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German Creatine for Explosive Athletic Performance and Superior Muscle Gains

monohydrate vs. kre-alkalyn

German Creatine is a high-quality form of creatine monohydrate. 

Are you looking for a way to level up your athletic performance? German Creatine, a type of creatine monohydrate known to aid athletes in their quests for greatness, may be able to help. This naturally occurring nitrogenous acid is an energy source for your cells, especially your muscles. You can find it in fish and red meat, but adding a supplement to your routine can help take your workouts to the next level, as the human body needs on average 1-3 grams of creatine daily, and typically the standard diet does not provide that.

Athletes and bodybuilders need more as they can benefit from more energy production. Creatine also helps you train harder, and according to a study, people who train hard need more than the average individual — between 5-10g of creatine in a day (1). There are many versions of creatine, but most research has been done on creatine monohydrate. This is why experts advise using supplements that contain the same product to avoid unknown or unwanted results. German Creatine, from Creapure® is considered the cleanest form of creatine monohydrate on the market.

Creatine is an essential and helpful supplement for bodybuilders, athletes, and lifters looking to get stronger and put on muscle mass. However, the right creatine supplement is equally crucial for the best results. In this post, we share some necessary things that every weightlifter needs to know about creatine, why German Creatine is the best form available, and a trusted supplement brand we recommend. 

How Creatine Works

If you’ve been moving around the bodybuilding and fitness space, you’ve likely heard about creatine by now, as it is a popular supplement to add to your gym bag. This supplement is popular because of its many benefits for athletes, bodybuilders, and weightlifters. However, not every brand provides creatine supplements that you should go for. 

You’ll only get your best gains from using high-quality supplements when using creatine. Low-quality creatine could include impurities like creatinine, sodium, dicyandiamide, and dihydro triazine in harmful quantities. So how does creatine work? Well, when you do lots of exercising, creatine increases the phosphocreatine stores in the muscles. These stores are then used to create adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy source you use for activities like heavy lifting. 

Creatine also promotes muscle growth. It does this by lowering your myostatin levels and increasing cell hydration. It also reduces protein breakdown, which could lead to muscle atrophy and loss. Studies show that creatine is effective for muscle growth in both short-term and long-term use (2).

Benefits of Creatine

creatine monohydrate

As mentioned, creatine forms phosphocreatine that the body uses to create ATP for energy. Taking creatine leads to more strength and muscle growth. It could also help reduce the damage that leads to reduced muscle mass.

Creatine is also stored in the human brain and helps to reduce mental fatigue and improve cognitive function. It protects your brain functions and can even slow the signs of aging in older people. 

Uses of Creatine

Creatine is generally used as a supplement by bodybuilders, athletes, and lifters to get stronger, build muscles, and improve athletic performance. It comes in either powder form or as a capsule. The powder form of creatine can be flavored or a flavorless powder that can be added to meals.

Creatine is also used as a pre-workout drink by athletes. Many sports supplements contain this vital substance; it’s recommended alongside ergogenic aids like amino acids. Experts advise using creatine before or after your workout for the best results. 

How to Choose?

Many creatine supplements are on the market, so it can take time to determine which is best for you. Generally, look at the ingredients and dosage before making your decision. It’s also essential to choose a product tested by a third party to ensure its quality is pure. 

  • For ingredients, it’s best to go for creatine supplements free of artificial fillers. Some supplements also contain carbs or proteins, which is good as it increases creatine retention. Look at the label carefully to see what you’re getting.
  • Follow the specific dosage of your creatine supplement. However, for bodybuilders doing a loading phase, experts recommend 20-25g per day for 5-7 days and a maintenance dose of 3-5g daily afterward. The loading phase helps to increase your muscle stores of creatine.
  • Finally, choose supplements from companies that use third-party testing to ensure quality and safety. Some companies also offer detailed information about the supplement’s potency and purity. Remember to confirm that it’s creatine monohydrate since this is the most tested form of creatine and the safest.

German Creatine from Creapure®

Creapure® is a brand known for having the purest form of creatine made in their German labs. It’s why German Creatine is considered the best. Their products are consistently analyzed and are made under strict standards.

German Creatine from this brand contains way lower than the government warning levels of compounds like DCD and DHT. DHT-related products have been suspected to cause cancer. It also contains lower-than-average levels of creatinine. Although not considered harmful, creatinine indicates the purity of your creatine from Creapure®.

German Creatine from Creapure® is tested regularly for banned substances and is vegan, kosher, and halal certified. This brand has high scientific standing globally and is used in a wide range of nutritional products. One of these is the Transparent Labs Creatine.

Nutricost Creatine

Get all of the benefits of micronized creatine without breaking the bank and activate muscle building quickly.

Nutricost Creatine is known for containing high-quality creatine monohydrate from Creapure®. This product has no artificial ingredients and is just pure creatine, so you know exactly what you are getting. This simplicity also ensures that users are getting a high-quality and unadulterated form of creatine, free from unnecessary additives and artificial ingredients that could have nasty effects on you. Aside from all of that, Nutricost also emphasizes the purity of its creatine supplement by subjecting it to rigorous third-party testing, so you know exactly what you are getting and what it does. This commitment to quality ensures that users can trust the product’s potency and integrity.

Final Word

Creatine is available in a variety of forms, flavors, and quality. However, it’s best to stick with creatine monohydrate, the most researched version of this substance. German Creatine is the cleanest form of creatine monohydrate on the market.

Creapure® is a company in Germany that makes the best creatine, so their product is used in many supplements. One of these comes from Nutricost, which has the edge over competitors. This supplement is excellent for bodybuilders and athletes who want high-quality creatine to get the best results. 

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for more supplement information to improve workout performance!

References

  1. Kreider, R.B., Kalman, D.S., Antonio, J. et al. International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: safety and efficacy of creatine supplementation in exercise, sport, and medicine. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 14, 18 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-017-0173-z 
  2. Nissen, S. L., & Sharp, R. L. (2003). Effect of dietary supplements on lean mass and strength gains with resistance exercise: a meta-analysis. Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985), 94(2), 651–659. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00755.2002 
  3. Jówko, E., Ostaszewski, P., Jank, M., Sacharuk, J., Zieniewicz, A., Wilczak, J., & Nissen, S. (2001). Creatine and beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) additively increase lean body mass and muscle strength during a weight-training program. Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.), 17(7-8), 558–566. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0899-9007(01)00540-8

Dirty Fasting: An Alternative to Traditional Fasting Protocols for Weight Loss

dirty fasting

Dirty fasting allows practitioners a little wiggle room for calories during their fasting window. 

In ancient times, fasting was primarily practiced for religious purposes. However, it has recently gained popularity as a weight management tool, with approaches like intermittent fasting becoming widespread. One such method, dirty fasting, is also on the rise.

Dirty fasting offers a more flexible approach to fasting, allowing you to enjoy some food during your fasting window. But does it deliver on its promises? In this article, we delve into dirty fasting as a component of intermittent fasting and provide insights into its potential benefits and drawbacks. 

What Is Intermittent Fasting?

intermittent fasting

Intermittent fasting is a dieting technique with periods of little to no eating followed by periods of regular feeding. Research shows it’s effective for weight loss and supports healthy digestion, metabolism, immune response, and more (1)

There are multiple types of intermittent fasting protocols with different rules. However, the traditional ones involve avoiding calories during the fasting period. This could last anywhere from 12 to 24 hours. Some intermittent fasting diets include alternate-day fasting, 16:8, and 5:2. The 16:8 method is the most common and involves restricting your eating window to eight hours and fasting for the remaining 16 hours. This differs from the alternate-day method, where you get a mix of days of normal eating with days of fasting or no eating. 

Going a whole day without eating can be tough. As a result, there have been recent modifications to methods like the alternate-day fasting method. For example, during fasting days, people can now eat under 500 calories in these modifications, a.k .a. dirty fasting. In dirty fasting, you consume fewer calories within your fasting window. This approach deviates from the traditional clean fasting method, yet both variations aim to achieve the same goal.

How Dirty Fasting Works

It’s essential to understand that dirty fasting is not a term you’ll find in the medical community. So you won’t find lots of research on it, and there isn’t an agreed rule on the number of calories to consume. In general, however, people consume anywhere from 50 to 200 calories during dirty fasting. 

Proponents of dirty fasting believe that consuming a few calories during your fasting will not break your fast. They also believe it’ll make sticking to your diet easier. However, the more calories you consume while dirty fasting, the closer you get to normal eating. If you want to get the benefits of fasting, your calorie intake should remain low. 

Fasting Diet 

As there are no rules during dirty fasting, other nutrition parameters depend on how many calories you aim to hit. For example, are you trying to bulk or cut? Moreover, the quality of the food you eat matters. Here are some general foods that people eat during a fasting diet: 

Pros & Cons of Dirty Fasting

Because you still restrict calories during dirty fasting, it offers the benefits of other fasting methods. However, you’ll still be eating, so it might not be as effective as a clean, traditional fast. Below are the pros and cons of this method of fasting.

Pros

Cons

A compromise that could make your fasting sustainable. A lack of guidelines could lead to you eating more.
Improves mindful eating, as you will tend to watch what you eat when choosing things to meet your dirty fasting calorie goal. It could be harder to get into ketosis and burn fat stores during a fast window. 
Leads to weight loss due to calorie restrictions. This could lead to fluctuation in blood sugar levels, which could affect your mood. 
It can help you keep your hunger in check.
Normalizes your blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol. 
Delays the onset of weakness and fatigue during your fast. 

Does Dirty Fasting Work for Weight Loss?

dirty fasting

Evidence shows intermittent fasting methods like alternate-day fasting and time-restricted eating work to lose weight (2, 3). Because calorie restriction, a common factor in these diets, leads to weight loss and other health benefits. So, while there’s no direct research on dirty fasting, it can help you lose weight since you’ll reduce your caloric intake. 

A study on eating a 200-calorie nutrition bar during the fasting period of an intermittent fast showed that it did not interfere with the fast (4). However, the closer your calories are to your regular eating schedule, the less benefits you receive from fasting. 

Should You Try Dirty Fasting?

Trying dirty fasting should depend on your reason for wanting to fast. This will also help you decide precisely how many calories to aim for while dirty fasting and what to eat. Here are three things to consider below. 

Eat Less

If your aim with fasting is to reduce your food intake, dirty fasting may help your goal. It has the potential to help you consume fewer calories than you expend. In such instances, your focus during dirty fasting can be to reach a lower overall calorie count.

To Go Into Ketosis

Ketosis is when your body starts to burn fat from your fat stores. If this is your goal, you must be more careful with your dirty fasting calories. Consume drinks with zero calories, as your body typically goes into this state 8 to 12 hours after your last meal. 

Total Fasting

If your goal is total fasting, then dirty fasting is out of the question. This could be where you want to take a complete break from eating. It could also be for medical appointments or testing where your doctor asks that you avoid food. 

Final Word

Dirty fasting is a variation of intermittent fasting, where you consume a few calories during your fasting window. While there are no strict rules, most people aim to stay within the 500-calorie range. Advocates of this fasting approach claim that it enhances adherence to the overall fasting diet.

To lose weight, reducing your calorie intake is critical. Therefore, weight loss will occur if the calories consumed during dirty fasting contribute to fewer calories than your regular intake. However, it’s essential to acknowledge that fasting may only suit some. Prioritizing daily physical activity, obtaining sufficient restful sleep, and maintaining a healthy diet benefit your physical and mental well-being beyond breaks from eating. 

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for more nutrition tips! 

References

  1. Lange, M. G., Coffey, A. A., Coleman, P. C., Barber, T. M., Van Rens, T., Oyebode, O., Abbott, S., & Hanson, P. (2023). Metabolic changes following intermittent fasting: A rapid review of systematic reviews. Journal of human nutrition and dietetics : the official journal of the British Dietetic Association, 10.1111/jhn.13253. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/jhn.13253
  2. Cui, Y., Cai, T., Zhou, Z., Mu, Y., Lu, Y., Gao, Z., Wu, J., & Zhang, Y. (2020). Health Effects of Alternate-Day Fasting in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in nutrition, 7, 586036. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2020.586036 
  3. Regmi, P., & Heilbronn, L. K. (2020). Time-Restricted Eating: Benefits, Mechanisms, and Challenges in Translation. iScience, 23(6), 101161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2020.101161 
  4. Huang, A. W., Wei, M., Caputo, S., Wilson, M. L., Antoun, J., & Hsu, W. C. (2021). An Intermittent Fasting Mimicking Nutrition Bar Extends Physiologic Ketosis in Time Restricted Eating: A Randomized, Controlled, Parallel-Arm Study. Nutrients, 13(5), 1523. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13051523

Full Rosters For 2024 Arnold Classic UK Have Been Announced

Arnold Classic Uk has announced the full rosters for the show in March.
Andrew Jacked Instagram

There will be a total of six divisions competing at the 2024 Arnold Classic UK.

The 2024 Arnold Classic UKrosters have been announced. There will be seven divisions from the sport of bodybuilding taking the stage fighting for prize money and a spot in the 2024 Olympia. It is one of the first shows of the 2024 calendar year and will feature some of the top competitors from around the world.

The Arnold Classic UK is scheduled to take place from March 15-17 in Birmingham, England. This will be exactly two weeks after the 2024 Arnold Classic in Columbus. When looking at the rosters, many tops names will be competing in both shows.

On Friday, the full rosters were announced via the Arnold Classic UK social media pages. Below on this post, we detail the full list of the 2024 Arnold Classic UK competitors that will be in attendance.

Men’s Open

The Men’s Open division will be highlighted by many of the top competitors in the world. 2023 Olympia runner-up, and 2022 Olympia champion, Hadi Choopan will make an appearance, along with Samson Dauda and Andrew Jacked. Rubiel Mosquera will also continue a busy rookie season by taking the stage.

Classic Physique

There will be a total of eight competitors in the Classic Physique division, including third-place Olympia finisher Urs Kalecinski. He will headline the division, along with two-time Olympia champ Breon Ansley.

  • Breon Ansley
  • Michael Daboul
  • Josh Eastham
  • Urs Kalecinski
  • Antoine Loth
  • Emanuel Ricotti
  • Denis Romanov
  • Wesley Vissers

READ MORE: 2024 Arnold Classic Rosters

Men’s Physique

Men’s Physique will feature many up-and-coming stars including Emanuel Hunter and Corey Morris. Emile Walker and Diogo Montenegro will be among the competitors to beat during the event.

  • Mahmood Al-Maghrabi
  • Adeyemi Awoyemi
  • Vitor Chaves
  • Jeffrey Darko
  • Kadeem Hillman
  • Emanuel Hunter
  • Diogo Montenegro
  • Corey Morris
  • Elton Mota
  • Emile Walker

Fitness

Ariel Khadr and Jaclyn Baker are accomplished competitors in the Fitness division and could be two of the names to beat. There are many Olympia competitors taking the stage, including Aurika Tyrgale and Minna Pajulahti.

  • Jaclyn Baker
  • Abby Bolton
  • Tiffany Chandler
  • Michelle Fredua-Mensah
  • Ariel Khadr
  • Minna Pajulahti
  • Michaela Pavleova
  • Nicolette Szabo
  • Aurika Tyrgale

Bikini

The Bikini division will be the largest of the seven and this makes sense considering the size of the division over. There will be a total of 20 competitors taking the stage in Bikini.

  • Vania Auguste
  • Tameika Carter
  • Marie-Eve Duchesneau
  • Ivanna Escandar
  • Alessia Facchin
  • Eli Fernandez
  • Tara Grier
  • Phoebe Hagan
  • Nittaya Kongthun
  • Tatiana Lanovenko
  • Lucia Malavaze
  • Alice Marchisio
  • Ottavia Mazza
  • Ndeye Ndour
  • Elisa Pecini
  • Lisa Reith
  • Priscilla Rodrigues
  • Angelica Teixeira
  • Cristobalina Pajares Torres

Wellness

The Wellness Division will feature seven competitors fighting for the title and qualification for the 2024 Olympia.

  • Sandra Colorado Acal
  • Wynter Addams
  • Amanda Burnett
  • Leonisa Ciobu
  • Gisele Machado
  • Benedero Munoz
  • Isabella Pereira Nunez

Pro Wheelchair

There will be a total of four Pro Wheelchair competitors competing during the Arnold Classic UK. Gabriele Andruilli is a former Arnold Classic champion and will be the favorite once again.

  • Gabriele Andruilli
  • Anand Arnold
  • Oscar Gonzalez Gil
  • Nick Hewitt

For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on FacebookTwitter, and Instagram.

Complete Guide To Creatine Supplements for Muscle Mass

does creatine expire

The truth behind what creatine supplements actually do

When it comes to purchasing your supplements like your protein powders and pre-workouts, don’t forget to grab your creatine as well. Creatine supplements have increasingly become more popular as athletes everywhere want bulk up and really add to that muscle density. As a great supplemental aid to adding some serious gains, the effect creatine’s benefits can have on you is immense and should not be overlooked. For many fitness enthusiasts, creatine is considered one of the most popular and effective supplements for building muscle. As a smart and safe way to see gains, creatine supplements are a must have in your routine.

With so many supplements and supplement companies claiming they know everything and that their product is the best, it can be challenging, and quite frankly, overwhelming as you search for the best supplement to boost your goals, putting on that strength and muscle mass. With creatine being so popular and widely used, finding the right product for you is not as hard as you may think. With proper care and a serious work ethic, creatine can give you gains like the best of them.

So, while this decision can be difficult, this complete guide to creatine supplements will hopefully help change the way you view and shop creatine products. With so many choices yet such great benefits, the right supplement is out there.

What Is Creatine?

creatine

Creatine is an amino acid found in your muscles and your brain. The stores of creatine your body has are primarily used to:

  • Spark energy and improve performance
  • Increase strength and size during heavy lifting or exercise
  • Avoid muscle protein breakdown.
  • Retain muscle mass for men more effectively than leucine alone

Though you can get creatine in your diet, it is not always enough, and by taking a supplement, you work to restore those fuel stores so you’re ready to tackle any workout that comes next. With similar properties to other amino acids, creatine is great for muscle growth and recovery while also working towards a host of other bodily functions.

How Creatine Works In The Body

Your body’s energy source of ATP allows you to focus on taking down any grueling workout. During that workout, you use all that energy and potentially dip into those vital energy stores. A byproduct of using this energy then becomes ADP, which is essentially useless for the body. Enter creatine. By taking a creatine supplement, you are working to, in a way, recycle that useless ADP into reformed ATP, which if we go back to the top of this paragraph, is our body’s energy and helps maintain muscle mass.

creatine

Benefits of Creatine

Let’s take a look at some of the great benefits creatine has to offer.

  • Promote strength and size: By causing your cells to inflate, you provide for more muscle pumps and increased blood flow through those overworked muscles (1).
  • Boost performance: By refueling those energy stores and enhancing your power output, you support growth and recovery to allow for better overall performance (2).
  • Improve metabolism: Through the control of insulin sensitivity and glycemic control, it provides fuel and helps lead to fat loss.
  • Increase cognitive function: Increasing oxygen utilization in the brain, you can boost memory and processing speed during those grueling workouts (3).

creatine

Different Types Of Creatine

There is not just one type of creatine, there are actually multiple types of creatine, and each will have a different effect on your body. Let’s take a look at creatine in some of it’s forms and what exactly they will do for you.

Creatine Monohydrate: Since this is a pure form of creatine, it is the most popular and it can work to increase endurance and remove lactic acid from your muscle more efficiently. On top of that, it will aid in muscle growth and calorie burn (4).

Creatine HCL: This is creatine bound to hydrochloric acid which will work towards increased bioavailability and reduce side effects (5).

Creatine Anhydrous: The most potent of forms, it can increase muscle mass and enhance performance.

Tri-Creatine Malate: A combination of creatine and malic acid, this will help your body absorb more creatine, thus leading to higher ATP levels (6).

Creatine Pyruvate: A great mix of creatine and pyruvic acid, it’s good absorption properties are great for growth and recovery.

Magnesium Creatine Chelate: A unique combination of creatine and magnesium, this will enhance endurance and reduce muscular fatigue to keep intensity high.

creatine

Safety & Effectiveness

Creatine is one of the cheapest, most effective, most researched, and safest supplements around. With so many studies supporting these finding and many athletes gravitating towards creatine to beef up their strength, size, and performance goals, creatine is widely accepted as a great supplement for men looking to improve. With this occurring naturally in the body, you are only lending a helping hand to make sure those fuel stores stay stocked and your gains are taken care of (7).

Best Time To Take It

For men, taking creatine after a workout is the general consensus among many experts. This is because it will work to restore those depleted energy stores while aiding in recovery for that increased growth. However, some say before a workout will allow your muscles to put out maximum effort. Regardless of what you decide, whether it be pre- or post-workout, creatine can work wonders for your gains.

Side Effects

Many people state that creatine causes side effects such as hair loss, gynecomastia, acne, or liver damage, but these are side effects commonly associated with anabolic steroids. Creatine is not an anabolic steroid, and the main side effects that could potentially come from it are stomach discomfort and dehydration. That being said, you need to make sure that you are staying hydrated while using the supplement.

Our Choice of Creatine

Many creatine supplements exist and many of them are actually great products. But for your gains, you should only be looking for the best of the best because your body works hard and needs proper fuel. This creatine supplement from Transparent Labs is an awesome product to help get you to where you want to be.

Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate

Get all of the benefits of micronized creatine without breaking the bank and activate muscle building quickly.

Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate is a creatine monohydrate supplement that aims to provide users with a convenient and high-quality source of this essential compound for a great price. Nutricost Creatine boasts a simple and effective ingredient list, with 100% creatine monohydrate as the sole active component. Nutricost even boasts the purity of its creatine supplement by subjecting it to rigorous third-party testing, so you know exactly what you are getting and what it does. This commitment to quality ensures that users can trust the product’s potency and integrity.

Nutricost Creatine Review

Price: $21.15 for 100 servings

Use the promo code GENIRON10 for 10% off! Check out our individual review for Nutricost Creatine Monohydrate!


Check out our list of the Best Creatine Supplements for some great creatine products!


Wrap Up

Creatine has the power to really work wonders for our training and performance goals. As a widely researched and popular supplement, it is no wonder why so many have gravitated towards creatine. With many benefits, scientifically backed research, and incredibe safety and effectiveness, creatine can work absolute wonders for you. This complete guide will hopefully help you navigate the world of creatine so the choice for you becomes a little easier. Look into a good creatine supplement today and see what this can do for all of your goals.

Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

*Images courtesy of Transparent Labs and Envato

References

  1. Francaux, M.; Poortmans, J. R. (1999). “Effects of training and creatine supplement on muscle strength and body mass”. (source)
  2. Kreider, Richard B. (2003). “Effects of creatine supplementation on performance and training adaptations”. (source)
  3. Avgerinos, Konstantinos I.; Spyrou, Nikolaos; Bougioukas, Konstantinos I.; Kapogiannis, Dimitrios (2018). “Effects of creatine supplementation on cognitive function of healthy individuals: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials”. (source)
  4. Kerksick, Chad M.; Wilborn, Colin D.; Campbell, William I.; Harvey, Travis M.; et al. (2009). “The Effects of Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation With and Without D-Pinitol on Resistance Training Adaptations”. (source)
  5. De Franca, Elias; Avelar, Bruno; Yoshioka, Caroline; Santana, Jeferson O.; Madureira, Diana; et al. (2015). “Creatine HCL and Creatine Monohydrate Improve Strength but Only Creatine HCL Induced Changes on Body Composition in Recreational Weightlifters”. (source)
  6. Sterkowicz, Stanislaw; Tyka, Anna K.; Chwastowski, Michal; Sterkowicz- Przybycien, Katarzyna; et al. (2012). “The effects of training and creatine malate supplementation during preparation period on physical capacity and special fitness in judo contestants”. (source)
  7. Jagim, Andrew R.; Stecker, Richard A.; Harty, Patrick S.; Erickson, Jacob L.; Kerksick, Chad M. (2018). “Safety of Creatine Supplementation in Active Adolescents and Youth: A Brief Review”. (source)

Sam Sulek Reveals Top 10 Exercises Needed To Build Muscle

Sam Sulek discussed the top exercises he would use to build muscle.
@bohdan_yfit Instagram

Sam Sulek was asked about the best muscle-building exercises and named his top 10.

Sam Sulek has built an insane physique at just 21 years old and is gaining plenty of attention for it. The bodybuilder has gained millions of followers on social media and gained the attention of many within the fitness industry. Now, he has hopped on a trend where stars are asked for their Top 10 muscle-building exercises.

Sulek has continued to blow up over the past year or so due to his insane size at a young age. He has also gained criticism over his diet plan and controversy over substances he might be taking. While some have decided to criticize, there are others who have been supportive and this includes Lee Priest.

Many in the bodybuilding world have been asked about their Top 10 exercises needed to build muscle. This includes current competitors Chris Bumstead and Nick Walker. Seven-time Olympia champion Phil Heath also shared his thoughts on the topic.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Bohdan Y (@bohdan_yfit)

Sam Sulek’s Top 10 Muscle-Building Exercises

Bohdan Y caught up with Sam Sulek and made a video with the bodybuilder explaining his top exercises.

Sam Sulek broke down each body part and it began with chest and shoulders. He then moved onto back and claimed that he could Geta serious workout with just two movements.

“Chest, incline bench and shoulders, lateral raises of course. Side delts. Reverse lateral raises, rear delts.

Back, I’d say just normal pulldowns and cable rows. I feel like you can have a pretty solid workout with just those two.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Sam Sulek (@sam_sulek)

When discussing legs, Sulek left out squats and believes that there are better ways to build muscle.

“Legs, seated hamstring curl and leg extensions. What else is there? Squats are cool but I love the leg extension.”

Sam Sulek opted for dumbbell curls to build arms along with straight-arm pulldowns. He was asked about training abs and shared that he does not hit them at the moment.

The final exercise was a cardio exercise and called for more to take on the challenge.

“I don’t train them right now so it’s not that important to me. I didn’t realize it was that controversial. I would add the cardio bike. I guarantee that 99% of you. aren’t utilizing that piece of equipment but I think if I had those 10, I’d still be able to get pretty freaky.”

For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on FacebookTwitter, and Instagram.

Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged Review For Energy, Focus & Pumps

Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged

Work to boost energy, increase muscle pumps, and enhance mental focus with Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged.

For so many of us, a pre-workout supplement has become a staple in our workout routines, aimed at providing energy, focus, and some serious muscle pumps. But what we don’t realize is that many of these supplements are just nonsense. What we need most is a quality product, packed with great ingredients and is truly working for our benefit and our benefit only. And while the market can be heavily saturated, it is possible to get a great product that works for your benefit only. Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged is a great pre-workout designed for energy, focus, and muscle pumps to bring your workouts to the next level.

The best pre-workout supplements will work to provide you with great benefits including increasing focus and energy, reducing fatigue and pushing through soreness and fatigue, enhancing muscle pumps for bigger strength and size, and improving overall recovery for more efficient growth and to kill unwanted soreness. Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged does this and much more and is a great pre-workout to have on your shelf.

Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged Overview

Code GENIRON For 15% OFF

Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged is great for those looking to increase performance and intensity with a high-quality pre-workout. Great ingredients and a quality blend make this unstoppable for your pre-workouts needs.

Kaged Muscle is a supplements company who takes their production process and final products seriously, only reinforcing the deepest of integrity. They source the purest, most potent raw materials and ensure their labs operate beyond the status quo with rigorous testing and third-party assurance, making sure that you are getting exactly what is on the label. Never compromising on quality and price, Kaged Muscle seeks to only make the highest quality supplements they can, for they know you, the athlete, deserves only the best.

Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged Highlights

Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged is the ultimate pre-workout great for those looking to boost energy, increase endurance, enhance muscle pumps, and improve mental clarity and focus. Third party tested with no banned substances, you can trust this fully disclosed label and formula is working for you. With science-backed ingredients and a fully loaded formula, you can trust this supplement will take your gains to new heights. Plus, plenty of great flavors only add to the experience by offering amazing tastes.

Ingredients

L-Citrulline: Can boost nitric oxide for good blood flow and increased pumps (1).

BCAAs (Leucine, Isoleucine, Valine): Work to promote protein synthesis and can work for recovery and those intra-workout needs, getting you through your lift with no problem (2).

Betaine Anhydrous: Great for building strength and optimizing power output, it can also help with body composition changes (3).

Beta-Alanine: Is said to provide the “itchy” sensation you get from some pre-workouts, but can act as a buffer for pH levels to burst through unwanted fatigue (4).

Creatine Hydrochloride: Creatine is a great ingredient in your pre-workout as it absorbs more quickly into your body and can improve strength, power, and aid in performance (5).

Coconut Water Powder: Packed with vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes, this can increase hydration for better muscle function and workouts (6).

Taurine: Can reduce fatigue and may increase energy levels (7).

Organic Caffeine: Caffeine works to raise your level of alertness, increase energy, enhance concentration, and improve performance (8).

Other Ingredients

Niacin, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Sodium, N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine, L-Tyrosine, SPECTRA Total ORAC Blend (see label)

Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged

Stim Or No Stim Stim
Calories 20
Carbs 4g
Sugar N/A
Number Of Servings 20
Flavors Grape, Fruit Punch, Pink Lemonade, Berry Blast, Krisp Apple, Orange Krush
Best Way To Take Take 1 scoop with 16-20oz. of cold water, 30 minutes pre-workout.

Price, Flavors & Effectiveness

Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged is that great pre-workout supplement designed to boost energy and endurance, enhance mental clarity and attention, and boost muscle pumps. With 20 servings per container, 1 scoop of this supplement will pump you with a great formula.

Flavors for this pre-workout supplement include: Grape, Fruit Punch, Pink Lemonade, Berry Blast, Krisp Apple, and Orange Krush, and they are all delicious.

Pros

  • High-quality ingredients and a powerful formula
  • Great benefits to energy, muscle pumps, and focus
  • Third party tested and no banned substances
  • From a reputable company in Kaged Muscle

Cons

  • Poor mixability so shaking between sips is advised
  • Sour and bitter taste
  • A high dose of caffeine could cause unwanted side effects for some

Price: $39.99

Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged

Our Verdict on Pre-Kaged

The team at Generation Iron had the pleasure of trying Pre-Kaged, and it is truly a great tasting pre-workout that delivers some awesome pumps, and great focus. It also really provides some good energy to get us through our workouts. The downside to it is that the mixability is not the best, so you really have to shake your shaker cup.

Who Pre-Kaged Is For & How Best To Use It

Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged is a great pre-workout supplement for those looking to boost energy and endurance, increase muscle pumps, and improve mental focus. Whether that be bodybuilders, strength athletes, athletes of any sport, or just everyday fitness folks looking for a pump, Pre-Kaged is right for you.

The best way to take Pre-Kaged is to mix one scoop with 16-20oz. of cold water, 30 minutes pre-workout. For your desired flavor, in terms of strengths and intensity, you can add more or less water. Be sure to give it a light shake between sips for any powder that may settle.


Check out our list of the Best Pre-Workouts for more great pre-workout supplements!


Overall Value

Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged is a great pre-workout supplement for those looking to increase their gains. Great for a host of those traditional pre-workout benefits while being high in quality, you get a third party tested supplement, suitable for all diets, with amazing benefits and ingredients. Plus, Kaged Muscle knows what athletes need to thrive. What you are really getting is a high-quality pre-workout with great ingredients able to boost your pre-workout needs today. Try Kaged Muscle Pre-Kaged and get the most of out of your pre-workout supplement today.


Generation Iron may receive commissions on purchases made through our links. See our disclosure page for more information.

Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

*Images courtesy of Kaged Muscle and Envato

References

  1. Gonzalez, A.; et al. (2020). “Effects of Citrulline Supplementation on Exercise Performance in Humans: A Review of the Current Literature”. (source)
  2. Blomstrand, E.; et al. (2006). “Branched-chain amino acids activate key enzymes in protein synthesis after physical exercise”. (source)
  3. Cholewa, J.; et al. (2013). “Effects of betaine on body composition, performance, and homocysteine thiolactone”. (source)
  4. Smith, A.; et al. (2009). “Effects of β-alanine supplementation and high-intensity interval training on endurance performance and body composition in men; a double-blind trial”. (source)
  5. Kreider, R. (2003). “Effects of creatine supplementation on performance and training adaptations.” (source)
  6. Saat, M.; et al. (2002). “Rehydration after exercise with fresh young coconut water, carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage and plain water”. (source)
  7. Waldron, M.; et al. (2018). “The Effects of an Oral Taurine Dose and Supplementation Period on Endurance Exercise Performance in Humans: A Meta-Analysis”. (source)
  8. McLellan, T.; et al. (2016). “A review of caffeine’s effects on cognitive, physical and occupational performance”. (source)

 

Hydra Cup High Performance Dual Shaker Bottle Review

shaker bottle

This shaker bottle is a dual threat and can elevate all areas of your workouts to new heights.

As more and more people start seeing their health and fitness needs as more of a lifestyle than a hobby, shaker bottles have grown exponentially in popularity as a great addition to peoples’ gym bags. For people looking to pump themselves full of bodybuilding supplements like a good pre-workout supplement to boost their energy and muscle pump, hydrate with a chosen supplement, water, or electrolytes for that mid-workout pick-me-up, or recover with a great whey protein supplement or post-workout product, the Hydra Cup High Performance Dual Shaker Bottle is an easy and affordable grab-and-go option for whatever your reason may be.

The convenience and ease of shaker bottles for athletes, bodybuilders, strongmen, or just everyday gym-goers has seen a spike in the health of those staying active. More and more companies seek to produce the best quality product in terms of design, technology, mixing ability, and affordability, and in the end, that only benefits consumers. Whether you buy in a shaker bottle pack, or as an individual product, shaker bottles will seek to give you all those vital nutrients so you will be caught up on all of your nutrition, hydration, and supplementation needs.

Hydra Cup Overview

Hydra Cup High Performance Dual Shaker Bottle is a two-in-one, high-quality shaker bottle able to hold your desired beverage with 32-ounces on one side and 16-ounces on the other.

Based out of California, Hydra Cup works to provide a durable and efficient product to all their consumers. They have patented the dual shaker and if others are out there, they have either partnered with them or it is a knockoff item and Hydra Cup seeks to only produce the best quality dual shakers for the best benefits to their buyers.

Key Details Of A Good Shaker Bottle:

  • Portability: A convenient size so you are not stuck with a large jug in the gym.
  • Durability: Long-lasting and able to handle some wear and tear.
  • Mixing ability: Avoid clumping and ensure a smooth consistency to your shake.
  • Affordability: Don’t break the bank because the best of both worlds is out there.
  • Design: Innovative ways to provide great benefits to your shaker bottle including storage compartments, electric capabilities, or a two-in-one option.

shaker bottle

Hydra Cup Dual Shaker Bottle Highlights

Hydra Cup High Performance Dual Shaker Bottle offers the ability to carry your pre- and post-workout supplement all in one bottle to advance growth and performance (1). Their two-in-one design is something to marvel at for its convenience and ease in making life more simple for athletes and gym-goers. Holding up to 36 ounces total, this replacement for both your individual shaker bottle and water bottle can hold up to 14 ounces on one side and 22 ounces on the other.

With two snap on lids, consisting of a rubber gasket seal inside, it ensures no leaks and twist lids, which can warp or bend over time. Its rounded design works to avoid clumping and makes mixing much easier as powder will not stick to the bottom. With dual mixing grids underneath the lid, you will not have to worry about a separate mixing tool allowing for relatively easy clean-up and good mixing capabilities. Hydra Cup Dual Shaker Bottle is an advanced, patented design to help elevate your workouts to the next level with convenience and ease.

Product Details

Two-In-One Design

The two-in-one design is a really great feature that is unique to this bottle. Having the ability to load one side with a pre-workout and the other with a post-workout, or even one side with a supplement and the other with just water, will really promote overall growth and hydration with convenience and ease. With one side at 22 ounces and the other holding 14 ounces, it provides the right amount of volume without totally overdoing it. By adding 8 ounces to one side, it allows for better mixing of thicker powders, the opportunity to add an extra scoop, or just to offer more hydration to improve overall performance (2). If you wanted to, one side could hold your liquid and the other could even serve as storage for your phone, wallet and charger eliminating the locker room.

shaker bottle

Dual Mixing Grids

The dual mixing grids sit underneath the lid and eliminate the needs for a loose mixing ball or other mixing tool. Instead of listening to a steel ball bounce around inside, or have to worry about finding it after clean-up, the mixing grids sit easy on top and provides for your overall convenience. They can pop right out to help the cleaning process as well.

Dual Flip Caps

The dual flip caps work well since they face the opposite way. One will never be in the way of the other avoiding unwanted annoyance when it comes to actually drinking. The re-designed flip caps snap on tight and are tested for quality control when it comes to leaking. Each cap also designates which side is the 22 ounces and which one is 14 ounces for zero confusion.

Price, Effectiveness, and Pros and Cons

Hydra Cup High Performance Dual Shaker Bottle costs $12.99 for a 36oz bottle. With four colors in blue, clear, red, and pink, this offers fun colors to choose from.

Pros

The two-in-one design makes getting all of your nutrition and hydration needs easy and convenient. With 36 ounces total volume, that is more than enough space to pack your bottle full of everything you want. A great price for a patented, durable, and advanced shaker bottle.

Cons

The quality of the lid is weak and can break rather easily or have slight leaking. Clean-up and keeping track of your bottle can be challenging with so many parts. One side may leak into the other contaminating the two supplements.

Our Verdict on Hydra Cup

No Generation Iron review is complete without our verdict, and Hydra Cup is something that we can firmly stand by. The ease of use was a great benefit, whether we had BCAAs and creatine in one side with protein in the other, or a mix of other supplements, this was fantastic for all of our needs.

Overall Value

Hydra Cup High Performance Dual Shaker Bottle is a great shaker bottle for all of your gym and daily needs. With an advanced two-in-one design, you can load this bottle up with all of your favorite supplements and liquids to ensure proper nutrition and hydration. With great features like the dual mixing grids, dual flip caps, and rounded design, this bottle will provide for a smooth consistency for your shakes and give you all those great benefits. What you are really getting is an innovative shaker bottle at a great price from a reputable company that will support all of your fitness and health needs. Check out Hydra Cup Dual Shaker Bottle and see your gains reach new heights.

Generation Iron may receive commissions on purchases made through our links. See our disclosure page for more information.

Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

*Images courtesy of Hydra Cup and Big Ramy Instagram

References

  1. Kedia, A. W.; Hofheins, Jennifer E.; Habowski, Scott M.; Ferrando, Arny A.; Gothard, M. D.; Lopez, Hector L. (2014). “Effects of a Pre-workout Supplement on Lean Mass, Muscular Performance, Subjective Workout Experience and Biomarkers of Safety”. (source)
  2. Shirreffs, S. M. (2009). “Hydration in sport and exercise: water, sports drinks and other drinks”. (source)

These 5 Exercises Will Boost Your Libido And Give You Massive Gains

boost your libido

Boosting your libido and making gains can go hand in hand

Working out can improve your life in more ways than it is credited for, not just putting on size and strength. It’s time people start looking at working out as more than just working on the muscles. Pumping iron can have both physiological and psychological benefits, making your performance better all around. What do we mean? Well, spending some time in the weight room can actually help to improve your sex drive. Working out can even help you if you don’t feel any sexual desire, meaning that your libido can benefit greatly from working out.

Having a low sex drive can be caused by many reasons including stress, overexertion, mental exhaustion, etc., but there are solutions for low libido, and one of those solutions just so happens to be working out.

While things like an OTC libido booster, such as the Supercharged Male Stack from Inno Supps, and lifting weights can help boost your libido, there are some exercises which work better than the others. Make these five exercises a part of your training routines to boost your libido.

Libido Boosting Exercises

All of that being said, let’s take a look at the top five exercises that you can perform in order to boost your libido and have you feeling like a 16 year old going through puberty again.

Squats

Squats are a complete leg builder, whether you are a bodybuilder or powerlifter or just an avid gym goer. This exercise can also help you with your low sex drive. Legs are the biggest muscle group in your body and working them by squatting can improve your testosterone levels, and testosterone is the key male hormone for not only putting on muscle mass, but also boosting your sex drive.

That being said, it is worth incorporating squats into your training program as they bring a load of benefits to the table, such as increasing your overall muscles mass, strength and sex drive. There are enough variations of this exercise, so you’re never bored of it. Make squats a part of your workout routine to improve your libido.

Barbell Hip Thrust

No other exercise comes close to barbell hip thrusts when it comes to mimicking a sexual position and helping to boost your libido. This exercise also happens to be one of the most effective in improving your sex drive. It also adds muscle mass and strength to your lower body, especially glutes, which are a very functional muscle group and strong glutes can help with other lifts, such as the deadlift.

It can be incredibly hard to not think about sex while performing this exercise. Tip: avoid making eye contact with pretty much anyone in the gym while you’re doing this exercise if you don’t want to end up sending the wrong signals.

Bench Press

Compound (multi joint) exercises are the most efficient in helping you improve your testosterone levels and sex drive, and the bench press is one of the main compound lifts. Bench press has been the poster chest exercise for manhood for a long time, as it is a telltale sign of how strong someone truly is.

This exercise helps broaden and thicken your chest, which for many men can lead to increased confidence. We hope you make it count and put this raised confidence to good use with women. Incline and decline bench press can work different areas of your chest, helping to develop an overall complete physique.

Deadlifts

Deadlifts are an exercise that will work your entire body, especially your posterior chain which can help you greatly with day to day activities, such as keeping good posture and picking things up off of the ground. Not to mention, there are only a few other things as badass as lifting some heavy weights off the ground, showing off just how truly strong you are. Deadlifting regularly can improve your libido and make you stronger at every other exercise, such as the squat and rows.

Deadlifts can also help you in adding lean muscle mass all around, especially in areas such as the back, hamstrings, glutes, and forearms. Avoid heavy deadlifts if you’re suffering from a back injury. You can also try different versions of this exercise like sumo deadlifts or even try doing some dumbbell deadlifts to keep your body guessing.

Clean and Press

Clean and press is an Olympic Lift that will primarily work your shoulders, but also will help to activate secondary muscles like your upper and lower back, traps, hamstrings, quads, glutes, and calves, making it a great overall builder of size and strength. It is a full body exercise which can improve your physique and sex drive.

Clean and press is also a compound exercise which will help you put on muscle mass and definition. You can perform this exercise in a hypertrophy workout or a strength workout. All you need to do is adjust the number of sets and reps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Now, when it comes to boosting your libido, there is a lot that goes into it. So, let’s take a look at some questions that you may have on the topic.

How does lifting actually boost your libido?

We have addressed which exercises boost your libido, but when it comes to the HOW, there are a few ways. For one, heavy compound lifts help to boost your testosterone levels, which is the main sex hormone. Another way that exercise can boost libido is through improving overall blood circulation, and improved blood circulation can lead to improved libido.

Should I do these exercises every day?

As far as frequency of these exercises, you do not want to do them every day, but instead find a workout program that will incorporate them with proper recovery times in between training sessions. Take a look at some of the best workout apps like Boostcamp or Peak Strength to find a good workout program.

Libido Boosting Wrap Up

There you have it, our top five exercises to boost your libido. Which is your favorite exercise to boost your sex drive? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.

Nick Walker Shares Top 3 Prediction For 2024 Arnold Classic

Photos via Instagram

Nick Walker previews the 2024 Arnold Classic while making comments on Hadi Choopan’s production.

Nick Walker might not be competing in Columbus come March but he will have eyes on the competition. The former Arnold Classic champion shared his predictions for the 2024 version of the show while breaking down some of the competition.

Walker has been working his way back from a hamstring injury that kept him off the 2023 Olympia stage. He shared previously that he would not compete in the Arnold to continue to rehab his injury and eventually qualify for the Olympia in 2024.

During a recent interview, Walker shared his top three for the Arnold Classic and it included some familiar faces with one newcomer.

“My top three is going to be Hadi, Samson, and Chris’ guy [Rubiel Mosquera].”

Walker continued on to comment on each of his selections.

Nick Walker speaks on his recent hamstring injury that kept him out of the 2023 Olympia.

Nick Walker Speaks On Top 3 Prediction In Arnold Classic

Hadi Choopan finished as the runner-up during the Olympia after winning the show in 2022. Following the loss, he will return to the stage quickly during the Arnold Classic.

Nick Walker picked Choopan as the winner but believes that Samson Dauda could make a run for his second consecutive title.

“I don’t think anyone is unbeatable on any given day. The thing with Hadi, and I’m probably going to get attacked for this now. I feel like the past two years, Hadi has not progressed. I don’t feel like he improved much from last year.”

Dauda defeated Walker during the 2023 Arnold Classic and jumped into the top three at the Olympia. Despite finishing behind Choopan on the biggest stage, there is belief that Dauda could jump him in March.

“I feel Samson’s conditioning, his is improving show to show. So whatever Milos has him doing, I would obviously continue that and I think Samson would have a shot at winning.

If Hadi can come in with Hadi’s signature conditioning, then no. I think Hadi will continue to stay on top. If he looks remotely the same as the Olympia and Samson has better conditioning than he did at the Olympia, which he already did at the Prague show and gets better and better from here on out, I think he will overtake Hadi.”

The final competitor in Walker’s top three is Rubiel Mosquera, known as Neckzilla.

Mosquera earned his pro card in Prague and competed the next day against some of the best in the world, including Dauda. He finished third in the show and opened eyes with his potential.

“The kid is new. The kid is freaky…I know Chris is very smart with training. I know Chris is very smart with posing and when the kid finally starts to dial in that training, like with me, he’s going to change very fast and very quickly.

I told Chris, all he needs is deep separation in those quads, improve his back a little bit, especially from ihefront, have that more lat illusion.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Rubiel Mosquera (@rubiel_mosquera__m)

Finally, Walker advised Neckzilla to put neck training on hold and focus elsewhere.

“Stop training his neck. He doesn’t need it. Honestly, just keep improving the condition. The kid will be phenomenal. The kid is as freaky as it is. He doesn’t need anymore freakiness per se. He just now needs to get better.”

For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on FacebookTwitter, and Instagram.

Chris Bumstead Undergoes Hair Transplant In Turkey With Iain Valliere

chris bumstead hair transplant
Image courtesy of Instagram (@cbum)

Five time Olympia Classic Champion Chris Bumstead and Iain Valliere underwent hair transplant operations in Turkey!

Chris Bumstead is usually seen transforming his physique to prepare for the Mr. Olympia bodybuilding stage. After winning his 5th Classic Olympia title in November 2023, Bumstead started his journey to Istanbul with the Raw Team.

Bumstead recently shared a post on Instagram showing that he underwent hair transplant, along with Iain Valliere. The brothers-in-law shared the early stages on social media after going through the first phases of the hair transplant in Turkey.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Chris Bumstead (@cbum)

 “I guess this is what they think a fade is in Turkey. I have a feeling that it’s going to grow back thicker than ever though.” Bumstead, who recently underwent a stem cell kidney regeneration treatment is four weeks out of winning his fifth consecutive Classic Physique Olympia title. He was able to successfully defend his title once again after a full year of prep, which seemed to go smoother than last year. Bumstead has dealt with different injuries over the course of his career and this includes competing with a torn bicep in 2022.

Full Name: Chris Bumstead (Classic Physique Bodybuilder)

Weight Height Date Of Birth
215-220 lbs 6’1″ 2/2/1995
Division Era Nationality
Classic Physique 2010s, 2020s Canadian

As for Valliere, his competition days may be done but he continues to train hard in the gym. Valliere announced his retirement from competitive bodybuilding this year. Despite not taking the stage anymore, Valliere admitted he will remain active in the bodybuilding world and in the gym.

What Causes Hair Loss in Men 

Hair loss in men stems largely from genetic makeup and male sex hormones. These include things such as testosterone, DHT, and other androgens. Many professional bodybuilders such as Chris Bumstead take substances such as anabolic steroids and often speed up the process of hair loss in men. In addition, diet and exercise regimens can also contribute to hair loss. Stress is another large factor.

Follicles are small cavities in the scalp that hold each and every single strand of hair, and generally, when the hair follicle shrinks over time, this is what causes the baldness to start, and results in shorter, thinner, and finer hair. Follicles will eventually shrink to the point where new hair will no longer grow within it, but typically the follicles remain alive, and this suggests that it is still possible to grow new hair.

Treatments to Fight Hair Loss

hair loss treatmentsThere are plenty of options when it comes to combating the symptoms of hair loss, some are even over-the-counter. Let’s take a look at the some of these options.

One way to fight hair loss is Minoxidil (Rogaine). Rogaine is available over the counter as a liquid or foam, and just needs to be applied to the scalp twice per day. It will help with the stimulation of hair growth, as well as the prevention of hair loss. Minoxidil is the active ingredient in Rogaine, and it can be found on its own as a liquid solution or also as an oral tablet. However, do not expect overnight results with this option, and results can vary from person to person. If you were to choose these options you need to be patient, as Rogaine and Minoxidil can take 4 to 6 months to see results, if any.

Another option of treatment to fight hair loss in men is Finasteride (Propecia, Proscar). Rather than a cream or foam, Finasteride is a pill that you take daily, and unfortunately it is only available with a prescription from your doctor. This option also requires a lot of patience, as the FDA states that generally, it will take at least 3 months of daily use to see results from the drug, and results are not guaranteed.

If you have a family history of thinning hairlines, it’d be better if you start taking care of your hair from a young age. Especially if you are an athlete or a bodybuilder delving into PEDs.

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