As we age and our bodies change, the ways we eat and train have to change, too. How do you encourage advanced hypertrophy, and how often should you be switching up your exercises and movements? Why do food intolerances become more of an issue as we age, and how can we combat this? On this episode, I’m joined by Infinity Fitness founder Scott Mendelsohn to talk about the factors that impede progress in muscle growth for older athletes and how to avoid them.
You have to shift from doing a lot of volume to higher intensity and less volume. -Scott Mendelsohn
Three Takeaways
People who are advanced in their training require fresh stimuli because their muscle memory is so much higher.
You should be switching up your movements and even overhauling your exercises every 6 weeks, but also changing things like timing of reps, tempo, rest periods more regularly.
Eating clean is not enough to maximize muscle growth and quality of life. You also need to rotate foods, and macro-nutrient cycles
At the start of the show, we talked about advanced hypertrophy and training protocols for aging lifters. Next, we talked about the importance of switching things up in your workouts, how to actually do it and how often. We talked about what causes people not to focus on a workout program and whether this is a genetic trait. Scott also shared on the necessity of switching up your macro-nutrient cycles.
We also discussed:
If you’ve been training for decades, it’s critical that you constantly supply your body with fresh training stimuli through new exercises and routines within your day-to-day workouts. It isn’t just about changing things up in the gym though. It’s also important to think about what’s on your plate. A lot of health issues stem from food intolerances and allergies brought on by eating the same things over and over again. Even if you’re eating clean, you still may not get the results you want. Learn to change the amounts of carbs, dietary fats, and proteins on certain days, and invest in eating plans that rotate foods. Whether it’s training or diet, the methods you employ should give you a return on your investment, and give you the confidence that you are doing your very best to take care of your body.
Guest Bio-
Scott is the author of the 100% Fitness Solution eBook and Director of Infinity Fitness. He is a highly regarded performance nutrition and training specialist. In addition to designing customized programs for his celebrity, weekend warrior and executive clients, Scott works daily with professional athletes from the NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA and NCAA. Scott has built an excellent reputation providing effective supplements, cutting-edge information and unmatched service to thousands of clients worldwide since 1999. Go to https://www.infinityfitness.com/ for more information.
Women’s health has been neglected and filled with myths and ignorance since the beginning of endocrinology. Why is progesterone one of the most underestimated and misunderstood hormones, and what are its uses? How has birth control destroyed the health of both men and women? How can we help chemically castrated women get access to lifesaving healthcare? On this episode, I talk with health practitioner, consultant, author, and educator, Victoria Felkar about what’s getting in the way of the help women need and what can be done about it.
The more you screw with hormones earlier in life, the more you’re setting yourself up for difficulty later on— but the salvation is in lifestyle. -Victoria Felkar
Three Takeaways
Progesterone is a wonder drug for perimenopausal women but it’s heavily maligned for no reason.
An athlete’s body in performance mode is under immense stress, and harm reduction needs to be prioritized so they can recover. Hormones are a huge part of that.
Many people, even doctors, conflate progesterone (which has so many benefits) with progestin (which has done a lot of harm) and this is what is making so many women suffer.
Women’s periods are getting heavier, and a lot more of them are suffering from pain and conditions like endometriosis. Medication and birth control don’t solve the problems, and that’s why we need to get to root causes.
At the start of the show, we talked about why women’s endocrinology is handled so badly, and the double standards that causes this. Next we talked about the connection between hormones and sport, and how the stigma was born. We discussed how hormones are used at the elite levels of sport and how birth control is destroying us. We also talked about the alarming warning signs about menstrual cycles that we shouldn't ignore.
We also discussed:
So many women are suffering because hormones like progesterone have been so maligned. At the same time, birth control pills have been misused and abused. The truth is, the more you screw with hormones earlier on in life through birth control, fertility drugs, and other substances, the more intense the issues will be later on in life. Lifestyle is actually a very important part of women’s reproductive health, not the manipulation of menstrual cycles we are seeing today.
If you have lower rates of stress, you’re going to improve your reproductive health. The woman’s body has its own built in clock, and it’s like a symphony that requires all the instruments. If we start manipulating or removing some parts, there’s no telling how bad the impact will be, and we’re definitely starting to see the negative downstream effects now.
Guest Bio-
Victoria is a practitioner, consultant, author, and educator within the world of strength and fitness. She is an interdisciplinary researcher and instructor who works across the fields of kinesiology, medicine, critical studies and the humanities. She studies health, hormones, and the body, and she is currently pursuing a doctorate. Go to www.victoriafelkar.com/ and to read her blogs or listen to her podcast, go to https://www.victoriafelkar.com/resources-1/. Follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/victoriafelkar/?hl=en.
Therapeutic testosterone has been plagued by myths and misunderstandings for years, including the effectiveness of natural testosterone boosters, the necessity of blood donation, and pellets being a worthy delivery system. How and why are all these things untrue? How has all this bad information wrongly informed FDA rulings and decisions? This episode is a continuation of my conversation with Dr. Keith Nichols and Dr. Scott Howell about the biggest myths and misconceptions about therapeutic testosterone. In this session we talk about FDA mandates, whether testosterone leads to polycythemia vera, and many other myths.
If the FDA had looked at the totality of the evidence, their decision would have been clear. -Dr. Scott Howell
Three Takeaways
Quality of life is a fundamental that needs to be checked when clients are being treated.
Doctors who are against testosterone optimization aren’t optimized themselves, don’t stay current with the research, and weren’t trained properly on how to interpret the data.
You only need to therapeutically donate blood as an intervention if the hematocrit is too high in reference to your normal values.
At the start of the show, we talked about the black box warnings placed on testosterone packets by the FDA and why the basis of this mandate unethical. Next, we talked about natural testosterone boosters vs. pharmaceutical bioidentical testosterone, the value of pellet testosterone therapy as a delivery system, and why polycythemia vera is more genetics-based than it is related to testosterone.
We also discussed:
The biggest issue we have when it comes to testosterone and the myths and so-called controversies surrounding it are the way it’s studied and the people studying it. If mandates are being made based on a couple of studies and negative media reports, that isn’t just inadequate— it is downright unethical. Until the “experts” study the research in totality, whatever decisions are being made are misguided at best, and damaging at worst. We can only overcome this by demanding that physicians and experts stay current with the research and evidence-based medicine.
Guest Bio-
Dr. Scott is a leading global health epidemiologist, androgen researcher, and sport science educator. Go to tier1hw.com for more information and follow @periodization_ on Twitter.
Therapeutic testosterone has been plagued by myths and misunderstanding. How is this a result of the way data is interpreted? Do men need to block estrogen when undergoing hormone optimization? On this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Keith Nichols and one of the leading androgen researchers in the world, Dr. Scott Howell. Together we go through a list of testosterone myths and discuss the data that completely disproves them.
Interpretations of research influences many things, and misinterpretation of data causes problems for a lot of people. -Dr. Scott Howell
Four Takeaways
At the start of the show, Dr. Scott shared how he got started and got into research. Next he talked about the importance of interpreting research correctly, and how misinterpretations are at the root of a lot of myths and misconceptions. We talked about testosterone myths including Is whether AIs are necessary, testosterone and prostate cancer, as well as testosterone and gynecomastia. We also talked about one way you can tell if a doctor is actually really clued up on testosterone optimization.
We also discussed;
We have to get rid of all the locker room bodybuilding subculture pseudoscience that has led to people (even physicians) believing that testosterone is harmful and dangerous. The truth about many of the harms of testosterone is that they aren’t based on the whole population of people who are using it. Things like hair loss, anger problems and gynecomastia have more to with having a predisposed condition and not the use therapeutic testosterone. A lot of the so-called side effects people have come from fundamental, genetic and personality traits.
Because we’ve demonized the use of anabolics for cosmetic purposes, there’s a lot of it being sold on the black market— much of which isn’t legitimate. What are some of the worst compounds to take from an unreliable source? Why is arachidonic acid such an important nutrient for performance? On this episode, I’m joined by author, scientist and anabolics expert, Bill Llewellyn, to discuss these questions and more.
Aside from protein, arachidonic acid is the most important nutrient in training and performance. -Bill Llewellyn
Three Takeaways
At the start of the show, Bill talked about how he got started and why the demonization of anabolic steroids is a farce. Next, we talked about the work Bill’s company is doing in creating a test for growth hormone. We also talked about what percentage of the compounds on the market are actually legit.
We also discussed;
The medicinal, life-enhancing and restorative qualities of anabolics and testosterone are incredible. Yet in order for patients to see these benefits, they need to be getting legitimate products in the first place. That’s why it’s so important to educate people on the right products and how to get them through legitimate channels to avoid harm or wasting money on glorified placebos.
Guest Bio-
Bill is an author and scientist in the field of human performance enhancement. He is also the founder of Molecular Nutrition. His books include the Anabolics Book and the Sports Supplements Reference Guide. Find him on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AuthorWL/.
The effects of aromatized testosterone on things like body fat and sexual function is often underestimated and downplayed. What effect does estradiol have on the body? How does estradiol affect sexual and orgasmic function? Why is estradiol such a game changer for fat loss? On this episode, Dr. Neal Rouzier shares more on the studies that show the benefits of estrogen in men.
By blocking estrogen, the things you are trying to prevent are the things you end up causing. -Dr. Neal Rouzier
Three Takeaways
At the start of the show, we talked about how the inhibition of the aromatization of testosterone to estradiol increases body fat. Next we talked about how estradiol plays into visceral fat, insulin sensitivity, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. We also talked about the role of estradiol in the treatment of prostate cancer.
We also discussed:
Every study shows there are massive benefits if you raise estrogen, and no study has ever shown harm. Measuring estradiol is helpful in assessing the risks of sexual dysfunction, bone loss, or fat accumulation. Estrogen is actually the key to unlocking so many health functions for men, including cardiovascular health. There is a marked increase in intra-abdominal fat with aromatase inhibition. Ultimately it could lead to an increase in cardiovascular disease with long-term estrogen deficiency, which will cause even more harm down the line.
Guest Bio-
Dr. Rouzier is a world-renowned optimization medicine physician, educator, researcher, clinician, speaker and author. He is the founder of WorldLink Medical. He specializes in bioidentical hormone replacement for men and women. His passion for literature research has led him to be one of the most credible speakers in the field of bio identical hormone replacement.
Go to https://nealrouzier.com or https://worldlinkmedical.com/ for more information.
Even in the minds of well-informed medical male professionals, estrogen is irrelevant, but it actually plays a huge role in a lot of key functions and health benefits. What are some of the aspects of the human body that are impacted by estrogen? What happens when those levels are reduced? On this episode, I continue my conversation with Dr. Rouzier as he shares a lecture on estrogen.
As males, we should be just as interested in our estradiol levels as we seem to be interested in our testosterone levels, if not more so. -Dr. Neal Rouzier
Takeaways
At the start, Dr. Rouzier shared the mistake medical professionals when they don’t even consider estrogen and how important it is. Next, he talked about why estrogen is the true indicator of bone density issues. Dr. Rouzier also talked about how estradiol increases lean body mass and inhibited orchiectomy-associated in fat mass.
We also discussed;
With all the studies that show the harm caused by AIs, the conclusion is that in ageing men, estrogen is the dominant sex steroid regulating many key optimization functions. Aromatization of testosterone is crucial not only for skeletal preservation but also for beneficial effects on body composition. If you want to gain or maintain muscle, estradiol is important. Lowering and reducing it does nothing good for both men and women.
Guest Bio-
Dr. Rouzier is a world-renowned optimization medicine physician, educator, researcher, clinician, speaker and author. He is the founder of WorldLink Medical. He specializes in bioidentical hormone replacement for men and women. His passion for literature research has led him to be one of the most credible speakers in the field of bio identical hormone replacement. Go to https://nealrouzier.com or https://worldlinkmedical.com/ for more information.
A large population in the medical community believe that estrogen in men should be suppressed, even though the actual science shows that doing this has no real benefit. How does confirmation bias play into these views? What does the medical literature actually say about raising estradiol levels? On this episode, I’m honored to be joined by optimization medicine legend and expert, Dr. Neal Rouzier, who shares a lecture on the real effects of estrogen on men’s health.
The reason people want to block estrogen is because high levels are associated with harm, yet you don’t see that harm when you raise estrogen. -Dr. Neal Rouzier
Takeaways
At the start of the show, Dr. Neal shared how he got to where he is today, and why so many people struggle to distinguish estrogen use when someone is taking supraphysiological doses of hormones and therapeutic levels. Next, Dr. Neal shared his lecture and talked about how confirmation bias and association play a role in the mistaken view many doctors have about estrogen. Dr. Neal shared on the various studies that prove that raising estrogen is actually beneficial and that suppressing it can actually cause harm.
We also discussed;
Most doctors are hanging their hats on the idea the estrogen in men should be suppressed, based only on confirmation bias and associations that aren’t linked to any causation. High levels of estrogens are associated with harm, and even though this view came out of the bodybuilding world, it still persists today. The question is: why would we want to block estrogen if, in every study it is given, estrogen has showed great benefit? The point of contention is everyone thinks they’re preventing harm by blocking estrogen when in reality they are actually causing harm, and that’s something we should change.
Guest Bio-
Dr. Rouzier is a world-renowned optimization medicine physician, educator, researcher, clinician, speaker and author. He is the founder of WorldLink Medical. He specializes in bioidentical hormone replacement for men and women. His passion for literature research has led him to be one of the most credible speakers in the field of bio identical hormone replacement.
Go to https://nealrouzier.com or https://worldlinkmedical.com/ for more information.