From Passion to Profession: My Journey in Bodybuilding and the Truth About Anabolic Use

My name is Sunny, and I have been going to the gym for seven to eight years. Since childhood, I had a passion for building a strong body, and I've been on this path ever since. My current age is 22 years old.

I still remember the first supplement I ever took. My dad took me to buy it when I was 17 years old. It was whey protein, and it was quite expensive back then. I cherished every single scoop, making sure it lasted as long as possible because I knew it would be costly to buy again.

I participated in my first bodybuilding competition in 2018 when I was 17 or 18 years old. I won a gold medal in that competition. Yes, I did use anabolic steroids during my first prep, but I did so under the guidance of my coach. To this day, I have never had any problems related to it. Whenever I take anything, I always do it under proper supervision. I was 18 years old when I ran my first anabolic cycle, and it was done safely and responsibly under guidance.

My passion for the gym was never about impressing anyone or showing off. I had clear goals for my life, and bodybuilding was something I wanted to pursue professionally. I wanted to achieve something significant, and I approached it with the right mindset. I never experimented on my own or just copied what others were doing. Instead, I did everything under the supervision of an expert, getting my tests done regularly and ensuring everything was safe. That's why I never faced any issues.

Even though I was young, I was always surrounded by older, more experienced people. I learned a lot from them. At 22, I still prefer to be around those who are more knowledgeable, constantly learning from them. I may have been young, but I always had a mature mindset. My genetics were such that I already had a bit of a physique, and I was determined to build a strong body. When I found someone who could guide me safely and properly, I decided it was the right decision.

Bodybuilding is like any other sport, where you need the right tools and guidance to succeed. It was never about showing off or impressing anyone for me. My goal was to pursue bodybuilding professionally. Every athlete steps on stage with the hope of looking their best, and they are ready to make all kinds of sacrifices to achieve that. I always believed in doing things safely and under supervision. I never made impulsive decisions based on seeing or getting influenced by others.

When I first started, I never told my parents anything beforehand. I would just start things on my own. I still remember my dad's reaction when he found injections in my bag. He cried, worried that something might happen to me. Indian society has so many myths and misconceptions, like the false belief that such things lead to infertility and other unnecessary fears. My parents' main concern was what society would think. However, my dad always told me that his only wish was for his children to be happy. He never cared about what others thought. Today, I am proud to say that we have never brought shame to our parents' name.

I'll continue to strive to make my family proud through this journey. Even my family feels proud of me for pursuing this path. I've trained my body naturally for at least one and a half to two years. When I was 17 years old, I could naturally squat 180 kg, which is quite rare. I could also deadlift 190-200 kg naturally. My coach transitioned me from powerlifting to bodybuilding because he saw my good genetics.

Since school days, I was always into aesthetics and running, and my genetics helped me maintain a good physique. As I started, I could feel the strength and a bit of aggression, but I never took it the wrong way. I only used anabolic steroids when preparing for competitions. I never maintained a regular cycle just to impress others or keep my body looking a certain way. I maintained my body naturally, only using anabolics during preparation phases.

No athlete stays on a cycle all year round. When competition season comes, I use anabolics for my prep. I usually participate in only one competition a year and keep my prep short. My fat percentage remains low due to my genetics, and when I focus on proper dieting, my physique shows it. Like most bodybuilders, I also stick to chicken and rice. Occasionally, I allow myself a cheat meal, but bodybuilding demands discipline. During prep, staying disciplined is crucial, but balancing work and discipline can sometimes be challenging. When I feel overwhelmed, I take a break from everything.

It's been around five years since I started using anabolics, but I've never faced any issues. I only use them when I need to prepare for a competition. My abs are genetically defined, and my low-fat percentage ensures they remain visible whether I'm on a cycle or not. However, right now, my fat percentage is a bit higher because I haven't been able to train properly. I recently started my work, and with the busy schedule, my gym routine has been inconsistent.

Currently, I'm not following a strict gym routine. My diet is also not on track. Mornings usually start with a healthy breakfast, but by the end of the day, everything goes off track. Sometimes I have oats for breakfast, but if my mom makes parathas, I eat them too. During gym training, I take a protein shake, and at night, I mostly eat chicken. Despite all this, I have not experienced any significant side effects. At most, I've had a few back pimples, but nothing serious. Genetically, I've had a good skin texture since school, even when I wasn't going to the gym.

I've never had any major problems. Occasionally, I do feel aggression, but I manage to control it well. Otherwise, everything is fine. You asked if I ever took out my aggression on my girlfriend—no, I always make sure to keep my emotions in check, even in relationships.

My aggression is usually channeled into weights. I listen to good music, have an intense training session, and after that, everything feels relaxed. When someone has a good physique, they naturally feel more confident in everything they do. There's a saying that when someone with a good build speaks, their words carry weight. When a well-built person sits among a group, people start noticing them, and their voice stands out.

I turned bodybuilding into a profession. I had done a corporate job before, as I mentioned in my last interview. During my corporate job, it felt like I could either look after myself or save something for my family or think about my future, but not all at once. Because, let's face it, bodybuilding won't necessarily put food on the table. It's not like winning a medal will bring in lakhs of rupees as a reward. So, I approached bodybuilding as a proper profession, earned money through it, and built my life around it. Bodybuilding has given me a lot.

I earn enough to take care of my family. Even if I don't earn a lot, I keep my family happy. They always say everything is going well, and that’s what matters. I've started my own supplement store, offer online training, and train people at the gym. From all this, I earn well and feel proud to say I’m making good money.

This gym is where I train people and also work as a manager. I manage the gym entirely, which covers all my expenses, allows me to continue my bodybuilding, and helps me save for the future. Now, let me show you my supplement store that I recently opened.

This is my small store, which I can proudly say I opened on my own, without any financial support from my father. I did not take any investment from my family, although my dad has always been very supportive. Just a little while ago, he called to ask if I needed any money or if I was facing any financial issues. I told him everything was okay and that I could handle it myself. My father is very open-minded, but today, I can say that bodybuilding has given me so much.

Bodybuilding has provided me with multiple sources of income. I offer training, sell supplements, and have online clients from the USA and New Zealand. It has made me self-reliant and not a burden on my family, unlike many people who struggle in this field. From the beginning, I knew if I wanted to pursue bodybuilding, I had to do it on my own. Even when my dad bought me my first protein supplement, I didn’t have the courage to ask him for more because it was so expensive.

I knew then that if I wanted to achieve something, I had to do it myself. I’ve been fortunate enough to collaborate with some great brands that provide genuine supplements to people. Advanced Pharma has supported me a lot, from providing quality supplements to making sure athletes get genuine products. For an athlete, there’s no greater help than this.

I managed to save money by cutting back in many areas because I have a habit of spending freely. Still, by giving training, providing online training, and selling supplements, I managed to save four to five lakh rupees. Then I thought of opening a supplement store as an additional source of income.

I also provide training here and sell supplements online through my Instagram.

If you are 20 years old and still dependent on your parents, asking your father for money for proteins, supplements, and diet, then perhaps you haven't achieved much in life. At this age, you can achieve a lot and do it well. Utilize social platforms properly, grab good brands, connect with brands, and showcase your real struggle instead of faking it. People appreciate authenticity.

Don't build a body just to impress someone. Use anabolic substances only if your profession requires it. Some might ask if I used anabolics at 18—I could, because my dreams were different. I had a clear vision, and my dreams and profession were solely focused on bodybuilding.

If I use anabolics, it's only once a year during prep. Otherwise, I have no obsession with running anabolics throughout the year just to show off my physique. I do it for myself, not for anyone else.

My message to those around my age is: Don't become a burden on your family. If you are doing bodybuilding using your family's money, it won't benefit anyone. Financial independence is key.

Every day, I wake up with the goal of making the day productive. If you waste even a single day, you are losing a day from your life. Every morning, I ask myself what productive work I can do today that would make my family, especially my father, proud—so they can say that their son is doing great in bodybuilding and is at a good level, earning well.

Sunny's Client

My name is Sohel Rishi, and I am 19 years old. I started going to the gym at the age of 14 or 15 when I was in seventh or eighth grade. The first time I went to the Strong Gym in Mehrauli, I saw Sunny Bhaiya doing deadlifts, and since then, I have been his fan.

I want to pursue bodybuilding professionally and make a career in this field. I want to become like Sunny Bhaiya. His struggles are quite similar to mine.

Our struggle has been financial from the beginning. My father had a small tea shop, and our financial condition was not great. We lived in a small room with a family of five—my two elder sisters, my parents, and me.

My father always used to say, “Study hard and make a career, don’t end up like me.” He wanted me to do something big and create a better life for myself.

But my goal was always to pursue bodybuilding. I had decided this from my childhood itself. Even in school, while sitting in class, when my friends were focused on studies, I was also good in studies and used to get good grades. However, somewhere in my mind, I was always drawn towards bodybuilding.

That’s why I chose fitness professionally. I am studying fitness and pursuing a related course while simultaneously working as a trainer. I am currently a trainer at Sunny Bhaiya’s gym, providing training and learning as much as I can.

It’s been two to three months now, and I have started supporting my family. My mom is happy, my dad is proud, and I am glad to be contributing.

Through this video, I am not promoting anabolic usage at all. I am simply sharing real stories with you. My intention is to show that everyone has their own struggle, passion, and journey.

Anabolic use is a personal choice, just like smoking, drinking, or chewing tobacco. Some people use these substances responsibly, with proper knowledge, under the guidance of doctors and coaches.

I sincerely request you all to stay away from drugs and anabolics. If you believe your goal is bodybuilding and you want to make a mark in the field, then push yourself naturally. Only if natural results don't come, seek professional guidance from a doctor or coach.

I am not saying that anabolic use is good or bad. As I mentioned, it is your own decision. But blindly following others, thinking, "He built a good body, so I will too by taking injections or anabolics," is not the right approach. It can even be life-threatening.

This is why my humble request to you is: this video series is solely meant to inspire you. It is not to encourage you to use anabolics. Instead, learn from the journeys of these people and make your own life better.

Credit - Tarun Gill

Watch full interview - (96) 18 saal ki age mein injections liye - Papa cried - Tarun gill Talks - YouTube