Tom Ambrozewicz asked:


If you are going to put a lot of time, effort, and money into training, you might wish to show off the end results in a bodybuilding fitness competition. These contests are held throughout the country and world and showcase some of the most physically fit bodies known to humankind. There are many levels of competition, so don’t worry if you aren’t Mr. Universe just yet-you can find a competition that is right for you. Any sort of contest does, however, require a dedication to training, including a healthy diet and lots of exercise.

The first thing you should do when you decide to begin competitive bodybuilding is to find a coach. It will be much easier to break into the competition world if you have someone with a little experience under his or her belt guiding you. With your coach, decide on a training schedule and diet, and choose whether or not you want to take supplements. Natural training is, of course, always best, but you may wish to take vitamins or other supplements to make sure your body is getting the nutrients it needs even if you cut some foods out of your diet.

Next, research some of the events held near you. Local events are a good place to start if you live in a big city. If not, you may have to travel some distance to find events, so plan accordingly. Some competitions have an entry fee, and all have different rules of conduct. In most cases, you will have an orientation session the day or morning before the event, but you need to be well prepared before this to avoid looking like a novice in front of the judges. Before the competition, you should not only train, but also learn to flex while you pose and still look relaxed. You may also want to tan, remove hair, and take other measures to help your body look as lean and sculpted as possible. Your coach, if he or she has participated in competitive bodybuilding, should be able to give you advice in these areas.

After the competition, evaluate your performance, good or bad. Nobody is perfect, but by learning from past mistakes, you can do better at future competitions. Keep your eyes peeled in the staging area-what are other competitors doing to help their performance? As soon as the winners are announced and the applause has died, head to the judges’ table. They are the experts and can give you a quick verbal assessment of your body and give you advice for your next competition. Be humble and listen to everything they have to say, both positive and negative. In no time, it will be you in the winner’s circle, and you can give advice to the new competitive bodybuilders in your area.



Anne

Dane Fletcher asked:


Thanks to the declining value of the dollar, gas prices shooting through the roof, and a bunch of other elements, the cost of food in the United States has increased very considerably in the past couple of years. While there were a lot of people who saw those high prices of food coming from a mile away, many of those people were shocked that the price of supplements had also shot up over the past year. Most providers of whey, including online sellers, have marked the price up nearly fifty percent, and it doesn’t look good for the future. The prices have gone way up for beef, chicken, fresh produce, eggs, and whey, in other words, all of the average bodybuilder’s favorites.

So before you throw in the keys, take a look at the following tips that will help you get through the higher prices, and also a few ways to benefit from these rough times.

Cheaper Gym Memberships

If you are having a hard time adjusting to the struggling economy, just think of what gym owners have to get through. Supplements are also at a higher cost to them, the gym equipment is way more expensive to have delivered, and the number of members has probably gone down. For most people, the cost of a gym membership is high on the list of things to cut back on when currency is tight. Go to your gym, or a gym where you’d want to be, and explain that because of rising costs, it’s not in the budget to be a member. In a lot of cases the owner will pull some strings and allow you a membership at a lower cost. This might be due to their costs being fixed, and they would probably want to get less money out of you rather than lose your business.

Working Out In Your Home

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll be aware that gas prices are absolutely ridiculous these days at nearly five dollars per gallon. While many times it’s difficult to get a full chest, back, or leg workout in your home, you can discover that a couple sets of dumbbells are a great and efficient way to train your biceps, triceps, forearms, and shoulders. Any work on your abs, and most cardio exercises can also be completed in house, which saves you money and time. If you can not spend just ten dollars a week by not driving to the gym on select days and working out at home, by the end of the year you’ll have saved nearly $500. This is a great way to save money without giving up too much of your routine.

Buying In Bulk

Even though food has become more expensive due to the economy and shortage issues, you can still purchase large amounts of food that you need for relatively cheap. A large sack of rice is still pretty cheap, and will take care of your carb needs for weeks. Tuna is continued as an excellent and affordable protein source. It’s also good to check for unmarked deals where you can, like the butcher who will discount a lot of meat if they need to sell it before it’s not considered fresh, you can purchase a big hunk of meat, and freeze it. Small purchasing decisions could end up saving you a lot of money.



Margaret

katiebelle asked:


Im a 21 year old female 205 pounds 5′7 i do cardio five to six days a week an hour a day i would like to start bodybuilding but have no clue how to start what to take for supplements or what my fitness or diet plan should be . Please help

Ashley

katiebelle asked:


I would really like to start bodybuilding to get in shape I am a 21 years old female and i don’t really know a whole lot about how to get started i have no idea about what kind of fitness routine i need to follow or supplements or diet i don’t like fish at all . i do cardio now an hour a day five to six days a week any suggestions?

Eva