Trying to decide…serious help only, please.
Trying to decide…serious help only, please.
Should I do this? The only thing that makes me say no is the hard work that it’s gonna take. Do I really want to put that much into it?
Should I do this? The only thing that makes me say no is the hard work that it’s gonna take. Do I really want to put that much into it?
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December 11th, 2006 at 9:45 pm
My first reaction was, yeah, go for it! But then I thought, first you would have to answer the question, why? I sort of say that sarcasticly, but not really. Your motive for doing it would be the first question to settle. What purpose would it be serving in your life and the lives of the people you love? Then you would have to evaluate what you would have to do to get there. What priorities would you have to shuffle? Is there anything that you would have to do that you don’t believe in doing, is there anyting you would have to sacrifice that you don’t think you should sacrifice? I don’t ask any of those things facecitously, cause I really don’t know anything about getting in that condition (as you probably can tell). But it looks like it would take alot of somethings and very little of some other things. That’s what you would have to weigh.
December 11th, 2006 at 10:06 pm
No, unless you want to look gross.
December 11th, 2006 at 10:06 pm
Yeah…the why is really just becuase 1. I wanted to do it a long time ago and was reminded recently and 2.To have a personal goal, an achievement. A reason for others? I can’t think of one for that. I have been thinking of the shuffling and really not much would change except the eating- pretty strict eating. I would still go to the gym at the same time. I can’t see there being anything wrong in it, unless standing in a very small outfit would fit that category. Jared only says it’s weird, not bad or wrong, just weird.
December 11th, 2006 at 10:07 pm
Oh yeah, and I will have to endure negative opinions. But, that’s okay.
December 11th, 2006 at 10:28 pm
I agree with all except the non-serious Randy. I think it’s a lot of work, too much work. I had an aunt who body built, had two kids and even did the competitions but the one conversation I had years ago was it was tough, i assume it wasn’t just a tough goal. Another thing, she only could keep it up for the competition season which was only a few months. So is it a one-time goal? Or is it something you want to keep up? if it’s the latter I suggest asking around because from what I understand it’s a roller coaster.
I agree with Jared too. But it’s we all do or want to do wierd things.
December 11th, 2006 at 10:49 pm
Personally, I wouldn’t do it. I’d rather make a commitment to real sports and compete in triathlons or something. Body building seems so sissy and pointless. Why be ripped unless your going use all that strength to tear into something or someone.
December 12th, 2006 at 5:01 am
I’m gonna be good.
Doing this isn’t silly or pointless. It’s testing your strength to do something that very few people have the patience or mindset for.
It’s about having the best physique of your life and showing it off. It’s about your hard work and dedication and mind blowing focus. Like any other sport, it’s about being the best.
What do you want to do, Martha? You have fantastic muscle base, and the eating would be hard, because it IS hard. You can do this. You’re one of the toughest chicks I know.
December 12th, 2006 at 10:04 am
ewww, no, besides you would look bad with a fake and bake tan.
December 12th, 2006 at 8:33 pm
Ok, so you all have helped me a lot. I was waiting for the moral, ethical reasons why I should not participate in this and there are none. Beka, I want to. I’m afraid to say yes. So here goes. I don’t realy like swimming or biking that much, so I’d really rather not do a triathlon. If I enjoy it, isn’t that why most people end up in the sport they are in, and quite possibly they are good at it? If my only reasoning against it is a fake tan, or that Randy thinks I look gross, I think I’m ok with that. So, now to find a trainer. Thanks ya’ll!
December 12th, 2006 at 8:48 pm
Cool, just don’t hurt me.
December 12th, 2006 at 10:09 pm
Dan, I wasn’t joking.
December 13th, 2006 at 2:04 am
Cool. I forward to your blog about your progress and the requirements of attaining such a physique (specific diet & exercises) as I am clueless about every aspect of bodybuilding.
December 13th, 2006 at 9:50 am
Here’re my 2 cents:
It’s the same as modeling. You work hard to maintain (or get to) a certain look, hoping that those who judge you at those competitions (or in modeling, the scouts for talent shows) think that you’re better than everyone else there, no matter what. You are trying to get man to judge you in a way that DOES NOT matter. I want you to be healthy Martha. That’s it. I don’t feel like you have to do that for a competition where others judge you against someone else based on your physical appearance or how well your muscles are defined. I agree with Nate in doing a triathalon or something similar that would use the gifts ( great strength, endurance, lungs, heart etc..) God has given you. Not just the look. Do you get what I’m saying? I will cheer you on every step of the way if you decide to go into bodybuilding, don’t get me wrong. I just also know that bodybuilding has one goal- to decide on who looks best- that rubs me the wrong way. Performance (to me on my opinion) is longer lasting and builds a better esteem and longer lasting heart than packing on lots of muscle, becoming so strict on your eating that you don’t enjoy it anymore (which, by the way, led me into anorexia), and being focused on whether your muscles are ripped or not.
From a health stand point, it’s really not that good on your heart or organs to have that low of a fat percentage. Also, The increases in water and sodium that you have to do beforehand could be very taxing on your heart, and cutting carbs to the extreme a bodybuilder does it is the last thing a person should do- it sends their livers into ketosis (BAD) and hurts their brain.
There you go. Now you know how I feel about bodybuilding. Now know this- I love you!!!!
December 13th, 2006 at 2:24 pm
Maybe I’d just be better off smoking crack and eating ho ho’s. Whatcha think?
December 13th, 2006 at 2:51 pm
Skip the crack, but ho-ho’s are a “yes”.
December 14th, 2006 at 12:41 am
I’m with Kristi on the health aspect of this. Bodybuilding is damaging to the body, and you’ll be living with those consequences for the rest of your life, which will probably be shortened as a result. I think that reason alone is enough to not do it.
I also think that it has the potential to negatively effect other areas in your life. Jen knew someone who was involved in bodybuilding. She told Jen that bodybuilding not only made her very unhealthy, but it became an obsession for her. It seems to me that in order to do the things you must to do to be competitive, it would have to become an obsession.
For those reasons, maybe it would be better just to focus on being really fit and healthy.
December 14th, 2006 at 7:08 am
What? Do you guys hear of a lot of bodybuilders who die young? I’ve never heard of such a thing. Just for the record. Figure training is not quite the same as Bodybuilding. I’ll post a comparison picture just for kicks.
December 14th, 2006 at 9:05 am
Eating uber-healthy, lifting weights, and doing lots of cardio is NOT bad for you! What is bad is sitting around watching tv, eating crap while doing nothing and complaining about heart disease or cancer 10 years down the road.
The low body fat percentage is for a very brief period of time, as is the sodium and carb depletion…as in a week.
The only bodybuilders that are unhealthy are the ones building and cutting with steroids. Then there are those that don’t do it right and drop 20 lbs in a month to get in shape for a show. Even then it’s not THAT bad.
Martha, love you girl…kick ass.
December 15th, 2006 at 8:29 am
can you post something else now? your picture isn’t very safe for work!
December 16th, 2006 at 8:28 am
Martha~
I have never posted on your blog, but thought this was a good place to start. Actually Beka tipped me off to this post.
I think that there is a huge difference between Bodybuilding and Figure Competitions and maybe people think they are one in the same…(I am making an assumption that maybe I shouldn’t), but I see no problem in training hard to get the best body possible. One thing that is for sure….a contest body is not maintainable for long term. You are only that ripped for a few days. The you go back to being very, very fit, which in my opinion is an awesome thing!
My opinion is biased because I am training for the same show that Beka is doing. I see nothing wrong with it and I say GO FOR IT!
Stef =)
December 16th, 2006 at 12:27 pm
Stef…Thanks for commenting. Come back again. All these who are commenting are family who only want the best for me. It really hasn’t changed my mind, but I do value the input.
December 17th, 2006 at 8:08 pm
As far as I know the people who have shared opinions against competition body building don’t sit around eating crap and watching TV. I just think they have a different opinion about the sport. I don’t think there is a common knowledge about the difference between figure competition and body building. I didn’t know about it until yesterday. My only problem with any competition like this is the concept of judging people based on how good they look. (spoken by a fatty, i know) I just get concerned about what our body image culture does to the next generation. I’ve always had a problem with beauty contests for the same reason. If you look better (bigger boobs, fuller lips, smoother hair, longer legs, nicer skin etc.) you’re the winner. Is that what figure competition is about? I truly don’t know.
December 17th, 2006 at 8:11 pm
muscle tone and symmetry, I think are the main criteria.
December 18th, 2006 at 10:35 pm
I don’t know enough to know if it would be unhealthy. It seems pretty unnatural to me and that would be a warning flag, but at the same time our bodies can recover from about anything. In my opinion, it’s a matter of priorities. Whatever we are working toward takes up time and often a lot of mental space. If this is what makes you tick then go for it.
December 23rd, 2006 at 8:36 pm
Aww you look great right now. I’m still waiting for my photographer. Do you recommend one?
December 23rd, 2006 at 10:21 pm
I know of one. Pretty busy though. You have to book early.
April 3rd, 2007 at 9:13 pm
Figure competition prep is extremely unhealthy! Dropping your body fat to such low, low levels requires overtraining and undereating. Let me explain WHY it’s so unhealthy:
1.)Compromises the immune system.
2.)Stops your menstrual cycle which also stops vital hormones in the female body causing bone loss, possible hair loss, depression, and possibly other awful symptoms.
3.)Often causes eating disorders. (I know many former and current competitiors that have suffered this.)
4.)Screws up your metabolism! Repeating a contest cycle over the years is just like “yo-yo” dieting- you’ll gain the weight back plus a few pounds as soon as it’s over, which forces you to be ultra-strict year-round or suffer the mental anguish over seeing your muscles disappear under a normal and healthy layer of fat! Trust me- it’s quite shocking and depressing to go from contest shape to your “normal” body. Most people do not handle this well, which is why it often leads to eating disorders and other problems.
5.)Makes you feel like crap!
What ticks me off the most is how figure/fitness women are portrayed as the ideal fitness rolemodels. “Just eat right and exercise…that’s what I do!” is what they tell the public, leading millions of women to feel inadequate because despite their healthy and even vigorous exercise and diet programs they can’t get “ripped” like the top figure women. It’s a lie! Here’s the secrets that top figure pros don’t want you to know about just HOW they obtain those awesome figures:
1.) They starve themselves (controlled starvation) and exercise excessively. Their entire lives revolve around their training. They eat based on the clock and calories and NOT on their own hunger or food preferences. Sound like fun?
2.) Many, if not most top competitors take one or more pharmecutical substances to allow them to retain muscle whilst burning off every bit of fat. Lower-dose steriods and clarenbuterol are popular. Funny, every one talks about how body builders do it, but no one mentions the fact that the figure and fitness girls do it too! Not to mention that during contest training they must be hopped up on caffiene and/or ephederine in order to maintain energy levels.
What I’d like to see is for the fitness industry to be honest with people and quit lying to people by trying to pretend that these women look this way by simply exercising and eating a “proper diet” and protein powder. It’s a lie- and it’s lie that makes millions of women feel inadequate. Sure, they THINK they want to look like that, but that’s only because they don’t KNOW what these women REALLY do to look that way! Sure ladies, starve yourself and exercise for 4-5 hours a day, and take some low-dose steriods and you too can look as great! On top of that, it’s only TEMPORARY- you can only be in peak condition for a few weeks! But the fitness industry would have women beleive that these women always look this way! LIES LIES LIES!
April 4th, 2007 at 6:01 am
Wow. Ok. Thanks. I won’t be taking steroids. When I eat, I’m usually hungry. I workout a little over 1 hour a day, ocassionally more if I feel like running longer. It may or may not stop your cycle, no such luck there for me, yet…if only. I do put some stock into the metabolic information and have been reading up on it. Appreciate your concern, whoever you are.