Subcultures study: bodybuilders

[Taffin]

Interesting monograph on 'the life' with links to some other papers

(Kahn/Metaphysical - leave it!  )

"The bodybuilding subculture has shifted into a global competitive sphere, created a universal culture of its own out of the physical gym space, led to conventions around the world, and forged its own rulebook on a way of life. Eugen Sandow organized the first small scale bodybuilding contest in 1901 (Heffernan, 2015). Now there are several organizations that hold national and international competitions, for example International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness’ Mr. Olympia, the largest competition in the world.

Such intense competition created a massive wave of anabolic steroid use in the subculture. Denham writes, “At the elite level, bodybuilding is saturated with drug use, and steroids are just the first item on a menu that would astonish most pharmacists.” Many hardcore bodybuilders justify steroid use as a legitimate means to an ideal end, where partaking in illegal behavior and the risk of changes in health and hormonal balance are deemed a small price to pay (Monaghan, 2002). Other common behaviors and tactics besides weight lifting and illegal drug use also permeate the subcultural sphere."

Although the bodybuilding subculture has bounced back and forth in the dominant culture’s eyes on a scale of how deviant it is considered, the extremities involved in the lifestyle as well as the aesthetic it glorifies have always been considered deviant (Johansson, Andreasson, & Mattsson, 2017). Although physical fitness is seen as a positive attribute in mainstream culture, bodybuilders are often looked upon as narcissistic, vain, and superficial. Most are also stereotyped as “gym rats” and drug abusers. There are also behaviors deemed deviant by the dominant culture that characterize certain groups of individuals within the scene such as hustling – the “selling of sexual favors by bodybuilders to gay men” (Klein, 1989), as well as of course illicit steroid use (Monaghan, 2002)."

http://haenfler.sites.grinnell.edu/subcultures-and-scenes/bodybuilders/

[oldgolds]

Lol...After 50 years in the game I have to agree.....A sport based on drugs and narcissism?
They used to think I was nuts for not taking steroids and I always thought THEY were fucked up....

[NotMrAverage]

For me seven years of competing turned into quite a hormonal imbalance that took me 3 yesrs to get out off. And i had go do it with trt...

[kreator]

There’s nothing healthy about bodybuilding, mentally and physiologically

[DroppingPlates]

There’s nothing healthy about bodybuilding, mentally and physiologically

That just depends on how you approach things

[oldtimer1]

Typical bodybuilder is a drug user that has no chance what so ever at making a living at the sport. They tend to throw away education and the pursuit of a career. Seen so many guys from my twenties living the syringe life style that ended up with nothing but a crumbled picture of them self in a speedo in their wallet. They live off the praise they get from the clueless on their temporary drug physique and their celebrity for having muscle. When on the juice they are quick to give out training advice but when off it seems they are not taking their own advice. Once they give up the syringe life sometimes after decades they realize life passed them by. They exist on crap jobs and selling drugs out of the trunk of their cars at gyms. Their friends have careers, house and families while they have a third place plastic trophy from some crap show. Many go off juice after failing health, finances or even arrest. Heard from more than one that training without juice is a waste of time. Just sad. Even though I am amazed by drug physiques I don't forget for a moment what I'm really looking at.

Train natural. You will be muscular and look like an athlete.

[mphgrove]

There’s nothing healthy about bodybuilding, mentally and physiologically

As with anything, it depends on how you approach it. And there are pros and cons at every level. For example, when you are older (and younger of course) the out of control syringe aspects can easily bite you. On the other hand, the clean pre-contest diet is exactly what a cardiologist would recommend and consistent weight training is exactly what your physical therapist or orthopedist would recommend.

Despite all that, it seems weird (hypocritical?) that so many on this Board, who are obvious deep fans, keep ranting about how unhealthy it is.

[Parker]

Typical bodybuilder is a drug user that has no chance what so ever at making a living at the sport. They tend to throw away education and the pursuit of a career. Seen so many guys from my twenties living the syringe life style that ended up with nothing but a crumbled picture of them self in a speedo in their wallet. They live off the praise they get from the clueless on their temporary drug physique and their celebrity for having muscle. When on the juice they are quick to give out training advice but when off it seems they are not taking their own advice. Once they give up the syringe life sometimes after decades they realize life passed them by. They exist on crap jobs and selling drugs out of the trunk of their cars at gyms. Their friends have careers, house and families while they have a third place plastic trophy from some crap show. Many go off juice after failing health, finances or even arrest. Heard from more than one that training without juice is a waste of time. Just sad. Even though I am amazed by drug physiques I don't forget for a moment what I'm really looking at.

Train natural. You will be muscular and look like an athlete.

Stop talking about Flex, Levrone, and the rest of the 90s bodybuilders.

[dj181]

Wonder why AJ never talked about the gay faggotry of it all

He definitely knew what was up and was always a strsight shooter so strange he left that part alone....

He did write that Blow weider asked him how to pick up female back in the 80's when he met with schome and others

Is he sure it wasn't how to pick up guys? LOL

[WalterWhite]

Typical bodybuilder is a drug user that has no chance what so ever at making a living at the sport. They tend to throw away education and the pursuit of a career. Seen so many guys from my twenties living the syringe life style that ended up with nothing but a crumbled picture of them self in a speedo in their wallet. They live off the praise they get from the clueless on their temporary drug physique and their celebrity for having muscle. When on the juice they are quick to give out training advice but when off it seems they are not taking their own advice. Once they give up the syringe life sometimes after decades they realize life passed them by. They exist on crap jobs and selling drugs out of the trunk of their cars at gyms. Their friends have careers, house and families while they have a third place plastic trophy from some crap show. Many go off juice after failing health, finances or even arrest. Heard from more than one that training without juice is a waste of time. Just sad. Even though I am amazed by drug physiques I don't forget for a moment what I'm really looking at.

Train natural. You will be muscular and look like an athlete.

This paints a bleak picture ot.  Most the guys I know who competed in the 80's are doing well and living good lives. I think back then guys stayed in school and knew they could not make a living off it with no social media and just a few mags. Also guys didn't abuse drugs like they do now and gh/slin/dnp was unheard of.

[funk51]

 

[NotMrAverage]

Typical bodybuilder is a drug user that has no chance what so ever at making a living at the sport. They tend to throw away education and the pursuit of a career. Seen so many guys from my twenties living the syringe life style that ended up with nothing but a crumbled picture of them self in a speedo in their wallet. They live off the praise they get from the clueless on their temporary drug physique and their celebrity for having muscle. When on the juice they are quick to give out training advice but when off it seems they are not taking their own advice. Once they give up the syringe life sometimes after decades they realize life passed them by. They exist on crap jobs and selling drugs out of the trunk of their cars at gyms. Their friends have careers, house and families while they have a third place plastic trophy from some crap show. Many go off juice after failing health, finances or even arrest. Heard from more than one that training without juice is a waste of time. Just sad. Even though I am amazed by drug physiques I don't forget for a moment what I'm really looking at.

Train natural. You will be muscular and look like an athlete.

Good one! I got out and got a degree in Sociology. After that i kept training but more for fun. I realised there was no way in hell i would be mr o even though i placed third in national shows. Please everyone who do compete i dont disgurich you to follow your dream. Keep fighting because training is great! I tore two bodyparts and realized the dream was over.

[f450]

Typical bodybuilder is a drug user that has no chance what so ever at making a living at the sport. They tend to throw away education and the pursuit of a career. Seen so many guys from my twenties living the syringe life style that ended up with nothing but a crumbled picture of them self in a speedo in their wallet. They live off the praise they get from the clueless on their temporary drug physique and their celebrity for having muscle. When on the juice they are quick to give out training advice but when off it seems they are not taking their own advice. Once they give up the syringe life sometimes after decades they realize life passed them by. They exist on crap jobs and selling drugs out of the trunk of their cars at gyms. Their friends have careers, house and families while they have a third place plastic trophy from some crap show. Many go off juice after failing health, finances or even arrest. Heard from more than one that training without juice is a waste of time. Just sad. Even though I am amazed by drug physiques I don't forget for a moment what I'm really looking at.

Train natural. You will be muscular and look like an athlete.

Because athletes do not ever ever ever use drugs. Especially professional athletes 

Everything in moderation and you'll be fine.. This goes for everything in life.

[be back]

Because athletes do not ever ever ever use drugs. Especially professional athletes 

Everything in moderation and you'll be fine.. This goes for everything in life.

Including moderation...