NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #27/NN_1992_27.iso/spool/misc/fitness/8445

Internet Message Format | 1992-11-17 | 15.1 KB

Path: sparky!uunet!sun-barr!ames!haven.umd.edu!umd5!macbeth.umd.edu!silver
From: [e-mail] (Adam Silver)
Newsgroups: misc.fitness
Subject: MY STEROID REPORT!
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 18 Nov 92 06:21:25 GMT
Sender: [e-mail]
Organization: University of Maryland
Lines: 298

I'd just like to say that I do not advocate the use of steroids.  I am
doing this study due to personal interest in the subject.  I'd like to
submit my entire study (which really isn't very scientific) to
magazines like _MuscleMag International_ and _Muscle Media 2000_.
Most of this information was gathered during my study with real steroid
users.  I have not included any of my data because I don't want to
release anything now.  No, I have never used steroids.


                Growth and Performance Enhancing Drugs
                            by Adam Silver


"Do steroids really work?"  This is one of the most frequently asked
questions about steroids.  The answer is yes and no.  Everyone is
genetically different. Steroids work for some people but don't work
for other people.  This document will try to explain what the steroid
phenomenon is all about with useful information about their
benefits and side effects with a discussion of the more popular
bodybuilding drugs.  I am not an advocator of the use of steroids,
nor do I use them.


Definitions:

Cycle:  The length of time that someone uses steroids for
one time period (i.e., a three month cycle--not the
total time they've used steroids)

Aromatize:  The process of converting androgens to estrogens

Stacking:  A term referring to the use of two or more drugs
simultaneously

Anabolic:  This term refers to the process of anabolism, or the
building of tissues

Androgenic:  This term refers to the properties of testosterone that
are responsible for male secondary sex
characteristics


General Information:

Anabolic-androgenic steroids, also known as "juice," are synthetic
derivatives of the natural male sex hormone testosterone.  The term
"anabolic steroid" is normally used because these drugs are
designed to be more anabolic than androgenic, but it is unlikely
that a steroid will be developed that is purely anabolic with no
androgenic effects.  Anabolism is the actual building of tissues
(mainly muscle).  Androgens are responsible for male secondary
sex characteristics including the following:  body hair, sex organ
development, sex drive, and deepening of the voice.  Most steroid
users want drugs that are highly anabolic with as small an
androgenic effect as possible.  The legal uses of anabolic steroids
are for certain types of anemia, certain types of breast cancer,
protein anabolism, and hereditary gioedema, a type of allergic
reaction to some insect bites, foods, viruses, etc.

Steroids are also considered to be anti-catabolic because they block
cortisol from breaking down protein.  Cortisol is naturally produced
in the body.  Cortisol levels rise in the body during exercise.  This is
not good for building muscle mass because it breaks down the
protein your body needs to promote muscular development.

Steroids work by attaching to receptor sites (mainly in muscle cells).
After the steroid complex is created, it then merges with nuclear
DNA.  A result of this operation is the formation of messenger RNA
which then attaches to ribosomal RNA where transcription of the
messenger RNA takes place to allow for protein synthesis.  These
protein molecules are then used to increase the size and strength of
muscle tissue.  For this process to work in this fashion, the steroid
user must stimulate his/her muscles (i.e., lift weights) or the muscles
will not grow and may actually atrophy.  You can find articles on
the chemical processes of steroids in the Journal of the American
Medical Association for a more detailed explanation.

Two general types of anabolic steroids exist, orals and injectables.
Orals are considered to be more harmful to the body because they
travel through the intestinal tract and get processed through the
liver twice.  Excessive doses of orals can cause liver damage because
the orals generally have a carbon added to the 17th position of the
steroid molecule.  These are called 17 Alpha Alkylateds which are
used to preserve the steroid molecule from destruction by the
digestive processes.

Injectables come in two forms, water-based and oil-based.  Oil-
based steroids tend to stay in the system much longer than water
based, which allows for less injections over a cycling period.  These
injections are intramuscular with the primary injection site being
the buttocks. Injectables are generally safer to use because they
aren't 17 Alpha Alkylateds and, therefore, are not as harmful to the
liver.

The benefits of steroids generally include muscle size and strength
increases with a drop in body fat (due to an increase in metabolic
rate).  To reap these benefits, the steroid user must lift weights and
eat lots of good food (4,000 - 7,000 calories per day).  The muscle
pump acquired from steroid use lasts for many hours after a
workout.  This feels good to the drug user.  Also, feelings of euphoria
and good health develop.

Some of the side effects that can be associated with steroid use
(abuse) are the following:  baldness, acne, aggressiveness ('roid
rage), gynecomastia ("bitch tits"--the formation of breasts in the
male), hypertension, high cholesterol, liver dysfunction, shrinkage
of the testes, impotence, sterility, kidney failure, headaches, etc.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  I believe the worst side effect of steroid use is
psychological addiction.  These drugs normally don't produce a
physical addiction.  Psychological addiction to these drugs is very
real.  Most users like their looks and their increased strength so
much that they just can't stop using them.


Some steroids:

The more popular steroids are the following:  Deca-Durabolin,
Anadrol, Testosterone Cypionate, Primobolan Depot, Sustanon,
Winstrol, and Anavar.  There are many more drugs, but these will be
used as examples.

Deca-Durabolin:  This is considered to be the most popular of all
steroids.  It is an oil based injectable that comes in 200mg/cc and
100mg/cc containers.  Deca produces very few side effects.  It is easy
on the liver and promotes good size and strength gains while
reducing body fat.  It only aromatizes (converts to estrogen) in
extreme dosages.  It is highly anabolic but only moderately
androgenic.  Some people in my study had small cases of acne but
nothing unusual.  Deca does shut down natural testosterone
production, but it's not extreme.  Gains will minimally dissipate, if at
all, after the cycling period if workouts are kept intense.  By the way,
Deca is also the most counterfeited drug on the black market.

Anadrol:  This is an oral drug with a dosage of 50mg per tablet.
This is the strongest oral on the market.  It has both high
androgenic and anabolic effects.  Strength and weight gains are very
significant.  Anadrol is highly toxic to the liver.  It also aromatizes
fairly easily.  This drug has been reported to produce gynecomastia
in users (not all, probably around 50%).  Only one person in my
study out of 5 that used this drug developed gynecomastia.  An anti-
estrogen should be used with this drug to counteract the
aromatization.  Nolvadex is an anti-estrogen with little to no side
effects and is talked about later.  Many side effects are associated
with Anadrol including acne, hair loss, and water retention.  Loss of
weight and strength usually occurs after the cycle.  Anadrol also
shuts down natural testosterone production.

Testosterone Cypionate:  This is an oil based injectable in
200mg/cc dosage.  "Cyp," as it's called, comes in 10ml/vial.  This is
highly anabolic and androgenic and aromatizes easily like Anadrol.
Users of this drug usually have big strength and size gains.  It is
moderately toxic to the liver.  At high doses (over 400mg per week),
all of the bad side effects are exhibited including baldness, acne,
aggressive behavior, etc.  This drug is highly used on my campus.

Primobolan Depot:  This drug is an injectable that comes in a
100mg/cc and 50mg/cc dosage.  This is one of the safest steroids in
use today.  Users usually don't report huge gains, but it won't
aromatize, it's not toxic, and it has low androgenic properties.  Only
one person that I know used this drug.  He had moderate gains in
muscle mass and strength.  He gained about 7 pounds.

Sustanon 250:  This is an injectable with a 250mg/cc dosage.
Sustenon 250 is a combination of the following four testosterones:
30mg Testosterone Propionate/ml, 60mg Testosterone
Phenylpropionate/ml, 60mg Testosterone Isocaproate/ml, 100mg
Testosterone Deconate/ml.  This drug supposedly lasts long in the
blood, so it's not necessary to take large doses.  This means less
water retention, bad side effects, etc.  Good gains have been attained
with Sustenon.  Unfortunately, one person in the study that used this
drug had fake stuff.  Nothing happened to him over the 6 week
cycling period.

NOTE:  How do you know if something is fake?  Well, sometimes it's
hard to tell.  If you have a vial for injections and the top is a little
loose, it's probably fake.  Also, if the printing on the box is cheesy, it
also might be fake.

Winstrol:  This drug comes in tablet form (2mg) or a water-based
injectable form (50mg/cc).  Winstrol has low androgenic effects but
is toxic to the liver in the oral form.  The injectable form must be
injected on a daily basis.  Not many side effects are associated with
Winstrol, and it produces mild gains.  It also helps with stamina.
Ben Johnson used Winstrol-V (Stanazolol)--the injectable
veterinary form.

Anavar:  This comes in tablet form only (2.5mg per tablet).  This
drug is not used for mass.  It used for strength gains and muscle
hardness.  It is low in androgens, and doesn't produce water
retention.  This drug is considered to be very safe.  Anavar is widely
used by powerlifters, and many women like to use it because there
aren't many side effects associated with it.  Also, because of its
chemical structure, Anavar won't aromatize.


Other drugs:

Clenbuterol:  This drug is classified as a beta-2 adrenergic agonist.
Clenbuterol is a bronchiodilator.  This drug is banned by the FDA
although it is used outside of the US by asthma patients.  The reason
this drug is so special for bodybuilding is because of two of its side
effects.  It is fairly anabolic, and it promotes the burning of fatty
acids through brown fat burning.  Clenbuterol is a little scary
because of some other side effects including the following:  tremors,
sweating, sleeplessness, rapid heartbeat, etc.  These side effects vary
in people.  Some people aren't affected at all.  This drug comes in
tablets of 20mcg (micrograms not milligrams).  Dosages are
normally between 20-120mcg for bodybuilders that use this.  It
should be taken in a 2 days on/2 days off fashion because this drug
becomes ineffective for its anabolic properties after 18 successive
days of use.  The receptor sites seem to be non-responsive for
anabolic purposes if taken continuously, but brown fat burning will
continue past the 18 day period.  It shouldn't be used this way for
more than 12 weeks.  After 12 weeks, the drug should be
discontinued for a couple of months.

Nolvadex:  This drug is an anti-estrogen.  It is normally used with
drugs that aromatize like Anadrol and Testosterone Cypionate.  It
doesn't have any side effects and can be used indefinitely.  It is also
good at burning up fatty acids due to brown fat burning like Clenbuterol.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG):  HCG is a glycoprotein
that is secreted in the urine by pregnant women.  It is legally used as
a fertility drug for women to help induce ovulation.  This drug is
used by male athletes to elevate natural levels of testosterone
production because it acts like luteinizing hormone (LH) to
stimulate the testes to release testosterone.  It should be used for no
more than 2 weeks at a time because it also raises a male's natural
production of estrogen.  Nolvadex should be stacked with it to help
prevent gynecomastia.

Human Growth Hormone (HGH):  HGH was first acquired by
extracting it from the pituitary glands of cadavers.  This biologically
active form is no longer used because it is associated with a rare
brain disease called Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.  The incubation
period is sometimes decades long and leads to dementia and
eventual death.  This lead to the introduction of a recombinant,
manmade form.  Growth Hormone (GH) is not considered to be of
any real value to the athlete.  It sounds like it should be excellent,
but experience says that it's not very effective on its own.  It can be
very effective if stacked with anabolic steroids.  High doses of GH
can lead to a condition called acromegaly, which is a progressive
enlargement of the hands, feet, and face.  GH is very expensive.  A
one month cycle can cost as much as $4000.


There are many other drugs out there.  I just wanted to show some
examples of what people are using these days.


Injection sites:

In the world of steroids, needles are sometimes referred to as
"darts."

Three injection sites are commonly used:  the buttocks, the
quadriceps, and the shoulder.  The best location is the gluteal
region.  It is best because there is a lot of muscle tissue there.  The
injections are intramuscular, so the needle should be injected deep
in the muscle belly.  This is not a detailed description of how to
inject.  Ask a doctor or experienced drug user about how to inject.


Psychological aspects of these drugs:

Although these drugs don't seem to be physiologically addicting,
they can be very psychologically addicting.  When the people in my
study were asked why they use steroids or these other drugs, the
most common answers were the following:  enhancement of
physical appearance, increase in size and strength for performance,
and increase in self-confidence and esteem.

Well, what happens when these people terminate their use of these
drugs?  They get depressed.  They can't sleep or eat correctly.  This
is due to their psychological "withdraw" symptoms.  They become
dependent on the drugs to produce that incredible appearance they
had.  They have a need for that special "pumped" feeling.  These
people lose a little self-confidence because they can't seem to get
bigger and stronger as quickly without these enhancers.  This can
lead to severe depression and possibly suicide.  Many teenagers get
into this predicament.


PLEASE E-MAIL COMMENTS TO:  [e-mail]

                            -Adam

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     *               Adam Silver    Powerlifter/Armwrestler               *
     *           [e-mail]    University of Maryland            *
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     *               Adam Silver    Powerlifter/Armwrestler               *
     *           [e-mail]    University of Maryland            *
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