We can blame all the hype about bodybuilding on Eugene Sandow, the man who started it all. Born in 1867 as Friedrich Muller, he became more widely known as Eugene Sandow, the professional strongman, having risen to fame from being a simple music-hall performer. Sandow was lucky enough to be endowed with the sort of body and level of fitness that is ideal for bodybuilding, and he was taken under the wing of Oscar Atilla, who showed him how to turn his body into that of a bodybuilder. It was at that time that bodybuilding started to catch on all around the globe, and Sandow published his own magazine which featured his own personal innovations in body sculpting, even appearing on postcards wearing only a fig leaf. He went on world tours and came up with diets and routines that could help other men achieve the same physique. By doing so, Sandow turned his craft into an obsession for other men to follow.

In modern times, it is not only men who are attracted to the world of bodybuilding, but women also are now part of the body sculpting phenomenon. The sport of bodybuilding has in fact developed into three main categories: the professional, the natural, and the female body builder. Bodybuilders who have already won in qualifying competitions and who have earned 'pro cards' from the International Federation of Body Builders, (IFBB), are the ones who are in the professional category. For those bodybuilders who claim that they achieve their form with more focus on competition and on a healthy lifestyle, the natural area is the category for them. Women started to take part in these kinds of competitions from the 1970's, and so the female bodybuilding category was created.

"But how exactly do you bodybuild?" you might ask. Apart from the motivation to make it through the initial intensive training, bodybuilders use three main strategies to achieve the type of body that they want. These strategies include strength training, specialized nutrition, and an adequate amount of sleep. The strength training involves the use of weights to develop the muscles. For their nutritional needs, bodybuilders take in a lot of carbohydrates to help them withstand the long hours of training, and protein to help them create and maintain their physique. Usually, bodybuilders eat 5-7 small meals a day every 2-3 hours. This ensures that they do not overeat and that their metabolism stays fast. Furthermore, drinking plenty of water helps bodybuilders to avoid dehydration during and after their training. Some bodybuilders also take in dietary supplements and substances that enhance their performance. Finally, an adequate amount of sleep is required for bodybuilders to allow their muscles to build and recover. A complete eight hours of sleep is usually recommended, although some bodybuilders might require a different duration of sleep.

Undeniably, bodybuilding entails a lot of hard work and dedication. People who choose to be bodybuilders need to have the right discipline and motivation to stay ahead in this sport. For a bodybuilder who has succeeded in transforming his average body into an amazingly chiseled physique, all the hard work is definitely worth it.

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