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Bodybuilding

What does the word bodybuilder conjure up in your head? Does it bring to mind some juiced up guy wearing shorts walking around bare chested chested with veins popping out? Do you think of some guy injecting himself with tons of steroids, growth hormones, insulin, and diuretics? Do you look at him and think he will explode at any moment killing everyone he comes into contact with? Perhaps you envision the guy that stands in front of a mirror for hours admiring himself or walks around like all women should fall to their knees and worship him?

If any of those images cross your mind then allow me a few minutes to present a different side of the sport that you might not be used to seeing. First off the sport of bodybuilding in its purest form is a sport that promotes a very healthy life style both mentally and physically. People of all ages and abilities can enjoy the sport not just as a spectator but as a participant. No not everyone will put on pair of posing trunks and step onstage to strut their stuff but you can still go to the gym and get active. The main stream media has potrayed the bodybuilding scene as nothing more than a bunch of juiced up people that take steroids regardless of the neagtives they might have on ones health and then they turn into this "roid raging psycho killing machine". In the scientific community there are numerous arguements both supporting and denying roid rage as a real result of the overuse of steroids or other growth enhancing substances. I'm not here to debate the reality of "roid rage" as you can research that for yourself and draw your on conclusions but instead want to tell you about the positives and some of the positive people of bodybuilding.

Back in 1867 a man by the name of Eugen Sandow was born that would become the father of bodybuilding. Back then if someone had large muscles they were considered "muscle bound" or inflexible. Eugen Sandow would soon prove that to be an incorrect assumption. He attended Attila's training school in Brussels used a shot loading barbell where shot could be loaded in the ends to increase the weight. Later he would go on to popularize more modern forms of weight equipment.

As he developed his physique and became known as one of the worlds strongest men his popularity rose until he was appearing on post cards and was often pictured wearing nothing more than a fig leaf. Then in 1898 he started publishing the magizine Physical Culture, later to be called, Sandow's Magazine of Physical Culture. Eugen Sandow died in 1925 but he had left his mark by beginning the sport and life style of bodybuilding not to mention he had paved the way to make it a profitable endeavour. The trophy awarded to Mr. Olympia every year is called the Sandow in his honor.

Bernarr Macfadden appeared on the scene and in 1903 he sponsered a physique contest at Madison Square Garden which was the first of its kind. The styles of posing used during his annual events has endured and are still used today in modern bodybuilding competitions. Angelo Siciliano an Italian immigrant to the United States and later became known as Charles Atlas. He used a real life event that happened to him when a bully kicked sand in his face on Coney Island beach as a spring board for his "Dynamic Tension" mail order business. I can remember as a child seeing the adds in comic books and I'm 39 years old and he began running these adds sometime in the 20's if my research is correct.

Then came Muscle Beach not so much a person but a place magical to most bodybuilders. The mecca of bodybuilding became home to many famous bodybuilders over the years and lives on today. Joe Gold was a regular visitor to muscle beach and Joe Gold is none other than Gold's Gym and we all have heard of Gold's Gym and probably have at least scene one at some point if not had your own membership. Gold's Gym in Venice California is the headquarters of many of todays top bodybuilding professionals from all over the world.

In 1946 Ben Weider started the IFBB or International Federation of Bodybuilding. Ben's brother Joe was also an avid bodybuilder and he began a publishing empire and stil publishes today one of his magazines is Flex and you can visit the website at www.flexonline.com.

The next major event was the arrival of Arnold Swarzenegger and we all know of what this immigrant from Austria has accomplished and that he gives bodybuilding as the reason for much of his success. It wasn't just Arnold's body but also his charisma and charm that did so much for the sport of bodybuilding. The film "Pumping Iron" was released and many people saw bodybuilding up close and personal for the first time.

Since Arnold's departure from bodybuilding we have seen many champions of the sport do some great things outside of the sport. Thay have shared stories of how they used bodybuilding to create self esteem and to overcome things in their life that they might not have been able to do so without the focus that bodybuilding can instill in a person. Dorian Yates former Mr. Olympia (1992-1997) has spoken about how bodybuilding allowed him a way out of the trouble he had found himself in as he had been sentenced to Whatton Youth Dentention Center in England. He knew that if he didn't do something he was going to be in and out of prison his whole life.

Lee Haney won his first Mr. Olympia in 1984 and won 8 in a row his last being in 1991. He is now known for the work he does with children. He has established the Harvest House which is a 40 acre farm retreat for children which mission is to succeed as productive citizens in the 21st century. It is partnered with local churches and other support groups.

This past Olympia saw the retirement of Ronnie Coleman perhaps the greatest bodybuilder in history. Ronnie Coleman is a Police officer in Arlington Texas and was a great representative of the sport. He is loved by bodybuilding fans world wide and has promoted a positive outlook on the lifestyle of bodybuilding. He was Mr. Olympia from 1998-2005 and finished fourth in this years Mr. Olmypia though his training was limited due to a training injury. He was as sportsman like in defeat as he was in winning. He recieved a standing ovation from adoring fans. In 1989 he graduated Cum Laude from Grambling State University where he recieved a degree in Accounting. Ronnie also support the inner city games an organization that was co-founded by Arnold Swarzenegger in 1991. He was the recipient of the 2001 Admiral in the Texas Navy Certificate Award from Texas Governor Rick Perry for outstanding achievements in bodybuilding and the promotion of physical fitness.

The current Mr. Olympia is Jay Cutler if Big Ron had to be defeated by someone then Jay has certainly shown that he too can be a positive representative of bodybuilding. Jay seems to inspire people wherever he goes and is always willing to take time out for his fans. He has a supportive wife (Kerry) who was his girlfriend for 7 years prior to their marriage. Jay has also earned his AD in criminal justice.

There are so many other great examples of bodybuilders that can serve as positive role models and give us inspiration not to just better ourselves physically but also mentally. Bodybuilding builds your self esteem, it also causes release of endoprhins that can greatly affect your mood in positive ways. Studies have shown that it helps with depression because of the chemical releases within the brain while exercising. By setting small and attainable goals and sticking to your game plan one can carry these habits over into other areas of your life to achieve whatever dreams you migt have. Eatting healthy and exercising regularly instead of parking yourself in front of the television and snacking on chips and pizza will have an overall positive outcome in your health. By doing this you will feel better, become more motivated, have more energy and be an overall happier person. So you don't have to step onto a stage to be a bodybuilder you are building your body everyday and all the time either for the good or for the bad. So whether you knew it or not you were already a bodybuilder but why not build it for the good and see what might happen.