For Valdir Segato, pumping iron at the gym simply isn’t enough to create the muscle man physique he craves so he regularly injects his muscles with oil to inflate them.
The practice means his biceps alone are 23 inches – twice as big as when he first started using synthol to give them a boost back in 2013.
Valdir may love the superhero look he believes he’s created, but doctors have warned the 48-year-old he is dicing with death.
Synthol is a mixture of oil, alcohol and painkillers which some body builders use to boost the look of their muscles before competitions.
Valdir learnt about the substance from a fellow gym addict.
He injects it into his chest, biceps and shoulders even though the substance can cause everything from nerve damage, infections and ulcers to strokes and even death.
The oil does not make muscles stronger, it just makes them look bigger.
Valdir’s doctors have advised him to quit injecting the bizarre cocktail but he is too chuffed with his results to comply, even though his muscles are now so huge many people believe assume his social media pictures must be fake.
His most frequent caption on Instagram is simply ‘NO PHOTOSHOP,’ but this does little to stop the speculation, accusations and insults.
‘Nice photoshop,’ writes @k.r.i.s.h123 sarcastically,
while @wolf_pack_556claims bluntly ‘Your biceps are fake.’
Others are equally unkind, such as @tariqziayd who comments ‘Please stop. u look so ugly.’
Many more claim that his pumped up pecs have gone too far and look more like breasts.
‘Do they bounce when you run like… I think you could totally have a Baywatch moment,’ comments @seejohnboy23, and @1azeiz says bluntly ‘Man ..u have to wear some bras.’
As well as his photographs, construction worker Valdir regularly shares videos of himself flexing his muscles for his followers, drawing a wide range of responses.
Some fans are concerned, such as @josh._.palao who writes ‘Dude…you have to stop this synthol addiction.’
Others are very encouraging and supportive of his efforts, seemingly impressed by his muscle man look.
One, @muthafkn, writes ‘Absolute beast of a transformation,’ while on a recent post @diamondjulezz writes simply ‘Well done bro.’
Some label him Hercules online and he has also been likened to the Incredible Hulk and He-Man.
In one recent Instagram post, Valdir showed followers pictures of himself before and after he started injecting oil, displaying a dramatic journey from naturally muscly young man to the person some locals have branded ‘the monster.’
Instagram user @earlybizzle writes ‘You started off ok but you have spoilt yourself…that synthol is no good.’ Another, @dodgydave2, comments ‘That’s shocking, just why? He had a decent bod to begin with.’
While another makes jokes about him looking like a super soldier from Captain America, @muhamedd seems genuinely concerned about Valdir’s use of synthol.
He writes: ‘You are killing yourself slowly and sacrifice your health for nothing! You need help ASAP mentally and physically. Believe me no amount of money and followers (are) worth it, you will not be able to enjoy all of it if your health (is) gone.’
Despite all the doubt and negative comments, Valdir, who hails from Sao Paulo in Brazil, says he has absolutely no intention of ending the oil injections. He remains determined to share his pictures, video and journey from man to superman with the world.
His love affair with the substance seems unlikely to end.
One one of his pictures he writes ‘I bath with cinthol soap (a brand particularly popular in India) and inject synthol into my body.
