5 Most Common Steroids Used by Bodybuilders And What They Do
A lot is said about steroids and what they can do for you, and there is a long standing debate on whether or not they are worth it when it comes to bodybuilding, building muscle mass and dropping body fat. Over the years steroids have been presented as a drug that can turn anyone into a superhuman, and they have become more prominent amongst younger generations. You no longer see Mr. Olympia competitors being the only ones using these substances, but even just regular influencers who do not even compete.
Mainstream media has also helped in adding the enhanced performance aspect of steroids to everything with connotations like “microchips on steroids”, “cars on steroids” etc. The use of steroids in sports is a controversial topic and exceeds the scope of this article. To clear the air, steroids aren’t magic drugs which can transform your body in a day, you still need the proper diet and macronutrient intake, meaning you have to monitor your protein, fat, and carbs, as well as train hard. Anabolic steroids are merely enhancement drugs which can speed up and enhance your results but won’t work if you don’t put the work in.
It’s also important to note that there can be very serious risks from steroid use. While substances like testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can be prescribed by a doctor for certain medical treatment – it is illegal to obtain for recreational use including sports. Additionally, most sports have regulations banning the use of steroids and performance enhancing drugs.
Disclaimer: Generation Iron does not condone or endorse the use of illegal drugs. This article is to help educate on the basic information of what these drugs actually do and in no way is a recommendation or instruction guide on how to use the steroids mentioned within this article.
Different Types of Steroids
Testosterone
Testosterone is the male hormone responsible for the development of the male reproductive tissue, bone and muscle mass, and the growth of body hair. Testosterone helps with the synthesizing of protein. Most bodybuilders take testosterone in the suspension form due to its fast acting nature and the fact that it can improve quality of life overall, such as sex drive, mood, mental sharpness, amongst other effects.
Testosterone has become a household name among gym enthusiasts. The drawback with testosterone is that it can also raise estrogen levels and cause things like gynecomastia and other feminine effects. Not to mention, it shuts down the body’s natural production of testosterone, so men can have issues with obtaining and keeping an erection, as well as fertility.
Growth Hormone
Growth Hormone or “GH” as it is commonly known as is one of the most used and abused steroids, and it is both loved and hated amongst bodybuilders and the fans alike. GH speeds up the protein synthesizing nature of testosterone and causes growth in the muscle tissues, but also in other tissues, such as skin and organs.
This is why many people dislike human growth hormone, as it causes all the tissues in your body to grow, and it is often blamed for the “bubble gut” you see on the modern bodybuilding stage. So yes, it will make muscles like your biceps and pecs grow big and strong; but things like your hands, ears, heart or liver can also grow as well. Prolonged use of human growth hormone can lead to serious health problems.
Insulin
Insulin is not a steroid but it still makes its way into the steroids list because of its importance and uses in the anabolic growth of muscles. This peptide hormone is similar to HGH as it helps in the building of muscle tissue from the amino acids entering the cells. Insulin instigates biochemical reactions in the muscle that increase protein synthesis.
Insulin can also reduce muscle breakdown further promoting muscle growth. Modern bodybuilders posing on stages get a lot of hate because of their bloated guts, and insulin also contributes to this.
Dianabol
Dianabol, also known as “dbol” was one of the first steroids developed and used by bodybuilders, and it was allegedly a favorite of Arnold Schwarzenegger. When Dbol is administered during periods of extreme stress, Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is synthesized, which brings about lower levels of stress, increased appetite, a relaxed feeling, and sounder sleep.
Dbol can cause a notable increase in insulin levels. It can also suppress the natural production of testosterone and the expected testicular atrophy. An exogenous testosterone supplement needs to be taken to combat these side-effects to maintain your body’s level of testosterone.
Nandrolone
Nandrolone, also known as “Deca”, is an anabolic steroid that has many similar effects of testosterone. This leads to it often being medically used in place of TRT, in the form of esters such as nandrolone decanoate and nandrolone phenylpropionate. The benefit deca has that supersedes regular testosterone, is that it has much more of a positive effect on the joints.
As far as side effects, they are pretty similar to testosterone.
Trenbolone Acetate
Trenbolone is gold for people who want to increase their strength and power output within a week, but it certainly has its downsides. Tren is very potent and can be three times stronger than testosterone, which is why so many people gravitate towards the substance. Unlike most of the steroids mentioned in this article, tren typically doesn’t cause water retention in the body and can give you a dry, grainy and ripped look, increasing vascularity and making it look like your muscles are about to rip through your skin.
However, it is worth noting that tren can cause a major increase in aggression and mental side effects. Getting angry and wanting to hurt someone, or even yourself aren’t uncommon emotions while using tren. The strength gains coupled with the hiked aggression can lead to decisions you’ll regret later.
Tren also affects your natural testosterone levels. You’ll have to balance tren with a testosterone dosage otherwise your sex-drive will hit all-time lows and your manhood will be nothing more than a soggy noodle.
Natural Alternative to Steroids
Now, with all of that being said, steroids may not want to be the route you take, but supplements like basic creatine and a multivitamin also are not helping you as much as you’d like. So, let’s dive into a natural alternative that can boost your testosterone levels and drop your estrogen, making your gains come sooner rather than later.
MuscleMeds Aromatest
Whether you’re a natural athlete or an enhanced athlete, if you want to get the best results and build hard dense muscle, you should understand a process known as aromatization, and how to gain control of it.
AROMATEST is a potent and natural aromatase inhibitor and testosterone booster, which contains OctaPren. OctaPren is a proprietary prenyl flavonoid extract of Xanthohumol (XN) and 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN), formulated in a super-bioavailable lipophilic delivery system.
To put it simply, AROMATEST reduces the conversion of testosterone to estrogen. It does to by binding to and disabling the aromatase (estrogen) enzyme, which helps to naturally increase testosterone levels and lower estrogen for enhanced muscle building and male performance, without the use of steroids.
Check out our individual review for Aromatest!
Wrap Up
Overall, steroids are substances that aid in the bodybuilding process, but certainly have their downsides. Have you ever thought about using steroids? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
Disclaimer: Generation Iron doesn’t encourage the use of steroids. This article is strictly for educational purposes.
