This isn’t an easy accomplishment by any means. While some athletes seem to have natural abilities, this doesn’t mean they aren’t working extremely hard behind the scenes. They know they need to have the edge over their competitors and they need to get the attention of those watching them. The use of steroids in sports has been identified in high school events, college sports, professional sports, and even the Olympic Games.
Today, there are anti-doping laws and regulations in place. Anyone that is found to be using such substances risks being disqualified. As a result, users need to be aware of the benefits and also the risks involved. They have to create a stack that works for them successfully but also ensure the products are completely out of their system by the time they would possibly be subjected to a drug test.
Cycles
There are two types of cycles athletes can use steroids for. The bulking cycle is where they are gaining muscle mass. The workouts are very hard and the calorie intake is double or more what they normally consume. The cutting cycle is where they are eliminating remaining body fat, but striving to maintain the muscles they have created.
It isn’t uncommon to stake more than one type of anabolic steroid for a given cycle. Athletes have to be very careful about what they use together. They should do their homework and have a good plan for what works well with the goals they have in mind. There is a wealth of information out there to assist them.
Energy
Athletes push themselves physically and mentally beyond what most of us can imagine. They spend hours in the gym, practicing, and doing all they can to excel in a given sport. They have to rely on a great deal of energy to make this happen for them. The use of steroids can help them to have more energy than they otherwise would.
This energy allows them to continue to take part in the required activities. It can also allow them to get some extra time in the gym. If they are tired and fatigued, there is no way they can give 100% during those activities and it is going to hold them back. The energy allows them to push harder and further.
Endurance
The energy can’t be in short bursts though or they will burn out. Instead, they rely on the steroids to help them have more endurance. This means that energy is going to continue to be strong from the start of the workout until the very end. They don’t want to have a surge of energy, peak with it half way through, and then experience difficulty to try to get through it for the last part of the workout or practice.
Strength
Athletes need to have a body that is strong and powerful. This starts with the core and expands throughout the body. Every little detail can help them to be more flexible, to move gracefully, and to be able to move at a faster speed than before. The strength is going to help with lifting more and creating muscle in less time. It is also going to burn more fat and calories with each workout session.
For individual sports, the additional strength can help someone to run faster or to hit further. The muscles in the body can use that strength to put power behind whatever that sports entails. It could mean a ball thrown further or someone able to get out there and catch further than they otherwise would have.
For team sports, the strength can help them go up against components. It could give them the upper hand in that role too. There are many different ways in which the strength stemming from steroid use will influence the performance of someone in sports.
Muscle Mass
A lean body, one with more muscle mass, is going to look significantly better. It is also going to improve the performance and help with strength. Through intense workouts, athletes that use steroids are going to see that muscle growth. They are going to feel it, they are going to see it developing, and they will benefit from it within the realms of their various sports events.
Burn Fat
At the same time, they will be burning body fat. The less body fat a person has, the more fit they become. Replacing body fat with lean muscle mass is going to allow someone to perform in ways they couldn’t before. It can be hard to burn fat with exercise alone, but the use of steroids can help get it to disappear. This is especially true for those that have a very low amount of body fat.
Healing
Athletes know all they can puts their body at the risk of injuries. This can include pulled muscles or ligaments, fractures, or even broken bones. Strains and other types of injuries can put them on the sidelines rather than out there giving it their all. The use of steroids helps to promote healing, and that can reduce the risk of an injury being severe.
It can reduce pain and soreness so they are able to get out there and do what they do day after day. Realistically, someone that is hurting isn’t going to be able to push the limits the following day. An athlete has to be on top of their game every single day. It doesn’t matter if it is just practice, a workout session, or an actual game. They have to be ready for it and push their bodies very hard.
Drug Testing
Athletes are aware of how long various steroids will remain in the body. This is why they plan their cycles to give them enough time to complete them. Then there is still sufficient time for the drugs to be out of the system. When they are tested, there is no way to verify they used any type of steroid if enough time has gone by. Sometimes, athletes in training are subjected to random drug tests. This means they never know if they are going to have to submit to one or not. Still, many of them think it is worth the risk for them to get the benefits and they simply hope they don’t have to go in to give a sample while they are in a steroid cycle.
It isn’t uncommon for athletes to try to use steroids during the off season. While there isn’t any official training taking place, they have created a plan and they work hard every day. This allows them to stay in the best condition possible and be ready when the new sports season starts up again. By then, they are no longer using steroids but they have plenty of benefits from previously doing so.