"Dennis, U.P.S. is here with your C.O.D. package for you!"

It was late Friday afternoon. I had just finished my workout. I was so excited. It had finally arrived. I paid the driver 75 bucks and thanked him for the delivery. 

I quietly carried the package into the house and to my room. I had butterflies in my stomach as
I opened it. There they were. Inside were three bottles of Dianabol. 100 tablets each. I had also ordered a bottle of HCG for after the cycle. Enough stuff for an eight-week program.

This was the first time I had bought steroids. I didn't have any idea what to expect when I started using them so I was a little nervous about it. I decided to put it off and start the cycle later.

I stared at the bottles. Curiosity was killing me so I had to try at least one. I opened up a bottle and pulled out the cotton stuffing. When I poured a few into my hand I was amazed at how small they were. I figured these tiny blue pills must be powerful stuff.

I took one between my thumb and index fingers. I examined it closely. "How could such a little pill do all that "The Steroid Guru" said it could?" I thought. 

I put it in my mouth and let it set on my tongue. I was afraid to swallow it. I had read all sorts of bad things about these drugs. After imagining all the bad things that could happen, like maybe my heart speeding up, I thought, "What the heck" and went ahead and swallowed it. 

I waited. No reaction. 

"That's weird," I thought. I stuffed the package into my dresser drawer. 

Using a calendar, I mapped out my plan. Christmas was just a few months away and I wanted to be huge for the holidays. A lot of friends and family would be visiting and I could get some positive feedback.

It didn't take long for the Dianabol to start working. I gained 35 pounds in body weight and added 75 pounds to my bench press. The pills turned almost everything I ate into muscle.

I felt big and I looked big, especially in clothes. My muscles always felt pumped and tight. I thought for sure I was on my way to becoming Mr. Olympia.

I adopted the slogan, "Survival of the fittest." Three years later, when I opened my gym, I had a sign company place the slogan across the front window.

The Steroid Guru's Handbook practically became my Bible. It's interesting to note that the Webster's College Dictionary defines the word "guru" as "a preceptor giving personal religious or spiritual instruction."

A rare studio photo of me at 22 years old.

Chapter 6: The Road Widens