Just as many are aware of anabolic steroids’ notorious side effects, few need convincing regarding their effectiveness.
If you’ve known someone who has taken anabolic steroids and have observed their dramatic and rapid transformation firsthand — you will begin to understand the potency of these drugs.
Or, you may have seen your favourite Hollywood actor transform their body in a matter of weeks/months and wondered what they take to get so ripped.
No anabolic steroid works exactly the same. Thus, in this article you will see 10 before and after pictures from people who have taken various steroids — so you can see how each one affects the body differently (from an aesthetic perspective).
Steroids Before and After (First Cycles)
Educated novices will predominantly opt for Testosterone during their first cycle.
This is because Testosterone produces exceptional results, and is the least risky of options.
Testosterone poses little cardiovascular and almost no hepatic strain, which is unique compared to other anabolic steroids. This is why Testosterone is FDA-approved and prescribed to millions of men worldwide (who have clinically deficient endogenous levels).
Testosterone Before and After (Male First Cycle)
The results in this before and after are typical of a first steroid cycle, using Testosterone.
Testosterone enables users to build significant amounts of lean muscle, whilst simultaneously reducing subcutaneous fat stores. 15-20lbs of weight gain is common in novices during their first cycle.
Testosterone enanthate or cypionate are preferred esters, as they are slow-acting and thus require infrequent injections. Also, they are both cheap to purchase on the black market, making for an affordable cycle.
Testosterone Cycle for Men
Below is a sample cycle, commonly used by weightlifters to achieve a similar before and after transformation as the one above.
Women commonly use Anavar as their first cycle, because it doesn’t typically cause masculinization (unlike many other steroids).
Also, Anavar’s side effects are generally mild, with many females noticing no adverse effects. Plus it’s oral and thus beneficial to women put off by injectable steroids.
With Anavar, women can expect to build 7-10lbs of muscle, whilst stripping significant amounts of visceral and subcutaneous fat stores.
The scales may not fluctuate much due to this simultaneous fat-burning and mass-building effect. However, a woman’s body composition will significantly improve, with a leaner, fuller and more defined appearance.
Note: Many women will only ever take Anavar, as the majority of anabolic steroids cause virilization. The only exception to this is competitive female bodybuilders, who happily take harsher compounds, trading their femininity for bigger muscles.
Note: The above protocol is a common Anavar cycle for women, utilizing conservative dosages to avoid virilization/masculinization. Competitive female bodybuilders may take more aggressive dosages.
Anavar can also be taken by men as a first cycle (instead of Testosterone) if mass gain is less of a priority — and fat loss is more of one.
Thus, this essentially is a cutting cycle that will produce exceptional fat burning and moderate lean muscle gains. The scales won’t increase like they will on Testosterone, but the lipolytic (fat burning) effects will be greater.
Male beginners can tolerate higher dosages of Anavar compared to women, as they naturally have higher endogenous testosterone levels.
Note: The majority of a steroid users’ results will occur in the first couple of cycles, as these compounds are new to the body; causing gains to come thick and fast. After this, more powerful compounds can be used to prevent plateauing; albeit with more pronounced side effects.
Winstrol Before and After
Winstrol (Stanozolol) is a cutting steroid, used to build lean muscle mass; whilst simultaneously decreasing fat mass. It also has a diuretic effect, drying out the body and enhancing muscle definition.
Thus, its benefits are similar to Anavar’s; however, Winstrol causes harsher side effects — in regards to negative alterations in cholesterol and liver toxicity. Thus, Winstrol is not recommended for beginners.
Winstrol can cause masculinization in women; however, this may be avoided with very small dosages (no more than 5mg/day).
Dianabol Before and Ater
Dianabol is a steroid that can add up to 50lbs of mass to users when cycled multiple times and stacked with other bulking steroids.
Thus, it’s of no surprise that Dianabol is one of the most sought-after steroids on the market, due to its exceptional mass-building properties.
It was the steroid predominantly used in the golden era to bulk up Arnold Schwarzenegger and other greats from the 70s.
Even to this day, Dianabol continues to live up to its nickname — ‘The Grandfather of All Anabolic Steroids’.
Trenbolone Before and After
If there was one steroid a man could take to make him look photoshopped — Trenbolone would be it.
Trenbolone can be classed as a bulking or cutting steroid, due to its versatile nature. And it could rank at the top of each category, being an incredibly potent muscle builder and fat burner.
Trenbolone doesn’t cause weight gain like Dianabol, as it doesn’t increase water weight. However, it rivals Dianabol in terms of pure muscle tissue gained.
Trenbolone’s vast androgenicity is unrivaled, which is why it can burn significant amounts of fat — thanks to the AR (androgen receptor) stimulating lipolysis.
Trenbolone causes the greatest hypertrophy of androgen-sensitive muscle groups — such as the trapezius and deltoid muscles.
However, Trenbolone produces harsh side effects and thus should be strictly avoided by beginners. Testosterone suppression will be severe, as well as LDL cholesterol levels rising.
Deca Durabolin Before and After
The above before and after photo is a good illustration of the exceptional muscle fullness/thickness that Deca Durabolin can produce.
This effect is caused by Deca’s ability to increase intracellular fluid on-cycle; as well as promoting overall anabolism.
Deca Durabolin won’t cause incredible changes in muscle hypertrophy on its own; however, it will take mass to a new level, when stacked with other bulking steroids — such as Testosterone or Dianabol.
Deca Durabolin and Dianabol was a popular duo among golden-era bodybuilders, enabling them to successfully bulk up in the offseason. These were arguably the greatest physiques ever created — and are still idolized today.
Clenbuterol Before and After
Clenbuterol isn’t a steroid, but a sympathomimetic amine. It is often combined with anabolic steroids during cutting cycles, thanks to its potent effects on adrenaline and metabolism.
Users can experience rapid fat loss in just one short cycle of Clenbuterol, which typically lasts anywhere from 2-4 weeks.
Although muscle definition will increase on Clenbuterol, muscle size will predominantly stay the same — with its anabolism questionable in humans.
Clenbuterol’s lipolytic effects are greater than most anabolic steroids, due to it having a more stimulative effect on the central nervous system. Consequently, the spike in metabolism will enhance calorie expenditure at rest and reduce fat mass.
However, a user will become more susceptible to heart arrhythmia, nervousness or/and palpitations.
Anadrol Before and After
Anadrol is among the most powerful mass-building steroids. It is very similar to Dianabol, in regards to its ability to add strength and size — as well as being an oral.
Anadrol also is a ‘wet steroid’ meaning that it causes fluid retention when combined with a diet containing moderate amounts of sodium. Thus, it is predominantly used in the off-season as a bulking compound.
It is often stacked with Testosterone or Deca Durabolin (injectable steroids) for enhanced gains, without further compromising liver function.
Anadrol is one of the most toxic steroids you can take, in regards to hepatic and cardiac health.
HGH Before and After
Human growth hormone, or HGH, is a peptide hormone that bodybuilders take to enhance fat burning; and increase muscle hypertrophy.
HGH can take muscle gains to the next level if a bodybuilder has previously taken steroids to increase testosterone levels — but is yet to maximize their HGH.
HGH’s main benefit however is fat burning and thus its anabolic nature is milder than the average steroid.
As you can see from the before and after photo, this bodybuilder looks bigger, leaner and more defined.
However, his gut has grown in size, which is indicative of visceral fat gain. This is the fat that wraps around the organs and causes a distended look to the midsection. HGH is notorious for causing this appearance, due to it decreasing insulin sensitivity and aggravating insulin resistance — when used long term (1).
FAQ
Are Steroids Legal?
Anabolic steroids are controlled substances in almost every country in the world, thus being strictly illegal.
However, some steroids are FDA-approved in medicine, thus doctors can prescribe certain compounds (like Testosterone) within the confines of the law. However, this is to treat a hormonal imbalance, rather than being utilized for cosmetic purposes.
It’s worth noting that there are legal steroid alternatives that can produce impressive before and after transformations (see below):
The above transformations are taken from the Crazy Bulk website.
Crazy Bulk manufacture natural and FDA-approved compounds that mimic the anabolic effects of steroids — but without the side effects.
Thus, D-Bal will increase protein synthesis and nitrogen retention inside the muscle cell (a similar chemical process to Dianabol); however, it won’t increase blood pressure, raise liver values or shut down testosterone.
Furthermore, legal steroid alternatives won’t land you in trouble with the law.
How Long Does it Take to See Results From Steroids?
Some fast-acting steroids can produce results in a matter of days, such as Trenbolone, Winstrol, Dianabol or Anadrol.
You may even see a difference in muscle fullness/dryness in a matter of hours.
However, other steroids are slower to take effect, due to them having longer esters.
Although some compounds take longer to work, this does not mean that they are necessarily inferior; as the end result can be just as impressive as a shorter ester.
Do Steroids Change Your Face?
Anabolic steroids can change the structure of your face, giving it a more masculine appearance — particularly to the jawline. This applies to both genders.
Beard growth on the face can also be accelerated, with enhanced volume and thickness in previously patchy areas. This happens due to the 5a-reductase enzyme increasing the conversion of testosterone into DHT (dihydrotestosterone). Consequently, this hormone promotes hair growth on the body and face; but has the opposite effect on the scalp (accelerating balding).
One temporary downside with estrogenic steroids (Testosterone, Dianabol, Anadrol) is that they can cause water retention. This can often result in a puffy or bloated appearance to the facial region — albeit alleviating post-cycle.
After Someone Stops Steroids, Will They Lose Their Results?
Fat loss from steroids is permanent, and the only way this will reverse is if the person overeats and gains body fat.
Muscle gain from steroids is permanent if the user continues lifting weights. However, should the person cease training, they will lose their steroid-induced gains (as well as their natural ‘newbie gains’).
Scientists now understand that the permanent/long-term effects of steroids can be attributed to an increase in myonuclei.
Thus, through the principle of muscle memory, the body is able to ‘remember’ the steroid-induced muscle size and restore it in the future (2).
How Many Bodybuilders Take Steroids?
In 1989 researchers found that 54% of competitive male bodybuilders in Kansas and Missouri were taking steroids on a regular basis, with 10% of the female bodybuilders also admitted to such.
However, over the last 30 years there’s been a surge in steroid use among non-competitive bodybuilders — who take them purely for cosmetic reasons.
Currently, 1 million people in Britain are believed to be taking steroids (3) with 0.5% of the US adult population in 2004 openly admitting to taking them (4). Today this translates as approximately 1.3 million US adults, although the true figure is believed to be much higher than this; as many aren’t comfortable admitting to taking illegal drugs.
Conclusion: Are Steroids a Miracle Pill?
There is no denying the effectiveness of anabolic steroids; however, it is also important to understand the role that genetics, nutrition and workouts contribute to a person’s transformation.
Also, it is worth noting that less isn’t always more — in regards to steroid dosages and lengthy cycles. Many people will see a person’s body dramatically improve, but won’t see the underlying cardiac or hepatic damage occurring with each cycle.
Disclaimer: We are not definitely claiming the individuals in these before and after pictures have taken any steroids mentioned in this article. They are merely illustrating the effects certain steroids have for educational purposes.
