The Pitfalls of BodyBuilding

Yes, i go to the gym, and this has been of tremendous value to me as far as feeling better about myself and helping with chronic pain, stress, and the awful depression/anxiety cycle i was on. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t pit falls.I am training like a bodybuilder yet have not decided whether i’ll compete or not. I still suffer with lots of acute pain from the workouts and sometimes once i get home, it is all i can do to go about the rest of the evening . I hobble in the door, pack my lunch, do whatever chores i can manage, then go lay in bed on a heat pad with my shiatzu massager off & on until i have to leave for work, stretching at intervals. The 45 minute- 1 hour drive can be excruciating- not every day, but on most days, even sitting is painful.

Some of this is also due to DOMS( delayed onset muscle soreness) from the work out the day before.Doing workouts with DOMS is like layering the pain. I recently discovered i suffer from restless leg syndrome as well. I never realized what those horrible shooting pains were from–the ones that feel almost like a terrible tickle sensation but are only relieved by more moving/walking. They come and go and last as long as they want.

I have also recently learned about another condition called Rhabdomyolosis- which explains some of the symptoms i have had on occasion. It is most common with athletes and those who work in extremes- like firefighters.Pushing too hard can be a bad thing.

On top of this, eating lots of protein can be pretty tough on the body. It means your body is working harder to burn calories than the usual carb calories.I usually am fine with my first meal of the day – normally salmon or chicken breast with veggies & rice-and then waiting an hour to go work out.I do feel kind of full but expending energy at the gym helps. When i get home i drink a protein shake.I feel bloated some days and it gives me excessive gas ( which just smells awful ) but other times i deal with nausea / indigestion/ abdominal cramps. Gas x , Tums, and a heat pad can be my favorite things . Before work, if i can manage it, i try to eat another snack-usually yogurt . Then at work it is usually a salad or more salmon/chicken or beef with veggies and rice, cottage cheese, and a protein bar at the very least. Lots of calories, lots of protein is not for the faint of heart.

At work , i don’t have much in the way of physical labor usually but the down side is i wind up sitting in a chair all night, trying to stay awake. Not sure how many of you reading know this , but sitting for extended periods can be more painful than an active job. Yes, i do take regular stretch breaks and walk around a little, but there isn’t much space to walk in. Then comes the dreaded 1 hour drive home. Still , i cannot imagine having a manual labor job and trying to do all of this.Those people are genuine super heroes.

Another part of bodybuilding that many outside the sport don’t really understand is the mental part of the bulking phase.Many women who start out tend to desire a lean athletic look right away and are unwilling to carry the extra weight needed for energy to build muscle. A spare tire and over all body fat actually increases and may have to remain this way for 1-3 years before “shredding” to see the muscle underneath. It can be pretty depressing unless you have the correct mindset. This is why trainers become so important, especially if one does decide to compete( and not everyone does). They can seriously help to manage your diet, lifting and provide much emotional/mental support when you are exhausted from everything and feel like giving up.They can be expensive, but a good one is worth it.I will be using one at some point, though i have a great amount of knowledge and experience already, even professionals have trainers.

The bottom line is, when you are an A personality like me, it is easy to push your limits. I am re-learning mine. I have to watch myself.I need extra sleep whenever i can get it.I need to watch my fat intake because i tend to eat too much of it and this can lead to chronic fatigue.I forget to drink enough water and drink too much coffee.I get stressed out over not making gains.

I think most people go to the gym for toning, losing weight, and trying to feel better/healthier. If that’s you- stay away from body building. It’s a whole different animal.Yes, it can help with all those things over time, but they aren’t the goals.

Just wanted to share.

Namaste!