Ask Dave Palumbo #6

Subject: Nolvadex for Female Bodybuilding

Dave, I was interested in the use of Nolvadex for achieving hardness in a woman (also to block my monthly “period” as a prepare for my first BB contest. I contacted a pharmacist, recommended by a friend, who told me that Nolvadex was primarily used for cancer patients. She was very confused when I told her what my aim was – to reduce water retention – as I would be on my monthly cycle at the same time of a bodybuilding contest. I could barely respond to the pharmacist when she asked me for a second time why I would want to use that product. He reiterated its PRIMARY use and said, perhaps it could be used for other reasons, but none he was aware of. I am unable to decide whether to subject my body to those types of drugs which are oft times prescribed to someone who is ill or has a terminal disease. Help!

Answer: First off, Nolvadex (tamoxifen) is not even on the list of banned substances for any federation (including the International Olympic Committee). Your letter disturbed me greatly because you were misled so severely by this imbicile who calls himself a professional. The last thing I would ever do is recommend a harmful substance. Nolvadex is nothing more than a synthetic estrogen (a lot less harmful than birth control pills). This estrogen analog resembles the “real” estrogen so closely that (when ingested) it binds to the estrogen receptors in your body and blocks the “real” estrogen from reaching its target and thus exerting its effects (in women that’s water retention, fat in the lower body, and ovulation). It is this last effect that, when blocked, inhibits you from getting your period. Women (with breast cancer) take Nolvadex because many of the breast cancer tumors GROW in response to the hormone ESTROGEN. If you inhibit estrogen from stimulating the tumor cells in the breast, you can stop the cancer from spreading. Even though Nolvadex is called a “cancer drug”, its effects on the body can hardly be called dangerous or life-threatening! Anyway, sorry for the unneccessary panic I may have caused you. Next time, ask me first!

Subject: GH on CKD versus High Carbs

What (if any) are the concerns/complications in using GH on a CKD vs. a typical high carb diet?

Answer: GH works better on a high protein, moderate fat, very low carb diet When using GH on a high carb diet, you may need to take insulin to help absorb the high amounts of carbs. Remember that GH inhibits the ability of insulin to do its job (i.e. store things).

Subject: Intravenous Growth Hormone

Dave, are the top guys in the states, injecting growth intraveniously, due to the half life being so short. Also what are the dosages, I’ve won my national title twice but have been put off going any further due to lack of knowledge and size. I am 5 foot 11 and contest weight when i last competed was 242. Any info on anything would be greatly appreciated.

Answer: If you could inject GH intravenously, it would say so on the vial; it doesn’t, therefore, logic would dictate that it should not be injected IV. But, that fact will not stop every “looney toon” from listening to the latest rumor. Be smart, if Genentech and Lilly think that GH should be taken intramuscularly (IM) and subcutaneously (SC), then chances are they are correct (after all, they make the stuff).

Subject: Cure for Stretch Marks

After 3 weeks off a short 2 week cycle of Dianabol, I found stretch marks. I was taking 800 IU’s of vitamin E of which I discontinued with everything else to cycle my vitamins, but now I got a few small ones (stretch marks). Are these unavoidable? Could it be my age (20)? I was planning on a 6 week cycle, but now I was thinking it would make things worse. Do you recomend anything? I was thinking I would be better off with the two short weeks. Is it just genetics? How do bodybuilders hide all of this? I’ve seen several with and without them.

Think of stretch marks as battle wounds. They will fade with age. At least you know you are growing – I know guys that would kill to get the stretch marks you describe. The bodybuilders without the stretch marks are usually the “small, shapely, ones” (I do not want to hear any complaints about the last statement – it’s a joke!)

Subject: Ultra-Dry “Look”

How do I get that ultra “dry” look that you, Dave, and many other top Pros display on stage?

Answer: “Drying out” is a very scientific process and a very person-specific one. A few things to remember:

1. Drink lots of water the week before a show.
2. Do not restrict sodium until the last 2 days prior to a show.
3. Do not take any diuretics until 1-2 days before a show.

Subject: Diuretics and Potassium

I am a woman and I am doing my first contest. I am thinking about taking diuretics; however, my doctor says I should be careful no to become potassium deficient. Should I take a supplement like slow K? Or should I just use herbal diuretics? Will the diuretics affect my “carbing up”?

Answer: Most diuretics are “potassium sparing” which means you do not lose potassium (e.g. Dyazide, Aldactone). If you want to use the herbals (they should work fine), take Uva Ursi (get it at any health food store). Start 2 days out – take 1 pill with every meal and drink plenty of fluid. Also, you should be eating plenty of sodium now to desensitize your body so when you cut out the sodium 2 days out from the show your body will shed the excess water. Diuretics should be taken right up to and including the day of the contest (you won’t have to pee that bad – LOL – it’s controllable). Also, do not carb up to heavily; women tend to smooth out real easily – maybe an extra 50-80 grams of carbs per day for the last 3 days (thats PLENTY!)

Subject: Torn Tricep and IGF

I tore the about 1/3 of my tricep tendon from the bone about 2 weeks ago. I have been to a surgeon and am getting it surgically repaired this week. The surgeon said he would be using 3 or 4 screws to reattache the tendon to the bone. My question is are there any “supplements” that would speed up the healing process? I have IGF and was planning n taking 40-50 mcg a day along with some anabolics which I have yet to get. What are your recommendations?

Answer: The IGF-1 would help tremendously. Keep your dosage of anabolics to a minimum because they cause the muscle to be “too pumped”, thus exerting pressure on the newly healing tendon. Besides, anabolics will only heal muscle (not tendons) and since you tore the tendon, stick to the GH and IGF-1 which has a demonstrated effect on connective tissue

Subject: Winstrol-V versus Winstrol Depot

What is the difference between Winstrol V and Winstrol depot? I can get either, but I want to get the best stuff. Also, the “V” comes in a 30 ml bottle, and the “depot” comes in 50 mg ampules, what is the difference? Effects, effectiveness, side effects? I’m supposed to pick up the stuff today! Please help me!

Answer: Winstrol-V is “Veterinary”. That means, its used for animals (it is sterile stanazol power in water). Winstol Depot (depot meaning injection) is sterile stanazol powder in water too; however, the pH is buffered so that it does not hurt when being injected. Effectiveness? Exactly the SAME!

Dear Dave,

I didn’t know clenbuterol lowered your blood pressure. I would have thought that it would raise it by some of the side effects people tell me they have such as tremors,anxiety attacks( feeling like their having heart attacks), accelerated heart beat, etc. Are any of those side effects anything to worry about? I know sometimes when I first start upping my dose of anadrol I have “panic attacks” characterized by rapid heart beat and an overall uncomfortable feeling. Sometimes I have to take tranquilizers and lay in the shower for an hour or so. I think that I may be prone to anxiety attacks more so than the average person. Do you think cytomel would be a better alternative for me. I also wanted to ask you how long it took you to get such massive arms.

ANSWER: Clen only causes panic and anxiety when the dose is raised too high. Additionally, too much clen can lead to low blood pressure thus causing the heart to beat faster in order to move the blood through the now dilated bood vessels.

Try doing isolation exercises (one arm cable work) for biceps and triceps. They will respond much better than from heavy compound movements. Synthosizze Brand Pump and Pose may help also.

About the author

Dave Palumbo

RxMuscle.com

Dave Palumbo graduated with a BS in Biology/Anthropology from Franklin and Marshall College (1990) and attended 3 years of medical school at New York Medical College in Valhalla, NY (1990-1993). While competing as a top nationally-ranked NPC bodybuilder for nearly 15 years, he earned the nickname “Jumbo” because of the enormous 300+ ripped pounds of muscle he displayed on a routine basis. Nowadays, Dave preps physique athletes for competition, he owns his own supplement company, SPECIES: Evolutionary Nutrition, and he runs the extremely popular bodybuilding, fitness, and strength sport media site known as RxMuscle.com.