Women and AAS: What a can and CAN'T DO

[liftingchic]

Courtesy of Newgirl

This is a must read for newbies. And a must read for any woman in fitness who considers herself beyond the "average" gym goer and wants to push past a plateau to build nice quality muscle.

What you think is a clean diet may indeed be one as compared to most Americans however a fitness "clean" diet is so hard to maintain. Even the most celebrated fitness model or competitor cannot keep her bodyfat as low as competition time...it is just not doable nor healthy for the long term.

What you consider a good cardio or good training regmine -- may be that way as compared to others you see day in and day out at the gym however for the body you want that stands out, sacrifices need to be made BEFORE you even consider a cycle of anabolic steriods.

What AAS will NOT do for a women:

1. It will not, after one cycle, make you the hottest thing in a bikini. It will not make you Monica Brant, Jill Mills, Lenda Murray (or any fitness model -- you fill in the name).

2. It will not burn fat.

3. IT WILL NOT BURN FAT...cannot stress this enough.

4. It will NOT lean you out, nor cut you up.

5. It will NOT TONE you -- and please remove the word "tone" from your vocabulary if you are serious about fitness.



What AAS will do for most women:

1. Add a modest amount of strength.

2. Build some muscle ..... overall muscle size as opposed to defined muscle (I will address this later). It will take more than 1 or 2 or even 3 cycles before you get to your desired goal -- perhaps not even to your goal.

3. AAS will cause a positive change to your body however unlikely to be a permanent change without followup cycling or incredibly stringent dieting and training. Meaning that once your cycle is over, by and large after your body releases the chemicals and cleanses itself, it will indeed bring your body back to its previous state. YOU WILL retain some muscle (called keepable gains) if you were eating well all along before, during and after your cycle and continue to do so, but the lasting hardness and loss of estrogenic fat will return. Your body composition will become more soft (this does not mean fat) after the cycle is over.

4. AAS will indeed cause you to become MORE critical of how you look. And therefore be less satisifed with what you see in the mirror. It is a mind game for sure and some people (men and women included become mentally addicted to it).

5. AAS, even the least androgenic of sorts, will cause sides such as, but not limited to: compromised HDL/LDL levels, increased blood pressure, breast shrinkage, loss of menses, water weight gain, dry scalp, oily skin, hair loss, enlarged or sensitive clitoris, voice changes (starting with raspiness and going further into deepness), coarser hair, increased hair growth (everywhere), darkening of previously light/blonde body hair. These are just a few. And don't think or believe for one minute that more hair or a deeper voice won't bother you -- it will ... especially if you have not gotten what you expected from your cycle. The cost analysis - "risk vs. return factor" may not be in your favor (results vs. sides).

AND I SHOULD MENTION, the chemical changes that can occur to your supply of ovum. There is no data as to how AAS will harm a yet to be concieved baby (i.e., birth defects).


I will say that AAS can be a useful tool in pushing through a muscle building plateau but only if every other avenue has been exhausted. It is by no means a quick fix or even a guarantee. For us hardgainers who push more weight than alot of women natural and have a hard time putting on muscle, AAS can help.

Now -- back to overall muscle vs. defined muscle. Overall muscle is muscle you gain during a cycle. Defined muscle is that muscle AFTER you diet down (cutting). It is very rare for a male (doable but rare) to be able to bulk and lose bodyfat at the same time....which of course, makes it that much harder for a woman to achieve both succuessfully.

In order to build muscle (whether using roids or NOT) is being able to EAT to build muscle. Usually, one will need to eat for mass but inherently bodyfat will be a given so as not to cheat your body from the necessary nutrients for effective and successful muscle building. Cardio done too often and too strenuosly while trying to build robs the energy your body needs for muscle building and repair.

In order to get that muscle to show, you will need to diet down. This requires a calorie deficit to help lose fat while making sure not to sacrifice too many protein calories (so you can keep more muscle). Most often, along with fat, you will lose some muscle.
Now there is some success with dieting down and taking AAS to help preserve that muscle however it works for some women but not all...and even so, you still need diet to lose fat -- there is NO MAGIC PILL.

And let me add in addition to dieting, cardio is the only other tool for fat loss. Not easy cardio .... but sweat breaking, chest heaving, side-stitch, "I think am going to die" types of cardio in shorter bursts. Long easy cardio is great for cardiovascular health but not all that effective at burning fat and not muscle. Sprints or intervals are great explosive bouts of cardio to help burn off fat and not disturb too much muscle mass.

I am sure after I post this, I will have forgotten a key element. However when the mods here ask for your background and diet and try to steer you away from AAS as a first choice -- it is not that we are trying to be unhelpful nor to convince you that a cycle is for only the elite of athletes, but too often young women opt for a cycle and end up with terrible sides, lasting compromises and adding muscle over fat which produces are more stocky look. All of that can be avoided with research, asking questions, doing your homework and talking to women who care and have had experiences with it. Too many boards are filled with -- "this is what my boyfriend told me to do -- now what?" -- types of threads.

Men try to be helpful but what works for them is so far and away different than what works for us. So please, the dude at the gym that tells you deca is great and hit yourself with 150 mgs a week ....is not telling you the whole story, when it comes to a woman.






i think thats its important that women that have any plan of taking aas read this.. if i have heard it once i have heard it a million times that they think clen/t3 will burn fat.. its all about the diet and training.. like SHOT says its only about 5% AAS/supplements..

[Tattoogirl4]

I am just about terrified now to ever try any kind of stuff after reading. I am already 5'8" I don't need to have a deeper voice, and I'm a natural blonde I don't want my hair to get darker(and so on). I would love more then anything to do a show. Can a person compete without steroids?

[liftingchic]

Originally Posted by Tattoogirl4

I am just about terrified now to ever try any kind of stuff after reading. I am already 5'8" I don't need to have a deeper voice, and I'm a natural blonde I don't want my hair to get darker(and so on). I would love more then anything to do a show. Can a person compete without steroids?

Sure... esp. in figure and fitness.... bbing would be really hard... But to be top level bber/figure/fitness its almost a must to use drugs... or at least thats my .02 cents..

[mslift]

Originally Posted by Tattoogirl4

I am just about terrified now to ever try any kind of stuff after reading. I am already 5'8" I don't need to have a deeper voice, and I'm a natural blonde I don't want my hair to get darker(and so on). I would love more then anything to do a show. Can a person compete without steroids?

There are also lots of Natural Shows out there that you may want to consider if you desire to compete minus the aas.

[Tattoogirl4]

I am really giving it 110% natural. If I am not satisfied with my results in a year or so =, then I may try Anavar.

[user43390fgui8t]

Originally Posted by iron Thighs

Duh, tatu grl, Umm... I cant reed r listen to people and that = UR gay.

banned

[Titania]

This is a fantastic thread, Liftingchic. Very open and informative.

Thank God iron Thighs has been banned too. I think there are more than a few of us that were getting tired of his crap. He's been banned from my forum for a while now for the same sort of rudeness and BS.

[Makavelli]

Although I agree with some of the above, I have to point out that testosterone has been show to destroy fat cells. I'll try to find the study, because I know that half of this board will jump down my throat for that one!LOL! So in essence it does help one get leaner. Anyone that has experience with winny, tren, or anavar can attest to this fact.

[Tattoogirl4]

Originally Posted by iron Thighs

Duh, tatu grl, Umm... I cant reed r listen to people and that = UR gay.

I didn't mean to put the = sign in that sentence.

[liftingchic]

Originally Posted by Makavelli

Although I agree with some of the above, I have to point out that testosterone has been show to destroy fat cells. I'll try to find the study, because I know that half of this board will jump down my throat for that one!LOL! So in essence it does help one get leaner. Anyone that has experience with winny, tren, or anavar can attest to this fact.

I know is shown to help with fat cells.. but i think that it is still not something that the average lady needs to use..

[2pounds]

bump for the women aking about this

[stellar]

bump . great thread.

[MuscleMamma]

Originally Posted by Tattoogirl4

I am just about terrified now to ever try any kind of stuff after reading. I am already 5'8" I don't need to have a deeper voice, and I'm a natural blonde I don't want my hair to get darker(and so on). I would love more then anything to do a show. Can a person compete without steroids?

Yes, you can compete without steroids. I've done it and won. Obviously the open national qualifiers would be difficult to win without them but it's possible. If you're in peak shape, I'd suggest entering a natural contest. They're much calmer and actually a lot of fun to compete in. The steroid gang are not generally the most pleasant ladies to hang around with especially during competition.
Have you seen or tried the energy patches from Lifewave? I've broken every one of my lifting records the first week on them. The good news is that nothing enters the body- Check out my website and email me with your comments or questions- I am an owner of a personal training company for women and and certified by ISSA as well as having had a very successful bodybuilding and athletic career. My website is www.lifewave.com/musclemamma and my email is muscles4mammas@sbcglobal.net Good luck. Let me know how I can help you.

[wide lats]

Originally Posted by helen

Hi u guys iam new to the site, i listen to mariah carey to get pumped up for my work out. I need to get in the mood to work out? what should i do? Or who should i listen too?

WWOOOOWWWWW!!! i listen to Mariah too, she really makes me wanna dance and sing and lift as much as i can!

P.M. me, we can chat about Mariah/gear cycles

[BigThrower]

I also have to disagree with the statement about only doing interval or intense cardio to burn fat. You can burn an insane amount of fat over time just doing the treadmill walking, especially not at the expense of muscle. I don't know where you read this doesn't work... but all research shows it does, and the best competitors out there are always doing this.

[RedSonja]

What has worked for me is treadmill, inclined to 15%, 3-3.5mph, and lots of it as comp day draws closer...

Just wondering if anyone here has ever heard of Winstrol Depot 125--(125mg Stanozolol/micronized) 10ml vial--Mfg. by PharmRXL Pharmaceuticals, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

All the US Stanozolol I've ever seen was 50 or 100 mg/ml--mfg. by either Winthrop or Upjohn. Am I missing something?

Any feedback is appreciated!

[RedSonja]

Originally Posted by tlewis9317

I am a 38 year old female and I have been trying to lose 25 pounds. The weight has been coming off but I have a problem when I lift weights. My arms get bigger. I weight train 3 days a week with 5 or 10 pound weights. I also do cardio 5 days a week for an hour each session. I am losing weight in my lower half of my body but my arms get bigger when I lift weights. How do I stop this from happening?

Geez... My upper body gets ripped to hell--striations and everything--but my hips/thighs hang on to everything for dear life.

I wish I had your problem. LOL

Maybe you should try training everything else and take it easy on the arms for a while--I always train whatever I think is "lagging" very hard.

[msfitnetz]

Excellent information. I am a natural builder and understand the temptation for wanting to exceed my plateaus. It is a VERY hard mental game but I defer to feminity and the stigma already us women face in the sport. In time I will achieve closer to what I want. I may never naturally get built like Lenda but I am going to try like hell with my genetics, food, mind, and hard work.

Women that decided to use AAS, let me know just how far we can possibly go!!

You go my sisters in Iron building !!!

No matter what we ALL work our asses off to build muscle and diet down for comps.

By the way anyone looking for a dedicated workout partner in DC Metro let me know. I need to hit some heavy weights.

[xena2lex]

Bump

Good thread. I am glad to see people get banned who have bad manners!! I usually shy away from boards because of bad mannered people, I really like it here!!

As an aside, I have a gorgeous blonde baby with no probs. My friends have gorgeous babies, some concieved while cycling, which they immediately cycled off of. No birth defects.

In fact my daughter LOVES weight lifiting and she is mommys training partner. She used to get on the hip sled in her diaper and say GO MOMMY GO MORE MORE and she has biceps and abs and can pose, and she used to love to be on my shoulders while I did stairstepper and watched Xena after Xena episode!!! She is too heavy now, she is 8 years old!!

She cried at my last show because I took 2nd place, and she said really loud: MOMMY YOU DIDNT GET THE SWORD FOR ME AND THAT LADY IS NOT AS PRETTY OR SKINNY AS YOU!!! Ahhhhhhhhhh you gotta love kids, sorry to diverge.

Her dream is to be Ms. Olympia!!!

[Titania]

Originally Posted by xena2lex

Bump

Good thread. I am glad to see people get banned who have bad manners!! I usually shy away from boards because of bad mannered people, I really like it here!!

As an aside, I have a gorgeous blonde baby with no probs. My friends have gorgeous babies, some concieved while cycling, which they immediately cycled off of. No birth defects.

In fact my daughter LOVES weight lifiting and she is mommys training partner. She used to get on the hip sled in her diaper and say GO MOMMY GO MORE MORE and she has biceps and abs and can pose, and she used to love to be on my shoulders while I did stairstepper and watched Xena after Xena episode!!! She is too heavy now, she is 8 years old!!

She cried at my last show because I took 2nd place, and she said really loud: MOMMY YOU DIDNT GET THE SWORD FOR ME AND THAT LADY IS NOT AS PRETTY OR SKINNY AS YOU!!! Ahhhhhhhhhh you gotta love kids, sorry to diverge.

Her dream is to be Ms. Olympia!!!

That is so cool

[LizaLyon]

In the November post on the subject of what AA can and cannot do:

liftingchic a.k.a. Blondie is correct to separate myth from the truth. And she is right about all the hard work being necessary. But more than growing a fine dark haired moustache where there used to be invisible blond hair on your upper lip, is that your voice will change over time, and you will get bigger before you get to wear any smaller clothes. And your boyfriend does not know - non-androgenic and not having any virulizing affects are different.

As far as research shows, there is no study that proveds AA will eliminate or remove fat cells. It does however change the appearance of fat; skin will be less jiggly - but only while you are using. If your body fat is not really low, then you will quickly go back to.

I have seen cycles of T3 (cytomel) and Clenbuterol without any AAS.

[1972girl]

What is a natural bodybuilder? Does that mean no supplements like protein shakes,superpump 250,cell-mass,n.o? or does it depend on who you ask?

[Delaylah]

Men try to be helpful but what works for them is so far and away different than what works for us. So please, the dude at the gym that tells you deca is great and hit yourself with 150 mgs a week ....is not telling you the whole story, when it comes to a woman.


I'm glad I found this thread...It's really hard to find women who can actually give tried and tested info. Most times I find that women won't admit to having used roids, so it's pretty hard to get good info!

I'm currently getting ready for my first show...
I'll be competing in figure...but my federation leans towards a harder look.
I've been trying to find some info on a small cycle to help me maintain (and possibly even gain a little) mass while I'm dieting down, and also wanting to see if I can use Anavar and Clen together...

Can anyone here help me out?

Thanks!

[chemical1979]

iv read thru some of the posts here. im new to this forum,and possibly gonna be quite regular...
anyway, i am one of them women who have perhaps taken their body to the extreme usin steroids.
its interestin to read that alot of women still experience 'stigma' associated with female bodybuilding.
i havent yet come across it...as yet.
sure i get stared at, perhaps ppl even abit fearful of me, but when im approached,or i approach ppl..men and women,they're actually really interested, and quite supportive.
im sure alot of ppl look at me and wonder if i am indeed male or female, but u know wot? i love the way i look, iv worked hard to get where i am just like all of you have.
never mind the stigma ladies,you go for it if u want it lol x

[sel3]

Originally Posted by Makavelli

Although I agree with some of the above, I have to point out that testosterone has been show to destroy fat cells. I'll try to find the study, because I know that half of this board will jump down my throat for that one!LOL! So in essence it does help one get leaner. Anyone that has experience with winny, tren, or anavar can attest to this fact.

I tried test 250mg(sustanon) last year and got freaky lean, but it didn't look good. Sides just started as i finished cycle. will not do sus 250mg again, but prolly would do 6 weeks of sustanon 100mg

[pitbullinaskirt]

Xavi82
Are you serious? Just curious.

[Emander]

I just joined this site/forum... it is awsome!
It is great to finally be able to talk to other people going through the same things I am.

As a comment to women who would like to lift/compete naturally. I entered my very first show in Novemeber (my picture is from that show). I have never taken any form of steroids... so trust me it is possible. But as mentioned by other people one has to make sure to be in only natural shows.

I am however interested in learning about all the different supplements/steriods out there for us.

[maturepoet]

Originally Posted by tlewis9317

I am a 38 year old female and I have been trying to lose 25 pounds. The weight has been coming off but I have a problem when I lift weights. My arms get bigger. I weight train 3 days a week with 5 or 10 pound weights. I also do cardio 5 days a week for an hour each session. I am losing weight in my lower half of my body but my arms get bigger when I lift weights. How do I stop this from happening?

Your arms get bigger with only 5 or 10 pound weights?? THIS IS GREAT!!! Most of us would love to be losing only from the bottom while gaining in the top!

Unfortunately I'm not so sure that 5 or 10 lbs (I assume you're doing high reps with that) is enough to gain size like that. Maybe working out more has made you more critical? I can't say it's impossible, so I will say that it's HIGHLY UNLIKELY for a woman to get big or bulky with low weights like that. In order to gain noticeable size, you'd have to lift heavy. If someone asked me how to stop their arms from getting big, I'd tell them not to even worry about it, because you can't accidentally get big like that.

Even if you do get big in your arms, be happy! This is ideal, and there is nothing sexier to me than women in their late 30s who are fit and empowered!

[JonnyBrutal]

Originally Posted by 1972girl

What is a natural bodybuilder? Does that mean no supplements like protein shakes,superpump 250,cell-mass,n.o? or does it depend on who you ask?

Simple.

Somebody who doesn't use HGH.

Steroids aren't natural

Supplements are things you could be getting out of food but in case you can't get enough out of your meat an veggies you buy a supplement that will specifically make sure your body get's it's nutrients.


Hope that made sense, I'm sleepy

[speedy-vet]

Originally Posted by liftingchic

Sure... esp. in figure and fitness.... bbing would be really hard... But to be top level bber/figure/fitness its almost a must to use drugs... or at least thats my .02 cents..

Totally agree here. My first year competing was so like slim and thin with small amount of muscle. I realized then some of the girls sure had plenty of muscle. Hmmm in today's competitions, judges tell u they dont want figure girls looking hard and muscular as like bbders? Well, the winners usually aren't exactly bikini slim, they too have muscle definition so GO figure that one