Body Building

The primary goal of body building is to add and sculpt muscles in an aesthetically pleasing manner. This is generally accomplished by performing a specialized regimen of exercises such as weight lifting. However, diet and rest are other key components in the body building process.

People have known for centuries that putting a strain on their muscles ultimately makes them larger. In fact, the body building techniques used today can be traced back to 12th century India. Over the years, the basic principles have not changed much--to get bigger muscles, you have to lift heavy weights.

A Brief History of Body Building

Body building became popular as a competitive sport in the late 19th century. In 1890, Eugen Sandow (called "the Father of Modern Body Building") participated in the first official weight lifting contest. Soon thereafter, the first modern Olympic games were held and body building was one of the main events.

As time has progressed, body building has become less about physical activity and more about the foods and supplements that we consume. As early as 1965, anabolic steroids had found their way into the sport of body building. Steroid use was eventually banned from high-profile body building competitions such as the Olympic games. In an effort to maintain their competitive edge, many body builders turned to dietary supplements that promise to add muscle mass. These supplements also usually have ancillary benefits like increased energy, ease of weight loss, and appetite suppression.