https://everythingspeakstome.com/files/original/b03afbbf7b61c24fb901868c14c952f9.png 75c0a3b5382e84704d48f74c5b20ce37 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Miami Stories Description An account of the resource Real stories of life in Miami. Text A resource consisting primarily of words for reading. Examples include books, letters, dissertations, poems, newspapers, articles, archives of mailing lists. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre Text. Text Please post your written submission in this field. The images you would like to include should be posted as attachments below. “If you have a choice to stay natural or do steroids, stay natural. There is no reason to take steroids, you're only hurting yourself.” --- Rich Piana, Former Bodybuilding Pro I am buzzed out of my mind on 400 mg of caffeine, my blood is coursing like the Nile, and I am mentally preparing myself for a PR (personal record) on the deadlift, an easy 405 pounds. As I walk into Steelhouse, the testosterone in the air practically hits me in my face, the loud metal of Cannibal Corpse blairs over the loudspeaker and I start to get into the zone. I say hey to all the regulars and go over to the squat rack and begin to warm up. I feel the decades-old chalk caked into the bar as I begin my warmups, my lower back begins to loosen up as I up the weight, 225, 315, then finally I throw the fourth plate on for a solid 405 pound total. I brace against my weight belt, tighten my straps, and begin to pull. Slowly but surely the bar begins to rise and after a few seconds I get it up, it feels like I am holding a small neutron star, the density is overwhelming but after I complete the rep I set it back down lightly but even at that weight the noise of it hitting the floor creates a large BOOM noise. I look around in pride and that's when I notice it, a massive individual next to me is warming up with 525 for reps, completely blowing me out of the water. Taking a look around, I begin to notice all of these massive individuals lifting ridiculous numbers while looking carved out of marble, like a statue of Hercules. However, some of these guys would make Hercules look like a malnourished fifth-grader. I began to ponder just how some of these guys became so massive while also retaining large amounts of strength. I knew a lot of guys in here were on some type of gear (a slang term for anabolic steroids) however when I took a hard look around it hit me, that most of my gym is unnatural and not for any good reason such as competing for the Mr Olympia title (The major pro show of bodybuilding). They are unnatural for a different reason…vanity. “Oh yeah man I can find gear from like 20 dudes in this gym, I work the front desk, you would be surprised at how many guys supply the stuff” (Christian Contessa, a friend who works in Steelhouse). Blows my mind, that is the correct term for when I asked Christian about the anabolic steroid usage in the gym. I am by no means a gym newbie but it did truly shock me when he gave me that number. 20+ people can supply me gear at any time and that is just speaking on the people who sell, not even including all of those who just take it without needing to sell it as well. I had to get the opinion of someone who was unnatural as Christian is a lifetime natty (someone who does not take gear), so I decided to talk to my friend Brian and see what caused him to make the switch from natural to unnatural. Brian is fairly open about his unnatural status and has garnered a pretty large following on social media because of his openness about steroid use. (Quotes were taken directly from the recording of the conversation) “Hey Brian thanks for taking the time to talk about your use of gear” “Of course brother, always happy to spread awareness” “So, how long were you natural before you decided to make the switch?” “Um, I’d say about 4-5 years before I hopped on, I started lifting in high school because I was a scrawny f*#k and wanted to make a change in my physique. Eventually, I wanted to take it to that next level and said screw it and started my first cycle (a term for the type and dosage of gear used for a period of time)” “So it wasn’t for any competition reasons?” “Nah man just wanted to see what my body was capable of” “Do you plan to compete anytime soon now that you have been unnatural for quite some time?” “Maybe in the future I may do an amateur show or two but right now I’m more focused on the social media grind and getting numbers up on my lifts” “Would you say then you use gear for vanity?” “Yeah that's probably the best way to put it (both laugh)” “Do you regret it now that you have been unnatural for a few years?” “No, this is just what I am passionate about, honestly I don’t think ill ever hop-off” The conversation with Brian truly opened my eyes. This man has dedicated over a decade of his life in the pursuit of aesthetic perfection and even after reaching it, he still refuses to hop off. Why could this be? Are Men addicted to the gear itself? Or could it be that Men are addicted to the physical and strength attributes they can possess when deciding to become unnatural. Many describe being on certain compounds as if God himself has transferred to within you and is guiding you on your lifts. A compound known for this, Trenbolone, is often cited as having some of the best benefits and worse side effects of any anabolic compound. Most say they gain a god-complex while also gaining a wicked sense of dread and paranoia, leading to many taking their own lives or dying of heart failure or atherosclerosis. “ 'I Was Hooked’ : Bodybuilder Rich Piana Defended His 27 Years of Steroid Use Before His Shocking Death at 46 ” (Taken from People.com on Rich Piana) At the end of all my research and testimonials, it truly opened my eyes to see the lengths Men were willing to go to achieve results. One answer for the disregard of health that I can find is wanting and needing to be popular and to look the part on social media and other platforms. This, along with the body dysmorphia many find in the gym creates a bad cocktail of wanting to live up to certain results but being unable to do it healthily and reasonably. Another culprit could be the rising action and superhero stars on the big screen, many of which are unnatural. Sure, Hollywood tries to hide this by saying how strict and regimented these stars are while preparing, however; many people are just as, if not more regimented and could never achieve these results without “supplementation”. Many still do not know this, thus leading to unachievable expectations for any natural lifter, no matter how genetically gifted they may be or how disciplined to the art they become. Some are starting to realize that the dangers of steroids far outweigh the results they can bring. As of this year, 6 pro or former pro bodybuilders have all dropped dead, either of heart failure or blood problems such as high blood pressure. Many ask how many more deaths it will take for those to wake up and realize that anabolic compounds are not the way to a healthy life and we should not place those who are extraordinarily aesthetic on a pedestal. Looks will fade over time, but health is a lifelong pursuit that should be desired to get closer to every day. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Juiced Up: The Vanity of Miami Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Tyler Grady Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 05/26/2022