test-monkey, you are correct in assuming that an insulin spike is one of the most effective anti-catabolic responces we can induse on our body, insulin will basically cram as much carbs and blood as it can into muscle.. infact it is SO strong it robs the carbs that your brain demands for normal function, thus making slin cycles extreemly dangerous to the average lifter.. you should have years of experiance and many cycles under your belt before using slin.. i also strongly disagree and question the source of the info that buckwheat1 posted (no flame intended buckwheat1). as for caffeine, the effect of being a CNS stimulant far outweighs its effect of raising cortisol, if it didn't, why would fat loss producst containing caffeine, ephedrine, and synephrin be as popular as they are? NOW.. addmitedly, most are complete crap, BUT..since cortisol has a great ability to breakdown muscle protein (which is a much greater effect on body tone/muscularity than it's ability to but a few extra carbs into the blood stream) lowering your cortisol is the number 1 way to keep down any catabolic responce in your body. Some parts of what buckwheat1 posted that are correct is that cortisol is the hormone release when you are stressed.. this is a huge factor, mental stress can make your gains go into perminant hibernation if you don't learn how to 'chill out', there are foods that will raise insulin and cortisol, and lastly, the greatest way that caffeine raises cortisol is usually when people take a caffeine supplement (diet pill) it is usually parallel a hypocaloric, low carb diet.. your body want's to feed it's self somehow so it uses it's own resources.. and this is why it's not that great for bb'ing.. cortisol will attack your muscle AND attempt to store carbs as fat in the addipose around the 'gut' area.. this is where the cardio comes in.
I know this is a generic and vague responce but I just wanted to make the situation clear about cortisol, it is just as important as actually showing up to the gym. If anyone wants any further detail, feel free to pm me. If not.. look up certain functions of the endocrin system dealing with corticotropin (CRH) corticosteriods (Prednison) and the corticoadrenal axis to start
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I know this is a generic and vague responce but I just wanted to make the situation clear about cortisol, it is just as important as actually showing up to the gym. If anyone wants any further detail, feel free to pm me. If not.. look up certain functions of the endocrin system dealing with corticotropin (CRH) corticosteriods (Prednison) and the corticoadrenal axis to start
