What's Really Attainable?

A lot of people think that looking like a great bodybuilder happens after some magical number of years of hard training, diet and recovery. "Eat the right foods" they tell you. "Sleep enough" they say. "Make sure you believe in your program and really develop your body, pay your dues and you will achieve what you never thought possible".

While yes, it's true, that "paying your dues", hard training, good recovery practices and good dieting are all parts of what make the bodybuilding physique what it is, that's not the whole machine. It's imperative to nib this in the bud because there's this idea of what's attainable naturally running around, and it's not healthy and it's not fair.

There are certain bodybuilders who have done well for themselves. Layne Norton is one of them. There was a time, many years ago, that I listened to every pod cast, read every article and believed most of what Norton said. Why? Because he's university trained, he's the "protein" guy. He's a national competitor in bodybuilding. He's a coach. He knows how to run a business. He knows how to get people shredded or huge or both. Someone like that must know what he's talking about, he must know what he's doing.

And he does. He has managed to live a lie of what is achievable naturally for many years. And people believe him. Why is this a big deal, you ask? This is a big deal because it's putting ideas into people's heads who don't know any better. Of course people want to (and will) look up to someone like Layne Norton. He knows a lot of smart shit. He's a smart guy! You want to believe that if you do just as he says, you will reap the rewards, earn a pro card, go far in your dreams and aspirations of a head-turning physique.

I have zero issue with anyone using steroids. I haze zero issue with anyone saying they do or don't use (it IS illegal in many countries after all!) and my problem isn't with people using gear, it's when people start to make money off of their lies that I take issue with. Especially people who are very powerful and will try to crush anyone who tries to speak the truth about it (Ice Cream Fitness).

This must end. People need to aspire to a natural physique by looking at legitimate natural physiques. While this is a much bigger issue than just one person, one bodybuilder, one law, one country, it is an issue that needs to be dealt with.

You cannot attain a physique like Layne Norton's naturally. There, I said it.

I'm not doing this to defame anyone, I am doing it to help you. a 90 day program, book, ebook, stack of legal steroids, weight loss pill, won't get you to look like a top competitor. a 10 year program of test boosters, lots of sleep, eating "bro" food and reading magazine articles on the next best training program also won't get you to look like a top competitor. What will get you to look like all of those guys that have won the Olympia? Gear. Hard training. Good diet. And more gear.

Work your asses off, eat well, sleep enough and get what you get, and be happy with it, naturally. But don't compare yourself to top level bodybuilders who are winning shows at a national level, because no matter what they say, they aren't natural.