Strong and Fit: Lose Fat, Build Muscle

Part 3:  Real Reasons to Avoid/Delay Steroid Use

This is the third (and maybe final) installment of my articles on anabolic steroids.

I dispelled some of the steroid myths in my previous article. But I think there are valid reasons to delay or completely avoid using them. Here are some of my thoughts:

Side Effects:

This is, in my opinion, the most compelling reason not to use anabolic steroids. Though most of the side effects are not life threatening, they are nonetheless undesirable. One potential side effect, for example, is gynecomastia—men developing female-like breast tissue. This happens as a result of upsetting the body’s hormone balance.*

The potential side effects are even worse for women. Artificially high levels of testosterone (or testosterone-like chemicals)  can give women masculine traits (I won’t go into the details, but it’s pretty gross).

There are ways, of course, to reduce the risks of side effects.  But there's no 100% fool-proof way to completely avoid these risks.  

Legal Issues:

Anabolic steroids are controlled substances in some countries. I believe such laws are ridiculous, especially considering the fact that you can buy cigarettes in these same countries (a product that gives you cancer is legal, but a product which can ad muscle is illegal). Regardless, you might just end up in jail if you are caught buying (or attempting to buy) steroids. Legal troubles could lead to other problems (with employment, etc).

Under Five Years of Training:

Train naturally for at least five years before even thinking about steroids. You need to learn the basics of lifting, nutrition, etc. You also need to learn what training techniques tend to work best for your body. Build a good foundation before thinking about taking it further through anabolic drugs.

Under 25 Years Old:

Generally speaking, a man’s testosterone levels are highest between his teen years and age 25. If you are in this age range, you have plenty of natural testosterone—why not make the most of this natural physical peak? If you are not getting bigger and stronger, I doubt it has anything to do with testosterone levels—it means you have more to learn about nutrition and training.

Special note to teenagers: steroids could theoretically cause a teenager’s growth plates to close prematurely, which would stunt growth. This has not been empirically proven—there’s no ethical way to test this theory. But we do know this is a major concern with premature puberty. Considering all the hormonal changes that come with puberty, it just seems very risky (the word “stupid” actually comes to mind) to do steroids while one is still a teenager.

Insufficient Research:

Anabolic steroids are powerful drugs—you need to know what you are doing if you are thinking about trying a cycle. You need to know the potential side effects of each drug, the length of the cycle you should use, the drugs needed to counter side effects, etc. There’s a lot of good information online, but don’t make a decision based on one article. You really need to invest some time in research first (think months or years).

Pride in Natural Training:

There’s a certain pride that comes from natural training. I’ve read several interviews in which bodybuilders or powerlifters directly address their steroid use. It’s quite common for them to talk about what they did before using steroids. I’m not trying to be critical here—I appreciate anyone who is man enough to be 100% honest about this issue. But I think you see my point—at some level, steroids taint an athlete’s physical achievements.

Just to be clear, I'm not saying all of a steroid user's muscle comes from a pill or syringe.  It takes an incredible level of training and discipline to get big and strong--even with steroids.  But I think you'll be happier if you first go as far as you can naturally before considering anabolic drugs.

Final Thoughts:

I hope this series has helped you make an informed decision about anabolic steroids.  Please weight the benefits and risks carefully. 

*This medical condition can also occur in men who have never used steroids.