Understanding Bodybuilding from an Endurance Sport Background

[enpower]

Hi,

I'm an endurance athlete and have recently joined a gym for the first time in order to improve on a bit of muscle imbalance, decrease injury prevention, etc 

My thoughts on training and races are to allow me to partake in events which allow me to get outside, explore new places, push my body and enjoy the accomplishment of swimming, cycling or running X km's.

However, seeing a lot of the people in my gym and researching a bit more into body building, I'm wanting to know the motivation behind deciding why someone would get into body building? 

So what are your main reasons for doing body building? I'm considering getting into some more extensive weight training next winter and perhaps might givge body building a go.

 

[FellowshipOfTheRon]

welcome to gymnation!

 

ill share my story. why do i do it? initially thought to join the gym as a way to help me gain weight didn't even care if i'd get fat (was a skinny guy with nothing to lose) and pretty much on first weights session i fell in love with it like nothing else before i think people call that the iron bug or something. from there i went home and looked up some stuff on youtube about lifting weights and found out about ronnie coleman who has remained an inspiration ever since. a lot of us have been raised in the days of classic action movies too such as those starring Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger which probably planted the seed in our minds that one day we want to be big and strong like our favourite characters were. would love to get bigger and into contest shape one day to actually become a real bodybuilder and not just another gym rat but until then i keep lifting primarily because it's damn fun and gains in strength / size are a much welcomed side effect

 

[Gym rat]

When I first joined the gym I did group fitness classes like body combat did that for a few years until I got bored of it then moved on to pump,Until one day I was looking through a issue of muscle mag thought this looks fun.When I first started had bugger all  knowlage  of what to eat and just had anything healthy that I wanted until I had a online trainer then I moved on and started to attend five comps until about this time last year started to think about competing after people made comenets to me about my built thought bugger it stage hear I come.This past August I did my first comp which was the NABBA/WFF  Pan Pacific champs in Auckland came 5th in my class out off five people which was just first timers still had a great time.The beauty about this sport it is a fun exciting adventure and journey.

[StussyNz]

Welcome

One of the main reasons I got into Bodybuilding is because I like the satisfaction of setting goals and achieving them. One year as a new years resolution I joined a gym and started training and haven't looked back since.

[Pseudonym]

I started training because I was tired of being a tall, skinny beanpole. I think there's a "Before" photo of me somewhere in the depths of this forum - it's not a pretty sight!

I bought myself a home gym, which my family scoffed at and said I'd never use. That probably helped actually, because I was determined to prove them wrong.

Then I started reading up on training and diet, and I was hooked. The science behind being able to change your body was just so cool!

I didn't want to be huge - just gain another 5kg. Well, I did that and thought, "Maybe another 5kg." Then another, and another...

And that's how you catch the bodybuilding bug!

[Phedder]

I started training because I was tired of being a tall, skinny beanpole. I think there's a "Before" photo of me somewhere in the depths of this forum - it's not a pretty sight!

I bought myself a home gym, which my family scoffed at and said I'd never use. That probably helped actually, because I was determined to prove them wrong.

Then I started reading up on training and diet, and I was hooked. The science behind being able to change your body was just so cool!

I didn't want to be huge - just gain another 5kg. Well, I did that and thought, "Maybe another 5kg." Then another, and another...

And that's how you catch the bodybuilding bug!

Yep! I told myself I'd be happy at 80kg with some abs (leaving highschool at 70kg) then 85, then 90 etc etc... It's never enough! Now my goals are more strength based, but there's always a little bodybuilder in all of us :-D

[Clueless]

Several reasons for me, its my hobby obsession.

I do it for partly vanity lol. I want to look good, was looking on phone today have a pic from before started current bulk and I look good nohomo.

I enjoy reading forum posts/links on bodybuilding the science/nutrition posts/bro science.

Keeping active/fit as getting older - I think very important as age to do some sort of physical activity.

Also do it cause been strong and lifting heavy shit is pretty damn cool and feels good.

[Realtalk]

Started training to impress people at 15... got into bodybuilding at 17 was hooked wanted to be a pro bodybuilder and all that gay shit when I was a teenager... 27 now, I don't live the 'bodybuilding lifestyle' and not as big as I was once. just train because it makes me feel good and I enjoy it. I like the feeling of a pump or beating a PB in a lift or a set.

[Pseudonym]

27 - really?! Man, I've often thought about the forum getting older, but I forget forum members age too. You must almost be a responsible adult now!

:wink:

[rapz]

coming from playing rugby league, it just started as a hobbie and for a bit of self improvement, more so for strength opposed to an aesthetic manner.

as the years have gone by, my drive and energy has been geared (excuse the pun) towards more self improvement, and that is what bodybuilding is about imo, a continuous approach to self improving.

i think at times bodybuilding is a very narcissitic and selfish sport, so finding a balance for "normal" things in life is important as its quite easy to get caught up in it all.

[rede frisby]

i think at times bodybuilding is a very narcissitic and selfish sport, so finding a balance for "normal" things in life is important as its quite easy to get caught up in it all.

Can be but I know plenty of "selfish" endurance athletes....it can all be relative LOL

[Realtalk]

27 - really?! Man, I've often thought about the forum getting older, but I forget forum members age too. You must almost be a responsible adult now!

 

 

Almost mate.

and yes, time flys.

[enpower]

I want to build functional strength in the "off season"

I divide my season into 3x 4 month blocks where over winter I do running mostly, spring is cycling and summer is triathlon and swimming.

If I did a 3-4 month block of doing perhaps 4x gym sessions per week for 60-90mins as opposed to the 2x 30min sessions I do at home, what sort of gains in muscle, weight, definition, strength could I hope to gain over those 3-4 months?

Also, does anyone do CrossFit classes? I saw the event at big boys toys and tried out a class this week. I didn't enjoy it at all.

[Pseudonym]

what sort of gains in muscle, weight, definition, strength could I hope to gain over those 3-4 months?

That's really impossible to answer. It depends on so many factors - your starting point, genetics, diet, what other training you might be doing on top of this... However, I will say that I'm certain you'd see much better results from the 4x gym sessions than you would from 2x home workouts. TBH, I'm not sure you'd gain much at all from just two workouts a week.

What didn't you enjoy about Crossfit? I haven't done a class (although I've played around with CF-ish type workouts by myself) but I imagine it's the kind of thing where the people you do it with can make all the difference.

[enpower]

The two sessions I do at home are just a mix of body weight and core type exercises. It just keeps any running injuries to a minimal level and improves my core for good posture whilst doing my swim/bike/run training.

The CrossFit class I did was basically do squats with body weight, then do swings with the kettlebells (between the legs then above the head) then do pull ups. Basically just did this over and over for 30mins. I prefer to train by myself also so classes don't hold an appeal.

I'm looking to do training full body, perhaps split the 4x sessions into 2x legs and core and then 2x back and upper body per week. I'll also do 6x sessions with 2xswim, bike and run per week, totalling 10 sessions. I train 11 sessions per week now, so shouldn't be much different.

If I wanted to get a decent gym program, who would be the best to approach for putting a 8-12 week training plan together? The gym assistants and personal trainers who I've seen around don't seem very onto it. Is there any body building or powerlifting coaches that would be able to help me out a bit? Mainly with what exercises and weights, periodisation, nutrition, etc. I've got a triathlon coach that I use currently, but they don't put together my home gym type training.

[Phedder]

If I wanted to get a decent gym program, who would be the best to approach for putting a 8-12 week training plan together? The gym assistants and personal trainers who I've seen around don't seem very onto it. Is there any body building or powerlifting coaches that would be able to help me out a bit? Mainly with what exercises and weights, periodisation, nutrition, etc. I've got a triathlon coach that I use currently, but they don't put together my home gym type training.

First of all, what area of the country are you in? There's plenty around who could help, best to know where you are to know who you're close to. Are you wanting to use the heavier weights training to ultimately benefit your endurance performance, or actually give bodybuilding/powerlifting a shot? Obviously your main goal of this 8-12 week block is to improve your strength and muscle size, but to what ultimate end will largely influence the style of training best suited. 

[enpower]

I'm based in Manukau.

I don't want to go into body building/powerlifting full time. I want to get a feel for it and see if I enjoy mixing in more strength based programs into my on-going endurance sports training.

My ultimate goal is to become more muscular, particularly in the shoulders, back and legs. For benefits to my triathlon and my physique in general. Also to have a bit more power for cycling.

Also to just mix up the training a bit. Doing swim/bike/run workouts twice daily for almost the last three years (bar a few rest weeks at the end of seasons) I'm looking for a bit of a change to add the spice back into the training.

[Dinahlady]

From what I can gather the shorter the distance you participate in/the more sprinting you have to do, (whether that be in cycling/running/rowing), the more gym/barbell work is usually progreammed in per week to increase your power output and ability to race faster/sprint. And they usually use exercises like squats, deadlifts, Cleans etc at higher weight and lower rep ranges to work on this.  

If you want to increase power then I dont know if home workouts or bodyweight is really going to be what you're after as it would be hard to really increase your strength and power output with low resistance (bodyweight). Especially with legs - bodyweight for legs is going to be pretty easy. maybe you would get a small increase at first but after that I think it would just level out.

This is just what I've found from talking to people who have taken part in different types of training for different sports/distances - so I could be wrong. 

[Optimass]

Your going to be hard pressed to put weight on by way of muscle if you are doing a lot of cardiovasular training.  I have challenges balancing bodybuilding and powerlifitng and they are not to dissimilar in training styles in the gym. 

Are you quite lean?  Body Weight?  Age? ... Many factors contribute to your success and the challenges you face.  Either way you are going to have to eat quite a bit see significant results. 

I have a good friend that is vegetarian, an ex Aerobic world champion and he does weight training but with very little by way of gains in a year ... he does get some good conditioning from it but strength isnt also as much as if he took a break from all of the cardio he does for a few months and just focused on growing. 

Sounds to me if you are looking at crossfit that you are more into the aesthetic side of the sport - bodybuilding doesnt sound like the right fit???

 

 

[enpower]

Dinahlady-

The home workouts I do are more for injury prevention whilst running mostly, but it helps for posture with swimming and cycling also. I've had a torn achilles, rotater shoulder injury and knee surgery within the last 6 years so it just keeps the niggles at bay. I don't do these home exercises for much increased power or performance.

Optimass-

I'd be doing 6x aerobic sessions per week, 2x of each sport. Swimming with a squad for and hour each time, perhaps 2x 30min runs with a few drills and stride out (400m pace sprints for 50m) thrown in there. Cycling would be on an indoor trainer (kind of like a spin class but different) for perhaps one strength hill/interval session and one easy spin session per week.

I consider myself average build. 184cm tall. 74kg. Not muscular, I sort of look like these guys the Brownlee Brothers and Xavier Gomez who are super faster at swim/bike/run but really weak looking and don't do much weight cross training if at all http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/multimedia/archive/00309/108692785_brownlee_309411c.jpg

Where I'd prefer to look (and have the strength) of this guy David Goggins and ultramarathoner and pretty all round fit and strong guy http://cdn.triathlete-europe.competitor.com/files/2010/05/goggers.jpg

Also, what do you mean exactly "focusing on the aesthetic side of the sport?"