Palumboism or the Bubble Gut
Palumboism occurs when the muscles on the sides of the abdomen, also known as your oblique muscles, thicken and make it difficult for a bodybuilder to hold in their stomach, or rectus abdominis muscles.
Palumboism is also referred to as:
- steroid or roid gut
- human growth hormone or HGH gut
- HGH bloat
- bubble gut
- insulin gut
- muscle gut
- bodybuilder belly
This condition is named after Dave Palumbo. He was the first bodybuilder to display a stomach that appeared unnaturally bloated in proportion to his chest.
What causes bubble gut in bodybuilders?
Bubble gut is caused by factors such as increased use of insulin and the introduction of HGH injections use in the nineties. There is no one factor that has been proven to cause the emergence of the bodybuilder belly (Palumboism). The most realistic explanation is a combination of factors.
These include:
Human growth hormone abuse
The extremely high doses of HGH used by bodybuilders, estimated at around 5 milligrams per day, can cause side effects such as the excessive growth of some tissues, like the intestines. With larger intestines, the abdomen can bulge to up to twice its natural size, particularly after food consumption.
Insulin abuse
Many bodybuilders also combine HGH, and many other substances, with insulin use; a practice known as “stacking”. This insulin use can then cause increased fat storage behind the stomach, known as visceral fat, which can lead to a larger abdomen.
Increased Abdominal Muscle Mass
Through the use of insulin and Human Growth Hormone drugs and the addition of multiple supplements and a diet that is extremely high in protein, muscle mass increases considerably. This causes not only an increase in mass in the Rectus Abdominis, or “the six pack”, itself, but also in the muscles that lie underneath it, such as the Transverse Abdominus and the Internal Obliques. This causes the entire midsection to grow and protrude, giving a ‘blocky’ appearance and contributing to stomach distension. The 'look' has been nicknamed 'Palumboism'.
High carbohydrate diets
High carbohydrate foods cause an increase in glycogen to be stored in the muscles which causes increased water retention, as glycogen attracts water. Both this and the large volume of carbohydrate rich foods further contribute to Muscle Gut by providing a 'bloated' look.
High calorie diets
Irrespective of protein, carbohydrates or supplements, all bodybuilders follow an extremely high calorie diet, with some consuming over 10,000 calories per day. This high calorie food intake also means a high volume of food which can stay in the stomach for prolonged periods causing gut distension.
Carbohydrate loading and water manipulation techniques
Many bodybuilders and fitness models use a technique known as 'carb' or 'glyco' loading, where a bodybuilder dehydrates and lowers carbohydrate intake and, in many cases, ingests diuretics to help flush water out of the body. They then ingest large amounts of carbohydrates and water to cause a supercompensation of water content in the muscles, allowing greater definition and muscle volume. However, if mistimed, this loss of water, along with the problems of high carbohydrate intake, can cause slower digestion and stomach emptying, meaning more food stays in the gut for longer, promoting distension.
How to get rid of HGH gut
As evident from the current body shape of retired bodybuilders, the bubble gut is a largely reversible condition. In order to reverse it, abusing HGH and other PEDs should be discontinued. Keep in mind that stopping cold turkey is not recommended. According to studies, growth hormone should be tapered off to reduce the psychological effects of withdrawal.
As shown by animal studies, low levels of HGH lead to atrophy of the gastrointestinal organs. Similarly, as the growth hormone in the body returns to normal levels, the tissues of the stomach and the intestines will shrink via hypotrophy.
How to avoid HGH gut
Unless you are abusing multiple PEDs including HGH, then you are not at risk to develop palumboism. Natural bodybuilders are not likely to grow a bubble gut regardless of their diet or workout regime.
30.08.2022