No, this is not a story about a couple of muscle heads at the circus! This is about a sport that is defined as much by muscle as it is by the focus and commitment of the athlete. Like many other competitive sports, the sport of bodybuilding requires gut-splitting determination, unwavering sacrifice and artful technique. It’s not just about getting up on a stage, hitting a few poses and showing off the animal you’ve become. Bodybuilding has evolved to a sophisticated, smart and refined sport and it attracts sophisticated, smart and refined athletes. Anyone can become a muscle head. Only an elite group has the physical potential, the single-mindedness and the smarts to pull together the five elements of the bodybuilding balancing act: mass, proportion, symmetry, definition and stage presence.

To the untrained eye, the subtleties of each element may be lost, but I can assure you that those judging bodybuilding competitions have a keen eye, and will not be seduced by size alone. This is why every blood-sweat-and-tears competitive bodybuilder has to not only bust their ass in the gym to sculpt their work of art, but also must train smart, eat smart and prep smart to make sure all the judging requirements have been met. Let’s break it down.

Of course, muscle mass is the most obvious and easily recognized criterion to the world. It has always been the foundation of the sport. Mass deals with the muscular size of the athletes; bottom line, how much jaw-dropping rock-hard muscle they have put on their frame. Take a look at the top pros such as Dexter Jackson, Branch Warren and, of course, Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler - all are packed with muscle. The sheer mass of these guys gives you goose bumps and has sparked the dreams of many up-and-coming bodybuilders. While mass is crucial for bodybuilding success, you can’t just be a collection of body parts. This is where proportion comes in.

Proportion is the even balance of muscular development in comparison to the whole physique. For example, if you have biceps the size of basketballs and calves the size of golf balls, then you have some serious work to do – leave the posing trunks at home! You have to figure out how to get those body parts in balance before stepping on stage or even thinking about competing in this grueling sport. So what’s the difference between proportion and symmetry? Symmetry is a little more precise.

Symmetry is about the equal development of muscularity on both the right and left sides of the physique. Just one lat bigger than the other and the athlete has surrendered his or her medal chances. Picture a car with one flat tire; not a good look. It’s a subtle distinction but it is hugely important. A proportioned and symmetrical body is more pleasing to the eye and sends the message that the athlete has trained smart, sacrificed and understood their role. Watch any bodybuilding competition and you will see tons of competitors with huge arms or massive thighs. But who’s on top? It’s those who have mass and virtually perfect proportion and symmetry; athletes like IFBB Pro and Team MuscleTech™ Superstar, Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler.

Now Jay and other pros like him didn’t get to where they are by mass, proportion and symmetry alone. All of that is an absolute waste of time if you don’t get striated and shredded; this is where the definition criteria comes into play. Definition is the degree of muscularity brought out by the absence of bodyfat and water retention. In other words, the athlete is ripped to the bone and you could bounce a quarter off his or her skin. Getting there isn’t easy. It requires discipline and focus to lose as much fat and water as humanly possible while still holding on to every inch of granite-like muscle you’ve packed on your frame. Good nutritional habits, cutting calories and carbs, and keeping the body flooded with protein are part of the formula. Hydroxycut^® Hardcore can be used during your training and prior to the competition for that rock-hard, ripped and ready look. If you come in looking soft, see you next year because you’re not going to place in the medal rounds. You’ll be left sucking your thumb in the corner and wondering what could have been.

The last element, presentation or stage presence, includes posing performance and other factors that influence general appearance such as skin tone, grooming, charisma and poise. The question is, can you draw the judges and crowd to you, get the cheers, take control of the room and the stage, and use every moment in the spotlight? Effective stage presentation is essential to display the physique to its maximum potential. And it’s often the difference between first and second-place finishes. The objective is to leave the stage with the crowd screaming for you and the judges wanting to see more of the masterpiece you have worked so hard to perfect.

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The bodybuilding balancing act doesn’t sound so easy does it? With new appreciation, you now know what to look for from the cheap seats at the show. But if you think you have the intestinal fortitude, passion, desire and commitment to achieve this level in the sport then go for it, brother. It will be the most rewarding thing you ever do. And you can count on Team MuscleTech to be there for you every step of the way.