At what point are you considered a bodybuilder?

[UpInSmoke]

I don't like to label myself.. but I pretty much just consider myself as a health and fitness enthusiast. I don't really like wearing stuff with the bodybuilding.com logo or anything that seems like it labels me as something which I don't consider myself. Aside from like a gym logo t-shirt, or athletic clothes, I tend to shy away from the whole bodybuilding esque clothing. Like supplement or brand merchandise. I guess if your a fan of the sport it's cool. No hate to people that disagree or what not, it's just my opinion.

It's not that I'm against that sort of thing, but I feel it's something that should be earned. Like a privilege. I think it should be reserved for people who earn that title, ones who actually compete or do take this very seriously. People that have built a worthy physique. I guess it just seems like false advertising for me. Kind of like really fat girls wearing juicy pants, or belly shirts lol. I just think it should be a privilege not a right. It's like if someone notices my bb.com shirt or whatever, they'd expect an awesome physique underneath. And if I don't have that yet, I don't want to make the claim.

Maybe I shouldn't be so self conscious, or worry so much about what someone else might think, but for me it gives me something to aspire to. I admire bodybuilders for their lifestyle choice, and ethics. I have hopes that one day I can consider myself to be one, but as of now I just think I'm a guy that likes to work out and eat right. Who needs to lose a few more lbs haha.

One could argue that anyone who is working to change their body for the better is a body builder I suppose..

What is everyone's thoughts on this?

[WarWithWeakness]

Kinda in the same position myself. I workout, I regularly post here about bodybuilding, and despite my intention to not care how I look, I still take progress pictures. At least on some level, I'm attempting to build a physique.

Still, I'm not a bodybuilder. I don't train like one, and I don't eat like one.
I think anyone who does those two things should be able to call themselves a bodybuilder. If you live what you do, then that's what you are, regardless of results (which will be just a matter of time).

[alex2363]

i am a bodybuilder because i build my body evryday or most of the time with weights, not in the level of the pros(jay cutler), same thing as basketplayer, im not a nba player (kobe)but i do play basket ball so im a basketplayer just not a pro.

[sliq3g]

I consider myself a bodybuilder. I think there is a difference between bodybuilding and weight lifting.


Bodybuilder: someone who has nutrition, brain, and weight lifting N'SYNC (in sync)

Weight Lifter: that might be the 300 lb guy with high body fat percentage that will always put up more than you, but he's a lot of fat.


Ya feel me? I'm not professional or w/e but I feel I'm a body builder, I built myself from 130lb swimmer to a 205 lb beast

[gbsju]

I consider myself a bodybuilder. I think there is a difference between bodybuilding and weight lifting.


Bodybuilder: someone who has nutrition, brain, and weight lifting N'SYNC (in sync)

Weight Lifter: that might be the 300 lb guy with high body fat percentage that will always put up more than you, but he's a lot of fat.


Ya feel me? I'm not professional or w/e but I feel I'm a body builder, I built myself from 130lb swimmer to a 205 lb beast

Basically this.

[pntbllwlly]

Im the same way. But I consider training as a addicting hobbie lol, so therefore I dont have to worry about being considered a BB'er or etc.

Think about RC cars(just an ex.). Those are hobbies. People who use them tend to run them a certain amount of times a week, take care of them, and do research on them. And generally, theyre on the persons mind a lot.

My .02

[tom101]

I consider myself a bodybuilder. I think there is a difference between bodybuilding and weight lifting.


Bodybuilder: someone who has nutrition, brain, and weight lifting N'SYNC (in sync)

Weight Lifter: that might be the 300 lb guy with high body fat percentage that will always put up more than you, but he's a lot of fat.


Ya feel me? I'm not professional or w/e but I feel I'm a body builder, I built myself from 130lb swimmer to a 205 lb beast

Orly?

[TheProgressiveOne]

Dude, i hate wearing sleeveless tops or anything like that. And rarely wear supplement branded shirts..

Even once im at a weight that im comfortable i dont think i wanna wear that kinda stuff...
in my gym there are a few diff groups:

ones who wear baggy clothes but u can tell they're jacked underneath (sleeper look...which is my fave)

or

posers (who wear singlets/tight tops etc and only push 20kg DB presses haha)

it pretty much just comes down to what u want..

[monkeylex]

i think body builders compete or at least train in order to compete at one point. For everyone else its just a hobby.

[mingzie]

zz if you do any form of training with your main goal as to gaining muscle mass and size (hypertrophy) you're a bodybuilder.

u dont have to compete, thats why theres the term competitive bodybuilding.

bodybuilding.com brahs, we're all bodybuilders unless u wanna be a pedantic pusscake

[Dexter3000]

One of the coolest things for me is walking around in normal clothes (formal, informal, casual, etc.) and still look muscular/fit. Somehow it shows you have balls to workout, discipline and work ethic. It gives some sort of powerful look without you having to wear any obvious gym rat clothing.

I like that combination of being a 'normal guy' who's fit. When the clothes come off, the real truth is revealed.

[moneymango]

If you're working out to improve your body, you're a bodybuilder.

[laes778]

Dude, i hate wearing sleeveless tops or anything like that. And rarely wear supplement branded shirts..

Even once im at a weight that im comfortable i dont think i wanna wear that kinda stuff...
in my gym there are a few diff groups:

ones who wear baggy clothes but u can tell they're jacked underneath (sleeper look...which is my fave)

or

posers (who wear singlets/tight tops etc and only push 20kg DB presses haha)

it pretty much just comes down to what u want..

[DeronD]

so to all the guys who consider themselves bodybuilders, imagine this...

Your friend, female, tells you she has a new boyfriend. You ask her what he's like and she says, "he's really funny, into death metal, works at Jiffy Lube, oh yeah and he's a bodybuilder."

One week later you meet the guy, and I walk up... 5' 9 1/2" 190lbs, about 16% body fat, 15.5 inch arms... what's the first thought that goes through your mind?

Prooooooobably going to be, wait a minute, I thought she said bodybuilder, this guy's no bigger than me. right?

point being, you'd like to consider yourself a bodybuilder because you put in your time at the gym, you work real hard on your diet, you read some books, you have an ANIMAL wallpaper on your computer, but by the general public's standards you are not a bodybuilder.

Like the OP said, although I work real dang hard and try to eat right, I'm still only putting in half the effort a comp. bodybuilder puts in, and for that they deserve the respect the title brings.

Not to belittle all of our efforts, progress, triumphs, and abilities to pick ourselves up after a failure and battle back, because it's admirable and impressive and an awesome hobby to let consume you, but it's just that for us, a hobby. When you say bodybuilder it implies a professional or amateur status.

You don't hear people say, "I'm a mountaineer" when they only go hiking a couple times a month. They say, "I like to go hiking often."

[64Man]

I believe the average people are the ones who have screwed it up for us...when people hear "bodybuilder" they expect the guy whos huge and jacked like crazy. Its a stereotype. We're all "bodybuilders" just not professional. Like one of the posts said, just because Im not in the NBA doesn't mean im not a basketball player.

It also doesn't matter what shirts or clothing you wear. Everybody has their own style, which is what makes the sport so wonderful. Nobodys really the same. Some people like to wear the huge shirts and others wear the cut offs and tanks. Its like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan...both great athletes but 2 different styles to play the game.

Personally for me I like to wear a tank on lets say, bicep day. Just having the pump in your arms and seeing the veins bulging out motivates me to keep pushing and pushing. Also seeing other people stare at you while your getting your swole on is a motivation to keep going, and going and going. Its whatever keeps pushing you for that last rep and what works for you.

Then there are other times when I just want a big loose shirt. Comfortable. Not worried about anything else but the burn in my muscles. Not seeing the mirror kinds gives me a tunnel vision on just focusing on the feel of the workout. Works for me.....mind/muscle connection.

[D-Wade7288]

I believe the average people are the ones who have screwed it up for us...when people hear "bodybuilder" they expect the guy whos huge and jacked like crazy. Its a stereotype. We're all "bodybuilders" just not professional. Like one of the posts said, just because Im not in the NBA doesn't mean im not a basketball player.

It also doesn't matter what shirts or clothing you wear. Everybody has their own style, which is what makes the sport so wonderful. Nobodys really the same. Some people like to wear the huge shirts and others wear the cut offs and tanks. Its like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan...both great athletes but 2 different styles to play the game.

Personally for me I like to wear a tank on lets say, bicep day. Just having the pump in your arms and seeing the veins bulging out motivates me to keep pushing and pushing. Also seeing other people stare at you while your getting your swole on is a motivation to keep going, and going and going. Its whatever keeps pushing you for that last rep and what works for you.

Then there are other times when I just want a big loose shirt. Comfortable. Not worried about anything else but the burn in my muscles. Not seeing the mirror kinds gives me a tunnel vision on just focusing on the feel of the workout. Works for me.....mind/muscle connection.

This is where I am at. I feel I am a bodybuilder but I'm definitely not on the level as a lot of guys. I work hard in the gym, dieting etc.

It's definitely a stereotype.

I was embarrased a couple months ago in class when a guy I knew introduced me as a "bodybuilder" (I'm all of 6'2 192lbs) as I told him to say I was into exercising. I like the title, but feel that people laugh when you say your a bodybuilder and your not massive.

[JFerraro819]

someone who does something to alter their body for the better is a body builder

[Gabriel01]

someone who does something to alter their body for the better is a body builder

FAR from it.

Then everyone should start calling themselves "i am Bodybuilder because i eat healthy and hit the gym."

Bodybuilding - regardless of what you eat, your knowledge, your mental ability. it boils down to how you look.

from wiki:

"bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their appearance. The muscles are revealed through a process known as the "cutting phase" - a combination of fat loss, oils, and tanning (or tanning lotions) which combined with lighting make the definition of the muscle group more distinct"

[64Man]

FAR from it.

Then everyone should start calling themselves "i am Bodybuilder because i eat healthy and hit the gym."

Bodybuilding - regardless of what you eat, your knowledge, your mental ability. it boils down to how you look.

from wiki:

"bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their appearance. The muscles are revealed through a process known as the "cutting phase" - a combination of fat loss, oils, and tanning (or tanning lotions) which combined with lighting make the definition of the muscle group more distinct"

Try again!

You do know wiki isn't really a source of any value...the definitions are actually made from average joes from all over the world...I could actually log into wiki and change or add to the definition myself.

Here's a definition from WEBSTER:


body·build·ing
Pronounced:
/ˈbɑ:diˌbɪldɪŋ/
Function:
noun
Meaning:
[noncount] : the activity of doing exercises (such as lifting weights) to make the muscles of your body larger and stronger ▪

[Gabriel01]

Try again!

You do know wiki isn't really a source of any value...the definitions are actually made from average joes from all over the world...I could actually log into wiki and change or add to the definition myself.

Here's a definition from WEBSTER:


body·build·ing
Pronounced:
/ˈbɑ:diˌbɪldɪŋ/
Function:
noun
Meaning:
[noncount] : the activity of doing exercises (such as lifting weights) to make the muscles of your body larger and stronger ▪

by Webster definition, it does not define bodybuilding as a whole. hence key the terms is used "body larger and stronger" which is more applicable for power lifters.

Bodybuilding on the other hand - do not care less how much they lift. It's what weight that will provide muscle contraction given the weight of there chosen. Once again, as posted earlier, bodybuilding overall goal is aimed at one thing, muscle appearance and definition.