Natty or Not? Understanding the "Natty or Not?" Rating in Fitness

Natty or Not? Understanding the "Natty or Not?" Rating in Fitness

 

If you've spent any time in the gym or scrolling through fitness content online, you’ve probably heard people ask: "Is he natty?" or "Is creatine natty?"

But what does "natty" actually mean? And how do we decide if a supplement or performance aid is natural or enhanced? Let’s break it down in the simplest way possible.

 


 

What Does "Natty" Mean?

"Natty" is short for natural. In fitness, this means that someone is not using steroids, growth hormones, or other performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) to improve their strength, size, or athletic ability.

If you’re training and eating without injecting or taking synthetic substances that artificially boost performance, you are considered natty.

On the other hand, "not natty" means using PEDs, steroids, SARMs, or other unnatural substances to gain muscle, strength, or endurance beyond what your body can naturally achieve.

 


 

The "Natty or Not?" Rating System

Since some supplements can enhance performance without being unnatural, the "Natty or Not?" scale helps categorize them based on how much they affect the body.

This is an informal scale used by the fitness community, and while not scientifically official, it gives a general idea of what’s natural vs. enhanced:

Rating

What It Means

Examples

1.0 - 1.5

💯 Completely Natural – No hormones, no artificial enhancement, totally "natty."

Creatine, Protein Powder, Caffeine, BCAAs

1.5 - 2.5

⚠️ Mildly Enhanced – Boosts performance but still widely accepted as natural.

Pre-Workout (with stimulants), Beta-Alanine

2.5 - 4.0

Borderline PEDs – Not exactly steroids but can affect hormones.

SARMs, Strong Testosterone Boosters

4.0 - 6.0

🔥 Mildly Unnatural – Prescription-only performance boosters.

TRT (Testosterone Replacement Therapy), Peptides

6.0 - 8.0

🚨 Highly Unnatural – Classic anabolic steroids.

Trenbolone, Dianabol, Winstrol

8.0 - 10.0

🏆 Full-Blown Enhanced – Hardcore bodybuilding PEDs.

Insulin, HGH (Human Growth Hormone), Stacked Steroids

 


 

Is Creatine Natty? (YES, 100% Natural ✅)

Creatine is rated 1.25 on the Natty or Not scale, which means it is completely natural and widely accepted in drug-tested sports and competitions.

Why is creatine natty?

  • It’s naturally found in foods like red meat and fish.

  • It doesn’t alter hormones or give you unnatural muscle gains.

  • It simply helps your muscles store more energy (ATP), leading to better performance and strength over time.

So, if you take creatine, you’re still natty—it’s no different than eating a steak, just in a more concentrated and effective form.

 


 

What Are Some Other Natty Supplements?

✅ 1. Protein Powder (100% Natty - Rating: 1.0)

Why it’s natty: It’s just food in powdered form. You can get the same protein from chicken, eggs, or fish—the powder is just more convenient.

✅ 2. Caffeine (100% Natty - Rating: 1.5)

Why it’s natty: Caffeine is a natural stimulant found in coffee, tea, and chocolate. It boosts energy and focus but doesn’t change your hormones.

 


 

What Are Some "Not Natty" Substances?

❌ 1. SARMs (Not Natty - Rating: 3.5-4.0)

SARMs (Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators) aren't steroids but still affect muscle growth and recovery in a way that is not 100% natural. They can mess with testosterone levels and have side effects like hair loss and mood swings.

❌ 2. Anabolic Steroids (Not Natty - Rating: 6.0-9.0)

Steroids like Trenbolone, Dianabol, and Winstrol are the opposite of natty. They force your body to build muscle by introducing synthetic hormones, leading to massive size and strength gains—but also serious health risks like liver damage, heart problems, and hormonal imbalances.

 


 

Final Verdict: Should You Stay Natty?

For 99% of people, staying natty is the best choice. Natural supplements like creatine, protein, and caffeine can boost performance safely, while steroids and PEDs can come with serious risks.

If your goal is long-term fitness, strength, and health—staying natty is the way to go.

But if you ever see someone with insane muscle size, paper-thin skin, and unreal strength—chances are, they’re not natty. 😆

 


 

Want to Train Like a Natty Beast?

🛒 Need high-quality creatine and supplements? Click here 



Tags: Creatine

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.