You’ve seen them…you look for them…you thrill at the sight of them, titans dwarfing mortal men.  Camguys, just as mortal men, are a diverse group, bodybuilders are one of those unique groups.  This blog series is devoted to them and their fans.

However, what is bodybuilding…

“It is a constant strive for perfection.” -Christian K

The definition isnt always agreed upon, even among those who follow the practice.  Is it a sport?  A lifestyle?  Maybe just a hobby?  It seems pure pursuers of bodybuilding do believe it is a lifestyle.  It is a way of living.  They eat, breathe, and sleep the pursuit.  But, what is perfection?  Derek eloquently states, “To me bodybuilding is the art of building muscle on your physique, while keeping an aesthetically pleasing look.”   Im sure that is what many fans of bodybuilders find most appealing .

Still, what is it?  One way to define something, is to define what it is not, so what are some myths about bodybuilding?

“Its all about huge muscles and physiques.” Its not. Definitely size and muscles help, but they are not the delineating factors.  Derek and Christian point to guys who do better in competition being smaller, yet more conditioned than bigger bulkier guys.  Derek stresses, that its “the correct balance of size and conditioning” that leads to championships.  He also points out that most shows are drug tested and steroids are not part of the true lifestyle. While Christian adds, many people think bodybuilders are jerks or self-centered because they are so big and that simply isnt true.  He challenges anyone believing that to seek advice from a bodybuilder, guaranteeing they will recieve help.

Both guys are also clear on the point that bodybuilding shouldnt be confused with a healthy lifestyle.  It is about building muscle and displaying that muscle, which sometimes leads to unhealthy practices.  For starters, compare the workouts.  You use more weight and you dont rest between sets, bodybuilders goal is to shock the muscle into growing.  Plus, from a competitive standpoint, there is an offseason, which is definitely not as healthy.  Also, the use of aas and diuretics is not healthy and the extremes some go to trying to achieve 4-5% bodyfat is not salubrious either.

So, at least the sport aspect of bodybuilding is not a healthy pursuit. Perhaps, those who truly follow a lifestyle dedicated to building size, rather than seeking to win championships, are living to be more fit and muscled.  And again, its about a balance, a shorter, but defined man definitely portrays the sport better than a hulking overly muscled guy. So, it would appear to be impossible to give a true definition to the term bodybuilding.  Most practioners supply their own beliefs and strive to live up to those terms, while admirers look for what they find visually appealing.