Changeinadvance

What got you started in weightlifting?

I started lifting in 6th Grade. My mother did not want me to play any contact sports but I needed to do something. She gave me a booklet of local events for young kids and I happened to choose weightlifting. Loved it ever since!

How did you begin your research into meals, sarms, supplements and the like?

It started with my love for weightlifting and human performance in general. Once I started to learn the basics of lifting it lead me to learn about nutrition. Once I started to understand those two disciplines a little bit better I turned to supplements. In retrospect, it was a almost flawless start to my love of all this, though I wish I got a better grasp of nutrition earlier on as it truly is the foundation of performance. As for SARMs and supplements, my interest in science in general and how to even further push human limits got me there. I find it endlessly fascinating how everything works at the biochemical and molecular level.

Is fluid retention valuable only for visuals? Is it detrimental? This is a very risky question. Fluid retention is something that needs to be looked at on a spectrum. From a general health standpoint, a moderate amount of fluid retention is optimal. It keeps your body hydrated, joints lubricated, and blood pressure stable. Go too low, or too high, and fluid retention becomes a health risk. Even from a performance and aesthetic the same thing applies. Extra fluid retention may make a muscle belly look fuller or rounder, but noticeably less defined. However these “fuller” muscles like will be able to perform better because of the extra hydration and blood flow. Now that is up to a limit, as TOO much retention will in a sense drown cells or cause to much pressure to build up. As for glycerol as a supplement, it increases fluid retention for a short duration and only moderately. It’s mainly dragging water along with it into the cells of the body, temporarily increasing water retention. Remember everything exists on a sliding scale!

Weigh in on the best type of creatine, in your opinion.

Its not my opinion, Creatine Monohydrate. The science is extremely clear on this. 5g-10g a day depending on muscle mass is more than enough to saturate the muscle holding capacity of creatine.

For new supplement users, what 5 supplements do they need?

I believe everyone should have their supplement needs individually assessed, as its not one size fits all when it comes to their needs. If I had to give a answer it would be the following; A quality protein (~20-25g/serving), Creatine monohydrate (barring any existing kidney condition), Beta-alanine, vitamin D, and CoQ10. Everything else I think needs to be taken on an individual basis.

Your opinion on sarms?

They’re great tools for muscle hypertrophy and strength. However they are very advanced tools that we are just really starting to get in depth and long term information on. I think there effectiveness is largely blow out of proportion, as well as their safety. However, as stated earlier, they make a very noticeable impact on ones body

My opinion on these is irrelevant. When dealing with any sort of compound that has such a large impact on the body, it comes down to the individuals risk tolerance vs potential reward.

Myostatin is simple. Its a “little” molecule that puts the breaks on muscle growth and proliferation. When it hits it’s receptor it up regulates some other receptors, factors, and genes, that ultimately tell the muscle tissue to stop making new fibers. On top of that, it tells muscle to stop making new protein to enlarge existing muscle fiber. Overall, pretty bad for hypertrophy. However, without myostatin you will likely run into the issue of unchecked rampant growth of cells which can cause a bunch of nasty disease states.

I really look forward to back day, even though its probably my worst feature.

Intelligently done heavy compound movements. Deadlifts, Squats, rows, presses. Anything that incorporates multiple muscle groups and the core with sufficient load will maximize the stimulus for muscle growth.

Machines vs free weights?

Free weights all day. However many machines are great tools that can be used to great effect!