They will of course enhance what God gave you genetically. However, without doing everything else properly they have limited value. And in reality Steroids make you work harder because you are lifting more than you should be able to, thus increasing joint pain and the chance of injuries.

So, AAS can help you achieve amazing things but often we live in pain in order to do it. But that's ok!

As far a Genetics go Frank Zane built a classy physique with limited genetics so work ethic and dedication are far more important.

Most people have average genetics; so unless you are totally deprived which is unlikely you should achieve most of your fitness goals.

A young guy 20-30 who has done more than a few cycles and does not have an eye popping physique is simply making mistakes. The purpose of this article is to help; not to criticize. I know that everyone here is trying, and I admire anyone who ever goes in a gym and does this.

This is an abbreviated list of where it can go wrong. I've read tons of posts on here and other forums where everyone is a Guru on cycles. We all do “Research” and think we know; but few really do. I've seen cycles that were insane and dumb. Then of course some guy has to be critical of an-others cycle.

Aside from generalizing about cycles everyone is different and what works for me may not be as effective for you. The idea is to be tolerant and open.

Anyway the guys who really know coach the pros as we'll discuss later. I never used these things til I was 40. Then at 40 they did become necessary. I didn't know much then, but enough to achieve what I wanted size and strength. I got up to 270lbs with 24” biceps and that was cool. I just used Test; Sust; Decca and I knew enough to use Tamoxifen. That was pretty much the only AI drug at that time!

I didn't care that my waist was large it was firm and I was strong. That was what I wanted. But after a few years I kinda got it out of my system so I began to diet. Of course not knowing much about AAS I did lose too much muscle on the way down but wtf!

I have really been studying AAS for the last two years and am pretty intuitive, but I learn something new every day and would now consider myself advanced in knowledge but nowhere near the top expert level! When you think you know it all; you are in trouble!

So where would I go for AAS help if I think I need it? Here? Another forum? Fu&k no! I can still get in touch with a few IFBB pros in this area, and I would pay them for their time. I don't impose on anyone and time is money and knowledge is worth money.

My rule has always been if you want to teach me how to throw a fastball if you're not Nolan Ryan or Armando Benitez let me see you throw one first! If you can't hit 90+ mph I'm not your student! Make sense? Take this approach in bodybuilding...it pays!

Anyway I do suggest you guys take pics of your goals and progress. Pics don't lie, but our eyes are deceiving. What we see in the mirror is not always an accurate representation of what is really there. I really did have muscle dismorphia. I assure you it is very real and I knew a lot of guys who were huge who had this problem. It is simply when you always think you are small no matter how big you are! Very common.

One of my lifting mates was pretty depressed one night about being small and he weighed 320 pounds! This was the night I realized I had issues. OK...moving along:

Pictures are like a bodybuilding diary. I have pics of me in relative shape at 270, 252, 220, 208, 203, and current approximately 195 lbs and guessing 5-7% body fat. Lowest BF ever for me and guess which pics look the best? lol Well that is another article I suppose.

Assuming you are doing good juice, are young but don't have that great physique where is it going wrong? Diet! Diet! Diet! So many ways to fu&k it up. Too many carbs, not enough carbs, too much fat, just eating to fuc*king much or not enough.

Supplements have come a long. long way and steroids use them very effectively. When on cycle and nitrogen retention is high I double the amount of creatine and whey protein consumed. So if you weigh 200 pounds you should consume 400 grams of good whey protein a day! If you do really hard intense workouts you will utilize it all for sure if you sleep!

Sleep? Geeezzze sleep. Well yeah that’s when your body grows. Without 8-10 hours per night it not good! Kids used to come up to me all the time and ask me how to get big. I saw them hitting the weights really hard so my first question was how much sleep do you get? Many hit me with 4-6 hours.

I live in SoCal worked out with many of the pros in Gold's Gym in Venice bout 12 years a ago, but never met one that didn't know they had to sleep to get there! Yes, you have work, a wife, a job etc so how can you sleep that much? I don’t know; but you have to! Find a way. Change careers, take naps whatever.

Earlier I said “Dedication is the most important thing”. I met Günter Schlierkamp several times at Golds in Venice. He really is a sweet guy and always generous with his time. I met him right after the “Arnold Classic” whatever year that was.

Jay Cutler won the event and didn’t have abs!!!! My opinion was that Gunter was in better shape for sure. So I kinda said “I think you got screwed at the Arnold classic”. His reply was “You have to pay your dues” That of course may have been true in that particular case as what goes on in the IFBB and NPC is political. I have known a few of the judges. And people who ran the NPC

That aside, there is no question that Jay Cutler went on to build a more impressive physique in the coming years. I honestly believe Gunter had more potential and better genetics...so how is this possible?

In professional Golf your swing coach has much to do with it and in the IFBB your chemist has much to do with it! But it also has to do with how much are you willing to push chemically? These guys do EXTREME things! Perhaps Mr. Cutler was willing to do things Gunter was not. I'm speculating of course.

I also worked out next to Paul Dillett a few times. He is unfortunately famous for being rushed to a Hospital from dehydration from Lasix. At the Olympia. This is why I say guys at this lever do extreme things and take extreme chances. There's a lot of beans on the line here. You don't have to do extreme things to have an outstanding physique; all you need to is everything right! And it sounds a lot easier than it is.

Standing behind Dillett a few times; I honestly could not believe the view. It seemed like the guys traps went on forever towards a delt that never ended! You can't buy bones! But this guy has em.

Back to Jay Cutler....Chemistry aside this guy absolutely exceeded his genetic potential! Look at early pics of him and compare them to him in his prime. It is scary! Let's give credit where it is due! Common sense tells me that this guy was an animal in the gym!

He obviously knew what he was doing, but he must have attacked the weights savagely and ferociously; and there is much to be said for that attitude! I'm no pro bodybuilder and never aspired to be one, but I have always met my fitness goals; through sickness, injury, blizzards; whatever! NO EXCUSES!

When I'm trying to reach a goal...it's me against weights and they will lose! Then I will eat accordingly and sleep accordingly, supplement accordingly, and now AAS properly for sure!

Viciousness in the gym is great, but are you over training? That can be as bad as under training! Are you doing the right workout for what you are trying to achieve? As with AAS chemistry; very few know.

I see guys who have been lifting for years and are clueless. Some have decent potential too; it's a shame. I'm an open book, so these guys can ask and I'll always help anyone. Surprisingly it';s the young kids that follow me around asking questions lol.

They kinda figure anyone this old in this shape must know! And they are right! It is common sense but the older Dudes don’t get it. “Dude” I am from Ca now so I can say that lol. I have helped so many of these kids; and they really appreciate it; so it makes it very gratifying.

Of course your workout has to be calculated on many factors, age, body type, goals, etc. However, here are some basic things that never change. Speaking of basics the basic movements are still king; squats; leg extensions; hamstring curls; dead-lifts, benching; inclining; dumbbell flies; lat pull downs; lateral raises; rowing motion; curls of all types.

Note: I do lateral raises in a Smith machine and I make it a total upper body exercise. Place the bar in the lowest possible position add asppropiate weights strart light to avoid injury! Take the widest grip possible. Pull the bar up all the way to the top of the machine as high as it allows. On the way up you will hit your delts, lats, upper pecs. Then on the way down do it slowwwwly as a negative motion. This places tremendous pressure on your traps and will bring them out way better than shrugs!

This is the single best exercise you can do to hit your entire upper body if you do it properly.

Movements should be full range of motion. Avoid machines that are repetitive in one motion. I try to avoid machines as much as I can. Free motion cable crossovers are ok! A few movements with the pulleys in the 10 station units are ok; especially if the equipment is Hammer Strength; Icarian; or Cybex.

Maybe this all seems like an over simplification, but very few get it all right! If you do...you will look great, and get the most out of your AAS experience. Bottom line is the drugs don't do the rest, but if you do, they magnify the results incredibly!

NOTE: Since a few of you seem to be having a difficult time understanding that STEROIDS change your metabolism in many ways; it might help if you look up thje word "Anabolic". Steroids greatly increase your body's ability to anabolize energy into tissue. Therefore normal protein intake goes out the wiondow along with many othersubstances that can be utilized more efficiently also!