If you’ve been a bodybuilding fan for more than a few years, you know that in the last 15 years, the physiques have grown like never before. Professional bodybuilders are now taking the stage at 280+ pounds, after the top champions were locked at 230-240 pounds for many decades before. The secret of this newfound growth: Insulin.
Insulin used to have a reputation for making people fat. It’s an anabolic hormone, but one that does cause sudden weight gain in diabetics and other who use it for non-bodybuilding purposes. However, when coupled with human growth hormone, insulin results in explosive growth. It turns out that many people gain fat on insulin because of excessive carbohydrate consumption. So you should cut the carbs, right? Nope. An additional 10 grams of carbs are required for each IU of insulin used. Without it, you can go into a hypoglycemic coma (diabetic shock) and possibly die. So pile on the carbs, right? Nope. Too much and you’ll pile on a great deal of fat.
Perhaps you’re beginning to see the complexity that is bodybuilding nutrition while using insulin. Too much carbohydrates and you ruin your physique. Too few carbs, and you ruin your health. It’s probably why many terrific physiques have been ruined in recent years, and insulin becomes more and more popular with bodybuilders. Some guys who had amazing shape 5 years ago, look like different people today – bellies swell, body fat levels spike, and they take on a new look.
For this reason, some bodybuilding purists despise insulin. Other swear by it – we would never have a bodybuilding champion at 5 foot 8, 275 pounds, before insulin. Today, if you’re 5’8”, you’re going to have a hard time winning any show if you’re under 220 pounds. Insulin has changed the sport of bodybuilding forever.
How does this affect you? If you’re a competitor, you need to realize that in order to compete at the highest level, you’re going to need a level of muscle mass not typically possible through standard steroid cycles. Testosterone and growth hormone are great, but they will only get you to a certain level. As you reach the pinnacles of amateur bodybuilding and near the top shows, most men in the contest (and many women) will be using insulin to grow their bodies. You don’t have to engage in this very risky practice, and the long-term trade-offs for a trophy and a few thousand dollars isn’t worth it to most people. However, for some, they are willing to take that risk. Learn everything you can about insulin before taking that route. The benefits can be a physique worlds beyond anything you could achieve using typical means. However, the detriments could be something much worse.
