This is one reason I keep banging on about longevity.

Anyone who thinks there aren’t long term negative effects from steroid use is deluded. All we can really do is accept them and try to minimalize them.
Cholesterol levels will change and not for the better, so to help we can live a healthy lifestyle. Fish oils, fresh foods, minimal processed foods, stop smoking, curb alcohol etc etc. All the stuff that anyone should be doing to live a healthy life.

Blood pressure is kept low by exercise, healthy eating etc etc. The same approach as with keeping cholesterol level good.

Liver damage tends to result mainly from orals, so keep them to a minimum or don’t use them at all. Also, bear in mind that usually for every pill we take to cure or treat one thing, it usually has a detrimental effect somewhere else. Serms and anti estrogens, for example, aren’t without possible long term detrimental effects.

Steroids are also linked with cysts on the liver, so I suppose to a certain extent, it’s pot luck.

Other risks are to do with your reproductive system. That’s why we should cycle on and off, to prevent short damage changes becoming long term and irreversible.

It’s not all bad though. Most bodybuilding steroid users will not be morbidly obese. Being obese and sedentary has just as negative an effect on health, if not more, than that of sensible recreational steroid users. Smoking, eating fried, heavily processed food, drinking to excess and generally lazing about are equally damaging in my book. That’s my excuse anyway.

For most part, I live clean. Once in a blue moon I'll eat out or have a pizza, but mostly really clean. I take fish oil, but don't eat fish. I hate fish. I don't drink, smoke, or do drugs. Havnt in years, except a few times when recently in Amsterdam, I smoked a few hits of weed, but it was Amsterdam.


I made the same argument to my girlfriend, who is unbelievably supportive about decisions I make. I said although there could be some health risk, there are some to holding fat around my belly, or to not get in good shape. I'm like you, I plan on this in moderation. Once I reach my goals, I'll problem dial it down some. We'll see.

The good thing is, I get tons of blood work done. CBC with Diff, TSH, T3, T4, and testosterone will I ask. I'll check my blood pressure often.

What would tip me off my cholesterol is getting high in the bad kind? Or would I have to request my doc run that test.

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Don't know what happens in the states re blood tests, but here in the UK we'd have to request a cholesterol test from a doc or go private. So yes, I'd guess you'd need to request a full cholsesterol test. Just getting the total is no good. You need a full breakdown.

Luckily for me, my cholesterol is good for my age, so I guess I have a bit of leeway for the last couple of decades of my life

But as I said, who knows, I might just be made like that rather than it being a result of healthy lifestyle. But I look around me at people my age and there aren't many who work out, eat healthily, don't smoke or drink and keep their weight under control. I think I look a lot better and feel a lot healthier and mobile than they are.

I'm always impressed when I see guys your age doing what you do. I know how hard it is to stay motivated, and you've kept at it. I live the iron, I don't ever want to stop.

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I've had periods when I haven't trained. I've slipped a few discs in my back over the years and been away from the gym for six months once, but once it's in your blood it stays there.

I don't know what I'd do if I could never train again. Might as well die I suppose.

It's another reason I don't want to retire any time soon. I work out with younger colleagues at work a lot and that definitely keeps me young - mentally as well as physically. Can't let the cocky bastards out train me

That is awesome. One think I've realized is fitness can make friends out of all types of people who may not otherwise even know each other.

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