EFL Blog

Finishing up some projects and getting members reassessed and off on new programs here at EFL before taking off to Long Beach for the fitness event of the year – the Perform Better Summit. 3 days with the top minds in the fitness world – and then my friends and I may even leave the pub and hit some lectures

Just a quick post here today on a couple related research items.

One study out of a Taiwanese University  (Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research 25(8)/2246-2254) compared 3 groups over 24 weeks of training, then 24 weeks of doing nothing.

Researchers then compared changes in body composition, body size, strength, and VO2Max.

One group did standard resistance training, one group did steady state cardio, and the control group did nothing.

After 24 weeks of training body composition and VO2 max increased in both resistance and cardio groups about the same, but only the resistance training group showed noticeable strength improvements.

Then all three groups ceased training for 24 weeks, and at the end were tested again. For the most part the 3 groups had regressed back to where they had started except the resistance training people who still held onto increased strength levels and lean mass (which will help keep fat levels lower).

Another slightly related study looked at the issue of chronically low testosterone levels, which has a big effect on strength and body composition, among elite mountain bikers. Common theories around this are that low T levels are due in part to sitting on a hard seat, perhaps increased gonadal temperature due to tight biking shorts, and other factors. (J of Strength & Conditioning 25(8)/2311-2315).

Researchers found in their study that in fact testosterone levels were lower in the biking group than the non-cyclist control group.

However they could find no data to support the theory of tight bike shorts affecting T-Levels. What they did note was that in this study and others that have been done on runners show competitive runners and cyclist both share low circulating levels, and that those men “chronically exposed” to endurance training had similar pre and post race low testosterone. Though the exact process of why and how this happens is as yet unclear.

Other research has shown that strength training raises testosterone levels so…well when it comes to looking good nekkid and the possible results of that… you get the picture.