In advanced circles, bodybuilding and health are two terms which are almost inversely related. It’s true that back in the day, health and fitness went hand in hand. And for most people, the two do still hold the two goals in the same regard. Most of us lift weights so that we can get big and strong. We aren’t that concerned with health until years down the road. Competitive bodybuilding, particularly anything regional level and beyond, usually tosses any notion of health and fitness out the window. The diet, training, drugs, and other factors that go into building a champion physique are often counter-productive to the goals of good health. Let’s check out a few examples.

Diet

Let’s face it, getting big requires a lot of calories. Even if you are able to obtain the 4000+ calories required daily for growth, there’s a good chance you are still going to make these gains to the detriment of your health. Your heart doesn’t know if the 300 pounds it’s carrying are built of fat or muscle. And your colon and digestive track don’t know the source of the 4000 calories you’re flying through each day.

Drugs

Advanced bodybuilders use a plethora of dangerous drugs, including insulin, growth hormone, artificial testosterone, and IGF-1. These compounds have a variety of side effects, known and unknown. If your number one goal is health, then you need to avoid these compounds altogether. However, you aren’t going to win a state show without their use.

Training

Training for bodybuilding goals requires the use of heavy weight and lots of sets, which can wreak havoc on your joints, tendons and muscles. However, if your goal is to place well in bodybuilding shows, you’re going to need to move a lot of heavy weight. If your goal is to reach the ripe old age of 80 with a fit, strong body that doesn’t ache, you may want to scale back the weights you use today.

Water deprivation

To get ready for a show, you will need to drop water. This practice of dehydration to remove water from the subcutaneous layer of skin can be very risky to your internal organs, particular the kidneys. Diuretic use makes things even more dangerous. Unless you goal is to step onstage and be diced, never prevent your body from having the water it needs.

Age

This factor is often overlooked by younger bodybuilders, and to their benefit. When you are 21, your recovery ability is probably very high and your goals are to be as big and strong as possible. When you are 35, it’s very likely your goals will be to stay alive for many more decades, and just keep feeling and looking good while performing well in the gym. As we have children, develop careers, and realize our own morality, it becomes imperative to take better care of our bodies – and that does include avoiding the extremes of competitive bodybuilding.

The final word is simple – it is possible to be a bodybuilder and remain healthy. However, you will likely have to scale back the more dangerous factors as you age, and avoid the extremes altogether if heath takes precedence in your list of goals – as it should!

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