Pro-hormones and Steroids - Why?

[RichUK]

Recently, I went on a cycle of M1T for 5 days. I stopped at this time for various reasons, but my experience made me look at the whole thing in a different light, and ask myself questions I’d previously never thought of.

I guess what I’m trying to find out is this. Why do Non-Professional Bodybuilders decide to take steroids and pro-hormones? What makes your Average Joe wake up one morning and make the decision to use chemicals to enhance their physique?

Hardcore Bodybuilders and pros are nearly always looking to add more and more muscle to their frames; hence steroids work well for them. It’s probably fair to say that not everyone who takes these things wants to be huge however. I’m 6ft1 and am only aiming for 190-200lbs. I’m sure many people are in the same boat and already on the way to achieving their goals naturally, yet they go for the chemical route instead.

My own decision to take pro-hormones was because of a lack of foresight on my part. I plan to keep my physique and fitness levels improving as long as my body will allow me to, hopefully until the day I die.

So if I plan on working out every week for the rest of my life, why was I taking drugs? To get there sooner? Fair enough, that would happen, but I’d still have to keep working out to maintain it. Plus, working out without any chemical assistance will take longer to achieve my goals, but still having goals is half the battle really. If you get to your ideal weight and BF% after a year or two of steroid/PH use, then what do you have to aim for – what keeps you doing your workouts in the long term?

I’d just like to finish by saying that I’m neither for or against PH/steroid use, and that isn’t what this post is about. I’m just simply trying to understand why (or why not, if you feel inclined to post that too)

Thanks
Rich

[Lee J B]

I think the reason most people in that situation take them is simply - because they can. It's like everything in life that, if it can get the job done quicker and is readily available .... why not? Sure we all know why not, but yeah that's what I think because at the end of the day, take two bodybuilders right....both with full time jobs just your average joe's that love to workout .... both been working out for 10 years ok? Stand them side by side and imagine they look identical, except one had taken steroids ... how would you ever know? From the obervers point of view, they would never be able to tell, but from the two guys point of view one would be mentally stronger knowing he got there naturally....but all in all, does it really matter?

Not really.....people are living in the fast lane these days.

[pmcgough]

true...fast lane...go with them, and get big quick, or go without them, and get big safe...i, for one, would get big quick, b/c the faster im there, the faster i get bigger than that

[Steve]

Originally Posted by RichUK

I guess what I’m trying to find out is this. Why do Non-Professional Bodybuilders decide to take steroids and pro-hormones? What makes your Average Joe wake up one morning and make the decision to use chemicals to enhance their physique?

Only way to really know is to do it yourself. Once it kicks in, you'll know.

[Tuna Fish]

Never been there so I don't know for sure.

Well, I know I'm gonna get a hard time for this and I don't intend to offend anybody who's done it but I'll guess vanity or a feeling of inferiority. Deep stuff, I know.

I refer to people that have no medical issues, hormonal anomalies, or competitive reason to do this, though. I speak ONLY in terms of the typical RECREATIONAL TRAINEE.

I think a lot of people find that BB'ing takes time- often a LOT of time- more than they realized when they first began. No great body was ever formed overnight or even in a week or two. Takes years.... and I don't think 100% of the bodybuilding public wants to, or is willing to wait or take the time. Not everyone realizes that it's a lifelong affair with the iron- especially with all the "fad" approaches that claim to re-make a person's physique in a very short time. ONLY 8 WEEKS TO A BRAND NEW YOU!!!!!

Sorry if I offended anybody, it's just my opinion and I might be wrong. I have been wrong before.....

Tuna

[pmcgough]

i just like the added weight i can put up, knowing im breaking new records, etc

[ricohelms]

Originally Posted by RichUK

I guess what I’m trying to find out is this. Why do Non-Professional Bodybuilders decide to take steroids and pro-hormones? What makes your Average Joe wake up one morning and make the decision to use chemicals to enhance their physique?

Why does a perfectly beautiful women go and get herself a pair of gigantic boobies or a perfectly good looking dewd get a nose job. Cause they are not happy with themselves. It kind of boils down to vanity and time. Vanity is the reason I chose to use steroids. I was in great shape, 190 or so lbs at 6'2" with about 7%bf. Not good enough for me I wanted to be larger/stronger/tougher looking and so on. I knew that I would get bigger as time passed naturally but I didn't have the time to waste. I wanted it now.

[Todd]

I think many people just think..."I don't care what it takes, I want to be HUGE as soon as possible." Side affects? "so what, I don't care..as long as I get huge...deal with that as I get to it." They don't want to wait 10 years to get the type of physique one can obtain in 5 months when using AS's. They want it NOW!

BUT, what they don't think about is the after effects...the effects along the way, the possible complications that might occur when their body reacts to them, and the fact that in order to continuously see the gains acheived off steroids you have to keep cycling them off and on..and this leads to long term usage...more money, etc..

I think those are some of the things that a lot of people who are of the "average joe wanting to get big quick type" fail to realize, research and deeply consider before popping that first pill or sticking that first needle.

What it comes down to is greed, selfishness, lack of research of AS, impatience, and too much looking at FLEX mag pics!

But hey, to each their own! But really all you need to do is what's written in my signature below...just have to do it consistently for a long long loooooooong time!

Originally Posted by Todd

What it comes down to is greed, selfishness, lack of research of AS, impatience, and too much looking at FLEX mag pics!

That is a pretty brutal generalization Todd. Guess it is easy to be judgemental if you have good genetics.

Steroids have a good side to them that most people are unable or unwilling to see. Back in high school I tore a muscle in my upper back while lifting. It was an injury that never healed, one that I could reinjure doing the simplest things. I had to be very careful whenever I lifted anything remotely heavy. Sometimes even sleeping wrong could mess me up for a week or two. By my third cycle at 40 some odd years old it finally healed. The difference not having that nagging pain has been a joy in my life.

Don't be too quick to knock the good they can offer.

[pmcgough]

yes...like people who have muscle wasting due to muscular distrophy

[gonefishing]

People turn to steriods/prohormones for one reason....it works! People realize that most of the supplements in this industry are a waste of money, pure hype and all bull****. For people seriously looking for results, increased test levels is the only way to go. Its unfortunate and ****ty that the only supplements that work also kill you, but thats just how it is. Note: I don't use prohomones/steriods.

[RichUK]

Some interesting and insightful comments from both sides of the track which is nice to see.

I think Tuna Fish said it best - "the lifelong affair with the iron" comment really highlighted my feelings on the subject. I think that some people, (by no means all, but some) think that they can take drugs for a few months/years and get into totally ripped shape then never have to work out again, or train once a week or something like that. It doesn't occur to them that once they get where they want to be, they have to work to maintain it. Eating just as clean as ever, working out just as hard, getting the rest, drinking the water, taking whatever supps. It's something which has to be with you for the rest of your life, not something you just 'do' for a few months then forget about.

There's also the short and long-term health worries associated with them, especially the new wave of 'designer steroids'/PH's. I'm sorry, but no one can say with certainty that "they're safe" as there is no evidence to support that fact. Using the same analogy though, no one can truly say that they're dangerous. I think the health issue comes down to what you're willing to risk for more muscle.

On the flipside though, it's interesting to hear some other comments. I can see the point that some people have brought up about wanting results quickly and living life in the fast lane. Let's say you're 20 and just start out lifting. After a year or so you've put on say 15lbs and are looking ok, but you want to be bigger. If you kept working out for another 4 years, then great - you may be where you want to be. But why wait if popping some pill will get you there in 4 months rather than 4 years? I'm pretty sure that's a common mentality and one which is frankly understandable.

Also, Ironman's comment about the healed injury. I must admit, I never even thought of those benefits from steroid use. Interesting.

Keep these comments coming! :

[Todd]

Originally Posted by IronMan

That is a pretty brutal generalization Todd. Guess it is easy to be judgemental if you have good genetics.

Steroids have a good side to them that most people are unable or unwilling to see. Back in high school I tore a muscle in my upper back while lifting. It was an injury that never healed, one that I could reinjure doing the simplest things. I had to be very careful whenever I lifted anything remotely heavy. Sometimes even sleeping wrong could mess me up for a week or two. By my third cycle at 40 some odd years old it finally healed. The difference not having that nagging pain has been a joy in my life.

Don't be too quick to knock the good they can offer.

and...

Originally Posted by pmcgough

yes...like people who have muscle wasting due to muscular distrophy.

Well yes, in the above cases and for other truly medical reasons, steroids can be lifesaving, but it didn't seem we were talking about medical reasoning here in this thread, but more of the "average joe" reacting to the notion of wanting to get huge fast and turning to streoids as a "quick fix". That is the context in which we were originally refering to it's usage.

There is a positive use for almost everything, that is a given. But I don't think the majority of the millions of steroid users worldwide are buying them up in underground black markets for sake of true medical use.

Originally Posted by IronMan

That is a pretty brutal generalization Todd. Guess it is easy to be judgemental if you have good genetics.

You can use genetics as an excuse, but I don't....because they aren't an excuse to turn to steroids or anything else. Anyone...even those with less than average genetics for muscle building can build a quality physique that would be most desirable by others.... there is no substitute for hard work, smart training, and nutritional intake...along with scheduled rest and being consistent with a healthy lifestyle that promotes muscle gains and overall health. I don't care what excuses people throw out there, it can be done, and it IS done every single day by people with less than average genetics.

Originally Posted by Todd

Well yes, in the above cases and for other truly medical reasons, steroids can be lifesaving, but it didn't seem we were talking about medical reasoning here in this thread, but more of the "average joe" reacting to the notion of wanting to get huge fast and turning to streoids as a "quick fix". That is the context in which we were originally refering to it's usage.

This is an open thread -- no where did I read that we had to answer in one certain "context". Also, I was relating something that happened to me. And you have the gall to judge that as being unworthy of discussion? I'm having a hard time getting my mind around that one....

[pmcgough]

i agree with ironman on this one