<p>Some trainers tell those aspiring for toned bodies to ‘pop a pill’ before the workout to increase stamina and muscle building. They recommend steroids.</p>.<p>They say steroids can help you gain results in a short time. But the effects are adverse, and many people are not aware of them.</p>.<p>Manjunath V, fitness manager, The Fit Nation, says,”It is important for a trainer to have a good physique as many look up to him. In order to get that ideal body and more clients, many trainers depend on steroids,” he says.</p>.<p>An aware trainer will never recommend steroids because he is not a doctor, and hence is not qualified to understand the medical implications on a particular body.</p>.<p>Apart from daily mood swings, hormones change and testosterone drops when people take steroids, he warns.</p>.<p>“The right diet and workout can get you a dream body but it is a goal that cannot be achieved in a short time. People are risking their lives for faster results. One needs dedication and perseverance when it comes to fitness,” he says.</p>.<p>Prashanth Ponnappa, group fitness instructor and personal trainer, echoes the sentiment. “Most people don’t understand the side effects and do it mostly for show. Some of the long-term side effects of oral steroids include acne, high blood pressure, increased appetite resulting in weight gain and increased growth of body hair,” he says.</p>.<p>Dr S Manohar, director, internal medicine, Sakra World Hospital, says, “Anabolic steroids are not recommended at all. Youngsters are using them to increase their muscle girth which makes them look well-built. However, there are long-term effects on one’s endocrine mechanism and liver.”</p>.<p>He says there is no shortcut to fitness. Steroids can cause liver toxicity, and have a long-term effect on bone functions and the immune system, he warns.</p>.<p>“Effort and a good diet involving protein and other nutrients is the perfect way to go,” he says.</p>.<p><strong>Why you should keep away</strong></p>.<p>Steroids cause:<br />Damage to the testicles or ovaries<br />Liver diseases Kidneys, liver and heart malfunction.<br />‘Roid rage’, or uncontrollable outbursts of psychotic aggression.<br />Mood swings, including deep depression.</p>.<p><strong>Different types</strong><br />"Anabolic steroids used by sports personalities to enhance performance. Usually recommended by fitness trainers.</p>.<p>Corticosteroids or therapeutic steroids for spinal or brain injuries."</p>.<p>Dr Chirag Thonse, Specialist in sports injures and joint replacement surgeries, Fortis Hospitals, Bengaluru</p>
<p>Some trainers tell those aspiring for toned bodies to ‘pop a pill’ before the workout to increase stamina and muscle building. They recommend steroids.</p>.<p>They say steroids can help you gain results in a short time. But the effects are adverse, and many people are not aware of them.</p>.<p>Manjunath V, fitness manager, The Fit Nation, says,”It is important for a trainer to have a good physique as many look up to him. In order to get that ideal body and more clients, many trainers depend on steroids,” he says.</p>.<p>An aware trainer will never recommend steroids because he is not a doctor, and hence is not qualified to understand the medical implications on a particular body.</p>.<p>Apart from daily mood swings, hormones change and testosterone drops when people take steroids, he warns.</p>.<p>“The right diet and workout can get you a dream body but it is a goal that cannot be achieved in a short time. People are risking their lives for faster results. One needs dedication and perseverance when it comes to fitness,” he says.</p>.<p>Prashanth Ponnappa, group fitness instructor and personal trainer, echoes the sentiment. “Most people don’t understand the side effects and do it mostly for show. Some of the long-term side effects of oral steroids include acne, high blood pressure, increased appetite resulting in weight gain and increased growth of body hair,” he says.</p>.<p>Dr S Manohar, director, internal medicine, Sakra World Hospital, says, “Anabolic steroids are not recommended at all. Youngsters are using them to increase their muscle girth which makes them look well-built. However, there are long-term effects on one’s endocrine mechanism and liver.”</p>.<p>He says there is no shortcut to fitness. Steroids can cause liver toxicity, and have a long-term effect on bone functions and the immune system, he warns.</p>.<p>“Effort and a good diet involving protein and other nutrients is the perfect way to go,” he says.</p>.<p><strong>Why you should keep away</strong></p>.<p>Steroids cause:<br />Damage to the testicles or ovaries<br />Liver diseases Kidneys, liver and heart malfunction.<br />‘Roid rage’, or uncontrollable outbursts of psychotic aggression.<br />Mood swings, including deep depression.</p>.<p><strong>Different types</strong><br />"Anabolic steroids used by sports personalities to enhance performance. Usually recommended by fitness trainers.</p>.<p>Corticosteroids or therapeutic steroids for spinal or brain injuries."</p>.<p>Dr Chirag Thonse, Specialist in sports injures and joint replacement surgeries, Fortis Hospitals, Bengaluru</p>