When going natural, are you disappointed?

[Dz_7]

See this is what confuses me. You just don't know who in the gym is actually not natural. I'm 16, and bust my ass off a ton, but I didn't start a month earlier for my cut like I should have, and I'm seeing all these beasts at the beach walking around. I bet money that alot of them are roid users but its depressing you know? So much hard work just to see that.

By the way, stats are (as of just after xmas)

Age: 16
Weight: 175
Bench: 275
Squat: 330
Deadlift: 350

 

[Guinness5.0]

See this is what confuses me. You just don't know who in the gym is actually not natural. I'm 16, and bust my ass off a ton, but I didn't start a month earlier for my cut like I should have, and I'm seeing all these beasts at the beach walking around. I bet money that alot of them are roid users but its depressing you know? So much hard work just to see that.

By the way, stats are (as of just after xmas)

Age: 16
Weight: 175
Bench: 275
Squat: 330
Deadlift: 350

It's normal to feel that way but the best thing to do is remember that you are competing with yourself (juice or no). You do yourself an injustice when you compare yourself to others because who knows how long they've been at it, what they looked like when they started, and what drugs/doses they may have used. Just progress as best you can and be glad that you improve.

 

[Dz_7]

It's normal to feel that way but the best thing to do is remember that you are competing with yourself (juice or no). You do yourself an injustice when you compare yourself to others because who knows how long they've been at it, what they looked like when they started, and what drugs/doses they may have used. Just progress as best you can and be glad that you improve.

This is true. Oh well, one day.

 

[glover]

No, We all go natural sooner or later. Can't do drugs all your life. Just build your body while you can.

 

[thelion2005]

Exercise and nutrition are the foundation of superior health.
And superior health is the real goal.
You can build a very impressive physique "naturally" with the confidence you
did not trigger the beginnings of cancer or stroke. And you have nothing to hide.

 

[Neo22]

Well I guess it's that much more of an accomplishment to be natural then. It's really not incredibly difficult to get up to around 200 and 10% bodyfat over the course of 3 years or so, regardless of genetics, given the right training and diet.

Go ahead and ruin your kidneys and liver, lose your hair, and shrink your balls all for a little more muscle that you could have gained naturally. I would say the vast majority of gear users are NOWHERE near their genetic potential, so don't even try to bring that argument up.

Actually it is incredibly difficult to get to 200 at 10% or less. If you think otherwise you are probably making shit up because you arn't basing that on height and how everyone is different. How is someone to know if they are near their genetic potential? Is there a users manual? I have gotten as much too as 194lbs taking in 5000 calories a day and training intensely not missing anything. Your body WILL accumulate fat to grow when not ON.

 

[Quadsweeps Sister]

Am I disappointed? I guess I could put it this way - yes and no.

I started lifting in 1996 but had never lifted before that. I was skinny and little - all I did was run and eat soup. I think I weighed 100lbs and had like 25% BF with no lean muscle to fat ratio. I lifted for 3 years and ate a clean diet and slowly grew. I wanted to compete in a BB show. I didn't take any AAS until 1999 - and then only a little. I never really put on that much muscle though, because I was still calorically deficient. I competed in many shows through the years, but still wasn't that muscular or sizeable. When I added about 1500 addt'l cals to my diet, and more AAS - I got up to 150lbs at 10%. I then went on to compete in the Pittsburgh and then the Jr Nat'ls in 2003. After that I retired from BB and stopped taking AAS to try to decrease the sides and started Powerlifting.

Man - did I go through a year long period of mental & physical hell.

Slowly feeling your body normalize (or find its true place) is a hard thing to watch. The pain, the unfelt injuries introduce themselves, the (after) side effects, the emotions...but I was never sorry that I did it. AAS helped me get to a place where I did things I wanted to do. I might not be powerlifting now had I never BB or used AAS.

I am stronger now in some lifts/exercises and weaker in others. I don't get the "nice guns" comments, etc. like I used to, but I don't get any freak stares either. I am healthier now and more feminine.

Others have said you can't compare yourself to others. That is the most important comment in all of this. The hardest obstacle I had to overcome is NOT comparing myself to others or to myself....my former AAS supplemented self.
__________________
Mythicwrld

"We deceive ourselves when we fancy that only weakness needs support. Strength needs it far more."

 

[Tweakle]

200 at 10% might be attainable for an average height man with a few years hard training.. but not maintainable

thats a bonafide 10%, not an internet '10%' (12-15%) bf

roids should support training and diet, not the other way round.. I could care less why people use but the 175lb A&F guys doing a gram a week to go shirtless club are not my bredrin.

natural takes a lot of dedication.. to those who can stick with it you have my respect..

 

[hardrock]

Between cycles yes. Losing that few reps and energy in the gym for a few months between cycles tends to bum ya out. You get used to it after time.

When actually staying off for a long time (1 year or more) between cycles the first few months are the hardest. After that you start to get your groove back. You just have to work that much harder.

 

[H_T_]

i've been training since i was 12. i just always wanted to be as able as possible. so i'm near 34 now and have been off aas for 2 years. it's hard as hell some days, knowing you aren't going to be a world beater. but i do it for myself. Bill Kazmier said the biggest mistake people make is to train for others. i go in and try to be the best 34 y/o version of myself i can be. going off aas is way fucking hard, but if you love the way the weights make you feel, it's just another obstacle. you can go around it or right fucking thru it.