I've come across my share of gearheads in gyms here and in california. but I also tend to give people the benefit of the doubt, because I've seen huge mass gains in short times without steroids. I was tested at 921ng/dL a month ago, which is the same level as his on the deca. Surely not the same as someone at monster doses, but still far above the high end of normal. So, as you can guess, when I eat right and lift with discipline, I can shoot right up. My mother and doctor have both accused me of steroid use before. So it can happen without it. If I load up on calories and protein and eat clean, I can gain 10lbs in a month. (my results may be skewed by muscle memory though, since I always end up lifting in spurts. Right now, for instance, I've had a month off and have lost over 10lbs, but once I move and get settled and have a gym membership again I am sure I'll add those 10lbs back almost immediately. but I'm sure the next 10 lbs up to 205 will take much longer.) But I can only imagine the kind of advantage it does give, especially to full time athletes. Stuff like this makes me really pissed that I am not lifting right now. My whole bulk till new years then cut for march thing is totally shot now.
Bernreuther - take heart. I'm having surgery on a herniated disc next Thursday. The doctor says it could be 3 months before I lift again. But that's OK, I haven't been able to lift well for three months because of 24-7 pain in my leg. But I know from experience that when I get back in there it will come right back and I will feel good and be one with my body again. Sometimes it bums me out when I think of how I look after 15 years of disciplined weightlifting. I should look so much better, be so much stronger, be so much fitter than I am! But I can always be grateful for the discipline I've learned...the knowledge that if circumstances dictate me taking months off I will return to it. As for the drugs...well you still got to do the work. I'd almost advocate allowing guys like in the article to do it. It's his body, he competes in individual sports, and he competes where there is no testing and therefore likely to be other dopers. It's a problem in sports like baseball and professional cycling...because those who do not dope should not be discriminated against or measured against those of a doping-era. But in the real world of us amateurs we don't get tested for weed, caffeine, any kind of supplements in the sports we wish to play. That's a benefit of not being a celebrity. We allow botox injections and pectoralis implants and collagen filled lips. I would rather see people do this under a doctor's care than stumble across it in the locker room of my gym.
