All Posts By Muscle Insider

‘Strength Wars: The Movie’ Clip – Blaine Sumner Vs Leonidas

The closest battle yet in the biggest Strength Wars competition of all time.
Strength Wars: The Movie is officially available on digital. You can order the film today right here. In this clip, Strength Wars veteran Leonidas battles against the gargantuan Blaine Sumner in what just might be the closest face-off of the tournament.
There’s nothing quite like a close battle in sports. No matter what sport it is – a neck and neck competition creates drama like no other entertainment in the world. This certainly holds true for Strength Wars. In the film, we brought together the most elite strength athletes in the world. Due to this – the competition was fierce. We just might have had some of the closest calls in Strength Wars history.

With the film now available on digital – you can watch the entire tournament play out. Each battle brings some of the most intense face-offs we have ever seen in strength sports. The one we are highlighting here is Blaine Sumner vs Leonidas.
Leonidas is a veteran of Strength Wars. He’s been through the gauntlet and knows what to expect both mentally and physically. That’s a huge factor when it comes to this competition. The cross between marathon and heavy weightlifting creates some of the most grueling experiences in all of strength sports. It’s not enough to be strong – it’s important to have endurance as well.
While Leondias has that upper hand, Blaine Sumner is a true powerhouse. A massive powerlifter who can flip a switch into beast mode for his training sessions – Sumner is no easy competitor to beat.
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Watch Blaine Sumner battle Leonidas in the latest movie clip from Strength Wars: The Movie above!
That becomes clear when watching this clip from Strength Wars: The Movie. We come in mid-battle to show the two competitors neck and neck. Literally tied for the exact same amount of reps needed to complete the course and win. You can feel the tension in the air as these two exhausted athletes pull everything from within for those final reps.
So who will ultimately win? The rep count keeps criss crossing between who is in the lead as the reps slowly count down to the finish line. The winner will go on for a chance at the championship title. The label of strongest in the world regardless of training discipline. It’s a big title to hold onto. But we won’t spoil who wins here. You can watch the full film today to find out who wins the ultimate prize.
Strength Wars: The Movie is available now on digital. You click here or the banner below to order today.

Hassan Mostafa is the Dark Horse to Win NY Pro, Works with Flex Wheeler and Jose Raymond

Hassan Mostafa could win the NY Pro.
One of the dark horses of the division, Hassan Mostafa is looking super impressive heading into the NY Pro. While much of the focus has been placed on Blessing Awodibu and Nick Walker, there are other talented bodybuilders who will be challenging for the top spot at the NY Pro. Hassan Mostafa is one of those competitors.

With just over 3 weeks until the show, Hassan has been pulling out all the stops. While he hasn’t posted a ton in the lead up to the show, what he has revealed has been pretty impressive.
100‎%‎ TOTAL FOCUS

To ensure a victory at the NY Pro, Hassan Mostafa has employed help of 212 veteran Jose Raymond and the legend Flex Wheeler to help improve his posing game.
This prep my main focus is to improve on all the criticisms I received last season, and one of them was posing. So I did a few sessions with two legends in our sport to help me improve! @theebostonmass is one of the best in the 212 division and I was honored to work with him. @officialflexwheeler is an icon in the history of bodybuilding and I’m grateful to be taught proper posing by the best in the industry!!! This season I’m leaving nothing to chance, it’s work work work!!!!

There’s no doubt that Hassan Mostafa has gained some valuable knowledge from the two veterans. Both Jose Raymond and Flex Wheeler definitely have the kind of insight any competitor would love to receive.
What do you think of Hassan Mostafa?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.

All About Biltong & The Top 5 Best Brands

Biltong is a form of thinly sliced, dried, cured meat that originated in Southern African countries such as Malawi, Namibia, and South Africa over 400 years ago. Although it can be made from a wide variety of meats ranging from Beef to Game as well as Fish, you’ll most commonly find it in Beef form….

10 Best Biceps in the History of Bodybuilding

Best Biceps in the Bodybuilding History
Many people get a gym membership so they can have bigger arms. Bigs arms have long been the symbol of strength and masculinity. For some men, the size of their ego is directly proportional to the size of their arms.
In this article, we won’t just be focusing on the size of the biceps. We’ll also be looking at the bicep definition and the bicep-forearm proportions. Warning: Don’t get too close to the pythons, they might bite you.
Roelly Winklaar

Roelly Winklaar arguably has the best arms in the history of bodybuilding. The size, roundness and overall aesthetics of his arms are second to none. The Dutch athlete is slowly but surely turning into a mass monster.
Flex Lewis

Flex Lewis is a bodybuilding legend and a 7X 212 Mr. Olympia champion. The signature Flex Lewis definition and proportions are what have got him those seven 212 Olympia titles. There are only a few guys whose forearms and biceps are almost the same size, and Flex is one of them.

Arnold Schwarzenneger

There is no way we could leave the GOAT out of this list. Arnie is the reason why many people have started bodybuilding in the first place. While training his arms, the Governator visualized them to be mountains which they soon turned out to be.
Larry Scott

Larry was the first ever Mr. Olympia and held the title for two consecutive years. Scott was nicknamed “The Legend” and “The Golden Boy” and he did justice to those titles. Larry had a perfectly chiseled physique in the days when bodybuilding was just getting started.
Phil Heath

Phil is a legend himself and is a 7X Mr. Olympia winner tying in with the great Austrian Oak. Phil is blessed with great genetics and the striations in his biceps are proof of this fact.

Kevin Levrone

Levrone arguably has one of the best physiques on the planet and people refer to him as an uncrowned Mr. Olympia. Kevin had exceptionally defined guns and what separated him from the rest was the separation between his bicep and shoulder.
Paul Dillett

Paul Dillett was a bodybuilder on the larger side of the mass monster spectrum – and his bulging biceps were certainly a large part of his amazing physique. While he didn’t ever earn the title of Mr. Olympia, he has been known to many fans as one of the greatest in the history of the sport.
Flex Wheeler

Flex Wheeler is another bodybuilding legend known for his symmetry. Every time Flex Wheeler pulled out his guns, people ran to take cover. Wheeler had a great front double bicep pose where his tris complimented his bis.
Kai Greene

Kai had long been a Mr. Olympia contender and gave Phil Heath the run for his money. It is sad to see Greene not compete anymore and we miss seeing him pull out those pythons from the basket.

Ronnie Coleman

Coleman is the original mass monster. Big Ron broke all the standards with his sheer muscle size. Ronnie’s arms kept getting bigger with every passing year until his last year of competing.

Who according to you has the best biceps? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.

6 Glute Exercises at Home to Tone Your Butt and Improve Your Waist-to-Hip Ratio

Waist-to-Hip Ratio is the Key to Female Physical Attraction
Women have a certain gift that men don’t have, and they can get this from glute exercises at home.
Let me explain. A woman’s beauty carries a lot of weight in our society. But don’t blame the superficiality of men, it’s biology. According to evolutionary biology, men are wired to find women with a certain physique more attractive.

This physique is the typical hourglass physique you see Instagram models and influencers have. But if you’re like most women, you probably don’t have the tone butt that you want.
And what’s worse is that you’ve been going on all these crash diets and doing hours upon hours of cardio with no results. The last thing you want to do is put in countless hours of hard work without having the beautiful body you desire.
With the right approach, you can have that flawless, tone, body you deserve. The right glute exercises at home will have so many DMs flooding your Instagram, you won’t know what to do.
Women are the most beautiful creatures that roam the earth, but you need to follow the right structure to optimize your beauty.
Well, if you improve your waist-to-ratio by doing glute exercises at home, you’ll be sure to glow and bring out your best self. What more could you ask for? Build the body you crave all from the comfort of your own home.

Waist-to-Hip Ratio
The waist-to-hip ratio is the sign of physical attraction in women. It’s the ratio of your hips to your waist. The wider your hips are and the more narrow your waist is, the better the hip-to-waist ratio you’ll have.
Ideally, you want your waist to be roughly 70% of your hips. This will give you the astonishing waist-to-hip ratio you’re looking for that will turn every guy’s heads in the gym, beach, and pool parties.
The perfect waist-to-hip ratio will give you the hourglass shape many sex symbols have like Jennifer Lopez.
A stunning waist-to-hip ratio represents beauty, fertility, and vitality.
To improve your waist-to-hip ratio, you’ll want to build tone, big glutes (butt). Having bigger and stronger glutes will give you the ideal waist-to-hip ratio and a sexy, beautiful body.
The key to improving your waist-to-hip ratio is a slim waist with a big, tone butt.
And you don’t have to go to a crowded gym to make that happen. You can do this all from your home. (And yes, even watch the latest episode of “The Bachelor” while you’re at it).

6 Glute Exercises at Home

Wide Stance Squat

The wide stance goblet squat targets your glutes more than a traditional squat because the wider stance places more focus on your glutes.
To do this, get into a squat stance that is slightly wider than shoulder-width apart and do a normal squat.

2. Curtsy Lunge
The curtsy lunge targets your glute medius (butt muscles) and inner thighs. It’s an awkward movement at first, but the angle of crossing your legs to the opposite side hits your glutes like no other.
A curtsy lunge is a reverse lunge to the opposite side of your body.
Add dumbbells to overload the muscles.
3. Fire Hydrant
Fire hydrants will not only work your glutes but will improve your hip mobility and get the other muscles of your lower body involved.
To make it more challenging and to be sure you feel the burn, add resistance bands to the movement.
Get down into a quadruped position (all-fours) on the ground and lift your legs laterally at a 90-degree angle until they’re parallel with the ground.
4. Donkey Kicks
Donkey kicks are great for stability and toning. They will engage your core more and blast your booty.
You’ll be in a quadruped position again, but this time you’ll kick your heel up behind you with your hips at a 90-degree angle.
5. Lying Hip Abduction
This movement not only targets your glutes, but it hits the nice long thigh muscle running down your leg (tensor fasciae latae).
Lie on the ground on your side. You can use your arm to rest your head on and lift your leg while keeping it straight. If you have resistance bands, use them to work your muscles more.
6. Glute Bridge
The glute bridge is not only good for your glutes, but it’s great at relieving lower back pain.
Lie supine (on your back). Bend your knees, and push off your heels to raise your hips off the ground.
Add a dumbbell on top of your hips to grow your glutes more.

Workout Routine

Wide Stance Goblet Squat 3 sets x 10-12 reps
Curty Lunge 3 sets x 10-12 reps
Fire Hydrant 2 sets x 12-15 reps
Donkey Kick 2 sets x 15-20 reps
Lying Hip Abduction 2 sets x 20 reps
Glute Bridge 3 sets x 10-15 reps

Perform this workout 2-3 times a week to build you the booty of your dreams. Make sure you rest about 90 seconds between each set.
It’s worth mentioning that a crucial component to improving your waist-to-hip ratio is a proper diet. You’ll want to make sure you’re hitting your calorie and macro targets to lose fat and build muscle.
Conclusion
As a woman, having a beautiful body goes a long way in our society. From an evolutionary biology standpoint, having the ideal waist-to-hip ratio is a significant measure in a woman’s overall physical attractiveness.
Doing glute exercises at home will build you a toned butt that will improve your waist-to-hip ratio.
If you found this helpful, share this on Instagram and Facebook to help out all the strong, beautiful women out there!

NutraBio Creatine Monohydrate Pure Grade Micronized Powder Review

Easier and faster mixing to improve strength and power for those desired gains.

Table of Contents

Product Overview
As a widely researched and very popular supplement, creatine has become one of those staples for bodybuilders and other strength athletes. Creatine is a trusted and highly reliable supplement that can really boost all areas of your training and performance. The benefits are safe and effective so you see that increase in strength and mass really start to take shape. NutraBio Creatine Monohydrate is pure grade, micronized creatine to support power output and really improve strength and size.

Creatine is naturally occurring in our bodies and is typically found in the muscle cells as a way to supply energy for those massive lifts. With similar properties to amino acids, it has real ability to enhance muscle growth and recovery, as well as a host of other bodily functions. Some benefits of creatine are increases in strength, its ability to boost performance, improve your metabolism, and enhance cognitive capabilities (1), all great reasons to look into a high quality creatine like NutraBio Creatine Monohydrate.

Shop at NutraBio
NutraBio is a high-quality sports supplement company creating top tier products for athletes everywhere. Their mission is clear: maximize the health and wellness of all consumers by bringing advanced nutrition products with science-backed research to enhance training and performance while aiding in an overall better quality of life. They are a standout in the industry for clean and effective products with no artificial fillers or excipients and stand by their goal of being honest and transparent with their labels.

NutraBio Creatine Monohydrate Highlights
NutraBio Creatine Monohydrate is pure grade, micronized creatine for easier, faster, and more complete mixing. With twenty times more surface area than regular creatine, it dissolves easily for no stomach discomfort or cramping. Not only can this supplement volumize muscle and size to see a real increase in strength and power, but it will act as a buffer for lactic acid to add reps and intensity to any workout.

What makes this supplement so great is there is ONE ingredient. One scoop of this will pump you with 5g of creatine monohydrate and that’s it. No other ingredients added means nothing to harm you or ruin this great product. On top of this stellar formula, you get 200 servings per container, so you never have to worry about running low and hurting your workouts.
The Only Ingredient
PharmaPure Creatine Monohydrate (5g)
Creatine is one of the most researched and important supplements for those serious about gains. Using creatine increases levels of creatine phosphate in your muscles to improve everything from power output, recovery, and muscle hydration so you get the most out of every lift (2). By supplementing with creatine, you work to replenish your stores of cellular ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which can elevate intensity, increase muscle energy, and delay fatigue. This leads to quick lean muscle growth and strength which is what we all want as serious lifters (3).

Another benefit of NutraBio Creatine Monohydrate is that it may act as a buffer for lactic acid build up that causes that unwanted soreness and fatigue (4). Lactic acid is that tired, burning feeling you get after doing serious work and it is the main cause of feeling drained and fatigued. Creatine may act as a buffer for this to delay the onset of fatigue to keep you training longer and adding a little extra to your gains.

Price & Effectiveness
NutraBio Creatine Monohydrate is a great creatine supplement to boost muscle growth while working to reduce fatigue to give you the edge when it comes to your workouts. With 200 servings per container, one scoop delivers 5g of creatine monohydrate and NOTHING ELSE. Pure, clean, and effective, this is a great supplement to add to your routine.
Pros: One ingredient of pure, micronized creatine monohydrate is great for your gains. A lot of servings at a great price. Easier and faster mixing with no upset stomach or cramps. From a reputable and honest company in NutraBio.
Cons: N/A
Price: $20.99
Featured Athlete
Jimmie Rivera

Jimmie Rivera is a professional MMA fighter ranked #9 in the UFC Bantamweight division. With a record of 23-4, Rivera has some big wins under his belt and is a serious force in the sport and dangerous opponent to face. On his way to becoming one of the UFC’s elite Bantamweights, Jimmie was able to win twenty fights in a row which included victories in organizations such as the UFC and Bellator MMA against prominent opponents like John Dodson and UFC legend Uriah Faber. Rivera has worked with NutraBio since 2015, both using and promoting their great supplements to better not only himself, but others around him. As a professional athlete who knows what it’s like to fight on the biggest stage, Rivera knows just how important it is to stay healthy overall. With the help of NutraBio, Rivera remains at the top of the field and trusts NutraBio with all of his supplementation needs.
Overall Value
NutraBio Creatine Monohydrate is that creatine supplement we’ve all been waiting for. As a widely researched and popular supplement, it is safe and effective for all sorts of benefits including increased muscle strength and power, reduced lactic acid for less fatigue, and a host of others to improve all areas of our training and performance. NutraBio is an honest company working to bring consumers the best supplements around. What you are really getting is a pure, high-quality creatine supplement with no added ingredients and a pure, micronized form of creatine from a great company. Check out NutraBio Creatine Monohydrate today and see what this can do for your gains.
Try NutraBio Creatine Monohydrate 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 NutraBio
References

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)
Kreider, Richard B. (2003). “Effects of creatine supplementation on performance and training adaptations”. (source)
Francaux, M.; Poortmans, J. R. (1999). “Effects of training and creatine supplement on muscle strength and body mass”. (source)
Aaserud, R.; Gramvik, P.; Olsen, S. R.; Jensen, J. (2011). “Creatine supplementation delays onset of fatigue during repeated bouts of sprint running”. (source)

Road To The IFBB Pittsburgh Pro 2021:Dr. Sunny Andrews Posing

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With 3 weeks to go before making her @ifbbproleaguewellness debut, 2020 @npcnationals Class B 1st place Dr. Sunny Andrews @drsunnyandrews practices her posing for the 2021 #ifbbpittsburghpro on her #roadtotheifbbpittsburghpro @npcifbbpropittsburgh @npcphotogymofficial #exclusively for @npcnewsonlineofficialpage @npcnewstv with a bonus of her and Amanda Rezende @amandihta in a mock comparison! . You can see the full video on npcnewsonline.com and our You Tube Channel. . The 2021 #NPCPittsburgh Championships is back along with the #IFBBPittsburghPro @npcifbbpropittsburgh on April 30-May 1 and the contest will be held at it’s normal location, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Pittsburgh! @soldiersandsailorshall This contest is promoted by NPC and @ifbb_pro_league President Jim Manion. . @npcfitbody @npcworldwideofficial @npcwellness @npcworldwidewellness @ifbbproleaguewellness @t_manion @aroundthenpc_jm @garyudit @frank_sepe @npcpennsylvania @axeandsledge @limitless @olympiatanning @fitbodyfusion @bodybyo @blackstonelabs_official @teamatlasmtl @redcon1 @theprophysiques @teamfflex @mrolympiallc @mountaindog1 @npcfloridaofficialpage #nationalphysiquecommittee #ifbbprofessionalleague #npcbodybuilding #npcfitness #npcmensphysique #npcclassicphysique #npcwomensphysique #npcfigure #npcbikini #npcwellness #ifbbproclassicphysique #ifbbpromensphysique #ifbbprofigure #ifbbprobikini #ifbbproleaguewellness #npcactivewear #olympiaqualifier #greece

Road To The IFBB Pittsburgh Pro 2021 Nikki Giacara Training

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Rookie @ifbbproleaguewellness competitor Nikki Giacara @fit2nik filmed her 2021 #roadtothepittsburghpro @npcifbbpropittsburgh and believe it or not, was the only #ifbbproleaguewellness competitor that Did Not train glutes! . When filmed @npcphotogymofficial #exclusively for @npcnewsonlineofficialpage @npcnewstv , Nikki was 2 weeks and a day before making her #IFBBProLeague debut at the #ifbbpittsburghpro . Watch the full training video along with her interview and posing on npcnewsonline.com and our You Tube Channel. . The 2021 #NPCPittsburgh Championships is back along with the #IFBBPittsburghPro @npcifbbpropittsburgh on April 30-May 1 and the contest will be held at it’s normal location, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Pittsburgh! @soldiersandsailorshall This contest is promoted by NPC and @ifbb_pro_league President Jim Manion. . @npcfitbody @npcworldwideofficial @npcwellness @npcworldwidewellness @ifbbproleaguewellness @t_manion @aroundthenpc_jm @garyudit @frank_sepe @npcpennsylvania @axeandsledge @limitless @olympiatanning @fitbodyfusion @bodybyo @blackstonelabs_official @teamatlasmtl @redcon1 @theprophysiques @teamfflex @mrolympiallc @musclecontest @tamerelguindy @tkguindy @thenickgiacara @anneluisefreitas #nationalphysiquecommittee #ifbbprofessionalleague #npcbodybuilding #npcfitness #npcmensphysique #npcclassicphysique #npcwomensphysique #npcfigure #npcbikini #npcwellness #ifbbproclassicphysique #ifbbpromensphysique #ifbbprofigure #ifbbprobikini #ifbbproleaguewellness #npcactivewear #olympiaqualifier #wellnesstakeover #thetakeoverhasbegun #npcusachampionships #npcusas

HGH: The Ultimate Guide (for Men & Women)

HGH is a naturally occurring peptide hormone, responsible for skeletal muscle growth and cell production.
HGH also affects the metabolism and adipose tissue, causing significant subcutaneous fat loss in individuals with high levels of this hormone.
Natural HGH levels are often determined by various factors, including: genetics, sleep, age, exercise and overall health.
Adults experience a 15% drop in growth hormone every 10 years (1), contributing to weight gain, wrinkles, muscle loss and decreased energy.
Consequently, men and women around the world are taking artificial HGH to reverse the ageing process, enhance athletic performance and improve body composition.
In 1985, the FDA approved the first growth hormone compound, known as Somatrem (protropin), in an attempt to treat endogenous HGH deficiency and growth disorders.
Despite its overall success, scientists found incidents of Somatrem causing antibody reactions, reducing its biological availability and effectiveness of the drug.
In 1987, thanks to recombinant DNA technology, Somatropin was formulated; a drug with an identical structure to natural HGH secreted by the pituitary gland.
Thus, Somatropin became a purer HGH derivative than its predecessor and continues to dominate the market today, with rife production in pharmaceutical and underground labs.

HGH Benefits

Increase in height (during puberty)
Muscle building
Fat loss
Anti-ageing
No withdrawal (post-cycle)

Height Increase
Children who have not experienced a standard growth spurt appropriate for their age, may be prescribed HGH by a pediatric endocrinologist, successfully accelerating growth and improving their quality of life.
However, HGH will not positively influence height during post-puberty years, due to fusing of the growth plates.
Muscle Building
HGH is not an anabolic steroid, however it does have muscle-building properties, albeit weaker than steroids.
In medicine, HGH has been prescribed in the treatment of cachexic (muscle wasting) states, including AIDS.
HGH helps the body shift from a catabolic environment, by increasing nitrogen retention and protein synthesis in the muscle cells, and thus promoting weight gain in the form of lean mass.
Fat Loss
HGH’s most prominent effect in terms of body composition is subcutaneous and visceral fat loss.
Generally, HGH’s results in terms of decreased adipose tissue, outweigh the anabolic effects of HGH, significantly leaning a person out and increasing muscle definition.
Anti-Ageing
HGH stimulates collagen synthesis, causing anti-ageing effects.
Collagen is a protein that plumps out the skin, increasing elasticity, decreasing wrinkles and preventing sagging.
Collagen is also critical for hair and nail health, with it thickening hair follicles, inhibiting gray hairs and reducing nail breakage.
These benefits are contrary to many anabolic steroids which reduce collagen production and accelerate ageing.
Users may not only look visibly younger, but also feel it on HGH, displaying higher energy levels due to its effect on carbohydrate metabolism and spiking of blood glucose.
HGH also increases cognitive ability, due to growth hormone receptors being expressed in brain regions including: cerebral cortex, choroid plexus and hippocampus (2).
Note: Although HGH does provide anti-ageing effects, it is likely to shorten a person’s lifespan due to greater IGF-1 output (3).
No Withdrawal
HGH does not induce a come-down effect upon cycle cessation, unlike steroids, thus a PCT is not required.
A post cycle therapy aids the recovery of the HPTA (hypothalamic–pituitary–testicular axis) following a steroid cycle, enhancing endogenous testosterone production.
Without a PCT, low testosterone symptoms can prolong for several months.
Although HGH does suppress natural growth hormone levels, they often resurrect back to normal levels in a matter of days (significantly faster than HPTA axis recovery).
Thus, HGH users do not typically suffer physiologically or psychologically, such as: catabolism, increased fatigue or decreased-well being.
HGH Side Effects
There are a lack of long-term studies performed on HGH, however there is evidence of HGH causing the following:

Heart disease
Diabetes
Possibly Carcinogenic
HGH Gut
Tumor growth
Hypothyroidism
Bone/tissue growth
Numbness in feet and hands

Heart Disease
Left ventricle hypertrophy can occur when administering exogenous HGH (4), increasing the risk of heart disease.
However, there is evidence of HGH having cardiovascular benefits when used in a medical setting, treating patients deficient in endogenous growth hormone (5); thus having a paradoxical effect and causing cardiac atrophy.
Diabetes
HGH has diabetogenic effects related to its metabolism of carbohydrates, causing blood sugar levels to rise and thus increasing the risk of type II diabetes.
Possibly Carcinogenic
There is not enough data to unequivocally state that HGH causes cancer, however Dr. Thomas O’Connor has anecdotal evidence to suggest a possible link between HGH-use and the development of various cancers.
Dr Thomas O’Connor has seen the following cancers transpire in his patients, utilizing growth hormone:

Melanomas
Esophageal cancers
Brain cancers
Heart tumor (single case)
Gastrointestinal tract cancer

Such patients had used HGH for several years in combination with various anabolic steroids, causing suspicion of growth hormone being the culprit. 
Ex-NFL star, Lyle Alzado, also believed performance enhancing drugs (including HGH) were the cause of the brain lymphoma he suffered, sadly leading to his death in 1992.
The concern is that HGH significantly stimulates IGF-1, a surrogate marker for cancer.
IGF-1 is used by medical doctors to detect potential cancer risk and tumor growth in patients.
Thus, by spiking HGH, users may effectively be increasing their own risk for cancer or worsening any existing (unknown) tumors.
HGH Gut

‘HGH gut’ is a term used in bodybuilding to describe the protruding effect of the abdomen, seen in many IFBB competitors today.
This distended effect is indicative of high levels of visceral fat. It is somewhat of a myth that HGH solely causes this appearance, as HGH actually decreases visceral fat, via the stimulation of lipolysis (causing the polar opposite effect).
However, many bodybuilders combine HGH with insulin during a cycle, for more anabolism, due to its efficient shuttling of nutrients into the muscle cells.
They do this because insulin increases IGF-1 receptor upregulation and decreases IGF protein binding 1, thus creating a particularly anabolic environment when synergistically used with HGH (which has IGF-1 stimulating properties).
Insulin however promotes lipogenesis (fat storage) in users, causing a ‘fat’ look to the body, that is evident even in bodybuilders with a ‘low body fat percentage’.
Thus, ‘HGH gut’ can occur after prolonged use, but only with the presence of insulin.
Hypothyroidism
Research suggests hypothyroidism may occur in HGH-users, due to the depletion of: potassium, sodium and phosphorous, causing a T3 (triiodothyronine) deficiency.
This is surprising considering T3 is a potent fat burning hormone, and HGH also stimulates lipolysis (fat loss).
Interestingly, Dr. Thomas O’Connor has not observed any reductions in T3 levels in patients utilizing HGH. Thus, it is possible such a T3-inhibiting effect may only occur in HGH deficient individuals (theory). 
Bone/Tissue Growth
Acromegaly, causing the enlargement of bones and tissues, is common when taking HGH for a substantial amount of time.
One bodybuilder took HGH for 10 years continuously and reported an increase in foot hypertrophy, going from size 12-15 (6).
His skull also enlarged, having previously worn a size 7 3/8 cap and later going up to 7 5/8. He also observed growth in the hands, wrists and stomach.
Gynecomastia
Interestingly, research has shown gynecomastia (gyno) to be a possible side effect of HGH (7).
It isn’t known for certain how breast tissue accumulates in men on HGH, however it may be attributed to elevations in the female sex hormone — progesterone.
Research has shown HGH to stimulate progesterone levels via luteal steroidogenesis (8), thus (potentially) causing gynecomastia in a similar way to deca durabolin.
An AI (aromatase inhibitor), such as anastrozole, may be taken to safeguard HGH-users from gynecomastia, with research indicating it as an effective inhibitor of progesterone receptor expression (9).
Numbness in feet and hands
Numbness of the hands, otherwise known as carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), may occur on HGH due to it increasing sodium uptake and thus extracellular fluid (water retention).
This excess fluid in the synovial tissue compresses the median nerve, resulting in reduced function (10).
HGH Cycles
When used in medicine to treat intrauterine growth retardation, dosages of 1-3 IU per day are typically used.
When used for performance enhancement purposes, 2-4 IU per day are taken, with a maximum dosage of 6 IU used by elite bodybuilders to promote further mass gain.
HGH cycles usually last anywhere from 6-24 weeks, with 16 weeks being the average duration for a standard bodybuilding cycle.
HGH-Only Cycle

HGH is not typically taken by beginners, but more experienced PED-users, taking their muscle gains to the next level.
Beginners coveting significant muscle size, will typically take bulking steroids, such as: dianabol, anadrol, testosterone or trenbolone. Then after hitting a plateau, they may introduce HGH for further growth/fat loss.
However, if beginners do not want to experience huge muscle gains, but instead milder increases in hypertrophy (size) — the above cycle may be taken.
However, anavar or primobolan are mild steroids that can produce similar results (in a potentially safer manner), with the effects of long-term HGH-use being relatively unknown.
HGH and Testosterone Cycle
HGH and testosterone is a common cycle used to significantly enhance muscle-building, strength and fat loss. Thus, this stack could be used for bulking or cutting.
Testosterone is often taken by beginners as a first steroid cycle, to build exceptional amounts of muscle whilst reducing subcutaneous fat.
30lbs of lean mass is a typical when testosterone is taken by novices.
Adding testosterone to this stack is optimal for users wanting more pronounced muscle gains.

Side Effects
The addition of testosterone will not cause a considerably decline in health, with it being one of the mildest AAS.
There is minimal cardiovascular strain when taking testosterone in moderate dosages (such as 400mg) and it won’t cause any hepatic toxicity, being an injectable.
However, androgenic side effects may occur with the addition of testosterone, such as accelerated MPB (male pattern baldness), acne vulgaris and prostate enlargement.
These adverse effects occur due to heightened DHT levels damaging hair follicles on the scalp and the sebaceous glands becoming overstimulated, resulting in excess sebum secretion (blocking the pores).
Stacking HGH with testosterone will also have a transient effect on testosterone levels; initially spiking during a cycle but then crashing post-cycle. Consequently, low testosterone symptoms can prolong for several months, unless certain PCT medications are taken to restore the HPTA axis.
Note: Testosterone is not suitable for women, due to its androgenic nature.
HGH / T3 / Anavar Cycle
This is a cutting cycle and one of the most potent combinations for rapid fat loss.
T3 (Cytomel) is a powerful fat burning hormone, used as a prescription medicine for treating obesity and hypothyroidism.
Bodybuilders often use T3 to raise their BMR (basil metabolic rate) and enhance lipolysis, maximizing fat burning before a competition.
The gradual tapering of T3 during this cycle (with steady increases and decreases in dosage), is optimal to reduce side effects and to prevent endogenous T3 shut down post-cycle.
Anavar is one of the most commonly used cutting steroids, dramatically enhancing fat loss, whilst retaining (or adding) lean muscle.
The presence of anavar is critical in this cycle, not only from a fat burning perspective, but also to prevent the body from shifting into a catabolic state. T3 can burn muscle tissue as well as fat stores when taken without anabolic agents, thus running T3 by itself is a potential disaster for a bodybuilder.
100mg/week of testosterone can also be added to this stack, to increase anabolism without adding any notable water retention, due to this low dose. Testosterone may be run alongside T3 and anavar for the last 8 weeks of this cycle.

Side Effects
Endogenous T3 levels will become suppressed post-cycle, taking approximately 3-4 weeks to restore back to normal levels. During this time, a person’s metabolism will become significantly slower, making it easier to overeat.
Thus, users must be cautious of this effect and lower their calories accordingly (as some users gain the weight back by eating in a caloric surplus).
Anavar is a very mild steroid, with few side effects reported by bodybuilders. However, a mild alteration in cholesterol levels and blood lipids is to be expected. Bodybuilders often take 4 grams of fish oil to lower LDL cholesterol and reduce any cardiovascular strain.
Anavar is an oral steroid and thus c-17 alpha alkylated, enabling maximum absorption into the bloodstream.
Oral steroids may be convenient, however they are hepatotoxic and thus AST/ALT liver enzymes often rise, indicating stress/damage to the liver. The good news is — anavar is not particularly hepatotoxic, therefore liver inflammation is likely to be minimal when sticking to moderate dosages.
The presence of anavar will also cause some natural testosterone suppression. This won’t be an aggressive shutdown of the HPTA axis, however it may take several weeks for peak testosterone function to return. A PCT may or may not be used, depending on how the user is feeling; in terms of energy, libido and mood.
Note: Women should only use 10mg of anavar for the last 4-5 weeks of this cycle, to prevent masculinization.
HGH Before and After (Without Insulin)

These are the results of a user who ‘blasted’ HGH for 10 days, taking mega doses of 16 iu per day. Blast and cruise is a method sometimes utilized by bodybuilders, involving long-term drug use (rather than cycles).
To overcome a plateau or to maximize gains in a short period of time, they will significantly up the dosage, known as a ‘blast’. This user experienced notable increases in muscle hypertrophy and fat loss from this protocol.
Long-term use of AAS or HGH however can lead to the shut down of the endocrine system and thus is not recommended. 
HGH Before and After (With Insulin)

We cannot confirm whether this bodybuilder has used HGH/insulin, however these results are typical when combining these two drugs together.
He has experienced noticeable muscle growth, a decrease in subcutaneous fat, more notable muscle definition and vascularity.
However, he also displays higher levels of visceral fat, hence the increased protruding of the midsection (known as HGH gut).
HGH Before and After (Female Results)

This before and after picture is the result of long-term HGH use (several years of injections). This female user administers HGH every day for weight loss and anti ageing benefits, however the dosages utilized are unknown.
HGH For Women
Women are limited significantly in regards to what steroids they can use, as many compounds cause virilization symptoms.
However, masculinization does not occur on HGH, as it does not elevate androgen hormones, such as free testosterone.
Therefore, women can successfully use HGH to burn fat and enhance muscle tone, without forming male characteristics.
It may also be argued that HGH’s effects are more desirable for women than men, in regards to: anti-ageing, fat loss, hair, skin and nail health.
However, one downside with HGH for women, is bone and tissue enlargement (with long-term use). Females are inherently the smaller sex, thus the reality of their feet, hands and skull growing larger may not be desirable. Whereas for a man this may not be troublesome.
FAQ
Is HGH Legal?
HGH is legal when prescribed for medicinal purposes i.e. dwarfism or a HGH deficiency that greatly impacts overall well-being.
However, HGH is illegal for cosmetic purposes i.e. buying it on the black market to lose fat and build muscle.
This is due to it being included in the 1990 anabolic steroids control act, meaning non-medical distribution or possession is a federal crime.
How to Get HGH?
If a person is deficient in HGH, they may be prescribed it by their doctor.
However, if a bodybuilder wants HGH to build muscle, then he/she will buy it from the black market.
People find dealers by asking around at gyms, or buying from websites online.
Users can purchase pharmaceutical or UGL (underground lab) products on the black market.
Pharmaceutical HGH is formulated in a certified lab and is sometimes sold (illicitly) by someone who has been medically prescribed this drug.
UGL HGH is typically formulated by someone with zero medical expertise or qualifications and is synthesized in a non-certified lab (usually being their own home).
UGL HGH is considerably cheaper, however it poses more risks, due to hygiene issues or possible contamination.
With UGL products, there is also a chance of the product being diluted or a counterfeit.
A typical scam on the black market is to label hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) as HGH, with both compounds sharing a similar visual resemblance. HCG is a female pregnancy hormone, but is sometimes used by bodybuilders during a PCT to stimulate endogenous testosterone production.
Bodybuilders can test the legitimacy of their HGH somatropin product, by taking a pregnancy test a few days into their cycle.
Bodybuilders will administer an injection at night, then the following morning take a pregnancy test. If positive, it indicates a counterfeit product, with hCG being detected.
How Much Does HGH Cost?
HGH can cost $4,000 and upwards per month, even when utilizing lower dosages for anti-ageing purposes.
Will HGH Show Up on a Drugs Test?
WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) and the IOC (International Olympic Committee) list HGH as a banned susbstance, thus athletes may fail drug tests if caught with HGH in their system.
However, the accuracy of such tests have been questioned by athletes and elite doctors, including Dr. Thomas O’Connor, who branded them as ‘unreliable’ (11).
However, standard drug tests for the army, police and other employment, do not typically test for HGH or anabolic steroids.
This is because such tests are expensive, thus general tests are used to detect recreational drug-use, such as: marijuana, cocaine, opiates and amphetamines.
Steroids vs HGH
HGH is an inferior muscle-building compound, compared to most anabolic steroids.
Thus, its effects on body composition are more mild.
HGH is not going to cause as much cardiovascular risk compared to steroids, as it doesn’t cause significant fluctuations in LDL/HDL scores.
HGH is not hepatotoxic, however oral steroids are damaging to the liver (due to c-17 alpha alkylation).
HGH has much less risk of causing gynecomastia, due to no aromatization activity (converting testosterone into high amounts of estrogen). Gynecomastia remains possible on HGH due to the elevation of progesterone, however it is rare.
HGH does not cause androgenic effects, as there is no 5a-reductase conversion of testosterone into DHT. Thus, acne, oily skin, male pattern baldness and prostate growth may occur on steroids — but not with HGH.
HGH is generally administered via injection, however several anabolic steroids are available in oral form.
HGH does not produce virilization in women, whereas many anabolic steroids do.
HGH increases collagen synthesis, resulting in anti-ageing effects, whereas steroids can decrease collagen and accelerate ageing.
HGH does not require a PCT, with endogenous levels recovering quickly. However, many steroids do require a PCT, due to significant damage to the HPTA axis.
In terms of cost, anabolic steroids are a fraction of the price of HGH.
HGH when used by itself decreases visceral fat, whereas many anabolic steroids increase visceral fat (and bloating of the midsection).
HGH Pros and Cons
Pros:

Burns fat
Builds lean muscle
Anti-ageing
Improves hair, skin and nail health
No PCT needed
Does not cause virilization in women

Cons:

Increases risk of type II diabetes
May increase the risk of cancer
Very expensive
HGH gut possible (when used with insulin)

For bodybuilding purposes, HGH is often not worth the risk, with it only producing mild to moderate results.
Also HGH is very expensive, making it very costly to run in lengthy cycles.
It is also worth noting that moderate fat loss and muscle gains are possible to achieve naturally, with effective training and diet.
However, HGH may be more desirable for an elite bodybuilder who has plateaued and needs to add another 10-15lbs of lean muscle to win their pro card.

Melle Mel Claims He Often Trains In The Gym Drunk Without Hurting His Performance

Melle Mel has no problem weightlifting and training drunk.
Melle Mel is most famous as a rapper and member of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. But he is also known still in his later years for his impressive physique and dedication towards bodybuilding. He doesn’t compete – but has a passion for bodybuilding. But one surprising admission he made during our conversation is that he often trains drunk. Not only that – but it doesn’t negatively affect his performance. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Melle Mel details why he trains drunk and how he is able to still maintain a muscular physique.
Melle Mel is used to the party and hip hop lifestyle. It’s what he’s known for majority of his life. So it might come as only a slight surprise that even to this day, he parties hard at night. So much so that he is sometimes still drunk the next day. He doesn’t get hangovers, he just stays drunk into the morning until it wears off.

The problem with that is he often trains in the morning. Well, perhaps it’s not really a problem, at least not according to Melle Mel. He claims to have no issue training drunk at all. In fact, he is still able to train to full capacity and maintain his physique.
We asked him how he pulls that off, as alcohol not only dehydrates the body, but also injects a lot of carbs that could have a negative impact on a person’s physique. Melle Mel claims that there are two reasons he is able to train while drunk. One is due to his familiarity with the party lifestyle his entire life. The other is due to not consuming carbs in his regular diet (except for the alcohol).
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Watch our latest GI Exclusive segment with Melle Mel above!
This allows him to have fun, enjoy life, and still maintain a muscular physique. He’s able to train effectively in the gym because he mentally is used to operating successfully while drunk. He admits that this is not something other people should do. It’s a unique situation to his lifestyle. He knows that genetically and simply through normal life experience – that people should not train drunk in the gym.

Surprisingly, Melle Mel has the opposite opinion about marijuana and training in the gym. It’s been more openly discussed how bodybuilders find it helpful to train while high. Melle Mel doesn’t see how that’s possible. From his experience smoking weed, he can’t see effectively training at all. Again, he admits that every person and body is different.
Melle Mel hasn’t smoked marijuana in quite a while. He’s not sure if weed simply has changed over the years or if his personal reaction simply doesn’t work for training. So as it stands now – for Melle Mel, and perhaps only for Melle Mel, drinking is his preferred drug of choice for working out.
You can watch Melle Mel go into full detail in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!