A potential fix - consistent weightlifting boosts hormones

Therapeutic Efforts Supplements & Lifestyle
#1

Check out the following study. Looks like we’ll need to lift heavy, consistently for at least a good 2 years to hopefully gain significant results.

jap.physiology.org/cgi/content/a … /65/6/2406

Neuromuscular and hormonal adaptations in athletes to strength training in two years

K. Hakkinen, A. Pakarinen, M. Alen, H. Kauhanen and P. V. Komi
Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyvaskyla, Finland.

Neuromuscular and hormonal adaptations to prolonged strength training were investigated in nine elite weight lifters.

The average increases occurred over the 2-yr follow-up period in the maximal neural activation (integrated electromyogram, IEMG; 4.2%, P = NS), maximal isometric leg-extension force (4.9%, P = NS), averaged concentric power index (4.1%, P = NS), total weight-lifting result (2.8%, P less than 0.05), and total mean fiber area (5.9%, P = NS) of the vastus lateralis muscle, respectively.

The training period resulted in increases in the concentrations of serum testosterone from 19.8 +/- 5.3 to 25.1 +/- 5.2 nmol/l (P less than 0.05), luteinizing hormone (LH) from 8.6 +/- 0.8 to 9.1 +/- 0.8 U/l (P less than 0.05), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) from 4.2 +/- 2.0 to 5.3 +/- 2.3 U/l (P less than 0.01), and testosterone-to-serum sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) ratio (P less than 0.05).

The annual mean value of the second follow-up year for the serum testosterone-to-SHBG ratio correlated significantly (r = 0.84, P less than 0.01) with the individual changes during the 2nd yr in the averaged concentric power.

The present results suggest that prolonged intensive strength training in elite athletes may influence the pituitary and possibly hypothalamic levels, leading to increased serum levels of testosterone.

This may create more optimal conditions to utilize more intensive training leading to increased strength development.

#2

This IS a long term fix.
Earlier studies have shown that shorter term (3 month) programs have made little increase in total T levels.
What is very positive from this article is that all the subjects were professional weight lifters with at least 5 yrs experience and their bodies still showed significant average increases in T (570 to 722), even though they obviously aged another 2 years during the period of the study.

For the last six months I have included increasingly intensive exercise into my recovery routine and my total T levels appear to be slowly increasing (with improving performance elsewhere), from not far above 400 a year ago to just under 500 now.
And in my own situation it makes perfect sense - I used to do heavy weights weekly before my ‘crash’ 17 months ago, but for the first year after couldnt get the enthusiasm for it and went less than once a month.

#3

this is a highly encouraging study. i was aware intense resistance training could increase T levels, but i didn’t know to that extent. that is a huge gain in T.

intense resistance training is the main part of my recovery program for now, along with meditation, healthy diet, plentiful sleep, sunlight and fresh air. might sound corny, but i’m just trying to let my body heal itself by getting back to a more natural lifestyle.

#4

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#5

Read the FAQ at the top of the forum, it will answer your questions.

Short version – many men on this site found their Testosterone levels “crashed” (became extremely low/hypgogonadal) when they came off the drug. Hence the term, “crash”.

#6

In order to state your T levels crash shortly after you came off fina than you would have to have levels taken when you quit and then again a few months later after you quit. Is that the case for many on here?

#7

Sure, check the Hormones section and you’ll see some have their pathology tested after quitting and then a few months out.

Myself, my T was down to 12.8 at 3 months off, up to 17.3 at 8 months off. Check my hormones in that section and see for yourself.

Also – not sure why you are even asking this question? You know as well as I do that low T after Finasteride is a fundamental problem for many of us. And you’ve been around since the Yahoo Group days so it’s not like this is new information to you… you yourself also had T issues, did you not?

#8

Actually, low T is a result of Finasteride. My T was 276 (rr 260-1000) while on it and rose to 484 (rr 241-847) after one month stopping. I’m not making the low T statment based on my experience…it comes from UpTodate Medical Website used by most (if not all) MDs. It’s recognized by the AMA.

But no, I didn’t have any crash of T when I stopped Finasteride. I’ve just hung around mid 400s until now. But things have improved much for me since I quit using products that contain Tea Tree Oil…a known Endocrine disruptor. All my shit had started when I began using that shampoo and I used until 3 wks ago EVERY DAY multiple of times. It wasn’t Finasteride that caused my issues. However, I do have time invested on this forum do I do like to browse it.

Good luck

Here is the clip regarding Finasteride:

U.S. BRAND NAMES — Propecia®; Proscar®

CANADIAN BRAND NAMES — Propecia®; Proscar®

MEXICAN BRAND NAMES — Propeshia®; Proscar®

PHARMACOLOGIC CATEGORY
5 Alpha-Reductase Inhibitor

REASONS NOT TO TAKE THIS MEDICINE Do not give this medicine to a child. If you have an allergy to finasteride or any other part of this medicine. Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat; or any other symptoms involved.

What is this medicine used for?
This medicine is used to improve hair growth in male pattern baldness. It may take 3 months to see the full effect. This medicine is used to treat the symptoms of an enlarged prostate. It may take several months to see the full effect.

How does it work?
Finasteride decreases prostate growth by lowering testosterone levels. It increases hair regrowth and slows hair loss.

How is it best taken? Take this medicine at a similar time of day. Take this medicine with or without food. Take with food if it causes an upset stomach.

What do I do if I miss a dose? (does not apply to patients in the hospital) Take a missed dose as soon as possible. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose or extra doses. Do not change dose or stop medicine. Talk with healthcare provider.

What are the precautions when taking this medicine? Do not donate blood while using this medicine and for 1 month after stopping. Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well with other medicines. Pregnant females should not handle crushed or broken tablets. If you are a male and sexually active, protect your partner from pregnancy during treatment. Use birth control that you can trust. Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant.

What are some possible side effects of this medicine? Change in sexual ability or desire. This is usually reversible.

What should I monitor? Change in condition being treated. Is it better, worse, or about the same? If taking for an enlarged prostate, have a rectal exam (to check prostate gland) and blood work (PSA test). Talk with healthcare provider. Follow up with healthcare provider.

REASONS TO CALL HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY If you suspect an overdose, call your local poison control center immediately or dial 911. Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat. A lump in the breast or breast tenderness. Any rash. No improvement in condition or feeling worse.

How should I store this medicine? Store at room temperature. Protect from moisture. Do not store in a bathroom or kitchen.

GENERAL STATEMENTS If you have a life-threatening allergy, wear allergy identification at all times. Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else’s medicine. Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets. Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, natural products, supplements, vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, pharmacist, physician assistant). Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including over-the-counter, natural products, or vitamins.

#9

What is the source of the text you posted? Please post the link, I’d like to see proof of the below quote… it could be very important.

Seems more likely they meant to say dihydrotestosterone rather than testosterone. Nowhere in that text do they mention DHT, even though Finasteride’s main method of action is to reduce DHT.

#10

Your right it doesn’t mention DHT. This info is on UpToDate.com…it’s a medical website that you need to buy access to. My wife gets it paid for by her Residency program.

I’m curious though…if T is high during Propecia use than why do ppl suffer from issues? I think the site is saying it does lower T which inevitably lowers your libido and causes your issues.

Also, you mention you T was low at 3 months off and rose at 8 months off. What was your T while you were on? That’s the only way you’ll know if your T crashed upon quitting. It may have been in the 12 range while you were on and 3 months after quitting…and eventually went up to 17 or where ever it is at today.

Jack

#11

Yeah, they definately meant DHT there, I’m sure…

The primary mechanism of finasteride is, of course, to decrease DHT. We also know that, in the process, it messes with virtually every other hormone in the HPTA.

I’d be very interested to see any evidence out there that finasteride does, in fact, lower testosterone. If this happens in the general population, it seems that it would have to be something that occurs over time.

Take this article, for example, that you have posted in the studies section, Mew: jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/reprint/80/6/1934.pdf

We see here that, at first, the fin group experiences an increase in T for about the first month. Then, between weeks 4 and 12, there is a slight decline in testosterone in the fin group, while the control group T level remains unchanged. Perhaps luckily for Merck, this was not enough of a decline to produce a significant result. Then again, as you point out, Mew, this particular study was funded by Merck, so who really knows. But we do know, conservatively speaking, that there was some drop off in T between weeks 4 and 12.

Do we know of any more such evidence (significant or otherwise) of T decreasing with time on fin?

#12

Ppl get sideeffects from propecia within a day in some cases i doubt that propecia can downregulate T that fast… but we know it downregulate dht pretty fast… so dont jump to conclusions cause 1 site said propecia downregulates T.

If T is high or T is low on propecia dont mean that much in regards to crash. It may have been 12 while on propecia or other number but no matter what that number was it would have been decreases alot by 70% dht comin back online… hence the crash. just my opinon. Weather or not T is higher or lower on propecia or propecia itself could downregulate T is ofc very intresting just dosent mean that u cant crash getting off propecia even if u were allrdy low on T.

#13

So far I’ve gotten the best results through weight lifting. My key has been to start very slowly so I do not become overexhausted and quit. Rarely do I get my heart above 130 bpm and I’m 30, so this equals about 55% of my capability for my age range. The key is to keep doing something but not overtax yourself.

My diet has been mostly proteins with vegetables for carbs. Anything with simple sugars or caffeine totally exhausts me for long times (easily a week). So does over exertion. Lots of cheese, lettuce, squash, lean meats, omega 3s, a simple multivitamin in low dose. And Kefir, no sugar added. Alcohol wastes me too, it’s ok 1 time every 2 to 3 weeks but anything more and I can’t get out of bed for a week.

When lifting weights, especially squats, I can get back to 100% temporarily. It runs in cycles. But there is always a come down period. Been off for about 10 months after close to 4 years on.

#14

Effects of Amino Acids Supplement on Physiological Adaptations to Resistance Training.
Kraemer WJ, Hatfield DL, Volek JS, Fragala MS, Vingren JL, Anderson JM, Spiering BA, Thomas GA, Ho JY, Quann EE, Izquierdo M, Häkkinen K, Maresh CM.

1Human Performance Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT; 2Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT; 3Studies, Research and Sport Medicine Center, Government of Navarra, SPAIN; and 4Department of Biology of Physical Activity and Neuromuscular Research Center, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, FINLAND.

INTRODUCTION:: Previous research has demonstrated that ingestion of essential amino acids and their metabolites induce anabolic effects with the potential to augment gains in lean body mass and strength after resistance exercise training. PURPOSE:: The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of an essential amino acid-based formula (Muscle Armor (MA); Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL) containing beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) on hormonal and muscle damage markers in response to 12 wk of resistance exercise. METHODS:: Seventeen healthy men (mean body mass: 77.9 +/- 7.2 kg; mean height: 174.3 +/- 12.4 cm; mean age: 22.9 +/- 3.8 yr) were matched and randomized into two groups and performed 12 wk of periodized heavy resistance training while supplementing with either MA or an isocaloric, isonitrogenous placebo (CON). Every 2 wk during the 12-wk intervention, resting blood draws were obtained, and muscle strength and power were measured. In addition, blood draws were obtained before, during, and after a standardized resistance exercise challenge performed pre-, mid-, and posttraining. RESULTS:: Lean body mass, muscle strength, and muscle power significantly (P </= 0.05) increased in both groups after training; however, MA supplementation augmented these responses to a significantly greater extent when compared with the CON group. MA supplementation promoted increases in resting and exercise-induced testosterone and resting growth hormone concentrations. In addition, MA reduced preexercise cortisol concentrations. Throughout the training protocol, MA attenuated circulating creatine kinase and malondealdehyde compared with the CON group, suggesting that MA might have influenced a reduction in muscle damage. CONCLUSION:: MA supplementation beneficially affected training-induced changes in lean body mass, muscle strength, and power, as well as hormonal responses and markers of muscle damage in response to 12 wk of resistance exercise training when compared with an isonitrogenous control.

#15

Not at all surprised to see this. I have weight trained since I was about 18 years old and now 39. I was madman at the gym even while taking this drug for many years, working out for more than an hour nearly every day. I often wonder now if the workouts were generating some free testosterone that helped keep me from seeing the really bad symptoms as quickly as others did.

ANy event, the drug eventually caught up with me as it does everyone. I used to be 185 and was buff. I’m now a mere 165 and much weaker.
I have been off of this drug for a while now, but working out is still incredibly difficult. I always forge may way through the workout anyway. Off to the gym now to work out.

#16

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#17

solonjk,

I have noticed you have posted quite a bit here. Did you use any of the meds that are recommended here like clomid, hcg. Did you see any posititve results at all from these if you used them?

You mentioned that working out hasn’t helped you very much and you have been off of the drug for more than 3 years. I don’t want to discourage myself too much, but that isn’t very motivating. Have you noticed your energy levels increase much over the years?

I think the biggest issue right now for me is the energy issue. I have no energy at all.

#18

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#19

I was supposed to see the doctor this morning and get my blood test results, but I now have to wait until tomorrow. I am expecting low T results. It’s quite clear that waiting for your hormone levels to return to normal could take many many years or may not happen at all without some type of therapy. I am going to mention to my doctor what I have learned about clomid and see if advices to prescribe that for me.

I will ask for a referral to see and a neroendocrinoligist as well. I just hope I don’t have to wait to get on some type of recovery med. I’m sure the endo doctor is going to want to run another blood test and I’ll have to wait another 3 weeks for those results as well. I’m just anxious to get moving with the recovery.
I do miss how easy and rewarding it felt to exercise. Nowadays it feels incredibly difficult to get motivated and arduous to complete a workout.

#20

Depending on your severity, it’s possible that it may take less time with weight-lifting to get a noticeable change. Back in January when I was still taking propecia, I started working out. At this time I had been suffering already for 2 months with erectile difficulties and difficulty ejaculating, but unfortunately I was bent on “holding out”, as the stupid pamphlet says that most who suffer issues recover even with continued use, so I continued. So I began working out, not with the thought of un-doing my effects due to propecia, but just because I wanted to gain some muscle (I’m pretty skinny at only 150 to begin with…no weight changes due to propecia). I worked out for about 5 weeks, 4 times a week for about 2 hours at a time, pushing myself as hard as I could, before having to stop to focus on neglected studying. During this time I was seeing improvement, getting better erections and maintaining them easier (although it still remained very difficult to ejaculate). At the time I was thinking/hoping that it was my body getting over the effects, without the exercising having anything to do with it, and a week after I stopped working out I actually got a 100% normal erection for the first time in 4 months. I thought I had gotten over the drug’s effects and was quite excited…but I haven’t had a normal erection since.

I finally grew sick of taking propecia and figured whether or not it had been the working out making a difference, I shouldn’t have to work out just to maintain the functionality of my penis. So I got off propecia in mid-March, expecting to return to normal within a month, but I am still having difficulties. So, I don’t know whether or not it was the working out for sure, or whether it would help me even now that I am post-finasteride (I now notice numbness at the tip in the last two months or so when I don’t know think this was there before), but the bottom line is that if you are not suffering as severely, it’s possible that improvement could even occur in the short-term. Again, I wish I had of kept working out at that time so I could say something more definitive, but I thought it could be encouraging nonetheless that for some it may be possible that it only takes 6 weeks to see an improvement. I have been thinking that it may have been what helped me, and now after seeing this article I look to begin working out again ASAP. So start working out if ya can guys, cause it may help!

P.S. While I was working out, I was also using Mutant Mass, a weight gainer with a ton of carbs, proteins, and other supplements per serving. I don’t know whether or not it contains anything that could be directly linked to helping, but at the very least it allowed me to gain muscle quicker, which in turn allowed me to move to heavier weights more quickly, which in turn possibly helped get an improvement more quickly, who knows.

-WIB