Episode 34: Health Management is a Must
March 11, 2026
I haven't been feeling well the past few days. It started with a fever on Monday night. On Tuesday, I took the day off work and went to the hospital. I took my medicine and got plenty of sleep, but I just couldn't shake it.
Wednesday was no better. I even had to reschedule (Risuke!) an interview. I managed to pull myself together for the Ota City Gymnasium show on the 6th, but then it was a whirlwind: an event at Don Quijote in Misato on the 7th, moving to Kobe, a dinner with fans after the Amagasaki show, and then returning to Tokyo on Monday for an event at the Ishikawa Prefecture antenna shop... followed by a lecture.
Hmm. But when I was an active wrestler, I had actual matches on top of all that, so I can’t make excuses.
Still, I catch colds way too often. Back in the day, I did a collaboration with Mame-shiba where the slogan was "Machos are prone to catching colds" (man, that brings back memories). It seems I get a major cold twice a year like clockwork.
By the way, the reason machos catch colds easily is that immune function drops as a "price" for hard training. When that happens, you lose the battle against viral attacks. Also, machos have low body fat, meaning they have fewer energy reserves. Since fat helps maintain body temperature, they are also vulnerable to environmental changes.
Apparently, this defenseless state immediately following a workout is called the "Open Window." The more stoic a person is, the harder they tend to push themselves, which leads them straight into this "Open Window" state.
Another possible cause is an "unbalanced diet." A diet centered solely on meat and vegetables leads to a lack of vitamins and minerals. Especially during a cutting phase, the secretion of the stress hormone "Cortisol" increases in response to weight loss.
In the bodybuilding world, Cortisol is feared as the "Arch-nemesis of Muscle." Its villainous deeds include "breaking down muscle," "making it easier to store fat," and "lowering immunity." It’s a total Heel.
Furthermore! If Cortisol levels stay high, your body can't switch over to the parasympathetic nervous system (which handles relaxation), leading to trouble falling asleep or shallow sleep. Argh! Seriously! I’m so irritable! By the way, this unstoppable irritability is also one of Cortisol’s jobs.
To reduce Cortisol levels, stop the irritability, and protect your muscles, you need to:
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Take plenty of Vitamin C (which suppresses Cortisol).
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Consume a moderate amount of carbohydrates.
When you have a carb deficiency, the brain decides the body is in a "starvation state," making it easier to secrete Cortisol.
To sum it up: To protect a "Macho," you must take glutamine, eat carbs, and get plenty of rest.
However... considering my physique can no longer exactly be called "Macho," am I really allowed to eat all these carbs? Well, they taste good, so whatever! (And the infinite loop continues...)