Steroids?
It’s funny to me how some folks see my Youtube video and accuse me of using steroids. They are certain that my results aren’t possible without the use of steroids. I often wonder how smart these folks are, because what they are saying doesn’t make sense.
What is so impressive about my results? Is it that I packed on an unrealistic amount of muscle? No, not at all. True, I gained some lean body mass – about 8 lbs worth in the first 90 days, and over the course of these past 2 years I’ve gained about 15-20 lbs of lean body mass. There is absolutely nothing unnatural about that. In fact, I know many who have gained more than that. I wasn’t trying to gain a lot of mass. My main goal was to get the body fat gone – all of it. And then I also wanted to shape, tone, and improve my underlying physique. My shoulders and arms were not my strong suit, so I worked hard to get better bulk and definition there. My legs and chest have been more naturally big, so I didn’t have to focus as much attention there.
So when people say I must have used steroids, it’s not because I’ve gained more muscle than is possible. It’s because I look so extremely ripped. And that has nothing to do with muscle. That has to do with getting the body fat very very low. And there are no shortcuts to that. It’s all about a dialed in, locked down nutrition plan. I’ve talked about that so often that I don’t want to go there right now. Instead, I want to talk about steroids. I don’t use them. I never have. I have no desire to. As a 39 year old guy, I know that my peak testosterone days are well behind me. Life is cruel that way. I think natural testosterone boosters are a good way to help the body do it’s best. D-Aspartic Acid is one. Suma root is another. But under no circumstances would I use, or recommend anyone else to use, steroids or synthetic hormones to improve their results.
First of all, they won’t get you ripped any faster. That still requires diet and body fat reduction.
Yes, steroids will help you build a lot of muscle fast, but at what cost? I doubt any of us are going on the professional bodybuilding circuit. We should be doing this to get and stay healthy, fit, and able to perform better at life. Steroids are a quick fix, a cheater’s way to short circuit the process, and the body won’t respond well in the long term.
Side Effects of Abusing Steroids
The side effects and long term consequences of steroid use are well known. From NIDA, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, steroid abuse can led to:
Hormonal system
Men
- infertility
- breast development
- shrinking of the testicles
- male-pattern baldness
Women
- enlargement of the clitoris
- excessive growth of body hair
- male-pattern baldness
Musculoskeletal system
- short stature (if taken by adolescents)
- tendon rupture
Cardiovascular system
- increases in LDL;
- decreases in HDL
- high blood pressure
- heart attacks
- enlargement of the heart’s left ventricle
Liver
- cancer
- peliosis hepatis
- tumors
Skin
- severe acne and cysts
- oily scalp
- jaundice
- fluid retention
Infection
- HIV/AIDS
- hepatitis
Psychiatric effects
- rage, aggression
- mania
- delusions
Many of the risks to the hormonal systems of men do return to normal after discontinuing use. Infertility and low testosterone can persist. For women though, the changes will not correct themselves. Some of the most serious and life threatening effects of abusing anabolic steroids are on the cardiovascular system. “Steroid abuse has been associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including heart attacks and strokes, even in athletes younger than 30.” (NIDA, 2006)
The other large risk in using steroids may be that you aren’t actually using steroids. Who exactly are you getting your supplements from? Do you know if they are real? Could they be an inert compound, or even worse, something harmful to your body? Who knows if the guy at the gym helping you out is upstanding (he is breaking the law to “help” you). Who knows if his supplier is actually giving the actual steroids. In doing research for this article, I came across so many forums of guys asking, “Is this TestXXXwhatever legit? Is this counterfeit? I don’t want to be shooting up canola oil.” Crazy right!?! Sometimes vials are just filled with oil, other times they are actually filled with even more harmful chemicals.
So in conclusion, should you BRING IT with every ounce of energy you can muster? Absolutely! Should you supplement wisely to give your body the best chance to maximize it’s natural potential? You bet! But should you cross that line and use steroids to build muscle? No! You will pay for it in the long run with injuries, joint problems, and a host of other possible side effects.
teamRIPPED nation – we do it legit, and we beat the pants of everyone else with our dedication and hard work. Be proud, and have no regrets!
Need a coach?
My email: coachwayne@teamripped.com
IG: @wayne_wyatt
