Bodybuilding and working out are certainly words that come up to my mind when it comes to talk about masculinity in the 21st century. World-famous bodybuilders such as Ronnie Coleman, Jay Cutler, and Arnold Schwarzenegger are heroic figures that represent masculinity. Numerous teenagers and college students think of such bodybuilders as motivating figures when they step into the gym to lift or work out. Such people are responsible for creating a "gym culture" where most men sweat off in the gym to strive for that extra pound of lean muscle. The point I'm trying to make is that bodybuilding, when taken to its extremity, is not only ugly but also creates serious health concerns that are detrimental to life.
Work-out supplements are a crucial part of bodybuilding, and they are one of the many products that greatly increased in sales and production with introduction of the 21st century gym culture. Step into a male college student's room, and 9/10, you'll find a bucket or a bag has the label "protein" on it. Local pharmacies are packed with bodybuilding supplements, and they're there because consumers want them. According to an article by NY Times, GNC (General Nutrition Corporation) drives the most profits from bodybuilding related supplements. I myself have been working out for almost a year and a half, and have constantly taken protein powders as workout supplements. Once again, I don't mean to say that workout supplements are something to stay away from. However, before stepping into another GNC store and buying a stack of workout supplements, it is necessary to know about some of the health concerns regarding such products. Since there are tens and hundreds of supplements out there in the market, I will focus on whey protein, the single most popular workout supplement. Whey protein comes in may forms, but the most common form is powdered whey protein. Whey protein is primarily made of whey, the liquid material created as a by-product of cheese production. It is commonly marketed and taken as a dietary supplement. However, the problem arises in the fact that many teenagers and college students think of it as a "magic juice" that will naturally bring about muscle growth. Whey protein containers often contain phrases such as "builds lean muscle and strength fast" or "scientifically proven to grow muscles." Such phrases often mislead people with superficial knowledge about whey protein to have a misunderstanding of what they really are. Many people take workout supplements without knowing the side-effects and consequences associated. Whey protein is considered "safe" when taken appropriately, but it is important to recognize that significantly large numbers of people overdose. High doses can cause some side-effects such as increased bowel movements, nausea, thirst, bloating, cramps and even liver and kidney failure. More protein does not equate to muscle growth. A normal person takes enough protein in the every diet. Whey protein should only be used as a dietary supplement, and should never be considered a "magic juice." It is the responsibility of consumers to be aware of what they're taking, and the media and producers of workout supplements are also responsible for raising awareness of the consequences of overdose.
Side-effects from work-out supplements are only the beginning. Steroids can really mess people up, especially when taken without much knowledge and lack of awareness of the possible consequences. Steroids, or growth hormones, are basically man-made versions of testosterone, not in the body, but in the lab. In the short 50 second video clip above, Arnold Schwarzenegger admits that he has taken steroids, and that all professional bodybuilders take steroids to "even have a chance of competing." Even professional bodybuilders who took steroids under prescription of medical staff regret taking steroids, and are suffering from its consequences. However, some individuals have suffered and are suffering in much more serious extents by taking illegal steroids without caring about the possible side effects. Gregg Valentino is a professional bodybuilder who have suffered seriously from steroid overdose and more simply, steroid itself. Gregg Valentino took one of the most popular aids in recent years, synthol, a synthetic oil that is directly injected into a muscle to inflate it. The end result looks unnatural and bizarre, but it seems like it certainly does the job. As you can see at the photo on the right, Gregg has arms twice the size of his head. He was once on the Guinness World Records with the largest arms in the world, and he employed synthol to keep them huge. Administering all of those injections took his body to the maximum, and also took the side-effects and consequences to the maximum as well. In his popular book "Death, Drugs, and Muscle," he explicitly commented that he suffered from side effects such as hormone disorders, extreme pain in injected body parts, and significant mood swings.
In this page, I explicitly talked about aids, such as workout supplements and steroids, associated with bodybuilding. Although it is too extreme to make the broad statement that the media was wholly responsible for such societal problems, the media certainly did play a role. Advertisements of professional bodybuilders and fitness models holding onto bottles of protein powders certainly give teenagers and college students the wrong idea. Masculinity in the 21st century, coupled with advertisements relating to the body itself, have created some bizarre cultures that are to be refrained from.
In this page, I explicitly talked about aids, such as workout supplements and steroids, associated with bodybuilding. Although it is too extreme to make the broad statement that the media was wholly responsible for such societal problems, the media certainly did play a role. Advertisements of professional bodybuilders and fitness models holding onto bottles of protein powders certainly give teenagers and college students the wrong idea. Masculinity in the 21st century, coupled with advertisements relating to the body itself, have created some bizarre cultures that are to be refrained from.