Genetics, Bodybuilding and Steroids

[TG1]

Something @Neuro mentioned in another thread reminded me of something we don’t often talk about here. The top pros in the sport are able to get where they are not just genetics on muscle shape and size but their bodies can handle the high doses of anabolics. This isn’t the case for everyone.

This is why bloodwork and constant monitoring are important. You should be getting regular bloodwork on and off cycles. Ask your doc to order panels if needed under insurance. I have a folder full of bloodwork over the years sometimes taken 2 weeks apart while I’m making adjustments.

Steroids will affect things in how your body functions and you need to learn how to adjust and need to get your body in check before making more adjustments. Genetically we are all different and all have different responses to our cycles.

You should have BP monitor, glucose monitor, heart rate, etc all at home and be checking regularly. If you get a headache or even feel off, check it all and note down what’s going on. Recent diet if changed, meds, alcohol. Anything into a diary of what could have caused it and activities.

 

[Neuro]

I have a stack of hardback notebooks by my desk with loose papers of labs sticking out, following diet, compounds, dosing, BP, and glucose.

No matter your philosophy on dosage intake… these are the minimum things you should be following to ensure you are staying on track with your health.

I agree @TG some folks don’t understand/don’t want to acknowledge that their body can’t handle/process/work with the same amount of gear others can. I used to be all over Dirt like I have been on others for his dosing… until I realized he was diligent about his labs etc and they kept showing up good, and when they didn’t he backed off.

 

[TG1]

It’s so easy to just print your results and write down on the paper what your cycle is and info that day. Fasted or not. Gives your doc an idea if needed where and what the cause is. I know not all people share with their docs the info but in my experience they know anyway looking at you or should anyhow.

 

[JLee]

Its true! The most expensive part of this lifestyle is the bloodwork. The food probably second.
Not sure about a glucose monitor but I use the BP monitor all the time. They are pretty cheap and can be bought almost anywhere.

 

[BBSQ5]

Yeah, I for one am guilty of not using a glucose monitor or even monitoring my BP more often.

I think I am pretty good with my blood work and at a minimum am getting that every 6 months for just my HRT, but I get them more often than that when on a stack.

 

[Poppy]

@BBSQ5 a man your age should be a bit more cautious/diligent.

 

[Poppy]

I just reread this thread.

I wholeheartedly agree. There’s some folks that are so different in many ways.

I told the story some time back here. I’ve known people that have taken massive amounts of recreational drugs… heroin cocaine narcotic pills of every kind…smoked marlboro reds… drank like a fish every day for 40 years They’ve lived into their late 60’s-70’s. It’s amazing to me.

I agree with peds. There’s some folks that can handle insane amounts while others can’t.

I read a pretty in-depth paper a long time ago about the “lack of” knowledge/studies/data on ped use. There’s plenty of smaller studies ot there about universities having experiments on regular joes and gym rats BUT nothing on the pro BB circuit or any type of weight/power lifting. It’s still in the shadows.

The liver king dude is a perfect example… deny deny…counter accuse. All you need is this brand of this or that supplement and you’ll look/perform like me.

 

[Poppy]

Dave tate had an article on elite years ago where they anonymously interviewed a handful of globally ranked champion powerlifters. They were all done lifting and basically retired.

I have to find the article again. I remember not one of them had anything positive to say. They had miserable painful lives strung out on painkillers… failed marriages/family lives/careers.

It was not a pretty picture.

 

[Poppy]

Do You REALLY Have What It Takes?

How do the elite fare after the platform? Is their descent into middle age a dignified one, or do the sins of competitiveness mixed with youthful ignorance lead them down a black

www.elitefts.com

 

[Poppy]

My opinion… the above article should be mandatory reading

 

[TG1]

but those who did all had issues conceiving, from staying “on” too long.

The good news is permanent infertility is extremely rare, says Dr. Eric Serrano, a Columbus, Ohio based physician who treats and monitors thousands of bodybuilders and powerlifters. “Out of the thousands of steroid-using athletes I’ve worked with, only three couldn’t start making sperm again. And two of them were identical twins.”

This was my problem. Unfortunately most docs aren’t as smart as this doc is. My endo in the states told me it was still possible while a “top” notch fertility specialist in US said its impossible. Doc in Europe here wasn’t even phased and got everything going.

Heavy use IMO should be after you got thru the baby making stage in life and no longer want kids and can commit to lifelong trt at minimum. Much cheaper then IVF lol.

So many poeple wanted to be like Ronnie Coleman 25 years ago. You wont find anyone wanting to be like Ronnie today tho. The sport itself you need to do for you cause it’ll forget about you for the next guy in a heartbeat.

 

[TG1]

A good book to read when you’re past the wanting to compete or career stage young guys have is Muscle: Confessions of an Unlikely Bodybuilder by Sam Fussell.

It’s a good story how he starts out at an Ivy league school and scared of people and gets into the YMCA tho then leaves everything for Golds in Venice in the 80s and having too sleep in a car and roommate with others. Gets pretty sad and those around for a long time know exactly what it’s like. We all knew bodybuilders struggling like that and never made it.

 

[Poppy]

Thats a very unforgiving low paying sport and if you reach the pinnacle…the money really still isn’t there. Pro “stick and ball” sports have bigger signing bonuses than most pro bbers will make in a lifetime including their real job.

Pling is worse… reach the absolute top for lots of pain and misery and very low pay.

Reminds me of the study of crack dealers. Most of the corner boys considered their selves to be king pins when the reality of it is they would make more money hour for hour at fast food AND their life/freedom expectancy was little to nothing on the corner.

 

[Poppy]

There’s a thousand stories out there of the grass is greener… we got an ex green beret selling cars down here at a dealership. His words… did my hitch…. Chased the money with a private contractor and it was one big @&$)(;:/… ended up here.

 

[TG1]

In my early years I was pimping friends from the gym out as strippers to Bachelorette parties. My ending moment when I had to go to a party and yell at a guy who locked himself in the bathroom and refused to come out. I was like what the fuck was I doing lol. I quit shortly after.

 

[TG1]

with a private contractor

It’s all a shitshow. And while there with one company you meet others that try to recruit you to theirs. Break a contract, lose a bonus and find out other company is just as fucked up and everyone lies about how their company has their shit together lol.

 

[Poppy]

Or go with federal civil service… luke warm pay… a gazillion rules…of course now, the 3 letter agencies are shameful. Who wants that label!?

I’ve been told the sky marshals had an extremely high turnover rate. Lots of dissatisfaction.

 

[Poppy]

After retiring i got picked up with a gov contractor. Small mom n pop operation. Great company great pay great everything. They started getting real big and got bought out by a conglomerate. Everything went south quickly. Luckily my contract was coming to an end and the other great mom n pop contractor picked us up. I was hoping for a cut in pay so I could “quit”… the sobs gave us all big raises and more vacation time. Here i am… exactly one year and 3 weeks later…very satisfied. Hahaha

 

[Neuro]

This topic highlights why we run bloodwork often. Far too often we choose to remain ignorant of our bodies abilities and limits. To run doses blindly, adjust half assed, and not establish a true baseline is to invite disaster into your house later.

 

[Poppy]

not establish a true baseline is to invite disaster into your house later.

Truth