I’ve been embedded in the bodybuilding world for over a decade. In the trenches gaining mass and strength both with my own natural genetics and in recent years, via anabolic assistance.
There are profound intricacies I’ve witnessed first-hand when it comes to maximizing freaky muscle growth through natural or enhanced methods.
Let’s intricately break down muscle building mechanics to help you set accurate expectations.
The Science of Muscle Growth
Hypertrophy is complex, but essentially it comes down to:
Mechanical Tension – Lifting heavy loads places strain on muscle fibers, triggering growth signals.
Metabolic Stress – Accumulation of fatigue byproducts like lactate promotes anabolism.
Muscle Damage – Controlled microtrauma to myofibrils from eccentric loads amplifies the adaptive response.
When these three mechanisms are harnessed together through proper training, you get muscle protein synthesis occurring faster than breakdown = gains.
It’s the steadfast trifecta for eliciting hypertrophy. Both enhanced and natural guys primarily leverage tension, metabolic stress and muscle damage to spur growth.
Let’s unpack how to best exploit these mechanisms naturally, before assessing steroid utilization.
Building Muscle Naturally
I spent years carefully crafting my natural physique. The dedication is admirable, to push your body’s limits without chemical enhancements.
Here’s exactly what it takes:
#1 Appropriate Set and Rep Schemes
Vary set/rep layouts to best facilitate overall tension, metabolic stress and muscle damage:
Strength Sets – 1-5 reps at 80%+, heavier loads maximizing tension
Hypertrophy Sets – 8-12 reps at 70-80% 1RM builds mass through increased time under tension
Metabolic Sets – 15-20+ reps increases lactate, ‘pumps up’ muscles
Each scheme serves a biological purpose. Mixing these set styles throughout training elicits a growth-optimized stress.
#2 Progressive Overload Tactics
The most fundamental growth tenant:
Continually increase demands over time.
Adding more weight/reps when capable primes further adaptation. A few of the best ways to progress overload include:
1) Double Progression
- Week 1 perform 3 x 10 reps
- Week 2 aim for 3 x 12 reps
- Once you hit 3 x 12 reps → increase weight lifted
2) Add Sets
Begin with 3 sets per exercise. Increase to 4, then 5 total sets once capable. More volume drives hypertrophy.
3) Clusters
Break sets into smaller sub-sets with short rest periods. Allows lifting heavier loads than straight sets.
For example:
- 245 lbs x 5 reps straight set
Vs. - 245 lbs x 3 reps, rest 20 secs, x 2 reps = 1 cluster set
As strength increases slowly reduce rest periods to intensify clusters.
#3 Nutrient Timing
Strategically consuming macros around training optimizes environment for adaptation:
-
Pre-Workout: 25-50g carbs to fuel session
-
Post-Workout: 40-60g fast protein/carb combo igniting recovery
-
Night: Casein protein, no carbs/fat for sustained elevated MPS
Properly timing key nutrients amplifies muscle growth.
#4 Stricter Exercise Selection/Form
Machines and isolation exercises require less stabilization, allowing heavier overloading of specific muscle groups.
Whereas free weights challenge control/balance more increasing tension and muscle damage signals.
Choose movements wisely and keep form air tight without momentum to best target adapted hypertrophy response.
#5 Training Split Strategies
Split muscles groups across the week. Several proven templates:
A) Push Pull Legs (PPL)
- Monday: Push (Chest, Shoulders, Tris)
- Tuesday: Pull (Back, Bis)
- Wednesday: Legs (Quads, Hams, Glutes)
B) Upper Lower (UL)
- Monday: Lower (Legs)
- Tuesday: Upper (Chest, Back, Shoulders, Arms)
- Wednesday: Lower
- Thursday: Upper
C) Body Part Split
- Mon: Chest
- Tues: Back
- Wed: Shoulders
- Thurs: Arms
- Fri: Legs
I prefer UL hitting muscle groups 2x weekly. But choose split fitting your recovery capacity and schedule.
#6 High Volume Examples
Elite naturals train with extremist volume tricking their bodies to permanently expand muscle cells.
For instance, Olympia contender Jeremy Buendia’s routine while bulking:
| Monday | Tuesday | Thurday | Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quads | Hamstrings | Quads | Hamstrings | Quads |
| – Leg Press | – Lying Leg Curls | – Hack Squats | – Seated Leg Curls | – Front Squats |
| 10 x 10 Rest-Pause with 375 lbs | 10 x 10 with 3 dropsets | 8 x 8 365 lbs to failure with partials | 8 x 8Rest-Pause with 3 drops | 7 x 7 315 lbs + chains |
| Calves | Calves | Calves | ||
| Seated 5 x 15-20 | Standing 5 x 15-20 |
This astonishing volume prompts maximum natural releases of local growth factors like IGF-1 and MGF.
#7 Sample 5 Day Natural Hypertrophy Routine
Pulling from the methodologies outlined, here’s a properly formulated routine I’ve worked with natural clients on with great mass building success:
Monday: Legs (Quads Dominant)
- Barbell Back Squats – 4 x 8, 1 x AMRAP w/ 205 lbs
- Leg Press – 3 x 10 Cluster Set w/ 375 lbs
- Leg Extensions 3 x 12 with quadruple drop set
- Standing Calf Raises – 5 x 15-20
Tuesday: Pull
- Barbell Deadlifts – 3 x 5, 1 x 3 w/ 275 lbs
- Weighted Pull Ups – 4 x 8 w/ 25 lbs
- Cable Rows – 3 x 10 w/ Stack
- Hammer Curls – 3 x 12
Wednesday: Legs (Hams/Glutes Dominant)
- Romanian Deadlifts – 4 x 10 w/ 185 lbs
- Lying Leg Curls – 5 x 8-10 Rest Pause
- Hip Thrusts 3 x 20 w/ 225 lbs
- Standing Calf Raises – 5 x 15
Thursday: Push
- Barbell Bench Press – 4 x 6, 1 x AMRAP w/ 205 lbs
- Shoulder Press Machine – 3 x 10 Cluster Set w/ Stack
- Incline Dumbbell Press – 3 x 12
- Overhead Tricep Extensions – 3 x 15
Friday: Full Body
- Barbell Squats – 4 x 10 w/ 185 lbs
- Weighted Chin Ups – 4 x 6 w/ 45 lbs
- Dumbbell Bench Press 3 x 10 w/ 80 lb DBs
- Preacher Curl Machine – 3 x 12
- Calf Press – 5 x 15
This covers all muscle groups with ample volume through varied rep ranges.
Execute this style routine or similar consistently in a calorie surplus for multiple years. Then enter decision time on further enhancement…
#8 Additional Examples of Impressive Natural Physiques
Let’s showcase more monumental natties, to inspire your potential sans drugs:
Gained nearly 40 lbs naturally through a decade of lifting. Kenneth preaches realizing genetic muscular limits before considering saucy tactics:
PhD muscle scientist Norton packed 30+ lbs on his 5’9 frame drug free. Layne stresses metabolic stress via mind-muscle connection training and strategic carb manipulation:
Achieved Greek god aesthetics gaining 43 lbs naturally. High-volume heavy lifting combined with strict nutrition habits facilitated Lazar’s genetic best:
As you can see, with resolute consistency even naturally some slab on freaky muscle. It just takes longer without chemical enhancement.
Muscle Building on Steroids
After nearly a decade lifting natural, I felt I’d tapped out my genetic muscular potential.
My focus shifted from calibrated clean bulking to rapid gains chasing the elite 300 lb figure mark. I turned to the dark side…rather the saucy side.
Let’s analyze possibilities expanding muscle cells to their pharmacological threshold.
Why Steroids Change the Game
To understand steroids’ muscle building prowess, you must recognize normal testosterone’s impacts.
Testosterone bonds to androgen receptors triggering protein synthesis and other anabolic effects. Natural test promotes recovery, muscle repair, strength increases and moderate mass gains.
Now imaginatively magnifying T-levels beyond normal ranges as steroids do leads to supraphysiological muscle building. The effects amplify exponentially, not just incrementally.
It surpasses what’s naturally possible even with perfect training and nutrition.
The Steroid Arsenal
Hundreds exist, but some of the most common anabolics include:
1) Testosterone: The essential base of any stack with protein building properties.
2) Trenbolone: Very potent bulking agent also used for cutting; However aggressive side effects.
3) Anavar: Known as the “girl steroid” used for lean muscle retention during fat loss phases.
4) Winstrol: Similar to Anavar providing hardness for cutting and strength.
5) Deca Durabolin: Slow but high quality mass gainer easing joint pains.
6) Dianabol: Fast acting oral infamous for rapid size and power at the cost of harsh side effects.
7) Anadrol: Similar to D-bol but arguably even more powerful; liver toxic.
Ancillaries like Armidex and Clomid usually accompany cycles treating side effects and restarting hormone production following exogenous shutdown.
Cycle Schemes & Stacking
Steroids are stacked together in ~8-20 week cycles with structured on/off periods and PCT recovery:
A) Beginner Bulk Cycle
- Testosterone Cypionate 500 mg/week 1-12 weeks
- 30 mg Dianabol daily weeks 1-4
B) Intermediate Lean Bulk Cycle
- Testosterone Enanthate 750 mg/week
- Trenbolone 200 mg/week
- 12 weeks total
C) Advanced Shredding Cycle
- Test Prop 100 mg EOD 1-10 weeks
- Tren Ace 75 mg EOD 1-8 weeks
- Winstrol 50 mg ED last 8 weeks
- Clenbuterol 2 weeks on/off
And yes – some alleged elite mutant-status bodybuilders blast & cruise perpetually without PCT, blasting grams of multiple compounds at once.
Stack intelligently compounds that synergize properties. Adjust dosing finding sweet spot balancing rapid gains with health.
Impacts on Progress
The extent of muscle mass steroids add distinctly separates them from natural limitations.
Imagine hard-training twins Eric and Derek pursuing equal physique aspirations for 5 years:
Eric – Natural Development Timeline Derek – Enhanced Development Timeline
This fictional depiction estimates realistic muscular expectations over identical time frames.
Initially gains are comparable…then a canyon erupts favoring Derek’s muscular maturation significantly. 60 lb disparities materialize from steroid’s anabolic effects multiplying muscle cells.
Genetic muscle building ceilings lift to the clouds.
Ceiling collapsing case study – IFBB Pro bodybuilder Luke Sandoe:
140 lbs before training → 190 lbs natural limit → 170 lbs stage weight at 5’6 = 260+ lbs offseason
Luke augmented world-class genetics with drugs accumulating nearly 100 lbs of tissue beyond natural capabilities.
His ceiling stretched from 190 to 260 lbs freak mode from enhancement.
Health Compromises
Such unbridled mass quests tax the system in concerning manners however.
While conservative steroid cycles pose minor health threats IF properly monitored, mega-dosing risks include:
- Thickening heart/artery walls
- Cholesterol issues
- Liver & kidney stress
- Tumors and cysts
- Immune system dysfunction
- Infertility
- Gynecomastia
Plus much more.
The repercussions MUST be weighed against desired cosmetic results. Shutting down hormone loops long-term also mandates testosterone cycles lifelong without option to PCT restart the HPTA axis naturally again.
READ: Bodybuilders Lives Shortened By Steroid Abuse, Says Frank Zane
Playing with hormonal fire without question comes at a cost both visually and internally.
Prioritize Natural Gains First
Considering steroids’ health effects, maximizing your natural muscular runways should take top priority. Hitting genetic potential through rigorous training is pivotal.
THEN reassess introducing anabolic compounds if desired, fully aware of brewing detriments.
The more mass built naturally as a foundation, the freakier you’ll become moving forward enhanced. Don’t shortcut natural development and leave pounds on the table by rushing to use drugs.
You alone must determine if chasing inflated muscle goals warrants health bargains. Just know true natural potential without chemical shortcuts takes 5-10 years of bulking and cutting phases to see.
Have the patience to watch your physique blossom naturally initially at least.
Maximizing muscle growth follows similar science-backed mechanisms either naturally or enhanced.
Progressive tension supporting hypertrophy combined with metabolic stress and muscle damage drives increases.
Both routes require intense dedication through sets, reps and diligent nutrition.
But steroids introduce an element of supercharged muscular bursts unattainable naturally. Hand-in-hand with top tier genetics, PEDs enable unprecedented gains.
The decision to enhance should consider potential health impacts though, making building your natural foundation first vital.
Then if electing to amplify size further via drugs, finalize chosen goals, run cycles strategically and understand bodily tradeoffs.
Perhaps YOU will inspire others one day proving human capacities through natural gains or chemical feats!