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Surprised that Hormones is at the top of the articles list? Yes it is THAT important, bodybuilding is all about changing your hormones so you build muscles and lose fat more efficiently. This chapter is important to learn, cause changing the body is all about hormones. Gaining muscle and losing fat is all done by hormones, bodybuilders should have a basic understanding of the endocrine system (hormonal system) of the human body.

There are two categories of hormones, catabolic and anabolic. Anabolic means building up the body, Catabolic means breaking down the body. In bodybuilding language, anabolic means building up muscle, catabolic means losing muscle.

Hypothalamus - Releases TRH, GnRH.  Hypothalamus is a part of the brain involved in controlling the release of hormones from the pituitary gland, it also controls body temperature, hunger, and thirst.

Pituitary gland - Growth hormone, ACTH, TSH, FSH, LH, prolactin, ADH, oxytocin. The pituitary gland, which is located in the center of the skull, just behind the bridge of the nose, is about the size of a pea. It is an important link between the nervous system and the endocrine system and releases many hormones which affect growth, sexual development, metabolism and the system of reproduction. The "hypothalamus" is a tiny cluster of brain cells just above the pituitary gland, which transmits messages from the body to the brain. The pituitary gland has two distinct parts, the anterior and the posterior lobes, each of which releases different hormones which affect bone growth and regulate activity in other glands. This gland was once believed to be the main controlling gland of the body, but we now know that, important as it is, it is subservient to a master gland called the hypothalamus, which is the needed link between the pituitary gland and the brain. This "master gland" is really a way station between the body and the brain and sorts out messages going to and from the brain. It responds to the body through the pituitary gland, which is suspended just below it. It sometimes replies by nerve impulses and sometimes with needed hormones. The pituitary gland then makes hormones of its own in answer to the body's needs. These are then circulated in the blood to a variety of the body's tissues, including other endocrines, such as the adrenal gland. The adrenal gland receives the hormones produced by the pituitary and produces more of its own in response to growth and development requirements as well as the "fight or flight" responses.

Growth hormone is so important I made an entire article dedicated to it, check it out for more information on it.

Thyroid glands - Thyroxines, and calcitonin. The thyroid gland is shaped like a butterfly and usually weighs less than one ounce. The thyroid cartilage covers the larynx and produces the prominence on the neck known as the "Adam's Apple". The thyroid gland controls the rate at which the body produces energy from nutrients. If the body does not get enough iodine, the thyroid gland cannot produce a proper amount of hormones for this conversion process. The result can be a goiter, an enlargement of the thyroid gland. In some parts of the world, iodine is so scarce that most of the population have goiters. The parathyroid glands are four small oval bodies located on either side of and on the dorsal aspect of the thyroid gland. These glands control the level of calcium in the blood. The thyroid gland secretes hormones which regulate energy (shown below), and emotional balance may rely upon its normal functioning. When the rate of production is excessive, the results can be weight loss, nervousness, or even emotional disturbances. If the rate of production is excessively low, a slowing of bodily functions may result. The parathyroid glands, located behind the thyroid, control the blood-calcium level. Calcium is important, not only for bones and teeth, but also for nerve functioning, muscle contractions, blood clotting and glandular secretion. If we don't have enough calcium for these functions, the body will take it from the bones, causing them to easily fracture. It may also cause twitching, spasms, convulsions and even death.

The thyroid hormones:

TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) This is technically a Pituitary gland hormone.
T4 (2 x diiodotyrosine)
T3 (triiodothyronine)
T2 (diiodothyronine)
T1

It all starts with TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) that is secreted from the Pituitary gland, this hormone then travels through the blood stream and when it hits the thyroid gland, it tells the thyroid gland to produce T4. T4 on its own can't do much, its kind of like the hormone that stays in the freezer until your thyroid needs some of it, when it does, it takes some T4 "heats it up" and turns it into T3. T3 is the most powerful thyroid hormone that the body uses for metabolic purposes. It generally has a 5:3 fat to muscle loss ratio when losing weight. So not only will it eat away at your fat, it will cannibalize your muscle too. Also, from T3 your thyroid can take that and turn it into T2 which is less powerful but still important to understand cause it has a 5:1 fat to muscle loss ratio. This means T2 is better for fat loss since it preserves muscle better than T3. And again from T2, it can take some of that and make T1 which is less powerful of all of them and is used for some biological processes.

It's also very important to understand that when you take in exogenesis thyroid hormones (hormone drugs) you will suppress your natural production of TSH (this is very bad), when you stop taking outside thyroid drugs, it will take a while for your TSH to rise naturally again. Different exogenesis outside thyroid hormones suppress TSH more or less depending how high up on the thyroid hormone list of the thyroid hormone your taking. So if your literally taking exogenesis TSH, say goodbye to your natural production of TSH severely. But if your taking T2 it will not suppress TSH hardly little at all, but it still will though, just not as much. Taking T3 will suppress it more than T2 etc.. taking in T4 will suppress it more than T3. Sometimes doctors will prescribe T4 hormones to obese people, which will shut down their natural production of TSH, the best method to choose is go natural but diet and exercise!!! It's important to realize that hormones are the most powerful natural forces in your body, intense exercise (especially cardio), will GREATLY enhance the fat burning effects of an obese person by increasing the production of TSH, which will make T4, T3 etc...

This is the secret hormone that will shred all the fat off of your body, and it's VERY important to know how to increase the amount of hormones that this gland produces, this website will teach you all of this. But to quickly tell you how to produce tons of thyroid hormones, eat a lot of food frequently all through out the day, and do proper exercise, I'll go into more detail later.

Although thyroid hormones are necessary for promoting normal developmental growth, don't confuse this with the muscle growth that occurs with resistance exercise. In addition, thyroid hormones are involved in dozens of biological processes including:

• Increased oxygen consumption (metabolic rate)
  
• Increased thermogenesis (heat production)
  
• Increased number of beta adrenergic receptors in the heart, skeletal muscle, adipose tissues, and lymphocytes (these receptors bind fat mobilizing hormones)
  
• Increased sensitivity to catecholamines (fat mobilizing, fight or flight hormones)
  
• Increased number of red blood cells and increased oxygen delivery
  
• Increased lypolysis (fat burning)
  
• Increased liver glycogen breakdown
  
• Increased liver glucose production
  
• Increased intestinal glucose absorption
  
• Increased protein turnover
  
• Decreased cholesterol levels

From looking over this list, it appears that thyroid hormones do some pretty exciting things in the body, all of which can be extremely beneficial to bodybuilders. But before I move on, I want to talk about some of the other effects of thyroid hormones that may not be so ideal for bodybuilders. You won't have to worry about any of these if you do the right things discussed in the various articles on this website.

• Increased heart rate and heart contractility
  
• Increased free radical production (due to decreased Superoxide Dismutase concentrations)
  
• Increased GI motility
  
• Increased bone turnover (and potentially bone loss or high levels of calcium in the blood)
  
• Increased cortisol levels
  
• Increased sex hormone binding globulin
  

Other hormones

Parathyroid glands - Parathroid hormone.  The gland behind the thyroid gland. It is responsible for calcium regulation as well as secreting a hormone that regulates calcium and phosphorus metabolism.

Pancreas - insulin and glucagon. A glandular organ located in the abdomen. It makes pancreatic juices, which contain enzymes that aid in digestion.  The pancreas is surrounded by the stomach, intestines, and other organs. This is the gland responsible for insulin production. Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas that helps regulate carbohydrate metabolism, It promotes the use of glucose and regulates the amount of sugar in the blood. Insulin drives incoming nutrients into cells for storage. Excess insulin is the primary pillar of aging, so make sure you don't over eat carbs on a daily basis. Glucagon is a hormone secreted by the pancreas; stimulates increases in blood sugar levels in the blood (thus opposing the action of insulin). It breaks down stored glycogen into glucose, raising blood sugar levels.

Adrenal glands - produces Cortisol, aldosterone, epinephrine, norepinephrine. The adrenal glands are a pair of glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream. Each gland can be divided into two distinct organs. The outer region secretes hormones which have important effects on the way in which energy is stored and food is used, on chemicals in the blood, and on characteristics such as hairiness and body shape. The smaller, inner region is part of the sympathic nervous system and is the body's first line of defense and response to physical and emotional stresses. The adrenal glands are shaped like the French Emperor Napoleon's hat and, just as Napoleon's three-cornered hat sat on his head, so each gland is perched on each of the kidneys. These glands are about one to two inches in length and weigh only a fraction of an ounce each while secreting more than three dozen hormones. They take instruction from the pituitary glands and have important effects on physical characteristics, development and growth. The adrenal gland has two parts. The cortex, or outer, yellow layer, takes its instructions from the pituitary hormone ACTH. The hormones secreted here are called "steroids" and have three main types: those which control the balance of sodium and potassium in the body; those which raise the level of sugar in the blood; and sex hormones. The inner, reddish brown layer makes two types of hormones and takes all its instructions from the nervous system, producing chemicals which react to fear and anger and are sometimes called "fight or flight" hormones.



Testes - produces testosterone. The scrotum is a sac that hangs under the penis and holds the testes. It is divided internally into two halves by a membrane; each half containing a testis. It has an outer layer of thin, wrinkled skin over a layer of tissue which contains muscle. The testicle lies inside the scrotum and produces as many as 12 trillion sperm in a male's lifetime, about 400 million of which are ejaculated in one average intercourse. Each sperm takes about seventy-two days to mature and its maturity is overseen by a complex interaction of hormones. The scrotum has a built-in thermostat, which keeps the sperm at the correct temperature. It may be surprising that the testicles should lie in such a vulnerable place, outside the body, but it is too hot inside. The sperm production needs a temperature which is three to five degrees below body temperature. If it becomes too cool on the outside, the scrotum will contract to bring the testes closer the body for warmth. Testosterone (released a LOT more in men) builds massive muscles, and it's important to maximize this hormone when it comes to building muscle mass. This website well teach you how to do this naturally without external hormonal means.

Testosterone tends to raise and lower as days, weeks, and months go by. It may be low one day but very high another day. As far as how to raise it naturally, you need to train very intensely.

And how to raise test levels through diet, monounsaturated fat raises testoseterone levels, and saturated fat also kind of does too, but monounsaturated fat is the best way to raise it through diet, a good rich source of this is extra virgin olive oil.

I've also read lately that partially hydrogenated oils (trans fatty acids) can lower test levels. Also a very low fat diet (under like 25 grams a day), can really lower test levels, so make sure your eating enough fat in your diet, and that most of it is from monounsaturated fat.

Too many carbs can lower it. Make sure when you go to sleep for the day, that you are on a carb depleted stomach, this raises testosterone when your sleeping. Then when you wake up, eat plenty of carbs, this stops catabolism from an over night fast and raises test.


Ovaries (female only) - produces estrogen, progesterone (and testosterone). Female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone is what gives females their sexy shape, it develops bigger breasts, wider hips, narrower waists, keeps them from getting too fat. Some people think males have an easier time losing fat and staying in shape than females, well this isn't true, estrogen and progesterone is a powerful force that keeps females in shape, they won't be able to gain as much muscle as men cause they produce less testosterone, but as far as bodyfat is concerned they can have low body fat levels but not extremely low (like men). The reason why older women tend start blimping out once they get in the upper 40s, lower 50s is because they start losing these two hormones (estrogen and progesterone).

More information on hormones

During exercise, depending on how much effort intensity you put into it, you will release GH during it, also keep in mind, in men especially testosterone rises as GH rises, so, generally releasing GH releases other anabolic hormones as well at the same time, also, when you get done working out, your in a catabolic state, after about 5 - 15 hours after the workout, considering that your resting and eating then, your body goes into a restorative period, which means anabolic hormones rise substantially and catabolic hormones such as cortisol are put to rest. This rise overbalances the catabolic period you had. Females rely more on GH, and will release more of it than men during and after exercising. Men rely on testosterone to build muscle and lose fat, while females rely on estrogen and progesterone to keep their body's in shape, it keeps them from getting too fat, and it keeps them looking sexy for the opposite sex. When females go through menopause they lose their sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone), and it is then harder to stay or get in shape, this usually occurs around age 45 - 50. Females then rely mainly on GH to keep them in shape for the rest of their lives.

When your growing up, you need plenty of GH to go through puberty and for overall growth, as you get older, you don't need as much of it any more, only when your body needs it, such as intense physical activates and when your sleeping. What's interesting is your glands are physically capable of releasing the same amount of hormones at age 130 than at age 16. Your body simply wont do it cause it does not have a good enough reason to.

Just thinking about things changes hormone levels, depending on what your thinking about.

The phrase: "use it or lose it" applies to all parts of your endocrine system, for example, you broke your arm, and its in a cast, when you take it off 3 months later, your bicep muscles are really small, simply cause you haven't used them. now here's the scary part, you don't use yourself, you'll lose it! People who are depressed and/or feel they have no purpose in life, will release catabolic hormones which speeds the aging process up, so you die quicker, your body is doing you a favor. But when you do use yourself, no matter what age you are, your body will produce anabolic hormones and put catabolic hormones to rest which keeps you alive as best as possible, and to help you live your life easier. All muscle growth (no matter what age you are) depends on growth hormone. All your bones (even each individual teeth (except for baby teeth), skin, muscles, and organs (including your adipose tissue, which is all your fat on your body) are hooked up to your endocrine system, any change in any of them depends on your endocrine system (hormonal system) to make the change.

Another point I'm trying to make is that your body is always trying to break down everything (bones, muscles, organs, everything), the only way to build them up is to use them. Some people who lose bones later in life, or that have Osteoporosis, they all think calcium is the answer, WRONG, is that you just have to use them, and put stress on them and they will build right up (considering that you get at least some drops calcium in you). The more you show yourself that your using certain areas of your body to perform specific activities (also known as intensity in bodybuilding terms), then the more your body will react to this stress by drastically changing the shape of your body, and this is all done by hormones.