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Bodybuilding
as defined by Merriam-Websters Collegiate Dictionary is
“the developing
of the body through exercise and diet; specifically : the
developing of the physique for competitive exhibition” 1. Merriam
Webster online
http://www.m‑w.com/dictionary.htm
The pursuit of physical excellence can
be traced back to the origin of our species. The more physically
intimidating a male was the more likely he was to mate successfully.
This characteristic is exemplified by the majority of species on earth
where test of physical strength and endurance are commonplace prior to
intercourse. While our species has evolved mentally and men with brains
easily wield more power than men with brawn, the desire to be physically
intimidating still lies within our genetic memory.
Over the years I have asked many men the
reason that they began to lift weights. The common response is “To firm
up and loose some weight”. I suspected however that a more base
instinct was the major influence and that the majority of men are not
even aware of the real reason that are at the gym.
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One day I asked myself that same question
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One day I asked myself that same
question and upon deep reflection the simple truth came upon me. I
wanted to be intimidating to men and attractive to women. It
was that simple. It can be veiled in the guise of weight
loss, general health or to combat the ravages of ageing but at its root
lies the tugging of testosterone. There is no shame in this admission in
that it is the result of countless generations in our evolutionary
ladder and these characteristics contributed greatly to our success as a
species.
While sheer physical attributes can no
longer insure the success of a male in society, our culture still
attributes great value to the cultivation of physical prowess. Athletes
are among the highest paid and most recognized persons on the planet.
Magazines and periodicals are painted liberally with pictures of well
endowed women and men with washboard abs. In a country where fifty
percent of the population is overweight, television programs are
populated primarily with “the beautiful people” whose lean and sexy
physiques are evidence of a different physical standard than the
majority aspire to.
With the
constant barrage of entertainment and information that most of us are
subjected to, many people are lulled into a fantasy world where they
live vicariously through the soap opera existence of
others. Occasionally however an individual senses a longing within
themselves that won’t rest. A physical urge, ancient as time itself,
that lures them from their sedentary lifestyle and into a pair of
jogging shoes or a weight room. They will pound the pavement, push the
weights, sweat profusely, elevate their heart rates and though exhausted
they will experience a euphoria that cannot be explained to the
uninitiated. Whatever the motivation, such a person is to be admired as
they have taken a significant step towards health and self improvement.
While this end is sufficient unto itself, there are a few individuals
who go far beyond this level of exertion. They visualize themselves as
sculptors and their bodies as blocks of granite. Somewhere within the
stone lies a statue of David and with sufficient skill and effort they
will chisel forth the body of art that lies within. These are the
bodybuilders and they are easily recognized. Their strained faces at
the gym are evidence to the degree of pain tolerance, dedication and
relentless effort they will put forth in pursuit of their goal. Their
large and well defined muscles appear as if vacuum packaged within their
skin.
They are, to say the least, not average.
Weight
lifters are fairly common and gyms are full of them. True bodybuilders
however are rare. They have a unique appearance, a different set of
standards and they carry their sport with them everywhere they go.
The above
is only a brief explanation of the primitive drive which fuels the
internal fires of many bodybuilders, however it is not the only source
of this ambition. The two related articles below discuss other
contributing factors, both hormonal and psychological, in further
detail.
Bigorexia - The
Psychology of Bodybuilding
Expect Pain - Do
you really want to be a Bodybuilder? |
