Scroll through Instagram and you’ll see them: Nigerian fitness influencers with impossibly shredded physiques, claiming their 12-week transformation was all about “consistency” and a special workout plan they’re selling. Here’s the hard truth they won’t tell you: the vast majority are using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs like steroids) and selling you a dream that is genetically and chemically impossible to achieve naturally.
The Tell-Tale Signs of Pharma-Gains
It’s not just about being big. It’s about the specific, extreme characteristics that are nearly impossible to maintain year-round without chemical assistance:
- Extreme Leanness with Extreme Muscle Size: The human body naturally struggles to hold onto large amounts of muscle at very low body fat percentages. Doing both simultaneously is a hallmark of PED use.
- 3D Delts and Crazy Vascularity: Steroids can cause muscle groups with a high density of androgen receptors (like the shoulders) to grow disproportionately, creating a “capped” look. The extreme vascularity is due to lower body fat and increased blood volume from PEDs.
- Year-Round Perfection: Natural athletes have off-seasons where they look softer. Influencers who look photoshoot-ready 365 days a year are likely on a cycle.
The Dangerous Lie and The Selling of False Hope
The harm isn’t just in the lie; it’s in the damage it causes. Followers spend money on useless workout plans and supplements, wondering why they don’t look the same. This leads to frustration, body dysmorphia, and in some cases, pushes people to seek out dangerous black-market steroids themselves, risking serious health complications.
Focus on Your Journey, Not Theirs
The goal of fitness should be health, strength, and feeling good—not achieving a chemically-enhanced physique. Do not compare your Chapter 1 to someone else’s Chapter 20, especially when their chapters are written by pharmaceuticals. Follow educators who preach sustainable health, not influencers who sell an unattainable aesthetic.