| Training progression is complete set of phases used to | | | | effect. |
| achieve strength and muscle mass. For many, the first | | | | If all works well, the effect would be a larger, bulkier |
| phase of a training progression is weight loss. | | | | set of muscles before the competition. In the United |
| Weight loss is important in bodybuilding because weight | | | | States, this is considered illegal. In international |
| trainers need to lose extra body fat. There are | | | | competitions such as the Olympics, the use of steroids |
| optimum levels of body fat for weight trainers. | | | | is grounds for disqualification. |
| The reason for the drive to lose body fat is the body | | | | Training progression |
| cannot function well with the extra load. Also, the | | | | We discussed the use of steroids because many |
| presence of excessive levels of low density | | | | weight lifters and bodybuilders are using steroids to |
| lipoproteins can lead to undue consequences during | | | | gain an edge during bodybuilding. In their impatience to |
| hard training. | | | | gain the muscle mass, they put themselves at risk by |
| Heart attacks and stroke are still part of the potentially | | | | using chemicals that were not designed for humans. |
| injurious equation, and can result when the overload | | | | Most steroids were designed to increase the muscle |
| formula is used inappropriately. | | | | mass and performance of animals, such as race |
| Steroid use | | | | horses. While some effects are safe, many are not. |
| Some weight trainers use steroids to speed up the | | | | Training progression often involves the careful |
| process of building muscle mass. Steroids function | | | | programming of weights. According to John Downing, |
| mainly in two ways. First, glucose is transported directly | | | | a clinical researcher for the sports sciences: |
| to the muscles during exercise. | | | | “Assuming that training progressions, motivation, and |
| This allows the muscles to expend more energy and | | | | restintervals are appropriate, the trainer should lighten |
| consequently, build more mass. The level of glucose | | | | the load toeither the previous training level or an |
| that is directly used by the muscles is sometimes | | | | increment lower then thecurrent weight.” |
| doubled or tripled depending on the type of steroid. | | | | “If the problem persists, then a certified exercise |
| The second effect of steroids is that with the | | | | specialist should be brought in to examine the total |
| unnatural increase of hormones in the body, the | | | | training regimen. Regression charts are also available |
| muscles build more quickly. Some bodybuilders use a | | | | to predict 1-RM for various lifts with a relatively high |
| “cutting stack” at least a month before | | | | rate of accuracy (Fleck & Kraemer, 1997; |
| bodybuilding competitions. | | | | Lombardi, 1989).” |
| “Cutting stacks” are often combinations of | | | | Downing continues with: |
| steroids that serve to counteract each other to | | | | “One cannot overemphasize the importance of |
| produce some results. It should be understood that | | | | accurately determining one's beginning workload and |
| some steroids lower androgen levels, while some | | | | following a normal progression of resistance |
| serve to increase it. | | | | increments.” |
| Some steroids on the other hand, increase the levels | | | | What is emphasized here is that there should be a |
| of female hormones in the male bodybuilder’s body, | | | | normal progression, rather than a strained and |
| which is why another steroid is used to counteract the | | | | unnatural progression that can tear muscles and joints. |