Over the past two to three years, gym content on social media has become very popular; people tend to post about optimal workouts and transition videos that show what people looked like before and after a lifestyle change.
Nonetheless, there are behind the scenes circumstances that are less transparent.
Steroid use is very apparent in the gym. Content creators who post gym-related media on TikTok and Instagram decide against discussing their usage with audiences.
One of the main reasons preventing influencers from having these honest conversations is because of company/product sponsorships, which rely on creators’ promotion of waist trainers, supplements, and other gimmicks that supposedly work wonders. Companies and manufacturers alike have twisted the arm of creators to create a false identity online, all so that they can turn a profit.
Most people have heard of the “Liver King” and how he claimed to have an all-natural physique as a result of diet and exercise. However, it was recently revealed that he takes steroids, which is a large reason for the sharpness of his figure. Despite this development, he continues to market his insane diet of raw meats, such as liver and bone marrow from animals.
While bone marrow can strengthen one’s bones, skin health, and relieve joint pain, eating raw liver has severe downsides, such as food poisoning and salmonella.
Liver King has a massive following, especially with young people; he claims that anyone can look like him if they are to just follow his fitness regimen.
On the opposite side of the spectrum is content creator Noel Deyzel Bodybuilder, who is very transparent about his steroid usage and is sponsored by the supplement company Ryse. While he may get a few sponsorships from various companies, Ryse has looked past that Noel Deyzel is not a natural athlete, and is willing to help him make a living.
Deyzel even makes great gym-related topics regarding proper workout forms and protein food recipes for cookies, meals, and ice cream. While Deyzel is an enhanced athlete with a unique physique, it comforts me to know that he is transparent about his massive following and does not lie to his audience about how he came to be.
A lot of people go to the gym for the change to better their body, state of mind, and improve their lifestyle. Seeing people’s online progress can inspire others to take the first step in starting their health journey.
However, suppose people lie online about how they acquired their current physique. In that case, it could discourage beginners from going to the gym because the only way to achieve a particular figure is through steroids, which may not be an attractive option for the average gym-goer who just wants to be healthy.
The ideal body figure is still possible while being all-natural—it just takes time, consistency, dedication, diet, hydration, and rest. Progress in the gym will not is not an overnight occurrence. What you put into your lifestyle is up to you and how far you are willing to go.
Many online fitness influencers offer personal training, fitness routines, diet plans, and optimal ways to work out. While there is nothing wrong with fitness influencers making a living this way, it could help to provide dieting and proper form tips, as well as a time line for when a person should begin to see results. Viewers and clients alike may be under the false impression that they’ll reach their ideal figure in just a matter of time.
I am all for beginners wanting to better themselves through lifestyle changes. But, I don’t want them to have false expectations and think that within a few months, they’ll see a change.
You look at yourself every day, so visible changes happen gradually, not in a matter of a day, week, or month. It is going to take many months, or even years, to make a true difference that you can see with your own two eyes.
If you are starting your fitness journey, be careful who you interact with online and aware if they are taking any performance enhancers. The way others change doesn’t have to be the way you do.
