Steroids work by making it possible for even a relatively inactive, non-training person to gain muscle mass and control body fat. It is therefore perhaps easy to see why some people view them as a simple quick fix, but the dangers and potential side effects associated with steroid use make them anything but. And regular usage can in fact have some serious, long term health implications.
Spencer is not alone. A Sky News investigation earlier this year suggested that up to a million Brits regularly take them. Despite it being a drug that changes body shape and function in a matter of weeks, they have been given a class C classification in the UK. To put this into perspective, marijuana, which is legal in various states in the United States and other countries worldwide, has been returned to class B in the UK in recent years.
Whilst the perceived benefits of taking steroids may sound appealing, the potential side effects should send a serious warning to anyone considering taking them. Steroids and similar performance-enhancing drugs can cause testicular shrinkage and intense face and bodily acne. They can accelerate the ageing process, cause growths of tumours and lead to the early onset of hereditary problems such as cardiovascular diseases and hypertrophy of the heart (enlarging of the heart walls which decreases cardiac output). Regular usage can also lead to an increase in aggression and mood swings.
In some cases, steroid abuse can lead to a permanent disruption of an individual’s hormone production, meaning that they need hormone replacement therapy for the rest of their life. Dorian Yates (six time ‘Mr Olympia’, effectively the ‘most muscular man in the World’ competition) has openly talked about his steroid use and the fact that he now has to have testosterone replacement injections on a regular basis. The development of female breast tissue in men, commonly referred to as ‘gyno’ (gynaecomastia) can also occur due to hormonal imbalances caused by steroids.
After being thrown out of I’m a Celebrity Matthews confessed that vanity had been the motivating factor behind his steroid use. He wanted to bulk up for a charity boxing match. For others, however, it’s more than wanting a more impressive selfie. Bigorexia – being convinced you are small or need to get bigger – is common with steroid users; the Body Dysmorphia Disorder Foundation estimates that one in 10 gym users could have it. This contributes to the addiction many people develop when taking steroids and other performance enhancers.
Put bluntly, steroid use is dangerous and should be avoided. If you are looking to bulk up, it is possible to do so via a training and nutritional plan that won’t compromise your health. To bulk up naturally, consistent increases in weights lifted in the right rep ranges are required, with the average gym user being advised to concentrate on strength and hypertrophy work in the gym. An inclusion of HIIT cardio 1-3 times per week is also great to help with improved conditioning for weights and sport, beneficial effects on metabolism and to maintain cardiovascular fitness.
Alongside this training, a protein intake of 2-3g per kilogram of bodyweight per day is advised, evenly spread throughout 3-5 meals and or meals and snacks per day, with at least 20% of your remaining daily calories coming from good fats, and the remaining energy requirement from majority good quality carbohydrates. However, forming some of your caloric intake per day from traditionally ‘bad foods’ is also fine to do! Also ensuring you are in a caloric surplus (eating more calories than you are burning per day), and increasing this intake in small increments every 7-14 days for 15-25 weeks (closely monitoring body fat levels) will make for an effective bulking phase.