Search Weight Loss Topics: |
Testosterone Deficiency, Erectile Dysfunction, and …


Testosterone is a hormone produced by the testicles and is responsible for the proper development of male sexual characteristics. Testosterone is also important for maintaining muscle bulk, adequate levels of red blood cells, bone growth, a sense of well-being, and sexual function.
Inadequate production of testosterone is not a common cause of erectile dysfunction; however, when ED does occur due to decreased testosterone production, testosterone replacement therapy may improve the problem.
As a man ages, the amount of testosterone in his body naturally gradually declines. This decline starts after age 30 and continues throughout life. Some causes of low testosterone levels are due to:
Without adequate testosterone, a man may lose his sex drive, experience erectile dysfunction, feel depressed, have a decreased sense of well-being, and have difficulty concentrating.
Low testosterone can cause the following physical changes:
The only accurate way to detect the condition is to have your doctor measure the amount of testosterone in your blood. Because testosterone levels fluctuate throughout the day, several measurements will need to be taken to detect a deficiency. Doctors prefer, if possible, to test levels early in the morning, when testosterone levels are highest.
Note: Testosterone should only be used by men who have clinical signs and symptoms AND medically documented low testosterone levels.
Testosterone deficiency can be treated by:
Each of these options provides adequate levels of hormone replacement; however, they all have different advantages and disadvantages. Talk to your doctor to see which approach is right for you.
Men who have prostate cancer or breast cancer should not take testosterone replacement therapy. Nor should men who have severe urinary tract problems, untreated severe sleep apnea or uncontrolled heart failure. All men considering testosterone replacement therapy should undergo a thorough prostate cancer screening -- a rectal exam and PSA test -- prior to starting this therapy.
In general, testosterone replacement therapy is safe. It is associated with some side effects, including:
Laboratory abnormalities that can occur with hormone replacement include:
If you are taking hormone replacement therapy, regular follow-up appointments with your doctor are important.
Like any other medication, directions for administering testosterone should be followed exactly as your doctor orders. If you are unsure or have any questions about testosterone replacement therapy, ask your doctor.
SOURCE:
Get-Back-On-Track.com.
The Hormone Foundation.
News release, FDA.
See the original post here:
Testosterone Deficiency, Erectile Dysfunction, and ...
Easy HCG | HCG Diet Drops for the HCG Diet | Easy HCG


Are there any side effects to taking HCG?
No, there are no known negative side effects to the HCG diet if you stay on it the way it is designed. Pay attention to the meal plan and the foods, supplements, and liquids that are a part of the diet. Take the recommended dose of HCG daily at the same time every day, if possible.
Absolutely! Homeopathy is a well-known source of natural remedies and cures. Homeopathic HCG is no scamthe diluted form of HCG is just as powerful and effective. Taking HCG drops sublingually is less costly, less painful, and not inconvenient at all like trips to the doctors office or mixing your own formula.
There is no specific type of exercise you must do, nor is there a minimum amount of exercise. Dr. Simeons recommended light daily exercise, such as taking a walk, playing a round of tennis, or swimming. He also noted that patients who were very active before and during the diet did not feel as weak and had improved fitness levels after the diet concluded. Exercise can help you meet your weight loss goals even just by making you feel stronger.
See the rest here:
Easy HCG | HCG Diet Drops for the HCG Diet | Easy HCG
How Long Does Testosterone (TRT) Take To Work?


We are frequently asked how long patients will have to wait before they start feeling better after starting testosterone replacement therapy. The best answer can get a little complicated, but there are definitely some factors that we have identified which help to predict success.
This video is a rapid fire explanation of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). It will provide a great foundation for those seeking to learn more about Low T treatments like testosterone gels, pellets, or injections.
First of all, it is important to be looking for the right things. Knowing what the real symptoms of Low T areis extremely important.
Making sure that your treatment is medically supervised by providers who know The Side Effects of TRT well, and being consistent with the prescribed therapy, plays the biggest role in how quickly you will respond.
Keep in mind that people are not cookie cutter clones of one another either each individual is different, and your response will be too.
Understanding that there is no hard fast rule here, most patients feel significant improvement in symptoms within 4-6 weeks of starting treatment for Low T.
It is common for symptoms like low sex drive and difficulty maintaining sleep to respond sooner. On the other hand, factors like obesity, chronic illness, or medications can make ones response slower or more subtle at first.
It has been our experience that failure to respond to treatment (when the person is committed to staying consistent with appointments and recommendations) is very rare.
Especially with injections, response to therapy has nothing to do withwaiting for your testosterone levels to come up.
If properly managed, your levels can be normalized with the first dose, possibly in just a few days.
The lag in symptomatic response represents the time it takes for your body to achieve balance. Making numbers look better is one thing carefully balancing hormonal shifts and the potential side effects is where the art of medicine becomes crucial.
Below you will find some references to what the studies say on the subject, but ultimately, we have found the following to be true:
In the study titled, Timetable of effects of testosterone administration to hypogonadal men on variables of sex and mood (Jockenhovel, Minnemann, et al, The Aging Male, December 2009: 12 (4): 113-118), 40 men with testosterone levels definitively established as low were evaluated for timing of response to therapy.
Specifically, the researchers wanted to know how long it took for men to experience improvement in total numbers of erections and ejaculations, indicators of improved libido such as sexual thoughts and fantasies, and perceived sexual interest/desire and satisfaction with their sex lives.
Additionally, several psychosocial parameters were measured looking for changes such as levels of agitation, aggression, depression, listlessness (avoidance of activity), sociability, and activation.
Activation, by the way, is defined by Britannica Online Encyclopedia as the stimulation of the cerebral cortex into a state of general wakefulness, or attention.
Essentially, you can think of activation as concentration and alertness in this context.
It is important to note that this study only evaluated patients at three-week intervals, so any symptomatic change occurring before that point could not be documented. For the psychosocial effects assessed by the study, anxiety levels, aggression, and sociability all showed significant response at three weeks after the start of therapy.
The scoring for all three of these parameters continued to improve over the next 9 weeks, all plateauing around week 12.
When considering aggression, it is worth noting that when a mans testosterone level is normal, he is usually appropriately aggressive. A total lack of aggression is most often a social liability and can sometimes lead to missed opportunities, especially in the workplace.
On the other hand, roid rage, which is frequently associated with anabolic steroid abuse (and the supraphysiologic levels that ensue), occurs in the setting of extremely elevated levels of testosterone.
This is not something seen when TRT is managed responsibly and safely. The goal should always be to improve symptoms while improving testosterone levels from deficient levels to normal ones.
Depression and listlessness both decreased substantially by week 6 and remained fairly steady thereafter. For agitation and activation, both of these measurements showed sharp improvements at 9 weeks and stayed relatively stable thereafter.
This study evaluated sexual function by tracking the number of spontaneous erections, total erections, and ejaculations reported by men. Other aspects that were quantified were frequency of sexual thoughts/fantasy, intensity of sexual desire, and overall satisfaction with sex life.
For the three measurements of sexual function, men reported positive changes for all at their 3-week evaluation. The number of spontaneous and total erections, as well as the number of ejaculations, increased to stable levels between weeks 12 to 21.
Sexual thoughts and fantasy rose considerably by week three and remained at levels approximately double initial scores thereafter. Sexual desire followed a similar track, reaching a plateau around the 9th week.
Finally, satisfaction with sex life rose sharply by 3rd week and continued on a dramatic rise through week-30 when the study concluded.
As the study says, Treatment of hypogonadal men (men with Low T) with testosterone is rewarding, for the patients as well as the physician.
The patient experiences, to his satisfaction, profound changes in his physical appearance and his mental make-up.
The attending physician observes the changes the patient undergoes and rarely fails to be fascinated by the multitude of functions testosterone appears to have in [the] process of masculinization in the broadest sense. The take home points are these.
The researchers behind this journal article looked only at sexual functioning and mood. There is often much more that is negatively impacted by Low T.
If you have questions or comments please take the time to contact us, we would be happy to sit down with you and discuss how testosterone replacement therapy can improve your quality of life.
Read the original:
How Long Does Testosterone (TRT) Take To Work?
Anti-Aging Hendersonville TN, Sermorelin Acetate


ANTI AGING THERAPY
Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone, Peptide
Sermorelin (CJC 1295), GHRP 6
WHAT IS SERMORELIN? Sermorelin is also known as GRF 1-29 NH 2 which stands for Growth Hormone Releasing Factor with the numbers indicating the amino acid chain that is responsible for the effect of the Sermorelin. Sermorelin IS NOT HGH; Sermorelin works by promoting the secretion of Human Growth Hormone (HGH) from the pituitary gland.
WHAT TO EXPECT? An increase in HGH levels within 3 6 months from the initiation of therapy.
DAILY DOSAGE
300mcg Sermorelin:Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide
100mcg GHRP6:Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone
WHY USE SERMORELIN VS. HGH? Sermorelin use leads to the preservation of youthful anatomy and physiology without the possible harmful side effects associated with HGH administration. Also, law prohibits off-label use of HGH. The function of Sermorelin is to stimulate pituitary function; the pituitary gland regulates the amount of HGH production. This increases the safety and minimizes the side effects.
BENEFITS OF SERMORELIN
THE MOST COMMON REACTION to Sermorelin therapy is related to local irritation around the injection site, which occurs in around one of every six patients. This irritation is characterized by redness, pain, or swelling. Though this side effect is relatively common, only a small minority of patients find the irritation bothersome enough to suspend therapy. There are other side effects which occurr in less than one percent of patients. These side effects include: severe drowsiness, hives, vomiting, headache, nausea, difficulty swallowing, hyperactivity, chest tightness and pallor, distortion in perception of taste, and flushing of the skin.
HOW TO USE SERMORELIN ACETATE GROWTH HORMONE RELEASING HORMONE: Use Sermorelin Acetate only as directed by your physician/practitioner.When self-administering Sermorelin, follow the procedures below:
IMPORTANT LAB TESTING INFORMATION:
Human growth hormone is rapidly converted to IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor-1) and cannot be easily measured directly. The test for HGH is the measurement of IGF-1 levels. The ideal range of IGF-1 is 200 to 300. Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency (AGHD) is defined when IGF-1 is below 160 ug/ml.
Absolute contraindications to begin Sermorelin treatment include malignancies, benign intracranial hypertension and proliferative retinopathy.
INDIAN LAKE MEDICAL WEIGHT LOSS & WELLNESS
Sleep, a quality that deteriorates with age, plays a very important role in the amount Human Growth Hormone our body produces. The majority of our natural HGH production is known to occur during deep sleep. Because the body produces HGH during deep sleep, less hours of sleep and poor sleeping patterns result in a low production of HGH.
Sermorelin Therapy promotes longer, deeper sleep and improved sleeping patterns. Production of HGH during the sleep cycle becomes dramatically improved. This deep restful sleep and increased production of HGH enhances the bodys ability to better recover and regenerate from daily life and exercise.
Sermorelin Therapy and HGH Therapy offer all of the same potential treatment benefits. Injections of Growth Hormone through HGH Therapy will have the same end result as the increased Growth Hormone produced by the body through Sermorelin Therapy. Although the end result of Sermorelin and HGH Therapy is the same, the avenue in which the result is accomplished is the biggest difference.
Sermorelin Therapy carries a significantly lower risk of overdose and possibility for abuse. The body will only use the amount of Sermorelin it needs to manufacture a healthy amount of Human Growth Hormone. Sermorelin will not encourage the body to produce excessive levels of HGH. For those who want faster results, HGH Therapy will be the preferred choice. HGH Therapy is quicker to take affect and permits for higher overall levels of HGH to be reached.
Sermorelin cost is typically less than HGH cost due to the intricate process involved to genetically engineer Human Growth Hormone. Both HGH and Sermorelin Therapy are a financial investment in your quality of life, health and well being. The rewards of either far outweigh any costs involved.
This treatment is prescribed for use in adults to increase lean muscle mass, reduce body fat, increase bone density, enhance the immune system, and strengthen the heart, as well as other organs of the body.
Since the increased volume of human growth hormone is produced by the bodys own pituitary gland, the bodys endocrine system will not allow more growth hormone to be produced by the Sermorelin GH-RH stimulation of the pituitary than the body can safely process.
In children, Sermorelin acetate (GHRH) has been approved for ramping up growth hormone levels that do not make enough and are deficient. It is on-label and FDA approved for this indication.
In adults, using it to increase growth hormone and IGF-1 levels is an off-label use of the drug. This means it can be prescribed by physicians who determine an indication to be appropriate, but it was not cleared by the FDA specifically for this purpose.
Increase in energy, sex drive, skin elasticity, muscle tone, stamina, focus, bone density, and mental functions. Patients can also expect to experience deeper, more restful sleep, fuller hair, and improved recovery time from wounds and illnesses. Also you should see a decrease in fat, wrinkles, cholesterol, cellulite, joint and muscle pain, fatigue and depression.
To completely appreciate the benefits ofSermorelin,first it is necessary to understandHuman Growth Hormone(hGH).hGHis secreted by the pituitary gland and controls the growth of cells and organs in the body.
Natural hGH peaks at age 20. Beginning at age 30, humans experience a 14% reduction in hGH every decade of life. By age 40, the production of the human growth hormone is only 40% of what it was at 20. It is possible to stimulate the pituitary gland to produce hGH again, even after this decline in production has occurred, by using a Growth Hormone Releasing Factor (GRF).
GHRH for injection was approved in the treatment of growth hormone deficiency in children by the FDA in 1997. This therapy consists of daily injections of Sermorelin acetate which stimulates the pituitary gland to produce increased natural secretion of human growth hormone. Since Sermorelin acetate is approved as safe for use in children to increase their production of growth hormone, it is considered safe for use in increasing the natural production of growth hormone in adults deficient in growth hormone.
This treatment is prescribed for unlabeled use in adults to increase lean muscle mass, reduce body fat, increase bone density, enhance the immune system, and strengthen the heart, as well as, other organs of the body. Since the increased volume of human growth hormone is produced by the bodys pituitary gland, the bodys endocrine system will not allow more growth hormone to be produced by the Sermorelin GH-RH stimulation of the pituitary than the body can safely process within the endocrine self-monitoring system.
UnlikehGHthe Human Growth Hormone itself,Sermorelinaffects a more primary source of failure in the GH neuroendocrine axis, has more physiological activity, has a better safety profile, and its use for adult hormone deficiency is not restricted.
Just like most peptide hormones, Sermorelin usually has a loading period of 3-6 months before full effects are noticed. Once injected, both Sermorelin and rHGH are eliminated from then body very quickly and therefore need to be injected frequently. Its actions are dependent on a chain reaction of biological processes which result in elevated and sustained HGH and growth factors. It takes some time for levels to become optimal and initiate the benefits we are seeking to achieve.
Actually, no. Sermorelin has an ongoing effect in which optimal HGH levels can be sustained long after the last injection. Just like synthetic HGH, Sermorelin initially must be injected every day. Unlike synthetic HGH, once optimal levels are sustained with Sermorelin injection frequencies can be decreased or stopped altogether. Once results are achieved, patients are then switched to a maintenance protocol eliminating the need for ongoing daily injections and reducing the total cost of therapy!Sermorelin can be combined with hCG and Lipotropic MIC injections, Methyl B12 injections and other bio-identical hormones, as well as thyroid medications and adrenal boosting nutraceuticals (labs will be done for all of these to see your values and what you are deficient in).
As we age, our skin loses elasticity; may become wrinkled and loose, we gain fat and lose muscle mass, and our bone mass decreases. All of this is largely due to the decrease in growth hormone. Some would argue that this is just a normal part of life, fair enough. Of course we agree that everyone ages, but science has made it easier to do so gracefully and beautifully.
HGH is responsible for stimulating tissue repair, and can aid in losing weight, gaining muscle, and strengthening bones. It can also help skin regain some of its lost elasticity and improve skins texture and tone. Through Sermorelin or GHRH therapy, your body will increase production of its own HGH and, over the course of time, will begin to repair and rejuvenate itself.
GHRH or Sermorelin therapy is best utilized as a long term program. It can improve your energy and stamina, reduce incidents of injury by strengthening your joints and bones, aid in weight loss and increasing lean muscle mass, reduce dangerous belly fat, and improve your sleep patterns and fight insomnia.
Sleep is one of the most important parts of our life. While our body is sleeping, our growth hormones are hard at work regenerating our cells and keeping us healthy. GHRH therapy can improve the quality of your sleep, leaving you with more energy during the day and allowing your body to get the work done that it needs to while you sleep.
Sermorelin Acetate Therapy can also enhance the effects of a testosterone therapy when combined in a complete hormone replacement program.
Along with the benefits are several side effects that may or may not occur; they vary in nature and are rare. The most common side effects are pain or swelling where the injection was given, it is a small shot so you can expect an experience similar to a vaccine.
More severe effects are it ching or slight discomfort when swallowing; should this occur seek medical help immediately by your health care practitioner or nearest emergency facility. Other side effects that should be reported to a health care provider, but that tend to be rare, are dizziness, headache, hyperactivity, and vomiting and again can be quickly addressed by contacting your supervising physician.
At Indian Lake Medical we design a program to restore your vitality by balancing your hormones, creating a diet and exercise program that will work for you, and correctly administering supplements to round it out. Youre only a phone call away from looking and feeling your best!
Use of growth-hormone-releasing peptide-6 (GHRP-6) for the prevention of multiple organ failure
Sermorelin: A better approach to management of adult-onset growth hormone insufficiency?
Activation of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) receptor stimulates cardiac reverse remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI)
Acceleration of wound healing by growth hormone-releasing hormone and its agonists
Growth hormone (GH)releasing hormone and GH secretagogues in normal aging: Fountain of Youth or Pool of Tantalus?
ga('create', 'UA-33622034-1', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview');// ]]>
// ]]>
// ]]>
// ]]>
// ]]>
// ]]>
Follow this link:
Anti-Aging Hendersonville TN, Sermorelin Acetate
Sermorelin Acetate | Sermorelin vs HGH | Sermorelin GHRP-6


First, it is necessary to understand Human Growth Hormone (HGH). HGH is secreted by the pituitary gland and controls the growth of cells and organs in the body. Natural HGH peaks at age 20. Beginning at age 30, we experience a 14% reduction in HGH every decade of life. By age 40, the production of the human growth hormone is only 40% of what it was at 20. It is possible to stimulate the pituitary gland to produce HGH again, even after this decline in production has occurred, by using a Growth Hormone Releasing Factor (GRF). Developed in the 1970s, Sermorelin acetate is a small peptide containing 29 amino acids which is all that is necessary to spur the pituitary gland into action and secreting life-restoring HGH. Sermorelin is compounded with GHRP-6, which is growth hormone releasing peptide. In evaluating Sermorelin vs HGH, the benefits combine to both stimulate your pituitary gland to produce HGH naturally and provide an immediate boost to your system by taking HGH injections.
It is possible to completely reclaim your youthfulness with Sermorelin, and reverse the biological signs of aging. Sermorelin acetate is a safe bioidentical synthetic hormone. Sermorelin GHRP-6 is the most effective combination for this therapy. The benefits of Sermorelin allow many health problems and diseases associated with aging to be reversed or alleviated completely. The benefits of Sermorelin acetate injections are numerous. To name a few, you will experience an increase in energy, sex drive, skin elasticity, muscle tone, stamina, focus, bone density, and mental functions. You will experience deeper, more restful sleep, fuller hair, and improved recovery time from wounds and illnesses. You will see a decrease in fat, wrinkles, cholesterol, cellulite, joint and muscle pain, fatigue and depression. It is not necessary to decide on Sermorelin vs HGH, as both will provide these significant benefits to the body. All these benefits of Sermorelin injections and injectable HGH therapy prove that youth need not be wasted on the young anymore!
Recent studies have shown that the fastest and most effective program to reverse the signs and symptoms of aging, such as decreased energy, reduced sex drive, increased body fat, wrinkling, decreased mental alertness, and weakened immune system, is combined Sermorelin HGH treatment. Our local doctors who prescribe Sermorelin GHRP-6 and injectable HGH will determine the best program of rotation for your overall health and wellness. You will have the best of both worlds with bioidentical HGH injections providing an instant boost of human growth hormone in your body, and Sermorelin prompting your pituitary gland to produce its own human growth hormone to sustain these benefits over the long term. This is a very powerful combination therapy which prevents essentially all of the side effects of injectable HGH therapy alone, and Sermorelin Acetate and HGH injections combined provide more of the benefits than available from either program by itself. Our local doctors who test HGH levels will work with you to determine the best protocol of Sermorelin vs HGH therapy.
It is necessary to evaluate your particular condition before a cost for Sermorelin GHRP-6 can be determined. Our local doctors who test for HGH deficiencies will evaluate your individual situation, and determine your dosage protocol for Sermorelin vs HGH based on your laboratory blood tests, your physical exam and your unique medical history. Keep in mind that in answering How much does Sermorelin cost? that Sermorelin injections are an investment in your longevity and productivity not a short term band-aid approach to wellness. This investment will reap amazing rewards in all areas of your life. Please contact one of our clinical advisers today for more information about Sermorelin vs HGH cost and a therapy program of Sermorelin GHRP-6 specifically tailored for your needs. Together, we will work out your individually-tailored program and cost.
We hear you asking about making comparisons of Sermorelin vs HGH: Are the effective dosages of HGH and Sermorelin comparable? It is important to remember that HGH and Sermorelin have two completely different functions in the body. When our local doctors who test for HGH levels develop a program of therapy for an older patient whose HGH levels have declined for many years, then it may be necessary to give them an immediate boost of bioidentical human growth hormone or injectable HGH Therapy. This can only be determined when the doctor who prescribes injectable HGH Therapy reviews the patients laboratory blood test. If the patient is younger and has a pituitary gland which still produces significant quantities of HGH naturally, then the doctor who prescribes hormone replacement therapy may determine the best course of treatment would be to prescribe injectable Sermorelin GHRP-6 in order to give the pituitary gland a boost to increase natural production of human growth hormone. Most often, a patient is somewhere in between, and the doctor who tests for HGH levels determines that the safest and most effective course of treatment will be a combination of bioidentical HGH for an immediate rise in HGH levels and injectable Sermorelin Acetate therapy for a natural increase in HGH production over the long term.
You will often find Sermorelin acetate compounded with GHRP-6 (growth hormone releasing peptide) which improves its function in encouraging the pituitary gland to produce more HGH naturally. Sermorelin acetate and GHRP-6 are great alternatives for people who want to do things naturally and who may object to the idea of replacing hormones with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy. It is possible through a course of therapy with Sermorelin acetate and GHRP-6 to raise your own natural production of HGH up to 60% higher than it was before you started treatment. Our local doctors who prescribe Sermorelin can incorporate this into a program of treatment whether you are on human growth hormone, testosterone replacement therapy, or HCG for weight loss. Enhanced results are sure to come from including Sermorelin acetate and GHRP-6 in your program.
Sermorelin dosage is determined differently than with bioidentical HGH therapy. With bioidentical HGH, your dosage is determine by your current level of HGH (as determined by a blood test), your body weight, symptoms and age. Sermorelin GHRP-6 dosage is determined by our local doctors who prescribe Sermorelin GHRP-6 based on brain size. For most adults, whether male or female, the most common dosage of 200 mcg is a sufficient. Sermorelin acetate is measured in mcg as opposed to HGH which is measured in International Units (IUs). Your Sermorelin dosage will encourage your pituitary gland to produce more HGH naturally and return you to a state of well-being and health which you knew in your younger days.
With aging, illness and injury, it is probable that your body contours have shifted in a way that no longer shows the youthful physique you sported in your younger days. While Kingsberg Medical does not work with professional athletes or bodybuilders, we do recognize that reversing the ravages of time on the body involves trimming excess fat and helping you rebuild lost muscle mass, and creating and sculpting a lean healthy masculine shape. With Sermorelin bodybuilding and athletic endeavors are possible as your energy levels and feelings of health and well-being return.
With injectable Sermorelin GHRP-6 therapy, your body will begin to respond and feel like it did in your younger days. You can buy Sermorelin GHRP-6 by following the simple process outlined by our clinical advisers. Start with the short contact form above, and one of our clinical advisers will contact you to explain the rest of the details. Our course of injectable Sermorelin Acetate therapy will encourage your body to be balanced and healthy and return your overall feeling of youthfulness and well-being with Sermorelin vs HGH. Call us for more information about how to buy Sermorelin injections with a doctors prescription or to get started right away (877) 321-8885.
See original here:
Sermorelin Acetate | Sermorelin vs HGH | Sermorelin GHRP-6
Sermorelin for Anti-Aging with Dr. David Fein in Dallas Fort …


Although human growth hormone (hGH) is produced naturally in our body, the level of growth hormones in our blood levels decline as we get older, leaving many in search for treatment methods that will help them to cope with the signs and symptoms of aging. However, growth hormone therapy using growth hormone supplements, or the most widely known product hGH can have a number of side effects. Recently, a new therapy has evolved that is called Sermorelin. Sermorelin is a protein chain that acts as a biologically active fragment of GH releasing hormone (GHRH). By mimicking GHRH, we can stimulate the brain to initiate growth hormone production and secretion from the pituitary gland.
Clinical studies have shown a long list of benefits attributed to Sermorelin prescription therapy. These benefits include:
Sermorelin is a synthetically manufactured version of a natural substance that is produced by our bodies. This substance is responsible for the release of growth hormone from our pituitary gland, a process that decreases and becomes less consistent as we age. Sermorelin synthetically models this substance, helping our bodies to receive more of our naturally produced growth hormone.
Growth hormone is highly active during our childhood years. Sermorelin has been used to assist growth hormone during childhood, especially in situations where there is an abnormality in the function or amount of naturally produced growth hormone that may alter development. Recently, Sermorelin has been found to be beneficial in the treatment for anti-aging and age-management, as well as for children with complex development conditions.
Sermorelin is only available by prescription through your Dallas anti-aging specialist. Dr. Fein will decide what dosage level is most appropriate for your needs.
If you are interested in including Sermorelin as part of your anti-aging treatment plan, contact us to schedule an appointment with Dr. David Fein.
Read the original post:
Sermorelin for Anti-Aging with Dr. David Fein in Dallas Fort ...
Thinking Thin: Recipe for Success for Long-Term Weight Loss


There's no lack of people willing to sell you on the newest and best way to lose weight. But let the true experts -- ordinary people who have lost weight and kept it off -- share their recipe for success. Then you can take the first few baby steps to being and "thinking" thin.
Thinking thin is all about small, simple changes you make on a daily basis, not about dropping 20 pounds by year's end.
"Thinking thin in a world that would have us be fat as barrels is no easy task," says Catherine Fitzgerald, RD, director of the health promotion division in the University of Michigan Health System.
"Food is everywhere, so you have to develop a personal lifestyle, sooner rather than later in life, that is compatible with your long-term weight goals. People should focus their efforts on weight loss as a means of staying healthy, not reaching some unreachable ideal of beauty that our culture puts out there."
The University of Colorado's National Weight Control Registry set out to examine everyday people who have achieved long-term weight loss. Set up by professor James O. Hill and his colleagues nearly 20 years ago, the registry includes information about more than 3,000 people who have, on average, lost more than 60 pounds and kept if off for more than five years.
After studying the registry's participants, Hill identified four common behaviors among those who have successfully maintained their weight loss:
Most weight-management experts would counsel against weighing yourself daily because it may be counterproductive and could lead to disappointment. And yet it works, according to the registry researchers.
Here's how the participants said they maintained their weight loss:
Fitzgerald says that a major part of keeping a focus on weight loss or weight management is as simple as staying positive.
"It's always better to go with what we can do, rather than what we can't do," she says. "Make reachable goals, like eating an extra serving of fruits or vegetables. You also can make healthier choices."
Many fast food restaurants are including healthier items on their menus. For example, Burger King's vegetable burgers and Wendy's salads, Fitzgerald says.
"A healthy choice is just as easy to make today as an unhealthy one," she says.
What role does your family play? If you come from a family with a history of weight problems, does that mean you are fighting a losing battle?
"Genetics plays a role in increasing your susceptibility to becoming obese, but genetics alone does not determine whether your body does or does not store fat," says David Schteingart, MD, professor of endocrinology and director of the obesity rehabilitation program at the University of Michigan. "In particular, there have been a number of studies that have shown that a person's weight and manner of fat storage is most closely linked to that of his or her biological mother."
Still, a family history of obesity can't be used as reason to give up.
Most of these studies show that genetics is responsible for only 25% of your risk of being obese, says Schteingart. "The other 75% then includes many facets, such as cultural influences, personal lifestyle, and availability of food, among others."
"Behaviors and lifestyle can be extremely difficult things to change, especially as we age," says Schteingart. "But simple steps maintained over time are what works."
Follow this link:
Thinking Thin: Recipe for Success for Long-Term Weight Loss
Is Long Term Weight Loss Possible? – AskMen


If long-term weight loss were impossible, would it even be worth trying to lose weight?
Well, bad news. Areport that hit headlines recently suggests that permanent weight loss is near impossible. Decades of clinical research, public health initiatives and personal attempts at diet and exercise have yielded a net sum of zero. Sure, people lose weight all the time; thats pretty easy to do but they cant keep it off.
A review of the scientific literature shows that virtually every participant of structured weight-loss programs regains all of their weight loss within five years. Those who managed to keep the weight off averaged a weight loss of 6.6 pounds and a reduced weight of less than 3% of their initial body weight. That means that if you were a 250-pound overweight dieter, after five years of watching your weight, youd be a sleek 243 pounds. That may not sound like a lot, but it has some scientists impressed. Take Weight Watchers, for example. According to a study paid for by Weight Watchers, half of all dieters who reached their goal weight through their program were still at least 5% lighter after five years. The starting weight was 165 pounds overweight, but not obese. The dieters lost about 22 pounds, or 13.3%, by restricting calories, but then regained an average of 11 pounds five years later. Next to the near-zero success rate of hospital and university-based studies, Weight Watcher results were considered a major victory. At this point, just being able to stop people from gaining more weight is considered a success.
A long-term weight loss effort maintained anywhere from one to five years is considered successful if youre 5 to 10% lighter than you were initially. Setting the bar so low means that, in reality, successful losers go from obese to overweight not from overweight to thin. From a public health perspective, obesity is classified as a Body Mass Index (BMI) over 30. If youre a regular reader of AskMen, youll know that BMI is a measure of a persons weight in relation to their height, not an indicator of body fat. Bodybuilders with low body fat will invariably be classified as obese since muscle weighs more than fat. From a global perspective, however, we know that nations are not populated by Spartan Warriors (their descendents, the Greeks, are now Europes most overweight country), so using BMI is a fine way to measure obesity at a national level.
By now, it wont surprise anyone to hear that the world is fatter than ever. In 2010, there were 1.5 billion people worldwide who were obese, and the trend is growing. Obesity is behind 3.4 million deaths and 3.9% of years of lives lost a substantial increase from previous decades that makes obesity a major global health issue, perhaps more important than malnutrition and infectious disease. In the past 33 years, no country has had a success story in curbing their obesity epidemic. Some countries in the Middle East (Kuwait, Libya, and Qatar) and the Pacific (Tonga Kiribati, Federated States of Micronesia, Tonga and Samoa) now have more than half of their population classified as obese. In the United States, more than one-third and 17% of youth are obese. As a result, as many as 40% of women and 24% of men in America are trying to lose weight at any given time; many have tried a variety of methods such as diets, exercise, behavior modification, and drugs. Even those who are not overweight particularly young women are trying to lose weight. We know that obesity is a complex issue; it reflects inherited, environmental, cultural, socioeconomic, and psychological conditions. How to reverse the process, on the other hand, is beyond our understanding. At least, thats what the science is suggesting.
So what about the guy or girl you see in those Before and After photos in weight loss infomercials those who completely transform their bodies through diet and exercise? Either theyll regain all the weight in a few years or theyre one of those exceptional individuals that are rarely encountered like that friend of a friend you heard who lost 50 pounds and completed a marathon. If they did it, the mind convinces us, so can we. But the math is against us. If only two out of 1,000 Weight Watchers customers actually maintain large weight loss permanently, you cant expect such simple advice as Eat less, exercise more to actually work. In todays world of surplus calories and sedentariness, eating less and exercising more takes willpower, and lets admit it, willpower doesnt work.
The main reason dieting fails is because many of us still believe that cutting calories is the best way to lose weight. You will indeed lose weight but wait and see how long it takes for the starvation mechanism to kick in and for your brain to betray you with food urges that are impossible to resist. For a formerly fat person, this is what it feels like all the time. The part of the brain that controls hunger and appetite the hypothalamus is continually turned on. That means that the brain of a 175-pound man who used to be overweight is quite different than the brain of a man who was always 175 pounds. The reason we cant lose weight is because our brains think were not overweight, and might actually think that were underweight. The biochemistry of how our brain regulates bodyweight is covered in my earlier AskMen article on how to maintain weight loss.
While science has had dismal success in keeping the weight off people, it has recently shed light on why peoples brains make them gain weight. Our bodies are fine-tuned machines that keep everything in balance a process termed homeostasis. The brain regulates the amount of body fat by adjusting our energy levels, appetite and digestive efficiency. It is counter-evolutionary to carry around too little or too much fat. If obesity occurs, it means that theres a breakdown in the system caused by an imbalance in brain chemistry, mirrored by an imbalance in our environment.
Food and other things we put in our mouth (let your imagination run wild) is the closest exposure we have to our environment we literally place stuff from the outside into our insides. Its no surprise, then, to learn that diet has an enormous effect on our body and its chemistry. A recent study shows that years of eating and overeating the typical American diet actually damages the brain. More specifically, it damages the signalling pathways in the hypothalamus the part of the brain that regulates metabolism and appetite.
Two hormones have been recognized to have a major influence on appetite and energy balance: leptin and ghrelin. Leptin is a hormone that signals to the brain how much fat were carrying and can suppress appetite and energy intake. Ghrelin does the opposite its a fast-acting hormone that plays a role in increasing appetite. We can take a guess at how the brain of a former fat person works. Their brains are resistant to the appetite-suppressing effects of leptin and more sensitive to appetite-stimulating ghrelin. It cant tell how much fat is stored in the body and you cant trust the messages its sending you about appetite, hunger and fullness.
So what dietary factors in the typical American diet cause such damage to the brain? Its the fat and simple carbs. A fatty, high-carb diet causes alterations in structural plasticity, i.e. brain changes. The underlying mechanism involves inflammation and damage to the nerves, suggesting that our bodies were not designed to thrive on modern diets. They were designed for whole foods.
In one of my university nutrition classes, the professor asked us: What is the sweetest food found in nature? The answers ranged from honey and maple syrup to fruit. All of these, he noted, were seasonal only available for a few months or days out of the year. He then asked, What is the fattiest food? Animals were the correct answer. The final question What food found in nature is both high in fat and high in sugar? was too tough to answer. We couldnt think of a single one. Fruits are fat-free and animals are low-carb. Yet every single processed food we find in the grocery aisles are high in both sugar and fat and, oftentimes, salt. These three nutrients are highly addictive to humans simply because they were crucial for our survival in the wilderness.
Our bodies havent evolved as fast as the food market industry, who were quick to recognize that tasty food sells. In our fight against fat, it is plainly a fight between them and us. Fatty high-carb foods are too delicious, too tempting, and too plentiful for us to resist. Our own genes drive us towards overeating these foods, and once the weight creeps on, many of us turn to fat-free or low-carb foods that are marketed as weight-loss aids. Ironically, many of these diet shakes, diet bars, and diet packs are themselves highly processed foods.
Change your diet, and change it fast. In the words of Underground Wellness Sean Croxton, JERF just eat real food. Wholesome real food is not processed and has the closest macronutrient balance that our bodies were designed to digest and metabolise. While some damage to the hypothalamus may be permanent, it may be possible to reverse much of it. Whether you adopt the Paleo or the Mediterranean diet, choose a way of eating that works for you but that includes lean quality meats, seafood, plenty of vegetables, fruit, nuts, and seeds. Say goodbye to fast food and junk food and never, ever let yourself go hungry for the sake of losing weight. If youve been battling weight for a while, make sure to eat fish. Omega-3 fats are possibly the most potent anti-inflammatory agent in your diet and they also appear to modulate the negative effects of a fatty, high-carb diet. Even better news, fish oil is fantastic for memory and brain health, and can make developing Alzheimers far less likely.
Permanent weight loss takes time. Dont think for a second that losing weight Biggest Loser-style is the way to go. Many of those who dropped massive amounts of weight on the show have gained most of it back again within a year or two. You need to heal your brain. And unlike a scratch or a broken bone, healing your brain takes time. Be patient and keep it simple. Just eat real food.
Permanent weight loss does not work with inane methods of loss and maintenance. Dieting is typically viewed as an undertaking of severe vigilance on calorie intake and expenditure. Picture the dieter who is on a highly restrictive diet, denying their ability to use food for comfort or celebration, establishing a surreal marathon-type goal, and nail-biting their way through hunger and cravings. Theyve chosen suffering as their weight management method. No matter how much you want to lose weight, people arent built for long-term relentless suffering. To be successful, you need to find a way to enjoy your journey. Eat simply and avoid fatty, high-carb foods. The global obesity epidemic would reverse its course if traditional foods and eating habits (eating dinner as a family, for example), were preserved. Unfortunately, whether by choice or necessity (inaccessible, unaffordable, or unavailable food), inexpensive processed market foods have largely replaced indigenous cuisines. Theres no easy solution to curing obesity. However, despite what statistics show, permanent weight loss is not incurable. We just need to heal our brains first.
Read more:
Is Long Term Weight Loss Possible? - AskMen
Long-Term Weight Loss Success May Rely On Consistency …


Theres no one-size-fits-all weight loss plan, but taking on a consistent strategy to dropping pounds that can be repeated, rather than a quick approach as with crash diets, may be the key to slimming down for good.
In a new study conducted at Drexel University, psychologists investigatedwhy some people have success with weight loss programs, but others dont.
It seems that developing stable, repeatable behaviors related to food intake and weight loss early on in a weight control program is really important for maintaining changes over the long term, lead author Emily Feig, who conducted the researchas a doctoral student at Drexel, said in a statement.
The study, published in the journal Obesity, involved 183 overweight or obese adults, a majority of whom were white females living in the Philadelphia area. The researchers enrolled all of the adults into one of three different year-longweight loss programsinvolving behavioral treatment, such as setting goals for increasing physical activity and monitoring their calorie intake. One group was instructed to use two meal replacements each day during the first sixmonths and another group was told to eat less energy-dense foods while having more protein and fiber.
Each week, the participants weights were recorded. Additionally, they self-reported their attitudes and behaviors regarding cravings, emotional eating, and binge eating.
Feig and her colleagues found that those who had consistent weight loss in the first six weeks were more likely to keep off the unwanted pounds in the long-term compared to those whose weights varied each week.
This study goes even further in supporting the importance of early weight changes by showing that weekly variability in weight, above and beyond how much weight is lost, predicts weight loss maintenance up to two years later, Feig told CNN. So it seems that both success and consistency in weight loss at the beginning of a program is important for long-term success.
The findings add to priorstudies showing that the amount of weight a person loses early on in a weight loss program can predict how much they lose down the road, Feig pointed out.
The research also revealed in a twist that participants who reported lessemotional eating andbinging, and who wereless preoccupied with food at the beginning of the study, were more likely to have greater weight fluctuations and less weight loss overall. So success isn't predicated on someone's relationship to food so much as the early habits the dieter establishes in the beginning, the statement notes.
The study cant confirm why some peoples weights widely fluctuate during weight loss programs, but the researchers plan to further explore the topic. Still, principal investigator Michael Lowesays the findings highlight a possible strategy for maintaining weight loss.
Settle on a weight loss plan that you can maintain week in and week out, even if that means consistently losing of a pound each week, Lowe, a psychology professor at Drexel, said in thestatement.
The bottom line: Losing weight consistently, even if it's not a lot, may be more effective then attempting to achieve long-term success from a risky crash diet.
Continue reading here:
Long-Term Weight Loss Success May Rely On Consistency ...
Testosterone(androgen) – WebMD


Test Overview
A testosterone test checks the level of this male hormone (androgen) in the blood. Testosterone affects sexual features and development. In men, it is made in large amounts by the testicles . In both men and women, testosterone is made in small amounts by the adrenal glands , and in women, by the ovaries .
The pituitary gland controls the level of testosterone in the body. When the testosterone level is low, the pituitary gland releases a hormone called luteinizing hormone (LH). This hormone tells the testicles to make more testosterone.
Before puberty, the testosterone level in boys is normally low. Testosterone increases during puberty. This causes boys to develop a deeper voice, get bigger muscles, make sperm , and get facial and body hair. The level of testosterone is the highest around age 40, then gradually becomes less in older men.
In women, the ovaries account for half of the testosterone in the body. Women have a much smaller amount of testosterone in their bodies compared to men. But testosterone plays an important role throughout the body in both men and women. It affects the brain, bone and muscle mass, fat distribution, the vascular system, energy levels, genital tissues, and sexual functioning.
Most of the testosterone in the blood is bound to a protein called sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). Testosterone that is not bound ("free" testosterone) may be checked if a man or a woman is having sexual problems. Free testosterone also may be tested for a person who has a condition that can change SHBG levels, such as hyperthyroidism or some types of kidney diseases.
Total testosterone levels vary throughout the day. They are usually highest in the morning and lowest in the evening.
A testosterone test is done to:
You do not need to do anything before you have this test. Your doctor may want you to do a morning blood test because testosterone levels are highest between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m.
The health professional taking a sample of blood will:
The blood sample is taken from a vein in your arm. An elastic band is wrapped around your upper arm. It may feel tight. You may feel nothing at all from the needle, or you may feel a quick sting or pinch.
There is very little chance of a problem from having a blood sample taken from a vein.
A testosterone test checks the level of this male hormone (androgen) in the blood.
The normal values listed here-called a reference range-are just a guide. These ranges vary from lab to lab, and your lab may have a different range for what's normal. Your lab report should contain the range your lab uses. Also, your doctor will evaluate your results based on your health and other factors. This means that a value that falls outside the normal values listed here may still be normal for you or your lab.
Your doctor will have your test results in a few days.
Men
270-1070 ng/dL (9-38 nmol/L)
Women
15-70 ng/dL (0.52-2.4 nmol/L)
Children (depends on sex and age at puberty)
2-20 ng/dL or 0.07-0.7 nmol/L
The testosterone level for a postmenopausal woman is about half the normal level for a healthy, nonpregnant woman. And a pregnant woman will have 3 to 4 times the amount of testosterone compared to a healthy, nonpregnant woman.
Men
50-210 pg/mL (174-729 pmol/L)
Women
Reasons you may not be able to have the test or why the results may not be helpful include:
To learn more, see:
Fischbach FT, Dunning MB III, eds. (2009). Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests, 8th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Chernecky CC, Berger BJ (2008). Laboratory Tests and Diagnostic Procedures, 5th ed. St. Louis: Saunders.
Fischbach FT, Dunning MB III, eds. (2009). Manual of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests, 8th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Pagana KD, Pagana TJ (2010). Mosbys Manual of Diagnostic and Laboratory Tests, 4th ed. St. Louis: Mosby Elsevier.
ByHealthwise StaffPrimary Medical ReviewerE. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal MedicineSpecialist Medical ReviewerAlan C. Dalkin, MD - Endocrinology
Current as ofNovember 20, 2015
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
See the article here:
Testosterone(androgen) - WebMD