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How Often Should You Workout on Steroids? (The Answer)

Tyler Sellers
Published by Tyler Sellers | Senior Coach
Last updated: August 8, 2023

As a long-time athletic trainer, I've seen countless steroid users pass through the gym.

Medically prescribed steroids can be beneficial, but I highly discourage my clients and everyone from using them recreationally, as they are illegal and can cause serious side effects.

However, for those of you who are willing to risk your health, I have a responsibility to at least educate you on how to be as safe as possible while using them.

I spent several days researching and speaking with my colleagues to determine how often it is safe to work out while on the cycle.

Quick Summary

  • Training frequency while on steroids depends on your experience level in exercising.
  • while on steroids, consider working out at least twice or thrice a week for positive and quick results.
  • Steroids present numerous side effects, which can be both mental, and physical. 

Should You Train More on Steroids?

A man holding kettlebell

You should not train more on steroids, regardless of whether you are a beginner or a professional athlete, because doing so may lead to overuse and eventual health problems.

Of course, it is without a doubt that working out on performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) can help you build muscle mass and lose weight.

However, research shows that beginners should not work out too much right away because their need for training increases as they gain experience [1]. In the long run, this demand for higher workouts may cause them to overuse PEDs.

Similarly, athletes who have been in the industry for an extended period may not benefit from working out too often.

Research suggests that regardless of how many days you choose to work out in a week, as long as you're doing it with enough volume, effort, and intensity, you can successfully stimulate your muscle fibers and continue to grow your muscles [2].

How Long Should You Train While on PEDs?

The amount of time you should train while on PEDs depends on the drug you choose, dosage amount, and duration of your cycle.

Additionally, you should never work out for longer than two hours during steroid use. Doing so may cause your body to produce too much cortisol, which can negatively affect your cardiovascular health, among other things [3].

If you're a beginner and have never taken PEDs before, start with a low dosage and gradually increase it until you find the right amount that works best for your body.

However, I must suggest healthier alternatives to anabolics with natural ingredients, which are much safer to use even for the long term. Coupled with a well-structured resistance training program, they can help you gain muscle and emphasize certain male features noticeably faster.

Furthermore, steroid users who have experienced deteriorating health and appearance may benefit even more from legal steroids, which have never caused hair loss, depression, or high blood pressure among my clients.

How to Safely Train on Steroids

Lifting EZ curl bar training biceps while in steroids

Whether you train with steroids or their natural counterparts, there are a few tips you should keep in mind for safety and maximum muscle growth, strength, and speed.

Full-Body Workouts Could Reduce Your Weekly Workout Schedule

Some experts claim that doing total-body workouts, even a few days a week, can help you build more muscle.

By working out every muscle group at once, you may be able to reduce your workout frequency and get a rest day between sessions to further increase recovery.

Working Out On Each Muscle Group Daily May Require More Sessions Per Week

Split training can be beneficial when using steroids because it allows the other muscles in your body to rest while you work on another.

In this manner, a body part can be worked more intensely and then fully recovered before being worked on again.

Giving Your Body One To Two Rest Days Per Week Can Improve The Effectiveness Of Your Workouts

Resting on the couch after training and doing workouts

According to research, excessive training without adequate recovery may impair muscle building.

This is because overtraining can lessen your muscles' ability to exert effort.

Excessive training can cause muscle and central nervous system (CNS) fatigue [4].

These fatigues can prevent you from performing at your best in the gym.

“Overexercising is counterproductive and can actually be dangerous to your health.”

- David Miranda, Physical Therapist

They can reduce your ability to fully activate your muscles during a set, provide less muscle fiber stimulation, and result in less productive reps and sets, all of which are beneficial to maximizing the potential for effective and faster muscle growth.

Effective Workout Routine While on PEDs

A muscular person doing lateral side raises

According to research, doing giant sets and supersets can help you maximize the effect of workout routines while on PEDs [5].

A giant set is a circuit of at least three different types of moves for a specific body part, performed one after another with little to no rest in between.

Here are examples of workouts that you can do for your upper back muscles:

After doing these, rest for a few minutes to catch your breath and repeat.

On the other hand, superset training includes alternating two sets of exercises with little to no rest.

This means you do a set of the first exercise, then go straight into the second set.

Then, rest and repeat the pattern until you've completed all the specified sets.

For example, do a set of biceps cable curls and a set of triceps dips one after the other until all sets are done.

Effects of PEDs

Using PEDs along with training can help you lose excess pounds, build stronger muscles, and feel better overall temporarily.

These benefits are possible because they increase testosterone (T) levels in the body [6].

As a result, men's sperm production, energy, and mood may improve.

However, long-term use can lead to a variety of severe negative consequences for your health.

For this reason, many bodybuilding enthusiasts choose legal steroids to boost T-levels naturally without compromising their health.

It would also be helpful to track your lifestyle to determine whether PEDs are right for you.

For example, if you drink alcohol every day, you're not a good candidate for working out with anabolic steroids.

Both alcohol and steroids can increase the risk of liver disease, which makes it extremely difficult for your body to process and remove them.

Legal steroids with natural ingredients are an even more sensible option to boost your energy, focus, and endurance if you have an existing medical condition.

What to Watch Out For

An athlete consulting to a health professional

If you decide to take PEDs, there are a few things you need to watch out for.

First, never take steroids without consulting a doctor.

Doing so can put your well-being at risk and cause severe health issues like liver and kidney damage.

Additionally, you should always take the dosage amount recommended by the doctor.

If you take more than the recommended amount, you may suffer side effects like manic depression, which can lead to “roid rage”, among many other serious short-term and long-term side effects [7].

Furthermore, you should drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and eat healthily to make the detoxification process a bit easier for your body.

FAQs

Do You Recover Faster on Steroids?

You can recover much faster on steroids because they speed up the body's natural processes of glycogen replenishment and protein synthesis [8].

This means you may be able to heal damaged muscles more quickly, and work out for more extended periods, more frequently, and at a higher intensity.

How Long Does It Take To Build Muscles on Steroids?

The amount of time it takes to build muscles on steroids varies depending on many factors, including your fitness level, the intensity of your workout routine, and the diet you follow.

According to research, an increase in muscle size and strength can be seen in as little as three weeks [9].

Should You Train Harder on Steroids?

You can train harder while on steroids because they can aid in a faster workout recovery process, allowing you to get bigger muscles faster.

But you should avoid overtraining, as excessive exercise can raise cortisol levels and strain your mind-muscle connection, preventing you from attaining neurological recovery and performing at your best while working out.

Safer Alternatives to Steroids

Professional bodybuilders on steroids might have faster-healing muscles than natural lifters, but they risk compromising their hormonal and cardiovascular health, along with numerous possible health complications.

That’s why I strongly encourage my clients and you, readers, to instead opt for natural alternatives such as these top-rated legal steroids, which consist of herbs, micronutrients, and macronutrients that have been studied for their role in improving testosterone production.

Here are our top picks:

Our testing data results show that these products not only accelerated muscle repair but improved mental focus and clarity for our clients, significantly fast-tracking their journey toward their ideal physique.


References:

  1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/fitness/art-20048269
  2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30558493/
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538239/
  4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3435910/
  5. https://medium.com/@JamesPaterson2016/3-workout-tips-to-maximise-the-effect-of-anabolic-steroids-81bb4cf65585
  6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482418/ 
  7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3827559/
  8. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/anabolic
  9. https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn6265-steroids-boost-performance-in-just-weeks/
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