Competing in bodybuilding shows can be a challenging and rewarding experience for many athletes. However, some athletes choose to use performance-enhancing-drugs (PEDs) or other substances to enhance their performance and physique, which can have both positive and negative consequences. In this article, we will explore the positive and negative consequences of competing in enhanced athlete bodybuilding shows.
Positive Consequences
Improved Physical Performance
One of the primary reasons athletes compete in competitions is to achieve physical and mental goals. The reason athletes use PEDs is to improve their physical performance and appearance. Anabolic steroids, for example, can help athletes to build lean muscle mass, increase strength and endurance, and recover more quickly from intense workouts. This can help athletes to push themselves harder in their training while healing faster and ultimately improve their overall physical performance.
Enhanced Physique
Preparing for a competition can provide individuals an avenue to achieve specific physical goals, whether it be weight loss or muscle building. PEDs can help athletes to achieve a more defined, muscular physique, which can be particularly important in bodybuilding competitions where appearance is a key factor in judging. For athletes who are looking to take their physique to the next level, PEDs can be a useful tool to help them achieve their goals.
Increased Confidence
For many athletes, competing in bodybuilding shows can be a daunting experience, particularly when they are competing against other athletes. Some athletes consider completing a competition an accomplished goal where other athletes may consider winning 1st place their goal. Using PEDs can help athletes to feel more confident in their abilities, both in their training and in competition. This increased confidence can help athletes to perform at their best and ultimately achieve their fitness goals.
Negative Consequences
Massive Depravation
When athletes prepare for a body building event they put themselves through an immense amount of pressure both mentally and physically. Physically they deprive themselves of many daily required nutrients to achieve a specific appearance on stage. This could be from depleting their water and sodium intake to limiting the amount of carbs and protein they consume. This depravation can have ill side effects on your liver, kidneys, pancreas, heart, brain and more.
Extreme Nutrient Loading
Athletes will purposely come in to a body building competition depleted which gives them a flat and drained look. Their ultimate goal is to nutrient load in a short period of time prior to the show to begin what is called the “filling stage.” As their muscles have been deprived of these much needed nutrients their muscles will suck them up immediately giving them a fuller and harder look. The goal is to fill up while maintaining a hard and ripped look without “spilling over.” Spilling over is where the athlete may consume to many carbs, to much sodium, and or water and begin to take on a softer watery look.
Health Risks
The massive nutrient depravation and extreme loading phases can cause a handful of harmful side effects if not done correctly. Each athlete is different based on their blood type, weight, body type, and more. Additionally, using PEDs can also pose serious health risks for athletes. Anabolic steroids, for example, can lead to a range of health problems, including liver damage, cardiovascular disease, and infertility. Other PEDs, such as human growth hormone (HGH), can cause joint pain, nerve damage, and diabetes. These health risks can have long-lasting and even permanent consequences for athletes who use PEDs.
Legal Consequences
Using PEDs is illegal in most countries, and athletes who are caught using PEDs in sports where it is prohibited can face serious legal consequences, including fines, suspension from competition, and even imprisonment in some cases. In addition to these legal consequences, athletes who use PEDs can also face social and professional consequences, including damage to their reputation and loss of endorsements or sponsorship deals.
Unfair Advantage
Using PEDs can also create an unfair advantage for athletes who use them, particularly in “natural” competitions where PEDs are prohibited. Athletes who use PEDs may have a more defined, muscular physique than athletes who do not use PEDs, giving them an advantage in competition. This can create an unfair playing field for athletes who choose not to use PEDs, and ultimately undermine the integrity of the sport. This is why event coordinators have structured what are called open events where athletes are not negatively judged for using PEDs and natural competitions where all athletes are prohibited from using any PEDs.
Conclusion
While using PEDs can offer some short-term benefits for athletes competing in bodybuilding shows, it is important to consider the long-term consequences of using these substances. For athletes who are considering using PEDs, it is important to weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks and consequences, and to make an informed decision based on their own personal values and goals.
