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In the world of fitness, you'll often come across the term "natty."
Short for "natural," this slang refers to individuals who pursue their fitness goals without the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) like steroids or growth hormones.
Embracing a natty lifestyle means relying solely on diet, exercise, and proper supplementation to achieve strength, muscle growth, and overall health.
This article delves into the significance of being natty, the benefits and challenges associated with it, and how to spot a truly natural athlete.
Table of Contents
What Does Natty Mean?
Natty is a popular term for bodybuilders who do not use any performance enhacning drugs (PEDs) such as anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) to improve their physique or strength.
These individuals rely on their genetics, diet, and training to achieve their results.
In natural bodybuilding, achieving muscle growth relies heavily on a biological process known as muscle protein synthesis (MPS).
This is the mechanism by which the body builds new muscle proteins, an essential component of muscle growth and repair.
The window for effectively stimulating MPS typically lasts about 24 to 48 hours after a workout, with the peak uptake occurring within the first 2 to 3 hours post-exercise.
What Does Enhanced Mean?
On the other hand, enhanced bodybuilders use PEDs and AAS to exceed the natural limits of muscle growth and fat loss.
Enhanced bodybuilders use substances like anabolic steroids to kick their body's muscle-building capabilities into overdrive.
Research indicates that anabolic-androgenic steroids enhance muscle protein synthesis and overall muscle mass through their action on androgen receptors, which regulate protein synthesis and nitrogen balance (Kuhn, 2010).
Anabolic steroids are synthetic derivatives of testosterone, designed to maximize the anabolic effects of testosterone while minimizing the androgenic effects (Varga M, 2013).
Natural vs. Enhanced Bodybuilders
| Aspect | Definition |
|---|---|
| Natural Bodybuilders (Natty) | Do not use performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) to enhance muscle growth. |
| Enhanced Bodybuilders | Use performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) to exceed natural muscle growth limits. |
Pros and Cons of Each Approach
Pros of Natural Bodybuilding:
- Healthier long-term choice:
Avoiding PEDs means avoiding the health risks associated with these substances, such as heart problems, liver damage, and hormonal imbalances.
- Save costs:
The costs for affording PEDs can often go into the thousands, making them a significant financial investment.
- Sustainable lifestyle:
Natural bodybuilding promotes a balanced approach to fitness that can be sustained over a lifetime without the peaks and troughs associated with PED use.
Cons of Natural Bodybuilding:
- Slower progress:
Without PEDs, muscle growth and recovery can be slower, especially as you progress out of the newbie gains phase.
- Genetic limitations:
Natural bodybuilders are limited by their genetic potential, which can be frustrating.
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Plateaus:
Without PEDs, lifters are more likely to experience plateaus.
Natural Bodybuilding Summary
Natural bodybuilding emphasizes long-term health and sustainable progress without PEDs. While progress may be slower, improvement is steady and the risks with PED use is avoided.
Pros of Enhanced Bodybuilding:
- Rapid gains:
PEDs can dramatically speed up muscle growth and fat loss, allowing for quicker transformation.
- Surpass natural limits:
Enhanced bodybuilders can achieve physiques that are not possible naturally.
Cons of Enhanced Bodybuilding:
- Health risks:
The use of PEDs can lead to health issues, some of which may be irreversible or fatal.
- Injury risk:
Muscle may grow more quickly than the tendons, leading to an imbalance in strength and supportive tissue.
- Dependency risks:
There can be a psychological dependency on PEDs to maintain a physique, leading to long-term use and increased health risks.
Enhanced Bodybuilding Summary
Enhanced bodybuilding utilizes performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) to surpass natural muscle growth limits quickly. However, it poses health risks, injury risk, and the potential for dependency.
Making the Right Choice
If you're just starting out, it's crucial to progress naturally before hopping on PEDs.
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If your aim is to drop a few pounds and get lean for summer, focusing on a conservative approach while dropping calories should be your game plan.
On the other hand, if you're dreaming of competing one day, you'll need to have a solid 6 or 7 years of natural training under your belt.
It is absolutely essential to do bloodwork and to consistently have healthy vitals before ever hopping on a cycle.
Summary
Having foundational experience and results through natural lifting before hopping on PEDs is crucial.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do pro bodybuilders really use steroids?
Achieving this level involves special attention to conditioning, especially during peak week.
This includes strategies like carb loading and carb cycling, drying out to lose excess water, and depletion through dialing in diet and training.
During the off-season, athletes will typically aim for added size and be at a higher body fat percent to support strength and anabolism.
That is why typically the pros will stack differently in the off season as compared to the weeks counting down getting on stage.
Coming off cycle, a steroid user may retain some of the anabolic properties and hold on to the muscle mass gained, typically losing much of the water weight and look much flatter.
Another method is to cruise following a blast which allows a steroid user to maintain a certain physique year-round.
Why do some fitness influencers look so perfect on social media?
On social media, it's hard not to notice influencers with perfect six packs, full muscle bellies that seem almost too good to be true.
Remember that these images may involve individuals with exceptional genetics or those who are enhanced.
Also, keep in mind many of these guys are rocking gear from big brands which they're sponsored by.
These partnerships mean they not only get help with their gym wardrobe but often have professional teams to make sure their photos look top-notch.
In your own gym, it can be challenging to determine who is natural and who might be enhanced.
Like we said, someone with elite genetics might achieve a highly impressive physique without ever touching PEDs.
Conversely, an individual who does not respond well to steroids might look less impressive despite being enhanced.
Before even considering the route of performance enhancement, it's crucial to educate yourself thoroughly about the risks and benefits.
Consulting with experienced individuals in the fitness community, whom you trust like a gym bro can provide valuable insights.
Additionally, regular blood work is essential to monitor your health if you decide to use PEDs.
This helps in identifying any adverse effects early and to stop early if necessary.
Conclusion
Choosing whether to stay natural or to go enhanced is a significant decision that should be based on your personal goals, lifestyle, and health priorities.
Remember, regardless of the path you choose, dedication to your diet, training regimen, and overall health is fundamental to your success in fitness.
Always strive for a well-informed, safe, and responsible approach to fitness.