I have strong, if mixed, feelings about celebrity steroid use. I’m not entirely convinced of the idea that actors should be expected to disclose exactly what PEDs they use, and I’m even less convinced that the media has a “duty of care” to share that information.
On the one hand, I firmly believe that truth, openness, and sincerity give us all much firmer ground to stand on. When we have all the facts, we come much closer to reality and can make better, more informed decisions.
On the other hand, in a hypothetical world where athletes, celebrities and influencers are completely transparent about their PED use, it’s not hard to imagine that these admissions, especially when they include specific details, would be seen as prescriptions – especially in the Eyes of impressionable young men.
When the Liver King’s (ridiculously extensive) performance-enhancing “stack” was unceremoniously paved across the internet and racking up millions of views, I couldn’t help but wonder how many would see it as a purchase rather than a shocking charge of cheating list.
Just to be clear, I’m not advocating stealthy use of steroids. Without at least some awareness that we are all on a potentially uneven playing field, the same impressionable young men I mentioned would not be able to properly calibrate their ambitious radar. This, in turn, creates unrealistic expectations that, if not met, can quickly lead to burnout and disillusionment. That is the often propagated argument for transparency on this topic. It’s one I don’t disagree with.
However, given all we know about the relationship between exercise, longevity, and disease prevention, it could also be argued that giving up training could be just as dangerous in the long run as engaging in one Dianobol or another. In this thought experiment I’m stuck in, you need to consider what the lesser evil is – total transparency, which could lead to normalization and subsequent spikes in steroid abuse. Or the uncertain and mysterious terrain we currently find ourselves in, which can lead to misaligned and ultimately harmful expectations of what is achievable.
Do celebrities, and therefore the media, really have to choose between harming the emotional well-being of their fans and readers or possibly inciting them to harm themselves physically? Do they even have the right to make that call?
I think, as always, the middle ground is probably far more valuable. One where we are aware of the existence and ubiquity of performance-enhancing drugs, but also armed with the skills to ask much better questions on the subject. These questions should get away from the moral of the matter, avoid outrage and blame, and get to the heart of how this issue affects us directly.
After all, whether or not the actor portraying your favorite superhero is dressed up for the role has no bearing on your progress in the gym unless you allow it. Drugs aside, there are many factors at play beyond chemical use, which means you should be very careful when formulating your expectations and aspirations.
You might be climbing the same muscle-building mountain as your favorite celebrity, but chances are they have a lot better, um… gear.
That’s why I find it so important to go further than pointing fingers and ask questions that relate directly to your situation.
Instead of “Did this actor take steroids to play this superhero?” Ask yourself, “Do I think his body is attainable naturally?” The answer to the latter question applies much more to you, your training, and the choices you make in life. If you think you can’t achieve that physique naturally and don’t plan to dabble in anabolic sauce, you can simply remove the superhero image from your goal setting vision board. No harm done.
No amount of grudges against anyone will help you achieve a six pack abs, but realistically re-defining your ambitions could help you manage your expectations, which will go a long way in keeping you in the game long enough to be your best to achieve figure. And who knows, this might turn out to be more of a superhero than you initially imagined.
There are many trusted resources online that can help you determine how much size you can realistically expect to increase your frame, of course taking into account factors such as your age, height, training history, etc. One such place is “ More Plates”. The More Dates YouTube channel – the very channel that exposed the whole Liver King debacle. This is the information to look for when it comes time to set your muscle building expectations. This is the information that can provide you with the “solid ground” I spoke of earlier, on which you can confidently walk toward our goals.
Of course, the impact of PED use warrants many wide-ranging conversations. Men’s Health has had many of these in the past. The most thorny of these concerns the ethics of peddling any product – be it supplements, exercise programs or diets – where the very strong, though unspoken, claim is “This will help you look like me!”.
But here’s the rub: We’re probably never going to stem the tide of celebrities, influencers, and athletes using these compounds, so wouldn’t it be much more practical (and beneficial to your sanity) to just get better at recognizing what what is realistically achievable for you?
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