IGF-1 Signaling

[NihilMaxxer]

Been digging into growth physiology and endocrinology and wanted to post a theoretical framework that I don’t see discussed properly here. This is not “take X and grow ” it’s about timing hormone pathways instead of letting them blunt each other all day.

Most people misunderstand GH/IGF-1 because they think you can just “raise everything at once.” You can’t. Insulin and GH oppose each other acutely. So the idea is phase separation, not stacking.

Growth-related hormones work best in different metabolic states:
• Insulin → activates IGF-1
• Low insulin → allows GH pulses
• Chronic elevation of either blunts the other

So instead of fighting physiology, the method aligns with it.

Phase 1 — Daytime IGF-1 Activation Window, This phase intentionally raises insulin using dairy-based nutrition and fast-absorbing carbs.
What happens physiologically:

• Insulin suppresses IGF binding proteins (especially IGFBP-1)
• This increases free (bioactive) IGF-1, not just total IGF-1
• Milk proteins raise baseline IGF-1 over time
• Amino acids (leucine) activate mTOR
• Calcium and dairy factors support bone metabolism

GH is suppressed here on purpose. This window is about IGF-1 signaling, not GH.
Key point:
This is a short, controlled anabolic signal.

Phase 2 — Insulin Clearance / Reset
After the IGF-1 window, intake stops for several hours.
Physiology:

• Insulin returns to baseline
• GH suppression resolves
• Hormone receptors resensitize
• Metabolism shifts back toward lipolysis

This phase is critical. Without it, everything people complain about (GH suppression, insulin resistance) actually would apply.

Phase 3 — Exercise-Induced Sensitization
Training is placed after insulin is low, not during the spike.
Effects:

• Strong GH pulse
• Improved GH receptor sensitivity
• Increased local IGF-1 expression in tissues
• Insulin-independent glucose uptake (GLUT4)

Exercise here doesn’t “stack hormones,” it primes the system for nighttime GH.

Phase 4 — Nutrient-Dense Evening Meal
One highly nutrient-dense meal, focused on animal-based foods.
Purpose:

• Supplies complete amino acids
• Provides fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, K2)
• Delivers minerals for bone matrix (calcium, phosphorus, zinc, copper)
• Avoids large carb loads that would blunt nighttime GH

This ensures growth signals aren’t limited by missing nutrients.

Phase 5 — Nighttime GH Dominance
This is where most people mess up by eating late.
Physiology during sleep:

• Low insulin → maximal GH pulses
• GH stimulates hepatic IGF-1 production
• GH + IGF-1 act on tissue repair and bone remodeling
• This is the longest and most sustained growth signal of the day.

Before people strawman this:

• Does NOT reopen fused growth plates
• Does NOT override genetics
• This is about optimization, not miracles

Posting this for real discussion, If you disagree, attack the mechanisms, not me.

 

[Scriggan]

bro im not reading allat ask copegpt to make a tdlr

 

[Ray0n]

gpt slop thread, dnr

 

[HandsomeHustler]

Posting this for real discussion, If you disagree, attack the mechanisms, not me.

What mechanism? I didnt see you name any drugs, its all just meaningless bs

 

[Mo3452]

bro im not reading allat ask copegpt to make a tdlr

tldr phase 1 eat a lot of carbs for igf1 phase 2 dont eat for gh phase 3 exercise for gh spike 4 calorie rich meal vitamins, calcium 5 good sleep for gh

 

[Spieldren]

Been digging into growth physiology and endocrinology and wanted to post a theoretical framework that I don’t see discussed properly here. This is not “take X and grow ” it’s about timing hormone pathways instead of letting them blunt each other all day.

Most people misunderstand GH/IGF-1 because they think you can just “raise everything at once.” You can’t. Insulin and GH oppose each other acutely. So the idea is phase separation, not stacking.

Growth-related hormones work best in different metabolic states:
• Insulin → activates IGF-1
• Low insulin → allows GH pulses
• Chronic elevation of either blunts the other

So instead of fighting physiology, the method aligns with it.

Phase 1 — Daytime IGF-1 Activation Window, This phase intentionally raises insulin using dairy-based nutrition and fast-absorbing carbs.
What happens physiologically:

• Insulin suppresses IGF binding proteins (especially IGFBP-1)
• This increases free (bioactive) IGF-1, not just total IGF-1
• Milk proteins raise baseline IGF-1 over time
• Amino acids (leucine) activate mTOR
• Calcium and dairy factors support bone metabolism

GH is suppressed here on purpose. This window is about IGF-1 signaling, not GH.
Key point:
This is a short, controlled anabolic signal.

Phase 2 — Insulin Clearance / Reset
After the IGF-1 window, intake stops for several hours.
Physiology:

• Insulin returns to baseline
• GH suppression resolves
• Hormone receptors resensitize
• Metabolism shifts back toward lipolysis

This phase is critical. Without it, everything people complain about (GH suppression, insulin resistance) actually would apply.

Phase 3 — Exercise-Induced Sensitization
Training is placed after insulin is low, not during the spike.
Effects:

• Strong GH pulse
• Improved GH receptor sensitivity
• Increased local IGF-1 expression in tissues
• Insulin-independent glucose uptake (GLUT4)

Exercise here doesn’t “stack hormones,” it primes the system for nighttime GH.

Phase 4 — Nutrient-Dense Evening Meal
One highly nutrient-dense meal, focused on animal-based foods.
Purpose:

• Supplies complete amino acids
• Provides fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, K2)
• Delivers minerals for bone matrix (calcium, phosphorus, zinc, copper)
• Avoids large carb loads that would blunt nighttime GH

This ensures growth signals aren’t limited by missing nutrients.

Phase 5 — Nighttime GH Dominance
This is where most people mess up by eating late.
Physiology during sleep:

• Low insulin → maximal GH pulses
• GH stimulates hepatic IGF-1 production
• GH + IGF-1 act on tissue repair and bone remodeling
• This is the longest and most sustained growth signal of the day.

Before people strawman this:

• Does NOT reopen fused growth plates
• Does NOT override genetics
• This is about optimization, not miracles

Posting this for real discussion, If you disagree, attack the mechanisms, not me.

i dont care nigga my growth plates are closed

btw healthy diet active lifestyle and quality undistrubed sleep is already 95% of the way there in terms of achieving your genetic potential this igf1 signaling with all these strict stages won't give you any changes you want to see

 

[Snucell]

muh igf1 signalling

 

[abzz]

Been digging into growth physiology and endocrinology and wanted to post a theoretical framework that I don’t see discussed properly here. This is not “take X and grow ” it’s about timing hormone pathways instead of letting them blunt each other all day.

Most people misunderstand GH/IGF-1 because they think you can just “raise everything at once.” You can’t. Insulin and GH oppose each other acutely. So the idea is phase separation, not stacking.

Growth-related hormones work best in different metabolic states:
• Insulin → activates IGF-1
• Low insulin → allows GH pulses
• Chronic elevation of either blunts the other

So instead of fighting physiology, the method aligns with it.

Phase 1 — Daytime IGF-1 Activation Window, This phase intentionally raises insulin using dairy-based nutrition and fast-absorbing carbs.
What happens physiologically:

• Insulin suppresses IGF binding proteins (especially IGFBP-1)
• This increases free (bioactive) IGF-1, not just total IGF-1
• Milk proteins raise baseline IGF-1 over time
• Amino acids (leucine) activate mTOR
• Calcium and dairy factors support bone metabolism

GH is suppressed here on purpose. This window is about IGF-1 signaling, not GH.
Key point:
This is a short, controlled anabolic signal.

Phase 2 — Insulin Clearance / Reset
After the IGF-1 window, intake stops for several hours.
Physiology:

• Insulin returns to baseline
• GH suppression resolves
• Hormone receptors resensitize
• Metabolism shifts back toward lipolysis

This phase is critical. Without it, everything people complain about (GH suppression, insulin resistance) actually would apply.

Phase 3 — Exercise-Induced Sensitization
Training is placed after insulin is low, not during the spike.
Effects:

• Strong GH pulse
• Improved GH receptor sensitivity
• Increased local IGF-1 expression in tissues
• Insulin-independent glucose uptake (GLUT4)

Exercise here doesn’t “stack hormones,” it primes the system for nighttime GH.

Phase 4 — Nutrient-Dense Evening Meal
One highly nutrient-dense meal, focused on animal-based foods.
Purpose:

• Supplies complete amino acids
• Provides fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, K2)
• Delivers minerals for bone matrix (calcium, phosphorus, zinc, copper)
• Avoids large carb loads that would blunt nighttime GH

This ensures growth signals aren’t limited by missing nutrients.

Phase 5 — Nighttime GH Dominance
This is where most people mess up by eating late.
Physiology during sleep:

• Low insulin → maximal GH pulses
• GH stimulates hepatic IGF-1 production
• GH + IGF-1 act on tissue repair and bone remodeling
• This is the longest and most sustained growth signal of the day.

Before people strawman this:

• Does NOT reopen fused growth plates
• Does NOT override genetics
• This is about optimization, not miracles

Posting this for real discussion, If you disagree, attack the mechanisms, not me.

phase 12, 30kg of sugar + milk for maximum optimum igf-1 signals !!

 

[Aryan Incel]

gpt slop thread, dnr

Water