Bodybuilding
What is Bodybuilding?
Bodybuilding is the process of maximizing muscle hypertrophy, or muscle growth, through the combination of weight training, proper macronutrient intake, and recovery. An athlete that trains for these goals is called a bodybuilder.
In competitive bodybuilding, losely termed a ’sport’, bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their appearance. The criteria that judges use include size, density, definition, and symmetry.
The muscles are revealed through a combination of fat loss, oils, and tanning (or tanning lotions) which, when combined with proper lighting, make the definition of the muscle groups more distinct. Famous bodybuilders include Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sergio Oliva, Dorian Yates, Lou Ferrigno, Franco Columbu, Frank Zane, Lee Haney, Ronnie Coleman, and Jay Cutler.
History of Bodybuilding?
The early years of bodybuilding are considered to be the period between 1880 and 1930. Around this time period, bodybuilding was promoted by a man from Prussia named Eugen Sandow. Sandow is now referred to as “The Father of Modern Bodybuilding” by bodybuilding enthusiasts. He is credited as being a pioneer of the sport because he allowed an audience to enjoy viewing his physique in “muscle display performances”. Although audiences were thrilled to see a well-developed physique, those men simply displayed their bodies as part of strength demonstrations or wrestling matches.
Some would even say that this period was the beginning of modern powerlifting. Sandow had a stage show built around these displays, and became so successful at it, he later created several businesses around his fame and was among the first to market products branded with his name alone. As he became more popular, he was credited with inventing and selling the first exercise equipment for the masses.
