Medical Question to a Doctor regarding Supplements.
Former Member
When competing last week in Hawaii, I read in the Honolulu Star Bulletin newspaper from Saturday May 18, in page A5, an advertisement promoting a product stimulating the release of the Human Growth Hormone by the body.
I read in it: "Practically EVERYONE over the age of 40 has a Growth Hormone deficiency.". I am age 43, and even though I trained more than ever for the past year, I swam slower in Hawaii in 100 free and 200 free than I did last year, which was slower than in 1998, which was slower than in 1996, which was slower than in 1994 when I peaked in yards competitions. Because of this, I kept reading:
by taking the product advertised in the newspaper "In the FIRST MONTH: You should expect: Improved stamina;...".
My question for a Medical Doctor familiar with competitions, regards one specific side effect of such a product, not approved by FDA. I remember reading in the Swimming World magazine in mid-90s, when Chinese Olympic swimmers were being caught on illegal products, that a possible side effect of Human Growth Hormone stimulants given to adults, was an increase of extremities like nose, hands, ears and forehead. A picture of the swimmer Massimiliano Rosolino (Ita.) who in the 2000SydneyOlympics won gold, silver and bronze medals, picture published in 2000 in www.nbcolympics.com, semmed to me to show the increase of the nose. www.nbcolympics.com didn't mean to imply anything like this, this is my interpretation of Rosolino's face. It is publicly documented now, that Rosolino took Human Growth Hormone stimulants before the Olympics.
My question is:
The product advertised in Honolulu Star Bulletin as being a Human Growth Hormone stimulant, does increase the nose?
If so, what safer supplements achieve "...improved stamina..."?
San Francisco Chronicle did mention once before the 2000Olympics, two Olympians who were achieving with legal supplements the outcome of illegal products.
Parents
Former Member
The medical things I've seen suggest that HgH is the world's greatest stuff, decreases fat and recovery time, increases lean body mass, etc. If you have an excess you will get growth in the face. Look at really tall people and some of them exhibit this because of a potential hormonal imbalance. However, like anything else your body produces, you will damage the feedback loop for the substance in your body if you add extra to your system. Your system will stop producing as much HgH if it is getting it externally.
The real trick here is to increase your HgH naturally, by encouraging your body to do it. No real magic, here. Get enough sleep. Don't eat within a few hours of bedtime; especially avoid carbohydrates. Make sure you are getting enough protein in your diet. Make sure you are getting enough good fats in your diet. Make sure you are not overtrained. There are some amino acids you can take which encourage your body to produce HgH, but I don't think the price is worth the effect.
If you want to increase testosterone, the best thing is to race and win!
On that 100 free breathing, I'd recommend not breathing for a bit off the start, and then breathing every 2-4 armpulls the rest of the race. Do not breathe inside the flags at the finish. You do need the oxygen to make it through the last part of the race. I'm pretty sure the 41-42 second 100 swimmers don't do that, but if you're that fast you don't need technique advice from me.
I am not a doctor!
Swim fast,
Greg
The medical things I've seen suggest that HgH is the world's greatest stuff, decreases fat and recovery time, increases lean body mass, etc. If you have an excess you will get growth in the face. Look at really tall people and some of them exhibit this because of a potential hormonal imbalance. However, like anything else your body produces, you will damage the feedback loop for the substance in your body if you add extra to your system. Your system will stop producing as much HgH if it is getting it externally.
The real trick here is to increase your HgH naturally, by encouraging your body to do it. No real magic, here. Get enough sleep. Don't eat within a few hours of bedtime; especially avoid carbohydrates. Make sure you are getting enough protein in your diet. Make sure you are getting enough good fats in your diet. Make sure you are not overtrained. There are some amino acids you can take which encourage your body to produce HgH, but I don't think the price is worth the effect.
If you want to increase testosterone, the best thing is to race and win!
On that 100 free breathing, I'd recommend not breathing for a bit off the start, and then breathing every 2-4 armpulls the rest of the race. Do not breathe inside the flags at the finish. You do need the oxygen to make it through the last part of the race. I'm pretty sure the 41-42 second 100 swimmers don't do that, but if you're that fast you don't need technique advice from me.
I am not a doctor!
Swim fast,
Greg
