NO RESPECT

I am a natural bodybuilder who is tired of being looked at as a second-rate bodybuilder. I'm 5-11 and weigh 215 pounds at 8 percent bodyfat. Other bodybuilders dismiss my physique as being a beach body. I've won 15 natural bodybuilding titles and I still don't get any respect.

No matter how big I get naturally, I will never be able to compare favorably with a guy who is taking steroids and growth hormone. I will always be looked at as someone who has a nice physique, but not as a true bodybuilder.

The trainers who are using all of these drugs have set a physique standard that natural bodybuilders can't come close to. This situation really pisses me off because I train as hard as humanly possible and have won 30 natural titles, but I will never get the admiration or respect that the non-natural bodybuilders get. I was curious to see what your opinion was on this subject. What can I do about it?

Forever Natural
Via e-mail

I can't say much that will make you feel better about your circumstance. You are going to have to come to terms and deal with this situation.

As long as there are people on this earth, there are going to be non-natural bodybuilders. That is just the truth. Physique freaks, who make great bodybuilders look small in comparison, are always going to be around. You'll just have to deal with this fact of life.

Look at a bodybuilding magazine from ten years ago and compare the models to today's bodybuilders - the difference is like night and day. Today's bodybuilders are leaps and bounds ahead of the bodybuilders from ten years ago. All of this change has happened with stricter drug laws and decreased availability of illegal sports-enhancement narcotics in place.

When is it going to stop? Never. Even if it did stop and all bodybuilders became natural there would still be photos of huge bodybuilders that people would look back on and use as the standard for a great physique.

What should you do? In my opinion, you should stop worrying about what everybody else thinks of you and start worrying about what you think of you. Be happy that you have won all of those titles and that you have built a physique you can be proud of.

Why do you care if another guy who is bigger than you is getting more attention?

Do you always have to be the center of attention wherever you go?

Stop wasting your time with all of that crap. Start appreciating what you have accomplished and keep getting better. You may never be the biggest or best bodybuilder in the world, but so what. You will still be a champion. You should take pride in the fact that you have created an award-winning natural physique with hard work and dedication.

Think about this: If you took steroids would you be happier? Do you think taking these drugs will give you the respect that you seek? The answer is no. You will regret it for the rest of your life.

You have spent all of these years training as a natural bodybuilder. By taking roids you will feel like you are cheating. That is what you would be doing if you took these drugs. You will be cheating yourself out of about five to ten years of your life because if you abuse roids enough your life span will shorten. I am sure you know the dangers and I am sure you are aware of the benefits.

Well I am one guy who will tell you that if you do them you are making a huge mistake. Just stay on the path you are on, stay healthy and build the best body you can. You will be rewarded with a great physique and good health for years to come.

What is bodybuilding supposed to be really about? Creating a healthy and muscular physique. You are doing it the right way.