Decade-long dedication and world-class genetics can indeed forge physiques that defy belief, a notion that fitness expert Jeff Nippard set out to scientifically validate in a recent experiment aimed at understanding how to achieve an "enhanced" look without using performance-enhancing drugs. Nippard presented eight men, all of whom claimed to be 100% natural, to random strangers whose feedback revealed a common skepticism, with many immediately concluding certain muscular development was "insane," "suspicious," or "a little too much" to be natural. The study successfully identified the specific physical features that trigger these steroid accusations and confirmed the natural status of the subjects through rigorous blood testing.
Jeff Nippard's investigation utilized a medical doctor to secretly blood test all eight subjects to measure their hormone levels, specifically looking for testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). While one subject, Spencer, had a testosterone level (928 nanograms per deciliter) slightly above the typical range for healthy young men (200 to 850 ng/dL), his normal LH and FSH levels confirmed he was natural, reinforcing the finding that more testosterones does not necessarily correlate with more muscle growth within the natural range. Nippard noted that size gains only become dramatic when testosterone reaches the "super physiological levels" achieved by injecting hormones, sometimes exceeding 1,500 ng/dL.
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Based on public perception, Nippard pinpointed four key muscle groups to focus on for the "naturally enhanced" appearance. The shoulders (delts) are the primary feature people scrutinize, especially when they possess a "3D" quality, a feature Nippard himself is often accused of having. He stresses that developing the side delts is crucial and suggests increasing the training frequency to three to five times a week using exercises like lateral raises. Next, big, peaked biceps were highly noted, proving they are the "easiest way to impress everyday folks". Training tips include using preacher curls with forced reps and Beijian curls to emphasize the lengthened position. The upper pecs also stood out as a "main wow factor," advocating for the inclusion of incline presses or incline flies for comprehensive pectoral development. Finally, traps were consistently pointed out, supported by science suggesting their higher androgen receptor density makes them prone to growth when testosterone is injected. Nippard recommends using a wider grip on shrugs and incorporating overhead raises to target the upper trap fibers.
However, the single biggest controllable factor in appearing enhanced is simple leanness. Nippard demonstrated that dropping from 20% body fat to 10% made him look "much more jacked" despite being physically smaller, underscoring the "illusion of bodybuilding". This effect is amplified by vascularity, which the study determined is primarily driven by low body fat and genetics, contrary to the public's assumption that it is linked to steroid use. Visual tricks also play a powerful role; Nippard illustrated how using spotlighting and posing can achieve a "natty to enhanced in a 1-second transformation". Nippard attributes his ability to achieve an impressive natural physique to hard training, dedicated nutrition (often utilizing macro tracking tools like MacroFactor), and world-class genetics.
