Why shouldn't new lifters use steroids?

[Kingcob]

Hello beautiful people,

I'm currently researching steroid use and come across the notion that steroids should be used primarily to exceed your genetic maximum potential. I see people advised not to use until they have been lifting seriously for at least two years but I don't see any scientific explanations for why.

I've been able to find a lot of great cycles and a wealth of information on proper PCTs. (thanks for that, great forum) But I have yet to figure out the reason people don't use steroids from the very beginning. (not including teens-early 20s)

For example there are the studies showing that people who take *edit 600mg(weekly) for 10 weeks TestE gain 7 lbs without even working out, compared to 4 without it and working out, and then 14 lbs if they take TestE and workout. Why not start out on TestE as a complete novice?

Thanks so much if anyone has some insight on this. I'd really like to know if there is a scientific answer. I've scoured the internet for a week searching before asking. Considering I'm studying steroids in the first place I'm skeptical of answers that sound like common wisdom without much backing.

 

[bulkbeef]

do whatever your young heart desires, sweetie..

 

[WolfpackAlpha]

Hello beautiful people,

I'm currently researching steroid use and come across the notion that steroids should be used primarily to exceed your genetic maximum potential. I see people advised not to use until they have been lifting seriously for at least two years but I don't see any scientific explanations for why.

I've been able to find a lot of great cycles and a wealth of information on proper PCTs. (thanks for that, great forum) But I have yet to figure out the reason people don't use steroids from the very beginning. (not including teens-early 20s)

For example there are the studies showing that people who take 600ml(weekly) for 10 weeks TestE gain 7 lbs without even working out, compared to 4 without it and working out, and then 14 lbs if they take TestE and workout. Why not start out on TestE as a complete novice?

Thanks so much if anyone has some insight on this. I'd really like to know if there is a scientific answer. I've scoured the internet for a week searching before asking. Considering I'm studying steroids in the first place I'm skeptical of answers that sound like common wisdom without much backing.

Steroid use has both scientific and anecdotal evidence, the same goes for every other drug out there. Yes, anabolic steroids are synthetic drugs, so just like with any drug - you wouldn't want to abuse them or misuse them. If you had a headache would you take 1 aspirin pill or 100? The answer is obvious but this shot gun approach is often something steroid users don't understand.

When it comes to science, there is a lot more research about steroid use in disease related situations (think wasting disease like HIV/AIDS) and testsoterone replacement therapy (TRT) than on bodybuilders. Theretofore, we draw most of our conclusions from individual studies and anecdotal evidence that comes with many years of experience.

AAS should not be used by guys who have no experience in training, dieting, or bodybuilding lifestyle; because they'll produce poor results, yield a ton of side effects (most 1st cycles are poorly researched and filled with mistakes!) and force possible long term use/abuse because of improper PCT etc. On top of it all, some newbies make such horrible mistake that they are stuck with testosterone replacement injections for the rest of their life - WHY? simply because lack of research, experience and understanding is the core issue.

 

[bonacris]

The only thing I would say is that a newbie lifter would pile on a ton of muscle but their ligaments and tendons wouldnt be up to strength so injuries might occur.

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[Kingcob]

Thanks WolfpackAlpha.

I've read through the studies on steroids and their non-bodybuilding uses for a while now. Thanks for mentioning them, it is kind of a bummer the bodybuilding resources are limited to these examples. (prohibition is ridiculous)

Are there biological reasons that a person with lower muscle mass / higher body fat would run into problems using AAS? For example, the scientific studies around HIV patients are basically the opposite of experienced weight lifters, and the HRT/TRT people likely are skinny fats (or fatty-fats) much of the time. To me it sounds like the reasoning is that people who have shown years of competence in diet and lifting are less likely to screw up a cycle with incompetence. If general ill health were as severe a problem for AAS use, I would think using them on HIV patients would be rather risky.

I understand having a higher bodyfat% is likely to lead to more aromatization would be one reason to recommend against beginners who are tubby. As well it would likely cause further BP issues. And a crap diet for these people might have lead to fatty-liver etc, which could increase liver damage side effects. And the whole LDL/HDL issue with AAS could exacerbate an unhealthy person.

But, barring someone having a wacked out liver or high body fat percentage, what is the harm in a novice lifter using AAS if they follow a cycle correctly and have the proper bloodwork done? I'm thinking about generally healthy guys maybe 1-2 months into dieting and lifting properly.

Basically if beginners are typically too gungho and stupid to follow a proper cycle, that isn't really a biological reason. If guided by a well informed cycle / physician and have healthy blood panels I have yet to find the harm in it. And I don't mean to say there isn't a harm, I'm just at a loss to figure out why the standard recommendation is to wait. If dudes are healthy I can't see a lot of reason to not triple their gains right off the bat.

 

[Cipp21]

Ok at first I agreed with most everything on here, then you took that advice and applied it to someone that's been lifting for 1-2 months...
Someone lifting in that small amount of time isn't a "newer lifter" in my opinion... I know people who make New Years resolutions and stick to lifting for a bit longer... I assumed we were talking about someone with 1.5-2 years of lifting under their belt. At 1-2 months or even a first entire year I don't care how perfect you think your routine and diet are, because both are insufficient. You need to understand how your body reacts to particular foods, what lifts generally target your specific muscles better than others, how to pack on real mass, etc.

I don't know who would even consider gear at such an early point in lifting, they're not even sure if they're going to stick with it. It's like teaching a toddler to full on run the day after his first 5 foot unassisted walk... Or having an 8 year old that signed up for the baseball team and going out to buy him a $300 glove and a $1000 bat, I mean sure he'll be able to use it but he won't play any better because he doesn't know what the fuck he's doing, had you waited another couple of years to give the kid this expensive equipment, you obviously know now that he's going to stick with the sport and with the proper polishing to his technique he can put the equipment to good use.

Long story short yea someone can take steroids after only lifting for a couple of months, but chances are they're going to quit lifting in the near future (very few of us find this lifestyle worthwhile) and they took a chance at fucking up they're body for no reason. Sure they can try out some juice but I'll be damned if they even see any good results... Without KNOWING your body steroids won't help. Plus even then people without a proper natural base find it very hard to retain muscle mass from steroid cycle, your body literally fights you to get rid of it.

Do I have a problem with people trying to juice after 2 years of lifting? Not as long as they know everything they need to do to re-work their diet and tweak their routine I better suit their needs. That is a true novice bodybuilder/lifter. For the record I waited a good 5 years of lifting and then another 2 years of borderline religious training before I even considered gear.

 

[Jbranken]

Consider the growth of muscle tissue vs tendons/ligaments. If you start a steroid cycle without a muscle base, there's a 100% chance you're going to injure yourself because of the rapid strength increase. A lifter who is closer to their genetic potential has built up his strength, muscle and other soft tissues over a length of time and is less likely to suffer a crippling injury. This is a no brainer...

Comparing someone with a wasting disease on roids to a bodybuilder on roids isn't even comparable. I doubt someone with full blown AIDS or the guy wasting away in a wheelchair is going to be squating 5 plates. Steroids are a necessity for them and they'd be lucky if their strength was even at par when using them. A bodybuilder on the other hand is pushing their body past it's furthest limits and needs the proper support around their joints or else permanent damage will occur. Lastly, you're cheating yourself out of future gains by not building a full base.

 

[Zyglamail]

The only thing I would say is that a newbie lifter would pile on a ton of muscle but their ligaments and tendons wouldnt be up to strength so injuries might occur.

I think this is the main reason. Someone new to lifting is naturally going to make great gains, unaided by aas. You add that to the mix and their muscular strength will far outpace the tendon/ligament strength resulting in chronic injuries. Even if not acute to the point where exercise must stop damage will be enough that continued exercise will not allow the damage to heal.

Add to the fact that 99% of everyone doesnt get the needed nutrients for solid repair and your starting your gym life off on the wrong foot.

Additionally when your new to the game your really only able to recruit about 40-50% of your existing muscle fiber where as a guy who has been lifting seriously for 5+ years can recruit >80%. The fast increase in strength leads large jumps in weight being used when the body mechanics of a lift are not fully engrained. FOrm gets compromised and in turn often leads to injury.

 

[DR.BROSCIENCE]

When I was 19 I joined the military and in 4 weeks put on 25 pounds of muscle. It was the most pain I've ever been thru. Ended up doing 3 weeks of rehab. All this from Air Force bmt. Cant imagine the pain I'd have if I had juiced at that age.

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[Nelson Montana]

If you use steroids from the start, here are the disadvantages...

You don't know the thrill of growing muscle naturally.

You don't learn what routines work best.

You lose out on the initial gains.

AFter a few years you peak, whereas if you trained naturally and THEN took steroids you'd break through plateaus.

You get used to the enhancement and natural training becomes more difficult.

It's that much more of a stress on the hormonal system which can lead to the need for early HRT.