Bodybuilding is an exercise programme intended to improve muscle growth in humans and to advance general fitness and health. Bodybuilding is a sport where participants compete to demonstrate prominent muscular bulk, symmetry, and definition for overall aesthetic effect. The workouts involve the use of barbells, dumbbells, and other resistance training equipment. See weight training for information on the use of comparable exercises for general conditioning, rehabilitative therapy, and sports conditioning.
The practise of bodybuilding in most later nations was inspired by and derived from the ancient Greeks. Modern competitions mostly evolved from late 19th-century European strongman theatrical and circus acts. Physical culturist Bernarr Macfadden (1868–1955) organised the first American physique competition, which took place in New York City in 1903. Al Treloar, the winner, earned the title "The Most Perfectly Developed Man in the World." Charles Atlas prevailed in comparable competitions held by Macfadden in 1921 and 1922, with similar results. However, bodybuilding competitions were uncommon until the Mr. America competition was launched in 1939 under the sponsorship of the American Amateur Athletic Union (AAU).Following that, two Mr. America winners who acted as inspirations for a subsequent generation of aspiring bodybuilders were John Grimek (1940–41) and Steve Reeves (1947). After the war, the sport flourished swiftly, and in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the AAU Mr. America competition had its peak popularity. Two rival organisations simultaneously emerged: the National Amateur Body-Builders' Association in the United Kingdom, founded by Oscar Heidenstam in 1950, and the International Federation of Bodybuilders, founded in 1946 by Canadian brothers Joe and Ben Weider. For over 25 years, the Mr. Universe competition held by the latter was the most renowned worldwide bodybuilding competition. In the 1970s, the Weiders' Mr. Olympia competition superseded it in popularity.
The most significant person in bodybuilding history is Arnold Schwarzenegger, an American bodybuilder of Austrian descent who won the Mr. Olympia title seven times (1970–75, 1980). His amazing physique, endearing demeanour, and ensuing successful film career had a revolutionary effect on American society by promoting a greater acceptance of bodybuilding and fitness-related pursuits. His Arnold Classic has developed into a prime occasion for physical culture enthusiasts. It is an annual physique and fitness banquet held in Columbus, Ohio. A comparable awakening in women's bodybuilding, which started conducting competitions in the 1970s, was ignited by six-time Ms. Olympia Cory Everson.
In professional bodybuilding, contestants line up and strike predetermined poses for a panel of judges who score them according to symmetry, muscularity, size, conditioning, posing, and stage presence. Bodybuilders work to reduce unnecessary body fat before competitions in order to achieve maximum muscular definition and vascularity. They also tan and shave in order to highlight the contrast of their skin under the spotlight. The final stage of their preparations for competitions involves a combination of extracellular dehydration and carbo-loading.
To achieve the desired outcomes in bodybuilding, work and time are needed. In the beginning, a bodybuilder could be able to add 8–20 pounds (4–9 kg) of muscle every year if they lift for seven hours every week. However, after the first two years, gains start to level out at roughly 5-15 pounds (2-7 kg). Gains can drop to just 3-10 pounds (1-5 kg) after five years.
To gain muscle mass and heal from injuries more rapidly, some bodybuilders use anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing substances, but tournaments occasionally forbid their usage due to the health hazards or concerns about fair competition. The top bodybuilding organisation (National Physique Committee) does not require testing for steroids, despite occasional calls for it.
