As strange as it sounds, Diego Mercado's journey toward a crisis began at a movie theater in the Bronx when he was 16 years old. Mercado was sitting in a multiplex when he saw a dude rip off his shirt in a Twilight movie. "Like, you see that awesome aesthetic body. Like, oh man, I want that." Right there, he decided that he had to build a six-pack, too. He wanted to have a body that everyone knew was in great shape.
So the sophomore hit the weights. At first, he worked out at Planet Fitness. But as he got more serious, he sought out a more serious gym. Star Fitness in the Bronx was hardcore-full of competitive powerlifters, bodybuilders, and other guys who made strength training part of their identity. He was reading every PubMed study on testosterone and anabolic protocols when he should have been attentive in his high school classes. Mercado immersed himself in gym culture-feeling passion and peer pressure to look the part. He was way bigger and stronger and fitter looking than he had been before, but he noticed that some of his friends who didn't seem as committed as he was were making faster progress. He desperately wanted to make greater gains.
After learning he had low testosterone levels, Mercado wound up taking a stack of anabolic compounds without medical supervision. He became obsessive about training and dieting. Mercado was crushing two or even three sessions at the gym daily. To micromanage his food intake, he was toting a scale to the Mexican and Cuban restaurants where he worked as a server and bartender. He also was camping out on Instagram-exuberantly sharing his quest for muscularity and mainlining the fitness content of other ripped guys. His Instagram account, which he'd later scrub, was packed with images that showed his arms stretching the limits of his T-shirts and his big-screen-worthy abs.
This story is from the October 2022 edition of Men's Health US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 2022 edition of Men's Health US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
CONFESSIONS OF A CEREAL KILLER
COLD POP-TARTS? ALMOND MILK? PROTEIN CEREAL? WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH THAT? WE ASKED LIFELONG BREAKFAST LOVER JERRY SEINFELD.
When Cancer Comes for Your Nuts
Testicular cancer rates are rising, and it's most common among young men ages 20 to 40. Here, one guy describes his shocking diagnosis when he was just 24-and the warning signs that other guys should never ignore.
"Everything You Want is on the Other Side of Fear."
Ryan Gosling and David Leitch are the star and director of The Fall Guy, the romantic-action-comedy blockbuster stunt-fest you'll see at least twice this summer. But they've also built a bond over stunt work, pain, and purpose.
6 A.M. With...the Olympic Fencer
Miles Chamley-Watson's workouts are filled with jokes-and rapier-sharp intensity.
WHAT MAKES A FATHER TOUGH
Social-media wormholes, political tensions, planetary peril-who would WANT TO RAISE A KID in this world, anyway? Well, these guys. Here's what BEING A DAD has TAUGHT EACH OF THEM about HAVING GRIT right now.
FRAUD-PROOF YOUR FINANCES
Scams are everywhere, and money is one of the biggest sources of anxiety for American men. Protect your money (and peace of mind) with these moves.
THE SEMI-COMPLETE USER'S GUIDE TO...THE PANCREAS
For a small, blow-dryer-shaped organ deep in the abdomen, the pancreas has a lot of power. Here's how to keep it happy so you stay healthy.
THE NEW SCIENCE OF HIP MOBILITY
Own the weight room, crush backyard football, and beat back pain by strengthening and stretching your hips.
GOT L-THEANINE ON THE BRAIN?
Supplement makers claim this amino acid focuses the mind and calms the nerves. We have questions.
THE MOVEMENT + MUSCLE WORKOUT
Get stronger and faster with this two-part session that packs on muscle-and primes you for light-speed runs, too.