| The Joy of Natural Bodybuilding
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BodybuildingPro.com  Training Database Bodybuilding Articles The Joy of Natural Bodybuilding
Why I
chose NOT to take steroids or performance enhancing drugs
and why you should stay natural too
By Tom
Venuto, lifetime natural bodybuilder
Many
people choose not to take drugs for fear of health consequences.
Although this may be a legitimate concern depending on the degree
and duration of drug use, this is not the reason I chose to stay
natural. In fact, I believe that the dangers of steroids and other
performance enhancing drugs are probably exaggerated greatly and
sensationalized by the media. In my opinion, scare tactics like,
"You're going to get a brain tumor and liver cancer" aren't really
accurate or effective. If this were an effective approach, then
drug use wouldn't be so widespread today.
It's not a
matter of morals, ethics or cheating either. How does one define
"moral behavior?" I believe the only definition of moral behavior
that most people will agree on is that "moral" means you never do
anything to hurt another human being or infringe on their right to
do what they want with their lives. As long as you're not hurting
or infringing on others, then who's to judge what's right or wrong?
Few people would disagree that it shows questionable morals and a
lack of character to take drugs, lie about it and compete in a drug
tested competition, but as long as everyone is on a level playing
field, then morality is probably not a valid argument.
My prime
motivation for staying natural is not a matter of right or wrong,
healthy or unhealthy. My motivation is different: What I want is
the joy and fulfillment that only comes from becoming the best I
can be without using any artificial assistance. I want to fully
express the possibilities of the human body, mind and spirit. I
want to actualize my full potential. If I take drugs, then I won't
really know what my true potential is; I'll never know
whether it's the drugs or me.
The real
joy in athletics or bodybuilding is not in having a
beautiful body or a 1st place award; the joy is in earning
it. The joy is in working hard and seeing the type of person you
become in pursuit of your goals. The joy is in watching yourself
become a real winner and a true champion - on the inside.
Earning it makes you into a better human being. You develop
character, integrity, persistence, determination and a strong work
ethic - all positive qualities that transfer to other areas of your
life. There's no true and lasting joy or fulfillment in results
that are artificially produced. Using drugs is like going to the
store and buying the trophy. There's no joy in that - you didn't
earn that!
Suppose
you took a "magic pill" and developed an incredible body in a very
short period of time. Do you really think you're going to feel
happy, proud and fulfilled? Do you think your self-esteem is going
to increase? I don't think so. I think that despite the way you'd
look on the outside, and despite some fleeting and superficial
satisfaction, deep on the inside you'd feel that your "victory" was
hollow. In the long run, I think your self-esteem would go
down! Especially when your illusory gains quickly vanish as
soon as your crutch is removed.
If you're
using drugs and winning competitions, no matter how good you think
it feels, I guarantee you're not feeling the same thing I'm
feeling. I cannot even put into words the feelings of exhilaration
and pride and joy that come from achieving a goal on the merits of
your own hard work and belief in yourself. And this feeling is
going to last me a lifetime. I did it. I created it. I earned it.
On my own.
I don't
believe in drugs. I believe in myself.
I also
believe in a power greater than myself. And the reason I believe in
myself is because I believe that this great power is not separate
from me but is inside of me. Although most people are asleep to
their potential and don't realize it, everyone has inner power that
is spiritual in nature. By looking inside and tapping into it,
every one of us can achieve more than we ever dreamed possible.
Discovering and using your inner power is more important than any
diet, training routine, supplement or steroid drug ever conceived
by man. I believe that looking for anything outside of
yourself does not make you stronger - it only makes you weaker.
Real strength does not come out of a bottle or a needle. Real
strength comes from within.
The mind
is powerful. I believe that too many people set mental limits on
what's possible naturally and that's the very reason they fail to
get very far without some kind of enhancement. If you look at a
drug free bodybuilder with a great physique and you say, "There's
no way that guy is natural," you're setting limitations on your
own growth. Your subconscious mind will take that accusation
literally and prevent you from ever reaching that level of
development naturally.
I am not
anti-steroid. I would prefer to call myself pro-natural. I don't
think being anti-anything is a good position to take. There's a big
difference between being pro-natural and being anti-steroid.
Motivational author Dr. Wayne Dyer once wrote, "Everything you are
against weakens you. Everything you are for empowers you." During
the Vietnam war, a group of protesters asked mother Teresa if she
would join them in their march against the war and she replied "No,
I won't march against the war with you, but if you have a march for
peace, I'll be there." Natural athletes and bodybuilders need a
change of attitude. Trying to fight a war against drugs is a losing
battle and a waste of valuable time and energy. Instead we must
focus on promoting the positive aspects of staying natural, as they
far outweigh anything positive that might come from using
drugs.
I'm not
trying to wage a war on drugs or push anyone into doing anything or
not doing anything. There are certain things in life that people
must discover for themselves. Unfortunately many people discover
life's lessons the hard way. One of my mentors taught me that a
person's life can serve as either a warning or an example. My hope
is to serve as a positive example. I would like to help people open
their minds, raise their standards and expand their beliefs of
what's possible. I'd like to help others realize that there are
more rewards in being natural than in being artificial.
Although
I've been referring primarily to steroids, the very same reasoning
applies to any drug or artificial aid whatsoever, be it for weight
loss, cosmetic improvement or performance enhancement. If you build
your body or win a competition with artificial aids, you're a
phony. And you'll never enjoy all the incredible rewards that come
from being a real champion.
THE
NATURAL WAY IS THE ONLY TRUE PATH TO SUCCESS, PRIDE, JOY,
HAPPINESS, LONG TERM FULFILLMENT AND SELF-ESTEEM!
If what
I've said makes sense to you, then not only do you have permission
to reprint this article, I strongly urge you to do so. Pass it
around. Forward it. Put in on websites. Publish it in magazines.
Send it out in newsletters. Send it to someone you love and care
about and wish the best for. Do you have a training partner
thinking about taking drugs? Give this to them. Are you a coach?
Pass this out to your entire team. Are you a trainer? Show this to
all your clients. Are you a parent with a child getting involved in
sports? Share this with them - please.
You can
reach Tom Venuto at the Fitness Renaissance website: www.fitren.com and www.burnthefat.com or e-mail him at: tvenuto@mindspring.com
Take care,
webmaster@bodybuildingpro.com
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