Is it a person who competes? Someone who has reached pro status? A dedicated gym rat who's made remarkable progress over the years and continues to improve physically?

I know of many people whom I've just described, yet fall short of being a "bodybuilder". Yes, they may go thru the dieting, training but there is a missing link which denies them the privilege of being classified "Bodybuilder".

I believe a bodybuilder is one who gives freely of their time, knowledge, and support to their fellow sister and brother, whether it be as simple as a spot, or dietary advice, or moral encouragement. Without the expectations of reward or recompense. Someone who treats people with respect and honor, even though they may not receive any in return. Respecting their support group (parents, family, friends)while being actively involved in their community. Using the mental and physical strength forged in the gym not to indulge in egocentric behavior, but to transcend this incredible nucleus and framework of confidence, in assisting others who may depend on your integrity and influence, whether you are aware of it or not. Conducting yourself professionally in the face of adversity, critisism, and ridicule.

Being a bodybuilder is an ongoing process. Yeah, I've got some tough criteria which I try and adhere to. Sometimes I cannot attain these standards. I fall short. I have been competing now for 17 years, yet I consider myself a "bodybuilder" only for the last 6-7 years or so. And I do so, tentatively. There is still much to improve upon.

My definition and observations. What's your's?

1. Anyone that proactively works to improve health and fitness through exercise and nutrition and in doing so improves their quality of life.

2. those that seek to participate IN and enjoy life.

3. all that walk through the door of a health club.

4. life and the quality of it is all of our stage!

In reponse to those at my club that have said "but I am not a bodybuilder" I created the above definition and posted it through out the gym.


We are all bodybuilders...we as individuals decide whether or not we are in a positive or negative sense. The couch potato is a much a bodybuilder as the gym rate, though in negative sense.


Ray

You can engage in bodybuilding activities but not be "A Bodybuilder". Just as you can play tennis or football but not be a "football or tennis player".

To me a Bodybuilder is someone who:

- Understands and applies the science behind the training and nutrition.

- Has bodybuilding goals, not just general fitness goals, and seeks to constantly improve their level of accomplishment in meeting those goals.

- If a person has or intends on competing that solidifies it for me, yet you can certainly still be a bodybuilder without competing.

Arams description takes things to another level. To me what he has described is a person who has become an ambassador or champion (small "c") for the sport of bodybuilding. An individual who not only participates in the sport, but who serves as a roll model for others and who shares their enthusiasm and knowledge willingly.

We should have a new BI board classification - "Bodybuilding Ambassador" I nominate Aram as the first and I can think of quite a few others here who would also qualify. Ambassador Hamparian - has sort of a noble ring to it don't you think?

My overall definition of a bodybuilder is:
1) An individual who best learns to combine the aspects of nutrition, resistance training, and cardio, while retaining the most lean mass and presenting that package on stage in a balanced/symmetric manner!! A true "bodybuilder" is not a bodybuilder until one has stood on that stage and done a show!!
2) Genetics can greatly enhance these general characteristics, yet one must still fully go through the rigors of precontest dieting and present the overall package on stage, but with easier preparation than others of different body types!
3) A big "Heart" can carry an individual a long way as well, and this "big heart" can sometimes carry all that passion and hard work past the genetically gifted individual who does not fully prepare!!
4) Now all of these characteristics can also be helpful in terms of being educated, knowledgeable, and experienced bodybuilder to help those who need to learn from the individuals that can make this journey more enjoyable and easier to understand. The bodybuilder can use these skills to help others prepare for this tough road ahead. The comraderie, friendships, and realtionships that we can help those remember the help given to them from a seminar or just simple help within the gym such as areas of just general fitness, form and technique, nutritional help, and just caring about those out there that want to change their lives for the better. These areas that we have become so good at should be shared with others and we can lose that "black eye" associated with bodybuilders and their tact and non-caring ways to help others in the gym! This is the major area that we can use the help of those out there that do have the knowledge to change what is going on in today's gyms even if we don't work there!!
There should not be this group over here and that group over there as we can all learn from each other to help all of us improve in the sport we love!

I like your approach, VA. Ray, that would be too general, I feel but it is correct because we are all attempting to sculpt and maintain a certain profile. If you asked them as they walked into the club, they wouldn't say they're body builders.

A body builder is a body builder until there is a "prefix".

-competition or competitive...
-pro
-natural

...and so forth. Then we'll have those that wouldn't even consider you a body builder unless you're compensating for lack of testosterone/genetics.

I feel a person can be a body builder without ever having to compete as many have been powerlifters without ever competing.

Those that step on stage to compete just may not have the right knowledge and/or coaching. I saw some horrible bodies up there last year. These were big guys, but someone told them they were body building material. So, they are body builders, but not competitive body builders with the right type of dieting/contest info. If someone doesn't know how to prepare, they'll never know what it takes. So much wrong info goes around back stage!!

A body builder doesn't have to do resistance training, cardio and nutrition. I know of some that do not do resistance training, yet have great symmetry and conditioning. These are people that we HATE! In fact, he took masters at a natural contest. He's a triathlete. He doesn't sent foot in the gym or touch weights. Maybe he's a closet Boflex dude.

I'm a competitive body builder. I will never advance because of my severly torn bicep. One judge told me I shouldn't even be up there. WELL??!!

Does that mean I'm not a body builder? Hadez NO!

Frank

Frank

I was looking for general and un intimidating for the "general" population.

Outside of that I lean more toward what you all have written.

Ray

Frank,
but the thing is that you have competed, right?? Thats good enough for me!! One must not win or be considered pro material to be considered a bodybuilder, but one must do the things necessary to put forth their best efforts and present their best overall package!! Just cause there are limitations on a person's physical appearance or other limiting factors does not mean they are not bodybuilders, just do all you can to show your best and thats all you can do!!

I am reminded of all the great things I see and obstacles my brother has overcome in the sport of powerlifting but on a different level, but really not too far off in terms of what he lifts to thers in his weightclass!! He does Special Olympics and I am not comparing you to that Frank, don't even think that, but they have so many limitations, yet they give all they have and that does not make them any less of an athlete in their sport than any of us!! There are some sayings I see up there and this is all we need to do as a bodybuilder, this does not include those that go up there w/o any preparation for the sport of bodybuilding, thats another whole ball game!!

Here are a few and this one is the one you hear at the beginning of all special olympic events!

"Let me win, but if I can not win, let me brave in the attempt" Special Olympics Oath

"An obstacle is something you see only when you take your eyes off the your goals"

"The only true measure of your success is how close you come to 100% of your capabilities"

"Attittude is a little thing that makes a big difference"

"Never let defeat have the last word"

"To be a winner, all you need to give is all you have"

"The most important exercise anyone can do is reaching dwon and lifting other up"- this one s one of my favorites and should be the motto of many of the educated, established,
knowledgeable, and experienced bodybuilders out there to right the wrongs out there that exist with many of the so called "myths" we believe work for prepping for a bodybuilding show or the many incorrect ways we see individuals lifting on the floor, the excessive cardio we see being done to lose weight, not fat just weight!! We are the ones with the most knowledge to correct these situations and I know there are people out there who are unwilling to accept help, but if you get through to just a few, doesn't it hust make you feel good that you have made the difference in how a person tires to be healthier individual, I know i do!!

About those guys you talked about,Frank, they would be the ones that are fed lots of misinformation and are not knowledgeable enough and are not aware unitl they go onstage and then they are like, at least inside, what was I thinking?? Don't believe just becasue they have stepped on stage does not give them the right to be cosidered "bodybuilding", they forgot that a diet needs to go along with the lifting aspect of it!
Those other types/freaks are more of the far and few between, the numbers of them, don't grow on trees and can be counted probably on one hand!! These are definitely not the NORM!!

For that judge to say that stuff to you, now thats just wrong, and feel that shows just a little bit of direspect!! Frank, you are a BODYBUILDER!!

The basic criteria, of course, must be met; nutrition, training, and the love of the sport.

Now, I train hard and eat right, take my supps, am I a bodybuilder?? I wouldn't consider myself one, I have not competed (maybe someday), but have the same practices that the competitors do. When one train's to continually improve their health, and meet goals they set for themselves physically, only to set more, is this a bodybuilder??

There will always be greater and lesser persons than yourself in this arena, but it is the true mark of a winner when that does not affect your reaction to them. Learn from those above and help the ones below.

When all of this is put together I think you can be classified as a bodybuilder on some level.

Maybe I am one, huh??

Cy...

I was not offended by the post. I just think there are far too many misinformed competitors that could present themselves much better if they were informed. Theer are too many "promoters" that just want to get the $$$ and not really tell a person if they are competitive quality.

As for the term, body builder, I think as Ray pointed out, it is a term for people in general. Aram was having a peanut butter moment and got the idea, "What is a body builder?"

Anyone that cares about their body enough to keep excess fat off is a body builder.

Now...hanging out with the powerlifters, "Oh...you want to be a 'pumper'?"

Frank

PS...Aram and I will be competing in the VERY SPECIAL "O"...ROFL

Bodybuilder= Aram

to further expand:
a bodybuilder is a person that demands physique perfection through physical and mental effort, someone that ignores and blasts through internal cues that tell them to avoid pain and hunger..someone that has a vision of where they want to be, and relentlessly chases after it