Any questions on this Holiday?
Question of the Week: As many of you know, Canada Day is celebrated as the day that Santa drove all of the polar bears out of Canada. What is Independence Day?
If I remember correctly, it’s the day we celebrate that no matter how they try, local and state governments can not keep us from our God given right to blow off our own fingers.
Yesterday I tried step ups with a loaded Barr for the first time EVER.
While I’d done bulgarian squats, and one legged squats off a bench, I’ve never thought that step ups would be all that great for me.
It seemed to be more of a motor learning experience than anything, because the bench I was stepping up on wasn’t 100% stable. I also had the tendency to push off with my back leg, making it easier on the drive leg.
No soreness at all today, but I think I’ll try them again next week.
Maybe they’ll feel different back in Canada…
OK here’s a question. How does Testosterone and other hormones (excluding insulin) REALLY lead to greater muscular growth versus say having low levels of those hormones?
Seeing as you live in the North Pole.
Do you find it disheartening that it is actually referred to as a Pole?
I mean, surely they considered other synonyms: Rod, Barr, etc.
Hi Dave,
I like to work out first thing in the morning before work. Do you have any suggestions for pre-workout meals? I would prefer a solid meal, but then don’t want to get up super early to digest if I don’t have to! Any ideas?
Happy Canada Day and Independence Day (any excuse to celebrate twice in one weekend =)!
Thanks!
-Tea-Vixen
BTW, you should get an avatar that shows your wheels.
Wow MD, starting off with a nice simple question. LOL
The general mechanisms are below, but having high levels of these hormones leads to a constant signal to “GROW”. This will likely lead to a greater anabolic signal compared to the catabolic signals our muscles receive.
Having high levels of these hormones means that the anabolic signals>>> catabolic signals. Low levels of these hormones means that anabolic signals>= catabolic signals.
GH and IGF-1 stimulate transcription, much like insulin, by binding the extracellular receptor, and stimulating the signaling cascade.
Testosterone passes through the cell membrane and heads right for the cell nucleus, where it complexes with its receptor and DNA to kick off transcription.
If this isn’t what you’re looking for, let me know.
Cheers
[quote]mertdawg wrote:
OK here’s a question. How does Testosterone and other hormones (excluding insulin) REALLY lead to greater muscular growth versus say having low levels of those hormones?[/quote]
Just when I think you’ve exhausted all wordplay on your last name you come up with something new; Why don’t you just come clean and admit that Dr.Ryan co-writes your material?
Tri, good question. As with many things, the “North Pole” is an American Term. Canadians refer to it as “the place down the street.”
We reserve the term “Rod” for anything relating to the Simpsons, such as Rod Flanders, or the inanimate carbon Rod that saved Homers Space Shuttle crew upon reentry.
Good question!
[quote]TriGWU wrote:
Seeing as you live in the North Pole.
Do you find it disheartening that it is actually referred to as a Pole?
I mean, surely they considered other synonyms: Rod, Barr, etc.[/quote]
[quote]David Barr wrote:
If this isn’t what you’re looking for, let me know.
Cheers
[/quote]
Well, I remember you writing that the hormonal response was not critical for muscle growth. I assume you mean that training does not have a major effect on production of these hormones, and that THEY are not the signal for growth, the signal has to usually come from training and the hormones then help facilitate that signal.
In that case, what is the signal?
A) short term local depletion of high energy phosphates?
B) short term local depletion of glycogen
C) Decrease in blood pH
D) Antibody like effect of degraded proteins
E) other/combination?
How about
David Barr Iron?
meaning son of Iron?
Anyway, isn’t Barr an English derivative of Bear?
TV, I’ve noticed that with early morning workouts I am usually VERY dehydrated. Be sure that you’re consuming adequate amounts of water before hand.
Traditional breakfast items like Orange juice and bananas are great for Carbs. Protein is best ingested as powder due to digestion time, but egg whites are great early in the morning. You could also throw in cottage cheese with fruit.
Why do you prefer solid meals?
How long before your workout do you wake up?
Hope you watch the Pops perform tonight in Baston!
[quote]Tea-Vixen wrote:
Hi Dave,
I like to work out first thing in the morning before work. Do you have any suggestions for pre-workout meals? I would prefer a solid meal, but then don’t want to get up super early to digest if I don’t have to! Any ideas?
Happy Canada Day and Independence Day (any excuse to celebrate twice in one weekend =)!
Thanks!
-Tea-Vixen[/quote]
Tri, if you’re concerned about my wheels, you shouldn’t have cropped me out of YOUR avatar. That’s right folks, Tri cut me out!
[quote]TriGWU wrote:
BTW, you should get an avatar that shows your wheels.[/quote]
Yo Barr, wanted to ask you about optimizing my Surge intake pre and post workout. My goals are strictly gaining muscle prior to my hiking trip and am not worried about fat gain at all.
I am currently,
-1 scoop of Surge immediately upon rising
-1st meal big p+c
-2nd meal big p+c
-10 min pre workout 1 scoop of Surge
-15 min post, 2 scoops of Surge slammed
-45 min later HUGE p+c meal
-2.5 hours later same as above
-2.5 hours later big p+f meal
-pre bed, big p+f meal(also a scoop of Grow! along side the middle of the night leak)
My question is how can I optimize this for pure mass gain, other than the addition of calories in my solid food meals. More Surge pre, post workout? Additional serving AFTER my pw drink? I would like your suggestions with the mindset that the amount of Surge/cost is of no matter to me.
Thanks a lot!!
Dezz
Since I’m turning into a Barrn I would like to ask a question to why I get soo tired after a workout. I’m in like a daze after a workout and become tired for like an hour. I don’t want to move etc…?
I would think that because my food intake is huge(BTW I added 250kcal of oatmeal as you suggested for carbs at breakfest) that my being tired would not be as great. I’m sure my CNS is getting taxed because of this wave loading but I was under the impression that I would feel more energy after working out. Maybe this was putative but I thought I would ask. I’m sure it’s just putative that I would have more energy. Never the less I thought I would ask if you have anything?
-Get Lifted
Dr Ryan, you don’t have to make up new names on T-Nation to tell us how talented you are. Besides, an alias like “KJ Bridgewater” is just one step away from “Dr. Ryan.”
BTW-Chocolate Barr was my nickname as a kid, and it had nothing to do with feces. Really.
[quote]KJ Bridgewater wrote:
Just when I think you’ve exhausted all wordplay on your last name you come up with something new; Why don’t you just come clean and admit that Dr. Ryan co-writes your material?[/quote]
Thanks for the suggestions Dave!
I don’t know exactly why I like solid meals. I think it makes my body think I’ve actually consumed something that can fuel my workout. I’ve tried going to work out without consuming any thing (big mistake for me!) or just a shake, and in both situations about half way through my workout I felt like my blood sugar was crashing.
I am a little confused by these experiences but think it’s probably partially psychological. Also, if eating a solid meal keeps me going, I’d rather go that route.
Also, I tend to wake up about 45 min before my workouts. Does this leave adequate time to digest if I eat as soon as I wake up?
Thanks!
P.S. I like chocolate Barrs too =p.
-Tea-Vixen
[quote]mertdawg wrote:
Well, I remember you writing that the hormonal response was not critical for muscle growth. I assume you mean that training does not have a major effect on production of these hormones, and that THEY are not the signal for growth, the signal has to usually come from training and the hormones then help facilitate that signal. [/quote]
DEAD ON. Good call.
That’s a kick ass question, and I’ve pretty much spent my relatively short research career trying to figure it out.
It took some time for me to accept, but I’m now a big fan of sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar hypertrophy theory. As different adaptations, it stands to reason that they’d have different signals for adaptation.
Sarcoplasmic hypertrophy must involve some kind of metabolic stress, although one study I read showed that the metabolites involved had no effect on protein synthesis. To me, this suggests a combination of muscle tension (possibly damage) along with metabolic stress.
Myofibriollar hypertrophy, as I see it, is damage induced. More damaging contractions are associated with both greater short term protein synthesis and later muscle growth.
Looking at the metabolic stress candidates you mentioned (which are excellent BTW), it seems that most of them are associated with cardiovascular exercise, which is largely catabolic (although some fibres can actually hypertrophy).
Decreased glycogen for example is associated with elevated AMPK levels, which hinders protein synthesis.
Muscle damage is now generally accepted (yeah there are a ton of mechanisms behind that as well), but as for metabolic stress, we still don’t know.
Hope this helps!
[quote]David Barr wrote:
Dr Ryan, you don’t have to make up new names on T-Nation to tell us how talented you are. Besides, an alias like “KJ Bridgewater” is just one step away from “Dr. Ryan.”
BTW-Chocolate Barr was my nickname as a kid, and it had nothing to do with feces. Really.
KJ Bridgewater wrote:
Just when I think you’ve exhausted all wordplay on your last name you come up with something new; Why don’t you just come clean and admit that Dr. Ryan co-writes your material?[/quote]
Hah, I’m honoured to be accused of being Dr.Ryan. But actually I’m a fellow Canuck like you. Great mind think alike, EH?