After writing the post Bodybuilding Dirty Little Secrets I received an e-mail asking about Casey Butt and his formula for natural potential. Of course the main question was whether the formula is correct or not. The formula is not correct and is overestimating your potential since it's based on the bodybuilders such as Reg Park, Steve Reeves, George Eiferman and others who were not clean.
From Wikipedia
After a second full year of training, Park broke what had been an American monopoly on bodybuilding titles by winning the 1951 National Amateur Bodybuilders Association (NABBA) Amateur Mr. Universe. He cemented his superstar status by winning the 1958 AND 1965 NABBA Pro Mr. Universe titles. Standing 6'1" and with a top weight of 250 pounds, Park was known for his muscular mass and was a forerunner to modern bodybuilding. Park was also renowned for his strength, which he often demonstrated in contests and strongman exhibitions. He is on record as the first bodybuilder to bench press 500 lbs. As an actor, Park made five films — all Italian Hercules sword and sandal.
Casey Butt is one of those guys who like to play it "nerdy" using statistics and what not but I can prove to you that Reg Park was not a natural bodybuilder without fancy mathematical formulas. Just look at the picture above. What do you see? You see Arnold who was using steroids since his teens and next to him you see Reg who is pretty much the same size, same bodyfat and similar height. Do you really think that he got to that level with just squats and eating good? He was also quite strong. He is the first bodybuilder to bench press - 500 lbs. Wait a second. What's Arnold's best bench? Around 450lbs for 5 reps which equals about 500 lbs maximum bench press. Wait a second. 500lbs bench press is pretty much almost as strong as today's bodybuilders. So, you are telling me that Reg park is:
- a guy who competed at a bodyweight of about 220 lbs at 6'1 low body fat;
- gave Arnold (known steroid abuser) a run for his money;
- bench pressed 500lbs;
- had a long career and lived in time when steroids were legal and could be found easily;
- was obsessed with bodybuilding;
and did not take anything?
If a guy with similar status appears on a training forum and claims that he is natural most people would laugh at him but because bodybuilders are delusional and feel nostalgic when it comes to Arnold's role model they choose to believe he is natural. Wake up.
Since the estimations of Casey Butt are based on steroid lifters (all of the guys presented here are not natural) I would advise you not to use his formulas, calculators, books or whatever.
The real natural potential of bodybuilders with good genetics are:
Note: The below weight is for people with 4-6% BF (body fat percentage). This is a very, very low percentage that most people will never really reach. To reach the above weight at such a low body fat is super impressive despite what people tell you. You will look amazing without clothes. Before somebody starts sending me death threat please check your body fat first.
5'5 135
5'6 1425'7 1495'8 1565'9 1635'10 1705'11 1776'0 1846'1 1916'2 1986'3 2056'4 2126'5 2196' 6 226
As far as measurements are concerned it's really hard to tell - some people have good arm genetics, others have good chest genetics. How much will measure your different bodyparts is a pointless estimation. However without drugs or holding higher body fat you you won't weight more than the above. Once again the above estimation is for people with decent genetics and really low bodyfat.