In bodybuilding, steds and meds refer to the anabolic androgenic steroids and the supporting meds that help you meet your fitness goals and support your health throughout the steroid cycle and after. This makes it important for bodybuilders to know what the effects of steroids are, what they can help achieve, and how much to take without getting severe side effects.
Many gym enthusiasts train hard but fall short of reaching a defined physique similar to a professional bodybuilder. Most have little to no idea regarding whether or not a steroid can help them reach their fitness goals, and if so, how much to take? They also have limited knowledge of how steroids and their supporting medication can help meet fitness goals while maintaining health and preventing side effects.
As first-time users and curious gym-goers, this beginner steroid guide is just for you to help you get started on your steroid journey.
What Are Steds and Meds?
An alternative term for anabolic steroids, steds are synthetic derivatives of testosterone. When they enter the human body, they bind to the androgen receptors to promote muscle gain, tissue repair, and recovery. They also prevent catabolism (or muscle breakdown), which may occur when people engage in intense training sessions.
Meds are ancillary compounds that support bodybuilding steroids and the health of those taking them. These include PCT medication like Clomid and Nolvadex that restore hormonal balance, TUDCA (Tauroursodeoxycholic acid) that supports liver health, aromatase inhibitors like Arimidex, and fat burners such as Clenbuterol.
Though it is legal to take steds and meds in the UK, most are Class C medications and can be purchased only when you have a valid prescription. Further, they should be procured only from reliable sources.
Why Bodybuilders Use Steds and Meds
Bodybuilding for beginners is not just limited to intense training sessions and supplements that promote weight gain. To gain the desired muscle definition and reach their fitness goals, many bodybuilders take a little boost from appropriate steds and meds, which offer:
- Rapid and balanced muscle growth
- Effective fat loss
- Gaining lean weight and definition
- Enhanced endurance and stamina
- Better performance and quick recovery times
- Balanced hormone levels (via meds like PCT)
Common Types of Steds (For Beginners)
The types of steroids for bodybuilding that are prescribed to first-time users and beginners can be classified into the following:
Oral Steds
These are available as pills or tablets, in specific dosages, and have to be taken with a cup of water or warm milk. Some of the more popular oral steroids for beginners are:
Dianabol
Scientifically termed Methandrostenolone, Dianabol leads to a rapid increase in muscle mass and strength. However, it can be hepatotoxic (damaging to the liver) and should be used in short steroid cycles.
Anavar
With the chemical name Oxandrolone, Anavar is a mild AAS that promotes lean muscle mass while preventing excess weight gain. Due to these effects, it is ideal for cutting cycles and is often the steroid of choice for female bodybuilders.
Winstrol
Winstrol, containing the active ingredient Stanozolol, offers a dry vascular aesthetic to bodybuilders, making it a good option in a cutting cycle. However, it can impact HDL levels and requires proper monitoring.
Injectable Steds
These bodybuilding steroids have a high efficacy and are available as intramuscular injections. The commonly prescribed injectable anabolic steroids include:
Testosterone Enanthate
The base anabolic androgenic steroid, Testosterone Enanthate, is a long-acting ester that creates a balanced anabolic environment in the body, ideal for both bulking and cutting.
Deca Durabolin
Deca, also known as Nandrolone Decanoate, offers balanced anabolic activity with low androgenic impact.
Masteron
Chemically called Drostanolone Propionate, Masteron helps build muscle hardness while reducing estrogenic side effects.
Pros and Cons of Oral vs. Injectable Steds
The multiple types of steroids for bodybuilding come with their own pros and cons:
| Oral Steroids | |
| Pros | Cons |
| Readily available with a prescription | Relatively lower bioavailability |
| Usually affordable | May require frequent dosing |
| Convenient to administer | Longer cycles may lead to liver stress |
| No injection-related side effects | |
| Injectable Steroids | |
| Pros | Cons |
| Higher absorption and bioavailability | Usually more expensive than oral steroids |
| Faster onset of action | Will require a trained healthcare professional for administration |
| Usually more potent than oral alternatives | May lead to injection-related side effects |
| Less hepatotoxic than oral steroids | |
Table: Pros and Cons of Both Injectable and Oral Steroids
Why Are Meds Important in Bodybuilding?
Taking steroids will alter natural hormone production, elevate HDL levels, suppress testosterone, increase blood pressure, and stress the liver. While steds deliver quick and effective results, meds support your health. By using the right meds to support their health, bodybuilders can ensure a healthy physiology while they take steroids. They can also sustain the gains they receive through steroid use.
Thus, they play an important role in the beginner steroid guide and should be a part of the steroid journey.
Post Cycle Therapy (PCT)
Clomid, Nolvadex, Tamoxifen, Tadalafil, and other medications of their class are prescribed for PCT (Post Cycle Therapy). These help restore the hormone balance in the body, prevent side effects, retain the gains obtained from steroid use, and improve overall health.
Liver Protection
Taking AAS, especially oral alternatives, can lead to liver stress. Thus, bodybuilders and athletes can support their liver health by taking medications such as Liv-52 and TUDCA.
Estrogen Control
Many steroids undergo an aromatic chain reaction and are synthesised into estrogen. Thus, they can lead to estrogenic side effects such as gynecomastia and water retention. Aromatase inhibitors like Arimidex and Aromasin can inhibit this process, maintain balanced estrogen levels, and prevent the incidence of side effects.
Fat Burners
An important goal in bodybuilding, alongside weight gain, is burning stubborn fat. Clenbuterol (a potent bronchodilator) and similar medications reduce subcutaneous fat and increase metabolism, helping bodybuilders meet fitness goals.
Safe Use: Dosage, Cycles, and Timing
A typical beginner anabolic steroids guide can follow one of the following steroid cycles:
- Dianabol: 15–30 mg per day ( 4–6 weeks)
- Anavar (6 weeks)
- Men: 20–30 mg/day
- Women: 5–10 mg/day
- Winstrol (4–6 weeks)
- Men: 20–40 mg/day
- Women: 5–10 mg/day
- Testosterone Enanthate: 300–500 mg/week (10–12 weeks, 1–2 times per week)
- Masteron: 300–400 mg/week (6–8 weeks for Propionate and 10–12 weeks for Enanthate)
- Deca Durabolin: 200–300 mg/week (8–12 weeks)
A beginner steroid guide usually recommends lower doses, unless prescribed otherwise. This is because the body is unaccustomed to the effects of steds and meds on the endocrine system. Thus, with a higher dosage, the side effects of steroid use can be severe with little or mild benefits.
Further, it is important to time the steds and meds properly. For instance, bodybuilders often divide the dosage of steroids and take them multiple times a day for balanced levels in the bloodstream. Many also take steroids 1 – 2 hours before a workout to boost their endurance. The same is true for meds as well. However, this needs to be done with the guidance of a doctor.
Risks, Side Effects, and Misuse Warnings
Even when using an anabolic steroid guide for beginners, the following potential physical and psychological side effects may be observed:
- Oily skin and acne
- Aggression, irritability, and mood swings
- Nausea, vomiting, and other digestive and gastrointestinal tract issues
- Elevated blood pressure levels
- Altered HDL/LDL levels
- Cardiovascular issues
- Liver stress
- Kidney stress
Further, male bodybuilders who use steroids may face:
- Bloating and water retention
- Gynecomastia (increase in and tenderness of breast tissue)
- Loss of libido
- Inhibited natural testosterone production
Additionally, the following side effects can be seen among women, due to which they need to be doubly careful when taking steroids:
- Severe acne
- Deepening of the voice
- Male-patterned baldness
- Hirsutism (hair growth due to androgen excess)
- Irregular menstrual cycles
- Altered sex drive
- Clitoral enlargement
Due to the increased severity of side effects in women, they are usually prescribed milder AAS and a lower dose compared to men. Further, it is important for them to stick to their prescribed dose and not exceed these levels.
Women who are currently pregnant, planning to be, or breastfeeding should not take AASs. It is also important to remember that some of the masculinising effects of AASs on women might be irreversible, even with immediate withdrawal and aggressive oestrogen therapy.
To minimise the risk of side effects, bodybuilders are recommended to get their bloodwork done at regular periodic intervals. They are also prescribed support supplements and meds to maintain their health and physiological parameters. Further, they are also asked not to take their prescribed steds and meds in excess of the given dosage.
Where to Buy Steds and Meds Online (Safely)
AAS and the medications that are taken alongside them are potent drugs that have a significant impact on a person’s health. Thus, it is important to procure them from reliable suppliers, using a valid prescription.
A trusted supplier will have steroids that are manufactured by reputable companies. They will also have both recent and old client reviews for both the platform and the medications purchased. Further, the steds and meds available will be priced appropriately, they will ask for a prescription, and usually offer shipping.
Some red flags to avoid are suspiciously affordable medications, products from manufacturers that you have never heard of, the site not asking for prescriptions, and the absence of customer reviews.
Wrapping Up
Always research before starting a cycle, prioritise training, diet, and rest, track your progress, and listen to your body when taking steds and meds for bodybuilding. Further, it is important to consult a doctor, complete a checkup, and seek a prescription before procuring steroids.
Steroids for Beginners: Having a Balanced Steroid Cycle
Ready to meet your fitness goals? Get a prescription and use our beginner steroid guide for your steroid cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are Steds Legal in the UK?
Steroids or steds are listed as Class C medications in the UK and are legal to purchase when you have a prescription issued by a licensed doctor. However, it is to be noted that they are prohibited from usage when participating in professional competitions.
2. Can I Build Muscle Without Steds?
Of course. Train hard, balance cardio with weight training, maintain a balanced and protein-rich diet, and try out over-the-counter supplements such as whey powder.
3. What’s the Safest Beginner Cycle?
A 6-week-long Anavar cycle (oral) and Testosterone Enanthate (injectable) for 10 weeks, with a prescription, are safe bodybuilding steroids for beginners.
4. What Steroids Do Bodybuilders Use?
Bodybuilding steroids for beginners include Anavar, Winstrol, Testosterone Enanthate, and Deca Durabolin. However, your doctor may prescribe you any other steroid based on your physiological parameters.
