Ba Jabba! Supplements vs Steroids

Still buzzing from the African King release I was informed by fellow gym mates that they now knew my secret! That I’m not natural! Ni jabba💉 because I use supplements 😧 🤣. I feel compelled to clear the air and draw a line between supplements and steroids.

Supplements
Dietary supplements are ingredients added to a nutrition protocol to enhance or complete it. These are typically vitamins, minerals, amino acids and herbs.
You should consider supplements if you have a deficiency i.e. if you’re vegan, or if it’s more convenient for you to reach your macronutrient goals this way i.e. whey protein for daily protein targets, or you simply want a little help to get you to your goals faster i.e. fat burners and appetite suppressants.

Steroids
These are the synthetic form of the male dominant hormone testosterone. Testosterone is present in both men and women but in varying amounts. There’s more in men. It’s what makes you a man. Ka ndevu 🧔‍♂️, aggression, motivation and drive, sexual desire and the ability to pack on muscle.

Signs of possible steroid use

• Gynecomastia - this is puffy nipples caused by excess testosterone converting to estrogen in the body. The technical term is aromatization. A fit looking lad with breasts is suspect.
• Acne - particularly on the face and back. This is caused by the hormonal fluctuations and imbalances created by steroid use. Middle aged men don’t suddenly experience puberty all over again.
• Shrunken testicles - I don’t know how you’ll verify this 😅 but just know that it’s a sign of possible steroid use. When you’re juicing you're elevating your testosterone levels and throwing your hormones off balance. Your body, as a response, will shut down natural testosterone production, which leads to smaller, less-active testicles. Only peeping Tom’s in the showers would know I guess.
• Deep voice, excess body and facial hair - caused by excess testosterone. If he didn’t have the gorilla gene 🧬 before but he has it now then it’s suspect. Again, middle aged men don’t suddenly experience puberty all over again.
• Rapid increases in strength - gym rats know how much work is required to pull certain amounts of weight so if some relative newbie quickly becomes King in the gym he might be on something 💉 .
• Extreme body transformation - again, developing a physique takes a lot of time and effort so if some chap makes it look easy and goes from zero to He-Man in 3 months he might be playing you. ✋🏾We don’t want to hear that it’s Creatine and that got them all them gains! Please, don’t mislead us 😒
• Bonus: ka temper temper. Look out for the moody ones with radical, unexplained shifts in temperament. Ninshi ma injection 💉 yambo sebenza.

Conclusion
Supplements are not miracle ingredients but they do offer a small boost to help you get to your goals faster if your budget allows. Want to feel like more of a man without jabbing? Consider creatine monohydrate, pre-workout and a credible test booster. Outside of that, the secret is hard work and consistency. Chapwa. Steroids will take you to another level but all that comes with side effects and adverse health issues. The decline is just as dramatic as the rise.

Supplementary reading:
Supplement playbook
Men’s health
African King