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5. In terms of supplements, see the supplement chapter. 6. I personally recommend and prefer using a quality Pre-Workout drink on this type of fasting protocol, before my training. a) Criteria for a good pre-workout drink is to include Creatine, Caffeine, Betaine (Estrogen Methylator), and Amino Acids. I also have become enamored with BetaHydroxybutarate (BHB) pre training due to the mountain of research showing how effective it is at increasing oxygen efficiency in training. Also, adaptogens are great to take before training. Again, see the supplements chapter for more information. 7. To help you out with shopping, I put together The Ultimate Testosterone Grocery List here on the TestShock Blog.
lackluster results in the gym, “ If you’re tired of yo-yo’ing,
and a soft physique, then I implore you to please give this simple plan a shot.
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THOR Supplement Stack
I
’ve become quite fond of a handful of supplements that have real research behind their claims. I use these in my own life and have felt amazing since starting most of them, especially things like Boron, ashwagandha, and phosphatidylserine. While there are a number of different supplements I have recommended in the past, I am going to narrow down the selection a bit for this program. One of the complaints I have gotten from my clients and in the forum is that guys are not sure where to start supplement wise. Over the course of the last couple of years I have highlighted a number of my favorite vitamin and mineral formulas as well as the most potent testosterone boosting supplements. Guys want simple solutions to the problem of what supplements to take. As many of you know I have been working on a number of supplements I know can outperform anything that is on the market in terms of altering testosterone to cortisol balance in your favor. If you have been following my work you should know that testosterone to cortisol balance is one of the keys to maintaining a large amount of muscle mass and keeping body fat levels low. Therefore I have focused my supplementation efforts around positively impacting this ratio. I will talk a little bit about what makes Cortigon my cortisol lowering supplement and Testro-X my testosterone enhancing supplement the best on the market. Keep in mind that many of the ingredients in both of the supplements work to lower cortisol and increase testosterone. 78
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As I have mentioned, the two hormones work on an axis. Often time what increases one will lower the other.
Testro-X When I originally began my testosterone enhancement journey, I wanted to sort through all the BS in the testosterone enhancement industry. The problem I had is that the industry was full of “Testosterone Boosters” and other supplements whose marketed effects made them seem like they would give users gains similar to anabolic steroids. “T Booster” itself is a pretty ambiguous name for a random group of supplements that have little direct evidence for their ability to actually increase testosterone. The main problem is that there is little to no research showing that the majority of these ingredients in the most popular test boosters actually have any effect on increasing testosterone levels. At best, they’re good herbs for general health. But it appears as though the inexpensive availability to manufacture many of these common substances coupled with me-too marketing has turned the test booster lineup into a sad state of copycat products with no real research to back their claims. While a short transient increase in testosterone is nice, what really benefits testosterone levels is a supplement that can help the body reach a new baseline. This is the reason that I have included compounds that do even more than the industry leading supplements to increase testosterone in the short term, while providing the adaptogens necessary to facilitate a more rapid transformation toward higher baseline T levels. Just take a look at the ingredients and their benefits, starting with the most potent form of the industry’s leading adaptogen KSM-66. Keep in mind, my extensive experience as an athlete informed my decision to focus this product on assisting guys in meeting their training goals. This will ultimately allow you to
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reach higher levels of circulating testosterone which will be visible via blood work you can get through a local lab. Drastically increasing testosterone naturally is controlled by a few big lifestyle factors that allow you to marginally increase your performance on neuromuscular training exercises over time. When you do this repeatedly it allows your body to make those incremental changes to its structure and functioning that allow it to produce more power and enhance neuromuscular efficiency. This will turn your body into a power production machine. The morphology that takes place to get to that point is complex and takes time. Any supplement that assists your body in making those numerous complex changes is your best best for long term testosterone enhancement. That’s why Testro-X beats the other supplements at their own game (transient testosterone “boosting”) while providing the most potent compounds known to facilitate rapid changes in the body. Alright, now that I have gotten myself excited about this thing let’s look at the ingredients. Again, keep in mind that this is more like the dietary additions a competitive cycler, sprinter or weightlifter would add to their regiment, so some of what is on the list may be new to you.
KSM-66 (Ashwagandha) The most research backed adaptogen on the market. KSM-66 has been shown to reduce cortisol levels from 14-32% in multiple studies spanning diverse groups of subjects. What’s important about this is that all the negative effects of overtraining, such as chronically elevated cortisol levels, can be pushed back or completely avoided by using potent adaptogens like KSM-66. This adaptogen has also been proven to enhance subjectively reported feelings of well being which many people believe allows subjects to train harder when they would otherwise feel fatigued.
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While this is definitely not the main reason I included the compound, anything that promotes feelings of calmness and wellbeing is sure to help people with overly stressful lives such as entrepreneurs.
Boron This trace mineral has been shown to increase testosterone by up to 28%, decrease estrogen by up to 39% and increase DHT levels by up to 10%. Most people have no idea what Boron is or what it can be used for. The idea that it can enhance testosterone more than most of the testosterone boosting supplements on the market is truly unique.
Forskolin This supplement has long been sued as a natural testosterone booster on its own. In rat studies it has been shown to boost testosterone 200% through stimulation of the Leydig cells. In human studies subjects using 250 mg of 10% Forskolin extract twice per day were compared with controls and were shown to have 33% higher testosterone levels. Forskolin has also been shown to increase protein kinase A (PKA) levels as well as cAMP levels which stimulate androgen receptors in the muscle cells.
BioPerine® BioPerine is a specialized type of piperine black pepper that has been shown to increase absorption of all other nutrients. When I first heard about this I was not impressed as absorb your food better is not a very flashy selling point. As I found out more about piperine and the BioPerine® brand piperine I become more intrigued. You see, this special black pepper is able to increase levels of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. It works through the body to optimize levels of this acid instead of supplementing with it directly like many people recommend. This is hugely beneficial to people with digestive issues or high stress levels. Not only will you benefit from more of the nutrients in your food, but it can indirectly decrease cortisol levels by allowing the body to more easily assimilate everything you eat.
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Magnesium Magnesium in a mineral that is absolutely essential in the production of testosterone as well as a number of different hormones. When your magnesium levels fall below a certain threshold testosterone levels are nearly guaranteed to fall. Though megadosing with magnesium will not cause a huge increase in testosterone, getting this mineral in adequate quantities is one of the key first steps to restoring low testosterone levels.
Zinc This is another mineral that is absolutely essential for proper testosterone production. While many of the other micronutrients will only cause a decrease in hormonal output in the long run, zinc deficiencies can cause drastic short term effects. For this reason it is crucial to maintain optimal zinc levels. Like magnesium, having super high zinc levels will provide not additional benefit, however it is worth getting a little extra to ensure you never go below the essential amount.
L-Theanine This supplement is a potent regulator of the sleep wake cycle. Similar to the way that melatonin assists in creating a regular sleep pattern, L-Theanine works to promote a regular sleep cycle that allows you to maximize hormonal output during sleep. This is crucial because the majority of growth hormone in men is released during sleep,slow wave sleep (SWS) in particular. By maximizing the amount of time you spend in bed actually asleep and properly cycling through the different types of sleep, you will be able to increase growth hormone output. It also increases LH output from your pituitary. As mentioned earlier in the THOR program the hormonal synergy between growth hormone and testosterone is undeniable.
Cortigon Cortigon is the supplement I designed to reduce cortisol and help increase cognitive performance. 82
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Basically I wanted a supplement that I could take every day that would solve a number of problems I was having. I wanted something that would help me to focus and increase feelings of calmness and alertness. This was something I had experienced with other cognitive enhancers, many of which caused me to feel on edge instead of calm and focused. In addition I wanted something that would help to actually reduce stress and lower cortisol. Finally I wanted something that I would be able to take every day. Realizing that a supplement that could fulfill all of my needs would be highly desireable to a bunch of the guys in my audience I set out to create Cortigon. My basic plan was to incorporate many of the supplements I was already taking and to research what could be added at a reasonable cost for my audience that would enhance the effectiveness of the supplements that were definitely going to be in the formula. In addition to learning a bunch about the supplement manufacturing game, I was able to come up with a super high quality, effective supplement I would be able to use every day. What was even better is that I knew it would be something that could serve my audience and save them a bunch of money. What I came up with was a combination of phosphatidylserine, Inositol, Omega-3 fatty acids, Choline, Carnitine and Gingko Biloba. This combination of supplements make up the most researched back ensemble of ingredients in any “cortisol manager” on the market. If you take a few minutes to browse Amazon’s supplement listings you will bund a bunch of random formulations that were created with one thing in mind….price. A certain price for each type of supplement already exists and companies look to undercut the going rate as much as possible by offering stacks of supplements that can be had at extremely low costs. My approach with Cortigon was to first look at the research on what supplements being offered had studies showing their effectiveness. I then spent time trying different versions of the individual supplements. Finally I came up with a short list of ingredients that needed to be in my supplement and a longer list of nice to have extras.
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Only then did I even look at my options for suppliers and combinations of different ingredients. At that point the only questions was what could I offer that would be the most incredible value possible that would make a noticeable difference that you could feel and see in your numbers (blood work). If you are still skeptical about how a supplement can have a drastic effect on your cortisol levels I invite you to look at some of the information I have put out about a number of ingredients I eventually made into the Cortigon formula.
Phosphatidylserine Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a naturally occurring phospholipid nutrient found in the cell membrane of all species. It is mostly found in organs with high metabolic activity, such as the brain, the liver, the lungs, the heart, and skeletal muscle. A large number of research studies support PS as a "super supplement," able to reverse neurodegenerative disease, increase testosterone naturally, lower cortisol levels, decrease stress quickly, and giving nootropic focus.
Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract The gingko biloba plant is rich in antioxidants like flavonoids and terpenoids, which protect cells from biological harm by free radical exposure. Many health experts claim that the herb is a great aid to help memory, especially in those with Alzheimer’s or other cognitive diseases. The antioxidant-packed gingko biloba plant is super conducive to protecting the brain from oxidative damage. Because gingko increases blood flow, it can also help by circulating blood through the brain and helping the body with oxygenation. This process can increase focus.
L-Carnitine Often used as a brain booster, due to its ability to increase alertness and mitochondrial capacity while providing support for the neurons, L-Carnitine has been shown to be very effective at alleviating the side effects of aging, like neurological decline and chronic fatigue. Supplementation is also a very safe method of improving insulin sensitivity and blood vessel health, particularly for people with delicate or weakened cardiac health.
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Carnitine can also protect neurons and repair certain damage, such as that caused by diabetes and diabetic neuropathy
Inositol Inositol as a dietary supplement is incredible for promoting fertility, restoring insulin sensitivity in instances of resistance (type II diabetes and polycystic ovarian syndrome being the most well investigated), and for reducing anxiety as well. Due to the mixed benefits to insulin resistance and fertility, inositol is considered a good treatment for PCOS. It also holds some promise as an anti-depressant (although not as impressive as its anxiolytic and anti-panic effects) and against some other conditions associated with anxiety such as panic disorders and binge eating.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids Omega 3’s are awesome for many reasons, one of them being their role in modulating prostate cancer and boosting the overall health of the prostate itself. Omega 3’s are also incredible for brain health and, in high doses, can actually give you a really cool (and very noticeable) nootropic effect – helping you focus intensely for a period of time. Omega 3’s are anti-inflammatory and will benefit your body in myriad ways.
Choline Bitartrate A key nutrient for the human diet is choline. Choline, commonly grouped in the B vitamin family, is integral to many human body functions some of which are brain, liver, cellular, and endocrine system. Choline has been known to help reduce symptoms of depression, memory loss, and seizures. Endurance athletes also use choline as an aid to build and maintain muscle as well as combat fatigue throughout peak training periods.
Other Notable Recommendations
Betaine Estrogen, structurally, is imbalanced. Essentially, the molecule is not structurally complete and requires an extra methyl group for this to occur. Once the estrogen molecule is
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methylated, it is rendered inert and therefore is pretty useless in the body. The body will then rid itself of the molecule through a process known as chelation. This is a quite straightforward and effective way of lowering estrogen levels. Betaine and choline are the most effective methylators for estrogen. The best sources of betaine include beets, wheat bran, spinach, and shrimp. By consuming adequate amounts of an estrogen methylator regularly, you will start to see lower estrogen levels and higher T levels in no time.
Creatine Creatine monohydrate is a substance produced naturally in the body and aids in the production of another naturally occurring substance known as Adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP provides vital energy during muscle contractions and allows the body to perform short bouts of explosive movements. ATP is what allows a weight lifter to execute those heavy barbell squats and deadlifts. More creatine means more ATP; more ATP means getting in that extra repetition or two when your body is screaming no mas. This, in turn, translates to optimal muscle stimulation and gains. In one study, men subjected to rigorous resistance training and administered creatine had higher T levels than from their original baseline. Additionally, they also had higher androgen levels than men who underwent the same training but took a placebo. In another study conducted in South Africa, rugby players administered 20-grams of creatine monohydrate for seven days saw a 56% increase dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels. Testosterone has far stronger androgenic properties when converted into DHT. Once a DHT hormone, it cannot convert into estrogen as is the potential case with regular testosterone.
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