More Muscles From The Bottle

Sculpted arms without breaking a sweat? Two minutes a day to chiseled abs?

Teens preoccupied with defined muscles or attempting to gain weight were more likely to take potentially harmful supplements at least weekly, report researchers in a new study in Pediatrics.

Girls trying to look like women in the media and boys who perused fashion, health, and men's magazines were also more likely to take such products regularly, including weight loss drinks, protein powders and shakes, creatine, amino acids, growth hormone, and steroids.

About a third of both boys and girls reported often thinking about or desiring toned muscles.

[ USNews.com Health, Aug 01 2005 ]

I remember my elementary classmate who used to take steroids to grow muscles. Sure he grew muscles a la Arnold Schwarzenegger , but the thing is, if you look at him at that time, I'm sure you'd be amazed and puzzled about his morphology. He grew 'super muscles' in less than 5 months. The reason? He thought more muscles meant more girls. Later on, he found out that wasn't necessarily true.

There is nothing wrong in wanting to have six-pack abs or sculpted arms, but what is unusual is trying to achieve it as soon as possible using growth hormones, steroids, and other potentially unhealthful products.

Everything requires time and pure hard work --- eating the right food, exercising more, and proper strength/resistance training. Protein powders and supplements might be safe but taking anabolic steroids may cause harm to the body. Think in terms of testicular atrophy, impotence, liver and kidney damage, an increased risk for heart disease, and increased aggression.

Build muscles the old-fashioned way. And remember, not all girls go for buff.