Ste
13th July 2007, 14:19
Read it you lazy steroid bummers.
The purpose of this section is not to teach you how to use steroids, nor to endorse or disapprove of their use. I mainly write this section as an informational tool for those that are curious on the subject and also to eliminate certain misconceptions that surround these drugs. My goal is to write an unbiased report that would give the reader objective information of what these drugs are and what they can and cannot do. Everything that I will say is based on research and information that I have gathered from others that have used them. I cannot share any personal experiences in using them as I have never touched them.
What are they?
Anabolic steroids are a synthetic copy of the hormone testosterone. They have been the subject of much debate over the last few decades as well as misinformation. Athletes, especially bodybuilders, may feel lured towards them as these drugs do increase muscle size, strength, and stamina. One of the biggest misunderstandings that we find about steroids is that people say that if you take them they will kill you. The first thing that we need to understand is that steroids are drugs. All drugs when misused and abused have the potential to kill; It’s not only steroids. Even Tylenol and Aspirin can cause serious problems if you take them in large quantities. As a matter of fact, you can take a full bottle of oral steroids in one day and still live to talk about it. With Tylenol and Aspirin you cannot make that claim.
Another misconception out there is that they are easily accessible and that there is only one type of steroid. As far as accessibility, the truth is that unless you get them prescribed through a doctor for replacement purposes, they are illegal substances so your accessibility will be through the black market (good luck as far as quality). In addition, if you get caught with them in their possession without a prescription you may face up to 5 years in a federal prison. On the issue of variety, there are many different types of steroids out there. There are liquid steroids that you inject and there are pills that you take orally. The injectable kind are generally more anabolic in nature and less damaging to organs like the liver. The oral versions are more androgenic in nature and cause more side effects than injectables, as they have to be processed by the liver. Different steroids have different properties so there are some that have more tendencies to build muscle mass while others have a tendency to increase strength or even decrease fat. As their properties vary, so do their side effects. Usually the stronger the steroid (especially if oral) the more side effects you can expect.
The Good
As we previously just mentioned, steroids do increase size and strength. In fact, they do so very significantly. In addition to potentially massive gains in strength and muscle mass they also seem to provide you with more energy and aggressiveness, things that can be conducive to good workouts. Depending on the steroid used, you may also experience cell voluminizing effects that promote a bigger pump. All of these are of course assuming that all aspects of the bodybuilding program (training, nutrition and supplementation) are in order.
The Bad
Based on the fact that steroids can provide you with all of these beneficial effects which bodybuilder are usually in search of, it is no surprise that they cause a psychological dependence. Think about it, if you have been taking steroids for the past 8 weeks, assuming you are on a good diet and using a thorough training routine, chances are that you would have gotten very big (muscular) and strong very quickly. One of the feelings people on steroids usually claim to have after approximately 8 weeks of use, is an “unstoppable” feeling. When you begin to taper off of them, you might still experience these “highs”, but will it last? Once you completely stop using them and after cessation of use, you very likely will notice that you are not getting good pumps, your strength will start to diminish regardless of your best effort and your muscle mass will begin to atrophy (shrink!). Add to that, the fact that for the first few weeks after cessation of use, you will most likely experience bouts of depression, due to low testosterone levels.
It is no wonder that a large number of steroid users, never stop taking these drugs.
The Ugly
Assuming that you knew what you were doing while you were using steroids (i.e. Getting consistent blood work done while using them, using a mild steroid, ensuring that the dosage taken was not overboard, making sure you tapered off before complete cessation of use and taking a break from their use every 12 weeks or so), chances are that you will still experience the depression after use, plus loss of strength and muscle mass. You will most likely notice a period of low natural testosterone production (in addition to other side effects that may be encountered during their use, such as higher blood pressure and higher cholesterol levels). We have gathered research claiming that administering mild steroids with proper use can aid in maintaining a percentage of muscle mass gains. This is really dependent however on the type of steroids used, the quantity, and the anti-estrogen drugs taken after cessation of use. Fact is that most people do not have access to information on how to do this unless the steroids are being prescribed by a doctor. As a result, I have seldom heard of a steroid user who maintained much of anything after steroid use. Based on my observations, for most people steroid use will ultimately provide more, many more, losses than it will gains.
If you are careless with your steroid use (i.e.using high potency steroids causing many side effects and/or abusing the dosage you administer, etc), then not only can the side effects be numerous during the period of use, but you also will also experience terrible side effects after cessation of use. Again, the degree of side effects you personally experience is directly proportional to the dosage and type of the steroid you use. It is also dependent on the genetic propensity of the subject, which will ultimately determine the side effects they receive. Therefore, it would be impossible for us, or anyone else, to precisely predict what type and how many side effects a user might encounter during a period of steroid use. However, below we have listed a few of the side effects users have experienced from steroid abuse:
1) Increased liver function (Not good!).
2) Depletion of testosterone levels.
3) Increase in cholesterol levels and blood pressure (Not beneficial for good
cardiovascular health).
4) Altered thyroid function.
5) Migraine headaches.
6) Nose bleeds.
7) Muscle cramps.
8) Development of breast-like tissue in men (Gynecomastia AKA “Bitch Tits”).
9) Insulin Insensitivity (Even though the steroid, Deca Durabolin has been known to
improve the insulin metabolism).
10) Androgenic side effects such as thinning hair, enlarged prostate, oily skin, water
retention, increased body hair, physical aggressiveness etc.
11) Stunted growth if you are a teenager.
12) Oral steroid specific side effects: In addition to the above, the oral steroids also tend
to cause nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting.
13) May accelerate the growth of tumors.
We’re not even going to discuss the kind of side effects that females can encounter when they decide to use steroids. You can imagine what happens to your body when you administer opposite sex hormones into your body!
Conclusion
Having said all of the above, I would now like to include our my two cents worth. Here comes the subjective part of this section.
I am not going to just come out and say: "Don’t use steroids; they kill", as by now you could probably make an educated conclusion. There are so many drugs available both by prescription and over the counter too, that in my opinion are just as if not far more dangerous than steroids are. Also, I do feel that they have their place in medicine for males that do not produce optimal levels of testosterone anymore, even under the use of natural testosterone boosters like Tribex, Red Kat and 6-OXO. If this is the case, then a doctor can determine if replacement therapy is in order.
However, it seems to me that using steroids with a perfectly functioning hormonall system only provides fleeting glory and a temporary solution to the challenge of acquiring muscle mass. At best, you might get bigger for a while, but how much is that worth to you? Is it worth risking your health and/or jail time in order to gain a few pounds of muscle? If you happen to get these drugs from the black market, how can you be assured that the quality of them is good? How will you know for sure exactly what you are putting into your body? Will it be pure or contain contaminants? How can you be sure that if you are using an injectible steroid, that you will be able to consistently inject it correctly, without causing an infection on the site of injection or possibly pinching a nerve perhaps? Finally, how can you be sure that you don't have a propensity to develop cancer and that by using steroids, you won’t assist in speeding up the process? These are all things that you should think about if there is ever a time when you are tempted to access these drugs from someone other than a medical professional. Building your body into a beautiful work of art should start with a lifetime commitment, one that is practiced eagerly, day in and day out with the utmost persistence. There are no shortcuts to the hard work required for creating your ideal physique; not even steroids work without hard work. Relatively hard work combined with smart training and a sound nutrition system will take you exactly where you want to go.
The purpose of this section is not to teach you how to use steroids, nor to endorse or disapprove of their use. I mainly write this section as an informational tool for those that are curious on the subject and also to eliminate certain misconceptions that surround these drugs. My goal is to write an unbiased report that would give the reader objective information of what these drugs are and what they can and cannot do. Everything that I will say is based on research and information that I have gathered from others that have used them. I cannot share any personal experiences in using them as I have never touched them.
What are they?
Anabolic steroids are a synthetic copy of the hormone testosterone. They have been the subject of much debate over the last few decades as well as misinformation. Athletes, especially bodybuilders, may feel lured towards them as these drugs do increase muscle size, strength, and stamina. One of the biggest misunderstandings that we find about steroids is that people say that if you take them they will kill you. The first thing that we need to understand is that steroids are drugs. All drugs when misused and abused have the potential to kill; It’s not only steroids. Even Tylenol and Aspirin can cause serious problems if you take them in large quantities. As a matter of fact, you can take a full bottle of oral steroids in one day and still live to talk about it. With Tylenol and Aspirin you cannot make that claim.
Another misconception out there is that they are easily accessible and that there is only one type of steroid. As far as accessibility, the truth is that unless you get them prescribed through a doctor for replacement purposes, they are illegal substances so your accessibility will be through the black market (good luck as far as quality). In addition, if you get caught with them in their possession without a prescription you may face up to 5 years in a federal prison. On the issue of variety, there are many different types of steroids out there. There are liquid steroids that you inject and there are pills that you take orally. The injectable kind are generally more anabolic in nature and less damaging to organs like the liver. The oral versions are more androgenic in nature and cause more side effects than injectables, as they have to be processed by the liver. Different steroids have different properties so there are some that have more tendencies to build muscle mass while others have a tendency to increase strength or even decrease fat. As their properties vary, so do their side effects. Usually the stronger the steroid (especially if oral) the more side effects you can expect.
The Good
As we previously just mentioned, steroids do increase size and strength. In fact, they do so very significantly. In addition to potentially massive gains in strength and muscle mass they also seem to provide you with more energy and aggressiveness, things that can be conducive to good workouts. Depending on the steroid used, you may also experience cell voluminizing effects that promote a bigger pump. All of these are of course assuming that all aspects of the bodybuilding program (training, nutrition and supplementation) are in order.
The Bad
Based on the fact that steroids can provide you with all of these beneficial effects which bodybuilder are usually in search of, it is no surprise that they cause a psychological dependence. Think about it, if you have been taking steroids for the past 8 weeks, assuming you are on a good diet and using a thorough training routine, chances are that you would have gotten very big (muscular) and strong very quickly. One of the feelings people on steroids usually claim to have after approximately 8 weeks of use, is an “unstoppable” feeling. When you begin to taper off of them, you might still experience these “highs”, but will it last? Once you completely stop using them and after cessation of use, you very likely will notice that you are not getting good pumps, your strength will start to diminish regardless of your best effort and your muscle mass will begin to atrophy (shrink!). Add to that, the fact that for the first few weeks after cessation of use, you will most likely experience bouts of depression, due to low testosterone levels.
It is no wonder that a large number of steroid users, never stop taking these drugs.
The Ugly
Assuming that you knew what you were doing while you were using steroids (i.e. Getting consistent blood work done while using them, using a mild steroid, ensuring that the dosage taken was not overboard, making sure you tapered off before complete cessation of use and taking a break from their use every 12 weeks or so), chances are that you will still experience the depression after use, plus loss of strength and muscle mass. You will most likely notice a period of low natural testosterone production (in addition to other side effects that may be encountered during their use, such as higher blood pressure and higher cholesterol levels). We have gathered research claiming that administering mild steroids with proper use can aid in maintaining a percentage of muscle mass gains. This is really dependent however on the type of steroids used, the quantity, and the anti-estrogen drugs taken after cessation of use. Fact is that most people do not have access to information on how to do this unless the steroids are being prescribed by a doctor. As a result, I have seldom heard of a steroid user who maintained much of anything after steroid use. Based on my observations, for most people steroid use will ultimately provide more, many more, losses than it will gains.
If you are careless with your steroid use (i.e.using high potency steroids causing many side effects and/or abusing the dosage you administer, etc), then not only can the side effects be numerous during the period of use, but you also will also experience terrible side effects after cessation of use. Again, the degree of side effects you personally experience is directly proportional to the dosage and type of the steroid you use. It is also dependent on the genetic propensity of the subject, which will ultimately determine the side effects they receive. Therefore, it would be impossible for us, or anyone else, to precisely predict what type and how many side effects a user might encounter during a period of steroid use. However, below we have listed a few of the side effects users have experienced from steroid abuse:
1) Increased liver function (Not good!).
2) Depletion of testosterone levels.
3) Increase in cholesterol levels and blood pressure (Not beneficial for good
cardiovascular health).
4) Altered thyroid function.
5) Migraine headaches.
6) Nose bleeds.
7) Muscle cramps.
8) Development of breast-like tissue in men (Gynecomastia AKA “Bitch Tits”).
9) Insulin Insensitivity (Even though the steroid, Deca Durabolin has been known to
improve the insulin metabolism).
10) Androgenic side effects such as thinning hair, enlarged prostate, oily skin, water
retention, increased body hair, physical aggressiveness etc.
11) Stunted growth if you are a teenager.
12) Oral steroid specific side effects: In addition to the above, the oral steroids also tend
to cause nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting.
13) May accelerate the growth of tumors.
We’re not even going to discuss the kind of side effects that females can encounter when they decide to use steroids. You can imagine what happens to your body when you administer opposite sex hormones into your body!
Conclusion
Having said all of the above, I would now like to include our my two cents worth. Here comes the subjective part of this section.
I am not going to just come out and say: "Don’t use steroids; they kill", as by now you could probably make an educated conclusion. There are so many drugs available both by prescription and over the counter too, that in my opinion are just as if not far more dangerous than steroids are. Also, I do feel that they have their place in medicine for males that do not produce optimal levels of testosterone anymore, even under the use of natural testosterone boosters like Tribex, Red Kat and 6-OXO. If this is the case, then a doctor can determine if replacement therapy is in order.
However, it seems to me that using steroids with a perfectly functioning hormonall system only provides fleeting glory and a temporary solution to the challenge of acquiring muscle mass. At best, you might get bigger for a while, but how much is that worth to you? Is it worth risking your health and/or jail time in order to gain a few pounds of muscle? If you happen to get these drugs from the black market, how can you be assured that the quality of them is good? How will you know for sure exactly what you are putting into your body? Will it be pure or contain contaminants? How can you be sure that if you are using an injectible steroid, that you will be able to consistently inject it correctly, without causing an infection on the site of injection or possibly pinching a nerve perhaps? Finally, how can you be sure that you don't have a propensity to develop cancer and that by using steroids, you won’t assist in speeding up the process? These are all things that you should think about if there is ever a time when you are tempted to access these drugs from someone other than a medical professional. Building your body into a beautiful work of art should start with a lifetime commitment, one that is practiced eagerly, day in and day out with the utmost persistence. There are no shortcuts to the hard work required for creating your ideal physique; not even steroids work without hard work. Relatively hard work combined with smart training and a sound nutrition system will take you exactly where you want to go.