Panax

There is a lot of discussion in the area of nutrition that seems to take the idea that the FDA’s minimum daily allowance is just that: a minimum.
There is a lot of research being done as to what the Optimum Daily Amount should be.

I live in New York City where the toxic stressors are very high. Air pollution, noise pollution, stress, what have you. Dr. Andrew Weil, Dr. Gary Null, and others of their ilk, would suggest much higher dosages of the various anti-oxidants for me than if I lived in, say, rural Vermont. It is fair to point out that both of these guys also hawk lines of vitamins. With Dr. Weil - he got into that aspect of his career rather late. His first contributions to this field were as a nutritionist who has a Havard MD as well as his exhaustive study of Eastern Medicine - herbology, acupuncture, etc. He wrote books mostly, it wasn’t until his web-site had been up for a while that he started selling vitamins. So I don’t think he had that as an agenda, it was more about encouraging an America that lives on Big Mac and Pepsi to live better and healthier. I like him better than Gary Null, who to me just has the feel of a hustler/huckster. But, in the reading I’ve done, both actually say very similar things. So their research is, essentially, in agreement.

I have tried to diversify my reading to get a variety of viewpoints when it comes to supplementation. And many point to the idea of the Optimum Daily Amount - and there are definite patterns as to what that might be, albeit details that are different with each approach.

Vitamin C helps ward viral invasion and boost the overall immune system. I think it helps. I have become somewhat of a vitamin junkie, but I have found that I do get sick much less than I did as a teenager, 20-something, etc. And I lead a very stressful, demanding, exhausting lifestyle. I don’t get the sleep I should and, of late, I haven’t been able to exercise as much as I used to. The vitamins and a good diet that I’ve held on to definitely help.

I actually went to the gym today for the first time since injuring myself. I definitely have to get back into the habit.

Is it too late for a New Year’s Resolution?

Mr. Happy

It’s never too late. As a matter of fact, I have one in my home and that’s where I’m heading now.

My daily "pill" intake, vitamins and supplements, approaches 125. I never get sick and have seemingly boundless energy. I’m 53 BTW.

I’ve read two of Null’s books and he quotes liberally from the Life Extension Foundation. IMO, an excellent resource. Check them out Vitamins and Supplements Rooted in Science - Life Extension

What was your injury? Is it necessary to lead a life like that? Any way you do it, it’s all you’ve truly got.

No. I know.

I have NYSC (New York Sports Club), which is a great gym that has facilities all over Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and parts of New Jersey.
It’s also affiliated with BSC (Boston Sports Club) and WSC (Washington {D.C.} Sports Club). For a small monthly fee I can use any of their facilities anytime.

I had real discipline for several years. Since 1998, in fact. I fell off the gym wagon this last summer when I injured myself, and it took a long time to heal (age). I was doing lat-pull downs and strained my back, not real bad but it took a long time to get right again for some reason (age). Once I did heal my schedule went crazy. But I think I have the time again now. I just have make the effort.

I only did a small amount of cardio today, but man it was good.

You’ve got a gym in your house? Very cool. What kind? New York apartments have to be more upscale than what I’ve got at present to afford that kind of space. But someday soon.

125…tablets? I thought I took a lot. Mostly for me it’s anti-oxidants, some cardio-vascular improvement stuff, and a few herbals to support all the penis work I’m doing. Oh yeah, and a multi and some calcium.

When I work out I also take a very small amount of Creatine, some free form amino’s, and an enzyme tablet to aid the absorption of that. But it’s like 30 tablets total. 125? That’s a lot of pills man.

Gentlemen when an injury occurs, and I have had my share last year. You got to hit the glutamine. Think protein 100grams per day minimum.

I take a multi vitamin/mineral to start off with.
1-3 grams of Vit “C”
25.000 pro vitamin “A”
400UI vitamin “E”
Peanut butter, full of arginine almost 800mg in just one tablespoon, Viagra in a jar
Panax of course 200-300mg per day.
Cal/Mag/Zinc

Sugar Blockers: They also build muscle and burn fat.
Vanadium 15mg per day
Chromium picolinate 400mcg per day
Gymmena sylvestre 250mg per day
Sub lingual thyroid. 15 drops 2-3 times per day.

Insulin 12-15 units per day

Speaking of building muscle and burning fat, what do you think of Acetyl-L Carnitine?

I used it to help me get down from 270 lbs back I 1995, I now weigh 190. L-Carnitine is a little to expensive for me right now, living on a students budget.

I forgot to mention I also take 75.000 mg of beta caritene.
Aloe vera extract
800mg of glucosomine.

Mr. Happy,
I have literally tons of free weights, barbells et.al., cable cross, several leg murderers, lat pull down, squat cage, dip, and a stair stepper and a Conceptll rowing machine. I’m lucky to live near a place called Red Rocks that has a stretch of stairs that take about 8 minutes to run! up and lots of hills where I can run my hill sprints. I feel exercise is a key to life. I always have enjoyed working out and have had some sort of gym in a portion of my living quarters almost all my life.

Acetyl-L Cartitine is part of my daily regimen. 1500mg/day. During a gaining cycle, I strive for 2 grams of protein per pound of my body weight(175). It’s hard to eat that much protein, even with several shakes. I just finished one and gained about 2 lbs of muscle and dropped my body fat down to 12-13%.

Tell me about it, barely got 80 grams of protein today. I’m losing weight again after being at 190 for about a month. I am now down to 189, yee ha! You say you try to get two grams of protein per pound. Thats 350 grams of protein you’ll have to eat a side porcupine to get that, he he! Are you sure that wasn’t kilograms?
My doctor says if I lose about twenty pounds: which I have cut into that number by about 4 pounds. I may be able to stop the insulin all together. The thing is, I have about 15%-17% body fat, which translates into 32lbs of actual fat, which may lead me to about 4% body fat, after losing another 16 pounds.
The thing is if I stopped taking insulin right now I can take that weight off in less than a month, due to false metabolism, but that is offly dangerous for me to do so I won’t do that. It will be slower but I can live with that.

175pounds divide 2.2 = 79.5 killograms times 2grams of protein= 159 grams of protein

Right on about exercise. You’re lucky with regard to your living situation.

Are you talking about Red Rocks in Colorado? I was stationed in Aurora, just outside of Denver, during the Carter admistration. Beautiful country out there, though it’s been a while since I’ve been out there.

Acetyl-L Cartitine is part of my daily regimen as well. I but only take about 500mg. They say it helps with mental focus as well as buring fat; and that it works in tandem with Alpha Lipoic Acid as an anti-oxidant - though I forget how exactly.

What leads you to take so much? Is more better and why? My reading on it has not been as exhaustive as some of the other supplements I take.

I naturally have about 11-12% of body fat. I have a high metabolism and it is very difficult for me to gain weight. The most I’ve ever weighed in my life was 175, and that was when I was going to the gym six days a week (alternating lifting with cardio), eating like a pig, and drinking high protein and high carb weight gaining formulas. I like the Myoplex Mass the best, and there was another I would take from time to time. These days it’s mostly Myoplex and Isopure. I used to take the Mass right before bed, the Isopure as recovery right after a work-out, and sometimes a regular Myoplex in the late evening in addition to the three or four meals a day I was eating; I felt like all I was doing was eating - like I was fucking pregnant or something. 3 grams of creatine a day on the lifting days. Seemed to work well, but it was work for sure. I mean the eating, not the working out.

Later on I tried to space the protein out though, much over 40 grams every 12 hours and you are making your kidneys work overtime - at least in one book I read written by an Olympic trainer.

It’s real hard for me to keep the weight on though. I just had a six month break and I’m down below 160 again. This summer things are going to change.

I mean Acetyl-L Carnitine, of course.

kingpole,
Yeah tell me. Yep, I do mean 2 grams per pound. A couple cans of tuna, 3 myoplex shakes, a couple chicken breasts and thats 250 grams right there. A nice big piece of fish for dinner gets me over 300 and than its break out the tamper. I seldom get to 2 per pound but it’s my daily aim.

Mr Happy,
Yes, that would be Red Rocks in the foothills.It’s an 8-10 minute drive from Golden. Ran the stairs yesterday with my younger friend. “C’mon pussy, one more.” My calves this morning are screaming. I also have a home north of Steamboat(hence the 8500’ location) and the piece of ground it’s on is fantastic. Colorado is beautiful, but Denver is a shithole.

I didn’t realize 1500/mg was alot of Acetyl-l-carnitine. It is in one of my supplements that contains a number of ingredients. It is the recommended dose.

I love myoplex, excellent, easily digestible whey protein. One packet has 42 grams and I can stir it up and drink it is a couple minutes. A natural body fat of 11-12% is a gift from above. How to you measure? I have a scale that shoots an electrical charge(you can’t even feel it) through the bottom of your naked feet and measures the time it takes and correlates that to body fat percentage. I never had one of those getting dunked in water tests. I can certainly look at myself when it’s low and see a bit of definition. When I’m not in a gaining cycle, I like red wine too much and that shoots the body fat percentage up. I’m doomed.

I was measured with calipers at a gym some years ago. And then, more recently, I was on one of those scales you mention. 11% then, 11.75% now.

It’s a gift from above in that I don’t really worry about getting a gut and I can eat what I want - though I try to eat healthfully nonetheless. And, with regard to my PE work, I have no ‘fat pad’ whatsoever. BPL and NBPL is a difference of about .25”

But it’s a bitch to keep the muscle I gain at the gym. And that does kinda of…suck.

The FDA has no recommended dose of Acetyl-L Carnitine - not even on the radar for Mininimum Daily Requirement.
That recommendation must have been the manufacturer. Which is fair enough, manufacturers do have their own information base.
I doubt that it’ll harm you in that amount.

I just wonder if more has an effect, or if you’re pissing it out or something. I haven’t done exhaustive research on that one so I don’t know how the body deals with it.

My guess is it’s like taking 75,000 I.U.s of Beta Carotene. Most of that will go out with the morning pee. Even at 25,000 I.U.s that’s true. I mean, it doesn’t harm you and if you suddenly were to find you needed a lot of vitamin ‘A’ your body would certainly have a ready supply to convert, but still… Most of it is just gonna be pee.

Acetyl-L Carnitine might be different though, so I don’t know. I’m asking if you know.

Whom, lets say three cans of tuna 30 grams time three. Two large chicken breast 60 grams times 2. 12oz trout 100 grams, yeah your right. Good for you, you see false metabolism is a curse and a blessing. I could lose 15-20 lbs in a month, but lose my eyesight in the process. So I will continue to get rid of my little stomach and see the six pack come out slowly.

kingpole,

Exactly why are you taking insulin? I’m assuming you inject it.

Yes I inject it. I am insulin dependant diabetes caused from hypothyroid disease. It is a complicated situation. Hypothyroid disease makes you fat, and diabetes during the course of it’s route can make you skinny. I also take thyroid hormone, I get from the health food store.