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In this week’s episode of Ask Dave on RxMuscle — The Truth in Bodybuilding, Dave Palumbo dives into one of the most debated topics in fitness: how much growth hormone (GH) you really need. He makes it clear that more isn’t better. For most men, taking 2–3 IU a day while cutting and 4–5 IU in the offseason delivers the best results. Women should stay around 1–1.5 IU daily if they use GH at all. Pushing higher doses often wastes money because the liver can only produce a set amount of IGF-1 each day, no matter how much GH you inject.
Dave also touches on smarter recovery and prep habits. Two rest days in a row can help lifters recharge, especially before training weak muscle groups. For those drying out before a show, he recommends uva ursi, an herbal diuretic taken at 800 mg per meal the day before competition, instead of pharmaceutical diuretics. When it comes to healing and recovery, he praises BPC-157 and TB-500, noting they reduce inflammation and help tissue repair better than GH for injury recovery.
On hormone use, Palumbo warns women to be careful with testosterone gels due to long-term side effects. He suggests starting with DHEA or mild anavar instead, letting the body naturally balance hormone levels. For supplements, he sees EAAs as a “luxury,” best taken during workouts to maintain an anabolic state without adding unnecessary carbs.
He also talks about recovery trends like cold plunges and hyperbaric chambers. Cold therapy helps reduce soreness and boost mood, but he advises against daily use right after workouts, as inflammation is part of muscle growth. Hyperbaric sessions can help injuries heal faster, though they’re expensive and not easy to access.
Later, Dave discusses why some lifters experience high fasting blood sugar despite training hard. He explains that most bodybuilders eat so much that their pancreas can’t keep up with insulin production, and supplements like berberine or metformin only mask the issue.
When tackling fat-loss plateaus, Palumbo surprises many by suggesting a short refeed: eat more carbs for a few days and reduce cardio. This “resets” metabolism and reignites fat loss. He also addresses symmetry issues, saying most people just need to focus more on the weaker side during lifts and possibly get deep tissue work if one lat isn’t firing.
Closing out, he admits powerlifting never tempted him—he respected the sport but preferred staying injury-free. For Dave, bodybuilding was about longevity and control, not max lifts.
The episode delivers practical, real-world advice—clear GH dosing, smarter recovery strategies, and no-nonsense insight into hormones and training that every serious bodybuilder can use.
Dave also touches on smarter recovery and prep habits. Two rest days in a row can help lifters recharge, especially before training weak muscle groups. For those drying out before a show, he recommends uva ursi, an herbal diuretic taken at 800 mg per meal the day before competition, instead of pharmaceutical diuretics. When it comes to healing and recovery, he praises BPC-157 and TB-500, noting they reduce inflammation and help tissue repair better than GH for injury recovery.
On hormone use, Palumbo warns women to be careful with testosterone gels due to long-term side effects. He suggests starting with DHEA or mild anavar instead, letting the body naturally balance hormone levels. For supplements, he sees EAAs as a “luxury,” best taken during workouts to maintain an anabolic state without adding unnecessary carbs.
He also talks about recovery trends like cold plunges and hyperbaric chambers. Cold therapy helps reduce soreness and boost mood, but he advises against daily use right after workouts, as inflammation is part of muscle growth. Hyperbaric sessions can help injuries heal faster, though they’re expensive and not easy to access.
Later, Dave discusses why some lifters experience high fasting blood sugar despite training hard. He explains that most bodybuilders eat so much that their pancreas can’t keep up with insulin production, and supplements like berberine or metformin only mask the issue.
When tackling fat-loss plateaus, Palumbo surprises many by suggesting a short refeed: eat more carbs for a few days and reduce cardio. This “resets” metabolism and reignites fat loss. He also addresses symmetry issues, saying most people just need to focus more on the weaker side during lifts and possibly get deep tissue work if one lat isn’t firing.
Closing out, he admits powerlifting never tempted him—he respected the sport but preferred staying injury-free. For Dave, bodybuilding was about longevity and control, not max lifts.
The episode delivers practical, real-world advice—clear GH dosing, smarter recovery strategies, and no-nonsense insight into hormones and training that every serious bodybuilder can use.
