The fitness industry looks glamorous on the outside but in reality is one of the darkest industries out there...
I write this article after a lot of hesitation, but the truth needs to be said, and I also need to hear it.
Steroid use is much more common than we think.
Walk into any gym on earth and you'll find at least one steroid user. Many fitness models on Instagram — not all, but many — are on steroids. And before you assume I'm bitter or jealous, let me be clear: I'm not. If steroids are used carefully and responsibly, they can genuinely help people reach their goals. The problem isn't the steroids. The problem is the silence around them — the pretence that those bodies were built purely on chicken breast and discipline.
Influencers' workout programmes are absolute rubbish.
Many fitness influencers are too busy inventing clever-sounding, useless exercises and packaging them into expensive programs. Here's what they won't tell you: they don't actually follow those programmes themselves. They have personal coaches — experienced, qualified professionals — but they hide that fact because it would destroy their coaching business overnight.
Did your coach ask you a specific question before giving you a programme?
A real coach needs to understand you before prescribing anything. Before handing you a programme, they should have asked about:
- Your current fitness level
- Your specific goals
- Your workout history and experience
- Any past or current injuries
- Your lifestyle, stress levels, and schedule
If none of those questions were asked, your programme wasn't written for you. It was written for everyone — which means it was written for no one.
What does your coach do if you miss a workout or a nutrition target?
This one reveals a lot. If your coach is completely unbothered when you miss a workout or fall short on nutrition — no follow-up, no accountability, no adjustment — that's a red flag. A good coach doesn't scold you, but they do care. They acknowledge setbacks, adapt the plan, and help you build strategies for real life — not just ideal conditions.
You Don't Need a Gym Membership
In India and across the world, a stubborn myth persists: no gym = no gains. That is complete nonsense.
You can build a strong, healthy body with:
- Bodyweight training — push-ups, pull-ups, squats, lunges
- Resistance bands — affordable, effective, and versatile
- Swimming
- Running
- Yoga
- Quality sleep — arguably the most underrated tool in fitness
- Stress management
- A solid diet with adequate protein
The gym is a tool, not a requirement.
The Reality of Gyms in India
- Many gyms employ uncertified trainers who still charge premium prices for personal training
- Rules are posted on walls but rarely enforced
- Trainers routinely push mass gainers and supplements — often products they personally profit from selling
The fitness industry has given millions of people healthier lives. But it has also built an ecosystem of misinformation, false bodies, and exploitative coaching. The first step to navigating it is simply knowing what you're walking into.
Train smart. Question everything. And don't let anyone sell you a shortcut that doesn't exist.