Let’s Get Physical

This is a warning to all those who are thinking of going for a run now the weathers getting better or who are wanting to perform in a charity run. It could also useful to all those would be weekend warriors who fancy themselves as an athlete.

Before you get involved in any events or bouts of physical activity you should always first seek medical advice. If you have any conditions preventing your from running safely, it’s always best you knew about them first, rather than keel over mid stride.

Secondly if you have been given the all clear, start off slowly and build up. If you push too hard too soon you can injure yourself which in most cases can put a complete stop to any further activity. You could quite easily tear an untrained muscle or develop shin splints simply by overdoing it.

It’s always important to warm up before starting and then warm down at the end. After the warm up and down it’s wise to stretch. The whole body is advised but at very least the working muscles.

Finally your choice of footwear is important. Make sure that you seek advice on running shoes. The most expensive aren’t always the best.

More and more these days you will see guys and some women who are obviously using drugs to enhance their workout.

I am often between gyms depending on my location and time available. In the gyms where I train there are a few guys who are clearly using steroids. Now some of them look like they may compete, but when compared to a guy who is definitely in preparation for a competition they are miles off the mark. You then realise that their physique if generally off balanced and more focused on the show muscles like the chest and biceps.

These guys who just use roids out of vanity or lack of education are also obvious as they tend to overuse. This leads to them having clear rashes, excess hair and in certain cases unnecessary rage. They tend to not be strong either and will lift relatively light and unchallenging weights but will see growth.

In my opinion the sheep amongst will look towards such people as role models and will copy what they do regardless of the outcome. In most cases it’s not great!!

Should it be fair that any sport is allowed to use drugs to enhance their performance?

Although bodybuilding isn’t technically a sport, the guys and girls who take part are athletes in their own right. The sheer hard work and determination involved should be recognised for what it is. With bodybuilding there are those who train ‘naturally’ with just the use of food, dietary supplements and rest supported by sensible training and then there are the steroid enhanced bodybuilders who go for the unnatural freakish look.

Both are admiral in their efforts to achieve and persevere with their chosen disciplines but should the use of steroids be allowed or overlooked in bodybuilding? It’s been said that in sports like American football and even rugby and other sports where there is high contact, that the use of steroids is either used to support their efforts or used in the recovery process during injury.

Whether this is an accurate account or not should any of this be allowed? Even if the drugs have been in the system for recovery how can we be sure that there will not be any other physiological benefits?

Food for thought.

Steroids? Are they a God send or simply the devil’s advocate?

The answer to this question would really depend on who you asked and in what environment.

On one hand you have the obvious aesthetic bodybuilder who is purely obsessed with gaining muscular size and definition. Their aim is to build their body up beyond its natural physical capabilities.

On the other hand you have a high performance athlete were every aspect of their training geared towards making incremental improvements which in the long term should have overall big gains, whether its gaining and extra centimetre to a metre with a throw or jump, or shaving up to a second off a lap time!

Over the years it’s been said that both types of athletes in their own respective rights have been known to benefit from steroids. This is obvious in a bodybuilder; however when it’s a banned substance in sports such as athletics and football then the line should be drawn not to use.

Does having a rest between work outs help improve athletic performance? Yes! Next question….

Its common knowledge to most athletes that getting enough rest after exercise is essential to high-level performance. knowing this though there are still many who still over train and feel guilty when they take a day off. As an athlete I can understand this but none the less I feel better listening to my body and not training when tired. Repairs are carried out and strength grows in the time between workouts, and continuous training can actually weaken the strongest athletes.

Rest days are critical to sports performance for a number of reasons. they range from physiological to psychological. Rest is physically necessary so that the muscles can repair, rebuild and strengthen. For recreational athletes, building in rest days can help maintain a better balance between home, work and fitness goals.

In the worst-case scenario, too few rest and recovery days can lead to overtraining syndrome - a difficult condition to recover from.