Why do weightlifters need testosterone? To grow muscles, you still need weight training

The Rio Olympics was a mixed bag for some athletes, as some won gold and silver medals in the competition, but others were caught up in a doping scandal and were banned. The weightlifting event, which is very promising in China, has also been caught up in controversy due to the suspected use of male hormones by some people. Why do weightlifters need testosterone? Is it possible for female athletes to produce testosterone through weight training and thus gain muscle?

Speaking of male hormones, that is, testosterone, it is mainly targeted at protein synthesis, which is helpful for muscle synthesis. Therefore, for athletes who need explosive power, such as weightlifting, taekwondo, judo, and swimming, it is often heard that they increase muscle mass privately by taking or injecting male hormones.

Male hormones are naturally different for men and women. Girls rely on growth hormone to grow muscles.

In addition, there is also a saying that weight training can produce male hormones and help increase muscle. Wang Siheng, a resident physician in the rehabilitation department at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, said that studies have shown that the amount of male hormones in the bodies of female weightlifters is no different from that of people who do not exercise. It can be seen that women do not rely on male hormones to grow muscles naturally.

In fact, male hormones are naturally different between men and women. Men have testicles and can produce male hormones themselves, but this is not the case with women. Although female bodies also have male hormones, they come from the ovaries, adrenal glands, and other peripheral tissues, and the concentration is only about 1/15 of that of men. Weight training can stimulate "men" to secrete more testosterone, but women do not seem to be able to do so (because they do not have testicles). Therefore, women do not have to rely on male hormones to build muscles, but instead have a separate development mechanism, where muscle growth mainly comes from growth hormone.

Male hormones need exercise to help build muscle

Weight training can not only produce androgen, but also growth hormone, both of which can promote muscle growth. If you want to inject male hormones in vitro, it will help muscle growth, but the prerequisite is that the user has already had a very solid training, diet, and rest, otherwise it will be in vain. Because the process of muscle growth does not rely solely on hormones, but requires the help of exercise, including weightlifting, running, and weight training, in order to make muscles grow. And adding enough protein, the right amount of carbohydrates, and good fats can help increase muscle.

Weightlifting is a full body muscle exercise that can stimulate testosterone and growth hormone

For weightlifters, it is a very special sport, especially the regular weight training of clean and jerk and snatch. The big muscles of the whole body will be exercised, including the gluteus maximus, quadriceps, back muscles, etc., instead of the biceps and abdominal muscles mainly trained like bodybuilding training. Because weightlifting involves whole-body muscle training, it can stimulate more testosterone and growth hormone than ordinary athletes, and is more effective in promoting muscle growth. After men lift weights, both testosterone and growth hormone will increase, but in women, only growth hormone will be stimulated (also because they don't have testicles).

The clean and jerk and snatch movements may seem simple, but they are not suitable for everyone. Doctor Wang Siheng reminds that it is not recommended for ordinary people to try to do clean and jerk and snatch without the guidance of a coach, as there may be a risk of sports injuries.