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
Based on reading Gold In The Water ... well, they were far from easy does it. And the book almost made fun of the European swimmer (from a smal country ... but I can remember the details) who really did take it easier.
I do agree with the overall sentiment here that at the Masters level ... swimmers are generally older and generally committed to many aspects of active lives (family, work, other hobbies ... ok, that's pushing it) ... the approach to swimming is best one of both dedication and enjoyment. And that makes for a fairly easy-going approach.
Based on reading Gold In The Water ... well, they were far from easy does it. And the book almost made fun of the European swimmer (from a smal country ... but I can remember the details) who really did take it easier.
I do agree with the overall sentiment here that at the Masters level ... swimmers are generally older and generally committed to many aspects of active lives (family, work, other hobbies ... ok, that's pushing it) ... the approach to swimming is best one of both dedication and enjoyment. And that makes for a fairly easy-going approach.