Anabolic steroids are incredibly tempting. They help to significantly speed up the process of gaining muscle mass and can be useful for losing weight and drying the body.
It's safe to say that today all the bodies posing on the catwalks of professional bodybuilding competitions are built using steroids. Not only, of course: pros have 1-2 dozen drugs in their first aid kits.
Popular Instagram stars such as Calum von Moger and Chul Soon also owe their popularity to anabolic steroids.
The wave of passion for modern pharmacology has long spilled out beyond the boundaries of professional bodybuilding and has sprinkled the bodies of mere mortals, boys and girls, who are eager to become bigger, more sinewy and faster.
Some scientists, wanting to emphasize the scale of the hobby for steroids and other sports pharmacology drugs, use the word “epidemic” and warn about the risk of serious side effects.
In this article we will talk about prohibited doping drugs popular among pros and amateurs in bodybuilding, and also provide ratings of steroids based on a statistical survey of athletes.
Main thoughts:
Rating of steroids among professionals: testosterone, stanozol and nandrolone
Rating of steroids among amateurs: testosterone, boldenone, trenbolone and nandrolone
The most common sports pharmacology drugs among athletes are: anabolic steroids, growth hormone, insulin, clenbuterol
In addition to steroids, growth hormone, insulin and clenbuterol, professionals take a number of other drugs: diuretics, blood doping, masking agents, tranquilizers
How effective are steroids?
Many steroid users would have you believe that their superhuman bodies are more due to hard work than medication, but this is simply not true.
Yes, it takes a lot of hard work to create a top-level physique, but it also takes a lot of pharmacology.
The reason for this is quite simple: there are natural limits to muscle growth and fat loss. And then you run into problems: You can't eat enough food to feel good, your workout load seems overwhelming, your sleep suffers, your sex drive plummets and your energy levels drop. The right drugs change all this completely. Here are the results of one famous study from Maastricht University.{banner_st-d-2}
Over the course of 10 weeks, they divided the athletes into 4 groups:
- placebo without exercise
- testosterone without exercise
- exercise without testosterone
- exercise plus testosterone intake.
In the exercise groups, subjects worked out in a standardized manner 3 times a week for 12 sets of 6 repetitions. And this is what happened after 10 weeks:
No, this is not a mistake.
The testosterone-no-exercise group gained more muscle mass than the guys who worked out 3 times a week. A few more numbers:
In the first year of bodybuilding, a natural athlete is maximally able to gain no more than 9-11 kilograms of muscle mass (and women - about half of this).
So, with a properly structured course of steroids, diet and training program, within 2-4 months you can achieve the same thing that a natural athlete would need a year to achieve.
A course of steroids for mass is not for beginners
First course of steroids for a beginner | best courses to start with
Course 12 weeks
Take from 1 to 6 weeks. Then we take a break for 2-3 weeks and take it again until the end of the course.
- Dianabol – 40 mg per day
- Anadrol - 50 mg per day
Injections should be taken from 1 to 12 weeks.
- Trenblon - 400 mg per week
- Nandrolone – 300 mg per week
- Testosterone - enanthate 500 mg per week
All oil esters can be mixed together. Broadcast long broadcasts at any time of the day, whenever it is convenient. Place on Mon and Thu.
After course therapy
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Popular anabolic steroids
Testosterone
Obviously, testosterone has always existed; after all, it is a natural hormone. Even in ancient times its power was understood. During the first Olympic Games in Ancient Greece, athletes regularly consumed raw animal testicles in preparation for competition - testosterone is produced in the testicles. And although they most likely did not understand what the secret was, they already noticed in those days that it provided a set of advantages.
In 1931, German chemist Adolf Butenand extracted androstenone from urine, and in 1934, Leopold Ruzicka developed a means to synthesize the hormone.
This breakthrough in medical science was considered so remarkable that both Butenand and Ruzicka received the Nobel Prize for their work in 1939. This is how testosterone in its pure form became available for mass consumption.
Main effects of testosterone:
- Increases nitrogen content in muscles
- Increases protein synthesis
- Increases the number of blood cells
- Increases overall metabolic activity
- Suppresses glucocorticoids (catabolic hormones)
- Increases the production of IGF-1 - insulin-like growth factor.
Dianabol (Danabol, D-Bol)
Also known as methandrostenolone. The second anabolic steroid in history (appeared in 1958), created by doctor John Ziegler specifically for the US Olympic team. Since then, steroid drugs have found widespread use in sports. Dianabol is the king of steroids and without a doubt the most talked about anabolic steroid on the planet. This is because virtually nothing compares to it in terms of increasing strength and gaining muscle mass.
Methandrostenalone (“methane”) is a very powerful drug and can turn any skinny guy into a mountain of muscles. Arnold Schwarzenegger also admitted that he took D-Bol (Dianabol) to help gain muscle mass, and he is considered the greatest authority in bodybuilding.
In just a few weeks you can gain up to 8-10 kilograms of weight. Naturally, some of this will be water, since Dianabol is highly aromatized, but this can easily be corrected by taking an aromatase inhibitor (letrozole). Arnold took this drug back in the 70s, and he did not look “swollen”, so everything is individual - it depends on the person. Dianabol can also temporarily raise blood pressure, but this usually self-regulates after the course is completed.{banner_st-d-1}
Anadrol (oxymetholone)
Anadrol is not talked about too much, but in terms of gaining muscle mass and strength, it is perhaps second only to Dianabol. This is not too surprising - Anadrol is very similar chemically to D-Bol, since they are a derivative of dihydrotestosterone.
You can expect to gain up to 12-14 kg of mass in just 4 weeks of an anadrol cycle. This weight will consist of muscle tissue and water. Anadrol is best used in combination with other steroid drugs, such as methandrostenolone, because the muscle mass gained can quickly disappear after a cycle. While when combined with “base steroids” such as testosterone, deca-durabolin or trenbolone, most of the gains remain after the cycle is completed.
Best steroids to increase strength
In terms of strength gains, Anavar and Winstrol (Stanozol) are considered the best. They seriously increase strength with almost no change in body weight. If the goal is to become not only strong, but also big, testosterone or Trenbolone is added to the course.
Powerlifters often resort to using Winstrol, trenbolone or oxandrolone due to the excellent combination of strength without increasing body weight.
To compare drugs, you can use the table:
Sustanon 250
Sustanon 250 is a combination of testosterone esters - propionate, phenylpropionate, isocaproate and decanoate, the combination of these four esters was created to eliminate the need for continuous administration of the drug. You will only need to take one injection per month as the esters of these steroids have been programmed to release slowly in the body. Many Sustanon 250 users were excited about it in the 80s and 90s, less so now as the drug doesn't seem to be any better than other forms of testosterone. Besides the convenience it brings when you only inject once a month; there is nothing more.
Since it is testosterone, some of the positive effects you will feel will be the same with all other testosterones. Having more testosterone in your body will mean much more muscle gain and much more fat loss in the long run. People who took Sustanon 250 experienced increased levels of aggression as they became stronger, faster, and able to exercise more.
The drug also increases the number of red blood cells in the body. For this reason, it can be used to treat anemia, which is a condition where the red blood cells in the body are below normal. Increasing the number of red blood cells in the body also leads to increased endurance. Some of the set of side effects are related to aromatization, which means you will have to deal with gynecomastia and virilization (taking the aromatase inhibitor letrozole). Hair loss and oily skin are also common side effects.
The best steroids for relief
- Anavar. First place in safety. Mild anabolic effect, low toxicity, low androgenic effect, has almost no effect on testosterone production. Often used in combined courses for cutting, relief and muscle growth.
- Testosterone propionate. Short acting testosterone ester. Also described above.
- Trenbolone. It is used in weight gain and relief courses, but has strong side effects. Described in more detail above.
- Masteron. It helps to achieve muscle hardness due to its diuretic effect, but it has a pronounced androgenic effect and corresponding side effects.
- Winstrol. He is also Stanozol. It is toxic to the liver and before use you should definitely discuss the drug with your doctor and trainer. Sold in injection form and tablets. Significantly increases strength and venous definition.
Trenbolone
Trenbolone is a modified compound of nandrolone (otherwise known as Deca Durabolin) but is four times more potent. Considered one of the most powerful anabolic steroids for muscle gain of all time.
When taken, levels of testosterone and IGF-1, an insulin-like growth factor, increase sharply. Very widely used in professional bodybuilding in preparation for competitions.
Trenbolone also triggers a spike in protein synthesis, giving muscles a positive nitrogen balance, promoting further muscle growth.
Trenbolone is an amazing drug, but it has some disadvantages which include: increased sweating, loss of libido and insomnia due to increased heart rate.
Trenaver E (trenbolone enanthate) Vermodje 200 mg/1ml x 10 ml
Price: 3850 rub.
Trenbolone enanthate is an anabolic steroid with fairly high anabolic activity. Widely used by weightlifters to achieve good results in sports activities. Namely, building muscle mass, burning fat and improving definition, increasing strength indicators.
The drug lowers the level of cortisol in the body, which actually leads to a decrease in fat and an increase in anabolic properties. Trenbolone enanthate also makes muscles more elastic, thereby helping professional bodybuilders in competitions, making their entire body aesthetically drawn.
The steroid is one of the most potent, its binding capacity is approximately 4 times higher than that of testosterone. Trenbolone also promotes the secretion of fat-burning growth hormone.
The high anabolic ability of this drug is directly related to its affinity for the androgen receptor. Due to the high anabolic activity of this steroid, it often causes unpleasant side effects, but this usually occurs due to an illiterate course or an overdose.
Application:
The recommended dose of this drug during the course is 100-300 mg, injections should be made no more often than every other day and the dose should not exceed 50 mg. Course duration is 4-8 weeks. You should also monitor your health and condition, and if side effects occur, immediately stop the course and consult a doctor.
Precautionary measures:
The drug is not recommended for pregnant women, people with low levels of subcutaneous fat, people with high blood pressure and the elderly. Under no circumstances should you use it without first consulting a doctor.
Deca Durabolin (retabolil) "Deca"
The official name of Deca is nandrolone.
Deca Durabolin, although not the most powerful anabolic for muscle building, is undeniably effective. Its clear difference from other steroid drugs is that progress (gain of muscle mass) is best noticeable when looking in the mirror.
This is because the weight gain you will experience on nandrolone will be much more modest compared to anadrol or dianabol. For example, with the help of methandrostenolone or anadrol, you can gain up to 12-14 kilograms in a short cycle; whereas with Deca Durabolin you can expect to gain “only” 5-6 kilograms of weight.
However, with Deca, dry muscle tissue is gained almost 100%, without water retention. Thus, everything collected remains for a very long time. The drug is low toxic and easily tolerated. Because of these properties of Deca Durabolin, courses combined with it are very popular:
- Deca Plus Sustanon 250
- Equipoise (Boldenone)
This is more or less the same as Dianabol, with the difference that the degree of aromatization in Equipoise compared to D-Bol has been reduced due to the addition of a double bond between the first and second carbon atoms. For the rest of humanity, who care less about chemical structure, what does this mean? This means that equipoise has the same effect as all testosterone hormones, and the unpleasant side effects associated with aromatization are dramatically reduced. Equipoise is closer to testosterone than Deca Durabolin (Retabolil) and is used to gain lean muscle mass. Very often in combination with Deca Durabolin.
Flavoring vs. non-flavoring AAS
One of the differences between AAS used by bodybuilders in pre-competition preparation and AAS used by representatives of other sports is the property of these drugs, such as aromatization.
Flavoring AAS are drugs that can be converted in the body into estrogenic metabolites, which can cause the development of gynecomastia and other negative side effects. However, stimulating estrogen production is necessary to achieve maximum muscle size, but this area is not yet fully understood and requires further research.
This is why the meat industry, such as cattle farms, often uses Tibolone, which contains the female sex hormone, or Revalor-S (a combination of trenbolone and estradiol). In bodybuilding, aromatizing steroids are also among the best for gaining muscle mass, which is confirmed by numerous practice.
Suppression of estradiol using aromatase inhibitors reduces the effectiveness of a steroid cycle aimed at maximizing muscle growth.
For athletes who need strength, power and muscle size, a combination of several drugs should be used, as mentioned earlier. Often this is just a combination of aromatizing and non-aromatizing drug.
In addition to a combination of two or more AAS, other adjuvants are usually used (depending on the athlete's tolerance).
It should be noted that none of these schemes are compatible with negligence and must be strictly calculated.
In addition, the more complex and lengthy the courses or higher dosages become, the greater the risk of side effects becomes, growing exponentially.
Side effects of steroids
Steroid drugs may not be as dangerous as some people think, but anyone who uses them is at least experimenting with their health.
Research shows that some side effects of their use are reversible and some are not. For example, reversible changes include:
- testicular atrophy
- acne (acne disease)
- oily hair and skin
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
- increased aggression
- decrease in sperm count.
- Irreversible consequences include:
- male pattern baldness
- heart dysfunction
- liver diseases
- gynecomastia (enlarged mammary glands).
Another serious disadvantage of steroid drugs is the risk of physical and psychological dependence. The table below is taken from Wikipedia and illustrates the risks of the 20 major known recreational drugs.
