The use of anabolic steroids is becoming mainstream as men turn to the drugs to boost self confidence and improve body image, experts warn. Ever considered using them?
I have noticed this over the last couple of years, a few of the young lads that I know who work out have pretty much all started juicing. No surprise really though as it is a quick fix so to speak (now stop shouting at me about the inherent risks etc... I know all about them)... but anyway I agree it's all over the place now.
I've been thinking about this recently, I think it's indicative of a bigger problem in society - it's also interesting that it's running parallel with increases in the use of cosmetic surgery in the last two years (as reported by Anne Widdecombe last night on the telly). For some reason, maybe increased exposure to celebrity culture, maybe more TV shows encouraging people to improve themselves if they can, people are more likely to take "extreme" measures to improve their appearance...
To be honest, I have considered roids, but only as a passing thought. I mean, I'm an occasional recreational illicit drug user, so the idea that I'm taking an "unnatural" substance is not something that really bothers me. Two things made me think twice about it: 1) Once you stop taking it you lose most of the muscle you gained, so it's not really the short cut to hugeness that you think it is and 2) I'm doing all this stuff to be fit, not unhealthy. So yeah, they both kind of made me go, "Nah, screw that."
I've been thinking about this recently, I think it's indicative of a bigger problem in society - it's also interesting that it's running parallel with increases in the use of cosmetic surgery in the last two years (as reported by Anne Widdecombe last night on the telly). For some reason, maybe increased exposure to celebrity culture, maybe more TV shows encouraging people to improve themselves if they can, people are more likely to take "extreme" measures to improve their appearance...
To be honest, I have considered roids, but only as a passing thought. I mean, I'm an occasional recreational illicit drug user, so the idea that I'm taking an "unnatural" substance is not something that really bothers me. Two things made me think twice about it: 1) Once you stop taking it you lose most of the muscle you gained, so it's not really the short cut to hugeness that you think it is and 2) I'm doing all this stuff to be fit, not unhealthy. So yeah, they both kind of made me go, "Nah, screw that."
I agree with the cosmetic surgery comment there and hadn't really thought about it but it firts very well, good point. i disagree with the "lose all the muscle once you come off them"... you don't and I can back this up, juicing does grow you big but you still have to work very hard in the gym or you will put on really bad muscle and plenty of fat. Once you have finished the course, you will lose 'some' of the muscle and most of the water that you carry while on them. You'll also lose a good bit of strength, to keep in good shape you just need to work out properly and keep eating well (stating the obvious there noffles). You WILL lose the enhanced sense of well being and an all round manly feeling.
Here's my views on the subject from a recent live chat:
Anthony wrote:
Steroid use varies in amounts and types, so it’s hard to comment on. There’s so many different varieties of steroids, and if you move into professional bodybuilding, you also have injectable hormones and (in the case of Valentino particularly) an oil called synthol which is injected directly into the muscles to artificially pump them up. All of which are ridiculously dangerous, and irresponsible.
The main problem with todays steroid use lies in the casual use from people who have no background in bio-chemistry and are just picking up random drugs from the big guy down the gym.
Did you see the recent article in one of the mens mags about a journalist who tried out steroids for a few weeks? When I was discussing this with an exercise physiologist who was called into a TV talk show, she asked him back stage, “What was the dose you took?” and he said something like, “Five tablets”.
He had no idea of what dosage in mg he was taking or what he was taking. He was just taking five tablets of a steroid.
That’s exactly what is so dangerously rife in today’s casual steroid taking gym culture, and that’s the problem.
Personally, since as mentioned the main takers are exactly the people who have no idea what they’re doing, or worse, think they know what they’re doing because they’ve read about different types and PCT cycles on the internet or from a book somewhere, I’m very much against steroid use for improving gym results.
People who use them know the outcome. so it's their decision! - I'd not use them!
Can't quite agree there, anyone with common sense will have investigated what the outcome will be, both good and bad! Sadly this is rarely the case and most of the young lads down the gym see the gains, want the same and bang in whatever they are given...
