How To Pass A Bodybuilding Drug Test

by Juston Torres-Gibbs | Mar 11, 2023 | Uncategorized

How do cheating natural bodybuilders pass drug tests? For, uuuuuh, purely educational purposes, of course. Jokes aside, supposedly natural competitions, from bodybuilding to Olympic sports, face the reality of doping. In a contest of athletic performance, it is paramount that all competitors be on a level playing field; sadly, though, the hunger for an advantage drives many to abandon the principles of sportsmanship and cheat both their opponents and ultimately themselves in order to gain an edge on the competition, abandoning the tenets of natural bodybuilding in the process.

But, aren’t drug tests in place to stop precisely that? How do they get passed them?

An excellent and highly pertinent question. While drug tests have never claimed to be unbeatable, the sheer number of doping cases, let alone those that go undiscovered, prompts the question: Just how are they circumventing them?

It poses a problem for the sport, a stain on the reputation of the community, and an injustice to those who find themselves left in the dust by the metaphorical equivalent of a marathon runner bringing a bicycle to the race. Thankfully, we’ve got our very own Fred Chevry, with his 10+ years of experience as a pro natural bodybuilder, to give us the insider scoop on the inner workings of this world, and relay some of his own first-hand accounts on the matter.

The Reality of Drug Use in the Bodybuilding Scene

Now, bodybuilding and steroids are practically synonymous, even to the layman. Which, whether one wants to accept the fact or not, impacts all under the umbrella of the term. This includes everything from the pressures under which each individual competitor finds themselves subjected, to the image of the industry as a whole, something even (so-called) natural bodybuilding isn’t safe from.

Why “so-called”? Well, because despite its label and often genuine attempt at impeding the use of PEDs by its competitors, this proves impossible( at least not without a significant margin of error). Be it due to corruption, or simple inability, natural bodybuilding is more so “undetectable PED” bodybuilding, a reality which, to those who choose to remain true and push themselves without pulling an Armstrong, proves insanely frustrating, to say the least.

But what’s the point of drug testing if it seems so easily overcome? Yes, it may filter out some more indiscreet compounds, but can bodybuilders really get away with cheating that easily and frequently? How are they doing it?

How Exactly Bodybuilders Pass Drug Tests

Here’s the bread and butter, the meat and potatoes of why you’re here. And unfortunately for the reality of the bodybuilding scene, there’s quite a hefty helping to be had. Bodybuilders looking to cheat the system and deprive anyone, including themselves, of an actual win, can deploy some of the following methods:

• Urine swap-out: Ol’ reliable right there, athletes often carry a clean sample that they’ll submit to testing instead of their own, be it through a demand for privacy before making the switch or the use of a Whizzinator to fool the observer. Some tests are so simple that mere diuretics allow for enough urine dilution to make the metabolites undetectable, coupled with creatine supplementation to throw your levels off.
• Compound timing: Instead of duping the test, some competitors opt to pass it through bad faith compound use, timing their dosages and regimes in such a way that they piss clean come time to be checked. MuscleMania Natural Champion and Profesional Bodybuilder, Fred Chevry, tells us of a fellow competitor who revealed to him how he would go on full-blown cycles in the off-season, only to taper off in time to test clean before the show, and even go so far as to hop back on numerous quick acting compounds between the test and the actual competition. This competitor went on to win the world title, and after returning to his home country, gave an interview on national television claiming natural. One example of who knows how many.
• Bribery & Corruption: I might’ve jumped the gun by calling urine swap-out ol’ faithful, because this method is as old as man himself. As early on as the concept of trade has existed, bribery and corruption have been right there with it. Money isn’t always the object either, with anything from social influence to sexual favors coming into play, which in turn sullies the industry’s image as a whole, significantly diminishing its already dwindling legitimacy. Fred retells another example of a competitor who didn’t even bother cycling off for shows, and how it was not only blatantly obvious in his physique, but in the fact that they didn’t even require him to register, forgoing at least putting on the facade. Absolute, unabashed corruption.

But wait, there’s more! Not only are there these methods when it comes to passing a urine test a competitor would have otherwise failed, but we haven’t even gotten into the amount of PEDs available which simply can’t be screened for when properly used. These include, but are not limited to:

• Testosterone Suspension
• Myostatin Inhibitors
• Human Growth Hormone
• Ephedrine
• Clen
• T3
• Insulin
• IGF-1
• Prescription Drugs (competitors abusing their legitimate medical prescriptions to give them an edge)

And while this covers quite a bit of ground on the matter, it by no means fully encompasses all that these cheaters have at their disposal to dodge regulations. Now that we’ve covered the how, let’s take a look at the why, as well as the aftermath of it all.

How It Affects the Bodybuilding Scene as a Whole

While you’d think the heading of this section would imply that its effects are, well, the effect, while the substance misuse is the cause, in reality, they each lead to one another, creating a vicious, self-sustaining loop in which bodybuilders use PEDs to obtain an edge, prompting others to partake also lest they be left in the dust.

This isn’t the only reason, though, with a number of other instigators existing, often, surprisingly enough, not coming primarily nor directly from the competitor themselves. Oftentimes sponsors push those they support to cheat in order to further guarantee a win and therefore promote the brand more efficiently, or show hosts will invite prominent social media figures and conveniently fumble their drug tests so that, if (or more aptly once) said guest of honor wins, the show receives that much more publicity, bolstering the hosts status as well as bring a little extra money to their pockets, both in the short and long term. All of these factors together work tirelessly to deteriorate the image of bodybuilding as a whole, and to make the scene all the less safe for new and existing competitors, as well as, again, discourage those who stay true to morality.

Fred remarks to us about how dishonesty surrounding the industry was rampant to the point of ironic honesty within, with a foreign competitor once stating in broken English “Yes, me steroids” without a care in the world. Because that’s just how broken the system is, that he didn’t even fear repercussion.

And let’s not forget that the bodybuilding scene stems beyond the shows themselves. Drug abuse amongst those who are the face of the industry promotes a standard unattainable to the unknowing novice, leading them to become discouraged & disillusioned, or to resort to PEDs themselves, merely out of body image issues rather than any inherent “need” for them. Not to mention instilling inherent dishonesty throughout the industry, as it’s come to be reluctantly accepted that they can’t tell the truth lest they lose sponsorship opportunities and therefore in large part their livelihoods.

“A lot of the poster boys of these organizations & supplement companies aren’t even drug users, they’re drug abusers, they’re walking pharmacies, so, that’s a little bit of a problem if you fail to mention that” – Fred Chevry

Many will say that no industry is without its problems, and while yes, that is indeed the case, whataboutism doesn’t change the fact that this specific industry’s problems aren’t inconsequential and have realistically straightforward avenues through which said problems can be addressed.

What Natural Bodybuilding Should be and How to Get it There

So what are these avenues? What can be done to start moving the state of the industry in the right direction?

Well, for starters, natural bodybuilding has a marketing problem.

“Natural Bodybuilding organizations, which should be promoting health and fitness, are doing a terrible job at marketing themselves; they don’t get much attention, despite fighting for a good cause. They’re just not great, and that’s an issue” -Fred Chevry

This is already a blatant flaw in need of address. The organizations in their current state have gotten comfortable pushing the wrong things, for the wrong reasons; if the proper attention were put into reshaping the way in which it’s sold, not a shady bastion of supposed-but-openly-dishonest drug-free bodybuilding, but rather an actual celebration of health and fitness, here to display what can be achieved through a balanced pursuit of physical development and optimal health, then maybe we’d begin to see some change, some momentum moving the scene forward in the right direction. But alas, if only change were so simple as identifying the problem.

Another, more obvious avenue, is more stringent testing, perhaps even to the extent of being regulated by third-party organizations, in order to diminish the bribery issue spoken of earlier in the article. Accountability is needed, as those on top have shown that they can’t be trusted to operate fairly without it.

Conclusions

While somewhat disillusioning to conclude that the path to improvement is long and arduous, it would’ve been insincere to believe that over the course of a single article, a quick and concise method toward change could be found. But the problems are obvious, and the fix, while not easy, is surprisingly simple. It’s just a matter of actually setting things in motion.

In the meantime, though, let’s end things on a tad more of a jovial note. If you click here, you’ll be able to enter our site wide giveaway, setting you up for a chance to win any number of goodies be they electronics, supplements, coaching packages and more! Come on over and win yourself something special.

The 4 Sleep Chronotypes and When To Train According To Yours

by Juston Torres-Gibbs | Feb 25, 2023 | Uncategorized

The afternoon-evening is often deemed the “best” time to train, but this doesn’t account for the 4 sleep chronotypes. The 4 sleep chronotypes are categories within which each individual fits according to how certain variables manifest in them. These can easily outweigh said factors and shift this supposed “ideal time” to train elsewhere in the day.

So Which Of The 4 Sleep Chronotypes Are You? And How Should Your Routine Account For It?

In this article we’ll look at the 4 sleep chronotypes, laying out the details regarding what they are and what it entails to be each one. From ideal workout times to the ideal moments throughout the day to focus on creative endeavors, productive pursuits, or simply unwind, we’ll cover what valuable changes can be made to your routine according to what you’ll learn here today.

The First Sleep Chronotype: The Bear, For Mid-Day Workouts

The most common chronotype, the bear’s qualities gives us an idea of why the “normal” schedule is what it is; they’re most at ease adhering to the solar cycle, they sleep at a “reasonable” time in the evening as well as starting the day bright and early. This also segways into an overall productive day, save a slight slump in creative & productive output around 2-4 pm. On the flip side, though, this presents a golden window of opportunity.

In that two-hour slot, the bear finds it’s mind in a prime state to take on a task such as working out, and the body in the midst of the energetic peak of the day. Not to mention, that by allocating this slot to working out, the prime mental acuity hours of the day can be reserved for work or other matters more demanding in that area.

A typical bear day could look something like:

• 7am: Rise and Shine
• 7am – 8am: Freshen up, breakfast, getting ready for the day
• 8am – 10am: Lighter, less demanding tasks, a “warm-up “ of sorts
• 10am – 2pm: Deeper, more important work, the priority of the day
• 2pm – 4pm: Optimal time to train
• 4pm – 6pm: Last few work related tasks for the day
• 6pm – 10pm: Free time for any and all other activities
• 10pm – 11pm: Wrapping up the day, prepping for bed
• 11pm – 7am: Sleep

If you find the description of the bear chronotype to be one you identify with, give this routine a try. It could just be the re-alignment you need to boost your efficiency even further.

The Second Sleep Chronotype: The Wolf, For Evening & Night Training

The most nocturnal chronotype, those who fall into the “Wolf” category find themselves as far from “morning people” as one can be, this period of the day proving to be the hardest, leaning more into the night hours and slowly ramping up in productivity as the day goes on (often relating to those “Me during the day vs Me at 3am” memes). It’s often recommended that they immediately start their day with a stimulating activity, such as a 20-min walk and some coffee afterward, to kick things into motion.

The Wolf’s day is most productive moments come in spurts, as opposed to the bears more consistent flow, with an initial bout during the early afternoon, and another later on in the evening. If you find yourself more aligned with the Wolf chronotype, then shifting your schedule a few hours further into the day may be just what you need for everything to fall into place and flow that much smoother

A typical wolf day could look something like:

• 9-10am: Wake up
• 9-10am – 11am: Morning walk, coffee, and a light & easy task to get the day on the right track
• 11am – 12am: Lighter, less demanding tasks, ramping up into the first productive burst
• 12am – 2pm: Deeper, more important/creative work
• 2pm – 5pm: Another bout of lighter, less demanding tasks
• 5pm – 7pm: Second burst of higher productivity, finishing off the work day strong
• 7pm – 9pm: Optimal time to train
• 9pm – 12am: Relaxing, leisure, time to yourself
• 12am – 1-2am: Winding down, getting ready for bed
• 1-2am – 9-10am: Sleep

For many this seems oddly late for something that would actually be recommended as an ideal schedule, but for the Wolf, accepting that inclination towards the later hours and leaning into their strength is just what needs to be done.

The Third Sleep Chronotype: The Lion, For Morning Workouts

Those relating with the Lion chronotype the most are the ones alluded the expression “The early bird catches the worm” alludes to, beating out the bear in terms of the earliest riser of the 4 sleep chronotypes. The epitome of a “morning person”, the Lion finds the beginning of the day to be the most invigorating, and gradually winds down as the day progresses, with the mid-day portion being an especially grueling one, sometimes even prompting a nap depending on the person.

This tells us that the sooner their workout is gotten out of the way, the better, regardless of whatever metabolic factors were to boost strength or power output; those can’t really be ut to good use if you’re mentally checked out come time to train.

The day of this chronotype tends to be more gracefully simplistic in nature, with their energy simply counting down with each hour until the day is done. An example of an optimized Lion schedule would look something like:

• 6am: Wake Up
• 6am – 8am: Workout
• 8am – 12pm: Focus on deeper, more demanding work
• 12pm – 4pm: Begin winding down, tackling gradually less demanding tasks
• 4pm – 9pm: Relax, enjoy personal time, slowly ease things to a halt
• 9pm – 10pm: Tying the knot on the day and getting ready for bed
• 10pm – 6am: Sleep

Best suited for the box we often find ourselves pushed into by social conventions and established work schedules, the Lion has what it takes to thrive in environments that the rest find themselves struggling with that little bet more. If this is you, make use of that pre-disposition.

The Fourth Sleep Chronotype: The Dolphin, For Afternoon Training

The Dolphin chronotype, similar to the Lion, benefits more from a stronger start earlier in the day, with the main difference being that while the Lion can also manage somewhat at night, for the Dolphin it’s best to avoid high intensity training later on as the yield will not only be lesser, but the rest of their day would be impacted also. Starting off with perhaps some easier tasks to get them into the swing of things, the Dolphin would want to put a little time between sleep and their workout, but only a touch more than the Lion does.

Unfortunately, Dolphins typically struggle with a degree of background fatigue, often due to their anxious sleeping behaviors. This subsequently can lead to an inability to achieve quality rest at night, struggling to even get to sleep to begin, as they’ll often “give out” rather than purposefully preparing for bed. For this reason, short power naps can often prove useful to them, similarly to the Lion, in order to maintain a solid productivity output throughout the day.

A typical Dolphin day could look something like this:

• 6am: Wake Up
• 6am – 8am: Start the day handling some less demanding tasks, getting the ball rolling
• 8am – 10am: Workout
• 10am – 4pm: Focus on the bulk of the days work, and it’s more demanding tasks
• 4pm – 5:30pm: Nap
• 5:30pm – 9:30pm: Begin winding down, enjoying personal time, bringing things to a halt
• 9:30pm – 10pm: Prepare for bed
• 10pm – 6am: Sleep

Another schedule seemingly contrarian to a lot of what we’re often told, but we must remember that general advice appeals to the majority, and so, if you’re finding yourself identifying with the Dolphin, which represents only 10% of the population, general advice just isn’t for you.

How to Properly Make Use of This New Information About Your Chronotype

Sleep, of all things, isn’t something that we often consider customizing. It’s the general consensus that there’s an ideal way to do it, and that we ourselves do best aiming for that standard. But, with sleep as with many things, this simply isn’t the case. Every person is unique, and while in 90%+ of things we are practically identical, but that last ~10%, such as the 4 sleep chronotypes, changes everything.

Following general advice will only get you so farther, and more importantly will actively hold you back from fulfilling 100% of your potential. Are you eating as well as you could? Training as often, to the optimum degree? Do you even know what it would entail to achieve those things? There’s no shame in your answer being “No”, because unless you’re an expert, that’s exactly what it should be. Anything else is hopeful at best and ignorant at worst.

But you don’t have to be an expert to reap the benefits an experts knowledge comes with, all you have to do is find one that can help you. Click here, and end that search before you even have to start it.