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Controversial Bodybuilder and Youtuber Rich Piana Dies After Medical Emergency

S

Summer Haze

Banned
Saint Gregory said:
Yeah, I was always shocked by his following considering how crazy he started to look after he started abusing synthol. He may have had body dysmorphia or something since there was no need for him to do that, he was already huge.
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He did. I was just watching a video of him and the person holding the camera said "you don't look skinny you look huge" and he's like "I feel like a skinny piece of shit"...or something to that effect.
 
entremet

entremet

Member
Nipo said:
Schwarzenegger is 70 and still looks pretty healthy. Were the steroids different back then or is he just lucky/rich so he can bypass a lot of common problems.
Click to expand...
Arnold’s steroid stack was nothing compared to these new mass monsters.

The biggest addition to pro B.B. has been insulin, which is very synergistic with HGH and roids and also very dangerous.
 
A

ArkhamFantasy

Member
Nipo said:
Schwarzenegger is 70 and still looks pretty healthy. Were the steroids different back then or is he just lucky/rich so he can bypass a lot of common problems.
Click to expand...

Body builders nowadays take 20+ drugs and pump oils into thier bodies to make then look like they have more muscle than they really do, it's completely out of control.
 
E

Earthbound64

Banned
Rich Piana has died ... nearly 3 weeks after going into a coma following a medical emergency at his Florida apartment, TMZ Sports has learned.
We broke the story ... Piana collapsed while getting a haircut on August 7. His girlfriend, Chanel, tried to revive him but was unable to wake him.
Piana was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was placed into a medically induced coma
Click to expand...

So he didn't just "go into a coma," it was a medically induced coma.
There is a difference.
 
T

The Albatross

Member
nitronite said:
I'm not pro-steroids, but I do find it a bit distasteful to immediately bash someone for his addiction right after his death. Just as you wouldn't start gloating over some famous anorexic person dying of malnourishment, saying: "See! I told you he'd didn't eat enough.", so too I don't think it's appropriate to mock someone for having bigorexia (which is definitely a real thing), especially given that he actually died, based on initial reports, from a cocaine OD. His cocaine addiction may also be related to his bigorexia.
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I don't think anybody is bashing him for his addiction. But he came off, throughout his career, as a promoter of using steroids 'the safe way.'

If somebody promotes or is seen as an endorsement for any type of lifestyle or body choices, and then those choices likely contribute to their early death, then that's going to be remarkable. For instance, Tom Brady has a very unusual diet and he credits that diet for helping him be successful in the NFL, but if Brady dies early from some sort of malnutrition or something related to his unusual diet, a lot of people are going to react to that negatively.

His cocaine use was probably related to not just his body issues, but also his steroid use... There's a very close link between steroid abuse and abusing cocaine. People addicted to steroids often use other drugs when they're cycling down from steroids, and they get steroid withdrawals. Cocaine is a very common supplement for steroid withdrawals here. This happened with dozens of wrestlers in the 1980s-1990s, who died of heart conditions because they'd take steroids on a cycle, and then use cocaine, adderall, and other drugs while they were coming down from the steroids, and also use opiates when on the steroids to manage pain. Bret Hart mentioned this specifically in his auto-biography, about how guys would be on a steroid program for ~8 weeks or something, and then as they'd come off of that program and they'd get their body to naturally produce testosterone, they'd use cocaine to supplement the withdrawal from steroids; when they were back on steroids or testosterone, they'd use pain pills, heroin, and other opiates to sleep.

HappehLemons said:
Does anyone know about this guy? Was his body built with anything other then steroids? Like injections in his arms or something?

At first I thought it was this guy
greg5.jpg
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Was this the guy who was injecting like, silicon into his muscles in his arms?
 
E

Enduin

No bald cap? Lies!
Any good studies or articles on body dysmorphia, or similar image disorders, among body builders? Always just jump to that conclusion when I see many of these guys, which I know I shouldn't do, so would be good to see actual stats on it.

I've seen him around YouTube a few times and always thought he wasn't long for this world. Even if he wasn't a good person still sad to see him die from his addictions.
 
B

BHK3

Banned
Just watched a body building documentary with him in it, he openly admits to using steriods and was very pro-roids. Generation Iron 2 I believe it was. Absolutely no shock at all he's dead, just a little shocked it was right after watching the documentary though.
 
F

Funky Papa

FUNK-Y-PPA-4
The Albatross said:
Was this the guy who was injecting like, silicon into his muscles in his arms?
Click to expand...

Gregg "I never used Sythol" Valentino.

A true legend of the 28k internet era.

About the OP, plenty of bodybuilders use all kinds of stims while cutting or during cycles. Speed was all the rage at one of my old ratty gyms (I'm glad I no longer go there). Huge mass + uppers = vastly increased odds of winning the cardiac event lottery.
 
N

nitronite

Member
The Albatross said:
I don't think anybody is bashing him for his addiction. But he came off, throughout his career, as a promoter of using steroids 'the safe way.'

If somebody promotes or is seen as an endorsement for any type of lifestyle or body choices, and then those choices likely contribute to their early death, then that's going to be remarkable. For instance, Tom Brady has a very unusual diet and he credits that diet for helping him be successful in the NFL, but if Brady dies early from some sort of malnutrition or something related to his unusual diet, a lot of people are going to react to that negatively.

His cocaine use was probably related to not just his body issues, but also his steroid use... There's a very close link between steroid abuse and abusing cocaine. People addicted to steroids often use other drugs when they're cycling down from steroids, and they get steroid withdrawals. Cocaine is a very common supplement for steroid withdrawals here. This happened with dozens of wrestlers in the 1980s-1990s, who died of heart conditions because they'd take steroids on a cycle, and then use cocaine, adderall, and other drugs while they were coming down from the steroids, and also use opiates when on the steroids to manage pain. Bret Hart mentioned this specifically in his auto-biography, about how guys would be on a steroid program for ~8 weeks or something, and then as they'd come off of that program and they'd get their body to naturally produce testosterone, they'd use cocaine to supplement the withdrawal from steroids; when they were back on steroids or testosterone, they'd use pain pills, heroin, and other opiates to sleep.
Click to expand...

Huh. Didn't know about the link between steroid and cocaine (and other drugs) usage. Something to research, thank you.

You also bring up a good point about how he was a promoter of a certain lifestyle (even if he didn't actually promote gear usage similar to his own) and how that could lead people to discuss how that lifestyle may have lead to his death.
 
R

Raguel

Member
FallingEdge said:
I'm all for pro enhancement drugs. All the athletes are on something. Let them go crazy with it.
Click to expand...

As a weight lifter, this is a really stupid and irresponsible comment. Let them go crazy with it is the reason why the roid abuser in op died. What an irresponsible statement.
 
S

Sato Koiji

Member
Nipo said:
Schwarzenegger is 70 and still looks pretty healthy. Were the steroids different back then or is he just lucky/rich so he can bypass a lot of common problems.
Click to expand...

60's and 70's bodybuilding was Disneyworld compared to today. The drug usage got out of control.
 
A

ArkhamFantasy

Member
DarkLordMalik said:
Do these body builders gain super strength or are these muscles just for show?

RIP Rich.
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They are very strong but power lifting and body building are two different things, also keep in mind body builders use site enhancement oils to make thier bodies look bigger than they actually are, alot use straight up implants too, its sad.
 
N

NervousXtian

Thought Emoji Movie was good. Take that as you will.
The amount of pain and stress just doing that shit naturally on your body is bad. It's not healthy to train to that level at all.

All the other shit just makes it worse.

This kind of thing should be celebrated, this is a disease these people have.
 
M

mike6467

Member
Sato Koiji said:
60's and 70's bodybuilding was Disneyworld compared to today. The drug usage got out of control.
Click to expand...

Yeah, today a lot of "fitness models" look like Arnold and plenty of other top tier bb'ers looked back then. There are a lot of people saying that nutrition and training techniques have evolved, which is bullshit. I have a lot more respect for the people who are straight up talking about what they're taking, as opposed to those who are selling training programs/basic supplements and telling people that you too can look like me if you just buy all my shit and do what I do.

Along with that, science has evolved, but the ethics and regulation surrounding it never caught up.

I think body dysmorphia can be reasonably assumed at a certain point. It's either that or these guys start small, and after seeing money/fame piling in they're just afraid to let go. Not to mention the competition, it's an escalating "if I don't do it, someone else will" type of thing.
 
H

Hashmal_Bringer_of_Order

Member
Only shocking thing to me is ProRoidGAF in here.

Bodybuilding is discustingly out of control compared to every other sport. It needs to fucking stop. I work in sports and it fucking triggers me.
 
K

KingV

Member
nitronite said:
ITT: people drawing hasty conclusions about somebody's death. Initial reports state that he died from a cocaine OD, and as much as some of you would like steroids to be the main cause of his death, they weren't.
Click to expand...

Except for steroids cause a large amount of problems in your cardiovascular system and cocaine makes your cardiovascular system work harder, so it's not really simple to say either way.

I think you can make a pretty good assumption that the dude probably has an enlarged heart. Getting coked up with serious heart problems is probably a recipe for danger.
 
F

FallingEdge

Member
Raguel said:
As a weight lifter, this is a really stupid and irresponsible comment. Let them go crazy with it is the reason why the roid abuser in op died. What an irresponsible statement.
Click to expand...

They are responsible for their own actions and the reasons why they take it are for them to decide. If it is to compete, gain an edge in sports, or just to look good, they have the freedom to do so. They know the risks involved.
 
Clockwork

Clockwork

Member
"A preliminary search at his apartment revealed more than 20 bottles of steroids and a white powder -- but it's unclear if the substances played a role in his death."

I'm not a medical expert but...

Duhhhhhh
 
R

Raguel

Member
Hashmal_Bringer_of_Order said:
Only shocking thing to me is ProRoidGAF in here.

Bodybuilding is discustingly out of control compared to every other sport. It needs to fucking stop. I work in sports and it fucking triggers me.
Click to expand...
Agreed. People here encouraging roid use like it's perfectly OK is alarming. It's not perfectly OK. It needs to be monitored and it needs to be used with caution. I don't give a fuck if an individual uses roid. You do you. But to encourage its usage is dumb.
 
I

Imm0rt4l

Member
Nipo said:
Schwarzenegger is 70 and still looks pretty healthy. Were the steroids different back then or is he just lucky/rich so he can bypass a lot of common problems.
Click to expand...
He had heart surgery some time ago, probably caused by years of steroids, button not sure. That said, Arnold wasn't in all steroids/high and insulin that these guys are on today.
 
M

Madness

Member
AoM said:
Schwarzenegger?

Though I guess what he did back in the day was weaker and he did less than what guys do now.
Click to expand...

This. Steroids by themselves are not anymore dangerous to your body than alcohol, recreational drugs, over the counter drugs. Guys like Arnold had some heart issues, but these days things like trenbolone, anavar they are really powerful, and with growrh hormone, you really do a number to your organs, heart ventricles. A lot also take painkillers, drink or eat fatty foods if they aren't worried about low body fat.

But someone like Rich was addicted. He also was heavily into human growth hormone which is far more dangerous than ever taking any testosterone. Look at his size and mass. Probably was on a year long cycle cruise never stopping, just counteracting the negative effects with estrogen blockers.

This guy has had it rough recently. Some ex of his released audio of him insulting her, being really racist which affected his brand appeal a few months back. His ex wife had used him for a green card he claimed (she was from Iceland). Just sad. Rest in peace to the big guy.
 
K

kottila

Member
FallingEdge said:
They are responsible for their own actions and the reasons why they take it are for them to decide. If it is to compete, gain an edge in sports, or just to look good, they have the freedom to do so. They know the risks involved.
Click to expand...

It's not "freedom" if you allow drugs in sports. Everyone will be forced to use them, including kids
 
S

Starsunder

Member
Modern bb is the problem, not the roids.

Arnold and his generation took steroids too, and while a few of them may have had issues, many of them lived long lives (or are still alive) and died of common things that people NOT on PEDs die of.

The difference is the size of the stack that modern BBs take, and insulin. Today, people (like the late Rich Piana) take a fucking SHITTON of 'roids. Combined with crazy high dosages of HGH and Insulin, and small wonder that guys today develop issues early on.

Additionally, the steroids you can get today, due to the wonders of the Internet, are both easily accessible and, a lot of times, not of pharmacutical grade quality. It's some shit that they're mixing in a basement somewhere and selling for cheap online. God knows what you're pumping into your system. Arnold's generation was getting the real deal, and didn't take nearly as much of it. That's why they looked different. They were very very muscled, yes. But also athletic looking. Almost sleek. Nowadays? Muscle guts and bloated, synthol injected bodies are the norm.

Arnold himself has commented on how downhill bodybuilding as a whole has gone.
 
K

Khalifa Jayy

Banned
Starsunder said:
Modern bb is the problem, not the roids.

Arnold and his generation took steroids too, and while a few of them may have had issues, many of them lived long lives (or are still alive) and died of common things that people NOT on PEDs die of.

The difference is the size of the stack that modern BBs take, and insulin. Today, people (like the late Rich Piana) take a fucking SHITTON of 'roids. Combined with crazy high dosages of HGH and Insulin, and small wonder that guys today develop issues early on.

Additionally, the steroids you can get today, due to the wonders of the Internet, are both easily accessible and, a lot of times, not of pharmacutical grade quality. It's some shit that they're mixing in a basement somewhere and selling for cheap online. God knows what you're pumping into your system. Arnold's generation was getting the real deal, and didn't take nearly as much of it. That's why they looked different. They were very very muscled, yes. But also athletic looking. Almost sleek. Nowadays? Muscle guts and bloated, synthol injected bodies are the norm.

Arnold himself has commented on how downhill bodybuilding as a whole has gone.
Click to expand...
Frank Zane, da gawd. That's steroid usage to perfection, imo.
 
R

Raguel

Member
FallingEdge said:
They are responsible for their own actions and the reasons why they take it are for them to decide. If it is to compete, gain an edge in sports, or just to look good, they have the freedom to do so. They know the risks involved.
Click to expand...
Yeah they are responsible for their action but your statement via let them go crazy with it is just irresponsible. Steroids are drugs. Like any other drug, nobody should go crazy with it. It's medically ignorant and logically unsound. It leads to abuse and death.
 
S

Sheroking

Member
ArkhamFantasy said:
Lets not get into "moderation" its a drug, you shouldnt be using it, period.
Click to expand...

Better drugs are the biggest reason we live to 80 now. Table salt and sugar are drugs or are drug-adjacent (opinions are mixed), and sodium and glucose are necessary for survival.

Because they were prematurely made illegal by baseball loving congress members, we don't have the studies on long term use.

What we do know that in proper doses, anabolic steroids only cause minor, mostly reversible quirks to the male physiology and no organ damage. Like all drugs, including things like multivitamins, abuse and moderate use are VERY different things.
 
H

Hashmal_Bringer_of_Order

Member
Sheroking said:
Better drugs are the biggest reason we live to 80 now. Table salt and sugar are drugs, and sodium and glucose are necessary for survival.

Because they were prematurely made illegal by baseball loving congress members, we don't have the studies on long term use.

What we do know that in proper doses, anabolic steroids only cause minor, mostly reversible quirks to the male physiology and no organ damage.
Click to expand...

Doesn't matter. They're a cancer on sports.
 
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