Following his victory at the 2023 Mr. Olympia, Chris Bumstead continues to engage online, featuring on various podcasts. In his recent YouTube appearance with Patrick Bet-David, Chris Bumstead delved into discussions about bodybuilding steroid cycles and the potential dangers of ‘hardcore’ drugs such as Anavar and Trenbolone.
In the past, people rarely discussed performance-enhancing drugs. Social media changed that, fostering open conversations. Bodybuilders commonly use substances like steroids for physique enhancement, hypertrophy, recovery, strength, and endurance.
Note: This content is for entertainment and general informational purposes only; it doesn’t replace professional medical advice.
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In a talk with Patrick Bet-David, a multi-millionaire entrepreneur and podcaster, Bumstead, with 22 million Instagram followers, acknowledged his influence on a younger fan base. As the five-time Classic Physique Olympia champion, Bumstead discussed the risks of performance-enhancing drugs and outlined his future expectations.
Chris Bumstead on Steroid Cycles – ‘Minimum Effective Dose’ Protocol and Concerns About ‘Hardcore Drugs’
Embarking on his bodybuilding journey, Bumstead stressed the importance of a ‘Minimum Effective Dose’ approach. Moreover, he highlighted having a trusted team and their commitment to always sticking to a minimal steroid dosage.
“I had people who I could trust who were helping me and they were always like minimum effective dose, always. Start with the least possible and go up from there.
And at a young age I had a run-in with my health issues and that’s when I was like okay, this didn’t cause it but it could make it worse.”
“So, you hear things like Tren and Anadrol and all these things and these are the hardcore ones. Alright, hardcore usually means harder on your body as well. If it works more, it’s probably harder on your body. Stay away from those.”
Bumstead suggests doctor prescriptions for bodybuilding cycles. He advises starting slowly: “Don’t throw the kitchen sink at it to start.”
“If you can get it prescribed from a doctor, it’s probably more researched and healthier. You’re going to be doing higher doses than a doctor would but minimum effective dose, it starts as small as possible and slowly increase. You don’t need to throw the kitchen sink at it to start. You start small and slowly progress over time and change every other variable before that variable.”
Surprisingly, Bumstead revealed he hasn’t changed the amount of steroids used in the last five years. As the five-time reigning Classic Physique Olympia champion, this disclosure is notable.
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“I haven’t had to change the amount of steroids I take for the last five years. It’s decreased over my career. Yeah,” said Bumstead. “I mean, muscle maturity too is a – real thing. You know, I’ve only been training for, I’ve been training for like 14 years.”
Bumstead Discusses Downsides of Steroid Cycles: ‘Side Effects Vary Greatly’
Furthermore, Cbum listed potential side effects of steroid use. These encompass infertility, an increased risk of heart disease, elevated cholesterol, and harm to vital organs with abuse. Notably, Bumstead cautioned against the permanent loss of natural testosterone, emphasizing the need for lifelong testosterone replacement therapy.
“I was doing a Q and A in Dubai the other week, and some kid just literally, probably 17 asked me if he should get on steroids. And I’m like, no.
First of all, I always tell people if you have to ask someone else you shouldn’t and the side effects to it can vary so greatly depending on the person you just never know what you’re going to.”
“You could do one cycle and then your natural testosterone could be dumped for the rest of your life where you have to be on TRT forever. It can make you infertile, it can lead to more risks of heart disease, increase of cholesterol, it can affect your liver, all of your organs, it can be very damaging especially when abused.”
Bumtead doesn’t recommend steroids to anyone, especially those of younger ages, stressing “don’t even begin to touch it.”“Which typically people can get addicted — not addicted like a drug but you get addicted to the result and the how you feel, how you feel, and all that stuff.
So, I definitely recommend anyone at a young age don’t even begin to touch it. If your physique is still progressing, don’t even think about touching it. And if you’re not thinking about doing this bodybuilding thing forever, then don’t even think about touching it.”
Moreover, with steroids posing potential lifelong damage, Bumstead emphasizes the need for cautious use under medical supervision.
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“Some people have an idea they want to compete, ‘Oh I’m going to do my first cycle and compete.’ And then they compete and they hate bodybuilding because it sucks. It’s a lot shittier than you think it is when you get into it, especially at a high level.”
“Now, you’ve done this potentially long-term damage to your body just for a 12-week prep to try and compete. You can’t go back on it. It’s just not worth it. So I just always tell kids it’s sad that it’s even to kids but to wait as long as possible to even think about it.
Before delving into PEDs, Bumstead advises fans to first reach their full genetic potential naturally.
“Make sure that your nutrition, your recovery, your training is all perfect, and it’s been perfect for years to the point where you hit your natural plateau where you can’t really make progress anymore.
And then entertain what’s it really worth it to you, understand the risk, is the risk worth it to you. Is it going to be a long-term thing or are you building your career going to school and this is just like a side hobby,” saysBumstead.
Cbum on Men w/ Low Test Over 35: “TRT Is A Great Thing For You”
Highlighting the potential risks associated with steroids produced in underground labs, Bumstead emphasizes the importance of TRT clinics. He asserts that men over 35 experiencing low testosterone can significantly benefit from TRT, leading to a notable increase in their quality of life.
“I think the world of TRT is different than steroids, the way I look at it. Steroids are a little more underground, they are higher doses, more compounds, more things going on. I think if you’re over the age of 35 and you have low T I think TRT is a great thing for you. I think being able to have that energy and be healthy and burn body fat to hate those capabilities is healthier than taking a little bit of TRT.”
In general, Bumstead recognizes that understanding steroids can pose challenges due to unreliable sources of information.
“Learning it, it’s hard. There’s a bunch of people on the internet now who talk a lot of bullshit and a lot of people who are really good so it’s hard to differentiate that.
But in any aspect, you can get shitty business advice and you can get good business advice. You have to do a lot of research.”
This wasn’t Chris Bumstead’s inaugural public appearance addressing the inner workings of the PED world. He specifically targeted Trenbolone, labeling it as the single most toxic drug in the industry. Noteworthy is Bumstead’s dedication to preserving his longevity, especially given his struggle with IGA Nephropathy—an autoimmune disease.
Following his historic fifth consecutive Classic Physique Olympia title, Chris Bumstead reflected on the challenging journey, primarily due to an untimely lat tear. Despite the setback, he overcame the injury and showcased a championship-tier physique to secure another gold trophy. In addressing his health, Bumstead opted for renal stem cell injections into his kidneys as a preventative measure.
Looking forward, Bumstead sets his sights on solidifying his position as a six-time Classic Physique Olympia in the upcoming year. The 2024 Mr. Olympia is poised to make history with its 60th-anniversary celebration, taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada.
View watch the full video on the Valuetainment YouTube channel below:
Overview
After his fifth Classic Physique Olympia win, Chris Bumstead openly discusses steroid cycles and ‘hardcore’ drug risks on Patrick Bet-David’s YouTube channel. With social media influence, he urges caution in drug use and emphasizes waiting until reaching genetic potential. Despite health challenges, he targets a historic sixth Classic Physique Olympia title in 2024, heightening anticipation for the 60th-anniversary celebration in Las Vegas.
Featured Image @cbum (Instagram), @Valuetainment (Youtube), @freepik (.com)