Long term side effects of steriods, are there any?

warchild · 15-11-2004, 08:06 AM

I am a natural trainer but like many other natural trainers I have always been tempted by steriods but have always been too scared to use them as the media says that they are bad for you.

Flex Wheeler is the only pro to mind that due to massive overuse of steriods has suffered, but Arnold and big Lou seem to be still going strong.

Now as a comparison is taking steriods as bad as smoking? I dont smoke but my great grandad did from the age of 14 and smoked 40 a day until he died in his mid 90's.

Is there any substantiated evidence that steriods are that bad?

GettinSwole · 15-11-2004, 07:14 PM

each person reacts differently to steroids. genetics has alot to do w/ how it affects each person. potentially steroids can cause liver/kidney damage, enlarge your prostate, make you go bald, cause gynecomastia, irreversible deepening of the voice, testicular atrophy that could leave you sterile for life, joint/tendon/ligament pain that must be continually treated, etc. you need to know what you're getting into before you hop on.
The main decision for each person is "Do the pros outweigh the cons?" If to you they do, do it. If they don't, stay away. You don't know how they're going to affect you until you do it and that's a risk in itself.

warchild · 16-11-2004, 08:05 AM

Hi GettinSwolen

I have heard of all of these side effects but from my experience at gyms I have never come into contact with anybody that has had massively adverse effects on roids.

Can you compare the side effects to be as life threatening as excessive alcohol consumption, smoking or even nowadays ecessively eating and becoming obese?

I would consider that in general bodybuilders are healthier than most people. Especially in my age range (mid 20's) My friends eat crap at the wrong times, drink excessively most nights and indulge in recreational drugs.

Are steriods more detrimental on a bodybuilders health considering an exceptionally healthy lifestyle in most cases than the way the general public treat their bodys.

Which is worse me taking steriods or giving up training and trying my best to become obese by living at mcdonalds?

GettinSwole · 16-11-2004, 03:19 PM

you didn't exactly ask for a comparison in the earlier question. If I was comparing the side effects of drugs, I would say that steroid use in moderation probably has the mildest sides of any of those. Most of the effects of steroid use is cosmetic instead of causing problems inside you. If you stayed on for years at a time like the pros, then yes, you will not live long and steroids will have adverse sides. Using them in moderation or for recreation though, I think a healthy majority of people will be fine.

GTForce · 16-11-2004, 04:10 PM

Warchild,

As a trainer, one of the most potentially threatening problems I see among young bodybuilders is addiction. After doing a few courses of gear, some guys become convinced that they can no longer make improvements without them. This causes a lot of guys to stay on longer and/or do more cycles per year than intended.
I know a lot of the guys here may disagree with me. but I feel one should train naturally for AT LEAST five straight years before turning to gear. Personally, I think it is pointless for anyone under 24 to use steroids - unless you have the potential to make a living from bodybuilding...maybe .001% of the population.
Between 16-24 your body is producing a very healthy dose of testosterone and growth hormone. If you can't make natural improvements at that age then your lifestyle is probably to blame...in which case you have no business doing gear.
Train naturally for as long as you can. I waited until my own test production started to decline (with age) before trying gear. I still love training as much as ever while "off", but some guys I know basically do not train unless they're "on". Training on gear has become such an allure that they just sit on their asses (or train half-ass) when they are "off". It is a sad sight to be sure.

As far as the physical side effects are concerned...what Gettin' Swole said.

Take care,
GTF

warchild · 17-11-2004, 12:50 PM

Thanks to you all for the advice.

I didnt think that steriods were as bad as the media portrays but was unsure if there were any massive long term bad effects.

I dont want to get old and think "I should have at least tried them when I was younger". Once I cant gain anymore naturally (probably a few years yet) I will probably try a course.

Thanks again
Dan

Andy1981iron · 26-12-2004, 03:26 PM

Can affect bad cholesterol levels, certain steroids are worse than others winstrol affecting bad HDL greatly. Mike Materazzo former pro BB has just had triple bypass open heart surgery at the young age of 39, two of his arteries were totally blocked and steroids would of been a factor, especially as his family has no history of heart disease. Many other former pro bodybuilders have had heart problems/heart attacks at a young age, guess you just gotta be careful and not abuse the juice and try and eat healthy and keep cardivascularly fit.

Anonymous · 26-12-2004, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warchild

I didnt think that steriods were as bad as the media portrays but was unsure if there were any massive long term bad effects.

from all the research and reading i've done on AS over the past few months i've come to the conclusion that the side effects of steroids are nowhere near as bad as the media/govt. makes them out to be! theres a big 'anti-steroid' poster up in my old gym that shows the human body, and has arrows to every organ in the body which all have a long list of side effects next to them, just every possible thing related to heavy steroid abuse is listed, the thing is the chances of more than a little acne or headaches for the majority of fit and healthy men that use roids responsibly is pretty damm low, i looked at this about a year ago and it scared the shit outta me, i looked at it again today and thought 'what a load of bullshit' (bad breath, sore tonge, headaches, spitting blood, kidney disease, liver failiure, high blood pressure, baldness, breast development, weak bones, eye damage, yellow skin, infertility + shrinkage... the list must have been a good 30-40! sides) but all of those are either extremely rare (unless you abuse AS) or easily reversable/treatable

I dont want to get old and think "I should have at least tried them when I was younger".

me too man, i'm 20 now, i wanna be out enjoying myself and getting on with my life, i got 4-5 years training under my belt and i'm still no where near as big as i want to be! its getting me real depressed now! not the fact that i look bad... i know i look great: i have good development, cuts, seperation... just look like a woman with my clothes on! and its the whole cost and time that it takes to be sooo strict with my eating and training and for minimal gains, very very fustrating and depressing! i can't do it anymore!

if i don't juice now (while at uni) i doubt i ever will, and i will regret it for the rest of my life... getting so far... learning so much about BB... and all for nothing! its either juice and be huge, confident, stong, motivated, inspired.. etc OR quit wasting my money/time now, quit lifting, forget BB totally and go out and party like all other normal young english students BUT i'll have a shit physique and be ultimately unhappy again (i'm too much of a perfectionist and i know i will end up sad going down this route), with steroids i'll be able to do both (get huge and party all night!) so for me i know its the time to juice, no doubt! i got nothing to lose everything to gain!

Thanks again
Dan

peace

[/b]

Anonymous · 26-12-2004, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warchild

I didnt think that steriods were as bad as the media portrays but was unsure if there were any massive long term bad effects.

from all the research and reading i've done on AS over the past few months i've come to the conclusion that the side effects of steroids are nowhere near as bad as the media/govt. makes them out to be! theres a big 'anti-steroid' poster up in my old gym that shows the human body, and has arrows to every organ in the body which all have a long list of side effects next to them, just every possible thing related to heavy steroid abuse is listed, the thing is the chances of more than a little acne or headaches for the majority of fit and healthy men that use roids responsibly is pretty damm low, i looked at this about a year ago and it scared the shit outta me, i looked at it again today and thought 'what a load of bullshit' (bad breath, sore tonge, headaches, spitting blood, kidney disease, liver failiure, high blood pressure, baldness, breast development, weak bones, eye damage, yellow skin, infertility + shrinkage... the list must have been a good 30-40! sides) but all of those are either extremely rare (unless you abuse AS) or easily reversable/treatable

I dont want to get old and think "I should have at least tried them when I was younger".

me too man, i'm 20 now, i wanna be out enjoying myself and getting on with my life, i got 4-5 years training under my belt and i'm still no where near as big as i want to be! its getting me real depressed now! not the fact that i look bad... i know i look great: i have good development, cuts, seperation... just look like a woman with my clothes on! and its the whole cost and time that it takes to be sooo strict with my eating and training and for minimal gains, very very fustrating and depressing! i can't do it anymore!

if i don't juice now (while at uni) i doubt i ever will, and i will regret it for the rest of my life... getting so far... learning so much about BB... and all for nothing! its either juice and be huge, confident, stong, motivated, inspired.. etc OR quit wasting my money/time now, quit lifting, forget BB totally and go out and party like all other normal young english students BUT i'll have a shit physique and be ultimately unhappy again (i'm too much of a perfectionist and i know i will end up sad going down this route), with steroids i'll be able to do both (get huge and party all night!) so for me i know its the time to juice, no doubt! i got nothing to lose everything to gain!

Thanks again
Dan

peace

zx9rjas · 27-12-2004, 11:03 AM

Thats quite harsh Godfather, it sounds like you are saying that unless you do steriods f^ck it all because you are nothing without them.

Quote:

its either juice and be huge, confident, stong, motivated, inspired.. etc OR quit wasting my money/time now, quit lifting, forget BB totally and go out and party like all other normal young english students BUT i'll have a shit physique and be ultimately unhappy again

I may be wrong but It sounds to me that you have low self esteem and you should not think that juice is the best thing to do to cure head issues, Juice will not make you confident, motivated or inspired. Sure, the results may give you the confidence but you will always have the opinion that you would be nothing without them, this may lead to addiction.

Steroids should be a next step after getting a great body naturally and getting confidence from that because at some point steroid use will stop and this could cause mental issues.

I am in no means having a go at you, because I have been in a similar position. Steroids is not the answer to you problems mate.

J

15-11-2004, 08:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
warchild Under Construction Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: yorkshire Posts: 52 Rep Power:	Long term side effects of steriods, are there any? I am a natural trainer but like many other natural trainers I have always been tempted by steriods but have always been too scared to use them as the media says that they are bad for you. Flex Wheeler is the only pro to mind that due to massive overuse of steriods has suffered, but Arnold and big Lou seem to be still going strong. Now as a comparison is taking steriods as bad as smoking? I dont smoke but my great grandad did from the age of 14 and smoked 40 a day until he died in his mid 90's. Is there any substantiated evidence that steriods are that bad?

15-11-2004, 07:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
GettinSwole Making Progress Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: USA Posts: 372 Rep Power:	each person reacts differently to steroids. genetics has alot to do w/ how it affects each person. potentially steroids can cause liver/kidney damage, enlarge your prostate, make you go bald, cause gynecomastia, irreversible deepening of the voice, testicular atrophy that could leave you sterile for life, joint/tendon/ligament pain that must be continually treated, etc. you need to know what you're getting into before you hop on. The main decision for each person is "Do the pros outweigh the cons?" If to you they do, do it. If they don't, stay away. You don't know how they're going to affect you until you do it and that's a risk in itself. ______________________ thricefan@cyber-rights.net You have to do what others won't to achieve what others don't.

16-11-2004, 03:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
GettinSwole Making Progress Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: USA Posts: 372 Rep Power:	you didn't exactly ask for a comparison in the earlier question. If I was comparing the side effects of drugs, I would say that steroid use in moderation probably has the mildest sides of any of those. Most of the effects of steroid use is cosmetic instead of causing problems inside you. If you stayed on for years at a time like the pros, then yes, you will not live long and steroids will have adverse sides. Using them in moderation or for recreation though, I think a healthy majority of people will be fine. ______________________ thricefan@cyber-rights.net You have to do what others won't to achieve what others don't.

16-11-2004, 04:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
GTForce Making Progress Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, CANADA Posts: 198 Rep Power:	Warchild, As a trainer, one of the most potentially threatening problems I see among young bodybuilders is addiction. After doing a few courses of gear, some guys become convinced that they can no longer make improvements without them. This causes a lot of guys to stay on longer and/or do more cycles per year than intended. I know a lot of the guys here may disagree with me. but I feel one should train naturally for AT LEAST five straight years before turning to gear. Personally, I think it is pointless for anyone under 24 to use steroids - unless you have the potential to make a living from bodybuilding...maybe .001% of the population. Between 16-24 your body is producing a very healthy dose of testosterone and growth hormone. If you can't make natural improvements at that age then your lifestyle is probably to blame...in which case you have no business doing gear. Train naturally for as long as you can. I waited until my own test production started to decline (with age) before trying gear. I still love training as much as ever while "off", but some guys I know basically do not train unless they're "on". Training on gear has become such an allure that they just sit on their asses (or train half-ass) when they are "off". It is a sad sight to be sure. As far as the physical side effects are concerned...what Gettin' Swole said. Take care, GTF ______________________ You don't win friends with salad

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16-11-2004, 08:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
warchild Under Construction Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: yorkshire Posts: 52 Rep Power:	Hi GettinSwolen I have heard of all of these side effects but from my experience at gyms I have never come into contact with anybody that has had massively adverse effects on roids. Can you compare the side effects to be as life threatening as excessive alcohol consumption, smoking or even nowadays ecessively eating and becoming obese? I would consider that in general bodybuilders are healthier than most people. Especially in my age range (mid 20's) My friends eat crap at the wrong times, drink excessively most nights and indulge in recreational drugs. Are steriods more detrimental on a bodybuilders health considering an exceptionally healthy lifestyle in most cases than the way the general public treat their bodys. Which is worse me taking steriods or giving up training and trying my best to become obese by living at mcdonalds?

17-11-2004, 12:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
warchild Under Construction Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: yorkshire Posts: 52 Rep Power:	Thanks to you all for the advice. I didnt think that steriods were as bad as the media portrays but was unsure if there were any massive long term bad effects. I dont want to get old and think "I should have at least tried them when I was younger". Once I cant gain anymore naturally (probably a few years yet) I will probably try a course. Thanks again Dan

26-12-2004, 03:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
Andy1981iron Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hull Posts: 833 Rep Power:	Can affect bad cholesterol levels, certain steroids are worse than others winstrol affecting bad HDL greatly. Mike Materazzo former pro BB has just had triple bypass open heart surgery at the young age of 39, two of his arteries were totally blocked and steroids would of been a factor, especially as his family has no history of heart disease. Many other former pro bodybuilders have had heart problems/heart attacks at a young age, guess you just gotta be careful and not abuse the juice and try and eat healthy and keep cardivascularly fit.