|
Considering the use of
Steroids? Read the FACTS
Many times have I heard unknowing women state that they do not want to
partake in weight training because they "don’t want to get
‘big’". They equate weight lifting with the extreme muscle
mass of the professional female bodybuilders (fbbs) they see in many of
the muscle magazines. They hear the taunts of their boyfriends or husbands
claiming these fbbs look like men and are undesirable. Does this sound
like an invitation for the average woman to weight train? Not all women
are aware that these fbbs acquire their massive physiques with the aid
of male hormone drugs. I have had to assure many women that they can’t
get ‘that’ big unless they, too, use specific drugs and train like
animals.
On the other hand, many of the average gym-going women are sometimes
daunted by the size of fbbs and think they are doomed to never gain any
muscle mass unless they too use steroids. Let's concentrate on the
the lady that is thinking about the use of steroids for
non-professional use and not for competition.
The cover of Fitness magazines or advertisements that you see these
beautiful, buff ladies flexing for the cameras are misleading.
Many of these ladies presented in the muscle magazines are photographed
while they are on performance enhancement drugs. Thus, these
regimes are falsely represented to the average weightlifter as training
programs that anyone can adopt and gain similar results. Remember, these
ads and articles with these ladies are often misleading.
Most commonly, women complain that they can not increase their
muscle mass and lose body fat. First, understand that these two processes
are contradictory. Only beginners to weight training will be able to
increase their muscle mass and lose body fat simultaneously. Even then,
beginners will eventually reach a plateau where muscle gains will
decrease. The body must be in a state of anabolism (meaning, the phase of
metabolism in which simple substances are synthesized into the complex
materials of living tissue) to grow. In other words, conditions must be
optimal for the body to build tissue. -
Gaining appreciable muscle mass and dropping body fat at the same time
is not optimal. One needs to concentrate on one or the other. Most
of the claims of the muscle magazines and supplement companies that they
or their products can increase muscle mass while losing body fat are
false and merely a sales gimmick. Trainees have to accept
some gain in body fat along with the gain in muscle mass. The body fat
can be lost later with a sensible diet.
Back
to Top
Generally, women, more than men, tend to over-train and not eat enough.
Many women weightlifters follow training regimes they see in their
favorite muscle magazine entailing 10 or more sets per body part. Because
women have lower baseline levels of testosterone than men, women possibly
may require less volume than men for better recovery. Adding numerous
hours of cardio on top of that most likely leads to overtraining. As well,
most women do not eat enough for muscle growth for fear of gaining body
fat
Women using the typical doses of steroids to gain
their extreme muscle mass are venturing into unknown health risks.
Side effects of the use of steroids: Increased blood pressure, heart
disease and liver cancer may appear later in life. Premature hardening of
the arteries. Salt and water retention is a side effect commonly
experienced. Male baldness pattern, cystic acne, decreased breast
tissue, excessive facial hair, and disruption of the menstrual cycle.
These are considered reversible and usually disappear not long after
discontinued use. These side effects are permanent, such as deepening of
the voice and enlargement of the clitoris
Another potential risk in men and women is combining use of steroids with
cortisone or its derivatives. Cortisone is also called a steroid.
However, its actions are considered catabolic (The metabolic breakdown of
complex molecules into simpler ones, often resulting in a release of
energy). It may actually cause muscle degeneration when used over a long
period of time. It is frequently prescribed in sports to reduce
inflammation caused by injury. Combining steroids with cortisone may
predispose the user to severe connective tissue injuries. Several such
sports injuries have been reported due to concomitant steroids and
cortisone use.
If you do decide to use steroids, find someone who knows what they are
doing. Don’t rely on Billy Bob in the gym to guide you. He may be big,
but being big doesn’t guarantee a brain. Ideally, someone with a medical
background would be able to minimize side effects, but that also cannot be
guaranteed. Most of all educate yourself. It’s your body you are
tinkering with. Most of all, ask yourself if you really want to take the
risks especially if your goal is obtainable by other means.
~ This information was provided by my research on
this subject and many questions I receive on this topic. If you are
seriously thinking about the use of steroids, do your own research and
make sure you know what you are getting into! Yes, you may have the
results you are looking for while using this drug, but in the long run, do
you want to risk your life and having horrible side effects which some
will never go away? Remember, the ladies that you admire (I do
the same thing!) in the magazines are most likely using some form of steroids.
Yes, WE CAN have the firm abs, tight bodies and some definition if we
train smart and hard, eat right and rest! Try to be happy with what
you've got! I know sometimes it is hard, but try to stay focus and
positive because your health and fitness... meaning.... your body is all
you've got! It is your Temple, so take care of it
Back
to Top |
