TRT TreyCurious…
Is Ronnie Coleman on steroids?
Then you’ve come to the right place. Inside, you’ll find the official Testosterone.org breakdown of whether or not Ronnie Coleman has ever used gear before…
Ronnie Coleman is widely regarded as the greatest bodybuilder of all time. He won the Mr. Olympia competition 8 times in a row from 1998 – 2005, a feat that other legendary bodybuilders like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Phil Heath could not match.
Ronnie Coleman says he started competing as a natural bodybuilder, but did he really stay natural throughout his entire career? Or did he start using anabolic steroids to compete on the Mr. Olympia stage? Let’s find out!
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Ronnie Coleman Stats
| Age: | 57 Years Old |
| Height: | 5'11" |
| Weight: | 300 lbs |
| Estimated Body Fat %: | About 5 Percent |
| Nickname: | "The King" |
What Are Steroids?
Steroids are used by gym-goers and athletes to boost physical performance, increase stamina and reduce the recovery time between workouts.
Steroids are synthetic versions of testosterone, aka the primary male sex hormone. Steroids promote muscle growth and develop secondary male sex characteristics. They are known by gym-goers and athletes as stackers, pumpers, roids, Arnolds or gym candy [1].
Steroids were first developed during the mid-1930s by German scientists. Initially, their use was limited. However, by the 1950s the Soviet weightlifting team began using them, and by the 1970s they were considered a mainstream performance enhancing drug. By this time, virtually every gym-goer wanted to try steroids [2].
Anabolic steroids have one main purpose – they are designed to help you build muscle as quickly as possible. Typically, you will see amazing results in about 12 weeks. However, steroid use comes with multiple adverse effects, especially if you overuse it. Some common adverse effects include cardiovascular issues, like structural damage to the left ventricle, high blood pressure, and liver damage.
Your cholesterol levels may fluctuate (the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol goes down, while the low-density lipoprotein goes up). Other adverse effects include a higher risk of prostate cancer, stomach pain, infertility, breast development (gynecomastia), and erectile dysfunction [3].
Anabolic steroids are very effective as a performance enhancing drug, but they should be used with extreme caution. Many bodybuilders have even died after long-term steroid abuse.
Signs of Steroid Use
Is it possible to tell if someone uses steroids, without actually asking them? It’s hard to say for sure, but most steroid users have at least one visible side effect.
Here are some of the most common signs of long-term steroid use:
- Roid Rage
- Massive Shoulders
- Breast Development
- Hair Loss
- Shoulder / Back Acne
Let’s take closer look at each of these symptoms.
Many steroid users experience crazy mood swings and act more aggressively than normal. This is sometimes called “roid rage,” and it is a direct result of elevated testosterone levels [4].
Another common side effect is massive or overdeveloped body parts – especially in the upper body. This is caused by the different androgen receptors in some muscle groups. For instance, the shoulders have more androgen receptors, so this muscle group grows faster than the others [5].
One of the worst side effects of long-term steroid use is breast development in men, otherwise known as gynecomastia. This condition is somewhat common among steroid users. Excessive breast tissue is created by the aromatase enzyme, which converts the excessive testosterone into estrogen [6].
Other common signs and symptoms include hair loss, and shoulder / back acne. If someone has all five of these signs, then the odds are very high that they are using anabolic steroids.
Is Ronnie Coleman On Steroids?
Is Ronnie Coleman really a natural bodybuilder? Or did he use anabolic steroids to go beyond his natural limits and take his physique to the next level? Let’s look at the facts before jumping to any conclusions.
Ronnie Coleman has the following signs of long-term steroid use:
- Insanely Muscular Physique
- Completely Shredded
- “Growth Hormone Gut”
- Massive Shoulders / Traps
Ronnie Coleman is one of the biggest “mass monsters” in the sport of bodybuilding. In 2003 he competed in the Mr. Olympia competition at an unbelievable 300 pounds!
This is even more impressive when you consider Ronnie is only 5 feet 7 inches tall, and was at about 3% body fat during the competition. This is clearly above and beyond what a natural bodybuilder can achieve.
Another big sign that Ronnie uses steroids is his big growth hormone gut. In other words, his stomach sticks out in front of the rest of his body, even when he is extremely lean. This is caused by long-term use of growth hormone and insulin.
These drugs cause the intestines and other organs to grow in size, thus pushing out the stomach.
Ronnie has other signs of steroid use, including his massive shoulders and traps, and the fact that he is absolutely shredded year-round. All of this evidence strongly suggests that Ronnie Coleman was using anabolic steroids during his professional bodybuilding career.
Of course, it’s no secret that Ronnie Coleman used anabolic steroids. He is very open that he started using them after becoming a professional bodybuilder. Here is Ronnie in his own words:
“I was tired of getting my ass kicked at competitions.”
Ronnie Coleman started using steroids after he turned pro, and the rest is history. He went on to win 8 Mr. Olympia competitions and became the greatest bodybuilder of all time.
Of course, everyone at that level is using anabolic steroids. It was his unbelievable work ethic that made him a champion, not the drugs he took.
Before And After Steroids
Ronnie Coleman has many of the usual signs of long-term steroid use, such as insanely muscular physiques and massive shoulders / traps. But did he always look this way?
The truth is, Ronnie Coleman always had an impressive physique. Even in high school Ronnie was ripped with six-pack abs and an impressive upper body. This is a clear sign that Ronnie has elite bodybuilding genetics.
Most people agree that Ronnie was either “natural,” or very close to it when he became a professional bodybuilder. He only started using anabolic steroids after he turned pro to take his physique to the next level.
Ronnie is proof that you can build an impressive physique without performance enhancing drugs. However, to compete against the best bodybuilders in the world, steroids are almost a requirement.
Legal Steroid Alternatives?
Ronnie Coleman is one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. He used anabolic steroids during his bodybuilding career, as that is something he needed to do in order to compete against the best bodybuilders in the world.
But that doesn’t mean they are a good idea for most people.
Steroids are extremely dangerous, and have many nasty side effects. They are also illegal in many countries.
Sure, you could do a road trip to a country like Mexico where they are legal [7].
Ecdysterone is a natural sports supplement that is found in many foods like quinoa and spinach. Many bodybuilders have started supplementing with ecdysterone, as it they would have to eat over 30 pounds of spinach to get enough ecdysterone to have a meaningful impact on their results!
So what makes ecdysterone so special?
The truth is recent studies have shown that ecdysterone is as effective as many anabolic steroids, such as dianabol, for building muscle mass and strength [8]. Ecdysterone works by increasing the rate of protein synthesis in your muscle cells, thus resulting in bigger, stronger muscles, and faster recovery between workouts.
Some studies show that ecdysterone increases muscle protein synthesis by as much as 20%! Best of all, ecdysterone is 100% safe and has zero side effects.
There are many great supplement companies out there, but we really like the ecdysterone sold by Huge Supplements. They have extremely fast shipping, and they manufacture their products right here in the United States, so you know you are getting the most “bang for your buck.”
Testosterone Therapy vs. Steroids
Testosterone replacement therapy is one of the best treatment options for men with hypogonadism, or low testosterone levels. Unlike anabolic steroids, testosterone therapy is designed to optimize your testosterone levels by raising them to the high end of the normal, healthy range.
Research shows that testosterone therapy is one of the safest and most effective ways for men to improve their overall health.
Studies show that patients experience improvements in body composition, mood, sexual performance, and overall quality of life after they get started with TRT [9, 10, 11].
Many people dislike the idea of visiting an in-person TRT clinic. Fortunately, there are many online TRT providers that you can use to get started with testosterone replacement therapy. One of our favorites is called Fountain TRT.
Ronnie Coleman and Steroids | The Verdict
What’s the verdict – does Ronnie Coleman use steroids?
The answer is yes – Ronnie Coleman used anabolic steroids during his bodybuilding career to become the 8x Mr. Olympia champion and one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time.
Ronnie Coleman has many of the usual signs of long-term steroid use, such as an insanely muscular physique, massive 3-D delts, and a “growth hormone gut.” Ronnie weighed as much as 300 pounds at the 2003 Mr. Olympia competition! This is clearly not possible for a natural bodybuilder.
Ronnie Coleman has also admitted to using performance enhancing drugs. He says it was a necessary step to compete against the best bodybuilders in the world, and that he was tired of getting his ass kicked at competitions without them.
Ronnie Coleman may have used performance enhancing drugs, but his work ethic and determination are what really put him over the top.