Bodybuilder

Bodybuilder

TJ

New Brunswick, NJ

Male, 33

As an avid lifter, I decided to compete in an amateur bodybuilding competition to showcase my hard work and appreciation for the sport.

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Last Answer on May 17, 2012

Best Rated

Do most competitive bodybuilders do it just to look good, or are there other, less obvious motivations?

Asked by RightSaidJedd over 12 years ago

Some might do it for aesthetic reasons, while others do it for the sport. People asked me why I was doing this and my response was, "Do you ask a marathon runner why he trains for marathons?"

What prompted you to begin competitive body-building in the first place? Were you always big on fitness?

Asked by Jacinda81 over 12 years ago

I began lifting in college as a hobby to stay fit. I was overweight as an adolescent and decided to change my habits so I was not an overweight unhealthy adult.

Do you utilize supplements (protein shakes, creatine, etc), and if so, what kinds?

Asked by DrewBreezy over 12 years ago

Yes, it’s important to utilize supplements to gain maximum results. Protein shakes are commonly used, as well as different amino acids (such as Branch Chain Amino Acids BCAA's), fish oils, glutamine and fat burners.

How much does your body weight fluctuate between competition periods and non-competition periods?

Asked by Sollymon over 12 years ago

My bodyweight fluctuated over 50 lbs between off-season and actual competition day.

Before a competition, are there certain last-minute exercises, foods, or other fat-burning methods that are "musts?"

Asked by J_Cage over 12 years ago

Days before the competition is usually when you’re feeling your worst physically. The joke is that the worse you feel, the better you look. The day before the competition you do not work out. Your diet is strict to deplete your body of water. It is necessary to dehydrate your muscles to create the striations and definition for your muscles. Usually you carbohydrate-load this day so your muscles fill out. However, you do not eat rice because it is made with water or drink any liquids. Some competitors will go to steam rooms or saunas to sweat out as much water as possible. Others might use diuretics.

What kind of diet is required for anyone looking to compete in bodybuilding competitions?

Asked by DrewBreezy over 12 years ago

The diets are very strict. Balancing carbs, fats and proteins spaced out over 6 meals a day, usually eating every 2-3 hours. I hired a trainer who had experience in contest prep diets. He wrote my diets for me, and changed it according to how I looked on a week-by-week basis.

What motivates women to become bodybuilders? Seems like the least feminine thing on earth.

Asked by sorrycharlie over 12 years ago

Everyone has their own motivation to compete in the sport. I would imagine it is the same reasons a male would. Simply because a woman bodybuilds doesn't necessarily de-feminize them. There are, however, other categories that females can participate besides bodybuilding at most shows that might be considered more 'lady like'. These are the figure, as well as, bikini competitions. The figure competitions are classed by height, not by weight.