I know where you're coming from though Metal. Will steroids help drive weight loss? Yes, of course. Anyone who has cycled properly will attest to that. Hell, when I cycle it seems like I could eat 12 meals a day and barely put a pound on a month (a slight exaggeration of course), but I'm one of those guys who struggles with bulking and cutting comes much easier. Moreover, when I cycle my BMR is through the roof - chronic sweating, insomnia, elevated HR, elevated BP, and I seem to burn through calories faster than a formula one race car burning through petrol.
Certainly AASs will promote weight loss to some degree but I think one (possible) reason why so many members use the "steroids aren't fat burners" cliche is because there are far more effective and safer methods to reduce body fat but many new users of steroids won't listen to logic or reason.
If a patient came to my clinic and asked, doc, "will oxycondone, dilaudid, or fentanyl cure my headache?", I could be truthful and say, yep, they sure will....but I think we'd both agree I'd be a complete fool for endorsing these compounds to alleviate a headache.
I'd much rather see someone commit to better nutrition instead of jumping into harsh chemicals (please note, I am not implying steroids and fentanyl are equivalent in risks) for achieving a goal that really could be reached through better nutrition. Moreover, establishing a better nutrition plan will promote more sustainable gains (or losses) compared to someone who has a very inadequate nutrition plan, uses steroids, enjoys gains/losses and then returns to a piss poor way of eating post cycle.
I think in some cases (not all of course) what a few members are hoping to do, is encourage a habit (i.e. better eating) that will lead to the weight management goals someone seeks AND establish a long term behavior to maintain those goals.
I see where your frustration is, but I believe in some cases, the emphasis on nutrition first, steroids second, has considerable merit.
