The World of "Fake Natties": Unveiling Deceptive Practices in Fitness

In the fitness world, the term "fake natty," short for fake natural, has gained prominence. It represents individuals who, while using steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), claim their physique results purely from diet and exercise. The recent incident involving a well-known influencer, "Liver King," whose leaked steroid shopping list unveiled the hidden contributors to his admirable physique, is a glaring example.

A "fake natty" is not someone who merely uses steroids. It’s someone who lies about it, propagating a deceitful image. The question arises, why do people, especially in our well-informed age, still lie about using steroids?

Reasons Behind the Deception:

  1. Fear of Legal Repercussions: Many steroids, despite having legitimate medical uses, are illegal in most countries due to their potential for misuse. Admission to usage can attract unwanted legal attention.
  2. Craving Attention: Achieving a phenomenal physique demands hard work, discipline, and investment. Steroids expedite this process, and when someone claims to have achieved this naturally, it garners immense attention and credibility.
  3. Monetary Gains: Once they gain popularity, many "fake natties" start marketing their "revolutionary" diet, workout program, or exclusive supplements, capitalizing on their deceitful claims, often at exorbitant prices.
  4. Public Perception & Ethics: The prevailing notion that "steroids are cheating" impacts public perception. Open admission to steroid use can significantly diminish one's accomplishments in the public eye.

Impact on the Uninformed: Fake naturals pose a serious threat as they propagate unrealistic standards and often misleading advice. Unsuspecting followers might adhere to suboptimal or harmful dieting and training programs and may subject themselves to unrealistic expectations and potentially harmful nutritional advice. The disillusionment following underperformance can lead to extreme measures such as inappropriate dieting or misguided steroid usage.

Spotting a “Fake Natty”: While there’s no foolproof method to discern steroid users, certain indicators can raise suspicion:

  1. Unnatural Size and Leanness: Achieving substantial size and leanness concurrently is challenging naturally due to conflicting caloric requirements.
  2. Rapid Gains: Quick progression is common in initial training phases, but subsequent muscle development is a gradual process.
  3. Disproportionate Strength and Size: Steroids can induce growth even with low weights, but genuine strength development necessitates time.
  4. Unusual Physical Traits: Signs like enlarged internal organs or disproportionately developed muscle groups can be indicative of steroid use.
  5. Common Sense: In our information-rich age, skepticism is essential, especially when confronting extraordinary claims associated with monetary gains.

Conclusion: The deception surrounding "fake natties" is not about steroid usage per se but about the dishonesty surrounding it. Many fitness professionals resort to PEDs to enhance their physique, subsequently leveraging it for their livelihood. The essential takeaway is the need for discernment and caution while interacting with purported naturals, especially when these interactions are laced with commercial undertones.

In a world rife with misinformation and deceit, especially in fields like fitness and bodybuilding, recognizing the falsehoods of "fake natties" and understanding the motivations behind their deceptions is vital. The desire for recognition, financial gain, and maintaining a fabricated reputation perpetuate such dishonest practices, potentially leading to harmful impacts on unsuspecting individuals.

While the decision to use steroids is personal and sometimes professional, transparency is crucial to maintaining integrity in the fitness industry. It fosters a realistic understanding of body image, healthy progression, and ethical standards, thereby cultivating a more informed, realistic, and ethical fitness community.