ANTI-AGING
workouts with carbohydrates and proteins. We will have
to mention growth hormone (GH) usage as well. GH will
make you less sensitive to insulin, so typically these are
used together and seem to have synergistic effects. Let’s
not get too deep into usage at that level. Back to guys like
us, we do want to take advantage of insulin, and that’s
why we use an intra-workout drink consisting of fast-act-
ing carbs and very short-chain peptides, the kind found in
whey and casein hydrolysates. This will result in a spike of
natural insulin, and if you are in a healthy to optimal zone
of insulin sensitivity, this should be enough of an effect to
enhance recovery. Using this strategy would theoretically
be the same with the use of natural or exogenous insulin:
A meal with protein and complex carbohydrates 60 to 90
minutes before a workout, intra-workout nutrition con-
sisting of fast-acting carbs and BCAAs, or a post-workout
meal similar to the pre-workout meal.
It’s a little more complicated using exogenous insulin,
but we’re just talking about generalities here. Using Met-
formin will help keep your insulin sensitivity in check, and
in most instances will vastly improve where you were be-
fore Metformin therapy. I would, however, suggest keeping
the Metformin dose away from the workout period, as
it will inhibit the absorption of carbohydrates if they are
both taken together. For that reason, we both take it AM
and PM away from food.
Q: Assuming optimal hormone levels, when manip-
ulating the metabolism to burn fat, is it possible to
build muscle through nutrient timing while losing fat
or adding negligible amounts?
Jim Says: It’s highly unlikely. Very new trainees with
genetically optimal body types (mesomorphs) are usu-
ally the only people who can add muscle and lose body
fat at the same time. The usage of select anabolic drugs
and other agents can also help in this regard. It is our
opinion that you need to always pick one goal and focus
on achieving it. If it’s fat loss, focus on reducing calories
and increasing movement patterns. If it’s muscle gain, eat
more food and train in a way that increases hypertrophy.
Q: Walking uphill on a treadmill first thing in the
morning is my current cardio for fat loss. If I added a
high-intensity interval training workout a couple of
nights a week, would this lead to an increased risk of
muscle loss?
Jim Says: It’s purely dependent on your caloric intake
and current body fat levels. Obviously, your body type and
your insulin sensitivity also plays a role. IM
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