I say **** it...as long as your diet and training is good use gear if you want. It is a personal choice. Some people just want the fastest route to a reasonable goal. I just want to be 6'0, 200 lb and 8% BF and I am using gear to get me here faster than I could naturally. Now if your diet sucks don't waste your money on gear just yet. It isn't hard to get a good diet down just hard to stay consistant. Once you figure out what you like to eat that gets your needed daily nutrients it is just a matter of sticking to it.