Teen son interested in steroids

7elizamae

My teenage son has mentioned steroids to me several times. Says his friends know about "safe" ways to use them short-term and get long-term results, that lots of kids use them, etc etc.

My son is at a healthy weight and active and has a somewhat healthy diet (for a teenager).

Obviously I do not want him to use steroids for any reason.

But, rather than just wagging my finger at him and forbidding it (very tempting!), I'd like to offer him some resources about health and fitness in general.

So, can anyone recommend health and fitness sites appropriate for teenage boys?

Chrisparadise579

Being a teenager myself please to do not let him do steriods. Tell him that there are better safer ways to build muscle and there is nothing earned when using steriods. If you cant you can have him talk to me about it I would love to help him out. I will message you for more details

mrPopoBrah

I am not against AAS and I believe that they play a huge role in all professional sports (not just bodybuilding). They do cause health complications, but if used correctly they are not going to kill you. Saying this, he should not be using them unless he is going to become a professional.

YouTube is one the best ways to find information on natural fitness/bodybuilding. I recommend channels such as Physiques of Greatness, flexforall2, Christian Guzman, Nick Wright and Twinmuscleworkout.

Rayman79

It is great that he is interested in lifting, but there are a number of reasons not to start at his age - given that his body is still growing and use of anabolics at his age can severely alter the natural production of testosterone.

There is a definite appeal to a lot of guys to get on the gear young, but it is mostly about building a nice physique and 'getting the girls'. I'd suggest sitting down with him and talking through why he really wants to do this - how long has he been lifting for and what he wants to achieve.

He is at the best point of his life right now (hormonally speaking) to develop his body, he needs to put in the work before even thinking about enhacements.

I would really suggest having a talk with him about it, and if it is within your means, perhaps even offer to set him up with a trainer for a while to help him maximise his natural potential. This might at the very least stall him for a while...

I believe anabolics can be used with 'relative' safety as an adult, but are still high risk and I would never suggest anyone younger than mid 20's with years of training behind them even think about it. Learn how to train, commit to it for the long term, build a foundation of strength and knowledge (training and nutrition), then make an educated decision about whether (and for what reasons) it is for him.

SheGlows

Pretty much what they said^^^

Also I'd like to stress the point that steroids won't magically give him muscles. They won't make him into some stud muffin with bulging biceps and an eight pack. Even with the use of steroids, you have to work your *kitten* off to put on quality size. You don't look like Kai Greene, Phil Heath, Jay Cutler, etc. just because you add a little juice and sit on the couch all day.

steveyinasia

Pretty much what they said^^^

Also I'd like to stress the point that steroids won't magically give him muscles. They won't make him into some stud muffin with bulging biceps and an eight pack. Even with the use of steroids, you have to work your *kitten* off to put on quality size. You don't look like Kai Greene, Phil Heath, Jay Cutler, etc. just because you add a little juice and sit on the couch all day.

All that they said, and particuarly about the references to Jay Cutler et all....they have very serious workout and nutrition routines.

dbmata

My teenage son has mentioned steroids to me several times. Says his friends know about "safe" ways to use them short-term and get long-term results, that lots of kids use them, etc etc.

My son is at a healthy weight and active and has a somewhat healthy diet (for a teenager).

Obviously I do not want him to use steroids for any reason.

But, rather than just wagging my finger at him and forbidding it (very tempting!), I'd like to offer him some resources about health and fitness in general.

So, can anyone recommend health and fitness sites appropriate for teenage boys?

Bodybuilding.com

I'd say though, if he wants to use gear, he should wait until he's at least done growing. 20, 21, 22. I know more than a few folks on it, and aside from some T related side effects, they're generally fine. There's a long history of using steroids in the US for medical and for recreational purposes. It's generally safe.

dbmata

Pretty much what they said^^^

Also I'd like to stress the point that steroids won't magically give him muscles. They won't make him into some stud muffin with bulging biceps and an eight pack. Even with the use of steroids, you have to work your *kitten* off to put on quality size. You don't look like Kai Greene, Phil Heath, Jay Cutler, etc. just because you add a little juice and sit on the couch all day.

Right. You work your *kitten* off, and then you can look like Kai Greene, or Hugh Jackman.

_Waffle_

My teenage son has mentioned steroids to me several times. Says his friends know about "safe" ways to use them short-term and get long-term results, that lots of kids use them, etc etc.

My son is at a healthy weight and active and has a somewhat healthy diet (for a teenager).

Obviously I do not want him to use steroids for any reason.

But, rather than just wagging my finger at him and forbidding it (very tempting!), I'd like to offer him some resources about health and fitness in general.

So, can anyone recommend health and fitness sites appropriate for teenage boys?

Bodybuilding.com

I'd say though, if he wants to use gear, he should wait until he's at least done growing. 20, 21, 22. I know more than a few folks on it, and aside from some T related side effects, they're generally fine. There's a long history of using steroids in the US for medical and for recreational purposes. It's generally safe.

I agree. I think it's safe if used correctly. The issue is the desire to increase the use to get gains faster. Steroids do reduce your recovery time to nill. You still have to do the work but it does help with recovery like you wouldn't believe. Moderation in everything. Even in this venture.

_Waffle_

But, rather than just wagging my finger at him and forbidding it (very tempting!), I'd like to offer him some resources about health and fitness in general.

Smart. The more knowledge he gets on the subject the better. People use these with or without their parents knowing. It's better that you help him steer through this.

usmcmp

A steroid user talks about steroids. Pretty open and honesty talk about using.

"Go as far as you can without them"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0Z_rpapUMA

parkscs

If he's looking at a full scholarship to start for a D1 team and has potential to go pro in his sport, then the analysis might be a bit different. But as others have said, generally speaking if you're going to get on gear, you should wait until you're out of your teens for a variety of reasons. Ray hit most of them, but I'll add that perhaps one of the greatest reasons to wait is because teenagers are generally idiots, regardless of what they think, and as a general matter shouldn't be making decisions that have life-long health repercussions. Of course, convincing a teenager of that is another matter. If he has a coach or someone else he looks up to, you might have a talk with the coach and have him discuss it with your son.

trojan_bb

My teenage son has mentioned steroids to me several times. Says his friends know about "safe" ways to use them short-term and get long-term results, that lots of kids use them, etc etc.

My son is at a healthy weight and active and has a somewhat healthy diet (for a teenager).

Obviously I do not want him to use steroids for any reason.

But, rather than just wagging my finger at him and forbidding it (very tempting!), I'd like to offer him some resources about health and fitness in general.

So, can anyone recommend health and fitness sites appropriate for teenage boys?

There are no short term methods that give good results nor provide safe results for a teen.

Tell him to make a post on a steroid message board (professionalmuscle, muscular development, etc). I'm serious. Ask for advice there. A hundred vets will tell him why it's a terrible idea under 20, what the LONG TERM impact is, how in order to get lasting results he has to COMMIT FOR LIFE.

They will give him a dose of reality. It's the only way.

You don't hop on a few steroid cycles and stop. The progress will all be lost. You either lose it all or commit for life. A teenager can not and should not make that decision. He needs to wait a few years and really decide for himself.

A teenager experimenting with a few steroid cycles stands a very good chance of ruining natural test production. Then he has to take steroids for the rest of his life, either administered by a doctor or self administered. that means twice weekly injections. Plus monitoring blood pressure, hormonal balances, etc. It's a huge decision for a teenager to make.

If he decides lifting is a waste of time 5 years from now...guess what, he still gets to inject twice weekly for another 60 years.

dbmata

just twice? I have a couple friends doing that + hgh = 2 injections daily.

trojan_bb

just twice? I have a couple friends doing that + hgh = 2 injections daily.

twice is the low end, like using Test E for horomone replacement therapy from a Doc.

docs don't prescribe GH unless you are one lucky SOB or have aids lol

AquaticQuests

No no no no no!

dakotababy

He needs to realize that his very UNQUALIFIED friends know nothing. Teach him some critical thinking skills.

Also, peer pressure is a good one to learn about too.

ninerbuff

At 19, I too was interested. All my bodybuilding buds were huge and getting gains. I had no money, therefore juicing was out of the equation. So I just did it naturally. As time went on, I didn't have a desire to do them anymore and still am a natural today at 50.

One thing I've noticed with steroid users though.................................many can't quit using them. A little muscle loss and they get right back on them. And since they aren't legal (for a long time now), without a prescription, it's black market and underground circuits that he would have to rely on. And you really don't know what you're getting there.

He's young. He should bust his butt and get where he wants to without them.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

7elizamae

OP here.
Wow! I obviously know nothing about steroids. I thought they were illegal!

My son is not going for any kind of athletic scholarship or athletic prowess. He just wants some muscles to show all those pretty girls at school. He's tall and handsome (of course, says his mom) and wants the muscles to finish off the good looks.

This is a whole new thing for me as a mom. I don't want him getting all his info from his teenage friends. So, I will be digging around the web looking for reliable info. Any more site/article suggestions welcome! I'll also be taking him in for a scheduled check-up soon and hope he'll ask his doctor for info.

dbmata

You know, I don't care what the rest of these people say, but you're a cool mom.

This isn't a normal subject for parenting like eating your math and drinking your vegetables, so it's pretty awesome you're engaged like that.

There's a big market out there for these prohormones, and they're basicall a requirement for any sort of athletic or aesthetic competition it seems, except for the straight natural guys. At his age those, his peaches are flushing him with enough T to sex rage a herd of horses, he doesn't need it now. He needs to learn the value of working REALLY EFFING HARD, because even with the prohormones, he'll have to work REALLY EFFING HARD.

Also, there's the cost aspect. I have a friend spending $750 a month on his regimen right now. I don't know any teens that can do that without resorting to theft, or handies on the corner.

eric_sg61

OP here.
Wow! I obviously know nothing about steroids. I thought they were illegal!

My son is not going for any kind of athletic scholarship or athletic prowess. He just wants some muscles to show all those pretty girls at school. He's tall and handsome (of course, says his mom) and wants the muscles to finish off the good looks.

This is a whole new thing for me as a mom. I don't want him getting all his info from his teenage friends. So, I will be digging around the web looking for reliable info. Any more site/article suggestions welcome! I'll also be taking him in for a scheduled check-up soon and hope he'll ask his doctor for info.

If that is the case, just tell him to lift and eat a ton of food. At his age his natural hormones are already at full blast(pun intended :wink.)

ninerbuff

OP here.
Wow! I obviously know nothing about steroids. I thought they were illegal!

My son is not going for any kind of athletic scholarship or athletic prowess. He just wants some muscles to show all those pretty girls at school. He's tall and handsome (of course, says his mom) and wants the muscles to finish off the good looks.

This is a whole new thing for me as a mom. I don't want him getting all his info from his teenage friends. So, I will be digging around the web looking for reliable info. Any more site/article suggestions welcome! I'll also be taking him in for a scheduled check-up soon and hope he'll ask his doctor for info.

More than sure any doc (except one looking to peddle steroids for extra cash) will say that he DOESN'T need steroids to increase muscle mass.
Just for you info, it's not the drug that makes one get more muscle. One could take steroids an not gain much "appreciable" muscle. He'd still have to get on a workout program of progressive overload lifting, eat in a calorie surplus and get enough rest to recover. Now he can still do all the of 3 I mentioned and get more muscular, but steroids (if used correctly) just enhances it more.
My opinion is that he doesn't need them. As mention, some hard work in the gym, some good nutrition and he'll gain. Let his natural test (which is close to peak right now) do all the work.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

3laine75

Watched a funny video on this the other night - might appeal to a teenager while highlighting the downsides.

(Sorry I use the YouTube app, not sure how to get links )

Brosciencelife - should I take steroids? (or something to that effect)

trojan_bb

OP here.
Wow! I obviously know nothing about steroids. I thought they were illegal!

My son is not going for any kind of athletic scholarship or athletic prowess. He just wants some muscles to show all those pretty girls at school. He's tall and handsome (of course, says his mom) and wants the muscles to finish off the good looks.

This is a whole new thing for me as a mom. I don't want him getting all his info from his teenage friends. So, I will be digging around the web looking for reliable info. Any more site/article suggestions welcome! I'll also be taking him in for a scheduled check-up soon and hope he'll ask his doctor for info.

I think really the only way to dissuade a teen is to convince him how annoying taking steroids for a long time can be. Once he realizes that most of his progress will be lost between steroid "cycles", the appeal goes down fast. Ask him if he wants to risk losing natural testosterone production?

Young guys get this idea, more like a fantasy, that they'll take a few pills for 2 months, gain 30 lbs of muscle, reach their goal body, and then they are done and can stop. It never works that way. ever.

Tell him to wait until he's 21. If you say NEVER do them...he probably won't like that idea and won't listen. But it's easier to convince him to wait a few years. Have him research with you for a couple years, then he can make a decision. He may likely change his mind by then

Some of them are legal. There are OTC (called prohormones and designer steroids) pills and most likely what his friends are using. They have harmful affects on the liver and the gains made while on these orals are fleeting. Very quick gains that go away just as quickly.

LanceKarcher

I for one am shocked and astounded that so many on this list seem to take such cavalier attitude on this subject. Anabolic androgenic steroids are prescription only medications, and therefore it IS illegal to be using them in the fashion being discussed. No responsible physician in their right mind would ever prescribe these steroids for the scenario you have proposed. There obviously is a reason why they are a banned substance in this country. All pharmaceuticals are going to have side effects and risk vs. reward should always be considered in all circumstances with any medication. It seems to me that wanting to be able to have a shortcut in order to be attractive to high school girls is not a very good reason.
Consider for example if your son develops liver injury (very common), acne requiring other medications, hair loss, testicular atrophy, or a personality change whereby he starts punching holes in the walls of your home. By then it may be too late for him to go back once he is addicted to the other so called positive effects.
I think education is the key, and incidentally the girls that would be attracted to this is probably not the kind of girls he wants to be involved with for the long term.

dbmata

QQ

Thanks morality police. You do realize that he'll use them or not, and the proper approach is the one being advised?

Additionally, they've been used for decades, and it's been working just fine for those taking it. Some fall off and go off suggested dosing, but you have people like that with everything.

dbmata

Shocked!

pscarolina

I was going to stay off this topic, but oh well. Testicular atrophy is a real issue so if he loves his boys he will not consider it until he's exhausted natural methods described earlier.

That said, if he's doing it for women's attention, he might be disappointed. I LOVE really big guys (last boyfriend was 6'4" 280 pounds of solid muscle). At first I worried that other women would approach him. Everyone loves big muscles right? He said a lot of women were intimidated or turned off by that level of muscularity. Many women prefer fit or even cut, but not to the steroid level.

Good luck! You're lucky he's open to discussing this with you!

trojan_bb

I for one am shocked and astounded that so many on this list seem to take such cavalier attitude on this subject. Anabolic androgenic steroids are prescription only medications, and therefore it IS illegal to be using them in the fashion being discussed. No responsible physician in their right mind would ever prescribe these steroids for the scenario you have proposed. There obviously is a reason why they are a banned substance in this country. All pharmaceuticals are going to have side effects and risk vs. reward should always be considered in all circumstances with any medication. It seems to me that wanting to be able to have a shortcut in order to be attractive to high school girls is not a very good reason.
Consider for example if your son develops liver injury (very common), acne requiring other medications, hair loss, testicular atrophy, or a personality change whereby he starts punching holes in the walls of your home. By then it may be too late for him to go back once he is addicted to the other so called positive effects.
I think education is the key, and incidentally the girls that would be attracted to this is probably not the kind of girls he wants to be involved with for the long term.

No one on here is recommending AAS to a teen. Illogical legislation is irrelevant. Not all steroids are illegal and a many of the steroids used by teens are legal in the US. GNC used to even sell them. I can find two dozen brands on Amazon.com right now. No one said a doc would prescribe them for this case. livery injury is NOT very common and the personality change is not even supported by research. The actual reason they are banned in this country is not even because of health risks but rather sports and congressional involvement in pro sport leagues.

The comment on girls and attraction is ridiculous. and testicular atrophy....big deal. that is like the last side effect anyone worries about. There are actual side effects that make a difference...ball size does not. If you are educated enough to make a rational decision to use or not use, you are also educated enough to know how to prevent that.

Education is the key, yes. Telling a kid something is illegal is not exactly an effective method.

paygep

bump

for interesting points of view I've never considered on this subject...

7elizamae

I for one am shocked and astounded that so many on this list seem to take such cavalier attitude on this subject. Anabolic androgenic steroids are prescription only medications, and therefore it IS illegal to be using them in the fashion being discussed. No responsible physician in their right mind would ever prescribe these steroids for the scenario you have proposed. There obviously is a reason why they are a banned substance in this country. All pharmaceuticals are going to have side effects and risk vs. reward should always be considered in all circumstances with any medication. It seems to me that wanting to be able to have a shortcut in order to be attractive to high school girls is not a very good reason.
Consider for example if your son develops liver injury (very common), acne requiring other medications, hair loss, testicular atrophy, or a personality change whereby he starts punching holes in the walls of your home. By then it may be too late for him to go back once he is addicted to the other so called positive effects.
I think education is the key, and incidentally the girls that would be attracted to this is probably not the kind of girls he wants to be involved with for the long term.

Amen! These are all the things I WANTED to rattle off to him (while I wagged my finger in his face) when he started mentioning it. I'm glad I didn't do the 'freaking-out-mom-nag' thing, but inside I was definitely coming up with my speech.

I certainly do NOT want him on these things -- but my hope is that HE won't want them either. So I need some info in my mom arsenal.

I, too, am surprised that people on this board use steroids. I had no idea they were mainstream.

He'll be at the doctor next week, and he has a good rapport with the doc, so I hope that will give him so good info.