The Journal #25
Peptides. Hybrid. Acceptism. Slug.
Announcement
It’s with regret that we formally announce that as of today our co-founder Jonny Grayshon will be stepping away from NXT45.
Jonny has been with us from the beginning and has been instrumental in helping us to get NXT45 to where we are now. We’re extremely grateful to him for his hard work over the last 18 months.
Jonny’s decision to refocus on personal projects is a difficult one for all of us but we sincerely wish him all the very best for the future.
We remain positively committed to helping others through NXT45, delivering an amazing The Hundred 2024 and have a number of exciting projects to announce supporting our mission as we move forwards.
Thank you for your continued support.
Mike & Joe
01. HEALTH - Joe Gaunt
Peptides
Peptides have become increasingly recognised for their versatile benefits to both the mind and body. But what exactly are peptides, and what roles do they play in health and wellbeing?
Peptides are essentially short chains of amino acids (2-100) linked by peptide bonds and are integral as the building blocks of proteins. Peptides are naturally present in the human body, but are also available in various protein sources (both animals and plants), such as meat, fish, dairy products, eggs, beans, lentils, and whole grains.
In the human body, peptides are pivotal in regulating various physiological functions. They serve as hormones, neurotransmitters, and immune system regulators and promote muscle growth, joint health, and immune responses. In the UK, peptides are primarily utilised in research settings or clinical trials, which have consistently demonstrated promising outcomes and favourable safety profiles. For example, the weight management medication Ozempic (see my piece in The Journal #23) is a peptide that mimics a naturally occurring gut hormone. Another example is Insulin, a peptide hormone essential for the management of blood glucose levels.
Among the more accessible supplements, you have Collagen Peptides and Glutamine Peptides. Collagen Peptides are amino acids necessary for the synthesis of collagen, a key structural protein in skin, muscles, bones, and connective tissues. On the other hand, Glutamine Peptides offer a bioavailable form of glutamine, essential for muscle repair, immune support, and gastrointestinal health.
Physiological Benefits
Bioactive peptides that come from food proteins are natural substances known for their health-promoting and medicinal benefits, sparking a growing interest in using these peptides to help maintain good health and overall wellbeing.
How to Use Peptides
Peptides can be incorporated into daily routines through various delivery methods such as dietary supplements, skincare products, and functional foods. Collagen Peptides are often available in powder or capsule form, making them easy to add to smoothies, beverages, or meals. For skincare, Collagen Peptides are included in creams, serums, and masks that aim to rejuvenate the skin.
Glutamine Peptides and Creatine Peptides are also available as dietary supplements in powder or capsule forms. Typically, athletes consume Glutamine Peptides mixed with water or juice post-exercise to support muscle recovery and glycogen replenishment. Creatine Peptides are usually taken before or after workouts to boost muscle energy production and improve performance.
Peptide Therapy
Peptide Therapy involves the administration of specific peptides to target certain functions or systems within the body. These peptides can be naturally occurring or synthetically produced and are increasingly used to address various health concerns such as muscle repair, weight management, anti-ageing, immune enhancement, and cognitive function improvement. They can be administered intravenously and include GHK-Cu, PT-141 and Sermorelin.
Copper Peptide (GHK-Cu) is made from three amino acids—glycine, histidine, and lysine—bonded to a copper ion. Naturally occurring in the human body, it aids in healing wounds, repairing tissues, and regenerating skin. It's believed to have anti-ageing effects such as boosting collagen, reducing inflammation, and increasing antioxidant activity. GHK-Cu is added to skincare products for its potential skin rejuvenation benefits and is being explored for its therapeutic potential in healing and tissue repair.
PT-141 (Bremelanotide) is a lab-made version of the hormone that stimulates pigmentation in the body. Initially researched as a treatment for erectile dysfunction, it's now also being studied for boosting sexual desire in both men and women. PT-141 works by activating specific brain receptors to enhance sexual arousal and is given through injections.
Sermorelin is a synthetic peptide that simulates the action of a hormone that triggers growth hormone release from the brain. It helps increase growth hormone levels, which are crucial for growth, metabolism, and body composition. Used primarily under medical guidance, Sermorelin diagnoses growth hormone deficiencies in children and boosts hormone production in deficient adults through injections.
It's important to use peptide therapies under the guidance of a healthcare professional to avoid potential side effects.
02. FITNESS - Guest - Josh Taylor
We understand the importance of fitness, nutrition and health for any man wanting to be their best in the NXT45. Each week we will ask a guest contributor to share their unique perspective and insights on the topic or periodically share some research backed protocols along with must read/watch/listen pieces we feel add real value. We’ll also use this spot to announce fitness and health focussed seminars, workshops and Masterclasses.
We want you to hear from the top men and women in their fields from across the globe.
And today we’re starting with one of the best.
Hybrid Athlete
Hybrid training is all the rage now, with competitions such as Hyrox, CrossFit, and more and more people taking up running and ultra distance running than ever before.
Josh Taylor has fine tuned his craft over the last 12 years working with some of the best ‘Hybrid athletes’ in the world through professional rugby league. Josh has led from the front and in his own words ‘been my own guinea pig’, with tried and tested protocols over and over again in some of the most challenging events and environments.
Josh’s personal performances across many competitions are simply mind blowing. There’s a reason the Leeds Rhinos players call him ‘The Machine’.
Join us for our July online Masterclass on Wednesday 31st July and hear from Josh himself on how he trains and competes at an elite level whilst juggling a business and young family. Learn how to train for and prioritise different disciplines and much more.
The July Masterclass is scheduled for 13:00 and can be accessed via our app for community members or email link.
We’re excited to announce that we will be offering an open invite for this free event.
Should you wish to join us for this special Masterclass and are not a member of our NXT45 community simply drop a line to mike@nxt45.com and we will send you over the link.
Josh states that you can have your cake and eat it. Let’s find out.
03. MINDSET - Mike Bates
Acceptance
This morning I woke to read a 1% recovery on my Whoop (see image above). 1%!!!! Basically dead, and I feel like it.
I woke last night after 2 hours sleep and couldn’t get the mountains of things I need to do out of my mind. I regularly find this happens when I’m dealing with periods of higher than normal stress.
The last time I was in the red in recovery terms was during a severe virus but even COVID only dropped me to around 35% recovery this time around.
Proof again (if we needed it) that stress will often take a greater toll than almost anything on us and our health if left unchecked.
This week dealing with the shock resignation of a director in one business, strategic challenges in another, a multitude of opportunities on the horizon that need prioritising, a house move, kids finishing school and flying over to Doncaster at short notice on Wednesday to say goodbye to my Nan who entered end of life care has been difficult.
It’s taken its toll.
But I’m cool with that.
In weeks such as these it’s vital we demonstrate the virtue of acceptance.
Acceptism is a philosophy that recognises that existence (our life right now) is what it is, and we must learn to accept it without trying to impose our own desires or expectations onto it. It encourages us to accept full responsibility for our actions and decisions.
It isn’t helpful to be angry or frustrated by what happens to you. In fact, it only serves to exasperate the problem.
I’m not moaning about feeling crap this morning, getting a poor recovery and bad sleep, or the challenges that others have presented me in the last 7 days.
I accept them and work to do what I can to make the best, and learn the most, from my current situation.
Like getting up shortly after dawn on a Saturday morning to write this.
Accept what life throws at you.
Focus on how you deal with life’s challenges and not whether or not they should have happened in the first place.
Live a Life Without Limits.
04. QUOTE
"Be an instrument, not just an ornament. Train everything, be ready for anything"
Josh Taylor
05. TIP
Finally some sun and warmer weather this week, about bloody time.
2024 will go down as one of the wettest summers on record here in the U.K.
That mix of rain, sunshine and warmth is the perfect breeding ground for slugs and snails. I counted over 30 on our street the other morning, never mind those nibbling their way through our garden!
Did you know that slugs and snails regularly top the pest list for gardeners as they can decimate young growth on plants in pretty much one night.
There is no silver bullet to combat the silver trails seen along your paths in the mornings but here are our top 4 tips which when combined will make a huge difference to the health, look and feel of your outside space.
Create a healthy ecosystem - One of the best ways to get rid of pests is to encourage natural predators into your garden. Welcoming blackbirds and thrushes in who both love the taste of a slug can be done by creating feeding stations for wild birds and places to nest in the winter. Adding water to your garden in any form will attract frogs and toads and each evening they will patrol your patch seeking out and destroying many garden pests.
Set traps - One of the best traps for catching slugs is a beer trap. Simply submerge a small container into the ground (yogurt pots are ideal) and top it up with that beer you’re no longer drinking as a result of your new healthy lifestyle.
Use organic pellets - Standard slug pellets contain metaldehyde which can also kill hedgehogs and birds and as a result they were banned in 2022. Head to your local garden centre or DIY centre and pick up a tub of organic pellets made from ferric phosphate as they are less harmful. Sprinkle them sparingly around vulnerable leafy plants such as salads and hostas. Be careful not to use too much or they will also keep natural slug predators away too.
The best method in my experience, and one shared by most in a recent poll on Gardener’s World, was to head out after dark with a torch and some gloves and pick them off your self. 2 hours after dusk is the perfect time for hunting and it’s an exciting job for kids who won’t sleep during the school holidays.
Get to it slug assassins.
We believe that when men live happier, healthier & more fulfilled lives…everyone wins! - NXT45
The Journal by NXT45
