This didnt really belong on any one board

[Jandy]

sorry wrong board

Hi all,

I'm entering college this year, and want to pursue a career in nutrition and/or weight training... don't know what kind of career that would yield, but its what I've decided I really want to study...

I've been lifting and dieting and supplementing for 2 years now, and I've always been fascinated when people explain why certain things work in the body during dieting or exercise. I have a lot of questions, and I'll post them here, some of them are probably very ignorant, but bare with me. Feel free to reply with links to articles if you don't have the time to type it all out

Thanks in advance


1. Muscle tissue, as I understand it is made up of fast twitch and slow twitch fibers... one is mainly used for power and the other for endurance right? Well, when you apply stimuli (exercise, weights low or high rep), what actually happens to those fibers? What else are muscles made of? And if muscles are 90% water (probably not the right %) how do they grow so large if we are just adding tissue?

2. What role does the CNS play in training and dieting? And how does ones CNS become overtrained? And is overtraining the CNS different from overtraining a muscle? If I did 15 sets of dips, would the muscle and the CNS become overtrained? Or just the muscle?

3. How does the body utilize vitamins and minerals? And what do the different ones do? And which foods are rich in which?

4. Catabolism is when there is a release of cortisol that utilizes muscles for energy right? Besides undereating, what other stimuli can result in a cortisol reaction? What are the best ways to supress said release? Is catabolism only caused by cortisol?

5. What is nitrogen balance? (needs lots of info)

6. Glycogen stores, what are they? I've been under the impression that they are carbohydrates (changed into glucose?) stored in muscle for energy use? What purpose do these stores serve? I know its good to keep them filled (unless your goal is to deplete for resulitng ketosis right?) what are the best ways to do so? (I think this is diving into a question about insulin?)

7. Do alternate types of training such as negatives, rest-pause, drop sets, etc have any place besides shockings ones muscles? How does the body become "used" to a workout and how is it "confused" by shock techniques?

8. EFAs.... I know they're good for you, but I have no idea what the different ones do, or how they do it, enlighten me?

9. Creatine, it is a cell volumizer correct? What other effects does it have that are benefitial? What affect does it have on the liver/kidneys?

10. How does cardio/weight training effect metabolism? (I know it speeds up, but how/why?)

11. Glutamine... is it really a waste? I've read a few articles saying the body produces more than enough than it utilizes and supplementing extra is pointless, your thoughts? (This goes for ZMA as well)

12. What ARE prohormones? I know what they do, but how do they do what they do?

13. How do prohormones differ from HGH?

14. You'll notice I'm not asking any questions directly related to steroids, for one I'm natural, but that doesnt mean I shouldnt know about them, I just dont know a damn thing about them, at all! So, a very basic link or explanation of the various types of steroids and effects on the body would be awesome

15. Glucosamine improves joint stability right? How does it do this?


I'll post some more Q's when I can think of them all, can never remember them when I want to Thanks guys!

 

[Jandy]

wrong board

woops, Im an idiot (was editing my post, thought I posted to wrong board )

 

[Jandy]

Maybe I should have named the post: "Paris Hil-- .. Tripleblonde sex tape DL HERE!"

 

[Jandy]

bump

 

[juve]

that all you want to know? have you done any research of your own?

 

[faller]

Hmmm. I'm currently in graduate school in dietetics, so was at some point where you are now. So feel free to pm me with specific nutrition questions. Having said that, most of your questions are very elementary. (no flame). You can get tons of info on prohormones online, stuff like nitrogen balance is basic and you can find in a text or online, and your question about creatine tells me you need to do research! Number 3 I've spent five years of college on, and still have a lot to learn. I recomend getting a text from the library on that. If you have a specific nutrient you want to discuss, I'll discuss it with you here, or PM me.

You are asking questions, which is good! For now, hit the books, I recommend a decent nutrition book (something basic is probably good for now. "Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism" by Groff and Gropper, 3rd ed is the current gold standard, but is very detailed) and a text on exercise phys will be helpful (I recommend staying away from books that give you workouts for now, get something that discusses the science behind first).

 

[Jandy]

I know some of the stuff is basic, and I have searched, but everyone I go seems to tell me what things do, but not why.. which has always been my question.. if anyone could provide helpful links, I'd appreciate it

 

[faller]

I'm debating whether its more work to write or to find links....I think I'll write, but excuse the grammar (gonna go fast).
#5. Of carbs, protein, and fats, only protein has nitrogen. This is the "in" part of nitrogen balance. the "out" usually is in your urine. the basic idea is you want to be in positive nitrogen balance which relates to increases in muscle (muscle is protein, and therefore contains nitrogen). you cant really measure nitro balance without 24 hour urine collection, so it is best to concetrate on the concept of it. by this i mean eating protein every three hours, eating ENOUGH protein etc.

#9
you might remember from biology that ATP is the cellular energy source. ATP in muscle is used up very quickly, and is replenished by something called creatine phosphate (it actually adds phospates back to re-form ATP). creatine monohydrate supplies the creatine part of this mollecule, allowing for better ATP regeneration. End result is slightly longer-lasting short term energy, usually resulting in a few more reps if weight lifting. this allows you to do more work, and therefore add more muscle. creatine also seems to aide in muscle hydration which makes your muscles look larger and may improve protein sythesis within the muscle.

#6
glycogen is stored carbs, correct. its purpose is just that-stored energy. this is one of the few times in history when men can eat when he wants, this energy last when man couldnt eat, or in modern day during distance running or the like. to keep them filled, eating enough carbs during the day is all you need to do. spreading out your carbs should decrease the likelihood they will be converted to fat. not really sure i answered your question there (?).

 

[faller]

#4
catabolism can be caused by cortisol, or any other catecholamine hormone. It is best prevented by eating protein every three hours, consuming at least as many calories as you consume, not going into calorie defecits*, and getting adequate rest.
*by this i mean stuff like working out first thing in the morning without eating first. even if you are cutting even for calories eaten/burned, you would catabolic during this time in the AM. for some people, this is acceptable, especially while cutting. anabolic steriods greatly reduce muscle catabolism at all times.

#11
I would use glutamine only in trauma patients and endurance athletes. You should be able to get enough if you are eating enough protein in food form. If you are consuming 4000 calories a day, with a lot of protein, adding 10g of glutamine is a drop in the bucket.

 

[Jandy]

Great post! One added question on #6, when carbohydrates are taken into the body do they only have 3 options? Stored as fat, stored as glycogen or burned?