Magic Bullets

OK, I'll admit it. I'm a tweaker and I look for shortcuts. So when it comes to weight-loss I'm always looking for the quick and dirty solution. Instant gratification is waaaay to slow.

Along those lines I take a variety of supplements to help the process along. I thought someone might be interested in my current experimentation (format is dose x times taken per day).

• DHEA (200mg x 2) - It is the most plentiful androgenic hormone produced by the adrenal glands and it is quite important to body builders and athletes because in men, around 50% of all testosterone is derived from it, while women derive over 75% of their estrogen from it and nearly 100% after menopause. (Bodybuilding.com)
• Coconut oil (1 tsp x 3) - Coconut oil is a medium-chain triglyceride, meaning it is very easy for our bodies to break down and absorb. Essentially, it is a fat this metabolized like a carbohydrate. Along with that, there is some research to suggest coconut oil stimulates the thymus and increases metabolism.
  

• DIM (Diindolyl methane) (400mg x 2) - Diindolyl methane is a dietary indole found in cruciferous vegetables.The health benefits of "enhanced absorption" diindolylmethane are four-fold:
• promotes healthy testosterone levels.
• promotes healthy estrogen metabolism.
• promotes fat loss.
• supports healty breast, cervical, uterine and prostate tissues.(Bodybuilding.com)
• Fish Oil (2400mg x 1) - Fish oils are derived from the fat of deep-sea, cold water fish and are a natural source of Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs). Omega-3 is an important nutrient for maintaining a healthy brain and nervous system. Fish Oils themselves are said to contribute to healthy heart function and joint flexibility as well as supporting brain, nerve, and visual function. (Bodybuilding.com)
• ECA - The ECA stack is a drug combination used as a stimulant and in weight loss. ECA is an acronym for ephedrine, caffeine, and aspirin. The effects of the ECA stack in weight loss are primarily due to the ephedrine component. Ephedrine acts both as a beta agonist and stimulates the release of norepinephrine. Increased circulating norepinephrine in the body then acts on white adipose tissue by increasing cAMP levels. This causes a thermogenic effect, raising body temperature and increasing the user's metabolism in conjunction with the rest of the stack (Wikipedia)
  

The careful observer will note that quite a bit of the supplementation is aimed
at raising Testosterone levels. As any article on Bodybuilder.com will tell you:

The physiological actions of testosterone in males are far reaching. For example:

• Increases in basal (resting) metabolic rate
• Increases in red blood cell number and total blood volume
• Promotion of sodium and water retention in the kidneys
• Increases in muscle protein synthesis resulting in increased muscle mass
• Reductions in muscle glycogen breakdown during exercise
• Increased calcium retention in bone

(List edited to show effects I'm interested in)

Another general side-effect is Testosterone helps lipolysis (fat metabolism). Based on articles and reviews I was just reading I'm going to try a new supplement as well that will be taken pre-workout. More on that after I've tried it. I may also start supplementing with Resveratrol, the enzyme found in grape skins which is also shown to have effects on the Estrogen/Testosterone balance.

At the end of the day, I know there are no magic bullets. Hard work, logging food intake, sticking to the Low-Carb WOE is the answer, but, the supplements give me hope that I'm making the process move just a little faster. And, based on the condition I wake up in the morning, I know the Testosterone supplementation is working ;).