The Media Strikes Again: Public Perception and the Real Truth about Diets

An article recently published by the Associated Press posted on MSNBC (Title: Dieting usually fails in the long run, study finds) discusses the long-term ineffectiveness of diets, according to the examination of 31 weight loss studies at UCLA. Here, you have academics from top institutions discussing the perception of diet ineffectiveness, while the entire issue is framed incorrectly altogether. For starters, the accepted convention of the word diet is synonymous with project management, the basic premise of which has a beginning phase, milestones or calculated logical steps or activities for progression and adaptive modification, and an ending phase with goal completion. A diet is not even the proper conception of the overall issue of fat loss; an eating pattern is the correct perception. The reason why diets don't work is simple; the body is genetically programmed to biochemically adapt to long-term eating patterns of foods with consistent or averaged out macro-nutrient profiles. No matter how much weight one loses in a temporary dieting measure, the body will readjust to replace the lost weight once one goes back to and continues the eating pattern(s) (or similar ones) assumed prior to dieting. The issue is not dieting. It is prolonged adaptation to proper eating patterns necessary to attain and maintain superior body recomposition effects (i.e., fat loss and muscle conditioning).


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An Example of How Aphrodisiacs Work

This seemingly obscure area of supplementation has grown in popularity and acceptance in recent years, and is moving closer to becoming mainstream with other lifestyle specialty formulas on the market. Most sexual aphrodisiacs serve two core purposes; (1) To target and distribute blood flow to the genital area, and (2) To stimulate nerve receptors with specified alkaloid combinations and concentrations that control neurological endorphin release coupled with CNS (Central Nervous System) stimulation. Let's go through a few. Ashwaganda is one of the more popular aphrodisiacs, and its main ingredient besides saponins, lactones, and pyrazol alkaloids, is withanine, which activates the parasympathetic nervous system, for a mild sedative effect. Its particular activation better positions the CNS and the brain to release endorphins associated with sexual stimulation in the relaxed state. Epimedium sagittatum is at present very popular, but through its branded names on the alternative medicine market. Epimedium works by relaxing genital muscles with highly targeted NO2 stimulation. Its active ingredient is icarin, which also prohibits what's scientifically known as PDE-5 activity, which inhibits blood flow to the target area. In other words, epimedium increases consistency in performance and staying power, in part from cultivating NO2 production and blood flow redistribution to the genital area. Maca or its extract version maca puriens is usually marketed as a macro-nutrient (60% carbs, 10% protein, 8.5% dietary fiber and 2.2% fats) dense sexual enhancer, whose extremely high nutrient concentrations and receptor affinity are reputed to increase libido and orgasmic fluid quality. Last, but not least is Nettle Root, also known as Urtica dioica. Nettle releases SBGH (Sex-Binding-Globulin-Hormone) from bounded testosterone, thus allowing testosterone to roam free through the blood stream to locate and activate target receptors. This characteristic also promotes testosterone-boosting through supplementation. The above are examples to illustrate how certain substances and combinations thereof can be structured to exhibit synergistic effects in sexual stimulation. This is the manufacturing premise and marketed application underlying aphrodisiac formulas.


Recommended Product(s):

Paravol

Stamina RX - 2oz. Shots

NO2 Precursor

Part 3: Supplement Stacking for Long-Term Synergistic Effects

In Part 1, supplement positioning for anabolic gains was discussed. In Part 2, key thought processes behind product identification, application and analysis were discussed in terms of logic and strategy. Now, the concept of stacking supplements for synergistic effects is clarified here. One of the major problems with stacking supplements is that most people define the desired effects too broadly when they should be pushing for qualitative precision in identification and measurement. In other words, stacking works when products, whose suggested effects are identified in advance (according to their ingredients) are grouped together under a programmatic sequence that's measurable, under user-determined criteria (within scientific constraints).

For example, let's look at the area of fat loss, which can actually be targeted a number of different ways, according to each person's specified condition(s). Most people have an issue with proper eating pattern configuration, which should be done on the premise of rationing out macro-nutrients (i.e., proteins, carbs, EFA lipids) in target ratios (i.e., zone diet ratio is 40% carbs, 30% protein, and 30% EFA lipids or good fats) to stabilize insulin release, blood sugar concentrations, and support the reduction of metabolic fluctuations over long periods of time. Now, let's assume that one has a good eating pattern and is looking to loose 10-15 lbs. of fat mass over the next 2 1/2 to 3 months. A mere daily 250 calorie reduction in eating results in 5 lbs. of fat loss in 2 1/2 months and 6 lbs. of fat loss in 3 months. The problem with this assumption is that it assumes that the body's metabolic rate and thyroid output mechanisms stay the same over time and don't react to these eating adjustments, when in fact, they do. Now, eating pattern variations that are designed to keep the body's fat burning processes at maximum output through luring the body's metabolism into constant adaptation are instituted. Now, the individual wants to use supplements to accelerate fat loss in accomplishing the target level of desired weight loss. This is how it works.

R-Alpha Lipoic Acid, R-ALA, or Alpha Lipoic Acid is a key anti-oxidant nutrient repartitioning agent, which should be stacked with another mineral-based repartitioning agent like Vanadyl Sulfate. These, when taken preferably together move macro-nutrients directly into muscle cells, while averting fat cell storage. Over time, muscle mass becomes better conditioned and denser, and substantial fat loss occurs, as a result of mitigating triglyceride conversion. To increase one's metabolic rate in tandem with the above supplements, a metabolic enhancer or fat burner with fat cell targeting alkaloids (i.e., yohimbine alkaloids target the A2 fat receptors, which are on the obliques and stomach) should be used to supplement the current eating pattern. This fat burner should have the standard mexylxanthine (i.e., caffeine) concentrations for adrenal output, CNS (central nervous system) stimulation, and subsequent metabolic increase.

Regarding fat burner choices among the sea of weight loss product on the market, users should target those products with high concentrations of specific ingredients or ingredient areas. For example, high standardized caffeine concentrations with yohimbe extract alkaloids are two areas users may wish to review, as well as fat burners with a high tyrosine or tyrosine precursor matrix. Now we have a very simple stack, in which one takes one capsule of R-Alpha Lipoic Acid and one capsule of Vanadyl Sulfate with meals up to three times a day, and preferably two capsules of a caffeine-based fat burner with receptor targeting capability (some will have evodiamine and/or octopamine for B3 fat receptor targeting, while others will concentrate on A2 receptors with yohimbine or yohimbe alkaloids) up to two times a day: Note that one serving of the fat burner should be taken before training, if one is not using pre-workout stimulant energy powders for advanced training.

The above stack will go a long way towards fat loss, and effects are highly visible within the first six weeks of stack deployment. The patented anti-catabolic HMB should be brought in to protect existing muscle tissue, during the fat burning process, so that myocytes don't open their membranes and start spilling muscle integral amino acids into the bloodstream, for glucose conversion. This last point is important, for the reason that the more dense muscle tissue one has, the faster the fat burning process, as muscle burns calories in a 24/7 state. Therefore, protecting muscle is key. The example herein focused on a simplified stack for fat loss using supplements (and one anti-catabolic supplement) whose ingredients have predictive effects, according to scientific fact. And from this paradigm, synergistic combinations of products were formed to reinforce the intended metabolic direction for optimized results.


Recommended Product(s):

R-Alpha Lipoic Acid

Vanadyl Sulfate

Lipodrene - Ephedra Fat Burner

Sports One - Ephedra Fat Burner

HMB

Part 2: Strategic Analysis and Product Application for Optimal Anabolic Response

In Part 1, the nature of supplement positioning for long-term gains was discussed. How to position the different creatine types was also illustrated. In reference to the prior posting on anti-catabolism (see prior post titled "The Natural Anabolic State: Anti-Catabolism"), proper supplement selection and positioning of anti-catabolics also applies to the training cycle, as well. In fact, it's more important to growth than the pre-workout category. Anti-catabolics depending on type and biochemical reaction are usually best positioned before and/or after training. The key objective is to protect the amino acid pool from the degradation effects of training. This concept has a number of implications upon further examination. The body's growth mechanism occurs from the position of its present state between anabolism and catabolism, and cannot factor out the anti-catabolic portion of the anabolic equation. This means that just by making a concerted effort to shield the amino acid pool from catabolism, anabolic effects can occur to a very significant degree, since the catabolic side of the equation will be substantially lower than its anabolic counterpart.

Growth is more about relative positioning of inherent biochemical directions, given the fact that the body has counterbalancing chemically sequenced traits for survival. Conceptually, what one should push for is a long-term sustained level of "asymmetry" between the two opposing processes, in favor of anabolism. This positive net difference between anabolism and catabolism, sustained over extended periods of time equals growth. The real problem is one of convention regarding the time line between product purchases and expected effects. The conventional method of thought states that you isolate each product's effects on training and nutrition and measure those effects on the body's composition and state of being. Although seemingly logical, this one-dimension pattern of analysis does not apply here. Such ad hoc experimentation is rarely effective.

True positioning suggests that each product under consideration be subjected to some of form hypothesis construction about its predictive direction, as denoted by the combination of ingredients within. In thesis creation, expected effects must be first identified using some sort of a predictive model (i.e., prior scientific information about ingredients). This illustrates a common critical error in judgment. Most supplement buyers who attempt to isolate for controlled effects fail to first correctly identity them: What cannot be identified, cannot be measured.

True positioning also suggests that supplement consideration and even applied isolation be viewed in a multi-variate complex. Many people attempt isolation to the extent of deliberately ignoring product effects on other systems in the body. Paying attention to how products can affect various systems in a simplified cost/benefit analysis can actually yield hidden benefits in addition to potentially higher margins of safety in decision-making. For example, I normally recommend the purchase of neurotransmitter precursors, such as choline bitartrate or cdp-choline for acetylcholine regeneration: Nervous system recovery is actually required for muscle growth and the ability to maintain output in subsequent training sessions, and lack of recovery in this area is in significant part due to the unnecessary of extension of post-training pain and soreness, as a result of neurotransmitter depletion. These precursors combined with anti-catabolics post-training are more likely to bring neurological recovery in line with that of skeletal muscle recovery and contribute to greater anabolic signals in subsequent training. In addition, I also tend to focus anti-catabolic supplement time coordinates close to training in the pre and post-workout phases, for the core reason that the highest intensity in cellular breakdown is instructed at that time to occur, as activated by training itself. One can hedge against continued post-training breakdown through similar practice(s) in product application. Using logical schemas of prediction also benefits the activity of product stacking for synergistic effects, while purposefully avoiding counteracting combinations.

Scientists are not needed at the retail level for people to make informed decisions about product purchase considerations in supplementation. A logical method of thinking focused on how products affect the body according to their ingredients in a multivariate contingent capacity is the real requirement to get started in proper nutrient positioning. Supplement positioning is more of a way of thinking about product selection, application, and program modification for long-term results than it is about product purchase and related effects causality.


Recommended Product(s):

HMB

Lecithin - Choline (neurotransmitter support)

Part 1: Tactical Supplement Positioning For Strategic Anabolic Response

All the required genetic protocols for natural growth are already set, within most people. Admittedly, the variance of individual capability for growth among people is incalculably wide. The whole concept in itself, although seemingly simplified is really multi-dimensional in breath and scope. For example, two persons with like body types and structures may find out that similar gains can only be attained at different threshold intensities in different movements altogether, for the same target areas. This even applies to supplements, albeit to an extent. This extent realistically ends when standardized and predictable effects reveal their patterns across various training populaces and/or in empirically tested situations with supplements and/or their ingredients. In other words, if supplements had totally different effects on a person-to-person basis, then no predictive patterns, product/ingredient formulation model(s), or market value could be discerned. If you can predict the effect of an ingredient or particular combination thereof within the training cycle and nutritional program, then one should be "better" able to contextually position supplement use, based on desired and expected results, provided that all other factors are controlled through measured isolation.

One of the challenging areas of analysis is the repositioning of creatine from a post-workout supplement to that of a pre-workout supplement stacked inside of highly caffeinated pre-training energy powders. This has become widely popular, in recent years. Some experts in sports nutrition have counter-intuitively opined that creatine should be taken in the pre-training phase to exploit stabilized insulin uptake, during training. But remember, trade offs exist here, as well. Insulin moves inversely to GH, so users want to be aware of the exposure involved. Also, excess caffeine consumption can interfere with creatine uptake and optimal ATP replenishment, as well. When creatine first appeared on the market in 1993, it was positioned as a post-training supplement that took advantage of post-training increases in insulin production induced by escalated consumption.

Now, the repositioning effects of creatine (pre-workout formulation), make its particular initial effects more noticeable (i.e., accelerate pumps with NO2 pre-cursors), but somewhat modest in terms of long-term cell-volumization: Post-workout monohydrate-based creatine formulas fare better here. Please note that the vast majority of creatine in pre-workout formulations is esterified for increased cell membrane permeability. Therefore, less is needed compared to its monohydrate equivalent. But monohydrate qualitatively promotes superior lean mass and long-term strength gains on the merits of the creatine attachment alone, whereas its pre-workout counterparts afford users a collective set of benefits from various training enhancement substrates. What this all means is that each type and/or variance of a particular supplement may have a detailed set of advantages and disadvantages compared to other specialty formulations within its product category. Likely, these differences once identified become key to supplement positioning.

On an interesting note, a few esterified creatine pre-workout formulations are laced with neuro-transmission precursors to give off greater amounts of contractile energy and strength. This benefit should in tertiary standing keep the parasympathic nervous system from substantially interfering with the body's sympathetic nervous system induced excitory response. These neuro-transmission precursors also improve nervous system regeneration, for subsequent training sessions. Therefore users may want to consider the possibility of nootropic supplementation to compliment CNS (Central Nervous System) recovery.

A key insight here is to train extremely hard when using products from this category of pre-training formulas. This consistent positioning of pre-workout creatine to increased training intensity creates a nice rebound effect for extended post-workout repartitioning and recovery. Done over long periods of time, overall bodyweight should actually increase in tandem with sharp recomposition effects (as muscle has higher density and weight per unit of volume than fat). This assertion factors in the presumption that accelerated fat loss will most likely occur at a faster rate than muscle mass gain. The difference in rate calculus between that of muscle mass gain and fat loss is based on the fact that nitrogen is harder to assemble into muscle protein than lipid derived hydro-carbons are to disassemble for energy deployment. In other words, fat loss for most people is easier than muscle mass gain. In sum, the optimal value from supplementation is in significant part contingent upon how each product is optimally positioned relative to other elements of the training cycle and nutritional regimen.


Recommended Product(s):

NO XPLODE Pre-Training Energy Formula

NO2 Precursor

Micronized Creatine Monohydrate

The Natural Anabolic State: Anti-Catabolism

Conventional wisdom suggests that individuals should consume 1 to 1 1/2 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight to perpetuate muscle growth over extended periods of time. In addition, this advice tends to be accompanied by the high volume and intense training methodologies, which really require extensive prior experience. We're not done yet. Then you have the accepted tradition of consuming caloric amounts in vast excess of what the body's insulinogenic mechanism is able to handle. This is a surefire recipe for disaster, let alone long-term muscle breakdown and potential injury.

The body's natural state of survival must be properly understood and taken into account, before any consideration of aesthetic improvement takes place. For example, one of the primary purposes of natural growth hormone (GH) production and release in the body is to protect the existing amino acid pool, during periods of calorie restriction or famine. GH is also genetically programmed to move inversely with insulin, which is released by the pancreatic function, during consumption. Both of these inborn mechanisms with the right timing and relative positioning can be used to maintain the body's desired state of anabolism, paradoxically through anti-catabolic and repartitioning activity.

Growth cannot occur unless current amino acid protection takes place. If the nitrogen component of the amino group is constantly being excreted while the hydro-carbons (mostly from the carboxyl group) are spilling over into the bloodstream for gluconeogenesis (glucose conversion) or lipid conversion, then muscle cell infusion with more nitrogen sparing protein in excess of those amino acids exiting the cells must occur at an increased rate; otherwise, catabolism results. In other words, the core focus of post-workout activity, as it relates to training should be centered on recovery, which is a requisite for growth. Recovery can and does in many cases actually occur initially without visible signs of muscle mass growth, but never the other way around (that's correct; growth is impossible without recovery). Cells, skeletal muscle, joints, tendons, ligaments, and even internal organs require regeneration from stress-induced activity to maintain and improve levels of homeostasis. And this is before any muscle mass growth can take place.

The critical junctures relative to training are the pre-workout (anti-catabolics: HMB) and post-workout phases (anti-catabolics as well as a nutrient dense low-to-medium calorie post-workout macro-nutrient shake: ErgoPharm's Mass Meal). A significant portion of the body's recovery response is determined relative to what happens, within the above time spans, not in isolation, as cells are regenerating through amino acid absorption, Krebs cycle intermediate distribution, sodium potassium pump balancing, and lipid-based reconstruction of muscle cell membranes (again, this is in response to training and other stress induced activity). In sum, to create anabolism, first pursue anti-catabolism.


Recommended Product(s):

HMB

Mass Meal Lean Mass Gainer from ErgoPharm

Welcome to the BioAvail Knowledge Blog

Thank you for taking the time to view this page. Here you'll find information on products BioAvail Knowledge selects in advance, using a system of scientific and logical analysis applied to sports nutrition manufacturing and distribution. Thousands of products continuously flood the market year after year, and consumers need accurate product and category information, during their purchasing process. This blog is dedicated to providing accurate and timely information on effective products within sports nutrition. While we may not be able to comment on every product in the vast sea of sports supplements, we can offer in-depth knowledge of those formulations we deem effective for addressing specific areas of the training cycle. Since this blog is new, it is strongly advised that viewers bookmark this page, for continued updates and information, as the content develops. Hopefully, our readers gain insight and sharply visible results, from our advanced knowledge of sports nutrition.


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BioAvail Knowledge