From Buildingbodies.ca: We here at buidingbodies.ca in no way condone the use of steroids or would suggest it in any way. However, like it or not, steroids are a part of the professional bodybuilding scene. Because of common questions that I have no interest in answering since we keep it natural here at buildingbodies.ca, here is some general information on steroids, stacking and D-bol in pro bodybuilding.
Use Your Head Folks…if it goes up quick…it will probably fall fast…
For many bodybuilding enthusiasts, the intense workouts, focused dieting, and periodic competitions are like a drug themselves. The power that comes from working hard and sculpting your body into something you could have only imagined can be intoxicating. But when exercise and diet carry a bodybuilder only so far, many will often use bodybuilding and steroids together to take their look to the next level – the long term effects of which can be devastating.
The connection between bodybuilding and steroids is one with a long history. Anabolic steroids are supplements that bodybuilders use to enhance their workout and diet – the use of which will quickly and significantly boost muscle mass. Steroids are able to achieve this rapid growth of muscle because they contain testosterone – a hormone naturally present in men and women that is responsible for the building of muscle. When testosterone is enhanced by the addition of steroids, its job function is increased.
Because men naturally contain more testosterone, they are able build more muscle mass than women. But when women bodybuilders add steroids to their diet and exercise regime they are able to build muscle mass on the same level as men. Many women who combine bodybuilding and steroids, therefore, will also begin to take on many male physical characteristics.
Bodybuilding and steroids is actually an illegal combination for many reasons. For one, those bodybuilders who use steroids have an unfair advantage over those bodybuilders who build their muscles naturally. In order to maintain a level playing field for competitors, it is necessary to ban the use of steroids.
But most importantly, the long term effects of bodybuilding and steroids have been shown to be disastrous. Linked to everything from acne and hair loss, to insomnia and depression, steroids can have physical ramifications that are simply not worth their use. Some of the more serious side effects include hallucinations, weak ligaments, high blood pressure, and even cancer. In more than one case, steroids have been linked to fatalities.
Bodybuilding is a sport of extreme discipline and sacrifice. For those who take it seriously, the power is in their hands – and only their hands. Bodybuilding and steroids, while attractive to those who are looking for fast results, can have disastrous long term effects impacting physical health and longevity.
For easy to understand, in depth information about bodybuilding and steroids visit our ezGuide 2 Bodybuilding.
For many bodybuilders their first introduction to steroids was Dianabol (also known as D-bol and by the generic name, Methandrostenelone). It’s safe to say that many iron pumpers remember their first cycle as fondly as their first girlfriends! The Ciba Corporation first manufactured d-bol in the 1960’s. As an anabolic steroid it is chemically a derivative of the male hormone testosterone. This means that it has both anabolic (muscle building) and androgenic (masculinizing) properties. Since it’s first use 40 years ago, D-bol has quickly become one of the most popular and sought after drugs in bodybuilding.
The good – Super potent!
When used properly, D-bol will produce outstanding mass and strength gains. As many bodybuilders are fond of saying “if you can’t grow on D-bol you can’t grow!” The drug’s effectiveness is routinely compared to other strong steroids like Anadrol 50. For most bodybuilders a daily dosage of 4-5 tablets (20-25mg) is more than sufficient to produce dramatic results. Some users do experiment with higher dosages, but this practice often leads to unwanted side effects. Dianabol also combines well with other steroids such as Deca-Durabolin, into stacks. Bodybuilders have discovered that for developing maximum size, a long acting testosterone analog such as enanthate works best.
And now for the bad
As expected, D-bol, being moderately androgenic will produce side effects. For starters the drug can be quite estrogenic in some users. Gynecomastia (swelling of the nipple region) is often a concern during use, and may occur quite early in the cycle (particularly if the individual used high dosages). For this reason many bodybuilders add an estrogen blocker such as Nolvadex, to their cycles. Another cosmetic side effect is water retention. This is a concern for competitive bodybuilders, as it will cause a notable loss of muscle definition.
Besides gynecomastia and water retention D-bol can produce such androgenic side effects as oily skin, acne and body/facial hair growth. There is also the possibility of aggravating male pattern baldness in individuals genetically predisposed for this condition.
And the ugly
Like all oral steroids, D-bol has been C-17 alpha alkylated (chemically modified at the 17th carbon position on its nucleus). While this modification protects the drug from being deactivated by the liver, it can also be toxic to the organ. Long-term exposure to C-17 alpha alkylated substances can result in damage and possibly even the development of certain forms of cancer. A combination of short (6 to 8 week) cycles and medical monitoring can reduce this risk.
The alternatives!
Besides the risk of side effects there are three other reasons to avoid using Dianabol. For starters the drug is easily detectable in drug tests. So if you’re an athlete in a sport that has testing, D-bol is out. Second, as of 1990, most steroids-including D-bol were reclassified as illegal substances. Whether it’s cocaine, heroin, or steroids, law enforcement types don’t really care. If they nail you it’s a pay raise for them and jail time for you. Enough said.
Finally a third reason to pass on D-bol is that there are options. The supplement industry has made available numerous legal alternatives to steroids. Users report outstanding muscle gains with few side effects.
The previous information has been created by experts to help you increase your knowledge base about anabolic steroids and bodybuilding supplements. Be knowledgeable. Be informed. Make the right choice!
© Bob Howard 03/27, 2006
Bob Howard expert on bodybuilding and steroids. Are you looking for more of his Dianabol articles?
Few athletes subject their bodies to the same rigors as competitive bodybuilders. Bodybuilding has always had a reputation for attracting those who show no hesitation in taking things to the extreme. Some bodybuilding writers say that it probably started when protein supplements first came on the scene in the 1950’s. Initially the practice was to take one protein shake a day; and most bodybuilders at the time followed this advice. But once word started getting around that extra protein would speed up the gaining of muscular body weigh, caution was thrown to the wind by following the old “if some is good, more is better” mentality. One shake a day became two, two became three, and so on.
We see much the same practice now days with steroid stacking. Initially when bodybuilders first started using steroids in the 1960’s they used very small dosages. But bodybuilding was a small fraternity back then. Everyone knew what the other was taking. Soon it wasn’t long before small dosages became megadoses. Then as soon as new steroids were developed, bodybuilders simply added them to their existing cycles.
The benefits of stacking?
There are numerous reasons why bodybuilders stack drugs. The principal reason is probably effectiveness. Combining multiple drugs into the same stack often produces what’s called a synergistic effect. In simple terms this means that each drug in the stack magnifies or boosts the effectiveness of the others. For example some drugs like growth hormone don’t seem to be that powerful by themselves but when stacked with steroids the results are outstanding. There have been numerous pro bodybuilders who have plateaued at 230-240 pounds, suddenly turning up six months later weighing 260 or 270 pounds.
A second reason for steroid stacking is related to drug tests. Different steroids have varied clearance times in the body. Some of the injectable steroids, may be detectable in a drug test up to 18 to 24 months after their last usage. Conversely the oral steroids may clear out of the body in as little as a few weeks. Bodybuilders get around this by stacking both orals and injectables in their cycles. They’ll use higher dosages of injectables early in the cycle and then switch to orals later in the cycle. Such a pattern of drug usage will keep their muscle size and strength but also greatly increase their odds of passing a drug test.
Should you stack?
We recommend against the practice of stacking steroids for a number of different reasons. The most important reason is safety. The more drugs that you put into your system the more stress is placed on the liver – the body’s primary detoxifying organ. A good example of this type of damage can be scene in alcoholics. The liver damage known as cirrhosis is caused by chronic use of the drug alcohol. Heavy steroid abuse is not that different. It can lead to liver damage over time.
Another problem brought on by steroid stacking is addiction. While stacking with multiple drugs will produce greater strength and muscle gains than possible with just one drug, few bodybuilders can handle losing the extra strength and size after they come off their cycle. So they stay on multiple-drug stacks year-round. It’s this long-term usage that often leads to the severe side effects often associated with steroids.
If the previous was not enough to convince you to avoid steroids then hopefully this will; as of 1990, steroids are illegal! And the more drugs that you have in your possession, the greater the odds that you’ll be charged. A sympathetic judge may ignore one bottle of Dianabol, but you’re almost certain ton be charged if you have multiple bottles of Dianabol, Winstrol, and Deca-Durabolin.
Play it safe and legal with steroid alternatives!
The science of bodybuilding supplementation has become so advanced that there are now products that imitate illegal steroids, but without the same degree of side effects or legal aspects. Many of these steroid alternatives can provide a comparable effect to anabolic steroids, but are considered legal because they do not convert to testosterone or act like anabolic hormones until they are taken into the body! These legal steroid analogs have been designed with the best pharmaceutical grade ingredients to maximize your bodybuilding potential.
Bob Howard expert on bodybuilding and steroids. Are you looking for more of his steroid articles?
[tags]bodybuilding, steroids, D-bol, Stacking steroids[/tags]
