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by
Dave Palumbo
Online Editor, Muscular Development; NPC Top Amateur Bodybuilder; Producer, Director,
and Star of
Reconstruction of a Bodybuilder
Nothing in this article is intended to take the place of advice from
a licensed health professional. Consult a physician before taking any
medication.
Subject: Nolvadex for Female Bodybuilding
Dave, I was interested in the use of
Nolvadex for achieving hardness in a woman (also to block my monthly
"period" as a prepare for my first BB contest. I contacted a pharmacist,
recommended by a friend, who told me that Nolvadex was primarily used
for cancer patients. She was very confused when I told her what my aim
was - to reduce water retention - as I would be on my monthly cycle at
the same time of a bodybuilding contest. I could barely respond to the
pharmacist when she asked me for a second time why I would want to use
that product. He reiterated its PRIMARY use and said, perhaps it could
be used for other reasons, but none he was aware of. I am unable to
decide whether to subject my body to those types of drugs which are oft
times prescribed to someone who is ill or has a terminal disease. Help!
Answer: First off, Nolvadex (tamoxifen) is not even
on the list of banned substances for any federation (including the
International Olympic Committee). Your letter disturbed me greatly
because you were misled so severely by this imbicile who calls himself a
professional. The last thing I would ever do is recommend a harmful
substance. Nolvadex is nothing more than a synthetic estrogen (a lot
less harmful than birth control pills). This estrogen analog resembles
the "real" estrogen so closely that (when ingested) it binds to the
estrogen receptors in your body and blocks the "real" estrogen from
reaching its target and thus exerting its effects (in women that's water
retention, fat in the lower body, and ovulation). It is this last effect
that, when blocked, inhibits you from getting your period. Women (with
breast cancer) take Nolvadex because many of the breast cancer tumors
GROW in response to the hormone ESTROGEN. If you inhibit estrogen from
stimulating the tumor cells in the breast, you can stop the cancer from
spreading. Even though Nolvadex is called a "cancer drug", its effects
on the body can hardly be called dangerous or life-threatening! Anyway,
sorry for the unneccessary panic I may have caused you. Next time, ask
me first!
Subject: GH on CKD versus High Carbs
What (if any) are the
concerns/complications in using GH on a CKD vs. a typical high carb
diet?
Answer: GH works better on a high protein, moderate
fat, very low carb diet When using GH on a high carb diet, you may need
to take insulin to help absorb the high amounts of carbs. Remember that
GH inhibits the ability of insulin to do its job (i.e. store things).
Subject: Intravenous Growth Hormone
Dave, are the top guys in the states,
injecting growth intraveniously, due to the half life being so short.
Also what are the dosages, I've won my national title twice but have
been put off going any further due to lack of knowledge and size. I am 5
foot 11 and contest weight when i last competed was 242. Any info on
anything would be greatly appreciated.
Answer: If you could inject GH intravenously, it
would say so on the vial; it doesn't, therefore, logic would dictate
that it should not be injected IV. But, that fact will not stop every
"looney toon" from listening to the latest rumor. Be smart, if Genentech
and Lilly think that GH should be taken intramuscularly (IM) and
subcutaneously (SC), then chances are they are correct (after all, they
make the stuff).
Subject: Cure for Stretch Marks
After 3 weeks off a short 2 week cycle of
Dianabol, I found stretch marks. I was taking 800 IU's of vitamin E of
which I discontinued with everything else to cycle my vitamins, but now
I got a few small ones (stretch marks). Are these unavoidable? Could it
be my age (20)? I was planning on a 6 week cycle, but now I was thinking
it would make things worse. Do you recomend anything? I was thinking I
would be better off with the two short weeks. Is it just genetics? How
do bodybuilders hide all of this? I've seen several with and without
them.
Think of stretch marks as battle wounds. They will fade with age. At
least you know you are growing - I know guys that would kill to get the
stretch marks you describe. The bodybuilders without the stretch marks
are usually the "small, shapely, ones" (I do not want to hear any
complaints about the last statement - it's a joke!)
Subject: Ultra-Dry "Look"
How do I get that ultra "dry" look that
you, Dave, and many other top Pros display on stage?
Answer: "Drying out" is a very scientific process and a very
person-specific one. A few things to remember:
- Drink lots of water the week before a show.
- Do not restrict sodium until the last 2 days prior to a show.
- Do not take any diuretics until 1-2 days before a show.
Subject: Diuretics and Potassium
I am a woman and I am doing my first
contest. I am thinking about taking diuretics; however, my doctor says I
should be careful no to become potassium deficient. Should I take a
supplement like slow K? Or should I just use herbal diuretics? Will the
diuretics affect my "carbing up"?
Answer: Most diuretics are "potassium sparing" which
means you do not lose potassium (e.g. Dyazide, Aldactone). If you want
to use the herbals (they should work fine), take Uva Ursi (get it at any
health food store). Start 2 days out - take 1 pill with every meal and
drink plenty of fluid. Also, you should be eating plenty of sodium now
to desensitize your body so when you cut out the sodium 2 days out from
the show your body will shed the excess water. Diuretics should be taken
right up to and including the day of the contest (you won't have to pee
that bad - LOL - it's controllable). Also, do not carb up to heavily;
women tend to smooth out real easily - maybe an extra 50-80 grams of
carbs per day for the last 3 days (thats PLENTY!)
Subject: Torn Tricep and IGF
I tore the about 1/3 of my tricep tendon
from the bone about 2 weeks ago. I have been to a surgeon and am getting
it surgically repaired this week. The surgeon said he would be using 3
or 4 screws to reattache the tendon to the bone. My question is are
there any "supplements" that would speed up the healing process? I have
IGF and was planning n taking 40-50 mcg a day along with some anabolics
which I have yet to get. What are your recommendations?
Answer: The IGF-1 would help tremendously. Keep your
dosage of anabolics to a minimum because they cause the muscle to be
"too pumped", thus exerting pressure on the newly healing tendon.
Besides, anabolics will only heal muscle (not tendons) and since you
tore the tendon, stick to the GH and IGF-1 which has a demonstrated
effect on connective tissue
Subject: Winstrol-V versus Winstrol Depot
What is the difference between Winstrol V
and Winstrol depot? I can get either, but I want to get the best stuff.
Also, the "V" comes in a 30 ml bottle, and the "depot" comes in 50 mg
ampules, what is the difference? Effects, effectiveness, side effects?
I'm supposed to pick up the stuff today! Please help me!
Answer: Winstrol-V is "Veterinary". That means, its
used for animals (it is sterile stanazol power in water). Winstol Depot
(depot meaning injection) is sterile stanazol powder in water too;
however, the pH is buffered so that it does not hurt when being
injected. Effectiveness? Exactly the SAME!
Dear Dave,
I didn't know clenbuterol lowered your
blood pressure. I would have thought that it would raise it by some of
the side effects people tell me they have such as tremors,anxiety
attacks( feeling like their having heart attacks), accelerated heart
beat, etc. Are any of those side effects anything to worry about? I know
sometimes when I first start upping my dose of anadrol I have "panic
attacks" characterized by rapid heart beat and an overall uncomfortable
feeling. Sometimes I have to take tranquilizers and lay in the shower
for an hour or so. I think that I may be prone to anxiety attacks more
so than the average person. Do you think cytomel would be a better
alternative for me. I also wanted to ask you how long it took you to get
such massive arms.
ANSWER: Clen only causes panic and anxiety when the dose is raised
too high. Additionally, too much clen can lead to low blood pressure
thus causing the heart to beat faster in order to move the blood through
the now dilated bood vessels.
Try doing isolation exercises (one arm cable work) for biceps and
triceps. They will respond much better than from heavy compound
movements. Synthosizze Brand Pump and Pose may help also.
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