Cortisol, androgen and gene expression

[Stewilliams]

Hi Scott,

I recall hearing you discuss how it may be crucial for a bodybuilder looking to maximise muscle gain to prevent cortisol from raising too high even during a training bout. I believe your rationale (or at least part of it) was due to cortisol being a steroid hormone that binds to the androgen receptor, so even when cortisol levels are reduced (via diet, sleep or whatever) their catabolic effects may still continue to occur?

Please correct me if I have this completely wrong. Do you have any papers in your library that you could point me towards to educate myself further on the subject? I have been having a dig around google scholar, but feel like I would benefit from a nudge in the right direction.

Thanks !