoid killer fats, we can easily forget the fats that heal. We must obtain these fats from the food and supplements we take in order to be healthy. In humans, there are two specific essential fatty acids (EFAs): linoleic acid (omega-6 fatty acid) and alpha linolenic acid (omega-3 fatty acid). Linoleic acid is an omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid and can be found in sunflower, safflower, corn, sesame and other oils. Deficiencies of linoleic acid can result in dry skin, liver degeneration, loss of hair, sterility in men, miscarriage in women, arthritis-like symptoms and of interest to bodybuilders, failure to grow.Alpha linolenic acid is an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid and can be found in fatty fishes such as salmon, swordfish, herring and mackerel, as well as in seeds and nuts such as flax seed, walnuts and almonds. Deficiencies of alpha linolenic acid can result in impaired vision, high triglycerides, sticky platelets, high blood pressure, tissue inflammation and, most notably to bodybuilders, growth retardation. The high prevalence of circulatory and heart-associated side effects related to deficiencies of alpha linolenic acid explains why the omega-3 fatty acids are so instrumental in cardiovascular health.Our hunter-gatherer ancestors ate an equal balance (1:1 ratio) of linoleic acid (omega-6) to alpha linolenic acid (omega-3). Junk food, rampant vegetable oil use and the feeding of grain to food animals (even fish) has resulted in our current consumption ratios (today) rising to a scary 20:1 ratio. What’s the best source of essential fatty acids (EFAs) with an equivalent amount of omega-6 to omega-3 fats? Flax seed oil, you might suggest? The answer is a resounding, NO! Flax seed oil, while being a healthy source of omega-3 fats, has a very low percentage of omega-6 fats. According to my friend, accountant and masters national-level bodybuilder Ron Noreman, macadamia nut oil is the solution to all our prayers. Let’s examine why it’s so ideal.Macadamia nut oil has the perfect ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids, 1:1. In fact, it also has the highest concentration of omega-9 monounsaturated fats (oleic acid, specifically) than any other oil. The omega-9 fat, oleic acid, has documented cancer preventative and heart protective properties. It’s considered the gold standard for reducing inflammation and restoring health to our internal environment. Macadamia nut oil is so high in monounsaturated fats (84-85 percent) it even surpasses olive oil (65-74 percent). Macadamia nut oil has an extremely high smoke point (410 degrees), which means it’s excellent for stir-fry and baking. Olive oil has a much lower smoke point (325 degrees or less) and it degrades when used in cooking. Finally, macadamia nut oil has a sweet buttery taste, is resistant to oxidation and is extremely high in vitamin E (four times higher than olive oil).My personal belief is macadamia nut oil will become the next whey protein in the nutrition world. Not only does it keep your heart and body healthy (omega-9), it provides essential fatty acids (omega-3 and omega-6), in ideal ratios, which are necessary to help rebuild precious muscle tissue while, simultaneously, ensuring optimal fat burning. What’s the difference between the hormones aldosterone and ADH? The body regulates water balance in two very unique ways: Aldosterone, a hormone released from the adrenal glands, instructs the kidney tubules to reabsorb sodium (and thus water). When sodium concentrations in the blood drop, aldosterone secretion increases and when sodium levels rise, aldosterone release decreases. Take home message: The more sodium you ingest, the less aldosterone released; thus the less water retained. High estrogen levels can also significantly increase aldosterone secretion resulting in excess sodium and fluid retention. That’s bad news for pre-menopausal women and steroid-enhanced men. ADH (anti-diuretic hormone), also known as vasopressin, is a peptide hormone released from the posterior pituitary gland in response to low blood pressure. When less “stretch” is sensed on the blood vessel walls (indicating decreased blood volume), the posterior pituitary compensates and raises blood pressure by releasing ADH. ADH does two important things: it instructs the kidney tubules to reabsorb more water and increases the thirst (dypsogenic) mechanism resulting in a greater desire to drink. Certain nutritional supplements such as yohimbine can raise ADH levels, which, ultimately, can lead to excess fluid retention. Conventional wisdom says to stop all yohimbine supplements at least one week prior to competition. In addition, an important differentiation between aldosterone and ADH is that ADH release is unaffected by sodium levels.
I see you’re endorsing a new product called JETFUEL™. What is it?
JETFUEL™, marketed by German-American Technologies, is a liquid capsule formula designed to burn body fat, promote long lasting energy, improve stamina and increase concentration. Although I was in prison at the time of its public release, I personally helped to formulate this product. The product contains a unique blend of well over 20 high-potency fat-burning agents.Caffeine, guarana (containing 22 percent caffeine), green tea extract and synephrine all function to raise the user’s metabolic rate that the body has no choice but to increase the utilization of fatty acids to increase energy output.Yohimbine, an alpha-2 blocking agent, has been included in an attempt to target receptor-mediated fat mobilization. In tissues containing high levels of alpha-2 receptors (mostly around the hips and thighs), yohimbine blocks these receptors and increases the release of norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter that increases fat utilization.From a hormonal perspective, guggelsterones (Ayurvedic herbs) have been added since, experimentally, it’s been shown to increase the output of thyroid hormone, which, as we all know, ultimately influences metabolic rate.Finally, we know the adrenal stress hormone, cortisol, is responsible for muscle wasting and blood sugar elevation (two very undesirable metabolic states for the dieting bodybuilder); therefore, the cortisol-blocking agents, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine have been included. And, as an added advantage, these three aforementioned ingredients also happen to belong to a class of nutritional supplements known as smart drugs, which increase mental acuity, concentration and long-term focusing ability.
What is DHEA and what is its function in the body? Would increased DHEA levels make anabolic steroids more effective in the body? Would it decrease the chance or negative side effects?
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a naturally occurring steroidal hormone produced by the cortical adrenal glands. DHEA is considered a master hormone or prohormone because it can be further converted to generate over 50 other essential hormones. DHEA is the most abundant hormone in our blood and adequate blood DHEA levels are critical for many vital hormonal and metabolic functions of our body. Our bodies produce less and less DHEA as we age and, as a result, blood DHEA levels are significantly decreased by the age of 30 and have fallen by as much as 50 percent by 40.Replaced DHEA levels have been correlated with an improved sense of well being, reduced body fat, enhanced skin tone and moisture, increased sex drive, enhanced immunity, improved memory and increased bone density. Usually, replacement doses range from 50-100 milligrams per day for men and 10-25 milligrams per day for women. DHEA has no synergism or antagonism with anabolic steroids; therefore, it should not affect, one way or another, the chance of negative side effects. The most significant results I’ve witnessed from DHEA supplementation took place in a 70-year old man who dropped seven percent body fat, gained 10 pounds of lean muscle and reported increases in sex drive and endurance after only 16 weeks of use. For performance purposes, men over the age of 30 can benefit from adding DHEA to their supplement regimes. Performance dosages are in the range of 300 milligrams per day for men and 50 milligrams per day for women. Expect increases in lean muscle tissue, decreases in body fat stores and significant increases in sex drive.
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Performance Nutrition 
