I think there is a lot of misconception about this.
Yes, to some extent, the pros are pro because maybe they do more gear, fine.
But some type of "secret" formula - please. I don’t think that’s an issue.
There are several main points which people need to consider ....
Genetics - The guys you see that are pros are, in many cases, genetic anomalies that are far beyond the norm.
Training - The sad fact is that the way most pros train, and they was they SAY they train (in the mags) are different things. Or, at least, if they do train with the frequency that they say, this is NOT something that most people can do.
The routines which Arnold says he did (trained 2x a day ... please ...) are NOT going to work for almost any people out there. If and only if, you are a genetic freak, and take a ton of gear, could your body begin to stand such a strain.
Most guys try these routines, and even the usual 3-4 day a week balls out training (which will overtrain almost anybody) and en dup holding back their gains.
Gear - Sure they do more. However there was a big jump like the past 2 decades that can be attributed to the use of Insulin. That is probably the key to the 30-40 jump that the tops pros had in size a few years back.
What is so laughable, sad, and a shame, is when guys try to be :like the pros". Yes having them as a goal or inspiration is fine. But its just wrong and sad and stupid when guys focus so much on "what did Arnold take". As if, if they only KNEW this magic they could take THAT EXACT REGIMEN, and be Arnold.
Wake up people, it does not work that way. Sure, knowing what he took would be interesting, but if you think that just running that regimen will make you "become" what he was, or have a body like his, you are wrong.
Look at it this way. Many guys have woken up to the fact that the supplement companies are NOT looking out for the interests of most consumers (amateur and recreational BBers). So we have learned that "taking the supplements the pros take" (yeah ... right ...) will not make you look like them.
Many guys then think "aw, the secret - STEROIDS! oooo......." and they think "that must be THE answer". So they ask "what did Arnold take?"
Its sad, really, You seem them all the time. They have like 13 posts and they post a thread "Hey, what did Arnold take, I just watched Pumping Iron for the first time ..."
Lets face facts and reality guys. If you spend like several months on this board, and READ (and hey newbies, here is a thought, writing posts does not make you learn READING DOES) then you will know more than just about any pro knew prior to 1990. Period. End of story. They have no “secrets” which you do not have access to. right here.
Frankly, IMHO, I think the 2 biggest problems that people have are they train wrong (either not hard enough or, in almost ALL cases, they over-train) and food (they eat the wrong stuff and not enough protein).
That and impatience.
Guys, I dont mean this as a put-down to anyone, and especually anyone in particular. I think to be honest, we have ALL fallen victim to this type of thinking early on in our interest in this sport. I say, lets be honest and open, and get as many people focussed upon the right thing as we can.