Inside the Mind of Deserusan

I’m sure of all of you out there in cyberspace and who happen to stumble upon this blog know full well I’m a huge advocate of the right to choose what you put into your body. It’s no myth that physique enhancement often points one down paths which lead them to “illegal” compounds after unsuccessful trials with legal OTC supplements. However, there are numerous “grey area” supplements which are in clear violation of FDA policies that are still sold as legal supplements. My issue with these grey market compounds is that they indeed put the full spectrum of OTC supplements at risk of being banned.

We all know the FDA has been a sleeping monster for quite a few years when it comes to this, but now the supplement industry has caught the eye of the DEA. This past Friday a proposal was set forth to classify three rather popular OTC steroidal as anabolic steroids. The compounds in question are boldione, desoxymethyltestosterone, and 19-nor-4,9(10)-androstadienedione. All of these are readily available through numerous online retail outlets, the same ones which also sell multivitamins, creatine, etc.

I guess the question is, since the DEA is now looking into these compounds, what proactive steps will supplement distributors take in order to see that the DEA doesn’t crack down on more “grey area” or even perfectly legal OTC supplements? I wonder if many are even aware the DEA probably has them listed as potential steroid distributors if this proposal is amended to the Anabolic Steroid Act of 1990? In all seriousness, the answer is probably a big fat NO, so hopefully a few of you out there will let them know what’s up.

My message to them is, don’t get greedy on a few flagged steroids which puts everything else OTC on the market in harms way as well. Uncle Sam is not ****ing around anymore when it comes to steroids and that cat is out of the bag regarding these three compounds. If you don’t believe me then take a look for yourself.

“Since three steroids have a high potential for drug abuse and trafficking, the Drug Enforcement Administration wants to classify them as Schedule III controlled substances.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing to classify three steroids as Schedule III controlled substances to avoid the potential for drug abuse and trafficking. The three steroids are: boldione, desoxymethyltestosterone, and 19-nor-4,9(10)-androstadienedione. DEA said currently these steroids are not approved for medical use. However, there are some companies, primarily Internet- and China-based, that are selling them. This proposal, if approved, will bar the importation, exportation, and sale of these substances except for legitimate research or industrial uses. Those who wish to comment on this proposal should send them in by June 24.

Decline Bench Press: 365lbs x 6 x 3

Hammer Strength Incline: 270lbs x 8 x 3

Free Motion Flyes: failure x 3

Incline Dumbbell Flyes: 50lb’ers x 8 x 2

Wide Grip Cable Extensions: 200lbs x failure x 2

Overhead Dumbbell Extensions: 50lb’ers x failure x 2

Rope Extensions: 120lbs x failure x 1

Slow negatives have really helped to bring my upper chest up. Vanessa commented that I actually need to work on my lower chest a bit so I’ll be cycling in some decline movements from time to time which I haven’t done in a long time.

Leg Extensions: 300lbs x 20 x 3

Leg Curls: 240lbs x 15 x 3

Leg Press: 1080lbs x 10 x 3

Hack Squats: 450lbs x 8 x 3

Single Leg Curls: 90lbs x failure x 2

This leg work was actually cut a bit short because the power went out in the gym I was training in. It was storming pretty bad this past Friday in northern Illinois with almost blinding rain and wind. While finishing my first set of hack squats all the lights and music just died at the St. Charles XSport Gym I was at.

At first it was a bit amusing but it took almost 25minutes to get them back on and despite the fact I tried to stay warmed up on stationary bike, I lost the great pump I had going. I forced out the last few sets of hacks and the leg curls but I was more or less just going through the motions.

*warm up sets not included

Cambered Bar Curls: 135lbs x 10 x 3

superset w/

Overhead Rope Extensions: 200lbs x 10 x 3

Smith Machine CGBP: 315lbs x 8 x 3

superset w/

Seated Dumbbell Curls: 40lb’ers x 10/10 x 3

Cable Extensions (4-2-0-2): 200lbs x 8 x 2

superset w/

Preacher Curls (6-2-0-2): 75lbs x 8 x 2 

Overhead Dumbbell Extensions: 40lb’ers x failure 

Front Double Bicep Cable Extensions: 40lbs (per side) x failure

Incline Crunches: 30 x 6

It seemed befitting because she is so animated and in Greek Zoe means "life." She’s actually pretty hyper and fearless which is cool with me. Here is a video Vanessa took of her the other day and notice how she likes to smack the camera around.

There was a recent presentation at the American Physiological Societ, that cited certain OTC painkillers such as “ibuprofen and acetaminophen caused a substantially greater increase over placebo in the amount of quadriceps muscle mass and muscle strength gained during three months of regular weight lifting.” To the typical meathead this seems like a “wow bro” opportunity to get excited about but is a bit appalling to me.
I’d like to see the actual study including exercise protocol, caloric intake, etc. What concerns me about “reports” like this is that they aren’t peer reviewed or accepted for publications. It created a buzz in the medical community and probably support from OTC pharma hence the reason it was released in a sensationalistic manner.

NSAID’s which are indiscriminant to either the COX I or COX II pathway can cause numerous pathogolies related to the GI tract, kidneys, and the circulatory system. Even the “next gen” COX-2 selective inhibitors were shown to double the risk of heart attacks. Saying these help build muscle when they most likely gave these to untrained elderly who most likely have elevated inflammatory markers due to age alone is terribly disgusting. Talk about a “doctored” study. I’m sure the study participants were also not aware that analgesics like acetominophen is the leading cause of acute liver toxicity with over 56,000 reported cases per annum.

Don’t get me wrong, there is a time and place for OTC NSAID’s like Advil and or analgesics like Tylenol. However, those who are taking them chronically are fools and the people responsible for publishing this article should have their heads examined because it was not released to the public in a responsible manner. You’ll notice that no relevant clinical safety markers were addressed in this press release. I’d love to see how their kidney’s were functioning or if they did before and after endoscopy to check for any ulcers that may have developed.

What’s sad is the FDA lets claims like this go unchecked but a supplement manufacturer can’t say fish oil will help in certain areas of clinically diagnosed depression despite hundreds of studies to supporting this non-prescription approach to treatment. They seem more concerned with corporate profitability than truly what is best for the American people. Anyone remember Vioxx or Fen-Phen? Those worked out well until over 150,000 product liability cases were filed and the list keeps growing. The next "study" we’ll see published is that cigarettes are great for weight loss. It’s true and they really are, especially when they give you cancer or when you are on a calorie restricted diet while on a ventilator.

I still don’t have a name for her but should have that taken care of tonight. Things seem to go well at the vet and we even picked up some vitamins for her. I figured if I’m a supplement junkie I mind as well get the cat hooked too. It’s funny because she’s eating on the same schedule as me about every three hours.

Since she’s only about five weeks old I’m feeding her a powdered formula appropriate for her age. When she gets a bit older she will be getting the "normal" cat food but I do like to feed my animals real steak, fish, etc once a day as well. When you think about it, they are true carnivores if you have ever tried cat/dog food yourself you know it tastes like garbage. You are probably wondering if I have tried and the answer is yes. Doesn’t every former pledge from a frat know?

Here’s a few picks of my unnamed fur-ball.

Her first bath. She actually didn’t mind this too much.

As you can tell she really is a pretty cat. She does have a tendency to swim in her water bowl and cover herself with her kitten formula. I must say though it’s nice having a little companion like this again.

I’ll keep this brief but I’m moving to New York at the end of the summer. While I’ll miss my research hub in the mid-west, I would like to move forward in my relationship with Vanessa. She’s truly a great woman and I can’t stand being away from her any longer than I have to. Oh yeah, we also found a tiny kitten last night and believe it or not I love cats. I’ll post up some pictures later of this unnamed little ball of fur.

Asian J Androl. 2008 May;10(3):427-32. Links
Olympic sports and transsexuals.

Gooren LJ.
Department of Endocri-nology, VU University Medical Center, P.O.Box 7057, Amsterdam 1007 MB, the Netherlands.ljgooren@truemail.co.th.
Sex segregation in competitive sports is regarded as fair. Before puberty boys and girls do not differ in height, muscle and bone mass. Testosterone (T) exposure during puberty leads to an ultimate average greater height in men of 12-15 cm, longer and larger bones and muscle mass and strength and higher hemoglobin levels. Postpubertal androgen ablation reverses, at least in part, previous anabolic effects of T on muscle, bone mineral density and hemoglobin but the long bones remain longer and wider. T administration dose dependently increases muscle mass and maximal voluntary strength. Therefore, exogenous androgens, being performance enhancing drugs, are banned for all athletes. An issue is the participation in competitive sports of people with errors of sexual differentiation and particularly transsexuals who have been sex-reassigned. In view of the effects of T, a clear demarcation is whether sex reassignment has taken place before or after hormonal puberty. Pubertal effects of T are in part reversible but there is no reliable evidence as to its completeness. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has taken an inevitably arbitrary decision with regard to participation of sex-reassigned transsexuals in elite sports: sex reassignment must have taken place at least two years earlier, hormone treatment must be appropriate for the reassigned sex and the reassigned sex must be legally recognized. The IOC policy is not binding for other organizations.

Well isn’t that special. I may be naive but are there actually transsexuals who have competed in the Olympics? I haven’t investigated this before asking and will try seek the truth in this matter but it does get a big WTF from me. Has anyone seen the movie The Ringer with Johnny Knoxville? If you have you may get what I’m alluding to. Regardless, I’m not against people getting sex changes and wish them all the best. However, there does appear to be an unfair advantage of man becoming a woman and then competing against other women. The flipside of this is that perhaps some of the women competing are so hormonally fubar from androgen use that they are considered men? Please someone clarify this for me.

Some of you out there may or may not know, but I occasionally do demos throughout the Midwest for Gaspari Nutrition. These serve as great way for Gaspari customers to converse with a “product expert” and gain a different perspective on the supplementation then what the typical supplement shop employee can offer.

For me, I’ve actually learned a great deal about consumer behavior while doing these. Much of this experience has been invaluable and I’m very happy my superiors asked if I would do this which has taken me outside of my research and digital marketing roles.

From now on I’ll be posting my schedule here which can also be found on the Gaspari Nutrition website (www.gasparinutrition.com). If you check it out we do have a national demo team comprised of the bodybuilding greats like Cathy LeFrancois and even Rich Gaspari himself takes pride in doing these as well. Hopefully we’ll be coming to a town near you soon!

GNC   3-6PM
WOODFIELD MALL
SCHAUMBURG , IL 60173
Phone: (847) 330-9057

FitRX  11-2PM
2302 Esplanade Drive
Algonquin, IL 60102
Phone: (847) 854-2090

GNC 3-6PM
HAWTHORNE CENTER
VERNON HILLS  , IL 60061
Phone: (847) 816-6818

GNC 11-2PM
HOFFMAN  VILLAGE CENTER
2577 WEST   GOLF ROAD
HOFFMAN ESTATES , IL  60169
Phone: (847) 490-3525