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Anabolic Steroids question
I have taken anabolic steroids in the past and have never had any major side effects. I never took really high doses and never stayed on for more than 8-10 weeks at a time. I also never took more than one cycle per year. I get my blood tests run before and after each cycle to make sure everything checks out. I have even asked my doc what he thought about it and he said that he wasn't too concerned as long as I was smart about it. What is your take on 30 year old men taking moderate doses of AAS if they are responsible about it?
Thanks.....maybe if one of them is a lawyer!! Do you know where I can get info on the legal side of this?
GaGirl,
Don't get me wrong...there are still major health risks involved if he is not going about this the right way. I would try and get him to share with you exactly what and when he is doing when he takes a cycle. The more informed you are, the better. In my opinion, there is absolutely no excuse for person to deceive their spouse over something as serious as this especially when kids are involved. No matter what I decide to do in my life, my wife and kids will always come first.
As far as telling your kids not to do something, it's simple. When they are adults, they can make their own educated decisions. Even though the dangers for older males are unknown for the most part, the problems and complications for adolescents taking steroids are well documented. Kids have no business taking steroids for any reason. It can cause major damage to them and even close up the growth plates of their bones to the point where they will stop growing. Just tell your kids that, and it should be enough. Also, be careful about any diets or weight training that your kids may be on. Adolescents bodies usually aren't geared for the same type of workouts adults can handle. You should consult a physical therapist if this is a concern.
A good fitness board to visit is www.extreme-athlete.com It has many members of all ages that can share their own experiences with this type of thing with you. It may be something that your husband can look at as well to help him get answers to any questions that he may have. Let me know if you check it out so I can look for you there. I have been a member for many years. It is a great place to learn about everything from diets to training. You will need to register like you did for this board, but it is completely free. I wish you the best.
Don't get me wrong...there are still major health risks involved if he is not going about this the right way. I would try and get him to share with you exactly what and when he is doing when he takes a cycle. The more informed you are, the better. In my opinion, there is absolutely no excuse for person to deceive their spouse over something as serious as this especially when kids are involved. No matter what I decide to do in my life, my wife and kids will always come first.
As far as telling your kids not to do something, it's simple. When they are adults, they can make their own educated decisions. Even though the dangers for older males are unknown for the most part, the problems and complications for adolescents taking steroids are well documented. Kids have no business taking steroids for any reason. It can cause major damage to them and even close up the growth plates of their bones to the point where they will stop growing. Just tell your kids that, and it should be enough. Also, be careful about any diets or weight training that your kids may be on. Adolescents bodies usually aren't geared for the same type of workouts adults can handle. You should consult a physical therapist if this is a concern.
A good fitness board to visit is www.extreme-athlete.com It has many members of all ages that can share their own experiences with this type of thing with you. It may be something that your husband can look at as well to help him get answers to any questions that he may have. Let me know if you check it out so I can look for you there. I have been a member for many years. It is a great place to learn about everything from diets to training. You will need to register like you did for this board, but it is completely free. I wish you the best.
Ogre,
Thank you so much for your words. It means a great deal to me. He is taking injectables....I have no idea how often he does them. I find out bc he gets stupid and does stuff like hide the needles in our 2 year old sons car seat ...the baby pulled the bag out and said look mommy. All the other times I have found out in similar ways. He wont tell me when he is doing them bc he knows I dont agree....but I have accepted the fact that he wont change and have told him to pls tell me so I am prepared for the changes. He, like you, is a very calm man. When he isnt on a cycle it takes a lot to upset him. In my case, we have 3 kids. 2 very athletic girls and the baby. I feel that we cant tell them not to do something like that if he is. I would appreciate the fitness info you spoke of. I have thought about a lot of what you said. And your right, Hell Jose is still alive and looking healthy. It is a trust issue now....and one I dont know if I can deal. Would suck for a 13 yr marriage to be over bc of this...but I have a lot to think about...and he isnt putting the kids first, or me. So I guess I have too. Thanks so much for your time. Please let me know where else I can get info from.... : )
Thank you so much for your words. It means a great deal to me. He is taking injectables....I have no idea how often he does them. I find out bc he gets stupid and does stuff like hide the needles in our 2 year old sons car seat ...the baby pulled the bag out and said look mommy. All the other times I have found out in similar ways. He wont tell me when he is doing them bc he knows I dont agree....but I have accepted the fact that he wont change and have told him to pls tell me so I am prepared for the changes. He, like you, is a very calm man. When he isnt on a cycle it takes a lot to upset him. In my case, we have 3 kids. 2 very athletic girls and the baby. I feel that we cant tell them not to do something like that if he is. I would appreciate the fitness info you spoke of. I have thought about a lot of what you said. And your right, Hell Jose is still alive and looking healthy. It is a trust issue now....and one I dont know if I can deal. Would suck for a 13 yr marriage to be over bc of this...but I have a lot to think about...and he isnt putting the kids first, or me. So I guess I have too. Thanks so much for your time. Please let me know where else I can get info from.... : )
GaGirl,
It does sound to me like he may be doing it for self esteem. If he can already bench 590lbs, then he doesn't need to be taking anything in my opinion. Lifting that much weight over and over is very strenuous on your joints, tendons, and ligaments. I have never been all that concerned with how much weight I can lift. I like looking healthy and like looking as if I can lift a ton, but I don't really care if I can or not.
How often is he on steroids? Does he consult a doc to get blood tests done? There are so many precautions he needs to be taking if he wants to do this the safest way possible. I take my blood pressure every other day when I am on a cycle. It is a science that should be taken seriously. Taking steroids in moderation can be a healthy thing for some. It's kind of like drinking red wine. For many, a glass of red wine with dinner is a healthy thing, but drinking a bottle of red wine every night is not. That's the difference between use and abuse. Everything in moderation. Moderate doses of AAS for a moderate period of time. The problem is that we live in a society that is greedy and does nothing in moderation anymore.
I was violent a few times when I was younger and had no business taking steroids. They do make you feel more aggressive, but it isn't something that is beyond your control. I told my wife to tell me if I ever seemed violent in any way, and I would never take them again. I am a hot tempered person by nature, but I have never acted in rage while on any type of cycle since I was young. Some people just don't handle the responsibility of taking steroids. I don't drink any alcohol at all while on a cycle. I do this for 3 reasons. The first is that the steroids can be hard on the liver, so alcohol isn't a good idea. Just so you know, oral steroids are much harder on the liver than injectable steroids. The second reason is because I want to have a clear mind while on a cycle because people do enough stupid stuff while they are drinking w/o adding steroids to the mix. The last reason is because to get the most from my cycle, I adhere to a strict diet that doesn't allow alcohol which lowers testosterone levels.
I hit the gym for about an hour or so 5-6 times per week. Too much time in the gym isn't necessary no matter what your goals are. If he is spending hours in the gym everyday, he is probably overtraining anyway. My wife works out at the same time that I do so it works out well.
You really need to talk to him about this. If he is spending that much time and resources on this and is willing to take the risks without the proper precautions, then he needs to get his priorities in order if you ask me. Consult a couselor about this with your husband. He may have deeper issues that push him towards taking AAS to feel good about himself. I don't know him, but a lot of friends that I have take steroids because they have a low self esteem.
Just from what you have told me, I don't think you are over-reacting at all. This is your husband and he shouldn't keep things from you in the first place. No matter how much I wanted to do something, I would always take my wife's feelings into consideration and I would never hide anything from her. My wife even gives me my shots when I am on a cycle. I can't tell you what to do, but communication usually goes a long way in my experiences. If you would like, I can point you to a fitness chat board. There are many people on there that use or have used steroids. There are also many women on there they may be able to better help you.
It does sound to me like he may be doing it for self esteem. If he can already bench 590lbs, then he doesn't need to be taking anything in my opinion. Lifting that much weight over and over is very strenuous on your joints, tendons, and ligaments. I have never been all that concerned with how much weight I can lift. I like looking healthy and like looking as if I can lift a ton, but I don't really care if I can or not.
How often is he on steroids? Does he consult a doc to get blood tests done? There are so many precautions he needs to be taking if he wants to do this the safest way possible. I take my blood pressure every other day when I am on a cycle. It is a science that should be taken seriously. Taking steroids in moderation can be a healthy thing for some. It's kind of like drinking red wine. For many, a glass of red wine with dinner is a healthy thing, but drinking a bottle of red wine every night is not. That's the difference between use and abuse. Everything in moderation. Moderate doses of AAS for a moderate period of time. The problem is that we live in a society that is greedy and does nothing in moderation anymore.
I was violent a few times when I was younger and had no business taking steroids. They do make you feel more aggressive, but it isn't something that is beyond your control. I told my wife to tell me if I ever seemed violent in any way, and I would never take them again. I am a hot tempered person by nature, but I have never acted in rage while on any type of cycle since I was young. Some people just don't handle the responsibility of taking steroids. I don't drink any alcohol at all while on a cycle. I do this for 3 reasons. The first is that the steroids can be hard on the liver, so alcohol isn't a good idea. Just so you know, oral steroids are much harder on the liver than injectable steroids. The second reason is because I want to have a clear mind while on a cycle because people do enough stupid stuff while they are drinking w/o adding steroids to the mix. The last reason is because to get the most from my cycle, I adhere to a strict diet that doesn't allow alcohol which lowers testosterone levels.
I hit the gym for about an hour or so 5-6 times per week. Too much time in the gym isn't necessary no matter what your goals are. If he is spending hours in the gym everyday, he is probably overtraining anyway. My wife works out at the same time that I do so it works out well.
You really need to talk to him about this. If he is spending that much time and resources on this and is willing to take the risks without the proper precautions, then he needs to get his priorities in order if you ask me. Consult a couselor about this with your husband. He may have deeper issues that push him towards taking AAS to feel good about himself. I don't know him, but a lot of friends that I have take steroids because they have a low self esteem.
Just from what you have told me, I don't think you are over-reacting at all. This is your husband and he shouldn't keep things from you in the first place. No matter how much I wanted to do something, I would always take my wife's feelings into consideration and I would never hide anything from her. My wife even gives me my shots when I am on a cycle. I can't tell you what to do, but communication usually goes a long way in my experiences. If you would like, I can point you to a fitness chat board. There are many people on there that use or have used steroids. There are also many women on there they may be able to better help you.
Ok....you have researched alot...I have found all the side effects, from man boobs to stroke, heart failure..ect. That bothers me. He is a big man wo this. From what he says, and I dont really beleive much anymore, he does it for strength. WO roids he can bench press about 590, he wants to do over 600. WHAT FOR, it is not like he has to pick up a car. What scares me...and I dont know which kind he is on, what part of the cycle he is on or how much he takes. But I can see him lose his temper at stupid things. Have you ever gotten violent? Is that just media hype? I do commend you for talking to your wife about it, at least your not hiding it. Do you spend hours a day at the gym? He does...and that is another issue. I dont think he will change, and it is said to me that a 33 yr old man feels the need to do this to his family and himself. (that is how I feel about my husband not you) To me it is a self esteem issue, it would be different if he made his living that way, he dosent. I work out and want to look good....but not like that. I will do weights and stay slim, and my body will only do as much as genetics will allow. I just dont know how to deal with this...dont even know where to turn. Am I over reacting? Thank you so much for the information you have provided. It is awesome to get info from someone that does them and can give me insight on what they go through.
I appreciate your words of encouragement. My wife's concerns are based mostly on falsehoods that the media loves to portray. That is the problem I have. If she were adement that I quit...I would, but I want her to want me to quit for the right reasons and not because ESPN did some half-ass documentary. We have an agreement that the minute my use of steroids has a negative impact on our relationship, I will stop. So far, she says she can't tell when I'm on them and when I am not. I am happy with how I look and I am not a person with low self-esteem, but I see how that assumption could be made because I think that is the case much of the time. I simply like to push myself beyond limits whether it be playing sports, taking a test, or bodybuilding. I don't compete because I do this solely for myself ad not a bunch of judges. If I ever felt that my use of steroids was putting me at a great risk, I would have no problem stopping. It has been over 2 years since I took a cycle, so stopping wouldn't be a problem. I have never felt that I needed steroids in any way.
I would love to see any studies that you may have that support the dangerous long term effects of steroids. I'm not really interested in some doctor's opinion if he has no research or foundation to support his claim. Without some type of study or research, his opinion is no better than anyone else's. Short term studies are well documented, but 99% of those studies will admit that the effects claimed are not only short term, but completely reversible.
Steroids get such a bad name because of the thousands of people who abuse them instead of just use them. The "more is better" way of thinking plays a big part of this. Women and adolescents have no business taking AAS for any reason and I would like to see that stop, but until I see some sort of evidence that suggests otherwise, I don't think moderate useage for grown males is harmful over the long haul if done properly.
Like I said, it is strange that thousands and thousands of athletes have taken these substances over the past 50 years, but yet none of them are dropping dead from steroid use. If they are so dangerous, how is that? It is well documented and a proven fact that long term smoking kills millions of people every year and it has been proven that smoking causes lung cancer among other things, but Congress isn't talking about banning cigarettes. Why? Steroids haven't been proven to cause any deaths or cancer, but yet they are the devil. Why? It is because there is big money in tobacco and not in steroids.
I just ask that people not listen to every media report out there about AAS and do some fact finding of their own before jumping to conclusions.
I would love to see any studies that you may have that support the dangerous long term effects of steroids. I'm not really interested in some doctor's opinion if he has no research or foundation to support his claim. Without some type of study or research, his opinion is no better than anyone else's. Short term studies are well documented, but 99% of those studies will admit that the effects claimed are not only short term, but completely reversible.
Steroids get such a bad name because of the thousands of people who abuse them instead of just use them. The "more is better" way of thinking plays a big part of this. Women and adolescents have no business taking AAS for any reason and I would like to see that stop, but until I see some sort of evidence that suggests otherwise, I don't think moderate useage for grown males is harmful over the long haul if done properly.
Like I said, it is strange that thousands and thousands of athletes have taken these substances over the past 50 years, but yet none of them are dropping dead from steroid use. If they are so dangerous, how is that? It is well documented and a proven fact that long term smoking kills millions of people every year and it has been proven that smoking causes lung cancer among other things, but Congress isn't talking about banning cigarettes. Why? Steroids haven't been proven to cause any deaths or cancer, but yet they are the devil. Why? It is because there is big money in tobacco and not in steroids.
I just ask that people not listen to every media report out there about AAS and do some fact finding of their own before jumping to conclusions.
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