11/26-AM- 3x480 intervals at Gold's That's 1/3 of a mile. Opened with 4 ADHS pills.
Opener- 2:31 (7:33 pace) and struggled.
Red Bull- 2:27 (7:21 pace). MINUS 12
That's right. I was actually slightly BETTER after chugging a small can of Red Bull. Caffeine is certainly NOT good for me but it's not a factor in the adrenal spike.
1 Thym-Adren- 2:07 (6:21 pace). MINUS 60.
Adrenal suppressant was YUGE! The ADHS (modulator) will not cut it at the present time.
PM- Energy faded throughout the afternoon and by the evening, I had to take another dose if I was to even attempt the workout. Indeed I was better immediately but could not hold it. Finished 3 miles in 24:53 (8:18 pace). I was 11:21 at the half but cratered in Mile 3. Last mile was well over 9 minutes and nearly bailed after 2.5 but stuck it out. Another Thym-Adren most certainly would have helped.
Distance=4.0
11/27- Adrenal spike hit another level today. Even mega doses of Thym-Adren were not enough. It did help. I could not even function without it. Got what I expected in the workout. 1 mile in 9:27. Unfortunately my supply is running low so I may have to endure a couple days without it, which will really suck. I figured this might happen but this is about the most severe adrenal spike I've had.
Distance=1.0
11/28- Big improvement. I feel like the adrenal spike is already beginning to calm down. It's a surprise that this happened so soon.
AM- Repeated the Gold's Mile and my time is down to 8:39 (MINUS 48). Relatively even pace and felt noticeably better than yesterday.
PM- 2 miles in 16:12 (8:06 pace). MINUS 33 over double the distance. Just 24 hours after yesterday evening, I doubled the distance with a cumulative MINUS 81. Impressive. Let's see continued improvement tomorrow.
Distance=3.0
11/29- Lakeshore 4 on a cloudy but pleasant evening. Finished in 31:55 (7:59 pace). Once again, I doubled the distance and increased my pace. I was hoping for a more dramatic improvement but I will take it. The adrenal spike may actually be starting to calm down already.
Distance=4.0
11/30- Unplanned rest day. I've run out of Thym-Adren and it is obvious that ADHS isn't strong enough.
12/1- Gold's 2 mile in 17:36 (8:48 pace). Very even splits but NO power. Once again, ADHS isn't strong enough and I just have to wait until Thym-Adren arrives. Let's hope it comes by Monday.
Distance=2.0
12/2- No Thym-Adren and no improvement over yesterday. The adrenal spike has not calmed down at all. I don't believe there is anything I can do about it except take the Thym-Adren and wait for the adrenals to slow down. Did 1 Mile at Vestavia in 8:50. Slightly worse than yesterday. I could have kept it going for another mile but chose not to.
Distance=1.0
-15 on the week.
Monday, November 26, 2018
Monday, November 19, 2018
Training 11/19-11/25
11/19- Goal was to finish under the Mendoza line and I just barely made it. Gold's 3 in 23:54 (7:58 pace). Splits were 7:51-8:06-7:57. I was 4 seconds in the red with a quarter mile to go but rallied at the end. Compared with Friday, this was MINUS 25. The rate of improvement will be slower but for what I sure hope is the last time, STEADY TRAINING FREE FROM RELAPSES will result in sustained improvement over time.
Distance=3.0
11/20- Repeated the Gold's 3 and my time is down to 22:56 (7:39 pace). MINUS 19. Splits were 7:32-7:44-7:40. The goal was a sub-23 and once again, I barely made it. I went a few seconds in the red with a half mile to go but once again rallied in the last quarter mile with a 1:47. Very pleased with the improvement over yesterday. I've made it 4 days without a relapse and the improvements should continue. I expect to cheat on the diet over the holiday.
Distance=3.0
11/21- 5th day without a relapse though I will not even begin to believe again until I make it to 30. Took the day off work and ran 5 miles on Lakeshore in the daylight. Comfortable effort most of the way but I did turn it up a notch at the end to finish under 8 minute pace. No complaints about this one. Time was 39:56 (7:59 pace). I expect to do very little over the next few days.
Distance=5.0
11/22- Planned rest day. Cheated BADLY on Thanksgiving Day.
11/23- 3 mile trail run in 23-flat (7:40 pace). Even pace but not much left at the end. Marginally slower than last time at this distance but this route has a few small inclines so it's a wash. PLUS 1 is negligible anyway and considering what I consumed yesterday as well as the day before, I'll take it. I may be facing a bit of an adrenal spike but that's not unexpected after solving a MAJOR problem.
Distance=3.0
11/24- Planned rest day. Trip home. There are 2 more questions to be answered:
1) Is the male specific DIM the only type that will be tolerated or was the reaction to the old stuff simply detox that would have faded in time? I'll try going back to the old stuff and if I get a reaction, no big deal. I'll just endure a rough day or two.
2) Will I see improvement if I temporarily go back to the adrenal suppressants or up the modulator? I don't expect any negatives there. If I doesn't work, it's just a harmless extra pill now that the sensitivity is gone at least for now.
11/25- Test intervals. 4x400 at Vestavia. I tried a double dose of the old DIM formula before the workout and did not notice any problems. No pain in the ass or anywhere else out of the ordinary.
The answer to question #1 is NO. The problems with the old DIM were detox and I would have been advised to simply go slower with it. I probably would not have had the problems if I had done so even with caffeine. Switching to the male specific DIM was probably unnecessary but I still plan to stick with it.
The answer to question #2 is YES. Before the DIM, the effects of the adrenal modulator were negligible at least with only 1 day off it. I bet problems would show up if I stayed off permanently however. Now, I am noticeably over-stimulated without it for just one day and feel significantly better after taking just one of those suckers. Here are the workout stats:
0 ADHS- 2:05.1 (8:20 pace)
1 ADHS- 1:52.5 (7:30 pace) MINUS 50
2 ADHS- 1:38.0 (6:32 pace) MINUS 58- my regular dose
1 Thym-Adren (suppressant)- 1:19.8 (5:19 pace) MINUS 73
Distance=1.0
Reaction:
My doctor says it's common to see an adrenal spike shortly after solving a MAJOR problem. How long will it last? Probably a month or two. If I stick with 2 ADHS only, I will likely plateau around 23-flat for 3 miles and 40 minutes for 5 miles during the adrenal spike. In fact, I may actually get worse for a brief time. BUT upping my ADHS or temporarily switching to the suppressant will certainly result in further improvements.
-only 15 miles this week. I will try again to get serious starting tomorrow.
Distance=3.0
11/20- Repeated the Gold's 3 and my time is down to 22:56 (7:39 pace). MINUS 19. Splits were 7:32-7:44-7:40. The goal was a sub-23 and once again, I barely made it. I went a few seconds in the red with a half mile to go but once again rallied in the last quarter mile with a 1:47. Very pleased with the improvement over yesterday. I've made it 4 days without a relapse and the improvements should continue. I expect to cheat on the diet over the holiday.
Distance=3.0
11/21- 5th day without a relapse though I will not even begin to believe again until I make it to 30. Took the day off work and ran 5 miles on Lakeshore in the daylight. Comfortable effort most of the way but I did turn it up a notch at the end to finish under 8 minute pace. No complaints about this one. Time was 39:56 (7:59 pace). I expect to do very little over the next few days.
Distance=5.0
11/22- Planned rest day. Cheated BADLY on Thanksgiving Day.
11/23- 3 mile trail run in 23-flat (7:40 pace). Even pace but not much left at the end. Marginally slower than last time at this distance but this route has a few small inclines so it's a wash. PLUS 1 is negligible anyway and considering what I consumed yesterday as well as the day before, I'll take it. I may be facing a bit of an adrenal spike but that's not unexpected after solving a MAJOR problem.
Distance=3.0
11/24- Planned rest day. Trip home. There are 2 more questions to be answered:
1) Is the male specific DIM the only type that will be tolerated or was the reaction to the old stuff simply detox that would have faded in time? I'll try going back to the old stuff and if I get a reaction, no big deal. I'll just endure a rough day or two.
2) Will I see improvement if I temporarily go back to the adrenal suppressants or up the modulator? I don't expect any negatives there. If I doesn't work, it's just a harmless extra pill now that the sensitivity is gone at least for now.
11/25- Test intervals. 4x400 at Vestavia. I tried a double dose of the old DIM formula before the workout and did not notice any problems. No pain in the ass or anywhere else out of the ordinary.
The answer to question #1 is NO. The problems with the old DIM were detox and I would have been advised to simply go slower with it. I probably would not have had the problems if I had done so even with caffeine. Switching to the male specific DIM was probably unnecessary but I still plan to stick with it.
The answer to question #2 is YES. Before the DIM, the effects of the adrenal modulator were negligible at least with only 1 day off it. I bet problems would show up if I stayed off permanently however. Now, I am noticeably over-stimulated without it for just one day and feel significantly better after taking just one of those suckers. Here are the workout stats:
0 ADHS- 2:05.1 (8:20 pace)
1 ADHS- 1:52.5 (7:30 pace) MINUS 50
2 ADHS- 1:38.0 (6:32 pace) MINUS 58- my regular dose
1 Thym-Adren (suppressant)- 1:19.8 (5:19 pace) MINUS 73
Distance=1.0
Reaction:
My doctor says it's common to see an adrenal spike shortly after solving a MAJOR problem. How long will it last? Probably a month or two. If I stick with 2 ADHS only, I will likely plateau around 23-flat for 3 miles and 40 minutes for 5 miles during the adrenal spike. In fact, I may actually get worse for a brief time. BUT upping my ADHS or temporarily switching to the suppressant will certainly result in further improvements.
-only 15 miles this week. I will try again to get serious starting tomorrow.
Sunday, November 18, 2018
Miami Decision/Costa Rica Trip Plan
The Miami/Keys trip is listed as "probable" but I will wait on the weather forecast before I commit to the MLK weekend. Experts are predicting a colder than average winter and if it's below 70 at Miami Beach, that's too cold for a swim. If that's the case, I'll simply wait until President's Day when my odds for warmer weather improve. I have decided that the Key West half marathon in January is going to be a NO GO. Hotels are too expensive (350+150 for the race) and it will be extremely crowded as well. Instead, I'll spend a night in Marathon (45-60 minutes from Key West) for half price and simply make a cameo appearance at the southernmost point the next morning. I'll probably get something to eat and do a short walking tour just to count it as an official visit. I hear it's somewhat overrated anyway but it's a bucket list item. As for Miami, there are plenty of affordable hotels on/near the beach but I will stay in Mid or North Beach instead of the more famous South Beach to avoid the drunks. In addition to the beach, I want to see Bayfront Park, Collins Ave and Lincoln Road.
Costa Rica is the one that I will pencil in for the Winter of 2020. Logistics are pretty simple and it won't completely break the bank either. I can get a direct flight out of Atlanta to San Jose, Costa Rica for just $375 round trip. The flight time is slightly less than 4 hours. If I get in early enough in the afternoon, I can take one of 3 scheduled bus trips from the airport to the nearest popular beach. Renting a car is not advisable here and unnecessary with the bus schedules. It's a beautiful 2 hour ride to Jaco Beach. San Jose itself looks to be a fairly vibrant and beautiful area as well so I don't want to skip it completely. My best chance to tour however would probably be on the way back. All pictures posted were stolen from the Internet.
Word on the street is that Jaco Beach is the most touristy part of Costa Rica. That's got its pros and cons. If I want to go to a foreign country, I want an authentic experience, not some resort town that on the surface could pass for an American vacation spot. On the other hand, I can be hesitant to try new dishes and would like at least some American style restaurants if I don't like the local cuisine. Jaco has fast food establishments such as McDonald's, Subway and KFC. Not sure how I feel about that and I'll figure to skip those.
Costa Rica is the one that I will pencil in for the Winter of 2020. Logistics are pretty simple and it won't completely break the bank either. I can get a direct flight out of Atlanta to San Jose, Costa Rica for just $375 round trip. The flight time is slightly less than 4 hours. If I get in early enough in the afternoon, I can take one of 3 scheduled bus trips from the airport to the nearest popular beach. Renting a car is not advisable here and unnecessary with the bus schedules. It's a beautiful 2 hour ride to Jaco Beach. San Jose itself looks to be a fairly vibrant and beautiful area as well so I don't want to skip it completely. My best chance to tour however would probably be on the way back. All pictures posted were stolen from the Internet.
 |
| San Jose |
Word on the street is that Jaco Beach is the most touristy part of Costa Rica. That's got its pros and cons. If I want to go to a foreign country, I want an authentic experience, not some resort town that on the surface could pass for an American vacation spot. On the other hand, I can be hesitant to try new dishes and would like at least some American style restaurants if I don't like the local cuisine. Jaco has fast food establishments such as McDonald's, Subway and KFC. Not sure how I feel about that and I'll figure to skip those.
I'm sure that I will go out to a couple of local bars in the evenings and will have the opportunity to interact with people from all over the world. Of course, I definitely want to meet some native Costa Ricans. Even in a tourist town, there will be no shortage of locals as well as others from nearby areas. I can get by with English only but as I did in Mexico, I most definitely want to speak Spanish to the natives. Thanks to DuoLingo, my skills have improved since Mexico and I expect to have some real conversations with locals.
Of course, the number one attraction here is the beach. I will want at least 2 full days in the water. Costa Rica is located between 8-12 degrees north of the Equator so seasonal variance in temperature is small. I can expect 85-90 degrees every day with no chance of a freak polar cold front this far south. Pacific water temps ought to be a perfectly refreshing 80-82 degrees with good surf all year round. There is a dry season and a rainy season however. Fortunately, in January and February, it hardly ever rains and there is virtually no chance of overcast or gloomy weather conditions. In addition to the beach, there are several nearby hiking trails in rain forests with beautiful waterfalls and lagoons. That ought to worth a look as well.
Other countries in the region:
I initially wanted to combine this trip with a visit to Nicaragua. It's more rustic and less touristy there but just as if not more beautiful in spots. Unfortunately, there is too much political unrest there at the present time plus it would take a lot more time if I wanted to do both San Juan del Sur and Cerro Negro, where a popular activity is sand boarding down a volcano as if on skis. Panama looks to be nice country and it is safe as well. El Salvador, Honduras? Those are no go zones.
The US has 4 levels of Travel Advisories. 1) Normal Cautions, 2) Extra Caution, 3) Reconsider Travel, 4) Do Not Travel. I will not go anywhere higher than a 2. Nicaragua is a 3 and Costa Rica is a 1. I'm sticking to Costa Rica only. Still, word on the street is that it is not advisable to walk long distances at night even on main roads in a safe tourist area. The fact that a country had major problems in the past does NOT disqualify it for a future visit. For example, Vietnam and Bosnia have made great strides in recent years. Nicaragua can turn the corner as well.
Monday, November 12, 2018
Training 11/12-11/18
11/12- Birmingham weather often takes a turn for the worse after Veteran's Day. We typically get 3 days per month in the winter in which it rains all day. Today is one of those days. I went to Gold's Gym for some test intervals. The pain in the ass diminished considerably after 24 hours off the DIM but I still felt pretty rotten when I woke up. Not a surprise because I took several questionable pills yesterday in hopes of improving the detox symptoms.
At any rate, I came through the 1st mile in 8:50 with a steady pace with no DIM. That was a BIG improvement over yesterday. Took just a trace of DIM (1/4 pill) and improved to 8:28 (MINUS 22). Very good news that at least some was tolerated but my pace slipped on the back half. Took another quarter of a pill and as I fully expected, it was MUCH WORSE. Treated Mile 3 as a cool down and don't think I could have broken 10 minutes.
Distance=3.0
Reaction:
Split decision. I'll bet money that DIM will solve the sensitivity once and for all but if I can't tolerate it, that's the ultimate in cruelty. What happens next? If I only take a trace, it won't be as effective and the dietary restrictions and exact cocktail of pills rule must remain in effect. However, there is a chance that I can rebuild my tolerance and be able to take a full pill again. There is also a chance that it will evolve into complete intolerance and leave me right back where I started from. Time will tell.
Research this afternoon:
I have 4 options if I cannot tolerate DIM at all.
1) Hope the male specific formula is better tolerated.
2) Add glutathione back into my formula (NON-FACTOR)
3) Take a cruciferous supplement without DIM
4) Take DIM's precursor (I3C)
11/13- COMPLETE INTOLERANCE TO DIM!! I took just a trace this morning and the result was the same as the half pill yesterday. Could barely run at all. Attempted a junk run but quit within a couple minutes. The verdict on glutathione is in and it is a non-factor. This is further evidence that DIM will solve the sensitivity once and for all because it wasn't tolerated before. Unfortunately, the ill-effects of taking DIM are MUCH WORSE than the previous sensitivity so I'll have to stop taking it.
The male specific formula should arrive by the end of the week. When it does, I will try to take it VERY gradually. Options #3 and 4 are still viable. If this plan fails, I can virtually guarantee that the sensitivity will kick back in with a VENGEANCE! Some days will be better than others but the overall trend will be degenerative. It's looking bleak.
Distance=0.5
Update:
If learned caffeine interferes with estrogen and testosterone metabolism. I loosened the restrictions because it seemed to be better tolerated on the DIM. Not so fast. Perhaps THIS is the culprit. Then again, I abstained from Wednesday-Saturday of last week and got worse. My entire life depends on being able to take DIM or a substitute. That's no exaggeration either.
11/14- AM- Gold's 1.5 in 14:48 (9:52 pace) with a slight negative split (7:27-7:21). That's horrible but it was an improvement over yesterday.
PM- Another Gold's run instead of 40 and rainy outside. 2 miles in 17:52 (8:56 pace). Again, I managed a slight negative split (9:00-8:52). Clearly improving. I'm not touching DIM again until Saturday. The sensitivity has already kicked back in.
Distance=3.5
11/15- Strong negative response to Sam-e last night. Just 2 days off the DIM and the sensitivity has kicked in BIGLY just as I predicted. I tried just a trace of DIM in the morning and MUCH TO MY RELIEF, I DID NOT COLLAPSE!! In fact, I actually felt a little better. Now, if I had taken a full pill or binged on caffeine, I can just about guarantee another relapse. The amount that I did take wasn't nearly enough to be fully effective but it was an improvement over yesterday. 3 miles at Gold's in 25:49 (8:36 pace). MINUS 20 over an extra mile. The plan is to GRADUALLY increase the DIM dosage and hope that the tolerance increases with time.
Distance=3.0
11/16- The male specific DIM arrived yesterday and it appears to be a winner. No, it's not a night and day difference. I was still afraid to try more than a trace. What I did was open the capsule and took the small amount left on the bottom. My mood was noticeably better. Same 3 miler at Gold's and my time was down to 25:09 (8:23 pace). MINUS 13 is relatively modest but I was much better in holding the pace on the back half. Yesterday, I managed only a 13:22 on the back half. Today, it was 12:47. I will continue to up the dosage GRADUALLY and hopefully, the tolerance will improve especially if the caffeine is cut out.
Distance=3.0
11/17- Against my better judgment, I took a full DIM pill today and the male specific formula is stronger (150 mg) so that's the equivalent of 1.5 pills of the old stuff. As expected, I took a step backwards but it wasn't nearly as bad as it was last weekend.
AM- 1 mile at Vestavia in 9:24
PM- Repeated it in 8:44. Hopes remain alive.
Distance=2.0
11/18- AM- Took 2 Liver and a Sam-e, which was never tolerated before the DIM. Repeated the Vestavia Mile and my time was down to 7:34 (MINUS 70) in spite of drinking caffeine yesterday as a test. Perhaps the tolerance to DIM is finally kicking it or perhaps I can only take the male specific formula, which contains maca instead of Vitamin E. I'll be back out this afternoon.
PM- Vestavia 4 miler with no watch. Overall, I was pleased with how I felt. Feeling more stimulated and it seems like I have a higher HR but that could be good. There is a chance that the adrenals could spike temporarily after solving a MAJOR problem.
Distance=5.0
-20 miles on the week.
At any rate, I came through the 1st mile in 8:50 with a steady pace with no DIM. That was a BIG improvement over yesterday. Took just a trace of DIM (1/4 pill) and improved to 8:28 (MINUS 22). Very good news that at least some was tolerated but my pace slipped on the back half. Took another quarter of a pill and as I fully expected, it was MUCH WORSE. Treated Mile 3 as a cool down and don't think I could have broken 10 minutes.
Distance=3.0
Reaction:
Split decision. I'll bet money that DIM will solve the sensitivity once and for all but if I can't tolerate it, that's the ultimate in cruelty. What happens next? If I only take a trace, it won't be as effective and the dietary restrictions and exact cocktail of pills rule must remain in effect. However, there is a chance that I can rebuild my tolerance and be able to take a full pill again. There is also a chance that it will evolve into complete intolerance and leave me right back where I started from. Time will tell.
Research this afternoon:
I have 4 options if I cannot tolerate DIM at all.
1) Hope the male specific formula is better tolerated.
2) Add glutathione back into my formula (NON-FACTOR)
3) Take a cruciferous supplement without DIM
4) Take DIM's precursor (I3C)
11/13- COMPLETE INTOLERANCE TO DIM!! I took just a trace this morning and the result was the same as the half pill yesterday. Could barely run at all. Attempted a junk run but quit within a couple minutes. The verdict on glutathione is in and it is a non-factor. This is further evidence that DIM will solve the sensitivity once and for all because it wasn't tolerated before. Unfortunately, the ill-effects of taking DIM are MUCH WORSE than the previous sensitivity so I'll have to stop taking it.
The male specific formula should arrive by the end of the week. When it does, I will try to take it VERY gradually. Options #3 and 4 are still viable. If this plan fails, I can virtually guarantee that the sensitivity will kick back in with a VENGEANCE! Some days will be better than others but the overall trend will be degenerative. It's looking bleak.
Distance=0.5
Update:
If learned caffeine interferes with estrogen and testosterone metabolism. I loosened the restrictions because it seemed to be better tolerated on the DIM. Not so fast. Perhaps THIS is the culprit. Then again, I abstained from Wednesday-Saturday of last week and got worse. My entire life depends on being able to take DIM or a substitute. That's no exaggeration either.
11/14- AM- Gold's 1.5 in 14:48 (9:52 pace) with a slight negative split (7:27-7:21). That's horrible but it was an improvement over yesterday.
PM- Another Gold's run instead of 40 and rainy outside. 2 miles in 17:52 (8:56 pace). Again, I managed a slight negative split (9:00-8:52). Clearly improving. I'm not touching DIM again until Saturday. The sensitivity has already kicked back in.
Distance=3.5
11/15- Strong negative response to Sam-e last night. Just 2 days off the DIM and the sensitivity has kicked in BIGLY just as I predicted. I tried just a trace of DIM in the morning and MUCH TO MY RELIEF, I DID NOT COLLAPSE!! In fact, I actually felt a little better. Now, if I had taken a full pill or binged on caffeine, I can just about guarantee another relapse. The amount that I did take wasn't nearly enough to be fully effective but it was an improvement over yesterday. 3 miles at Gold's in 25:49 (8:36 pace). MINUS 20 over an extra mile. The plan is to GRADUALLY increase the DIM dosage and hope that the tolerance increases with time.
Distance=3.0
11/16- The male specific DIM arrived yesterday and it appears to be a winner. No, it's not a night and day difference. I was still afraid to try more than a trace. What I did was open the capsule and took the small amount left on the bottom. My mood was noticeably better. Same 3 miler at Gold's and my time was down to 25:09 (8:23 pace). MINUS 13 is relatively modest but I was much better in holding the pace on the back half. Yesterday, I managed only a 13:22 on the back half. Today, it was 12:47. I will continue to up the dosage GRADUALLY and hopefully, the tolerance will improve especially if the caffeine is cut out.
Distance=3.0
11/17- Against my better judgment, I took a full DIM pill today and the male specific formula is stronger (150 mg) so that's the equivalent of 1.5 pills of the old stuff. As expected, I took a step backwards but it wasn't nearly as bad as it was last weekend.
AM- 1 mile at Vestavia in 9:24
PM- Repeated it in 8:44. Hopes remain alive.
Distance=2.0
11/18- AM- Took 2 Liver and a Sam-e, which was never tolerated before the DIM. Repeated the Vestavia Mile and my time was down to 7:34 (MINUS 70) in spite of drinking caffeine yesterday as a test. Perhaps the tolerance to DIM is finally kicking it or perhaps I can only take the male specific formula, which contains maca instead of Vitamin E. I'll be back out this afternoon.
PM- Vestavia 4 miler with no watch. Overall, I was pleased with how I felt. Feeling more stimulated and it seems like I have a higher HR but that could be good. There is a chance that the adrenals could spike temporarily after solving a MAJOR problem.
Distance=5.0
-20 miles on the week.
Friday, November 9, 2018
DIM Product Review
DIM stands for Diindomethane. My bottle contains 100 mg plus a small amount
of Vitamin E succinate and a green blend of spinach, broccoli and cabbage. I was first told about it 2 years ago as a
suggestion to combat sulfur sensitivity.
On the label, it says that it promotes “healthy estrogen
metabolism.” Naturally, as a man, I was
frightened by this so opted not to try it.
However, after additional research plus desperation and despair about my
continued decline in health, I was willing to give it a try. It turns out that it also aids in the
production of detox enzymes. The lack
thereof may be responsible for the sensitivity.
Also, proper estrogen metabolism can actually RAISE free testosterone by
preventing a blockage to its production.
Still, when I re-order, I will get a formulation specifically for men.
My testosterone tested normal back in 2010 but given my
history of adrenal disease, it would not surprise me to learn that it has since
dropped off. As recently as early 2015
(age 34), I was still capable of threatening my personal records despite spotty
training. I cratered shortly thereafter
and blamed the methylation problems as well as bad genetics. Well, I believe the methylation is under
control now and still no improvement. In
fact, after doing a little better last year, I’ve regressed further in
2018. There must be something deeper
going on here.
Results:
I got a bit of a negative reaction and slight flushing the
first 2 days but it felt more like detox and that appears to be correct. Since then, I have seen improvements though
at the moment, my running has stabilized but there have not been dramatic
improvements yet. I am hopeful that will
come gradually with steady training.
Specifics:
Sarcosine for glycine conjugation is the one product that I
cannot do without and it still is. Early
signs showed that Sarcosine might solve the sensitivity issues and though it
helps in some areas such as tolerance for Liver, it is not the miracle cure
that I hoped for. Just one skipped dose
reminded me that it is still very necessary as I woke up feeling awful without
it.
Beef Liver:
Again, I will probably end up rotating this with synthetic
B12 to keep my zinc/copper ratio in line but as of now, Liver is my preferred source
of B12. Before the DIM, I could not
tolerate more than 1 pill per day.
Otherwise, my whole body tightened up and I got the usual fatigue,
depression and VERY poor athletic performance.
Now, I can take 2-3 and probably more yet feel the same. My performance will not be significantly
different versus just 1 of those pills. As with the Sarcosine, I still need at least
1 every day or else but the flexible dosage is a BIG victory.
Taurine and Molybdenum:
Before starting DIM, my need and tolerance for molybdenum
varied from day to day and I eventually discovered that the fluctuation was
based on my consumption of protein.
After cutting out protein bars, not only did I not need the molybdenum,
I could not tolerate it. Also, without
the molybdenum, Taurine was no longer tolerated probably due to the CBS
mutation. Now, my need for moly will
only kick in if I eat too much protein.
Without protein bars, it is not needed but if I do happen to take it, it
seems to be a non-factor. Taurine is
tolerated once again even without the moly and may actually be slightly
beneficial. Very good news all around.
Methylation:
Before DIM, I needed a specific type of Methyl folate
(5-MTHF) and had to take it with Sam-e at a specific ratio (1400 MF/200 Sam-e)
or else I’d be AWFUL. I could also take
DMG but needed nucleotide support from Yasko (BHMT-08) for that to work. Methylation support is still necessary but
once again, the dose is now flexible. I
once took 200 Sam-e and only 400 MF then popped an extra Sam-e during a
run. I was actually slightly BETTER
after the extra Sam-e. Again, very good
news. I have not tried extra DMG yet nor
going without the nucleotide support.
Sugared Drinks:
I am best sticking to water only but that can be difficult
to do. I’ve always been able to handle
one cheat day per week but any more than that was asking for trouble. A caffeine binge or 3 consecutive days of
cheating spelled doom and I’d often feel worse 48 hours after stopping due to
withdrawal symptoms. Non-caffeinated
drinks (Sprite) and even non-carbonated ones (Powerade) would also trigger
reactions. Now, I am still best served
by sticking to water but the ill-effects of cheating are not nearly as severe
nor are the withdrawal symptoms. Again good news.
Given my history, it is WAY too soon to celebrate
anything. If I can avoid a relapse for
the rest of 2018, then MAYBE I have a chance of beating this.
Monday, November 5, 2018
Training 11/5-11/11
11/5- AM. Vestavia Mile in 6:34.8. Best time of the year by 3 seconds. Splits were 97-1:41-1:43-93 so I finished strong when I had to. This was MINUS 39 compared to yesterday. Rate of improvement will be slower from this point on but with steady training, I will chip away at it. Shooting for a sub-6:30 next time. Half mile cool.
Update:
With DIM, there are definitely positive changes but my tolerance for protein isn't one of them. If I eat protein bars regularly, I will need molybdenum again. The difference is that if I don't eat them, taking the moly won't hurt me as it did before. That is BIG.
PM- 4 miles on Lakeshore in 31:56 (7:59 pace) plus another half mile cool. Solid performance. Effort was in the moderate range. I did turn it up a notch in the last quarter mile because I wanted the sub-8 overall pace but overall, the pace was pretty even and I never felt too uncomfortable. Maybe it is time to get serious now. I've been cheating to test out my tolerance and I don't think it's hurt me too much but over the long haul, it's still not good for me.
Distance=6.0
11/6- Tried 2 DIM pills today but it was still too much of a detox reaction. I expected to suck bigly out there this evening but surprisingly I wasn't half bad. Lakeshore 5 in 42:10 (8:26 pace). Even pace and felt comfortable all the way. This is probably the pace I should be running on my standard issue workouts given my current fitness level. Off to a good start in terms of mileage.
Distance=5.0
11/7- Gold's 4 in 34:44 (8:41 pace) plus a long cool that included a couple of fast 200s. Pace was slower than I wanted but all is still okay. Once again, I felt comfortable during the run. Even pace with something left at the end. I think the mileage is catching up to me. I'm not accustomed to consistent mileage and it will just take time to adjust.
Distance=5.0
11/8- Repeated the Gold's 4 and improved to a 32:53 (8:13 pace). Nearly 30 seconds per mile faster than yesterday but I did jack up the effort a bit this time. A couple of observations: YES, I still need some form of B12 (preferably Liver) as well as methylation support BUT the dosage is flexible and there is no magic ratio either. The paces won't be much different (plus or minus) if I take an extra dose. That is a BIG victory.
Distance=4.0
11/9- Planned rest day. I've earned it. 20 miles in 4 days. I just want a double digit run tomorrow.
11/10- First BTC run in quite a while. Survived it but it wasn't pretty. Finished 10 miles in 99:30 (9:57 pace). No energy and no power in my legs. Took extra Taurine and moly afterwards and was noticeably worse. Mixed feelings about this. Not pleased at all with the sensitivity but the ill-effects are not nearly as severe as in the past and I was able to survive a double digit run and guarantee a 30 mile week. DIM may be causing further detox. Feeling a strange pain in the ass (literally) and lower abdomen. Yes, that can happen when detoxing so I may have to reduce the DIM temporarily. May do a junk run tomorrow but it will okay to take the day off.
Distance=10.0
11/11- 2 mile junk run on Wisteria at GARBAGE pace. It has become obvious that DIM must be reduced at least temporarily. I still believe it is a detox reaction. Who knows what I am getting rid of? It could be cadmium, lead or even arsenic. Perhaps something else not reported on hair tests. The pain in the ass and lower abdomen has gotten worse today. It is possible, however unlikely, that the formula specifically for men will be better tolerated. The one I take now is for both genders.
Distance=2.0
-32 miles on the week.
If I can manage the detox symptoms, 35 miles per week can be done. I'll hold it there until the end of the year.
Update:
With DIM, there are definitely positive changes but my tolerance for protein isn't one of them. If I eat protein bars regularly, I will need molybdenum again. The difference is that if I don't eat them, taking the moly won't hurt me as it did before. That is BIG.
PM- 4 miles on Lakeshore in 31:56 (7:59 pace) plus another half mile cool. Solid performance. Effort was in the moderate range. I did turn it up a notch in the last quarter mile because I wanted the sub-8 overall pace but overall, the pace was pretty even and I never felt too uncomfortable. Maybe it is time to get serious now. I've been cheating to test out my tolerance and I don't think it's hurt me too much but over the long haul, it's still not good for me.
Distance=6.0
11/6- Tried 2 DIM pills today but it was still too much of a detox reaction. I expected to suck bigly out there this evening but surprisingly I wasn't half bad. Lakeshore 5 in 42:10 (8:26 pace). Even pace and felt comfortable all the way. This is probably the pace I should be running on my standard issue workouts given my current fitness level. Off to a good start in terms of mileage.
Distance=5.0
11/7- Gold's 4 in 34:44 (8:41 pace) plus a long cool that included a couple of fast 200s. Pace was slower than I wanted but all is still okay. Once again, I felt comfortable during the run. Even pace with something left at the end. I think the mileage is catching up to me. I'm not accustomed to consistent mileage and it will just take time to adjust.
Distance=5.0
11/8- Repeated the Gold's 4 and improved to a 32:53 (8:13 pace). Nearly 30 seconds per mile faster than yesterday but I did jack up the effort a bit this time. A couple of observations: YES, I still need some form of B12 (preferably Liver) as well as methylation support BUT the dosage is flexible and there is no magic ratio either. The paces won't be much different (plus or minus) if I take an extra dose. That is a BIG victory.
Distance=4.0
11/9- Planned rest day. I've earned it. 20 miles in 4 days. I just want a double digit run tomorrow.
11/10- First BTC run in quite a while. Survived it but it wasn't pretty. Finished 10 miles in 99:30 (9:57 pace). No energy and no power in my legs. Took extra Taurine and moly afterwards and was noticeably worse. Mixed feelings about this. Not pleased at all with the sensitivity but the ill-effects are not nearly as severe as in the past and I was able to survive a double digit run and guarantee a 30 mile week. DIM may be causing further detox. Feeling a strange pain in the ass (literally) and lower abdomen. Yes, that can happen when detoxing so I may have to reduce the DIM temporarily. May do a junk run tomorrow but it will okay to take the day off.
Distance=10.0
11/11- 2 mile junk run on Wisteria at GARBAGE pace. It has become obvious that DIM must be reduced at least temporarily. I still believe it is a detox reaction. Who knows what I am getting rid of? It could be cadmium, lead or even arsenic. Perhaps something else not reported on hair tests. The pain in the ass and lower abdomen has gotten worse today. It is possible, however unlikely, that the formula specifically for men will be better tolerated. The one I take now is for both genders.
Distance=2.0
-32 miles on the week.
If I can manage the detox symptoms, 35 miles per week can be done. I'll hold it there until the end of the year.
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