finasteride and Bodybuilding = Good?

[brentx]

I've had some nice maintenance over the past 13 months, and me and my girlfriend have even come to the conclusion that my little receding hairline is getting better too! I'm on Finasteride and Nizoral only..

Anyway, I think I've just hit my first (noticeable) shed at about the 13 month mark, and it has got me thinking. Since Finasteride apparently raises Free Testosterone levels and this also attacks hair, is there a way to reduce or "use" Free Testosterone another way, say with bodybuilding?

I'm not 100% sure that it is the Free Testosterone causing the shed, and I'm actually leaning towards the idea that the Finasteride is rather causing my hairs to synchronise and they'll ALL be back thicker and stronger than before! :woot:

The question in summary is, does bodybuilding and/or cardio exercise reduce (or raise) Free Testosterone, and are there any other things I/we should know/think about?

I hope this is understandable!

 

[rusty_y2k2]

http://www.scienceblog.com/community/ol ... 03851.html

extract: (nb END = endurance trained, TES = resistance trained, SED = sedentary)

"Total Testosterone: There was an increase in total testosterone after exercise, particularly after resistance exercise. There was a significant session by time interaction due to the pronounced decline in total testosterone during recovery from resistance exercise. Area under the curve results indicated that the SED subjects had significantly greater total testosterone concentrations compared to END or RES subjects.

Free Testosterone: The changes in free testosterone across sessions closely matched the changes in total testosterone. When all subjects were analyzed together, free testosterone was significantly greater during the resting session than during the run or resistance exercise session. As seen with total testosterone, there was a significant decline in free testosterone during recovery from resistance exercise, despite an initial increase after exercise. Testosterone increased back to baseline levels by time 4 following resistance exercise."


Any use?

 

[brentx]

http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/2003/B/2003851.html

extract: (nb END = endurance trained, TES = resistance trained, SED = sedentary)

"Total Testosterone: There was an increase in total testosterone after exercise, particularly after resistance exercise. There was a significant session by time interaction due to the pronounced decline in total testosterone during recovery from resistance exercise. Area under the curve results indicated that the SED subjects had significantly greater total testosterone concentrations compared to END or RES subjects.

Free Testosterone: The changes in free testosterone across sessions closely matched the changes in total testosterone. When all subjects were analyzed together, free testosterone was significantly greater during the resting session than during the run or resistance exercise session. As seen with total testosterone, there was a significant decline in free testosterone during recovery from resistance exercise, despite an initial increase after exercise. Testosterone increased back to baseline levels by time 4 following resistance exercise."


Any use?

Wow, perfect.. Very useful indeed, thanks very much!

So, after an initial spike in Free Testosterone after resistance exercise, levels dropped below baseline sometime after that. I guess this could be either beneficial or destructive to hair, though it might make absolutely no difference to the whole male pattern baldness problem anyway.

Heavy lifting saw the most obvious fluctuation in levels..

I'm going to start a little bulking regime, since I'm a bit skinny anyway! It's either going to be good OR bad for my little hairs! Oh well..

Thanks again!

 

[RaginDemon]

http://www.scienceblog.com/community/older/2003/B/2003851.html

extract: (nb END = endurance trained, TES = resistance trained, SED = sedentary)

"Total Testosterone: There was an increase in total testosterone after exercise, particularly after resistance exercise. There was a significant session by time interaction due to the pronounced decline in total testosterone during recovery from resistance exercise. Area under the curve results indicated that the SED subjects had significantly greater total testosterone concentrations compared to END or RES subjects.

Free Testosterone: The changes in free testosterone across sessions closely matched the changes in total testosterone. When all subjects were analyzed together, free testosterone was significantly greater during the resting session than during the run or resistance exercise session. As seen with total testosterone, there was a significant decline in free testosterone during recovery from resistance exercise, despite an initial increase after exercise. Testosterone increased back to baseline levels by time 4 following resistance exercise."


Any use?

Wow, perfect.. Very useful indeed, thanks very much!

So, after an initial spike in Free Testosterone after resistance exercise, levels dropped below baseline sometime after that. I guess this could be either beneficial or destructive to hair, though it might make absolutely no difference to the whole male pattern baldness problem anyway.

Heavy lifting saw the most obvious fluctuation in levels..

I'm going to start a little bulking regime, since I'm a bit skinny anyway! It's either going to be good OR bad for my little hairs! Oh well..

Thanks again!

You got it right, weight lifting itself has no real impact on your hair growth, just dont take roid or anything like that.

 

[willem07]

Wow, perfect.. Very useful indeed, thanks very much!

So, after an initial spike in Free Testosterone after resistance exercise, levels dropped below baseline sometime after that. I guess this could be either beneficial or destructive to hair, though it might make absolutely no difference to the whole male pattern baldness problem anyway.

Heavy lifting saw the most obvious fluctuation in levels..

I'm going to start a little bulking regime, since I'm a bit skinny anyway! It's either going to be good OR bad for my little hairs! Oh well..

Thanks again!

Regardless of whether or not it directly affects your hair, you'll be doing yourself a great service by bulking up and staying in shape. You'll be less conscious about your hair and more confident all around.

 

[Defenton]

I think the spike in testosterone during resistence is too short to affect your hair follicles. I did heavy lifting (80% MR) for about 4 months last summer before travelling, put on 14lbs and my hair got better over that period. I strongly recommend it as it's very enjoyable if done properly, going from a slim physique to something more substantial, as initial gains are very significant and keep you motivated. Just promise me you won't use weight machines and that you incorporate the bench press, squat and dead lift into the regimen.

safe

 

[brentx]

I think the spike in testosterone during resistence is too short to affect your hair follicles. I did heavy lifting (80% MR) for about 4 months last summer before travelling, put on 14lbs and my hair got better over that period. I strongly recommend it as it's very enjoyable if done properly, going from a slim physique to something more substantial, as initial gains are very significant and keep you motivated. Just promise me you won't use weight machines and that you incorporate the bench press, squat and dead lift into the regimen.

safe

Thanks, it's great to hear someone elses actual experience.

So, you were a guy of "slim physique" and put on 6kg in 4 months! That sounds great! Did you change your diet? I'm on a high calory diet at the moment, trying to eat as much meat and vegies as possible.. I've yet to start a proper lifting routine, but I'm pretty keen on incorporating what you mentioned once my bench arrives (bench press, squat and dead lifts, though I want to do a little cardio too).

Have you got any tips or any good websites that you would like to recommend? I'd appreciate anything! Also, what about protein supps? Now this has gone off topic..

 

[Defenton]

I would say fairly slim, although I had been doing a limited workout regimen on and off for a couple of years. Also some of that weight was fat, from the increased calories, but most was muscle. According to my records, I went from 10stone 8lbs in late March to 11stone 7 lbs in early october, so it was more like 6 months, but I think I only got my sh*t sorted after june.

Ok,

Diet, well I've always eaten well so the only major change was to add high energy drinks before and protein shakes after the work out. The protein shakes were literally just chocolate powder, 1 pint of milk and 3-4 spoons of dehydrated milk powder as the latter stuff has a massively high protein count. It's not 'scientific protein' but it's £1 a tin not £40 so who cares?! I think just eat regularly 3-4 times a day on top of the protein shake. If your only starting out there is little need to get too technical as your size will increase dramatically anyway. Major changes in diet are only needed once your regimen plateaus, which may not be for a while.

Cardio is not a problem, but I'd say you want to go for increased stamina over middle distances rather than long, as you will struggle, with extra muscle mass, to go for hours. I would recommend swimming as it doesn't have so much wear and tear on your knees like jogging and you can do it in all weathers. Swim constantly for 20 minutes, note down your number of laps and aim to beat it each time. If you prefer to jog, go outside as treadmills really aren't that hot, just compare the two and see what I mean, real jogging is alot tougher.

Aim to do 3, maybe 4 sessions of lifting a week, preferably 3 and one or 2 swimming as otherwise your muscles won't recover and at best you'll lift sub-par, at worst you will injure yourself. Also you need to vary the lifting. Say one day to bench, squats and military press, the next do deadlifts, chin-ups, and rows. (as an example) Don't worry about training one area specifically i.e. shoulders, as this is more for bodybuilding, as is isometric training (holding the bar still until fatigue). I
As I said before, avoid the machines, T-Nation will reinforce this, and do low reps (4-6) at a high weight for 3-4 sets, otherwise your only really struggling for the last couple of reps, rather than all of them.

Also keep a journal of your progress and like with your hair regimen, find one you like, and stick to it, at least for a month or six weeks. You can always add and subtract after that but all the workouts you will hear about aren't tailor made to you so just find what works, it's not always easy.

As for websites , by far the best I ever found was http://www.t-nation.com as it has hundreds of free articles written by strength and conditioning coaches, most have gif files of the exercise done correctly and incorrectly. It's roughly divided into performance and bodybuilding but the volume of articles is alittle over whelming, the recommended ones are excellent to start with, though. Also check out the women in the 'Powerful Images' section, they're pretty freaky!

Hope this helps.

safe

 

[brentx]

I would say fairly slim, although I had been doing a limited workout regimen on and off for a couple of years. Also some of that weight was fat, from the increased calories, but most was muscle. According to my records, I went from 10stone 8lbs in late March to 11stone 7 lbs in early october, so it was more like 6 months, but I think I only got my s*** sorted after june.

Ok,

Diet, well I've always eaten well so the only major change was to add high energy drinks before and protein shakes after the work out. The protein shakes were literally just chocolate powder, 1 pint of milk and 3-4 spoons of dehydrated milk powder as the latter stuff has a massively high protein count. It's not 'scientific protein' but it's £1 a tin not £40 so who cares?! I think just eat regularly 3-4 times a day on top of the protein shake. If your only starting out there is little need to get too technical as your size will increase dramatically anyway. Major changes in diet are only needed once your regimen plateaus, which may not be for a while.

Cardio is not a problem, but I'd say you want to go for increased stamina over middle distances rather than long, as you will struggle, with extra muscle mass, to go for hours. I would recommend swimming as it doesn't have so much wear and tear on your knees like jogging and you can do it in all weathers. Swim constantly for 20 minutes, note down your number of laps and aim to beat it each time. If you prefer to jog, go outside as treadmills really aren't that hot, just compare the two and see what I mean, real jogging is alot tougher.

Aim to do 3, maybe 4 sessions of lifting a week, preferably 3 and one or 2 swimming as otherwise your muscles won't recover and at best you'll lift sub-par, at worst you will injure yourself. Also you need to vary the lifting. Say one day to bench, squats and military press, the next do deadlifts, chin-ups, and rows. (as an example) Don't worry about training one area specifically i.e. shoulders, as this is more for bodybuilding, as is isometric training (holding the bar still until fatigue). I
As I said before, avoid the machines, T-Nation will reinforce this, and do low reps (4-6) at a high weight for 3-4 sets, otherwise your only really struggling for the last couple of reps, rather than all of them.

Also keep a journal of your progress and like with your hair regimen, find one you like, and stick to it, at least for a month or six weeks. You can always add and subtract after that but all the workouts you will hear about aren't tailor made to you so just find what works, it's not always easy.

As for websites , by far the best I ever found was http://www.t-nation.com as it has hundreds of free articles written by strength and conditioning coaches, most have gif files of the exercise done correctly and incorrectly. It's roughly divided into performance and bodybuilding but the volume of articles is alittle over whelming, the recommended ones are excellent to start with, though. Also check out the women in the 'Powerful Images' section, they're pretty freaky!

Hope this helps.

safe

That is exactly the help I needed here! Thanks heaps for all that!

I'm going to get training right away. What you said about when the regimen plateaus really made me realise that I don't need to start with a full army of protein shakes, creatine, 8 meals a day, etc.. It's best just to start with SOMETHING!

Thanks again mate. unk:

 

[Defenton]

no problems, good luck!