Many people assume that bodybuilding is all about fake tans and posing onstage. There’s a lot more to it than that, though.
Bodybuilding is an excellent way to build muscle, increase strength, and achieve your health and wellness goals.
If you’re new to bodybuilding or are on the fence about trying it, this guide is for you. Below, you’ll learn some of the most significant benefits you can experience when you start incorporating bodybuilding into your routine.
What Is Bodybuilding?
You can still practice bodybuilding even if you never set foot on a competition stage.
Bodybuilding is an approach to fitness that focuses on building muscle, reducing body fat, and sculpting the body to create a balanced physique.
Bodybuilding programs are designed with the principle of progressive overload in mind. Progressive overload involves gradually challenging yourself in your workouts.
You can challenge yourself by adjusting various factors, including the amount of weight lifted, the number of times you train a muscle, the length of your rest times, and time under tension (the amount of time a muscle is worked when performing an exercise).
Benefits of Bodybuilding
There are lots of reasons to choose bodybuilding over other approaches to working out. The following are 12 of the most significant benefits you can enjoy:
Improved Motor Control
Bodybuilding involves various strength training exercises, including barbell and dumbbell exercises.
Regularly performing these movements helps you improve your motor control and coordination. It also enables you to establish a solid base for future workouts.
For example, when you master exercises like squats, overhead presses, and pull-ups, it’s easier to do more complicated movements, including CrossFit and Olympic lifting staples like snatches and muscle-ups.
Increased Muscle Mass
Because bodybuilding workouts involve a variety of strength training exercises, they naturally help you to increase muscle mass.
If you’re hesitant about building muscle because you think it’ll cause you to look big or bulky, think again.
Building muscle is more likely to make you leaner (because muscle is denser than fat). You may also notice that your clothes fit better and look more flattering.
Improved Blood Sugar Balance
Bodybuilding helps you maintain healthy blood sugar levels and may also reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Increasing muscle mass improves insulin sensitivity (meaning your body responds to insulin more quickly and experiences fewer blood sugar spikes). It also balances blood sugar by removing glucose from the blood and sending it to the muscle cells more efficiently.
Stronger, Healthier Joints
Some people who struggle with joint pain assume that strength training isn’t a good option for them. In reality, you may be more susceptible to joint pain if you have weak muscles and don’t train them regularly.
Strong muscles support the joints and help you put less pressure on them when walking, running, standing, etc. Regular strength training can also improve your joint range of motion and mobility, combatting stiffness and achiness.
Stronger, Healthier Bones
Every 5-6 minutes, a person gets admitted to an Australian hospital because they suffer from an osteoporotic fracture.
Osteoporosis occurs when the bones lose density, becoming weak and fragile. Strength training increases bone density and helps to prevent this issue.
Faster Metabolism
When they want to lose weight, many people assume the best approach is to hop on the treadmill and run for as long as possible. In reality, they’re better off lifting weights and following a bodybuilding program.
Remember that bodybuilding encourages muscle growth. Increased muscle leads to a faster metabolism, meaning you burn calories faster when exercising and when you’re resting.
Reduced Injury Risk
Some people believe that bodybuilding and strength training are dangerous activities that lead to injuries. While you certainly can get hurt lifting weights, neglecting strength training may also increase your risk of injury.
If you don’t strength train regularly, you may notice that your balance, stability, and coordination suffer. As a result, you’re more likely to get hurt when you’re going about your daily life (walking the dog, cleaning the house, etc.).
Improved Heart Health
Cardiovascular exercises like walking or swimming are great for your heart health. However, bodybuilding is also beneficial.
Strength training can reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and improve blood circulation. These benefits can help you avoid chronic health conditions associated with poor heart health, such as hypertension (high blood pressure) and congestive heart failure.
Better Brain Health
Strength training is linked to improvements in cognitive function, including memory, processing speed, and executive function. It may also help to protect areas of the brain associated with memory and learning.
Supporting brain health through bodybuilding can help to reduce your risk of experiencing cognitive decline (including conditions like Alzheimer’s disease) as you age.
Better Mental Health
Bodybuilding isn’t just good for your physical health. It’s also good for your mental health and well-being.
Regular strength training has been shown to lower anxiety levels and improve mood. Exercise of any kind can also promote the production of endorphins, feel-good chemicals associated with a positive mindset.
Increased Confidence and Self-Esteem
You may also notice your mental health improves when you start bodybuilding because you have higher self-esteem.
Doing something challenging (like lifting weights and sticking to a bodybuilding program) helps you to feel more confident. This confidence can carry over into other areas of your life and improve self-esteem across the board.
Longer Lifespan
Finally, bodybuilding may help to extend your lifespan because it increases muscle mass. Research shows that people with more muscle mass live longer than those with less.
One study even found that elderly individuals with the lowest muscle mass had a twofold increase in total mortality compared to those with normal or high muscle mass.
Need Help Creating a Bodybuilding Routine?
From balancing blood sugar to increasing confidence, bodybuilding offers numerous health and wellness benefits.
Are you ready to experience all the benefits of bodybuilding? Do you need help creating an effective program and staying motivated to stick with your regimen?
If so, we’re here for you at In2Performance Centre. We offer expert guidance and support to all members looking to start or expand their bodybuilding routine.
Join us today!
