The importance of anti-cortisol. Speculation...

Mr.50

Board Supporter
Guys just thoughts on the upcoming anti-cortisol product:

I am a endo/meso who is about 5'8'' tall and about 205lbs. Maybe about 14% b.f. give or take. I am always trying to lose body fat and especially that last few pounds below the belly button area and the love handles. When I weight train I gain muscle mass pretty quickly and as long as I just do weight training I continue to make progress. Unfortunately, to lose body fat I always need to do a pretty significan amount of cardio even when my diet is dialed in. Except, when I do cardio, I begin to overtrain rather rapidly. Additionally, I suspect that I hold a significant amount of visceral fat as my abdomen is thick even when my upper 4 abs are pretty defined.

My suspicion is that my body fat distribution is related to a disturbance in cortisol metabolism/production with my body's response to endurance type training (cardio) producing a significan stressor type response thus stimulating cortisol release and upsetting the testosterone/cortisol ratio. While the T/C ration is not definitive in overtraining syndrome it is correlated.

I propose that a product that significantly limits the release of cortisol/blocks cortisol action will allow me to benefit in being able to complete larger amounts of cardio (leading to b.f. loss) without overtraining as readily. Additionally, the changes in cortisol levels will produce more favorable use of protein, cho, and fats.

Thoughts?

Mr.50
 
I have heard long cardio sessions are not good for hormone levels. Something like a cort blocker might do the trick but I guess it depends on the type of blocker and how strong its effects are.

I would imagine it would have to be pretty strong to completely stop Cortisol from being released.
 
Interesting study. I'll keep updating with more.


Autonomic imbalance hypothesis and overtraining syndrome.

Applied Sciences
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 30(7):1140-1145, July 1998.
LEHMANN, MANFRED; FOSTER, CARL; DICKHUTH, HANS-HERMANN; GASTMANN, UWE

Abstract:
Autonomic imbalance hypothesis and overtraining syndrome. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 30, No. 7, pp. 1140-1145, 1998.

Purpose: The parasympathetic, Addison type, overtraining syndrome represents the dominant modern type of this syndrome. Beside additional mechanisms, an autonomic or neuroendocrine imbalance is hypothesized as underlying.

Methods/Results: Several findings support this thesis. During heavy endurance training or overreaching periods, the majority of findings give evidence of a reduced adrenal responsiveness to ACTH. This is compensated by an increased pituitary ACTH release. In an early stage of the overtraining syndrome, despite increased pituitary ACTH release, the decreased adrenal responsiveness is no longer compensated. The cortisol response decreases. In an advanced stage of overtraining syndrome, the pituitary ACTH release also decreases. In this stage, there is additionally evidence for decreased intrinsic sympathetic activity and sensitivity of target organs to catecholamines. This is indicated by decreased catecholamine excretion during night rest, decreased [beta]-adrenoreceptor density, decreased [beta]-adrenoreceptor-mediated responses, and increased resting plasma norepinephrine levels and responses to exercise. However, this complete pattern is only observed subsequent to high-volume endurance overtraining at high caloric demands.

Conclusion: The described functional alterations of pituitary-adrenal axis and sympathetic system can explain persistent performance incompetence in affected athletes.
 
Last edited:
does anyone know how much of a true correlation exists between cortisol levels and "overtraining syndrome". i.e. elevated morning b.p. (returns to normal after a break from training), fatigue, malaise, lack of motivation in the gym, etc?

Mr.50
 
Training-overtraining: performance, and hormone levels, after a defined increase in training volume versus intensity in experienced middle- and long-distance runners

M Lehmann, U Gastmann, KG Petersen, N Bachl, A Seidel, AN Khalaf, S Fischer and J Keul
Department of Sports and Performance Medicine, University Clinic Freiburg, Germany.

Performance and hormones were determined in eight middle- and nine long- distance runners after an increase in training volume (ITV, February 1989) or intensity (ITI, February 1990). Seven runners participated in both studies. The objective was to cause an overtraining syndrome. The mean training volume of 85.9 km week-1 increased within 3 weeks to 176.6 km week-1 during ITV and 96-98% of training volume was performed as long-distance runs at mean(s.d.) 67(8)% of maximum capacity. Speed endurance, high-speed and interval runs averaging 9 km week-1 increased within 3 weeks to 22.7 km during ITI, and the total volume increased from 61.6 to 84.7 km. A plateau in endurance performance and decrease in maximum performance occurred during ITV, probably due to overtraining, with performance incompetence over months. Nocturnal catecholamine excretion decreased markedly (47-53%), contrary to exercise-related plasma catecholamine responses, which increased. Resting and exercise-related cortisol and aldosterone levels decreased. Improvement in endurance and maximum performance occurred during ITI indicating a failure to cause an overtraining syndrome in ITI. Decrease in noctural catecholamine excretion was clearly lower (9-26%), exercise- related catecholamine responses showed a significant decrease, cortisol and aldosterone levels remained almost constant, exercise-related prolactin levels decreased slightly. There were no differences in insulin, C-peptide, free testosterone, somatotropic hormone (STH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), tri-iodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). The decrease in nocturnal catecholamine excretion during ITV might indicate a decrease in intrinsic sympathetic activity in exhausted sportsmen. But it remains open whether this reflected a central nervous system incompetence.
 
thanks for the feedback on this. I am really interested in this as well as IBE's upcoming product because significant manipulation of cortisol is the only hormonal alteration I have not tried. Looking forward to it.

Mr.50
 
Mr.50 said:
Guys just thoughts on the upcoming anti-cortisol product:

I am a endo/meso who is about 5'8'' tall and about 205lbs. Maybe about 14% b.f. give or take. I am always trying to lose body fat and especially that last few pounds below the belly button area and the love handles. When I weight train I gain muscle mass pretty quickly and as long as I just do weight training I continue to make progress. Unfortunately, to lose body fat I always need to do a pretty significan amount of cardio even when my diet is dialed in. Except, when I do cardio, I begin to overtrain rather rapidly. Additionally, I suspect that I hold a significant amount of visceral fat as my abdomen is thick even when my upper 4 abs are pretty defined.

My suspicion is that my body fat distribution is related to a disturbance in cortisol metabolism/production with my body's response to endurance type training (cardio) producing a significan stressor type response thus stimulating cortisol release and upsetting the testosterone/cortisol ratio. While the T/C ration is not definitive in overtraining syndrome it is correlated.

I propose that a product that significantly limits the release of cortisol/blocks cortisol action will allow me to benefit in being able to complete larger amounts of cardio (leading to b.f. loss) without overtraining as readily. Additionally, the changes in cortisol levels will produce more favorable use of protein, cho, and fats.

Thoughts?

Mr.50
Click to expand...


Bro you just described me to a T. I'm 5'7 175 and my calipers tell me I'm around 12% but my stomach looks so distended all the time. I suspect I'm carrying a lot of vat fat as well. Its frustrating to know your getting close to your BF goals only to let your gut relax and you still look like a fat ass...that being said, I'm very interested in any cortisol product at this point.
 
Keep looking here in the IBE forum something that sounds really good is on its way.

Mr.50

scott72 said:
Bro you just described me to a T. I'm 5'7 175 and my calipers tell me I'm around 12% but my stomach looks so distended all the time. I suspect I'm carrying a lot of vat fat as well. Its frustrating to know your getting close to your BF goals only to let your gut relax and you still look like a fat ass...that being said, I'm very interested in any cortisol product at this point.
Click to expand...
 
scott72 said:
Bro you just described me to a T. I'm 5'7 175 and my calipers tell me I'm around 12% but my stomach looks so distended all the time. I suspect I'm carrying a lot of vat fat as well. Its frustrating to know your getting close to your BF goals only to let your gut relax and you still look like a fat ass...that being said, I'm very interested in any cortisol product at this point.
Click to expand...

Dito!!! F'in lower belly and love handles. i can have ripped upper 4 and no deffinition on the lower ones! very extremely frustrating
 
I have the same problem Mr. 50. I'm ~200lb 14% bf, 5'7". I can make great muscle/strength gains. However, I can never seem to lose the lower belly fat. When I cut out too many calories, and or add additional cardio, I begin to lose muscle mass at an expedited rate, without losing any additional lower belly fat. If you find a solution for this problem, please let me know. I too am looking for a supplement that would help me with this problem. Lean Xtreme seems to help some, as well as retain, but I can't take retain because of palpitations.
 
Hopefully I am going ot be testing IBE's X-Lean soon and that is aimed at adressing the problem. As soon as it gets going a log will be forthcoming.

Mr.50

fishman197 said:
I have the same problem Mr. 50. I'm ~200lb 14% bf, 5'7". I can make great muscle/strength gains. However, I can never seem to lose the lower belly fat. When I cut out too many calories, and or add additional cardio, I begin to lose muscle mass at an expedited rate, without losing any additional lower belly fat. If you find a solution for this problem, please let me know. I too am looking for a supplement that would help me with this problem. Lean Xtreme seems to help some, as well as retain, but I can't take retain because of palpitations.
Click to expand...
 
I thought i should jump in here. I will be testing the new product and my problem area is my upper back. No matter what I do and I do say i eat very well, work out just the same, my upper back seems to store a small amount of fat that prevents my definition.. i was able to get "ok" results with high amounts of ALA, but it wasn't something my skin liked...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top