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ANABOLIC STEROIDS
Anabolic Steroids:
WHY or
WHY NOT?
by Gregg Strom
Anabolic Steroids have become something
of a dark mystery in many places around the world.
Where in the past, a "Sports
Medicine" physician would regularly
prescribe anabolic steroids, the laws have changed in certain
jurisdictions (such as the U.S.) so that any physician who
would do this for you now risks at least some harassment from
the government - even the possibility of losing their license - and
their livelihood!
The "black
market" thrives on this situation, corrupting,
diluting and distorting much of the "common knowledge" and
"common sense" that was previously available. This same black
market is now predominantly selling more "fake" steroids than
"real" (pharmaceutical) ones. Many of these fakes are not
made in the clean and sterile environment that is essential for safety;
and many consist only of "cooking-grade" sesame oil with NO
real or active ingredients!++
 This brief article (for men)
attempts to list some of the more important considerations that should
be evaluated by anyone who is considering using anabolic steroids....
1. NO MATTER WHAT,
you should ALWAYS be monitored by a physician
when taking these (or other!) substances.
While doctors in many countries can get in
trouble if they PRESCRIBE steroids for you, they would get in
even MORE trouble if they did not properly monitor your health,
knowing that you are taking them!
Many black-market dealers will tell you that
some anabolics are relatively "safe", and that other anabolics
are "not as clean" or "harder" - and therefore
riskier. (Sometimes they'll tell you that they are SO safe, that
you don't even need to see a doctor!)
While parts of this "information" has
SOME truth to it (as does any good lie), it is vital that you know
the WHOLE TRUTH:
That EACH INDIVIDUAL reacts differently to EACH
(different) substance.
This is why there are so many different kinds
of blood-pressure medicines, tranquilizers, antibiotics - or just about
any other type of drug you would care to name....
 I can
PERSONALLY attest to the importance of this
medical monitoring, as I was once prescribed "Primabolan-Depot"
- it is an injectable anabolic that is generally considered as one of
these "cleaner" and "safer" drugs
available.
Yet my liver function tests went sky-high! (This is BAD!)
On the other hand, "Oxymethalone" (also known as
"Anadrol") is generally considered a fairly "toxic"
("BAD") oral anabolic. But my own reaction is
very different from the "normal".
When using oxymethalone, my liver function tests don't budge - they
remain the same even when I am on what is considered high doses of this
drug!
Without proper medical supervision, I could have been in serious
trouble with the so-called "safe" Primabolan-Depot. I would
also not have been able to take advantage of the muscle-building
benefits of Anadrol!
2. AGE.
Being a teenager can be a rough time - EXCEPT if
you want to be a Bodybuilder - then you're in luck!
Your OWN body,
(unless there is something very wrong with it), produces
HUGE AMOUNTS of anabolic
steroids all by itself! (The steroid
"Testosterone".)
Spending money to buy even more than this HUGE
amount is like pouring gasoline into a full tank - and having it spill
out of your car, onto the ground - and expecting this to enable you to
drive farther! In other words: "Just plain stupid...."
But besides just making someone else rich, and besides getting almost
no benefit from these extra steroids, you can also HURT your own
growth!
Putting extra steroids into your body at this age can cause the ends
of your bones to close up tight - and stop you from getting any bigger.
This is not very smart....
It is not until you reach the age of 22-23 (or
20-25 depending on the doctor you speak to), that your body begins to
make less and less steroids each day.+++ Only AFTER this age does steroid
supplementation make any sense at all - and even then, ONLY after
you have gained at least 10-20% of "lean muscle mass"....
Why is this? Because until you have built up this 10% to 20% of
additional muscle on your own, you are generally not limited by
the amount of steroids your own body makes!
There is no need to supplement, and spending money for extra steroids
would just be a waste. But there is even more...
...Your body also becomes "de-sensitized" to anabolic steroids
over a period of time, so by only taking them when they are USEFUL,
the muscle-building effect is actually GREATER! This is the reason for
"cycling" - and also the reason for not taking steroids
UNTIL THEY ARE USEFUL!
3. SIDE-EFFECTS (and cosmetic
considerations.)
 Anabolic Steroids
can have many different side-effects - again, this is why so many
different kinds exist. With this variety of choices, a physician
can help you reduce or eliminate those side-effects that cause you
problems; (the side-effects that bother you the
most,) by helping you choose the correct steroid for YOU.
Unfortunately, because of the countries that
have made steroids difficult for a physician to prescribe without fear,
new doctors are not getting the same day-to-day ("clinical")
experience that their older colleagues experienced. Practical and
valuable health and fitness information is being lost....
WATER-RETENTION
is a very common side effect of some steroids.
Usually, (but NOT always!), the steroids that have this problem are
generally the kind that have the more "androgenic" effects.
"Androgenic" refers to the effects of masculinization such as
beard-growth, deepening of the voice, increased sex-drive, etc.
This is considered a different (and separate) effect from the
"Anabolic" (muscle-building) effects of steroids.
And depending upon the individual, one of these "more
androgenic" steroids may cause this water-retention problem
- while a different of these "more androgenic"
steroids may not!
ALL of these side-effects are a STRONG reason to see a doctor who
has some experience prescribing these drugs - once again, a doctor
known as a "Sports Medicine" physician.
SEX-DRIVE
can go up - or down, depending on your individual reaction.
And your reaction to THE SAME DRUG may even change over time! With some
steroids your drive may go up for one "cycle", then on the next
"cycle", go down!
(Steroids are
taken in "cycles". This means that you take the steroids for a
period of time, then "taper-off", then remain OFF steroids for
a certain length of time before starting again. This "cycling"
lets your body "re-normalize" and also helps you retain your
maximum response to the steroids - so that you don't become
"desensitized" through continuous use.)
The injectable "testosterones" seem to
consistently increase sex drive - probably because they are SO close in
chemical structure to the anabolic steroid (testosterone) that the human
body normally makes.
Other injectable steroids and most "orals" are more
unpredictable in this area. This is because they are different enough
(in structure) from the steroids that your body makes that they may
either "fool" the areas of the body that produces testosterone
more - or they may "fool" the pituitary gland more. (These
are opposite sides of a "chemical tug-of-war" - both
sides trying to keep a certain balance.)
The pituitary produces a chemical ("HCG") that tells your
body whether to make more or less steroids.
Working with a physician can help you pick the most satisfactory
combination of steroids based upon your personal reactions and
preferences.
COSMETIC EFFECTS
include primarily hair-loss (on the scalp), hair-growth
(pubic) and skin problems ("zits" and/or acne). Physicians who
have had extensive clinical (day-to-day) experience with prescribing
steroids report that extra hair loss is a not-very-common side-effect. It
IS real - just not very common.
Increased HAIR GROWTH of pubic hair (such a beard growth, hair on
the arms, chest and the rest of the body) IS fairly common with
the more androgenic steroids.
Avoiding the more androgenic steroids can POSSIBLY minimize this
problem, but because changes in pubic hair growth take place over
such a long period of time, it's difficult to predict (or measure)
what is caused by genetics, and what is caused by taking the particular
steroids in question.
SKIN-PROBLEMS
can also be caused by or aggravated by anabolic steroids
(usually the more androgenic ones). As you may probably guess by now,
with skin problems, individual reactions to individual drugs varies
greatly.... (Surprised?)
Besides careful selection of the steroids, the normal skin-care
advice and treatments given to adolescents can alleviate this problem
if it arises, along with UV (Sun) exposure.
" 'ROID RAGE"
is vastly over-rated - only because it is exciting and dramatic and helps
"news" people sell their advertising. It made the headlines
when a bodybuilder was able to convince a jury that
'ROID RAGE
caused him to murder. And SOME increase in aggression IS a possible
side-effect. But this type of reaction is infrequent under sensible
Bodybuilding dosages.
'Roid Rage is generally associated with the more androgenic
steroids, but a study was reported in the July 4, 1996
New England Journal of Medicine that seems to contradict
and/or minimize the importance of this! Using the HIGHLY
androgenic anabolic steroid "testosterone enanthate" (at
the VERY high dosage of 600mg/week), one of the study conclusions
states:
Mood and Behavior
No differences were found between the exercise groups and the
no- exercise groups or between the placebo groups and the
testosterone groups in any of the five subcategories of anger
assessed by the Multidimensional Anger Inventory. No significant
changes in mood or behavior were reported by the men on the Mood
Inventory or by their live-in partners, spouses, or parents on
the Observer Mood Inventory.+
4. RISKS AND BENEFITS
must also be listed here to be responsible and
complete. The risks include some chance of liver damage, prostate cancer
and/or hypertrophy, and aggravation of certain pre-existing cardiac,
liver or kidney conditions, growth of breast tissue in men**, changes in
HDL/LDL cholesterol levels, and coagulation times. (Consult your
physician for full details.)
When "consulting your physician"
and considering these "risks and benefits", ALSO use common
sense to consider the AMOUNT of risk involved. In general, the
primary risk usually associated with the use of steroids is that
of damage to the liver - damage that can USUALLY be reversed by
simply ceasing to use the steroids that caused the problem!
There are a variety of studies available that measure selected risks
of certain, specific anabolic steroids. Many of these studies can be
logically generalized to give you a better understanding of the AMOUNT
of risk involved. There are new studies being done all the time.
>> REAL "RISK" INFORMATION:
Recently, the "WHO" (World
Health Organization - part of the United Nations)
has determined that 200mg per week of Testosterone
Cypionate
is a "safe and effective" method
for male birth control.++ (This is a very typical dosage level
for Bodybuilding purposes.)
>> REAL "RISK" INFORMATION:
As someone who uses anabolic steroids, and as someone with a scientific
and engineering background, I had an urge to "quantify" the
general level of risk associated with anabolic steroids.
A physician of mine (a plastic surgeon,) went to
extreme lengths to get this data for me. His insurance carrier
(New York Metropolitan Life) reported to him that the
"major mortality/morbidity" (death/illness)
risk of taking "high" doses of anabolic steroids
was 1 out of 10,000,000.
To provide a basis for comparison he asked for the same number
(calculated in the same way) for the risk of a general anesthetic: It was
reported to him as 1 out of 100,000--or in other words,
anabolic steroids were 100 times safer than a
simple general anesthetic!
>> REAL "RISK" INFORMATION:
Here is most of the important information off the "insert"
that was included in a precription of
"Sustanon '250'" that I was prescribed in
Australia. (Manufactured by ORGANON (AUTRALIA) PTY, LTD.
Drug Code: AUST R 14521 Insert:
3.3897.D.61(F).):
Description and pharmacology
SUSTANON '250' is an androgenic preparation for intramuscular administration
containing four different esters of the natural hormone testosterone.
Testosterone proprionate has a rapid onset and a short duration of action.
Testosterone phenylproprionate and isocaproate have a less rapid onset and
a long duration of action. By combining these testosterone esters, the
action of SUSTANON '250' starts shortley after injection and is maintained
for about three weeks.
SUSTANON '250' is generally well tolerated and has
no adverse effect on the liver.
...Contra-indications
- Known or suspected prostatic or mammary carcinoma. [Ed. Note: This is
Pre-existing cancer. (That is, when you ALREADY have prostatic
or mammary cancer.)]
Warnings and precautions
- If androgen-associated adverse reactions occur, treatment should be
interrupted and, after disappearance of the
symptoms, be resumed at a lower dosage.
- Patients with latent or overt cardiac failure, renal dysfunction,
hypertension, epilepsy or migraine (or a history of these conditions)
should be monitored, since androgens may occasionally induce salt and
fluid retention.
- Androgens should be used cautiously in prepubertal boys to avoid premature
epiphyseal closure or precocious sexual development.
- A decrease in protein-bound iodine (PBI) may occur, but this has no clinical significance.
Interactions with other Drugs
Androgens may improve glucose tolerance and therby in diabetic patients
decrease the need for insulin or other antidiabetic drugs.
Adverse reactions
The following adverse reactions have been associated with androgen
therapy:
- Priapism and signs of excessive sexual
stimulation. [Ed. Note: Signs of excessive sexual stimulation
"ADVERSE"?!?? I certainly don't
mind!]
- In preperbutal boys, precocious sexual development, and increased
frequency of erections, phallic enlargement and premature epiphyseal
closure.
- Oligospermia and decreased ejaculatory volume.
- Water and salt retention.
Dosage and administration
In general, dosage should be adjusted
according to the response of the individual patient. Usually, one injection of 1 ml per three weeks is
adequete. [Ed. Note: The typical Bodybuilding dose is 1 ml (250mg -
"176mg equivelent") once each week. This is the dosage that
is/was used by the majority of doctors in the Bodybuilding field. Sustenon
is also known under the names "Durateston" and
"Testo-Viron Depot".]
SUSTANON '250' should be administered by deep intramuscular injection.
Overdosage
There are no specific recommendations for the management of overdosage with
SUSTENON '250'.
Presentation
Each ml of the oily solution contains:
testosterone propionate 30 mg
testosterone pheylpropionate 60 mg
testosterone iscaproate 60 mg
testosterone decanoate 100 mg
CLOSING NOTES:
All of the information provided here is based
on two basic assumptions:
- That you take anabolic steroids under the care of a physician,
preferably one familiar with prescribing anabolic steroids for
Bodybuilding.
- That the steroids you take are obtained from legitimate sources,
and are not "street" drugs which may be contaminated,
too strong or too weak - or may not even be an anabolic steroid!
-
KEEP THE ISSUES CLEAR:
Note that this is a discussion of ANABOLIC
STEROIDS -- ONLY! There are MANY more drugs that are used by Bodybuilders
(generally only for use when in a contest or exhibition) that are truely
DANGEROUS - a description I would NOT use for Anabolic Steroids!
When you hear a rumor or a claimed ''news'' story such as "Bodybuilder
Collapses on Contest Stage" remember that the most common cause of
serious contest-related problems is the use of diuretics or of a prescription
high-dose potassium supplement (known as "Slow-K" or "Micro-K").
The purpose for using ''slow-K'' is for getting that extremely ''cut'',
''ripped'', or ''shredded'' look. [Potassium preferrentially keeps water in
muscle, while reducing the amount retained in the skin.] And there are many
other non-anabolic-steroid drugs used ONLY for the unusual and artificial
[crazy?] constraints imposed during actual contests -- at least as Bodybuilding
contest are currently judged....
This means that whenever you hear an anti-anabolic rumor or claim, you should
ask questions and listen CAREFULLY to what EXACTLY is *actually* reported
in these sensationalized stories! You should look and listen carefully to
determine who exactly is making the MOST SERIOUS claims and
accusations.
Are they really reporting that STEROIDS were the cause of a certain
thing? Or are the words, phrases and/or sentences used delibrately and
intentionally to MISLEAD instead of to inform...?
For example, if a ''news'' reporter says:
"John Doe was rushed to the hospital when he collapsed on-stage at a
Bodybuilding contest. Mr. Doe was reported to have used anabolic steroids."
--NOTICE THAT THESE WORDS DO NOT CLAIM THAT STEROIDS WERE THE CAUSE OF THE
COLLAPSE!
The ''reporter'' is trying to mislead you by putting the words ''collapse''
and ''anabolic steroids'' very close to each other -- purposely trying to
mislead you into believing that one caused the other.
And some reporters can even make such DISCONNECTED DETAILS sound EVEN WORSE
than in the first example! For instance:
"During the 'Mr. SmallTown Bodybuilding Contest', one of the contestants,
John Doe, a suspected steroid user, collapsed on-stage and was rushed to the
hospital."
"Suspected" by who? Or is this just "suspected" by
the so-called "reporter" -- who cares more about his ratings
than the truth...!?
With "clever" (stupid?) reporting like these examples, a viewer can
easily be tricked into hearing what the ratings-driven reporter wants to the viewer
to hear - while not hearing what actually happened... or more precisely,
the reporter can often trick the viewer into hearing things that did NOT happen!
Be careful of any steroid-related so-called "news" stories that
are reported by a sports personality or especially a "sports reporter"
- be careful of any medically-related story that is not reported by a
physician! (The local publicity-hound "TV Doctors"
won't generally broadcast a lie that may affect their medical licenses -- so
they are usually, as a group, a much better source than the sports
broadcasters -- the sports people often report the stories that involve
distortion and/or lies of medical information for this very reason! --A
sports guy has no license to lose. And a local sports reporter is so used to
PURPOSELY twisting his stories to the benefit of local teams that giving a
''reporter'' label to these guys is the basest lie of all....
-
UPDATE: [26FEBRUARY2005] This problem of ''who is doing the
reporting'' has become even WORSE in the most recent examples of anti-anabolic
steroid propoganda disguised as ''news''.
As more people have noticed that no doctor [not even a television doctor]
was reporting these stories, the politically-connected people
who take our tax money to PROVE a drug problem exists [so that they have a job
"fighting" an invented "drug problem"]
have developed a NEW strategy to get the television doctors back on screen --
and to get the TV-doc's reputation associated with even the most outlandish and/or
unscientific claims.
(Believe it or not, some doctors -- mostly TV-doctor types --
actually WELCOME and EMBRACE such a misinformational role -- they
embrace it as a "power surrogate" for the power that they believe they
don't have over their own lives.)
It seems that too many "regular people" were beginning to doubt such
propogandizing groups and individuals and their long-standing and outrageous
alarmist claims.
The technique they are now using to comingle fact with fiction is as simple
as their earlier one -- and every bit as dishonest and mis-leading.
The technique is to have a LONG interview of some individual(s) or ''group
representatives'' who takes on the chore of telling all the lies that these
special-interest groups want to propogandize.
So to get the TELEVISION DOCTOR back into the picture, they have the TV-doc
just INTRODUCE and CLOSE the particular story that contains the many lies and distortions:
All the outrageous and incorrect claims are made WITHIN THE INTERVIEWS and the
claims are made by any/many uneducated shills -- a group with includes people such as
relatives, teammates -- or even unassociated and unknown youngsters/athletes in
unrelated sports -- often from entirely different regions of the U.S.
When pushed, the ''news'' producer may even resort to arbitrary ''file footage''
(conveniently supplied by the propogandizing group(s)/ individual(s)) -- whose only
shared trait is a willingness to expound the exact same propoganda points being fed to your
-- and everyone else's -- minds through the use of the ''idiot'' [alpha-wave] box....
We all know those people who will say ANYTHING to get their face in front of a
camera (with or without eating a plate of crawling insects, etc., ala ''fear factor'',
etc....)
-
I was viscerally shocked and offended when I first saw this technique
used heavily during 2004 in an attempt to link anabolic steroids to teen
suicides. (This was the same year that negative publicity about similar claims
for "Serotonin-Reuptake-Inhibitors" aka
"Selective-Serotonin-Reuptake-Inhibitors" was running rampent in the
sensationalist media.)
When the study abstract about using ANABOLIC STEROIDS to TREAT depression
concludes with the statement:
"CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings suggest that testosterone gel may
produce antidepressant effects in the large and probably underrecognized
population of depressed men with low testosterone levels..."
...I cannot even IMAGINE how much harm has been done (and will likely CONTINUE
to be done) to "the large and [...] underrecognized population of depressed
men" who should be treated with testosterone or related anabolic steroids
-- but REFUSE TREATMENT because in their depressed state they worry about CAUSING
SUICIDE -- a claim mostly made by the PARENTS of ONE KID who killed himself in
college.
This is not dissimilar from the warnings from medical experts that they are
expecting serious UNDERTREATMENT of severe teenage depression -- as a direct result
of the distortions involed in the ''anti-SSRI campaign'' of 2004.
(That the drug companies should be held accountable for INTENTIONAL HIDING OF
INFORMATION goes without saying -- if, however, this is even possible with the
new anti-consumer, pro-monopoly, pro-conglomerate so-called ''tort reform'' --
which is promised -- by the insurance industry -- to do NOTHING to lower medical
costs OR to make more doctors available....)
That the media is pushing this idea linking anabolics with suicide -- HARD -- even
with this EVIDENCE [above] THAT IS [suggestively] 100% OPPOSED to such a claim --
reveals a MORAL HYPOCRISY that can only be understood by taking into account the
BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF OUR TAX DOLLARS that the federal government spends [through
ONDCP] to promote and distribute -- and PERMANENTLY EMBED -- ONLY ONE SIDE OF A
POLITICAL DEBATE into our media and into our entertainment shows -- ensuring that
no serious discussion will every survive the ability of the government to CONTROL AND
CENSOR THE MEDIA.
In Russia they did it by shutting down television stations.
In the U.S. it is being done by TAXES TAKEN -- and then spent lavishly -- so that
no political minority can ever get a fair hearing on the MERITS of their claim -- or
even the raw, unvarnished TRUTH of the matter.
And both kinds of censorship are wrong....
(HISTORICAL NOTE: This kind of PURPOSEFUL DECEPTION and DELIBRATE FACTUAL CONFUSION
started with the poorly written book, "Death in the Locker Room" which,
in its subtitle, unscientifically grouped Anabolic Steroids together with totally
unrelated substances - such as MARIJUANA and COCAINE! The primary purpose of such
misleading groupings was to create IRRATIONAL FEAR - and thus to sell a bunch of
over-sensationalized books.)
-
Finally, note that frequently there are publicity (or legal) benefits for
a public sports figure to make negative statements about their own use of
steroids (or other drugs). Steroids can provide an excuse for early retirement
- and these public statements can also be considered by a judge when
sentencing one of these so-called "public figures" for
a drug-related offense! (sometimes making such a statement is actually part
of a plea-agreement with the prosecutor.)
"Tell a lie: Get off easy!"
WAiting For A Lawsuit: ("WAFAL")
I have not seen a SINGLE surgeon include anabolic steroids on their list
of ''drugs to discontinue before surgery''. (Aspirin, other NSAIDs, and
blood thinning medicines ARE listed.)
This is a GROSS omission, as many anabolics supress clotting factors,
to varying degrees.
If you are scheduling a surgery, be sure to discuss this CLOTTING FACTORS
SUPRESSION with your doctor -- educating him if necessary....
FINALLY,
 YOU ARE
RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN ACTIONS!
Do not take MY word for
anything explained here. Check it out with your doctor. And make sure
you are getting FACTS and NOT OPINIONS - even from
your own doctor!
(Few doctors willingly admit to a lack of
medical knowledge, but if you have a good working relationship with your
doctor, being truthful about any lack of expertise with specialized
questions [such as these] should not be a problem.)
Look up information in medical books. Get
the FULL STORY on any conflicting advice and study the facts carefully.
Figure out which advice is right - and WHY it is right.... It is
YOUR body!
You must decide what is best for YOU.
Only YOU can decide if there is enough
information for an informed decision. Only YOU can decide how much
importance to give each of the many factors involved in your
decision.
Not everyone drives a VOLVO - and not everyone rides a
MOTORCYCLE.
These are PERSONAL decisions, and the
choice that is right for you will be different from the choice that is
right for someone else.... Please do not support those who would impose
their OWN choice upon the rest of us.
CHOICES:
Steroids, as with many other things in life,
are not for everyone. They should be taken only under proper supervision,
and only after careful and informed consideration of the risks and
benefits.
UPDATE:
It took me over SIX YEARS OF RESEARCH before I was able to gather ENOUGH
INFORMATION from ENOUGH DIVERSE SOURCES to decide to use Anabolic Steroids --
it is not in my nature or character to embrace (or even be interested in) every
passing fad -- nor to I find interest and/or merit in each of the many claims,
''well, EVERYONE is doing it'' -- which makes the information presented
here all the more valuable and creditable, thanks to my innate skepticism and
critical [and challenging] analysis.*
That was SIX YEARS -- PLUS! (This was during ''pre-Internet days'' -- and I
had to BUY a lot of medical books to get the all the information I felt I needed
specific answers to. If I was making the decision today, I'd probably be able
to cut the time to about one-half [three years] of asking questions, listening
to answers, reading books, and reformulating old questions while introducing
new ones -- this all with the caveat that I would not have been grossly prejudiced
and irretrievably mislead against using Anabolic Steroids by the PROPOGANDA SATURATION
that now shapes, strangles and confines the MASS MEDIA so that it cannot any longer
be considered even a qualifiedly reliable source of even the most basic and
rudimentary raw information....)
________________
*Which are the very same attributes that I brought to such decisions as my becoming
an Electronics Engineer, [etc., etc.] or more notably deciding upon my entry into
yet-one-more public sphere -- as a sexually-motivate male model for magazines and film
-- and my related decision to make myself available for ''private modelling sessions''
(Because of and DESPITE all of the then-stereotyped and self-crippling attitudes and
assumptions that were unnecessarily comingled with each of these quasi-occupations/
quasi-industries.) All of which speaks to the delibrate and non-implusive certainty
with which I did/do ALL of the above -- and more.
Typically, I can sense both my own desires (including yet-to-be-encountered
desires), the direction that local society (including many directions in dimensions
not yet recognized by most) results in the leisure and patient multi-year consideration
of options before any kind of ''immediate crisis'' or ''it's now or never'' encounter
with the rudeness of [what would otherwise be] rude intrusions of reality.
When such decisions have to be made -- so even if the exact question remained
unknown and unknowable until some sort of abrupt encounter, by looking and analyzing
and asking around prior to such a time, it is possible to become VERY well-informed
such that ACCURATE EXTRAPOLATION -- even by a ''non-specialist''* [quote,unquote].
_______________
*A questionable label after spending a large number of years researching a
single issue!!!
Generically, I take every opportunity to gather information, evaluate my
emotions, and consider if I can or wish to influence how society views some sort of
thing, activity or attitude that has remained unchanged [i.e., stale, stagnant,
out-of-date] for too long of a time.
Not only is this a pleasurable avocation for me, but it often leads to what is
latter viewed as a vital and necessary ''breakout'' from the older, standard,
-- and generally unquestioned ''accepted'' practices.
Change does NOT have to be the curse that is expressed in that well-known
Chinese phrase: ''May you live in interesting times....''
References & Notes:
* "The History of Synthetic
Testosterone", Scientific American,
February 1995.
** Individuals who suffer this side effect can often control it through
the use of "Nolvadex" (Talmoxifen Citrate) or other related
drugs.
+ The Effects of Supraphysiologic Doses of Testosterone on Muscle Size
and Strength in Normal Men. By S. Bhasin and Others. The
New England Journal of Medicine,
July 4, 1996.
++ Previously, most of the black market was from under-filled vials,
or factory product that was defective in other essentially
"cosmetic" ways - the black market product was authentic.
Many of today's counterfeits are made so carefully that they are
virtually impossible to identify - so WATCH OUT!
+++ For those of you confused by the different peak shown in the
Newsweek Magazine article of September 16, 1996, the chart
supplied there is reporting testosterone LEVELS in the blood - not
production. The chart is also not adequately labeled - so as to show
which of the many possible measuring methods were used.
Copyright 1996, 1997, 2004 by Gregg Strom. All rights reserved.
For reprint information contact:
BRYX International
P.O. Box 69127
Los Angeles, CA 90069-0127
USA
Internet: http://bryx.com/mailform.htm
or telnet://bryx.com.
Modem: 500-679-BRYX [500-679-2799].
rev. 03feb97
'net-Lies!
We ALL know the news reporters who exagerate during ratings week...
[See SPECIFIC examples. {steroid4.htm}] Similarly,
many newcomers to Bodybuilding are learning of the
"Muscle-Fraud" articles that saturate the muscle magazines;
articles that are written to sell us one dubious "natural"
product after another....
The publishers are now so intent on selling
their OWN products or supplements, (or are so heavily dependent on
advertising from supplement companies), that any truth published about
these products, product competitors or alternate compounds can only
be an accident!
Any truth that may hurt sales is quickly
buried, burned, distorted or denied....
Unfortunately, today's carefully crafted
exageration -- invented to promote a product -- can become tomorrow's
"Big Lie". These designer-truths are part and
parcel of the typical Bodybuilding article -- making some minor
bio-chemical process seem all-important to building muscle.
With a successful covert advertising campaign
(one that uses a supposedly objective article to make sales,) these
designer-truths often tragically acheive the status of
"common-sense". This ultimately kills any debate or
investigation of the topic, and corrupts the Bodybuilding folklore
and Bodybuilding basic knowledge -- making us all worse off.
This deception can cost you everything from
your money (purchasing products that don't work) -- to your wasted
energy (spent on pursuing spurious theories) -- energy that could
have been better used in your workouts...!
The 'net-Lies {steroid3.htm} page shows you What, Where, When,
Why and How these vested sales and publishing interests are misleading
you!
It was the hope of these interests that by
using the Internet, they would increase their power to deceive. And
they were right!
But the power to fight back benefits even MORE from the net! This
open-market of ideas and wide-spread access provides a place where
information that is more easily found -- and a place where
mis-information is more easily challenged.
By providing full and complete information,
we try to help you become a smart and aware "Information
Consumer" -- whether in the Wilds of the Web
-- or at the local news stand!
Visit...
'net-Lies... Exposed!
Don't be a "Supplement
Sucker"!
A word about journalistic integrity and responsibility:
As someone who has been professionally employed in the "Journalism
Industry", (at a time BEFORE rating points were more important than
accuracy), I am proud of my efforts at unbiased and responsible
reporting.
Here on the Internet, there is much less accountability for this
accuracy and honesty in which I take such pride. It is up to YOU, as an
"Information Consumer", to check out the accuracy of ALL sources
including -- not only the Internet, but also your local TV news programs,
local newspaper, and rumours from friends and acquaintances "on the
street". I am confident that any such evaluation will show the
reporting here at BRYX to be highly accurate, and in a very
favorable "generic" light....
[17OCTOBER2004]
UPDATE:[26FEBRUARY2005]
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