Experienced weight lifters: steroids topic

BonyCastro

Hello! So I have been lifting for about 6 months and I do read a lot for support, guidance, etc! Lately, I have encountered a lot of people admitting that they take steroids! Not only that, but they re making it seem like is very common and everyone is doing it! Even women! I'm feeling confused and somewhat discourage! Sounds like there is no such a thing as a "natural" ! Opinions, comments, experience?

Packerjohn

There are plenty (the vast majority) of people who do resistance training and don't take steroids. That said, there are some training environments where they will be more common.

Where are you training, hearing this?

jacksonpt

Not sure what exactly you're looking for, but as a amateur/recreational athlete, I've considered it. If I was more confident in my ability to stop if/when I needed to, I probably would be/have used them.

ovidnine

At this point in my life I'm steroid agnostic. I have no interest in using them personally, but I don't care if people do (unless you're competing in a theoretically clean sport).

I think some gyms/areas probably have far higher percentages of users than others, but its nothing to feel discouraged about.

There are plenty of lifters, men and women, who are natural who look great, move lots of weight and are awesome without any extra enhancement.

Imo its nothing to be discouraged about, its a choice every athlete makes for themselves.

Greg Nuckols has some amazing articles from an objective, agnostic (neither pro, nor against) standpoint on his website. Here's one, but he has a number of other good ones: http://www.strengtheory.com/the-science-of-steroids/

Mark Bell, a famous power lifter who is very open and honest about his steroid use, did a great interview with Omar Isuf (who is natural, as is Silent Mike who appears with Mark Bell often) about it.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=0Red0k5RLPI

Really though, I would encourage you not to be discouraged because others are using. Its their personal choice. If steroids interest you for reasons other than you think everyone is taking them so you should too, I'd suggest you get more time in lifting before you make that decision.

But please, don't worry about what other people are putting into their bodies.

dstromley90

Unless abused there not gonna kill you. But id never recommend a woman doing any aas at all.

piperdown44

Encountering people in real life saying they take them or from reading on the internet?

Big difference, especially depending on the internet site.

I'd say a majority of people working out in the gym aren't taking anything. Get on a site like T-nation, and it seems everyone is taking them. But, T-nation, along with a few other bodybuilding/powerlifting sites are drawing a small dedicated segment of the overall lifting population, which is small compared to the overall fitness population, which is small compared to the overall population.

DopeItUp

The gym I used to go to, I would say the MAJORITY of the people I spoke to admitted to usage at some point or another. Even guys smaller/weaker than I. It was eye-opening. This was a powerlifting/strongman/crossfit oriented gym though. Not some random national chain. Definitely a more hardcore crowd in general.

LKArgh

You need a new gym.

Yi5hedr3

Join Planet Fitness - you be fine!!

Willbenchforcupcakes

aggelikik wrote: »

You need a new gym.

This, if these steroid users you keep talking to are at your gym and it's making you feel like you can't achieve your goals without using and it bothers you.

On a personal level, I couldn't give a rats *kitten* whether or not anyone uses with the exception that I will not get involved on a personal level with someone who uses.

Larissa_NY

My impression is that it's mostly common at the higher levels of powerlifting and in bodybuilding. If you're competing in figure at the national level you'll probably be at a disadvantage if you aren't on gear, but very few people take steroids just so they can be the biggest bench presser at Lifetime Fitness.

19gabriela01

There is such a thing like natural.



My ex boyfriend was massive. People on the street would stop him and stare how unbelievable that is. And he was just eating a lot and having a protein that worked for him best and working out. Never used steroids. He can grow very quick even after months without exercise because he has been lifting for many years. Genetics have a lot to do with how we look too. So yeah. It can be also done without steroids.

19gabriela01

I have been also asked if I use steroids. No man. I just eat well so I can get damn strong.

Packerjohn

dstromley90 wrote: »

Unless abused there not gonna kill you. But id never recommend a woman doing any aas at all.

Do you think anyone who died from steroid related causes though, yeah I'm going to take enough juice to kill me, that would be a good idea?

LKArgh

Packerjohn wrote: »

dstromley90 wrote: »

Unless abused there not gonna kill you. But id never recommend a woman doing any aas at all.

Do you think anyone who died from steroid related causes though, yeah I'm going to take enough juice to kill me, that would be a good idea?

Although I doubt suicide by steroids exist, I would guess the thought process would be more like "I want to reach my goal now, and nevermind what happens later". I doubt this would apply to a local gym competition, but in all sports, after a point, many athletes accept the risk that their health might be damaged.
I remember reading some years ago (unfrotunately cannot find the reference) that there was a study where professional athletes were filling questionaires anonymously and one of the questions was something like "if you were given a new substance, impossible to trace, that would allow you to break the world record, but would probably kill you in a few years, what would you do ?" The shockingly vast majority was fine with taking the risk! Of course these were not people doing it for fun, a world record was what they were aiming at, but still it was shocking.

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