Secrets of Bodybuilding Success - Part 5

By Rob Drucker

Question 5

I am 18 years old, and I am considering taking steroids. Can you offer any advice?

Answer:

A well-known local bodybuilder once told me, "I don't care if I die by age 30 so long as I win Mr. America." At the time, this guy was a mere 23 years old, a steroid fanatic, super huge, and, in my opinion, heading for ruins and an early death. His need for glory and recognition clouded his mind and utterly destroyed the two things which bodybuilding should always provide - health and happiness.

Some months ago I visited the YMCA in Lexington, Kentucky for a workout. While there, I got to talking with a young and skinny lad. I quickly learned that this fellow believed that his accomplishments as a bodybuilder could only be measured by comparing himself with other gym members [We will cover this mistake during Part 6 of this series]. He said to me, "Bob, my progress is lousy. Larry over there can bench press 350 pounds! I can only manage 175. And, look at that big guy over there. He squats four times the amount I do, and his legs make mine look like twigs." This young guy went on to tell me that he was considering taking steroids so that he could "be up there with the big boys." I responded by explaining to him, "You can choose to take steroids. But, I doubt if taking them will bring you what you are seeking." After hearing my response, the young bodybuilder walked away with a puzzled look on his face. I'm not sure if he comprehended what I was trying to tell him.

Not too long after visiting the YMCA in Lexington, I made a rare appearance at World's Gym in Louisville. As I was getting ready for my workout, I was astonished to see how much bigger an acquaintance named Dave had become since I last saw him six months earlier. His chest was noticeably bigger, his arms and shoulders were thicker, and his legs were packed with new muscle all the way around. I couldn't understand how he suddenly gained so much new muscle, for he had been training over seven years beforehand without making such dramatic and sudden improvement. However, the "secret" of Dave's quick "progress" was immediately revealed after I saw who he was training with. Remember the "I don't care if I die by age 30" guy? Well, he was the one!

As I got a closer look at Dave's new physique, the cookie began to crumble. Dave had more than just new muscles, he also had a new case of pimples to cover them. They were scattered on his chest, on his back, even on his legs! His muscles also looked bloated and unnatural, like they had been pumped with implant material. Dave was all smiles in the gym, but a letdown was just around the corner - I was sure of that.

Several months passed before I saw Dave again. This time he appeared smaller, not so confident, and looking somewhat defeated. I asked Dave what had caused him to lose so much muscle. He confided, "I was on the roids Bob. Biggest mistake I've ever made. I had to stop taking them because they were destroying my masculinity, if you know what I mean. I would like to have a family someday you know. Worse part is that the roids f**ked up my natural production of testosterone. Once I quit taking them, my muscles began to shrink like crazy. Now I can only wait and hope that my hormone level builds back up to where it used to be."

After hearing Dave's confession, I asked him why he decided to take steroids in the first place. He told me, "I guess I was looking for a short cut to build big muscles. Many other folks at the gym are on the roids, so I thought I'd give them a try. I felt that I had to take the drugs in order to compete with them."

I once had a friend, Donny, who used to ride a bus across town to Walt's Gym in Louisville almost every day after school. Donny was one of the best built teenage bodybuilders in town, and he was as strong as he looked. We occasionally trained together at Walt's, and I can recall that during one workout he did strict bench presses for reps with about 275 pounds.

Donny was a good guy, and he appeared to have a bright future in front of him. Unfortunately, some time after we last trained together, Donny began to experiment with growth-enhancement drugs. Coupled with hard training, the drugs caused his muscles to grow stronger very quickly. But, there was trouble in the horizon. While steroid use allowed Donny's muscles to grow stronger at record speed, the added strength was not balanced with a proportional increase of structural stability. This fact became evident one day Donny decided to attempt a new personal record on the bench press, with a whopping 400 pounds! He took the massive weight off the bench stands, lowered it to his chest, and then, with all his might, he started to drive the weight back to the upright position. All seemed well until a quick ripping sound suddenly echoed across the room. At the moment that this horrific sound occurred, the weight suddenly crashed onto Donny's chest and he hollered in agony. Donny had tore his right pec clean off the attachment point at his shoulder.

Thanks to surgery, rehab, rest and treatment, Donny was eventually able to recover from his injury and resume training. His comeback was short-lived, however. A few months after resuming his workouts, Donny had a heart attack and dropped dead. I can't say that steroids caused his death, but I have my suspicions.

Secret 5

The desire to be bigger and stronger than the next guy can provide a strong motivation for training hard. Unfortunately, such a desire can also inspire many bodybuilders to use steroids and other types of muscle-building drugs, and at elevated dosages. When steroids are used, not only are undesirable side effects likely to occur, they also can potentially destroy your psyche and sense of well being. Deep down, on a sub-conscious level, a steroid user will know that he is a cheat, an impostor of muscle so to speak. And, ultimately, his sense of accomplishment will be diminished by guilty thoughts which will emanate from his inner mind.

The natural bodybuilder, in contrast, builds sound health, both in body and mind. He knows that his large muscles are well deserved, and that they are built to last. He is a role model for the entire community, being a person who earns his muscles solely through hard work, perseverance, and proper training. Furthermore, his strong character is admired by those around him, both in and outside of the gym.

If you want lasting muscles, great health, and an earned respect from other lifters, forget the drugs and train naturally. Steroids may offer a short-cut to the attainment of large muscles, but the potential consequences of using them, including legal prosecution, are much too grim to take lightly.

More Food for Thought

Far too many strength enthusiasts falsely believe that taking steroids can turn them into super men. Now, don't misunderstand what I am saying; steroids do aid muscular development. However, all the drugs in the world will not turn you into a Mr. Olympia if you do not have the required genetic traits to be a champion. Elite title winners, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbu, may have gained an edge from steroid use, but the primary reason for their success is great genetics. If Arnold had never taken steroids, he still could have been one of the best built bodybuilders of all time. In contrast, if Mr. Average takes daily injections of the most powerful muscle-building drugs, doing so will not turn him into a bodybuilding superstar.