From an outside view it’s understandable why bodybuilding, particularly on show day, can seem so enticing. Smiling faces with chiseled bodies, eating candy and winning trophies – what’s not to aspire to?! Well… the truth is that this is just a small glimpse into what a bodybuilding journey entails. The vast majority of a competition prep requires necessary, meticulous steps to be taken to achieve the desired outcome, and with these steps often comes respective “consequences” which aren’t particularly appealing.
For instance, some of the negative consequences associated with undergoing a competition prep and achieving the required low level of body fat can include:
🔹Chronic low energy availability
🔹Irritable and depressive moods
🔹Insatiable hunger and increased food focus
🔹Compromised training performance
🔹Lack of desire and energy for socialising
🔹Decreased libido and suppressed endocrine function
🔹Impaired sleep quality
🔹Increased body-checking and body image obsession
Despite being passionate bodybuilders and coaches ourselves, we see it as a responsibility to our clients and others to be transparent about these potential negative consequences associated with competition prep. Unfortunately, the majority of these will inevitably be experienced to some degree. However, knowledge and acceptance of this allows them to be managed to the best of a coach’s and competitor’s ability.
This emphasises the importance of not rushing the process of stepping on stage. If you are interested in bodybuilding, we encourage you to work alongside a well-educated and supportive coach who will help prepare and navigate you through a competition prep while keeping your health as a top priority! When executed safely, competing in the sport of bodybuilding and stepping on stage has the potential to be such a self-accomplishing and celebratory experience! The life-lessons learnt as a bodybuilder can be considered second-to-none, but in order to stay in the game for longer it’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into first.