Appetite is an instinct for survival and a physiological signal that plays a key role in maintaining homeostasis within the body.
However, from the perspective of a bodybuilder preparing for the stage, the artificial suppression of appetite is by no means an issue to be taken lightly.
While appetite reduction can be a temporary conditioning strategy in specific situations, it must be based on extremely precise pharmacological intervention and physiological understanding. Reckless appetite suppression directly leads to metabolic collapse, muscle mass loss, and compromised immunity.
There are two primary ways to disrupt appetite.
First, prolonged, high-intensity cardio training in a fasted state.
Upon waking up in the morning on an empty stomach, cortisol secretion is already at its peak.
Applying prolonged aerobic stress in this state causes cortisol to increase sharply, breaking down muscle protein and suppressing the body’s overall recovery ability and immune system.
This goes beyond a simple stress response, causing a decline in central nervous system recovery and adrenaline depletion, which in turn severely suppresses appetite and reduces gastrointestinal motility.
Especially if athletes in a hardcore diet cycle approach it this way, it leads to the fatal risks of muscle loss and a decreased metabolic rate.
Coach Milos Sarcev has also emphasized, “Fasted cardio is just a tool, and it should never become the strategy.”
Second, the misuse of Semaglutide (GLP-1 agonist) class drugs.
This drug delays gastric emptying time, prolonging the feeling of fullness after a meal and stabilizing blood sugar to suppress appetite.
However, this mechanism can only be utilized limitedly for weight loss purposes in the general population. For bodybuilders, for whom muscle preservation is a condition for survival, it leads to severe protein intake restriction.
Particularly among female athletes, a strong psychological obsession with “physiquestradium” (the agony of achieving a certain physique) often causes them to develop an aversion to eating itself while using the drug, which ultimately results in muscle loss, hormonal imbalance, and metabolic collapse.
In reality, the majority of Semaglutide users regain about two-thirds of their weight after discontinuing use, and some experience a rebound effect where they gain even more weight.
Ultimately, in a state of suppressed appetite, it is impossible to meet protein requirements, leading to a failure to preserve body protein.
A decrease in muscle mass lowers the basal metabolic rate, causing a counterproductive effect where weight increases even with the same caloric intake.
The situation where drug manufacturers promote repeat purchases under the premise that “weight gain is observed after discontinuation” of the drug essentially forces a drug-dependent physical condition upon bodybuilders.
The average cost of this drug exceeds one million won per month, and its efficiency relative to the high risk is extremely low.
However, by utilizing a systematically designed dietary strategy and supplements that act on neurotransmitters and appetite regulation, more stable and physiologically rational appetite control is possible.
The goal is not to eliminate appetite, but to reduce caloric intake while minimizing hunger, and to naturally regulate appetite and blood sugar fluctuations with a diet centered on high protein, high fiber, and low glycemic index foods.
In practice, supplements like high-dose L-Glutamine, 5-HTP, PEA (phenylethylamine), and ALCAR can regulate the balance of serotonin and dopamine in the central nervous system to manage appetite stably, and this is utilized as a method for bodybuilders to maximize dietary control without drugs.
In conclusion, appetite is not merely a matter of eating, but a key variable for preserving muscle, maintaining metabolism, and hormonal balance. Any approach to suppressing appetite must be exquisitely designed on a foundation of physiology.
Bodybuilding is not simply about weight loss; it is a high-level game of physiology that involves preserving muscle mass as much as possible under extreme conditions and strategically removing body fat. At its core lies the essential condition of a “healthily maintained appetite.”
