Fitness competitions seem very unhealthy, even dangerous

lucinda52 · 03-23-2009, 07:39 AM

I was talking with my Dr. about b/f percentages and what are the complications, if any, of going too low. He has worked with many women who compete in b/b shows and said that all of them had major hormonal problems and one tri-athlete he worked with died in her sleep due to heart arythmia cause of too low b/b. Being in single digit b/f % is way too dangerous for a woman, even below 15% is borderline. What do ya'll think of this? What do you actually feel like when you are that low? Can people depend on you if they need you or are you so wiped out all you can do is eat, w/o and sleep? How do you take care of your kids, husbands and do your jobs well? Your thoughts please, Cinda

TameMe · 03-23-2009, 10:32 AM

I work full time, have kids and I?m married, so for me I find my life has to be very structured in order to compete in fitness. I don?t get too drained or undependable? I can?t my family needs me. I eat 8 meals a day so I?m never really hungry and I use caffeine to help with the energy loss. I find the closer I get to a show the more I have to write things down since I get absent minded. But for the most part I feel great. I usually don?t use my period (which I was told the loss of a period is the sign of our body?s stressing). I go down to 8% bf, but I?m only there for a short period of time and then I pop right back up to 13-15% within 4 weeks of my show. I think the problems occur when a female sits at 8% over a long period of time or over trains without refueling their body properly (including additional vitamins and extra rest). I think if it?s done carefully, sensible, and for a short period of time, it?s not as damaging.

I?ve been doing this for 5 years and my doctor says I?m as healthy as any professional athlete.

RDFinders · 03-23-2009, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TameMe

I work full time, have kids and I?m married, so for me I find my life has to be very structured in order to compete in fitness. I don?t get too drained or undependable? I can?t my family needs me. I eat 8 meals a day so I?m never really hungry and I use caffeine to help with the energy loss. I find the closer I get to a show the more I have to write things down since I get absent minded. But for the most part I feel great. I usually don?t use my period (which I was told the loss of a period is the sign of our body?s stressing). I go down to 8% bf, but I?m only there for a short period of time and then I pop right back up to 13-15% within 4 weeks of my show. I think the problems occur when a female sits at 8% over a long period of time or over trains without refueling their body properly (including additional vitamins and extra rest). I think if it?s done carefully, sensible, and for a short period of time, it?s not as damaging.

I?ve been doing this for 5 years and my doctor says I?m as healthy as any professional athlete.

Completely agree. With our competitions, the body fat levels are low for short periods of time. We are not trying to live at such low levels, which puts you at risk for multiple problems.

jazziephizzle · 03-23-2009, 08:29 PM

Im not allowed to respond to many of these but I just want people to know Im in high school and I get teased. I get teased because I have muscles. Because I eat healthy. Because I get on stage. Girls at my school walk around showing sloppy stomachs and are big and out of shape, boys love that. I will take my chances at doing fitness and feeling fit rather than spending my afternoons at McDonalds with most of the kids in the United States. A little knowledge and support would change alot of minds in America.

Ascitiesburn96 · 03-23-2009, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazziephizzle

Im not allowed to respond to many of these but I just want people to know Im in high school and I get teased. I get teased because I have muscles. Because I eat healthy. Because I get on stage. Girls at my school walk around showing sloppy stomachs and are big and out of shape, boys love that. I will take my chances at doing fitness and feeling fit rather than spending my afternoons at McDonalds with most of the kids in the United States. A little knowledge and support would change alot of minds in America.

just stumbled upon this thread, dont worry your not the only kid in highschool who takes **** for being a bodybuilder. I opted out of playing lacrosse so I can focus on doing a show.

Needless to say the jokes never stop but I think about it like this. **** them.

AMEN.

RDFinders · 03-23-2009, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazziephizzle

Im not allowed to respond to many of these but I just want people to know Im in high school and I get teased. I get teased because I have muscles. Because I eat healthy. Because I get on stage. Girls at my school walk around showing sloppy stomachs and are big and out of shape, boys love that. I will take my chances at doing fitness and feeling fit rather than spending my afternoons at McDonalds with most of the kids in the United States. A little knowledge and support would change alot of minds in America.

they will regret it during your 10 year reunion.

daviess · 03-23-2009, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TameMe

I think the problems occur when a female sits at 8% over a long period of time or over trains without refueling their body properly (including additional vitamins and extra rest). I think if it?s done carefully, sensible, and for a short period of time, it?s not as damaging.
.

totally agree. there are girls, many of which you can see on this site even,
why try to maintain a low bf% all year around, that cant be healthy. but sporadically not as bad, the stress it puts your bod in still isnt great tho. and female bb is worse, as the bf% has to get quite a bit lower than figure/fitness

dvsness · 03-25-2009, 01:51 PM

Stage ready bodyfat is not maintained year round. It is a look that is achieved on that day, and the goal is to peak for a particular time frame for judging. It would be unhealthy to attempt to live in that state, but it is not the case. Dieting in an unhealthy manner can also cause problems.

Fwiw, I have a full time office job, I do appearances for Prolab and I help prep regional competitors, all while dieting. I prep my food, by bf's food (he is also a competitor) and live my life. It's really not even a hindrance until the final weeks.

RDFinders · 03-25-2009, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvsness

Stage ready bodyfat is not maintained year round. It is a look that is achieved on that day, and the goal is to peak for a particular time frame for judging. It would be unhealthy to attempt to live in that state, but it is not the case. Dieting in an unhealthy manner can also cause problems.

Fwiw, I have a full time office job, I do appearances for Prolab and I help prep regional competitors, all while dieting. I prep my food, by bf's food (he is also a competitor) and live my life. It's really not even a hindrance until the final weeks.

Hey chick? Still eating those carbs? LOL!

otongki · 03-25-2009, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucinda52

I was talking with my Dr. about b/f percentages and what are the complications, if any, of going too low. He has worked with many women who compete in b/b shows and said that all of them had major hormonal problems and one tri-athlete he worked with died in her sleep due to heart arythmia cause of too low b/b. Being in single digit b/f % is way too dangerous for a woman, even below 15% is borderline. What do ya'll think of this? What do you actually feel like when you are that low? Can people depend on you if they need you or are you so wiped out all you can do is eat, w/o and sleep? How do you take care of your kids, husbands and do your jobs well? Your thoughts please, Cinda

The answer to all of your questions is that you have to be insanely crazy. But, many of the people here would refer it as being consistent. Being an athlete for those who doesn't make their living from the sports is really demanding a lot of thing.

I'm not married, nor having children. But I work 7-11 and taking a master program at the same time. Amids from my regular schedule, I spend 1.5 hours in the gym and make 6 meals a day.

My social life has turned around since I do bodybuilding. Most of my saturday night I spend it in the gym, I'd rather stay at home and watch some tv than going hammered in to a club, and I lost a lot of friends.

But, with bodybuilding I gain new friends, the people who I can rely to. It's kinda weird but when you bond with somebody on the bases of sports, its different to someone you met on a bar. I found them to be much of a "real" friend.

Why would I choose tuna with olive oil over a melted cheese steamy burger? Because... living healthy is beyond than you possibly imagine. By having the power to control yourself, what you eat, and how you treat your body, you have the ability to control those around you.

As the rule of cybernetics that "the unit within the system with the most behavioral responses available to it controls the system". The system is the environment, the behavioral responses is the action, and the unit is you.

And, when it comes to the body fat%. I know a lot of people make assumption that fitness or bodybuilders are always looked ripped, just like the one on magazine cover. But, to have a physique like that it's the same liketo balance a knife on the tip of your finger, you can only do it for a period of time. What most people didn't see is when they're at their "off" season.

After all, they also bleed the same blood like anyone else. What makes them sets apart is their arrogance, or some may say their "dedication" and "commitment".

dvsness · 03-25-2009, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RDFinders

Hey chick? Still eating those carbs? LOL!

I'm eating anything that stays still long enough for me to stab it with a fork!

RDFinders · 03-26-2009, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dvsness

I'm eating anything that stays still long enough for me to stab it with a fork!

lol! same here. i just added cardio back to my regimen on a consistent basis to keep from blowing up too much. got 2 more months before the prep starts.

lucinda52 · 03-28-2009, 12:13 PM

Thanks so much for all your inputs. It would be nice to see what the bodybuilders/fitness models etc. look like when not training for competitions so those of us who are not competitors can have some realistic expectations. I will be 53 this year and would like to see other women in their 50s with realistic builds and b/f %. Blessings, Cinda

RDFinders · 03-28-2009, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucinda52

Thanks so much for all your inputs. It would be nice to see what the bodybuilders/fitness models etc. look like when not training for competitions so those of us who are not competitors can have some realistic expectations. I will be 53 this year and would like to see other women in their 50s with realistic builds and b/f %. Blessings, Cinda

go to my blog. i have pics posted of the progress i have made in my offseason. nothing super exciting, but gives you an idea that we look normal during offseason training. some people stay a little leaner and some people put on more weight, just depends on the person.

urstrulyhb · 03-29-2009, 09:11 PM

your dr could have been sterotyping bc most people that diet or have ever done a show know that they wont look like that yr round. its impossiblee. plus in order to improve or change your physique your nutrition has to change. you stay to low for to long your body will stop responding.

girl8 · 03-31-2009, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by otongki

My social life has turned around since I do bodybuilding. Most of my saturday night I spend it in the gym, I'd rather stay at home and watch some tv than going hammered in to a club, and I lost a lot of friends.

But, with bodybuilding I gain new friends, the people who I can rely to. It's kinda weird but when you bond with somebody on the bases of sports, its different to someone you met on a bar. I found them to be much of a "real" friend.

t".

I'm losing "fake friends" that want to stay out till bar close and I don't want to anymore either!!! I like going out but those "friends" think now that I'm just the DD.......annoying......so I'm looking for people as serious as me.......it's hard to find them but I'll keep looking

push_it · 03-31-2009, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by girl8

I'm losing "fake friends" that want to stay out till bar close and I don't want to anymore either!!! I like going out but those "friends" think now that I'm just the DD.......annoying......so I'm looking for people as serious as me.......it's hard to find them but I'll keep looking

That's a reason why I love bb.com. There are those type of people that want to be friends on here. I know it's not the same as having someone you can actually talk face to face with and go out with, but ever friend who shares the same passions matters

rheidis · 05-23-2009, 03:29 PM

OMG! I cant believe these kids tease you! You are beautiful! They r jealous! I got the "anorexia" thing too from college kids when I was dieting down, but of course, it was said while they were eating their McDonald's or drinking their fatty coffee...

So, to each their own---keep up the good work!

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazziephizzle

Im not allowed to respond to many of these but I just want people to know Im in high school and I get teased. I get teased because I have muscles. Because I eat healthy. Because I get on stage. Girls at my school walk around showing sloppy stomachs and are big and out of shape, boys love that. I will take my chances at doing fitness and feeling fit rather than spending my afternoons at McDonalds with most of the kids in the United States. A little knowledge and support would change alot of minds in America.

bryantone · 05-30-2009, 01:19 PM

Women look best and are healthy in the 12 to 18% BF range... too bad the judges don't see that like most of us men do. Please dont neg me as I only have one rep point.