Remedial Endocrinology, Part II

For Part I of this series, read this.  Continuing from where I left off (sort of)...

To the layperson, estrogen and testosterone are mutually exclusive opposing forces.  One, estrogen, is present in the female body and causes things like boobs, emotionality and over-sensitivity, menstruation, and other delights.  The other, testosterone, is present in the male body and causes things like muscles, anger and aggression, hair, and a faster metabolism.  Sounds about right, doesn't it?  Although testosterone and estrogen are indeed steroid hormones and therefore largely responsible for the development of gender-specific traits, you might be surprised to find out that they are both crucial in muscle growth and that both men and women need them.  The problem that arises from misinformation regarding the necessity of both hormones is usually linked to attempts at manipulation.  The general thought here is "More testosterone is always better, period."  This is not entirely true.

Roid Rage! (or Remedial Endocrinology, Part I)

There is a lot of misinformation out there in the bodybuilding world.  I like to call it bro-logic.  It's the dumb one-liners you hear brobros telling each other in the gym; toolbags passing misinformation back and forth like a venereal disease (believe me, it's that bad).  Things like "repping out is 12 reps, dude," or "yeah bro, let's do another set--you're hella strong!" after a set of all forced reps.  Sigh.  This is why I listen to EDM so loud at the gym--I have to in order to drown out the retardation.

Oftentimes, the most dangerous, pervasive, and completely-off-base bro-logic centers around human endocrinology--you know, hormones and stuff.  Because of the ultra-obvious elephant in the gym, many do not bother educating themselves enough about managing and manipulating the body's natural hormonal responses to training, diet, and other external and internal stimuli.  Welcome to remedial endocrinology!