STEROIDS

[BES]

Rant:

So in the past couple years I've seen many people in the military and buddies in LE start taking steroids. This is becoming so common in a lot of tier 1-3 units and big Infantry divisions. It really pisses me off to see guys becoming absolute physical studs and passing those of us up who are playing by the rules. For example I know plenty of folks who have used "gear" training up for Ranger school and SFQC and blew it out of the water because of the muscular endurance and strength they were able to build. That just doesn't sit right with me. Personally I have never done any type of steroids or illegal performance enhancing stuff. I don't understand how the command climate in some units and even in LE encourages the use of steroids. How can you cuff a dude up for some Mary j but then go home and inject yourself with some anabolics. The logic is beyond me. Let me say this, I have absolutely thought about jumping on the bandwagon with buddies before and I did a lot of research about it but I ultimately sided with my morals and did not. To clarify, I'm not irritated because I think steroids are bad. From a physical standpoint there is no doubt that if done correctly and with the right stuff and training it can turn an already good warrior into a super warrior. But that still doesn't make it legal. I guess what gets under my skin the most is the hypocrisy of it all. If a soldier pisses hot for narcotics we have no problem kicking that person out of the military. But damn if you ever see a unit bust a super soldier up for roids. Same issue I have with it in LE. What are your opinions? Do you think the benefits of performing enhancing stuff outweighs the legality and moral issue?

[RoyGBiv]

Im not a soldier so take this FWIW.
Integrity matters.. Stay strong.

[Dagga Boy]

The biggest issue is seeing friends who were roid users turn into former friends who have a host of mental and physical issues. I have seen cops become dump truck drivers after termination for steroid induced stupidity. Great biceps, piss poor decision making and impulse control. Nothing like a paranoid, egomaniac with no impulse control and easily enraged with a gun and position of power or responsibility as a very bad combo. Also, once they step into the pond of illegal drug use....it does not tend to stop with just steroids once their integrity and morals are sacrificed for physical bulk. So, I am not a person who thinks they are good.

I have seen some older guys do well with physician monitored use of hormones, steroids, and other non traditional means to deal with injuries and aging, BUT they are heavily monitored by real physicians as opposed to the "juice" doc. The biggest plus is for injury recovery, but that should be short term in the case of the steroids.

[BES]

Im not a soldier so take this FWIW.
Integrity matters.. Stay strong.

RoyGBiv,

Awesome username by the way lol. I'm with you on that though. I think the feeling of keeping that integrity and performing to the best of your ability naturally is a better feeling when you go to bed at night. I'm curious as to what others who have been exposed to it or been around it will say.

[jc000]

I used to feel the same way until I saw an interesting documentary (can't remember the damn name) that really changed my view of them.

Really, how is steroid use "cheating" any more than training at altitude, using nutrition, having naturally above average levels of testosterone, using supplements, etc? You still have to do the work. Sure, it takes less time, but isn't everyone looking for ways to get results quicker?

If it weren't for the cost, legality, and the fact that you have to keep taking it, I'd seriously consider using steroids. Getting old and injured sucks!

[orionz06]

When I was in high school and early college I lifted with some folks who were geared up, a few have their IFBB pro cards now. It's amazing what a good doctor and plan can do. Simply unreal. Dedication and gear does most anything you want.


If it were legal I'd be all over it. There's too much to gain with a low enough risk when done properly.


Sent from my Nokia 3310 using an owl

[JohnO]

Having been (and still am) a gym rat for decades I have seen plenty of juicers come and go. No personal knowledge of military guys doing it but I have seen plenty of LE and Corrections guys who have all the signs. The acne and overdeveloped jaw muscles (chipmunk face) are an instant giveaway. How these guys get away with it working the jobs they do amazes me.

Last year I saw the hammer come down on one of them. Google "Operation Juice Box" and you can see why my gym is down a member or two and I'm sure quite a few juicers lost their suppliers. I don't know if it is buried in any of the documentation available online but I was told these guys were also manufacturing their own male enhancement 'concoction' containing Viagra or Cialis. Apparently some of their better customers were having some performance issues.

[LittleLebowski]

Lots of LE, mil, and firefighters doing the "low testosterone" angle, a lot of times coupled with HGH.

[HCM]

I don't know about State and local LE but at the Fed level, Steroids are specifically tested for both pre-employment and during "random" in-service drug testing. Unless you have a scrip and are under Dr's care a positive result is treated the same as any other illegal drug use.

Nyeti is spot on regarding the effects on emotional stability and judgement. Plus short term gains for long term health problems.

I have one former co-worker who was doing HGH.

[Dagga Boy]

Lots of LE, mil, and firefighters doing the "low testosterone" angle, a lot of times coupled with HGH.

Some of this is done as an alternative to pain meds for injury issues and in place of traditional pain management with pain medication. Again, big difference in what kind of doctor is managing it. While I have no expereince with it, I would be open to HGH based on recent progress in how it is used. In most of these cases, and when closely monitored you will not se the huge bulk and muscle development, but a quality of life improvement. I think the key is the goal. Most of the problems I have seen have been where the goal is purely size and muscular development acceleration.

[JAD]

So mom has COPD and takes steroids occasionally to breathe. Last fall, she got a minor infection in her hand, and it moved to her stomach. Couple days later her stomach split open. Doctor sewed it back together twice, the second time going for some really inventive stitch architecture. He said it was like trying to stitch styrofoam.

I'll pass, thanks tho.

[Maple Syrup Actual]

a paranoid, egomaniac with no impulse control and easily enraged with a gun and position of power or responsibility

It's crazy to dump a ton of money into juice just to get that. I can totally replicate that experience with Canadian rye.

[RevolverRob]

I'm surprised to learn that anabolic steroids are not given to most of our soldiers in the military on a normal basis. Controlled, monitored, dosages don't usually have major issues (such as behavioral ones). And the potential enhancement seems like it would outweight short-term or even long-term side effects. You have to carefully screen folks for impulse control/addictive personality, but then we do that with careful psyche evals at the upper levels anyway.

Let's be fair. Our military has definitely experimented with just about every potentially addictive schedule III/IV substance out there to enhance soldier abilities. I guess they figure they can't properly control/dose soldiers without abuse. The tacit approval of command fits perfectly with plausible deniability regarding the use of these drugs. Simply put,
"we won't put our soldiers on it, but if they choose to use it...we won't actively do anything about it."

I applaud you in following your principles on the matter. But a principled decision usually leaves someone screwed over and it's usually the guy with principles.

-Rob

[Trooper224]

I've known several LEOs over the years that were juicers. Not one of them is still on the job, due to being fired because of behavioral issues caused by steroids. No thank you.

[Gray222]

One of the guys I worked with was a big musclebound dude. I mean seriously into it. He got fired for pissing hot and then lying about it.

There are a lot of OTC "cycle" supp's that people take and its widely accepted, totally depends on the person and the need for that type of status or appearance.

At the end of the day, hard work and persistence pay off way more than any drug.

[runcible]

Rant:

This is becoming so common in a lot of tier 1-3 units and big Infantry divisions.

Could you elaborate on what this three tiered system is, please; and what defines each tier?

Your described observations on steroidal abuse do not match with my own, nor do your conclusions.

[Crawls]

I used to feel the same way until I saw an interesting documentary (can't remember the damn name) that really changed my view of them.

Really, how is steroid use "cheating" any more than training at altitude, using nutrition, having naturally above average levels of testosterone, using supplements, etc? You still have to do the work. Sure, it takes less time, but isn't everyone looking for ways to get results quicker?

If it weren't for the cost, legality, and the fact that you have to keep taking it, I'd seriously consider using steroids. Getting old and injured sucks!

Was it Bigger, Faster, Stronger? I saw that too and have questioned my view on steroids since.

[jc000]

Was it Bigger, Faster, Stronger? I saw that too and have questioned my view on steroids since.
Yeah, I think that was it. Great movie!

[pablo]

Quite a few guys that I suspect have juiced over the years have quite a few joint and nerve problems. While muscles have almost unlimited potential, for most people cartilage, tendons and ligaments have very finite limits. There's no such thing as a free lunch.

I don't begrudge anyone that uses steroids as long as they don't whine about the consequences.

Life is a marathon, not a sprint. Flaming out early and living in misery for short term unrealistic short term gains isn't on my priority list.

[orionz06]

Quite a few guys that I suspect have juiced over the years have quite a few joint and nerve problems. While muscles have almost unlimited potential, for most people cartilage, tendons and ligaments have very finite limits. There's no such thing as a free lunch.

I don't begrudge anyone that uses steroids as long as they don't whine about the consequences.

Life is a marathon, not a sprint. Flaming out early and living in misery for short term unrealistic short term gains isn't on my priority list.

Stem cells!

[Dagga Boy]

Quite a few guys that I suspect have juiced over the years have quite a few joint and nerve problems. While muscles have almost unlimited potential, for most people cartilage, tendons and ligaments have very finite limits. There's no such thing as a free lunch.

I don't begrudge anyone that uses steroids as long as they don't whine about the consequences.

Life is a marathon, not a sprint. Flaming out early and living in misery for short term unrealistic short term gains isn't on my priority list.

My experience has been that most never realize there are consequences.......everyone around them is heavily affected, and become victims of the users abuse of steroids. Destroyed families, friendships, jobs, etc. Usually, folks who spend their life staring at themselves looking in a mirror and obsessed with their appearance have little regard for the consequences or the harm. Their ego will not allow for it.

[JHC]

My experience has been that most never realize there are consequences.......everyone around them is heavily affected, and become victims of the users abuse of steroids. Destroyed families, friendships, jobs, etc. Usually, folks who spend their life staring at themselves looking in a mirror and obsessed with their appearance have little regard for the consequences or the harm. Their ego will not allow for it.

+1 The only person I knew that got into them had trouble quitting, then got banished by his Mormon inlaws for it all and killed himself.

[SamAdams]

My ole' man was career Army, a Vietnam vet. As a kid, one day I asked him if the Americans had an advantage over the Vietnamese since they were so much bigger than those guys.

I'll never forget his reply, - " A little finger can pull a trigger just as easily as a big one. "

Other than for ego stroking, I never understood the roid head's obsession.

(Medical use for help with injuries, is a totally different matter of course.)

[TR675]

Even if they *can* be used safely to get swole, steroids seem like they flat out require the kind of good solid judgment that isn't usually present in people whose obsession in life is getting swole.