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9 Causes of Gynecomastia and Man Boobs
Gynecomastia is an emerging condition in men in the recent times. It can be referred with different names including Male breasts, Man boobs or simply moobs. Although harmless, the condition can cause serious trouble including the risk of developing breast cancer. The condition can easily be avoided although there are genetic causes, which means that the person is born with man boobs. This genetic condition is called Klinefelter Syndrome and less or nothing can be done in such a case.
What actually happens in gynecomastia is that there is an increase in breast tissue, particularly the glandular tissue and not the fat tissue in men. Men usually have breast tissue but not in large amounts as women do. The hormone that brings out this difference, calls estrogen and is usually in high amounts in females than males. Therefore, when a man develops breasts, most likely it will be an increase in the hormone estrogen.
The causes in one or more ways somehow will always point to an imbalance in the hormones estrogen and androgens. Any condition or substance that will lead to an increase in estrogen and a drop in androgens in makes will make them have gynecomastia.
Related Article:: The Effects of Estrogen on Body Composition – Estrogen Dominance
What are indicators of Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is a condition, which can easily be self-diagnosed. However, it is always advisable to see a medical specialist for proper medical diagnosis. It can occur in one or both breasts and in most cases; it starts out as a small painful or painless lump beneath the nipple. Eventually, the whole breast enlarges and then that will be gynecomastia. Breasts will enlarge unevenly sometimes. Some of the signs and symptoms include:
The breast tissue becomes swollen.
There is breast tenderness.
In some cases, it may be breast cancers causing the swelling. It is important to be able to distinguish between the two. Major differences between breast cancer in men and gynecomastia include:
Cancer in most cases will be confined on one side while gynecomastia can be on either side.
Cancer is usually not centered around the nipple unlike most cases of gynecomastia.
Cancerous breast tissue usually feels hard or firm.
Cancer have associated dimpling of the skin on the breast, the nipple may retract or some discharges nay be seen coming out and the axillary lymph node may be swollen.
How Gynecomastia is diagnosed?
Proper medical diagnosis of gynecomastia is done by a medical specialized in such a field. It basically involves taking your past medical history including drug use and medication accompanied by a physical examination of your breast tissue. Apart from doing the physical exam, other specialist go ahead to do other tests just in case you have other conditions. The most common tests include:
Blood tests for example liver functions and even hormone tests.
Testing of your urine.
An x-ray of your breast tissue that has in low doses.
Biopsy of the breast tissue when a suspicion of cancer is raised.
Risk factors of Gynecomastia
Who is likely to get gynecomastia? There are several risk factors that may lead to one getting this condition. Some are related to lifestyle while other are as a result of normal physiological processes. The risk factors implicated in gynecomastia include:
Male teenagers growing normally are at risk of developing gynecomastia.
Male infants.
Aging.
People exposed to certain diseases.
Certain medications.
The causes of Gynecomastia
Gynecomastia has so many causes. Here, we highlight the top 9 causes of gynecomastia in men.
1. Obesity
Obesity refers to a situation where there is increased fat content in the body. It can be a cause of Gynecomastia and has been a common one in the recent past where we have had increased cases of obesity all over the world.
So how does obesity come in to cause obesity? It is believed that the increased fat in your body as well as in your breast tissue has a role in disrupting the hormones in your body including the estrogen and the androgen and therefore bringing about gynecomastia. The disruption is carried out because of a hormone called leptin, which increases, in levels when there is increased fat in the body.
In cases of obesity, leptin will rapidly increase in the body and this result in a condition called leptin resistance. Leptin resistance causes the brain to see that the body is starving and it directs its activities in ensuring that the body is getting enough nutrients and that reproduction is not important here. This implies that the hormones for reproduction in males, the androgens are suppressed and there will be a rise in estrogen, which will then cause gynecomastia.
2. Steroids
Perhaps the commonest causes of gynecomastia are the anabolic steroid used by bodybuilders and other athletes. Most if not all anabolic steroids are usually synthetic versions of testosterone. Since the body has the mechanisms of converting testosterone into estrogen, some of these anabolic steroids get converted into estrogen leading to development of gynecomastia.
Steroids > > HERE
Estrogen usually requires in the male body in limited amounts. It has several roles such as helping in maintaining healthy bones, sexual activities and help ensure that the fat content in men is low enough not to cause any health related conditions. However, beyond a certain limit, it comes with associated health risks one of which is gynecomastia.
So apart from causing trouble with your testicles among other side effects of the anabolic steroids, they can really make your life embarrassing by making you develop man boobs, which not every male person would want to be associated with. It is estimated that about half the cases of gynecomastia are as a result of anabolic steroid abuse.
3. Cancers
There are certain types of cancers implicated in causing gynecomastia. Most of the tumors sometimes are usually undetected hence the importance of seeking a proper medical diagnosis. Since gynecomastia is a result of hormone imbalance, these types of cancers must have a part to play in causing the hormonal imbalance.
The major tumors that have been known to have an impact on hormones are the testicular tumors and pituitary tumors (Prolactinoma). These tumors will result in either an increase in production of estrogen or a decrease in production of testosterone.
Testicular tumors for example can result in increased synthesis and production of a hormone called Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). HCG closely resembles Luteinizing hormone (LH) both in structures and in function. It therefore will also lead to increased production of testosterone and also the conversion of the produced testosterone to estrogen and that is where trouble comes in.
4. Genetic hereditary disorders
Another common cause of man boobs are some hereditary disorders that one is born with and which most likely run through their families. Klinefelters syndrome is the commonest of the causes. In this condition, an individual has 3 pairs of chromosomes instead of the usual 2 pairs. Normally, a man has the XY chromosome combination. However, in Klinefelters syndrome, there is an additional X chromosome forming the XXY combination.
In such cases, the patients will be sterile and gynecomastia is an outstanding feature. This is a bit hard to manage because it is not easy to change the chromosomal arrangement of a person.
5. Side effects of certain medications
There is a wide range of drugs that have gynecomastia as a side effect of taking them. In fact drugs ranks highly in causing man boobs causing even as high as a quarter of all the causes of gynecomastia. So how do drugs come in when it comes to causing hormonal imbalance, which causes man boobs?
Well, most drugs and especially the ones that are prescribed harbor about three effects that are likely to cause gynecomastia:
They have an estrogen like activity when taken.
Can raise the levels of estrogen directly.
Have androgens as part of them and these androgens can be converted to estrogens.
So, talk about amphetamines, antibiotics or any other common drugs and you will see that they somehow can be the reason why you are developing man boobs. It is good that you get to know the side effects of the drugs you are taking. Talk to your doctor about it and if you develop any signs of increased breast tissue, then you can consider stopping.
Here is a list of the drugs that are commonly known to cause gynecomastia:
Spironolactone – it is a diuretic substance and contains activities that are opposite to those of androgens.
Drugs that are calcium channels blockers that are important treating hypertension for example nifedipine.
Drugs that inhibitors of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) also used in treatment of hypertension for example captopril.
Antibiotics such as metronidazole and isoniazid.
Drugs used in management of ulcers such as cimetidine and ranitidine.
Digoxin and diazepam.
6. Abusing alcohol
There are several ways in which alcohol can cause gynecomastia. This happens when one drinks excess alcohol every day. One can be prepared to have grown his belly and also be prepared to have man boons as well.
The first way in which alcohol can cause man boobs is through its damage to the liver. The liver is a very crucial organ in getting rid of hormones and when it is damaged due to alcohol abuse, this activity tends to reduce and eventually stop. One of the hormone that will not be eliminated from the body is estrogen. Over time, estrogen gets to accumulate and its immediate effects includes causing Gynecomastia. Apart from being inefficient in eliminating estrogen, a damaged liver is even more likely to convert the androgens into estrogens.
Apart from damage to the liver, alcohol itself in most cases contain certain compounds that will influence the balance of estrogens and testosterone in the body. The most common compounds found in alcohol are the phyestrogens. Phytoestrogens are basically compounds that mimics the estrogen in the body. How do they get into the alcohol we consume? Well, the hops that use to make beer and also some plants that have a part in making most alcoholic beverages have these compounds in abundant and that is how they end up in the alcohol we consume.
7. Aging
As men age, most of them tend to have an imbalance in their hormonal composition. The first time you may experience gynecomastia is at puberty. During puberty, one produces lots of hormones in high amounts including the estrogens. This is likely to cause man boobs. This is usually not something to worry about since as you leave teenage behind, your hormones come to level and everything goes back to normal. So as long as it does not progress for a long time, there is absolutely nothing to worry about teenage Gynecomastia.
In other cases, you may experience what the experts call idiopathic gynecomastia at some point in life and this may not go away. Idiopathic implies that the growth of the breast tissue cannot simply be traced to the cause. However, there has been some explanations as to why there may be such a case. One common one is that as we men grow, different part of the body also grow including the breast tissue. But the body does not stay in one state all the time and it is likely that the as the body reduced to grow at some point, the breast tissue did not cease for some reasons, hence gynecomastia.
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As one grows older also, testosterone levels tend to become lower and lower probably because there is less production due to aging of the tissue responsible for its production. This means that estrogens have an upper hand and can now easily cause man boobs. Sometimes older people may have been exposed to some estrogens or something that causes hormonal imbalance without actually having an idea what it was. This might also cause Gynecomastia in old age.
8. Kidney and liver diseases
Another major cause of gynecomastia is severe disease of either the kidney or the liver or even both. These two organs are particularly important in regulating some hormones and other proteins that have a role in preventing development of man boobs.
The liver as seen in alcohol abuse has a major role to play when it comes to giving you gynecomastia if you do not take great care of it. Many conditions that damage the liver are due to alcohol abuse but any other disease that damages the liver including some viral diseases can lead to disruption of normal hormonal elimination hence causing man boobs. Apart from reducing disruption, the liver has a role in regulating synthesis of certain proteins and one crucial protein regulated is the sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG). The SHBG binds testosterone. In severe liver disease, this protein tends to be over produced and will bind more of the testosterone produced. This lowers the amount of testosterone in circulation leading to trouble.
Related Article:: Top 20 Liver Detox Products and Anti-Estrogens on Amazon
Kidney diseases also cause almost a similar situation only that the most severe forms of kidney disease will lead to such a condition. Although man boobs are also a clear symptom, one tends to notice other common symptoms first including abnormal urinary discharges and even skin rashes first before noticing gynecomastia.
9. Smoking Cigarettes And Using Marijuana
Cigarette smoking causes man boobs indirectly. Excessive smoking will lead to development of lung cancers some of which just like the testicular and pituitary tumors will cause a disruption in the hormonal balance and this will lead to gynecomastia. Lung cancers in fact have an upper hand when it comes to causing gynecomastia. All the other cancers that are known to cause hormonal imbalance. The good news is that the lung cancers are a bit more preventable unlike the other forms of cancers.
Apart from cigarettes, Marijuana is another common cause of man boobs. So many people are still not aware of this and therefore sometimes they tend to think that marijuana has no role in this. Using marijuana in excess amounts has the effect of increasing breast tissue in men. Hoe this happens is still a mystery but some studies suggest that marijuana depresses the levels of testosterone.
Other common causes of Gynecomastia
There are still so many other causes of man boobs and here are some of the honorable mentions:
Depriving yourself of certain nutrition in the name of deprivation diets.
Drugs used to manage hair losses.
Plant oils and natural grooming products.
Testosterone replacement therapy.
Time in the womb as a fetus.
Read this > > Elucidation of Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Will the Gynecomastia go away?
Having looked at the causes of gynecomastia, you may be wondering how long does one need to have this condition before it goes away. The truth is, it depends on the type and cause of gynecomastia. Pubertal gynecomastia for instance may regress once one is out of puberty. Of course, there are rare cases where such gynecomastia persists in which case there will be need of medical treatment.
Other forms of gynecomastia stay for a longer period of time. Cases have been reported where gynecomastia has lasted for more than 12 months without treatment. If gynecomastia lasts that long, most likely, it will undergo fibrosis and this will complicate treatment.
Related Article:: Steroids, Gynecomastia and GynoSurgery
Treatment of Gynecomastia
There are two major approaches in the treatment and management of gynecomastia. However, gynecomastia in most cases is a condition which will go away on its own within a period of about six months provided that the condition leading to it eliminate as much as possible. If it does not go away, treatment can either be:
Using drugs.
Surgical approach.
Using Drugs in Treatment of Gynecomastia
There are several drugs, that we can use in the management of gynecomastia. Their effectiveness has been in question but they are still used. In fact, most if not all of them have not been approved by the FDA. The commonest drugs that have been in use include:
Testosterone replacement in older men but not younger males who have normal testosterone levels.
Clomiphene taken for a period of 6 months has also some good results.
Clomiphene Citrate > > HERE
There has also been the selective estrogen receptor modulator tamoxifen, which works by reducing breast volume. It has also been helpful in cases of severe and painful gynecomastia.
Danazol, a synthetic derivative of testosterone helps reduce the levels of estrogen in the body by limiting its production by the testis.
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Surgical Approach in the Treatment of Gynecomastia
Drugs are more effective in the treatment of gynecomastia during the early stages of the condition. However, after a period of about 12 months when the glandular tissue has been transformed into a fibrous tissue, drugs become less effective and only surgery might prove helpful here.
Surgical reduction of the breast tissue refers to as reduction mammoplasty and use it in cases where we have:
Severe gynecomastia.
Long term gynecomastia.
Drugs have failed to bring the condition back to normal.
Prevention of Gynecomastia
Like treatment, prevention of gynecomastia depends on the types of gynecomastia one is talking about or how it is. Gynecomastia caused by hormonal imbalance as a result of for example aging or pubertal changes cannot be prevented. Other forms for example those which are caused by some medical conditions can be prevented. This will be through preventing the underlying conditions such as avoiding abuse of alcohol. Having a clear and sound knowledge of everything to do with Gynecomastia can help you avoid it in the future if it is the kind that can be prevented.
Conclusion
Gynecomastia is a common condition that has been a major cause of concern for men. It so many causes some of which have been highlighted in this article. Gynecomastia can easily be managed and one is bound to have his normal breast composition. It is however, an embarrassing condition and many men have been suffering silently. In case where you have the condition, you can do some of the following things so that you can avoid being depressed:
Get some counseling from a trusted expert.
Reach out to the people you love including your friends and family members.
Connect to people with similar conditions or who have gone through the same condition.
5 Creative High Protein Meal – Prep Dishes to Save You Time
For people who are always busy a good example being athletes, meal prepping comes in as a very important concept. The concept basically involves preparing your meals or dishes way before consuming them. It is a very imperative not only in saving time but also in its effect on the health of the individual. Preparing Meal a head of your schedule as it seems is of course a bit complicated. We therefore decide to explore this concept here in great details highlighting some of the top 5 most creative high protein meal prep dishes that can help you save time if you are a busy individual.
Why is meal prepping beneficial?
Preparing your meals in advance some great benefits touching on some aspects such as your nutrition, your lifestyle and so much more. Here are some of the most important benefits that you can be sure to rip if you consider meal prepping:
Helps you stick to your preferred diet – When you have your meals ready, you can never be tempted to eat something that is may not be important for your health nutrition-wise.
Controlling your diet is easier – Meal prepping does not only help in making sure that you stick to your diet but also comes in strongly in helping ensure that the diet you are consuming has the right contents in the right amounts.
You can easily put your hunger under control – Since you already prepared your meal, there is no point why you should feel hungry since you can easily eat your meal.
Saving time – Of course, we cannot fail to mention that meal prepping saves quite some time especially if you have little time to prepare your meals.
Saving your costs – Have your meal already prepared saves some costs such as costs of delivery of meals, you don’t waste a lot of food and other resources.
When you start meal prepping, you tend to know exactly how much of the ingredients you will need for each of the meals that you will be preparing. This in the long run helps reduce wastage.
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Some disadvantages of meal prepping
Meal prepping lacks many disadvantages. Some of the few that can be found include:
It can get boring for some people – Some people prefer to eat a wide variety of food. Meal prepping on the other hand in most cases will involve eating only a single variety of food. This will not favor people who like going for variety.
Prep Containers > > HERE
May not be good for kids – Meal prepping may not work for kids because they may not like the plan.
The disadvantages of meal prepping can easily be avoided through using spices of different varieties or any other way of flavoring your food. This way, you end up avoiding the monotony.
The different ways of prepping High Protein Meal
Meal prepping can be done in several ways most of which take care of how much time you want to spend during the process. You can always spare your weekend if you choose the best way of meal prepping. Here are the different ways that you can prep High Protein Meal:
Cooking meals in advance
This way of meal prepping simply involves cooking full meals such that the next thing when they are removed from the fridge will be eating them. The only thing that might intercept will be reheating them so that they are warm and good for consuming. The most appropriate meals that this way of High Protein Meal prepping is suitable are those meals that are particularly great for dinner.
Batch cooking
Another way of meal prepping is batch cooking. Batch cooking involves preparing sizeable quantities of a certain recipe, which can then be divided into single portions. These portions are each frozen and are consumed for a given period of time usually of several months. Meals that are good for lunch and even dinner will be best prepped using this way of meal prepping.
KETO Meal Prep > > HERE
Portioned individual meals
In this way, one basically prepares meals then divides them into portions that are separate. These portions are refrigerated and can be easily grabbed and consumed afterwards. If you like quick lunches, then this way will be particularly good for you to use as you prep your meals.
Earlier ingredient preparation
Sometimes if you do not want to prepare meals in advance but still want to save some time, then you can consider preparing your ingredients earlier. This means that you are going to use minimum time as much as possible while in the kitchen.
There may be other ways that you can do your meal prepping. It totally depends on your day-to-day routine. However, the above-mentioned ways are the most common and one or two are likely to favor your routine and ensure that you are not late whether you are an athlete or any other person who is busy.
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What to Consider Before Starting Meal Prepping
Before you start meal prepping and even before choosing your recipe, there are 3 things you need to put into consideration:
The meal you want to prepare at an appropriate time
There are meals you may want to prepare for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It is very important that you know which food will be the best at such times for you.
The day of doing your meal preps – So that you do not interfere with your work or your workouts, find a suitable time that you can do your meal preps. People often go for Sundays and Wednesdays but it is upon you to choose the appropriate day.
The amount you want to prepare – Deciding on the amount to prepare is also very important. This makes sure that you do not waste a lot of time and at the same time ensure that the food lasts the time intended.
The Type and Number of Meals to Prepare During High Protein Meal Prepping
Something that is very crucial when it comes to meal prepping is getting to know the type of meal as well as the number of meals to prepare. This is because Meal Prepping is all about planning a head and one cannot plan ahead without knowing what and in which amounts to prepare. To ensure that you get the right type and amount to prepare, you can follow this guide here:
Find out the type of meal that you want depending on your preferences.
The next thing that you will consider is the meal prepping method that will fit your day-to-day activities and lifestyle.
After having landed the best method for you, have a quick check on your calendar and find out the number of breakfast, lunches and dinners that you will require for the specified period of time according to your method and again your lifestyle.
Take into consideration the times you are likely to not use your meal preps for example you may have dates and so on.
Start with recipes that are familiar to you and then slowly transit to more complex recipes.
Spending less time while High Protein Meal prepping
While it help save time in the long run, meal prepping can keep you in the kitchen if you are not well prepared. Highlighted here are some of the tips that can help ensure that you are spending less time as much as possible in the kitchen when doing your meal preps.
Have one schedule that you use
Having a single schedule for your meal preps is a good first step in ensuring that you spend the least time possible in the kitchen. Have a clear outline of when you will fetch your groceries and when you will be preparing the meals. This of course also depends on your lifestyle and how busy you are.
Know the recipes that you need for your meal preps
Having a well-known combination of recipes for a given meal preps is something else that goes a long way I ensuring that you spend as less time as much as possible. It is generally recommended that your recipes should at least require different cooking methods so that you do not end up requiring the same utensil for several kinds of meals.
A good organization in prep and cooking time is required
Different foods have different cooking times. Knowing this will help you organize how well you can ensure that you they fit into your lifestyle. Generally, start with foods that require long cooking times. As they cook, you can focus on the ones that require shorter times.
Have a shopping list
Lastly, if you are considering saving time while making your preps, always ensure that you have your shopping list. This is one area that when not properly taken into consideration will lead to a lot time being wasted. Things like getting to double check everything will waste a lot of time. Therefore, a shopping list is a great tool for you to save time while making your meal preps in the kitchen.
General types of foods suitable for meal prepping
Before looking into the 5 high protein meal prep dishes, here are some of the general types of foods that are good when it comes to meal prepping. Some of them will be a crucial part of the dishes you will want to prepare.
Frozen vegetables – are among some of the best foods you can incorporate into your meal preps. They include broccoli, cauliflower, green beans and peas.
Starchy vegetables – suitable for meal prepping include cassava, potato, taro and canned pumpkin.
Stiff fresh vegetables – in this category include cabbage, carrots and radish.
Lean protein – are also part and parcel of meal prepping. Foods in this category include eggs, shredded cheese, tofu, beef and pork.
Whole fruits – to ensure that you balance your diet, fruits should also be part of the meal preps. Notable fruits include apples, oranges, pears and bananas.
The 5 creative high protein meal prep dishes
After having looked into various concepts of meal preps, one thing that has emerged is the need to save time. Busy athletes and other people will try to identify those dishes, which will help them save time and at the same time contain high protein, which is required considering the nature of their activities. Here are some of those dishes, which will make sure that you are spending less time in the kitchen and contain high proteins.
1 Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken
Barbecue chicken for a long time has been the best meal to be taken during dinner. Something good about it is that it can be made more easily and quickly compared to most other foods.
Crock Pot 8 > > HERE
Here is how you can prepare your barbecue chicken as a meal prep:
You will first make a tex-mex salad with lettuce, tomato, onion, black beans, Monterey jack cheese and crushed tortilla chips about a handful.
This is followed by topping over a thin-crust whole-wheat pizza dough and then sprinkling with mozzarella.
After that, you will top over medium baked sweet potato.
Then make a quesadilla with high protein tortillas, Monterey jack cheese, beans and diced tomatoes.
Finally, roll into a high protein tortilla full of lettuce, tomato, onion and Colby-jack cheese.
2. Beef Stir – Fry With Asian Peanut Sauce
This another great dish that falls in our category of creative high protein meal preps, you can quickly prepare this dish through following the simple steps below.
Chop the beef and add it to brown rice and beans or a chili if available.
Beef Stir > > HERE
You can then cube, reheat and then add to a soup that is broth-based and which has sliced vegetables, a good example being carrots.
The next thing that you do is making a Panini sandwich using thin slices of pork and some cheese.
Next, you serve over wild rice with sautéed cauliflower or even kale on the side.
Finally, slice and then add whole grain pasta with vegetables.
3. Rosemary – Mustered Pork Tenderloin
Next on our list of the top 5 creative high protein meal prep dishes is the rosemary- mustered pork tenderloin. Here is how you can prepare your dish.
Chop the pork tenderloin and add it to brown rice and beans or even a chili.
Proceed to add to a broth-based soup with sliced vegetables after having cubed and reheated.
Follow this by making a Panini sandwich with thin slices of pork and cheese.
Serve over wild rice with sautéed cauliflower or kales if available on the side.
You can then slice and add to whole grain pasta with vegetables.
4. Baked Salmon With Citrus Herbs
This dish is for those who like fish. A delicious dish can be prepared as described here below.
Baked salmon can be enjoyed over some green salad made with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, feta cheese and sunflower seeds.
It can be served with quinoa or sometimes faro and some side vegetable be it cauliflower or broccoli.
The leftover salmon can diced and used in a frittata or an omelet.
You can then chop and make into salmon cakes.
This can be used in fish tacos with black beans, shredded cheese dice avocado.
5. Teriyaki Tofu
Although it can generally be said that tofu lacks the flavor, it is a far way good dish that can quickly be prepared and also contains high proteins. Besides, you can easily infuse ginger, garlic, onions or any other flavors to suit your flavors.
Teriyaki tofu can be served over brown rice or even sorghum.
Toss it into leftover chili.
You can then create a Buddha bowl with sautéed greens and lentils.
Finally serve with baked sweet potato fries and broccoli.
Storage of the Meal Preps
After having prepared your meals, the next thing that you will consider is storage so that they remain fresh for the period that you specified. The most important thing that is highlighted here is the medium of storage. Getting the right storage contain will go a long way into ensuring that you get the best result ever. Storage containers can be:
Airtight Containers
Airtight containers can be used to keep ingredients, which are ready to cook. They should be washable and include silicone baggies and stainless steel containers, which are reusable.
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BPA-Free Microwavable Containers
BPA-microwavable containers have the advantage in the sense they are very convenient and are not harmful to your health. Example of these containers include Pyrex glassware and collapsible silicone containers.
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Freezer-Safe Containers
Freezer safe containers come in strongly in helping maintain the quality of your food. This because they have this effect of limiting freezer burn as well as nutrient losses. The container of choice in this category include the wide-mouthed mason jars with a space of about 1 inch left to allow space for the expansion of food when it freezes.
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Compartmentalized Containers That Are Leak-Proof
Finally, some very good containers that you may consider using for storage of your meal prep dishes are the compartmentalized leak-proof containers. Particularly if it comes to those meal prep dishes intended for lunch or those dishes that usually require their ingredients to be mixed at the end.
Food Safety When Carrying Out Prepping
Meal prepping can result to some health problems if enough care is not taken into consideration. One such health problem is food poisoning, which affects millions each year. So what guidelines can be used to ensure that food poisoning as well as other health effects related to meal prepping are not experienced?
Proper Temperatures
You refrigerator or freezer should always be at proper temperatures. The recommended refrigerator temperatures are about 5 degrees Celsius or below while for the freezer should be -18 degrees Celsius or below
Refrigerating Fresh Foods
Fresh foods should always be refrigerated as early as within 2 hours of purchase and after cooking. To ensure that they cool quickly, you can simply spread those foods, which have been cooked into containers, which are a bit shallow. This is followed immediately by transferring them into your refrigerator.
Storage Period
Storage times for certain foods is important. For instance, such foods like fresh meat or even fish should be cooked within about 2 days after purchasing them. Others like red meat can stay a bit longer but not more than 5 days after purchasing them. Within the storage times, it is recommended that they foods be kept in the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.
Cooking Temperatures
Cooking temperatures should be the right for the right type of food. This is because bacteria in different foods are killed at different temperatures. For example, meats heated to temperatures of at least 75 degrees Celsius will ensure that most of the bacteria are killed.
Thawing food
Thawing food should also be done safely and the best way to this is by using your refrigerator instead of instead of the countertop like some people do. So that this process is done faster, you can submerge the food in cold water and change the water after every 30 minutes.
Reheating the food
Reheating the food is another thing that will ensure that your food is well and safe. This should be done at the right temperature as well as just once. The recommended temperature of reheating the food is usually about 75 degrees Celsius. It is generally considered that the more times you heat your food the more you increase the chances of food poisoning. It is therefore in the best interest that you heat your food only once.
Labeling
Labeling your food and including the date on which they should be consumed also helps ensure that your dishes stay safe as much as possible.
Eat food at the right time
Lastly, eat the food within the stipulated time. This will ensure that the food does not go and give you food poisoning.
Conclusion
Meal prepping can be a great way to help you save cooking time if you are a busy athlete. This article has highlighted some important concepts regarding meal prepping as well as giving you some of the top 5 creative high protein meal preps that can be very helpful.
Mental Health – How a Bodybuilder Can Improve it?
One of the most common questions bodybuilders think about is the necessary factor that helps them stand out from the rest and make their place in big competitions like IFBB. Most of the answers you will get on the internet revolve around taking care of your diet, exercising, and buying nutritional supplements to boost your performance in powerlifting bodybuilding for success. But the single most influential component that will take you places no matter which competition you are preparing remains one – your mindset and mental health.
Without having the optimum cognitive function and a sense of mental wellbeing, you cannot stay motivated and strategic for building up those big muscles you need to win any competition. This is especially true for big contests like IFBB in which you are already facing lots of stress and trying to figure out a way how you can beat the stress and leave nothing to go unnoticed while you train for the big game.
If you want to really know how to become a huge muscle guy, you need to focus on the roots first. This is how you will be able to get to the level you aspire to be. Your roots, in a literal sense, start from your attitude. Let’s find out some ways you can amplify your mental health with the best tactics around:
1. Practice Discipline
Practicing discipline helps you train your mind to come in the form it needs to perform at its best. When you are disciplining yourself, you are getting into the training mode. Make a note of whatever diet, supplements, and steroids you are consuming and track your intake by the end of the day. Instead of getting carried away by a lazy routine, schedule your day, and make your mind to practice working on fixed timing.
If you have an endurance training session at 6 in the morning, get up at least an hour ago and prepare yourself for it. It might seem a thing of the military for you, but discipline in itself is a great form of self-care. Not only are you training your mind to beat the competition this way, but also you are giving your mind a huge favor in getting goal-oriented and healthy.
2. Fix your Sleeping Hours
For bodybuilders, every second can be a deciding factor for your progress. This holds true, especially in big competitions where you have to compete with a lot many around you, and a minute of more sweat than the other competitor might be the differentiating factor in your success. So, make sure while you stay careful about making every minute matter, you pay enough attention to your training and resting hours. In this regard, taking care of your sleeping cycle remains a prominent factor.
Make sure if you get 7 hours of uninterrupted REM sleep, you stick to these hours. Anything less or more might disturb your whole training regime, especially when the competition you are training for is big and you got nothing to lose. This will also help boost your mental performance as your brain will stay alert, and your circadian rhythms would not interfere in your routine.
Must Read:: The Importance of Sleep for Bodybuilders
3. Take Brain-Friendly Foods
You can take a diet rich in omega fatty acids, natural serotonin-producing foods, and antioxidants for improving your mental health. Taking antioxidants can also benefit your mind in terms of reducing chances of inflammation, which often appear as “brain fog” and does not let you think clearly like you ought to think. To maximize your brain’s potential, you need to take foods such as fish, green and leafy vegetables, liver and liver oil, walnuts, flax seeds, chia seeds, and other types of seeds, and consume healthy proteins cooked through steam or hot oven.
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You need to be careful about the type of food you are consuming in your daily routine and consider the sources. For example, taking too much processed food is not only going to affect your physical performance but also make cognitive factors such as decision-making abilities weaker than usual. Make sure you stick to nature and only include foods that add to your mental and physical health.
Staying hydrated is also a key element to staying mentally sharp and active as you train and get ready for the big day. If you do not consume sufficient water, you will feel that you lack the general will power, confidence, and the energy it requires to work on the body you want. Also, the depletion of electrolytes will make it even harder for you to stay in the right state of mind and exercise. Drinking enough water to balance out the sweat is of significant importance when it comes to taking care of mental health.
Read this Article:: Drink More Water If You Want To Lose Weight And Build Muscle Fast
4. Play Mind Sharpening Games
While you are training and exercising throughout the day to keep your mind alert, it is also essential that you play some mind sharpening games for better performance and training. As you play these games regularly, you will note you have less mental fatigue than usual, and you can get much better results while you are training and building your muscles. In a way, these games are helping you to create more accuracy and agility in the mind that ultimately helps you in improving your cognitive performance by the day.
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For the right brain, you can do activities that revolve around you being creative:
Writing.
Abstract thinking.
Reading.
Painting.
Playing an instrument, and others.
For the left brain, you can focus on playing mind-sharpening games such as:
Solving crossword puzzles.
Playing scrambles.
Playing brain teasers and trivia quizzes.
Solve logic problems and others.
These activities will keep you in the fresh state of mind that will ultimately help you boost your performance and keep you ready for the big competition ahead. With better mental agility and an increased concentration, you will feel at your best and be able to outrank your competitors in a better way through sparing a few moments of the day to do such activities.
5. Experiment with Different Exercises
Only warmup, workouts, pieces of training, and cool-downs are not enough to keep your performance at best. Though exercises and workouts help to improve your mental health, taking out some time to engage yourself in doing rhythmic exercises that involve rhythmic breathing and a present state of mind will help you increase will power and concentration that you need to get better at the game and outrank other competitors. These exercises involve yoga, meditation, martial arts, judo karate, and other ancient techniques that satisfy both your mind and body to engage well with each other.
You will note that your mind will be better able to find a balance and perform better in training as well as the competition day. Such exercises will help get the better circulation of nutrients and oxygen towards your brain and get you in the right state of mind.
Related Article:: Build Back Muscle Fast: Top 4 Exercises To Do
6. Take Care of Steroid Cycles
Bodybuilders might take steroids that increase the testosterone level in the body, which ultimately helps in improving performance at the competition with better muscles and higher core strength. People show their concern over the use of steroids on their psychological health – but facts have revealed that such effects occur when these steroids are taken in excessive amounts, or the steroid cycles are disturbed. In many cases, bodybuilders who experience such negative consequences are unknowingly taking steroids that are not manufactured in accordance with the law.
To make sure you do not get any adverse effects on your mental health through steroids, you need to take some measures and take great care of your steroid cycles. Moreover, legal steroids should be taken that mostly contain creatinine. A natural steroid that yields faster muscle recovery, and better muscle buildup.
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To avoid any danger to mental health, it is essential you take steroids in cycling, a relatively safer method to consume steroids as compared to stacking, pyramiding, or plateauing, all of which might lead to substance abuse. Cycling involves taking multiple doses of the legal steroid in a specific amount of time and waiting for the dose to complete its effect. For better maintenance of mental health, it is essential you take care of the method you use for taking the recommended steroids and the total dosage of the product.
Overall
While anyone can follow strict diet routines and do training sessions for getting big muscles for the competition. A more necessary thing to remember is to get prepared from the inside – something not possible without having a great mental state of wellbeing – through better mental health. If you are not strong enough from the inside to bear the intense pressure and stress of the game, your muscles, no matter how big they are built, cannot help you win. Winners in such sports know that the real competition begins at the mind. It is one of the factors that differentiate a pro from an amateur.
5 Home Gym Essentials To Build A Great Body
Introduction Home Gym Essentials
So far, 2020. was a hectic year, and it will undoubtedly be remembered in history primarily because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus took us all by surprise, and it hit many industries hard, including travel, airlines, but it also shook the fitness world. Gyms were always an oasis of health, but all of a sudden, they became unsafe, and in many countries, they are still closed. Even if they are open, exercising with masks and latex gloves is anything but pleasant. Because of all this, many people are turning to working out at home with Home Gym Essentials.
While you can do a lot with just your bodyweight, having some home gym essentials will make your workouts much better, helping you build a great body from the comfort (and safety) of your home. In this post, we will give you five pieces of equipment that will allow you to hit every muscle in your body but won’t hit your budget too hard, so make sure you read it through.
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#1: A Pull-up Bar
Buying a pullup bar is an absolute must for any home workout. Without it, doing pullups and chinups is next to impossible. Sure, you can try doing them on a door, or on a tree branch outside. But, considering that you can get a decent pullup bar for cheap and that it lasts a long time, it is one of the best fitness investments you can make.
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The most obvious thing you can do on a pullup bar is pullups and chinups. These exercises are hard and are one of the best ways to train your back, primarily lats. Having developed lats will give width to your frame. Besides lats, pullups, and especially chinups, hit your biceps and will help you build nice looking hands. Also, you can do scapular retractions on a pullup bar, which will help your posture.
Besides pullups, you can use the bar to do hanging leg raises, which is one of the best exercises to target your lower abs, but it hits the full six-pack.
And of course, you can use the pullup bar for hanging and stretching. Hanging from a bar is one of the best things you can do for your shoulders, as it decompresses them. It also stretches your lats and is good for your spine. Hanging from a bar is something you should definitely include into your routine, and if you install a bar in your doorway, you can do it every time you get in or out of your room.
#2: A Pair Of Adjustable Dumbbells
The most versatile piece of exercise equipment you can buy is certainly a pair of dumbbells. Even though you can technically do all the exercises with one dumbbell, it is not convenient, and a workout will take you twice as much time as you will have to switch sides all the time, so get a pair.
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A single pair of dumbbells will hit every single muscle in your body. Also, exercising with dumbbells enables you to do one side at a time, and will fix imbalances as the stronger side will never take over the load.
Also, it is very important to get a pair of adjustable dumbbells, unless you have the budget to buy a whole set of fixed-weight dumbbells. Adjustable ones will save you a lot of space, and will still allow you to perform the exercises with optimal weight. Yes, you won’t be able to switch between exercises instantaneously like when working out at the gym, as you will have to readjust the dumbbell. But if you plan your workouts well, you will be able to do more than one exercise with the same weight.
Must read:: The 10 Best Fitness Products for 2020
#3: A Jump Rope a Home Gym Essentials
With a pullup bar and a pair of dumbbells, you will be able to hit all of the muscle groups in your body, which will help you gain size and strength. However, one big thing will still be missing from your workout – cardio. Unfortunately, most cardio machines such as treadmills, stationary bikes and rowing machines are very expensive, and they take up a lot of space, requiring a dedicated exercise room. But, there is one piece of cardio equipment you can buy for cheap, and carry around with you anywhere you go – a jump rope.
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Rope skipping is an excellent form of cardio which will burn a tone of calories, helping you trim down fat. Also, it is very safe, especially if you jump with two legs. Because you are not jumping high, the impact on the ankles and knees is minimal, and you won’t have any issues with a jump rope even if you are a bit overweight.
Also, jumping a rope helps your hand-eye coordination, and is an enjoyable activity, especially because you can try different jump rope techniques and figures.
Furthermore, you can combine it with other types of bodyweight cardio such as burpees, to create intense HIIT sessions that re guaranteed to burn a lot of fat, helping you get shredded.
#4: An Adjustable Exercise Bench
Although you can perform most exercises on the floor, yoga mat, or your furniture, an adjustable gym bench will make your workouts more convenient. You will be able to exercise correctly and with proper form, which will reduce the injury risk, and also promote muscle building.
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If you can, buy an adjustable bench. This will allow you to do more exercise by changing the incline. Training muscles from multiple angles will trigger even more growth, and you will start noticing results in no time at all. A good adjustable bench will allow you to go decline as well, which will open new possibilities, especially when training abs and chest. But, any kind of exercise bench is a much better option than using home furniture, as the improved stability will decrease the injury risks.
Also, if you get a foldable bench, as soon as you finish your workout, you can store the bench under your bed, or in the closet. That will save you a lot of space, which is important if you don’t have a dedicated exercise room.
#5: A Set Of Quality Resistance Bands
We talked about how dumbbells are the most versatile piece of gym equipment, and that is something you can say for resistance bands too. In fact, because resistance bands weight much less than dumbbells, they are an excellent travel companion, and you will be able to carry them anywhere with you. Also, they are much more affordable than dumbbells, which is also worth mentioning.
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What makes resistance bands unique is that the tension increases as the band stretches. This allows you to train your muscles in a new way, quite different than free weights. So, even if you own dumbbells, combining them with resistance bands will make your workout perfect.
Also, some exercises such as band pullaparts are a great way to improve your posture, and you can only do them with bands. Furthermore, bands are one of the safest ways to train your muscles, and the injury risk is minimal. They are an excellent option for rehabilitation and will help you work around your injuries, which is why you can see them in rehabilitation centres around the globe.
Conclusion
If you buy a pullup bar, dumbbells, jump rope, adjustable bench and resistance bands, all this Home Gym Essentials, you will have more than enough equipment to start working out from the comfort of your home. This will keep you occupied until the gyms reopen, at least. And who knows, maybe you will decide that you like working out at home more and decide to continue doing so even when the COVID-19 pandemic passes.
Of course, you can invest in bigger pieces such as home gym machines, but they take up much more space and are more expensive. There are also many other budget accessories you can buy, such as foam rollers, that are a good investment, but you can hardly consider them as an essential.
Overall
In fact, if you are really strapped for cash, get only the first three items from the list. With a pullup bar, two dumbbells and a jump rope, you will be able to do a great workout, building both strength and endurance. An adjustable bench and resistance bands will only push that workout to the next level, so get those when you can too. Just remember, hoarding the equipment won’t replace working out, so no excuses – get some Home Gym Essentials, and start working out today!
What is EPO and Blood Doping in Cycling and Endurance Sports?
Sporting activities such as cycling and endurance sports require energy for better performance. The amount of red blood cells and the oxygen determines athletic performance. On this note, many athletes, sportsmen, and women are taking hard drugs to boost oxygen and red blood cell production in their body. But the problem is that most of the substances available for athletes have strenuous health risks, which made them not suitable for anyone. The truth is that most of the hard drugs used by athletes to cheat in the game are banned. In this article, you will learn about EPO and blood doping in cycling and endurance sports. So, take time to read to the end of this article to get comprehensive information about the effect of Blood Doping and EPO in Cycling and Endurance sports.
MUST READ: What Impact Have Anabolic Steroids Taken On Your Heart and Blood Cells?
Before we can proceed to explain more about the effects of blood doping in endurance sports and cycling, it is necessary to educate you more about the meaning of doping and EPO. Blood doping is not a new topic in the athletic and sports world. It is an unlawful or prohibited method of enhancing athletic performance through the use of synthetic blood-boosting methods. It is a synthetic or artificial way of boosting the ability of the body to allow the channel more oxygen to the muscles. The reason is to enhance the endurance and performance of the athletes in the long-running distance, cycling, and more.
The effects of blood doping
The effects of blood doping are mostly required when there is shortage of hemoglobin in the bloodstream. The hemoglobin that gives the blood its color the people know. It is responsible for oxygenating the blood of the vertebrates. The red proteins come in four different unique with each unite containing an iron atom that is held together by a group known as haem. Also, the hemoglobin is a unique protein responsible for carrying oxygen to the bloodstream of the vertebrates.
Therefore, an increase in hemoglobin through blood doping can increase the amount of oxygen required in the body to fuel athlete muscles for higher performance. With blood doping, there can be an increase in stamina and endurance for cycling and other sports requiring long-distance events. So, it is not only used by cycling but other endurance sports like running, weight lifting, and others. Many sports organizations, such as the Olympic Committee have banned blood doping, which made it illegal for the athletes to go for any blood doping drugs. But, will explain more about the EPO in this article.
Related Article: Best Places to Order Blood Tests Online in the USA
Types of Blood Doping You Need To Know
There are three major types of blood doping you need to know as an athlete. The types are:
Erythropoietin (EPO) injections.
Blood transfusions.
Injections of the artificial oxygen carriers.
The EPO Injections For Blood Doping
Erythropoietin (EPO) is a natural hormone produced in the body of the kidney. The essence of this hormone is to regulate red blood cell production to enhance its capacity aerobically. Clinically, the EPO injection is done to trigger red blood cell production for the treatment of different health issues related to the blood. So, it is used to treat an anemic patient and patients with a related chronic illness like the last stage of the kidney disease.
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The use of the EPO by the athletes is to stimulate the body and increase the production of red blood cells in a higher amount than normal. The goal is to boost performance for sporting activities. The increase in the production of red blood cells above normal can result in blood clotting and thickening. Resulting in chronic health issues like stroke and other related health issues. So, before you take the EPO injection into your body to increase the production of red blood cells and boost performance in sports. You should take time to consider the health risk associated with it. There are some long term risks associated with it, which made it necessary for people to be wary of injecting the drug into their bloodstream.
The Truth about Blood Doping Through Blood Transfusions
Blood transfusion is a practice in the medical field. It is used when there is a need to replace blood lost through surgery or injury. More so, transfusions are necessary when there is a need for replacement of blood to patients whose red blood count is low as a result of kidney failure, anemia, or other medical treatments or conditions.
Must Read:: Donating Blood While On Steroids
On the other hand, the illicit transfusions of blood are carried out to boost performance in sportsmen and women. The popular blood transfusions in the athletes are of two types, including autologous and homologous transfusion.
The Autologous transfusion: The case of the autologous transfusion, the blood of the athlete is collected and stored for the used on the same athlete in the future. Most athletes that have competitions do prepare ahead of time to ensure best performance. So, their blood are drawn by their doctor and used at the time of their event to boost their performance and endurance.
The Homologous transfusion: In the case homologous transfusion, the athlete gets the blood of another person with the same type to boost red blood count in the body.
The Artificial Oxygen Carriers for Blood Doping
Another popular method of blood doping used by the athlete is the synthetic or artificial carriers. It is a chemical with the capability of carrying oxygen. There are many types of it available in the medical world, but in this article, we will take a look at two of the examples. These are PFCs (per fluorocarbon) and HBOCs (hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers).
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There is a medical application for synthetic or artificial oxygen carriers for emergency therapy. The use of this method is when certain conditions are appropriate. The conditions that determine the use of the oxygen carriers include:
There is need for blood transfusion in patient without availability of human blood.
The human blood transfusion is not an option due to blood infection.
The patient’s condition is critical without enough time to carry out test and find matching blood type for the patient.
The above mentioned are the conditions necessary that warrant the use of the artificial oxygen carrier for emergency therapy. However, athletes are making use of synthetic oxygen carriers for a different reason. They are making use of this method to get the same result from other forms of blood doping for their athletic performance. The method is effective in increasing fueling the muscle with the oxygenated blood.
Significant Facts About Blood Doping
There is a unique test for blood doping. The test helps to detect drug use in the athlete. Since blood doping is an illegal way of triggering the body during a performance in sports. It is necessary to figure the risk factor associated with it if you want to get it done on you. So, figuring out the possible risks associated with blood doping and EPO is necessary before going for it. There are a plethora of tests indicating risks associated with blood doping.
Blood Doping Risks and Potential Dangers You Need To Know
When the red blood cell production is modified, the heart is mostly the organ that suffers most. Increasing the number of red blood cells produced will result in the thickening of the blood, putting the heart into added pressure to pump the thickened blood to other vital organs of the body. Due to the blood doping, there is always an increase in the following:
Stroke.
Heart attack.
Blood clot.
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Different types of blood doping come with different types of risks. Blood doping done through transfusion of tainted blood can result in various infectious diseases, including:
Hepatitis B.
HIV.
Hepatitis C.
Adding to these health issues associated with EPO and blood doping, many others are not popular base on recent studies. Abuse of EPO triggers high blood pressure (hypertension) by producing a higher amount of red blood cells to crowd the plasma. The risk of the increasing production of blood is that it results in blood thickening, which induces constriction of muscle and leads to the closing of the blood, stroke, and heart attack.
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More so, there may be an interaction between hypotension drugs and EPO. Some of the drugs with negative interactions with the EPO are fludrocortisone (Astonin) and midodrine. That is why the professional sportsmen and men are not to take the drugs except administered by their doctor. The truth is that the use of EPO with drugs used to cancer such as breast cancer, Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide), leukemia, and lymphomas.
EPO
EPO is among the banned anabolic substance in the sporting world. The sporting agencies do carry out a regular test on the athletes to find out if they are using the banned drug or not. There is strict scrutiny of the athletes, and anyone found guilty of abusing the drug will be penalized through suspension or total stripping of the title. More so, some athletes have lost their titles for taking EPO or other hard PED drugs.
Related Article:: How Can Steroids Affect Athletes – Benefits and Side Effects of Steroids
The EPO And Blood Doping Popularity Among Athletes In The World
Sports fans are conversant with the news about sportsmen and women caught using hard substances, such as Performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) and more. The PEDs is a popular anabolic substance used by the athletes to boost performance. But the drug under the same umbrella, which most people do not know is the EPO.
This drug has recorded widespread controversies and abuse among the athletes, such as professional cyclists and more since the earlier 80s. Your knowledge of this drug, its effect, risk, and controversies will make it easy for you to know the best way to avoid being a victim. Many professional cyclists have put their life to danger through the abuse of this drug.
The Controversies Surrounding EPO Use among the Athletes in the World
The use of EPO, banned in the international sports community, such as Olympic and others since the 1990s and in 2000 blood sample used to test for drug use in the athlete during the Summer Olympic. In the year 2006, Floyd Landis was the first to lose his title for drug abuse through doping. Armstrong is another athlete to lose his title for EPO abuse and blood doping. Many other professional cyclists have tested positive for the use of EPO, and some of them include Philippe Gaumont, David Millar, Jesus Manzano, and Willy Voit. With the controversies surrounding the use of EPO and blood doping, one may wonder about the possible effect of this drug on athletic performance. If that is your question, you should not ask further as the answer to your question is not farfetched.
The Benefits Associated With EPO and Blood Doping Drugs
Despite the enormous health risks associated with EPO and other PED for blood doping, there are still some benefits associated with it, which attract more athletes to them. Some of the benefits associate with this drug are explained here.
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Erythropoietin or EPO in the acronym is a natural peptide hormone that is produced by the kidney. The hormone is responsible for triggering the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells. Clinically, the peptide hormone is useful in treating blood deficiencies in the body.
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It is recommended during emergency and anemia treatment. However, the misuse of abuse of EPO is banned. Although erythropoietin is banned, its popularity in the cyclist and endurance event has rapidly increased. So, one of the main reasons people go for this drug despite being banned is that helps them to live stronger and perform better in sporting competition.
Performance beyond the Limit of Human Being in Sports with EPO
Performing beyond the human limit is possible with the help of the EPO and other blood doping methods. It is the drug that gives users full strength after being injected into the bloodstream. But it is only for those that can afford the cost of it. Accessing the EPO is easy when you check through the US site. You will find an injectable full strength solution for a hundred and fifty pounds. But to get the dose that will enough to boost your performance beyond the human limit, you must be ready to spend some thousands of pounds. You need not less than three thousand five hundred pounds to get the EPO injection that can last for the training cycle in circling or other endurance sports events. Therefore it is not affordable to the amateur cyclists and endurance training.
Some Common Questions About EPO And Blood Doping Cycling
With the prevalence of EPO and blood doping, it is easy for someone to wonder about its effects on the body. Also, armature cyclists usually wonder if they can improve their strength and performance by injecting drugs into their bloodstream. If you have wondered about that also, you are in the right place as you will get answers to your questions here. Some of the questions about this product and the answers include:
Can I Get Stronger And Perform Better With The Use Of EPO?
That is one of the most popular questions you can find among the cyclists and other athletes. The answer is simple, injecting this drug into the bloodstream triggers the production of red blood cells unnaturally. With the increased red blood cell comes the possibility of boosting the muscle strength, endurance, and agility for performance in sports.
How EPO Works to Increase Endurance?
The main effect of EPO is to increase strength and endurance. That is why it is used by runners, cyclists, and other endurance trainers. Long-distance runners go for this injectable drug to make them perform beyond normal human strength. To ensure the effectiveness of the EPO, it is injected under the skin to induce the production of red blood cells and the delivery of more oxygen to the muscle.
Is erythropoietin drug still useful for cycling?
While some people have ended up damaging their kidney and increasing their risk of stroke, heart disease, and others with the EPO abuse, a new study has it that the drug may not improve performance in cycling. The discovery about this drug has resulted in controversies and discouraged more runners, cyclists, and more from taking this as it does not produce the same result needed to perform better as cyclists of a long-distance runner.
Is EPO good enough for sports and endurance?
Before you starting taking EPO for no medical purpose, it is necessary to research more about the drug. Make sure that you find out the effects of this drug on the body and how it works to boost performance and endurance. There is only a 6% increase in performance on the distance runners after taking the hormone for four weeks. With this knowledge, it is obvious that the drug does not produce the same result as purported by the public, which resulted in its abuse among the athletes.
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Is EPO Categorized Among the Steroid?
Although anabolic steroids are the popularly known PEDs used by the athletes, the EPO is also in the same category. The drug is clinically approved and recognized to help in handling different health issues. Also, the use of this drug for medical purposes is mainly during an emergency when all hopes are lost. Also, when blood transfusion is not an option due to certain reasons. The EPO is always the solution to the immediate problem. The health risks associated with the use of this substance comes following its abuse.
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Some of the Short Time Side Effects of EPO You Need To Know
If you are planning to boost your performance in long-distance running with EPO. It confirms the short term and long term side effects associated with it. There exist some temporary side effects associated with the abuse of EPO, which you need to know before going for it. Some of these side effects you need to know include:
Nausea.
Fever.
Swelling.
High blood pressure.
Dizziness.
When you develop any of the side effects mentioned here, you should discontinue the use of the drug as quickly as possible. Make sure that you consult your doctor when you discover that you discover a strange feeling in your body following the use of the drug.
How to Administer EPO for Best Result?
Depending on the effects you want to from the EPO, there are many ways to administer the drug. Medically, you can use the drug in three different ways, and that includes:
Epoetin Alfa.
Darbepoietin Alfa.
Injection intravenous to the vein.
So, if you do not like the pain of the injection needle. Also, you can take the medication in another way to get the same result.
Conclusion
Notwithstanding the temptation to boost your endurance, performance, or others through the use of EPO, you must consider the health risk associated with it. Abuse of drugs generally is dangerous to health. So, even if you are armature athletes and discovered with low performance, you should not start your career with supplements. There are many other healthy solutions for underperforming athletes, which they can utilize to improve their overall strength, endurance, and performance.
Overall
There are ways to resolve your underperforming challenge as an athlete. One way to do that is by talking to your coach to figure out the safer solution to your problem. Alternate training options and nutrition could be the solution you need to regain y our level as a trainer. Your coach will find out the best solution to your career as a cyclist and not drugs. Some other treatment options can yield the same result without causing more damages to your health. With such a solution, you will stay away from drug abuse to damage your life forever. So, go on and improve your endurance as a cyclist or runner through a safer method.
Testosterone Propionate Cycles solo cycle
When it comes to bodybuilding, fat burning, and improvement in strength, the testosterone propionate is first name that comes into our mind. There are so many synthetic anabolic steroids in the market used by bodybuilders. Also, not all of them contain testosterone in the adequate amount. Testosterone compound is available for a bodybuilders to improve endurance and performance. Irrespective of your favorite testosterone, make sure the base compound of your steroid cycle is testosterone. The reason is to improve the overall health benefits and reduce the health challenge that comes with the use of steroids as a bodybuilder. It is something everyone needs to take seriously to avoid falling victim to the health challenges. Other side effects associated with the use of a steroid for sports and bodybuilding.
Testosterone Enanthate and Cypionate
Testosterone Enanthate and Cypionate have reduced the popularity of Propionate. These are the steroids available in the market today, such steroids are known as “Performance Booster”. There are many reasons athletes prefer Propionate over Enthanthate and Cypionate (form of Testosterone compound). One of the reasons is that the Propionate intake results leads towards water reduction in human body. It offers the same health benefits associated with the other two forms.
More so, there are many other features of the Propionate that made it better and more preferable to the other two mentioned above. The first benefit of Propionate is that it offers users a better opportunity to increase their ability to maintain stability. Also, increases hormonal blood level due to the frequent injections. To make you understand why the Testosterone Propionate is better than other forms, it got FDA approval for the treatment of diseases and other medical issues to men and women. Men with medical conditions get a solution from this compound. Female use of steroids is illegal in most countries of the world.
What is Test Propionate?
Testosterone comes in different forms, and you need to know the type you want to buy before involving your money. The testosterone propionate is popularly called “Test Pro” to the bodybuilders and other people in the fitness world. More so, the Test Pro is a Testosterone’s esterified variant, and it is becoming more popular than pother variants in the bodybuilding industry. The history of Test Pro dates back to 1935 when it comes in a bid to find out how to maximize Testosterone use. Schering AG is a pioneer marketer of the hormone in the US, and the hormone later became the most popular and widely used Testosterone form until the year 1960s.
Buy now > > TEST-PROP
More so, it is exciting for you to know that Test Pro is released to sublingual forms, which was discontinued due to its lack of popularity. For some years back, Testosterone is among the three top and most popular steroids. Today, there are many other forms in the market to choose from when one wants to buy. Available in the injectable form, Testosterone is easy to take without much discomfort. These are the reasons one has to take advantage of the product to boost his or her performance in sports and other aerobic activities.
Related Article:: Why I like Testosterone Propionate More Than Enanthate and Cypionate?
The Truth You Should Know About Testosterone Propionate
Due to many health benefits associated with the Testosterone Propionate, it is approved by the FDA for men. The compound is available for men to improve their fitness and bodybuilding industry. So, more people prefer to go for this compound for their bodybuilding benefits instead of other forms available in the market. The base of your steroid cycle should be exogenous testosterone. The importance of this is propionate cannot be overemphasized and is well known to the experienced users.
Buy it > > TESTOSTERONE PROPIONATE
However, most new steroid users do think that they can continue to take steroids without the effect of the solo cycle. Some people also believe that they do not need testosterone to manage the solo cycle. What newbie steroid users do not know is that trying to handle their solo circle without making use of testosterone has a dangerous effect on their health in the long run.
Facts about the Testosterone Solo Cycles
Understanding more about the cycles test for the P solo cycle of your Testosterone before taking it is necessary. It is the mistakes most newbies do make when it comes to the use of the compound. So, before you start to make use of the Testosterone Propionate, you must figure out about the Solo Cycles of the steroid and how to go about enhancing its benefits to your health. As for the Testosterone Propionate, its cycles go from 8 – 10 weeks or as within six weeks.
More so, do not forget to learn more about the kick-in period of the steroid before going for it as that can determine the result you will get at the end of the day. There is a standard kick-in period for every steroid to the users. It is mostly within 2-4 weeks within the cycles. Your steroid use experience will determine your solo cycle. For those in the beginner and intermediate levels in the use of steroids, there is a dosage for them. There is an opportunity for the beginner and intermediate users to enjoy the Testosterone Propionate 10-week cycle to get the required result from the compound.
Must Read:: The Strategic Use of Four Kinds of Testosterone – Cypionate, Enanthate, Propionate, Suspension
The cycle is regarded as the lean mass or bulking cycle base on the expectation of the user. To get maximum results from steroid, maintains a 300mg-500mg user cycle weekly. This cycle should continue until the 10th week. It is essential to be followed by the new steroid user to maintain good health and avoid unnecessary side effects that can impact one’s life. But for the experienced steroid users the recommended cycle for the first eight weeks is from 500mg to 700mg weekly.
Test Propionate Cycles Benefits You Should Know
Testosterone is a vital hormone in men that helps in the development of men’s sex organs. It is a hormone associated with men, and its deficiency can result in different symptoms, such as a decrease in bone mass, erectile dysfunction, sex drive, and more. The functions of the hormone include:
Muscles and bone development.
Hair growth, deepening of voice and other physical appearance of men.
Sperm production.
With these enormous benefits associated with testosterone, you can discover the reason it deficiency can spell doom to any man that lacks it in the required quantity. However, the production of testosterone reduces with the increase in age, which made older men often show the symptoms of low testosterone as they get older. Before talking about the benefits of Test Propionate cycles, it is necessary to look at the symptoms or signs of the low testosterone level in men. Some of these symptoms include:
Hair loss.
Erectile dysfunction.
Reduced testicle size.
Decrease in the bone mass.
Decrease in the amount of semen.
Sleep difficulty.
Decrease in muscle mass.
Reduced sex drive.
Low energy level.
Hot flashes.
Sudden changes in mood.
High body fat.
The presence of these signs is not a good one, which is the reason for the testosterone supplement of different types in the pharmacies.
To treat testosterone deficiency steroid is the right supplement for it. Adding to the fact that Testosterone Propionate helps users treat their deficiency in testosterone and also feel better with their body, the compound is beneficial to fitness enthusiasts, athletes, and bodybuilders. The Testosterone Propionate cycle will produce its users with many benefits.
Buy now > > TESTO-MAX
Some of these benefits you need to know include:
Improve Protein Synthesis
Protein synthesis helps to improve muscle mass and also assist in ensuring quicker recovery after each round of intense training. You need to understand the need for protein synthesis to know why you need the compound that will help synthesize the protein in the body. It also stands as the main route for the disposal or removal of the amino acids. The activation of the Amino acids is done by adhering to the particular molecules of RNA transfer and assembled using the ribosomes already specified through RNA messenger.
Improve Retention of Nitrogen
Another importance or benefit of the Test Prop Cycles is the increased retention of the nitrogen. The reduction of the nitrogen content of the body by the Testosterone Propionate is another benefit users stand to gain. It is the benefits that help to boost the available anabolic instead of the catabolic.
Boost the Production of Red Blood Cell
Red blood cell production is necessary for an increase in performance, endurance, and strength for athletes and bodybuilders. The Test Pro Cycles helps to boost the production of red blood cells to help the bodybuilders perform better. More so, the production of more red blood cells helps to allow the flow of more oxygen to the body, tissues, muscles, and other organs. That is essential in boosting performance and making long-distance runners cover more distance within a short time.
Glucocorticoid or Stress Hormone Inhibition
Stress hormones can be dangerous when allowed to grow out of range. It can result in depression and suicidal thoughts, which can be risky for human existence and health. One way to avoid allowing this thing to become a problem is through the intake of steroids. Testosterone propionate helps to inhibit stress hormone or glucocorticoid in the body. There are also oodles of inflammation-related molecules inhibited by Glucocorticoid. Some of them include Arachidonic acid metabolites, cytokines, chemokine’s, adhesion molecules, and more.
There are many other benefits associated with the use of Test P, which made it the best choice for both beginners and regular users. Knowing what you stand to gain from the use of steroids will make you ready to take it more and benefit from it as you desired. Some other benefits associated with the use of steroid include:
It offers fast results and leaves the body quicker when compare to other esters.
Is useful for muscle gains and cutting cycles.
It is ideal for females and beginners in comparison to the slower esters.
What are the effects to expect when taking testosterone propionate?
Before going for the Testosterone Propionate, you should take time to research the possible effects to expect in your body. Make sure you understand the reason Test Pro has FDA approval and why many bodybuilders go for it before adopting it as part of your routine for bodybuilding. The truth is that Propionate works faster in the body of athletes compared to other users. Insulin levels and other growth factors increase with a single dose of the Propionate injection into the bloodstream. Some of the positive effects of this compound you need to know before adopting it include:
Cleans the muscles in groups.
Burn fats faster.
Improve endurance.
Boost strength for workout and recovering time.
Boost sexual desire.
These are the results associated with the Testosterone Propionate that made it the best for bodybuilders. With a single injection of the hormone into the body, you will get improved performance as an athlete.
The Testosterone Propionate Cycle for Beginners
When you want to bulk up muscles, gain strength, and also improve your performance during the workout through the use of steroids, you must choose wisely. Testosterone propionate is the best steroids for beginners, professionals, and female bodybuilders. Do not go for the cycle without seeking the recommendation of the medical doctor. As a beginner, it is recommended that you take the ester only within an eight-week cycle at 100mg for two days.
Also, the minimum dosage for the beginner is 500mg per week and continues with it for the first ten weeks. The recommended minimum dosage will help to introduce the body with the steroid and ensure a balance between the side effects and the results. Adhering to the recommended dosage and cycle duration for a steroid is necessary as it will enable you to get the result you want without having issues with the side effect.
The Recommended Testosterone Propionate Cycle for Intermediate Users
Do not jump in to make use of steroids when you want to enhance your workout performance, build your muscle mass, and also increase your strength. The intermediate users can get the result they want when they start with a 10-week cycle. At the intermediate level of the steroid use is compound with some other compounds, such as Dianabol and Deca-Durabolin. So, the Testosterone Propionate dosage should be 500mg per week combined with 25mg per day for ten weeks and Deca. The dosage should be continuing for the first four weeks by taking 400mg per week for satisfactory results.
The 10-week Trenbolone / Test Pro Cycle
The intermediate steroid cycle can consist of testosterone propionate and trenbolone acetate. Users are expected t inject the compound in their body three times for ten weeks. The breakdown for the use of trenbolone / Test pro cycle should be as follows:
From week one to ten-300mg per week Test Propionate inject 100mg or eod from Monday/Wednesday/ Friday.
From week one to ten – 300mg per week Trebolone inject 100mg or eod within Monday/ Wednesday/ Friday.
Buy now > > Trenbolone Acetate
The cycle mentioned above will enable users to load the compounds in their syringes. In the entire cycle, you should use 0.5mg or eod Arimidex. Make sure you start Post cycle therapy when you are done taking the injection within three days. Also, go for 100mg daily Clomid within the first ten days and go on with the 50mg daily Clomid for the next ten days.
Clomid > > HERE
Find Out About the Post Cycle Therapy for Testosterone Propionate
After long term use of the Testosterone propionate. There is a need to give the body a chance to recuperate and rejuvenate to the natural state. That is where the post-cycle testosterone propionate therapy comes in. It is the process users go after completing steroid cycles. This process aims to enable the body to start producing the hormone naturally without the use of the steroid. Completing a steroid cycle without backing it up with post-therapy is dangerous. It can lead to dependency on the steroids for the body to function the right way.
Many people do not know the need for the Post cycle therapy known as PCT. That is why some people are a victim of side effects that comes as a result of long term use of the steroid. More so, embark on long term use of steroids to avoid facing the dark side of the product. If you avoid going through PCT, your body will find it challenging to get back to normal, which may result in permanent replacement therapy.
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The time to start the PCT is not definite, as some users will begin immediately they complete the second or third days of their cycle. The length of the cycle determines the start day for the PCT. More so, if you embark on the longer Testosterone Propionate cycle, you may need to longer PCT to bring your body back to the normal. When it comes to the Testosterone Propionate solo cycle, users are expected to start their PCT within the first five days of their cycle completion to ensure its effectiveness. But, when you want to take PCT, there are some results to expect.
The Result to Expect From the Use of Post Cycle Therapy
There are certain things you need to know when you want to start your PCT after the completion of your steroid cycle. One of the things you should expect when you start your post cycle therapy is that you will not be able to work out as hard as you used to do when you are taking the steroids. Strength reduction is one thing to expect when you complete your steroid cycle and begin the PCT.
Related Article:: Best Post Steroid Cycle Products
Although you may not lose your gains when you start to take the PCT. You may feel tired or not pump as you use to do for your workout when you are in the steroid cycle. Therefore, you should have the right mindset when you begin your PCT to enable you to continue to get the right result you expect. Taking it easy on yourself is necessary when you want to go through the process to assist your body to recuperate. Regain its natural form and start production of the hormone.
Where You Can Buy Testosterone Propionate for Complete Cycle
Getting testosterone propionate is not difficult, as there are many dealers available on the internet. Also, it is among the cheapest or most affordable steroids available in the market today. If you are in the United States, you may find it challenging to get Testosterone Propionate. It is among the illegal steroids when taking without a prescription. Therefore, you should be careful when placing an order for this product with a prescription, as that can cause trouble. But, if you are buying after prescription, get it from the internet without wasting issues.
Final Verdict
Steroids, such as Testosterone Propionate are popular among bodybuilders and sports enthusiasts. The bodybuilding and fitness industry is the place where Test Pro is used due to the effect of boosting muscle mass and enhancing performance. To reduce the side effects associated with the Test Pro, you should follow up with the recommended dosage and cycle duration base on your experience. It is what you need to boost your workout performance and grow your muscle mass and strength. To make sure other steroids work in the body without dangerous side effects, get a base steroid.
The best option for the base steroid is the Test Pro. So, you will be sure of getting the result you need when you take advantage of the Testosterone Propionate cycles as recommended. The PS solo cycle is good, as it helps the body returns to its natural form of hormone production. Take time to check through the Testosterone dosage base on your experience before making purchase online. Also, you should have in mind of the post cycle therapy to ensure your body returns to the normal way of producing hormones naturally.
Legendary Lifting Partners You Need to Know
Almost everybody has, or should have, a lifting partner. If you are still lifting weights alone, it is time you considered finding yourself a friend to help you make your experience at the gym a breeze. Lifting becomes more comfortable with a gym friend, iron brother or iron sister, swolemate, or metal comprade, whichever term you use at your sport to refer to a lifting partner. However, finding yourself a lifting partner is not as easy as you think. It is not anyone you meet at the gym who can make the right workout partner. It goes beyond physical compatibility, and there has to be some chemistry between the two of you. But how will you know that you’ve found the perfect lifting partner?
Well, the following are clues you may have found the ultimate lifting partner
Similar Workouts
The perfect gym partner likes most of the things you want. That includes specific exercises and particular kinds of weights. If you find out that you and your new partner do many incline presses than decline presses, you found him/her! The same applies to the number of deadlift sets and preps, and the right partner will go just as far as you can go with deadlifts. If you feel sort of overworked or underworked after a lifting round with your new partner, the chances are that they may not be the right partner for you.
Bond Outside the Gym
The relationship with your partner must not be confined to the gym. The perfect lifting partner will maintain contact with you outside the workout spot. More often, the two of you would be seen grabbing a meal together or just strolling around town. Real lifting partners will often text, joking about weights, meals, and many other things not necessarily associated with the gym.
A lifting partner where you live, they know some of your family members. They will come to check on you when you don’t respond to your phone. Your partner knows a couple of your friends as well. Once in a while, your families share a meal or a drink at a high-end restaurant. Similarly, they are your first comforters when you’re faced with sad moments like grief. That is the right lifting partner for you.
Related Article: 5 Fitness Tips While Gyms Are Closed
You Have Similar Goals
The truth of the matter is; it is easier to work with someone who is trying to achieve the same thing as you or similar. The ideal lifting partner shares your aspirations in terms of what they want to accomplish in the short-term and long-term. If you are working for a lean muscle, find yourself someone who shares that dream with you. Similarly, the perfect gym partner should aim for the same career goal as you. There is no point in training with someone whose primary goal is to win a local title while you are aiming for a significant IFFB title.
Similar Bodybuilding Thoughts and Philosophies
What does your lifting partner think about bodybuilding in general? Are they doing it for fun, or are they doing it to achieve short-term goals? Your partner’s thoughts about the exercises you do will tell you whether you have found the right lifting partner or not. If they are mostly pessimistic about certain things, you should consider finding yourself another partner. Reason? They will derail you and prevent you from achieving your bodybuilding goals.
They Are Your Solid Rock
A good match will be your biggest motivation in every bodybuilding aspect. Does your partner push you to achieve your set goals? Even when your will to go on is at its lowest? If yes, then you have just found yourself an ideal partner. The wrong partner would probably discourage you from doing certain things or doesn’t push you. Also, they should be by your side when facing a bodybuilding contest at any level. They should be among the first people to comfort you when you don’t perform as expected in a particular competition.
Most importantly, a lifting partner doesn’t see you as a rival, but a comrade. That means sharing your successes and defeats in equal measure. That is the person you ought to keep as a lifting partner.
Tries to Fix Your Flaws
You don’t have to tell your lifting partner things about you. They should know you inside out as far as bodybuilding is concerned. That includes your strengths and weaknesses. The most significant role in their life is to help you become a better version of yourself. Your lifting partner should help you overcome bodybuilding challenges such as successfully performing strenuous exercises. Most importantly, they should be completely honest with you. If you were losing focus and headed in the wrong direction, they should be able to point it out.
Now that you know what your ideal lifting partner should or should not do let us see legendary lifting partners bodybuilding partners should emulate. You don’t have to copy everything they did, but let it serve as a guide to help grow your bodybuilding career.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbu
Arnold Schwarzenegger is undoubtedly one of the best bodybuilders in history. His rigorous acting career meant he had to do a lot of weightlifting to take on giant monsters in his fictional world. However, without a supportive lifting partner, he could not have been as successful. Arnold was struck by the tragic death of his long-time friend and lifting partner, Franco Columbu. The two first met in Germany in the 60s. Their friendship would move to the gym where they broke and set new records in weightlifting. The duo would do as much as bench press 500 lbs. each and top it up with squats 545lbs. Additionally, the lifting partners made deadlift 710 lbs. look like a piece of cake.
Arnold Schwarzenegger was not your ordinary movie star. Most of the things Arnold did in his action moves he could do in real life thanks to his prowess in weightlifting. Together with Columbu, they would do some weight lifting an average person would consider impossible. For instance, they used 100-pound dumbbells for eight preps. And not only that, they did it for flat bench flyes. Additionally, the partners would barbell row 315 for ten without a sweat
Mike Tyson and Zab Judah
Modern boxers such as the likes of Mike Tyson lift weights like regular bodybuilders. Most of them also use performance enhancement drugs and steroids. There is a thin line between bodybuilding and boxing. Although the two are separate careers, they have a common factor, which is the gym. Before hitting the ring, Tyson spent hundreds at the gym working out and lifting weights like every other bodybuilder. Zab Judah is not just a normal weight lifting partner, but he is also a reputable boxing champion and is considered the best welterweight boxer.
However, if you were to face either of them in a training session, your life would flash before your eyes. The speed, furiousness, aggressiveness, and intensity of their training is out of this world. If you walked into the gym and didn’t know them well, which is quite unlikely, you can’t say one of them is the trainer. Zab Judah stated that Tyson worked as much in training as he works in the ring. That is perhaps the reason the legendary boxer has seen more successes in the ring than any other fighter in history.
Typical exercise for Tyson and Zab involve 2000 squats, 66-pound barbell that is accompanied by 500 shrugs. They also do a lot of neck exercises using various weights. Their partnership in weightlifting has seen them become the undisputed boxers in their respective fields.
Flex Wheeler and Ronnie Coleman
Most people only know Kenneth ‘Flex’ Wheeler and Ronnie Coleman as rivals. What many people don’t know is that the two trained together as well. Their connection goes beyond the ring to other aspects of bodybuilding.
For instance, Ronnie once stated that it is Flex who introduced him to steroid use. But that is not the juice here. The two bodybuilding icons did a lot together to achieve mutual dreams, except when they were competing against each other, of course. Flex Wheeler has won 4 Arnold Classics and many other titles. Ronnie Coleman, on the other hand, commonly referred to as the real-life ‘Hulk’ won Mr. Olympia eight years in a row. The combined achievement of the two bodybuilders is a feat many bodybuilders can only dream of.
The two bodybuilders are known to have intense back, shoulder, and chest workouts. The workouts included barbell deadlift, T-bar row, assisted and non-assisted pull-up machine, inclined barbell raise, seated calf raise, among others.
Dexter Jackson and Kai Greene
Dexter Jackson and Kai Greene had a unique training style that involved body part split. The overall objective was to develop maximum muscular mass hypertrophy. The exercises typically involved 3 to 4 sets. Additionally, each training had approximately six activities. If you are still wondering why you need a lifting partner, try digging deeper into the kinds of exercises these two did together. The discipline and commitment to do these exercises successfully comes with a collaboration of two like-minded bodybuilders.
Their vigorous exercises saw both of them succeed in their respective fields, sometimes in the same competition, beyond expectation. Dexter is an Olympia bodybuilding champion as well as a 2015 Arnold Classic winner. Kai Greene may not be fortunate, having come second in the Mr Olympia competition three consecutive times in 2012, 2013, and 2014. However, his bodybuilding has contributed to his successes in other areas such as acting, as a trainer, and artist.
Frank Zane and Dave Draper
The duo is lucky to train alongside Arnold and Columbu. Zane and Draper may not have achieved much in their bodybuilding career, but they are among the best lifting partners. Their training followed a weekly routine with each exercise meant to achieve a particular goal.
On Mondays, Zane and his partner would do quadriceps and calves. They would do forearms and Abs in the evening of the same day. Every other day of the week had two sets of exercises, one in the morning and the other in the evening. On Thursdays, for instance, they would do back exercises in the morning then shoulders, forearms, biceps, and abs in the evening. Their training involved three days of rest every week.
Frank Zane is a 2-time Mr. Olympia winner while Dave Draper is considered a legend from the golden era. The latter won Mr. New Jersey when he was only 21 years of age.
Conclusion
Bodybuilding is a sport of pride, but one can achieve a lot more if they have a lifting partner to help them gain some lifting milestones. The best bodybuilders in history have had a lifting partner at some point in their fitness careers. A lifting partner does not necessarily make the weights lighter but will motivate you to lift even heavier weights. Like it was highlighted earlier in this article, the perfect lifting partner will push your fitness limits and inspires you to bring out the best in you.
If you have never thought about getting yourself a lifting partner, it is about time you found one. A lifting partner doesn’t have to be a fellow bodybuilder, but it would be better if they are one. Finding a lifting partner could be as easy as approaching anyone at your gym. It will take you a couple of days to know whether they make a perfect partner or not. If not, feel free to move to the next person.
Overall
All in all, find yourself a lifting partner who is disciplined enough to help you realize your bodybuilding dreams. Bodybuilding comes with many freedoms. Consequently, many people do not make it to the top because of a lack of discipline. Additionally, you may have heard of prolific bodybuilders who came down crashing after finding themselves a bad company.
In conclusion, a lifting partner is like your third eye. They see what you don’t see, and they know what works for you and what does not. Listen to what they have to say, you don’t have to agree with everything they suggest, but consider their opinion when making critical bodybuilding decisions.
5 Fitness Tips While Gyms Are Closed
Fitness Tips
COVID-19 still hasn’t gone away, and unfortunately, it will stay with us for a while, at least until scientists come up with an effective vaccine. While all areas of life are affected, gyms are one of those places that are hit hard. Because a lot of people exercise in a constricted space, touch the equipment on the same spots, and spend time indoors, in a (poorly) artificially ventilated space. In many countries, gyms are still closed, as they are a perfect place to spread the virus. Sure, maybe they are still open in your country, but going there isn’t that smart. Fitness Tips are one of he best things you can know in nowadays.
Plus, you will need to wear a mask and protective gloves, and watch out for other gym goers that come near. Making sure you are keeping a proper distance. All of that is anything but comfortable, which is why people ask how to stay fit while gyms are closed. At least until this COVID-19 nightmare passes.
This article will tell you all about that, giving you 5 Fitness Tips on how to stay fit during the pandemic. Tips are quite simple, and it won’t require too much effort or preparation to follow them, only some dedication, so start by reading the article to the end.
First Things First – What Will You Miss The Most
This article is intended for people who don’t have a full home gym set up in their garage. If you do – good for you! If you have all the equipment at home, you won’t miss anything but hotties exercising around you, and bros to talk about your PRs. But, for the rest of us, things will be much different. Most people go to the gym because of the equipment there. Tones and tones of weights (literally), machines, cardio equipment, all ready to use immediately.
If your #1 goal is to get bigger and stronger, the thing you will miss the most when not working out at the gym will be the weights. Without appropriate free-weight equipment, you will not build strength and size the way you were used to, and you will have to adjust.
Related Article:: 5 Home Gym Essentials To Build A Great Body
Lack Of Adequate Weight Issues
And if you don’t have a barbell with the needed weight, your strength lifts will suffer the most. If you don’t do squats, deadlifts, and presses, your numbers will drop, and there’s no way to avoid that.
However, the good news is that muscle memory exists, and you will be back to where you were as soon as you get back to the gym. Also, if you continue to exercise with what you have, you will prevent muscle decay. Which will also contribute to getting your numbers back to where they used to be.
As for the size, there are more options to keep it (which we will discuss later), but again, without a good old barbell. You can’t expect the same amount of gains you had when visiting the gym regularly.
What To Focus On of this Fitness Tips?
Your focus when not visiting the gym should be a bit different – staying fit. While being strong and big is also a part of fitness, now that you don’t have access to gym equipment is an excellent time to work on other fitness areas you were lacking.
While strength and size do get the hype, there are other things you can focus on to get fitter – getting leaner, increasing endurance, power, mobility, flexibility, improving nutrition. In the sections below, we will talk about all of them. Giving you ideas that will help you create interesting routines that will keep you busy and make you healthier.
1 Clean Up Your Nutrition – one of the best Fitness Tips
When your main goal is to get as big as possible, and to lift as much as possible, having clean nutrition is not exactly the priority. As a meathead, you are probably looking to get as much fuel as possible. As long as it has protein and calories in it, it’s good. The only exception would be the cutting season, where you do watch out what you eat. But, let’s face it, you are mostly compensating for poor nutrition by lifting super hard.
However, now that the gym is unavailable, continuing to eat the same way will result in you getting fat. To prevent that from happening, it is a good idea to clean up your eating habits.
Now that you are spending more time home, try to prepare most of your meals yourself. In other words, stay away from junk food. If you are working from home, there is absolutely no reason why you should eat on the street or order delivery from fast-food restaurants. Also, try to ditch soda and sweets too. Opt for cleaner, home-cooked food, at least for the majority of what you eat.
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Also, make sure you keep the relative protein intake high. Switching to clean eating will probably result in eating fewer calories, which is likely to put you in a caloric deficit. To ensure you are preserving muscle mass, eat enough protein, around 1 gram per pound of body weight per day. Meat, eggs, cheese, peanuts but also protein powders are all viable sources to get quality protein. Of course, to preserve muscle mass you need to exercise too; only eating protein alone is not enough.
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2 Get Some Essential Equipment
Bodyweight exercises are an excellent way to keep your muscles engaged when you are not able to visit the gym. That makes them a perfect option for home quarantine workouts, but also for traveling. And if you are creative, you can train any muscle group without any equipment. You can use chairs to perform dips, tables to do rows, or door for pull-ups. But, that will only get you so far, and it will be a much better decision to get some > > GYM Essential fitness equipment for home gyms.
Getting just a pair of heavy dumbbells and a pull-up bar will give you so many workout options, which makes these two pieces of equipment an absolute must. The good news is that you don’t need to spend a fortune to get them. Also, if you are really short on funds, getting a pair of used dumbbells is going to be even cheaper. However, visiting garage sales is not exactly the brightest idea during a pandemic.
Dumbbells > > HERE
Of course, the more money you have, the more equipment you can get. Just be careful about constricted space, as gym equipment tends to be large, exercise machines especially.
3 Focus On Other Training Modalities
Considering that exercising at home means limited weights, you will need to be creative when creating workout plans. Things are easy at the gym – you just try to lift more weight than the last time. Because you have more weights than you will ever need around, you will always have a challenging number of plates on both sides of the bar.
Pull-Up Bar > > HERE
At home, things are different. Even if you have a pair of quality heavy adjustable dumbbells, you will probably find the weight lacking at some point, especially on compound movements such as deadlifts, presses, and squats. Plus, you will always be able to lift more with a barbell, as it is a two-handed exercise, which is why relying on weight alone is not a valuable option if you want to continue progressing. So, what are your other options? Here are some:
Increase volume – the most obvious thing to do when you don’t have access to heavy weight is to increase the number of reps and sets you do. You will hardly beat your one-rep deadlift PR when exercising at home. Instead, increase the number of sets and reps you perform, and go closer to failure. More sets will tax your body in a different way, and your workouts will feel harder. However, increasing volume taxes your CNS less than lifting more weight, which will mean better recovery.
Increase frequency – because lighter weights don’t tax the body as much, you will be able to train more often. This will keep you busy, keep things interesting, and also burn more calories. Of course, it is still a good idea to spread out your workouts and avoid doing the same muscle groups in consecutive days. But training 5-6 times per week when weights are lower is doable if you plan it right.
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Decrease rest time – when weights are lower, there is absolutely no reason why you should rest as much as you did at the gym. So, forget about 5-minute rest between sets. Three minutes tops is more than enough for most movements. Cutting rest times will make the workouts more challenging, giving your muscles new growth stimulus. So try out different options in the 30 seconds to three-minute range.
Try supersets and giant sets – another great wat to decrease rest times is to perform supersets and giant sets. That way, you are still working out, but you are resting muscle groups that were active in one exercise while you perform the other. This is a great way to get conditioning as well as to build muscles, all that while saving time.
Slow down – Another option to make workouts more challenging is to slow down on the eccentric (lowering) part of the lifts. This will hit your muscles hard and will cause a lot of soreness the next day. So make sure you use this tactic sparingly. It is effective, but if you are too sore the next day (or the day after that), you won’t be able to work out at all.
Try isometrics – performing isometric hold in the most challenging portions of exercises (such as the bottom of the squat) is extremely hard and will force your muscles to work overtime. Isometric holds kill inertia, which means no cheating. That will force your muscles to do all the work, and in the most challenging position there is, spurring new growth.
Related Article:: Top 20 Score New GYM Shoes for Under $100
4 Doing Some Mobility Work Won’t Kill You
This article is about getting fit, and even though most guys only care about size and somewhat strength, mobility will keep you healthy in the long run. Therefore, use this opportunity, and do some mobility work to fix those imbalances years of neglect created.
Working on your mobility and flexibility will not only make you feel better as it will take care of those nagging pains and clicks you feel often, it will also keep you injury-free. So, by taking care of your body now, you will develop good habits. All of which will help you prevent injuries when you do get back to the gym. And no injuries means more time spent lifting, which will translate to more gains and new personal records. In other words, not only that a little yoga or foam rolling won’t kill you. It can help you get bigger and stronger, just indirectly.
Related Article:: The 10 Best Fitness Products for 2020
5 Train Outside
Lastly, we have another part of fitness that meatheads avoid – cardio. Yes, running on a treadmill or cycling on a stationary bike is boring, there’s no denying that. That’s why you’ve always made excuses not to do cardio. But, things have changed, and now that you don’t go to the gym it’s time to work on your cardio by exercising outside.
Walking, jogging, or cycling outside is much more fun than doing the same activities indoors. You get to enjoy nature, spend time on the fresh air, in a corona-safe environment. Of course, all that while burning fat and working on your conditioning. Furthermore, you can stop at a local park and do a few sets on a pull-up bar or dip station. Also, it will help you build muscle mass, making outside exercise a win-win situation. So don’t avoid it anymore, lace your shoes, and hit the track today!
Must Read: Training Template by Lift Run Bang
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many ways to stay fit (or get fit) even without gyms. What’s more important, you will still continue to exercise regularly, and you won’t lose that valuable habit. And as soon as the gyms open, you will get back where you belong. Getting your gains and PRs back where they belong too. And who knows, you might keep some of the habits build during the quarantine too, even after you get back to the gym.
So stay persistent, and make sure you exercise regularly, no matter which type of activity you choose. Let us know in the comments below how you are getting buy during the pandemic? How you are managing to stay fit when gyms are not available.
Top 10 Erection Gels & Creams for Him
Introduction
If you would like to improve your sexual life, it may be best to invest in a male enhancement product that can help you out. The following erection gels are considered to be quite effective in improving erection and arousal. While each product comes with its respective pros and cons, it is safe to say that each of the following male enhancement products we shall be outlining below received a good number of positive reviews by customers. All in all they are surely worth a try, until you manage to find the erection gel that works best for you. Erection Gels & Creams can really help you. Bellow find the top 10 of them.
Innergize B12 Cream –
This Erection Gels & Creams, all natural cream is considered to be one of the best on the market since it is completely made from natural ingredients including aloe vera, folic acid, olive oil, coconut oil shea butter and essential oils and herbs. It is made in the USA and it even comes with a money back guarantee.
B12 Cream by Innergize > > HERE
Innergize comes with a pump which is easy to use, and every time you will be getting 500mcg of B12 and 10mg L-Arginine. It is effective and long-lasting, so you can get great value for money from this product. The only drawback is that it takes a bit long to dry after application.
Viamax Maximum Gel –
This male enhancement gel received much acclaim as it effectively stimulates the blood flow soon after being applied. You can get an enhanced stamina and erection after you start using it, thus improving your sexual drive.
Viamax Maximum Gel > > HERE
It is made from the Butea Superba herb, which is proven to work very well for erections. The gel is easy to apply and it is absorbed quickly. According to some negative reviews though it worked only as a good moisturizer.
Must Read:: What Are The Best Drugs For Pro-Sexual Effects?
Erexanol – Male Enhancement Erection Gel –
This male enhancement gel helps to increase the firmness and the sensation one feels. It is made from powerful ingredients, and has a smooth texture which makes it easy to apply.
Erexanol Erection Gel > > HERE
All in all good value for money as it is relatively more affordable than other gels. However its fragrance is not very pleasant. Also, is one off the best from Erection Gels & Creams on the market.
Ofanyia Max Man –
This gel helps to increase erection time, and enhances sexual pleasure. It is made from a range of natural ingredients, mainly plant extracts. It seemed to work well for some, while others commented that they did not notice any results after use.
Ofanyia Max Man > > HERE
ColorfulLaVie Men’s energy cream –
ColorfulLaVie Men’s energy cream
This gel worked considerably well for some men who noticed an improved sexual desire as a result of a bigger erection after they started using it. This product helps with improved pelvic blood flow, and it also helps with skin nourishment and repair. Some mentioned that it did not work as well as they expected it to.
Related Article:: Are Legal Steroids Alternatives as Effective as Manufacturers Claim?
Titan Gel –
A considerably effective male enhancement gel which improves your sexual life thanks to more stamina, control and endurance. It is made from natural ingredients and is non-GMO.
Titan Gel > > HERE
According to some users it worked very well, while others did not notice such a considerable improvement. All in all though it seems to be worth a try as there were quite a good number of positive reviews about it.
Classic Erotica Max Arousal gel –
A smooth gel formula which increases male arousal and libido. It is made from powerful and effective ingredients which produce a stimulating sensation for arousal and a better sexual experience. Some reviews mentioned that they experienced a burning sensation after applying it though. However other than that it seems to be an effective and popular product.
MAX arousal > > HERE
Doc Johnson Plump enhancing cream for men –
If you want to enhance the thickness and size, while benefiting from a better erection, this cream is worth trying out. It is not that expensive, and it has a fast acting formula which seems to have worked well for many men.
Johnson Power Plus Delay Cream for Men > > HERE
It is also made in America and it is PETA-certified. Other advantages of this cream include the fact that it is odorless and flavorless. It does not seem to work that well when it comes to hardening the penis, as it is more effective to increase the girth.
Sensum + Cream –
This can well be the ideal cream if you are looking for improved penile sensitivity. It is also a great moisturizer. Made in the USA, this cream is compliant with FDA and GMP standards, which is an indication of high quality.
Sensum+ > > HERE
It comes in single use packets, which is both great for ease of use as well as for portability and discretion purposes. Some said that it did not help them get the results expected and that it left a film after application.
Xdrive The Moment Stimulating personal lubricant –
A male enhancement silicone-based lube that can help make your sex life much better. It gives off a warm, tingly sensation which stimulates and invigorates you to get better arousal and sensitivity. It is made from high quality ingredients. Considered to be quite effective, but since it is silicone based it may not be ideal for everyone.
X Drive Stimulating Lubricant > > HERE
Conclusion – Erection Gels & Creams
There are various male enhancement products available on the market. While they all naturally claim to be the best and most effective, one cannot really vouch for any product. The truth is that what works well for one man might not be that effective for another one. It is therefore important to choose the male enhancement product that can give you the desired results after carrying out a thorough research and compare and contrast different products. It is important to take the time to check the ingredient formulation as it is best to stick with products made mainly or solely from natural ingredients.
Obviously until one tries out the product personally it is only a matter of trying to ascertain if it seems to be an effective and reputable product from reviews. The above mentioned male enhancement products ranked well when compared to each other and in relation to other products, so they are well worth a try. Having said that, if we were to pick the best one of Erection Gels & Creams, we feel that the Innergize B12 Cream outranks the rest since it delivered the best results for many, and also due to its formidable formulation and ingredients.
Top 10 Sports where Players Use Steroids
Sports players are always prepared to win at all costs, be it individually or as a team. The pain of losing is unbearable, sometimes. Sportsmen and women participate in their respective sports at the local, regional, national, and international levels for different reasons. While some do so to satisfy themselves, most compete for fame and recognition. The latter group of athletes is prepared to do anything to succeed in the competition. Anything that will put them in front of the eyes of the world is an option worth exploring. And it comes with humiliation and loss of morale. Although doping, better known as the use of performance enhancement drugs, is illegal in most sports, players continue to do it.
Steroid in Sports
Anabolic steroids refer to roids, pumps, hype, and juice in sports. Although many people view steroids to be generally illegal, they are, in fact, powerful prescription drugs—most anabolic steroids derived from testosterone. When not misused, anabolic steroids sometimes to treat certain disorders, including managing cancer forms. On the other hand, it can be fatal, so their use has not been given a greenlight by most governments and organizations. Consequently, steroid use is prohibited in most sports because they are harmful and give users an unfair advantage over the rest.
We don’t know the exact number of athletes who use steroids, but we know sports where they compete. We also know they are many, even though most of them have not. Some are in contact sports, while most are in the track. Although sports regulatory bodies have tried to crack the whip on steroid-using athletes, they have not eliminated the vice. Somehow, athletes are still finding ways to cheat their way to victory.
Must Read:: The History Of Steroid Use By Athletes
The top 10 sports where athletes use steroids:
Baseball
Baseball players have used steroids to enhance their performance for many years without being detected. However, before 1991, there was no clear rule prohibiting doping in baseball, so we cannot say the players broke the rules.
In the years that followed, I discovered that the prevalent use of steroids in the sport gave some teams and players an upper hand. Consequently, the use of steroids in baseball was banned in 2005. Since then, there haven’t been many steroid use cases reported, but the players keep using them. The BALCO Scandal of August 1, 2005, involving baseball player Palmeiro, saw the Major League Baseball Players Association call for stricter regulations on doping in baseball.
Track and Field
Doping in Olympic games started as far back as the 1968 Summer Olympics when Hans-Gunnar Liljenwall, a Swedish pentathlete, tested positive for PEDs (Performance Enhancement Drugs) alcohol. As a result, she lost her bronze medal and became the first athlete to be punished for doping. Since then, athletic regulatory bodies have tightened the rope on doping to ensure everyone’s level playing ground. However, athletes continue to invent new ways of cheating the system and performing beyond their natural abilities.
The fight against doping at the Olympics derail by sabotage. It happens in and without the International Olympic Committee (IOC). For instance, the KGB accused of posing as anti-doping authorities to undermine doping tests on Soviet athletes in the 1980 Summer Olympics. It was not until the 1990s that the IOC started taking a more organized approach against doping in athletics. The new regulations saw the introduction of efficient testing methods and harsher punishments for athletes found to have used doping substances. Some of the steroids that have been banned by the International Olympic
Committee includes:
Stanozolol
Mibolerone
Boldenone
Oxandrolone
Danazol
Trenbolone
Methasterone
Bolandiol
Furazabol
Norclostebol
Bodybuilding
Bodybuilders use anabolic steroids for two main reasons; to build more muscle and to recover from injuries sustained much faster. Although there are no tight regulations against steroids in bodybuilding, the drugs’ side effects are not hard to notice. Bodybuilders rarely seek treatment when affected by steroid use, partly why data on steroid use in bodybuilding is scarce. Additionally, bodybuilders tend to distrust professionals when it comes to steroids. All in all, steroid use is very much prevalent in bodybuilding despite the adverse side effects.
There have been calls to test for steroid use during major bodybuilding competitions, such as Mr. Olympia, but the National Physique Committee has been reluctant to heed those calls. Somehow, bodybuilders are more responsible for steroid use than other sports, so it is not prohibited. Additionally, steroids help bodybuilders burn fat and build more muscle.
Basketball
The use of steroids in basketball has been ongoing for some time now. For instance, the National Basketball Association (NBA) has seen a sharp rise in suspensions due to substance use in the sport. However, the most abused performance enhancement substance by the new generation of NBA players is not a steroid. The latest suspensions are due to the use of the growth hormone, Ipamorelin. The hormone helped players reduce fat and increase lean muscle. Chandler is the latest high-profile NBA player to be suspended for using the substance.
When it comes to steroids, basketball players use them to increase their muscle mass and overall performance. The NBA first came up with an anti-doping policy in 1983. Since then, players caught using outlawed substances have between 5 and 20 game bans. Other notable NBA players to test positive for performance enhancement substances, precisely, steroids, are Don MacLean and Matt Geiger.
High School Sports
If you thought steroid use only happens in professional sports, think again. The fact is that steroid use occurs at the high school level, where participants use them to shine in their respective fields. Sometimes the young lads face tremendous pressure that pushes them to take shortcuts. You may wonder where these youngsters got to know about performance enhancement substances. In a world where information moves thousands of miles in the blink of an eye, wonder no more. Social media has played a particularly central role in exposing high school students to substance use, including the use of anabolic steroids. Furthermore, most teenagers who want to pursue careers in professional sports do anything to get noticed at such an early stage.
Steroid use in high school games continues to take a toll on the competition because players are rarely tested. For example, in the United States, only 20% of schools test their players for PEDs before sending them to the competitions.
NFL
Steroid use in the National Football League sometimes started before 1987. Currently, all performance enhancement substances prohibited by the sport’s governing body. NFL tests players for substances such as steroids once per season.
Those found to have been using them are banned for a minimum of 4 games. Although the body regularly increases the number of random tests every season, anabolic steroids have doubled from the 90s. Anabolic steroid use is seen in professional American Football and high school and college football. Richard Sherman was the most prolific NFL player to test positive for PEDs. He subsequently made a successful appeal that saw him avoid a 4-game ban imposed by the NFL.
Soccer
The association football has not seen wide-spread steroid use, but we cannot say it is not there. It is more of a case of missing evidence rather than no use. The late Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona used cocaine later in his soccer career, especially in Napoli and Barcelona. Lately, soccer management bodies are putting more stringent measures to control the use of banned substances in the beautiful game. That includes furthering PEDs investigations among players, improving data collection strategies globally, and coming up with effective detection techniques.
Before the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the soccer management body ratified the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). However, FIFA has not put strict measures in place to battle the use of performance enhancement substances. It only applies a 2-year ban on soccer participants found to be using prohibited substances. In the run-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, WADA announced that it would increase offenders’ punishment from a 2-year to a 4-year ban.
Cycling
Wide-spread steroid use in cycling was first witnessed in the 1970s. Unlike in most sports where performance enhancement drugs are used to build muscle, steroids improve cycling recovery.
Research has shown that most unfit men in cycling use synthetic testosterone to compete with more fit ones. Over the years, there report deaths among cyclists who have used steroids and other PEDs in competition. The first case of fatal doping in cycling was that of a Welsh cyclist who died after combining cocaine, caffeine, and strychnine. Lance Armstrong, a US cyclist, was handed a life ban and loss of previous results after testing positive for a banned substance.
Boxing
There is a dark side of boxing many people don’t know about; that is illegal PEDs. Notable boxing icons have been linked to steroid use to enhance their performance in the ring. The mouth-watering money returns associated with boxing are partly why participants resort to using banned substances to beat their opponents.
However, as is the case in bodybuilding, steroid use in boxing goes undetected for various reasons. One such reason is the fact that boxing competitions don’t happen often. If a boxer has been using steroids a few months before the actual battle, the substance may be hard to detect in their system. Kid Galahad, an undefeated boxing professional from the UK, was recently banned for two years after testing positive for Stanozolol. A popular steroid used by boxing professionals.
Triathlon
Although triathlon is not well known in most parts of the world, it somehow made it to our top sports list where players use steroids. It is worth noting that virtually every triathlon player caught doping has not had a better performance than those who don’t use PEDs.
So one wonders, why are they taking the drugs in the first place? Dmitriy Gaag of Kazakhstan is the closest player who ever came close to winning a title in the 2000 Olympics after using the drugs. Interestingly, he wasn’t second or third, but fourth from the title.
Related Article:: How Do American Swimmers Manage to Trash Cheating Scumbags Without Steroids?
Conclusion
Steroid use in sports continues to be a big problem, and the end to it is nowhere in use. According to sports governing bodies, they are trying to properly fair completion by prohibiting steroid use and protecting athletes’ and women’s lives. However, sportspeople don’t seem to buy this line of thought. More of them continue to use steroids in different sports to enhance their performance and improve recovery.
While steroid use has helped many of them cling titles. Some have not been very lucky and have died or become seriously ill after taking the drugs. That begs the question, what is the difference between the two kinds of steroid users? The answer lies in the steroids they use and whether they use them correctly or not. As we mentioned earlier in this article, most steroids are prescription drugs used to treat certain conditions.
Overall
Whenever a drug or misused, there are bound to be consequences. That is why regulatory bodies for most sports have banned drugs in their sports. However, some sports such as bodybuilding do not entirely prohibit the use of steroids by participants. If you are really into steroids and not ready to stop using them, you avoid some sports altogether. Furthermore, you can always choose those sports that do not have strict anti-doping policies and excel.