The other day I was visiting a client and he commeted on my physique and how big I was and asked if I was taking steroids. Of course I told him the truth and said “no” and that I do work out and try to stay in shape. I told one of my co-workers of this conversation and he was skeptical of my answer.
I don’t consider myself big, but I have had good results from a good diet, hard work and lots of rest. I’m about 5’7” and 170lbs. and 10% BF.
I have mixed feelings on this and wondered if anyone else has found themselves in this situation.

I think that most people have a hard time believing that with hard work, dedication, and perservance that a good physique is attainable. I heard a saying that I think is good here..."Let your haters be your motivators!!"
YOU and the great one above know what you are doing...that's all that matters.

I am not huge by any means, but have also been questioned at work and in the gym. My response:"I will put up $1000 and you put up $1000, you pick the lab, I pay for the test, winner takes all." I have yet to have any takers and they usually wind up asking me about my training and diet. There are people out there who believe a quality physique cannot be built without drugs, but we all know better and are proof that it can be done.

Alot of yahoos attribute a great physique to some magic pill, supplement, or growth hormone that we are taking. Heaven forbid that we earn it through dedication to lifting heavy and a clean diet. I can't tell you how many people ask me what kind of "pills" aka supps that I take in order to have the body that I do. They see me busting my butt at the gym, and have told them that I have a trainer for my diet, but they still think there's something that they can just swallow that will give them the same results.

I have even told people that ask me "do you work out" that I am currently participating in a trial study for Astra Zeneca and that I have never stepped into a gym, and eat whatever I want. You would be surprised at how many people ask when it will get its FDA approval and be available to the public. I know its not nice but its a silly question to ask me.

So, take it all in stride. But I do like your offer to put up $1000 and how quickly they shut up.

I would consider this to be a sincere compliment no matter who was giving it.

I am very open with people that I used to take steroids and was pretty big however I have been blessed with good genetics and a desire to work hard and to this day look like I am on something. I usually don't get people say anything to me but get tons of stares, comments behind my back and rumors, rumors, rumors. In the beginning I was a bit conflicted and was offended by it, but now I take it as extreme compliment.

In the past if someone came right out and asked me when I was on, I had a very difficult time because I wanted to be honest but didn't want to be judged unfairly. Now I hold my head high and use it as an opportunity. There is a lot of power in someone accusing you doing something like being on steroids and it being a false accusation. It gives you the opportunity to tell people the true blessings of competing.

I don't care what anyone says or what they say their motivation for competing is. I know the truth of the matter is competition dieting and training builds an extreme character and discipline that many people can only wish for. That is why many people are so envious of bodybuilders! It is not a sport for the faint of heart.

Competing not only gives most the opportunity to do something they love but it also can be used for the greater good. Competing can be used to witness to others about the true blessings that the sport gives back. When anyone asks "are you on?" I can proudly say "no" but more importantly it opens up a discussion to why you choose not to use and how you can look like someone who "does"!

quote:

But I do like your offer to put up $1000 and how quickly they shut up.

I take it as a compliment. If they push and doubt, I do much the same...EXCEPT, I say, "I have investors willing to put $50,000 up if you match it. Pick any lab/poly and if I get 2 out of 3 lab and polygraphs, my investors get the money. Are we on?"

Look at the difference it has made on David Henry. Most of us would show that kind of improvement...if you want to call it, "Improving", so I should say, "gains".

Thanks for all the feedback on this. After thinking about it for a couple of days and hearing your comments, it feels like a compliment. It has also been giving me more motivation in the gym in knowing that my hard work is paying off. So many times I look in the mirror and it doesn't appear that I am making gains, hearing comments from people around me like the "steroid" comment assure me that I am making gains and boosts my determination to work hard and eat right.

First I would take this as a compliment since most uneducated think that steriods are a magic potion that makes you huge. Means you must be doing something right. I have seen guys that have been "ON" and they have just as much dedication sometimes more than others. I wouldnt let the comment bother you. As long as you know, thats all that matters, right? I get the question too sometimes, I just smile and say: "nope, just work out, eat right and stuff!"

You should be flattered! "Big" is a relative term though.To a skinny teen or an elderly person you may look like King Kong but to the average run of the mill musclehead you would be considered small at a buck seventy.

I agree serpico. Im 220 an still feel small.

I take it as an insult. Although I am all of 154 lbs in contest condition, I've been accused of being on juice by guys who outweigh me by 50-70 lbs. Not only are these people uneducated, but they lack the guts, fortitude, dedictation, persistance, and everything else involved, to creating a healthy, natural physique through plain HARD WORK. It's an insult to your work ethic and loyalty to remianing natural. These same guys who accuse you I view as idiotic critics. Whenever someone achieves something worthwhile through gut busting effort, and has success, all the critics come out.

I don't know man, I guess it just depends on the source. If people don't know me and ask me that question, I really don't care all that much. I just view those peeps as idiots uneducated. However, if it's someone that KNOWS me, they should know better and then it bothers me a little.

LOL...I did have someone at a new job once ask, as I took my Bev supplements, "Are those steroids?" My reply? "Of course, don't you know that ALL of us steroid freaks are so comfortable taking illegal substances that we just do it out in the open now?!?" Of course, I then went on to tell him about Bev Products!

BTW...it's really fun to throw say, 495-545 on a squat rack and hit it for LEGIT reps and do it right in front of juicefreaks. I find, in my experience, that it REALLY gets them p!$$ed!

Enjoy the "backhanded" compliment, cat. At least they think you're huge.

quote:

I take it as an insult. Although I am all of 154 lbs in contest condition, I've been accused of being on juice

Accused...yes. It does tend to get the PO'd part of me. If I'm asked, I smile and I tell them thanks, but no. I'm as clean as one can be with nothing to hide or be sneaky. I don't even use prohormones.

quote:

Originally posted by Frank:
I don't even use prohormones.

I'm thinking of trying some amateurhormones, though. Doh!