Natty Meaning in Gym: Terms Explained

In fitness, "natty" is short for "natural," referring to those who avoid performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) like steroids.

Embracing a natty lifestyle means relying on diet, exercise, and proper supplementation for muscle growth and overall health.

This article explores the importance of being natty, its benefits and challenges, and how to identify a natural athlete.

What Does Natty Mean?

"Natty" is a term for bodybuilders who avoid PEDs, relying on genetics, diet, and training for results.

Muscle growth depends on muscle protein synthesis (MPS), peaking within 2-3 hours post-exercise and lasting up to 48 hours.

What Does Enhanced Mean?

Enhanced bodybuilders use PEDs to surpass natural muscle growth limits. Anabolic steroids enhance muscle protein synthesis via androgen receptors.

Steroids are synthetic derivatives of testosterone designed to maximize anabolic effects.

Pros and Cons of Each Approach

Pros of Natural Bodybuilding:

• Healthier long-term: Avoids health risks like heart problems and hormonal imbalances.




• Cost-effective: Avoids high costs of PEDs.




• Sustainable: Promotes a balanced, lifelong fitness approach.

Cons of Natural Bodybuilding:

• Slower progress: Muscle growth and recovery are slower without PEDs.




• Genetic limitations: Progress is limited by genetics.




• Plateaus: More likely to experience plateaus without PEDs.

Pros of Enhanced Bodybuilding:

• Rapid gains: PEDs speed up muscle growth and fat loss.




• Surpass natural limits: Achieve physiques impossible naturally.

Cons of Enhanced Bodybuilding:

• Health risks: PEDs can cause serious health issues.




• Injury risk: Muscle may outpace tendon strength, leading to injuries.




• Dependency: Risk of psychological dependency on PEDs.

Making the Right Choice

Start naturally before considering PEDs. If aiming for a lean summer body, adopt a conservative approach. For competition, train naturally for several years first.

Regular bloodwork is essential before and during PED use to monitor health.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do pro bodybuilders use steroids?

Pro bodybuilders use strategies like carb cycling and drying out during peak week. They stack differently in the off-season to support size and strength gains.

Why do fitness influencers look perfect on social media?

Fitness influencers may have exceptional genetics or use PEDs. Sponsored by brands, they often have professional teams to enhance their photos.

Can you tell if someone uses steroids?

It's challenging to identify PED users as some natural athletes have impressive physiques, and some enhanced users may not look extraordinary.

What should you know about PEDs?

Understand the risks and benefits of PEDs. Consult experienced individuals and do regular bloodwork to monitor health if using PEDs.

Conclusion

Deciding to stay natural or go enhanced depends on your goals, lifestyle, and health. Dedication to diet, training, and health is key to success in fitness.

References

• Kuhn, C. M. (2010). Anabolic Steroids. Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710. doi: 10.1210/rp.57.1.411




• Varga, M. (2013). Textbook of Rabbit Medicine, Second Edition. Publisher: Elsevier.