Do fitness Women take steriods?

flexiblegirl · February 3rd, 2007, 01:01 PM

I have heard that most professional fitness competitors use steriods to help them pack on muscle and strength..... but only small amounts!

I am 26yrs old female who would like to gain more muscle, i workout with weights, 3 times a week and do 30 minutes of cardio, 3 times a week.

I want to TRY, a small cycle of steriods, to see how my physique changes!!

What would be a good first cycle for me?
How long before i see results?
Will i suffer any side effects?

I weigh -122lbs
5ft 4ins- Tall.

Thanks
K

**sucher67** · February 3rd, 2007, 10:24 PM

Not all of them do. Please proceed carefully if you are making such a decision.

**gYmgIrL** · February 5th, 2007, 02:50 AM

hey, please check my reply in your post in womens fitness

http://www.extremefitness.com/forum/...618#post635618

**Italianangel** · February 7th, 2007, 05:00 PM

Yes, many do in the pros but not all.
I am triple pro in Fitness with 3 federations and have not gotten into any roids as of yet.
I am now working toward my IFBB pro card and will try to do so as a natural. At pro level I also plan to try to compete as a natural then see from there. Its a huge decision and very tempting but I can tell you, I know gals who are using.....it really does change stuff about you physically that you will be stuck with.....so weigh out your options.
Linda

beefcake girl · February 21st, 2007, 04:14 PM

Not as many use as you might think. You can acheive great results with lots of hard work and clean eating....you might give that a try before resorting to banned substances.

I personally have never used anything and I do quite well nationally, and so do the other girls I train with. In fact I work with quite a few pros and they don't use either. People get impatient and want a quick fix so they will try lots of questionable things, but if you are willing to work hard (we're talking lifting heavy and eating clean year round and doing a good deal of cardio on season) you can make big changes. Most of us girls lift 5 days per week and do about 12 cardio sessions per week when dieting down so this is a lot more than your current regimine...maybe you could try to get a contest prep plan and see how intense training and a great diet works....then explore your options. Getting in peak condition is totally possible without enhancers but you WILL work for it!

**Italianangel** · February 21st, 2007, 04:32 PM

Wish I could say the same about the pros I know who do not compete in natural tested shows but do compete IFBB and NPC............and there is one gal out here in particular who has used on and off but likes to say she has not - then she admits it to others. They are not going to admit it so you would be surprised how many do use........many who don't look like it, they are lanky and small but do use.........stick with the tested shows to be safe and to be against those more along the natural lines. Also shows like wnbf who do test, do not always test things which may be banned in ohter countries................all the competitors, men and women I have trained in the past 10 years or trained with were natural except 2-3. That is saying alot, but how many in IFBB Olympia are natural? maybe 1 if that?
Linda

**Italianangel** · February 21st, 2007, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beefcake girl

Not as many use as you might think. You can acheive great results with lots of hard work and clean eating....you might give that a try before resorting to banned substances.

I personally have never used anything and I do quite well nationally, and so do the other girls I train with. In fact I work with quite a few pros and they don't use either. People get impatient and want a quick fix so they will try lots of questionable things, but if you are willing to work hard (we're talking lifting heavy and eating clean year round and doing a good deal of cardio on season) you can make big changes. Most of us girls lift 5 days per week and do about 12 cardio sessions per week when dieting down so this is a lot more than your current regimine...maybe you could try to get a contest prep plan and see how intense training and a great diet works....then explore your options. Getting in peak condition is totally possible without enhancers but you WILL work for it!

Holy crappy..........12 cardio sessions per week during contest prep? wow, I never do that, too afraid of muscle loss and making me small...........I don't do that ever! I rather be moderate on the diet / moderate on rap binging during the off season instead......mind you if you like to eat higher carb or sugar then I guess that would warrant that depending on your body type......I have never had any gals on that much unless they totally blow it up to lean down then they have no choice....but that only happened with 2 gals in my whole career of coaching.
I do agree that 5-6 days per week training is great if you are at that level and keeps you peak but no more than an hour per day of cardio, if you can keep diet clean then you don't need THAT much cardio....wow.
Linda

beefcake girl · February 22nd, 2007, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Italianangel

Holy crappy..........12 cardio sessions per week during contest prep? wow, I never do that, too afraid of muscle loss and making me small...........I don't do that ever! I rather be moderate on the diet / moderate on rap binging during the off season instead......mind you if you like to eat higher carb or sugar then I guess that would warrant that depending on your body type......I have never had any gals on that much unless they totally blow it up to lean down then they have no choice....but that only happened with 2 gals in my whole career of coaching.
I do agree that 5-6 days per week training is great if you are at that level and keeps you peak but no more than an hour per day of cardio, if you can keep diet clean then you don't need THAT much cardio....wow.
Linda

Most of the girls I train with do about that amount of cardio...but we are fitness/figure. Much of it is plyometric type training which also shapes the legs and I have actually built muscle by doing this---and I should mention that these are not marathon sessions (1/2 hr usually) and I lower the amount once I am where I need to be.....

But cardio for me is more than just fat loss...it aids in muscle development! And I can use all the help I can get. I am a hardgainer so intense cardio like plyos and the step mill build my legs more than anything. I eat enough to make sure I don't lose too much but if I don't train hard, I lose ground and turn back into a skinny/fat girl! And actually not many of us blow up in the off season. We stay within 7-12 pounds on average...a bunch of my friends are doing the Arnold (Amatuer and Pro) and they have been ready for weeks since they maintain such good regimens....it didn't take much to get the little extra weight off. But as I said before, most of us are natural and hard work seems to be the best way to spark growth and muscle maturity. Our trainer trains us to not just look in shape but to actually BE in shape so it is also about all around health. The upside of doing so much hard work is that the diet is easier. I always eat more than other girls...and I prefer to eat more and train harder if given the choice

But this is just how I do it...not saying it is the absolute perfect solution!!!!

**Italianangel** · February 22nd, 2007, 01:16 PM

AHA anaerobic training, yes I am very familiar with plyos, been doing those myself and with clients for 10 years now! I guess I don't consider it cardio per say but it does help with fat burn and muscle gains, my legs love them too and did develope wonderfully on those as do my team gals!
And as for eating harder and training more........I do know that end of things too, some of my gals are more than willing to do extra work in order to indulge a bit here and there!!!!
Linda

Michael Elias · August 26th, 2008, 12:22 PM

While many women at the State, National, and Pro level in Fitness and Figure do use performance enhancing drugs, these drugs aren't necessary to be successful if you have good genetics, and the determination and will necessary to achieve contest shape naturally.

My wife, Kendra Elias, a lifetime drug free IFBB Pro Fitness competitor.

Kendra has never used any prescription or OTC hormones, nor has she ever used any prescrition fat burning aids, ( clenbuterol, etc ), or any prescription diuretics.

She won both physique rounds at the 2004 NPC Nationals, with 1st place votes from every single judge in both rounds... naturally, with no drugs.

Since then, she has placed in the top 8 in all 9 of her IFBB Pro Shows, including three top 5 finishes, and she has won the 2 Minute Routine round in 3 shows, including the Best Routine award at the Europa SuperShow twice.

I say this not to brag at all, but to show that it is possible for a drug free competitor to succeed, even in the Non Tested organizations, with hard work and dedication.

I also want to say that I don't have any bad feelings toward those who choose to go the "enhanced" route, provided they aren't attempting to compete in drug free competitions, and provided they have made educated decisions about what they choose to do. It's a personal choice, and I respect people's right to make their own choices.

I often see women who could have succeeded naturally, who made the choice to compete enhanced, simply because they thought they had to. They often believe other's advice that drugs are the only way to go.

Hopefully, Kendra's example can show the women who want to stay natural that it can be done!

Good luck with whatever decision you make, and please let me know if you have any additional questions.

- Michael

MichaelandKendra.com