Tag: gym

From Empty Stomachs to Empowering Content: Support My Health & Blog Mission in 2024

I have never anticipated a new year as much as I have for the upcoming year 2024. There are multiple reasons for this excitement. One is a deeply personal reason that is very close to my heart. Another reason is that the blog will now shift its focus to include health, fitness, nutrition, and all aspects of physical well-being, in addition to the existing spiritual, political, religious, and psychological content, as well as my own poetry.

As always, I share my personal experiences, avoiding the mere compilation of articles through online searches. The content I create will be the outcome of numerous experiments, calorie and nutrient value calculations, product comparisons, and other insights derived solely from my personal experiences.

I had previously achieved great success in shaping and maintaining my health during the period between October 2021 and June 2022 while consistently going to the gym. However, everything changed after I had to relocate. I faced the challenge of finding a place to stay and securing a job to support myself, as I was now entirely on my own. Rebuilding my practical life from scratch, I struggled to obtain a somewhat stable job to provide for my basic needs.

The remainder of 2022 proved to be extremely challenging, as I found myself in precarious living situations, nearly facing homelessness. It was only in the beginning of 2023 that I settled in one place and began the slow process of recovery, eventually reaching the same energy levels and health that I had in the beginning of 2022.

Throughout this challenging period, many kind-hearted people supported me by offering donations. I sincerely hope, wish, and pray for their good health, happiness, wealth, and spiritual upliftment.

The job I currently hold requires me to work night shifts, making proper sleep and nutrition a challenge. This challenge becomes even more significant as I aim to restart my fitness routine and share helpful ideas with my readers. Despite these challenges, I have been working out in the gym and, in recent weeks, have rarely consumed food outside. I have developed a DIY meal preparation routine, often boiling water in an electric kettle and using it for preparing meals like rolled oats, pasta, and multigrain health mixes. I recently shared a blog post about a DIY meal replacement shake titled ‘Crafting the Ultimate DIY Meal Replacement Shake: Nutrient-Rich, Cost-Effective, and Customizable.’

When I return to my room in the early morning at around 5:30 AM, I have the option to buy take-away food from the bus station, but the prices are exorbitant during those early hours. Eating a regular breakfast at 5:30 AM also does not appeal to me. However, a healthy mix of oats and soya provides me with a nutritious meal. I also incorporate whey protein into my diet and occasionally buy bananas.

As I am passionate about sharing my fitness journey in 2024, I face new requirements and financial challenges. Donations from generous individuals have enabled me to join a gym, undergo medical tests, consult with doctors as needed, and purchase medicines for at least two weeks. I have also invested in acquiring items that help me prepare my own food. However, I still need further assistance to sustain these efforts until my blog gains enough visibility for me to earn from ads and affiliate programs.

Immediate expenses include purchasing the next set of medicines for the next two weeks or a month. Additionally, I am planning to upgrade my cooking setup with a small electric cooker, allowing me to boil vegetables and grains. This investment will alleviate concerns about food availability and prices. Without such an option, I used to go to bed on an empty stomach, waking up extremely hungry by 11 am, as restaurants typically start serving lunch only after 12:30 PM.

Another essential requirement is obtaining new fitting clothes. Having put on a considerable amount of weight last year, I now face challenges in finding clothes that fit well. With my ongoing efforts to reshape my body, I notice my pants becoming loose around the waist, and my shirts appearing too big. I am in need of appropriate clothing.

Now, let’s talk about your role: My dream of sharing my fitness journey, and also taking care of my own life, needs and health needs a bit of support. Your generous donations have already helped me with a gym membership, medical care, and essential cooking tools. But until my blog takes off, I’m in need of a little more assistance:

Any further donations received will be used to purchase medicines, cooking essentials, an electric cooker, a small table with a shelf, and new clothes. Your support is making a significant difference, and I am grateful for it. Anticipate more valuable content in the New Year.

Why support me, you ask? Your donation isn’t just about providing food and medicine; it fuels ongoing research, experiments, and content that aims to inspire and inform. Every contribution helps me continue on this journey and share my experiences with the world.

If my writing resonates with you, please consider making a donation https://shanmugamp.org/donate/. Together, let’s make 2024 a year of transformative growth! Thank you for being a part of this exciting journey.

Medication and Muscle Building: A Personal Journey and Warning for Fitness Enthusiasts

I recently wrote about my experience with finding the root cause of muscle spasms. I’m uncertain if my conclusion was correct because, despite taking Vitamin D3 tablets, I still experienced muscle cramps a couple of times. However, the pain was only present for a very short period and quickly vanished.

In any case, I made another interesting observation, particularly relevant to gym-goers, bodybuilders, and anyone passionate about muscle building and weight training. This insight could be quite valuable.

I’ve recently begun attending the gym and engaging in weight training for the past two weeks. I’ve been ensuring adequate protein intake and providing sufficient rest for muscle groups to recover. Additionally, I take creatine and whey protein as supplements.

At the start of 2022, I was in excellent shape, but for more than a year, I led a sedentary lifestyle and stopped exercising. During this period, I developed various health issues. I’m determined to regain my previous level of fitness and overall health. I view this as a powerful message from my body, signaling a need to prevent it from deteriorating rapidly and to take better care of it. Concurrently, I plan to share my insights on health and fitness, as it is one of my passions.

Anyway, I noticed an interesting observation. I experienced a lot of fatigue after going to the gym for the past couple of weeks. I felt as if my muscles hadn’t recovered enough. I suspected that one of the medicines that I had been taking could be the problem.

Recently a doctor who I consulted online prescribed a medicine for muscle spasms. It is a combination of two drugs: Etoricoxib and Thiocolchicoside.

Etoricoxib is a type of medicine called a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, and it falls under the category of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Its main job is to reduce the production of substances called prostaglandins, which are responsible for causing pain and inflammation. People often use Etoricoxib to find relief from conditions like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. 

On the other hand, Thiocolchicoside is a muscle relaxant that comes from colchicine. This medicine affects the central nervous system, making gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) more active. This activity helps relax muscles, and Thiocolchicoside is commonly used to ease muscle spasms and stiffness, especially after strains and sprain.

I am very passionate about pharmacology. So, I did a lot of research about these medicines and was happily taking the pills for two weeks. But just today, I was shocked to learn the following information.

Etoricoxib (brand name Arcoxia) is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). While it’s effective in pain management and inflammation reduction, it can potentially interfere with muscle building in several ways:

  • Decreased protein synthesis: NSAIDs, including etoricoxib, can inhibit protein synthesis, which is crucial for muscle growth.
  • Increased muscle breakdown: They can also increase muscle protein breakdown, leading to a net loss of muscle tissue.
  • Impaired muscle repair: NSAIDs may impede the healing and repair process of muscle tissues after exercise.
  • Water retention: Etoricoxib can cause water retention, which can mask muscle gains and give a falsely inflated appearance.

The evidence regarding the potential interference of Thiocolchicoside (TCC) with muscle building is limited and inconclusive. While some studies suggest that TCC might have negative effects on muscle growth and recovery, others show minimal or no impact.

Here’s a breakdown of the current understanding:

Potential negative effects on muscle building:

  • Inhibition of protein synthesis: Some research indicates that TCC might decrease protein synthesis, which is essential for muscle growth.
  • Increased muscle breakdown: Similar to other muscle relaxants, TCC might potentially increase protein breakdown in muscle tissues.
  • Impaired muscle repair: TCC’s anti-inflammatory effects could potentially interfere with the natural muscle repair process after exercise.

So obviously, the medication that the doctor gave me was doing the opposite of what I wanted to do through my gym workout. The medication was preventing my muscle recovery and growth. As soon as I learned this,I put it away. Anyway, It didn’t make sense to use muscle relaxants or pain relievers if the underlying problem was Vitamin D deficiency or something else. Suppressing the pain doesn’t help with the underlying problem and doesn’t provide a permanent solution.

I wanted to share this so people who go to the gym are aware of this. If you are passionate about fitness, you need to know that one of the medications that you might be using could be stopping your progress.

Update: I came to know that the research about this is kind of conflicting. Etoricoxib is a COX inhibior. But COX (cyclooxygenase) activity is a critical component of muscular hypertrophy. While some suggest negative impacts on muscle strength while using NSAIDS, others indicate improvements with prolonged use. Despite the conflicting evidence, it’s wise to use NSAIDs cautiously for short-term pain relief, considering potential long-term side effects.