Why is there a constant tendency to downplay the muscle-building potential of naturals?

Ive been working out for 4 years, and honestly, I dont think I have great genetics. Ive never missed a day in the gym, my diet has always been dialed in, and I treat those things as the bare minimum for progress, nothing special. Yet, the amount of times people accuse me of being juiced or tell me that what Ive achieved isnt possible naturally is insane. And for context, Im 185 lbs, not shredded to the bone or anything, but lean enough. Im not even walking around at single-digit body fat.

What blows my mind even more is that I have friends who are natural and twice my size. Legitimately massive guys, fully natty, whove been putting in the work for years or even decades. Yet, the second someone sees a big natural bodybuilder, the immediate assumption is, “Theyre on something.” Why is that the default reaction?

Its like the natural bodybuilding community constantly has to prove itself. If someone achieves anything beyond the average physique, people cry fake natty without ever considering how much work, discipline, and time it takes to build muscle naturally. I get it, there are fake natties out there who ruin it for the rest of us. But its wild how people forget that building an impressive physique naturally is absolutely possible with years of effort, consistency, and a smart approach.

The reality is, most people cant even stick with something long enough to see results. They start training, expect to look like a Greek god in six months, and when it doesnt happen, they quit. Then they turn around and claim its impossible to achieve anything naturally because they didnt get anywhere. But the truth is, they werent consistent. They didnt put in the hours, the weeks, the years required to make real progress. Consistency isnt sexy, and its definitely not easy, but its what separates those who build great physiques from those who dont.

Its easy to make excuses when youre not willing to commit. Instead of taking responsibility for their lack of discipline or effort, people look for a way to justify their failure. Theyll say, “Oh, he must be on steroids,” or, “Its just his genetics,” because its easier than admitting they didnt put in the work. People want the results without the grind, and when they see someone whos put in the time and effort, it makes them uncomfortable. Theyd rather tear that person down than face their own shortcomings.

This mindset is so damaging because it discourages people from even trying. If youre constantly told that you cant build muscle naturally, why would you bother? It creates this toxic environment where effort and hard work are undervalued, and the only way to be successful is to cheat. Thats such a lie. Building an impressive natural physique is hard, yes, but its also incredibly rewarding. And the journey itself teaches you discipline, patience, and self-respect, things you cant get from shortcuts.

What people dont realize is that sticking with something, whether its training, dieting, or anything else, requires mental toughness. Most dont have it because theyve never been willing to push themselves past their comfort zone. They quit when it gets hard, and then they convince themselves that nobody else could possibly succeed without cheating. But those who succeed naturally arent magical or special, theyre just the ones who stayed consistent, even when it was hard, even when progress was slow.

At the end of the day, excuses dont build muscle. Blaming genetics, gear, or anything else wont change your situation. The only way to get results is to show up, day in and day out, and put in the work. And if you cant do that, maybe its time to stop blaming others and start asking yourself why youre not willing to put in the effort. Because the truth is, most people could achieve so much more if they just stopped making excuses and committed to the process.

I think the issue comes down to the way lifting culture is now. People spend so much time comparing themselves to others instead of focusing on their own journey. They see someone who looks better than them, and instead of thinking, “Maybe I need to train harder or smarter,” they just write it off as impossible without gear. Its almost like theyre trying to justify their own lack of progress by tearing others down.

Natural muscle-building potential is so underrated, and honestly, most people dont even scratch the surface of what they could achieve. They dont stick with their training long enough, they dont track their diet, and they definitely dont optimize their recovery. Then they assume anyone who does take those things seriously has to be on something. Its frustrating because it downplays the insane effort naturals put in to achieve their results.

Its also kind of insulting. Like, youre telling me my years of hard work, the consistency, and all the sacrifices Ive made mean nothing because you cant believe I did it without shortcuts? Its almost like theyre saying naturals cant be big, which is just false. Sure, we have limits, but those limits are way higher than most people think.

So yeah, naturals can be big. Naturals can build incredible physiques. But it takes time, effort, and a willingness to do what most people arent willing to do. If youre not seeing results, maybe its time to stop pointing fingers and start looking at what youre not doing.