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Bodybuilding FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions - Solutions and Remedies to various Queries and Problems

What is Bodybuilding?

Bodybuilding refers to exercises performed by a person with a intention to increase the mass and toning of the body besides overall development of the Body organs. It may be done at the Beginner Level or at an Advanced Level.

What are the Benefits of Bodybuilding?

1. Increase in muscle mass of the Body.
2. Reduction in Body fat.
3. Confidence Building .
4. Better health.
5. Increase in stamina and endurance.
6. Prevention of stress and depression.
7. Resistance to common diseases.
8. Overall development of the Body.
9. Reduction in the cholesterol levels.
10. Increased body flexibility, bone and ligament strength.

What are the Tips for Bodybuilding?

1. Talk to a fitness professional before commencing bodybuilding.
2. Train with a partner, if possible.
3. Wear loose clothes.
4. Exercise large muscle groups first such as shoulders, chest and thighs.
5. Alternate push exercises with pull exercises.
6. Perform multi-joint movements such as shoulder-bench ahead of single joint movement such as curls.
7. Calves must not be ignored.
8. Try using wide and narrow stretches while doing calf raises.

What are the Precautions?

Even though the muscle stimulation occurs in the gym through weight lifting, muscle growth occurs only during rest. Without proper rest and sleep, muscles do not have a chance to recover and build. About eight hours of sleep is desirable for the bodybuilder to be refreshed, although this may be individual-specific. Additionally, many athletes find daytime nap further increases their body's ability to build muscle. Don't over-stress or over-exhaust yourself and have a proper sleep and diet, use healthy diet supplements and avoid alcohol, sedatives, drugs and smoking. Pregnant women and mothers who are engaged in breast-feeding must NOT do heavy workouts. People who are suffering from any previous disease are advised NOT to do, unless prescribed otherwise by the medical practitioner.

What is Overtraining?

Overtraining occurs when someone trains his body beyond its ability to perform and recover.

Symptoms of overtraining include:

(i) Higher-than-normal resting pulse

(ii) The body falls ill very frequently and takes longer-than-usual time to recover.

(iii) Occurrence of muscle spasms during resting.

(iv) When hands are shaky.

(v) Loss of Sleep and appetite.

(vi) Body fatigue and unexplained loss of weight.

What are the Basic exercise movements?

1. Squats.
2. Bench presses.
3. Overhead presses.
4. Dead lifts.
5. Bar Dips.
6. Pull-ups and Rows.

Does Lifting Weights Retards Growth?

The whole idea of growth of a person being affected due to heavy weight lifting is a complete myth. This can be seen taking some of the great examples such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Dave Draper who start lifting heavy weights from a very young age and went on to be above 6 feet tall.