I find it odd that people will always look for and find the things that separate or divide us and use them against another group, no matter the demographic. It happens with politics, religion, and judging the police, and it happens within marginalized groups of people, as well. As a society, we find those differences and judge others for those differences.
I have been involved in bodybuilding for over forty years. Some people believe that social media is to blame for society's shift in judging everyone for everything, but there was plenty of hate before social media; there just was not a platform large enough for everyone to opine and be heard until social media came along. It is not a social media problem; it is a resentment problem. I have always said that those who can not and do not will resent those who can and do. Natties are the worst, and they have been under my skin lately.
Understanding the "Natty" Concept in Bodybuilding
For the few of you who may not be familiar with the term, "Natty" is a colloquialism known in the bodybuilding industry to describe someone who does not use performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). It is short for "natural."
Let me be clear from the start that I have zero issues with natties. I respect anyone who has decided not to use PEDs and fight for every ounce of muscle they can get. The vast majority of people who are geared (those who use PEDs) also have zero issues with people who are natty. We couldn't usually care any less because it does not impact us at all. Geared guys have issues with natties only when natties run their mouths and single us out as if the only reason we are big is from taking PEDs. That is when discussions and dialogue on social media devolve into vitriol and pablum. In short, I do not care what you do until you come after me. Then I care a LOT.
The Resentment Problem
I have watched a trend develop on social media over the last few years where anyone with any amount of muscle is quickly accused of steroid use—usually by someone who looks like they have never seen the inside of a gym.
I have also witnessed discussions about training and nutrition turn into a shit show and be taken down the rabbit hole of, "You do not know how to train. Take away the steroids, and you would not be big at all." That is like saying, "Take away protein, and you will not be big at all." It is an odd situation when you have been training for forty years and then are told you do not know what you are talking about because you use PEDs. It is so much of a head shake that I sometimes find myself sitting there, unable to respond, because I just do not know what to say. How do you counter a comment like that? I had to sit there and think of something better than, "Oh yeah?"
Social Media: Amplifying Division
I am curious how we have come to this divide. Essentially, we are all aiming for the same thing: improving our physiques as best we can. You would think we would all be on the same page within this "brotherhood" or community of lifters who are quite often looked down on as outcasts, meatheads, or obsessive.
Nah, we need to find the differences among us, argue with each other about who is better and who should be respected, and then belittle anyone who does not approach working out the same way we do. We already do this with politics, social topics, and pretty much anything we can use to judge someone else in a negative light. Why not go after someone who is bigger than you and has a better physique than you do? Don't take into consideration that I have been training for forty years and deserve some bit of respect; instead, try to steal the hard work I have put in and tell me how you would be just as big if you took PEDs, too. And here is the real kicker: I honestly believe that THEY believe what they are saying.
There are egos in every group, every profession, and every career. My wife often reminds me of this. When I bitch about how people act in our industry, she is quick to remind me that it is not specific to just our industry; it is rampant in every industry. She is a professional with a "real" job, and she has to deal with the same thing. The difference between my wife and me is that she does not get to write about the things that irk the shit out of her, but I do.
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My Letter to You
Dear Natties,
It is ok to be natural. I respect your position of not wanting to use PEDs. Five seconds after you tell me how natural you are (because natties WILL tell you), I have forgotten about you being natural. Why? Because I simply do not care. You care that I am geared, but I do not care what you do at all, ever.
Please do not argue health and fitness with me. Listen, I am not about either one. I am extreme. I want to push the envelope to get the most out of my physique. No, I did not read a muscle magazine when I was fourteen and thought, "I sure want to be healthy and fit." I thought to myself, "I want to be jacked AF, and I want people to notice me when I walk down the street." Shallow? IDGAF. Again, I do not care what you do or how you do it; it is your business. Return the same respect to me and try not to care what I do, either.
Defining "Big"
Please quit turning social media posts into a cacophony of responses about how big you all are. Big is a relative term, and each person has their own definition of what "big" is. You are likely bigger than all your friends, but you are not big by bodybuilding standards. If you can walk down the street without someone noticing that you are a bodybuilder, you are NOT BIG. And anyone who knows me knows I do not consider myself big, either. If I do not think I am very big, and you are not as big as I am, where does that leave you?
Most guys on PEDs are so focused on getting bigger that they also do not consider themselves big. We tend to have high expectations for ourselves and are typically never satisfied. Yet you will go on and on about how big they are "for not using PEDs." I just checked your pics, and you are lying. You are either big or you are not, and if you have to tell everyone you are big, you are probably not.
Experience vs Youthful Egos
You do not know more about training or nutrition because you are natural. That is a silly argument that has no merit or basis. You want everyone to believe that because you grow muscle so much slower than someone using PEDs, you must know more about training and nutrition. I have trained for over FORTY YEARS. To make a statement like that to someone like me when you are not even thirty years old is comical to everyone except you.
Do not invite me to train with you because you think you will bury me. After training for forty years, I have built a tolerance for intensity that you probably can not even begin to understand. I would likely bury you, and I would do it being fifty-four years old. It would be pretty embarrassing to be out-trained by someone old enough to bang your mom.
And keep in mind that I am talking about INTENSITY, not strength. Hypertrophy is not reliant upon moving as much weight as possible, and quite frankly, training heavy in the 6-8 or even 8-10 rep range is nothing like training to failure in the 15-20 or 15-25 rep range. Take a set of pendulum or hack squats to failure at 20+ reps, and before you respond, do it a few more times before moving on to doing the same thing for the next exercise for legs. Let me know how that goes for you.
Embracing Differences with Respect
I know a ton of natties who are friends or clients, and none of them are assholes. I am not going after every single natty lifter; I am going after those who resent someone being bigger, so they try to discredit the geared group. It is no different than being poor and hating someone who has more money or having an ugly girlfriend and hating the guy who has a hot wife. We are not competing against you, and we are not going to steal your wife or girlfriend. I have seen her on your Facebook; she is not worth stealing. Plus, she very clearly prefers someone softer with less muscle. Just Sayin'
Ken “Skip” Hill has been involved in the sport of bodybuilding for almost forty years and competing for over twenty years. Born and raised in Michigan, he spent 21 years calling Colorado home with his wife and their four children. 4 years ago, he and his wife traded the mountains for the beach, relocating to South Florida. His primary focus is nutrition and supplementation, but he is called upon for his years of training experience, as well. He started doing online contest prep in 2001 and is considered one of the original contest prep guys when the bodybuilding message boards were still in their infancy. Skip’s track record with competitive bodybuilders is well-respected, and he also does sport-specific conditioning, including working with professional athletes.
