bigger biceps
Registered
Do not post links to personal websites for SEO gain, Unless you are a paying sponsor, or have set up and agreement with Prince, do Not Promote your website. The article is fine, But I have removed all your hyperlinks. - OldSchoolLifter,
PS I would advise editing your signature.
I wrote an article about steroids, this info could be helpful for bodybuilders who are in doubt. Source: my website:
I’m a natural bodybuilder and sometimes it’s very frustrating seeing other bodybuilders having the body I want. But I would never dare to start a cycle of anabolic steroids. I cannot live with the uncertainties. This article may help you to make your own decision. Are you willing to take the risks?
Anabolic steroids are chemicals derived from the potent male hormone testosterone. They provide androgenic and anabolic results. Androgenic effects of testosterone include facial hair, a deepened voice and body hair. These are the effects of testosterone. The result is muscle building (muscle building stands for strength, muscle recovery and growth) and this is usually the goal when using it. Anabolic steroids in sports are sometimes called AAS. The name is an abbreviation of anabolic androgenic steroids.
1. History of anabolic steroids
What most people don’t know, steroids are being used for a very long time. People where experimenting with stimulating plant extracts since the first Olympic Games. Being better in sports and winning was very important so a good performance was needed. This was a good motivation for searching sport stimulants, exploring them and using them. In 1890 European scientists were aware that some things in our body, especially anything related to the penis and testicles, had to do something with the increasing in strength. They suspected this because exotic tribes where eating penises and testicles of dead tribesmen to get their strength back. This, they examined further. The scientist Brown-Sequard was experimenting with testicular cocktails, which he injected himself and patients. By the end of the 19th century the knowledge about hormones and sex hormones in particular had grown bigger. Around 1935 they isolated testosterone for the first time. A year later, scientists have managed to isolate the hormone testosterone from non-living substances like cholesterol. The first anabolic steroid “testosterone” was born. After that they developed several variants for medical purposes and were also used in sports. During the Cold War they used a lot of doping in the GDR (German Democratic Republic). There was a rivalry between communists and capitalists (including Americans) but not predominantly in military terms, but rather in sports. East German athletes were massively encouraged to take drugs for honoring their country and sports doctors experimented steroids on athletes. Therefore, in those days many records were broken and many medals were brought to these countries. The German doctor and scientist Werner Franke from a cancer clinic claimed that many athletes at that time deceased from the so-called “hepatic coma”, caused by excessive steroid use. Now the battle still continues in almost all sports and many athletes are users. It’s the athletes and their doctors versus the scientists who do research to trace anabolic steroids and other stimulants. Most of the time athletes and their doctors are a step further in their research and thus little athletes are caught. Will the use of doping ever stop? Nobody knows. But I think not. The fascination and desire to win will is a very good motivation to produce new anabolic steroids.
2. How do anabolic steroids work?
Anabolic steroids work by influencing These two processes make up the metabolism. Anabolic and catabolic processes are polar opposites. With catabolic processes muscle and fat cells are broken down and converted into energy. In the body this energy consists in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate, the universal form of energy in the body). Complex molecules (chemical bonds are several elements) are to be converted into less complex molecules.
Anabolic processes are just the opposite. Less complex molecules are converted into complex molecules. The best known form of this process is the creation of proteins, in other words, the restoration of muscle cells. During training muscle cells are damaged and they need to be restored. If there is sufficient protein present in the body (from food), the intake of steroids will make the body to produce more protein and thus improves the muscle volume, the strength and restoration of the muscle. These three elements go faster through the intake of anabolic steroids and furthermore these aspects are sometimes strengthened by the suppression of catabolic processes (degradation of muscle mass).
3 Effects of anabolic steroids on the human body
Anabolic steroids provide many (potential) effects on the human body. These effects come from drugs and as we all know, we take medication because of its benefits. Unfortunately, not only benefits but also side effects could be dangerous and unhealthy. Even though the producer usually does his best to minimize these side effects, with the use of anabolic steroids you will experience these negative effects. The impact and nature of these side effects depend on the dose and type of anabolic steroid you are using.
3.1 Positive effects in the medical world
Here are some examples where anabolic steroids have a beneficial effect.
- Anabolic steroids can be used in the repair of a major accident.
If a patient has to spend a lot of time lying in a hospital bed, his body weakens. Anabolic steroids help increasing muscle strength of the patient. The steroids will help to speed up gaining the strength back. The patient will recover much faster this way. The dose used here, is much lower than in the sports world and therefore the side effects are minimal. The blood values are also closely monitored to prevent problems.
- TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy) with age, testosterone levels drop in the male body.
Men approaching their 60th birthday often experience a reduced quality of life. Many are fatter, weaker, less fit and cranky. This has everything to do with the decline of the testosterone level. That is why they’ll use ”testosterone replacement”: the replenishment of testosterone. Elderly men will get a dose of testosterone until they have reasonable level of testosterone in their blood stream (which is strictly controlled under medical supervision). Thus, bone density, muscle mass and stamina will increase and fat will decrease. This creates a more comfortable life and elderly men will stay fit a lot longer. So far there occurred no serious side effects, also partly because in this case they didn’t do long-term studies.
- With severe burns, there is much tissue damage.
To fight infection, the creation of new tissue (body proteins) should occur as soon as possible. Because protein-building anabolic steroids work, they will accelerate the healing process.
3.2 Positive effects in everyday life and in sporting terms
These effects occur during the cycle due to high testosterone levels that cause a change in metabolism and hormonal balance. Many effects will quickly disappear after the cycle. Positive effects are:
- You will rapidly gain strength and thus improve athletic performance
- You are much fitter, and feel more active
- A higher libido (during the cycle)
- You will recovers faster from tough assignments
- Testosterone also causes a certain aggression. This can be important in sports and in everyday life.
- Because you are more muscular and stronger you will feel more confident towards other people
anabolic steroids injection
3.3 Negative effects of anabolic steroids
Anabolic steroids have many side effects, especially if they are used in the sports environment (high dose and / or long term). Athletes often use high dosages over a long period of time and it’s very risky. Most of the time side effects will be noticed after the use of anabolic steroids. Sometimes you can recover from them but often they are permanent. You can read all about the side effects on forums.
Side effects are:
- A damaged liver: anabolic steroids are degraded by the liver. Because this is a tough job at high doses and long cycles, there may be bleeding and other damage. In the long term you can even suffer from liver cancer!
- Heart problems: the muscle balance is seriously disturbed. The heart is a muscle, thus, a stroke can occur or you can get palpitations.
- Increased blood pressure and the building up of body fluid: anabolic steroids interfere with the moisture in the body. You can get a swollen head and swollen feets. Because there is more moisture present in the body, an increase in blood pressure occurs.
- Gynaecomastia: this means breast development in men. The hormonal balance after a cycle is disturbed and therefore the accumulation of fat under the nipple may occur and the glands in the breast swell. The nipples are often sensitive, painful and sometimes it looks like a woman’s breast. In recent years, this disorder was often treated by plastic surgeons. In America there are even specialized clinics to treat this problem.
- Impotence: during the treatment of anabolic steroids there is a buildup of a very large amount of testosterone in the body. The body tries to suppress this excess of testosterone. The body will reduce or shut down its testosterone production. When you stop the cycle, the body’s production of testosterone remains at a minimal level.
The hormonal balance in our body is severely disrupted and this can shrink testicles, the size of the prostate can increase and the libido and sperm production will decrease. There is also a higher chance of testicular and / or prostate cancer.
- Aggression: anabolic steroids are derivatives of testosterone. A characteristic of testosterone is that it provides the aggression of the man. At high doses during a cycle you can get aggressive and irritated and this will quickly turn into violence.
- Women taking anabolic steroids can get beard growth, an increase of body hair growth, a deep voice and even an enlarged clitoris. Their hormones are also severely disrupted because by nature there is a very low concentration of testosterone present. Little is known about the use and side effects on women as this is taboo on the Internet.
- Depression and a mental dip: because after a cycle the concentration of endogenous testosterone is very low, people feel sluggish. They will quickly lose muscle and a reduction in sports performance occurs as well. Some are depressed and in extreme cases people commit suicide. Others are then hooked and want a new cycle of steroids and start again … in the bodybuilding world this is called “bigorexia”, a disorder that is the opposite of anorexia. They want to be as muscular as possible.
As you can imagine, the side effects are very dangerous! A cycle can be very unhealthy and can lead to serious problems. Therefore, before we start, we have to gain sufficient knowledge and then decide whether it’s all worth it.
4 Why we use anabolic steroids?
Because of the money and the performance in sports
Today, athletes are under great pressure. They are expected to perform better. If athletes do not meet these expectations, their contracts expire, they lose popularity. Athletes get scared and so they grab for “illicit drugs”. Due to their increased strength, speed and aggressiveness they win more and get more popular. The athletes will earn more money and they can also enjoy their fame and gaining more sponsors. This is the main motivation for some athlete. They want to become a billionaire and want to be famous. Many will give up everything for that. This includes also their health. But remember that the use of “prohibited substances” does not mean that these athletes are training less hard and are not dedicated to the sport. They deserve the same respect. The problem is when they use steroids they only make a progression of millimeters or tenths of seconds, which can ensure them that they’ll be first instead of second. Is this fair against other athletes? Not only athletes use more and more. Soccer players, cyclers and bodybuilders like a big progression and reach for this kind of doping. They love being muscular, faster and stronger. Often this is an obsession for them, which is very dangerous for their health!
bodybuilder on anabolic steroids
For the image and the looks
In our society it is necessary to look good. The ideal body has to be muscular and slender. Many men think they have to answer to this and do everything to be muscular. To achieve this they start using anabolic steroids. Often these men suffer with ‘bigorexia’ or the Adonis complex, which is one of the side effects. Women often want to lose weight and this can also be done with the help of anabolic steroids. Teenagers often take the example of their idols. Many rappers like 50 cent are muscular and like to show this in their clips. Teenagers are copying this and for this reason they take anabolic steroids. With their physique, they turn out to their friends and show off on the beach. Many find it amazing.
The profession
In professions such as a doorman or a security guard the appearance of strength is important. To have a muscular physique, working out is often not enough. Many decide to start a cycle.
For medical purposes
As described earlier in this article many people can be helped with a cycle of anabolic steroids. But this is by using a lower dose for a shorter period of time and also under medical supervision. So the chance of side effects are much smaller.
5 Critical concerns and questions about starting a cycle
As a cycle of anabolic steroids go together with serious dangers, people have to know where they stand. If problems should occur you have to know how to react on it. This may be of vital importance. It is also important to be mentally ready, so that you don’t have trouble with your conscience.
5.1 What should I consider before starting a cycle
Before starting a cycle you should be sure you’re prepared for every situation and that you are determined to get started. If you are uncertain about it and it is an impulsive act it can have serious consequences, both mentally and physically.
5.2 Can I naturally make much progress?
If you haven’t been practicing a sport before and have no experience in intensive training, it is useless to start a cycle. You can still make much progress the natural way. If you think you are on your limit and you can make no further progress, you can consider to start with anabolic steroids. Still, it’s better to reconsider whether your nutrition is optimal. This means, do you have a food schedule and eat 8 times a day with plenty of healthy nutrients? You also need to think about your training. Perhaps there are other schedules where you still can make progression! Are either of these two factors not in order or is there still room for improvement, do this first. Is everything okay? You can basically start a cycle. You will gain much more progression in a short period of time if your diet and training schedule are perfectly respected!
5.3 Is my body ready for a steroid cylce?
Before starting a cycle, you’ll have to know if your body is ready. You must be fit and you cannot have injuries, which may impede training. You don’t know what your blood values are. So go to the doctor and get a blood test done. You have to specifically ask whether he wants to examine everything. If everything is OK and you certainly do not have too much cholesterol or too high liver values your body is ready. Keep these results, so you have a post-cycle indication to see how much damage you have suffered. You cannot responsibly start a next cycle, if all values of the original results are approached. Especially the testosterone level after the cycle must lie in the same region as before the cycle. It is also important that you are over 21, which reduces the risk of side effects because your hormonal system is fully developed and you have mature bones.
5.4 Am I mentally prepared for a cycle?
Treatments can be very dangerous and cause health problems. Therefore, you must realize that things can go wrong. One example is impotency or early cancer. Would you blame yourself, and thus may have problems with your conscience, or even be depressed? You should also remember that most people experience the wonderful feeling of invincibility and strength during the cycle. After the cycle, the chances are you are dealing with a physical dip and poor performance in all areas. This ensures that the risk of addiction is real. You should make yourself clear whether or not you want to do it again. If you do, your health is seriously compromised! For many it is also important to say that all their achievements they have reached are done the natural way. Once you’ve used an anabolic steroid cycle, you will never be “Natural” again and it is difficult for many to accept that, even after ten years. Afterwards, you can also ask yourself: how muscular would I be “natural”, so without a cycle? During the cycle you can get injured, mostly in the tendon, because they cannot keep up with the growth of the muscles. Because of this the training is not optimal and there is less progression and you put your health at an unnecessarily risk. For many this is a disappointment and often leads to a mental dip. Another important fact is that for most people, using anabolic steroids, are considered a crime and a taboo. Many people will ask what you use, and many will react negatively. It may be hard as colleagues, friends and family approach you this way. So, it’s a lot to think about. Mentally and physically, many things can go wrong. You also need people you can address your problems.
5.5 Who can I contact for help in an emergency?
Because many things can go wrong during or after the cycle, it is important that you have people around you. You have to talk about your problems. The most obvious is the Internet: here you are anonymous and you’ll find lots of possible solutions. On forums, there are many experienced users and they often can help. For example if you have breast development (gynecomastia). They can give you tips and tell you how you should change your cycle and possibly use another drug besides the steroids to suppress the side effect. Also, if you have problems after the cycle with your testosterone level, you can continue with drugs try to prevent this side effect. But you must be critical: these people on forums are not doctors and do not know exactly how your body responds best! If you have problems with your liver, kidneys or heart, it is very wise to go to a doctor. Unfortunately they have little or no experience with the use of anabolic steroids in the sports environment and they will not welcome you at your own risk. Many side effects such as palpitations, high blood pressure, insomnia or shrinking testicles are in the eyes of users of anabolic steroids very normal. They’ll say you should take this is a risk and don’t think about it. Doctors will not agree and see this as irresponsible! This can be mentally very tough. So you can talk about it with your training buddy, with experience of the same steroids or make sure someone like you starts together with the same cycle. So you can assist each other and you are not alone if you are experiencing unpleasant symptoms. When you have a serious problem, go to the hospital! In extreme cases, your body reacts badly to a steroid or it is an unsterile one. This can be fatal. Be reasonable and go to the doctor when needed. Because you’re an amateur, you’ll run more risks than an athlete under the supervision and guidance of doctors. Therefore it is necessary to know exactly who you can go to.
5.6 What are my goals and expectations?
A cycle of anabolic steroids is not easy. You’ll have to train hard and have to eat very good to make profit out of it. If you do not, you’ll lack in progress. It is important to set a goal. Anything can go wrong, or maybe the results are better than you had expected. This way you’ll not be disappointed or surprised. Not all weight you will gain is muscle mass. For example, you’ve gained 20 pounds in a cycle of two months, 12 pounds is muscle mass and 8 pounds is water. After the cycle you have 12 pounds of muscle and you have to do your best to hold it. This is very difficult, because it didn’t grow the natural way and your testosterone levels are much lower than during the cure. Eventually, if you’re lucky and you are training hard and eat well, you’ll have a profit of around 8 pounds. Perhaps this is below your expectations and it could be disappointing because you first thought you had gained 20 pounds. To keep this mass you’ll have to do a maintenance cycle every other year. This is a light cycle, where you gain some muscle weight and subsequently lose it again. You’ll stay at your desired weight this way.
Always remember this: what can you achieve when you adjust your diet and training schedule? You may get the same results without anabolic steroids. This muscle mass would then be easier to hold, because you don’t have a dip in your testosterone level. You see that steroids are not magic and that you exactly have to know what you want and what you have to do to gain those pounds.
syringes for bodybuilders
6 The actual steroid cycle
Now you are physically and mentally ready for it and you know where you can go in case of an emergency, you can start preparing your cycle.
6.1 What anabolic steroids should I use?
There are very many types of anabolic steroids. You have oral or intramuscular (into muscle with syringe). Oral steroids are more aggressive for the liver, injectable steroids are has the disadvantage that you need syringes. There are steroids which are used more often than others. The effect may also vary, some steroids act rapidly while with others you’ll have to wait longer. Therefore it is important to talk to someone with knowledge and experience. Make a balance afterwards and then choose the steroid.
6.2 Setting up a cycle schedule
Like medicines you a certain dose and a fixed time that you have to take them. As a beginner you’ll probably choose an oral form because it is easy and you can quietly become familiar with anabolic steroids. 8 weeks is a common duration for a cycle. For example you can choose for Dianabol tablets (20 mg each). If the maximum amount is 200 mg per week you then would take 10 tablets a week. So you need 80 tablets to start your first cycle. Never start a cycle without having to the full range of steroids! Do not forget to get the medicine which reduces the side effects like breasts forming or a poor increasing testosterone levels after the cycle (examples are Pregnyl or Nolvadex). So you can act immediately in case of trouble. If you are a more experienced user, you can begin to ‘stack’. This means multiple steroids simultaneously. This form of cycling is harsher and you’ll need more time for your endocrine system to recover.
6.3 During the cycle
During the cycle you’ll surely get side-effects such as hypertension, insomnia and aggressiveness. These are the common, less severe side effects to confront. If there are serious side effects such as kidney stabbing or liver problems you’ll have to make wise choices by first obtain information from experienced users, and go to a doctor. This avoids incurable, permanent damage. Because you are aggressive, you’re stronger and you can move immense weights. This increases the chance of injury. Therefore be sure you strictly hold on to your training schedule. This prevents injuries that could interfere with the results. Do not forget that profit is made with proper nutrition. Hold on to your nutrition program and don’t consume harmful substances such as alcohol.
6.4 After the cycle
After the treatment many will feel sluggish and down. This is a normal phenomenon, because your natural testosterone levels are lower and the hormonal balance is changed. Continue to train hard and eat well so that you minimize muscle loss! In most cases your body will slowly recuperate to its original blood values. Go to the doctor again and ask for a blood test. So you can compare the results with those before the cycle. Are they not in order as expected? Come back after about a month. Often people start with a ”post-cycle“ after the cycle. These include drugs such as Nolvadex or Pregnyl, which will raise the testosterone levels artificially and reduce breast forming. Scientists are still debating whether it is useful or not. Some users are satisfied while others have more problems. If your blood levels are good, this will not mean there is no damage to i.e. your liver, kidneys or heart muscle. Cancer cells may also develop without any notice. There are more dangers than you think! Anabolic steroids are dangerous.
7 My opinion
I imagine that anabolic steroids may have good intentions and bad. I myself would never dare to start a cycle of anabolic steroids. I cannot live with the uncertainties (i.e. faster growth of cancer cells). The change of impotency at the age of 20 because you want more muscle, is a nightmare. Yet there are people who irresponsibly, without critical thinking begin a cycle. This causes serious damage to their body. These people don’t think about the risks and they get ill or worse, they put their lives at risk. Most anabolic steroids served originally as a medicine or drug alone, and not how bodybuilders are using them now. Most likely this will never happen to stop. A body can be trained to reach its natural peak, and it could stay there. If this can be achieved then you can be proud of yourself! A body can be stuffed with anabolic steroids. It then will be gradually destroyed. So, if you want to achieve something at any level, do it the natural way and in the long run, you’ll get better results than people who do not!!!
PS I would advise editing your signature.
I wrote an article about steroids, this info could be helpful for bodybuilders who are in doubt. Source: my website:
I’m a natural bodybuilder and sometimes it’s very frustrating seeing other bodybuilders having the body I want. But I would never dare to start a cycle of anabolic steroids. I cannot live with the uncertainties. This article may help you to make your own decision. Are you willing to take the risks?
Anabolic steroids are chemicals derived from the potent male hormone testosterone. They provide androgenic and anabolic results. Androgenic effects of testosterone include facial hair, a deepened voice and body hair. These are the effects of testosterone. The result is muscle building (muscle building stands for strength, muscle recovery and growth) and this is usually the goal when using it. Anabolic steroids in sports are sometimes called AAS. The name is an abbreviation of anabolic androgenic steroids.
1. History of anabolic steroids
What most people don’t know, steroids are being used for a very long time. People where experimenting with stimulating plant extracts since the first Olympic Games. Being better in sports and winning was very important so a good performance was needed. This was a good motivation for searching sport stimulants, exploring them and using them. In 1890 European scientists were aware that some things in our body, especially anything related to the penis and testicles, had to do something with the increasing in strength. They suspected this because exotic tribes where eating penises and testicles of dead tribesmen to get their strength back. This, they examined further. The scientist Brown-Sequard was experimenting with testicular cocktails, which he injected himself and patients. By the end of the 19th century the knowledge about hormones and sex hormones in particular had grown bigger. Around 1935 they isolated testosterone for the first time. A year later, scientists have managed to isolate the hormone testosterone from non-living substances like cholesterol. The first anabolic steroid “testosterone” was born. After that they developed several variants for medical purposes and were also used in sports. During the Cold War they used a lot of doping in the GDR (German Democratic Republic). There was a rivalry between communists and capitalists (including Americans) but not predominantly in military terms, but rather in sports. East German athletes were massively encouraged to take drugs for honoring their country and sports doctors experimented steroids on athletes. Therefore, in those days many records were broken and many medals were brought to these countries. The German doctor and scientist Werner Franke from a cancer clinic claimed that many athletes at that time deceased from the so-called “hepatic coma”, caused by excessive steroid use. Now the battle still continues in almost all sports and many athletes are users. It’s the athletes and their doctors versus the scientists who do research to trace anabolic steroids and other stimulants. Most of the time athletes and their doctors are a step further in their research and thus little athletes are caught. Will the use of doping ever stop? Nobody knows. But I think not. The fascination and desire to win will is a very good motivation to produce new anabolic steroids.
2. How do anabolic steroids work?
Anabolic steroids work by influencing These two processes make up the metabolism. Anabolic and catabolic processes are polar opposites. With catabolic processes muscle and fat cells are broken down and converted into energy. In the body this energy consists in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate, the universal form of energy in the body). Complex molecules (chemical bonds are several elements) are to be converted into less complex molecules.
Anabolic processes are just the opposite. Less complex molecules are converted into complex molecules. The best known form of this process is the creation of proteins, in other words, the restoration of muscle cells. During training muscle cells are damaged and they need to be restored. If there is sufficient protein present in the body (from food), the intake of steroids will make the body to produce more protein and thus improves the muscle volume, the strength and restoration of the muscle. These three elements go faster through the intake of anabolic steroids and furthermore these aspects are sometimes strengthened by the suppression of catabolic processes (degradation of muscle mass).
3 Effects of anabolic steroids on the human body
Anabolic steroids provide many (potential) effects on the human body. These effects come from drugs and as we all know, we take medication because of its benefits. Unfortunately, not only benefits but also side effects could be dangerous and unhealthy. Even though the producer usually does his best to minimize these side effects, with the use of anabolic steroids you will experience these negative effects. The impact and nature of these side effects depend on the dose and type of anabolic steroid you are using.
3.1 Positive effects in the medical world
Here are some examples where anabolic steroids have a beneficial effect.
- Anabolic steroids can be used in the repair of a major accident.
If a patient has to spend a lot of time lying in a hospital bed, his body weakens. Anabolic steroids help increasing muscle strength of the patient. The steroids will help to speed up gaining the strength back. The patient will recover much faster this way. The dose used here, is much lower than in the sports world and therefore the side effects are minimal. The blood values are also closely monitored to prevent problems.
- TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy) with age, testosterone levels drop in the male body.
Men approaching their 60th birthday often experience a reduced quality of life. Many are fatter, weaker, less fit and cranky. This has everything to do with the decline of the testosterone level. That is why they’ll use ”testosterone replacement”: the replenishment of testosterone. Elderly men will get a dose of testosterone until they have reasonable level of testosterone in their blood stream (which is strictly controlled under medical supervision). Thus, bone density, muscle mass and stamina will increase and fat will decrease. This creates a more comfortable life and elderly men will stay fit a lot longer. So far there occurred no serious side effects, also partly because in this case they didn’t do long-term studies.
- With severe burns, there is much tissue damage.
To fight infection, the creation of new tissue (body proteins) should occur as soon as possible. Because protein-building anabolic steroids work, they will accelerate the healing process.
3.2 Positive effects in everyday life and in sporting terms
These effects occur during the cycle due to high testosterone levels that cause a change in metabolism and hormonal balance. Many effects will quickly disappear after the cycle. Positive effects are:
- You will rapidly gain strength and thus improve athletic performance
- You are much fitter, and feel more active
- A higher libido (during the cycle)
- You will recovers faster from tough assignments
- Testosterone also causes a certain aggression. This can be important in sports and in everyday life.
- Because you are more muscular and stronger you will feel more confident towards other people
anabolic steroids injection
3.3 Negative effects of anabolic steroids
Anabolic steroids have many side effects, especially if they are used in the sports environment (high dose and / or long term). Athletes often use high dosages over a long period of time and it’s very risky. Most of the time side effects will be noticed after the use of anabolic steroids. Sometimes you can recover from them but often they are permanent. You can read all about the side effects on forums.
Side effects are:
- A damaged liver: anabolic steroids are degraded by the liver. Because this is a tough job at high doses and long cycles, there may be bleeding and other damage. In the long term you can even suffer from liver cancer!
- Heart problems: the muscle balance is seriously disturbed. The heart is a muscle, thus, a stroke can occur or you can get palpitations.
- Increased blood pressure and the building up of body fluid: anabolic steroids interfere with the moisture in the body. You can get a swollen head and swollen feets. Because there is more moisture present in the body, an increase in blood pressure occurs.
- Gynaecomastia: this means breast development in men. The hormonal balance after a cycle is disturbed and therefore the accumulation of fat under the nipple may occur and the glands in the breast swell. The nipples are often sensitive, painful and sometimes it looks like a woman’s breast. In recent years, this disorder was often treated by plastic surgeons. In America there are even specialized clinics to treat this problem.
- Impotence: during the treatment of anabolic steroids there is a buildup of a very large amount of testosterone in the body. The body tries to suppress this excess of testosterone. The body will reduce or shut down its testosterone production. When you stop the cycle, the body’s production of testosterone remains at a minimal level.
The hormonal balance in our body is severely disrupted and this can shrink testicles, the size of the prostate can increase and the libido and sperm production will decrease. There is also a higher chance of testicular and / or prostate cancer.
- Aggression: anabolic steroids are derivatives of testosterone. A characteristic of testosterone is that it provides the aggression of the man. At high doses during a cycle you can get aggressive and irritated and this will quickly turn into violence.
- Women taking anabolic steroids can get beard growth, an increase of body hair growth, a deep voice and even an enlarged clitoris. Their hormones are also severely disrupted because by nature there is a very low concentration of testosterone present. Little is known about the use and side effects on women as this is taboo on the Internet.
- Depression and a mental dip: because after a cycle the concentration of endogenous testosterone is very low, people feel sluggish. They will quickly lose muscle and a reduction in sports performance occurs as well. Some are depressed and in extreme cases people commit suicide. Others are then hooked and want a new cycle of steroids and start again … in the bodybuilding world this is called “bigorexia”, a disorder that is the opposite of anorexia. They want to be as muscular as possible.
As you can imagine, the side effects are very dangerous! A cycle can be very unhealthy and can lead to serious problems. Therefore, before we start, we have to gain sufficient knowledge and then decide whether it’s all worth it.
4 Why we use anabolic steroids?
Because of the money and the performance in sports
Today, athletes are under great pressure. They are expected to perform better. If athletes do not meet these expectations, their contracts expire, they lose popularity. Athletes get scared and so they grab for “illicit drugs”. Due to their increased strength, speed and aggressiveness they win more and get more popular. The athletes will earn more money and they can also enjoy their fame and gaining more sponsors. This is the main motivation for some athlete. They want to become a billionaire and want to be famous. Many will give up everything for that. This includes also their health. But remember that the use of “prohibited substances” does not mean that these athletes are training less hard and are not dedicated to the sport. They deserve the same respect. The problem is when they use steroids they only make a progression of millimeters or tenths of seconds, which can ensure them that they’ll be first instead of second. Is this fair against other athletes? Not only athletes use more and more. Soccer players, cyclers and bodybuilders like a big progression and reach for this kind of doping. They love being muscular, faster and stronger. Often this is an obsession for them, which is very dangerous for their health!
bodybuilder on anabolic steroids
For the image and the looks
In our society it is necessary to look good. The ideal body has to be muscular and slender. Many men think they have to answer to this and do everything to be muscular. To achieve this they start using anabolic steroids. Often these men suffer with ‘bigorexia’ or the Adonis complex, which is one of the side effects. Women often want to lose weight and this can also be done with the help of anabolic steroids. Teenagers often take the example of their idols. Many rappers like 50 cent are muscular and like to show this in their clips. Teenagers are copying this and for this reason they take anabolic steroids. With their physique, they turn out to their friends and show off on the beach. Many find it amazing.
The profession
In professions such as a doorman or a security guard the appearance of strength is important. To have a muscular physique, working out is often not enough. Many decide to start a cycle.
For medical purposes
As described earlier in this article many people can be helped with a cycle of anabolic steroids. But this is by using a lower dose for a shorter period of time and also under medical supervision. So the chance of side effects are much smaller.
5 Critical concerns and questions about starting a cycle
As a cycle of anabolic steroids go together with serious dangers, people have to know where they stand. If problems should occur you have to know how to react on it. This may be of vital importance. It is also important to be mentally ready, so that you don’t have trouble with your conscience.
5.1 What should I consider before starting a cycle
Before starting a cycle you should be sure you’re prepared for every situation and that you are determined to get started. If you are uncertain about it and it is an impulsive act it can have serious consequences, both mentally and physically.
5.2 Can I naturally make much progress?
If you haven’t been practicing a sport before and have no experience in intensive training, it is useless to start a cycle. You can still make much progress the natural way. If you think you are on your limit and you can make no further progress, you can consider to start with anabolic steroids. Still, it’s better to reconsider whether your nutrition is optimal. This means, do you have a food schedule and eat 8 times a day with plenty of healthy nutrients? You also need to think about your training. Perhaps there are other schedules where you still can make progression! Are either of these two factors not in order or is there still room for improvement, do this first. Is everything okay? You can basically start a cycle. You will gain much more progression in a short period of time if your diet and training schedule are perfectly respected!
5.3 Is my body ready for a steroid cylce?
Before starting a cycle, you’ll have to know if your body is ready. You must be fit and you cannot have injuries, which may impede training. You don’t know what your blood values are. So go to the doctor and get a blood test done. You have to specifically ask whether he wants to examine everything. If everything is OK and you certainly do not have too much cholesterol or too high liver values your body is ready. Keep these results, so you have a post-cycle indication to see how much damage you have suffered. You cannot responsibly start a next cycle, if all values of the original results are approached. Especially the testosterone level after the cycle must lie in the same region as before the cycle. It is also important that you are over 21, which reduces the risk of side effects because your hormonal system is fully developed and you have mature bones.
5.4 Am I mentally prepared for a cycle?
Treatments can be very dangerous and cause health problems. Therefore, you must realize that things can go wrong. One example is impotency or early cancer. Would you blame yourself, and thus may have problems with your conscience, or even be depressed? You should also remember that most people experience the wonderful feeling of invincibility and strength during the cycle. After the cycle, the chances are you are dealing with a physical dip and poor performance in all areas. This ensures that the risk of addiction is real. You should make yourself clear whether or not you want to do it again. If you do, your health is seriously compromised! For many it is also important to say that all their achievements they have reached are done the natural way. Once you’ve used an anabolic steroid cycle, you will never be “Natural” again and it is difficult for many to accept that, even after ten years. Afterwards, you can also ask yourself: how muscular would I be “natural”, so without a cycle? During the cycle you can get injured, mostly in the tendon, because they cannot keep up with the growth of the muscles. Because of this the training is not optimal and there is less progression and you put your health at an unnecessarily risk. For many this is a disappointment and often leads to a mental dip. Another important fact is that for most people, using anabolic steroids, are considered a crime and a taboo. Many people will ask what you use, and many will react negatively. It may be hard as colleagues, friends and family approach you this way. So, it’s a lot to think about. Mentally and physically, many things can go wrong. You also need people you can address your problems.
5.5 Who can I contact for help in an emergency?
Because many things can go wrong during or after the cycle, it is important that you have people around you. You have to talk about your problems. The most obvious is the Internet: here you are anonymous and you’ll find lots of possible solutions. On forums, there are many experienced users and they often can help. For example if you have breast development (gynecomastia). They can give you tips and tell you how you should change your cycle and possibly use another drug besides the steroids to suppress the side effect. Also, if you have problems after the cycle with your testosterone level, you can continue with drugs try to prevent this side effect. But you must be critical: these people on forums are not doctors and do not know exactly how your body responds best! If you have problems with your liver, kidneys or heart, it is very wise to go to a doctor. Unfortunately they have little or no experience with the use of anabolic steroids in the sports environment and they will not welcome you at your own risk. Many side effects such as palpitations, high blood pressure, insomnia or shrinking testicles are in the eyes of users of anabolic steroids very normal. They’ll say you should take this is a risk and don’t think about it. Doctors will not agree and see this as irresponsible! This can be mentally very tough. So you can talk about it with your training buddy, with experience of the same steroids or make sure someone like you starts together with the same cycle. So you can assist each other and you are not alone if you are experiencing unpleasant symptoms. When you have a serious problem, go to the hospital! In extreme cases, your body reacts badly to a steroid or it is an unsterile one. This can be fatal. Be reasonable and go to the doctor when needed. Because you’re an amateur, you’ll run more risks than an athlete under the supervision and guidance of doctors. Therefore it is necessary to know exactly who you can go to.
5.6 What are my goals and expectations?
A cycle of anabolic steroids is not easy. You’ll have to train hard and have to eat very good to make profit out of it. If you do not, you’ll lack in progress. It is important to set a goal. Anything can go wrong, or maybe the results are better than you had expected. This way you’ll not be disappointed or surprised. Not all weight you will gain is muscle mass. For example, you’ve gained 20 pounds in a cycle of two months, 12 pounds is muscle mass and 8 pounds is water. After the cycle you have 12 pounds of muscle and you have to do your best to hold it. This is very difficult, because it didn’t grow the natural way and your testosterone levels are much lower than during the cure. Eventually, if you’re lucky and you are training hard and eat well, you’ll have a profit of around 8 pounds. Perhaps this is below your expectations and it could be disappointing because you first thought you had gained 20 pounds. To keep this mass you’ll have to do a maintenance cycle every other year. This is a light cycle, where you gain some muscle weight and subsequently lose it again. You’ll stay at your desired weight this way.
Always remember this: what can you achieve when you adjust your diet and training schedule? You may get the same results without anabolic steroids. This muscle mass would then be easier to hold, because you don’t have a dip in your testosterone level. You see that steroids are not magic and that you exactly have to know what you want and what you have to do to gain those pounds.
syringes for bodybuilders
6 The actual steroid cycle
Now you are physically and mentally ready for it and you know where you can go in case of an emergency, you can start preparing your cycle.
6.1 What anabolic steroids should I use?
There are very many types of anabolic steroids. You have oral or intramuscular (into muscle with syringe). Oral steroids are more aggressive for the liver, injectable steroids are has the disadvantage that you need syringes. There are steroids which are used more often than others. The effect may also vary, some steroids act rapidly while with others you’ll have to wait longer. Therefore it is important to talk to someone with knowledge and experience. Make a balance afterwards and then choose the steroid.
6.2 Setting up a cycle schedule
Like medicines you a certain dose and a fixed time that you have to take them. As a beginner you’ll probably choose an oral form because it is easy and you can quietly become familiar with anabolic steroids. 8 weeks is a common duration for a cycle. For example you can choose for Dianabol tablets (20 mg each). If the maximum amount is 200 mg per week you then would take 10 tablets a week. So you need 80 tablets to start your first cycle. Never start a cycle without having to the full range of steroids! Do not forget to get the medicine which reduces the side effects like breasts forming or a poor increasing testosterone levels after the cycle (examples are Pregnyl or Nolvadex). So you can act immediately in case of trouble. If you are a more experienced user, you can begin to ‘stack’. This means multiple steroids simultaneously. This form of cycling is harsher and you’ll need more time for your endocrine system to recover.
6.3 During the cycle
During the cycle you’ll surely get side-effects such as hypertension, insomnia and aggressiveness. These are the common, less severe side effects to confront. If there are serious side effects such as kidney stabbing or liver problems you’ll have to make wise choices by first obtain information from experienced users, and go to a doctor. This avoids incurable, permanent damage. Because you are aggressive, you’re stronger and you can move immense weights. This increases the chance of injury. Therefore be sure you strictly hold on to your training schedule. This prevents injuries that could interfere with the results. Do not forget that profit is made with proper nutrition. Hold on to your nutrition program and don’t consume harmful substances such as alcohol.
6.4 After the cycle
After the treatment many will feel sluggish and down. This is a normal phenomenon, because your natural testosterone levels are lower and the hormonal balance is changed. Continue to train hard and eat well so that you minimize muscle loss! In most cases your body will slowly recuperate to its original blood values. Go to the doctor again and ask for a blood test. So you can compare the results with those before the cycle. Are they not in order as expected? Come back after about a month. Often people start with a ”post-cycle“ after the cycle. These include drugs such as Nolvadex or Pregnyl, which will raise the testosterone levels artificially and reduce breast forming. Scientists are still debating whether it is useful or not. Some users are satisfied while others have more problems. If your blood levels are good, this will not mean there is no damage to i.e. your liver, kidneys or heart muscle. Cancer cells may also develop without any notice. There are more dangers than you think! Anabolic steroids are dangerous.
7 My opinion
I imagine that anabolic steroids may have good intentions and bad. I myself would never dare to start a cycle of anabolic steroids. I cannot live with the uncertainties (i.e. faster growth of cancer cells). The change of impotency at the age of 20 because you want more muscle, is a nightmare. Yet there are people who irresponsibly, without critical thinking begin a cycle. This causes serious damage to their body. These people don’t think about the risks and they get ill or worse, they put their lives at risk. Most anabolic steroids served originally as a medicine or drug alone, and not how bodybuilders are using them now. Most likely this will never happen to stop. A body can be trained to reach its natural peak, and it could stay there. If this can be achieved then you can be proud of yourself! A body can be stuffed with anabolic steroids. It then will be gradually destroyed. So, if you want to achieve something at any level, do it the natural way and in the long run, you’ll get better results than people who do not!!!
Last edited by a moderator:
