More and more bodybuilders put everything they have to gain Hercules-looking muscles overnight. When you accuse them of steroid abuse, they defend in two ways. They call you a jealous man or they talk about a superb combination of workout and diet.
However, there are many obvious signs of steroid abuse! Visible changes spill the beans!
Steroid Abuse – Recognition Signs:
Acromegaly
Steroid users mostly have disproportional bodies. It is more than strange that a man who is only 160 cm tall has a hand which is normal for a 200 cm tall man! Acromegaly means the abnormal growth of the peripheral parts of the human body – hands, feet, head… In other words, the steroid user develops comic-style character look with time.
Extreme Disproportion
There is nobody who can persuade me “Popeye looking style” is normal. There is a proportion of biceps and chest size. For example, when someone has extremely big biceps, and regular-size chest, this is a red flag!
There is no workout in the world which can make biceps so big, even if you train it every single day. Even when your leg is injured, you can train your arms and core muscles.
But the process of neural activation will prevent huge muscle loss from your non-working leg!It means your leg will have indirect benefits from your core and arms training, so the comic-character look is unrealistic! However, in most cases, mid-section looks extraterrestrial compared to legs!
Sudden Muscle Growth
You met someone a year ago, and he was skinny and weighed around 70 kilograms. You see him after a year, and suddenly he weighs more than 90 kilograms and he has bigger muscles than Blue Marvel?! It is the ultimate red flag!
Acne On The Skin
Acne appears during the puberty. Human body starts to excrete significantly higher amounts of testosterone.
A 30-year-old muscular man suddenly has tons of acne on his back and face? This is not a normal period for enormous testosterone excretion! Something is happening!
Doctor Jekyll And Mister Hide
The person who abuses anabolic steroids has extreme mood changes. It can vary from euphoria and the feeling of invincibility, through unexplained irritability for the smallest little thing, to sudden unexplained depression.
Psychological effects of steroid abuse are related to aggressive behavior, pathological jealousy, increased paranoia, abstinence crisis, and dangerous mood changes in less than few minutes. It is impossible to predict whether it will be a rage monster or the sweetest man in the world! Steroid users are similar to drug addicts.
Did you know someone as a very calm and steady person? Did he become Jekyll and Hide? Is he more depressive than he initially was? Is he doing the things he has never done before? He is probably a steroid user!
Gynecomastia
According to the science, gynecomastia means an increase in breast size. This is not strange – all excess testosterone in the human body turns to estrogen, which is a female hormone. A steroid user might also face sexual dysfunction, fertility, prostate enlargement, and testicle atrophy.
Extreme Head Baldness
The best bodybuilders in the world are usually bald. It is not a secret. This effect of steroid abuse is irreversible. Maybe you will have to shave your head to the rest of your life due to weaker hair growth!
This is the ultimate feature every steroid user gets. It doesn’t depend on gender. There will be less hair in the area of your face and head. You can start looking like The Hitman as the time goes by!
Syringe Marks
Injection is the safest way of consumption. Oral steroid use is less efficient, and it is really dangerous for your kidneys, liver, intestines, and gastric.
You will see the marks on the body because steroids usually interfere regular wound healing process. Syringe wounds can hurt like hell, and you will be spending many sleepless nights.
If the abuse lasts for a long period of time, it could lead to heart insufficiency, hypertension, atherosclerosis, increased level of cholesterol, and tachycardia. In the worst case scenario, it could be a heart attack, stroke, anaphylactic shock, and death!
Final Word
Bodybuilders are consciously choosing the line of smaller resistance and building big muscles in a short period of time.
But when they stop taking steroids, a series of fatal reactions and consequences start to happen inside of their bodies. In the end, they will look funny – muscles will turn to bulk and look smaller, breasts will be bigger etc.
Stay away from steroids and stick to the healthy nutrition and regular workout. There is nothing in the world to replace your health! You can look like Hercules but it requires time!
interesting read, was always curious about that. Also, it’s “Mister Hyde.”
Among other things, in “Sudden Muscle Growth” section the photos depict a SYNTHOL OIL user and not a steroid user. Get your facts right and do some more research before spreading misinformation.
Makes me feel good and motivated for staying natural all the way.
However, i`ve been working out for years but i had multiple occasional hiccups during last 2 years which set me back to the 70 kg that you mentioned. But since i had the power and muscle definition to get serious again, i am 80 kg now (after 6 months), hoping to get 90 kg by the year from 70 kg point.
And its all with careful work towards my joints and realistic power.
So.. not everyone who puts 20 kg over a year or so is on gear. Although i know its a rare occasion.
I think the case here is that roid users check most of these marks. But seeing one these and being sure that something is up, doesn’t sound sensible.
Some people have inherited acromegaly without roids.
Some people develope hormonal problems and hense acne at the age 30+ without roids.
Some people have muslce dymorphia by definition without roids.
And a lot of people have disproportionate body sizes like big or small head and hands by default.
So
Discouraging people from roid use or encouraging them to stay natty is awesome but you need to stay fair to keep your credibility in your audience’s eyes.
Best regards