bodybuilding on a budget
Guy Ray
The bodybuilding lifestyle can become expensive. What with gym memberships, training equipment, high priced supplements and many other outlays you may find yourself shelling out major bucks quickly. But if you want to succeed you need the right diet and nutritional supplementation to make it happen.
Don't assume only the rich can be bodybuilders. Even if you are on a limited budget, with careful planning and using good judgement you can make your weight training efforts payoff big time.
Gym memberships are costly. But to be a successful bodybuilder you may not even need a gym membership. If you have the budget you can purchase a set of weights and a bench with a safety rack. Then just purchase additional weight as you need it. Another option is to join a small iron club. These may not be as flashy, but they are more than likely better for weight training than the big name gym.
Cut out your gym membership fees by convincing the establishment to sponser you. If you have quality potential, they may allow you free use of thier facility in exchange for promotional activities and possibly helping out with new members and a little housekeeping.
Food is the next big expense for a bodybuilder. Muscle growth requires a lot of good quality, clean, foods. Processed, fat- and sugar-filled foods will not help you achieve the massive, chiseled physique of a bodybuilder. The problem for a budget-conscious person is that high quality protein and complex carbohydrate foods are not cheap. Bodybuilders can not grab the 4 for $2.00 specials on Macaroni and Cheese or the cans of Spaghetti Os. Cheap snack crackers, snack cakes, and sugary fruit juices don't work either. It is important to get solid foods such as chicken, fish, lean red meats, whole-grain (preferably oats) foods, vegetables, and other protein packed foods. The solution is to get a membership in a wholesale club. Wholesale clubs usually offer foods in bulk, at bulk-rate prices. This cuts down the expenses on the food side. Farmer's cooperatives are a good way to get high quality vegetables (and sometimes meats) at reasonable rates, also. If there is no wholesale club around, talk to the manager at the local grocery store about buying certain foods in bulk to save a little money. They can pre-order what they need and then order an extra case for you.
Don't forget the costs of supplements. Here is where good judgement comes in. Know what your bodies needs are to grow efficiently and avoid all the extras. Listen to your local nutrition store sales person and you'll be spending hundreds a month on a lot of crap you don't need. A quality protein, vitamin and maybe some creatine are all you really need. All the other products being pushed are just extras.
Other expenses that are part of the bodybuilding world include the competition fees and supplies, and trainers. The former may be covered by your sponsors. When you are ready to compete you may find additional sponsors necessary (and they don't have to be traditional, fitness related sponsors, Joe's Tires can be just as good as Mary's Lambs and Natural Foods.) These sponsors may pick up the tab for the bronzer, tanning packages, oils, posing suits, and entrance fees. Trainers are a huge help, especially around competition time, but the good ones command a pretty high fee. The solution here is to only use them as you get down to the last few weeks before a competition and then as a consultant, rather than a hands-on trainer. Ask them to assess your physique and make suggestions. Do the same with your routine. As you progress along in your career, you may find that between your own knowledge, and that of the people around you, you no longer need the services of a trainer. At first it is a good idea though to get a trained eye to assess your progress.
Bodybuilding certainly can be an expensive sport, but it doesn't have to be a bank-breaker. A little common sense, ingenuity, and creativity can help you trim the costs. Think outside the gym and you may find some unique ways to train, eat, and compete within your budget.
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