How Bad Could It Be?

There were multiple ways I wanted to start this article. There were also multiple points I wanted to touch on. But for the sake of this remaining an article and not a novel, I will only be touching on a few areas I feel are crucial in getting my overall point across.

Before we really dive-in, I want to clarify that this is heavily geared towards the men, or the dudes if you will. However, if you are a woman, this may be educational enough for you to understand what's going on with the guys. But if you choose to stop reading, I completely understand.

Also, everything I write here is going to be from personal experience and my own opinion on the matter. With that, I am not looking to be malicious in anyway. I am only looking to educate, bring awareness, and hopefully help some people along the way. But I will be honest.

Alright, let’s get on with it…

For starters I want to address a common misconception about testosterone levels decreasing. Typically levels begin to drop in men between the ages of 30-40 years old. The “when” will just depend on your genetics and lifestyle. In addition to this, your levels do not just suddenly drop off like half your coffee does going over that one massive pothole on your street. It’s a gradual decline, around 1-2% every year once it begins. And I’ll agree with you that after so many years that does make a difference… But the catch here, is that you can change up your lifestyle to mitigate that decline.

I’m not about to revolutionize anything, nor am I giving you surefire quick and easy fixes. However, a few off the top of my head are eat your fruits and vegetables, minimize drinking and smoking to occasionally or not at all (preferred), get consistent adequate sleep and exercise, and manage your stress.
If you make these priorities in your life, I can just about guarantee you that you’ll not only feel better, but you’ll perform better. With the added bonus of giving you noticeable level increases.

The majority of men do not need artificial testosterone… or “T.R.T.” like some refer to it now. Yes, doctors can and do prescribe people testosterone replacement therapy (T.R.T.). But if you get yours from some hormone clinic, manipulated your doctor with “I have no sex drive or energy anymore”, or buy it from some guy at the gym… you’re not on T.R.T., you’re on a cycle. Be honest with yourself, and the guys you play poker with, but what you tell your wife is your business.

Again, not pointing fingers. I know there are men who suffer with this. The issue here is the same as what I call the Ozempic crisis. I’ll dedicate a whole article to that one. This being along the lines of something that can usually be fixed or mitigated with lifestyle, is being treated with a drug. So to be clear, if you’re someone who takes a steroid outside of an actual medical reason (not those you made-up), then you have no ground to bash on those deciding to take a fat-loss drug. That’s shaky ground if you ask me.

The big issue I’m trying to convey is this social media need/pressure to take steroids. I get it, if you compete in a non-tested sport federation, it’s usually the way to stand a chance against the other competitors. And I am not trying to say that it’s wrong or right to take performance enhancing drugs (P.E.D.s). But the issue in the social media and influencer era we live in, the younger generations are hyper-focused on what grown men are doing. Including, the use of steroids in teens, and in some cases, pre-teens increasing. This is unfortunate, sad, and uncalled for…
It’s becoming a responsibility of men and women to make the right choices, and set a better example. Meaningful strength, size, and performance can be obtained naturally. Just because something can improve it or speed up the process does not mean it’s okay. In a world of instant gratification, rely on work ethic and learning to accept delayed gratification… and let’s set that example.

Below I’ll list the most common side effects from doing any type of anabolic steroid. But I really want to drive home why this issue of feeling like you’re low energy, not jacked enough, or whatever the excuse is that you’ve decided to take them isn’t enough. You increase every health risk as if you were obese. That’s the impact they can and will have on your body. There is probably a good chance I can determine why you’re not a chain smoker right now… because we know that it shortens your life, increases almost every health risk, and just isn’t worth it.

If you’re under the age of 40, make better lifestyle choices. Focus and improve the list I gave previously. Then go a bit further, and work on eliminating plastic contact/consumption, spend more time outside, and find a hobby that not only you enjoy, but helps you feel more like a man… in whatever capacity that means to you. Not because red or blue pill crap. Not what social media / manosphere says. But for the love of all that is good, it’s just important. So make it something physical, engaging, challenging, and fun/exciting. Even if it’s a day of fishin or golf with your buddies. I firmly believe that it’s healthy to have “guy time” as a man, and “girl time” as a woman.

Anyway, hope some of this stuck, or at least got you thinking. I can always make this more of a structured scientific approach, focusing on actual causes, remedies, and date. So if you’d like to see that, you can always reply to this article or if you’re subscriber, I believe you can comment.
As promised, here’s the list of side effects:

Common Side Effects (Short and Long Term)

Specific Risks from Anabolic Steroid Abuse

Not an exhaustive list, but close enough.

MINDSET

Think about long-term health, fertility, and quality of life.

Train smart, but never forget to train hard.