I think Flex, being a "smaller" bodybuilder, weight wise, wouldn't have the same capacity for heavy work as a true mesomorph like Ronnie Coleman. Also, even with juice, you don't have unlimited recovery ability. So, perhaps this variation in the way he trained vs. others was taken as laziness.
Also, I got the impression that Flex could be pretty self depricating. So, perhaps he helped that image along by making half-joking comments along the way. My dad used to quote Flex saying (after watching one of the ASCs coverage on tv) "I just eat a lot of ice cream to get big!" Flex used to say stuff like that and I think it came back around on him. I find myself doing the same thing- I told an aquaintance while I was training for a contest that I didn't mess with that "liftin weights" stuff, I just put on fake tan and oil myself up... I think he believed it! Who knows, everyone is different in what works for them in terms of training, occupation, etc etc. You gotta look past the surface to make a judgement call. Was Flex lazy? I don't know him well enough to answer that.
But, on the "natural" thing for 2002. Flex said in MD that he was on a theraputic dose of test at 200 mg. per week. Yes, that's almost nothing for a pro, but it is a help while dieting. And, other things can be used and not mentioned that might not damage the kidneys much, such as: clenbuterol, T-3, igf-1 etc. etc. I'm not trying to take anything away from him, or accuse him, as I would LOVE to look like that on only 200 mg. of test! I highly reccomend anyone who can, track down Flex's articles he did for MD detailing his own dark contest prep stories and such. It's a real eye opener for what some guys do to get in shape.
Jacob
