'Hulk' Muscle Man Romario Dos Santos Alves Says Stimulants Almost Cost His Life And Limbs [VIDEO]

As one Brazilian man learned, “this one weird trick” will give you huge muscles, destroy them and possibly drive you to amputation or suicide. That “trick” for Romario Dos Santos Alves, 26, of Goiânia, Brazil was a chemical called synthol, a mixture of oil and alcohol. He injected the toxic cocktail into his veins to make his large biceps appear even larger, giving him a grotesque Hulk-like appearance. The synthol quickly crystallized in his arms, creating rock-like deposits underneath his skin. After performing a CAT scan, doctors told Alves that he’d have to amputate at least one of his arms. Around the same time, according to a documentary by Barcroft TV, people started getting terrified of his monstrous biceps.

“I was working one day [at my church] and a woman approached me saying ‘my daughter is 12 and she doesn’t come to church because she’s afraid of you. she thinks you’re a beast.’”

A combination of doctor’s advice and awkward stares on the streets convinced Alves to stop with the injections. After quitting for a while, doctors delivered good news. By injecting his armes with a compound to break up the “rocks” in his arms, he could avoid amputation. Alves says he’s learned his lesson, but still faces temptation to take shortcuts in his bodybuilding. Months after quitting synthol, he purchased some horse medication that would push him to pump more iron, but quickly stopped. His wife learned a lesson as well: if you see something, say something.

"When he started using synthol I wasn't scared because I decided to always support him in whatever he does. I never gave him my opinion and said ' you're not going to do that'; I was always supportive."

Alves has been clean for two years now and is still going to the gym. His biceps are no longer 25 inches around, but they’re not in danger of being cut off, either. For synthol and other steroid users who think they can juice in moderation, Alves has this message

“If you take it once there will definitely be a second time -- it's addictive,” he said. “I want others to see the dangers. I could have died, and all because I wanted bigger muscles. It’s just not worth it.”