this is a serious thread, lol

what do U think about steroids used for cosmetic purposes?

do U know anybody who has used them? WHAT HAPPENED?

in my gym there are like 5 or 6 guys who PROUDLY say that they regularly use them, without collateral effects. They are as big as trucks, lol.

I (we all) have heard stories of guys developing tits, getting bald, losing their testicles, dying from cancer or "just" developing a heavy/painful addiction, etc. due to the steroids. But those guys at my gym seem so healthy and happy, lol I don't know what to think right now...and they are already 38-55 years old...

so ,ladies and gents, thoughts? ... yes? no? maybe? for a while? Y-A-Y? N-A-Y? hell yeah? not a chance in hell?

I'm a student pharmacist, and I will tell you that anabolic steroids, while they have some clinical use (i.e diabled or bed ridden patients), shouldn't be used to make your muscles bigger for recreation.

When you introduce exogenous (sourced from outside the body) androgens to your system, yes, your genitals will shrink. Why? Because the body doesn't bother upholding any structure if it no longer serves a function. Your testes are responsible for making male androgens (i.e testosterone). If there's a supply in the body that's NOT from your testes, your brain will shut down production of endogenous (sourced from inside the body) testosterone and make those structures smaller. It'll also make your ligaments/ joints weaker, decrease liver function (and later on, liver failure), cause heart problems, high blood pressure, high cholesterol,...the list goes on.

Not only do you see physical changes, but steroids can cause psychological problems, and increased agression (I think you've already heard of Roid Rage).

As far as your gym buddies touting it's wonderful effects, do you hang out with these guys enough to know if it's working that great for them? Just keep in mind...addicts cannot see when something is hurting them. It's called denial.

If they're getting their steroids from a physcian or pharmacist and its not for clinical use, that health care professional is already in hot water.

Just sayin' Joe. Be careful. It's a real slippery slope.

[Edited 12/3/11 10:38am]

ThruTheEyesOfWonder said:

I'm a student pharmacist, and I will tell you that anabolic steroids, while they have some clinical use (i.e diabled or bed ridden patients), shouldn't be used to make your muscles bigger for recreation.

When you introduce exogenous (sourced from outside the body) androgens to your system, yes, your genitals will shrink. Why? Because the body doesn't bother upholding any structure if it no longer serves a function. Your testes are responsible for making male androgens (i.e testosterone). If there's a supply in the body that's NOT from your testes, your brain will shut down production of endogenous (sourced from inside the body) testosterone and make those structures smaller. It'll also make your ligaments/ joints weaker, decrease liver function (and later on, liver failure), cause heart problems, high blood pressure, high cholesterol,...the list goes on.

Not only do you see physical changes, but steroids can cause psychological problems, and increased agression (I think you've already heard of Roid Rage).

As far as your gym buddies touting it's wonderful effects, do you hang out with these guys enough to know if it's working that great for them? Just keep in mind...addicts cannot see when something is hurting them. It's called denial.

If they're getting their steroids from a physcian or pharmacist and its not for clinical use, that health care professional is already in hot water.

Just sayin' Joe. Be careful. It's a real slippery slope.

[Edited 12/3/11 10:38am]

interesting reply, thanks

yeah, it's a slippery slope and yeah it's scary too, I'm not sayin' I'm gonna use them , lol

and no I don't hang out with these guys, but as I've said, they look completely healthy and they are all married/with girlfriend, therefore their sexual lifes must be normal...

but they could develop something nasty in the future...

I think I'll will stick with the old blood and guts routine, sweat and tears and pain + gain lol, all natural & healthy

[Edited 12/3/11 10:48am]

I've read about it and talked to people who use it and my reply is a clear N-A-Y.

It'll ruin your body.

And, to me, it's also a sign of weakness or missing self-respect, if you use them just to make your muscles bigger...

No.

The effect it has on both genders is very negative. With women it may be more obvious, of course (I know a woman who was taking them for several years and it practically ruined her health, especially when it comes to her cycle), but it's logical it's not natural for men either.

Personally, I think it's all a manifestation of deeper issues. Possibly a sign of weakness and insecurity, like Dave said.

But I didn't really have to see it with my own eyes to realise that it's very, very unhealthy. The whole concept is wrong (apart from the clinical use, when it might make sense).

just from a basic chemistry standpoint i'm thinking not a good idea.

My biggest problem with people having an opinion about steroid usage is that the less informed they are, the more outspoken they seem to be.

JoeTyler said:

this is a serious thread, lol

what do U think about steroids used for cosmetic purposes?

do U know anybody who has used them? WHAT HAPPENED?

in my gym there are like 5 or 6 guys who PROUDLY say that they regularly use them, without collateral effects. They are as big as trucks, lol.

I (we all) have heard stories of guys developing tits, getting bald, losing their testicles, dying from cancer or "just" developing a heavy/painful addiction, etc. due to the steroids. But those guys at my gym seem so healthy and happy, lol I don't know what to think right now...and they are already 38-55 years old...

so ,ladies and gents, thoughts? ... yes? no? maybe? for a while? Y-A-Y? N-A-Y? hell yeah? not a chance in hell?

It's not worth it!!!! I have know 2 guys that have died from taking them. One guy died from liver cancer at 37 the other guy died from a brain aneurysm at 40 due to out of controlled blood pressure. Another guy I know has had two kidney transplants and still continues to use them to this day. They are very addictive!!! Dudes get to be just the opposite of an annorexic. They get addicted to getting bigger. Most bodybuilders say you are supposed to cycle them ( do them only a few times a year) Most people get on them and never get off. I had a college roomate that took them and he stole anything just to get money for them. He became a complete asshole...always roid raging starting fights, etc. He ended up going to prison for 4 years for a few crimes he committed while on them. Pills kill your liver and kidneys. Most roids come from the black market....meaning you don't know how save they are. You may get some tainted stuff from china or mexico. Beside you don't know if you are getting the real stuff or fake. Not to mention how expensive they are. I've heard of guys transmitting Hepatitis because they shared vials ( you stick the needles in before injected yourself). Just get a book about weight lifting or go on youtube for training ideas. The most important thing is to train and eat right. You don't need " the juice" to get in shape.

IMO - and this is strictly my opinion - Steroids are just one more "tool" used by humans for physical "improvement".

I'd lump it in with Botox, silicone, ephedra, and all the "gray market" supplements out there.

Being a society of free will, and being a self-harming substance (same as alcohol and nicotine) I would argue for the regulation of its use as opposed to an outright ban that's leading to black-market abuses (same as marijuana).

The reason for this being more & more abused to me is twofold;

1 - athletic performance is advancing to a state that HIGH SCHOOL athletes are feeling the pressure to "roid up" in order to compete.

2 - the male image has gone all "Adonis" on us, thanks to the Brad Pitts and Jersey Shore dudes turning female heads. I'm not saying it's RIGHT, I'm just saying it's THERE. So guys with shitty genetics (or "bigorexia" complexes) who want to look like the picture posted by the O.P. almost have to turn to roids.

PurpleJedi said:

2 - the male image has gone all "Adonis" on us, thanks to the... Jersey Shore dudes turning female heads.

Oh Jed, say it ain't so!!! Those boys aren't attractive to me

PurpleJedi said:

IMO - and this is strictly my opinion - Steroids are just one more "tool" used by humans for physical "improvement".

I'd lump it in with Botox, silicone, ephedra, and all the "gray market" supplements out there.

Being a society of free will, and being a self-harming substance (same as alcohol and nicotine) I would argue for the regulation of its use as opposed to an outright ban that's leading to black-market abuses (same as marijuana).

The reason for this being more & more abused to me is twofold;

1 - athletic performance is advancing to a state that HIGH SCHOOL athletes are feeling the pressure to "roid up" in order to compete.

2 - the male image has gone all "Adonis" on us, thanks to the Brad Pitts and Jersey Shore dudes turning female heads. I'm not saying it's RIGHT, I'm just saying it's THERE. So guys with shitty genetics (or "bigorexia" complexes) who want to look like the picture posted by the O.P. almost have to turn to roids.

Pfft. Jersey Shore? Them boys are trash and they know it..

I'm really not that picky physically. I mean...dancer's body is nice. But if the man got a good heart and takes care of himself (i'm tallking basic hygeine and health here), then I'm cool with it.

I'm not overly fond of musclebound fellas. I mean, it's good to be healthy, but being bulked up like that ain't really necessary.

[Edited 12/5/11 12:25pm]

^^^ Pauly there (or whatever his name is) is making millions off of his six-pack abs.

I wasn't saying it as an endorsement. Just stating a fact. Jersey Shore dudes are everywhere. I'm too old for clubs, but my friends that still go tell me in the summertime the two-sizes-too-small-shirt-wearing muscledudes are everywhere. You can thank Calvin Klein for every damn perfume ad to have one. And let's not forget Abercrombie & Hollister & them.

Yeah going to the gym works wonders, especially when you know what you're doing. But odds are that for the 'average Joe' some type of chemical enhancement would be required to get to look like the O.P.'s pic.

But...uhm...Ottensen and ThruTheEyes'...you are of course perfectly RIGHT...that's all utter nonsense. Who wants to looklike that anyway?

...and...uhm... HOWUDOIN'?

jaimestarr79 said:

JoeTyler said:

this is a serious thread, lol

what do U think about steroids used for cosmetic purposes?

do U know anybody who has used them? WHAT HAPPENED?

in my gym there are like 5 or 6 guys who PROUDLY say that they regularly use them, without collateral effects. They are as big as trucks, lol.

I (we all) have heard stories of guys developing tits, getting bald, losing their testicles, dying from cancer or "just" developing a heavy/painful addiction, etc. due to the steroids. But those guys at my gym seem so healthy and happy, lol I don't know what to think right now...and they are already 38-55 years old...

so ,ladies and gents, thoughts? ... yes? no? maybe? for a while? Y-A-Y? N-A-Y? hell yeah? not a chance in hell?

It's not worth it!!!! I have know 2 guys that have died from taking them. One guy died from liver cancer at 37 the other guy died from a brain aneurysm at 40 due to out of controlled blood pressure. Another guy I know has had two kidney transplants and still continues to use them to this day. They are very addictive!!! Dudes get to be just the opposite of an annorexic. They get addicted to getting bigger. Most bodybuilders say you are supposed to cycle them ( do them only a few times a year) Most people get on them and never get off. I had a college roomate that took them and he stole anything just to get money for them. He became a complete asshole...always roid raging starting fights, etc. He ended up going to prison for 4 years for a few crimes he committed while on them. Pills kill your liver and kidneys. Most roids come from the black market....meaning you don't know how save they are. You may get some tainted stuff from china or mexico. Beside you don't know if you are getting the real stuff or fake. Not to mention how expensive they are. I've heard of guys transmitting Hepatitis because they shared vials ( you stick the needles in before injected yourself). Just get a book about weight lifting or go on youtube for training ideas. The most important thing is to train and eat right. You don't need " the juice" to get in shape.

I know a lot of bodybuilders and very, very few of them never go "off" and I've seen plenty of guys over the years who at one point used to be pretty fanatic and then stopped juicing and training and never went back.

People always talk about roid rage, but most evidence is anecdotal.

As for them being expensive, not really. Most spend more on food than they spend on steroids. Only some guys on (high doses) of HGH and IGF are spending a lot of money.

Is it worth it? I dunno, depends on the person and what their goal is and what and how they want to cycle, but of course it's easier to consider things to be either all good or all bad.

This reminds me...last week at the gym, some dude walks into the free weight area with a freakin' hawt piece of eye candy on his arm. Not a particularly buff guy and a bit rough around the edges...but damn...every damned guy in the room was looking at the hottie that he was with. Talk about brick house. He must be doing SOMETHING right!

I'm sitting there thinkin'; "Damn! He's got it MADE. With someone like THAT in my arms, I'd be spending more time at home and less time at the GYM!"

Meanwhile...my buddy overheard the conversation the dude was having with a meathead on the bench next to ours...and the dude was trying to score some steroids!!!!

I guess the grass is always greener!

N-A-Y

One thing that one should consider about steroids is ROID RAGE.

Fact or fiction?

Well stories like this don't help....

COLTON, Calif. (AP) — Police say a naked, 300-pound bodybuilder savagely beat a Southern California couple at their home, leaving them in critical condition.

The Sun of San Bernardino says 22-year-old Ruben Arzu apparently was under the influence of steroids and other drugs, and it took four police officers, two stun gun blasts and four sets of handcuffs to restrain him.

Police say the couple came home late Saturday to find Arzu naked on the front porch of their home in Colton.

When Arzu was confronted by the 35-year-old husband, police say the bodybuilder attacked the man, causing major head trauma.

The man's wife called 911. Police say Arzu then picked her up and threw her around, causing facial injuries and multiple cuts to her head.

Arzu was booked on suspicion of attempted homicide.

TWO stun gun blasts and FOUR officers to restrain him.

The husband has a broken jaw and the wife a fractured skull.

This dude is lucky they weren't packing heat!

Dayum.

from YAHOO!

The effects of supraphysiological doses of testosterone on angry behavior in healthy eugonadal men--a clinical research center study.

Tricker R, Casaburi R, Storer TW, Clevenger B, Berman N, Shirazi A, Bhasin S
Division of Endocrinology, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, California 90059, USA.

Anecdotal reports of "roid rage" and violent crimes by androgenic steroid users have brought attention to the relationship between anabolic steroid use and angry outbursts. However, testosterone effects on human aggression remain controversial. Previous studies have been criticized because of the low androgen doses, lack of placebo control or blinding, and inclusion of competitive athletes and those with preexisting psychopathology. To overcome these pitfalls, we used a double-blind, placebo-controlled design, excluded competitive athletes and those with psychiatric disorders, and used 600 mg testosterone enanthate (TE)/week. Forty-three eugonadal men, 19-40 yr, were randomized to 1 of 4 groups: Group I, placebo, no exercise; Group II, TE, no exercise; Group III, placebo, exercise; Group IV, TE plus exercise. Exercise consisted of thrice weekly strength training sessions. The Multi-Dimensional Anger Inventory (MAI), which includes 5 different dimensions of anger (inward anger, outward anger, anger arousal, hostile outlook, and anger eliciting situations), and a Mood Inventory (MI), which includes items related to mood and behavior, were administered to subjects before, during, and after the 10 week intervention. The subject's significant other (spouse, live-in partner, or parent) also answered the same questions about the subject's mood and behavior (Observer Mood Inventory, OMI). No differences were observed between exercising and nonexercising and between placebo and TE treated subjects for any of the 5 subdomains of MAI. Overall there were no significant changes in MI or OMI during the treatment period in any group. Conclusion: Supraphysiological doses of testosterone, when administered to normal men in a controlled setting, do not increase angry behavior. These data do not exclude the possibility that still higher doses of multiple steroids might provoke angry behavior in men with preexisting psychopathology

Baillieres Clin Endocrinol Metab 1998 Oct;12(3):521-34

Potential adverse effects of long-term testosterone therapy.

Rolf C, Nieschlag E.

Institute of Reproductive Medicine of the University, Munster, Germany.

Natural testosterone and its esters, even when applied in supraphysiological doses, rarely produce side-effects. Via a negative feedback mechanism, exogenous testosterone suppresses the production of lutenizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone, and leads to reduced testicular sperm production and, consequently, reduced testicular volume. The main concerns for the potential adverse effects of testosterone treatment are the prostate and the cardiovascular system. Androgens play a permissive role in the development of prostate cancer and benign prostate hyperplasia; however, there are no data to indicate that testosterone administration can lead to the progression of pre-clinical or clinical prostate cancer. Whether the effects of testosterone treatment on lipid metabolism are clinically relevant is as yet undetermined. The effects of testosterone on behaviour, especially on aggression, have not been firmly established. Some androgen effects, such as virilization and coarsening of the voice, considered normal in adult men are inappropriate in women and children.

Clin Endocrinol Metab 1992 Dec;75(6):1503-7

The effects of exogenous testosterone on sexuality and mood of normal men.

Anderson RA, Bancroft J, Wu FC.

Medical Research Council Reproductive Biology Unit, Centre for Reproductive Biology, Edinburgh, Scotland.

The effects of supraphysiological levels of testosterone, used for male contraception, on sexual behavior and mood were studied in a single-blind, placebo-controlled manner in a group of 31 normal men. After 4 weeks of baseline observations, the men were randomized into two groups: one group received 200 mg testosterone enanthate (TE) weekly by im injection for 8 weeks (Testosterone Only group), the other received placebo injections once weekly for the first 4 weeks followed by TE 200 mg weekly for the following 4 weeks (Placebo/Testosterone group). The testosterone administration increased trough plasma testosterone levels by 80%, compatible with peak testosterone levels 400-500% above baseline. Various aspects of sexuality were assessed using sexuality experience scales (SES) questionnaires at the end of each 4-week period while sexual activity and mood states were recorded by daily dairies and self-rating scales. In both groups there was a significant increase in scores in the Psychosexual Stimulation Scale of the SES (i.e. SES 2) following testosterone administration, but not with placebo. There were no changes in SES 3, which measures aspects of sexual interaction with the partner. In both groups there were no changes in frequency of sexual intercourse, masturbation, or penile erection on waking nor in any of the moods reported. The Placebo/Testosterone group showed an increase in self-reported interest in sex during testosterone treatment but not with placebo. The SES 2 results suggest that sexual awareness and arousability can be increased by supraphysiological levels of testosterone. However, these changes are not reflected in modifications of overt sexual behavior, which in eugonadal men may be more determined by sexual relationship factors. This contrasts with hypogonadal men, in whom testosterone replacement clearly stimulates sexual behavior. There was no evidence to suggest an alteration in any of the mood states studied, in particular those associated with increased aggression. We conclude that supraphysiological levels of testosterone maintained for up to 2 months can promote some aspects of sexual arousability without stimulating sexual activity in eugonadal men within stable heterosexual relationships. Raising testosterone does not increase self-reported ratings of aggressive feelings.

I do believe there can be some incresed aggression, depending on the person and substance, but "normal" people just going crazy I'm not buying.

I used them for some time. Didn't have any side effects and it was a great feeling.

BUT now i've accepted my body much more, i will never take it again and i'm much happier....I wasn't happy when I took them.

Ask yourself more why you think you need them? Why do wanna be big like a truck?

eavlinc said:

I do believe there can be some incresed aggression, depending on the person and substance, but "normal" people just going crazy I'm not buying.

I agree.

There's no denying that high levels of testosterone...whether natural or medicinal...result in increased aggression. Bull sharks have the highest level of testosterone in the animal kingdom (I believe) which makes for them being so dangerous.

This story, though, sounds like the dude was trippin' on LSD or something, and since he's a roided musclehead, it makes for catchy headlines.

robertlove said:

I used them for some time. Didn't have any side effects and it was a great feeling.

BUT now i've accepted my body much more, i will never take it again and i'm much happier....I wasn't happy when I took them.

Ask yourself more why you think you need them? Why do wanna be big like a truck?

Because it's hot.

Big muscled guys are fucking disgusting to me....not attractive at all. Super cut six packs look gross to me.

I just like fit and a little definition is ok...but big bulging muscles?

This is as big as I would be attracted to. Anything more is too much.

eavlinc said:

robertlove said:

I used them for some time. Didn't have any side effects and it was a great feeling.

BUT now i've accepted my body much more, i will never take it again and i'm much happier....I wasn't happy when I took them.

Ask yourself more why you think you need them? Why do wanna be big like a truck?

Because it's hot.

No it's not

JustErin said:

Big muscled guys are fucking disgusting to me....not attractive at all. Super cut six packs look gross to me.

I just like fit and a little definition is ok...but big bulging muscles?

This is as big as I would be attracted to. Anything more is too much.

But that is!

robertlove said:

eavlinc said:

Because it's hot.

No it's not

...but you'd move out of his way in a hurry though...

eavlinc said:

robertlove said:

I used them for some time. Didn't have any side effects and it was a great feeling.

BUT now i've accepted my body much more, i will never take it again and i'm much happier....I wasn't happy when I took them.

Ask yourself more why you think you need them? Why do wanna be big like a truck?

Because it's hot.

Overkill.

Graycap23 said:

eavlinc said:

Because it's hot.

Overkill.

Maybe, but that's one of the best bodybuilders ever. Wouldn't mind looking like him though, at least for a little while.

PurpleJedi said:

robertlove said:

No it's not

...but you'd move out of his way in a hurry though...

Treu, but than you have everybody running away, what's fun is that?

No jsut kdding, I admire those guys a lot, because it's so much fucking hard work.....I just don't think it's hot.