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Many will be surprised how many people are using “enhancing” substances in the fitness industry, some will not. I’m not just talking about steroids anymore, there are many “tricks” people are using to try and enhance the fitness process. Some are doing it to cheat the system and some are doing it to maximize their fitness and are still putting in a lot of hard work (bodybuilders using steroids). Its not just using enhancing substances either, it is plastic surgery, having an in-house cook, etc.
Enhancing substances such as anabolic steroids are still very prevalent in the fitness industry and more and more of the content providers you thought you trusted are now admitting to the public about their steroid use. Some of these public figures or content providers are very open about their steroid use and others have hinted at it, while many remain closeted about their use. That is largely because they will lose followers, sponsors, the general trust of the public and thus, money if they admit they’re using or have used while trying to sell you their “super secret workout plan” or “meal plans” or “secret weapons to help you get fit”. Arnold Schwarzenegger himself admitted that the bodybuilding industry was flooded with growth hormone and testosterone during his days as a bodybuilder and that the use has only become more insane in today’s industry (using much larger doses and more frequently). He also admits to using it himself during his bodybuilding days. Many remain closeted about the use because they don’t want to lose everything they have built off of their falsities, but also because they feel like they are “cheating” they process. As one of my teachers used to say, “If it feels like cheating, its cheating”.
Outside of steroid use there are many other products on the market now that people are using and think that gives them the right to say “I’m not using steroids”. One of the hot ones lately is SARMs (selective androgen receptor modulators). This is chemically similar to anabolic steroids, but its impact on muscle gains and fat loss is not as pronounced. It is still an unnatural substance that you are putting into your body and will impact your hormones. Both steroids and SARMs impact the negative feedback loop that our body uses to regulate hormone production. For instance, if you take steroids or SARMs your body will detect the increase of hormones in the bloodstream and up-regulate the counter hormones and slow or stop production of the hormone that is found in excess (testosterone for instance). So now your body has stopped (or slowed) the generation of its own hormones and this has an impact on your body over time. Just remember, once you screw with your hormonal balance it is very hard to get back to your normal set point and the negative impacts on your body start accumulating rapidly.
People are also taking to injecting insulin into their bodies when they are not diabetic. This is not only dangerous, but is likely not even helping. Insulin is both anabolic and a catabolic hormone that increases fat storage and muscle gains. Not only will you likely become hypoglycemic when using this (low blood sugar) you could die if your blood sugar dips too low or you could start having seizures. The net gains from using exogenous insulin are likely negligible at best, meaning it’s simply not worth it. People are also using viagra because it works by messing with the nitric oxide balance in your body. People feel like it gives them a better “pump”, which is likely true because that’s exactly what it does to help your penis. It increases blood flow and vascularity. The increased blood flow and vascularity will feed more nutrients to the muscles, but once again, the impact is likely negligible on muscle gains. I also prefer working out without a hard-on…so there is also that.
That is just a short list of some of the more popular ways people are cheating the system these days. There are also plenty of superstars that endorse products or methods that are either useless or downright dangerous. There are superstars that claim if you drink a shot of apple cider vinegar a day you will lose 10 pounds. Forget the fact that they are paid to look good or the fact they likely have thousands of dollars worth of gym equipment in their homes or their own in-house cook, trainer or fitness coach. And God forbid they actually admit they’ve had plastic surgery to lose the weight or increase muscle. Spoiler alert…they won’t admit it because then they would lose credibility, followers and money. I have mentioned it in a previous post, but you guys/girls need to quit listening to superstars on how to get in shape (or regarding vaccinating your children for that matter). Besides the substances listed above they have millions of dollars at their disposal and plastic surgeons can make anyone look great year round.
You need to be careful who you take advice from on the internet. There are many people out there who got fit using illicit substances and might even still use them. They now stand in front of the public trying to preach to everyone about how YOU can get fit or lose weight. These people sell you flawed advice because that advice worked for THEM while on something to aid their effort (steroids, etc.). It likely doesn’t work for the general public who ISN’T taking these substances. There is not magic pill that will make you fit. Steroids and these other substances will work, but at what cost? What is the point of looking fit if your heart gives out at the age of 50 or you can’t have kids because your testicles no longer feel they need to do their job because of all the exogenous hormones you are pumping into your body?
In the same breath I will say that there are still plenty of people out there or put in the hard work and are completely natural and look like they take steroids. You can’t just sit back and say “that person only looks that good because they are on steroids or something” or “they are just genetically blessed”. Yes, enhancing substances are very popular and some people are genetically blessed, but that takes away from those that put in the hard work and are dedicated. It stinks for those of us that aren’t genetically blessed, but telling yourself that everyone is on steroids or is genetically blessed will eventually become an excuse for you not putting in the hard work. I have seen many people stall out in their fitness journey and say something like “I’ve reached my genetic potential” or “I will never look as good as that person because they probably take steroids”. There is something to the “genetic potential” aspect, but that shouldn’t become an excuse to not stand back and evaluate why you have reached a fitness plateau. I do not think someones genetic potential is an end-all set point. I think it will become harder and harder to gain muscle or lose weight past this genetic potential, but I believe it is possible with proper diet and exercise. If you reach a fitness plateau you need to take a step back and reassess your diet and exercise regimen (usually diet). You need to tinker with your caloric intake and exercise regimen from time to time in order to avoid or overcome plateaus.
In summation, don’t use other people’s shortcuts and cheats as an excuse for you not putting in the work, but be weary of advice from people you don’t know (hell, some people you DO know probably have used these substances before and you have no clue – these substances are THAT popular). If you’re watching a YouTube star or any famous person give advice who seems to always look muscular/pumped and live at 3% body fat year round…chances are something else is going on behind the scenes that is going to negate any good advice you may get from them. The diet and workout advice you get from these people is likely not going to work for you because you don’t have that same “edge” that they do. Real fitness doesn’t happen overnight, it is a long and arduous process (unless you have a really good starting point or are already fit) and requires a lot of work both in and outside of the gym.
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