Is Substantial Muscle Building Possible Without Steroids?
By Francesco A. Castano
Steroids have been popular for decades, evolving from a habit that was once confined to professional bodybuilding and sports to a common high school recreational activity used to improve speed, strength, and muscle density beyond natural limits. As with any drug that fosters external change, since the enhancements are visually apparent, those using steroids or growth hormone are easily convinced that they are healthier than before, yet temporary positive appearance improvements are not always synonymous with what occurs on a cellular level.

In addition to sports enthusiasts who wish to improve performance, many underweight bodybuilders are in search of the fastest way to enhance muscle mass, and when they see professional bodybuilders using huge amounts of illegal drugs to produce 100 or more pounds of additional lean body size, they feel as if this must be the path to achieve what they perceive as success. Yet, what many fail to consider is that bodybuilding, a hobby that has constantly associated itself with healthy living, morphs into a risky, potentially life threatening path when steroids or growth hormone become acceptable options.


There are two distinct groups that seem to have misconceptions of what can and cannot be produced naturally; one extreme believes that the muscular bodies of professional bodybuilding stars on the cover of magazines can be produced without steroid use, or with some bodybuilding supplement that works no different than drugs, when this is a completely false notion. To those who follow the bodybuilding industry closely, professional bodybuilders are known for their widespread, rather stunning level of drug abuse, and they would carry significantly less muscle if they were training naturally, even when using all available legal supplements. Another common misconception claims the opposite, which is that no bodybuilder can gain significant muscle without using steroids, which is just as misleading. Although the massive muscles of professional steroid using bodybuilders cannot be achieved without embracing the same dangerous drugs, extremely impressive improvements in muscle mass and density are possible without ever touching a steroid, growth hormone, or any other performance enhancing substance.

Both

groups need to become realistic, but in different ways; those who feel professional bodybuilding results can be achieved without steroids must understand that this is not so, and change their aspirations to match what is both healthy and possible, but they will also find solace in learning the second lesson for the opposing group, which is that by training and eating a certain way, dramatic muscle gain is possible, and a total transformation can occur without using steroids. The reason many are searching for solutions is that the muscle building industry is plagued with falsehoods and misconceptions, therefore steroids enter the picture as the only apparent solution to significant physical appearance change, when in fact, most add very small amounts of muscle not due to lack of steroids, but as a direct consequence of poorly constructed diet and training routines. When the variables that control muscle mass (the workout and eating techniques) are rectified, progress should be satisfying and considered impressive for any reasonable individual, and the risks of steroid use are avoided in the process.

I started my weight training career at a weight of 130 pounds, and being quite tall (6'2"), my thin body was the spark behind my own weight lifting career. Thankfully, by the grace of God I never used steroids, growth hormone, or any other such drug, but I had the same desire to grow as any other bodybuilder, yet knew that doing so within a natural framework was the only valid option to pursue. I then perfected my weight training and eating routine through years of trial and error, gaining over 60 pounds of muscle mass; many who are confused about how to achieve muscle gains accuse me of relying on steroids, but I can highlight my own success as proof to show that building massive muscles is possible naturally, without any chemical crutch. I also realize that with steroid use, I could gain another 50 pounds or more of muscle mass, but does this frustrate me? No, not in the least, as I feel that preserving my gift of good health by remaining natural is far more important than any level of additional muscle gain, and I hope every man and woman reading this article modifies their bodybuilding ethics so they can also feel the same.
Francesco Castano authors MuscleNOW.com, a diet and weight training program teaching the exact techniques for muscle building without supplements or drugs. He also owns FatVanish.com, where you will find his natural weight loss program.