Steroids that do not cause virilizing effects in women

Steroids use among women is not as popular as among men. However, the number of those who want to build a nice body through anabolics is quite high, and it continue to raise every year. And it is not about professional female bodybuilders or athletes only. There are ordinary women who would like to give a try to these gears, but are concerned about their side effects. When it comes to steroids and women, the biggest concern is about virilization side effect these drugs have on women body. That�s why in this article we will talk about anabolics that has less or almost no virilization side effects, and how to manage to stay safe while building muscle mass.

Anabolic steroids are safe drugs, if used properly. This is available for both women and men. Taking them with responsibility and in right doses are the key points that prevent the occurrence of any unwanted side effects. When it comes to women, they are safer using these compounds, since they take them in much lower doses than men do. If you are informed enough to choose a steroid that carry low virilizing properties, than you can be sure that great muscle mass would be achieved.

But what is virilization? It is the antagonist of femininity, and women fear it enough to think twice before getting involved in steroids use. It is about developing some masculine traits, as a result of hormonal changes caused by steroids use. Anabolic steroids are synthetic derivatives of the natural produced by the body hormone testosterone. Whereas testosterone is a male hormone, women body produce it too, but in much lower doses. When taking steroids, the testosterone level increased, leading to unwanted virilizing effects.  Even taking in much lower doses compared to men use, the likelihood of facing such effects as body hair growth, voice deepening, and clitoris enlargement are still present.

It is quite hard for a women to even imagine such a picture, not even to accept that it may happens to her too. Despite of this, there are many women who succeed to build  great bodies, preserving their femininity. Of course, you ask how? Indeed this is simple.  Reading a lot about anabolic steroids, getting informed which steroids are the most androgenic and which one fit women use are just based steps to take before planning any steroids cycle. If you do it blindly, than the likelihood that you will end up failing is very high.

How to avoid virilization
Knowing which steroids are safe for you, and which ones to avoid is main criteria for staying away of any virilization effect. Bear in mind, that even taken �no virilization� steroids for women you are at risk to develop some of the unwanted side effects. This is because we are different, our bodies might have different reaction to the same drug. Thereby, is impossible and totally wrong to talk about a wonder steroid with �no virilization�, when there are still chances to occurs in someone. So, let�s stay realistics and do not idealize the use of steroids. After all, you take some risks every time using any other drug. But the sense of reality is what you have to follow all the time.

Here are four steps to take for avoiding virilizing effects:
-Choose steroids that present low or almost no virilizing properties. Usually, the more powerful is the steroid, the less suited is for women use. Thus, mild anabolic steroids are the first choice for women.
-Interrupt the steroids use if you body begin to develop virilizing effects. Carefully watching your body while running a steroids cycle is tremendous for safe use. Listen to first signs your body display to you and take a timeout if you are not  happy with what you get if the smartest decision to take for you. Allow you more time for understanding what you did wrong, change the steroid or doses to stay safe next time. The good news with steroids use, is that any side effect disappear once you cease their use. So,  just stop using them if you notice something bad, and your body will begin to return to its previous functions.
-Use steroids in low doses. People think that taking higher doses lead to bigger gains. It is a big mistake, that undoubtedly end up with a range of dangerous effects for your health. Begin with lower doses, and stick to them during the all course. Over time, once you gain some experience with steroids use, and checked your body reaction to it, you can go with higher doses with no damage for your health.
-Short steroid cycle. A six weeks cycling is maximum you can follow to get great results and stay safe. More longer cycles automatically increases the risks of developing virilization side effects and not only.

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Women Should Slow It Down To See Toned Muscle Results

A great way to challenge your workout and really get your muscles to bulk a bit is to spend more time on your actual movements. Instead of doing fast reps with small to medium weight to exhaustion try this technique: make your movements take 3-5 counts in both directions. For example, when doing a chest press work slowly to extend the arms. Once in extended position take the same amount of time to come down.

Talk about a quick burn and exhaustion! You are not only lifting the weight but you are taking gravity into more consideration. Just think how hard you have to concentrate on the movements to get a nice slow stable form. This really challenges the muscles and joints and makes those tiny tears necessary to build great definition!

Once too tired to lift any more reps take a quick break (no longer than 60 seconds and repeat). The shorter the break the better workout your muscles are going to get AND your heart rate will stay up to increase calorie burn. It takes about 3 minutes for muscle recovery therefore your rest should never be this long, the goal is to tire your muscles out after all. I recommend 30 second rest breaks.

Post workup refuel with a protein shake, a good cool down and lots of water!

Make your whole body workout follow this plan- legs, arms, backs, shoulders, abs, etc. Keep the movements smooth and controlled. With this slow plan you are also going to improve stability and help to strengthen the joints and connective tissue.

When doing squats using your butt muscles for control move slowly in position, a great addition is to stay in the squat for 5-10 seconds, or you can do bouncing squats for this time before slowly coming up. Back extensions, dead lifts, push ups everything gets slowed down.

You will notice that your reps will decrease significantly than if you were doing the medium to fast pace before. That is great, it means you are pushing yourself. If you are lifting an amount where you can still do 10 or more reps then you need to increase your weight. It is ok for women to increase their weights. Really push yourself because it is the only way results are going to pile on.

A FEW TIPS
You can decrease your normal lifting weight by 10-20% just make sure to keep the pace slow!

DO NOT stop till you are unable to go farther!

Remember your body needs a rest so keep the workouts to every other day. Overloading the muscles can lead to injury and obviously if you are injured you are not going to be able to build the great toned and strong body you are going after. Plus the rest will really help to increase your metabolism and allow the results to come much faster.

Eat plenty of protein to assist in the muscle development. You can only build muscle if you have enough resources!

Try this workout for 30-40 days after which switch it up to avoid plateauing.

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How Women's Fitness Differs From Men's

Women�s fitness differs from men's fitness like night differs from day. Therefore, achieving the fitness level desired requires a different approach. The main difference lies in the fact that men have an abundance of the male hormone testosterone, while women have an abundance of the female hormone estrogen.

Muscle Building

Men use weight training to put on muscle, but women can use weight training to tone and shape those muscles, add firmness and get tons of energy. Weight training for both men and women will help to develop a healthier heart with tougher connective tissue. Women will also benefit from protection against osteoporosis, which frequently becomes a problem post-menopause � something men do not have to worry about.

Metabolism

Metabolism is one way in which women differ from men in the fitness world. A man will burn more calories even when setting still than a woman will, so men lose weight with less exercise. Women have the upper hand over men when it comes to flexibility and stretching routines like Pilates and yoga.

Body Fat

Most men, when it comes to a vigorous workout, tend to work hard on the upper body, whereas women tend to work hard on the legs and buttocks. Women tend to have less muscle mass and more flexibility as compared to men, and hence have more body fat. Men, on the other hand, are less flexible because of their body structure and tend to have less fat.

Fitness Clothing

Something that might encourage women and men to get to the gym or out in the great outdoors is comfortable, flattering and long lasting men fitness clothes and women�s fitness clothes and shoes. Nice fitting clothes help a woman feel good and will keep you dry, relaxed and supported during the workouts. One way to put a stop to a good workout for either men or women is chafing, binding and pinching, so fitness clothes are a must have.

Goals

Women and men have very different fitness goals. A women�s fitness goal is to lose weight, a man�s fitness goal is to add more muscle mass. Men tend to think short-term; women tend to think long-term, even in the fitness world. Not only do women want to look good, but they also want to feel healthier.

After a hard day�s workout at the gym or in the great outdoors, settle down with your favorite fitness magazine. If you do not yet have one, go on line or to your local department or bookstore and find one. They will not only provide support and encouragement, they will also give you ideas for how you and your male workout partner can benefit from each other.

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Side Effects of Steroids for Women

Steroids are synthetic versions of the hormone testosterone. Doctors prescribe steroids to treat medical conditions, such as delayed puberty and wasting diseases. Steroids are also used illegally for improved athletic abilities and physical appearance. Though steroid abuse was once popular primarily among bodybuilders, it has grown increasingly common among males and females of various walks of life, according to the United States Department of Justice. Steroids may cause numerous side effects in women.

Menstrual Abnormalities and Infertility
Male and female bodies produce testosterone. In women's bodies, testosterone is stored in the ovaries and other tissues throughout the reproductive system. Since steroids replicate testosterone, steroid use may trigger hormonal shifts. As a result, women may experience menstrual abnormalities my occur. Women may experience fewer periods, lighter or heavier menstrual flow, erratic periods or unusual premenstrual symptoms. If a woman stops menstruating , a condition called amenhorrea, it may indicate infertility--another potential side effect of steroid use according to the United States Department of Justice.

Masculine Effects
The term androgenic refers to changes males encounter during puberty. Due to the androgenic properties of steroids, women may experience side effects similar to symptoms males experience during pubescent years, such as a deeper voice and increased body or facial hair. According to the Mayo Clinic, steroid use may also cause unusual clitoris growth and baldness. Women's breasts may reduce in size and some effects, such as voice changes, may be permanent.

Emotional Effects
Steroids may also affect a woman's emotions. Potential emotional side effects include mood swings, mania, a false sense of invincibility, depression, anxiousness, irritability and hostility. Though emotional side effects of steroids can affect women and men, women may experience worsened moods during before menstruation. Women with history of mental illness, such as depression or anxiety, may risk relapses or greater need for psychological treatment. According to the Mayo Clinic, people may become dependent on steroids, resulting in heightened emotional problems during and after steroid use.

Physical Effects
In addition to appearance and menstrual changes, steroids may cause severe acne, water retention or bloating, liver disorders, sexual disorders and unhealthy cholesterol levels. High cholesterol caused by steroids may lead to cardiovascular conditions, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Taking steroids during pregnancy may negatively affect fetal development.

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What are the Best Steroids for Women?

It may seem surprising but Anadrol (oxymetholone) is a good choice for women who wish to be conservative yet have very effective results.

Medically, you�d be astonished at the doses women and even girls have taken with very low virilization rates. So anyway, contrary to what intuition might suggest, Anadrol is not one of the riskier choices for women.

That aside, 15 mg/day of Anavar (oxandrolone) will be virilizing in quite a few cases. Probably about 5 mg/day of oxandrolone is comparable to 25 mg/day Anadrol (divided doses) for risk.

Primobolan up to 50 mg/week, divided injections, is a common and reasonable choice, but has some risk: not a particularly high rate though.

In the earlier parts of Denise Rutkowski�s career, he had her on 25 mg/day Anadrol. I ??? a secret, because he also published this. She obviously did very well with it and at that point she was not virilized at all.

The medical doses are pretty astonishing. The reason that 50 mg is the tablet size is because that�s the standard minimal medical dose, including for women and children! It used to be used extensively for improving red blood cell count.

You see some women developing hoarse voices and facial hair naturally with time, so there must be some women that are right on the edge. But generally speaking, this is a conservative dose, yet quite effective.

The mg amount that women can tolerate of Anadrol is markedly higher than any other anabolic steroid. However, that said, it�s also true that effect per mg is less, but not enough so to make up the safety difference IMO. I would put 25 mg/day Anadrol (in divided doses) up against 50 mg/week Primo any time for effectiveness and it�s at least equally conservative.

Another thing about Anadrol that�s remarkable is that other anabolic steroids are very easily disruptive of the menstrual cycle. Even dosages such as 2.5 mg oxandrolone 2x/day commonly raise issues. Anadrol however medically has shown often only moderate effect on the menstrual cycle at 50 mg/day, 25 mg/day only lightened and shortened the cycles slightly. Remarkably less disruptive.

As a rough rule of thumb: take a dosage that would be quite moderate for a man, nearly the minimum likely to be recommended that could still give reasonable results for a novice, then divide by 10 to have something that�s moderate but effective for a woman.

For each individual steroid, suggested mild-but-effective dosage range may differ from the above slightly, and of course the above also is only approximate because there will be diffferent opinions as to what would be moderate for a man. But if having nothing else to work with, if you see or are considering a dosage and want to do a quick �reality check,� the above can help. For example, say that someone is proposing EQ at 100 mg/week. Multiply by 10, and our comparison would be to 1000 mg/week of EQ for a man. That�s well above being a mild cycle. So we can see at a glance that this EQ dose is off, without having had to remember specific values for each steroid.

Returning to the stacks and in general to anabolic steroids other than Anadrol for women:

It couldn�t possibly be that some stacking method might give better ratio of muscle gain to side effects, but as to whether we know what that is, that�s another question entirely. The best understood uses are single-drug, and single-drug works fine. Primo or Anadrol are my top two choices for bodybuilding and fitness; oxandrolone is also acceptable but must be lower dosed than those two; for quality of life enhancement, very very low dose testosterone works fine.

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What Women Need to Know About Growth Hormone

Women make more growth hormone (GH) than men. This is a (strange, but true) fact we established in my last article. We also established that the production of estrogen seems to be positively correlated with our levels of human growth hormone. The more estrogen we have circulating, the more growth hormone we produce. So, what does this really mean for us? Can we capitalize on our production of growth hormone? What happens when we aren�t making as much estrogen anymore? And can we use supplements and nutrition to enhance production of growth hormone and its effects?

Growth Hormone, Estrogen, and Testosterone
First, we make more growth hormone than men. Weird, right? It�s a pretty darn anabolic hormone and given that men are generally so much bigger and more muscular than us ladies, it seems odd that we make more. How is it we aren�t hulking she-beasts? Well, while there aren�t a lot of studies out there discussing this, I feel we don�t get as muscular as men largely due to the fact we do not make as much testosterone as men. Yes, while we make a lot of growth hormone, without coupling that with testosterone, muscle growth is limited.
However, it is very common to see women start to lose muscle and gain fat when they start going through menopause (when their estrogen starts to decrease). Most people associate this with the drop in estrogen, but I am inclined to think it is the combination of the loss of estrogen and growth hormone that contributes to this problem. Growth hormone and estrogen both have positive effects on hair, skin, and nails, and when we go through menopause these things tend to suffer. We lose our hair, our skin gets dry and creepy, our nails break and crack. I truly believe these two things combined and their dramatic reduction causes accelerated aging, loss of muscle and fat accumulation.

Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy
Which brings up a great question, what in the heck do we do when we go through menopause and our estrogen takes a nosedive? Well, if you ask me, I say find someone who specializes in bio-identical hormone replacement and start bio-identical estrogen (and probably testosterone) therapy. We know that women and men who are given exogenous estrogen produce more growth hormone. We also know that once the ovaries stop working our estrogen level plummets, and you�ll be hard pressed to get your natural levels to come up on their own. Thus, the only way you can really get adequate levels of estrogen and therefore, healthy levels of growth hormone, is to supplement estrogen. Bio-identical therapy is the safest and most beneficial way to go about doing that.

What�s Up With the Muscle-y Ladies?
Of course, we all know some women who are naturally much more muscular than average and if you�re into fitness and health this is usually seen as a good thing. Of course, many of us see a muscular woman and jump to the conclusion she must be using steroids. Before we accuse these ladies of  �using,� let�s consider they may be making the most of their higher growth hormone production. There are several ways they may be doing things differently that allows them to take advantage of their GH.
First, these muscular women are probably engaging in some very intense exercise. Hard-hitting workouts increase growth hormone levels in both men and women, with the highest GH production occurring when workouts last longer than ten minutes and push athletes past their lactate threshold. General strength training has been shown to increase GH levels in both men and women. However, women need more intense strength training with less rest and more work done in a set amount of time to raise their growth hormone above baseline. This may be why we see women who engage in intense workouts like CrossFit developing more muscular and leaner physiques. The intense exercise, little rest, and considerable volume of work CrossFit athletes engage in on a regular basis primes their bodies to produce more GH, form muscle, and burn fat.
Women athletes can also maximize their GH production by eating protein post-workout. Studies have shown GH levels increase with the ingestion of whey protein after a workout. Also, due to the high GH levels and increased insulin sensitivity post workout, macronutrients eaten after a workout will be shuttled into muscle cells and be used to fuel and grow new muscle. If you aren�t taking advantage of the post-workout window by ingesting protein, namely whey protein, then you are missing a grand opportunity to improve your body composition and up your GH.
Oh, and occasionally not eating can also increase your GH levels. You may have heard of intermittent fasting. There are tons of benefits to fasting besides increased GH production, of course, but it has been shown to increase GH by 1300% in women during a 24-hour fast. WHAT?! This is thought to occur in an effort to protect the bodies lean muscle mass and protect other metabolic functions. The key word here is intermittent, however. If you fast too often or for too long your body will be forced to slow its metabolism and alter endocrine production to stay alive. You�ll likely end up burning muscle and hanging on to fat.

Supplements and Sleep for More Growth Hormone
There are some important supplements you may also want to add to improve your growth hormone production. The amino acids arginine and orthinine have both been associated with increased GH levels. The magic dose of arginine appears to be somewhere between 5 and 9 grams daily and orthinine is around 170 mg per kilogram per day. Studies have shown that only high doses of these two supplements actually stimulates an increase in GH. So, if you�re going to supplement with these two amino acids don�t waste your money by doing tiny doses.
Lastly, let�s talk about sleep! Have you ever heard that your body repairs itself at night? Sure you have. Now, be honest. Are you getting enough shuteye? If you�re not, you�re missing a prime opportunity to allow your body to produce GH. This is actually when the body normally produces the majority of growth hormone. So sleep is pretty darn important to recovery and body composition goals. Quality and quantity of shuteye are also are important. Make it a goal to get around eight hours of sleep per night and make sure you are following those sleep rules. You want a cool, dark room, and you want to avoid stimulation from the TV, computer, and exercise prior to bed.
So, that about sums it up. Ladies, if you want to get leaner, stronger, and keep your bones, skin, and hair healthy and pretty, then you want to maximize your growth hormone production. If you can implement the aforementioned strategies you�ll be well on your way to making the most of your naturally higher GH levels.

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Why Woman Should Lift Weights

Why Women Do Need a Strength Training Routine

We know that increasing and maintaining adequate muscle mass is one of the best ways to keep body fat at bay and to improve overall fitness, particularly as we age. We also know that weight lifting is the best way to build muscle mass. Still, the number of women who actually participate in any formal or consistent weight training workout is still extremely low. Most women who exercise are spending most of their gym time on cardiovascular exercise. Whatever your reasons for avoiding the weights, if you are a woman, here are ten reasons why you need to take strength training seriously.

    You Will Be Physically Stronger.
    Increasing your strength will make you far less dependent upon others for assistance in daily living. Chores will be easier, lifting kids, groceries and laundry will no longer push you to the max. If your maximum strength is increased, daily tasks and routine exercise will be far less likely to cause injury. Research studies conclude that even moderate weight training can increase a woman's strength by 30 to 50 percent. Research also shows that women can develop their strength at the same rate as men.

    You Will Lose Body Fat.
    Studies performed by Wayne Westcott, PhD, from the South Shore YMCA in Quincy, Massachusetts, found that the average woman who strength trains two to three times a week for two months will gain nearly two pounds of muscle and will lose 3.5 pounds of fat. As your lean muscle increases so does your resting metabolism, and you burn more calories all day long. Generally speaking, for each pound of muscle you gain, you burn 35 to 50 more calories each day. That can really add up.

    You Will Gain Strength Without Bulk.
    Researchers also found that unlike men, women typically don't gain size from strength training, because compared to men, women have 10 to 30 times less of the hormones that cause muscle hypertrophy. You will, however, develop muscle tone and definition. This is a bonus.

    You Decrease Your Risk Of Osteoporosis.
    Research has found that weight training can increase spinal bone mineral density (and enhance bone modeling) by 13 percent in six months. This, coupled with an adequate amount of dietary calcium, can be a women's best defense against osteoporosis.

    You Will Improve Your Athletic Performance.
    Over and over research concludes that strength training improves athletic ability in all but the very elite athletes (See Article). Golfers can significantly increase their driving power. Cyclists are able to continue for longer periods of time with less fatigue. Skiers improve technique and reduce injury. Whatever sport you play, strength training has been shown to improve overall performance as well as decrease the risk of injury.

    You Will Reduce Your Risk Of Injury, Back Pain and Arthritis.
    Strength training not only builds stronger muscles, but also builds stronger connective tissues and increases joint stability. This acts as reinforcement for the joints and helps prevent injury. A recent 12-year study showed that strengthening the low-back muscles had an 80 percent success rate in eliminating or alleviating low-back pain. Other studies have indicated that weight training can ease the pain of osteoarthritis and strengthen joints.

    You Will Reduce Your Risk of Heart Disease.
    According to Dr. Barry A. Franklin, of William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, weight training can improve cardiovascular health in several ways, including lowering LDL ("bad") cholesterol, increasing HDL ("good") cholesterol and lowering blood pressure. When cardiovascular exercise is added, these benefits are maximized.

    You Will Reduce Your Risk of Diabetes.
    In addition, Dr. Franklin noted that weight training may improve the way the body processes sugar, which may reduce the risk of diabetes. Adult-onset diabetes is a growing problem for women and men. Research indicates that weight training can increase glucose utilization in the body by 23 percent in four months.

    It Is Never Too Late To Benefit.
    Women in their 70s and 80s have built up significant strength through weight training and studies show that strength improvements are possible at any age. Note, however, that a strength training professional should always supervise older participants.

    You Will Improve Your Attitude And Fight Depression.
    A Harvard study found that 10 weeks of strength training reduced clinical depression symptoms more successfully than standard counseling did. Women who strength train commonly report feeling more confident and capable as a result of their program, all important factors in fighting depression.

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Breaking the Myth: If I Lift Heavy I'll Look Like A Man!

Rosie Chee talks about another myth - If I lift Heavy I'll end up looking like a man! Rosie explains the facts about resistance training.

You hear it time and again from females in and out of the gym, when it is suggested to them that they either a) lift weights, or b) increase the weight that they are lifting. �I don't want to do that, because I don't want to look like a man.� Many people, males included, have come to believe that for a female to lift weights means that she will somehow transform into the stereotype image of the female bodybuilder. This is simply NOT the reality of females and resistance training. This article will discuss and compare the physiology, the hormonal adaptations to resistance training, and the role of diet in gaining muscle, in both males and females.

Whilst males and females are structurally similar, there are many physiological differences that affect the sexes' ability to gain muscle mass.
Hormones

The primary reason that females cannot gain muscle mass as fast or to the extent as males is the difference in hormone status.

Testosterone is one of the androgenic hormones responsible for anabolism in the body. It is testosterone that is responsible for masculine traits (i.e. excess hair (especially facial), deepening of voice, increase in muscle mass). Both males and females produce testosterone, as it is necessary for hormonal balance and body function. However, males have much HIGHER levels of testosterone than females, with the �normal� range of total testosterone (in the bloodstream) being 0.95-4.3 pg/dl, compared to the 0.7-3.6 pg/dl of females. However, it is not so much the total amount of testosterone that an individual has that determines their potential/ability for muscle growth, since most of the testosterone in the body is bound to either sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) or other non-specific proteins such as albumin, but their levels of FREE testosterone (i.e. the amount of testosterone that is NOT bound in the body). In males 0.3-5% (with an average of 2%) of their total testosterone if free, with their free testosterone normal values being 270-1100 ng/dl, compared to only 6-86 ng/dl of free testosterone available to females.

The female �equivalent� of testosterone is estrogen. Whilst estrogen may increase Growth Hormone (GH), it also increases a) SHBG, which decreases the amount of free testosterone in the body; and b) cortisol, which reduces muscle mass.
Muscle Fibres and Types

There is a similar distribution of the percentage of Type I, Type IIa, and Type IIb muscle fibres in both males and females. However, females have ~60-80% of the muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and whole muscle anatomical cross-sectional area (ACSA) than that of males. Therefore, despite the potential for muscle hypertrophy in a relatively short period of time, similar percentage increases in either muscle mass or volume as a result of resistance training, results in smaller total overall gains in CSA and ACSA in females than in males.
Resistance Training and Hormonal Adaptations

Studies have shown that resistance training acutely increases total testosterone in males; whereas there is NO change in females. However, free testosterone HAS been shown to be elevated up to 25% in females after resistance training. Yet, because females have less free testosterone than males at rest, any increase is not significant enough to allow for muscle hypertrophy to the extent of a male. Therefore, it has been suggested that other anabolic hormones, such as GH may be responsible for hypertrophy in females.
Role of Diet in Gaining Muscle

Diet is an important component of gaining muscle mass. To gain muscle mass one needs to be eating MORE than Maintenance calories. Because females are generally smaller than males (i.e. smaller bone size and mass, less muscle mass, etc.), they generally require (and eat) LESS than males. If a female ate the amount that a male ate to gain mass, they would most likely end up gaining a lot of unwanted bodyfat along with muscle hypertrophy. Females are also generally more prone to eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, etc. that are detrimental to muscle hypertrophy, and cause muscle loss.
Conclusion

Masculinization in females does not occur as a result of [heavy] weight training, but rather because of the excess of androgenic hormones (i.e. testosterone) coupled with the correct stimulus for muscle growth (i.e. chronic resistance training AND diet directed at muscle growth). The stereotype image of the female bodybuilder in the media is a result of said females chronically using androgenic compounds (i.e. steroids) in order to increase their muscle mass and size. For the female who is NOT doing this, they can lift as hard and as heavy as they want, and will come nowhere close to �looking like a man?".

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Women Bodybuilding Tips For Taking Steroids Safely

The Mick Hart blog has always said that bodybuilding views should be expressed honestly, without prejudice and straight in-yer-face. SO, we would like to introduce a great friend of the �Bull� to you who WILL no doubt, like us, tell it straight and �like it is!� We give you��. Emma James � A memorable interview for women bodybuilding!!!
�I can�t really remember how it all started. I just started training when I was 13 years old and then found out very quickly that I had the genetics of my Grandmother so all I had to do was look at a weight and I instantly put on muscle.

I was competing in women bodybuilding by the time I was 16 years old and natural and continued until I was 22. I don�t remember getting any comments or problems from anyone, especially being from Northern Ireland where attitudes tend to be somewhat archaic. At 22 I went into powerlifting and began a really successful career, which resulted in finally winning the WPF World Championships in 2000 at Graz, Austria, and also won best overall female lifter.

Three years prior to this I had started taking anabolic steroids. I had taken long and painstaking efforts to research as many products as I could, talk to as many people as I could and read as much literature as I could get my hands on but still the information for women bodybuilders was virtually non existent. I can remember being put on Sustanon 250 by a well meaning person who hadn�t really thought about what it would do to a woman. One voice drop later and few extra hairs on my chin I came to realise that this substance was not for me!! And so the trial and error went on.

I noticed I kept getting called sir on the telephone and called sir from behind!! OK � time to worry. I really had to try and find someone who could help me with the steroid situation and how I should take steroids, as I knew that soon I was going to look facially like a man if I wasn�t careful and if I wanted to keep competing then I had to do something fast. I wasn�t prepared to sacrifice all my femininity and was going to have to work hard at the remaining amount I had left! At the end of the day if you want to be up there � you got to take the consequences.

I found that the Primabolan I had been taking, over an extended period of time and even with carefully spaced cycles was giving me side effects so I even came off that. It was then that a close and trusted friend of mine came up with the idea of trying a fast acting testosterone, something that doesn�t hang around in the system. I tried taking Virormone and found that I had no further side effects and then I also took Testex 250, one shot a week, when I went back into bodybuilding and the side effects have now stopped. I have adopted that strategy now for the last year and I have had no more voice drop, no more facial hair, no more clitoral enlargement (much to the disappointment of one person!) and now feel and look more feminine than I have in years. I�ll list for you what I tried and the side effects:

Deca Durabalon: instant voice drop and facial hair

Winstrol: Chronic water retention, mood swings, exceptionally aggressive (as in �I want to kill you now)
Sustanon 250: Chronic water retention, voice drop

Primobolan: After careful usage of about 1 year of cycles I had voice drop and facial hair.

Testex 250: Water retention after 24hrs subsiding within 72 hours � no other side effects. Real hard and full look with it and felt really good.

Virormone: No water retention, no other side effects.

Test Suspension: Oooohh didn�t like this at all! No side effects just huge aggression.

Ganabol: 2ml per week gave me outstanding results with minimal side effects. NB: hard to get the real thing.

The list could go on but these are the main ones I tried.�

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5 Reasons You Should Support Women's Bodybuilding

All bodybuilders are athletes. It's time we give the ladies the same respect we give to the men. Here are five reasons you should support brawny women!
Female bodybuilders get a lot of hate. In fact, many women who blur the lines between what is "normal" masculinity and femininity are ridiculed for their "manly" bodies. Because female bodybuilders have more muscle than most men who don't train, they're laughed at. Instead of being celebrated for their hard work and intense dedication to a difficult lifestyle, they're regarded as "unattractive," "unnatural," and, worst of all, "gross."

Reality check: not everything women do is for men's viewing pleasure. Bodybuilding is a sport. Female bodybuilders are athletes. They deserve your respect.

Still not sure you can get past the whole idea of cheering for a woman whose biceps are twice as big as yours? Let me help you out with five observations:

1  Building Muscle Mass Is More Difficult for Women

Men are genetically designed to carry more muscle�they're generally bigger and heavier than women.
Although a lot of women worry that lifting weights will make them bulky, the truth is that most women don't have the testosterone (or eat enough) to build mass to the same degree that men do.
As a result, female bodybuilders can do the same amount of training as men, and with the same intensity, without achieving the same results. In other words, women work just as hard but get less bang for their buck. Talk about frustrating.
I know, I know, "But steroids!" Clean or not, female bodybuilders have to do a lot of work.

2  Female Bodybuilders Compete Under More Stringent Regulations

If you've never perused the IFBB rules for female bodybuilding, you should. Male competitors don't have any limit to how big they can get. In fact, the bigger the better. Women, on the other hand, have to present a "muscular, yet feminine shape.1" "Femininity" is subjective�it's up to competitors to interpret the rules and then try to apply them.
Besides putting on fake eyelashes and doing their nails, female bodybuilders have to make sure they're not too big. In fact, the IFBB regulations also state that for women, "muscular development must not be carried to such an excess that it resembles the massive muscularity of the male physique."
Lady bodybuilders have to be big, yes, but also shapely, feminine, pretty, and graceful. That's a pretty long list of attributes to fulfill.

3  It's More Difficult for Women to Become Ultra Lean

For reasons having to do with reproduction, women are designed to hold 6-11 percent more body fat than men do. According to some studies, the hormone estrogen also makes it more difficult for women to burn fat2. So, not only do women carry more body fat than men, but it also takes more work for them to lose it.
Now, don't get me wrong�I'm not knocking male bodybuilders. But women have to fight their body to be rid of stored fat. The male body uses fat much more efficiently, and men's additional muscle mass expends more energy. For women, getting lean enough to see glute striations is probably more difficult than we fans can even imagine.

4  Female Bodybuilders Are Less Socially Accepted than Male Bodybuilders

The stigma attached to female bodybuilding goes far beyond the steroid conversation. Our Western culture tells women to be skinny, weak, and above all, desirable.
Women who bodybuild are not weak, they're not skinny, and to most people, they're too masculine-looking to be considered desirable.
Sure, hardcore fans of the sport appreciate female bodybuilding, but the majority of people in and out of the fitness community feel discomfort with the blurring gender boundaries.
I would argue that female bodybuilders have the bravery to ignore the social standards of their culture and do what they love. To me, that's awesome.

5  They're Breaking the Glass Ceiling!

Female bodybuilders are constantly showing the world what women are capable of doing. Women can be strong. We can have big muscles. We can be totally shredded. It doesn't matter what "parts" you were born with�you should be able to create the body you want, society be damned.

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