When you hear about gear in Bodybuilding, what usually comes to mind? Is it whey protein, creatine, amino acids, or even gym accessories that you wear during your workouts? If your answer is yes, then you probably are a natural lifter, but for those of you who answered no, then you probably have tried using gear or know people who have used it. So, what really is gear in bodybuilding? The term gear depends on the person you are talking to; for some, it can be the things mentioned above, but in the world of bodybuilding, the term gear is referred to as “steroids.”
Gear, also known as anabolic steroids, is usually a sensitive subject for most people who have been in the bodybuilding industry. There are also different terms that are linked to gear, such as “juice” or “gym candy.” To better understand what gear is and how it really works, we should first look at steroids. What are they? What are they made of? How do they work in the body? What are the different types of gears? Here are some brief answers to the questions you have in mind:
What really is “gear” or steroids?
●Steroids are synthetic substances that mimic the effects of hormones in your body. Men or women can use them for various reasons, but they’re generally taken to increase muscle mass and strength and increase performance among athletes.
What are “gears” or steroids made of?
●Most gears are a synthetic version of the predominant human male hormone called testosterone. They are commonly composed of the modified versions of the molecule of testosterone, this allows them to have a significant effect on rapid muscle growth and hasty muscle repair, and even increase the performance for bodybuilders and athletes.
How do they work in the body?
●Steroids travel through the bloodstream directly to the muscle tissues; they bind to an androgen receptor which then interacts with the cell’s DNA and help stimulate Muscle Protein Synthesis (MPS) which would then promote cellular growth.
What are the different types of gear in Bodybuilding?
●In the world of gear there are so many types of gear that are available, the most commonly used ones are Testosterone , Oxandrolone, Primobolan, Anavar, ClenbuteroL Winstrol, Deca Durabolin, Equipoise, Masteron, and Trenbolone. Some of these are injected and others are taken orally. All of which aims to aid in muscle growth, repair, performance and fat burn.
What is NATTY?
Contrary to the world of gears, there is a gym slang people commonly use. It’s commonly referred to as “Natty,” which is a slang term used in sports, particularly in the world of bodybuilding. Being “natty” or “natural” means that you lift without the benefits of gear or any performance-enhancing drug. It means that you are able to adapt a natural fitness routine that allows you to focus on your own health, both physically and mentally.
The “natty” approach to the gym is a more sustainable approach to fitness as it poses less risk to the body compared to those who are taking gear. With this, you need to have a level of discipline and consistency to achieve your goals. Most of the world’s population is into working out and sports, so there’s no need for you to feel left out or disappointed if you are not seeing your desired results immediately.
Here are some Pros and Cons on being NATTY:
Pros:
●Improved Health- with a balanced diet and the proper workout regimen paired with being natural your health will significantly improve in no time.
●Self-esteem boost- achieving fitness goals as a natural feel so much different, this means that you’ve had the level of discipline and consistency entailed to achieve those goals.
●Long term results- when it comes to fitness longevity should be the goal, making it more advantageous to natural lifters.
●Less Health Risks- this relates to long term results; the less foreign substance we inject or take into our body the less risks we have for complications that may occur.
●Respect from others- when you achieve results naturally people will normally look up to you and ask for your advice as most people struggle achieving their fitness goals naturally.
Cons:
●Progress is slower – as a natural bodybuilder or lifter it is important to understand that a natty person will require more time to recover during muscle breakdown compared to enhanced lifters or those who are in gear
●Difficult to compete with Enhanced Athletes – In bodybuilding primarily, if you join a competition expect people to be enhanced as they are doing it for a purpose which is to win. If you want to compete for a natural bodybuilding competition, there are drug tested events available worldwide.
●You need to have a strict diet and workout program- people who are natty need to be on point when it comes to the food they take in and the workout volume they do, whether it’s on a week-by-week basis or daily basis.
●Limited Supplement choice- unlike geared up lifters or athletes, people who choose to be natty have limits in their supplementation.
●Genetic Limitations- I’m not saying enhanced athletes automatically have genetic advantages but rather, people who are natty and have been working for a long time may experience Plateaus in their progress depending on their genetic limit.
It requires discipline, commitment and the right amount of patience being natty, you must adapt to a regimen that will fit your lifestyle wherein it is sustainable for you and the people around you.
What is considered Gear lifting?
When it comes to the world of gear lifting, it is usually the famous bodybuilders that come to mind. people who look gigantic, enormous, jacked, whatever you want to call it. But did you know that there is also a huge percentage of people who are using gear or performance-enhancing drugs that do not look like bodybuilders? These people are referred to as powerlifters and weightlifters; their goal is to carry a certain amount of weight, perform a specific movement, and successfully perform the movement. Primarily, these types of lifters do lower rep ranges compared to bodybuilders.
Gear lifting is very popular because it helps with strength levels and recovery. If you put together two people, one being on gear and the other being natty, both with identical sport backgrounds and similar genetics, the same height, the same weight, and you let them perform a certain lifting exercise, who do you think would win? The lifter that is in gear! right? Simply because being in gear helps you perform better than people who are natty. The strength is different, the recovery is different, and so many other things are different when you are gear lifting.
For bodybuilders, gear lifting is used because it helps them stimulate more muscle growth through performing more repetitions and imposing more stress on the muscles with the help of gear. You might wonder, is lifting on gear only for professional bodybuilders? No, it’s also for people who want to achieve a certain physique in a short period of time. These are commonly used by people like actors, models, and even normal people who have events like weddings, parties, and even summer break.
Here are some pros and cons when using gear when lifting:
Pros:
●Increased Strength – strength increases significantly when on gear.
●Improved Muscular endurance- endurance significantly is different when on gear, more repetitions to pump out.
●Enhanced recovery- when you are on gear, the recovery is rapid, compared to natural lifters it is almost double the speed of recovery.
●Competitive Advantage- you have an edge against people who are natural.
●Faster Results- when it comes to results, there is significant increase in muscle mass, strength, and endurance at a shorter span of time compared to natural lifters.
Cons:
● Health Risk- remember that with every positive component of being on gear comes its consequences, such as heart problems being the main one.
●Legality- for some States It is illegal to use certain types of gear, make sure you know the laws of your state.
●Shutdown of Natural Testosterone production- when you inject or take in testosterone it sends out a signal to the body that it is having an abundance; therefore making it shutdown the natural production of testosterone.
●Mental health and anger management issues- when on gear you will most likely have mood swings which are hard to handle especially when you are dieting and restricting food.
●Cost- it is expensive to possess gears.
The use of performance-enhancing drugs and gear can provide benefits and would most definitely help with your goals in terms of recovery, endurance, strength, and many other aspects. However, it is very important to take into consideration the potential health risks and the legalities that come with them. If you opt to use gear, moderation is key. You have to minimize the risks and negative consequences that come with it. It is very important to work with a professional when it comes to these things to be able to make informed decisions that are directly correlated to your goals as an athlete and as an individual which aims to improve performance and overall well-being.