What Does “Natural Bodybuilder” Really Mean?

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uestion. Tom, could you tell me what supplements you take? I read something on Jon Benson’s website where he said you are the most “natural bodybuilder” he knows and that you don’t even take aspirin. Is this true?

To tell you the truth, I don’t believe it’s possible to obtain 3% bodyfat with as much muscle as you have without drugs or at least supplements.

And also, don’t you think that the term “natural bodybuilder” has been abused quite a lot everywhere? No one who uses it on the net is really natural. As natural would mean one eats only what appears in nature and does not ingest man-made stuff from bottles. Right?

nswer. You are 100% correct – the definition for “natural bodybuilder,” as you pointed out, is vague and open to an individual’s interpretation.

If you take creatine, does that mean you are no longer natural? After all, you can’t get that much creatine out of your food in its natural form (unless you eat half a cow!) Again, it depends on what “natural” means to you.

Defining “Natural”

To me, the definition of a “natural” in the context of bodybuilding means no illegal drugs, prescription drugs or any substances that are banned in competition.

I also use the term “natural” in a different context when describing my food. Natural food is food that has not been “messed with” by human hands. If it grew on a tree, off a plant or out of the ground – it’s natural. If it walked, flew or swam (and wasn’t pumped full of chemicals) – it’s natural.

What Supplements I Take

As for supplements, I use only a multi-vitamin and an oil blend of essential fatty acids or fish oil, although I prefer to just eat the fish. I’ve used creatine in the past with some results. I also use some protein powder almost every day mainly because it’s convenient and I think vanilla protein powder mixed in with oatmeal and some cinnamon tastes good. I also use post workout drinks when I’m working on gaining muscle. That’s it. No other supplements… no drugs.

Man-Made Foods

If you were to stay away from man-made drugs and man-made foods, that alone would take you a long way towards better health and a better body and you’d probably surprise yourself how far you could take your physique. Don’t underestimate what you can achieve naturally… why would you put limits on yourself like that?

If you don’t believe it’s possible to reach low single digit body fat without “fat burning” supplements or drugs, then you never will. As Dr. Wayne Dyer said in the book of the same title, “You’ll see it when you believe it.” Have you heard of “self-fulfilling prophecy?” How about the “placebo effect?” It’s a scientific fact that belief can change biology.

Positive Thinking and the Natural Bodybuiler

Even if you believe you can do it naturally, you’d better be willing to work for it. Sitting around visualizing, thinking positive and meditating on it won’t give you ripped abs or build one ounce of muscle.

Positive thinking + positive doing = results… not one over the other. With both, you can develop an amazing body 100% naturally, but it takes a lot of work!

Hard Work and Low Body Fat

Most people not only underestimate the amount of hard work and discipline it takes to reach extremes of low body fat and muscularity, they are downright kidding themselves at the amount of results they expect for the amount of work they put in… Then they complain that “It can’t be done without drugs.”

Most people have been so brainwashed by advertising for supplements and diet pills that they get frustrated and give up at the drop of a hat when they don’t have six pack abs “almost overnight” like the ads promised.

Drugs and Fat Loss Supplements

Forget about drugs and forget about so called fat loss supplements. A great body doesn’t come in a pill – never did and never will. Stay natural (drug free), eat as natural as possible and work your butt off. Pay your dues. Pay your dues!!!

If you’re willing to pay the price in hard work and discipline – and if you have the right information such as what I provide in Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle – then pick the body you want … pay the price… and take it, it’s yours.

Train hard and expect success,

Tom Venuto,
Fat Loss Coach

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About the Author:

Tom Venuto is a lifetime natural bodybuilder, an NSCA-certified personal trainer (CPT), certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS), and author of the best-selling weight loss e-book, “Burn the Fat, Feed The Muscle.”

Tom has written more than 200 articles and has been featured in print magazines such as IRONMAN, Australian IRONMAN, Natural Bodybuilding, Muscular Development, Exercise for Men and Men’s Exercise, as well as on hundreds of websites worldwide.

For information on Tom’s Fat Loss program, visit: Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle

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