Ever since I started to play sports in middle school, I have always wanted to be the best, the strongest, and the most important player in any game. I am not a big person nor am I a skinny guy either. The average Army Soldier today is 5ft 8in, 176lbs. Today, I am 5ft 9in and weight 182lbs. Since it is a matter of national defense and life or death situation, it is my job to be in great shape and in good health all the time. I must maintain my current weight and must be drug free so that I can be focused on doing my job to the best of my ability. I must admit, I have been tempted and pressured a few times in my career to take performance-enhancing drugs, but I have never tried them for a good number of reasons.
When we hear the phrase “performance-enhancing drugs”, the first thing we mostly think about are steroids. Steroids are a type of enhancements, but there are many other types of categories and classifications. I remember many times as a child, I would hear stories about wrestlers and other athletes who were on top of their sports because they were using steroids. Back then, it wasn’t a big deal as it is today. One could just be told to stop using the enhancing drug and then nothing would happen, but in today’s world of sports, it would be a career ender. I agree with today’s rules and regulations on performance-enhancing drugs because they are not safe at all. No matter what it is you are taking them for, you will pay the consequences in the future.
Not all performance-enhancing drugs are for sports figures or for gaining satisfaction purposes, but some can be used for medical reasons. One might think that all painkillers are the same, but some can hide and kill the pain so that you could perform as if you don’t have an injury or an illness. Even drugs to control your nerves could be a type of performance-enhancing drug. In 1999, Barry Bonds, one of the greatest baseball players to ever play the game suffered an elbow injury which would take a while to heal. No big deal since that was a pretty common injury in baseball, but he would be back in the game in no time because he had taken some performance-enhancements to allow him to heal faster. Later, we would learn that the injury was more serious that what anyone thought. According to reports in the San Francisco Chronicle, “Kimberly Bell, who says she dated the ballplayer for nine years, told the jury in Bonds’ perjury trial that baseball’s home run champion blamed a 1999 career-threatening elbow injury on his steroid use. The drugs ‘somehow caused the muscles and tendons to grow faster than they could handle and (the elbow) somehow blew out,’ Bell said Bonds told her after the 1999 baseball season.” http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/03/28/MNMR1IKVC3.DTL Not all cases dealing with enhancing drugs are so hidden that it would take an injury to finally admit to using them, but in some cases they are quite noticeable.
Bodybuilding is a sport that has always caught my attention because of the beauty of how the body can become. I have been lifting weights for the past 7 years and have not notice much change in the way I look. As stated before, I have came close to taking enhancements such as steroids because I had reached my limit in to how much I could lift and how much my muscles could grow. I was not happy on how I looked or felt. I wanted to be the best I could be and at that time, I knew that I could do better. As I pondered the thought to use steroids, I would remember what my wife Janie, had told me years ago. “Babe, do you really think it is worth it and do you really know what you are doing.” The answer was no, I had no idea what I was doing and I didn’t think it was worth it. I had already done some research on steroid use and was just surprised to learn what I had read. Today, some people think that I am or were at one point taking steroids because of the way I look. Like I mentioned before, I am not a big guy and I am not the strongest either. I could understand why someone might think that I am on an enhancement, but after you get to know me and after you have done some research on performance-enhancing drugs, you would know that there is no way I have or will do that stuff. I have had the honor and privilege to meet some of the world’s best sports athletes and trust me, I could tell you who is on the “enhancements” and who is not. A picture can tell you a thousand things, but it could also be misleading. It is not until you see it for yourself that you will start to understand and believe the story behind the photo. I have a few pictures of me beside some of these sports icons and by comparing me to them in statue, well you could think whatever you may want.
The consequences to taking performance-enhancing drugs are just not worth it in my point of view. They are not only wrong to take, but could be a career ender or even life ending situation. Like I said before, I have been in the Army for 14 years and if I was taking steroids, I would have been kicked out for sure. I love to be in great shape, but I will not go out of my way to do whatever it is that I have to so that I can excel in my body and performance. I do take substances such as vitamins and protein supplements, but these are never classified as performance enhancers. Very few people should be using performance-enhancing drugs, but only under the care of a physician and for a limited time only.
Williams, Lance (2011, March 29) Barry Bonds’ ex says he discussed steroid use. <http://www.sfgate.com
De Los Santos, Janie. Personal interview. 24 August 2005
Here are a few pictures of a few "meat heads"...
I am pictured with them so that you can see how big of a difference they are. You can make you own conclusion and decide whether or not they are using "performance-enhancing drugs.
Here are a few pictures of a few "meat heads"...
I am pictured with them so that you can see how big of a difference they are. You can make you own conclusion and decide whether or not they are using "performance-enhancing drugs.
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| Mr. Olympia and I in 2009- Fort Hood,Tx |
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| Texas Shredder and I in 2011- Lubbock,Tx |
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| Dave Goodin- Texas Shredder 5'8, 178 lbs |
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| Jay Cutler - Mr. Olympia 5'9, 275 lbs |
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| Me at first contest in 2007 5'9, 165 lbs |
I blogged about PEDS as well, and even though it may seem as though I am for it because I made an argument for it. I do not condone it. Just like you, I want to be in the best shape possible. I train at a Crossfit gym now but even when I was training at corporate gym boxes, I could get steroids very easily. Someone always had a connection. Did I contemplate going on a cycle? Sure I did. I wanted to see what the fuss was all about and make some fast gains. In the long run, I chickened out because I couldn't trust what I was taking and even the amounts to take. Even though I had no plans to get on stage, I wanted that look bad! I lived the bodybuilder lifestyle; I ate way too much protein, I took all kinds of supplements, and I spent too much time in the gym. I've completely changed the way I train now thanks to Crossfit.
ReplyDeleteIt's crazy how you get sucked into the bodybuilding lifestyle, that you even contemplate taking steroids just to "look" better. All the magazines just suck you right into it. I wasn't getting paid to perform any athletic feats or to look a certain way. Kinda scary really.
My argument for PEDS is that on the professional level, everyone is doing it. With everyone doing it, how is it cheating? Is it ethical? No it definitely is not but I also wouldn't say it's always cheating. You stated, that some PEDS are used for medical purposes. If a doctor prescribes it to heal you, is it cheating? Is it ethical? Should it even be banned?
If you ask an athlete from the 50's thru 70's if they think there is a science advantage today compared to back then, not including PEDS. Every single one will say yes. We have supplements today they didn't have: BCAAs, simple protein shakes, Fish Oil, glutamine, and the list goes on. The food today is completely different. We have a better understanding of nutrition. I don't know about you but I can do 2 hours of cardio and lift weights for hours but if my diet isn't right, I'm still gonna look like crap. The food today is way better than food from the 50s and 60s. Our food is pumped with steroids, hormones, and chemicals. We have a better understanding today of how to take care of our bodies, we have surgical procedures, sports medicine practices that allow you to recover faster and perform better. So to a 50s thru 70's athlete, it's almost unfair that a modern athlete gets to break their records.
With my background in medicine and getting to interact with Medical researchers, they say HGH in the future will be common for the average person. We will use it to prolong and enhance our lives. Pharmaceutical companies will find a way to make it affordable and it will be like taking a daily multivitamin.
So are PEDS ethical? Such a loaded question but today, no. What about in the future?
BTW..looking good man. To step up on stage, I have much respect for you! Keep it up.
I plan on blogging on the same topic, but reading yours, it's pretty cool how you can personally relate to PED's. I for one, have never contemplated using them. I grew up playing sports and I am now in the military. I'm a pretty skinny guy, but in good shape. Right now I weigh about 165, but would like to be up around 180. I tried different supplements, but none seem to work, or I just don't use them enough or spend enough time in the gym. Now, being in the military, it is forbidden. I see some guys walking around that are pretty suspect, if you know what I mean. These guys are in the weight room all the time and maxing out their PRT scores and I wonder. Personally, I think if you can't naturally obtain something, then it's just not meant to be.
ReplyDeleteAthletes are a whole new subject. I personally think that if you can't hit a ball, run fastest, or whatever, then just accept it.
Bottom line is: don't use them, because in the long run, you're the loser.