#274 - Performance-enhancing drugs and hormones: risks, rewards, and broader implications for the public | Derek: More Plates, More Dates

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Oct 9, 2023

In this engaging discussion, fitness educator Derek, known for his expertise on performance-enhancing drugs via his More Plates, More Dates platform, shares his journey from weightlifting to blending scientific insights with personal experiences. He dives into the complexities of anabolic steroid use, fertility risks, and the long-term effects of growth hormones. Derek also explores the dark side of bodybuilding, including tragic health outcomes and misconceptions around hormone therapies, urging a more informed approach to fitness and performance enhancement.

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INSIGHT

Growth Hormone and Height

Growth hormone (GH) does not guarantee exceeding one's genetic potential for height.
Studies on idiopathic short stature show varying GH prescription protocols, even higher than for deficiency cases.

ADVICE

Growth Hormone's Role in Adulthood

Growth hormone is crucial for growth during adolescence, but its importance declines in adulthood.
Avoid framing growth hormone as a 'fountain of youth' due to pervasive financial incentives.

INSIGHT

GH, IGF-1, and Insulin

IGF-1, produced in the liver after GH release, serves as a proxy for GH levels.
IGF-1's insulogenic properties, promoting fat storage, seem counterintuitive to GH's lipolytic action.

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We discuss:

Derek's interest in weightlifting and experimentation with anabolic steroids at a young age [3:15];
Derek's experience acquiring steroids from underground labs and the potential long-term fertility concerns early in his bodybuilding career [12:00];
The backstory on More Plates, More Dates and Derek's unique ability to blend scientific knowledge with personal observation [17:00];
Growth hormone – from extreme use-cases to the more typical – and the misconception that it's the "elixir of life" [21:30];
Growth hormone 101: definition, where it comes from, and the challenges of measuring it [28:45];
Does exogenous growth hormone compromise one's ability to make endogenous growth hormone? [40:00];
The use of growth hormone in restoration of tissue during periods of healing [42:00];
Growth hormone-releasing peptides to increase endogenous GH: various peptides, risks, benefits, and comparison to exogenous growth hormone [48:45];
The role of growth hormone in building muscle and burning fat, as well as its effects on sleep and daytime lethargy [1:02:30];
The evolution of drug use in the sport of bodybuilding [1:10:30];
What explains the protruding abdomens on some bodybuilders and athletes? [1:20:30];
Death of bodybuilders [1:26:00];
The complex interplay of hormones, and the conversion of testosterone into metabolites like DHT and estrogen [1:33:45];
Post-finasteride syndrome and how Derek successfully treated his hair loss [1:43:15];
Testosterone replacement therapy: compelling use-cases, side effects, and optimal dosing schedules [1:57:15];
Aromatase inhibitors to suppress estrogen, and the misconceptions around estrogen in men [2:16:00];
Other hormones beyond testosterone for male sex hormone replacement [2:21:00];
The history of anabolic compounds, and the differing effects of various anabolic testosterone derivatives and related drugs [2:24:30];
Use of SARMs by bodybuilders [2:29:45];
Anabolic steroid and testosterone regimens of professional bodybuilders and the downstream consequences [2:36:15];
The challenge of accurate hormone testing in the presence of anabolic steroids and supplements [2:44:45];
The use of Clomid, hCG, and enclomiphene [2:47:15];
Concerns about fertility: comparing the use of testosterone and hCG [3:00:30];
The use of BPC-157 peptide for healing injuries [3:12:00]; and
More.

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