📍🔹 Exploring 9 Key Insights into BODYBUILDING 🏋🏼♂️🧠🔹
♦️BODYBUILDING Is Often Criticized, And There Are Still Many Prejudices Surrounding This Discipline. The Demands And Sacrifices Required By This Sport Sometimes Unfairly Lead To Criticism Of BODYBUILDERS. Popularized By Arnold Schwarzenegger In The 80s, Bodybuilding Continues To Attract Enthusiasts, Although It Remains A Relatively Closed Sport And Community. From Lifestyle And Training To Doping And Competitions, Doctissimo Provides Insights Into 9 Essential Aspects Of BODYBUILDING.
♦️🔹1🔹What Is BODYBUILDING, WEIGHTLIFTING, POWERLIFTING?🏋🏼♂️👓🔹
🔸BODYBUILDING, Or CULTURISME, Is A Discipline Focused On Training To Maximize Muscle Mass And Achieve The Greatest Symmetry Possible, With The Ultimate Goal Of Participating In Competitions.
🔸WEIGHTLIFTING Primarily Emphasizes Strength, Requiring The Lifter To Lift An Enormous Load In A Single Attempt. The Snatch And Clean And Jerk Are The Two Main Exercises Performed During Training And Competitions, With The Sport Being Part Of The Olympic Games Since 1896.
🔸POWERLIFTING, Also Known As Powerlifting In French, Is Another Strength Sport. Powerlifters Lift Bars, But The Movements Are More Basic Compared To Weightlifting, And The Load Is Heavier. The Three Essential Movements Include The Squat (Full), Deadlift, And Bench Press.
♦️🔹2🔹The Rigorous Training of a BODYBUILDER🔥🔹
🔸BODYBUILDING Demands Significant Self-Discipline And An Almost Military-Like Organization Throughout The Preparation For A Competition. A BODYBUILDER's Days Are Structured With Five To Six Training Sessions Per Week, Featuring Two Daily Sessions At Specific Times For A Set Duration.
🔸To Build Muscle Mass, They Must Work With Heavy Weights And Maintain A High Calorie Intake During The Bulking Phase. Additionally, Incorporating Cardio And Stretching Sessions Into Workouts Proves Beneficial For Enhancing Cardiovascular Health And Flexibility As The Body Undergoes Changes.
🔸A Few Months Before The Competition, The BODYBUILDER Enters A Cutting Phase, Aiming To Minimize Body Fat To Achieve The Most Harmonious Silhouette With The Skin Tightly Adhering To The Muscles. This Process Requires Meticulous Attention To Detail And Dedication To The Strict Regimen.
♦️🔹3🔹Optimal Lifestyle for BODYBUILDERS 💤🛌🏼🔹
🔸Engaging In MUSCLE-BUILDING Workouts Is Futile If A Bodybuilder Does Not Adhere To A Strict Diet And Neglects Sleep. Indeed, It Is Through Meticulously Calculated Nutritional Intake And Rejuvenating Periods Of Rest That They Enhance Muscle Development Under The Best Conditions.
🔸Training To Increase Muscle Mass Is Just One Aspect Of A Comprehensive Approach To BODYBUILDING. The Significance Of A Disciplined Diet Cannot Be Overstated, As It Provides The Necessary Fuel For Intense Workouts And Supports The Body's Recovery And Growth Processes. The Meticulous Calculation Of Nutritional Elements Such As Protein, Carbohydrates, And Fats Ensures That The BODYBUILDER Meets Specific Requirements For Muscle Development.
🔸Equally Crucial Is The Attention Given To Adequate Sleep. During Sleep, The Body Undergoes Essential Repair And Growth Processes. It Is During This Time That Muscles Recover From The Strain Of Workouts And Adapt To The Stress Placed On Them, Contributing Significantly To Overall Muscle Development.
🔸In Conclusion, Achieving Optimal Results In BODYBUILDING Goes Beyond The Gym. A Holistic Approach Encompasses Not Only Rigorous Training Sessions But Also A Disciplined Diet And Sufficient Quality Sleep. This Trifecta Creates An Environment Conducive To Maximizing Muscle Growth And Overall Physical Well-Being For Dedicated BODYBUILDERS.
♦️🔹4🔹The BODYBUILDER's Supplements and Dietary Additions 💊🔹
🔸Among The Most Commonly Used Dietary Supplements Or Supplements By BODYBUILDERS Are:
🔸 WHEY, Often In Powder Form Taken In The Famous Shaker, Providing A Significant Protein Intake.
🔸GAINER, A Mixture Of Carbohydrates And Proteins Aimed At Increasing Muscle Mass.
🔸AMINO ACIDS (BCAA = LEUCINE + ISOLEUCINE + VALINE), Supplying The Body With Proteins It Cannot Naturally Synthesize.
🔸 VITAMIN COMPLEXES, Omegas (3,9), Minerals, And Iron.
🔸 ISOLATE (Slow-Digesting Protein To Be Taken Before Bedtime) To Prevent Muscle Catabolism. This Phenomenon Occurs When The Body Is No Longer Fed And Draws Energy Directly From The Muscles.
🔸 L-CARNITINE, Serving To Accelerate Metabolism And Aid In Burning More Calories.
🔸It's Essential To Note That Dietary Supplements Should Not Be Confused With Doping Products. The Former Are Manufactured From Authorized And Controlled Ingredients.
♦️🔹5🔹DOPING: When BODYBUILDING Goes Awry 💉🧬
🔸DOPING In The Realm Of Bodybuilding Is Not A Novelty; It's What, In Fact, Gives This Sport A Very Negative Image. It's Important To Note That Not All Practitioners Resort To Doping!
🔸The Primary DOPING Agents Used Are Steroids And Anabolic Substances. For Reference, A Year Of Using DOPING Products Is Equivalent To Several Years Of Training, Making The Temptation Very High For Some Individuals. Controls Are Conducted During Each Competition, Leading Some BODYBUILDERS To Halt Substance Use Several Months Before To Manipulate The Analyses.
🔸The Two Main Reasons For Their Use Are Rapid Muscle Mass Increase And Accelerating "CUTTING" To Eliminate Water Faster (With The Use Of Diuretics) Before A Competition.
🔸At The Extreme, Some Go As Far As Injecting Synthol (An Oil Composed Of A Mix Of Fatty Acids And Lidocaine) To Create The Illusion Of Impressive Muscles. However, This Substance Is Highly Detrimental To The Body, And The Organism Takes Several Years To Completely Eliminate It. A Bodybuilder Resorting To This Product Risks, At Best, Paralysis Of The Injected Limb, And At Worst, Death, As It Can Infiltrate The Heart Or Lungs.
🔸Controls Are Carried Out During Each Competition, Prompting Some BODYBUILDERS To Cease Substance Use Several Months Before To Manipulate The Analyses.
🔸At The Extreme, Some Go As Far As Injecting Synthol (An Oil Composed Of A Mix Of Fatty Acids And Lidocaine) To Create The Illusion Of Impressive Muscles. However, This Substance Is Highly Detrimental To The Body, And The Organism Takes Several Years To Completely Eliminate It. A Bodybuilder Resorting To This Product Risks, At Best, Paralysis Of The Injected Limb, And At Worst, Death, As It Can Infiltrate The Heart Or Lungs.
♦️🔹6🔹BODYBUILDING Competitions: A Closer Look 🏋🏼♂️🔥:
🔸In BODYBUILDING Competitions, Athletes Are Categorized Based On Predetermined Criteria Such As Weight, Height, Age, And Gender. The Competition Unfolds With The Posing Stage, Featuring A Series Of Prescribed Poses, Followed By A Freestyle Posing Routine Set To The Athlete's Chosen Music. The Objective In Both Cases Is To Showcase The Volume And Quality Of Their Musculature. Each Pose Carries A Specific Name, Including "Double-Biceps" (From The Back And Front), The "Crab," "Biceps-Cage," "Side Triceps," "Lats Spread," And "Abdominals-Thighs."
🔸For The Competition, BODYBUILDERS And Female Competitors Wear Specified Attire (Bikini For Women, Briefs For Men) And Apply A Tan, Either Through Spray Or Tinted Cream, To Accentuate Their Muscle Definition.
🔸There Are Numerous Competitions In France And Internationally, With The Most Prestigious Ones Being Mr. Universe, MR. OLYMPIA, And The ARNOLD CLASSIC.
🔸Competitors Go Through Various Categories, Including Solo And Couple Competitions, As Well As Divisions For Juniors And Seniors. Backstage, Moments Before Stepping Onto The Stage, Participants Warm Up To Enhance Muscle Volume, Seeking Optimal Congestion.
🔸In Summary, BODYBUILDING Competitions Are Multifaceted Events That Go Beyond Physical Prowess, Incorporating Artistry, Choreography, And Presentation To Celebrate The Dedication And Aesthetics Of The Athletes.
♦️🔹7🔹FEMALE BODYBUILDING: Breaking Stereotypes ♀️🧬:
🔸BODYBUILDING, Traditionally Perceived As A Male-Dominated Pursuit, Has Witnessed A Paradigm Shift With WOMEN Asserting Their Presence In This Muscular Domain. Despite This Transformation, A Notable Challenge Persists For Many FEMALE BODYBUILDERS—They Often Resort To Hormonal Supplements To Augment Muscle Mass. The Underlying Factor Is That Women Naturally Produce Testosterone In Minimal Quantities, A Hormone Crucial For Muscle Development. Given This Biological Limitation, Many Female BODYBUILDERS Find Themselves Compelled To Explore Doping As A Means To Bridge This Hormonal Disparity.
🔸TESTOSTERONE, Predominantly Associated With Male Characteristics, Plays A Pivotal Role In The Growth And Definition Of Muscles. The Female Body's Limited Production Of This Hormone Places Women At A Disadvantage When Aiming For Significant Muscle Development. As A Consequence, Some Female BODYBUILDERS Navigate The Complex Landscape Of Performance-Enhancing Substances To Achieve Their Desired Results.
🔸This Reliance On Hormonal Supplementation Raises Ethical And Health Concerns Within The Realm Of Female BODYBUILDING. The Pursuit Of A Muscular Physique Becomes Entangled With The Challenge Of Navigating The Fine Line Between Achieving Personal Goals And Resorting To Potentially Harmful Substances. Despite These Complexities, Female BODYBUILDERS Continue To Challenge Stereotypes And Contribute To The Evolving Narrative Of Inclusivity In The World Of BODYBUILDING.
♦️🔹8🔹The IMPACT of BODYBUILDING on Health
🔸For BODYBUILDERS Resorting To Doping Products, The Repercussions Can Be Numerous And Manifest Early On. Personality Changes, Impotence, Excessive Body Hair, Acne On The Back, And Issues With The Heart And Kidneys Are Among The Primary Problems Observed.
🔸Overtraining Is Also Detrimental To A BODYBUILDER's Health. They Must Know When To Take A Break During The Year To Allow Their Body To Recover Adequately. Intense Workouts And The Risks Of Injuries Are Significant, Especially Concerning Joints. Indeed, Joints Wear Out More Quickly As They Are Not Designed To Bear Excessive Weight.
🔸On The Contrary, When Training Is Done Correctly And Without Doping Products, BODYBUILDING Is A Beneficial Sport That Enhances The Cardiovascular System, Delays The Onset Of Age-Related Diseases, And Prevents Back PAIN.
♦️🔹9🔹INTERNATIONAL LEGENDS of BODYBUILDING
🔸On The International Stage, The Greatest BODYBUILDER Remains The Actor And Former Governor Of California, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Crowned 8 Times Mr. Olympia, The Highest Honor In The World Of BODYBUILDING. Recognized For His Numerous Trophies, A Competition Even Bears His Name: The ARNOLD CLASSIC. He Has Also Been Contributing Editorials To Muscle & Fitness Magazine For Many Years.
🔸LOU FERRIGNO (Who Portrayed The Character Hulk In The TV Series Of The Same Name), RONNIE COLEMAN, DEXTER JACKSON, And LEE PRIEST Are Also Part Of The Exclusive Circle Of BODYBUILDERS Who Have Achieved Fame.
🔸The New Generation Is Not To Be Overlooked, With "Stars" Like PHIL HEATH, KAI GREENE, And JAY CUTLER Making Their Mark On The International BODYBUILDING Scene.