Wasn’t the point of the article. The point of the article is that steroids build muscle without training, often more muscle than with training depending on dose. Anavar is mild at best (a girl’s drug).

There are a few items missing from the list,.

Derek Hansen, Jimmy Moore

https://www.strengthpowerspeed.com/lylemcdonald/

https://livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog/%E2%80%98livin%E2%80%99-la-vida-low-carb-show%E2%80%99-episode-238-exercise-physiologist-lyle-mcdonald-from-body-recomposition/4097

There are two more, one is about. hm, a panned with some runners and one is about two hours long? I don’t really remember but can look up if Lyle won’t remember.

Great read mate and some very interesting points.

I have been using anabolic steroids for years (mainly Anavar and Dianobol) and have just approached my six month clean. I am a big believer that steroids only compliment training and effort is required in order to maximize their results.

Thanks for the detail and level of research that has gone into this.

Cheers,
Steve

When I was in my mid 20’s I did a short cycle of testosterone and noticed some decent gains both in strength and size but nothing to make me want to keep doing it, now 20 years later I have been on TRT and it has made a world of difference much more noticeable now than it was when I was in my 20’s, so yes drugs can have a significant impact and for me they have been a lifesaver in the gym, I can now keep up decently with my 19-year-old son both strength wise and endurance.

However, I am one of those genetically gifted people. At 14 years old I started lifting weights and it took me a couple months to hit a 300lb bench press.

So, a few years ago I decided to take steroids. Within 1 year I was over 300lbs at about 15% BF eating 7-10k calories per day. I responded extremely well to steroids.

I’m saying all this so you have an idea of the individual making this comment. My experience with steroids was that more was NOT better. I tried taking 75mg/day of trenbolone and it felt like I was going to die. The most testosterone I was ever able to take was 800mg and that was for a week before my blood pressure went so high my ears were ringing constantly. I personally make substantial gains, at one time 15lbs in a week, off of 75mg tren every other day.

I can’t imagine people taking grams of testosterone per week. My head would have exploded.

Just one persons input. I personally don’t think pros are taking huge doses. I think there are some of us that are genetically predisposed to make huge gains off small amounts.

Really interesting read, thanks.

What would likely happen to the group who were on the testosterone and training once the study was over and they ceased taking the testosterone? Assuming they continued a training regimen and ate a healthy diet could they hope to maintain much of the LBM gains made during the study?

All true but not really my point. No, there isn’t research on athletes or advanced guys but look at reality: guys are a full 60 lbs heavier at contest leanness since Arnold’s day, with guys hitting 280 on contest shape.

Training and nutrition aren’t changed but drug use has. And it’s not just anabolics, GH, IGF-1, peptides, lord knows what is being used at the top these days. Drugs work and they work amazingly well and my main point was that this idea that they ‘only work a little’ that athletes use to rationalize that it’s just their work ethic is just that (again not denying that many bust their balls but the drugs work a LOT).

When 600 mg/week for 20 weeks will put on nearly a years worth of gains for a hard training male (maybe 20-25 lbs if he’s lucky) without training, clearly drugs work amazingly. That’s my only point.

Within 2 months I am hopeful my forthcoming book THE Definitive Testosterone Replacement Therapy Manual will offer men an excellent resource guide on using TRT productively, long term and in the context of health and longevity.

You are 100% correct on the accepted research but there is extremely limited data on advanced athletes/bodybuilders to truly understand if an increased dosage over time is the only way to continue to build more and more muscle. Was DD right? Maybe and maybe not. A lot of factors to consider primarily the genetic component.

My contention is that a standard T dosage of between 150-300mgs per week for life (once a man’s natural levels are suboptimal) will allow most men to continue to improve their physique assuming diet, training and lifestyle is conducive to such. Anecdotally there are thousands of men around the world who are the living embodiment of this belief.

The issues that come with the usage of AAS are when synthetics aka Anabolics are also used in supraphysiologic dosages. This causes severe endocrine disruptions and usually the unwanted and negative side effects espoused and hyperbolized in the popular media.

When using T, it is important one is under the care and guidance of a progressive TRT dispensing physician to achieve balance between T and E so the patient has extraordinary results and excellent long term health.