What does this have to do with your nutrition plan? Most people reading this are looking to improve their appearance and physical performance, and most are pursuing those goals in a commercial or school gym. Unfortunately, those are the same places you're going to find plenty of people using anabolic steroids. They're also the places you'll be approached to buy the stuff.
If you're approached, you'll more than likely be promised overnight gains, doubling, or tripling your homeruns, wins, rate of progression, amount of records you'll shattered and on and on.
You'll also be told things like.
"It's totally safe."
"Every champ does it"
"Don't worry about side effects, all you need to do is 'cycle stacks' and I can show you how."
"I get my stuff from a real doctor on the other side of town."
And on, and on, and on...
Before you make the wrong decision, ask yourself if a cocaine dealer is the first image that comes to mind when you think about an honest, caring and straight forward person? I mean, a drug dealer has your best interests at heart, right?
Now, consider the fact that steroids are a drug, and are illegal to have without a prescription and can get you into serious trouble if caught with them in your possession, I think you'll agree that it's fair to call 'roid dealers drug dealers. And if you're smart, you'll think twice about the advice these bozos have for you.
Again, since many reading this are looking to increase muscle mass and/or physical performance, I think it's very important to go over this stuff.
Some reading this may already know this, and others may not. One effect steroids have on the body is to increase its ability to synthesize protein. In other words your body is now able to build and repair muscle faster. Your body breaks down protein into amino acids, and then it rebuilds them into the appropriate protein it needs to repair or build up the body.
You can look at it this way. Each gram of complete protein is a brick and your body has a bunch of brick layers building up various sections of your body. When you train you tear down sections of your body. In a matter of fact, normal everyday living will tear down your body. This rebuilding process takes place at night when you're deep asleep. Your body naturally releases hormones, including Human Growth Hormone (HGH) to aid in this rebuilding. (This is why quality sleep is critical for peak performance)
A person in their natural state - one who isn't on steroids or any other similar androgenic substance - can only utilize so many grams of protein in a day. His or her workers, for example's sake, can only lay 100 bricks a day. It doesn't matter how much protein is provided in the diet, that's all the workers can do.
Did you know .......? The term Androgenic is defined as pertaining to the development of male characteristics, including body hair, the genital organs and muscle mass. "Androgenic" is the adjective form of the noun "androgen," a word referring to any of the male hormones, including testosterone and androsterone.
A 'roid head' on the other hand, because of the use of his illegal drugs, can, for example, process 200 grams of protein a day. So his workers are not only able to lay more brick, but they can repair and rebuild faster too, leading to faster and bigger gains. This allows 'juicers' to get more benefit out of each work out - they can train with less intensity, but, because their bodies are able to rebuild faster they grow quicker. They can also train harder than a natural athlete and come back sooner and do it again, where the natural guy or gal has to take a day's rest or more depending on training intensity. Trying to keep up with the juicer will cause the natural trainer to lose muscle, not build it because of overtraining. This crap also enables an athlete to go past their genetic potential, allowing the juice monkey to build more muscle and strength than he or she could naturally achieve - at least that's one reason why they claim that taking it is so important.
If you haven't picked up on it yet, I'm not a fan of steroids, I'm not a fan those who take them, and I'm especially not a fan of those who sell them. Steroids are a cheater's friend. A steroid abuser is cheating their fellow athletes, all true fans of that sport, and most importantly; themselves.
I truly believe that all aspects of life are related - life's experiences are universal. What you experience and go through in one endeavor affects you in others. And it's no different in sports or trying to put on muscle. If life's experiences and lessons weren't applicable in other areas of your life it would take you forever to learn. This becomes clear when you start fully and deeply living your life. You'll quickly connect lessons you learn to all areas of your life and this is one of the reasons why cheating is so dangerous and effort, discipline, thought, and perseverance among other traits are what count. It's also why analogies, proverbs, parables and stories are so valuable - because wisdom applies to all aspects of life - most, if not all lessons are universal.
When it comes to weight loss or putting on muscle or any other goal in your life, you will have periods of frustration and obstacles to overcome. Even with the information you're reading right now, which I truly believe will change your life for the better, there will be tough times.
For instance, difficulties might arise because of your unique situation. Maybe you don't have the required items or tools that are used in an explanation or maybe you think you're following the recommendations the way you should, but you really aren't. Many people, including myself, at times put their own spin on things without realizing it. It's why I believe you should not only follow what's recommended, as long as it isn't harmful to you or others, but to make sure you're following directions the way it's explained and not your own interpretation of it, once you understand what your doing you can then "customize" it. Avoid "adding" steps to the process until you have went through it at least once and understand what you're doing.
All of this requires you to become more self aware, to examine what you're doing and see if you're headed in the right direction. Sometimes it may take a while before you figure out what's wrong, and it might be something really simple. You're going to have to fight at times, dig down deep and say "I'm not giving up, I want this and I'm going to get it!" You might have to ask for help, a sign of true strength.
This builds character, empowers your self image, and strengthens your will. Steroids and magic potions that promise the world cheat you of all of this. There are not too many ways of feeling better, than looking at yourself and the things you've done in life and saying "I created this." - It wasn't a hand out. I know there's a place and time for one, but when you fall on your ass and look for someone to pick you up, there might not be anyone around to do it. You can't get very far in life with that mentality. Anyone who takes steroids, or cuts corners in any other way, is allowing this weakness to seep into the rest of his being, and its stench will permeate through to others who will pick up on it.
That stench is the smell of a quitter, a cheater, of someone who looks for the easy way out. I wouldn't want that person next to me in the fox holes of life, and more than likely neither do you. Others, especially achievers and true champions, feel the same way, and if you're his type of person, see ya!
I couldn't imagine looking in the mirror, or at the weight I just lifted and not be able to tell myself "I did this." I couldn't imagine having to look in the mirror and have a syringe or bottle of pills next to me, reminding me that I didn't do this, these drugs did.
There was a time when every man and woman had to gather and catch their food. They also had to work the land and sow seeds to reap a harvest. There's no way around that. Maybe there's a clue there, a reason for it?
I don't want you to misunderstand what I'm saying with the only way is to work hard and avoid using your head, essentially living a hard life. That's not what I'm saying. In fact, those who work hard at working smart are the one to keep an eye on. What I'm talking about is cheating yourself out of the opportunity of persevering in the face of difficulties. Coming to the realization that there are times when it's up to you, and you alone to pull yourself up. Then resolving that no mater what you're going to work hard until you're able to figure it out. Once you figure it out it tends to get a lot easier.
If you're currently taking steroids, throw the crap out, and start over. It will get worse before it gets better, but it will get better.
If you have or know school age children, maybe classmates, especially those who partake in athletics, keep an eye out for signs of steroid abuse.
The following are some signs of steroid use:
Quick weight gain with larger muscle mass
Aggressiveness and bad attitude
Jaundice / skin change
Purple or red spots on the body
Swelling of feet and lower legs
Shaking or trembling
Persistent body odors
Severe acne breakouts with oily skin
Short-Term and Long-Term Physical Effects of Steroids Use Men - Even though anabolic steroids are derived from male sex hormones, men who choose to take them can experience some of the following effects: Short-term
Reduced sperm count
Damage to the heart
Impotence
Difficulty or pain while urinating
Long-term
Liver disease or liver cancer
Development of breasts
Shrinking of the testicles
Women - If a woman uses steroids, some "masculinization" effects may occur.
Short-term
Breast reduction
Excessive hair growth
Long-term
Deepened voice
Enlarged clitoris
Abnormal menstrual cycles
If you're reading this because you're looking to create a nutritional plan that'll help you pack on muscle, think real hard if anyone ever offers you some "sauce." Anyone who sells this stuff is a drug dealing punk that deserves to be thrown in jail, especially if he's selling it to minors. This person is a predator, and do you really think he'll care if you end up getting sick or dying from using his crap? Not at all. The only thing he'll feel bad about is the money he's no longer getting from you.
Steroids should only be used for legitimate reasons under the required medical supervision. Any doctor who sells or prescribes steroids for performance enhancing reasons, not real medical reasons, is a bigger punk than the drug dealer above. A doctor took an oath, a Hippocratic Oath, to protect your health not to harm it. This guy deserves to lose his practice license and shipped off to the klink.
There are many counterfeit steroids on the market and lots of this stuff comes from third world countries, or animal farms because they were intended for animal use only. For all you know you could end up with a vial full of horse urine or a bottle of pills made from rat poison. Stay away from this crap.
Physical Effects on Males and Females from Steroids Use
Continued use of anabolic steroids can cause the following effects in both sexes
Short-term
Acne
Fluid retention
Rapid weight gain
Increased blood pressure and cholesterol levels
Insomnia (inability to sleep)
Headaches
Reduced sexual functioning
Increase in muscle size
Swelling of feet and ankles
Improved healing
Improved appetite
Long-term · Blood clotting difficulties · Heart attacks · Clotting disorders · Cardiovascular, liver, and reproductive organ damage · Premature heart attacks and strokes · Reduced sexual functioning · Stunted growth in adolescents · Anti-hypertensive behaviors · Hypertension or fatigue · Chronic gonadotrophin or (HCG) · Increased chance of injuring ligaments, tendons and muscles · When injecting: bacterial infections, abscesses, cellulitis, and HIV/AIDS
If you go to a gym, you'll usually know who's taking this stuff. More often than not, they're the most screwed up and insecure people in the gym. You don't want to end up like these people.
Take another look at the symptoms listed above. If you're a guy, do you really want shrunken testies? If you're a girl, do you want your clitoris to become enlarged to the point it's visible through your clothes? That'll look real sexy at the beach. I mean women want the guys to mistaken them for a hermaphrodite right?
Ask if anything is worth harming your health and cheating yourself out of life altering lessons, lessons and challenges that will result with a deeper understanding of yourself and life.
Action Steps!
Just Say No
Yeah, I know, it sounds corny - but I'd take corny over developing breasts. And if you're a woman reading this, I'm sure sounding silly is much more preferable than back hair and an enlarger clitoris.
Get Educated and Apply it!
With the right training, rest and nutrition plan, it's possible for many beginners to gain 20 lbs of muscle inside, or lose 20 lbs of fat within 3 months. It's also possible to triple your endurance in 2-3 weeks.
To be able to do this you need to learn how to do it, and you'll be hard pressed to discover it within the pages of the muscle mags. For the most part you'll only find ads for miracle muscle potions and steroid using models claiming it was the supplement that gave them their "freaky" development - and pigs fly.
Sticking to the basics and having the courage to consistently and properly apply them will develop your strength, health and character to level most only dream of attaining.
