Useful Information On Steroids

Anabolic-androgenic steroids, or anabolic steroids as they are commonly known, were developed in the 1930s to promote growth of skeletal muscle and to develop male sexual characteristics. The drugs were seen as offering great potential for their protein-building properties, but their use by doctors has, in fact, been quite limited. Anabolic steroid use is more commonly associated with bodybuilders, weightlifters, and other male and female athletes.

Who uses Anabolic Steroids?
Anabolic steroids are associated with:
Sport, Bodybuilding & Body Shaping
Anabolic steroids are used because of their ability to improve performance by increasing muscle mass and decreasing body fat, so their use depends on the type of sport undertaken. It is believed that anabolic steroid use is widespread in competitive bodybuilding. Steroid use in sport is illegal and international athletes are tested to prevent some gaining an unfair advantage. Anabolic steroids are also used, especially by men, to change their body shape towards more muscular physique.
Medical Usage of Anabolic Steroids
Steroids are used for treating delayed puberty; some types of impotence; wasting of the body due to such conditions as HIV; some types of anemia; osteoporosis (brittle bones in menopausal women) and for itching caused by a liver condition called primary bilary obstruction.

How are Anabolic Steroids Used and Abused?
Anabolic steroids can be taken orally, by injection or in creams or gels. Dosages prescribed by doctors will depend on the medical condition, its severity and age of the patient.
In the illegal use of this group of steroids dosages are highly variable and can be 10 to 40, sometimes a 100 times higher than the recommended dose.
Two or more oral and injectable types of anabolic steroids are often used. This is called 'stacking'. There is a belief that two or more interacting steroids produced an improved result.
So called 'pyramid' doses of anabolic steroids are also used in 6 to 12 week cycles where the 'stacked' steroids begin with smaller doses that slowly increase, reach a peak then slowly decrease and stop. There is a drug free period after this before the cycle starts again.
It is believed by arranging the doses and drugs in this way that the body is allowed time to adjust and avoid the well documented side effects so the body can return to normal production of hormones. This belief has not been scientifically verified so relies on the illegal users ability to report accurately on their experiences. We do know that steroid abuse can effect that ability.

Side Effects and Complications of Anabolic Steroid Use
The side effects of anabolic steroids are serious and not uncommon. In general oral anabolic steroids have more side effects and those containing 17-alky have potentially more adverse side effects. Some side effects are reversible but some can cause permanent damage.

Anabolic Steroids and Liver Damage
Research especially those studying hospitalized patients, show the liver can suffer serious effects from the use of anabolic steroids. Anabolic steroids reduce the livers excretory function. This is particularly so with the steroids containing 17-alky. The liver can suffer from a bleeding cystic condition that is potentially fatal. Use of steroids has also been linked to liver cancer, although this is very rare.

Anabolic Steroids and the Cardiovascular System
Although no long term studies have been conducted into the effects of anabolic steroids on the heart and the vascular system there is evidence from studies and investigations that they can cause or are risk factors for cardiovascular system damage, problems with blood pressure and lipoproteins such as cholesterol. There is some evidence that anabolic steroids can cause structural changes to the heart and that heart disease and strokes are possible with anabolic steroids especially oral types of the drug.

Anabolic Steroids and the Male Reproductive System
As anabolic steroids are so strongly associated with male traits such as strength and muscles it seems tragic that the side effects of the drug are:

Increased erectile dysfunction, and impotence, even though sexual desire is increased.

gynecomastia (growth of the breasts) a condition that is generally irreversible and plastic surgery is required to remove the breasts.

Atrophy or shrinkage of the testicles can occur and is reported usually with high dose use of anabolic steroids

Want Healthy Clean Recipies To Boost Your Gains From The Gym?

As I am celebrating getting below 5% body fat which I have been trying to do for months and not succeeded until now, here is an eBook which I purchased. It has some good recipes that will help you reach towards your protein intake and has Low fat foods, so you don’t put on any fat on that hard earned appearance you have worked at the gym for. It has a great range of foods here, my favourite being the chocolate protein bar. It’s gorgeous!

I normally charge for this eBook, but as I am celebrating and in a very GOOD mood I am going to chuck it out there for all you to read and download of my achievement! If you want the eBook for free please email me with the reference of (5%Bodyfatblog) at bloggingfromsteven@gmail.com

Hope you all get some useful recipes out of it!

Feel Free to comment on what you’re favourite recipes are.

Here are some other recipes I like to use.

Ready to cook, boneless, skinless chicken are a main stay of muscle building diets as they are low in fat and high in protein, and also simple to prepare. Chicken is also very versatile and can be prepared in a variety of ways without being boring. The chicken can take on a very smooth texture when marinated and grilled in this spicy yoghurt.

With its relatively small preparation and cooking time, this recipe is good for dinner or lunch situations.

Grilled Tandoori Chicken              

 

Ingredients:

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

o    1 cup plain yoghurt                                                                                                        

o    1 tbsp. chilli powder

o    1 tbsp. curry powder

o    2 tsp. grated fresh ginger root

o    1 tsp. ground cumin

o    1 tsp. salt

o    1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

Preparation:

1.    Pierce chicken breasts several times with the tines of a fork and set aside.

2.    In large bowl combine yogurt and all of the spices and mix well.

3.    Add the chicken to the mixture and turn so all the chicken pieces are coated. Cover and chill for at least one hour, or overnight.

4.    When ready to cook, prepare and preheat grill.

5.    Remove chicken from marinade and cook on grill for about 15 minutes until thoroughly cooked, turning once during cooking time. You can also cook the chicken on a dual contact indoor grill, for 5-7 minutes until thoroughly cooked.

6.    If you want to bake the chicken, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

7.    Place the chicken on a foil-lined jelly roll pan (you need the sides to catch the juice) and bake for 30-35 minutes until chicken registers 160 degrees F.

8.    Let stand 5 minutes and serve.

Nutrition (per serving):

o    Kcal: 370

o    Protein: 32g

o    Carbs: 35g

o    Fat: 1g

Serves: 3

You can serve with rice or corn, if preferred. Make a salad to top it off, or steam some vegetables to make this dish the perfectly balanced meal.

Teriyaki Chicken

Posted on 24. Oct, 2011 by Rob Connor in High Protein Meals

There’s no getting away from it, chicken is probably the #1 source of protein for bodybuilders. It’s versatile, relatively cheap and with a little imagination & effort, you can use chicken in just about any recipe.

So here’s another classic chicken recipe, packed with protein & carbs. You can probably tell I’m bulking at the moment so the last 3-4 recipes have all been loaded with carbs. I’ll be back cutting soon so I’ll be posting lower carb recipes.

In the meantime, enjoy this delicious loaded chicken recipe!

Ingredients:

o    4 skinless/boneless chicken breasts

o    1/3 cup teriyaki sauce

o    1/3 cup of orange juice

o    1 teaspoon corn starch

o    1/3 teaspoon ginger

o    ½ tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

o    1 ½ cup broccoli florets

o    1 can sliced water chestnuts

o    ½ cup rice

Preparation:

1.    Cut chicken breasts into ¼ “ pieces and set them aside

2.    In a small mixing bowl, combine teriyaki sauce, orange juice, corn starch and ginger, and set aside.

3.    In a large skillet heat oil over high heat. Add the chicken pieces and stir fry until they are lightly browned, for about 4-7 minutes.

4.    Using a slotted spoon (or something similar), transfer the chicken pieces to a bowl. Leave the drippings in the skillet.

5.    Reduce the heat to moderate.

6.    Add broccoli to the skillet and stir fry for 3-5 minutes.

7.    Stir the teriyaki mixture and add to the broccoli in the skillet.

8.    Cook the mixture, stirring until it thickens and is bubbly for about 2-4 minutes.

9.    Add water chestnuts and the cooked chicken pieces.

10.  Continue cooking until heated through.

11.  Serve with cooked rice.

Nutrition (per serving):

o    Kcal:636

o    Proteins: 48g

o    Carbs: 76g

o    Fat: 13g

Serves: 3

Vegetarian Chili

Posted on 28. Oct, 2011 by Rob Connor in High Protein Snacks

This chili is good for the vegetarian body builders out there who are looking to spice up their post workout meal. The main ingredients is tofu, a light protein packed food made from coagulated soybean milk. It is fairly tasteless itself, but takes on the flavours of the foods that it is cooked with.

Tofu provides many of the essential minerals needed by the body and has been shown to improve serum cholesterol (the good kind of cholesterol) in the body.

Ingredients:

o    16 oz. tofu burger mix

o    1 cup chopped onion

o    1 cup chopped bell pepper

o    ½ cup sliced carrot

o    3 minced cloves garlic

o    16 ounces can of crushed tomatoes

o    16 ounces tomato sauce

o    16 ounces canned kidney beans

o    2 tbsp. chili powder

o    ¾ tsp. cumin seed

o    ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper

o    salt to taste

Preparation:

1.    Use 1 package of the vegetarian burger mix. This is enough to make four burgers

2.    Cook the four burgers according to the package instructions.

3.    Chop the onions, green peppers and the garlic.

4.    Combine the rest of the ingredients in a large pot.

5.    Crumble the burgers with your fingers and add to the chili sauce.

6.    Simmer for 30 minutes.

7.    Serve with fresh fruit juice.

Nutrition (per serving):

o    Kcal: 360

o    Protein: 30g

o    Carbs: 62g

o    Fat: 3g

Serves: 4

6 Tips To Get Big

If you want to build up muscle, there are several easy to follow tips that I can recommend. Whether you already work out regularly and want to change your routine to building some bulk or whether you are a total beginner and just want to learn how to build up muscle, these tips will be invaluable.

Tip 1 -- work each set to exhaustion. When you work a set, make sure that your last repetition, or rep, is so difficult that you cannot do another one without a small break period between sets. This will ensure that the muscle fibres are worked so hard that they will need repair. It is this repair that will build up muscle mass.

Tip 2 -- increase protein intake. Protein is the basic building block for your body to repair the muscles after a workout and build up muscle. If you don't eat a lot of protein, you will simply wither away and not increase your muscle mass whatsoever.

Tip 3 -- do eight to twelve reps per set. A good guide is to perform a minimum of eight and no more than twelve repetitions per set. Too few reps means that you are resting too much and not working out enough. Too many reps means that you are not doing a big enough workout and will not build up muscle fast. If you are hitting twenty reps easily, you need to add more weight!

Tip 4 -- cottage cheese is a wonder food. Cottage cheese is great if you are body building. Sure, it tastes a bit strange, but it is low in carbs and fats and very high in protein. You can even get flavored cottage cheese these days or incorporate it into some simple recipes.

Tip 5 -- free weights rule! You can build muscle with machine weights. If they are your only weights you can still build up muscle effectively. However, free weights are much more effective. This is for a number of reasons. For instance, free weights require greater balance and you can also perform compound movements. This is where you work several muscles at once instead of just one that you might with a machine. The body loves this type of workout!

Tip 6 -- eat more often! Yes, I am not kidding! It is better to eat smaller amounts more frequently than three bigger meals per day. To build up muscle in the most efficient and fast way, you should eat small meals roughly every three hours. One easy way is to split your lunch in two. You could eat half of it at 12pm and the other half at 3pm.