Is bodybuilding a waste?

[Earl1972]

I've been around bodybuilding for over 50 years. Weider use to be located blocks from my childhood house. He use to give me free magazines that started this obsession. I started lifting in my early teens and in my sixties the madness continues.  I remember in the late 70's and early 80's when the secret of steroids were completely out of hiding. Seen guys lifting for an entire year look like nothing special then go on on a cycle for 6 week putting on an amazing amount of muscle.  Back then steroids were made by legit pharmaceutical companies in the US and were obtained by a doctor script or driving to a pharmacy in Mexico without one. The gym steroid pushers had legitimate stuff back then. Now from what I hear drugs work or they don't according to where it was counterfeited.  I don't believe any legit anavar, dianabol or Anadrol 50 exists anymore. Drugs that were truly anabolic steroids that have high anabolic properties and lower androgen properties I bet don't exist anymore. One Anadrol 50 a day made amazing and quick changes back in the day. Now I hear guys are taking 5 or 6 and look like bloated shit. It was the same old story repeated time and time again with drugs. A zero went to a hero in nothing flat popping some pills and a weekly syringe shot. 

The crazy part are these "heroes"  actually think they know something about lifting when I knew how they looked before the assist.  Why didn't they give lifting and diet advice before the drugs? I will answer. No one would listen to them.  It got to the point in the late 70's and into the 80's that it almost seemed the whole gym was juicing.  Every gym seemed to have the local drug pusher. The typical stereotype was a guy in the gym that didn't have a job but drove there in a brand new car.  Guys would talk to him in whispered measured speech and meet him in the parking lot where his trunk would open and syringes, vials and pills were passed after getting a handful of cash.  It was known that he could also obtain any recreational drug. too.  He also pushed veterinarian steroids like Winstrol V and Equipose that worked miracles on guys.

What I have seen are guys that got very aggressive, confident and a feeling of well being while on. Guys back then took breaks on cycles often staying completely clean for months. What happened once the drugs left their system is they got nervous, timid and depressed as the drugs left their system.  Sounds like a plan for addiction.

Through the years I have seen ex users that look like they never did a push up in their life but are quick to take out a crumbled up picture of their glory days out of their wallet to show everyone.   How many super stars look like complete crap without the assist?  Too many to mention.  Many will use the rationalization of a guy they know that has been cycling for decades and now never go completely off. It's like saying you know a smoker that started as a teen and is now 80.  Yes, that can happen percentage wise but it doesn't negate the risk to health.  I won't even mention liver, kidney, endocrine and cardio vascular problems. A fool can rationalize that away. You should always put the risk factors you can control in your favor.

Bodybuilding could have been the greatest thing you could do for appearance, health, well being and strength.  Instead it became the sport based on drugs for the insecure. Without drugs the sport wouldn't exist as we know it. No one would be flying to Vegas for the Olympia weekend.  Having said that I wish bodybuilding would revert to what it was in the 50's. It was real. Do yourself a favor. Lift hard and do hard cardio. Eat right. You will look great but you wouldn't be able to stand next to a steroid user on stage.

we get it, you don't like steroids

you have been saying this over and over again for well over a decade

you are like howard talking about all his wives and making fart jokes in the large majority of his posts

E

[Grape Ape]

I don't like the fact that Bonds and Clemens have both been demonized on here say.  Neither one has ever been confirmed to have failed a drug test.  Same with Sammy Sosa.  Nor have they ever admitted to it.  I'm certain they've used them but could care less.  I hate how McGuire and A-Rod who have both either been popped or admitted to it are somehow baseball darlings again. 
Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa should all be in the HOF.  I'd let Pete Rose in too but other than having his statue and memorabilia in Cooperstown, he should be banned for life from baseball.

I'm more offended by the repeated misspellings of "Clemens" in this thread.

There will be some slight getbig ranking adjustments.

I dislike how Bonds/Clemens/ARod are vilified, but Piazza, Pudge, and plenty of other users are in.

The HoF needs to own the steroid era as part of their history, and let the best of the best in.

[The Scott]

In these United States of America it is a fact that anabolic steroids are classified as a controlled substance.  If you have a prescription for a controlled substance, it is also fact that when you are picking up your prescription for that controlled substance you must present identification and sign for the item(s).

I find it highlariously odd that any woman can get anabolic steroids via prescription if she convinces a doctor that she is really a man trapped in the body of a woman.  Fuck That Noise.

And once more...with feeeeeling.  I tend to think that most of us that are against steroids are disgusted by these charlatans that claim "natural" when they are anything but.  They claim genetic superiority.  Pffft! 

I have known good men that have taken steroids and I have known good men that have not.  I have also known assholes on both sides of that coin. 

[AbrahamG]

I'm more offended by the repeated misspellings of "Clemens" in this thread.

There will be some slight getbig ranking adjustments.

I dislike how Bonds/Clemens/ARod are vilified, but Piazza, Pudge, and plenty of other users are in.

The HoF needs to own the steroid era as part of their history, and let the best of the best in.

Agree with all 4 points.  Steroids or not, McGuire and Sosa brought baseball back from the brink. 

Also, if anyone doesn't think Reggie Jackson was taking d-bol, deca, etc in the 70's, they are fooling themselves.  I remember as a kid seeing him on an episode of different strokes wearing a polo shirt.  Dude had ridiculous guns.  Same for my boyhood idol Lance Parrish aka the Big Wheel.  I met him as a young boy signing autographs at St. Gabriels Church Festival.  He was a mountain of a man who probably had legit 20" arms. 

[Zillotch]

for the genetically incapable.

[Grape Ape]

Agree with all 4 points.  Steroids or not, McGuire and Sosa brought baseball back from the brink. 

Also, if anyone doesn't think Reggie Jackson was taking d-bol, deca, etc in the 70's, they are fooling themselves.  I remember as a kid seeing him on an episode of different strokes wearing a polo shirt.  Dude had ridiculous guns.  Same for my boyhood idol Lance Parrish aka the Big Wheel.  I met him as a young boy signing autographs at St. Gabriels Church Festival.  He was a mountain of a man who probably had legit 20" arms.

Reggie also had some arms in the Naked Gun.

Ballplayer have always looked for an edge, whether it was stimulants, steroids etc.

Bottom line, many players took steroid uncontrolled in the late 90s and early 2000s, but none of them came close to the performance of what Bonds did.  It was superhero level production.

[Johnholmes]

end of the day it´s up to the individual if he or she uses roids.
don´t need all the preaching from all the old farts on here about drug abuse. Most of them are on meds themselves and a bottle of wild Turkey daily. 

[Humble Narcissist]

I'm more offended by the repeated misspellings of "Clemens" in this thread.

There will be some slight getbig ranking adjustments.

I dislike how Bonds/Clemens/ARod are vilified, but Piazza, Pudge, and plenty of other users are in.

The HoF needs to own the steroid era as part of their history, and let the best of the best in.

Pete Rose has 23 records including most hits and he isn't in the HOF.   Kind of makes the Hall obsolete.

[Taffin]

Pellius falling for Dave's satire, hook, line and sinker.

Again.

 

[Primemuscle]

I've seen a lot of jacked Cops over the years. There were 4 of them that trained at my old gym and they were obviously on gear.

Doesn't surprise me much. A lot of Cops don't follow the rules. I don't really have a problem with that, but if some jacked up Cop tried to give me a ticket for having a few vials on me, i'd say something.

Yup. That would be darn hard to take.

[The Scott]

end of the day it´s up to the individual if he or she uses roids.
don´t need all the preaching from all the old farts on here about drug abuse. Most of them are on meds themselves and a bottle of wild Turkey daily. 

And you know this how?  LOL!

[oldtimer1]

I really don't care if you use. Just don't expect me to be impressed with your temporary physique. I know many rationalize their use. If that helps you justify it then more power to you.  I know many fans of steroids get very upset when you mention the health risks or it's use by insecure guys to feel like a man.  What ever you want to do is fine with me. Smoke your dope, inject those syringes, throw away any chance of a real career chasing that syringe high.  Be the most jacked guy in the club. Just don't shoot the messenger if he presents an alternative.  To reiterate. I really don't care what anyone does but if I saw a guy throwing heading down the wrong road I just might say, ever think about giving up the drugs?

[Hulkotron]

Ty Cobb once jumped into the stands during a game and beat up a cripple, he was a getbigger for sure.

[The Scott]

Ty Cobb once jumped into the stands during a game and beat up a cripple, he was a getbigger for sure.

That was me.  Wes took me to that game so we could get in cheap cuz it was "Bring a Cripple Day".  Wes went to get us some popcorn and Cob thought I was making faces at him...

[IroNat]

Ty Cobb would collect the used bars of soap from the locker room and take them back to his plantation workers in Georgia.

Dude was giving.

[Humble Narcissist]

Ty Cobb once jumped into the stands during a game and beat up a cripple, he was a getbigger for sure.

A cripple shouldn't be that close to the field.

[funk51]

Ty Cobb would collect the used bars of soap from the locker room and take them back to his plantation workers in Georgia.

Dude was giving.

           

     just watched this movie on his life the other day. cobb seemed like a nice guy, he would have fit in well on this site.

[Taffin]

Ty Cobb once jumped into the stands during a game and beat up a cripple, he was a getbigger for sure.

That was me.  Wes took me to that game so we could get in cheap cuz it was "Bring a Cripple Day".  Wes went to get us some popcorn and Cob thought I was making faces at him...

I totally misunderstood that story for a moment - hadn't realised it was the cripple who was the Getbigger!

[The Scott]

I totally misunderstood that story for a moment - hadn't realised it was the cripple who was the Getbigger!

 

[pellius]

Let me point out ANABOLIC  Steroids are illegal without a prescription. You can go to jail for selling and purchasing anabolics without a prescription. Same as with OxyContin, Vicodin or other drugs in their class. If you possess insulin, Tylenol 3 or cortisone (a steroid) you won’t.

Likewise  Alcohol isn’t illegal. It is if you’re under the age of 21. It is illegal to use alcohol and drive.

 So you can use anabolic steroids under 1 condition, having a legal prescription. Possession or use of them without a prescription can result in jail time. Does it always? No. Just like someone who gets drunk at a restaurant and drives off but doesn’t get pulled over isn’t going to suffer legal ramifications. But anabolic steroids are illegal without a prescription, it’s foolish to say they aren’t.

As far as the IFBB, they can’t make an item that is against the law to posses (without meeting only one condition) legal to use. They can’t make their own laws that are opposed to the country that they operate in. So while other nations may not have made anabolic steroids illegal, in the US they are.
If states have different laws you are held to the laws of the state you’re in not the one you’re from.  When you’re in Hawaii you drive the Hawaiian speed limit not California’s. So if you’re using anabolic steroids without a prescription you using illegal substances.

And while you’re at it taking prescription medication without a script is seen as cheating in many professional (and collegiate) sports. See adderall as an example.


And you’re correct I can’t speak for everyone, especially in this country. The three men I referred to were elite athletes without steroids. For better or worse they chose to use them. I honestly don’t have a problem with what they did but because not everyone who they competed against used the same drugs people believe they created an unfair playing field (mind you no one ever says genetics are unfair or that they create a non level playing field).

But your point of the money they made because they used illegal compounds makes up for any disgrace they might have suffered is a double edged sword. We can easily take that logic a step further and say the Democrats and Biden might have done questionable acts to win the Presidency but who cares, he won. Having a win  at all costs mentally isn’t always in everyone’s best interest.

I kind of forgot, or maybe never knew, what point are you trying to make exactly?

And do you think it would make any difference to Biden if he found out that he didn't win fair and square but cheated?

[pellius]

You get worked up a lot here.

I’ve competed drug free in bodybuilding and strength events. Ive competed on a national level as a light heavy weight strongman. I’ve done well. Many have accused me of being on drugs and I took that as a compliment.

I’d like to think I would have been even better with drugs but I have no idea if that is really true. Life is the result of the choices we make and I have no regrets with mine.

I don't know what makes you think I am getting "worked up a lot" here. You made a claim. I have my doubts and asked you to prove it. If you can't, which obviously you can't, then I have my answer. Issue resolved. You're a bullshitter.

[Dave D]

I kind of forgot, or maybe never knew, what point are you trying to make exactly?

And do you think it would make any difference to Biden if he found out that he didn't win fair and square but cheated?

Steroids used in athletic events, even bodybuilding, is cheating.

Win at all costs pellius win at all costs.

I don't know what makes you think I am getting "worked up a lot" here. You made a claim. I have my doubts and asked you to prove it. If you can't, which obviously you can't, then I have my answer. Issue resolved. You're a bullshitter.

Cool!

[The Scott]

When you train with what nature gave you it is a long, arduous process.  Training with drugs, especially the shitloads these ass-puppets take now (over the last few decades, really) it takes little time.  And effort.  And work.  The truth is that drugs do NOT make the man, but rather they change the manlette.

And still these babies claim "natural".  As I said earlier, I've known good and bad on both sides of the turd that is PEDs but that doesn't mean a turd can be polished up to be more than a...well...A turd.

Remember gentlemen, both sides. 

[wes]

Jesus Christ end this fucking thread everyone knows oldtimer wishes he went on gear but was afraid to.........there I said it.

I always liked Rich aka oldtimer and still do, but he was too scared to get on the gear so now he hates everyone who has..................... ..can you say bitter?

[pellius]

I really don't care if you use. Just don't expect me to be impressed with your temporary physique. I know many rationalize their use. If that helps you justify it then more power to you.  I know many fans of steroids get very upset when you mention the health risks or it's use by insecure guys to feel like a man.  What ever you want to do is fine with me. Smoke your dope, inject those syringes, throw away any chance of a real career chasing that syringe high.  Be the most jacked guy in the club. Just don't shoot the messenger if he presents an alternative.  To reiterate. I really don't care what anyone does but if I saw a guy throwing heading down the wrong road I just might say, ever think about giving up the drugs?

You really don't make much sense. Any physique is temporary.

You don't have to be natural to have s successful life.  Many who live on the straight and narrow throw away their lives. Maybe for a woman. Many too risk averse. Maybe just lazy. You can have a successful life and also be a hardcore juicer. You can have a successful life because you are a hardcore juicer.

You need to be far less concern what others are doing and just worry more about yourself.