I feel like I can’t believe anything anymore, lol.
These women look really feminine and often not overly muscular.
The other day I saw a very tiny lady pause squatting 315 for multiple sets of 4.
These people just look natural to me. And there are a lot of them out there so it’s hard to comprehend why so many young women would start steroids.
I dunno. I got some pretty damn good results through my 20’s and into my mid/late 30’s, with the majority of my 20’s spent doing hard drugs, drinking myself into oblivion and eating like crap.
The wondering part of me says “Damn. I wonder what would have happened if I did anything right?”.
So when I look at the age and general lifestyle of a given person who appears to be bulking up, I weigh those factors pretty heavily when looking at it on a possible->impossible continuum.
And since he isn’t a young Robert Downey jr. or contemporary Charlie Sheen, I just shrug it off and say “its plausible”.
Zac Efron has gone to rehab for drug addiction twice.
In 2013?
Eh. I don’t have much interest in belaboring much, but I see his “bulking up” as entirely plausible naturally.
Throw in the recovery element and I sway more toward natty, because at least in some circles, anabolics & whatnot are considered mind altering, and should be avoided.
Anecdotally- Ive never seen anybody who decided to use ped’s maintain sobriety. Whether they precipitated the use of other substances or were a harbinger of things to come can be anybody’s guess.
There is a decent amount of data on this
It turns out AAS/PED’s prime the brain for addiction. Induces a cascade of neurological dysregulation that not only exacerbates the "reward’’ one percieves to be present when imbibing, but also predisposes one to making impulsive, risky decisions.
Anecdotally in Aus… people who take anabolics seem to be people who are comfortable with harder drugs in general (not always, but there’s def a correlation).
Another aspect… using steroids also makes one comfortable with using pills and needles absent of a prescription.
To many, the psychological barrier of needles is a huge deterrant. Jump through that hurdle and all of a sudden… nothing seems “that bad” anymore. This is me hypothesising as to why so many steroid users seem to be comfortable taking things the masses aren’t comfortable taking.
Could also be because taking AAS = circumventing societal taboos therefore someone predisposed to taking anabolics is also predisposed towards breaking taboos in general?
This is his current look… complete transformation in 3-6 momths. We can agree to disagree on his natty status. He isn’t getting any younger (35 years old).
5’11
I’m no where near 7% anymore. I don’t try. I always felt like trash too.
I was my biggest at 42 and strong as hell, but not super lean. I’m 57 now and still have some good size on me. Never used any peds, but I have 44 years of experience too. So there’s that.
I’m 57 225 14% bf. At 42 I was my biggest. Never had any help. I’m talking about Hugh Jackman. Being lean, tan, and with good Hollywood lighting. I bet he’s not more than 185#. Be curious to know his body body weight.
According to the webs he’s 6’21/2” 187# That is about right for a seasoned natty. Jackman has also said He never stop lifting after Wolverine. Says he was hooked. At 6”2 you’d be well over 187 w peds. BTW I’m 57 and kinda resent saying what is old guys “can’t “ do! 
I’m with you on Hemsworth. I can’t guarantee any of them. I only can make an educated guess. Most are obviously on something other than kale smoothies. lol
I would love to see a picture of this.
Is that pic real? His face doesn’t look like it fits his body. Something about it just seems edited to me.
We do polls like this sometimes on T Nation Instagram, usually to promote CT’s Natural or Not article. It’s always a bit surprising how many people vote “natural” on what is clearly an enhanced body.
I think this is partly because of pro bodybuilding. People assume that if you use steroids you look like a pro. Therefore, since The Rock isn’t quite that big and shredded, then he’s natural. Usually this comes from bodybuilding fanboys who often have a warped sense of what’s natural and what’s big.
I’ve seen this go in crazy directions too. People arguing that world’s strongest man competitors don’t use steroids, because if they did, they’d look ripped.
Let’s not forget that Tim Sylvia popped positive
Although he DID beat Mariusz…
Yes. That is enormous for a natural. And 200 at 7% at that height is astounding.
And even more impressive at age 57.
I think that’s because:
1.Social media (especially fitness influencers) have warped what people believe is a naturally attainable physique
We people we like or admire (or the “good guys”) get a “natural bias”… “I like him, he’s a good guy, he can’ be using steroids”
We want to believe that we took can look as good as the clearly enhanced physique, thinking that you need to be enhanced to get there essentially tells you that you can’t have it.
For reference, this is WNBF natural pro Kurt Weidner. I think he is 5’11” or 6’ and competes in the high 190’s or 200#. He is also a genetic freak.
I think some people think a lean or shredded 200# is just so easily achievable at 6 feet or under. It isn’t.
Yes, I’d say its damn near impossible for all but the most gifted lifters to do this naturally.
Edit: And people always underestimate their bodyfat %.
