Bodybuilding Science

[Thinkbig]

Why is it so hard for everyone in bodybuilding, including some of the experts, to believe that bodybuilding can be a science ?
I contend that exercise, and its effects on the body, are at the very least predictable, and with a considerable degree of accuracy!
Wouldn't you agree that brain surgery is at least slightly more complicated than figuring out the number of sets and reps to be used in optimizing muscle growth...more complex than the development of a successful plan to be used in preparing for a bodybuilding contest!
Yet these brain surgeries are performed successfully every single day.


I beleive Bodybuilding should be approached like a science!!!
Like medicine, which is as science, bodybuilding deals with the human anatomy.
Being much less technical and intricate, I find it almost humorous when I hear other experts claim there are no rights and wrongs in bodybuilding...
ok if thats true will I get huge lifting the same weights year after year, or how about doing sets of 100 to build power and strength, instantly you think , well no, thats wrong, see what I mean.

Here is an example: If someone tells me that 2+2=4 and some one else says 2+2=5, somebody's is full of it! That's exactly how I feel about bodybuilding! Why don't you?

Then, Why Isn't Bodybuilding A Science?

Just thought about this and wanted to run it by you all... lets hear your thoughts on it.

[Tim Wescott]

I don`t think that you have to make it too complicated, but there are definately certain"rules" that are universal,such as recuperation issues,frequent eating,too much, or too little volume,progressive resistance,and a basic understanding of kinesiology,physyiology,anatomy,and most important of all, how each of these items pertains to you, and how they affect you,and your progress personally.

It ain`t rocket science........but you have to do "some" homework at the very least!!

The more you add to your arsenal of know how...the more you will know how!!

[In-Human]

TB, See this is where all the younger guys get so messed up, they think that it is to much of a science and they over analyze everything to death, you just have to go about it like we did with trial and error to see what is going to work for your body. Now I am not saying that cannot look into how you system works, like how aminos are broken down, carbs are used for fuel, but they seem to get in over their heads before the put in their dues to change their structures. Trust me I am a sick fu*k, and I have to know about everything, I read and read and read some more...

[str8flexed]

There is a happy medium. If you get too caught up in the details you are going to miss the big picture. However, if you totally dismiss science then you are just ignorant and are also denying yourself useful information that can help you grow.

-Layne

[In-Human]

8, I would use the word ignorant, some just like to lift and eat correctly, and do not have the time to study themselves in every aspect of how your system works, its rare you find someone in the gyms today who really know what they are talking about when it comes to their system, but I see some excellent physiques on these guys...

[Tim Wescott]

IH,I agree wholeheartedly on the overanalyzing issue......especially for a novice just starting out in the game.

There are so many conflicting opinions out there on how to do things "right", that taking in too much info, from too many different sources,too soon,can be very confusing for a guy just getting into the game as well as for seasoned vets at times.

I certainly don`t have the education that a guy like Layne has......I wish I did though,but sometimes the K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid) method is a better way to go about it.

As we have said in other threads,you never stop learning new things, and this is good, but it should be done in peicemeal for simplicity`s sake, so as not to get confused !!

Trial and error, along with experience in the gym, and at the dinner table,can be your best learning tools!!

[ChrisC]

Very interesting question.

First off, I would contend that many do treat it as a science (even if they don't explicitly think of it as science), particularly in relation to contest prep but also in other areas. For example, think about the steps someone takes when they change up their routine:
a) you know all your current stats and routine
b) based on this you hypothesize what changes will be beneficial
c) you then incorporate these changes
d) observe the results.

That pretty much is a scientific methodology right there. ditto for contest prep.

It doesn't matter if you don't explicitly think about all the steps like hypothesis and testing, if you implicitly do the above then you are using a scientific methodology typically people refer to it as trial and error but there is a scientific method (or at least something approaching it) to it.

I agree with Tim and IH it's definitely possible to get to caught up in the minutae and miss the big picture.

I also agree with Layne - there's a happy medium in there somewhere.

[Tim Wescott]

Damn good post Chris,that made a lot of sense,and I for one agree !

[Thinkbig]

Good stuff guys, I figured that this would be a good topic for discussion!