7 Pros, One Controversial Question

We asked some of our T Nation pros this question: Would you want your child to compete in a physique competition (bodybuilding, figure, bikini, etc.)? Here’s what they had to say. Mark Dugdale – IFBB Pro As a father to three teenage daughters I would certainly not pressure them to compete in a physique competition. If they expressed an interest I’d be more concerned about their hearts. I’d want to know the motive compelling them to compete. There is little financial reward in physique competitions, particularly for women who aren’t willing to sell themselves salaciously on social media and elsewhere. If I felt garnering that kind of attention was their motive, I’d encourage them to consider a different pursuit. — Mark Dugdale Dr. Lonnie Lowery – Exercise Physiologist and Nutritionist I’ve wrestled with this question in the past. I have a son and I’m a former competitive bodybuilder, not just a one-timer, so I’ll focus on these particulars. My son, now 20, grew up in a household that was pretty balanced regarding fitness. Barbells are good things. Strength and muscle mass are empowering. Appreciation of healthy foods enriches life in a way most of the population simply doesn’t grasp. On the other hand, I didn’t want him in the kind of environment to which I was sometimes exposed as a competitive bodybuilder or as a back stage attendee at big events. Extreme calorie counting, eating disorders, full blown celebrations in the house over just being allowed to eat a tablespoon of peanut butter (true story), endocrine damage, unbalanced narcissism – and occasionally at competitions even recreational drugs and overt deviance. I didn’t even encourage him to attend my bodybuilding competitions, although he was welcome to. Before I get hate mail for being seemingly hypocritical – I do love bodybuilding – it’s just important to understand that I’ve seen some sketchy, damaging, and deviant stuff on its periphery. I know several journalists and organizers who share my view. Each has some mind-numbing tales, stories that may be more extreme at high-levels in the sport. There seems to be a fine line between dedication and obsession in physique competition. I’ve been guilty of drifting into self-destructive “warrior mode” more than a few times in my career. I bet many readers can relate. The flip side of the dark underbelly is of course the discipline and courage to stand out that physique competitions can develop. These are the lessons any young person should be exposed to: The daily act of “punching the clock” during those early morning or evening workouts when most people are comfy on the couch. The delayed gratification of a 20-week diet. Pouring your heart into something meaningful. Dismissing the naysayers. And all this for just a few minutes on stage. In many ways it’s more of a total lifestyle commitment than other sports. Anything worthwhile in life comes with commitment and sacrifice. So I can only offer the “middle path” as an answer to this question, especially if the entry into competition would lead to further competitions. If there’s a genuine calling to the sport and a seasoned guide who can keep the focus on the positivity and purity of what bodybuilding can be – then yes, I would want it for my boy. But without a little idealism, balance, and a voice of reason at his back, I’d have to say no. — Dr. Lonnie Lowery Paul Carter – Strength and Bodybuilding Coach I’d be okay with it because my middle daughter is, in fact, my training partner. I’d be able to help her with training, diet, and mental preparation. I already do my best to help her understand good nutritional choices without becoming obsessive about it. But there are plenty of women who compete and end up developing eating disorders or unhealthy relationships with food as a result. I’d also be there to help her understand that while it is a competition, it’s a subjective one. And that her placing isn’t a representation of the amount of work she had to put in to prepare for it. She can’t control the judging, but she can control how hard she works and how disciplined she has to be in order to be her very best. This is really the most important part about competing in any subjective sport like physique competitions, but also how we should be applying ourselves to virtually everything in life. The point is giving her best effort to succeed, even if the manifestation of that success doesn’t come by way of plastic trophies. Like with anything we immerse ourselves in, there can be valuable lessons learned in preparation for a physique competition, and it can teach you a lot about yourself. So yes, I’d be perfectly fine it. — Paul Carter TC Luoma – T Nation Editor No. God no. This question makes me think of a line from Breakfast of Champions, a Kurt Vonnegut novel. One of the characters has a daughter who he’s encouraging to be an Olympic swimmer, prompting the narrator to ask, “What kind of a man would turn his daughter into an outboard
Origin: 7 Pros, One Controversial Question