I the longrun, is natural bodybuilding too taxative on the endocrine system?

[cephissus]

does anyone think training can have a significant, negative effect on brain? "overtraining for the brain" in a way?

it seems like the days i always drag the most in the gym or on my bike, i also have the most trouble concentrating.  not only that, but there's just a pervasive bleakness to these days.

whenever i have a great workout, my thoughts seem much more coordinated, much faster, mood is better, etc.  at first, i thought this was "purely psychological", e.g. "well something good happened, of course i'm less depressed".  but i'm starting to think there might be more to it, e.g. bdnf (on a good day) vs. cytokines on a bad day, etc.

[jude2]

If you are not over training, weight lifting does a lot of positive thinks for the brain and mental status as we age.  I have read some good studies on it lately. So it gives me another reason to train.

[OB1]

All those hormones your body will release after some serious sports should have a positive effect.
After a real hard workout I'm happy and at peace no matter what happened before.

[NordicNerd]

does anyone think training can have a significant, negative effect on brain? "overtraining for the brain" in a way?

Long-lasting systemic hypercortisolism is neurotoxic. Usually this is caused by endocrine disorders or by severe stress (defined as high workload or severe stressor combined with lack of perceived control and high importance of the task at hand). I don't think there is any research showing this as a result of too intense training/ overtraining, but it is certainly theoretically possible.

It is the neurons in the medial temporal lobe, in particular the hippocampus and associated areas that show atrophy first. Fortunately, it is reversible, as the very same regions also are the regions with neurogenesis.


NN

[falco]

does anyone think training can have a significant, negative effect on brain? "overtraining for the brain" in a way?

it seems like the days i always drag the most in the gym or on my bike, i also have the most trouble concentrating.  not only that, but there's just a pervasive bleakness to these days.

whenever i have a great workout, my thoughts seem much more coordinated, much faster, mood is better, etc.  at first, i thought this was "purely psychological", e.g. "well something good happened, of course i'm less depressed".  but i'm starting to think there might be more to it, e.g. bdnf (on a good day) vs. cytokines on a bad day, etc.

Blood sugars leave the brain and travel to where they are most needed, muscle repair and function.

[Azure]

Sadly I think it is. Going to the gym everyday is out of the question. You hit a roadblock for muscle size and if you keep pushing you just wear yourself out. Better to maintain muscle and spend more time working on your diet.

This.

Many I know who did the natural route ended up injured and fat because their hormonal imbalances are out of wack. Many look like they never even touched a weight despite eating well and exercising

There's a limit If you're natural and even if you take stuff but don't have the genetic response, you also need to rest. You can't grow if you don't rest

[cephissus]

Long-lasting systemic hypercortisolism is neurotoxic. Usually this is caused by endocrine disorders or by severe stress (defined as high workload or severe stressor combined with lack of perceived control and high importance of the task at hand). I don't think there is any research showing this as a result of too intense training/ overtraining, but it is certainly theoretically possible.

It is the neurons in the medial temporal lobe, in particular the hippocampus and associated areas that show atrophy first. Fortunately, it is reversible, as the very same regions also are the regions with neurogenesis.


NN

Great post!

It's very easy to hypothesize about some of my personal experiences using this information... though sadly, borderline impossible to test.