Christian I read your First Person article , and read this thread , as I can see you are in cutting phase and you are trying to get better insulin sensitivity , and you are on low carb diet , tell me when you start mass gaining phase how will your diet look like , is it possible to gain mass on low carb diet for insulin resistant people , or what diet would you recommend to insulin resistant people who is trying to gain muscles ?
How long do these results stay? Are they permanent, or does your body eventually switch back to how it was before the protocol, once you stop? This has probably been answered, but I read the thread twice and may have missed it.
is there any chance of charles doing a ( any? ) seminar/courses in Australia?
[quote]hotdog.350 wrote:
is there any chance of charles doing a ( any? ) seminar/courses in Australia?[/quote]
he told me in august he wont be going back for a while
Will the biosignature analysis ever be a part of the physique clinic? I would be very interested to follow the results.
[quote]BigBen72 wrote:
Will the biosignature analysis ever be a part of the physique clinic? I would be very interested to follow the results.[/quote]
You never know
[quote]curranni wrote:
caladin wrote:
acudave wrote:
CT,
Coach Poliquin recommends glycine for reduction of cortisol. 5-20g? How is this used. With meals, before, after, empty stomach, before sleep, spread out during the day, etc? Will you be doing any seminars soon? Dave Brewer
I wouldnt mine knowing about this too.
the 5-20grams is PWO, thib is the 1st person i heard of using the glycine every meal but it sounds great.
the liver detox is basically what it says.
its a detoxification of the liver. it takes 42days to complete.
the liver is the master metaboliser of the body.
i wouldnt recommend it with out proper guidance. it is a rough ride[/quote]
with regards to the liver detox, what are the signs that you would need to detox? i have heard achy joints but is there any particular test or signs that would indicate the need to detox?
thanks
[quote]Defekt wrote:
How long do these results stay? Are they permanent, or does your body eventually switch back to how it was before the protocol, once you stop? This has probably been answered, but I read the thread twice and may have missed it. [/quote]
I phrased this stupidly. I am wondering if once you are done correcting your hormone “imbalance” does your body stay that way. In other words will you eventually revert to storing more fat on your back? If you don’t continue following his protocol, and you gain 1-2% bodyfat, would it tend to go where it used to?
I probably misunderstood this completely.
Poliquin’s Biosignature protocols are way ahead of its time in the bodybuilding world. The ability to control your hormones and keep them in balance is, in my opinion, the most critical component of a bodybuilding regimen.
If your hormones are out of balance, you’ll never reach your true potential. Also, 99% of the time, if one hormone is out of balance, then at minimum another 1 or 2 is also. Hormones have a unique balance with each other.
A couple books I always recommend when talking about hormone balance are Dr. Wilson’s Adrenal Fatigue and Dr. LaValle’s The Metabolic Code. If you have a decent understanding of anatomy and physiology, these two books are well worth the read.
Dr. Wilson is the leading authority on adrenal issues while Dr. LaValle does a nice job of showing the relationship between all of your hormones.
I have not attended Poliquin’s seminar yet, but I’m assuming it’s very, very good and well worth the money. Compounding pharmacists, herbalists, and naturalists have been doing this exact same thing for over 20 years. They rely more on saliva samples as opposed to skinfolds though. Poliquin has put a nice bodybuilding spin on it though.
On a side note, those of you that are worried about insulin resistance, don’t just focus on those nutraceuticals that increase insulin sensitivity. Maintaining a homeostatic cortisol balance is just as important. 50% of the time, insulin resistance can be improved by minimizing cortisol levels. These two hormones go hand-in-hand. Hence, this is why obese people, who are inflammatory war zones, develop type 2 diabetes.
There’s my two cents on the issue.
[quote]tallan_30 wrote:
Poliquin’s Biosignature protocols are way ahead of its time in the bodybuilding world. The ability to control your hormones and keep them in balance is, in my opinion, the most critical component of a bodybuilding regimen.
If your hormones are out of balance, you’ll never reach your true potential. Also, 99% of the time, if one hormone is out of balance, then at minimum another 1 or 2 is also. Hormones have a unique balance with each other.
A couple books I always recommend when talking about hormone balance are Dr. Wilson’s Adrenal Fatigue and Dr. LaValle’s The Metabolic Code. If you have a decent understanding of anatomy and physiology, these two books are well worth the read.
Dr. Wilson is the leading authority on adrenal issues while Dr. LaValle does a nice job of showing the relationship between all of your hormones.
I have not attended Poliquin’s seminar yet, but I’m assuming it’s very, very good and well worth the money. Compounding pharmacists, herbalists, and naturalists have been doing this exact same thing for over 20 years. They rely more on saliva samples as opposed to skinfolds though. Poliquin has put a nice bodybuilding spin on it though.
On a side note, those of you that are worried about insulin resistance, don’t just focus on those nutraceuticals that increase insulin sensitivity. Maintaining a homeostatic cortisol balance is just as important.
50% of the time, insulin resistance can be improved by minimizing cortisol levels. These two hormones go hand-in-hand. Hence, this is why obese people, who are inflammatory war zones, develop type 2 diabetes.
There’s my two cents on the issue.[/quote]
thanks i ll look into those books they sound great. as charles says himself though
“you can prevent most diseases by treating the adrenals and the pancreas”
of course you realise by tackling your insulin sensitivity, controlling your bloodsugar will effect you cortisol.
its a nice cycle
[quote]curranni wrote:
of course you realise by tackling your insulin sensitivity, controlling your bloodsugar will effect you cortisol.
its a nice cycle[/quote]
True, several studies have shown that hyperinsulinemia increases cortisol levels. Most cortisol problem are due either to bad stress management and hyperinsulinemia.
From my upcoming article:
Insulin and cortisol
We all know (at least we should know it by now) how hyperinsulinemia can be your biggest enemy when it comes to being lean and muscular, especially if your insulin sensitivity sucks! However most do not know that insulin can have a strong effect of other hormones that will affect body composition.
One such hormone is cortisol. Most of you know cortisol mostly for its effect on muscle breakdown/catabolism. But few understand that the main role of cortisol is actually energy mobilization. Cortisol is a stress hormone because it is released under stressful conditions. But the main reason for this release is to provide energy to the body in case it has to fight or run away.
So in that regard cortisol will breakdown muscle glycogen to make glucose available as an energy source, it will liberate fatty acids from the adipocytes for the same reason and unfortunately it can also breakdown muscle tissue into amino acids so that these amino acids will be either burned for energy or transformed into glucose by the liver which will also be used for energy production.
So cortisol is, in a sense, absolutely necessary for proper body function. However chronically elevated cortisol is a bad thing as it will lead to muscle breakdown, adrenal stress and even burnout as well as lowered testosterone production. The later is due to the fact that both cortisol and testosterone are ‘‘built’’ from the same raw material: pregnenolone. If more pregnenolone is used to produce cortisol then less will be available to produce testosterone.
So what is the link between hyperinsulinemia and excessive cortisol levels? It’s called the insulin-cortisol see-saw effect.
When you eat a high carbs meal (especially if it is from high glycemic carbs) then there will be a huge insulin spike. This spike can be excessive, especially in insulin resistant individuals. An excessive insulin spike will lead to reactive hypoglycemia/low blood sugar (you crash). The body obviously do not like this situation and will try to correct it by increasing blood sugar levels. It can do so either by increasing glucagon and/or cortisol. Cortisol is increased to mobilize glucose. Then if you again eat carbs you will once again have this reactive hypoglycemia and a subsequent increase in cortisol production.
Indeed, studies have shown that hyperinsulinemia leads to elevated cortisol levels (Nestler et al. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 1987; 64, 180-184, Fruehwald-Schultes et al. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 1999; 84, 9, 3041-3046, Vicennati et al. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2002; 87, 8, 3984-3988, Fruehwald-Schultes et al. International Journal of Obesity, 2001; 25, Suppl 1, S38-S40). This means that the more you jack up your insulin levels, the more cortisol you will pump out which will make it harder to gain muscle and strength. Not to mention that it could eventually lead to hormonal burnout.
Thus, if more people focused on minimizing carbs that produced the highest insulin spike, they would be better offer. I have always said that it is not the amount of carbs, but the type of carbs one should pay attention to. That’s why it is always beneficial to eat a high fiber or high fat meal if it’s loaded with carbs. Those spikes needed to be minimized.
I like how you brought up the part about pregnenolone, testosterone, and cortisol. The same is true with tyrosine (I believe, do not quote me. I’ll have to look into my notes), cortisol, and T4/T3. The more cortisol, the less tyrosine for T4 production. It is all about balance.
[quote]Christian Thibaudeau wrote:
curranni wrote:
of course you realise by tackling your insulin sensitivity, controlling your bloodsugar will effect you cortisol.
its a nice cycle
True, several studies have shown that hyperinsulinemia increases cortisol levels. Most cortisol problem are due either to bad stress management and hyperinsulinemia.
From my upcoming article:
Insulin and cortisol
We all know (at least we should know it by now) how hyperinsulinemia can be your biggest enemy when it comes to being lean and muscular, especially if your insulin sensitivity sucks! However most do not know that insulin can have a strong effect of other hormones that will affect body composition.
One such hormone is cortisol. Most of you know cortisol mostly for its effect on muscle breakdown/catabolism. But few understand that the main role of cortisol is actually energy mobilization. Cortisol is a stress hormone because it is released under stressful conditions. But the main reason for this release is to provide energy to the body in case it has to fight or run away.
So in that regard cortisol will breakdown muscle glycogen to make glucose available as an energy source, it will liberate fatty acids from the adipocytes for the same reason and unfortunately it can also breakdown muscle tissue into amino acids so that these amino acids will be either burned for energy or transformed into glucose by the liver which will also be used for energy production.
So cortisol is, in a sense, absolutely necessary for proper body function. However chronically elevated cortisol is a bad thing as it will lead to muscle breakdown, adrenal stress and even burnout as well as lowered testosterone production. The later is due to the fact that both cortisol and testosterone are ‘‘built’’ from the same raw material: pregnenolone. If more pregnenolone is used to produce cortisol then less will be available to produce testosterone.
So what is the link between hyperinsulinemia and excessive cortisol levels? It’s called the insulin-cortisol see-saw effect.
When you eat a high carbs meal (especially if it is from high glycemic carbs) then there will be a huge insulin spike. This spike can be excessive, especially in insulin resistant individuals. An excessive insulin spike will lead to reactive hypoglycemia/low blood sugar (you crash). The body obviously do not like this situation and will try to correct it by increasing blood sugar levels. It can do so either by increasing glucagon and/or cortisol. Cortisol is increased to mobilize glucose. Then if you again eat carbs you will once again have this reactive hypoglycemia and a subsequent increase in cortisol production.
Indeed, studies have shown that hyperinsulinemia leads to elevated cortisol levels (Nestler et al. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 1987; 64, 180-184, Fruehwald-Schultes et al. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 1999; 84, 9, 3041-3046, Vicennati et al. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 2002; 87, 8, 3984-3988, Fruehwald-Schultes et al. International Journal of Obesity, 2001; 25, Suppl 1, S38-S40). This means that the more you jack up your insulin levels, the more cortisol you will pump out which will make it harder to gain muscle and strength. Not to mention that it could eventually lead to hormonal burnout.[/quote]
I try to stay away from carbs. After a higher carbs meal or cheat meal, I can easily be sleeping half hour or an hour later, so med or high carbs is definitely not for me. Plus carbs seem to go right to my waist.
I had blood work done like a week ago:
fasting insulin was less than 2.0
fating glucose is 76 and
Hgb A1c is 5.1%
Is it possible to still have elevated cortisol levels even if your insulin/blood sugar is for the most part, in check?
Also, is it still possible to have a problem with insulin even if the bloodwork comes back ok?
[quote]greekdawg wrote:
Is it possible to still have elevated cortisol levels even if your insulin/blood sugar is for the most part, in check?
[/quote]
Yes, hyperinsulinemia is only one of the things that can elevate cortisol. Cortisol is a stress hormone and will be released everytime the body is under physical/psychological/emotional/environmental stress.
[quote]greekdawg wrote:
Also, is it still possible to have a problem with insulin even if the bloodwork comes back ok?
[/quote]
Ok according to medical norms. Heck, in the UK (and even the US I think) a testosterone count of 300 is considered ‘‘normal’’ (normal range is 300 to 1200ng/dl… quite a wide variation!!!) however when athletes are concerned, 300 = castration. For optimal gains you need to be in the thousand and he top athletes have a natural test level of 1300-1400ng/dl.
This is just to show that what is medically ‘‘normal’’ doesn’t mean ‘‘optimal’’ and not even ‘‘healthy’’ in many cases!
Too many times doctors base their treatments on normal lab ranges. If your lab value is within the normal limits, they’ll stop therapy or maintain your current drug therapy. Although this makes sense, it’s more practical in the real world to look at not only the lab results, but also your symptoms.
This has happened time and time again on thyroid tests. a patient will have his T4 level within normal limits, however they’ll still be complaining of tiredness, cold extremeties, etc. Instead of increasing the dose, the doctor will consider the patient euthyroid and keep the dose the same. However, there’s much more to the thyroid than that. Conversion of T4 to T3 and receptor binding are just as important as the T4 level.
Basically, just because you are within the normal range, do not consider yourself “normal”. Pay attention to any symtpoms you may have. Labs are a great efficacy indicator, however they shouldn’t be the only efficacy indicator.
seriously I could read this thread all day…
I just got some Fenuplex and Insulinomics last week. I can’t believe how well that stuff works! I mean, granted I have a terrible glucose metabolism but I seriously didn’t expect some herbal/plant extracts to have such a profound effect on my body composition in that short of a time.
I don’t have any decent calipers but I can just tell looking in the mirror…just how my love handles just shriveled up and died. And it doesn’t crash my blood sugar like ALA always seems to do.
This stuff is ridiculous…wtf has this stuff been for the past several years of my life?? 
It’s not a magic bullet i.e. you take it and magically improve body composition but if you’ve got your training and diet dialed in, the results you see are much better, much faster than without it. At least for me it’s been that way.
Poliquin’s a beast…nuff said…
Chris i signed up to take part in a probiotic study last week and got my kits today for testing.
all i have to do is take a probiotic for 4 weeks and they will measure the changes that occur in my hormones,bloods and stools
only when i was walking out the door with my testing kit did the girl ask me
“do you want to take the milk now??”
i was like…
“milk??”
its some stuff you mix in with milk?
pasturised to make it even worse…
cases of milk & packets of bacteria to mix with it… ?
do they have it arsed ways or something else…
i mean they want to see if a tiny…now i mean tiny dose of probiotics will have an effect on my flora in the intestines, and they give pastuerized,homogenised semi skimmed milk… which if im not mistake semi quoting paul chek,david webster and whoever else…DESTROYS normal bacteria of the gut.
what would your random thoughts be?
i was told…not to take HCL or anything else containing a probiotic for the duration of the study. i think i ll pull out to be honest.even if it is 200euros to me
[quote]RobNZ wrote:
curranni wrote:
caladin wrote:
acudave wrote:
CT,
Coach Poliquin recommends glycine for reduction of cortisol. 5-20g? How is this used. With meals, before, after, empty stomach, before sleep, spread out during the day, etc? Will you be doing any seminars soon? Dave Brewer
I wouldnt mine knowing about this too.
the 5-20grams is PWO, thib is the 1st person i heard of using the glycine every meal but it sounds great.
the liver detox is basically what it says.
its a detoxification of the liver. it takes 42days to complete.
the liver is the master metaboliser of the body.
i wouldnt recommend it with out proper guidance. it is a rough ride
with regards to the liver detox, what are the signs that you would need to detox? i have heard achy joints but is there any particular test or signs that would indicate the need to detox?
thanks
[/quote]
waking up during the night, smelly urine,achy elbows or knees,some hormonal imbalances,bad breath,root canals in your teeth, headaches,migraines, the list goes on.
the metabolic typing people recommend quality castor oil… i dont know what CT or Charles think of that stuff to be honest but i have a collegue here in ireland and she found it great to use during the liver detox…i was hoping to ask Charles when i see him again.
[quote]curranni wrote:
RobNZ wrote:
curranni wrote:
caladin wrote:
acudave wrote:
CT,
Coach Poliquin recommends glycine for reduction of cortisol. 5-20g? How is this used. With meals, before, after, empty stomach, before sleep, spread out during the day, etc? Will you be doing any seminars soon? Dave Brewer
I wouldnt mine knowing about this too.
the 5-20grams is PWO, thib is the 1st person i heard of using the glycine every meal but it sounds great.
the liver detox is basically what it says.
its a detoxification of the liver. it takes 42days to complete.
the liver is the master metaboliser of the body.
i wouldnt recommend it with out proper guidance. it is a rough ride
with regards to the liver detox, what are the signs that you would need to detox? i have heard achy joints but is there any particular test or signs that would indicate the need to detox?
thanks
waking up during the night, smelly urine,achy elbows or knees,some hormonal imbalances,bad breath,root canals in your teeth, headaches,migraines, the list goes on.
the metabolic typing people recommend quality castor oil… i dont know what CT or Charles think of that stuff to be honest but i have a collegue here in ireland and she found it great to use during the liver detox…i was hoping to ask Charles when i see him again.
[/quote]
I’ll call him to get his opinion on it
[quote]Christian Thibaudeau wrote:
Yes, hyperinsulinemia is only one of the things that can elevate cortisol. Cortisol is a stress hormone and will be released everytime the body is under physical/psychological/emotional/environmental stress.
[/quote]
I’m still waiting to get my cortisol test results back as well. It will be interesting to see what the results are.
I would like to get a biosig done, but right now, the closest practicioner is a whole state away.
Since I don’t have access to a biosignature professional in my area, I just decided to get all my hormone levels tested the old-fashioned way.
[quote]Christian Thibaudeau wrote:
Ok according to medical norms. Heck, in the UK (and even the US I think) a testosterone count of 300 is considered ‘‘normal’’ (normal range is 300 to 1200ng/dl… quite a wide variation!!!) however when athletes are concerned, 300 = castration. For optimal gains you need to be in the thousand and he top athletes have a natural test level of 1300-1400ng/dl.
This is just to show that what is medically ‘‘normal’’ doesn’t mean ‘‘optimal’’ and not even ‘‘healthy’’ in many cases![/quote]
My natural test level came back 1274 ng/dl and my pecs are extremely lean.
My thyroid results say they are ok, but like you said those are doctor standards. My morning temp is low, like 96.7 so I think there might be some thyroid issues.
I also tend to store some fat on my thighs, so I think there may be some estro issues as well.
I can’t wait for your article, hopefully it will give us some insight on protocols for problems sites.