Bro, with your dedication, a cycle is going to give you some incredible results, I’m sure of it.
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Distinct correlation to be sure, with the common variable being “predisposition to engage in higher-risk activities”.
We’ve often see cases where guys on steroids die young and, though the steroids weren’t doing them any favors, it was all the OTHER stuff they were doing that did them in.
The stories from Westside Barbell about what some of the dudes were taking OUTSIDE of steroids is pretty nuts. Dave Tate talked about going to the ER for some emergency and them giving him one of those forms you fill out where you list any medications or drugs you’re currently taking and he had to request a second sheet.
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Yup.
The best bodybuilders most likely aren’t bodybuilding, and the best powerlifters most likely aren’t powerlifting. Weightlifting MIGHT have the best weightlifters outside of the US.
I was going to mention this, you took the words right out of my mouth. A desensitisation of sorts towards unhealthy paradigms might occur when injecting black market pharmaceuticals on a regular basis. Otherwise I’d also argue the personality traits harboured by an individual willing to use AAS tend to overlap with the personality traits harboured within those who frequently use hard drugs (i.e the type of person who is willing to use AAS frequently overlaps with the kind of person willing experiment with hard drugs).
There are environmental circumstances that also factor in.
it’s interesting you mention this, AAS mediated cardiac abnormalities may be largely/partially reversible provided you don’t abuse to the point flat out dilated cardiomyopathy/CHF develops. At the same time, cardiac cellular morphology alters and subclinical damage/formation of fibrous tissue may be permanent, predisposing the user towards arrhythmia for many years to come.
Other problematic (cardiac) elements include the premature development and progression of coronary artery disease, but this tends to bite you decades down the line in your 50’s, 60’s, 70’s etc.
There was one study conducted in Australia looking at the autopsies of AAS users in Aus (most in their 20’s, 30’s and 40’s) and it was found the overwhelming majority actually died from acute overdose/concomitant drug related toxicity.
Cardiac abnormalities were noted in many, including deleterious cellular alterations, LVH, a minority had dilated cardiomyopathy. But I’m sure the methamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA and whatnot detected in the blood of the deceased didn’t help matters considering the “cause of death” for most boiled down to acute poisoning/drug overdose. Anabolic steroids through a myriad of mechanisms predispose one to and can facilitate arrhythmia. Take strong stimulants (of which also have pro-arrhythmiac properties, esp cocaine) and it’s kind of a 1+1=5 scenario.
Then one also has to factor in “this probably isn’t a first time thing, how many times have they done this in conjunction with AAS; the long term prognostic significance is fairly high if it’s a common indulgence”.
Someone on here, I think @hardartery told of a strongman who injected pure epinephrine prior to competition.
I believe Palombo actually spoke a while ago about how utilizing anabolic‘s for a while leaves a long term, likely lifelong, effect on the body. You don’t get to go off years of anabolic use and suddenly you’re telling people that you’re natural again.
I also think it’s interesting to consider the comment about people on gear training harder than naturals. If anything, people on gear, not the ones competing at the highest highest level of the sport, usually have the least clue what they’re doing in my experience. Again, this can be applied differently if you’re talking a seriously informed trainer who is constantly trying to learn and apply everything he can to his own continued progress, versus the 90% of the people you would find in an average commercial gym.
S
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Based on the photo, I’ll buy that. And here’s why:
If a guy’s deltoids are out of proportion with the rest of his body then I’m a skeptic.
This information also makes me want to run my first cycle. 
kidding, kidding
But that would help me achieve my goals much faster.
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What goals could you possibly have?
- 6’4
You’ve won sir… That’s it, game over, you win… I tap out
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There are a few exceptions to this rule. Swimmers (whether competitive or not) whilst not overtly muscular tend to have well developed lats and shoulders as these two muscles are heavily stimulated through the repeated stroking motions seen in freestyle/butterfly.
They’re not big, but very toned and disproportional lat/deltoid development appears to be the norm
Gymnastics (particularly still rings) also = very well developed shoulders/lats and arms.
But generally big traps and capped delts is indicative of exogenous androgen use.
They’re developed but I’d call it proportional to the surrounding area. I’m thinking of those guys who look like someone inserted a softball under their skin where their delts should be.
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Been chasing that look my whole friggin’ life, never got close. Maybe I’ll have better luck after I turn 60 next year. 
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I can’t sleep… With that in mind
You’re in luck! These implants look atrocious but, capped delts the steroid FREE way! Let’s all do this, @Frank_C @EyeDentist and @unreal24278 getting deltoid implants unanimously
You know you’ve won in life when going under the knife for this (barring those who actually need the procedure, like those who have lost a portion of the deltoid muscle due to trauma, cancer etc)
I can buy 5’9 160 and him being natural once you factor the things you mentioned for certain. Personally if he was in the same condition say at 30 to 40 lbs more my eye brow would definitely be raised.
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The conditioning the top WNBF pros bring is astounding to behold in person. Honestly, the conditioning at most good tested shows is often much better than most competitors at non-tested shows (even some ifbb shows imo)
S
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If he was 40 lbs heavier at the same height/conditioning I’d be screaming juice. The guy is indicative of top tier natural status, most men won’t look like that (similar FFMI, stage ready). Insertions, proportions, joint size etc play a large role as to how aesthetic one looks at a given weight/body composition.
To retain excess lean tissue as a natural when that lean (5-7%) is extremely difficult. I don’t think a 5’9 male with compensatory hypogonadism is going to be 200lbs on stage. Now, he could perhaps reach 200lbs in the offseason if he decided to REALLY go for a “dreamerbulk”.
There’s a very good YouTube channel called “nicks strength and power”. He bulked up to 220lbs at one point, his stage weight if I recall was around 148lbs. People dramatically underestimate how much weight they’d need to lose in order to step on stage. I’d probably only be around 140 if I were to step on stage. I actually think 66kg (145) was the maximum weight for my height in classic physique (untested amateur league, can’t compete on TRT here in natural leagues), though I’d have to go back and look at it as it’s been a while since I was intrigued by the idea of competing.
I’m TALL dammit!
@BrickHead @The_Mighty_Stu @RT_Nomad @EyeDentist
What were your stage weights?
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The dude in the choker must’ve went for breast implants, too.
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Those are terrible.
If it was between one or the other, pass me the dopes.
As it stand though neither is required for me to suck pretty badly.
Not like augmented badly, just natty badly.
173 or 175 (I don’t remember exactly) at 5’10”.
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Very nearly 6’ tall and competed (successfully) between 213 to 218lbs.
I usually did a “tune-up” show a couple weeks before my targeted show.
( In college after everyone was boasting their height, we decided to actually measure using a triangle from graphics to get the perfect height. I measured 6’ 1/8". I would guess the squats and deadlifts would have shortened me somewhat.)
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I like the guy Nick who runs that channel, but he dramatically overestimated how much muscle he actually had.
The idea of bulking, or force-feeding muscle growth that so many people wrap their heads around is a myth. The human body can only synthesize new tissue at a given rate, regardless of how much you over eat.
When I was competing, I think I’d improve 2 or 3 pounds each year, and that was (in my own estimation) by doing “everything “correctly day in and day out.
At 5’8, I stepped onstage at 178 lbs, which may not sound like much compared to Cutler, but photos tell a pretty good story, much better than reading stats and measurements.
S
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It has been my “rule of thumb” belief that you need 10lbs to account for each inch. So if you were 178lbs at 5’8’ I’d need to be 40lbs heavier at 6’0" to appear as large as you on stage.
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