Also there are a number of products that are legal and will convert into steriods (or steriod like) once ingested.
The biggest thing I see from the people I know is their bitch tits they get.
Look at Mark McGuire (sp?) and Gov Arnold. Their chests are fallen and saggy. (seen their photos Lately???) And McGuire used the products that your body converts into steriod (like steriod) products.
Point, the first:
There is a psychological impact to stopping steroid use. Some it may be physiological, since your hormones are more f*cked up then a pregnant womans, but going from 280 and benching 515 to being 245 and benching 395 is a big difference. Dropping over 100 pounds on your max press (not to mention the loss on the sled, squats, etc), is pretty damned depressing, let me tell you. It weighs on the psyche for a while. You are still ‘huge’ by normal standards, but not by your own previous standards.
Point, the second:
Every time I or my friend finished a cycle, there would always be some loss. True, with increased training, you can minimize your loss, but there was always some loss. Something to do with water, IIRC, but I can’t remember the details. Growth Hormones, on the other hand, build ‘permanent’ muscle, I believe. The side effects are wicked-bad enough to negate that, though. IMO, of course.
If it’s legal, it’s not worth a damn.
I can’t believe how much money people will spend on ‘andro-stack’ and other ‘steroid-sounding’ products. Hell, at least proper steroids undergo some testing, even it is for cows and horses. The crap that is pimped in GNC and Musclemag is nothing but snake oil. They even try to mimic the packaging of true steroids, in an effort to trick people. Sad, but out of the realm of the FDA, I suppose.
People who develop full-blown gynecomastia either A) Didn’t include a proper anti-estrogen plan in their stack, or B) Were born that way. Some guys just plain 'ol have man-boobs, thanks to their genetics.
And Jess, your son still shouldn’t use steroids. 
You apparently have not seen T3.
The more I read about steroids, the more I compare the bodybuilding scene to the anorexic model scene. Initially, you start out just wanting a beautiful body. But then you start abusing your body, risking permanent damage and a shortened lifespan, in order to have an even more perfect body. You’re aiming for an image that you think is ‘healthy’, but risking your health to do it.
Yeah thats true there is almost always some post cycle loss (unless you used something weak like anavar, some people experience little loss with drugs like that). However much of the muscle built will not disappear once someone stops taking steroids unless they really abused them or had pushed themselves too far in their training and then just stopped overnight.
But, no one ever starts out thinking it’s a possibility (side-effects). They always start out thinking they can be smart and responsible enough to “do it right”.
So, it’s not complete desperation and recklesness, as you say. But, it’s still risky behavior and could be construed as irresponsible or obsessed, depending on how you look at each individual case.
Yes, in many sad cases it is like being a little obsessive, insecure model who is manipulated beyond their own control by their surroundings.
…manipulated beyond their own control by their surroundings.
The thing about being ‘out of control’ is that it doesn’t start until you’re in. You always have the choice to not start the risky behaviour in the first place. Once you’ve started, then you can be said to be out of control. But if you take advantage of the control you have at the beginning, you stay out of trouble.
There’s actually a class-action lawsuit pending against a lot of prohormone manufacturers (read about it here) for selling worthless crap.
It’s interesting to note that my favorite supplement company, Biotest, is not listed as a defendant, even though they do have a prosteroid product.
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This is the take-home lesson of this thread, and bears repeating.