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An Interview With Michael A. Lackner Reprinted with permission from Elaine Pritts Sports and Fitness Interviews on tape “Body Building Secrets That Will Radically Change Your Physique!” A Scientific Look At Putting On Mass For some reason unbeknownst to us, bodybuilder’s are stereotyped as guys with large biceps and small brains. We are all familiar with the term, “musclehead”. In reality, in order to be a successful bodybuilder, it takes a vast knowledge of training, nutrition and supplements. Knowledge of how all the systems of the body work is mandatory. You would be hard-pressed to find a high-level competitor that achieved his look by simply working out with random training techniques and stuffing supplements down his throat. Developing mind-blowing amounts of mass, while maintaining aesthetic shape and stripping all excess fat off your body requires precision training, dieting and supplementation techniques. Ronnie Coleman, Dorian Yates and Lee Haney did not happen by accident. In addition, knowing a lot instead of just enough can help you gain twice as much in half the time as you would have. Being aware of advanced and cutting-edge training information can also help you overcome limited genetics. This month we are profiling Michael Lackner, who is a bodybuilder that proves knowledge really is power. Michael used a lot of blood, sweat and tears to create a physique that captured an overall title at the NPC Collegiate National Championships in the United States, but he credits his success to his knowledge of how the body gains muscle, loses fat and absorbs nutrients. Michael points out that no matter how hard and how often he worked out, none of it would have made a difference if he didn’t do things correctly. The time he spent reading books and magazines was just "?as important as the time he spent in the gym. According to Michael, every hour he spent reading about the muscles, nutrition and supplements saved him months of wasted effort in the gym. Learning is something Michael does well, and he realizes that knowledge makes you stronger as a person as well as an athlete. He attended Cleveland State University on an academic scholarship to study engineering, and he went on to earn scholastic honours and became a member of Tau Beta Pi (the engineers’ national honour society) and the Golden Key International Honour Society. He did all of that while working full time and competing successfully as a national level bodybuilder. Michael did not have time and effort to waste. He had to know how to accomplish things while using as little time and effort as possible. Efficiency was his game, and knowledge was the key to being efficient. Knowing that he is an engineer makes it no surprise that Michael takes a very scientific approach to his training. In the same way that an engineer manages a project, Michael makes it a point to have as much knowledge as possible about working out, and he meticulously examines every detail of his training so he can manage his physique. When reading studies and reports, his background enables him to dissect the manner in which experiments were done, and he can tell the difference between empirical fact and clever marketing. This month we sit down with Michael and discuss his supplementation programme. We can all learn from his experience in selecting the best supplement strategies for maximum solid muscle gains. Given Michael’s extensive knowledge and success as a competitive bodybuilder, we asked Michael what criteria he uses in choosing a supplement company or product before he would consider putting it into his regimen. Here are his answers: “I’m very selective"? when it comes to what I put in my body and particularly when choosing a company and its sport nutrition products. I’ve seen all the hype companies have built around ‘wishful thinking’ supplements these days, many of which just don’t stack up when it comes to stimulating real muscle growth. In order to have confidence in a company’s products I have to see absolute proof that its formulas are based on relevant, real world science and not just egghead research that makes a product sound good on paper. Also important to me is that the ingredients being used are of the highest purity and concentration without regard to price, so that the products will be strong enough to evoke the desired effect. Plain and simple! The company should have researched their products thoroughly, and based their formulations on unbiased scientific studies and rationale over any ‘in-house’ studies using local bodybuilders (for obvious reasons). Companies that do this unfortunately are few and far between. A company that does this tells me they’re in it for the right reasons and are deserving of a bodybuilder’s loyalty and support. They understand truly what a competitive bodybuilder is looking for. I’ve checked them all out over the years that I’ve been competing and have come to the conclusion that Venice Beach Nutritional/Muscle Research, Inc. best meets the needs of the competitive bodybuilder and is on the ‘cutting edge’ right now. I’ve known the power of second-generation absorption enhanced human growth hormone (HGH) and leutinising hormone(LH)/testosterone elevating product from what I dug up in the scientific journals at school. However, when initially calling around to most supplement companies in hopes of finding more information on thermonutrients, and how bio-active absorption enhanced second generation products work, I was mostly left with unanswered questions from polite order takers who c"?ouldn’t provide even the entry level basics on how these compounds work. Venice Beach Nutritional/Muscle Research, however, was a different story. Not only did they have the latest research on thermonutrients and absorption enhancing agents, they also provided information on concentrates and dosages that were equally consistent with my own findings.” Now, here’s the rest of our interview with Michael: A: Unfortunately, many HGH/Tribulus based supplements on the market today aren’t utilizing high enough concentrates or dosages. The daily servings are prescribed as “single” dosage products rather than twice-a-day formulas, as they need to be when trying to maintain high enough levels throughout the day. Also, many of the popular growth hormone stimulators I see in health food stores don’t provide any supporting synergistic co-activators (usually because of costs). Studies show that there is a huge difference in just how high a level of free testosterone and HGH one can actually achieve and maintain for longer periods of time when effectively combining synergistic co-activators. Also, the dosage and number of servings a bodybuilder should take of a GH formula should be based on highest biological activity studies (highest levels of HGH secreted) in response to oral amino acid stimulation and nothing short of that. Primary components and dosages in Venice Beach’s Primestrin+ formula have been clinically proven to release higher levels of biologically active hormones to stimulate peripheral cellular receptors leading to real muscle growth. What’s more, Primestrin+ has the ability to dramatically boost serum testosterone levels in the body, which provides a beneficial effect in combating cortisol levels. All bodybuilders and power l"?ifters should try to reduce their body’s cortisol response to training induced stress. One way to do this is by increasing testosterone secretion. Research clearly shows that when testosterone is high, weightlifting induced cortisol elevation is blunted. Bodybuilders especially should be taking an effective anti-catabolic supplement like ADL3 to maximize their bodybuilding potential. Q: What is the key ingredient in Primestrin+ that makes it work so effectively in enhancing muscle growth? A: When you take a close look at Primestrin+ it really comes down to several different variables in the formula rather than just one. I looked up studies on HGH and ratios of amino acids and compared specific ratios to that which was contained in the Primestrin+ formulA: the Venice Beach formulators obviously paid little concern to cost and a lot of attention to detail because the formula actually contains the full levels of active ingredients shown in clinical studies to generate not only the best possible effects but also the most synergistic effects. The formula, for example, contains even quantities of lysine and arginine backed up with the full 250mg dosage of Absorbal along with other supporting compounds. How does this compare to the many formulas on the market today that exclude lysine from their formula? In doing a little digging I came across studies by Italian researcher A: Isidori, M.D., at the University of Rome, who compared the differences lysine can make when taken in equal dosage with arginine as found in Primestrin+. In the study involving 15 healthy male volunteers between 15 and 20 the results showed readings across the board that were consistently “10 times higher” than the subjects supplementing without the lysine! Another ingredient utilized in the Primestrin+ formula is leucine, which has been identified in studies to effectively trigger the pituitary glands to r"?elease more growth hormone independent of any additive. The results are even more impressive when Primestrin+ is stacked with AGF by Venice Beach. Studies by Thomas C. Welbourne of Louisiana State University show that even small amounts of the components in AGF (l-glutamine G.T.A:) can raise growth hormone levels more than four times the normal levels compared to subjects given a placebo. More exciting still is that age has no effect in reducing the response. The glycine in the AGF MAX formula also plays a role in improving HGH release. The glutamine in particular in AGF’s G.T.A: complex effectively causes the pituitary gland to release growth hormone, and the presence of glycine in AGF triggers even higher levels to be reached. When an athlete takes Venice Beach’s Primestrin+ and AGF they are creating the most ideal environment for muscle growth to occur, not to mention a more powerful synergistic outcome enabling the body to pour far greater amounts of growth hormone directly into the blood stream. A: Well, catabolism is the process of the body protein being broken down faster than it can be formed. This happens a lot with bodybuilders who do not eat properly. If the body breaks down more protein than it can readily obtain, you will be in a catabolic (muscle wasting) state. Cortisol, which is normally produced by our adrenal glands, does essentially the opposite to growth hormone and testosterone: it tends to stimulate the breakdown of muscle proteins. The secretion into the body of corticosteroids is at its highest levels in the morning. Anything that is anti-catabolic slows down muscle wasting. I think the best product to combat the catabolic effects is ADL"?3 (a cortisol blocker). ADL3 contains a powerful active ingredient, which is again scientifically proven, to significantly block cortisol secretion. The levels of cortisol being secreted in the body must be kept in check if you’re going to continue to grow. To put it simply, weight training is interpreted by the body as a physical stress. The body responds to it by secreting cortisol, which breaks down muscle tissue (catabolism). Weight training also causes the body to secrete testosterone, which builds muscle tissue (anabolism). The reason many weight lifting enthusiasts end up growing at a snail’s pace compared to what they could be achieving has a lot to do with cortisol levels and testosterone levels. If the same amount of each are being secreted, one will cancel out the other, so to speak, leaving the body relatively unchanged, resulting in a lot of effort going in but very little progress being made. The way to turn this around is to make it a part of your daily regimen to take a potent enough product like Primestrin+ so that you will actually increase both HGH and testosterone levels. Also, be sure to take a strong enough anticatabolic agent such as ADL3 on the flip side, to block cortisol levels and help amplify the muscle building effects of the HGH and testosterone. ADL3 And Keeping Cortisol Levels At Bay I learned early the importance of keeping cortisol levels low the year round when trying to increase muscle mass. ADL3 was one of the first things I added to my bodybuilding programme to keep cortisol levels at bay. The point here is that if you are serious about putting your muscle building gains into high gear, you must remember a couple of things. First, the anabolic effects of HGH are significantly enhanced in your body when your testosterone levels are high. For this reason, you want to take both a maximum strength HGH formula and an anabolic formula at th"?e same time. You can do as I do and take Primestrin+, which effectively combines both a testosterone and HGH boosting formula together in a single supplement. Second, human growth hormone benefits are blunted or dramatically reduced when cortisol levels are high so you want to include a good cortisol-combating agent such as ADL3 so your body can experience maximum muscle growth from each and every workout. Another very important variable when you’re on a weight lifting programme to increase muscle size and strength is the level of protein you are consuming. I take between 50-75g of high quality protein four to five times a day, which is why I now order my protein in 8.26lb containers directly from Venice Beach. My choice here is UDA. A: Well to start with, studies show UDA utilizes absolutely the best method for purification of true whey proteins. This method allows for maximum absorption of nitrogen into the muscles for stimulation of protein synthesis. It also holds one of the highest P.E.R. ratios as a protein source. UDA also provides the best source for amino acids, which play a key role in preventing catabolism. Venice Beach Nutritional/Muscle Research again is the only company I’m aware of that sells this pure form of whey. I have made my best gains when using this form of protein in combination with the other products mentioned. UDA Protein by Venice Beach Nutritional/Muscle Research gets filtered 13 times before sending it to the dryers. After drying, it goes to the agglomerater for agglomeration, to produce a product that is easy to mix with liquids. It’s just pure whey protein in its most absorbable form. It’s through the use of this product that I’m able to easily stay in a consisten"?t positive nitrogen balance. This is important when cycling Primestrin+ the way I do. It’s through staying in a positive nitrogen balance that the body is able to respond most effectively to the release of IGF-1 in the body. Q: You mentioned UDA is the best for amino acids? A: Yes, UDA Protein has been specially dried at low temperatures to ensure the protein isn’t denatured. This is the case at least with Venice Beach Nutritional. Not denaturing the protein through this special drying process ensures the absolute highest quality of protein and keeps the maximum amount of all amino acids intact through the filtration process. Q: You said aminos are important in helping to prevent catabolism? A: Absolutely, if you don’t take in the necessary “complete” amino acids from multi-stage UDA Protein or other encapsulated forms, your body is susceptible to breaking down muscle tissue for utilization as energy for it’s amino acid values. These particular amino acids are the branch chain amino acids found in the muscle. This is even more important an issue when contest dieting season rolls around. Q: You mention branch chain amino acids… What is the difference between a branch chain and the other forms? A: There are four forms that are used when describing amino acids, di-tripeptide, hydrolyzed, branch chain, and free form. The differences are basic: free form does not have to be digested, they absorb into the bloodstream; di-tripeptides have two or three molecules that are quickly digested by the body and have been known to significantly hold nitrogen; branch-chain aminos are part responsible for the formation of glutamate and alanine. Q: Can cutting calories the way bodybuilders do when their preparing for a show further elevate cortisol levels? Also, what’s your advice for pre-contest athletes with regards to HGH and it’s effects on cortisone. A: First off, yes, cortisol levels play even greater havoc on HGH levels when an athlete is on a calorie-restricted diet. As we discussed when HGH levels are artificially raised, they can actually turn that around to your advantage. When you increase your HGH levels by taking the Venice Beach formula Primestrin+ prior to a surge of cortisol, cortisol secretion is blunted. As to cortisone, an elevated HGH will impair cortisone and it’s conversion to the active hormone cortisol. This is just one of the great side benefits of taking Primestrin+ twice a day during the pre-contest phase of an athletes training programme. You’ll have a higher level of inactive glucocorticoids, which is what you want so that they will be excreted and won’t promote muscle wasting. Q: You seem to really know your stuff. Could these things cause damage to the liver or kidneys? A: No, not to the best of my knowledge if used properly. I do not recommend abusing any dietary supplements. This is why the Absorbal ingredient contained in the Venice Beach formulas is so important. It eliminates the need for over-consumption of any single compound. With up to a 250% greater absorption rate you can actually make better use of all the actives in a supplement to fully realize the greatest possible gains. Turning your body into an anabolic machine with the latest second generation products sounds great at first but without enough of the actives actually reaching their final destination, you’re creating an hour glass effect with all this great stuff going into the body but only a portion of it ever being used up. It’s like filling up with high-level octane fuel but only half of it going into the tank and then wondering why you’re not getting the level of performance you were promised in the owner’s manual. This is not an issue when taking Venice Beach second-generation products such as Primestrin+, VMA, ADL3 and AG"?F. Each of these second-generation products actually contain the appropriate amounts of Absorbal to help the athlete fully realize the maximum benefits from each of the formulas. Q: So if I understand you correctly, what you’re also saying is that you don’t have to take as much of a given compound or supplement, thus alleviating or reducing the added stress on your liver and kidneys because of the increased absorption provided by Absorbal? A: Exactly. As mentioned, Absorbal is contained in Primestrin+, VMA, ADL3, AGF MAX and other Venice Beach second-generation ergogenic formulas that I’ve taken and the difference for me leading up to the Collegiate Nationals was chalk and cheese compared to the level of gains made in previous years. I’ve done a great deal of reading up on Absorbal and its various components and it’s very impressive both on paper and experientially. This is another example of why Venice Beach products are considered by many to be the elite of supplements and in a category of their own. By no means are these conventional supplements, which is probably why they’re so hard to come by unless you have a contact through the Venice Beach Network (Editors Note: second-generation Venice beach supplements are now available in limited quantities through Olympus Sport Nutrition. See www.olympus-sport.com.) Q: Increasing absorption by up to 250% is incredible, how does this work? Also, can you take Absorbal to help spike other supplements lifters may currently be using to improve their results? A: You can magnify the effects of any supplement programme simply by taking them inside the same half-hour window as you take Absorbal. Absorbal opens up the doorway to real cross-over absorption. Upon introduction into the stomach, Absorbal is quickly incorporated into the stomach cell membrane to increase the porosity of the membrane. This in turn causes the short-term "?displacement of the calcium ions in the cell membrane causing them to expand. In the example of AGF, which includes among other things pharmaceutical grade L-glutamine, the active component glutamine bonds to Absorbal’s multi-layered phospholipid chain, which is then carried across the intestinal membrane by the passive flux and allowed to enter directly into the blood stream. Absorbal’s ability to increase absorption through the passive flux of molecules across the membrane is further spiked by up to 240% with a very potent (and patented) thermonutrient. The thermonutrient spiking effect is initiated by a hormone and executed by the enzyme protein kinase (kinase comes from a word meaning movement), and is further supported by cyclic cAMP, the “second messenger”. I don’t want to get too heavy here but suffice to say that by introducing this kind of a spiking agent into highly concentrated second-generation ergogenic aids like AGF and Primestrin+, it can definitely take a natural bodybuilder to a whole new level. The only products currently being sold in Europe that contain Absorbal at this time are AGF (the muscle preservation and recovery formula), Primestrin+ (the potent HGH and testosterone boosting formula), ADL3 (the anti-catabolic agent) and VMA. I’m sure more products like this will be forth coming as they are approved by the European version of the FDA here in the United States. Q: Over the years, what have you found to be the best single supplement out of the US to help an athlete increase size and strength while improving fat loss? A: Well, first off, let me say right now that contrary to what some supplement companies adverts would want you to believe, there is no one-size-fits-all formula that will do all this. Certainly not to any kind of level you’re going to notice. Only products that are objective specific (targeted) and highly concentrated, in my "?experience, are the ones that are going to produce any real and lasting change. You want to stay away from the one-size-fits-all formulas in my opinion. Also, the products I take in the off-season are quite different from what I take pre-contest. Only once you set your goals and know exactly what your trying to achieve, be it increasing muscle size, muscle preservation or fat stripping, etc, are you ready to plan out your supplement strategy. That said, however, you want to try and use targeted second-generation formulas that are both strong enough to do what they’re intended to do and that are backed up by absorption enhancing compounds such as Absorbal that will shunt the largest amounts of actives into the blood stream. A: I always switch over to pre-contest dieting and supplementation at 13 weeks out. As to pre-contest supplement changes, the first thing I do starting the first day of dieting is to raise my intake of AGF (AGF MAX) to a full three or four servings a day. This plays a big role in how much lean muscle mass I’m able to preserve during the entire dieting down process. Another thing I will do is consume Ultra Diet Fuel Tea at all meals to speed up the fat loss process. Also, I’ll double up on ADL3. I’ll take three Fats Out Rx and three Carbs Out Rx prior to any cheat meals, which are rare at this point. My creatine comes exclusively from Venice Beach Vio-Cel, which means zero sugar or dextrose and no extra cabs or fat gain in my creatine. Vio-Cel contains a powerful combination of creatine ethyl ester, creatine alpha-ketoglutarate, di- and tri-creatine malate and "?a full 350mg of Absorbal-C. It’s the ideal creatine formula to take when you are looking to get ripped. In my training, I add super-sets and frequently do drop sets in order to increase fat loss and for greater muscle fibre recruitment. Currently, I am about half way through the mass building phase of my programme. During this stage I stick mainly with low volume, heavy-poundage training. I will do a lot of the basic mass building exercises like squats, deadlifts, bent over rows and bench press. After the warm up, I’ll do four sets of a basic mass building movement with as little rest as possible between sets. After that I incorporate super-sets and a good strip set near the end. This type of training really puts a lot of stress on the body. If you follow a mass building programme similar to this for a full season or two, you’ll want to pay strict attention to properly supplementing your diet with potent cortisol blockers like ADL3 and AGF MAX to keep your body moving forward and building muscle and away from the catabolic over-training syndrome. With the help of the Venice Beach products outlined earlier, I have been able to bring my body weight up to 272lb, or 123kg, during this mass building cycle. That is at a height of only 5’10” inches tall. This has been accomplished while working five to six days a week, going to college and dealing with life in general. High amounts of stress and only five or six hours of sleep a night are not conducive to building muscle mass. However, the Venice Beach system has enabled my body to recover quickly, block cortisol and lessen the effects of stress so that even with a hard-core schedule, I can make hard-core gains! Substantially increasing muscle mass now in the off-season is the key to my coming in full and ripped and competitive, and in the next higher weight class. Mike’s Off-Season Mass Building Supplement Programme Primestrin+: an HGH and anabolic formula. I take Primestrin+ twice a day, once 30 minutes before training and again just before bed. This product is cycled on a five-day on and two-day off, six-week on and three-week off rotational cycle. AGF MAX: an anti-catabolic, muscle preservation, voluminization and recovery formula. Currently, I take one serving of AGF MAX with my post-workout UDA shake, which is when my body needs it the most to replenish glutamine pools in the muscle, boost the immune system and help fight off the over-training syndrome. This is also the best time to take Vio-Cel creatine. When dieting, I’ll also have a scoop of AGF MAX after breakfast, lunch and dinner. ADL3: a cortisol-blocking agent. On training days, I take four capsules of ADL3 directly after training. The last 12 weeks before a contest, however, I will add a second serving of ADL3 with my last meal in the evening. I want to be sure my body’s cortisol levels are going to be low by the time I take my second serving of Primestrin+ before bed. Remember, when dieting the body perceives hunger as a form of stress, which triggers increased levels of cortisol to be secreted. It’s especially during this time that you want your cortisol levels to be low when taking Primestrin+, since cortisol is one of the main culprits responsible for blocking HGH. UDA Protein I take 1-1.5g of high quality protein per pound of bodyweight daily, utilizing a high percentage of undenatured UDA Whey Protein as my supplemental protein source. In the off-season, I will add Ultracal Mass Action by Venice Bea"?ch to my UDA shakes, but will back off if I start to gain too much weight. It just depends what I see happening on the scale and in the mirror. VMA: a mega-vitamin, mineral and antioxidant product containing Absorbal. I take it once a day in the morning. Prior to my once a week cheat meal, I take Fats Out Rx and Carbs Out Rx for obvious reasons, and my main beverage of choice is distilled or purified water and Ultra Diet Fuel Tea by Venice Beach. That’s It, Folks!! The results I get from this supplement programme are the best I’ve ever experienced from any legal stack. That’s why I’ve stayed with it all this time. I wouldn’t think of changing a thing given what I’ve achieved to date. You can’t beat a proven success record with a lot of unproven claims. From my own experience I know that the supplements from Venice Beach work, and there’s no better proof than something that works. I’ve tried a lot of the supposed “latest breakthroughs” in supplements, and suffice to say I don’t think the results generated were worth the time and money spent. Venice Beach is serious stuff created by serious people; serious people committed to helping athletes realize their greatest physical potential in the least amount of time. As proof of the pudding, my next higher competition bodyweight will once again be a testament to the power of these second-generation ergogenic aids. Editors Note: For more information on Venice Beach products go to www.olympus-sport.com or call 0845 6066 126. |
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