Aside from costly and sometimes inaccurate testing, there is no good way to estimate your anabolic rate before, during, and after your workouts. Nevertheless, your lifestyle can provide some general clues as to where you stand on the anabolic/catabolic scale. Here's a quick quiz with some very important clues.
Chances are, you're reading this article because you want to be bigger, stronger, tougher - the quintessential hardcore bodybuilder. It goes without saying, hardcore bodybuilders get bigger by doing a lot of eating and a lot of training. But did you know that the key to building hardcore muscle lies not just in how much you eat, how much you train, or how much you supplement? Yes, these are all important factors, and a good program will breed some muscle; but when it comes down to it, there's just one thing standing between you and the eye-popping slabs of muscle you want to grow. The difference between a good body and a professional bodybuilder's physique is largely measured in the amount of anabolic and catabolic hormones in your blood. By manipulating these hormones and your daily routine, you can turn your muscles into huge, anabolic factories. For those of you who haven't already, it's time to get serious about entering and supporting the anabolic environment.


ANABOLISM 101
In case you're interested (and you should be), here's the quick-and-dirty on anabolism. The better of two major metabolic processes in the body, anabolism promotes muscle growth, maintenance, and repair. During this process, molecules combine through a series of chemical reactions, and eventually these molecules form larger, more complex cellular material, such as protein, which the body uses to synthesize muscle tissue. In addition, anabolism is affected by increases in levels of testosterone, insulin, Growth Hormone (GH), and Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1), each of which amplify muscle to potentially-barbaric proportions. Without anabolism (not to be confused with cannibalism), there'd be no reason to load-up on calories; there'd be no gym rats, nor a reason to even hit the gym in the first place - bodybuilding as a sport would not exist. Anabolism makes enhancing your anatomy with mean muscle a distinct possibility.
So what' s this number mean?
The total reflects your General Anabolic Index (GAI). The GAI is meant only to provide a general estimate of your anabolic (or catabolic) lifestyle. If you feel that your Anabolic Index could be higher, select a few of the unchecked statements
(or all of them - it couldn't hurt) and make them your personal guidelines and goals for enhancing the anabolic environment.
Anabolism  VS. Catabolism
Metabolism can be grouped into two general categories: anabolism, which supports growth, and catabolism, which spurs the breakdown of tissue. Catabolism also takes place through a series of chemical reactions, increasing the availability of simple molecules to the body. By manipulating anabolic and catabolic hormones, you can either encourage or avoid the effects of both anabolism and catabolism. Think of it this way: metabolism is much like a two-sided coin, flipped in the air; both sides are fighting for power as the coin rotates through a continuous cycle. Anabolism is supported by diet, training, and supplementation, and suppresses catabolism. On the flip side, catabolism breaks down muscle and deters the positive effects of anabolism. When anabolism lands face-up, it exceeds the effects of catabolism, and net growth occurs; conversely, net loss takes place when catabolism is dominant over anabolism. Whether you're manipulating your routine to increase catabolism or anabolism -heads or tails - it's your call.
Yeah, you've got the point. Anabolism is good, and catabolism is bad. Unfortunately, it's not that simple - their relationship is synergistic, meaning that they are more valuable together than they would be separately. Catabolism, for example, can actually jump-start the anabolic process and trigger muscle growth. When you train, you are engaged in a catabolic process - muscle fibers are broken down as the muscle is worked. Your body overcompensates for this stress during recovery by building the muscle back up again, this time stronger than before, so that it's better prepared to handle the load the next time. Gradually, this cycle leads to bigger, stronger muscles. (For you science types, see "The Anabolic/Catabolic Processes".)
Catabolism is also helpful in the digestive process. The body's need for energy is satisfied through digestion, during which molecules of raw energy (food) are broken down. The breakdown of food molecules is a crucial catabolic process that supplies the body with the nutritional building blocks necessary to construct more-desirable molecules. These molecules in turn are used as energy and building blocks for anabolism.
Wouldn't you say that's a good thing?
Face it: you'll never completely rid your body of its catabolic hormones. Since they play a role in our development, however, you can manipulate and possibly even lower the levels of catabolic hormones temporarily to maximize growth. Maintaining the proper balance between anabolism and catabolism and the hormones associated with each can mean the difference between muscles that bulge and muscles that shrink. (Refer to "Hormonal Harmony" for a graphic representation of this balance.) Still not getting it? Picture metabolism as the pendulum of a grandfather clock. The pendulum's energy must be balanced for it to keep swinging correctly. As the pendulum swings from one end to the other, its energy is transformed, and this transformation keeps the cycle going. Balancing the cycle will, over time, increase the size of your muscles by more than a few ticks.