A guy on social media recently posted that unless you are an elite bodybuilding or physique competitor, you should not use more than five PED compounds at once.

Five.

Apparently, compound six is where we finally alert the authorities.

I feel like we are living a world of Chemical Warfare now, which is also an amazing Slayer song that they did not play at their show this past Friday evening where your truly nerdy was in the pit down in front...
...back to the story here now.

To be fair, he described a ceiling not a recommendation that everyone use five and his audience was already heavily enhanced, but still, this seems bat poo crazy.

What puts a bur in my shorts is that i see more than ever from rando DMs on IG the constant hunt for the next biohack / compound / peptide that is the single silver bullet answer.

Something for muscle.

Another vial for fat loss, followed by a research chemical to fix whatever the previous purchase just did to your sleep.

Suddenly, your bathroom counter resembles a Soviet submarine reactor maintained by a guy whose credentials are “DM me for protocols Bro.”

Meanwhile seekers Sam's training plan is a hodgepodge of rando exercises held together by stoooopid corrective exercises finished with 8 more cable exercises where you must hold the cable and not use handles...for reasons that boggle my mind.

Free-dumb?

I believe adults should have the freedom to make their own decisions.

God knows I make some weird ones and opt to visit Costa Rica to see my life flash before me and have been known to attach myself to 85 feet of razor wire connected to an upside looking parachute thing to launch myself 25 feet into the air kiteboarding; however have not even opted to use TRT or any peptides (other than Kambo) so far.

"Do your own research” should involve more than watching a shirtless man-bro explain a molecular pathway before handing you a discount code.

A plausible mechanism does not establish a useful outcome, much less long-term safety.

You need to understand the potential benefit, known downsides, and what remains unknown.

Adding compounds also makes troubleshooting harder. If your sleep implodes or your blood pressure climbs, which ingredient deserves the interrogation lamp?

As an engineer, changing five variables simultaneously makes my eyelid twitch.

Add int that for many of these research compounds, long-term human safety data are sparse or absent.

Your spreadsheet is not a clinical trial because you colored the tabs Brosefus.

Training? Bah!

Drugs can alter muscle growth and recovery, no question. However, that does not make them a replacement for developing strength, conditioning, or skill.

Mechanical tension provides a muscle-building stimulus.

Aerobic work challenges oxygen delivery and use.

You still need to fuel the work and recover from it.

You Do You Bro

In the end, it is up to each person to decide the pros and the cons.

I have clients who have used peptides, HRT, TRT and some who have used PEDs (untested competitors), and my goal is to help them maximize all of their training, nutrition, recovery, stress, bloodwork, and provide them education to make intelligent decisions .

Personally, I’d rather improve my training, nutrition, sleep etc , before turning breakfast into a pharmaceutical launch sequence.
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Dial in the big rocks that are basic and boring, then crush them with violent consistency for faster results that stay.

Much love,

Dr. Mike

P.S. Does five compounds sound batshit crazy to you too, or have I become the old man yelling at the peptide refrigerator? Hit reply.

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Mike T Nelson CISSN, CSCS, MSME, PhD
Associate Professor, Carrick Institute
Owner, Extreme Human Performance, LLC
Editorial Board Member, STRONG Fitness Mag

Mike T Nelson is a PhD and not a physician or registered dietitian. The contents of this email should not be taken as medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any health problem - nor is it intended to replace the advice of a physician. Always consult your physician or qualified health professional on any matters regarding your health.