What Is Natural Bodybuilding?

Natural bodybuilding entails constructing the body in the most natural way possible, without the use of steroids or other forms of doping. The foundation of this sport is a well-balanced diet and a well-organized training program. Of course, saying it is better than doing it, so let's look at how to make drug-free bodybuilding work for you!

What Is Natural Bodybuilding?

Natural bodybuilding emerged as an antidote to traditional bodybuilding. The focus is still on muscle building, but only in a natural way, without the use of performance-enhancing drugs like anabolic steroids.

Artificial forms of the male sex hormone testosterone, which is one of the main drivers of muscle development, are known as anabolic steroids.

This sport is based on a holistic approach with four foundations, according to the German organization (GNBF) in the International Natural Bodybuilding Association:

1- Training

2- Nutrition

3- Recovery

4- Positive thinking

Of course, many natural bodybuilders compete in bodybuilding contests and follow the aesthetic objectives that come with them. Natural bodybuilders, on the other hand, aren't only interested in exercising to gain strength, improve their appearance, and compete. Natural bodybuilding's main aim is to physically and emotionally challenge and sustain yourself in order to increase your overall quality of life.

What Is the Difference Between Natural Bodybuilding and Conventional Bodybuilding?

Natural muscle growth has its limits, no matter how hard the workouts are or how strict your diet plan is. We would all reach a stage of stagnation in our development due to genetics alone. However, not everyone is willing to consider this.

According to a national IPED (image and performance-enhancing drugs) survey, nearly 1 million people in the United Kingdom have used these substances, with the majority of them doing so for cosmetic reasons1. This is a popular and recognized practice in the traditional bodybuilding scene.

Doping with anabolic steroids, growth hormones, diuretics, or stimulants (e.g. cocaine) improves efficiency and releases reserves that have already been built up – at least in the short term.

Doping causes long-term changes in the body which can have serious side effects. Strokes, heart attacks, liver problems, and mental illness are all increased by anabolic steroids alone2.

One of the reasons why proponents of the natural form of bodybuilding avoid doping is because of this. They also want to demonstrate that impressive muscles can be built without it.

They should only take supplements that are on the Cologne List of anti-doping supplements. These have been tested to ensure that there is no chance of contamination with prohibited drugs that might turn up in drug testing. This means they can be used by professional athletes participating in drug-free bodybuilding or other sports.

What Kind of Natural Bodybuilding Nutrition Plan Do I Need?

If you're a runner or a bodybuilder, nutrition is responsible for 70% of your success in achieving your fitness goals. If you want to increase your muscle mass, you should pay special attention to the following three factors:

1) Calorie surplus in the bulking phase

Bodybuilders must consume more calories during the "bulking process," which is the muscle-building phase. Muscles, after all, need the energy to expand until you reach the "cutting process" and lose body fat. Athletes are typically recommended to eat a 30-35 calorie surplus per kilogram of body weight.

You'll sabotage your progress if you go into a calorie deficit before you want to lose weight. If you don't get enough energy from food, your body will depend on stored energy and begin to break down your muscles. This means that eating enough carbohydrates is critical, particularly after a workout.

2)  Enough protein to build muscles

Proteins are the building blocks of new muscles, so if you want to gain muscle mass, you can eat 1.5-2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight every day. Eggs, cottage cheese, beef, salmon, and mackerel are high-quality protein sources, as are vegetable alternatives including beans, lentils, peas, chickpeas, and soy products.

If you're eating more protein, make sure you drink enough water during the day – at least two liters. Since excess protein is excreted via the kidneys, you'll need plenty of liquids to help this phase along.

If you don't have much time but still want to give yourself an energy and protein boost, a protein shake is a good option. Put the powder into our shaker with water, milk, or a milk substitute, give it a shake, and it’s over! Since our Vanilla Whey Protein is on the Cologne List, it's perfect for athletes looking to get the best out of their muscles – without doping!

3) Varied and balanced diet

Solid muscles are made up of more than just proteins and carbohydrates. To remain in balance and maintain balanced body composition, you will need fat, vitamins, and minerals. Foods like almonds, avocado, and fish, as well as seasonal fruits and vegetables, will help you get the variety of nutrients you need.

The following macronutrient ratio should be maintained in your diet: 40-40-20. Carbohydrates should account for 40% of your daily calories, protein for 40%, and fat for 20%.

How do natural bodybuilders prepare for the competition?

A well-structured training plan is needed for someone who wants to improve or challenge their body. You can't develop muscles unless you work out, but that doesn't mean you have to spend as much time as possible in the gym. Increasing the commitment does not always imply a similar increase in outcomes.

Working out too hard, i.e. with too many weights or reps, and too often are two common bodybuilding mistakes. Overly short recovery times between training sessions can also stifle your progress.

Natural bodybuilders who compete at a high level normally follow a three- or four-day split program. Each exercise in these training plans focuses on a particular muscle group, giving the other muscles time to recover.

Bodybuilders must get enough sleep and keep their stress levels down in order to encourage recovery. With plenty of necessary amino acids to replenish your muscles post-workout, our Recovery Aminos are also a healthy way to complement your diet.

As a result, as a natural trainer, you must value your anatomy, your limits, and your long-term health. Your priorities must be reflected in your fitness, diet, supplementation, and recovery programs. If you want to call yourself a bodybuilder, you should train and educate yourself like one. If you're anything less, you're just a gym rat.

Is Natural Bodybuilding Good for You?

Natural bodybuilding emphasizes not only the participants' physical appearance and competition success, but also their wellness, fitness, and overall well-being. Natural bodybuilding is not detrimental to your health, apart from the chance of injury that comes with any sport.

During competitions, strict controls ensure that bodybuilders are free of doping substances. In addition to urine samples, some of the contestants are required to take lie detector tests to ensure that every natural bodybuilder follows the sport's official goals and guidelines. Anyone who fails or refuses to engage in drug testing is disqualified from all sports, often for several years. After all, the sport's reputation must be kept "clean."

Conclusion

Natural bodybuilding is an anti-conventional bodybuilding movement that promotes natural muscle development without the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Anabolic steroids, which are commonly used for doping in traditional bodybuilding, raise the risk of a variety of health issues, including strokes, heart attacks, liver problems, and mental illness.

A natural bodybuilder emphasizes muscle growth through a well-balanced diet high in protein and carbohydrates, as well as well-designed workouts with adequate rest periods.

Athletes are subjected to stringent controls at every competition to ensure that anti-doping standards are met: Supplements from the Cologne List are permitted.

Although some people are divided on this issue, it is critical that natural athletes do not try to claim moral superiority over our enhanced counterparts. Our sport has yet to gain widespread public acceptance, and fighting between ourselves will not help our cause. The most important thing is that you stay true to yourself as athletes and support our sport in both word and deed.