Cardarine is interesting to me but I would never actually try it. The risks far outweigh the benefits. EPO also scares me. It seems like most doping agents have a significant downside.
What downsides does EPO have? Assuming microdosing
Heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, seizures…other than that, you’re good. Microdosing has nothing to do with it- the overall affect of the drug is what matters.
I know it's splitting hairs, but I think there's a difference between "doping" strictly for performance gains vs "doping" to heal an injury or chronic pain.
I know some people are very black n white about it, but I am not.
How many running injuries are out there where taking a banned substance will actually help speed up recovery?
Muscle tears, bone fractures, stress reactions, “strains”, etc.
Been a minute, but have used the following, not necessarily concurrently
Testosterone Equipose Deca EPO Clomid (and some of the sister compounds like it; exemestane, nolvadex, etc.) Stims
I know I've used gray-area stuff as well, but literally can't remember which because truth is gray-area supps are a waste of time. I'm sure a few will come to mind later on I've forgotten about
Usually people who talk about "grey areas" just don't know the rules. Methods and substances can be allowed, prohibited, prohibited in competition, or allowed with a TUE. They are listed very specifically.
The only way something could really be "grey" under the existing anti-doping framework would be if it's a designer drug that works just like a banned one but hasn't been discovered yet. That's a catch-all for stuff like The Clear; it's not for stuff that's widely known and generally available. If you as an amateur are able to get your hands on the stuff, and it's not on the prohibited list, then it's fine.
Been a minute, but have used the following, not necessarily concurrently
Testosterone Equipose Deca EPO Clomid (and some of the sister compounds like it; exemestane, nolvadex, etc.) Stims
I know I've used gray-area stuff as well, but literally can't remember which because truth is gray-area supps are a waste of time. I'm sure a few will come to mind later on I've forgotten about
ama
Why would you use dangerous and illegal PEDs as a hobby jogger?
Been a minute, but have used the following, not necessarily concurrently
Testosterone Equipose Deca EPO Clomid (and some of the sister compounds like it; exemestane, nolvadex, etc.) Stims
I know I've used gray-area stuff as well, but literally can't remember which because truth is gray-area supps are a waste of time. I'm sure a few will come to mind later on I've forgotten about
ama
Why would you use dangerous and illegal PEDs as a hobby jogger?
Cardarine is interesting to me but I would never actually try it. The risks far outweigh the benefits. EPO also scares me. It seems like most doping agents have a significant downside.
What downsides does EPO have? Assuming microdosing
Among others, cancer. At higher doses, dying in your sleep was really common--the heartbeat slows, then just stops. But this probably wouldn't happen with microdosing.
I've used the grey area supps all falling short of actual AAS. Funnily enough, never used pre workout or mass gainers, because they're sus and overpriced.
I've tried plant based ecdysteroids, creatine, bpc157 and tb-500, growth hormone peptides, plants to boost testosterone (maca, longjack, tribulis, pomegranate, tulsi, ginseng, several more complimentary or incidental), supplemental boron to increase testosterone ( just to reach mineral sufficiency), and I plan on trying puerarin or other isoflavone supps, maybe actovegin, or at least I may set up my own PRP centrifuge
When I have a cold I’ll take Sudafed (banned some places and not others) before a Turkey Trot. I’m old and slow and don’t win anything except for the occasional race raffle.
The shame.
I haven’t read the rest of the thread, but I can just about guarantee that someone here will scream and yell that you were the biggest doper since FloJo.
Been a minute, but have used the following, not necessarily concurrently
Testosterone Equipose Deca EPO Clomid (and some of the sister compounds like it; exemestane, nolvadex, etc.) Stims
I know I've used gray-area stuff as well, but literally can't remember which because truth is gray-area supps are a waste of time. I'm sure a few will come to mind later on I've forgotten about
ama
Why did you take them? Was it just to get Swole? Or was it to prepare for some sort of competition? Thank you for any explanation.
What downsides does EPO have? Assuming microdosing
Heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, seizures…other than that, you’re good. Microdosing has nothing to do with it- the overall affect of the drug is what matters.
Thank you. People need to understand the risks involved with these substances.
What downsides does EPO have? Assuming microdosing
Among others, cancer. At higher doses, dying in your sleep was really common--the heartbeat slows, then just stops. But this probably wouldn't happen with microdosing.
Of course it can. The whole point of taking epo is to increase the number of your red blood cells. These cells carry oxygen. More red blood cells equals more oxygen to your cells. More oxygen to your cells means you go anaerobic much further down the road than you would have otherwise. Whether you’re using whopping doses of epo or “micro dosing”, both serve to increase your red cell mass/hgb/hct. The higher the high/hct, the higher the viscosity of the blood. When the heart rate slows down during rest/sleep, the blood that is so viscous now clots easier. Because of this, the first blood vessel off of your heart clots off and creates what is called a “widowmaker” heart attack. As mentioned previously, increase in h/h leads to clots in general- meaning potential showers of clots to your extremities, brain, etc. Allergic reactions are not uncommon in icu patients after prolonged use, which can also happen to “regular” people using epo or its derivatives long term. Be very wary of an elite athlete that has “aplastic anemia”…that’s a bit of a tell.
As an aside, I don’t think there has ever been a documented case of epo causing cancer. The thought is that epo is basically a growth factor- in turn promoting the growth of a cancer that is already there.
There's some studies supporting benefits with Dehydroepiandrostone (DHEA). Mainly with older individuals due to the steady decline of DHEA due to aging.
An increase of free testosterone seen with middle-aged men after an acute dose of DHEA prior to a HIIT workout:
With advancing age, plasma testosterone levels decline, with free testosterone levels declining more significantly than total testosterone. This fall is thought to underlie the development of physical and mental weakness that...
DHEA enhanced the effects of weight training with elderly individuals (65-78). A significant increase in lean muscle mass & strength seen vs placebo group:
DHEA supplementation may increase serum IGF-I levels especially in women and older subjects. However, further studies are warranted before DHEA can be recommended for clinical use.
Been a minute, but have used the following, not necessarily concurrently
Testosterone Equipose Deca EPO Clomid (and some of the sister compounds like it; exemestane, nolvadex, etc.) Stims
I know I've used gray-area stuff as well, but literally can't remember which because truth is gray-area supps are a waste of time. I'm sure a few will come to mind later on I've forgotten about
ama
Why did you take them? Was it just to get Swole? Or was it to prepare for some sort of competition? Thank you for any explanation.
i got into cycling as a way to escape life, with zero plan to ever compete, literally wasn't on my radar at all
but i loved it and wanted to be able to ride more, which by the way is in my opinion the #1 reason most non-professionals actually dope: they just love working out and want to be able to do it more often and with more intensity
i was using about 1.5-2.0mgs/kg/wk of test and the same of either deca or eq for roughly 1 year. eventually was convinced by fellow cyclists i met out on the road to compete. i gave it a go and won my first race by so much they didn't realize i had won until the lead moto notified the officials.
i stopped using after my first season as a cat5, naively concerned i'd get popped. first few months off sucked, of course, but lost about 6 pounds and by start of next season was even stronger w/kg than before. so i knew at that point test and other aas were truly not needed.
several years later as a cat1 having guest rode for some pro teams (D3, US based) and listened to their convos and the general chatter in the peloton it was clear the only thing that reeeally worked was epo. you'd be beating guys easily, then 4 weeks later they mop the floor with you. it didn't make sense to me until some vets explained how the sport works.
the offseason before i stopped racing, after having done tons of research, i took the plunge because i wanted to see if epo was really what everyone was saying or if it was hype
after doing 50iu/kg eod for 2 weeks and then 50iu/kg e4d for 4 weeks, i was transformed into an absolute god. my w/kg numbers were D1 level for sure (though my experience and ability to read a race was still like cat2 level), 11.5 w/kg for 1' and 6.2 w/kg for 20'
at that point i was like, i can't hide with those numbers. a pro team will absolutely pick me up and then what? i'm totally fkd because i would then have to rely on doping to sustain that and absolutely did not want to get caught. so i hung it up having seen reality. the boost, especially for someone like me that is naturally a 400-800 type relative to running, is just so absurd that it's hard to believe without experiencing it for yourself.
and i got it from papp's site. i'm literally on some list somewhere that thank god never got released.
most will not understand my choices and likely vilify me or say i'm morally bankrupt. fair enough, i don't take it personally. i'm just that type of person who has an insatiable appetite for knowledge. oh you say the stove top is hot, mom? i want to touch it and find out for myself.
trying epo prob saved me 3-4 more years of thinking i could make a living turning the cranks.
