Mike O’Hearn has been a self proclaimed all-natural bodybuilder for his entire life and career. While many don’t believe him, he’s stayed consistent with his claims. However, this has not meant that he’s completely against discussing steroids, testosterone , and the pros and cons of these powerful substances. That’s why this week he brings back on the Transcend duo Ernie Colling and Jesse Kessler to answer fan questions about TRT, testosterone levels, and steroids. In Generation Iron and Barbend’s latest episode of The Mike O’Hearn Show, Mike gives surprising advice about the “right” time to start taking steroids.

Mike O’Hearn has always challenged the notion that testosterone is guaranteed to decline as you age. While yes, studies show this is true – this is not only directly tied to your age. It’s the kind of lifestyle you lived leading up to middle age. It is inevitable that natural testosterone production will start to decline in your body, there are many lifestyle choices to push off that inevitability much farther than many people realize. The way you eat, as well as if and how you exercise can play into your testosterone levels.

Transcend is a business that provides deep blood panel tests and expert advice as to what is exactly happening to your body and testosterone levels. Then they put together a protocol to help bring you back to the state of health and fitness that you desire. While Testosterone Replacement Therapy is a legitimate and successful form of bringing up low testosterone levels, Transcend also offers other approaches first before having to resort to testosterone enhancement.

This is why the goal is to educate people as much as possible about what is possible so that steroids do not seem like the only choice for pro athlete endeavors. Mike O’Hearn gathered some fan questions about TRT, testosterone, and steroids – and ran it past the Transcend team. Let’s jump into it.

A post shared by Mike O’Hearn (@mikeohearn)

One question that Mike O’Hearn receives often, and many other pro bodybuilders have admitted this as well, is when should a person start using steroids? How young is too young? Is it important to start as young as possible to get an edge on the competition?

While Mike O’Hearn (nor Generation Iron) does not condone the use of illegal substances for performance enhancement – he believes that discussing it openly is vital for educating young people about the reality of steroid use. This is why he suggests holding off on steroid use as long as possible. See what your body can do naturally first before taking that risk.

The problem is that many young folk don’t realize how far they can naturally push themselves. Impatience is a big issue for young athletes looking to make a statement and become a champion. In reality, a person likely does not know their natural limit at age 22 or 23. Instead, it may take many more years to see how far your body can go.

Ultimately, you shouldn’t use substances like testosterone until your bloodwork shows that you need it. This is different from abusing steroids for performance enhancement and more about taking a treatment like TRT to bring your levels to the healthy norm so you can keep performing at optimal levels.

While this is what Mike O’Hearn and Transcend stand by – the legal and healthy use of these substances – they also understand there will be people who will turn to steroids no matter what. If that’s the case, the same basic mentality stands. Push natural as long as possible. Not only is this healthier, it also helps you build a better and more knowledgable work ethic. It helps you know what you can and cannot do to your body to manipulate it into the best physique possible. That’s a good knowledge to have when diving into something dangerous and powerful such as PEDs.

Unfortunately, this is another question that Mike O’Hearn and many bodybuilders get on a monthly basis. Young people who know that steroids can be dangerous – but think there is an “out point” that you can stop using the drugs to avoid long term health issues.

Mike O’Hearn admits that the truth is one that many don’t want to hear. There is no safe time to get out. Yes, there are some athletes who used steroids, came off of it, and live long healthy lives. But every single body is different. There is no strict guideline for how long you can abuse PEDs without issues. Some face problems very young. Others not until a much later time in their life.

The truth is that if you want to abuse PEDs such as steroids for athletic enhancement, you are taking a risk. A risk that you cannot fully predict. For some, that risk is worth it. But it’s important to know that there is no guaranteed way to make PED use healthy.

A post shared by Mike O’Hearn (@mikeohearn)

Mike O’Hearn’s biggest issue with steroid use and PEDs is that they are often used as a shortcut – rather than an enhancement after a long road of fitness. He does believe that PEDs are dangerous, it’s the reason he stayed all-natural. But he also doesn’t judge someone who uses PEDs if they “do it right” and focus on the training and mentality and diet more than any drug. This is why he wanted to discuss the details and answer fan questions with Transcend.

You can watch the full episode of The Mike O’Hearn Show above. And make sure to check back every Friday for new episodes only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network or wherever podcasts are downloaded.

Sign up to the GI newsletter for breaking news, workouts, diets, and exclusive offers.

Generation Iron Brands LLC 134 West 29th Street Suite 902 New York, NY 10001 Email: [email protected]