Philosophy of bodybuilding

[Great Dane]

Hey guys...

Maybe this thread ought to be in general chat...

Of late, i've been thinking? Why bother weight training, what good does it do to get huge? It's not like you become that much more dangerous... and there are millions of other ways to get in shape, which get you in better shape.

What is the philosophy of weight training...

I lifted lots of weights once, but I have stopped that now because it does not seem to serve my purposes... so I do circuit training instead, using only my bodyweight...

[threenorns]

i lift weights because i like lifting weights.

the physical consequences are just an added bonus.

[maverick]

There's a big difference between getting huge and the average person's resistance training. More muscle means you get to eat more calories and maintain the same weight. Weight training will also raise your BMR. Putting your body in an anabolic state through weight training will help excess calories turn to muscle and not fat.

I lift weights to look good, and cause I like it. Health is a bonus for me

[Lady C]

I do weight lifting to prevent futher muscle and bone mass loss that happens as you age. The more bone mass hopefully prevents osteoporosis and breaks. I want the muscle to keep my metabolism and energy high as I age. Besides I look healthy and younger than I am.

[CF-OC_gal]

It's a matter of choice. Weight training is a great way to maintain muscle mass and bone mass, both of which are preventative measures for age onset risks to our qualtiy of life.

Just how much you have to do for health becomes the question. Every individual is different in their motivations and their response to exercise. Bodyweight resistance training may be enough for some while free weights and machines are what does it for others.

Circuit training is definately a great option for fitness. No one says you have to step on a stage or compete in order to be fit.

I have heard about studies that measure changes in bone densities of females in various athletic activites (recreational and elite athletes). Full body weight training seems to be the best for overall bone health not just localized health(lower back, legs etc). I am not sure if you need to go beyond bodyweight resistance (as a woman) to reap the benefits over time.

I'll admit that I get the best "bang for the buck" .
Bang = benefits
Buck = time spent

[Chain]

There are a ton of reasons. Some of them have already been touched on though. I mainly lift because it makes me look better and the fact that many things that are associated with aging aren't necessarily from aging at all but lack of use. Lifting is great for everything form increasing metabolism and bone mass to making everyday activities and sports easier to perform. It helps with the ladies too. I can't tell you how many times a girl I dated would say how much safer she felt cuddling with me than her last b/f who was 5'10", 160 lbs. Some people in bodybuilding believe in getting as big as possible but some, like me, believe it is more about finding a balanced muscular physique more than size at any cost.

[Todd]

Originally Posted by Great Dane

Of late, i've been thinking? Why bother weight training, what good does it do to get huge?

Weight training not only strengthens your muscles, but also your bones, your heart, lungs, circlatory system, your mind...pretty much everything! It is the only way to develop your body to it's highest degree possible. No other form of exercise builds muscle like strength training, if done properly.

And along with Strength training, or I should say bodybuilding, comes eating correctly, and this alone has many benefits outside of packing on muscle and keeping body fat in a healthy range.

Ponder this fact alone and you will realize that bodybuilding is one of the healthiest activities (or lifestyles) you can take up....

Bodybuilding and the lifestyle that encompasses it, is the only thing that can and does dramatically slow the aging process in human life.

That's a pretty profound statement and fact. But think about it. Those who incorporate the bodybuilding lifestyle and keep it up throughout the years will definitely defy the aging process by many years, keeping themselves looking, operating, and feeling younger, in both mind and body. Nothing else does this for you to such a high degree than bodybuilding.

It's not like you become that much more dangerous... and there are millions of other ways to get in shape, which get you in better shape.

Name one other thing that can put you in better shape?

Bodybuilding, and the bodybuilding lifestyle encompasses so much more than any other sport, activity or method of fitness out there. No other lifestyle or sport can develop both your mind and body into such balance and an elite mental and physical level.

I lifted lots of weights once, but I have stopped that now because it does not seem to serve my purposes... so I do circuit training instead, using only my bodyweight...

You are still weight training!

[candyass]

You'll find that a lot of people here couldn't care less about "getting huge." I lift for strenght, if I happen to gain some size along the way, then great. If I don't, then no big deal. Simply put, lifting heavy is fun.

[Blaze]

Go Todd! Everything he said! lol


I train for all teh reasons Todd mentioned and simly because it's a hobby. I love it, and i don't know what I would do without it. It's awesome!

[Shamrock]

Similar debate a few weeks ago, look back a few pages Just wouldn't understand.

It is definately a hobby, I can only have one hobby at a time and I haven't touched the project truck in weeks. We just happen to wear our hobby.

[arbit]

Originally Posted by Todd

Bodybuilding and the lifestyle that encompasses it, is the only thing that can and does dramatically slow the aging process in human life.

That's a pretty profound statement and fact. But think about it. Those who incorporate the bodybuilding lifestyle and keep it up throughout the years will definitely defy the aging process by many years, keeping themselves looking, operating, and feeling younger, in both mind and body. Nothing else does this for you to such a high degree than bodybuilding.

I strongly disagree.
That claim has not been proven at all.
The most convincing method to slow down aging has been low calorie diets. Admitedly, the trial is on for humans, but for rats/chimps(?) for whom it was done indicated nothing else came close, not exercise, not anti-oxidant pills.
If anything, becoming "huge" may put a strain on the body. Your organs will have to work harder - kidneys, liver etc.
Bodyweight is good enuf. And anyway, if u can handle u'r bodyweight, u'r good, its not like we haul another person on our back in old age, or deadlift 1.5x bodyweight.

Altho, weight training is good if u cannot handle your own bodyweight, and would like to gradually increase resistance.

Originally Posted by Todd

Name one other thing that can put you in better shape?

Bodybuilding, and the bodybuilding lifestyle encompasses so much more than any other sport, activity or method of fitness out there. No other lifestyle or sport can develop both your mind and body into such balance and an elite mental and physical level.

Thats a very narrow minded view. Exapand fitness criteria to mean more than just strength and u see tons of other better fitness activities:
Martial arts, yoga, gymnastics, bicycling, athetics, basketball, soccer etc. And I submit these activities are much more functional than weight training

[threenorns]

Originally Posted by arbit

If anything, becoming "huge" may put a strain on the body. Your organs will have to work harder - kidneys, liver etc.

not so: your heart, kidneys, liver, etc adapt as well. the only time it becomes a problem is when steroids come in and force development beyond natural limits that the internal organs can't keep up.

Originally Posted by arbit

Thats a very narrow minded view. Exapand fitness criteria to mean more than just strength and u see tons of other better fitness activities:
Martial arts, yoga, gymnastics, bicycling, athetics, basketball, soccer etc. And I submit these activities are much more functional than weight training

apples and oranges. weight-training is VERY functional - i love not having to ask someone to open up a pickle jar for me or pick up a car battery or lift my kid out of the alligator pit for me. in years to come, it will help me care for my mother, who will likely need to be carried in and out of bed if she doesn't start weight-training soon. martial arts is fun, but i've needed to open pickle jars a lot more than i've needed to defend myself. gymnastics is useless from a day-to-day perspective, as is basketball and similar sports.

[CF-OC_gal]

I agree with the whole "is body building functional" question. A lot of what you do does not directly translate to everyday activites unless you are training those activities. Yes tire dragging and battery dragging are more like dragging in everyday functions. They also are not traditionally thought of bodybuilding exercises.

The weight that I use for all rowing exercises has been the highest ever last year and my pull up strength is improving quite a bit, but as soon as they installed the new massive glass entrance doors to the gym building me and everyone else under 200lbs is struggling to get the door open past the airlock that they've created! I feel like a freaking 4 year old trying to throw my bodyweight behind the door to get it open. Then I'm supposed to feel all strong and healthy by moving my bodyweight or more in iron in the gym? I should be doing sets of door-opening resistance or how about that great stabilizing exercise of trying to manouver a full grocery cart with locked wheels, or carrying 10 bajillion plastic bags of groceries from just 2 appendages (and avoiding tendon problems) because the cart corrals are a million meeters from your car.

I think there is more to be said about "the team" aspect of playing sports like basketball and football in social and corporate settings.

If the muscle mass to bodyfat ratio were the best predictor of health and fitness then that would be test the general and sports medical communities would use as assessing helath and development.

[Cort]

Originally Posted by Brat

I should be doing sets of door-opening resistance or how about that great stabilizing exercise of trying to manouver a full grocery cart with locked wheels, or carrying 10 bajillion plastic bags of groceries from just 2 appendages (and avoiding tendon problems) because the cart corrals are a million meeters from your car.

Lol, actually I don't even use the cart past the check out. I'm the freak carrying the 10 bajillion bags to the back of the parking lot just for the fun of it.

Still, I've noticed that my with the strength and endurance from weight lifting, running, and swimming I find that all of my daily activities are relatively easy, whether it be picking up a million bags of groceries, taking out the trash, helping my brother move, climbing something, carrying in the 5 gallon water jugs, opening heavy droors, climbing a fence/wall, or anything else.

As for the "why lift weights"? It feels good. May seem stupid or pointless, but picking up 300-400+ lbs feels great.

[arbit]

Originally Posted by threenorns

not so: your heart, kidneys, liver, etc adapt as well. the only time it becomes a problem is when steroids come in and force development beyond natural limits that the internal organs can't keep up.
.

I'm not saying people'll become sick fast with bodybuilding, but surely a guy who is 160lbs, and lifts/does bodyweight exercises/does biking etc is putting a less strain on his body than a 200 lb muscly guy. Over the long term, the 24/7 strain on the organs has gotto show.
I guess for women this isnt a problem, they cant pack on muscle like crazy, they just get stronger.
And many BB'rs consume 1g/lb protein /day or more, which I again think is not optimal in the health sense.
And I was thinking about martial arts/ yoga coz of the flexibility and balance factor. Thats something nice, esp with the decline in both with aging.