The fitness industry is booming and along with it, there are a number of fitness expos held across the country.  With these tens of expos, there are at least twenty different bodybuilding shows that happen every year.  Every passing year, the number of federations or competitions is increasing as a lot of youngsters want to become bodybuilders. 

Competing in a bodybuilding show is not wrong, but it is important for you to know a few things before you consider stepping on that stage:

1. It Will Take A Lot More Than Just Having Abs

These days, anyone who has abs thinks they are meant for the bodybuilding stage. The fact is, 90 per cent of them are not. Having abs or being lean vs. being shredded are two different things.

Bodybuilding means having great overall muscularity, having a balanced physique, being presentable, and being shredded.  Just because you have abs does not mean you have to be on stage. If you want to compete, ensure that you have all of the above things to stand a chance. 

2. The Prep Sucks

Bodybuilding prep is not easy. There will be times you are angry, frustrated, hungry, and exhausted.  There will be days where you will not even feel like moving from your bed too. There will be cravings. But these are the times you will have to suck it up and do what needs to be done.

It is mentally stressful and can even affect your relationships. So, if you are not in a place to handle all these other pressures, doing a show may end up being one of the worst decisions of your life.

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3. There Will Be A Lot Of Fake Natties

'Natural bodybuilding' has either become an elite thing or a joke. I honestly cannot decide. I leave it up to you.

The reason I say this is because there are shows that claim to be 'natural' for aspiring natural bodybuilders, however, they are anything but natural.  Just having the tag 'natural' after the show's name does not mean jack!

Natural federations check their athletes thoroughly and randomly throughout the year.  The shows held here in India do not do anything of the sort and are often seen firing the promoters the next year as the 'promoter' tested positive for drugs.

4. You Will Be Forgotten

Most of the bodybuilding shows in India are just businesses. Every year, three to five new bodybuilding shows are introduced. They make new promises and take higher entry fees every passing year.

You pay it, you get done, and that is that. Hardly are there good prizes in most shows and competitors are rising by the 100s every year. Even if you win a show, there is a great chance that nobody will remember you the next year, unless you are competing at a very high level.

The entry level or novice shows are hardly remembered or even cared about.

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5. Politics Exists

In bodybuilding shows, you will fight politics at every level between federations, between promoters, between judges!  I have personally seen competitors winning shows where they outright ignored judging calls and should have been disqualified within a minute of stepping on stage.

I have seen the best guy not placing even in the top 5.

Now, this would be a personal bias but you could check it out when you go and watch a show.

The politics is real and even if you end up being the best athlete, there is a good chance you are going home empty handed.  So ask yourself the question, is all of this worth competing in a show? If your answer is still yes, you should totally do a show.

Author bio:

Pratik Thakkar is the co-founder and director of GetSetGo Fitness, an online fitness company and the founder of Mars Nutrition, a nutrition supplement company. Both his companies are geared towards providing you with the right information and products without any false or fake claims. You can reach out to him at pratik@getsetgo.fitness and follow him on Instagram.