Written by DR. GEORGE TOULIATOS, MD
12 October 2021

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Striated Glutes and Aromatase Inhibitors

 

By George Touliatos, MD

 

“No matter how many drugs you take, you ain’t gonna look like Ronnie if you don’t bust your butt.”

 

Q: Is it true that you need aromatase inhibitors to get rid of the last fat on the lower body, specifically in the glutes and hams? Does it pertain more to women than men, or does everyone need an aromatase inhibitor to get those striated glutes?

           

A: Estrogens favor fluid retention and fat storage; that’s why women look more flabby than men. Fat makes you look smoother and fat releases estrogens through the aromatase enzyme. Besides, adipose tissue contains water itself and we know that women who get leaner (either on gear or not) lower their body fat percentage, and estrogens as well. This is the reason their menstrual cycles cease for a while. In men who are competing for a show, estrogens have to be lowered in order for the physique to look grainy and dry.

           

Back in the ‘80s when aromatase inhibitors (AIs) were not yet manufactured, Olympia competitors used to rely on SERM tamoxifen and mesterolone/drostanolone (synthetic DHT). Nolvadex occupies the ER, while Proviron/Masteron have slight anti-estrogenic activity, as androgens that don’t convert to estrogens.

           

As far as I remember, striated glutes were not seen on stage until Richard Gaspari brought this ultra-shredded and peeled conditioning in 1987 at 225 pounds. He was the first professional to have striated glutes. Perhaps the use of diuretics (spironolactone, thiazide, furosemide) was part of the final touch the day before the show, along with sodium and water deprivation.

  

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In my personal experience as a national competitor and double champion, the use of AIs is necessary. However, I fondly remember during my first win as a fitness competitor that AIs were not yet available. Nevertheless my conditioning was exceptional (4% body fat), but my glutes were not striated. Neither were they striated the following time I won, when I was heavier at 5%, when I used AIs extensively.

           

The take-home message is that you need all the weapons in order to achieve the ultimate conditioning (AAS, AIs, GH, ECA, T3, clenbuterol), as long as there is hard diet and harder training in the leg department (cardio along with weights).

           

No matter how many drugs you take, you ain’t gonna look like Ronnie if you don’t bust your butt in supersets of hyperextensions/abductors and walking lunges/Romanian deadlifts. Along with uphill walking and StairMaster cardio.

           

Finally, there are some athletes who have better genetics as body types (ectomorphs/mesomorphs) with a higher metabolism and blessed to get rid of adipose tissue.

 

George Touliatos, MD is an author, lecturer, champion competitive bodybuilder and expert in medical prevention regarding PED use in sports. Dr. Touliatos specializes in medical biopathology and is the medical associate of Orthobiotiki.gr and Medihall.gr, Age Management and Preventive Clinics in Athens, Greece. Heis the author of four Greek books on bodybuilding, has extensively developed articles for www.anabolic.org and is the medical associate for the book Anabolics, 11th Edition (2017). Dr. Touliatos has been a columnist for the Greek editions of MuscleMag and Muscular Development magazines, and has participated in several seminars across Greece and Cyprus, making numerous TV and radio appearances, doing interviews in print and online. His personal website is https://gtoul.com/

 

 
 

DrTBible

 

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