Steroids - To take them or not?

[Squatinator]

In this thread i want people to share their choice, how and why they took that decission. I think this really can be a good thread for everyone, especially for people who are in the time of taking the decission for the routes they want to go.

I can share my store to kick off this thread. When i was 17-18 i was going through some deep thinking about the subject. I did some research and at the time i came across some reading that probably was bullshit that did not take in factors such as dosing and other lifestyle issues that was not good for the health and I did not want to be buried at the age of 35 as it seemed to me at that time that "many" of the users did. I also read alot of places that either way one should wait until you are at the age of 25. So I made a decission that i wouldnt bother it anymore. I had some minor ethical issues with it aswell, but the health concerns at the time was by far the main cause of my decission at that time.

It has now been five years since that and i have managed my way up to a 240kg squat - 170kg bench and a 300kg deadlift natural. I have done some thinking now and i have questioned myself; What do I want to look back at when I am old? Do i want to be the best of the drugfree athletes (that doesn't get much attention in these days) or do i want to be the best, period? When i am watching videos at youtube or similar i get much more entertained by watching bigger-than-life giants doing incredible feats of strength that you just don't have enough time in life to reach natural to achieve. Rather than great performances done by drugree athletes, i am not saying that i dont get entertained by it, but not as much as i am by the freaks.

After researching a little bit more i have realised that there is a safe way of doing steroids, so that puts my earlier health concern a bit on the side. I am not saying that i will do them, and i am not saying the opposite either, i am just putting questions to them again after a 5years period without even consider it a option.

What is your story?

 

[stevesmi]

don't worry what others do or look like.. this is what gets these young guys into trouble.. they watch a youtube vid of zyzz or jay cutler or whoever and think that steroids will make them look like that.. it WILL NOT!! and I don't care how hard you work you will never look like them ever. just like how you will never be as rich as Warren Buffet or Bill Gates no matter how smart you think you are... and you don't have to be that rich or look like zyzz to excell in life.

I got into it not because I saw vids of those guys, but I got into it cause I wanted some ice on the cake to go with my already strong workout regime and diet.

i would not recommend anyone under 25 mess with them and I would not recommend someone who doesn't already have a strong base and knowledge mess with them either.. they are powerful hormones and what will happen is you can really rush things and mess up your ligaments and tendons at a young age.. if you build a strong base and conditioning for years and years and then ease into it you will really enjoy the lifestyle. also you just do not have the ability to commit to this lifestyle before 25 just starting out in life. i hear so many young guys who say "i can't afford pct so i just stay on" STUPID!! no reason for you to stay on unless you have a minimum of 5 years cycling experience atleast. don't just start using steroids at 21 and stay on, 100% chance you will fuck yourself up

 

[Thisguyalex]

Some of them are even helpful take deca for example the tondonitis in my elbows was getting so bad I could barely hold a coffee mug 10 weeks later I'm pretty much pain free and still training away... I had me reservations at first as well but like anything else moderation and proper safeguards are the keys to success... There are also members around here with tons of experience ask a lot of questions before you try anything.

 

[RickRock13]

I didn't start them until I was 35, despite thinking about them for years. I did what I could I do naturally, and saw how far I could get first before going the hormonal route. Another factor was my family. I wanted to wait until I was married, settled in, and had all the kids I was ever going to have before messing with them. Then one day after 20 years of lifting, a ton of research, and building a great base, I decided to take it to the next level

 

[Squatinator]

don't worry what others do or look like.. this is what gets these young guys into trouble.. they watch a youtube vid of zyzz or jay cutler or whoever and think that steroids will make them look like that.. it WILL NOT!! and I don't care how hard you work you will never look like them ever. just like how you will never be as rich as Warren Buffet or Bill Gates no matter how smart you think you are... and you don't have to be that rich or look like zyzz to excell in life.

I reacted a bit to this paragraph, here are some questions and some thoughts. First off, whats up with Zyzz? I have just heard his name and never really checked him out but now i did and i can say that you do not have to take steroids to look like that. You can achieve that natural.

Second, steroids will not make you look like Jay Cutler i agree. However, if you take HGH + alot of other well combined steroids and got a proper training and diet regime, why not? And what do you know about me and not to be able to do that? That has never been a goal of mine, i am in for the power, but just a question about your mindset. It sounded a bit negative in nature.

Also, thanks for your story.

 

[stevesmi]

I reacted a bit to this paragraph, here are some questions and some thoughts. First off, whats up with Zyzz? I have just heard his name and never really checked him out but now i did and i can say that you do not have to take steroids to look like that. You can achieve that natural.

i disagree. he was taking steroids, stims, diuretics (which got him killed) and more compounds.. he looked amazing for a guy his age, i think you are just seeing his abs but his low body fat and decent mass is hard to achieve without a lot of help from compounds plus amazing genetics.. you can have low body fat and put on mass without steroids, but doing both and having such perfect aestetics is gonna be tough

Second, steroids will not make you look like Jay Cutler i agree. However, if you take HGH + alot of other well combined steroids and got a proper training and diet regime, why not?
1 word GENETICS... could you be Peyton Manning, Lebron James, Tiger woods? NO you could not I don't care how many hours you spend practicing that skill.. they are the best at their sports and you aren't gonna be like them no matter how hard you try or what you take PERIOD. so get that dream out of your head. the chance of making it into pro sports is 1 in several million, the chance of sticking once you get there is even worse. a lot of guys play pro sports but you never hear of them cause they don't survive long at it. there is a certain level you have to get to and STAY otherwise you have no chance

And what do you know about me and not to be able to do that? That has never been a goal of mine, i am in for the power, but just a question about your mindset. It sounded a bit negative in nature.
you sound defensive.. was I specifically talking to you? you are right i know nothing about you.. my post was a general post on a forum, it was directly pointed towards you. take a chill pill
Also, thanks for your story.

in bold

 

[Squatinator]

i disagree. he was taking steroids, stims, diuretics (which got him killed) and more compounds.. he looked amazing for a guy his age, i think you are just seeing his abs but his low body fat and decent mass is hard to achieve without a lot of help from compounds plus amazing genetics.. you can have low body fat and put on mass without steroids, but doing both and having such perfect aestetics is gonna be tough

Yeah, i did not say it would be easy to do so natural. But the fact that he took those chemicals to achieve that physique does not impress me. What impress me the most about Zyzz is that he got that many fans, from a steroid point of view; a not so very muscular physique. I suspect his fanbase in particular to be mostly from the 16-year old never back down-fans that must have someone to look up to.

1 word GENETICS... could you be Peyton Manning, Lebron James, Tiger woods? NO you could not I don't care how many hours you spend practicing that skill.. they are the best at their sports and you aren't gonna be like them no matter how hard you try or what you take PERIOD. so get that dream out of your head. the chance of making it into pro sports is 1 in several million, the chance of sticking once you get there is even worse. a lot of guys play pro sports but you never hear of them cause they don't survive long at it. there is a certain level you have to get to and STAY otherwise you have no chance


No i could not be Tiger Woods or any of the other, but could i be just as good if i dedicated my whole life to be just as good? If every human on this planet were to live up to their human potential we would be amazed to see what we actually were capable of. That is my point. So you need to stop saying that there is NO way and that is impossible because that is flat out bullshit. You can only tell yourself that and it would be true for yourself, or you could say the opposite and bust your ass to see what happens.

you sound defensive.. was I specifically talking to you? you are right i know nothing about you.. my post was a general post on a forum, it was directly pointed towards you. take a chill pill

I do not take any of it personally at all, this is just a mindset-rant that i wanted to shout out.

 

[NegroPops]

Because I didn't like the idea of bulking and getting fat in the winter.. then having to cut down and lose a lot of the size you put on to get ready for summer. Or going the route of trying to recomp but only very slowing change your body.

 

[stevesmi]

No i could not be Tiger Woods or any of the other, but could i be just as good if i dedicated my whole life to be just as good? If every human on this planet were to live up to their human potential we would be amazed to see what we actually were capable of. That is my point. So you need to stop saying that there is NO way and that is impossible because that is flat out bullshit. You can only tell yourself that and it would be true for yourself, or you could say the opposite and bust your ass to see what happens.
.

okay I won't say its impossible.. but I will say you have a 1 in 3B chance of winning the Mr olympia next year. thats not me being negative.. those are the actual odds. 3B adults in the world and 1 mr olympia crowned each year.

 

[Squatinator]

okay I won't say its impossible.. but I will say you have a 1 in 3B chance of winning the Mr olympia next year. thats not me being negative.. those are the actual odds. 3B adults in the world and 1 mr olympia crowned each year.

Now we are talking!

 

[stevesmi]

i think it makes more sense to set individual goals and excell at them. and not look at any of those guys and want to be like them.

its like the "be like Mike" commercials.. who became like Mike who saw those commercials.. out of the millions and millions of kids? probably 1 or 2 guys you could argue became like Mike .. Lebron James and Kobe Bryant. its a farce and its marketing.

 

[Squatinator]

Ok, lets move on with the discussion. For you that are taking steroids, are you under the impression that what you are doing is safe? What would you compare the risk factor to? Lower than tobacco etc..

 

[stevesmi]

if done correctly it is perfectly safe.

if you stay on or run large doses you are putting strain on your heart. so it just depends ... if you have kids you want to watch grow up then its selfish to do that. but if you are single then who cares. live life to the fullest.. die of a heart attack at 50.. thats how i want to go anyway. let me die in the gym while working out would be my dream scenario, unless i had a family i needed to be there for. but i don't.

 

[Squatinator]

if done correctly it is perfectly safe.

if you stay on or run large doses you are putting strain on your heart. so it just depends ... if you have kids you want to watch grow up then its selfish to do that. but if you are single then who cares. live life to the fullest.. die of a heart attack at 50.. thats how i want to go anyway. let me die in the gym while working out would be my dream scenario, unless i had a family i needed to be there for. but i don't.

Where do one begin to learn how to use them safely?

 

[stevesmi]

do your homework.

you have been on here a week or two now so you should of already learned a lot by now .. keep reading

 

[Squatinator]

Yeah, but the majority of threads around here is debated around cycles, which are good which are bad and so on. Is there any books you would recommend Steve that gives you a good foundation of knowledge? You seem to have been around for some time

 

[stevesmi]

Yeah, but the majority of threads around here is debated around cycles, which are good which are bad and so on. Is there any books you would recommend Steve that gives you a good foundation of knowledge? You seem to have been around for some time

I learned through this site and asking questions. google is your friend as well.

PM me and we will talk more