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Apr 12, 2006
Side effects of weight lifting
by SirGan|
Although this term is commonly used for any recreational activity where the weights are being used for training (usually in the gyms), weightlifting is in fact a sport where competitors lift heavy weights mounted on steel bars. When we talk about competitive weightlifting we can talk about two different weightlifting events * the “snatch” discipline - where the competitors must lift the weight above their head in one move * the ”clean and jerk” discipline – where the same thing is done by two moves, one to lift the weight to the collar bone and the second to lift it above the head. Bodybuilding is a sport or activity in which the primary objective is to develop the size of the skeletal muscles. The fact is that teen bodybuilding has gained increasing popularity in the last couple of years, with young teens going to the gym almost daily. Effects of weight lifting
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Area |
Effects |
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Health |
Increases HDL (good cholesterol) and decrease LDL (bad cholesterol). Reduces risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, breast cancer Decreases or minimizes risk of osteoporosis by building bone mass. Reduces symptoms of PMS, stress and anxiety. |
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Strength |
Increased muscle strength, power, endurance and size with enhanced performance of everyday tasks. |
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Flexibility |
Weight training can improve your overall body flexibility and reduce the risk of muscle pulls and back pain |
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Likelihood of Injury |
Strong muscles, tendons, and ligaments are less likely to give way under stress and are less likely to be injured!!! |
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Body Composition |
Boosted metabolism will cause reduction body fat, decreases in waist measurements and body fat measurement. |
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Muscle Tone |
Weight lifting will cause firmer and better-defined muscles. |
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Posture |
Stronger muscles in the neck, shoulder, back, hip and abdominal area |
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State of |
Improved ability to handle stress effectively, fall asleep quicker and sleep deeper |
Abuse of drugs by professional body builders
The darkest side of body building is definitely the abuse of drugs that are commonly used by professional body builders.
ANABOLIC STEROIDS
The most common and easily available drug for body builders is definitely a testosterone called “Test” in the bodybuilders’ world!These medications called anabolic steroids are frequently used in gyms all around the world. Owners of the most bodybuilding magazines are the supplement companies who claim that their bodybuilding products are the best although they push it out without any scientific merit. Some of them even encourage the use of steroids.
Anabolic steroids are drugs that resemble the androgenic hormones such as testosterone. Many professional body builders are using them hopping that they will gain more muscle weight, strength, power, speed, endurance, and aggressiveness. Physiologically, male hormones such as testosterone are responsible for many developmental changes that occur mostly in puberty.
There are two types of testosterone effects:
1. Androgenic effects - Testosterone is responsible for primary and secondary sexual characteristics including enlargement of the penis, voice changes, hair growth and several other effects.
2. Anabolic effects – accelerated growth of muscle, bone, and red blood cells. These are target effects of all bodybuilders!
These medications work by stimulation of certain receptors found on muscle cells. When these receptors are stimulated, specific genes are producing proteins.
They also change the complete enzyme lists that are actually involved in this process.
No hypothesis about anabolic steroids has been fully proven but there are many proofs that these hormones have anti-catabolic effects. This means that they prevent tissue breakdown during and after exercise that is usually caused by other hormones such as cortisol. This can significantly speed-up the recovery time after a hard training. Beside these “physical effects” of anabolic steroids, there are also many psychological effects that are still unknown or unclear.
Several studies tried to determine more facts about the “psychosomatic state" that these drugs are causing. This state of mind is characterized by sensations of well being, euphoria, aggressiveness and tolerance to stress.
CREATINE
This substance is normally made in our liver, pancreas and kidneys and is deposited in several tissues such as muscles, heart, brain, testicles and the eye. It primary role is participation in the metabolic production of cellular energy. There are many possible side effects that may occur if a person ingests more Creatine than his body can handle and the most common are headaches, water retention, abdominal pain and diarrhea..
There are many other drugs that are being used by professional body builders on daily basis such as different kinds of amino acids, Beta-hydroxy-Beta-methylbutyrate, supplements of chromium, calcium, iron etc. Most of the professional body builders are also using some very strong diuretics just day or two before some big competition because it will free their body from excess water.
What after?
There are many myths about what happens to the body builders after they retire from competition. Although many scientists claim that these men are faced with several health problems, this still hasn’t been proven. There aren’t really any researches that could confirm that any bodybuilder had major health problems or any other long-term negative side effects from a long term body building and the use of steroids.
Article sources
- Charts: www.thetrainingstationinc.com
