What’s a “Natty” and Why Does It Matter in Bodybuilding?

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Learn what “natty” means in fitness and competitive sports
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If you’ve been hitting the gym lately, you’ll probably encounter the term “natty” at some point. Bodybuilders and casual gym rats alike say it all the time—but what does being “natty” actually mean? This article defines “natty” and explains how it’s connected to bodybuilding and athletic performance in general. We’ll also explain the difference between “natty” and “not natty,” and why this distinction is so important in gym culture today. Keep reading to learn what being “natty” in the gym is all about.

Things You Should Know

  • “Natty,” a.k.a. “natural” athletes, don’t use performance-enhancing substances, like steroids, to improve their performance or increase muscle mass.
  • Being natty is a badge of honor in gym culture since natural weightlifters achieve results solely based on their own talents and effort, without artificial substances.
  • Natty bodybuilders can’t gain as much muscle as bodybuilders who use performance-enhancing substances, like steroids.
Section 1 of 3:

What “Natty” Means

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  1. Some athletes use steroids, hormones, and other substances to increase their overall fitness beyond what is naturally achievable for the human body. [1] Natty athletes, on the other hand, avoid these substances, relying solely on their training and natural athletic ability. [2]
    • Performance-enhancing substances may help athletes achieve greater strength, speed, and endurance. They can also help bodybuilders put on more muscle.
    • Many sports ban these substances since they give athletes an unfair advantage over their competition.
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Section 2 of 3:

How “Natty” is Used in Gym Culture

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  1. Natty weightlifters pride themselves on achieving results through discipline and hard work alone. Since they don’t rely on drugs or artificial substances, they take full credit for every ounce of muscle they gain and every pound of weight they lift. They sometimes view people who use performance-enhancing substances as cheaters. [3]
    • Natty athletes, including weightlifters, may follow extremely strict diets and workout regimens to achieve their desired results.
    • Athletes who use performance-enhancing substances, on the other hand, may achieve similar even greater results with the same effort—but at the cost of being labeled “not natty.”
  2. A natty weightlifter who trains hard and eats a balanced diet will slowly build muscle. But they won’t necessarily look huge or “shredded”—meaning they won’t always have a low body fat percentage. [4]
    • Weightlifters who use performance-enhancing drugs may develop massive muscles and a very low body fat percentage.
  3. Steroid use is more common than you might think, even among casual weightlifters. Social media influencers may claim to be natty, for instance, despite maintaining unnaturally large muscles and low body fat for months at a time. These “fake natties” can cause unrealistic expectations of what normal, healthy bodies look like. [5]
    • Even many professional weightlifters are not natty. Arnold Schwarzenegger, for example, has acknowledged using steroids during his bodybuilding career. [6]
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Section 3 of 3:

How Natty Bodybuilding Works

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  1. They closely track their calories and macronutrients—protein, fat, and carbohydrates—to ensure they’re getting the right nutrients for muscle growth. They eat extra calories to gain weight and work out frequently to ensure the weight comes from muscle, not fat. [7]
    • Natty bodybuilders also combine weightlifting and cardiovascular exercises, like running, to keep themselves as lean as possible.
    • In most cases, they aim to change their weight slowly and steadily to keep their natural hormone levels in check.
  2. Performance-enhancing substances can wreak havoc on the body. Anabolic steroids, for instance, can cause side effects like acne, sleep problems, abnormal hair growth, changes in libido, liver damage, mood swings, and even nerve damage from needle use. Natural bodybuilders don’t have to worry about these side effects. [8]
    • Bodybuilders who stop using anabolic steroids may also suffer from withdrawal symptoms like fatigue, depression, and decreased strength.
  3. New weightlifters will gain muscle rapidly, but these “beginner gains” don’t continue forever. Over time, a natty weightlifter will plateau, and additional muscle gains may take months or years. [9]
    • Weightlifters may use steroids to overcome this plateau and build muscle indefinitely.
  4. Without steroids and performance-enhancing substances, natty gym goers can’t pack on muscle to the same degree as professional bodybuilders. However natty weightlifters can still develop excellent physiques and superior strength with extensive training and a good diet. [10]
    • The exact natural limit of a natty bodybuilder’s size depends on their genetics, age, training, diet, and other factors.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/natty-not-steroid-discussions-rcna42034
      2. ↑ https://barbend.com/natural-bodybuilding/
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/i0e11sVcx9U?t=104
      4. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/interactive/2022/bodybuilding-health-risks/
      5. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/interactive/2022/bodybuilding-health-risks/
      6. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/interactive/2022/bodybuilding-health-risks/
      7. ↑ https://barbend.com/natural-bodybuilding/
      8. ↑ https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/steroids
      9. ↑ https://staff.washington.edu/griffin/30_lies.html
      1. ↑ https://staff.washington.edu/griffin/30_lies.html

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