Bodybuilding: The Everyday Challenges The life of a bodybuilder looks glamorous and glossy, hundreds of men and women walking around on stage showing off their perfectly chiselled bodies. From the fake tan to the skimpy outfits, bodybuilders look like they have the dream job, but is it really that easy? Certainly not! It takes months of gruelling diets and hours of intense workouts every day to achieve the desired look.
Bodybuilding is a job of sacrifices and discipline, those who undergo bodybuilding sacrifice many luxuries that most people would not even comprehend as anything special. In order to achieve their objectives, they give up luxuries like a quick chocolate bar or a few extra hours in bed. The bodybuilding life demands the person to become emotionally, physically and mentally strong in order for success. They are required to adhere to their strict workout regimen and adhere to their prescribed diets because the lifestyle they have chosen does not allow for short-term indulgences or lazy days. You might not believe it, but beneath their flawless muscular bodies, they face challenges on a daily basis that the average person would not even consider. Because bodybuilders adhere to such a strict diet, they almost always feel guilty when they indulge in a well-deserved meal. They consider cheat day to be the day that makes their diet worthwhile and keeps them going. Knowing they have a cheat day to look forward to every week pushing them to continue on the insane journey they have chosen. Another challenge that every bodybuilder faces on a daily basis is the persistent belief that they are too small. Every serious bodybuilder experiences distress as a result of body dysmorphia. They have a never ending hunger to become bigger that sometimes they can never seem to satisfy. It’s possible that the people you see in the gym pacing around and staring at themselves for long periods of time are not self-centered; rather, they suffer from body dysmorphia. They are constantly engaged in an internal struggle with themselves. Thinking they are too small, and having the need to pump more weights to get bigger. This is a serious issue that could lead bodybuilders down a path of over bulking their body and become obsessed with getting bigger muscles. Bodybuilders have to deal with this issue, it is a mental and physical fight they have to deal with and overcome this feeling of self-doubt.
On top of having to deal with their own personal battles with their body, bodybuilders go through battles with family and friends. Calorie counting is an important step in every bodybuilder’s life, however, family and friends may not understand the obsession with having to know how many calories they are consuming for every meal. Bodybuilders put a lot of effort into their gym workouts and food preparation to get the body they deserve; the last thing they need is for their close friends or family to point out that they are obsessed with counting calories. It is already a chore and hassle to eat what is right and clean, at the right time with the correct quantity.
Their close friend will nag them when they reach the “cut” stage as a result of this. The cut stage is when you begin gaining muscle and start losing the fat. You consume fewer calories, and those in your immediate environment who are unaware of the lifestyle may criticize you, which is of no assistance to them. They may worry that they are losing too much weight too quickly and they are becoming unhealthy. Daily struggles like avoiding baked goodies their partner or friends might bake for them, in a plot to make them eat something.
Bodybuilding is not for everyone, as it takes huge commitment and effort, it all comes down to what you as an individual are prepared to put in, and what you are willing to give up in order to get what you want. Bodybuilding puts your body through a lot of stress because it requires you to drastically alter your diet and exercise routine. Those who choose this life need to make sure they are 100% committed to this as only half-heartedly doing bodybuilding is not only good for your body but you may not enjoy it as much. Having a muscular body is nice, however it is not ideal to have that body all the time because when or if you put weight on, you can become obsessed with getting rid of it, which in turn can lead bodybuilders down the wrong path.
Bodybuilding can be very challenging on the body, however overall, if it is something you want, it is a lifestyle that you will adapt to and start to enjoy. Bodybuilding like every sport should be taken seriously as not completing the right preparation and having the right advisors around you, can lead people to develop eating disorders and body dysmorphia.
The life of a bodybuilder proves to be mentally, physically and emotionally challenging, just like any other sport. Bodybuilding highlights the mental strength you need as an individual in order to succeed and it is not for everyone. However, if you embark on this bodybuilding journey, your body will transform and be sculpted to perfection. It pushes your body to your limits and forces you to see things in a new light. Bodybuilding reflects how your body can look healthy and muscular, and that the number you see on the scale does not always reflect your health. Because muscle weighs more, it’s only natural to feel heavier when you start training. Those who know of the hardship of their bodybuilding journey do so because they love it and it has become the essence of their life. To become the best they can be, they continue on a path that some would call insane.
