All About The Bubble Gut – Why Pro-Bodybuilders Get It?

Ash, ACE, MSc
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Ash, ACE, MSc
Ash is a highly respected fitness expert and certified personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise (ACE). With a B.A. in biology from Rutgers and...
4 Min Read

Why Pro-BodyBuilders Develop Bubble Gut

While many top bodybuilders like seven-time Mr.Olympia Phil Heath, eight-time Mr.Olympia Ronnie Coleman as well former Mr. Olympia competitor Kai Greene aren’t only famous for impressive backs, biceps or triceps, but they all have displayed on stage bloated and inflated midsections. One might wonder why the hell this happen?

The phenomenon of bodybuilders with such massive guts is known as the bubble gut. The issue is a condition that impacts many bodybuilders, but prominent fitness expert Dr. Thomas O’Connor says that the gut is not produced by steroid use. Rather, it is from the excess consumption of foods and various drugs people use for a competitive advantage.

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O’Connor, who has experience in helping patients to recover from anabolic steroid use, states that people who use insulin and human growth hormone to build their muscles are at an elevated risk of developing the bubble gut. The consumption of added calories and carbohydrates in the bulking process is also a concern that contributes to the bubble gut.

O’Connor also says that bodybuilders are using insulin these days to increase their bulk. Also, some people are consuming as many as 10,000 calories and 1,000 carbohydrates in a day. They are consuming this much to provide their bodies with the energy they need to complete their workouts. But all those foods and carbs can add to the amount of fat stored in the midsection. Seeing how that part of the body is hard to tone and style, it is no surprise that so many people are developing bubble guts.

Meanwhile, bodybuilders are taking about 10 IUs of HGH each day. The total is close to five times what patients receive at anti-aging centers.

There is a belief that the consumption of HGH will cause a person’s insides to grow. But while the abdominal muscles grow, the gut tissues or mesentery is what builds up in particular. The body’s organs do not expand in size said by a six-time Mr. Olympia (1992-97) Dorian yates during his interview with Joe Rogan.

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Regarding keeping the bubble gut from developing, O’Connor recommends that bodybuilders avoid using as much HGH and insulin as they are. Many figures like current Mr. Olympia Shawn Rhoden do not have the bubble gut. Such bodybuilders can avoid this by keeping their dosages of various drugs and their consumption of foods down.

Those in the Classic Physique category do not appear to have bubble guts either. Much of this is due to the section focusing on a midway point between traditional bodybuilding and men’s physique. This does not mean that people in that category are not taking insulin or HGH; they are not doing so as much as others in the regular bodybuilding field are.

The most significant consideration surrounding the success of Shawn Rhoden in this year’s Mr. Olympia competition may encourage bodybuilders to reconsider what they are doing when trying to build mass. There is always a need to work hard to build muscle mass, but the excess amounts of calories, carbs, and drugs that people are taking have taken a toll on many lifters.

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If you have any questions or need further clarification about this news, please leave a comment below, and Ash will get back to you as soon as possible.

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Ash is a highly respected fitness expert and certified personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise (ACE). With a B.A. in biology from Rutgers and an M.S. in Exercise Science (Kinesiology) from CBU, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her work. Ash is dedicated to helping people achieve their fitness and health goals through personalized training and nutrition plans. With a passion for fitness and a deep understanding of the science behind healthy living, she is able to create effective and sustainable programs that deliver real results. Whether you're looking to lose weight, build muscle, or just feel better in your own skin, Ash is the expert you can trust to guide you on your journey to a healthier and happier life.
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