In this article, we’ll take a closer look at three of the main pros and cons to keep in mind when following a bodybuilding lifestyle.
What’s more, we’ll also look to answer a few of the frequently asked questions related to the popular sport.
The Pros Of A Bodybuilding Lifestyle
Here we go:
Improved Basic Strength And Physical Health
The first benefit of bodybuilding we’ll take a closer look at is the development of basic strength and physical health.
Bodybuilding is an all-round physical activity which includes a number of workouts that’ll quickly improve an individual’s muscular tension, body composition, bone density, and posture.
This is particularly beneficial for office workers in a 9-5 desk-bound job, who often fall into a sedentary routine of limited physical activity and bad posture.
Performing some basic functional movements on a regular basis such as press-ups, pull-ups, squats, lunges, and deadlifts will quickly make the world of difference.
A Healthy, Well-Balanced Diet
If you decide to strictly follow any general bodybuilding diet, you’ll be eating healthier, smarter, and cleaner than pretty much anyone else, and thus be rewarded with a better body composition.
Most of the basic protein sources in a typical bodybuilding diet include lots of chicken, steak, and other lean meats, while the best carbohydrates to eat are complex ones, like brown rice and potatoes.
To get the very best nutrition, most diet plans also stress the importance of consuming plenty of fruit and vegetables, as well as healthy sources of fat such as nuts, eggs, and coconut oils.
Discipline And Routine
Another major benefit of bodybuilding is discipline.
As is the case with most sports, you can develop a spirit of self routine by practicing bodybuilding on a daily basis - knowing that each day you have to train your body regardless of the other distractions in life.
It’s important to develop a disciplined mindset where nothing prevents you from completing your workouts, even on the hardest days when you’re struggling for motivation.
Importantly, this level of discipline can carry over to other aspects of life, including your social life.
The Cons Of A Bodybuilding Lifestyle
Limited Freedom And Flexibility
One of the most prominent cons of following a bodybuilding lifestyle is the limited freedom and flexibility.
For example, you can’t eat whenever you want as you have a strict meal plan to follow in order to fuel the body effectively.
Ultimately, you lose the ability to be spontaneous, with every small trip or vacation becoming somewhat of a military operation.
Not only do you need to make sure that the place you’re going has a gym nearby, you also need to prepare all your meals and pack plenty of supplements.
Hypercritical Character
Most athletes who are attracted to the bodybuilding lifestyle, are generally extra critical about the way their body looks.
Too small, too skinny, too fat, too bloated are all regular complaints, even from recreational bodybuilders.
No matter how hard bodybuilders train, there’s often an underlying feeling of dissatisfaction and a sense that they’re never truly content with their bodies.
Unfortunately, this type of lifestyle can solidify a range of mental problems by feeding obsessive tendencies.
While these obsessive tendencies can often help people excel in their respective sport, they can also prevent them from actually treating their problems.
Fitting In
The sport of bodybuilding is a relatively small community, therefore it’s often easy to feel like you don’t belong in a society where functional fitness is the preferred option for most gym-goers.
Your body will be different to most others, and once the novelty wears off, it can become frustrating getting attention only because of how you look.
To put it simply, if you’re a serious bodybuilder, you’ll rarely blend in with everyone else.
ALSO READ: Bodybuilding 101: Everything You Need to Know
Frequently Asked Questions
Let's answer your questions on bodybuilding and lifestyle.
How Many Rest Days Should A Bodybuilder Have?
The ideal number of rest days for a bodybuilder is usually either one or two per week.
These rest days are just as important as the workouts themselves due to the fact that muscles need adequate recovery time for optimum growth.
How Long Are Bodybuilders In The Gym?
Professional bodybuilders who follow a strict regime and lifestyle usually spend around 10 hours a week in the gym, with a routine of 1.5-hour workouts four to six times a week.
Some bodybuilders even do two separate sessions a day, totaling over two hours.
Are Bodybuilders Actually Strong?
Unlike the majority of other athletes training for a sport, bodybuilders lift weights with the prime objective of increasing the size of their muscles rather than developing functional strength.
While many people believe that big muscles translate to high levels of strength, the energy stored in bulky muscles isn’t the same as real strength. Therefore, bodybuilders are often weaker than they look.
What’s The Difference Between Bodybuilding And Powerlifting?
Powerlifting is an individual sport and strength training that’s focused on improving maximal strength in exercises such as bench presses, squats, and deadlifts.
Powerlifting is all about building strength in the body that can significantly help day-to-day life, whereas bodybuilding is less concerned with how much weight is being lifted, and more on the maximization of muscle hypertrophy (growth).
Conclusion
Bodybuilding is a popular weight-based sport that’s practiced by individuals looking to transform the appearance of their body through intense muscular exercise.
It attracts people of all ages and from all walks of life, but just how safe, healthy, and enjoyable is following a strict bodybuilding lifestyle?
We hope this article helped you answer some of these questions, and enjoy your workout.