Professional Bodybuilding: Under Construction

Professional bodybuilding is one of the less popular sports in the world. Almost everyone knows players like Lebron James and Barry Bonds, but if you asked someone who Ronnie Coleman is, chances are good that they are not going to have any idea. What has happened to the sport of bodybuilding since the days of Arnold, Columbo, and Haney? The media has pulled the plug on these great athletes, which makes you wonder why this horrific downfall has happened to our sport.

The present age of bodybuilding has a few kinks that need worked on. Some will argue that the voting system is rigged because there has been the same Mr. O the past eight years. There is also the issue of steroids in pro bodybuilding, and the media giving steroids a bad reputation doesn`t make things easier In 2005, the IFBB finally decided to raise the winner of the Olympia`s prize money to a staggering $661,000, but I don`t think this upgrade in prize money will put an end to the problems of bodybuilding.

In the past, you could turn to channels like ESPN and the Fox Sports Network to catch a glimpse of what professional bodybuilding was all about, but now you`ll be lucky to catch a live show on pay-per-view. Almost everyone in America knew who Arnold, Columbo, and Haney was. Everyone seemed to want to become the next Arnold and it looked as if bodybuilding would become the next big sport in the United States. In the year 1977, Arnold admitted the use of performance enhancing drugs to help him maintain muscle while preparing for a contest. This set the stage for the use of anabolic steroids in professional bodybuilding and before you knew it, ninety percent of bodybuilders were juicing.

Everyone knew Arnold and his popularity was as asset to the sport. The top bodybuilders of today`s industry are not well known athletes or celebrities which is one of the leading downfalls to the game. Look at how the World Wrestling Entertainment became so popular over the years. Hulk Hogan, The Rock, and Macho Man Randy Savage were all icons that everyone adored. Even outside of pro wrestling, these guys transformed the entertainment industry and brought more fans to the sport. Ben Weider needs to smarten up and use some of the marketing techniques Vince McMahon used to transform his company into what it is today.

Bodybuilding is slowly starting to get where it needs to be. The new bodybuilding web video and radio show being broadcasted on bodybuilding.com is a step in the right direction, but there is more work that needs to be done. They should consider getting a small television contract . They also need to somehow change the structure of the event to make it more entertaining. The fans should be able to vote at contests on who they beleive won. In bodybuilding, there is really no champion except for the Mr. Olympia contest held that determines the best bodybuilder in the world. There should be a point system like in Nascar or the BCS for college football to determine who the leaders are for the season and use the Mr. Olympia as a means of gaining more points to the bodybuilders`s yearly total. This will make smaller shows more interesting and make the bigger guys like Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler have to compete more. I really believe this would be a huge step in the right direction for the sport and should be considered by the promoters of the IFBB.

MY SITES: http://www.clubbodybuilding.com and http://www.geocities.com/bashore69/bodybuildingarticles.html

Bodybuilding Replaces Bad Behavior

How many of your know people who only seem to be good at one thing in life? That thing trouble. Why do so many people act like they have no conscience whatsoever and always seem to be living on the wrong side of everything? There are plenty of reasons why people act the way they do but the only answer is to put an end to their troubled lives before the trouble puts an end to that person`s life.

We all look for certain cures for our problems. In today`s world it seems there is a bottle or pill for every problem that a person faces in life. What about people that cause trouble? Don`t they have any discipline at all? They need to realize that there is more to life than trying to put an end to yourself day after day. That is why bodybuilding is the perfect drug for these sort of people. When a person starts noticing an improvement in their physical appearance, their self-esteem raises which gives them the mindset that anything is possible. This could be a step in the right direction to improving a person`s behavior.

When I was younger. I had a negative self esteem because I was overweight and never felt good about myself. This led to many things i shouldnt`ve been doing like lying, cheating, skipping school, and getting involved with the wrong people. This didn`t cure any of my problems but actually made them worse. I finally realized that there was a big need for change and when I started bodybuilding, everything slowly started to get better and I was determined to continue living a better lifestyle.

I also didn`t feel the need to hang around negative people as much because they were becoming a cancer to my bodybuilding goals. Instead of going to a party and drinking a case of beer I would just go to the party and drink one or two beers and then DRIVE home and get my 8-10 hours of sleep I need daily. When my friends started noticing I wasn`t as much of the partying type that I used to be, I noticed they weren`t doing it as much either which is good because you may have the power to put a stop to their negative behavior as well.

Now that you have decided to change your behavior, you need to write down some sort of negative hobby you have and replace it with something positive you can do for yourself. You can do many different things fitness related like weight lift, write an article, hang out on the forums, go supplement shopping, train at a new gym. It may seem difficult at first and feel that your friends might not support you but if they don`t then just get rid of them. They weren`t good friends anyways. Until next article, stay out of trouble.

MY SITES: http://www.clubbodybuilding.com and http://www.geocities.com/bashore69/bodybuildingarticles.html

7 Simple Steps To Beginning Bodybuilding (Part 2 of 2)

This is part 2 of the 2-part "7 Simple Steps To Beginning Bodybuilding" series.

4. You Must Track What You Eat

That's right! Needless to say... not a lot of people do this. They just bulk so they eat anything in sight. Or they want to burn fat so they just quit eating. If you don't track what you are eating, you are just guessing.

And guessing is no way to meet a goal. Once you know how much you need to eat, you can easily track that and meet your daily goals. Once you get into a routine (certain foods and portions) you'll have a very good idea of what you eating.

Tracking what you eat is a must. At this point, in only 4 steps, you've just outlined the foundation for nutrition!

5. Choosing An Exercise Routine

Here's a clue... it involves every major muscle group. A good basic workout should include:

* Legs (squats, lunges, leg extensions, leg curls, leg press) * Shoulders (military press, dumbbell raises, side laterals) * Chest (bench press, flyes, dips) * Back (pull-ups, rows, deadlifts, lat pull-downs) * Arms (ez-bar curls, barbell curls, dumbbell curls) * Abs (hanging leg raises, incline crunches) * Cardio (for the heart)

I could go on and on with this question and post 500 routines and reps and sets and you'd still be confused. So let me ease the confusion by saying this.

THERE IS NO GOLDEN ROUTINE THAT WILL WORK FOR EVERYONE!

I've tried several routines. Max-OT, Tom Venuto's supersetting, Optimum Anabolics and I'll tell you something. I've gotten gains out of all of them and they all have various philosophies. For less then $100, I have enough programs to try for a year.

Here's proof.

Do you see the same people in your gym, doing the same things, and a year later they look the same? It's really quite simple. If you keep doing what you've always done, you will keep getting what you've always gotten.

There's many variations on exercises and routines you can do. And you'll find out a ton of them while browsing around on forums and reading fitness sites. And while you might be tempted to stick with just one. Don't. Try it, evaluate it, and try another one. After about 6 months, you'll know your body very well and what it responds to. You will have tried many exercises and you'll know if you like something and if something else just doesn't work out.

6. Deciding On Supplementation

While 97% of your progress will come from nutrition and training there are still a few basics to consider. There's also a point when you might want to go beyond the basics if you want the optimal amount of gains.

But what are the basics of supplementation?

Daily multi-vitamin Omega 3 and 6 EFA complex (fish oil, flax seed) Whey protein (specifically for after workouts)

Just that small amount of supplementation is all you should need to bring your nutrition levels to 100%. Those are the basics. It's pretty simple.

As you progress down the line, you might want to consider going beyond the basics.

7. Monitoring Your Progress

I cannot tell you how many people do not follow this rule. If you don't take measurements, track your progress or inspect yourself in a mirror, it's pretty difficult to impossible to know where you've been to know where you are going.

Making small daily goes is a wonderful method of keeping the momentum moving forward and keeping yourself motivated to reach your goals. This is difficult when you don't keep track of what you just did in order to beat a personal best.

It's also the #1 reason why people get so frustrated with nutrition and training and progress in general. They just look at themselves at that very moment and decide immediately if the last 4 months of effort was worth it. They don't take into account they did better then the last workout and they don't quite realize they lost a pant or dress size. They just make judgments on what they perceive to be reality at that moment.

Methods of tracking your progress include:

Tracking what you eat Tracking your workouts in a notebook or other method Taking periodic measurements of standard body areas using a variety of methods Taking periodic photographs

When you measure your progress on a frequent but not daily basis, you will soon see that your efforts are paying off. And if there is a course adjustment necessary you can quickly correct it before it's too late. This critical stage is often overlooked because most people barely can figure out what to eat let alone be bothered to track their progress.

You will start to notice people around you year after year complaining of the same things they complained about the year before.

Would you build a house without tracking its progress? Would you drive your car without monitoring its performance and getting regular tune-ups? For those of you with children, you look at report cards and homework quizzes as a method of tracking your child's scholastic performance. You know where there might be a problem and can correct it before it becomes a major issue. Many of you track the performance of your portfolio holdings.

So why not track the progress of your workouts?

With just a few simple fundamental steps, you can ensure that all of your workouts and waking moments are spent on the right path to fitness. No matter what your goals may be, male or female, if you follow these steps, you will ensure your success.

Marc David is giving away free memberships to his Teach Me Bodybuilding 'private list'. To get your own subscription, visit http://www.beginning-bodybuilding.com while charter subscriptions last.

Know your bodybuilding supplement - l-carnitine

 L-carnitine is synthesized in the body from the amino acids lysine and methionine but it can also be found in nutritional sources such as red meats, dairy products and avocados. Its main role in the body is to help metabolize food into energy. L-carnitine does this by transferring long chain fatty acids into mitochondria where they are oxidised to produce energy.

L-carnitine is heart friendly and has been used for many years in the treatment of heart disease. Studies have shown that it can increase the heart's output and function, stimulate energy supply to the heart and improve overall cardiac performance.

Many bodybuilders use it for the following reasons:

1. It promotes muscle growth.

2. It increases energy.

3. It helps to burn fat.

4. It helps to prevent muscle fatigue.

L-carnitine is a relatively safe supplement provided the manufacturer's recommendations are followed. As with all supplements, remain aware that l-carnitine could be contained in other products so read the labels carefully to ensure your daily intake does not exceed four grams.

Richard Mitchell is the creator of the bodybuildingadvisor.com website that provides guidance and information to athletes at all levels of bodybuilding experience. Go to Bodybuilding Advice to learn more about the issues covered in this article.

Join A Gym Or Purchase Exercise Equipment

The age old question when it comes to working out is: should I join a gym or purchase exercise equipment? Depending on your needs and specific method of working out, different individuals experience different results with each of these methods. However, before you rush out and sell your gym membership to purchase thousands of dollars in exercise equipment or sell your exercise equipment in order to purchase a gym membership, consider your options carefully. Depending on your schedule, budget, workout schedule, and dedication, the decision you make must be personal and honest in order to experience the best results.

Whether you are looking to lose weight, gain muscle, or just become healthier, a gym membership may be just what you need. In addition to access to top of the line equipment, professional gyms employ professional trainers, intuitionalists, and other individuals that will allow you to meet your goal. Furthermore, most gyms hold a series of classes in all types of exercises and activities. From popular activities like yoga and Pilates to more action packed classes like kick boxing and classic aerobics, exercise classes are a great way to meet people, stay motivated, and see results.

You should join a gym if you are looking professional guidance in the correct methods and techniques to working out. Also, if you find yourself unmotivated to begin exercising, joining a gym will keep you motivated, since many individuals are resistant to let their hard earned money spent on a gym membership go to waste. Furthermore, join a gym to meet other individuals with your interests or goals, so that you can form a support system to ensure that everyone meets his or her goals.

However, if your schedule finds little time that you can dedicate to visiting a gym, consider establishing a home gym. Typically, outfitting a home gym is much more expensive than paying a gym membership, but having the ability to work out any time of the day is well worth the cost. Additionally, you only have to purchase gym equipment once, where you have to renew a gym membership on an annual basis. Furthermore, if you are shy or feel intimidated while working out in gyms and find yourself often sacrificing your work out routine in order to avoid exercising in rooms with many people, consider starting your own home gym.

Although you have a home gym, a professional trainer is not out of the question, as many trainers will gladly travel to your home in order to establish a work out regimen that best works toward your goal. Having a professional trainer on call may be more expensive than working with a trainer at a professional gym, but the cost is well worth the service.
John Marcus specializes in exercise equipment and fitness equipment