How Much Muscle Can You Build With & Without Steroids?

Summary

This video explores the limits of natural muscle growth and the impact of steroids on muscle development. The speaker, a natural bodybuilder, shares his 15-year journey gaining 27 pounds of muscle and compares it with scientific studies showing that steroids can triple muscle gains. The video also discusses the potential health risks of steroids and emphasizes the importance of understanding one's body before considering enhancement. It concludes by highlighting the value of genetic potential and the need to assess training advice based on its merit rather than the size of the trainer.

Takeaways

• 💪 Natural muscle growth typically peaks after gaining 20-40 pounds for men and 12-24 pounds for women, with a gradual plateau as genetics limit further gains.
• 🏆 The speaker, a natural bodybuilder, gained 27 pounds of muscle in 15 years without steroids, illustrating a common growth pattern for natural lifters.
• 📈 Optimal natural training involves high-intensity workouts, consistent technique, variety in exercises, and progressive overload with 5-15 sets per muscle group weekly.
• 🥩 A proper diet for muscle growth includes a moderate caloric surplus and sufficient protein intake, about 0.7 grams per pound of body weight.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Examples of natural bodybuilders like Alex Leonidas and Jeffrey Scofield demonstrate that significant muscle gains are achievable without steroids.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Historical bodybuilders from the pre-steroid era show that impressive physiques were achievable naturally, though modern training and nutrition have advanced since then.
• 🧪 A study by Boston et al. (1996) showed that steroid use can lead to over three times the muscle gain compared to natural training alone in a controlled 10-week period.
• 🚀 Even without training, a group taking steroids in the study gained significant muscle mass, highlighting the potent effect of anabolic steroids on muscle growth.
• 🤔 The dosage of steroids can greatly influence muscle gains, with higher doses leading to more pronounced results, but also potentially more side effects.
• 💉 High-level competitive bodybuilders may take doses significantly higher than those used in studies, which can lead to extreme muscle gains but also increased health risks.
• 🌟 Genetics play a crucial role in how individuals respond to both natural training and anabolic steroids, with a wide range of outcomes observed among users.
• ⚠️ Steroid use comes with health risks, including heart issues, visual side effects, and the potential for other long-term damage, despite possible mitigation strategies.

Q & A

What is the general muscle gain potential for a natural bodybuilder?

The script suggests that most natural lifters can expect to gain between 20 to 40 pounds of muscle mass, with faster growth at the beginning and slower growth as they approach their natural genetic limit.

How much muscle did the speaker gain in their first five years of training?

The speaker gained around 20 pounds of muscle in their first five years of lifting.

What is the average muscle gain for someone training naturally over a decade?

The speaker has built a total of 27 pounds or 12 kilos of muscle in 15 years of natural training, with a significant portion gained in the first five years.

What are some key training principles for maximizing natural muscle growth?

To maximize natural muscle growth, one should train hard regularly, approach failure, maintain consistent technique, perform enough training volume (5 to 15 sets per muscle per week), and vary exercises while progressively adding weight or reps over time.

What dietary habits are recommended for someone looking to maximize natural muscle growth?

A diet with enough calories in a moderate surplus for at least half of the lifting time and sufficient protein intake (at least 0.7 grams per pound of body weight or 1.6 grams per kilo) is recommended.

What are some examples of natural bodybuilders who have maximized their potential?

Examples given are Alex Leonidas, who put on roughly 40 pounds of muscle in 13 years, and Jeffrey Verity Scofield, who gained about 43 pounds of muscle across 10 years of lifting.

What was the average muscle gain for the group that trained and took steroids in the 1996 study by Boston and colleagues?

The group that trained and took steroids gained an average of 13.4 pounds of muscle in 10 weeks.

What was the muscle gain for the group that took steroids but did not train in the same study?

The group that took steroids but did not train still gained an average of 7 pounds of muscle in 10 weeks.

How does the muscle gain from steroids compare to natural training in terms of efficiency?

The script indicates that the muscle gain from steroids can be more than three times the amount gained by natural training alone, as seen in the 1996 study.

What is the range of steroid dosages taken by high-level competitive bodybuilders according to the anonymous expert?

The dosages can range from 1,000 milligrams a week up to four to five thousand milligrams a week, depending on the competitive level.

What are some of the potential side effects of using steroids as listed by the National Institute of Health?

Potential side effects include higher risk of high blood pressure, blood clots, heart attacks, stroke, artery damage, as well as visual side effects like gynecomastia, balding, acne, abscesses, and oily skin.

What is the speaker's stance on the use of steroids for bodybuilding?

The speaker is not anti-steroid but emphasizes the importance of understanding the benefits and risks associated with their use, suggesting that individuals should maximize their natural potential first before considering the use of steroids.

Why is it suggested to evaluate training advice based on its merits rather than the size of the person giving it?

The size of a person can be influenced by factors such as steroids and genetics, which do not necessarily reflect the quality of their training advice. Sound reasoning, scientific evidence, and experience should be the basis for evaluating training advice.

What is the significance of the speaker's own experience in the context of the video?

The speaker's personal experience as a natural bodybuilder winning a gold medal at the Canadian Natural Bodybuilding Nationals serves as a relatable example and lends credibility to the discussion on natural muscle gain potential.