There is no way to make more dramatic changes in one’s body than through bodybuilding training. Most of these effects are obviously positive, and begin to reveal themselves almost immediately. But what about the long term effects? I will evaluate them in terms of positives and negatives.

Negative Long Term Effects of Bodybuilding

As far as I know, there are no long term negative effects of bodybuilding when one does it properly. Most of the problems that one develops are from use of bad form during exercises, or from improper diet. I will explain what they are and how to avoid them. Here are some examples:

Bad Knees: Many bodybuilders develop joint pains, especially at the knee. The reason for this is usually use of improper form during squats. To avoid this, make sure that your knees never stick out further than your feet, so that the barbell is directly parallel to your heels, placing the main stress on them rather than your knees. Another reason for bad knees is too much running. Many bodybuilders do lots of cardio to maintain their muscle definition, not realizing that if they ate more sensibly (no one needs 5000 calories with 600 grams of protein!) they would need to burn fewer calories. Running strains your joints at the knee and can cause inflammation. This can cause pain as you get older. To avoid it do less cardio in general, running in particular. The elliptical machine is a great substitute for the treadmill to spare your knees the wear-and-tear of running.

Muscles Turning to Fat: Before everyone jumps on this one as biologically impossible, there is some truth to it. As I mentioned above, many bodybuilders eat an insane amount of food, and complement it with an insane amount of aerobic exercise, thinking that this helps them. It doesn’t. Eating so that you will burn it off is like flushing money down the toilet, and wasting your brief, precious time on Earth on a treadmill. It is a lose-lose. It also sets you up with horribly unhealthy eating habits, so that if you ever stop exercising (even for only a few months) you will gain copious amounts of fat because you no longer do the exercise to support the diet you are accustomed to.

It is very hard for most people to change eating habits, as evidenced by how many obese people you see walking the streets. So often, later in life, a person becomes interested in family and business and has only a little bit of time to exercise, thus causing their muscles to atrophy. If they were used to eating whatever they wanted, they will get fat quickly and take the place that their muscle once occupied. This can be readily seen in retired athletes who once needed 4500 calories per day to sustain their training, and don’t adjust now that they only hit them gym 3 times per week.

Lack of Social Skills: Unfortunately, many people who take weight training seriously take only weight training seriously. They neglect family and relationships. They work and socialize only in gyms. They ignore other opportunities for personal growth and education. As they get older and cannot workout the way they once did, they find themselves feeling empty because the only people they feel comfortable with are other bodybuilders. They feel contempt for fat or weak people. This is the worst problem of all. The solution though is simple: remember that there is a world outside of the gym and beach. Take time for personal development. Spend time with family and friends. Remember that muscles are a way to enhance one’s life, not the very purpose of life itself.

Positive Long Term Effects of Bodybuilding

Luckily, the positive long term effects of bodybuilding far outweigh the negative. I will assess them now.

Stronger Muscles, Even Into Old Age: Being that I grew up in Florida, I can tell you what every elderly person’s worst nightmare is: falling. That’s right, if they fall they will almost certainly break a hip, never be able to walk again, and exist in agony and misery until they die. But why does this happen? Because when they fall their bare bones hit the ground because their muscles are completely atrophied. If they had even a little bit of remaining muscle to pad them, their odds would be much better. A solid foundation of muscle is like a suit of armor that an old person wear to protect them against what could otherwise cripple or kill them. This is all not to mention the positive effects of a stronger body in every day life for ever individual in the world.

Stronger, Sturdier Bones: Building muscle also maintains, and even increases slightly, one’s bone mass. This is especially important for women who have to worry about osteoporosis. Everyone’s bones naturally degrade starting around middle age, but a person with more muscle will also maintain more bone mass, allowing them a fuller, more active life.

Self Discipline: The most important life lesson that one can learn from bodybuilding is that you really can improve yourself if you put your mind to it. The discipline that one learns from training is priceless and irreplaceable. Someone who lifts regularly has mastered scheduling himself and regimenting himself to a special system of diet and physical activity. This will also help in the long term in every area of one’s life. A bodybuilder KNOWS he can wake up at 5am to get things he wants taken care of. He KNOWS only he is responsible for his success or failure. He can be critical and learn from his mistakes. He keeps meticulous records and monitors what works and what doesn’t. These are all crucial parts of success in school, business and society in general.

On balance, it seems that the long term effects of bodybuilding are more helpful than harmful. Especially because all of the negative impacts are avoidable! Given that, it is probably a good idea to start your program today, as the positive effects are all cumulative, meaning that the more you put into them, the more you get out.