Professional bodybuilding requires winning a Pro Card from a governing body like IFBB, strict training, and natural supplements. Competitions are divided by weight and open to both genders. Contestants start with smaller contests before being invited to Pro Card competitions.
Professional bodybuilding is a career that combines athletic performance and monetary income. Amateur bodybuilders must first win a competition that offers a Pro Card from the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) in the United States, or another governing body, to enter paid competitions as a professional. After earning a Pro card, bodybuilders typically accept ad allowances for popular professional bodybuilding products and supplements to increase revenue.
Bodybuilding, in general, requires years of dedication to a strict training regimen, diet, and bodybuilding cardio routine. Gains in muscle mass take time to build up, as muscles need to be torn down before they can heal further. Weight lifting, which is typically practiced during professional bodybuilding workouts, creates tiny tears in muscle fibers. When the muscle heals, the fibers grow in the area of injury, increasing the size of the muscle.
Natural professional bodybuilding refers to athletes who refrain from using controlled substances, prohormones, and diuretics during training and competition. The IFBB, while not considered a natural professional bodybuilding community, does test for illegal substances at Pro Card competitions, as do natural bodybuilding organizations such as the International Natural Bodybuilding Association (INBA) and the International Federation of Bodybuilding. Natural (INBF).
While the use of illegal substances is frowned upon in professional bodybuilding, natural and herbal supplements are commonly taken to increase muscle mass, increase energy, and decrease fat stores. Natural supplementation may include cycling from time to time with herbal supplements, formulated with multiple natural and synthetic ingredients. Some of the more common bodybuilding supplements include creatine, nitrous oxide, and herbal stimulants.
Professional bodybuilding competitions are generally divided into weight categories. During competitions, athletes pose and perform within a given weight class. The winner of each weight class may have the opportunity to re-pose for the overall title. Pro Cards may be issued to the winner of each weight class, overall winner, or both.
The sport is not limited to male contestants. Women routinely compete in amateur and professional competitions. Competitors women also compete based on body weight. Additional competitions are generally available to contestants outside of the accepted age range, with competitions available for juniors and seniors, although Pro Cards are generally not earned with competition winnings.
To compete in professional bodybuilding, contestants must first sign up for local, smaller-scale contests. After winning several more minor competitions, athletes may be invited to sign up for a Pro card competition. Some of these allow contestants to request a spot in the posing lineup.
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