Anyone who wants to gain a lot of mass knows that natural training, dieting, and a tub of protein powder can only take you so far.
To get a bodybuilder’s physique you will need a bodybuilder’s advantage, this comes in the form of anabolic steroids, one of the most controversial subjects in the fitness world.
You might be seriously considering taking them, but before making that decision you really should make sure that you know exactly what the risks/rewards are.[toc]
What are Anabolic Steroids?
Anabolic steroids are synthetic hormones (made by man) that are used to replicate the effects of the steroidal hormone testosterone.
Once in the bloodstream these steroids act exactly like testosterone and can provide many benefits.
Medically they are used for people who haven’t hit puberty yet, people who have lost serious muscle mass due to illness, or for people who have a pituitary problem and have stopped producing testosterone.
Commonly Used Steroids
There are many forms of steroids available, but they all tend to have different purposes, different benefits and different side effects.
Trenbolone (tren) is probably the most effective steroid on the market, but it is not great for bulking.
This is because it also helps burn fat, which sounds great – but not if you are looking for the biggest muscle gains.
Testosterone Cypionate is a very good mass gaining steroid, it is often used for testosterone replacement therapy and is given by doctors to men who have low levels of testosterone.
A similar product is Testosterone Enanthate, which is also often given to men with low testosterone.
Dianabol was the first steroid to be synthesised and is probably the most well known among bodybuilders. Like tren, it does tend to burn quite a bit of fat alongside building serious muscle.
Anadrol is a commonly used steroid that used to be very popular among elite bodybuilders, this drug is often given to people who have the HIV virus as a way to preserve muscle mass.
The final steroid that we’ll mention is Deca Durabolin, this steroid has been around a long time and was favoured by bodybuilders of the 60s and 70s.
Stacking Steroids
You don’t just take one of these on their own though, you create what’s known as a stack. Where you combine 2-3 different steroids to get the benefits of all of them and hopefully cancel out some of the side effects.
For example, Dianabol is a fantastic muscle gainer but it tends to reduce libido, combine it with Testosterone Cypionate though and you won’t have a problem (as it boosts libido).
People use Testosterone as a base and then add Dianabol and Deca Durabolin as a stack for mass.
What are the Benefits of Taking Steroids?
There are numerous benefits to taking steroids, they can increase muscle mass and lower body fat [1], and long term use can increase strength [2].
Increased testosterone levels can improve mood, improve libido, and increase cognition (memory, decision making, puzzle solving etc).
Testosterone use helps to build muscle by increasing muscle protein synthesis (MPS). This means that someone taking steroids will be able to train longer, more intensely, and recover better.
This is why bodybuilders are able to train for 2-3 hour sessions, while a regular lifter needs to stop after 1 hour to prevent catabolism.
The main benefit of steroids is that when used correctly and in conjunction with a huge increase in training, you can build muscles that no non-assisted lifter could dream of.
What are the Side Effects of Taking Steroids?
The side effects of steroids can range in seriousness from a bit of back acne to death, there are many factors that affect this.
What steroids you combine, what dosages you use, how long you use them, other lifestyle factors, where you are buying them from. The same sort of issues that you would get with any illegal drug.
That’s another thing to bear in mind, steroid use is banned in most countries, and can come with a prison sentence in many.
Steroid use has been linked to issues such as anxiety and body dysmorphia (seeing yourself as small and ugly no matter how massive you have become).
Other issues include infertility (due to your body stopping production of testosterone), increased risk of prostate cancer, gynecomastia (men growing breasts), and increased estrogen production.
If this is sounding scary, then remember that just because a drug can have a side effect, doesn’t mean that it will.
Many people can prevent any side effects from occurring through smart stacking of drugs, but it takes a lot of knowledge and is definitely not something that you should jump into. Luckily there are alternatives.
Are Bulking Steroids Legal?
It is a fact that in many parts of the world steroids are illegal to both buy and use. In the UK for example, they are considered a Class C Drug, which also stops them from being imported legally.
The same is true in Australia, New Zealand and the USA, where steroids fall under the Controlled Substances Act by the US Congress.
This doesn’t mean that steroids are difficult to find however, you only have to visit your local gym to find someone who sells them.
There are also various websites online too, but why would you want to risk your money and your health buying them? Especially when there are safer options available.
Alternative to Bulking Steroids
Dianabol is one of the most popular bulking steroids, so it makes sense that our suggested alternative is D-Bal, a safe and legal option that offers similar benefit but with none of the side effects.
D-Bal is made from proven ingredients that include BCAAs, Whey Protein Concentrate and Tribulus Terrestris.
These ingredients will help to increase nitrogen retention that will lead to an increase in protein synthesis.
Using D-Bal will ensure the following benefits are experienced:
- Increased muscle gains
- More strength
- An increase in your endurance levels
- Nitrogen retention boost
- More blood flow resulting in extra oxygen sent to muscles
You only have to visit the Crazy Bulk website to see that D-Bal works as claimed. This particular product has plenty of customer testimonials present to back up their claims.
Other Bulking Steroid Alternatives
Other bulking steroid alternatives sold online by Crazy Bulk include:
Testo-Max (Testosterone)
Testosterone is incredibly important for building muscle, which is why Testo-Max is a good choice when you are looking to bulk.
Using this supplement can help support your body’s natural testosterone production.
Trenorol (Trenbolone)
Trenorol is a natural alternative to the popular steroid Trenbolone.
It can help build muscle by boosting your testosterone levels and aiding protein production.
Anadrole (Anadrol)
Using Anadrole, which is an alternative to Anadrol, can help to boost strength.
Boosting strength can enable you to lift more, which will lead to bigger muscle gains.
Decaduro (Deca Durabolin)
Decaduro is very similar to Anadrole as it can help boost strength, but it has one added benefit.
Its use can help to reduce recovery time, which will help enable you to train more often.
Stacking Options Available
Crazy Bulk has a variety of stacking options available including:
- The Bulking Stack
- The Cutting Stack
- The Strength Stack
- The Growth Hormone Stack
- The Ultimate Stack
As you are looking primarily at bulking steroid alternatives at this point I would suggest using either the Bulking Stack or the Growth Hormone Stack.
The Bulking Stack contains Testo Max, D-Bal, Trenorol and Decaduro. This stack will help you to gain quality muscle mass with minimal fat gains.
While the Growth Hormone stack contains Decaduro, D-Bal, Clenbutrol, HGH-X2 and Testo Max. This stack is designed to help boost both HGH and testosterone levels, resulting in improved muscle gains.
Using these stacks is a better option than using individual products as it will result in faster gains in both strength and muscle mass.
Buying these products as a stack is also a great way to save money off the individual prices.
If you are looking for a safe and legal way to build muscle and strength then you should avoid bulking steroids, they may be effective but is it worth risking your health over them?
Crazy Bulk offers a range of alternatives, so I would recommend choosing them instead.