How to 'Fix' Cortisol?

Bigger Stronger Leaner Competitive Bodybuilding
1

I just read the document collecting all of Thib’s “Thib Zone” questions about fat storage. I remembered from my fat loss trek that basically as I lost weight/fat, all of my numbers went down at a steady rate in nearly all of the 7 sites except for my abdomen, it almost never changed the entire 8-10 weeks I was cutting. According to Thibs:

“A high measure here compared to the rest is indicative of bad cortisol modulation. Note that elevated abdominal fat is representative of long term cortisol elevation, not of what happened in the past weeks. If your abdominal fat is high compared to other measures it means that your cortisol has been out of whack for a while.”

What does that mean and how do I fix it? It seems that it relates to stress – I don’t think I’m really all that stressed out, but I do tend to obsess over my work. Honestly though, what other factors affect cortisol and lowering it? I get plenty of sleep too, but its usually from like 3 am until 11am-noon. I mean I pretty much get 8-9 hours a night, its just later because I just am a night owl, I hate going to bed early :slight_smile:

I tried doing some searches which didn’t really provide the straight facts, so maybe someone could give me the no-nonsense answer to my query?

2

Where is that document collecting all of Thib’s “Thib Zone” questions?

3

If I’m not mistaken stimulants such as caffeine would have a substansial effect on your cortisol levels. So if you’re addicted to coffee or have a nasty habit of taking amphetamines you should consider quitting.

4

[quote]acelement wrote:
I just read the document collecting all of Thib’s “Thib Zone” questions about fat storage. I remembered from my fat loss trek that basically as I lost weight/fat, all of my numbers went down at a steady rate in nearly all of the 7 sites except for my abdomen, it almost never changed the entire 8-10 weeks I was cutting. According to Thibs:

“A high measure here compared to the rest is indicative of bad cortisol modulation. Note that elevated abdominal fat is representative of long term cortisol elevation, not of what happened in the past weeks. If your abdominal fat is high compared to other measures it means that your cortisol has been out of whack for a while.”

What does that mean and how do I fix it? It seems that it relates to stress – I don’t think I’m really all that stressed out, but I do tend to obsess over my work. Honestly though, what other factors affect cortisol and lowering it?

I get plenty of sleep too, but its usually from like 3 am until 11am-noon. I mean I pretty much get 8-9 hours a night, its just later because I just am a night owl, I hate going to bed early :slight_smile:

I tried doing some searches which didn’t really provide the straight facts, so maybe someone could give me the no-nonsense answer to my query?

[/quote]

You will never find a doctor worth anything who would try to diagnose hormone discrepancies simply by if you gain a little fat in your stomach area. Most guys gain fat there first and lose it there last. That isn’t indicative of anything other than you are male.

Stress factors come into play based on your entire life style. If you get agitated in rush hour traffic, those stress related hormones are increased.

Making a direct correlation between “stomach fat” and “stress factors” is overly simplistic and sounds like a weight loss infomercial.

5

I keep a zen mind set and calm by utilizing breath counting meditation for 30-60 minutes a day. Taking fish oil from my understanding can also help lower cortisol levels.

6

[quote]Professor X wrote:
acelement wrote:
I just read the document collecting all of Thib’s “Thib Zone” questions about fat storage. I remembered from my fat loss trek that basically as I lost weight/fat, all of my numbers went down at a steady rate in nearly all of the 7 sites except for my abdomen, it almost never changed the entire 8-10 weeks I was cutting. According to Thibs:

“A high measure here compared to the rest is indicative of bad cortisol modulation. Note that elevated abdominal fat is representative of long term cortisol elevation, not of what happened in the past weeks. If your abdominal fat is high compared to other measures it means that your cortisol has been out of whack for a while.”

What does that mean and how do I fix it? It seems that it relates to stress – I don’t think I’m really all that stressed out, but I do tend to obsess over my work. Honestly though, what other factors affect cortisol and lowering it? I get plenty of sleep too, but its usually from like 3 am until 11am-noon. I mean I pretty much get 8-9 hours a night, its just later because I just am a night owl, I hate going to bed early :slight_smile:

I tried doing some searches which didn’t really provide the straight facts, so maybe someone could give me the no-nonsense answer to my query?

You will never find a doctor worth anything who would try to diagnose hormone discrepancies simply by if you gain a little fat in your stomach area. Most guys gain fat there first and lose it there last. That isn’t indicative of anything other than you are male.

Stress factors come into play based on your entire life style. If you get agitated in rush hour traffic, those stress related hormones are increased.

Making a direct correlation between “stomach fat” and “stress factors” is overly simplistic and sounds like a weight loss infomercial.[/quote]

My other issue with this correlation is that I highly doubt after a ‘cortisol protocol’ that the ‘issue’ would be fixed; meaning, say you lean out and have used such a protocol in the process.

Do you think you would put on fat mass differently if you were to gain back the weight? I don’t think so, I think it will come on in the same distribution patter, hence making it gene-specific.

It is based on genetic blueprint.

7

I completey agree with this. I also believe that we can gain some control over emotional stress as well. Whether or not a reduction in that would result in a reduction in body fat (specifically around your stomach) just by that change alone is a question for someone with more information than me.

8

Here are some “chemical” things you can do to decrease cortisol:

  1. Take pregnenelone (probably not the way to go if you are in your twenties or below)

  2. Take Theanine.

  3. Take phosphatidyl serine…A cheap source is the Puritan’s Pride Website.

  4. Take Vitamin C

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Stop stressing about it! (no pun intended)

10

11-T?

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You look young and this may be me being biased but don’t pump yourself full of chemicals and hormones without first trying out more natural methods. We as a society in my experience always look for something to pop in our mouths or an easy fix. Sometimes the easiest fix is also the most quick to diminish. My three cents since I already gave two earlier.

12

I agree that I don’t think you can ‘fix’ cortisol, but there are things you can do try to reduce it (lifecycle, supps, etc.). Some of it just comes down to how you are wired to handle stress.

In addition to the things suggested, I believe Thibs also recommends taking L-Glycine to lower cortisol. I’ve seen recommendations to take 5g with meals or 5-10g post workout. I haven’t tried this personally.

13

[quote]entheogens wrote:
Here are some “chemical” things you can do to decrease cortisol:

  1. Take pregnenelone (probably not the way to go if you are in your twenties or below)

  2. Take Theanine.

  3. Take phosphatidyl serine…A cheap source is the Puritan’s Pride Website.

  4. Take Vitamin C
    [/quote]

LOL
Your avatar looks like it matches your post there… like you’re handing out the supps you prescribe.

Hey E, you look heavier! Is that intentional? Good job.

14

[quote]Iron Dwarf wrote:
LOL
Your avatar looks like it matches your post there… like you’re handing out the supps you prescribe.

Hey E, you look heavier! Is that intentional? Good job.
[/quote]

Haha, didn’t think about that. I went to Nashville
over Thanksgiving and one of my goals was to eat some Krystal Hamburgers (think this chain only exists in the South, in any case, it doesn’t exist in California). The picture is of me with a bag full of Krystal burgers. Needless to say, I achieved my “goal”.

Thanks for the kind words. Yeah, I am a bit heavier thanks to heavy training, but also lower in body fat. I have started consuming at least 4 tablespoons of coconut oil a day and finding that it is almost miraculous in helping me to shed bodyfat (increases metabolism).

15

[quote]entheogens wrote:
Iron Dwarf wrote:
LOL
Your avatar looks like it matches your post there… like you’re handing out the supps you prescribe.

Hey E, you look heavier! Is that intentional? Good job.

Haha, didn’t think about that. I went to Nashville
over Thanksgiving and one of my goals was to eat some Krystal Hamburgers (think this chain only exists in the South, in any case, it doesn’t exist in California). The picture is of me with a bag full of Krystal burgers. Needless to say, I achieved my “goal”.

Thanks for the kind words. Yeah, I am a bit heavier thanks to heavy training, but also lower in body fat. I have started consuming at least 4 tablespoons of coconut oil a day and finding that it is almost miraculous in helping me to shed bodyfat (increases metabolism).

[/quote]

Wow, 4 tbsp a day? I will have to try this!

I take it that you DID change your routine/diet to induce such fat loss?

I wonder how high intake of coconut oil compares to fish oil for fat loss…

Nice work, man. Are Krystal Burgers like White Castle?

16

[quote]PonceDeLeon wrote:

Wow, 4 tbsp a day? I will have to try this!

I take it that you DID change your routine/diet to induce such fat loss?

I wonder how high intake of coconut oil compares to fish oil for fat loss…

Nice work, man. Are Krystal Burgers like White Castle?

[/quote]

You might want to read what Biochemist Ray Peat has to say about Coconut oil and fat loss:

I will let you know that he’s not too fond of fish oil.

I have never eaten White Castle, but Krystals is like White Castle in that they are small. I am told though that Krystals is MUCH better.

17

Thanks for the link, I will check it out!

I will have to post that link on krill oil being “48x better than fish oil” if they were to establish an ORAC-type rating for both.

Hope the Silicon Valley slowdown isn’t affecting you, by the way. I am shit outta luck right now with finding employment.

18

[quote]entheogens wrote:
PonceDeLeon wrote:

Wow, 4 tbsp a day? I will have to try this!

I take it that you DID change your routine/diet to induce such fat loss?

I wonder how high intake of coconut oil compares to fish oil for fat loss…

Nice work, man. Are Krystal Burgers like White Castle?

You might want to read what Biochemist Ray Peat has to say about Coconut oil and fat loss:

I will let you know that he’s not too fond of fish oil.

I have never eaten White Castle, but Krystals is like White Castle in that they are small. I am told though that Krystals is MUCH better.

[/quote]

Krystal burgers are indeed quite amazing when eaten in large quantities…

19

[quote]joburnet wrote:
Where is that document collecting all of Thib’s “Thib Zone” questions?

[/quote]

http://www.T-Nation.com/free_online_forum/sports_body_training_performance_bodybuilding/33_page_summary_of_cts_new_thib_zone

20

[quote]acelement wrote:
I just read the document collecting all of Thib’s “Thib Zone” questions about fat storage. I remembered from my fat loss trek that basically as I lost weight/fat, all of my numbers went down at a steady rate in nearly all of the 7 sites except for my abdomen, it almost never changed the entire 8-10 weeks I was cutting. According to Thibs:

“A high measure here compared to the rest is indicative of bad cortisol modulation. Note that elevated abdominal fat is representative of long term cortisol elevation, not of what happened in the past weeks. If your abdominal fat is high compared to other measures it means that your cortisol has been out of whack for a while.”

What does that mean and how do I fix it? It seems that it relates to stress – I don’t think I’m really all that stressed out, but I do tend to obsess over my work. Honestly though, what other factors affect cortisol and lowering it? I get plenty of sleep too, but its usually from like 3 am until 11am-noon. I mean I pretty much get 8-9 hours a night, its just later because I just am a night owl, I hate going to bed early :slight_smile:

I tried doing some searches which didn’t really provide the straight facts, so maybe someone could give me the no-nonsense answer to my query?

[/quote]

If you would like to learn more about body fat storage and how it’s related to your hormone profile i would go to a qualified bio signature practitioner who can assess it and explain it to you properly. In person. Trying to assess it over the net by reading blanket statements and taking advice from people who’s only knowledge of the practice is just that, reading the internet, is going to get you very limited answers and results.