"ASK THE GURU" AUGUST 2000

 

Question: I am 34 and have been lifting for 20yrs.I'm 5'10" weigh 270.I have benched 380,squatted 650,and deadlifted 625 without steroid assistance.My progress has been at pretty much of a standstill for the past year.I have aquired 10 sust. redi-jects.What would you recommend adding to these and how would you take it for a first time cycle for adding strength and muscle size?Also,what would be they best way to keep the majority of it after the cycle?

ANSWER: You seem to have gotten off to an extremely good start. If you are gonna take SUSTANON 250 (250mg testosterone) you will need to accept the fact that your body more than likely produces a high level of testosterone naturally (perhaps close to 250mg per week), therefore, you will need to take at least 500mg per week (I would suggest 750mg per week-that's 3 redi-jects per week). Stay on this 750mg per week regimen for 12 weeks minimum in order to solidify your gains. When "coming off" you should taper down very slowly (ie take 500mg on week 13, 250mg the week after, and 125mg on the LAST week 15).

Question: I was curious what you would suggest to do for someone who is unable to eat correctly-- I mean every two to three hours? It is not that I don't want to or that I don't have the appetite but my job does not permit me to. When I work, I eat when I can but not enough. Thanks for your help.

ANSWER: In order to GROW substantial amount of muscle mass, you MUST eat every 2-3 hours because our bodies do not have any storage capacity for protein, so that when we are in a protein deprived (or negative nitrogen balance) state (which occurs after about 4 hours of fasting), our bodies will break down our own muscle tissue to salvage the much needed amino acids and peptides. I find that the easiest way to consume a meal when in a hurry or when no appetite exists is "DRINK A SHAKE!" When I was in medical school and I was doing rounds in the hospital, I could always sneak off to my locker in the resident's lounge and suck down a quick MET-RX shake (it only took a total of 10 seconds). SO, the bottom line is, there is NO excuse to miss meals.

Question: I was wondering if you could recommend a cycle for me. My goal is to put on the most mass possible with this cycle. I have done 2 cycles in the past. My first lasted 8 weeks and was deca-200mg and primo-100mg every four days, and sustenon 250-1 shot per week. My second cycle was a cutting cycle. I was on it for 12 weeks. It was Winsrtol depot 50mg EOD and sust 250 1 shot per week. I am currently 190lbs. 5'10" and aprox 5% bodyfat. My goal is 225lb. Is this possible with one cycle? I know that some of the weight would be water but I am wanting to be 225 cut! Is this too much to ask? Thanks for the help.

ANSWER: Is it possible to gain 35 pounds of solid muscle in one cycle? The answer to that question is, "If the cycle is long enough, SURE!" First of all, to attain the level of lean muscle gains that you are looking for, you will need to stick with the bulking compounds Testosterone, Deca Durabolin, Dianabol, and Equipoise. I recommend taking 1000mg of some kind of Test per week together with 400 mg of Deca for 8 weeks, followed by 1000mg of another Testosterone compound per week together with 5 Dianabol per day for another 8 weeks, and finishing up with 1000mg of yet another Test per week together with 300mg of EQ per week for the last 8 weeks.

Question: I have heard that if you take an anti-estrogen such as Proviron or Nolvadex during a cycle it will stop your gains. Is this true? If so is there any product you would recommend that would not do this. I have heard that some people take clomid at 50mg every other day to help combat the estrogen problem. I have also heard of a product called Arimidex. Do either of these hinder you gains if you take them during a cycle? Thank you.

ANSWER: I do not like NOLVADEX (tamoxifen) as an anti-estrogen. First off, like Proviron, it only blocks the estrogen receptor (it does not inhibit the formation of estrogen). Secondly, Nolvadex blocks the release of the protein hormone IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1) from the liver which ultimately will retard further muscle growth. In people taking synthetic Growth Hormone, Nolvadex will essentially neutralize the size promoting effects of the GH (NOT GOOD!). ARIMIDEX is a relatively new drug to hit the market. Its sole purpose is to seek out and neutralize the enzyme (aromatase) that promotes the conversion of the hormone TESTOSTERONE into ESTROGEN, thus, eliminating the possibility of estogen's presence at all. Additionally, if less testosterone aromatizes into estrogen then more Test is present to build and repair muscle (GOOD!).

Question: First off I want to tell you that I think you are an amazing athlete. I think that you come into a show tighter and more shredded than anyone else. In light of this, I was hoping you could help me with my problem. About two years ago I was 213 lbs and 28% bodyfat. I decided I was sick and tired of being fat and started to read up on diet and started weight training. For 6 months I ran at 4am every morning. I got down to 164lbs and 3% bodyfat. I also trained my abs for 30 min everyday and finally had the six pack I had always dreamed of. I am now 186 and by the calipers 4% bodyfat. My problem is this. I have never been able to get the skin on my stomach tight. When I stand up my six pack looks great. When I sit or bend over I have a lot of loose skin and it creates ugly roles. I have never competed so I have never done the whole dehydration thing. I have taken diuretics and cut carbs out completely for extended periods of time. This helped but never really solved the problem. Any suggestion would be appreciated.

ANSWER: I hope you don't get disappointed by my relatively brief answer to what seems like such a complex question. When I or any of the bodybuilders that I assist diet extremely hard and lose large amounts of weight very rapidly and we find ourselves in an extremely depleted state, I always notice that our skin is very lose-almost to the point of making the muscle look flat? What is the solution to this problem? It is important to carbohydrate load every so many days so that the glycogen can fill the muscles and allow them to swell (thus stretching out the "loose" skin). More importantly than carb loading (because I am sure you have tried that already) is FAT LOADING. Whenever we diet to the point of losing extreme amounts of bodyfat, we ultimately start to dip into the intramuscular fat supplies (ie the fat that lies between the muscle fibers). By eating large amounts of fat once or twice a week, you will allow those intramuscular fat stores to be replaced (without the subcutaneous fat stores being increased) thus resulting in a TRUE skin tightening and amazingly PUMPED look.