Wanting a fast car and a muscular body often seem to go together. I remember a post on here before I joined where an aspiring BB was put off by people who claimed you had to take steroids to get big. Well here's the truth and some good advice...

 

I have done weights on and off since I was about 16 (I'm now 32). For years I would train a little then lose interest etc..I made some gains but nothing too visible..ie. I never looked big or like a bodybuilder and I had serious flaws like skinny legs and flat chest. 1.5 yrs ago I decided to really make an effort to see what my potential was and to train properly (I joined a gym for the 1st time) before I was too old. I went from a little over 12 stone to 14 stone within less than a year and made gains I never thought possible. I HAVE NEVER TAKEN STEROIDS and a couple of times others in the gym asked me if I was on any gear(Steroids) and I had to convince them I wasn't !! I am not a natural but I have a decent body and seem to gain muscle reasonably well (you need to use your head as much as your body).

 

The bottom line is that I believe many gym-goers make excuses for laziness by claiming you only make significant gains by taking steroids. Sure, most if not all pro's probably take/took steroids to compete and it gives them the edge, but you cannot get big by JUST taking steroids. Taking steroids is a bit like modifying a car in an unbalanced way - when you raise engine power you put greater stress on many engine components and if any of them is not up to the job, it will fail. Steroids will find the weak point in your system because they hype your body and this can have dangerous or highly undesirable consequences. Think of it like NOS - would you put NOS in a stock engine ?! You only use it sparingly in a strong modified engine. An unmodified engine is not designed to cope with NOS, like your body is not designed to cope with artificial steroids.

 

I train hard (only once or twice a week) and used to take creatine(legal and natural substance found in meat and fish) and food and vitamin supplements but not in huge amounts. The important thing for me was to always allow plenty of time for recuperation between workouts, vary exeercise regularly and take occasional lay-offs to allow my body to have a rest from heavy training and the demands this places on your body. Also, free weights are the best for packing on muscle mass especially early on in your training. Machines help to shape and provide variety. I also found i didn't need many sets of any exercise to get my muscles trained-slightly sore next day.

 

I have been offered steroids but always refused as I do want a strong body but not at the expense of my health !! Instead of thinking about steroids, focus your mind and train hard (progressively-just do ENOUGH each workout) and you will embarass all those other gym-goers who are just going thru the motions.

 

Part of the key is to only do enough -more sets than necessary only mean you will take longer to recover. You 'tear' the muscle at the microscopic level so that it grows back and hopefully adds a little muscle in the process. 'Tear' it too mcuh and you'll take many days to recover and risk getting colds and flu in the process as you will be run down. Yuo have to learn by experience amd remember everyone's body is different.

Hi Nelson,

 

Very interesting, I used to be/maybe due to make a comeback/ competitive weight lifter and I never took Steroids.

 

The one reason for this was steroids is rife in weight lifting/ athletics/ pro body building. Every so often I knew an ex British Champ who was a coach hit 40ish and then just drop dead, no cancer no warning he would have a stroke or a heart attack and then go belly up.

 

I have a load of websites that are interesting to look at, advocating low sets, high intensity work!

 

All the Best,

 

Mark

Mark,

 

Mike Mentzer advocated short intense workouts (probably one of your websites), and I followed his philosophy to some extent (I was doing it before I heard he advocated it -it just made sense to me !).

 

My strongest body part is probably my shoulders - I can hold 40/45-pound dumbells at arms length in the lateral raise and I'm 6-foot tall. I can curl(barbell) about 60kg and bench ~100kg (not many reps).

 

Cheers,

Dave.

I can bench 100kg for 41 reps,touching chest with bar and full lock out with arms,have trophy to prove it.Did I take steroids .

 

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I only did a 130 bench tonight, only one rep, I can only do 100 for 10 though.

 

Still, I've run out of weight on the Lat pulldowns.

 

 

Herman

Cry Cry Moan Moan Winge Winge.

 

You guys are making me feel jealous due to the fact that I made the choice of giving up Body Building for my career.

 

Now you might say that that is a cop out cus there are gyms everywhere but my training partner lives in Derby and I work in Sheffield. Bit of a trek if to be going to the gym 3-4 times per week.

 

Up side of it is that the gym that I go to now is literally across the road from where I work(Greens)but it caters more for the cardio trainer rather than the Gorilla.

 

Their dumb bells only go up to 40kg and I'm already repping out on those for incline press and I dont think the gym even knows what bar bells are.

 

Therefore, I have resigned myself to the fact that my body building days are over and I should join the masses and just watch MTV whilst running and skiing to no-where.

 

When I was a lot younger and more impressionable, I surcame to the gear, which at the time made me feel FANTASTIC, but susequently gave me bitch tits when I came of it. When I then started traing at Derby and I saw masive result with no gear, I was very happy until I hit a plateau and then the thoughts of gear came in to my mind again. I managed to restrain but by that time got the new job. It seemed like I could not get past 3 plates on flat or decline bench or 2 and a half plates on the Smith press.

 

Hence I gave it up, became a fat bastard and are now waiting for the day where I find some initiative/inspration to do something about it.

 

Fuck me, didn't realize I was that fucked up. Might be time to do something about it.

 

However, it is nice to hear about peoples stories too.

 

BTW - Anyone know where I can gets some EPH25+........Just kidding.

 

[This message has been edited by Cos (edited 02-07-2002).]

Get yourself back in the Gym M8, stay off the Gear though, it's not worth it unless you’re going to compete, in any sport, professionally.

 

Personally I do it because it's the only exercise I find fun, apart from TKD.

 

Herman

 

muwhahahaha sorry but this is sad.

im bigger than you- no hang on im stronger than you lol.I think i should mention that i can pick up my own television

So is this about drugs??? Smoke weed, don't take steroids

 

CheerZ,

 

Andy

 

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Log onto Tech info for the latest tech info :D

 

Originally posted by 300z:

muwhahahaha sorry but this is sad.

im bigger than you- no hang on im stronger than you lol.I think i should mention that i can pick up my own television

 

So I take it you have MASSIVE forarms then ! LOL

 

Herman

 

 

Originally posted by Herman Munster:

So I take it you have MASSIVE forarms then ! LOL

 

Herman

 

he he now im not sure if thats from picking up tellys or wa..errmmm

 

 

LOL, Quality

 

Herman

I take steroids and smoke weed, so that makes me big and stupid most of the time!

 

Seriously though, anabolic steroids make a 5% difference to your physique and no more!

 

Im always honest about it but the ignorance surrounding gear is pathetic at times. In my opinion if your thinking about using dont but if you do talk to me first!

 

AND PLEASE no more stories about some bloke who just dropped dead due to a massive heart attack from testosterone abuse. Get all the facts first!

 

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Big Roy, what do you think of the MAX-OT weight training programme, me and my mate have just started it for the last couple of weeks? Also does a supplement called hydroxi-cut work?

i must have taken every known substance bar steroids but it's had no detrimental effect to my brain or well being.........yet the copius amounts of cheese on toast at 4am after some serious pc gaming seem to be taking their toll on my fight against my spare wagon tyre around my waist but hey i dont wanna live to be an old man because lets face it old peeps are slagged by everybody now so how bad is it gonna be when we're all older i intend to go out in a blaze of glory though

Or a blaze of 'Cheese on Toast' anyway !!

 

Sounds like BigRoy is trying to get some funds for his next repair bill.

 

Herman

I have a crap short term memory, I blame a lot of the drugs i smoked when i was 13-16,

 

Basically from info i have recieved you should only take gear if you are over 25 and have worked out for over 18months and have hit a plateau,

 

The best gear is Arnolds Bodybuilding encyclopedia.

 

I hit the gym 4 times a week with a 7 day routine, I was a skinny fucker though and have managed an increase of 20lbs with another 28 to go until I am happy. my BMI is now 21 @10% body fat

 

Determination > gear

 

 

BMI is the most antiquated system out there, i would not hold much water to what that index tells you.

Originally posted by MikeGroves:

The best gear is Arnolds Bodybuilding encyclopedia.

 

That's true, you should see the size of that book, it's about 4 inches thick, weight's a ton too.

 

Herman

Originally posted by Herman Munster:

That's true, you should see the size of that book, it's about 4 inches thick, weight's a ton too.

 

Herman

LAMO i sleep on that book, use it for a pillow, a seat ect he he he, It really is a very good book.

 

 

Well compared to you lot i'm a 10 stone weakling! :P

 

;-)

 

 

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Simon

marczxt,

 

Hydroxcut and all the other fat burning supplements are basically a herbal mix of the good old ephredrine,caffine, asprin mix. Yes it does work but like all things depends on diet and training etc. MAX OT training not familiar with it BUT ive been bodybuilding for 10 years now and compete succesfully. Ive tried everything in my ignorance and eventually came to my senses. Gaining muscle is not easy BUT it is simple. Eat more food than your body needs to maintain its current weight. High protein is a must. Dont RELY on supplements they are just SUPPLEMENTS to your food intake.

 

Training - keep a diary, try to lift more weight/reps than last week. Stick to the basic compound exercises. Three to four days per week is enough.

 

Get as much sleep as possible.

 

And no Herman im not trying to sell gear, but would be happy to speak to people about using before they make mistakes listening to the local dealer who knows jack shit!

 

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Originally posted by 300z:

Originally posted by Herman Munster:

That's true, you should see the size of that book, it's about 4 inches thick, weight's a ton too.

 

Herman

LAMO i sleep on that book, use it for a pillow, a seat ect he he he, It really is a very good book.

 

 

I like to use it as an axle stand for the car

 

Seriously, it's a good reference book for just about every exercise, I got mine from a car boot sale for £5 when I was at Uni.

 

Herman

 

 

Thanks Big Roy good info on those supplements. Yeah the MAX-OT is where we train a different Muscle group each day and don't train it until the next week, when we train we do 3 sets of 4-6 reps(maximum weight we can lift) until failure on each exercise.

We are just into our 3rd week at the mo, so hopefully I will notice the difference on our 12th week.

(MAX-OT = Maximum Overtrain)

Now to find a cow and kill it for maximum protein intake!

Might I suggest the Vodka, Whisky and Lucky Strike diet, you wont put on muscle or weight, but you wont give a shit either.

 

 

 

 

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->Glen