Low Testosterone Levels and Bodybuilding: What’s the Connection?

Low Testosterone Levels and Bodybuilding: What’s the Connection?

It is a meticulous craft that requires a deep understanding of how muscles grow and how to target the exact muscles to achieve the aesthetics you have in mind. Bodybuilding is a serious sport governed by international organizations and a set of standard rules and regulations. Just like any other sport, bodybuilding requires dedication, discipline, training, and hard work. Bodybuilders train for years, some even dedicating their entire lives to the sport.

This means that supplying someone else, even your friends, can get you up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both. Using steroids to improve your physical appearance is not sustainable, but if you do mix steroids and alcohol, you can effectively ruin the results you’re working so hard for. This is because alcohol can negatively impact the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis, which regulates the male reproductive system. There are also psychological side effects that come along with mixing steroids and alcohol.

Anabolic steroids physical side effects

In summary, while we do not advocate the use of steroids for non-medical use, a PCT cycle helps restore hormonal balance, reduce oestrogen levels, and aids in reaching a natural level of endogenous testosterone. If you are using anabolic steroids without a prescription, using post cycle therapy to mitigate the negative side effects, which is an easy decision for many. Aside from ill health, if you are a post-steroid user, you are vulnerable to muscle mass loss and increased oestrogen levels. Other side effects of using steroids can cause a deeper voice, loss of libido, mood swings, depression, fatigue, water retention and even increased breast size.

Alternatively, there is a non-live shingles vaccine (Shingrix) that you may be able to have instead. If you have any questions or concerns about this, talk to the healthcare professional who prescribed your steroids. Steroids taken for a long time can also cause your muscles to become weaker, and they might occasionally affect periods in women. The cholesterol in eggs is very beneficial to the production of testosterone.

“I really do value helping others who want to lose fat or start getting into fitness because when you help someone get a result, they’re happy and proud of it. Get a broad overview of your hormonal health from home with our range of male hormone tests. At the same time, however, you still need to monitor and optimize your macros to ensure you lose as much fat and as little muscle as possible.

Make sure you’re injecting in the right place

Weight training is the primary stimulus for muscle growth in bodybuilding. When the muscle fibers are subjected to the stress of weight training, microscopic tears occur in the fibers. This triggers your body to start building new muscle protein to repair these tears, leading to an increase in muscle size. During PCT, your hormone levels are in a state of flux, and you may experience fatigue, mood swings, and other symptoms.

They work similarly to cortisol by slowing or stopping the immune system from triggering inflammation. Anabolic steroid misuse can cause a variety of physical and mental side effects, which can be dangerous in the long and short-term. Bodybuilding is a lifestyle, a journey that requires serious dedication, hard work, and perseverance. It’s a sport that can transform your physical appearance and mental and emotional well-being.

Are there any reasons why I won’t be prescribed steroids?

One of the most obvious benefactors from TRT is Joe Rogan who has remained in extremely good shape despite not being a professional athlete. In 2018 TRT was also banned for athletes in the UFC, even if they had a therapeutic use exemption. Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox. “I would regularly get asked what I take, and people wouldn’t believe me when I say nothing. At the start I got offended, but now I see it as a compliment and an opportunity to educate,” he says.

Anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) are a growing concern in the bodybuilding world. Bodybuilders use these synthetic drugs to enhance muscle growth, strength, and endurance. This is not helped by the demand of spectators wanting to see bigger and bulkier athletes essentially resulting in what many term as freak shows.

In the “bulking phase”, i.e. the muscle building phase, an increased calorie intake is essential for bodybuilders. After all, muscles need energy to grow, before you enter the “cutting phase” and reduce your body fat. As a rule, athletes are advised to consume an surplus of calories per kilogram of body weight.

Hollywood star and former governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger, a former ‘Mr Universe’ and seven-time ‘Mr Olympia’, has admitted using steroids in the 1970s for “muscle maintenance”. Clomid and Nolvadex are SERMs (Selective Oestrogen Receptor Modulators) — not to be confused with SARMs — that regulate post cycle oestrogen production and block the negative tai-chi-fitness-for-health.com effects that it has on the body. If someone tests positive they can be disqualified from competing for certain periods of time, or even banned for life. If the police catch people supplying illegal drugs in a home, club, bar or hostel, they can potentially prosecute the landlord, club owner or any other person concerned in the management of the premises.

Rest-Pause Training

It’s important to prioritise rest and recovery, as well as good nutrition to support your body during this time. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep and eating a balanced diet with plenty of protein and micronutrients to support your recovery. Ideally, you would seek the guidance of a qualified doctor to outline a treatment and track your progress.