[quote]Jason B wrote:
Cy -
How do I get game like yours? I see you with a different hottie almost everytime I see you. What is the secret? You are so buff. I guess if I was a chick I’d be all over you too…
Jason
[/quote]
Cupcakes
Good to see your name, Cy. I just put in my time on the guest forum tour, so I figured I deserved a post of my own to pick your brain.
OTC supplements to suppress cortisol. I’ve heard of 500 mg Panax Ginseng 2x daily, high-dose Vitamin B6. Phosphatidylserine is quite expensive, and most individuals with whom I’ve conversed haven’t gotten anything from it (probably due to poor quality PS supplements).
Likewise, if the DHEA: Cortisol ratio is out of whack (and closely related to thyroid issues), would you address both the thyroid (with L-tyrosine, etc.)and cortisol problems, or just the latter and see what happens?
Thanks!
Yes I should be in the lab. Tomorrow is Chipotle day and the hot intern is coming in so I have something to look forward too:)
Here’s a real question for you though. What’s your take on artificial sweetners? The research seems to go back and forth on this depending on any number of factors. Also, what would you recommend (either via research or from a “commen sense” approach) as an upper limit for using artificial sweetners?
I ask because I seem to be abusing them lately and don’t have time to look at the research like I should.
[quote]Eric Cressey wrote:
Good to see your name, Cy. I just put in my time on the guest forum tour, so I figured I deserved a post of my own to pick your brain.
OTC supplements to suppress cortisol. I’ve heard of 500 mg Panax Ginseng 2x daily, high-dose Vitamin B6. Phosphatidylserine is quite expensive, and most individuals with whom I’ve conversed haven’t gotten anything from it (probably due to poor quality PS supplements).
Likewise, if the DHEA: Cortisol ratio is out of whack (and closely related to thyroid issues), would you address both the thyroid (with L-tyrosine, etc.)and cortisol problems, or just the latter and see what happens?
Thanks![/quote]
Eric,
I would use both l-tyrosine and either Red Bands or 7-oxo-DHEA. The reason being is that there’s an unknown (to me at least) interrelationship between DHEA and it’s more active metabolites (i.e., androstenediol, androstenetriol and 7 beta-OH-DHEA). In fact, there’s data demonstrating that 7-oxo-DHEA increases T3 in healthy men and in addition to this, they also found that T3 and 7 beta-OH-DHEA levels in particular are strongly correlated in again, healthy males. That makes sense as 7 beta-OH DHEA was/is one of the most potent in terms of thermogenic activity. Although, it’s further metabolites, androstenediol and triol are just as, if not more potent in that regard and thus that’s probably why 7-oxo-DHEA had such an effect as the two steroids (7 beta-OH-DHEA and 7-oxo-DHEA)interconvert pretty readily.
Oh and the antiglucocorticoid effect does seem to play a role in this as well…the thermogenic aspect at least. How it relates to thyroid hormone levels, I don’t think anyone knows as this point.
Please let me know if you have any other questions or if this didn’t help.
Cy,
What are the best androgens to use during a cycle for tendon/joint health while still having a mass/strength benefit?
[quote]Brad Johnson wrote:
Yes I should be in the lab. Tomorrow is Chipotle day and the hot intern is coming in so I have something to look forward too:)
Here’s a real question for you though. What’s your take on artificial sweetners? The research seems to go back and forth on this depending on any number of factors. Also, what would you recommend (either via research or from a “commen sense” approach) as an upper limit for using artificial sweetners?
I ask because I seem to be abusing them lately and don’t have time to look at the research like I should.
[/quote]
Bradley 
Well, it depends on which artificial sweetener you’re talking about. I personally, as you already know, use sucralose. I think aspartame is ok when used here and there…although, any time I see a compound yielding methanol and formaldehyde as metabolites, it’s a little scary. Nonetheless, I think moderation is the key as with anything. I remember JB telling me that he had a friend who when dieting would mix a large number of packets of aspartame and I think cinnamon and then throw all of it in a blender and just drink from it. That’s excessive. If you’re consuming maybe a diet soda 2-3 times per week, that’s fine. If you’re going to consume more than that, I’d use sucralose instead. I know there are toxicological studies with sucralose in rodents that might raise an eyebrow, but as I’ve tried to tell people, metabolism is quantitatively and qualitatively different across species. The attitude I now have and will always have is that low-moderate consumption is the key. Even if the FDA clears it, I still think that’s the best idea. Even if later research reveals that it was more toxic than once thought, I think as with most compounds, you’re only in a world of hurt if you consumed vast quantities.
So, with that being said, I’d say low consumption is no more than 5-7 items per week which contain a given artificial sweetener and moderate consumption as no more than 8-14. Keep in mind that more than just diet soda will have them…gum, certain candy, etc.
Cy,
What is new in the world of beta antagonists?
Thanks for the great info you supply,
Rick
[quote]Boss14 wrote:
Cy,
What are the best androgens to use during a cycle for tendon/joint health while still having a mass/strength benefit?[/quote]
Boss14,
Nandrolone or boldenone would suffice.
any comments on using capscacin topically for fatloss. i read that is causes localized insulin resistance by releasing calcium from the cells. is this really possible and achievable? thank you, pk
[quote]Rick Jakubowski wrote:
Cy,
What is new in the world of beta antagonists?
Thanks for the great info you supply,
Rick
[/quote]
Rick,
Are you sure you want info on beta blockers? In any event, they’ve developed more selective compounds, which is great for those concerned about an decrease in lipolysis, decreased muscle mass, sex drive, etc.
Cy,
Actually I meant to write beta-2 antagonist, ala, clenbutorol
[quote]pkradgreek wrote:
any comments on using capscacin topically for fatloss. i read that is causes localized insulin resistance by releasing calcium from the cells. is this really possible and achievable? thank you, pk[/quote]
I think that’s a bit of a stretch. All too often, a common thing I see is that people seem to think that because a given compound has a given effect AFTER reaching systemic circulation, it will have the same effect when applied locally. From the data I’ve seen on red pepper it’s simply causing a release of norepinephrine…again, AFTER reaching systemic circulation.
[quote]Rick Jakubowski wrote:
Cy,
Actually I meant to write beta-2 antagonist, ala, clenbutorol[/quote]
Rick,
Don’t know of any new compounds in that regard. There are some older, more potent beta 2-adrenergic agonists which I listed long ago, but in using those, you’re taking a substantial risk. I’m not really a fan of using such compounds when there are adenylate cyclase activators available.
[quote]Rick Jakubowski wrote:
Cy,
Actually I meant to write beta-2 antagonist, ala, clenbutorol[/quote]
Oh and you meant the beta 2 agonist, not antagonist, clenbuterol. 
Yes, agonist, sorry but it has been a long day. Alright now you got me on a new topic, are there any new adenylate cyclase activators that will displace Forskolin? What type of cycles would you recommend with them?
My apologies for being a thread hog,
[quote]Rick Jakubowski wrote:
Yes, agonist, sorry but it has been a long day. Alright now you got me on a new topic, are there any new adenylate cyclase activators that will displace Forskolin? What type of cycles would you recommend with them?
My apologies for being a thread hog, ;-)[/quote]
Sclareolide, which is what is used in Hot-Rox, Red Bands and Red Kat. Other than that, I think forskolin still has its’ place as well. As for cycling, I really don’t think any particular cycling needs to be done other than what you’d do with any supplement. In other words, maybe take a 2-3 week break after 12 weeks of continuous use.
Any chance of you doing an article on I.O.C. drug testing and detection times in the future. There are literaly mountains of bullshit on this topic on the internet. It would be nice to get an article from someone who could find and understand the research on this topic. I’ve tried doing the research myself but not being a chemistry guy I tend to get sort of bogged down in it at times and just feel like I’m missing something. Thanks.
[quote]firstpull wrote:
Any chance of you doing an article on I.O.C. drug testing and detection times in the future. There are literaly mountains of bullshit on this topic on the internet. It would be nice to get an article from someone who could find and understand the research on this topic. I’ve tried doing the research myself but not being a chemistry guy I tend to get sort of bogged down in it at times and just feel like I’m missing something. Thanks.[/quote]
Sorry, but you won’t see one coming from me. The fact is that analytical techniques are continually being improved upon. They’ve got so many methods they can use…whether it be developing an antibody to a given metabolite, GC/MS, HPLC, GC/HRMS, etc.
It would be highly irresponsible of me to sit here and give definitive clearance times. Even if I were to take the latest publications and use that as a guide, people forget that some things may go unpublished or won’t be published until long after the technique has been implemented. Anyhow, it’s because of this that there’s been a shift from simply trying to beat detection times to simply looking for new steroid molecules which they haven’t developed an assay for yet. Hence, THG before they caught wind of it. Along these same lines, that’s why there was also a shift, long ago, to switch from anabolic steroids to non-steroidal, anabolic compounds. But again, they’re getting on top of that too. Anyhow, me doing an article and giving definitive clearance times would only be adding to the proverbial pile of bullshit.
All right, I’m all finished now guys. I’ll try to do this again some time soon. Thanks for the participation!