Dusty Hanshaw believes that what and when you eat is more important than the gym schedule you adopt.
“It’s everything,” admitted the 30-year-old, who will be on hand to offer help and guidance at this weekend’s Bodypower Expo in Birmingham.

“In fact, it’s more important than the training. Training, I would say, is 30%, and 70% is the food. And year round is the big thing.

“A lot of bodybuilders slack when they’re not getting ready for a show. They miss meals, they eat the wrong foods, and that’s why they don’t advance as well. The ones who live the lifestyle year-round are the ones who make it.”

The supplement industry is an ever-increasing market, especially in Europe and the UK, where Predator Nutrition are the leading distributor of sports nutrition products and bodybuilding supplements.

Hanshaw thinks that advances in nutrition resources and awareness about how best to fuel the body are helping modern-day bodybuilders make great progress in comparison to their predecessors.

He said: “I think with supplements, you’re always going to see advancements.

“Guys were getting in shape and everything long before nutritional supplements were around. But I think the best way to explain it is; look at the 1970s and the way bodybuilders were back then, and look at them now.
“We’ve advanced in every way and it’s because we have more knowledge of food, more knowledge of supplements, so we can push the envelope further. Supplements are a must if you want to make it to the top, that’s for sure.”

A typical day’s nutrition for Hanshaw offers a fascinating insight into the lifestyle of a professional bodybuilder.
He revealed: “I work out in the mornings, so I wake up and have a couple of scoops of protein powder, two cups of oatmeal, two cups of full-fat yoghurt, then I have my pre-workout MAXIMIZE – gotta have that!

“Then after I’ve trained I’ll have another two scoops of protein and about 100g of some sort of carb drink. The next three meals after that are 10 ounces of chicken and two cups of rice. The following meal is 16 ounces of steak and potato, and then one more chicken and rice. It’s pretty basic, but it works well for me.”

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Welcome to the first part of a comprehensive series that will take an in- depth look at various issues surrounding steroids and steroid use. In this on-going series we will cover such issues as liver function, thyroid function, insulin use (for non diabetic trainers), steroids and women, Clenbuterol use, testosterone esters in depth, counterfeit steroids, frequently asked questions etc. We will also take a closer look at mass building drugs, cutting drugs and anti-estrogens.

All in all, this is going to be a pretty comprehensive series! So let’s get started with a lesson in:

BASIC PHARMACOLOGY

Anabolic Steroids are derivatives of the male hormone testosterone and, as such, they exert their effects on many testosterone sensitive tissues within the body. This includes reproductive tissues, muscle, bone, hair follicles, liver, kidneys , white and red blood cells and brain. These effects fall under two classifications:

• ANABOLIC – Promoting muscle growth
• ANDROGENIC – Promoting the development of masculine characteristics

Of primary interest to the athlete of course is the anabolic effect. Testosterone is the primary hormone involved in muscle growth. Put simply, testosterone enters the inside of the muscle cell where it binds with an androgen receptor. It then continues its journey until it reaches the nucleus of the cell. On arrival at this destination the ‘dynamic duo’ turn on or off specific segments within the DNA in order to trigger muscle growth.
In addition to triggering muscle growth, anabolic steroids also prevent muscle breakdown (catabolism) by inhibiting the action of cortisol and other glucocorticoids, which are known for their catabolic effect.

CHEMISTRY

In order to exert maximum effects in the body anabolic steroids need to be chemically altered. When testosterone itself is taken orally it is swiftly broken down and eliminated by enzymes present in the intestines and the liver. In the case of steroids, a process known as 17a-alkylation has structurally altered most oral products, this protects the steroid from being destroyed by these enzymes. This 17a-alkylation, whilst good on paper, does unfortunately result in most oral drugs being harsh on the liver. It also causes negative changes in HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol). The advice here would be to ensure that, whilst taking oral steroids, it is wise to include some form of liver protection e.g. Legalon available from www.maximedicine.com.

Oral anabolics are often preferred by drug-tested athletes due to their short clearing time (i.e. the amount of time they are detectable in the system).
In the case of injectable steroids, these are naturally produced androgens (testosterone, nortestosterone, boldenone) bound to a fatty acid by an ester bond at the 17-carbon. This serves, not to protect the substance against enzymes (like the 17a-alkylation) but to increase the amount of time the steroid remains in an oil globule, following injection, before it enters the circulation.

On entering the bloodstream, the fatty acid is split off by enzymes called esterazes. In the case of a long fatty acid this results in a slow release of the steroid over a course of days or weeks.

THE ESTROGEN FACTOR

Many of you will already be familiar with a process known as ‘aromatization’. This is a process by which testosterone is converted into estrogen. Most bodybuilders try to avoid estrogen conversion by taking anti-estrogen drugs such as Arimadex. Arimadex exerts its effect by neutralizing the aromatase enzyme. When you take aromatase out of the equation testosterone can no longer be converted to estrogen. This assists in the reduction of estrogen dependent fat deposition, water retention and gynecomastia (the growth of breast tissue in males).

However, before you go crazy with aromatase inhibitors and anti-estrogens (e.g. Nolvadex) do remember that too little estrogen can slow muscle growth, suppress HDL (good) cholesterol and kill sex drive. Therefore, the key to using these substances is to take them in moderation so that you blunt estrogens effects without removing it completely from your system.

IN SUMMARY

The undisputed fact of the matter is that anabolic steroids are immensely popular with not only professional and recreational athletes, but also those individuals just wishing to improve their performance and overall quality of life. Knowing how they work, how to safely use them and how to protect your health during and after use is vital not only to your success but also to your overall health. There is no denying their effectiveness but there is also no denying the side effects that can result from their abuse/misuse. It is for that reason that, here at Muscle sport, our aim is to educate rather than condemn those who decide to integrate these substances into their fitness regime. So, that said, stay tuned to this spot for much more from the ‘Steroid Insider’ over the following months.

Leigh Penman, in addition to be a staff writer at MuscleSport Mag, has been writing for bodybuilding magazines, websites and nutritional supplement companies since 1985. Whilst residing in the UK, she earned the reputation of being one of the top female writers in bodybuilding-related media. Her credits included being a contributing editor on all the magazines in production as well as filling the shoes of Ladies Editor and Showbiz Editor on two publications (the later being on Arnold’s sanctioned magazine, ‘Bodypower’). During this time she also competed successfully on four occasions (placing in the top four in all contests).

Relocating to New York in the late 1990s she focused her writing attention to crystal healing techniques and metaphysics – however, she still maintained a five day workout schedule during this time and gained her personal training certificate.

Certainly one of the most exciting nutritional supplement companies to emerge in recent times is Species Nutrition. Founded by Dave Palumbo and Colette Nelson, this innovative enterprise has released some of the most carefully researched and scientifically advanced products currently available.

You will not find these products ‘hyped to the hilt’, nor will you find them advertised with diagrams that belong in a science fiction book. What you will find is state of the art nutrition combined with scientifically researched information. The result is a line of supplements, which deliver real life results rather than a ‘nice legs, shame about the face’ product.

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Species not only hold all the cards when it comes to essential fatty acid supplements, fat-burners/energy enhancers, protein powders, joint protectors, carbohydrate and fiber supplements but the deck they have is also stacked with future promise.

For the year ahead they have many more exciting additions to their supplement line including:

• Macadamia Nut Oil
• Protein Pudding
• Peanut Butter Pudding
• Ketolyze – Protein Shake
• Aqualyze – Diuretic

You can find out more about the Species range of supplements, their clothing line and sign up for their monthly newsletter by going to www.SpeciesNutrition.com or simply tap the Species banner on our links page.

Leigh Penman, in addition to be a staff writer at MuscleSport Mag, has been writing for bodybuilding magazines, websites and nutritional supplement companies since 1985. Whilst residing in the UK, she earned the reputation of being one of the top female writers in bodybuilding-related media. Her credits included being a contributing editor on all the magazines in production as well as filling the shoes of Ladies Editor and Showbiz Editor on two publications (the later being on Arnold’s sanctioned magazine, ‘Bodypower’). During this time she also competed successfully on four occasions (placing in the top four in all contests).