Steroids and adaptation to workload

[Finaject2001]

Ok, I think most people know how steroids work in weight training. We progressively overload the muscles, then during recovery the increased protein synthesis builds up muscle tissue faster. BUT what kind of an effect do steroids have on other types of tyraining? For example, if a subject is on lets say a test-fina cycle, at about a 1000 mgs per week total. Now, instead of pumping iron, he does long hikes everyday. The next day he works out on the heavy bag, then he rides his bike a 100 miles, then next day he does foor excercises, swims laps, plays basketball...what effect will the juice have on his performance? Will he gain muscle size, and in general how would it affect his condition? I can speculate but Im sure theres some in here with experience in this area...

 

[CRAZYPITBULL]

Most likely fat loss and preservation of lean muscle tissue,but only if protien levels stay reasonably high.What is the goal here ,fat loss?

 

[Finaject2001]

The goal is to find out how steroids perform during other types of intense training. Like swimming for example, you are doing hundreds of reps, getting incredible pumps, but what would the effects be?

 

[StRoNg_WoN]

I would image that this is more arobic, and would affect the slower twitch fibers, meaning that you will preserve, and mayt grow a little, but not nearly as much as explosive progressive resistance training...

 

[solidspine]

ah- it will simply enhance your performance in that activity, aka ben johnson.

 

[Beezers]

It's questionable what kind of an ergogenic effect AAS would have on aerobic capacity....all the activities you described. AAS increase erithropoesis, but no where near the level of EPO. They would allow you to maintain muscle tissue during very catabolic conditions such as endurance activities, but without the stimulus of intense anaeobic muscle contraction/tension there would be little stimulus for muslce hypertrophy. The fibers used in endurance events aren't a contributer in any great effect to muscle size. Thier adaptations are thorugh capilary formation, mitochondrial population, and oxidative enzyme upregulation. If anything heavy androgen may hinder aerobic performace due to added body water content. This not only adds weight, but can cause painfull pumps in the muscle.

solidspine....Ben Johnson wasn't and endurance athelete. His performace was soley anaerobic. AAS clearly increases anaerobic performance by increased muscle hypertrophym and increased CNS activation.

I suspect that anabolics could aid in the recovery from strenuous aerobic exercise, but again, that recovery process is a completely different one that what occurs after high intensity exercise.

Sbjects in studies do gain muscle mass when introduced to testosterone treatment, but for the most part these subjects are untrained and beign put on T for a lack of endogenous androgen which would inhibit thier muscle mass in the first place. High intenstiy training is what stimulates the hypertrophic response and AAS serve to increase the magnitude and speed of that reponse.

 

[Finaject2001]

Thanks Beezers, thats the info I was interested in.

 

[hitmansb]

Ben Johnson

I read the book about Ben Johnson, called Speed Trap, and rest assured that Ben was doing plenty of heavy lifting in the gym to look and perform like that. You'd be surprised what he was squatting and benching.

 

[flex123]

what was he squating and benching? I'm abit interested to know.

 

[Beezers]

what was he squating and benching? I'm abit interested to know.

This is just off the top of my head, but I think he benched over 400 and squated over 500. Charlie Francis was his trainer and much of their work was done in the gym as opposed to on the track.