Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
Navigating Performance Enhancement in Fitness Culture
In the realm of competitive bodybuilding and fitness, the pressure to achieve an idealized physique has fostered a culture where performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) are often considered commonplace. One individual within this sphere acknowledged this reality, stating, “Basically everyone at that level was using something because there was this collective realization of what it took to look a certain way.” This highlights the pervasive nature of PED use at higher echelons of fitness and bodybuilding.
From Competition to Commentary
Driven by aspirations for a full-time fitness career, Mr. Boulet relocated to Las Vegas. He gained online notoriety by creating videos that satirized fellow bodybuilders and social media influencers. However, after several years of competing and progressively increasing his intake of various PEDs, he experienced exhaustion. Concerns about the serious health consequences associated with steroid use, including cardiovascular risks, liver complications, and kidney failure, also grew.
Prioritizing Health and Longevity
“I just didn’t want to push it further and end up cutting years off my life,” he stated, articulating his decision to cease PED use in 2019. Despite discontinuing these substances, Mr. Boulet does not consider himself to be entirely “natural,” or “natty” as it is commonly termed in fitness circles. He currently undergoes Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT), a standard medical intervention often prescribed to individuals with a history of prolonged steroid use to help restore hormonal equilibrium after extended periods of artificially elevated testosterone production.
Supplement Business and Regulatory Scrutiny
Mr. Boulet operates his own supplement company that markets selective androgen receptor modulators, or SARMs. SARMs are drugs that mimic the effects of anabolic steroids and are favored by some bodybuilders who attest to their muscle-building benefits. It is important to note, however, that SARMs are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and are prohibited in competitive sports governed by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Perspectives from Followers
According to Mr. Boulet, his customers who purchase his supplements are also “not natural.” This perspective resonates with observers of the fitness industry. Sean McGill, 40, an Instagram follower of Mr. Boulet, reflects on the broader implications: “I think about my son and the culture of fake bodies, steroids, and the machine profiting off people’s insecurities that keeps getting bigger and bigger.” While Mr. Boulet’s sometimes provocative conduct can be irritating, Mr. McGill acknowledges, “but at least he is trying to be honest about what he does and what he takes.”
Recognizing PED Use
Over time, Mr. Boulet has educated his audience on how to identify potential PED use in others. He has pointed out specific physical indicators that can suggest substance use. “You can tell by the size of their traps, usually,” he explains, referring to the trapezius muscle located in the upper back and neck.
The Trapezius Muscle as an Indicator
“That’s one of the first ones to show when people decide to hop onto PEDs,” Mr. Boulet notes. The disproportionate development of the trapezius muscles is often cited as a key visual cue for discerning potential PED usage within the bodybuilding and fitness community.