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.
Ion,
I just happened to be up in the stands by the diving pool when you swam your 200 free. As I recall, you were in lane 1 so I had a good view of your swim. I would like to agree with the other comments on your stroke technique. I noticed that you breathed "right, left" without any indication of a "cycle" throughout the whole race. If you have asthma, the rhythm of your breathing is more important than the frequency in my opinion. For any distance 100 or longer I recommend you breathe as often as you need but NOT more often than once/cycle. As noted by others, your body was twisting all over the place - very inefficient and directly related to breathing back and forth from side to side. As head coach of an age group team for 20 years I had many swimmers who were asthmatics. Maintaining a good breathing rhythm while training and competing allowed all of them to be successful in the sport.
I also noticed the lack of streamlining on your turns. You hands are not together and you pull quickly with one hand, surfacing far too quickly and grabbing a breath. As you've been advised by others, it's best not to breathe going in and out of your turn but I know that can be quite difficult for some people. I suggest you allow yourself the breath into the wall but work on making it quick - don't allow the tempo of the turn to slow down because of it. But don't ever breathe on your first stroke after the turn!
Most people breathe to one side (usually the same side each time) when they come out of a turn. For the purpose of my following suggestion, let's hypothetically say it's to the left for you. Therefore, when you streamline, you should always put your left hand on top of your right hand so that after your streamline (new and improved!) the first pull you make will be with your right arm (the hand on the bottom). Your next pull with your left arm will allow you a breath and you will have succeded in "not breathing off the wall". It's really a simple thing to learn - practice makes perfect!
Finally, you've often noted how many yards you train. In my opinon, it doesn't matter how many yards you do in the pool - if you are practicing poor technique you are defeating your purpose. Garbage yardage is a waste of your time. I suggest you seek out a technique coach and improve your form.
Ion,
I just happened to be up in the stands by the diving pool when you swam your 200 free. As I recall, you were in lane 1 so I had a good view of your swim. I would like to agree with the other comments on your stroke technique. I noticed that you breathed "right, left" without any indication of a "cycle" throughout the whole race. If you have asthma, the rhythm of your breathing is more important than the frequency in my opinion. For any distance 100 or longer I recommend you breathe as often as you need but NOT more often than once/cycle. As noted by others, your body was twisting all over the place - very inefficient and directly related to breathing back and forth from side to side. As head coach of an age group team for 20 years I had many swimmers who were asthmatics. Maintaining a good breathing rhythm while training and competing allowed all of them to be successful in the sport.
I also noticed the lack of streamlining on your turns. You hands are not together and you pull quickly with one hand, surfacing far too quickly and grabbing a breath. As you've been advised by others, it's best not to breathe going in and out of your turn but I know that can be quite difficult for some people. I suggest you allow yourself the breath into the wall but work on making it quick - don't allow the tempo of the turn to slow down because of it. But don't ever breathe on your first stroke after the turn!
Most people breathe to one side (usually the same side each time) when they come out of a turn. For the purpose of my following suggestion, let's hypothetically say it's to the left for you. Therefore, when you streamline, you should always put your left hand on top of your right hand so that after your streamline (new and improved!) the first pull you make will be with your right arm (the hand on the bottom). Your next pull with your left arm will allow you a breath and you will have succeded in "not breathing off the wall". It's really a simple thing to learn - practice makes perfect!
Finally, you've often noted how many yards you train. In my opinon, it doesn't matter how many yards you do in the pool - if you are practicing poor technique you are defeating your purpose. Garbage yardage is a waste of your time. I suggest you seek out a technique coach and improve your form.
