By Cameron Ross
Anyone who goes to a gym will notice the extremely well developed figures of bodybuilders. They look like comic book superheroes and a less developed person may envy their strength and appearance. While there is no harm in extensive exercise and muscle building, world-class bodybuilders are at risk for health problems more than one may think.
The main problem with bodybuilding is that most bodybuilders take anabolic steroids and human growth hormones (HGH). HGH can cost a person as much as $30,000 in one year.
Looking like Adonis requires a combination of high maintenance dieting and endless heavy lifting. Professional athletes have well-developed muscular figures but they also exercise their heart, something bodybuilders can neglect. The heart needs to be treated like a muscle. Exercised, rested, and even fed the proper nutrients.
Liver problems are another downside of bodybuilding. Unusually high levels of protein intake can be rough on the liver because as it processes the nutrients the liver may end up with an abundance of stored fat. This can lead to swelling of the liver or the disease cirrhosis.
The effect on the liver is similar to that of alcohol. Alcoholics have liver problems that often result in cirrhosis. Cirrhosis can lead to lack of bile production, which is on of the primary liquids used to digest food. The liver is like a filter or garbage disposal so when it is overloaded…. Well it’s obvious that it won’t end pretty.
Aerobic activity develops the heart like bench pressing develops pectorals. An athlete or even a normal fit person will likely run, swim, bike, or work on the elliptical machines while bodybuilders seem to concentrate on the side of the gym with the weights.
Carrying excess muscle can be bad for the body in a similar way to excess fat. When a person does cardiovascular exercise they are running up their heart rate for an extended period of time so that it speeds up blood flow and this makes the heart work. The heart assists with breathing which is vital for any physical activity because blood contains oxygen.
2007 Mr. Olympia, Jay Cutler, did an interview a couple years ago where the journalist observed him in his house. Cutler reportedly got out of breath going up a flight of stairs in his house. He had just lifted the couch to vacuum under it minutes before, which is a marvelous display of strength, but one has to be curious if going up the stairs should wind someone who technically exercises all day.
A world class bodybuilder may weigh upwards of 250 lbs with a very low body fat percentage (3 to 8 per cent) but if their heart is not fit that weight will be difficult to move for extended periods of time. Some bodybuilders get out of breath as easy as overweight, unhealthy people.
The general message that must be sent is that a healthy heart is more important than an attractive body. In fact, having a healthy heart can lead to greater strength without anabolic supplements that aren’t natural.
Protein shakes, Creatine powder, carbohydrate-charged drinks, and other supplemental products are very popular and are better options than anabolic steroids.
Muscle fibers break down when are working out and the result is swelling or being “pumped”. When the fibers repair they heal larger and stronger as long as they are fueled with the proper nutrients. This is how muscle is grown.
Lately, more and more athletes are beginning to look like body builders and the steroid scandals are a field day for the media. It is no longer a secret that illegal steroids have found their way form the bodybuilding world to the professional sports world.
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5 comments:
The topic is timely and interesting, but I nearly choked when I read:
'The main problem with bodybuilding is that most bodybuilders take anabolic steroids and human growth hormones (HGH).'
THAT is one line that needs attribution. Most? How many bodybuilders are there in the U.S.?
Also, in the first graf, there seems to be a contradiction:
'While there is no harm in extensive exercise and muscle building, world-class bodybuilders are at risk for health problems more than one may think.'
I guess the writer is trying to draw a distinction between the average muscle person at a local gym and a national competitor, but it is not as clear as it should be.
The one part of this column that grabbed the most - and could have been developed into an entire column - was the line about how cirrhosis is a problem for people who do bodybuilding. Good grief! That needed more explaining but it is certainly news to most readers who would never has suspected that.
I think the column also needs some quotes, people who lift - or who have quit. It would put a human face to this.
And right now, I need to go do my exercising for my shoulders - with my five-pound weights,
Good article. I'm a guy in good shape, bodybuilder shape that is. It seems funny how people tend to stereotype big arms for lack of cardio. I must disagree. I'm much bigger than a lot of the 'average joes' in our school gym but it hasn't made any difference to my cardio. I can outlast most anybody in basketball, boxing and grappling and I all attribute it to my daily workout in the gym.
Most athletes like you don't know this but there's a secret to building up your cardio without running hours in the treadmill.
It's simply called the incline button. (To Max.)
The kidney, liver and hart conditions, caused by anabolic steroids and supplement abuse should be explored and explained a bit more. The simplest explanation of which is that to build more muscle steroids 'turbo charge' the liver and kidneys. Researching a bit would reveal that handling excessive ammount of proteing would impose heavy load on internal ograns.
I remember reading some article wich has some statistics about human capability to synthesise muscle mass and process nutrients when 'juicing' - as these are directly related. Without anabolic steroids no matter how many supplements you take, there is limit in terms of what body would assimilate.
This is a very good book for starting your body building and this book is worth for the money. It consists all the A to Z of bodybuilding. I like it and recommend for those who are interested in bodybuilding
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