anabolics
Synthetic hormone supplements
Anabolics are substances that promote tissue building in the body, especially muscle growth.
The term almost always refers to anabolic steroids—synthetic hormones used by athletes and bodybuilders to increase strength and mass: He's obviously on anabolics.
The word carries connotations of performance enhancement and, often, cheating or health risks.
Sports competitor
- competitionStruggle for supremacy
- dopingProhibited athletic drug use
- bannedOfficially disallowed
- suspensionTemporary halt or exclusion
WADA · anti-doping · testing · sanctions · cheating · scandal · cycling · powerlifting
Performance-enhancing hormones
- androgensMasculinizing steroid hormones
- syntheticProduced artificially, not natural
- testosteroneChief male sex hormone
- human growth hormonePituitary peptide promoting development
peptides · prohormones · injectable · oral · cycle · stack · ester · compound
Gaining size intentionally
gym · weights · lifting · workout · regimen · protein · nutrition · amino acids
Increase in tissue size
- hypertrophyTissue enlargement via cells
- protein synthesisAssembling amino acid chains
- testosteroneChief male sex hormone
- growth hormonePituitary signal for development
anabolism · muscle fibers · recovery · adaptation · tissue regeneration · cell growth · hormonal · endocrine
Unintended treatment consequences
- liver toxicityDamage to hepatic tissue
- cardiovascularOf heart and blood vessels
- cholesterolWaxy lipid in blood
- gynecomastiaMale breast tissue growth
acne · hair loss · virilization · hormonal imbalance · PCT · blood pressure · organ damage · dependency
athlete
Sports competitor
- competitionStruggle for supremacy
- dopingProhibited athletic drug use
- bannedOfficially disallowed
suspension · WADA · anti-doping · testing · sanctions · cheating · scandal · cycling · powerlifting · baseball
steroids
Performance-enhancing hormones
- androgensMasculinizing steroid hormones
- syntheticProduced artificially, not natural
- testosteroneChief male sex hormone
human growth hormone · peptides · prohormones · injectable · oral · cycle · stack · ester · compound
bulking
Gaining size intentionally
shredded · gym · weights · lifting · workout · regimen · protein · nutrition · amino acids · creatine
muscle growth
Increase in tissue size
- hypertrophyTissue enlargement via cells
- protein synthesisAssembling amino acid chains
- testosteroneChief male sex hormone
growth hormone · anabolism · muscle fibers · recovery · adaptation · tissue regeneration · cell growth · hormonal · endocrine
side effects
Unintended treatment consequences
- liver toxicityDamage to hepatic tissue
- cardiovascularOf heart and blood vessels
- cholesterolWaxy lipid in blood
gynecomastia · acne · hair loss · virilization · hormonal imbalance · PCT · blood pressure · organ damage · dependency · withdrawal
- anabolic steroidsMuscle-building hormones, synthetic