Mumsnet Talk

Mid 20's close family member has been a gym addict for past six years or so and developed a strong physique, no problem with that. However over the last 12-18 months he has become almost "addicted" to what I can only refer to as powdered chemical drinks - sacks purchased online of various protein, carb, supplements etc mixes along with lots of other scientific names. For days at a time he'll only consume these drinks with a bit of plain grilled chicken - not much evidence of fruit or veg in the diet.

Is this OK? Healthy? He is certainly bulking up muscle but it seems a bit extreme.

Goes hand in hand with body building ime along with steroid use

Chicken is pretty typical as well.

There is nothing healthy about body building.

Oh yes, Valium, I forgot about the steroids

Doesn't really paint a good picture. I'm feeling very uneasy about side/longterm effects. Any words of advice please?

My dh was heavily into it just before I met him - this was 20 odd years ago.

He took steroids, he says the ONLY way to bulk up noticeable is to take them and anyone who says otherwise is lying. You can get muscle definition and big up to a certain extent and then after that it's down to steroids.

It's a whole way of life and imo it's like an eating disorder - they become totally consumed by it and gym life.

He's an adult so I suppose all you can do is let it run its course and hope he sees sense soon. I asked dh who bb's do it all for as women don't tend to like it and he said it's a totally personally thing and in his experience because they are unhappy and it's a form of control. IS this true in your case OP do you think?

There is a book that someone wrote who got sucked into it, I read it years ago, I can't remember what it's called, very informative though. I'll post if I can remember and I'll ask dh.

Really worrying x

Yes I have to admit I didn't realise the extent of "supplements" - for want of a better description - he is consuming. DD had some opened bags of powder proteins and carbs in her car the other day and they smelled awful. I certainly wouldn't want to have them as a nutritious drink several times a day instead of meals.

I get what you're saying about the control issues and possibly self-esteem, as I know he's conscious of being shortish, but apparently girls like the muscles. He's started shaving chest/legs and has been using sunbeds for a while. Wish we could make him realise the dangers, but think it's gone far beyond talking and he is hooked. I agree, very worrying.

Sounds pretty typical in the life of a serious hardcore body builder. As long as he isn't taking steroids then don't worry too much.

Sounds like you could be talking about a friend of mine. However, he plays sport competitively as well as the body building so is n peak physical health...despite seemingly living on little more than proteins shakes and egg whites <boak>

But that's just it Betty, I'm pretty sure steroids are already in the mix. And if this is typical of "hardcore body builders" where does it sort of stop? Bulging muscles all out of proportion and living off chemical cocktails instead of proper food? That makes me feel very sad.

Maybe your friend has more of a balanced outlook SuckingDiesel? Peak physical health and sports is good but I find it hard to accept that such dietary rules are OK. Egg whites ???? what's that supposed to do for you?

Unfortunately body building does get addictive..they just want to get bigger and bigger, for their muscle definition to be amazing etc etc..........personally I think it is a truely hideous way to live and I don't think long term it is a particularly healthy way of life but if he is really that into it then nothing you say or do will change his mind.

I don't think it is a sustainable way to live anyway so hopefully he will get fed up soon!!

I think protein supplements are fine when used to top up a healthy diet (i.e. one with lots of veg and a variety of different foods). It can be quite hard to eat enough protein to support muscle gain without supplements. However, this sounds like he's replaced proper food with these drinks? I don't think that's healthy at all. And obviously steroids are a very bad idea

I'm not sure what you can do though, if he's decided that's how he wants to live

I was in my 20's and in remission for an overactive Thyroid. I was in denial that it was coming back, though I did know.
I had trained in ballet before becoming ill, and lost lots of strength.
My neighbour had been given Anabolic steroids by her GP to strengthen her up as had become so thin after her divorce. But she bloated up and gave them to me. I took just one a day for 6 weeks, and my ballet instructor remarked on how she could see they were working. But after every exercise i did, I felt a bit faint afterwards, realised my illness had come back and stopped taking them.
Now decades on and my Thyroid is OK, but I am old and lost my muscles, I would really like to try a very low dose - not to ballet dance, just to do normal things like housework and gardening.
GP said NO. < disappointed face>

My Dp used to be very into body building and he used steriods for a while before we met, he also says the only way to get big is to use them and its all too common in body building circles.

He still lifts and eats mostly chicken,lentils and eggs. He also drinks protein.

I have to agree that its a control thing and in my dp's case prob a type of eating disorder. My dp has been obese, underweight, hugely muscly and normal. He can only see overweight its like he has some form of body dismorphia.

I also think it is very fashionable at the moment all the young boys in my work (18-25) drink protein and spend endless amounts of time at the gym its the "in" thing

No one who just drinks 'protein drinks and eats only egg whites is in the best possible health - they are kidding themselves.

It is very concerning about what exactly is in these drinks mixes - they may not exactly say that they have 'steroids' in them but when you are not a chemist you don't actually know exactly what they contain. A lot of them will have forms of albumen etc in them and this is used as a 'masking agent' for all sorts of nasties that are banned by WADA.
They are a quick fix and nothing else, they cannot/should not be used as an alternative to a balanced eating routine.

'lives on little more than protein shakes and egg whites' well what a surprise
that he uses 'egg whites' a known masking agent.

Thanks for all your input. Sadly it seems 99% negative apart from Whatsthatnoise who may hopefully be right about this being the "in" thing and therefore a passing phase. I can deal with the shaving chest/legs, sunbeds and weight training but seeing him live off these weird drinks is proving hard and not a good influence on my own young adults. He's getting tattoos as well, but that's another story!

No. not a good influence on young adults, boys in particular. Our digestive system and associated organs are designed for mainly solids with liquid to fulfill our fluid intake needs.

Any addiction/obsession is not a good thing as it takes over their lives and overrides all other healthy and enjoyable aspects of life.
Steroids can make people aggressive and moody. Wonder if this 20 year-old knows that steroids can shrink a man's testicles?
But at his age, he might not even be bothered.
.

They can make you sterile give you fatty tumours in breast tissue, a wicked temper - a whole host of things

I don't think they realise how many problems are associated with steriod use. My DP had to have corrective surgery for gynecomastia (man boobs) he definitely regrets his steriod use.

However I find mainly in the young people I know who are this into the gym and protein that they are not taking steriods. Most of them would consider steriod use to be a step too far, for them its mainly about body image and just goes to show that boys are affected just as much as girls these days by what they see in the media.

southdevondelight the tattoos are another extension of this, the young men that I know all have sleeves or are talking about their next tattoo.

Again, thank you all for comments, much appreciated. It's just not a good way to live is it? I suppose it could be worse, i.e. drug addiction, but then I start thinking about how he is seemingly addicted to this way of life and just hope and pray it will be something that passes in time. He is 25 and been heavily into gym for years with the body building and "male grooming" coming to the fore in last 18-24 months. He has a girlfriend who admits liking the muscles, not bothered about his tattoos and doesn't see any harm in all the protein drinks etc, so I guess lifestyle has the desired effect and if a lot of young men are into this, then it's street cred as well. Just so hard not to think of the longer term negatives