Competitive Bodybuilding: The Psychological Effects Of Mental Competitions

It’s often mentioned within the competitive bodybuilding circles that, “no pain – no gain”. While the physically stressful side of participating in a bodybuilding competition is understood, many times the mental ramifications are not adequately considered. The intense training required to be a competitive bodybuilder can present some dangerous mental consequences.

Here is an explanation of how the intensity bodybuilding competitions can create these potentially dangerous mental health issues. Then we’ll consider three physiological reasons behind these psychological problems, followed by a few suggestions on how a competitive bodybuilder can deal with them.

The Mental Stress Caused by the Intensity of Competitive Bodybuilding

Mental stress,

For those involved in bodybuilding competitions many of the necessary steps to reach peak performance prior to the event will automatically increase the signs of mental stress. Just before a bodybuilding competition a contestant often displays intense feelings of irritability and moodiness.

Mental stress can also have a profound effect on self-esteem, impair focus and concentration, plus amplify worrisome thoughts. None of these mental problems are helpful when preparing for a bodybuilding competition. A high level of mental stress leading up to a bodybuilding competition can actually reduce muscle size.

3 Causes of Mental Stress for Competitive Bodybuilders

There are a number of things that cause of competitive stress among athletes, but three areas affect bodybuilders specifically. In the weeks leading up to a bodybuilding competition, contestants frequently ramp up their level of training, alter their diet and remove fluids from their body to increase muscle

The actual scientific truth of the matter is a gradual increase in downtime between workouts can in fact increase muscle mass. Closely monitoring workout intensity leading up to the event can not only improve your chances of a successful showing at the competition, but also reduce the amount of damaging mental stress associated with the preparation.

As the date of the bodybuilding competition approaches it is also common for a competitor to try to cram their diet full of high protein levels to try and extract some last minute growth. The digestive system itself can only produce so much of a good thing, and when a bodybuilder tries to chance their own metabolic clock it will change their mental perspective. Since the gains from an overabundance of dietary nutrients are so minimal, it consequently favors a more normal diet. In the short period leading up to a bodybuilding competition, reaping the benefits of good mental composure, can outweigh the risk of actually losing muscle mass because the competitor is overly stressed