Oh, our obsessive quest for youth and beauty. It drives our behavior and beliefs of what is good, right and possible. Sometimes the obsession can drive us over the edge to "try anything" to get and maintain the result we think we need and want.
It seems in the past few years the consumer public was awakened to the health risks of stimulants, prescription drugs and other psychotherapeutics; e.g., amphetamines, Ephedra, Oxycontin, etc. The quest for immediate management and control over our lives, bodies and emotional states motivates us to make short-term decisions that oftentimes lead to long-term, dire consequences.
I can't tell you how many times I have coached female clients away from the desire and thought of liposuction to "suck out the fat" and smooth the lines of their legs and abdomen. I've done it by actually "scaring them straight" first through the risks and potential loss of life as a result of the procedure, and lastly by outlining the costs and short-term results it will bring about.
The unfortunate stimulant and steroid drug use of athletes and celebrities in track and field, baseball, football and now the entertainment industry, will likely be an ongoing debate for many years to come. Each person involved in the current inquiries clearly made a consistent personal decision - daily, weekly or monthly - to use a stimulant or drug in the pursuit of enhanced performance, looks, beauty or attractiveness. Their decisions were supported by the equally responsible medical, sports and fitness industry consultants, trainers and professionals that fed, procured or produced the pill or injection used.
Brendan J. Lyons, Albany Times Union senior writer, states in a recent article, entitled, Steroids Beyond Sports, "Entertainers using steroids is not new. Last year, Hollywood action-film stalwart Sylvester Stallone paid a $2,975 fine in Australia to settle criminal charges he illegally possessed vials of steroids and human growth hormone discovered during a customs inspection of his luggage." While Stallone reportedly used the drugs, "to treat his body for a slowdown of his pituitary gland production of growth hormone and for the grueling training he's done over the years making films," according to the Australian Associated Press, Lyons states, "taking the substances in an effort to slow aging or promote healing, which is an unproven claim, is not an allowable reason for a physician to prescribe steroids or growth hormone."
It is clear that there are several doctors, pharmacies, clinics, and many personal trainers doing their "best" to support, feed and profit from the obsessive behavior of several in the general public who quest for youth, beauty and attractiveness.
There are "prescription only" stimulants like Dexedrine, Desoxyn, that are used and prescribed for weight loss and nutritional deficiencies as well as anabolic steroids, like Anadrol, Equipoise and others, that have been prescribed for treatment of anemia, growth stimulation, gonad and/or gynecological dysfunction and disorders. Whether prescription or not, all stimulants are psychologically addictive. Users of stimulants become dependent on the drug to avoid the "down" feeling often experienced when the drug's effect wears off. Users of the performance enhancing steroids become addicted as well and their financial empires destroyed as result when the usage has been revealed.
That boost we get from that morning cup of coffee is the result of the caffeine that naturally occurs in coffee. Caffeine, a common herbal stimulant is found in tea as well, but also in soft drinks and other foods and dietary supplements, can be bought over-the-counter or over the internet, in tablet form. Too much of it can obviously cause anxiousness, headaches, and the "jitters." Caffeine is also addictive and a person who abruptly stops drinking it may experience withdrawal symptoms.
Herbal stimulants and extracts, such as Ma-Huang and ginseng cannot be left out of the equation. Ma-Huang contains ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, which are used in over the counter medications for asthma (ephedrine) and as a nasal decongestant (pseudoephedrine). Sold as a stimulant and weight loss product, the and like caffeinated beverages, ephedrine-containing products apparently can be consumed safely in moderate amounts by healthy people, no more than 8mg of ephedrine be consumed every six hours with a maximum intake of 24mg per day. However, because of the serious side effects and deaths associated with miss-use of the herbal stimulant, the FDA has recommended consumers not use the supplement if they suffer with:
- heart disease; angina (chest pain); irregular heartbeats; high blood pressure; or blood vessel disease;
- asthma or other lung disease;
- diabetes;
- insomnia;
- eating disorders (such as anorexia or bulimia);
- glaucoma;
- kidney disease;
- liver disease or hepatitis;
- hyperthyroidism;
- mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, mania, bipolar disorder or psychosis;
- prostate problems;
- urinary retention; or seizures.
So with all that said, what stimulants are you using or willing to use in your quest for health, beauty and weight loss? Personally, I like a good run in the gym or park followed by an hour or two with my favorite teacher or trainer to keep me motivated, working at my highest possible level to keep my butt, legs and heart strong. But that is, of course, after starting the day with a large 12-ounce cup of black coffee!
Managing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle requires long-term actions that are consistent and thoughtful. It's a process that takes work and focus - everyday - to manage dietary habits, cardiovascular conditioning and strength and muscle development. Aging is the course of natural life. There is no pill, drug or elixir to "cure" it. The fix is to live life, love the life and learn to enjoy the process of managing the lifestyle.
