[sweetorange]

Lotus, I've got a question: inhibiting DHT effects on muscle growth???

Great question. Yes, inhibiting DHT (by way of a 5 alpha reductase [aka 5ar] inhibitor like reishi reduces protein synthesis (muscle growth).

Depends on your motivation here though, meaning do you let the beast (DHT) out for building muscle, or do you want to build breast tissue?. Letting DHT run unopposed greatly reduces the enzyme aromatase (say goodbye to growing breasts). However, breast tissue has the aromatase enzyme built in, in other words the precursors are there for growing breasts.

Muscle building needs an amino acid transporter for true protein synthesis (muscle building). In some research intracellular glutamine facilitates more transfer of leucine via the system L amino transporter. Long term use of leucine is not recommended.

I'm sure you're familiar with mTOR, it's said mTOR acts as a hub for this transfer (and many other functions too). Daily intake of leucine should be @ 2-3 grams, some have it higher, I wouldn't recommend going further than that. Whey protein helps with protein synthesis, but leucine adds about a 20% increase over whey.

Keep in mind, whey and leucine will spike insulin, which spikes more T and adds weight (via insulin triggering hunger)...fun huh?

I'm interested in running a pro-aromatase to pre & post workout routines. WP is available, or maybe a specific fatty acid.

It'll be helpful knowing your pre-workout routine, (e.g. what supplements do you take for pre & post workout).

That's my concern! I mean, I am building up muscle (last year got an injury, so, I lost a lot of "quality" lol) since January and I still have some months to go yet. You know the "newbies" gains are quite impressive and can be build up in a year, more or less. And I think I have great results since my DHT is a bit higher being a cis-female.

So yes, you are right and it's to decide which of these two goes first. I guess as soon as I get the pounds I need in muscle (3-4 months left) I will start to drop my DHT levels seriously. It is way easier to maintain the gains through diet+exercise rather than build up muscle without T levels for me, indeed.

I've seen White Peony's ranges and it's quite impressive! Wow zinc is a "joke" compared to it! (but zinc is great for my skin lol, no cystic acne since I take it " alt="" title=""> )

I just take whey protein before doing exercise, bcca's for workout time and casein before bedtime. Quite simple, I know, but adding creatine is not on my list for now.

However, I'll keep taking aloe internally even though I won't see a huge difference until I fix my DHT problems " alt="" title=""> . It's great for my stomach, I swear. If you do have stomach issues, it's a life-saver.