LegendaryLife.com Blog

Like many other people interested in “peak” health, I have read up and discussed anabolic steroid use with both users and health practitioners - consequently I have learned a lot about anabolic steroids. I have skimmed over a lot of information on purpose - it is up to you to educate yourself.

Essentially it comes down to health practitioners and politicians who say NO and people deeply involved in their own health being either on the fence or dabbing in it.

What are steroids and how do they work?

Anabolic steroids are the synthetic derivatives of the naturally occurring male anabolic hormone testosterone. Testosterone is a hormone that is responsible for the secondary sex characteristics you see in males such as deep voice, body hair etc. It helps in the burning of fat and increases protein synthesis (ei: more and faster muscle buildup).

Although there is a very large variation in the amount of testosterone produced by a healthy male throughout their lifetime, the testes produce between 50 and 70 mg (milligram) a week, usually peaking in the mid 20s. Woman also produce testosterone, but in far lesser quantities. What athletes are doing with steroids is simply augmenting their natural production artificially, usually several fold.

Although their exact working mechanism is still unknown, it is theorized that it they prevent muscle breakdown (catabolism) after an intense workout and greatly accelerates muscle protein synthesis.

This stuff actually works

Honestly, I would love to add an extra 50lbs of muscle onto my frame increase my overall strength and have the body of my dreams. Unlike 99.9% of the supplements sold at your local health food store, anabolic steroids actually do work - when mixed with the proper diet, exercise, growth hormones, IGF-1, insulin, post cycle therapy etc- its quite dramatic what can be achieved in 1-2 years of a carefully executed regime. Unlike what you may read, steroids are not the lazy mans muscle builder, if you don’t eat and exercise correctly; you will get nothing from taking them. More importantly, the stronger your foundation is BEFORE you take them, the better you will respond and be able to keep the gains made.

To take or not to take?

I think it’s a very personal issue whether to go to what term the “dark side of athleticism”. I have seriously considered taking them myself but let me tell you why I chose NOT to take that route.

Steroids are incredibly easy to secure, the fact that many countries consider them “illegal” simply makes for a larger markup by suppliers. Laws do very little to curb their use and I would argue once again that prohibition does nothing but harm those who are uneducated before taking the plunge. Do not fool yourself in believing availability equals safety; they can still cause lifelong disruptions in your hormonal balance which may lead to both psychological and physiological consequences.

My main reason oddly is health related, remember those “Popeye the Sailor Man” comics, for those unfamiliar with the character, when his girlfriend would get in trouble, he would chug down a can of spinach and develop a super human body that would allow him to save her. Well, when executed as part of an overall plan, your body is working 200%+ at making your dream body a reality. This has negative side effects that aren’t fully realized until you really get “off the juice”. You go from giving your body all the testosterone it wants to 0 (you must get completely off eventually) but your body doesn’t adapt that quickly so if your lucky, with proper post cycle therapy your body will return to its normal balance. You will still slowly loose your gains regardless, there is nothing you can take other then more steroids to get those gains back and keep growing beyond your natural genetic potential. Many bodybuilders as a result refer to steroids use as two-steps up and one-step down system. I simply do not see myself doing this to my body; I believe mine deserves better then a hormonal roller coaster ride.

Natural Realistic Results

With proper diet, exercise, sleep and monitoring - anybody can develop the body they desire (within reason). Sure I may never be a solid 250lbs guy with 25-inch arms and a six-pack but when I consider the emotional, physical and financial costs of introducing “supplements”, right now it doesn’t bother me very much. I am very happy with the slow but steady gains I can produce with my bodies own testosterone supply. I have great admiration and respect for what bodybuilders and other athletes are able to achieve either on or off the sauce, I am a great fan of bodybuilding. I simply realize that the life they lead not one I wish to proceed with at this point in my life.

Will I ever take steroids?

I honestly do not know. I love my body and what it is able to do for me, and I continue to feed it a steady diet to keep is as healthy as possible. I have seen many articles about how older men benefit greatly from testosterone augmentation. There is no such thing as a testosterone overdose nor can you die from using it, unlike what you may read, the health “costs” are negligible as long as you are monitored by a doctor and do not abuse them. All those horrible stories you hear from users are those who didn’t know what they where doing to begin with. As for me, time will tell me if and when I need them.

The Bottom Line

Educate yourself about a product before you take a plunge, read as many sources as possible (both “for” and against), then make your own personal decision. I, for one, would not stop politics from either side, in getting in the way of my own goals in life.

UPDATE - May 28, 2006

Here is a fantastic report about Steroids in Health Men
http://www.steroidlaw.com/images/steroids_0002.wmv

Against

Steroids use is NOT an HIV risk factor anymore then diabetes testing is. Ignorant scare tactics and absolute rubish have no place in this discussion - use a new needle each time & don’t share them and you don’t need to ever worry about HIV
Fastastic Educational Resource
Anabolex.com

Fantastic site! Learn from users, see how others have faired over months and years then make up your own mind.