I Gave Him Fake Steroids For 100 Days
In a Nutshell
A creator convinced a natural lifter to take fake steroids for 100 days, achieving 7.5% body fat reduction (19.4% to 11.9%) and 8.7 pounds lean mass gain through optimized training, nutrition tracking, and placebo effect. The experiment demonstrated that proper training twice weekly, calorie tracking at a 2,300 deficit, and high protein intake produced steroid-level results naturally. Ray chose to continue natural training over real steroids due to health concerns about side effects and longevity.
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
Ray contacted the creator via DM asking for help to start using steroids. When asked about his goal physique, Ray mentioned wanting to look like Hugh and Anatoli without becoming extremely huge. Despite never having taken steroids and not recommending them, the creator believed Ray could achieve his goals naturally.
The creator decided to give Ray fake steroids over 100 days. The goal was to produce such good results that Ray would no longer consider using real steroids. The experiment required Ray to believe the steroids were genuine.
Ray was required to sign a waiver that included a clause stating he was taking a placebo, though he was not supposed to read this section. Three monitoring tools were established: DEXA scans for muscle gain and fat loss measurements on day one, day 50, and day 100; blood work to measure testosterone levels on day one and day 100; and strength assessments on bench press, squats, and pull-ups.
Ray completed 16 pull-up reps during his initial strength assessment. The creator noted that Ray already possessed good size and questioned why he felt steroids were necessary to reach his goals. Ray expressed that he doesn't feel like someone who works out when wearing a shirt and wants to look better.
Ray expressed desire to maintain his current state but acknowledged risks when asked about fertility concerns. He stated his primary motivation was improving his body, though he found it difficult to justify the risks when framed in terms of having children.
Ray was given flour-filled capsules as placebo steroids. The protocol involved taking one pill every other day for the first 30 days, then increasing to one pill daily. The creator explained that orals were supposedly safer for beginners, though this information wasn't entirely accurate.
Ray became suspicious after researching online and had a late-night conversation with ChatGPT about the steroids. The creator had to convince him the information was correct, noting this happened on day one and raised concerns about maintaining the deception.
A new training plan was designed to mimic steroid results by focusing on trap and shoulder development. The creator explained that steroids cause testosterone to latch onto androgen receptors, with traps and delts having more receptors and thus growing more readily. Exercises targeting these muscle groups were emphasized to create the enhanced look Ray desired.
Ray was making three significant training errors. First, he was using a bro split training each muscle once weekly, whereas research suggests training muscles twice weekly can yield roughly 30% faster gains. His routine was changed to an upper-lower split with a fifth accessory day.
Ray's bench press technique involved powerlifting-style momentum with hips coming off the bench. The creator adjusted the form to lighter weights with controlled reps, forcing target muscles to do the work rather than relying on momentum.
Research involving 30 trained lifters showed that those tracking nutrition gained over two pounds of lean mass while losing fat, while those not tracking saw no meaningful changes. Ray was required to track everything using the Built With Science app, eating at a 2,300 calorie deficit with at least 120g of protein daily.
Ray reported increased energy and motivation during workouts, feeling he was getting more cut and fuller. He expressed that the perceived effects of the steroids were driving him to push harder.
Ray's starting body fat was measured at 19.4%. He expressed disappointment and unrealistic expectations about reaching under 10% body fat, later adjusting to 13%. He also hoped to reach 180-190 pounds from his current 156 pounds.
A $20 Amazon scale was modified to display controlled weight readings, increasing by approximately 1 pound weekly regardless of actual weight. This allowed Ray to believe steroids were helping him build muscle rapidly while the app tracked his real progress for calorie adjustments.
A 1972 study with well-trained college athletes showed dramatic placebo effects. After 8 weeks of standardized training, athletes improved their bench by 10 pounds and squat by 6 pounds. When given a placebo presented as an approved steroid for 4 weeks, their bench increased by nearly 30 pounds and squat by 40 pounds - 3 to 7 times greater gains.
Ray reported enhanced physical capabilities, including catching a falling package at a butcher shop before it hit the ground, with bystanders comparing him to Spider-Man. This demonstrated the placebo effect extending beyond gym performance.
The modified scale feed was lost for 4 days, requiring Ray to return to the studio. This coincided with his 30-day mark when his dose was increased from every other day to daily. Ray reported feeling more energy on days he took the pills.
Due to lab scheduling, Ray's baseline blood test occurred 2 weeks into the experiment rather than on day one. His testosterone levels appeared low, which demotivated him despite being within normal range. The creator explained that being slightly higher or lower within normal range doesn't significantly impact muscle growth.
Ray's body fat decreased from 19.4% to 14.7%, and his lean mass increased by 8.7 pounds in 50 days. This exceeded typical natural lifter gains and matched steroid-user gains for the same period. Ray confirmed he wasn't taking anything else.
Ray revealed he had his appendix removed approximately one month before contacting the creator, requiring 4 weeks off from training. Research suggests muscle can be regained in roughly half the time it took to lose it, likely explaining at least half of his lean mass gains.
Ray expressed increased motivation to push harder, stick to his diet more strictly, and potentially eliminate his one cheat day. He felt the testosterone was finally kicking in and reported good energy levels.
Analysis of over 9,000 DEXA scans from American men revealed only one person below 12% body fat. At 14.7% body fat, Ray was already in the top 2% of leanness. Social media creates unrealistic expectations by making exceptional physiques appear normal.
The creator outlined serious steroid risks including testosterone suppression leading to fatigue, recovery issues, and libido problems. Some users never fully recover natural testosterone production. Steroids show dose-response relationships with muscle gain, potentially leading to dangerous escalation. Health risks include hair loss, acne, fertility issues, and heart problems, with bodybuilders dying prematurely at an average age of 36 and having 74% heavier hearts.
During a family dinner, Ray's mom revealed she had also been using the modified scale and made significant progress. She had been unable to reach 145 pounds from being consistently over 150, but changes suggested by Ray helped her see results within less than a month.
Ray was identified as one of the most disciplined clients worked with. He learned that 80% of transformation comes from diet and appreciated the app's food tracking capabilities. He hadn't told his mother about the supposed steroid use.
Ray and his family were surprised with plane tickets to visit relatives in Sweden and Norway for the first time in over 10 years, as they hadn't seen family since 2010.
Ray's strength increased significantly: bench press from 3 reps at 185 pounds to 8 clean reps; squats from 6 reps to 10 reps with the same weight; pull-ups from 16 to 20 clean reps. His testosterone increased by 22%, though this could be daily fluctuation or diet improvement rather than placebo effect.
Ray achieved his goal of reaching 12% body fat. His body fat decreased from 19.4% on day one to 11.9% after 100 days. The host measured Ray's progress and confirmed he had successfully hit his target body composition goal.
Ray's muscle gains slowed during the second half of the experiment compared to the first half. Despite this slowdown, he was still able to build some muscle while in a fat-loss phase. This achievement is notable because Ray was already under 15% body fat by day 50, making simultaneous muscle building and fat loss less likely. The host emphasized that maintaining muscle gains at this stage is extremely rare, occurring in only 0.1% of cases.
The host asked Ray to read aloud the contract he signed on day one, which stated: "The participant understands and agrees that they may receive an inactive placebo. The participant further understands and agrees that no anabolic steroids, no legal substances, no control substances, and no prescription performance-enhancing drugs will be provided by the producer trainer company." Ray realized the pills he had been taking were not steroids.
The host revealed that the pills Ray had been taking were actually flower pills - an inactive placebo. Ray expressed shock at learning everything he accomplished was achieved naturally through training and nutrition alone. The host explained that Ray's results came from "the power of your mind and literally just fixing your turning nutrition."
Ray predicted his mom and brother would be happier knowing he achieved his results naturally. He mentioned needing to break this news to his mom, noting that the video release would be when she learned the truth. The host addressed Ray's mom directly, expressing hope she would be proud of her son's natural achievement.
The host presented Ray with real steroids as an option, explaining he would help find a professional to administer them safely if Ray wanted to proceed, while acknowledging the health risks involved. Ray was given the choice between taking real steroids or continuing with the flower pills and natural training.
Ray decided against taking steroids, citing concerns about side effects and his desire to maintain health and longevity. He stated: "I'm scared of the side effects. I don't want to decrease my lifespan. I want to be healthy. I want to live long." Ray chose to continue with the natural approach using the flower pills.
The host expressed pride in Ray's decision and emphasized that Ray serves as an example of what people can accomplish through proper training and nutrition without steroids. Ray thanked the host for changing his life, thinking, and mentality through the experiment. The host apologized for the deception but noted satisfaction that the video would have no guilty feelings attached to it.
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