Is this steroids?

[buzzrider7]

I've been working my ass off, well, my abs, actually, for the last two months. I'm finally starting to get some definition lines as I persue the ever-elusive six pack. It's slow going, which often makes it frustrating.

I come across photos like this now and then and wonder how these guys achieve this look. Is this steroids? I'd also guess that this guy probably hasn't eaten in four days and is so dehydrated that he most likely couldn't even piss enough to fill a shot glass.

If anybody reading this has come close to this or intimately know somebody who has, is it possible to achieve this with natural means that aren't so extreme that it risks trips to the ER? Just curious..

 

[Strontium]

It's potentially entirely natural.

This is the third time I'm trotting out this pic, but it's pertinent.

Here's a very fit guide from one of my expeditions. He had never seen the inside of a gym. His superb body was the product of an active lifestyle and a good diet. At the time of the pic, he was 32 years of age.

It may not be fair to impose pictures like this on urban folk, whose physical outputs are very modest compared to expedition guides.

Also, as he is obviously not Caucasian, perhaps he has a natural advantage in having innately less body fat.

-

 

[SR_Les Intercourse]

not streroids

 

[Strontium]

I know little of steroids, but I think they increase the intensity at which you can work out, and decrease the recovery time.

I suspect your question relates more to drugs which increase one's base metabolic rate. This is not my area of expertise, but I think caution is advisable. A few deaths have been attributed to such drugs, eg, the uncertainty of the cause of death of Brett Mycles a year or two ago. ( I hear conflicting stories on the cause of his death, some say it was congenital, some say it was drug-induced).


Here is a gratuitous but hot link to Brett. Ahem. This is likely to throw this thread but here goes:

http://bestfreegaypornsite.com/tag/brett-mycles/%3Ca/

 

[seattleguy77]

And don't dismiss the possibilty of digital enhancements. Even if the model was blessed with great abs, the shadows could have been tweaked to increase his definition and there could have even been a bit of "copy & paste" to give the appearance of symmetry.

 

[nudeyorker]

And don't dismiss the possibilty of digital enhancements. Even if the model was blessed with great abs, the shadows could have been tweaked to increase his definition and there could have even been a bit of "copy & paste" to give the appearance of symmetry.

Bingo We have a winner!

 

[D_Everette Hunglungfish]

buzzrider, I would kill to have abs like yours. Your gorgeous as it is.

 

[Strontium]

And don't dismiss the possibilty of digital enhancements. Even if the model was blessed with great abs, the shadows could have been tweaked to increase his definition and there could have even been a bit of "copy & paste" to give the appearance of symmetry.

Hah!


Not referring to you buzzrider, but there are quite a few fake profiles on lpsg. Generally, I believe it when i see it on webcam, live.

-

 

[pwrdick]

If you've been focusing on your abs, and not pleased with what you are seeing, then focus on losing as much body fat as you can. Your great abs are there already, but you probably need to lose more fat to make them more visible. If you are into measuring progress, have someone routinely measure your percentage body fat and see if dropping a percent or two make a difference in how well those abs show.

I have never thought I had a decent physique but since I have essentially no body fat under my skin, every muscle is exposed and I look 'ripped' even though I don't work art it. The only work out I do is my figure modeling (alright - I do take aggressive poses)yet every artist remarks on my physique. Go figure.

 

[pwrdick]

And, for the record, I think you body and abs are great like they are already!

 

[wellhung9]

great diet and cardio can help you achieve that look. it's not impossible to achieve a great looking body without steroids. And I'd have to say that not eating would not be the way to go. You want to eat small meals every 2 hours or so.

 

[buzzrider7]

Thanks for the replies so far, guys. I should mention that I am not trying to look as extremely ripped as the guy in the pic I attached (sure, I wouldn't mind, but I'm not trying to go that far). I'm not familiar with metabolism-boosting drugs - probably worth researching a bit just to know. I have zero interest in taking any kind of drug to achieve my results, that would kill what I'm after, which is a sense of satisfaction derived from hard work to achieve a goal.
Thanks for the compliments pwrdick and sixskin. I'm not disappointed by how I look now, but I think there's definitely room to improve. I guess it's human nature to always want to strive to reach the next level.
Since December, I've been following a pretty strict diet geared toward maximizing my fitness (zero processed foods/sweets/empty carbs, high protein levels, tons of fresh veggies, small meals 5x/day, etc.). I've definitely seen some improvement, but I still have a long way to go to achieve what I want. I guess my initial question was geared to try to help me understand what I can realistically expect from an excellent diet, pushing myself hard working out and following a healthy lifestyle.
Thanks for the input!

 

[D_Anton_Pavlovich_Jerkhov]

great diet and cardio can help you achieve that look. it's not impossible to achieve a great looking body without steroids. And I'd have to say that not eating would not be the way to go. You want to eat small meals every 2 hours or so.

Hmm, I am afraid that eating too frequent meals can upset the digestion for some people. Besides, it is a very impractical thing to do for most people who have a job outside home. I'd rather rely on three basic meals a day with plenty of animal protein and lots of rest. Training with weights should be intense (heavy with few repetitions), but it doesn't have to be daily.

 

[B_coldnose]

are you just doing crunches, situps,and the other regular ab exrecises. It will take will take various weight training core exercises as well. Suggestion, mens health magazine has many of those exercises described in it.
as well take into account genetics we are all not born with the same amount of muscles cells. we can however increase thier size.

 

[Strontium]

I have zero interest in taking any kind of drug to achieve my results, that would kill what I'm after, which is a sense of satisfaction derived from hard work to achieve a goal.

Good to hear.

 

[buzzrider7]

No. I used to just do a variety of crunches and never saw much in terms of results. This time around I've beefed things up by adding weights. I'm doing a lot of abs work where I hang from a bar doing cruch-ups, leg raises, etc., both fast and extremely slowly and controlled, both in the middle and out to the sides. I am now doing these with 5-15lb weights between my legs. This is the main reason I'm finally seeing and feeling some ab definintion for the first time in my life. I've been doing gymnastics/trampoline since I was 16, so I've always had fairly tight abs, just not a lot of attention-grabbing definition (ripples). By adding weights, I'm seeing this, though it's very slow in the making. (I've been doing this for about two months now.) I guess patience, perseverance and increasing intensity are key.

are you just doing crunches, situps,and the other regular ab exrecises. It will take will take various weight training core exercises as well. Suggestion, mens health magazine has many of those exercises described in it.
as well take into account genetics we are all not born with the same amount of muscles cells. we can however increase thier size.

 

[amrod]

I've been working my ass off, well, my abs, actually, for the last two months. I'm finally starting to get some definition lines as I persue the ever-elusive six pack. It's slow going, which often makes it frustrating.

I come across photos like this now and then and wonder how these guys achieve this look. Is this steroids? I'd also guess that this guy probably hasn't eaten in four days and is so dehydrated that he most likely couldn't even piss enough to fill a shot glass.

If anybody reading this has come close to this or intimately know somebody who has, is it possible to achieve this with natural means that aren't so extreme that it risks trips to the ER? Just curious..

2 months is a short time man. It takes a lot of dedication and commitment over time to achieve anything long lasting. Some guys cheat and take drugs to speed up the process and minimize the effort but at what cost? There are plenty of out of shape ex athletes to support this observation. If you keep up the good work that you have obviously put in so far and don't try to rush things you will achieve your goals I am sure. My dime's worth ....

 

[Lex]

Seeing your abs is a function of your body fat percentage. When you get down to 10% BF or below, you abs show nicely especially if you have built them with crunches, planks, etc. If you have extra weight around the middle, crunching will not make it go away.

As to those pics -I am voting for naturally lean (meaning not using roids) with some photoshop to enhance the shadows. The guy in the pic looks to have around 9-10% BF to me.

buzzrider - if you want to see you abs, do the following:

Find an online tool to help you calculate your BMR.

Once you know this number (in calories per day), subtract 400-500 from it. This should be the number of calories you aim to eat per day (with a health split of proteins, carbs and healthy fats--yes you must eat all three).

Then, add 45 minutes minimum of low intensity cardio at least 5 days a week to create a caloric deficit and burn the extra fat. Cardio first thing in the morning is great as if forces the body to burn fat for fuel.

 

[cdog204]

Did someone suggest that the model's photo might be airbrushed? Blasphemy!

Note that the model is very obviously professionally tanned. A good tan artist will often help color the ab area so that they look a lot more dimensional when photographed. Dirty little secret. Take-home tip is that if you're a bit tanned, your abs will appear to pop more than if you are Casper-pale like me.

 

[amrod]

Did someone suggest that the model's photo might be airbrushed? Blasphemy!

Note that the model is very obviously professionally tanned. A good tan artist will often help color the ab area so that they look a lot more dimensional when photographed. Dirty little secret. Take-home tip is that if you're a bit tanned, your abs will appear to pop more than if you are Casper-pale like me.

It's true. A tan produces darker shadows so the abs are more obvious than if you're pale ... However it won't make you show abs if you don't have any to show - unless they are painted on (which does happen).