Glutamine..

[Xtreme2001]

I've head alot of talk about taking glutamine before and after your workout... is this while your on a cycle as well?

I'm just confused about it, I hear different things about the stuff and never really thought twice about it.. Until now

Does it play a better factor when cutting over bulking?

 

[HUCKLEBERRY FINNaplex]

Why Glutamine should be a part of every BB'S arsenal...

The term 'bodybuilding' is somewhat of a misnomer.Although that is the end result we are striving to achieve,for the most part what we,as athletes are doing is 'bodytearingdown'.Weight training itself is a catabolic process in a direct sense,as we are tearing down muscle fibers,and putting our nervous system and immune system under tremendous stress.Proper nutritional feeding mechanisms following these traumatic events is CRUCIAL to our success in undoing the damage and forwarding our systems into adaptation.One key element in forwarding these adaptative processes is an often overlooked and underappreciated non-essential(although it should be classified as essential to athletes,lol)amino acid-GLUTAMINE.What makes glutamine so important to us as bodybuilders?Well,just off the top of my head I will list several actions of glutamine that will have direct impact on your bodybuilding progress/recovery/overall health.Here's some of this powerful macronutrients influences in the human body:

*Increases T-Lymphocyte cell(immune-system boosting)cell proliferation...

*Augments the bacterial-killing functions(known as phagocytosis) of neutrophins,also known as leukocytes,which have a voracious appetite for microbial bacteria...

*Enhances liver GLUTATHIONE(which is a very potent anti-oxidant)stores and lowers hepatic(liver)enzyme elevations(which will obviously be of tremendous benefit to all oral 17aa consumers)...

*Promotes glycogen synthesis and storage within the muscle cell.

*Stimulates protein synthesis/inhibits protein degradation...

*Acts as a muscle cell volumizer(increases fluid/macronutrient capacity within the cell)...

Outside of Creatine Monohydrate,this nutrient should be second of importance on the 'to-purchase' list for physical augmentation.It does not give the dramatic,instant-gratification effects like creatine,but as you can see,it's overall mechanisms toward improving health/recovery/cell processes vital to bodybuiling are far reaching...I would recommend the peptide forms over the L forms as they are pre-digested,and pass the intestinal wall into the blood stream much more efficiently.

 

[macho21]

Any Questions?LOL. Well said Huck.

 

[Xtreme2001]

I shoulda asked this before, but is creatine recommended as well if you're on a cycle?

Thanks Hucky

PS: what dosage would be best for glutamine?

 

[CCB]

What is the peptide form of glutamine called? Is it just considered glutamine?

 

[HUCKLEBERRY FINNaplex]

Xtreme-YES!Give me a moment,and I'll dig up one of my old posts on creatine/androgen synergy...

CCB-Called glutamine peptides.Best price on them can be had at
www.kilosports.com

 

[HUCKLEBERRY FINNaplex]

Hey fellas.Just dug up an interesting read out of one of my old Ironman mags.The following excerpts are providided by the notorious Michael Gundill(a.k.a. Dharkam)....Although creatine does have testosterone-like effects,it doesn't act as a steroid hormone.Instead,it's a mediator of some of the androgens' anabolic effects.In fact,steroid users get far more out of their cycles if they take in massive amounts of creatine along with the drugs.Androgens are among the hormones that can force the entry of creatine into muscle cells.While there's a clear relationship between muscle strength gains and increases in muscle creatine stores,unfortunately,the relationship is not as obvious when it comes to increases in muscle mass.Animal-based studies have shown that the muscles of untrained rats take up as much creatine as the muscles of trained rats,but the ANABOLIC effects of creatine are only obvious in trained rats.Therefore,training increases the muscles sensitivity to the anabolic actions of creatine.(Although it's not related to this article,the study also demonstrated that the anabolic effects of creatine are DIRECT,and not mediated by waterretention.In fact,in the 1970s American and Russian studies pointed out a DIRECT anabolic effect of creatine on muscle cells.)Testosterone increases the muscles'sensitivity to the anabolic properties of creatine in addition to enhancing the creatine buildup in muscle fibers.It's also obvious that part of the strength gains people experience while on steroids are mediated by an increase in muscle creatine stores.An interesting discovery A/S users have made is that they should dramatically increase their creatine intake during a cycle to boost the potency of the steroids.Thanks to creatine,people can build more muscle mass with fewer drugs.Anecdotal evidence from A/S users points out that it takes at least 10-15 grams(maintenance)of creatine a day to visibly enhance the the anabolic potency of a steroid stack.There are probably good reasons for the increased creatine requirement when androgen levels are high.As mentioned above,steroids increase the muscle uptake of creatine,and if the muscles are ready to accept more creatine,why not give it to them?I also think that even though steroids enhance creatine synthesis,they may increase creatine degradation as well-so more creatine is used up every day.That could be due to an increase in muscle creatine turnover and also the fact that an elevated muscle protein synthesis rate will likely consume creatine at a faster rate.Other reasons for a higher creatine requirement may be indirect.Because the muscles of drug users are stronger and receive more training,they may waste greater amounts of creatine during training.Once inside the muscle,creatine provides not only an anabolic effect,but also a rapidly mobilized source of fuel.Muscle protein synthesis is a process that wastes great amounts of energy.Anabolism is an ATP-dependent process,which means that it's essential for protein synthesis.If the cellular level of ATP is reduced even a little,IT STOPS ANABOLISM.So even if you can increase the testosterone content of your muscles,nothing will happen if your ATP level is low.Creatine supports anabolism by providing energy to the muscle...Well fellas,it looks like it might be a good idea to stock up on creatine when you're grabbing your protein powder for those bulking cycles,hehheh....Huck

 

[metal rail]

Huck awesome info on both posts, but with the creatine don't you wan tot cycle that as well? If so wouldn't you want to wait until you are off cycle to take this to help maintain your gains. I am on a first cycle right now just started a week ago and am taking L-Glutamine for the first tiem ever in over three years and was going to use creatine but figured I would wait until throuh with cycle to help with maintaining gains. Thanks again for a great coulple of posts.

 

[HUCKLEBERRY FINNaplex]

Yes,either way would work well,but it should be cycled on and off every once and while,to avoid attenuation/down-regulation.

 

[Xtreme2001]

Thanks Huck
I've been cycling creatine alone because I'm off a cycle... I'll be starting in about 2 weeks.. I'll drop the creatine for about a month or so.. and then throw it back in there. As well with the glutamine which i'll run throughout the entire cycle.

Regarding the dosages..
Would 10-15mg of creatine AND glutamine before and after workout give me best results? Should I wait a certain time to take either one? ex. 30min prior to workout and 30min after