+ 1 Receptor Saturation, Or ?
As we know, there is this theory of receptor saturation. Personally, I believe that when gains are slowing down, it's time to eat more. After all, if you are only supplying enough raw material to support "x" amount of weight, how do you expect to support "x + y"?
But is it possible that there comes a time when you need to juice more as well? This is not so much a matter of saturation as it is a matter of generation. When you start a cycle you are supplying above normal amounts of anabolic hormones. This allows increased muscle mass. But do you reach a point of homeostasis? Where the amount of hormones equates to the amount of mass? I mean, could Mr. O really get by on 500mg/wk? I don't think so.
I am not advocating mega dosages. I think most people begin with too much as it is. Their training intensity, rest, and diet is what holds them back. I advocate using the minimum dose necessary, and increasing from there, making sure that you are maximizing ALL variables.
So just wondering what you all think of this.
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Oh my if that isn't completely obvious...train HARD and NOT everyday...eat like a horse...and get plenty of rest/sleep and gains will be much more prevalent!!
BigBmajI don't think the theory of saturation is valid. I think gains stall for a couple of reasons. The primary reason being that you simply adapt. Shocking the system is what produces results, after 16 weeks on cycle you are simply not initiating enough change to be shocking the body any more. The body is not interested in doing anything that is not absolutely necessary, it won't just grow unless it must grow. If no new variable is added to the mix, homeostasis is achieved rather quickly.
I think the other thing that people fail to recognize is that the metabolism can increase significantly after adding 20 lbs. For instance, sticking with a 4000 calorie diet throughout the cycle, isn't adjusting for the new caloric requirements of the body. This factor is huge. I'd be interested to see a systematic approach where someone is adding an additional 1 or 200 calories a week throughout the cycle.
And finally I think people tend to get overtrained by the end of a cycle. They have been pushing so hard and the body is tired. I would be interested to see people follow a 12 week cycle that takes a one week break at week 12 and then pushes on for a few additional weeks. At this point a new compound could be added and training could be altered to really switch it all up.
I recently dropped my test levels to a TRT dose and I ended up loosing some weight. It had to have been mostly water. I ended up taking one whole week off from lifting and I increased my caloric intake. Now I'm growing nicely with a TRT dose of testosterone. All my body really wanted was rest and some more calories.
ClassyChassisI also think "overtraining" plays a role. Or perhaps "stale" training.
I agree with you, we should all use the minimum effective dose wich is in most case way lower than the dose use.
In the other hand, i think there is a maximum of nutriments ur body can absorb, personnaly too much calories make me sick, the liver, kidney and stomach are under so much stress in hypercalorie diet.
My theory why gain are slowing down is the body always try to keep a balance and try by all available way to reverse what we try to do
Just my thought!
Open to flaming here but imho there is NO such phenomenon as receptor saturation... like any other cell or fluid in the human body they die off and are replaced by fresh ones...... timings!.. i have no clue but being ON for the past 23 mths has proven to myself that the saturation theory is a load of crock.
ClassyChassisGood point.
Diet and creating the anabolic environment in the body is key. At some stage the bodies setpoint in terms of exogenous hormones does reset in that it has done the most it can with the hormone and then environment you create inside the body. For it to address any weaknesses or shortfalls adding more will overcome them.....but at what cost? So wy not get the environment in the body addressed by manipulating diet and timings of food - the most key part for the hormones to work
ClassyChassisTotally agree.
aylmejorI agree. If you've really honestly put in the effort with the food then up the dose take something out add a compound something. the body does adapt...500 is a great place to start or even go back to after running other things as just a break.