Competing in a bodybuilding show is a sensational feeling! When you are on stage and everyone is cheering for you and yelling due to how awesome you look, your adrenaline rush is incredible. So is the confidence boost. However, the quest to getting in the best shape of your life is quite difficult as I have described above. Many of my friends, or people I know, have given up on bodybuilding as they say they cannot live their lives this way for a day, much less for weeks to an end with the stricter versions of training and dieting required for a bodybuilding competition.
I feel that this was without a doubt the hardest thing I have ever done, but it was the most rewarding as well. After you compete in a bodybuilding show, you feel as if there aren't any barriers impeding you from doing anything in life, such as becoming a doctor, lawyer, or even a rocket scientist. All of these endeavors require the same ingredients needed to do a bodybuilding show; determination, a good plan, tons of hard work and consistency.
Are drugs a real problem in bodybuilding, or does it only affect a few athletes?
Drugs have been a big issue in bodybuilding, as well as many other sports, for quite some time now. The sad part is that at a teenager's age there is no need whatsoever use steroids as it is very easy to increase size and strength naturally with a good bodybuilding diet and training routine due to the fact that during puberty one produces an unusually high amount of natural steroids.
So many times I hear teens in the gym talking about what steroids they want to take or which ones they have already done. What they do not realize is that by using steroids at a young age it will kill their natural testosterone production. This means that when they grow older they will be forced to use them in order to just have a normal testosterone level. Also, because of the lack of knowledge and medical supervision, in addition to the fact that most teens simply abuse the substances and mix them up with no rhyme nor reason, many serious adverse side effects will be encountered as well.
Athletes who are natural bodybuilders tend to get discouraged when they see competitors who are taking enormous amounts of steroids making unreal gains. This is when teenage bodybuilders must ask themselves the question, "Is it worth risking my health to display a good physique?" In reality the bad outweighs the good by a significant margin, especially considering the fact that the hormonal imbalance created by the abuse is such that it would be impossible to maintain the physique without the high dosages; and the higher the dosages the worst the side effects (like with any drug).
Some of the side effects of abusing anabolic steroids are as follows (and these vary depending on genetic propensity, type of drug and dosage used):
- Problems with normal liver functions (big issue with oral steroids) and kidney function.
- Altered thyroid functions.
- High Blood Pressure and cholesterol levels.
- Gynecomastia; a condition where men develop a breast-like tissue which can be similar to that of a female. This is due to lack of estrogen control (and steroids, like testosterone, increase estrogen levels dramatically).
- Possible heart problems.
- Muscle cramps.
- Hair loss.
- Stunted growth during teenage years.
- Random blotches of hair growth on the body.
- Aggressiveness or altered personality...a huge problem with teenagers abusing the drugs. Again, this comes largely as a result of increased estrogen levels.
- Depression, which only gets worse when the athlete stops using the drugs. The higher the dosage the bigger the depression will be afterwards.
- Acne.
- Infertility and changes in sex drive (high at times and very low at others).
What do you friends think about your bodybuilding?
Many of my friends think it is awesome that I am a bodybuilder. At first they though that the bodybuilding lifestyle was odd, but once they saw the positive impact it had on my appearance, health and attitude, they felt it was cool. It has caused them to be more health conscious and inspired many to get into shape.
In fact, one of my friends went from weighing 205 pounds to 165 pounds for his first show. He dropped nearly 10% body fat from the time he started dieting and training for his show and he now maintains a great physique that he never would have thought was possible.
What are your aspirations? Do you want to be the greatest bodybuilder in the world?
Right now my aspirations are to finish school with a degree in accounting and run my own business. So far I have been doing phenomenal in school and will finish up in a year, graduating with honors.
As far as becoming the greatest bodybuilder in the world, I do not feel that it is my calling in life. Although I will always train and continue to practice bodybuilding, I would much rather help others achieve their fitness and bodybuilding goals by writing fitness articles and books. This is something that I have a passion for and will enjoy doing as a career.
What One Tip Would You Give Other Bodybuilders?
All good things come with time. You need to be patient and determined. By working hard every day you will achieve the goals that you set for yourself. A championship body is not built in a day nor is it built by taking a particular supplement or even steroids; only hard, well planned periodized training and dieting will bring you the body that you are looking for in due time.
About the Author
Anthony Alayon is an ISSA Certified Fitness Trainer and Bodybuilding Champion with over 10 years of bodybuilding experience and multiple articles and e-books targeted to all the teenagers out there who are just starting out their bodybuilding journey and to regular people who just want to lose weight and achieve higher levels of fitness. You can visit Anthony Alayon's website at: http://www.fatextinction.com.
