STEROIDS AND SPORT

PITUITARY GROWTH HORMONE (pGH)

2009-09-21T09:35:00.000-07:00

Growth Hormone is a protein hormone that is synthesized and secreted by cells called somatotrophs in the pituitary. It controls and/or effects many physiologic processes, including muscle growth and fat metabolism. When it is generated within the body, it is called endogenous – and when it is administered from an outside source it is called exogenous.

Growth Hormone, like many other hormones has both direct effects (acting directly on tissues and cells) and indirect effects (stimulating the release or synthesis of a hormone, like IGF-1, which will then in turn effect tissues and cells on its own).

Muscle cells have both Growth Hormone receptors as well as IGF-1 receptors. When growth hormone or IGF-1 is introduced into muscle cells, more cells are created and existing cells are enlarged. These responses are known as hyperplasia and hypertrophy, and are the processes that contribute to the growth of additional muscle tissue.
Growth Hormone also has the ability to directly influence Fat-Loss, as fat cells have Growth Hormone receptors. When Growth Hormone is introduced into a fat cell, the result is that the fat cell is then more readily used as energy. This process is known as lipolysis, typically called “burning fat”, which is simply the conversion of fat into energy.

However, while muscle cells possess both Growth Hormone as well as IGF¬1 receptors, allowing Growth Hormone to have a direct as well as indirect effect, fat cells do not have an IGF-1 receptor. IGF-1, which is stimulated by Growth Hormone production, works in a totally independent manner to burn fat in the body by enhancing protein, fat, and carbohydrate metabolism.

Thus, Growth Hormone has both direct as well as indirect effects on promoting muscle growth, and fat loss.

Finally, based on anecdotal reports from people experienced with growth hormone, results often take 6-8 weeks to manifest. At the 6-week point, athletes typically report that results are beginning to show, but by week 12 (and beyond), the increase in muscle mass and fat loss are nothing short of amazing. This is why athletes often stay on this compound for a minimum of two months, but usually closer to three or four months at a time.

The anterior pituitary gland is located on the base of the hypothalamus, which is located at the bottom of the brain. The testes are located in the gonadal region and are affected by hormonal signals triggered by the HAP axis.

CREATINE FOR MASS AND STRENGTH

2009-09-10T09:41:00.000-07:00

Elliott Hulse talks about the bodybuilding supplements that he uses and recommends to his athletes.

We proudly recommend you this one to any further study:
CREATINE - A PRACTICAL GUIDE

STEROIDS PROFILE. THE CLEAR TETRAHYDROGESTRINONE

2009-09-08T13:15:00.000-07:00

THE CLEAR

Tetrahydrogestrinone

18a-homo- pregna-4,9,11-trien-17β-ol-3- one

Molecular Weight (base): 312.46

Formula (base): C12 H28 O2

Melting Point: Unknown

Effective Dose (Men):

Active life: Undefined (~24 hours?)

Detection Time: Unclear

Anabolic: Androgenic ratio: Undefined

Unlike most anabolic steroids, this one was synthesized in the last couple of years with the intent for it to be used by athletes seeking to beat sports doping tests. It’s actually a pretty decent anabolic, basically being a cross between gestrinone and trenbolone (1) Frankly, it would have likely still been beating tests and helping athletes break records, if a sample of it hadn’t been sent by Trevor Graham (2-3), a disgruntled coach, to Don Cailin of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Although this profile is clearly meant to educate you on the chemical properties of this particular drug, no legitimate discussion of this steroid would be complete without an assessment of the major players involved in its creation, discovery, and vilification. Even it’s most common name (“The Clear”) conjures up thoughts of BALCO, Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, Marion Jones, Tim Montgomery, Victor Conte, Don Catlin, and of course, Patrick Arnold (credited with bringing Androstendione to the supplement market, and often called the “Father of Prohormones”).

Initially, “The Clear” (THG) was developed after Victor Conte was complimented on his ZMA study on the internet, by Patrick Arnold. Subsequently, Victor e-mailed Patrick and asked if his Andro product would be detectable on drug tests. Pat responded by saying “If you wanna go that route, I know much better things…” after which the “program” was developed. The “program” of course, was the synthesis and administration of undetectable steroids to elite athletes, and the eventual recognition (after being tipped off) of that program by anti-doping authorities.

And really, the only reason anybody ever knew about the program at all (other than it was creating world champions) is because a jealous coach who was watching his athletes lose to BALCO athletes eventually mailed a sample of THG to Don Catlin. Although my interactions with Pat have been pretty much of the superficial/internet variety, I’m not against giving credit where it’s due. THG is really a very cool anabolic. In a similar vein, I find it in very poor taste that Mr.Catlin was soundly out-thought by Arnold, and refused to give him credit for creating a drug that he never would have detected had Smith not sent him a sample…saying:

“It’s hard for me to say he’s brilliant...it’s hard to call somebody who works the other side of the street brilliant…”

Then adding, talking about the steroid Pat had synthesized:

“we were absolutely blind to it”

Well, his athletes beat every drug test they were given, and he fooled the largest anti—doping agency in the world, and if you’re the head of it, then he may not be brilliant, but he’s likely much smarter than you are.

Alright, enough about the politics and back story surrounding THG. Let’s get into some specifics about what it can do, anabolic-wise.

First of all, it’s a very strong androgen as well as progestin (1), but I doubt it has much potential for bodybuilders. This seems contradictory at first, but I think that if you were to really use this stuff to gain the kind of weight that is winning bodybuilding shows or to get as ripped as current judging standards require, you would need to take an amount of this stuff that would surely cause progesterone related side effects.

On a milligram for milligram basis, I would suspect it’s probably going to be very potent and maybe somewhere between 5-10mgs a day would be appropriate. The method of administration for BALCO athletes on the “program” was to take a few drops of it and allow it to be absorbed under the tongue. Personally, I would have liked to see how it performed as a nasal spray, but we will probably never have the answer to that question.

THG, which is essentially 17-alpha ethylated gestrinone, very well to the androgen receptor (like it’s parent compound) (1, 4), and likely produces many of the lipolytic (fat burning) and anabolic (muscle building) effects we typically see with such strong androgen binding, Unfortunately, it also exhibits progesteronic activity roughly 7x as potent as progesterone itself (making it literally dozens of times a more potent progestin than nandrolone). (1) Although it has no ability to aromatize (4) (and I suspect is 5a-reducatse resistant), because of it’s ability to act as a very powerful progestin, I would suspect that it’s ability to inhibit the natural production of testosterone would be literally off the charts. It’s also possible that its powerful ability to stimulate the progesterone receptor was helping athletes “feel” better and less beat up from their workouts.

I still can’t even imagine how badly it must have shut down natural testosterone production, though I would speculate that it’s probably staggeringly suppressive. Perhaps this is the reason it was orally administered, or perhaps this is the reason it was often administered in conjunction with “the Cream” which was a testosterone based transdermal product.

I don’t know what kind of street value something like this would actually have, or even if it’s ever been attempted by an underground lab, but it’s unlikely to be widely available any time in the near future.

References:

1. Death AK, McGrath KC, Kazlauskas R, Handelsman DJ. Tetrahydrogestrinone is a potent androgen and progestin. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2004 May;89(5):2498-500
2. Catlin D. H., Sekera M. H., Ahrens B. D., Starcevic B., Chang Y. C., Hatton C. K. Tetrahydrogestrinone: discovery, synthesis, and detection in urine. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom. 2004;18:1245–049.
3. Yu-Chen Chang; Borislav Starcevic; Brian D. Ahrens; M. Jane Strouse; Don H. Catlin. Identification of a Urinary Metabolite of the Designer Steroid Tetrahydrogestrinone (THG). Drug Metab: Toxicology.
4. Fernand Labrie, Van Luu-The, Ezequiel Calvo, Céline Martel, Julie Cloutier, Sylvain Gauthier, Pascal Belleau, Jean Morissette, Marie-Hélène Lévesque, and Claude Labrie J. Endocrinol., Feb 2005; 184: 427 - 433.

STEROIDS PROFILE. THE CREAM TESTOSTERONE

2009-09-06T07:55:00.000-07:00

THE CREAM

TESTOSTERONE

Epitestosterone

(Testosterone + Epitestosterone)
4-androstene-3-one, 17beta-ol + Epitestosterone
Molecular Weight (Testosterone): 288.43
Molecular Weight (Epitestosterone): 288.42
Formula (Testosterone): C19 H28 O2
Formula (Epitestosterone): C19 H28 O2
Melting Point (Testosterone): 155
Melting Point (Epitestosterone): 155
Effective Dose (Men): 25-100mgs/day
Active life: 24 hours
Detection Time: Not Detectable
Anabolic: Androgenic ratio: 100:100

The Cream is the slang name given by Victor Conte to a transdermal designer steroid, containing testosterone and epitestosterone, designed by BALCO to avoid detection on drug tests. While testosterone is certainly an anabolic steroid, epitestosterone is simply an inactive epimer of the parent hormone hormone. The reason the latter would be included in “the cream” along with testosterone is to beat doping tests based on the testosterone:epitestosterone ratio.

Roughly 50% of epitestosterone production in human males is from the testes (1), the rest being produced via other pathways (2). In general a 1:1 ratio is a normal testosterone:epitestosterone ratio. Both testosterone as well as epitestosterone (3) are able to be tested for on a doping control test.

All good so far, right?

Alright, well, when you use exogenous testosterone, you screw up that ratio I was just talking about. So a ratio of 2:1 or 3:1 means your testosterone levels (as compared with your epitestosterone levels) are on the high side. If this ratio gets too high, it is a red flag on a doping test, and a pretty good indicator that someone is breaking the rules. The Tour de France considers a 4:1 ratio a failing level, while the NFL had considered a 6:1 ratio to be failing (as does the IOC).

Honestly, most people would pass a doping test if they were only using small amounts of injectable testosterone suspension on a daily basis. But you can use far more of “the cream” than you would ever be able to use of a typical testosterone based drug, and still test clean. I would suspect that up to 100mgs every day or every other day could easily be used, and still result in a clean blood test. This would be more than enough (for example) to provide an edge to an athlete attempting to shave milliseconds off their 100m sprint time, or even set a lifetime homerun record (*cough cough*). In practical terms, it will provide all of the advantages of testosterone without any of the detectability.

So as you probably guessed, “the cream” is really only something that would be of value to drug tested athletes. Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi, and Gary Sheffield all reportedly used the cream, and received a very nice ergogenic boost from it. A cream like this would be very useful for any athlete attempting to boost their recovery ability, muscle mass, and strength levels, without getting caught. For the recreational bodybuilder, and those not subject to blood tests of the athletic variety, it’s a waste of money. It’s not going to produce extremely high testosterone levels unless you are virtually bathing in the stuff, and it’s certainly not going to provide levels high enough to be considered on par with 2-3mls a week of a decently dosed testosterone injection.

If you’re not going to be tested, why take a product that is only designed to provide an advantage to those attempting to beat a drug test. One of my friends has likened this to flying a stealth bomber over a country that doesn’t have radar.
Obviously you aren’t going to find “the cream” (the BALCO version) available anywhere on the Black Market, but if you are a drug tested athlete and can get your hands on something similar, it’s going to be pretty expensive.

References:

1. Secretion by the human testis of epitestosterone, The Journal of steroid biochemistry and molecular biology, 1993 Feb;44(2):171-7.
2. Characterization of 17α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity (17α-HSD) and its involvement in the biosynthesis of epitestosterone, BMC Biochemistry 2005, 6:12, 14 July 2005.
3. Detection of Epitestosterone Doping by Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry, Clinical Chemistry, 2002;48:629-636.

BETTER MUSCLE FOR BETTER HEALTH. BE STRONGER AND HEALTHER!

2009-09-06T07:41:00.000-07:00

By Barbara Russi Sarnataro
WebMD Weight Loss Clinic-Feature. Reviewed by Louise Chang

The Basics: Build Muscle for Better Health. Strength training is about more than getting buff - all know how important cardiovascular exercise is -- how it's great for your heart, cholesterol, and blood pressure. And whether you choose to walk, bicycle, or jog, you know that any exercise that increases your heart rate helps you burn calories and melt away unwanted pounds.

But that's only half the equation.

For a balanced fitness program, strength training is essential. It can slow the muscle loss that comes with age, build the strength of your muscles and connective tissues, increase bone density, cut your risk of injury, and help ease arthritis pain.

"Strength training is very important, not just for your muscles but for your bones," says certified fitness trainer Debbie Siebers. "It's preventative for [bone-thinning] osteoporosis and other problems."

Studies from the CDC have found that muscle-building exercise can also improve balance, reduce the likelihood of falls, improve blood-sugar control, and improve sleep and mental health.

And let us not forget the weight-loss benefits. Not only does it make you look trimmer and shapelier, but building muscle also helps you burn calories -- even after your workout is done.

"Three to four hours after a strength-training workout, you're still burning calories," says Seibers, a creator of fitness videos including the "Slim in 6" series.

Strength training is especially important for dieters. When you lose weight, up to a quarter of the loss may come from muscle, which can slow your metabolism. Strength training helps you rebuild any muscle you lost by dieting -- or keep you from losing it in the first place.

Getting Started

So you're convinced of strength training's virtues. But just how do you go about getting started?

The weight room at the gym, with all the buff bodies and complicated-looking equipment, can be intimidating to a beginner. Indeed, for someone with back or joint pain, just picking up a weight might seem daunting. Then there's the issue of proper form: Without it, you could do more harm than good trying to build strength.

Your best bet when starting out, the experts say, is one-on-one help from a qualified fitness trainer -- whether it's a personal trainer you've hired, or an instructor at your gym. A trainer can address your personal goals and limitations and can help you with alignment and execution of each exercise.

"I can't tell you how many people I see with a knee injury because they were not taught correctly how to do a lunge or squat," says Sue Carver, physical therapist with A World of Difference Therapy Services in Little Rock, Ark.

Siebers also recommends checking out books, videos, and/or fitness- and health-related web sites for guidance on exercises and form.

Indeed, good technique, not heavy lifting, should be your primary goal in the beginning, Carver says.

Getting Started continued...

Siebers recommends using a heavy enough weight to feel resistance, but not strain or pain. Your individual body will determine just how much that is, and you should err on the light side at first; five pounds may not seem like a lot, but it's better to be conservative than suffer.

And how much should you work out? According to the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines, beginners should do at least two days per week of any type of strength-training exercise. Your workout should consist of 8 to 12 repetitions each of 8 to 10 different exercises working all the major muscle groups -- chest, back, shoulders, arms, abdominals, and legs. (A repetition is how many times you lift the weight, pull the rubber tubing, do a pushup, or whatever.)

Machines or Free Weights?

Both free weights and weight machines work well, and experts say there's no evidence that one is superior to the other, so this is largely a matter of choice.

Machines are a good idea for people who are overweight and/or out of condition, since the exercises are generally done seated and with back support, Seibers says.

But if machines are not an option, investing a few dollars in a set of light dumbbells and/or some resistance tubing can give you what you need to start toning those muscles.

Whichever option you choose, keep your moves basic at first, the experts say. For the arms and upper body, try these exercises:

Chest presses
Reverse flies for the back
Overhead presses for the shoulders
Bicep curls
Triceps kickbacks or extensions
For the lower body, don't start out with squats and lunges, which can put too much impact on weak joints.

Instead, try:
Quadriceps extensions for the front of the thigh.
Hamstrings curl for the back of the thigh.
Side-lying or standing leg lifts to work the inner and outer thigh.
And don't forget to work on strengthening your "core" muscles -- the ones in your abdominal and lower back area. Core stability is key to avoiding injury, according to Carver. "Somebody with strong upper extremities but no core stability can hurt themselves doing a bicep curl, for example, if they can't stabilize the trunk," she says.

You'll also avoid injuries - and get the best results -- by varying your workouts. For example, if you work the biceps, back and legs one day, work the triceps, chest and shoulders the next time you train, Siebers says. Alternating between muscle groups gives the ones you worked plenty of time to recover.

Incorporating stretching in your strength program will also help keep injuries at bay, says Carver. Most important, don't push too hard. Carver always cautions people that "feeling some discomfort in the muscle is OK, but feeling it in the joint is not."

If you have a health condition or previous injury, you may need to do modified versions of certain exercises or skip them altogether, she says. That's when it's especially important to work with a fitness trainer.

Staying With the Program

Success comes from structure and constant support, according to Siebers. "Calendar it up," she suggests: Chart your week of exercise out in advance so you know exactly what you're expecting of yourself.

Having a friend to train with is one of the best ways to stick to a program, Siebers says, even if he or she is a cyber-pal.

"Internet chat rooms and support groups really help to motivate," she says. "There are a million people out there in your same situation getting online every night and encouraging each other. People need that day-to-day hand-holding."

But perhaps the most important things you need for a successful strength training program -- or for successful weight loss -- are patience and acceptance, she says.

"The problem is, people look too far down the road trying to see the big picture too quickly," she says. "You have to try to accept and love yourself today and know that each day, you're going to get better."

I hope it was interesting. If so I can recomend you this exellent guide MUSCLE GAINING SECRETS

HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE. FROM A TO Z

2009-08-25T10:26:00.000-07:00

Every body needs human growth hormone (HGH) if it is to develop appropriately. Without it children would not grow, muscles would not develop, even bone density will be affected. HGH has many different jobs such as promoting the growth of tissues throughout the body, the deposition of different proteins and even the breakdown of fat into energy.

Endogenous levels of endogenous levels of human growth hormone go down as people age because the pituitary gland becomes slower in producing and secreting it, but even then there is still some in the body.

Once researchers had learned about HGH and what it did for the body, they became sure that it could have a significant affect on many different things The therapeutic properties of this hormone were then researched in earnest. They figured and proved that it could help those with pituitary deficient dwarfism for example. When these patients were given HGH throughout adolescence they saw a marked improvement in linear growth.

The first kind of human growth hormone that was given to patients was from other people. This hormone was taken from cadavers and then prepared to be given as an injection to those who needed it. It did not take long for the FDA to take this form of HGH off the market when some patients began to be diagnosed with a fatal brain disease that was caught through the injections.

That is why today human growth hormone is synthetic with the recombinant DNA process being very complicated and complex. Scientist take e coli bacteria or mouse cell lines and then use them to make the hormone structure genetically. Jintropin is one of the most effective of these as it has less of a chance of antibodies being triggered in your body when used. This is due to the fact that it has only 191 amino acids where others use 192. The extra amino acid seems to have an effect on these antibodies and when they are produced the human growth hormone does not have the same potent effect at all.

Every day more and more people seem to be finding HGH for themselves. It is used in large extent by athletes who want to become better during competitions. The fact that human growth hormone stimulates tissue growth throughout the body is only the start of why they use this hormone so much. Unlike other options such as steroids, HGH like Jintropin will help the body to make more cells as well as help them to become bigger. All that steroids will do for the body is the latter alone. Even skeletal muscle tissue is increased with human growth hormone.

When taking HGH the transportation of amino acids goes up as well as the rate of protein synthesis. These are actually affected by IGF-1 which happens to be a very anabolic hormone that is made in the liver as well as other tissues. This is triggered by HGH and when one takes human growth hormone injections like Jintropin, peak levels of IGF-1 are sure to be seen about 20 hours or so afterwards.

IGF-1 is not the only thing that human growth hormone will stimulate however. The body will also see more triglyceride hydrolysis in adipose tissue, which can lead directly to fat loss throughout the body. Natural insulin production can also be somewhat depressed when taking HGH and glucose levels can go up. What happens next is that the body starts actually using all of the fat it has stored for its primary energy sources and this too will lead to fat loss. There are even more benefits to human growth hormone such as the strengthening of connective tissues etc.

When HGH strengthens the various connective tissues in your body, it allows you to go without hurting yourself as often. Injuries become far less when tendons and cartilage are so much stronger and this is especially important to those who put a lot of stress on their bodies like bodybuilders and athletes.

But the fact that the hormone is not found on urine tests is probably the second best selling point. This does not mean that the athletic committees of the world have not banned HGH, because they have, it just means that for them to find out if people are actually using it is a lot harder than finding out of they are using steroids.

There has also been some talk of late that there are some testing methods that will tell if HGH is being taken effectively. These have not been used yet but they could hit at any time. Perhaps then less professionals will depend on human growth hormone, but for now it is still very sought after by those who can afford it.

ACTIVE INGRADIENS:

GHRIS LEBEN REVEALED - STEROID USE

2009-08-20T06:04:00.000-07:00

Chris Leben

Posted Aug 20th 2009 8:01AM by Mike Chiappetta
Filed under: UFC, FanHouse Exclusive

Steroid Use, Looks Forward to Turning The Page

After a nine-month suspension for using steroids, UFC middleweight Chris Leben is soon to return to action. Usually in a situation like that, a fighter would have to worry about negative public reaction to his comeback, but in this case, Leben is likely to be hailed like a conquering hero, as the 29-year-old veteran has the good fortune of returning at UFC 102 in his hometown of Portland, Oregon.

The match itself, however will not be easy; Leben (18-6) will take on former three-time NCAA wrestling national champion Jake Rosholt as a featured bout on the televised card.

"The Crippler" recently took a few moments out of his training to talk to FanHouse about his steroids suspension, returning to the octagon, and preparing for Rosholt.

Mike Chiappetta: How much are you looking forward to getting back in the cage?
Chris Leben: I'm really excited. It's been too long and I'm excited to get back and compete. I'm a fighter. That's what I do and I miss it for sure. I fighting, I miss training, I miss preparing, I miss competing. I miss all of it.

How did you use the time you were on suspension? Did you use the time to work on any specific skills?
I opened my own gym in Hawaii, the Ultimate Fight School [in Oahu]. I've been focused on opening that and running that. I've got over 100 students now and a fight team out there. So that keeps me busy. Then also, just training is what I've done for so many years that it's second nature to me. Regardless if I have a fight or not, I'm still going to get my conditioning in the morning. I'm still going to get my team training. I'm still going to bring different people in to work with me. I'm a martial artist regardless if I'm competing in the next week or not.

How difficult have the last nine months been like for you, because you had to deal with not only the suspension, but a loss on your record?
Obviously it wasn't easy but you move on. Everyone's lost before, and losses are always hard but you get over them. Everybody takes hits in life. You just have to say, I'm going to let this ruin me or I'm going to pick myself up. It wasn't easy but that's been my focus to get over it.

What was your reaction when you were told you tested positive for steroids and would be suspended?
A little bit of disbelief. It was something that I wasn't very happy about obviously. I didn't realize it would stay in my system for so long. I'm not an expert on it. It was something I'd done months before, so I thought I was... Ultimately, I paid the price for a mistake I made.

Why did you take steroids?
It was just to help training and I wanted to lose some weight, and I guess curiosity killed the cat, so to speak. But again, I'm rehabilitated now.

Did you have any concerns the UFC would cut you after the positive test?
I didn't know. I just didn't know what they'd do.

Did you lose any sponsors as a result?
I did. My nutrition sponsor.

Did anything positive come out of your situation?
I think it's a good example for other people of what not to do.

Do you feel like you have to rebuild your credibility with the fans, and if so, how do you go about doing that?
For me, I'm just excited to get back and compete again. I've got a great team, a great group of guys at home that I'm working with and focusing on. The people that train with me in Hawaii, the people that are helping me train in Oregon are the people I care about most. I jujst want to go in there and represent them well.

Do you have any concerns about ring rust after the layoff?
No, I don't. I've been training hard. This isn't my first, second, third, or fifteenth fight. I don't think I'll have any ring rust. It'll be the opposite.

Were you happy when the UFC came to you with Rosholt as an opponent?
To be honest with you, it's the UFC's job to pick who I'm going to fight and I'll take whoever the put in front of me. I was just glad to be able to get in the cage again.

What do you think of Rosholt's game?
I think he's a phenomenal wrestler. He's a four-time All-American. He's a national champ. There's no way you can say anything bad about having a set of skills like that.

What about the rest of his game?
I know he's been with Mark Laimon for a while, so I'm sure his grappling's gotten quite a bit better. From what I've seen, he's a goer. He likes to take people down and try to beat on them. Styles make fights, so we're going to have to see how this whole thing matches up.

You must feel like you have a big advantage on the feet?
Yeah, I think so.

Did you bring in any specialists to prepare for his wrestling?
Absolutely. Carl Barton, who wrestled at Penn State and now coaches at my school, I spent a lot of time with him. Then at Team Quest, Ed Herman, Matt Lindland, Chael Sonnen, and Nate Quarry, so I had some great guys with great wrestling skills on top of me. If I can get out from under them, I could get out from under anybody.

What if he decided to stand with you? He seems to like the fact that you're a straight-ahead guy.
It'd make my day. It would definitely make my day if that's his plan. I've stood with a lot of people so, we know that I'm not worried about that.

Where do you hope your career goes after the Rosholt fight?
Right now, to be at the point that I'm at with my life and everything that's taken place, I'm just looking at this fight. I'm just focusing on this fight. I'm not looking at what's going to happen next and what's further down the road. I'll worry about that on August 30.

Fighting in front of Portland, will it feel like a home game?
Absolutely, I'm born and raised here. Team Quest is where I started and I know everybody there. My friends and family are here. Being here is great.

How many people are you expecting to come out and support you at the arena?
A lot! I know every one of my friends has called me and told me they were able to get a bunch of tickets. And I'm a pretty cool guy, so I've got a lot of friends.

STEROIDS AND SPORT

2009-08-19T14:20:00.000-07:00

Jonathan Rowe on Aug 17th 2009

As a libertarian, of course I believe all drugs should be legalized, including steroids/human growth hormone. And I believe private organizations should be free to set rules like “we will or will NOT let our athletes take these drugs.” I think if folks could take these drugs legally and with doctors’ recommendations, it would be better and safer. Yes, I realize you can get a prescription for steroids. But I’m referring to a system where you don’t need a PRESCRIPTION; rather folks would consult their doctors and pharmacists for RECOMMENDATIONS on how to use them safely. That is, a healthy 30 year old, after deciding to use steroids, CONSULTS with doctors and pharmacists for the safest and most responsible way to use them. And perhaps later sue the manufacturers for “failure to warn” if unanticipated health problems occur.
That said, it seems to me, that outside of the sick world where only patients whose muscles might otherwise waste get legal steroids, the folks who end up taking and abusing the drugs illegally are the ones least likely to need them. I know, who am I, as a libertarian, to say who needs what. The logic I am using is, a guy who is 5 foot 2 needs a drug to grow another half foot. A guy who is 6 foot even needs that drug less. And a guy who is six foot six needs that drug not at all. But I suppose if one wants to complete at professional basketball, that 6′6″ guy could benefit from the drug.

Imagine, if you will, a drug that could raise your IQ level 20 points. You might ask, who is in most need of that drug? It’s folks with IQ levels at the average and below average levels. Folks who have an IQ of 130 — very high but not astronomically high — don’t really need to boost their IQs to 150. But again, if I wanted to move up the ranks from a modest level attorney, community college professor to stellar Supreme Court litigator/ivy league law professor, I might benefit from such a drug.

That, it seems to me, is exactly what goes on when bodybuilders, wrestlers and ultimate fighters take steroids. What brought this to mind was Kurt Angle’s recent arrest for human growth hormone.

He claimed to have had a valid prescription for them. Right. Like he needs them for health reasons.

I could hit the gym 5 times a week and take steroids and probably wouldn’t be as strong as Angle if he never worked out a day in his life and didn’t take steroids. Nature both endows and limits.

I’d like to see more natural beanpoles taking steroids, of course in a safe and responsible way. But as long as they are illegal it’s less likely for that to occur.

Ultimately, I say just legalize the drugs for all consenting adults and let the individual make an informed choice on whether and how much to take. That’s much better than the system of government regulations, doctors’ prescriptions, and black markets.

D-ANDROBOL TESTIMONIALS

2009-08-17T13:18:00.001-07:00

I would like to make it clear - the blog author is not necessary sharing some points of view revealed by others even though they are published here...

"I have tried two products so far with amazing results. I have tried may products before yours by far is the best I have taken. I started with D-androbol little over a month and a half ago. I was weighing around 173lbs. After taking D-androbol I noticed big gains.

I now am weighing in at 200 lbs. I started out working with 60 lb dumbbells for flat bench and it seems within 3 to 4 weeks I was working out with 90 lbs. I have now just started taking Deca-diboldazol for a week now and the gains have been almost immediate. Within 48 hours of taking two tablets a day I now have moved from 90lb dumbbells to 100lbs getting at least 5-8 reps in on 3 sets. When I go around I can feel the strength throughout my body. I workout hard 6 times a week with one day off for cardio. I am eating more than normal.

Doing that and taking your products I have achieved amazing results. You guys are awesome and I have since recommended you guys to a few select individuals. Your shipping is quick as well. My friends are all saying I am on steroids because of the quick size I have gained in just two short months. D-androbol gave little over 20lbs of pure muscle in just little over a month and a half. I cannot wait to finish the Deca-diboldazol."

Paul
Elizabethtown, Kentucky

"I am a personal trainer with a varied client base. I had been searching for a product to aid in muscle definition, density and a way to accelerate fat loss. I found it in SA LABS Testanabol! After using Testanabol for one month I noticed excellent results. My diet had been less than clean over the holiday season and my body composition still was transformed. I am a leaner, more defined, densely muscled 43 year old. This product ROCKS. It seems as though more women have noticed me as of lately and I am very happy with the results I have gotten from just under 30 days of use of
this amazing product. Oh yes, I have been ready to F--- like an animal and incredible staying power I have been able to outlast a few women recently. I can't wait to get back to MY gym routine and really start getting this stuff pumping through my veins. I plan to check out more of your products so I can incorporate them into my recommendations to my clients along with their exercise programs I design for them. This is definitely a product I would recommend to my middle age clients to give their systems that kick in the ass needed to spark some fast results and increase motivation. Your products are the REAL DEAL. Thank you for a great product line."

Michael
ACSM - Certified Personal Trainer/Strength Conditioning Coach
Easthampton, Massachusetts

ANABOLIC STEROIDS IN SPORTS

2009-08-17T13:11:00.000-07:00

The sports world was shocked when Canadian Ben Johnson was denied his gold medal at the 1988 Olympics after tests showed he had taken anabolic steroids. The incident called international attention to the use of anabolic steroids among world-class athletes to gain competitive advantage. Still, athletes and nonathletes persist in taking them. Teenagers are taking anabolic steroids not just to succeed in sports but to enhance their self-images by perfecting their physiques.

The nonmedical use of anabolic steroids raises more ethical and moral issues. Steroids use is illegal. Users acquire these drugs through illicit and expensive ways. Athletes who use these drugs are cheating. They gain an unfair advantage over opponents and violate the ban on steroids imposed by most major sports organizations.

What are anabolic steroids ?

Steroids are drugs derived from hormones. Anabolic steroids include one group of these hormonal drugs. In certain cases, some may have therapeutic value. Anabolic steroids - or more precisely, anabolic/androgenic steroids - belong to a group known as ergogenic, or so-called "performance-enhancing," drugs. The medical ones are synthetic derivatives of testosterone, a natural male hormone. "Anabolic" means growing or building. "Androgenic" means "masculinizing" or generating male sexual characteristics.

Most healthy males produce between 2 and 10 milligrams of testosterone a day. (Females do produce some testosterone, but in rare amounts.) The hormone's anabolic effects help the body retain dietary protein, thus aiding growth of muscles, bones, and skin. The androgenic characteristics of testosterone are associated with masculinity. They foster the maturing of the male reproductive system in puberty, the growth of body hair and the deepening of the voice. They can affect aggressiveness and sex drive.

Do They Really Work?

Anabolic steroids are designed to mimic the body building traits of testosterone while minimizing its "masculinizing" effects. There are several types, with various combinations of anabolic and androgenic properties. The International Olympics Committee to date has placed 17 anabolic steroids and related compounds on its banned list.

Athletes who have used anabolic steroids-as well as some coaches, trainers, and pysicians do report significant increases in lean muscle mass, strength, and endurance. But no studies show that the substances enhance performance. Anabolic steroids do not improve agility, skill or cardiovascular capacity.Some athletes insist that these substances aid in recovery from injuries, but no hard data exists to support the claim.

"There is little compelling scientific evidence to support the concept that steroids enhance athletic performance."

Theodore J. Cicero, Ph.D., and Lynn H. O'Connor, Ph.D., 1990