BODYBUILDING



BODYBUILDING is the use of to control and develop one's . An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. In competitive amateur and , bodybuilders appear in lineups doing specified poses, and later perform individual posing routines, for a panel of who rank competitors based on criteria such as symmetry, muscularity, and conditioning. Bodybuilders prepare for competition through a combination of dehydration, loss, , and (or ) which make their muscular definition more distinct. Some well-known bodybuilders include , , , , and . Currently, professional bodybuilder from the United States holds the title of . The winner of the annual Mr. Olympia contest is generally recognized as the world's top professional male bodybuilder.




, the "Father of Modern Bodybuilding".



Eugen Sandow[ | ]



Bodybuilding did not really exist prior to the late 19th century, when it was promoted by German born , later ofwho is now generally referred to as "The Father of Modern Bodybuilding". He is credited as being a pioneer of the activity because he allowed audiences to enjoy viewing his physique in "muscle display performances". Although audiences were thrilled to see a well-developed physique, those men simply displayed their bodies as part of strength demonstrations or wrestling matches. Sandow had a stage show built around these displays through his manager, . The Oscar winning 1936, depicts this beginning of modern bodybuilding, when Sandow began to display his body for carnivals. Sandow became so successful at flexing and posing his physique, he later created several businesses around his fame and was among the first to market products branded with his name alone. He was credited with inventing and selling the first exercise equipment for the masses (machined, springand tension bands) and even his image was sold by the thousands in "cabinet cards" and other prints.Sandow was a perfect "gracilian" (this was a standard where a mathematical "ideal" was set up and the "perfect physique" was close to the proportions of Greek and Roman statues from ancient times - see ). This is how Sandow built his own physique and in the early years, men were judged by how closely they matched these "ideal" proportions.



First Large-scale Bodybuilding Competition[ | ]



Sandow organised the first bodybuilding contest on September 14, 1901 called the "Great Competition" and held in the , , . Judged by himself, Sir Charles Lawes, and, the contest was a huge success and was sold out and hundreds of physical culture enthusiasts were turned away.[] The trophy presented to the winner was a bronze statue of Sandow himself sculpted by Frederick Pomeroy. The winner was William L. Murray of . The most prestigious bodybuilding contest today is the , and since 1968, the winner has been presented with the same bronze statue of Sandow that he himself presented to the winner at the first contest.On 16 January 1904, the first large-scale bodybuilding competition in America took place atin . The winner wasand he was declared "The Most Perfectly Developed Man in the World". Treloar won a $1,000 cash prize, a substantial sum at that time. Two weeks later,made a film of Al Treloar's posing routine. Edison also made two films of Sandow a few years before, making him the man who made the first three motion pictures featuring a bodybuilder. In the early 20th century,and , continued to promote bodybuilding across the world.was an early pioneer in America.



1950S AND 1960S[ | ]



Bodybuilding became more popular in the 1950s and 1960s with the emergence of strength and gymnastics champions joining the culture, and the simultaneous popularization of muscle training, most of all by , whose advertising in comic books and other publications encouraged many young men to undertake weight training to improve their physiques to resemble the comic books' muscular superheroes. Of notable athletes, US national and gymnastics champion and US Olympic weightlifting team competitorand British strength athleteas winners of newly created bodybuilding titles such as theandcompetitions paved the way for others. Magazines such as and were accompanied by the fame of , in Santa Monica, California. The casting of some bodybuilders in movies was another major vehicle for the activity's popularization. Of bodybuilder-actors perhaps the most famous wereand Reg Park, who were featured in roles portraying ,and other legendary heroes.gained public fame through a role in , and in appearances in television series such as the and . Other rising stars in this period were ,, and . The gym equipment and training supplement industries founded by Joe Weider were complemented by the growth of the(IFBB), which was co-founded by Joe and his brother . The IFBB eventually displaced the's Mr. Universe titles and also that of NABBA, theas the most important and notable contests.



NEW ORGANIZATIONS[ | ]



In the 1970s, bodybuilding had major publicity thanks to , ,and others in the 1977 film . By this time the(IFBB) dominated the competitive bodybuilding landscape and the(AAU) took a back seat.The(NPC) was formed in 1981 by , who had just stepped down as chairman of the AAU Physique Committee. The NPC has gone on to become the most successful bodybuilding organization in the U.S., and is the amateur division of the IFBB in the United States. The late 1980s and early 1990s saw the decline of AAU sponsored bodybuilding contests. In 1999, the AAU voted to discontinue its bodybuilding events..



ANABOLIC/ANDROGENIC STEROID USE[ | ]



8 x- 2009This period also saw the rise ofused both in bodybuilding and many other sports. In bodybuilding lore, this is partly attributed to the rise of "mass monsters", beginning with ,andin the late 1960s and early 1970s and continuing in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s with , ,and . Also the emergence of bodybuilders such as ,and Victor Richards who, while not being particularly successful at the pro level, attained mass and size at levels that were not seen previously.Arnold Schwarzenegger at the time of shooting the movie that brought body building to life, "Pumping Iron" he never said that he did steroids to increase his winning chance but said you have to do anything you can to get the advantage in competition. But in later interviews he admitted to it and even said he does not regret using anything. This was a huge impact at the time because Arnold was the face of bodybuilding at the time and is still considered by some to be the best to ever do the sport.To combat this, and in the hopes of becoming a member of the , the IFBB introducedtests for both steroids and other banned substances. Although doping tests occurred, the majority of professional bodybuilders still used anabolic steroids for competition. During the 1970s the use of anabolic steroids was openly discussed partly due to the fact they were legal. However thein the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990 placed anabolic steroids into Schedule III of the(CSA). Similarly in Canada, steroids were added to theas a Class IV controlled substance (that class was created expressly for steroids).



PROFESSIONAL BODYBUILDING[ | ]



Main article:

, a former professional bodybuilder and three-time Mr. Olympia.In the modern bodybuilding industry, "" generally means a bodybuilder who has won qualifying competitions as an amateur and has earned a "pro card" from their respective organization. Professionals earn the right to compete in competitions that include monetary prizes. Depending on the level of success, these bodybuilders may receive monetary compensation from sponsors, much like athletes in other sports.



NATURAL BODYBUILDING[ | ]



Main article: Due to the growing concerns of the high cost, health consequences and illegal nature of steroids many organizations have formed in response and have deemed themselves "natural" bodybuilding competitions. In addition to the concerns noted, many promoters of bodybuilding have sought to shed the "freakish" reputation that the general public perceives of bodybuilding and have successfully introduced a more mainstream audience to the sport of bodybuilding by including competitors whose physiques appear much more attainable and realistic.In natural contests the testing protocol ranges among organizations from polygraph testing (lie detection) to urinalysis. Penalties also range from organization to organization from suspensions to strict bans from competition. It is also important to note that natural organizations also have their own list of banned substances and it is important to refer to each organization's website for more information about which substances are banned from competition.There are many natural bodybuilding organizations that exist. Some of the larger ones include MuscleMania, , INBF/WNBF and INBA/PNBA. These organizations either have North American or worldwide presence and are not limited to the country in which they are headquartered.Other notable natural bodybuilding organization include the NPC and the NANBF. NPC competitions screen competitors using a polygraph test to ensure fair practices. Though it is not fool-proof, competitors are selected at random and not all are tested. This is how the NPC differs from the NANBF. The NANBF takes a more direct approach by taking urine samples from all competitors that test for steroids and any other substances on the banned list. The NANBF differs from the NPC also when it comes to judging. The criteria of certain poses differs from organization to organization. The NANBF even has an elevated calf pose which is specifically unique for their competitions.



FEMALE BODYBUILDING[ | ]



Pro female bodybuilderperforms a side chest pose.Main article: The first U.S. Women's National Physique Championship, promoted by Henry McGhee and held in Canton, Ohio in 1978, is generally regarded as the first true female bodybuilding contest - that is, the first contest where the entrants were judged solely on muscularity. In 1980 the first(initially known as the "Miss" Olympia), the most prestigious contest for professionals, was held. The first winner waswho had also won the NPC's USA Championship earlier in the year. The contest was a major turning point for the sport of women's bodybuilding. McLish inspired many future competitors to start training and competing. In 1985, a movie called was released. This film documented the preparation of several women for the 1983 World Cup Championship. Competitors prominently featured in the film were , Lori Bowen, , Carla Dunlap, , and Rachel McLish. At the time, Francis was actually a , though she soon made a successful transition to bodybuilding, becoming one of the leading competitors of the late 1980s and early 1990s.In recent years, the related areas ofhave gained in popularity, surpassing that of female bodybuilding, and have provided an alternative for women who choose not to develop the level of muscularity necessary for bodybuilding. Rachel McLish would closely resemble what is thought of today as a fitness and figure competitor instead of what is now considered a female bodybuilder. Fitness competitions also have a gymnastic element to them.



COMPETITION[ | ]



A bodybuilder, Lukas Osladil, posing onstage during a competition. The pose is a variation of the "most muscular".In competitive bodybuilding, bodybuilders aspire to develop and maintain anpleasing body and balanced physique. In prejudging, competitors do a series of mandatory poses - the front lat spread, the rear lat spread, the , the , the , the, the(men only), and the thigh-abdominal pose. Each competitor also performs a routine to display the physique. Ais usually held at the end of a posing round, while judges are finishing their scoring. Bodybuilders spend time practicing their posing, since they are judged on it.In contrast toorcompetitions whereis important, or to , where the main point is equally split between strength and technique, bodybuilding competitions typically emphasize condition, size and symmetry. Different organizations emphasize particular aspects of competition, and sometimes have different categories in which to compete.



PREPARATIONS[ | ]



Cutting And Bulking[ | ]



The general strategy adopted by most present-day competitive bodybuilders is to make muscle gains for most of the year (known as the "off-season") and approximately 12-14 weeks from competition attempt to lose(referred to as "cutting"). The bulking phase entails remaining in a net positive energy balance (calorie surplus). The amount of a surplus that a person remains in is based on the person's goals, as a bigger surplus and longer bulking phase will create more fat tissue. The surplus of calories relative to one's energy balance will ensure that muscles remain in a state of anabolism. The cutting phase entails remaining in a net negative energy balance (calorie deficit). The main goal of cutting is to oxidize fat but also to preserve as much muscle as possible. The larger the calorie deficit, the faster one will lose weight. However, a large calorie deficit will also create the risk of losing muscle tissue.The precise effectiveness of the cutting and bulking strategy is unknown, with only limited observational case studies on the subject. No studies involving precise hypercaloric feeding combined with resistance exercise have been conducted.



Clean Bulking[ | ]



Many non-competitive bodybuilders choose not to adopt the conventional strategy, as it often results in significant unwanted fat gain during the "bulking" phase. The attempt to increase muscle mass in one's body without any gain in fat is called clean bulking. Competitive bodybuilders focus their efforts to achieve a peak appearance during a brief "competition season".[]



Dirty Bulking[ | ]



"Dirty bulking" is the process of eating at a caloric surplus, without finding the exact number macronutrients (carbs, fats, and proteins). Weight lifters who are attempting to gain mass quickly often choose to use the "dirty bulk" method.[]



Pre-competition[ | ]



In the week leading up to a contest, bodybuilders may decrease their consumption of ,and , the former two to alter how water is retained by the body and the latter to reducein the muscle. The day before the show, water is removed from the diet, andmay be introduced, whileto increase the size of the muscles through replenishment of their glycogen. The goal is to maximize leanness and increase the visibility of veins, or "." The appearance of veins is further enhanced immediately before appearing on stage by darkening the skin through , and applyingto the skin to increase shine. Some competitors will eat sugar-rich foods to increase the visibility of their veins. A final step is the use of weights to fill the muscles with blood and further increase their size.



MUSCLE GROWTH[ | ]



Bodybuilders use three main strategies to maximize muscle hypertrophy:



*through weights or

* Specialized , incorporating extra [] and supplements where necessary

* Adequate rest, including sleep and recuperation between workouts



WEIGHT TRAINING[ | ]



Main articles:and causes micro-tears to the muscles being trained[]; this is generally known as . These micro-tears in the muscle contribute to the soreness felt after exercise, called(DOMS). It is the repair to these micro-trauma that result in muscle growth. Normally, this soreness becomes most apparent a day or two after a workout. However, as muscles become adapted to the exercises, soreness tends to decrease.Weight training aims to build muscle by prompting two different types of hypertrophy: sarcoplasmic hypertrophy and myofibrillar hypertrophy. Sarcoplasmic hypertrophy leads to larger muscles and so is favored by bodybuilders more than myofibrillar hypertrophy which builds athletic strength. Sarcoplasmic hypertrophy is triggered by increasing repetitions, whereas myofibrillar hypertrophy is triggered by lifting heavier weight. In either case, there is an increase in size and strength of the muscles (compared to if that same individual does not lift weights at all). However, the emphasis is different.Many trainees like to cycle between the two methods in order to prevent the body from adapting (maintaining a progressive overload), possibly emphasizing whichever method more suits their goals. I.e, a bodybuilder will use sarcoplasmic hypertrophy most of the time, but may change to myofibrillar hypertrophy temporarily in order to move past a plateau. However, no real evidence has been provided to show that trainees ever reach this plateau, and rather was more of a hype created from 'muscular confusion.'



NUTRITION[ | ]



The high levels of muscle growth and repair achieved by bodybuilders require a specialized diet. Generally speaking, bodybuilders require morethan the average person of the same weight to provide the protein and energy requirements needed to support their training and increase muscle mass. A sub-maintenance level of food energy is combined withto losein preparation for a contest. The ratios of food energy from carbohydrates, proteins, and fats vary depending on the goals of the bodybuilder.



Carbohydrates[ | ]



play an important role for bodybuilders. Carbohydrates give the body energy to deal with the rigors of training and recovery. Carbohydrates also promote secretion of , a hormone enabling cells to get the glucose they need. Insulin also carries amino acids into cells and promotes protein synthesis. Insulin has steroid-like effects in terms of muscle gains.[] It is impossible to promote protein synthesis without the existence of insulin, and which means without carbohydrates, it is impossible to add muscle mass. Bodybuilders seek outand other slowly digesting carbohydrates, which release energy in a more stable fashion than high- sugars and starches. This is important as high-glycemic carbohydrates cause a sharp insulin response, which places the body in a state where it is likely to store additional food energy as fat. However, bodybuilders frequently do ingest some quickly digesting sugars (often in form of pureor ) after a workout. This may help to replenishstores within the muscle, and to stimulate muscle protein synthesis.



Protein[ | ]



Protein milkshakes, made from protein powder (center) and milk (left), are a common.The motor proteinsandgenerate the forces exerted by contracting . Current advice says that bodybuilders should consume 25-30% of protein per total calorie intake to further their goal of maintaining and improving their body composition. This is a widely debated topic, with many arguing that 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight per day is ideal, some suggesting that less is sufficient, while others recommending 1.5, 2, or more. It is believed that protein needs to be consumed frequently throughout the day, especially during/after a workout, and before sleep. There is also some debate concerning the best type of protein to take. Chicken, turkey, beef, pork, fish, eggs and dairy foods are high in protein, as are some nuts, seeds, beans and lentils.orare often used to supplement the diet with additional protein. Whey protein is the type of protein contained in many popular brands of protein supplements, and is preferred by many bodybuilders because of its highand quick absorption rates. Bodybuilders are usually thought to require protein with a higher BV than that of , which is additionally avoided due to its claimedproperties. Still, some nutrition experts believe that soy,and many other plants that contain the weak estrogen-like compounds orcan be used beneficially, as phytoestrogens compete with estrogens for receptor sites in the male body and can block its actions. This can also include some inhibition offunctions while stimulating the P450 system (the system that eliminates hormones, drugs and metabolic waste product from the body) in the liver to more actively process and excrete excess estrogen.decreases amino acid uptake by muscle, and inhibits protein synthesis.Some bodybuilders, such asandfollow a strictdiet.



Meals[ | ]



Bodybuilders often split their food intake for the day into 5 to 7 meals of roughly equal nutritional content and attempt to eat at regular intervals (e.g. every 2 to 3 hours). This method can serve two purposes: to limit overindulging in the cutting phase, and to physically allow for the consumption of large volumes of food during the bulking phase. Contrary to popular belief, eating more frequently does not increasewhen compared to the traditional 3 meals a day. While food does have a metabolic cost to digest, absorb, and store, called the , it depends on the quantity and type of food, not how the food is spread across the meals of the day. Well-controlled studies using whole-body calorimetry andhave demonstrated that there is no metabolic advantage to eating more frequently.



Dietary Supplements[ | ]



Main article: The important role of nutrition in building muscle and losing fat means bodybuilders may consume a wide variety of . Various products are used in an attempt to augment muscle size, increase the rate of fat loss, improve joint health, increase natural testosterone production, enhance training performance and prevent potential nutrient deficiencies. There are three major macronutrients that the human body needs in order for muscle building. The major nutrients-protein, carbohydrate, and fat-provide the body with energy.



PERFORMANCE ENHANCING SUBSTANCES[ | ]



Some bodybuilders use drugs such asand precursor substances such asto increase . Anabolic steroids cause muscleof both types (I and II) of muscle fibers caused likely by an increased synthesis of muscle proteins and are accompanied with undesired side effects including , , ,and a decline in the body's own testosterone production, which can cause . Other performance enhancing substances used by competitive bodybuilders include(HGH), which can cause .Muscle growth is more difficult to achieve in older adults than younger adults because of , which leads to many metabolic changes detrimental to muscle growth; for instance, by diminishing growth hormone and . Some recent clinical studies have shown that low-dose HGH treatment for adults with HGH deficiency changes the body composition by increasing mass, decreasing fat mass, increasingdensity and muscle strength, improvesparameters, and affects the quality of life without significant side effects.



REST[ | ]



Although muscle stimulation occurs in the(or home gym) when lifting weights, muscle growth occurs afterward during rest. Without adequate rest and sleep (7 to 8 hours), muscles do not have an opportunity to recover and build. About eight hours of sleep a night is desirable for the bodybuilder to be refreshed, although this varies from person to person. Additionally, many athletes find a daytime nap further increases their body's ability to build muscle.



OVERTRAINING[ | ]



Main article: Overtraining occurs when a bodybuilder has trained to the point where his workload exceeds his recovery capacity. There are many reasons that overtraining occurs, including lack of adequate nutrition, lack of recovery time between workouts, insufficient sleep, and training at a high intensity for too long (a lack of splitting apart workouts). Training at a high intensity too frequently also stimulates the(CNS) and can result in a hyper-adrenergic state that interferes with sleep patterns. To avoid overtraining, intense frequent training must be met with at least an equal amount of purposeful recovery. Timely provision of , , and various micronutrients such as , , phytochemicals, even nutritional supplements are acutely critical.It has been argued that overtraining can be beneficial. One article published by magazine stated that you can "Overtrain for Big Gains". It suggested that if one is planning a restful holiday and they do not wish to inhibit their bodybuilding lifestyle too much, they should overtrain before taking the holiday, so the body can rest easily and recuperate and grow. Overtraining can be used advantageously, as when a bodybuilder is purposely overtrained for a brief period of time to super compensate during a regeneration phase. These are known as "shock micro-cycles" and were a key training technique used by Soviet athletes.
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