Steroids, what are they?

Stories about athletes and steroids seem to pop up regularly in the news. Someprofessional baseball players, cyclists, and track stars have been accused of — and in some cases have admitted to — using steroids to give them an edge competitively. Worst of all steroid use has trickled down to younger athletes too, who face fierce pressure to be stronger and faster, and to make it to Universities and professional leagues. Some research has shown that 5% of teen boys and 2.5% of teen girls have used some form of anabolic steroids.

Steroids promise bold results, but there is little proof that they deliver any such benefits. Extensive research, however, shows how they can harm developing kids — with some of these ill effects not likely to turn up until years later, besides the fact that steroids are illegal, too.

It’s important to understand the facts about steroids, their side effects, and what can drive kids to try them. Being aware of the kinds of pressures kids deal with in sports can help you make sure that your child isn’t at risk.

What Are Steroids?

Drugs commonly referred to as “steroids” are classified as anabolic (or anabolic-androgenic) and corticosteroids. Corticosteroids, such as cortisone, are drugs that doctors typically prescribe to help control inflammation in the body. They’re often used to help control conditions like asthma and lupus. They’re not the same as the anabolic steroids that receive so much media attention for their use by some athletes and bodybuilders.

Anabolic steroids are synthetic hormones that can boost the body’s ability to produce muscle and prevent muscle breakdown. Some athletes take steroids in the hopes that they will improve their ability to run faster, hit farther, lift heavier weights, jump higher, or have more endurance. In the majority of countries, it is against the law to use anabolicsteroids without a prescription.

Androstenedione, or “andro,” is a kind of anabolic steroid taken by athletes who want to build muscle. But research suggests that andro taken in large doses every day can significantly increase levels of testosterone, which can lead to a number of health problems.

“Anabolic steroids” is the familiar name for synthetic substances related to the male sex hormones (androgens). They promote the growth of skeletal muscle (anabolic effects) and the development of male sexual characteristics (androgenic effects), and also have some other effects.

The term “anabolic steroids” will be used through-out this blog because of its familiarity, although the proper term for these compounds is “anabolic-androgenic” steroids.

Anabolic steroids were developed in the late 1930s primarily to treat hypogonadism, a condition in which the testes do not produce sufficient testosterone for normal growth, development, and sexual functioning. The primary medical uses of these compounds are to treat delayed puberty, some types of impotence, and wasting of the body caused by HIV infection or other diseases.

During the 1930s, scientists discovered that anabolic steroids could facilitate the growth of skeletal muscle in laboratory animals, which led to use of the compounds first by bodybuilders and weightlifters and then by athletes in other sports. Steroid abuse has become so widespread in athletics that it affects the outcome of sports contests.

More than 100 different anabolic steroids have been developed, but they require a prescription to be used legally in most countries. Most steroids that are used illegally are smuggled in from other countries, illegally diverted from pharmacies, or synthesized in clandestine laboratories.

How Do Anabolic Steroids Work?

Anabolic steroids are drugs that resemble the chemical structure of the body’s natural sex hormone testosterone, which is made naturally by the body. Testosterone directs the body to produce or enhance male characteristics such as increased muscle mass, facial hair growth, and deepening of the voice, and is an important part of male development during puberty. When anabolic steroids increase the levels of testosterone in the blood, they stimulate muscle tissue in the body to grow larger and stronger. However, the effects of too much testosterone circulating in the body can be harmful over time.

Male hormones such as testosterone and its metabolite di-hydrotestosterone are responsible for the developmental changes that occur within the male body throughadolescence. Steroids possess both androgenic and anabolic properties. Some of the androgenic effects include changes in sexual characteristics such as shrinking of the testicles, hair growth on the body and face, hair loss on the scalp, and increased aggressiveness. Athletes are primarily concerned with the anabolic characteristics of steroids including accelerated development of the muscles, connective tissues, bones, and red blood cells.

Dangers of Anabolic Steroids

Steroids are dangerous for two reasons: they are illegal, and they can damage a person’s health, especially if used in large doses over time. Also, the health problems caused by steroids may not appear until years after the steroids are taken.

Although they might help build muscle, steroids can produce very serious side effects. Using steroids for a long time can negatively affect the reproductive system. In males, steroids can lead to impotence; a reduction in the amount of sperm produced in the testicles, and even reduced testicle size.

Females who use steroids may have problems with their menstrual cycles because steroids can disrupt the maturation and release of eggs from the ovaries. This disruption can cause long-term problems with fertility.

Steroids taken for an extended period of time also can cause:

• stunted growth in teens (by causing bones to mature too fast and stop growing at an early age)
• liver tumours
• abnormal enlargement of the heart muscles
• violent, aggressive behaviour and mood swings
• blood lipid abnormalities that contribute to heart disease
• acne (or a worsening of acne)
• increased breast growth in males, especially teens
• irreversible stretch marks
• a heightened tendency for hair loss and male-pattern baldness
• muscle aches

Teen girls and women risk these additional side effects:

• male-type facial and body hair growth and male-pattern baldness
• deepening of the voice
• enlargement of the clitoris

Drug Testing

In addition to the health risks, kids who use steroids without prescription are breaking the law. Drug testing for all athletes has become more prevalent, and those who fail a drug test for steroids can face legal consequences, including jail time, monetary fines, exclusion from an event or team, or forfeiture of trophies or medals.

Andro use has been banned by many sports organizations, including the International Olympic Committee, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the Association of Tennis Professionals, and most high school athletic associations.

Talking to Kids About Steroids

Many pressures may drive young athletes to experiment with steroids. Although most athletes exercise hard, eat properly, and take care of their bodies to maintain optimal fitness and performance levels, athletic competition and the desire to look physically toned and fit can be fierce.

Help kids handle these pressures by:

• discussing healthy competition with them
• talking about the coaches’ and team members’ attitudes toward steroids
• knowing what kind of sports environments they compete in
• encouraging them to prepare mentally and physically for competition by eating well and getting enough rest

If you suspect your child is using steroids, watch for these warning signs:

• exaggerated mood swings
• worsening acne
• unusually greasy skin with stretch marks
• a sudden increase in muscle size

If you see any of these signs in your child, talk with your doctor.

Steroids may give kids the sense that they’re stronger and more athletic, but the consequences are too dangerous to risk. Help kids stay away from steroids by encouraging healthy eating and fitness habits that will help them feel well prepared for competition.

When steroid use among pro athletes is in the news, use that as a launching point to discuss the issue, making sure your child understands the health risks, the possibility of legal trouble, and the concept that using steroids is cheating.

Different types of steroids

There are different types of steroids that you can use according to their bodybuilding abilities. There are types of steroids that are reliable compounds when bulking up and there are those that are effective as cutting agents. There are also steroids that are great drugs for contest preparations.

For bulking steroids, you can choose Anadrol, Dianabol or Sustanon. These steroids are rapid mass builders, capable of giving you muscle mass and strength gains at unbelievably fast pace. Steroids of this type are typically aromatizable, and thus water retention may be huge as well as other estrogen-related side effects. This is why if you’re using these steroid types it is prudent to have anti-estrogen or aromatase inhibitors close at hand should side effects arise.

For cutting up, Anavar and Primobolan are always on top of the list. Steroids of this type are considered to be elite muscle hardeners as they do not undergo aromatization. These steroids are a must if your bodybuilding objective is not primarily mass gains.

When it comes to the realm of health and fitness there are misconceptions and misunderstandings galore. It’s not surprising; some things are a little confusing, a bit overwhelming and there’s a lot of information to gather; but some of the misguided statements (and that’s the polite way to put it) are simply downright ridiculous. Take forexample this precious statement; have you ever been at the gym and had someone tell you they’re “ON” protein? Really; you mean you’re now on food? Believe it or not this is a common statement, more common than you might believe. Being that you’re a little more versed in all things health and fitness related the previous statement seems outrageous but if confusion exist when it comes to something as simple as protein imagine how much deeper it can get when we’re talking about anabolic steroids and the various types of steroids out there.

One of the biggest misunderstandings about types of steroids revolves around corticosteroids. If you’ve ever been a regular at a gym there’s a good chance you’ve seen a guy fresh from a doctor’s visit and he’s a little more than excited. Maybe he had some shoulder pain, a tweaked elbow or inflamed knee and his doctor gave him a steroid shot. Inevitably he now believes he is “ON” steroids; as far as he’s concerned with this steroid shot and a little training he’ll be hitting the ball out of the park within a few hours. I know; to you this sounds nothing short of retarded but you need to understand for most people knowledge regarding types of steroidsis as foreign as deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. For most people types of steroidsis gibberish, to most people there’s only steroids one in the same.

Because of people like our cotico-buddy and their lack of knowledge surrounding all the various types of steroids, steroid education is and has always been lacking in the general public. It’s not simply local gym rats who are often a victim of ignorance but even the medical population is often inept when it comes to the topic of steroids, much less the multitude of types of steroids. There’s a good reason for this; every doctor who goes through medical training, a large part of his curriculum is based in pharmacology. However, when it comes to the topic of anabolic-androgenic steroids the holes are often left wide open; in most cases they simply don’t teach about it. Granted, there are exceptions to the rule; a doctor of endocrinology will of course have a more sound understanding of the various types of steroids than say a family physician but guess what, most doctors are not endocrinologist. The stone cold truth, most doctors, much like our now “Cortisone Juiced Friend” have basically the same amount of knowledge regarding the various types of steroids. This should raise some concern; after all, don’t you expect your doctor to know and understand everything regarding the human anatomy, including hormonal structure?

The truth is the various types of steroids are vast and many of these steroids have tremendous benefits to even the everyday life of an individual. However, as long as ignorance exist, as long as the fear of true knowledge remains the vitamin of the day, a true understanding of the benefits and gains that can be brought about from all types of steroids will forever remain in the shadows of society.

How to use steroids: Cycles, stacks, workouts, precautions, diet and more

One of the most commonly held myths that people have about steroids is that they are easy to use. The belief is that by simply popping a pill or taking an injection, the user willsuddenly grow giant muscles. But just like all things in life, building muscles with steroids takes a good deal of hard work, sound information and routine discipline.

Cycles and stacks

The period of time that a person takes steroids is called a cycle. For safety reasons, users should carefully plan their cycles well in advance before starting them. Proper planning includes learning about and obtaining the steroids you will be using in the cycle. When more than one type of steroid is used in a cycle it is called a stack. Stacking different steroids is an effective way to maximize the muscle-building effect of steroids.

Besides learning about and obtaining the steroids you will use in a cycle, you should also learn about and acquire any supplements used to counteract their side effects, both during the cycle and during the post-cycle recovery period. The more steroids you stack into your cycle, the more side effects you will need to counteract. Along with planning what types of steroids you will use during a cycle, you must also plan what type of cycle to use. There are many ways to cycle steroids, and you may want to test them all and make adjustments until you find the ones that work best for you.

Beginner Cycles

For the steroid novice there are additional factors to consider before starting your first cycle. First, you should not take steroids unless your body has stopped growing. For most men, their bodies stop growing at about age 20. Next, you should already be in shape. You should be two to three years into a steady workout routine and you should also be able to dedicate at least another year and a half to your workout. Finally, you should be comfortable with your ability to obtain real steroids and the supplements you may need for their side effects. alan@yourfitstore.com can provide you in South Africa.

Although there are many types of steroids available today, first-time users should always start with a pure testosterone. Since this is the active agent in most steroids, it is important to know how your body will react to it. A dose of 400 mgs per week should be sufficient to notice some real gains throughout a first cycle. Your first cycle should only be 6 weeks long and you should also spend just as much time to recover before starting another cycle.

After your first, you can begin slowly stacking more steroids into your cycles. You should keep the first several cycles at 6 weeks, however, and follow with a post-cycle recovery plan.

Once your body has become familiar with steroid intake and you’ve learned which compounds work well for you, you may want to experiment with some different types of cycles and stacks to see if you can maximize your results. Some of the most popular cycles are the three-week blitz, the double-mini cycle, the inverted-pyramid cycle and the diamond cycle.

Three-Week Blitz

In the three-week blitz, each steroid is taken for three weeks. Most blitzes will start with a dose of one steroid before moving on to a stronger dose of another. The first dose is taken for two weeks by itself and on the third week the second compound is started so that the two compounds overlap for one week. The next compound is started during the third week of the second compound and so on and so on until the cycle is complete. The cycle is followed by a two-week recovery with HCG 5000 I.U.

week of cycle	DIANABOL a day (5mg)	SUSTANON 250mg amp	ANAVAR 10mg 2 mg tab	PRIMOBOLAN 100mg amp	DECA-DURABOLIN 200mg vial	HCG 5000 I.U.
1	4 tabs/day
2	5 tabs/day
3	6 tabs/day	1 amp/week
4		1 amps/week
5		2 amps/week	1 tabs/a day
6			1 tabs/a day
7			1 tabs/a day	1 amp/ week
8				2 amps/week
9				2 amps/week	1 vial/week
10					2 vials/week
11					2 vials/week
12					1 vial/week
13						1 amp/week
14						1 amp/week

Double Mini Cycle

In the double mini cycle, users stack two or three steroids for six weeks. After the first mini cycle, there is a two-week recovery period with HCG 5000 I.U. before the second mini cycle. The second cycle uses the same compounds as the first. After the second mini cycle, the user recovers for two months.

week of cycle	DECAD-URABOLIN 200mg vial	ANADROL tabs 50mg tab	HCG 5000 I.U.	PRIMOBOLAN 100mg amp	WINSTROL tabs 2mg tab
1	1 vial/week	1 tab/day
2	1 vial/week	2 tabs/day
3	2 vials/week	2 tabs/day
4	2 vials/week	3 tabs/day
5	2 vials/week	2 tabs/day
6	1 vial/week	1 tab/day
7			1 amp/ week
8			1 amp/ week
9				2 amps/week	4 tabs/day
10				2 amps/week	4 tabs/day
11				3 amps/week	5 tabs/day
12				3 amps/week	6 tabs/day
13				3 amps/week	5 tabs/day
14				2 amps/week	4 tabs/day

Inverted Pyramid

Because the inverted pyramid cycle begins with a large amount of steroids and decreases until there are very little steroids in the body, it is the cycle choice for many athletes who undergo urine testing. This cycle is not recommended for beginners because it is unsafe for anyone to start using steroids with high doses.

week of cycle	DECA-DURABOLIN 200 mg vial	TESTOVIRON DEPOT 250 mg amps	WINSTROL 2 mg tab
1	2 vials/week	2 amps/week	8 tabs/day
2	1,5 vials/week	1,5 amps/week	7 tabs/day
3	1,5 vials/week	1,5 amps/week	6 tabs/day
4	1 vial/week	1 amp/week	5 tabs/day
5	1 vial/week	1 amp/week	4 tabs/day
6	1 vial/week	1 amp/week	3 tabs/day
7	0,5 vial/week	0,5 amp/week	2 tabs/day
8	0,5 vial/week	0,5 amp/week	1 tabs/day

Diamond Cycle

The diamond cycle is the exact opposite of the inverted pyramid cycle. In the diamond cycle, the user begins with a small amount of steroids and increases the dose over time. The dose is then decreased over time until it is back to level it started at. This is a good cycle for users who are not complete novices but are ready to begin trying new cycles.

week of cycle	DIANABOL (5mg tabs)	SUSTANON 250mg / amp	HCG 5000 I.U./ 1 cc amp
1	3 tabs/day	1 amp/week
2	3 tabs/day	1 amp/week
3	4 tabs/day	2 amp/week
4	5 tabs/day	2 amp/week
5	5 tabs/day	2 amp/week
6	6 tabs/day	3 amp/week
7	6 tabs/day	3 amp/week
8	7 tabs/day	3 amp/week
9	5 tabs/day	2 amp/week
10	4 tabs/day	2 amp/week
11	3 tabs/day	1 amp/week
12	3 tabs/day	1 amp/week
13			1 amp/week
14			1 amp/week

Workouts

Although the natural bodybuilding world would like you to believe that you can obtain the same amount of muscle mass as pharmaceutically enhanced bodybuilders without using steroids, this is completely false. The gains made by using steroids are far greater than what can be made naturally. However, steroids do not magically grow muscles you must dedicate yourself to a disciplined workout routine to obtain the desired build-up of muscle mass. In fact, working out is absolutely necessary because the steroids can cause excessive bloating and other more pronounced side effects unless you workout enough to burn the body fat and water retention associated with steroid use.

When planning your workouts, there are several factors to consider. First, to kick the body into muscle-building gear and out of its state of homeostasis, you need to plan a high intensity workout. This means you should plan for a workout with few sets that work the muscle until it fails. Large muscle groups will need more sets than small ones, but no more than eight sets are necessary to get the desired results. Your sets should also be consist of a small number of reps. Ten reps should be sufficient for any workout as long as you are using heavy weights. You should increase the weights you lift as you get stronger to keep the workouts stressful on the muscles. If you can easily get through a set and you are not lifting until muscle failure, increase the weight.

While stressful workouts stimulate the muscles, they do not grow until they are at rest. You should only workout one muscle group at a time about once a week and you should always workout every other day to allow the body enough rest time to grow the muscles. Also, after a period of intense training, you should take a few days off to rest and then start a plateau training program that is intended to keep you in shape but not necessarily to gain more mass.

Because it is very likely that you will make gains of 5 kilograms or more in a relatively short time, it is important to keep up a regular cardiovascular exercise workout as well to keep the heart in shape to handle the new body mass. Three to four half-hour cardio workouts a week should be sufficient to keep your heart healthy for your new body.

Diet

While it is true that Using anabolic steroids will allow the body to grow larger muscles than what your natural genetics will allow, you are still bound by the basic rules of physiology you cannot grow more mass unless you intake more mass in your diet. One of the most common reasons why bodybuilders show stagnate gains in their muscle mass is poor nutrition.

Most people have bad habits when it comes to eating, which is why obesity is such a problem today. For bodybuilders, especially those using steroids, a disciplined diet can mean all the difference in the world when it comes to gains in muscle mass. Changing eating habits is hard to do but if you follow these simple guidelines, you can maximize the results of your diet.

Eat more meals per day

Most of us have become indoctrinated to the thee-meal-a-day lifestyle; a large breakfast, hearty lunch and a dinner feast. Unfortunately, this is not an ideal eating schedule for the body and can lead to more unhealthy habits, like skipping lunch because of a large breakfast, for example. By consuming five to six meals throughout the day, the body will begin to release insulin continuously. Insulin carries amino acids, an essential building block of muscles.

Eat regularly

One of the most important aspects of a proper diet is not what you eat but when. The body reacts best when it is kept of a strict schedule. By eating at the same times every day, you will optimize the nutrition of your diet. Because most of us live fairly hectic lives, eating on schedule will require a lot of pre-planning. Be sure to pack brunches, lunches and afternoon snacks ahead of time on busy days and always eat your breakfasts and dinners at the same time. The words, eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a Price and supper like a beggar are lifestyle words, however, to gain mass, one needs to eat like a king 6 times a day, and of course, the right meals, not unhealthy meals.

Increase your caloric intake

The average diet consists of 2,000 to 3,000 calories per day. This is actually quite healthy for most people, and with a little exercise, this diet will keep a person in decent shape. But for those who are using anabolic steroids and are adhering to a strenuous workout regime, the recommended diet is around 5,000 calories per day.

Protein, protein, protein

The most essential part of any bodybuilder’s diet is protein. Because protein breaks down in the body and turns into amino acids (the most essential building block for muscles), it is important to maintain a high intake of protein in order to continue growth. The best sources for protein come from meat, fish, eggs and milk. An effective diet for bodybuilders is a protein intake of one to one and a half grams of protein per pound of bodyweight per day. This amount should be adequate enough to maintain a positive nitrogen balance in the muscle cell meaning the cell takes in more protein than it gives out.

Carbs galore

Carbohydrates are an important factor to a proper diet for athletes because they are essential to giving the body energy, maintaining blood-sugar levels and burning fat. A recommended amount of 800 to 900 grams of carbohydrates should be consumed daily. Good sources of complex carbohydrates, which should be about 85 percent of your carbohydrate intake, are whole grains, rice, oats, noodles, pasta and vegetables. Simple carbohydrates, which should be the remaining 15 percent of your carbohydrate intake, come from fruit.