Ask Dave Palumbo #4 (The Truth According to Palumbo)

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: How many steroids do pros really take?

Dear Dave,

I couldn't believe it when I stumbled onto your column on this "meso" site. It is about time someone did this. I am sick of hearing all the shit about gear that people say. I think it would be cool if you said some of the actual doses you know of GOOD pros taking. People say 6000mg a week, but I have a hard time believing that crap. Wouldn't they get sick? I am a competitive heavyweight in Canada and I see all these guys way smaller than me taking huge doses because "this pro takes this much" They are actually basing their drug intake on bullshit rumours. Do you know of any other sites that have RELIABLE information on them?

What about using insulin? I have friends who use 30+iu a day. I think that is just silly. What about insulin dose while dieting? I have friends who get totally shredded using insulin, but it seems contradictory to me. What are your general thoughts on insulin and the elite bodybuilders?

Thanks for the compliments. And yes, the so-called experts are full of shit! There is noone that I know who uses more than 2000mg of test per week. Anyone who does ues more is an idiot. 1000-1200mg of test per week is the ideal dosage (any more is a waste). As far as insulin dosages are concerned, 10IU once or twice per day is the most that should be used (you are supplementing, not replacing insulin production). You are correct, not everyone needs insulin. People who grow easily and have a hard time dieting probably oversecrete insulin; therefore, they should steer clear of it. If you are a hardgainer (and get ripped easily) you may benefit from using insulin (these are the "friends" that you speak of).

Subject: Dislocated Hip and Squats

Dear Dave,

My husband and I met you at the Olympia, since then he was involved in a car accident on Thankgiving weekend which left him w/ a dislocated hip. The doctor says he should wait a year to a year and 1/2 to incorporate squats and leg press in his training. I would like to know your thoughts on that. Also, for myself, I am 20 years old and last year I used 2/Primoblin depot which made me break out horribly afterwards. I discontinued the cycle and now almost a year later I still have acne. What can you suggest. Also I have heard of using nolvadex for hardness, what do you think? 

I have not seen his X-rays or talked to his doctor, but if his hip is feeling good enough to do the squats and leg presses I would ease myself back into it very slowly. The imposed stresses on the hip joint should return the blood flow and strengthen the surrounding muscles. Take it very easy though...

You may have increased the size of your sebaceous glands by taking the primobolin. You may also just have clogged pores. Try going for a facial with a practioner that will not only apply topicals and facial peels, but one who will squeeze all the trapped dirt out of the pores. Once completed, you should notice a difference in your complexion.

Nolvadex will act to harden a women (10mg twice daily). It does this by blocking the excess estrogen in the body thus decreasing lower body fat and decreasing water retention.

Subject: Hair Loss

Dear Dave,

Your column in Mesomorphosis is very impressive. I really learn a lot reading your column. I have a questions about steroids. I was on a steroid cycle of about 8 weeks, using 2amps of sustanon 250 per week. I made impressive gain but the down side is I encountered a lot of hair loss. Is there any way that I can minimize or prevent the hair loss? Is there any steroids that does not cause hair loss but still give impressive gain as Sustanon 250.

If you stick to the 19-nortestosterone compounds (like Deca, Parabolin, Durabolin, Laurabolin, ect.....) you will avoid the DHT-induced hair loss that is seen with compounds that convert to DHT (eg. the testosterones). The Nandrolones (nortestosterone derivatives) are chemically unable to convert to DHT. Give them a try.

Subject: Insulin Growth Factor

Hello Mr. Palumbo,

I have 500mcg of IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1) and am unsure of the best dosage to use and the time of day it should be injected. I plan on using this with insulin and Finiplx. Could you give me any suggestions?

IGF-1 is usually taken in dosages of at least 10mcg per day (20-40mcg per day is not uncommon). The best time to take the IGF-1 is immediately after training. You probably will not need to take insulin with the IGF-1 because of IGF-1's unique ability to act like insulin (IGF-1 makes the user more insulin sensitive.... as opposed to GH which actually makes the user "insulin resistant")

Subject: Protropin versus Humatrope

Dave,

I was wondering, is Protropin any good, or is Humatrope better? I will be competing in the summer or fall. I want to gain more size but it's more important that I get shredded. If Protropin is good, how much should I take? How do I mix the two substances and what is the ratio? Is there any bulking steriod I should take along with it?

Protropin is Genentech's original synthetic GH that was produced for growth-deficient children. Genentech was given a patent for its GH for 8 years under the Orphan Drug Act.

A few years later, Eli Lilly did some research and discovered that Genentech's 192 amino acid sequence for GH was incorrect and that the sequence was actually 191 amino acids. Lilly then went on to produce Humatrope (a far superior GH for no auto immune responce is seen as is the case with Protropin......that is, Protropin looses its potency in many users over the course of several months), Genentech realizing their mistake, waited 8 long years ( until the patent was up) and released a new 191 amino acid GH that they call Nutropin, Nutropin and Humatrope are identical in configuration and potency (take your pick).......

Subject: Extreme Bodybuilding and Health

Dear Dave,

Do you ever worry about all the extremes that you go through to look as freaky as you do? I also think that you were robbed at the North Americans. I was hoping you could give me an honest answer about the drugs.

Thanks for the compliment on the North America's. Actually, just because "I look so freaky", as you put it, does not mean I use extreme methods. I just use methods that work (big difference). If you ever spoke to me at a show or scheduled a private consultation, you would understand that BBing is a science-- not a crap shoot of who can take the most drugs!

Subject: IGF-1 and Refrigeration

Dear Dave,

How long can IGF-1 be stored refrigerated-- I mean sealed in the original tubes? Why do you suggest sub cutaneous injections? I've been reading that muscle site specific injections require far less mcgs-- is this accurate? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

IGF-1 can be stored in the refrigerator until the expiration date. If you freeze the IGF-1 (IGF-1 can be successfully frozen and thawed), it will last until the expiration date (probably longer). Since IGF-1 needs to enter the bloodstream to travel to its target tissues, IM injections are no better than SC injections (i.e. IGF-1, when taken exogenously is acting as an endocrine hormone, not a paracrine hormone [a hormone that is released and which acts locally]). In this instance, IGF-1 has a longer half life and it will target muscle tissue all over the body.

Subject: Insulin & GH and Diabetes

Hi Dave,

Thanks for all your help! If insulin is needed w/ GH, should it only be taken for 4 wks to avoid becoming diabetic.

By taking insulin with GH, you are actually lessening the strain on the panceras (when you become insulin resistant from the GH, you pancreatic beta cells have to work harder to crank out enough insulin) By taking exogenous insulin , in small enough amounts, you are actually lowering the amount of extra insulin your pancreas must produce. Don't forget that every time you eat, you release insulin, therefore, it would be extremely hard to totally replace your insulin production to the point that the pancreas would actually turn off. By supplying the extra insulin, you are decreasing the chance of becoming diabetic. By not taking insulin (and continually staying on GH) your actually leaving yourself open to stressing the pancreas into a diabetic-like state (usually people in this category come down with panceatitis-- a prelude to diabetes)

Subject: Substituting Albuterol for Clenbuterol

Dave,

What is your opinion on albuterol as a subsitute for clenbuterol?

Albuterol is a 2nd generation beta-agonist (it stimulates B1 and B2 receptors) whereas, Clenbuterol is a 3rd Generation beta-agonist (theoretically, it stimulates only B2 receptors, thus avoiding any increases in heart rate). Also, Albuterol does not mobilize fat from the fat cells, nor does it act anti-catabolically in the muscle.  No, it is a terrible substitution!