Ask the Exercise Scientist

[MuscleScience]

I read somewhere that your body can take in like 40-50g of protein for every 2 hours. I might of gotten things wrong, but i'd like to know while on cycle how much more protein can your body take in per 2 hrs or so since protein synthesis is increased? For example taking 400mg/week of test e, how much more is protein synthesis increased?

There really is no set consensus on how much protein that a person can fully assimilate in the literature. I have seen numbers as low as 20grams and some as high as 70grams. Certainly AAS increases protein synthesis and feed efficiency, I am not versed on the literature in that area so I couldnt give you an educated answer on that.

[MuscleScience]

Bump

[rcd2424]

Hey musclescience i have a quick question...i went to the doctors not to long ago to get some blood work done and when they called me back they said my blood protein level was to high and told me to stop taking protein shakes for a month and come back to get it checked out again to see if it had went back to normal....now my question is can this be caused from protein shakes?? i did some research and found out that food cannot cause a higher blood protein level and asked the doctor about it and he said that protein shakes are different and can cause this. But i have been drinking protein shakes for years and at most only ever have 1 a day post workout...the whole thing seems a little unclear to me and i was hoping you could clear this up for me?

[Lemonada8]

i got a ?...

is there any way to increase the amount of protein asorbed by your body other than spreading out my shakes though out the day... i find that if i am having 3 shakes a day that it ends up rottin in my large intestine and end up being deficated out... i know like iron asorbtion is increased by vit C, is there anything liek that for protein?

[MuscleScience]

Hey musclescience i have a quick question...i went to the doctors not to long ago to get some blood work done and when they called me back they said my blood protein level was to high and told me to stop taking protein shakes for a month and come back to get it checked out again to see if it had went back to normal....now my question is can this be caused from protein shakes?? i did some research and found out that food cannot cause a higher blood protein level and asked the doctor about it and he said that protein shakes are different and can cause this. But i have been drinking protein shakes for years and at most only ever have 1 a day post workout...the whole thing seems a little unclear to me and i was hoping you could clear this up for me?

You know I have never seen in the medical literature where a whey protein shake cause such a condition in a healthy individual. However I am not qualified to to make any argument or recommendation against what your doctor has told you. My advise is to listen to your doctor and see what the next round of labs say. Sorry I couldnt have been of more help.

Good luck and keep me posted please.

[MuscleScience]

i got a ?...

is there any way to increase the amount of protein asorbed by your body other than spreading out my shakes though out the day... i find that if i am having 3 shakes a day that it ends up rottin in my large intestine and end up being deficated out... i know like iron asorbtion is increased by vit C, is there anything liek that for protein?

The mechanisms to absorb protein in the GI tract are already pretty efficient. Other than eating foods that tend to slow GI motility there really isnt much more that you can do to help the process along.

[Jumbo18]

Hello MuscleScience,

I am having a chat with a friend, and we are arguing about how hormones effects the growth of particular organs while growing up. I decided to come to you as being a very knowledgeable individual to clarify a few things for us. It is understood that testosterone is a very important sex hormone.

This question is regarding the growth of the male penis. If a 17 year old male individual would suppress his testosterone levels for the next two years, would the growth of his penis halt or continue growing since testosterone does not relate to the size of penile growth. If testosterone levels are resumed back to normal around the age of 19, would penis growth continue or the body will naturally grow organs to their rightful size regardless of any low levels of testosterone in the body.

[MuscleScience]

Hello MuscleScience,

I am having a chat with a friend, and we are arguing about how hormones effects the growth of particular organs while growing up. I decided to come to you as being a very knowledgeable individual to clarify a few things for us. It is understood that testosterone is a very important sex hormone.

This question is regarding the growth of the male penis. If a 17 year old male individual would suppress his testosterone levels for the next two years, would the growth of his penis halt or continue growing since testosterone does not relate to the size of penile growth. If testosterone levels are resumed back to normal around the age of 19, would penis growth continue or the body will naturally grow organs to their rightful size regardless of any low levels of testosterone in the body.

Penile growth is indeed related to testosterone both in the fetal/infantile, adolescence and puberty stages. During puberty the rush of testosterone production cause among other things the secondary growth of the penis. While testosterone levels are not the only factor they do play an important role in growth and development of the male genitals. Growth Hormone has also been implicated as a important factor too, although it is generally understood that its influence is not as major a factor as androgens are.

To answer your question, at that particular age the person should be very close to sexual maturity. It is unlikely that the use of androgens at that age would cause any major decrease or increase in penile size. More importantly would be the effects it would have on the testicles during their maturity.

[MaNiCC]

when are you going to finish this thread

[bjpennnn]

I want to get blood work done, for my test levels, prolactin, the whole deal what do i say and were can i go to get this done and it is expensive.

[MuscleScience]

I want to get blood work done, for my test levels, prolactin, the whole deal what do i say and were can i go to get this done and it is expensive.

You will more than likely have to be referred to and Endo. Then you will have to tell him either you use AAS or that you have some sort of sexual dysfunction before he will order a prolactin lab. I couldnt tell you the cost each labs cost is a bit different.

[peachfuzz]

I want to get blood work done, for my test levels, prolactin, the whole deal what do i say and were can i go to get this done and it is expensive.

check out directlabs.com

[bjpennnn]

thanks guys. I wonder if they take insurance

[bjpennnn]

oh ya what do i want to as to get done, like the basics when people say get blood work done on here?

[MuscleScience]

oh ya what do i want to as to get done, like the basics when people say get blood work done on here?

Liver. ALT, AST,
CBC with differential.
Testosterone Total and Free.
Cholesterol
basic metabolic panel.

If you dont go through a MD for referral, insurance will not pay.

[bjpennnn]

and prolactin is just prolactin?

[MuscleScience]

and prolactin is just prolactin?

I believe so, I would have to look in my Lab book which I dont have on me right now.

[bjpennnn]

ty sir much appreciated

[Friend]

Is it true that the more muscle groups you incorporate in a workout, the more growth hormone the body releases?

[MuscleScience]

Is it true that the more muscle groups you incorporate in a workout, the more growth hormone the body releases?

Yep, basically the more lactate(or other metabolic wastes products) produced the more GH is released. I havent really seen a clear cut explanation of what really facilitates the release of GH from working out. There has been a lot of different theories with no one major factor being consider the prime instigator. at least the last time I really read up on the subject in the literature a few years ago.

[Mooseman33]

have the worst dull pain in right shoulder when i bench or incline.
only occurs on light weight, anything over 315 and its pain free, but 275 and less, im fvking hurting...

any ideas other then to stop benching?

thanks in advance, and ur avi still scares the shit out of me....lol

[MuscleScience]

have the worst dull pain in right shoulder when i bench or incline.
only occurs on light weight, anything over 315 and its pain free, but 275 and less, im fvking hurting...

any ideas other then to stop benching?

thanks in advance, and ur avi still scares the shit out of me....lol

I have the same thing with squat. It hurts like hell when I do warmup weight but when I get to my working weight I feel fine. I think it may have to due with the neural effects required to move more weight. I mean you have to stimulate this motor pathway and inhibit another, and so on. The mean effect may be a decrease in pain perception and an increase in proprioceptive input which may enhance the awareness of improper form. I couldnt really give you a concrete answer. Just some theories I have heard from varies PhD's and other professionals in the past.

Going back to the pain though. If rest is something you could do then I would certainly advise that. If that is not an option your willing to try first, then seeing a sports doc, Physical Therapist or Chiro would probably be a more prudent step to determine whether your experiencing just pain or actually injury.

[Mooseman33]

thank u sir...

[JDawg1536]

I talked to you about what I thought was forearm tendinitis, but I don't think that's my problem. I was reading some other people posting about forearm splints. You have any info about this?

[peachfuzz]

is isolated systolic hypertension (stage 2) cause for alarm when on a cycle? what im asking is does the fact that its isolated to systolic pressure mean anything? any advice for controlling it besides an AI?

[MuscleScience]

I talked to you about what I thought was forearm tendinitis, but I don't think that's my problem. I was reading some other people posting about forearm splints. You have any info about this?

Where you describe your pain is exactly where I get it myself. The one thing I have found is that exercise that keep the wrist in supination throughout the full ROM tend to cause me a lot more pain. For example straight bar curls absolutely kill my forearms.

The only thing I could really give you advice on would be to seek a professional opinion on the matter. For example a PT, Chiro or even a sports doc would be able to better diagnose your forearm pain. More than likely a PCP would send you to a specialist like a sports doc or a PT or Chiro. Someone that deals mostly with muscleskeletal injuries.

Really wish I could help you more...

[JDawg1536]

Where you describe your pain is exactly where I get it myself. The one thing I have found is that exercise that keep the wrist in supination throughout the full ROM tend to cause me a lot more pain. For example straight bar curls absolutely kill my forearms.

The only thing I could really give you advice on would be to seek a professional opinion on the matter. For example a PT, Chiro or even a sports doc would be able to better diagnose your forearm pain. More than likely a PCP would send you to a specialist like a sports doc or a PT or Chiro. Someone that deals mostly with muscleskeletal injuries.

Really wish I could help you more...

Thanks man. My sister just started working for a chiro, I'll let you know how it works out.

[MuscleScience]

Thanks man. My sister just started working for a chiro, I'll let you know how it works out.

Good deal,

Let me know what you find out.

Thanks.

Best of luck.

MS.

[BJJ]

I accomplish, on a regular basis, upside down pull ups to reinforce forearms, train the dorsal muscles, abs and to improve my equilibrium.

What do you think about that type of exercise?

[MuscleScience]

I accomplish, on a regular basis, upside down pull ups to reinforce forearms, train the dorsal muscles, abs and to improve my equilibrium.

What do you think about that type of exercise?

How do you mean upside down. Like your feet are straight up in the air and you pull your feet up to the roof?

[BJJ]

How do you mean upside down. Like your feet are straight up in the air and you pull your feet up to the roof?

Yes, I pull my body up to the ceiling (I do not come to touch it) with my arms keeping the legs straight.
The same exercise can be done on the rings.

[MuscleScience]

I accomplish, on a regular basis, upside down pull ups to reinforce forearms, train the dorsal muscles, abs and to improve my equilibrium.

What do you think about that type of exercise?

Yes, I pull my body up to the ceiling (I do not come to touch it) with my arms keeping the legs straight.
The same exercise can be done on the rings.

I imagine it is a very good exercise, although I would make sure not to lose your grip...

I myself would not advise one of my clients to do such and exercise unless they were a gymnast themselves as it seems like a fairly risky exercise. However I think it would be very hard to mimic that particular exercises overall movements with other exercises. It would have to be broke down into two or more seperate exercises to accomplish the same pattern of movements and action which would probably not be as beneficial neurologically speaking (motor patterns,coordination, total # of motor units elicited) as would the one you are doing.

[BJJ]

I imagine it is a very good exercise, although I would make sure not to lose your grip...

I myself would not advise one of my clients to do such and exercise unless they were a gymnast themselves as it seems like a fairly risky exercise. However I think it would be very hard to mimic that particular exercises overall movements with other exercises. It would have to be broke down into two or more seperate exercises to accomplish the same pattern of movements and action which would probably not be as beneficial neurologically speaking (motor patterns,coordination, total # of motor units elicited) as would the one you are doing.

I did not know you lol, so I wanted to try you out. Hope you do not mind.

You surely know what you are talking about and the name of the thread is much appropriate.

So long...

[MuscleScience]

is isolated systolic hypertension (stage 2) cause for alarm when on a cycle? what im asking is does the fact that its isolated to systolic pressure mean anything? any advice for controlling it besides an AI?

Well certainly any increase in BP is cause for alarm. Remember that high BP is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and kidney pathologies. Typically when the hematocrit levels fall back to normal after a cycle the BP usually falls back to normal providing that you take time off. The only way I know to control it is to stop taking the substance that is causing your high BP. A consult with your PCP is always advisable and I would recommend you follow up with them.

Sorry for the slow reply, completely missed it.

[MuscleScience]

More Bad News About Stretching.

J Strength Cond Res. 2010 Feb 9. [Epub ahead of print]
Acute Effects of Static Stretching on Squat Jump Performance at Different Knee Starting Angles.

La Torre A, Castagna C, Gervasoni E, Cè E, Rampichini S, Ferrarin M, Merati G.

1Department of Sport Sciences, Nutrition and Health, Faculty of Exercise Science, University of Milan, Italy; 2School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; 3Centre of Bioengineering, Don C. Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy; and 4Centre of Sports Medicine, Don C. Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, Italy.

La Torre, A, Castagna, C, Gervasoni, E, Cè, E, Rampichini, S, Ferrarin, M, and Merati, G. Acute effects of static stretching on squat jump performance at different knee starting angles. J Strength Cond Res 24(3): 687-694, 2010-The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of static stretching on leg extensor muscles during squat jump (SJ) at different knee starting angles. Seventeen male subjects (23 +/- 3 years, 179 +/- 5 cm, and 74 +/- 6 kg) performed on a force platform 2 series (preceded or not [control condition] by 10-minute static stretching of quadriceps and triceps surae muscles) of SJs at different knee starting angles: 50 degrees , 70 degrees , 90 degrees , and 110 degrees . Squat jump height, peak force, maximal acceleration, velocity, and power were calculated for each jump. The angle that maximized power development was obtained from the power-angle relationship. The SJ height, peak force, and maximal velocity increased according to angle amplitude in both control and stretching conditions (p < 0.01), performance being significantly lower in the stretching condition (p < 0.01). Peak power was obtained at 90 degrees in both control and stretching conditions, but was significantly lower (p < 0.01) after stretching. These results suggest that an acute bout of static stretching reduces power and force development during SJ, decrements being significantly higher at lower knee starting angles. Therefore, the use of static stretching may be questionable in those power activities requiring maximal power output at knee angles near full extension.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2...&ordinalpos=21

[ModelInProgress]

I have a couple of questions:

1. I started doing cardio (usually elliptical, but treadmill or walk in the neighborhood once a week also) for at least 45-60 minutes 6-7 days a week.(In the past month, I've only taken 2 days off). My husband says (and I've read) that if you don't take a break from time to time, you can burn out your CNS. What symptoms should I be on the lookout for to know when it's time to take a break for a day or two? (Generally speaking, I know that people should "listen to their body", but I am chronically tired and due to taking care of my children (including an infant) and my husband's work schedule, I seldom get more than 5 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period...so I can't determine if I'm just exhausted from lack of sleep or if I'm overdoing it).

2. I posted the following question in the workout section, could you please check it out :
http://forums.steroid.com/showthread.php?t=421640

Thanks

[MuscleScience]

I have a couple of questions:

1. I started doing cardio (usually elliptical, but treadmill or walk in the neighborhood once a week also) for at least 45-60 minutes 6-7 days a week.(In the past month, I've only taken 2 days off). My husband says (and I've read) that if you don't take a break from time to time, you can burn out your CNS. What symptoms should I be on the lookout for to know when it's time to take a break for a day or two? (Generally speaking, I know that people should "listen to their body", but I am chronically tired and due to taking care of my children (including an infant) and my husband's work schedule, I seldom get more than 5 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period...so I can't determine if I'm just exhausted from lack of sleep or if I'm overdoing it).

2. I posted the following question in the workout section, could you please check it out :
http://forums.steroid.com/showthread.php?t=421640

Thanks

Hi, Welcome to the forum not sure if I have said hello yet.

First the symptoms of CNS and muscular overtraining are general virtually the same. It would be fairly hard to separate the two apart since if you have one part fatigued then you probably have another. What to look for is a few things. One is being overly sore, or having a hard time recovering between bouts of exercise. Basically a decreased capacity to perform exercise at previous levels. Second one could start to have little nagging injuries like tendonitis, Low Back Pain, ect. Of course general fatigue and problems with excitation (getting the body ramped to exercise) and motivation. Also mental acuity can also be decreased. It is generally advisable to decrease training volume periodically, I like for myself and a fair amount of my clients to figure in a lower volume week about every 4 weeks or so to give the body a little extra time to heal any little areas that it needs too.

[ModelInProgress]

Thank you...that helps alot

[MuscleScience]

Thank you...that helps alot

Also dont be afraid to take some time completely off. I know there is a stigma that your not hardcore or whatever. But the simple truth is that the body can only take so much punishment before it starts to break down or not respond in an ideal manner. Make no mistake, just like any other machine any work that is performed the machine has wear and tear.

[ModelInProgress]

Due to my genetic makeup, I am naturally more muscular than the "average" female (not taking into account weight training, just natural physique). My thighs are proportionately the largest area on my body and gain muscle very easily when I weight train. When I last consistently trained with a personal trainer and lost 6% body fat, my legs actually got bigger even though I lost both weight and body fat. I do not want my legs any larger, they may not get much smaller because of my build, but I do not want them larger (I already have trouble finding pants that fit, because things that fit my thighs are loose in the waist). Anyhow, my question is: what are some ways to tone my legs without them bulking up more (or at least not much)? Will using only body weight to do exercises such as lunges and squats (as opposed to holding dumbbells for example) and setting the weight on machines such as the leg press to a resistance that only fatigues my muscles after several reps (for example 20 reps instead of 8-12 reps) help to tone and slim my legs (taking into account also the need to lose the fat covering the muscle via cardio and diet) without gaining inches?