Why is testosterone deficiency often not taken seriously? How can supplements specifically contribute to prevention? And what can we learn from the bodybuilding scene about performance and health?
Learn how men can proactively improve their health and why the first step is always the right diagnosis.
In this in-depth episode of the Men's Health Podcast, Dr. Jonathan Apasu speaks with Patrick Teutsch, one of Germany's most successful bodybuilders and a current competitor in the prestigious Mr. Olympia competition. Patrick looks back on over 17 years of bodybuilding experience and shares his entire journey from a dissatisfied teenager who simply wanted to get back into sports to the top of the professional strength sport world. Particularly impressive is how Patrick manages to combine his athletic achievements with a demanding professional life and his role as a family man. The podcast offers a wealth of valuable insights for anyone interested in muscle building, fitness, nutrition, and mental strength. Patrick explains in detail what his daily training routine looks like, how he structures bulking and cutting phases, how he plans his diet with up to 4500 calories a day, and what macronutrient distribution he uses. He discusses different training splits, describes how he specifically targets weaknesses such as back width or leg muscles, and why individual adaptation is the key to long-term success. He also explains how to effectively plan between different training phases, what to pay attention to when performing exercises, and how important it is to objectively measure progress—for example, through photo comparisons, training logs, or performance data. A key focus is on the discipline and mindset that bodybuilding requires over many years. Patrick describes bodybuilding as a long-term project that demands patience, structure, and above all, mental strength. He speaks openly about the physical and psychological challenges of the pre-competition diet phase, particularly regarding symptoms such as fatigue, lack of motivation, hormonal imbalances, and sleep disturbances. He demonstrates the importance of planning structured diet phases with refeeds and targeted rest periods to maintain performance and protect health. The podcast also addresses the topic of health in competitive sports: Patrick discusses how he regularly has his blood work and vital parameters such as blood pressure and hormone levels checked, why he maintains close contact with doctors, coaches, and experts, and which blood markers are particularly important to him, such as testosterone, thyroid function, blood lipids, and liver function. The podcast also addresses the critical issue of often neglecting one's own health in strength training and urges all listeners to take an early look at their own preventative healthcare. Patrick explains how men can actively, consciously, and data-drivenly manage their physical development, whether as competitive athletes or health-conscious recreational athletes. This podcast episode not only offers a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of professional bodybuilding, but also provides a wealth of practical tips and concrete recommendations for everyday life. Whether it's about effective training design, healthy nutrition, the right mindset, or long-term health management – this conversation with Patrick Teutsch is a must-listen for anyone who wants to purposefully advance their physical development and gain a deeper understanding of the connections between sport, health, and lifestyle.
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Dardan Morina, 22-time kickboxing world champion, successful entrepreneur, and sought-after speaker, discusses the most important principles for success in sports, business, and life in this podcast episode. He shares his experiences from over 250 fights and explains the role that discipline, mental strength, and perseverance play in maintaining a top-level performance over the long term. A key point is the importance of resilience and the ability to view setbacks not as defeats, but as learning opportunities. Dardan describes how he maintained his position at the top of the world rankings for over a decade, which routines and mindsets supported him, and why hope without action leads to failure. Another important topic in the episode is men's health, and in particular the increasing prevalence of testosterone deficiency in today's society. Men's testosterone levels have been steadily declining over the past few decades, negatively impacting energy levels, performance, muscle growth, fat burning, and mental strength. Dardan speaks with Jonathan Apasu about why this decline is so significant, which factors such as diet, lack of exercise, being overweight, and environmental toxins contribute to it, and what men can actively do to optimize their hormonal balance. They address common misconceptions surrounding testosterone and explain why a balanced hormonal system is essential for men to maintain their physical and mental performance. Furthermore, the presentation explores the significance of martial arts as a school of life. Dardan explains why martial arts not only improves physical fitness but also fosters mental clarity, reduces stress, and boosts self-confidence. He shares his own experiences of how martial arts has shaped him, why it can have a transformative effect on many men, and how the ability to assert oneself physically is also advantageous in both professional and personal life. Another key point is the question of discipline and why many men today struggle to stick to their goals in the long term. Dardan discusses how to cultivate discipline, why self-responsibility is the key to a successful life, and why many men let themselves go too much in their daily lives. He criticizes the fact that men often spend more time and energy taking care of their cars than their own bodies, and emphasizes that a healthy lifestyle is not a luxury, but a necessity. The episode also addresses the importance of building a strong support network. Dardan discusses how personal success often depends on the people you surround yourself with and how crucial it is to distance yourself from negative influences. He shares his perspective on success, motivation, and the ability to think solution-oriented in any situation. This episode offers valuable insights into the mindset of a world champion, provides practical tips for increasing discipline and performance, and highlights important aspects of men's health. Anyone who wants to understand what it takes to reach the next level physically and mentally shouldn't miss this episode.
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In this episode of the Men's Health Podcast, Dr. Jonathan Apasu speaks with Prof. Dr. Bernd Kleine-Gunk, a leading expert in anti-aging medicine. The focus is on growth hormone, which, like few other hormones, has been the subject of controversy in recent decades. Initially hailed as a fountain of youth, it was then heavily criticized due to potential cancer risks, and finally, recent studies such as the TRIM study have brought it back into focus as a beacon of hope for increased longevity. Prof. Kleine-Gunk describes how he has personally witnessed these developments since the 1990s and explains the actual physiological effects of growth hormone. It is particularly important for linear growth during childhood, but it also significantly influences body composition later in life, promoting muscle mass while simultaneously reducing body fat. Furthermore, it plays a role in regeneration and performance, which is why it is of great importance in both bodybuilding and the longevity community. Professor Kleine-Gunk explains in detail how growth hormone is regulated, why it is predominantly released during deep sleep, and how metabolism is closely linked to it via insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). A central point of discussion is the factors that influence its release. Sleep quality, intermittent fasting with dinner skipping, intensive training such as HIIT, as well as heat and cold stimuli from saunas or ice baths are natural stimuli that have been shown to stimulate the body's own production. This demonstrates that lifestyle measures have a direct and practical impact on the hormonal system. In addition to these positive aspects, the episode also addresses the downsides. Abuse in the bodybuilding scene has led to serious side effects such as excessive organ growth, jaw deformities, and heart valve problems. The episode also explains acromegaly, a condition in which a pituitary tumor uncontrollably produces too much growth hormone. In everyday medical practice, growth hormone is used to treat children with dwarfism or, in exceptional cases, adults with pituitary damage. It is also occasionally used in intensive care to prevent massive muscle loss during prolonged hospital stays. The discussion focuses particularly on the TRIM study, which was the first to demonstrate that biological age can be measurably reversed. By administering growth hormone in combination with metformin and DHEA, the participants rejuvenated themselves by an average of 2.5 years within one year. Although this study was conducted on a small group, it generated enormous interest in the longevity community and spurred new research projects. The TRIM-2 study, which includes a larger number of participants and a control group, is eagerly awaited. In conclusion, Professor Kleine-Gunk shares his personal assessment. He remains cautious about the routine administration of growth hormone, as persistently elevated IGF-1 levels have been correlated with a shortened lifespan in animal models. Instead, he primarily recommends natural measures to his patients to optimize their own growth hormone production. In his view, good sleep hygiene, a balanced diet, regular exercise, and hormetic stimuli are more sustainable, safer, and also more cost-effective than drug therapy. This episode offers a comprehensive overview of the history, effects, opportunities, and risks of growth hormone. It presents both the scientific background and practical tips on how to promote health and longevity with simple means. This makes it a valuable resource for anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of how hormones influence our lives and how modern anti-aging medicine can be implemented based on sound scientific principles.
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