Steroids: Enhancing Your Fitness the Scientific Way

Steroids are vital hormones for maintaining life, playing a role in regulating the metabolism of glucose, proteins, and fats. Normally, the human body secretes a certain amount of steroids daily to maintain normal physiological functions. Clinically, steroids can treat many complex diseases and are considered highly effective medications. However, many people inject themselves with steroids for bodybuilding purposes. So, what are the effects of steroids on the body for bodybuilders? Let me explain.

The Misunderstanding of Bodybuilding

Many people have a negative impression of bodybuilding, primarily due to the abuse of banned substances. These substances create unfair competition and violate the fundamental principle of health. The most representative of these substances is steroids (a general term for a class of hormones, not a specific name). Steroids were originally developed to treat diseases, not for use in the bodybuilding and fitness industry.

For easier understanding, in this article, you can think of steroids as a type of androgen (although many types exist). Steroids were initially used to treat muscle atrophy, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, and other diseases, as well as to promote protein synthesis. However, someone discovered their use in bodybuilding, and their significant muscle growth effects led to the inseparable relationship between steroids and bodybuilding.

Injecting Steroids

Many people say, "Even if you use steroids freely, you won't gain muscle without training." This statement is incorrect. As long as the type and dosage of steroids are managed well, you can grow muscle even while lying down. The New England Journal of Medicine published a study on muscle growth with steroids. The method of the study was as follows:

A group of healthy young men in their 20s was randomly divided into four groups. The first group did not do strength training and did not inject steroids. The second group did strength training but did not inject steroids. The third group did not do strength training but injected steroids. The fourth group both did strength training and injected steroids. The experiment lasted for 10 weeks.

The results showed that the fourth group gained three times more muscle than the second group. The third group gained 60% more muscle than the second group. This confirmed the muscle growth effect of steroids, showing that muscle can grow even without training.

The Impact of Steroids on the Body

This conclusion is understandable. During childhood, although there is a gender difference between boys and girls, there is no significant strength gap. As puberty arrives, boys and girls experience a noticeable strength gap without any strength training, primarily due to the effect of sex hormones on physical development. Adult males produce about 4-9 mg of testosterone daily, while adult females have only about one-twentieth (or less) of the male androgen levels. Injecting steroids can temporarily elevate androgen levels above normal, providing the hormonal conditions to synthesize more muscle.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Steroids are like a slow poison when used in bodybuilding. The cumulative side effects eventually manifest. Bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger used steroids but in moderate doses, and he stopped using them after his competition days. Now, at 70, he is still relatively healthy and often appears in public. However, other steroid users are not as fortunate. This year, bodybuilder Rich Piana, who used steroids for over 20 years, and bodybuilding rising star Dallas McCarver both died suddenly in August. Their autopsy reports showed the presence of steroid metabolites, indicating steroids as a contributing factor to their deaths.

The Effects of Steroids on Bodybuilders

The above information provides a brief introduction to the effects of steroids on bodybuilders. It is clear that while steroids can be effective medications, they should be used for treating diseases, not for "medication-based fitness." Misusing steroids not only fails to achieve fitness goals but also poses significant health risks.

In conclusion, while steroids can be beneficial when used correctly and for medical purposes, their abuse in bodybuilding can lead to serious health issues. It is important to consider the risks and benefits carefully and use steroids only under proper medical guidance.