Think BIG Bodybuilding

Does L-carnitine actually increase androgen receptor content—or has social media exaggerated what the research shows?

In this episode of Muscle Minds, Scott Stevenson presents a detailed breakdown of the Kraemer L-carnitine study behind this popular bodybuilding claim. Scott Stevenson and Scott McNally examine what the researchers actually measured, how the study was designed, what the results showed and the limitations that are often left out of social-media explanations.

The evidence does not support the claim that L-carnitine upregulates androgen receptor content. We also discuss why this proposed effect would matter to bodybuilders, the questions the study leaves unanswered and what can—and cannot—be concluded from its results.

0:00 Teaser: L-Carnitine Does Not Increase Androgen Receptor Content
1:00 Introduction
3:00 Why We’re Covering This Topic
6:30 Does L-Carnitine Increase Androgen Receptor Content?
7:45 Questions for the Listener
9:20 Why Would This Be Important?
14:00 What We Need to Know About L-Carnitine
21:45 What Did They Do in the Kraemer Study?
25:00 L-Carnitine Study Protocol
30:20 L-Carnitine Study Results
39:00 Lingering Questions
41:30 Problems With the Study
47:30 Final Thoughts on the Study
56:00 Breaking Down the Protocol Further
1:04:00 Loading Period: Oral vs Injectable L-Carnitine
1:07:00 Pronouncing “Creatine”
1:10:00 Off Topic

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Is the post-diet rebound really where bodybuilders make some of their best gains, or did the growth actually happen during prep and only become visible once calories come back up and the physique fills out?

Skip Hill, Andrew Berry and Scott McNally kick off Blood Sweat & Gear with a deep dive into the “magic” of the rebound. The guys break down what actually happens after a hard diet, how they approach rebound phases with clients, how quickly bodyweight should come back up, and the factors that determine whether someone has a productive rebound or just gets fat.

They also look at real-world rebound examples and discuss what needs to be in place before pushing the enhanced side of a rebound.

Later, the conversation gets into Tren E night sweats going into a show, injectable oral steroids, testosterone levels on cycle, DNP and methyl tren rankings, boldenone acetate, recovery methods, physique critiques and more.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 The Magic of the Post-Diet Rebound
00:50 Welcome Back to Blood Sweat & Gear
02:40 Andrew’s Client Earns His Pro Card
04:00 How to Rebound After a Diet
07:00 What Determines a Successful Rebound?
16:00 Rebound Case Study #1
17:30 Rebound Case Study #2
20:00 Rebound Case Study #3
21:30 How Fast Should You Gain After a Diet?
24:20 What to Nail Before Adding Gear
26:00 Tren E Night Sweats Before a Show
32:00 Are Injectable Orals Actually Safer?
35:00 Testosterone Levels on Cycle
39:30 Ranking DNP
41:00 Ranking Methyl Tren
44:30 Boldenone Acetate
45:50 Ranking Recovery Methods
54:50 Physique Critique
1:04:30 Andrew Responds to a Fake Comment
1:07:25 Behind the Scenes: Somehow We’re Talking History

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Samson Dauda makes a surprising move just weeks before the Mr. Olympia, jumping into the Europa Pro in Germany and giving everyone an early look at his Olympia condition. Scott McNally, Ron Partlow and Dusty Hanshaw break down Samson’s chances of winning the Olympia, where Derek Lunsford fits into the picture, and whether Derek’s legs could hold him back.

Plus, Sasan Heirati’s latest physique, Martyn Ford and gym etiquette, going ALL IN on bodybuilding, and our Top 10 vacation destinations for bodybuilders AKA Best Brocations

0:00 Welcome to It’s Just Bodybuilding
1:00 Can Samson Dauda WIN the Mr. Olympia?
6:40 Derek Lunsford: 1st or 2nd at the Olympia?
12:45 Will Derek Lunsford’s Legs Hold Him Back?
22:00 Sasan Heirati’s Best Physique Ever?
29:40 Martyn Ford Reaction + Gym Etiquette
37:40 What It Takes to Go ALL IN on Bodybuilding
45:20 Top 10 Vacation Destinations for Bodybuilders
1:06:00 Joe’s Gym in Marquette, Michigan
1:08:00 Best Hotel & Apartment Gyms
1:12:00 Inside Joe’s Gym
1:14:20 Ron Partlow Renovated His Condo Gym

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Scott McNally and Dave Crosland are back with a slightly different start to Drugs n Stuff. Before getting into the usual steroid talk, Scott surprises Dave with a gift he definitely wasn’t expecting.

Then it’s into Steroids in the News with a recent steroid bust that affected a lot of people in the community, including a breakdown of the compounds involved. From there, Scott and Dave get into listener questions and stories — including someone claiming to have used 600mg of oral steroids per day, first-cycle Tren, low-dose EQ for estrogen control, some insane bulking experiences, Deca + EQ vs. Test + Deca, whether high natural testosterone changes cycle design, alternatives to Primo, low-dose Deca with TRT, teenage steroid use and brain development, and the growing debate around “neurotoxic” steroids.

0:00 600mg PER DAY of Oral Steroids?!
0:50 Support the Podcast
1:30 Scott Surprises Dave With a Gift
6:10 Steroids in the News: Major Steroid Bust
8:15 News Report on the Steroid Bust
10:00 What Steroids Did He Get Caught With?
18:45 Using Tren on Your First Cycle?
20:20 Low-Dose EQ for Estrogen Control
21:30 Listeners’ Craziest Bulk - 600mg orals?
24:20 Deca + EQ vs. Test + Deca
27:00 Does High Natural Testosterone Change Cycle Design?
30:00 A Gym That Was Also a Nightclub?!
31:50 Balancing Bodybuilding With a Busy Life
41:45 Best Alternatives to Primobolan
42:45 TRT + 50mg Deca Long-Term?
45:20 Teen Steroid Use & Brain Development
53:45 Are “Neurotoxic” Steroids Really a Concern?
1:02:20 Dave Has Gotten Into Better Shape!
1:07:00 Scott's Birthday

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What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done to bulk? Dave Crosland and Scott McNally look back at the extremes bodybuilders will go to in the pursuit of size — and how distorted your perception of your own body can become along the way.

Then we get into your questions on a 15-year-old using Test, Tren and Mast, whether peptides are getting out of hand, post-cycle sexual performance, choosing a second compound with testosterone, whether different steroids actually build different-looking physiques, gaining muscle after massive weight loss, GLP-1s and muscle growth, testosterone-to-estrogen ratios, Arimidex, ephedrine and more.

0:00 Welcome to Drugs n Stuff
1:40 The Craziest Things We Did to Bulk
3:45 Bodybuilding & Distorted Body Image
9:00 15-Year-Old Using Test, Tren & Mast?!
10:30 Are Peptides Getting Out of Hand?
12:18 Will I Lose Bedroom Performance After My Cycle?
21:50 Best Second Compound to Add to Testosterone
24:00 Do Different Steroids Create Different Physiques?
28:00 Building Muscle After Massive Weight Loss
32:40 Do GLP-1 Drugs Reduce Muscle Gain?
36:00 Testosterone-to-Estrogen Ratios Explained
39:00 Caffeine & Vision Problems
41:45 Ephedrine in the US vs. UK
45:50 How Much Arimidex on 300–400mg Testosterone?
50:00 Australian Customs Are No Joke
54:10 Uncle Dave’s Wisdom
1:04:40 What Would You Do in The Purge?

UK Blood Work
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Support the Podcast
Patreon — Help keep the show growing. Even $5/month makes a difference.
https://www.patreon.com/thinkbigbodybuilding

Sponsors
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STROM SPORTS — Performance supplements trusted by athletes
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Supplement Source Canada — Top brand supplements with fast shipping
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Merch
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