Starting AAS Later in Life vs. Younger

[adrenalytic]

I've heard both sides stating that if you start blasting later (40+) that you don't have the accumulated organ stress of someone who has been blasting for a decade or more and therefore have more "wiggle room" in your dose exploration.

The other side of the coin says that starting younger builds adaptations, allowing experienced users to better recover/rejuvenate their health markers off-cycle and better tolerate high doses on-cycle.

So which camp are you in? I'm sure it's much more nuanced than these two simplified views so go ahead and educate me. As a new AAS user at age 46, I'm very interested in what realistic expectations I should have as I experiment with future cycles.

 

[Tr3nbal0n3]

The real answer sits right in the middle of those two camps to be honest.
It’s not just about age or whether you start young versus old, it’s really about education and responsibility. Most of the problems don’t come from the drugs themselves, they come from guys jumping on gear with zero understanding of what they’re doing. They don’t know how to read or track bloodwork before, during, and after a cycle. They have no clue about their genetic predispositions, like a family history of heart disease, clotting disorders, or prostate cancer that might mean they shouldn’t even touch steroids in the first place. They don’t understand aromatase inhibitors or when they should or shouldn’t be used. They don’t know what ancillaries they need, how to manage blood pressure, or how to protect their lipids, liver, and kidneys.
At the same time, they also neglect basic health markers, like keeping blood pressure in check, getting heart scans, or watching their cholesterol. They don’t think about the supplements and support systems that should go alongside gear use, like CoQ10, fish oil, NAC, and cardio work to support the body under extra stress. And they usually don’t have a long-term plan,
Another major part of the equation that rarely gets talked about is financial stability. Running gear responsibly isn’t just about grabbing a $45 vial of test and calling it a day. If you do it the right way, you’re paying for consistent bloodwork, possible TRT clinic costs if your natural production doesn’t come back, ancillaries like HCG or SERMs, peptides if you’re running them, and a stack of supplements to protect your organs and health. All of that adds up quickly and can cost a lot of money. If someone isn’t in a position to afford those expenses, they’re forced to cut corners, and that’s how permanent damage happens. At the end of the day, the truth is that outcomes aren’t dictated purely by age. The biggest factor is knowledge. and long-term planning. Those are what separate the guys who run into major issues from the ones who manage to keep things under control. Most of the real risks come from ignorance, not from the compounds alone.

 

[Tr3nbal0n3]

The real answer sits right in the middle of those two camps to be honest.
It’s not just about age or whether you start young versus old, it’s really about education and responsibility. Most of the problems don’t come from the drugs themselves, they come from guys jumping on gear with zero understanding of what they’re doing. They don’t know how to read or track bloodwork before, during, and after a cycle. They have no clue about their genetic predispositions, like a family history of heart disease, clotting disorders, or prostate cancer that might mean they shouldn’t even touch steroids in the first place. They don’t understand aromatase inhibitors or when they should or shouldn’t be used. They don’t know what ancillaries they need, how to manage blood pressure, or how to protect their lipids, liver, and kidneys.
At the same time, they also neglect basic health markers, like keeping blood pressure in check, getting heart scans, or watching their cholesterol. They don’t think about the supplements and support systems that should go alongside gear use, like CoQ10, fish oil, NAC, and cardio work to support the body under extra stress. And they usually don’t have a long-term plan,
Another major part of the equation that rarely gets talked about is financial stability. Running gear responsibly isn’t just about grabbing a $45 vial of test and calling it a day. If you do it the right way, you’re paying for consistent bloodwork, possible TRT clinic costs if your natural production doesn’t come back, ancillaries like HCG or SERMs, peptides if you’re running them, and a stack of supplements to protect your organs and health. All of that adds up quickly and can cost a lot of money. If someone isn’t in a position to afford those expenses, they’re forced to cut corners, and that’s how permanent damage happens. At the end of the day, the truth is that outcomes aren’t dictated purely by age. The biggest factor is knowledge. and long-term planning. Those are what separate the guys who run into major issues from the ones who manage to keep things under control. Most of the real risks come from ignorance, not from the compounds alone.

 

[trtchin]

 

[Mishka]

I started at like 21 - with test only.

If I could live my life again - with my knowledge of today - I'd start at 14 and blast grams of gear and would start to work my ass off to earn money to blast huge amounts of GH as long as I still live w/ mom and dad and have to pay for nearly nothing.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[urmumsurdad30]

I started at like 21 - with test only.

If I could live my life again - with my knowledge of today - I'd start at 14 and blast grams of gear and would start to work my ass off to earn money to blast huge amounts of GH as long as I still live w/ mom and dad and have to pay for nearly nothing.

Just my 2 cents.

Wow different to me. I started at 20, and if I could go back, I would've most definitely waited it out longer. Gain knowledge and a deeper understanding about everything physique development etc. but first and foremost, be absolutely certain that this is the path I want to take.

I don't regret my choice but with outside life factors and the trajectory, it's definitely made this passion of mine a bit more dull..

Trying to rekindle that flame right now tbh (working on it).

 

[Mishka]

Wow different to me. I started at 20, and if I could go back, I would've most definitely waited it out longer. Gain knowledge and a deeper understanding about everything physique development etc. but first and foremost, be absolutely certain that this is the path I want to take.

I don't regret my choice but with outside life factors and the trajectory, it's definitely made this passion of mine a bit more dull..

Trying to rekindle that flame right now tbh (working on it).

Maybe we have differfent goals tho - I'd want to be a walking tank now - I am already too old (33) and just look like crap.

Guys like Nick Walker did it right - he is what? 31? - and he looks 100 times better than me.

 

[Bandern]

I started at 26 earlier this year (27 now). My thought was that if I did wind up doing some amount of damage I’d rather do it while I’m younger and more resilient.

General plan is to blast my socks off, so to speak, for 10 years or so and then tone it down and focus more on maintenance once I’ve built something beefy and beautiful.

 

[adrenalytic]

The real answer sits right in the middle of those two camps to be honest.
It’s not just about age or whether you start young versus old, it’s really about education and responsibility. Most of the problems don’t come from the drugs themselves, they come from guys jumping on gear with zero understanding of what they’re doing. They don’t know how to read or track bloodwork before, during, and after a cycle. They have no clue about their genetic predispositions, like a family history of heart disease, clotting disorders, or prostate cancer that might mean they shouldn’t even touch steroids in the first place. They don’t understand aromatase inhibitors or when they should or shouldn’t be used. They don’t know what ancillaries they need, how to manage blood pressure, or how to protect their lipids, liver, and kidneys.
At the same time, they also neglect basic health markers, like keeping blood pressure in check, getting heart scans, or watching their cholesterol. They don’t think about the supplements and support systems that should go alongside gear use, like CoQ10, fish oil, NAC, and cardio work to support the body under extra stress. And they usually don’t have a long-term plan,
Another major part of the equation that rarely gets talked about is financial stability. Running gear responsibly isn’t just about grabbing a $45 vial of test and calling it a day. If you do it the right way, you’re paying for consistent bloodwork, possible TRT clinic costs if your natural production doesn’t come back, ancillaries like HCG or SERMs, peptides if you’re running them, and a stack of supplements to protect your organs and health. All of that adds up quickly and can cost a lot of money. If someone isn’t in a position to afford those expenses, they’re forced to cut corners, and that’s how permanent damage happens. At the end of the day, the truth is that outcomes aren’t dictated purely by age. The biggest factor is knowledge. and long-term planning. Those are what separate the guys who run into major issues from the ones who manage to keep things under control. Most of the real risks come from ignorance, not from the compounds alone.

All great points. So let's say all of those things are equal and on point between a 25 year old user and a 45 year old user. Who, in your opinion, will have better outcomes in their senior years?

This is really the heart of my question.

 

[eery]

Would depend a lot on what your goals are, what do you want out of life, what are your values, what do you want your future to be?

 

[adrenalytic]

Would depend a lot on what your goals are, what do you want out of life, what are your values, what do you want your future to be?

That stuff is peripheral to the question at hand. No need to complicate it with variables (life has too many to consider for one hypothetical).

Pick a random answer to all those questions then apply it equally to a fictitious 25, 35, and 45 year old new AAS user. Who lives a longer, healthier life?

"I don't know" is a perfectly acceptable (and understandable) answer.

 

[wells14]

Seems to be a very polarizing issue. You get some people claiming you should completely max out your "natural potential" before even considering using gear, which I think is ridiculous as you'd be 35+ by the time you're getting close to that. On the other hand there's people using as teenagers. I believe if you're an adult (but not a teenager), have been training several years, diet, lifestyle, finances, training, etc all dialled in and you know you're definitely going to use at some point, you may as well start sooner than later. Obviously rushing into anything is going to be harmful, which is why extensive research is necessary. Personally I spent over 2 years researching before hopping on a TRT dose and still learn new things and make mistakes regularly.

 

[eery]

That stuff is peripheral to the question at hand. No need to complicate it with variables (life has too many to consider for one hypothetical).

Pick a random answer to all those questions then apply it equally to a fictitious 25, 35, and 45 year old new AAS user. Who lives a longer, healthier life?

"I don't know" is a perfectly acceptable (and understandable) answer.

If they both blast just as hard, for the same amounts , same compounds, taking equal care of their health and so on, i would put my money on the young guy.

 

[Slowww]

I think it is fine to start later. There are guys who started later and have had very good professional careers. There are still good Olympia pros in their 40s, open and classic. Training age is more important In bodybuilding than other sports because we can continue to manage hormones in the sport without being penalized in competition like other sports. Sure performance may decrease and quality may decrease, with age, but if it’s done right you can still do very well. There are guys who started young and are less successful than guys who started old. For example compare hollingshead with Andrew jacked (40), shier or even Samson (39) dauda. One started at what 14? and did the sport 18+ years, is not aesthetic, has poor shape and lower quality overall despite being younger and going longer and has basically been unable to crack the top of the sport or stopped making real steps forward, while the other ones all started as adults in their late 20s (26+) are getting to 40 soon and are still growing into their career or are bonafide elites. Being 40 hasn’t ruined skin quality, muscle texture, size, or aesthetics and shape. Then look at Dexter Jackson, and honestly there’s an entire list of 40+ athletes we could discuss in both open and classic including RPG, Durrah, Cambronero, Ansley, and the list goes on, so I really don’t see starting older as a limiting factor. You just have to be more careful about training, get high quality coaching quickly, dont mess around, and keep your health in check more than a younger guy.

Even for me personally I think if I keep going adding 15lbs of mass a year by the time Im 35, I could be fairly huge if I wanted too, but frankly i don’t think that is in the cards because I’m not willing to give up that kind of health as a man with a family. Being older also gives me the kind of foresight to actually judge if that’s a good idea or a goal that I should chase, and keeps me from being reckless and potentially giving up a lot more than my health. We’ve seen young body builders chasing mass leave a young family behind, and really no man wants to do this, no matter how big they want to get.

 

[BabaJagga]

That stuff is peripheral to the question at hand. No need to complicate it with variables (life has too many to consider for one hypothetical).

Pick a random answer to all those questions then apply it equally to a fictitious 25, 35, and 45 year old new AAS user. Who lives a longer, healthier life?

"I don't know" is a perfectly acceptable (and understandable) answer.

i would say it strongly depends. if someone was obese for most of their life (me), and started blasting it could be more healthy at the end of the day. my health markers improved big time since i started this year.

but if someone was athletic for whole life and started with moderate aas use in early 40"s, he will be at better health state i would say.

again, i think it depends on individual and "bigger picture".

 

[adrenalytic]

i would say it strongly depends. if someone was obese for most of their life (me), and started blasting it could be more healthy at the end of the day. my health markers improved big time since i started this year.

but if someone was athletic for whole life and started with moderate aas use in early 40"s, he will be at better health state i would say.

again, i think it depends on individual and "bigger picture".

It absolutely depends on all those things. It also depends on whether someone has any pre-existing conditions, genetics, family history, lives in a hot or cold climate, has all of their limbs intact, trains with intensity...I could go on forever but you get the point.

What I'm asking is "all things being equal other than the age at which they start AAS, who has the advantage on longevity and QoL?"

 

[readalot]

I'm very interested in what realistic expectations I should have as I experiment with future cycles

At an individual level, I have not a fucking clue. But subbed to your thread nonetheless. Thanks for making it.

 

[readalot]

The first picture that comes to mind reading this thread.

Survivorship bias - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

I am sure there are some folks who won't be posting in this thread that could offer valuable anecdotes. Valuable to themselves after the fact.

 

[xrayphoton13]

I think if you compare it to drinking alcohol that could be somewhat of a guide for you.
I'm about to be 40. There is no way I will drink as much alcohol now as I did when I was 21. Having a hangover all day only to drink again the next night. I thought it was fun at the time but I would definitely cut back if I could do it over. Could I drink as much now? Maybe. But I mentally won't allow it bc I don't want to feel like shit all night and the next day.
I know my body is older now and not as efficient as it was back then. So I think as you get older you don't want to deal with as many side effects so you lower the dose or pick compounds that give less side effects. You also know your body can't perform as well as it used to and you start to realize you aren't invincible or immortal so you choose to not push it as hard, whether that's steroids or alcohol. The people who don't realize these things and keep acting like they are 21 all their life are the ones who end up with cirrhosis of the liver, kidney failure, heart failure, death, etc.
So can you handle steroids later in life? Sure. But do it in a less haphazard manner than a 21 year old. Do the research on steroids and their side effects, learn the protocols, how to use ancillaries, and so on. Get regular labwork and start with a highly experienced coach to guide you

 

[adrenalytic]

I think if you compare it to drinking alcohol that could be somewhat of a guide for you.
I'm about to be 40. There is no way I will drink as much alcohol now as I did when I was 21. Having a hangover all day only to drink again the next night. I thought it was fun at the time but I would definitely cut back if I could do it over. Could I drink as much now? Maybe. But I mentally won't allow it bc I don't want to feel like shit all night and the next day.
I know my body is older now and not as efficient as it was back then. So I think as you get older you don't want to deal with as many side effects so you lower the dose or pick compounds that give less side effects. You also know your body can't perform as well as it used to and you start to realize you aren't invincible or immortal so you choose to not push it as hard, whether that's steroids or alcohol. The people who don't realize these things and keep acting like they are 21 all their life are the ones who end up with cirrhosis of the liver, kidney failure, heart failure, death, etc.
So can you handle steroids later in life? Sure. But do it in a less haphazard manner than a 21 year old. Do the research on steroids and their side effects, learn the protocols, how to use ancillaries, and so on. Get regular labwork and start with a highly experienced coach to guide you

Interesting metaphor (or is it a simile?). I quit drinking altogether at age 42 so I can absolutely relate. But what about someone who has never had a drop of alcohol but decides to start drinking in their 40's? They would have no baseline for "how much is too much" until they experience their first hangover, right? Yes, you would be more cautious (I am) than a fresh 21 year old but the "buzz" (gains) could keep them coming back to push the envelope.

Would this be similar to steroids in that I could push a high dose until I get my metaphorical hangover (gyno, behavioral changes, erythropoiesis, etc.) and pull back before lasting damage is done? Is my first hangover more severe based on my advanced age vs. that 21 year old pup? Is my untainted liver a factor? If so, to what extent?

Do the research on steroids and their side effects, learn the protocols, how to use ancillaries, and so on. Get regular labwork and start with a highly experienced coach to guide you

Yah, I'm all over this. I studied as much as I could absorb before I made the final plunge. But even if I had spent years researching, nothing is more educational than experience and I'd be foolish to say I got it all down before I hopped on cycle. I am still learning more every day.

Good input so far, my dudes.