Written by Dave Palumbo
10 September 2006
   
 Preview

Q: How effective would a Clomid/Arimidex/finasteride stack be in comparison to an injectable anabolic steroid cycle?

A: As Ronnie Coleman would say, "That's like comparing apples and oranges." Clomid is a synthetic estrogen that increases testosterone levels by increasing the output of pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH). Arimidex is an aromatase inhibitor that blocks the conversion of testosterone into estrogen and in doing so prevents pituitary suppression of LH. Finasteride is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor that blocks the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) thus, maintaining higher blood levels of testosterone. Together, these three drugs synergistically raise testosterone levels into the highest physiological ranges possible (probably around 1,200-1,400). Injecting exogenous testosterone at a dosage of 500 milligrams per week or higher will lead to a significant pharmacological effect on the body- increased muscle mass. These pharmacological gains observed with high testosterone supplementation differ greatly from the physiological boost noted by slightly elevating natural testosterone levels. To answer your question, the comparison would be fruitless (no pun intended)!

 

Q: Can you stay on GH indefinitely since it possesses virtually no toxicity?

A: The only problem I've noticed with prolonged use of large doses of growth hormone (GH) is the possible insulin resistance that can occur. GH is a fat-mobilizing hormone that appears to compete either directly with insulin or by interfering with insulin receptors on the surface of the muscle cells. Remember, if insulin can't reach its target tissues, then it can't drive glucose and amino acids into the cells. This all-too-familiar scenario among off-season bodybuilders creates a sort of insulin resistance that will impede muscle gains and result in a "flat" looking physique.

 

Q: How long is Primobolan active in the system and can it cause premature balding?

A: Primobolan depot (methenolone enanthate) is a long-acting ester by virtue of the "enanthate" group found attached to the methenolone molecule. This means that it lasts about as long as testosterone enanthate- approximately three weeks. Despite this long half-life, I still suggest injecting it at least once a week at a dosage of 200-300 milligrams (25-50 milligrams for women). Primobolin acetate, due to its lack of liver toxicity, can usually be found in pill form and is effective for less than 24 hours. Effective dosages of Primo acetate for men are 50-100 milligrams and for women 10-25 milligrams- evenly spaced throughout the day.

            To address the balding issue, it's important to remember that, while methenolone is chemically synthesized from DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which is notorious for hair loss, acne, and androgenic side effects, once it's transformed into methenolone, all of these DHT-linked side effects disappear. This is because the new methenolone molecule no longer possesses the same properties as its original parent molecule, DHT.

 

Q: You suggested that the antibiotic, Augmentin, was a good anti-acne medication. I'm a little concerned because I heard that the human body can create antibodies to it, and I don't want to have any immunity to the amoxicillin family of antibiotics. Is it true that you can stay on the tetracycline-like drugs for long periods of time without a problem? What do you think?

A: The human body doesn't make antibodies to antibiotics; the bacteria develop immunity and thus, don't respond anymore. In essence, they evolve and become a new resistant species. This is the case with all antibiotics (not just the penicillin class of antibiotics to which Augmentin belongs). Augmentin, however, is an interesting antibiotic. It consists of the penicillin-like drug, amoxicillin, in combination with clavulanic acid. Under normal conditions, bacteria learn to resist amoxicillin relatively quickly. The way they accomplish this feat is by pumping the amoxicillin out of the cell. Without getting too technical, the clavulanic acid prevents the bacteria from efficiently removing the amoxicillin from their cell body, thus preventing the amoxicillin from doing its job of inhibiting cell division and killing off the bacteria. While Augmentin-resistant strains of bacteria exist, they are extremely rare; therefore, when choosing the best possible drug to combat skin bacteria- staphylococcus and streptococcus- Augmentin should be high on your priority list.

 

Q: What are the most common dietary mistakes bodybuilders and figure competitors make?

A: I use the following analogy to help conceptualize the dieting process in the pre-contest physique athlete: If we let the bottom of an empty stairwell represent your physique and we let the top step of the staircase represent your greatest possible conditioning, than the ascent up the steps can be thought of as the journey to achieving your goal. Unimpeded, your quest to climb to the top will be as hard as it is to just walk up the steps. However, if obstacles such as chairs and bowling balls are being hurled down the steps at you while you're attempting to climb, the trip up the steps will become much harder. These "obstacles" I speak of can be thought of as the common dietary mistakes people make; and while it's still possible to climb up the staircase, the chances of you getting hit and getting knocked back to the bottom is fairly high. Therefore, it's only logical to assume that if we remove these obstacles, your goal will be achieved with a much higher success rate. What are these obstacles I'm speaking of? In my experience, the top three impediments to dietary success are as follows:

  • Lack of essential fatty acids in the diet. When you deprive the body of either family of essential fatty acid (EFA)-omega-3 or omega-6-the body responds by hoarding fat and inhibiting the mobilization of stored body fat reserves. When you add high estrogen levels into the equation (as is the case with women), the majority of the fat is retained in the lower body- buttocks and thighs.
  • Too many carbohydrates in the diet. High- to moderate-carbohydrate diets make it difficult to lose stored body fat since carbohydrates stimulate insulin release and insulin stores excess calories as fat. It's extremely difficult to mobilize stored body fat while insulin levels are high. In fact, when insulin levels are elevated, growth hormone (a fat-mobilizing hormone) levels are low.
  • High-intensity cardio. While it's true that high-intensity cardio may burn more calories, the quality of the calories is all wrong. When intensity level increases heart rate over 70 percent max HR (around 120-140 beats per minute), the body stops using fat and starts using carbohydrates as a fuel source. In the absence of carbohydrates (which is usually the case on a pre-contest diet), the body will turn lean muscle tissue into glucose and use that for energy. The whole purpose of doing cardio for the physique athlete is to maximize fat burning; not to lose lean muscle tissue. Remember, weight on the scale is meaningless; it's body composition that's the true measure of how lean an individual is.

 

Q: I'm getting ready to order some Kynoselen. I read in last month's MD that it's somewhat comparable to synthol. I won't touch synthol until I see a good job done on someone. I know that Kynoselen will burn fat and reduce fatigue, but I want to know more about the benefits of site injecting this stuff. Will it swell up wherever I put it? Will I burn fat faster wherever I take it? Can I take it in the quads and expect to see muscle gains?

A: You've actually seen many good "jobs" with synthol; you just didn't know it. When an individual artistically injects site-specific oils such as synthol, it enhances, yet doesn't detract from, the look of the muscle. If you want to see synthol use at its finest, take a good look at the top 10 competitors of every NPC national level or top IFBB show. I wouldn't suggest using Kynoselen as a site injection compound for the sheer fact that it's water-based and that means infections are a very real and probable possibility. If the risk of infection isn't enough of a deterrent, consider the fact that Kynoselen leaves the injection site extremely sore and sensitive. Seeing that you need to inject the stuff every day, it makes for a very uncomfortable daily protocol. Finally, never inject water-based compounds directly into the quadriceps. First of all, Kynoselen doesn't cause localized growth; that's a lie. Secondly, the chance of you hitting a nerve in your leg is a very distinct possibility; especially since the superficial nerves run very close to the skin's surface.

 

Q: I'm a female figure athlete and I heard that IGF-1 is what all the pro figure women are using to get in shape. How does the stuff work and how much should I take?

A: First off, IGF-1 isn't some new miracle drug; it's a naturally occurring protein hormone liberated from the liver in response to the natural pulsing of growth hormone by the pituitary gland. As of late, synthetic IGF-1 (which has been around for over 12 years now) has been making its way back into the black market- mostly from China- and more and more physique athletes seem to be getting their hands on it. Unlike GH, IGF-1 has virtually no fat-mobilizing effects. Its main action is to cause growth and repair of muscle and connective tissue. The only metabolism-boosting effect it seems to exhibit is probably the result of the high-energy requirement necessary to synthesize additional lean muscle. The problem with IGF-1 use- especially in women- is that it has a tendency to thicken the facial bones (eyebrow ridge, cheekbones and chin) and increase the size of the soft cartilage of the nose and ears. If you're a woman- especially a figure competitor- this is a very undesirable side effect and it should cause you to steer clear of this powerful anabolic at all costs.

 

Q: Is there any hope for my sore, degenerative, joints? You always seem to know about the newest alternative therapies.

A: Adequan is a new injectable veterinarian drug being produced by Luitpold Pharmaceuticals. The active ingredient is polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (PSGAG); a semi-synthetic glycosaminoglycan principally comprised of chondroitin sulfate.

Surprisingly, within two hour after intramuscular injection, beneficial drug levels of Adequan are already at work in all major joints, with even greater uptake (up to 73 percent higher) in joint tissues that are inflamed or diseased. Adequan has a number of incredible benefits. For one, it relieves the pain and disability of joint damage, and the relief has been shown to last up to six months or longer. Adequan also binds to damaged cartilage and boosts cartilage metabolism, which greatly facilitates the repair processes. At the same time, it blocks the action of destructive enzymes that promote joint inflammation, break down the synovial fluid and attack the cartilage. If all these effects weren't enough, Adequan stimulates the synovial membrane of the joint to manufacture new synovial fluid to replace the thin, degraded, fluid of degenerative joint disease. This helps to lubricate, nourish, and clean up the cartilage.

According to the literature, an initial eight-dose series is recommended: 2 milligrams per pound taken intramuscularly twice a week for four weeks (e.g., for a 200-pound man, that's 400 milligrams twice per week for four weeks). Adequan is packaged in 5 mL (100 mg/mL or 500mg/ml) multidose vials. Several bodybuilders I've spoken with have reported excellent results after following the recommended protocol. I suspect that the quickness of joint repair is largely dependent on the extent of damage to the joint. Obviously, more severe degenerative cases might require several four-week mini-cycles to help restore some sort of normal joint health. As they say, there are no guarantees in life; however, thanks to some great ingenuity in the veterinarian world, there's hope once again for all of us aging, crippled bodybuilders!

 

Anabolic Freak of the Month: Mike Rice

Age: 32

Height: 5'11"

Weight: Off-season (295), Contest (250)

Contest History:

2005 NPC Southeastern USA Gold's Classic, Super heavyweight and overall

2005 NPC Georgia State BB Championship, Super heavyweight and overall

2006 NPC Collegiate Nationals, Super heavyweight and overall

2006 NPC USA, Super heavyweight, sixth

School Attended: North Carolina State University- BS in biology (minor in Nutrition)

Currently: Finishing my doctorate of chiropractic, Life University

Current Job: Interning with Dr. David Radaszewski

 

I was sitting in the audience at this year's NPC Tean, Masters and Collegiate Nationals when the lone collegiate super heavyweight took the stage. In my experience, when there's only one super heavyweight in a class, it usually means the guy's "tall and out of shape." This wasn't the case when Mike Rice walked out. He not only surprised me, he must have shocked the judges, as well, since he wound up unanimously winning the super heavyweight and overall title in the surprisingly competitive collegiate division. What's even more interesting than this massively muscled man's impressive win was the road that led him to this point.

Mike Rice got started in bodybuilding at age 18 where he participated in several competitions with limited success. He entered the North Carolina State Championship at ages 21 and 22 and placed fourth both years in the open division. He was told by multiple people that he had all the tools necessary to be a great bodybuilder, but in his heart, he felt like he was "going nowhere" so he decided to go to college. Because his SAT scores were so low, no colleges would accept him so he was forced to enroll in a community college where he drove 30 miles each way for an entire year. Carrying a 4.0 GPA, Mike was able to transfer the following year to North Carolina State University where he eventually graduated Magna Cum Laude. That's quite an accomplishment for a kid who couldn't score well on a meaningless SAT, huh?

In 2000, Mike moved down to Georgia to attend chiropractic college, but in the middle of the 2002 calendar year, his school was on the verge of losing its accreditation. It was at this same time that his grades were suffering and he found himself at a crossroads, so Mike opted for the unconventional- he enlisted in the Army reserve. After shipping out and completing two years of active duty, he returned home and resumed his studies and has never looked back.

In 2004, after not competing for close to 10 years, he decided to concentrate on and pursue his first true love- bodybuilding. The problem was that he had become a sickly looking 235 pounds. After nine months of good training however, he got his weight up to 260 relatively hard pounds. It was at this point Mike hooked up with contest prep expert John White and nutritionist Sari Mellman. Together, they managed to help Mike win the super heavyweight class and overall at the 2005 NPC Georgia State Championships. That victory set the stage for this year's win at 2006 NPC Collegiate Nationals.

According to Mike, "My goal is next year's Nationals where I hope to improve my weak points and finally make my mark." With the journey Mike's taken to this point, I'd say he's more then made his mark; he's made a public announcement exclaiming, "I have arrived!"

 

Female Bodybuilding

            When Heather Policky (pronounced po-lish-ey) graced the stage at this year's 2006 NPC USA, the crowd hushed and then burst out in applause as she easily swept the competition under the rug. With a combination of thick, ripped muscle accented by a perfect tan, impeccable makeup and stunning posing suit, Heather made it look (dare I say) easy! However, like Mike Rice, her path to victory wasn't the smooth trip that one would expect from such a talented competitor.

Heather grew up in the small town of Cozad, NE. It was there that she met her first "real" female bodybuilder when she was only 12 years old. She remembers going down to the gym every day after school and watching and questioning this woman. In fact, this woman gave Heather her very first muscle magazine. "I loved it," exclaimed Heather. "Those women looked beautiful to me. Muscle made the body so much more interesting and appealing than the norm. I wanted to look just like them."

Heather disliked team sports, so she "tinkered" around with bodybuilding while in high school. However, it wasn't until she graduated and moved to Texas that Heather put all her energy into the weights. In 2000, after only a year and a half of solid training, she entered a few local Texas shows and wound up winning the heavyweight and overall titles in convincing fashion. Four months later, she moved to Denver and won the 2001 NPC Colorado State overall title. She followed that victory up with a second-place finish at the 2002 NPC Jr. Nationals.

For the next three years, Heather found herself in limbo- never quite nailing her conditioning; however, she still managed a fourth and two third-place finishes at the NPC Nationals and USA Championships. These hard-learned lessons served to reinforce in Heather's mind that even at less than her best, she was still among the top women in the nation.

Finally, in 2005, Heather pulled it all together and won the heavyweight class at NPC USA. This win gave her the confidence she needed to come back the following year and easily win the 2006 NPC USA heavyweight and overall titles; and in doing so, qualify to compete as an IFBB professional. Heather's the first to admit, "Everything happens for a reason and it happens at just the right time and place."

For more photos and info on Heather Policky, check out her website at www.HEATHER-POLICKY.com.

 

Prison Bodies

When Clinton Cordell Jr., who's currently incarcerated at Eastern Correctional Facility in Maryland, first started training he didn't take the gym seriously. "An hour seemed like a year!" he explained. Now, Clinton can't seem to stay out of the gym. He's even taking courses to become certified as a personal trainer and in his own lyrical words, "I want to help others achieve their goals for general fitness, better health and to be all they can be; or, if lucky, all three!"

At a present weight of 195 pounds, Clinton boasts personal best lifts of 430 in the bench, 685 in the deadlift and 675 in the squat. He also manages to run five to eight miles twice weekly. He believes that the ultimate recipe for success is "dedication" and "willpower."

When 29-year-old Kelvin "Big Block" Lindsey of F.C.I. Bennettsville, SC,first came to prison almost nine years ago, he weighed 236 pounds with 23 percent body fat. Now he weighs a ripped 195 pounds with body fat in the single digits. Kelvin boasts max lifts of 455 in the bench, 500 in the squat and 685 in the deadlift. If you think about it, Kelvin's physique transformation is pretty amazing considering his only source of nourishment is meager prison chow. Due to be released later this year, Kelvin's intent on pursuing bodybuilding full time. With the addition of high-quality protein, performance-boosting nutritional supplements and a well-equipped gym, I'd say his potential for success is limitless.

Candido Baez has been incarcerated at Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining, NY, for the last 17 out of 29 years. He's competed and dominated in the New York State Department of Corrections Powerlifting Competition for the last eight years in the 198-pound weight class. His best lifts include a 720-pound squat (a N.Y. State prison record), a 420-pound bench press and a 670-pound deadlift.

December 10, 2005, Candido coordinated and hosted the first every bodybuilding competition at the Sing Sing Correctional Facility. The show was a huge success with over 200 inmates in attendance. As you can see from the photo of Candido, hard work, consistency and a never-say-never attitude can yield miracles. Congratulations to the entire weightlifting team and best of luck at the Second Annual Bodybuilding Competition.

Any prison inmates (state or federal) who think they're worthy of appearing in MD, send your photos and story to: Dave Palumbo, PO Box 1122, Seaford, NY 11783.

To purchase my book, Perfect Prison Physique, please send a $25 money order to the above address or order online at www.davepalumbo.com.

 

Reminders:

My personal training certification course, S.M.A.R.T., is now available online at www.smarttrainingonline.com. You can become certified as a personal trainer from the convenience of your own home. I, personally, wrote the information-packed,100-page manual. It's the most comprehensive diet, supplement and training manual available.