Qualy #99 - The steroid controversy: Mark's use of them and Peter's perspective
The episode features Mark Bell discussing his long-term use of anabolic steroids, clarifying their effects and limitations, and sharing personal experiences with their risks. He distinguishes between medically supervised and abused doses, highlighting potential harms like tendon tears and long-term aesthetic decline.
Deep Dive Analysis
7 Topic Outline
Mark Bell's Personal Steroid Use and Prescription
Understanding the Effects of Anabolic Steroids
Genetics Versus Drugs in Elite Bodybuilding
Evolution of Bodybuilding Divisions and Phenotypes
Reflections on Meeting Personal Heroes
Debate on the Harms of Anabolic Steroids
Distinguishing Steroid Abuse from Medical Use
2 Key Concepts
Anabolic Steroids (in bodybuilding)
Anabolic steroids primarily help individuals gain clean body mass and allow them to progress beyond their natural genetic limits to a certain extent. However, they do not automatically make one strong or overcome extreme genetic predispositions required to achieve top-tier physiques like those of elite bodybuilders.
Classic Physique Category
This is a bodybuilding division created to emulate the aesthetic of bodybuilders from a previous era, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, focusing on a less massive, more 'classic' look. Importantly, this category is not drug-free, and competitors still use performance-enhancing substances, albeit aiming for a different body type than open bodybuilding.
5 Questions Answered
Anabolic steroids primarily help individuals gain clean body mass and allow them to progress beyond their natural genetic limits to a certain level, but they don't automatically confer strength or enable everyone to achieve elite physiques without exceptional genetics.
No, while drugs are used, top bodybuilders also possess extraordinary genetics, dedication, and training, which drugs alone cannot replicate; one could not achieve their physique simply by taking all available steroids.
It's a division designed to promote a physique similar to that of Arnold Schwarzenegger, which is less massive than modern open bodybuilding, but it is not a drug-free category.
Yes, Mark Bell attributes a tricep tear he sustained while lifting heavy to his use of high doses of steroids, suggesting they can lead to tendon weakness and injury.
Yes, Peter Attia suggests that at physiologic doses under medical supervision, evidence of cardiometabolic, liver, or kidney harm from typical sports steroids is less clear, a point Mark Bell agrees with regarding muscle tears at normal doses.
6 Actionable Insights
1. Acknowledge Hard Work, Genetics
Recognize that elite physiques are not solely due to performance-enhancing drugs; they also require immense hard work, superior genetics, and other factors. This helps set realistic expectations and avoid oversimplifying complex achievements.
2. Practice Genuine Connection
When interacting with others, especially in influential positions, strive to make genuine connections by looking people in the eye, shaking their hand, and asking personal questions with sincerity. This fosters authentic relationships.
3. Manage Hero Expectations
Understand that meeting your heroes often leads to disappointment, as they are fallible human beings. Adjust your expectations to avoid disillusionment.
4. Beware High-Dose Steroid Injury
Be aware that using high doses of steroids, such as Trenbolone and Testosterone together with other orals, can increase the risk of severe injuries like tendon tears, even if you’ve never been hurt lifting before. This risk is noted to be less common with ’normal’ (physiologic) doses.
5. Mitigate Steroid Detrimental Effects
If using steroids, pay attention to ’everything else’ (though not specified) to potentially mitigate detrimental effects like poor skin, unhealthy aesthetics, and negative blood work, which are often seen in users who abuse them or don’t manage their overall health.
6. Adhere to AA Steroid Rule
If you are part of Alcoholics Anonymous, be aware of their guideline that prohibits steroid use due to its perceived ’neck up’ effects, which could impact recovery.
5 Key Quotes
I could inject a human being with every anabolic steroid period. Like let's get the world's supply of anabolic steroids and inject it into me. Yeah. I couldn't look one 10th of what that guy looks like.
Mark Bell
You know, you, a lot of times in life, especially me, I've met all my heroes and pretty much everybody's let me down.
Mark Bell
The rock will look you in the eye, shake your hand and say, how's your mom doing? Like, and he means it, you know, and you could, you could feel that he means it.
Mark Bell
To say that there's no ill effects of them or no side effects or no... I guess I'm thinking more of the cardiometabolic liver, kidney cardio. No, but can you injure yourself?
Peter Attia
It's among the users that are losers. If that makes sense, it's like, it's among the users that, that aren't paying attention to everything else.
Mark Bell