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Some supplement companies will go to any lengths to prove their products'
effectiveness. But sometimes the evidence isn't quite what it's cracked up to
be. Before and after photos are the most compelling means by which to convince
a person of steroid-like gains.
Often the before photos show the bodybuilder in off-season condition; fat,
bloated, with pale skin. Hardly inspirational, but true to life. And photos are
sometimes reversed. In one instance a supplement company presented a photo of a
fitness model in top condition, declaring it the 'after' photo. Beside it, the
apparent 'before' photo showed the model in her last trimester of pregnancy.
Anyone who is familiar with the model's history is aware that the before photo
was, in fact, the after photo.
The same trick was used by an ex-professional bodybuilder from the 1960s.
Interestingly, his jowls sagged more and his face looked older in the before
photo. Apparently his supplement line not only increases muscle, it may be the
proverbial fountain of youth!
Before and after photos from every day individuals sell a product best. They
represent people like you and me... average weight trainees hoping to make
dramatic changes in short order. But these photos are also highly dubious. In
order to look as bad and as good as possible, the models employ several tricks.
The before photos nearly always have the subject slouching, frowning, pale skin,
dull lighting, gut extended, and with no muscle pump. The after photos use
harsh lighting with good shadow contrast, tanned skin, upright posture with
lats and shoulders spread wide, muscles tensed, smiling with well-groomed
facial and head hair, and a muscle pump. It also is known that duct tape has
been used to pull back obliques/love handles in order to make waists appear
even smaller and shoulders even wider. The same trick works under their arm
pits, to make the pec line more pronounced and sharp.
And so, are you truly seeing what the person has accomplished and while on
supplement 'x'? Hardly; what you are witnessing is an illusion of posing and
photography skills of the model.
One winning competitor in the EAS Physique Transformation contest in 1999 did
look good if contrasting his before and after photos, losing twelve pounds of
fat. He also, however, lost six pounds of lean tissue! Ignoring the fact that
he won, it could be said that his program was a failure and that he did the
opposite of what exercise was originally intended to do, e.g., increase lean
tissue/function.
But it is to these unhealthy extremes that one sometimes experiences in order to
make a dramatic difference in a contest that allows only 12 weeks. After all,
12 weeks is not a long time, particularly for advanced trainees more so than
novices. For the advanced, there is not much muscle to gain and to produce good
before and after photos requires extreme loss of fat - besides slouching,
frowning, and no pump or tan in the before photos.
Unfortunately, many people (particularly novices) who are unaware of the
benefits and application of long-term planning will burn out on such an
endeavor, perhaps quitting exercise all together. After a 12-week stint of near
overtraining (if they haven't done so by the contest's end and if not
understanding how to train), they conclude they cannot tolerate another
12-weeks of further self-inflicted torture, let alone another three years.
Not everyone entering these contests understand that it is a short-term
solution... to see how far the body can be pushed as quickly as possible. After
that point, training must take on a more cyclic structure. This means
maintaining most of what was accomplished during the physique transformation
followed by 'easier' off-season training and peaking infrequently thereafter.
Fat loss may continue after the contest, or prior to another peak, but 100%
mental effort and extreme demands may only account for 8-12 weeks total
throughout the year once reaching an advanced stage. Training throughout the
remainder of the year can still be tough, yet tolerable and never as demanding.
I don't believe most beginner trainees realize the importance of cycling or what
needs to be done after a physique transformation challenge. Most magazines
don't talk about it, nor do bodybuilding books. They present general ideas and
expect you to lift happily ever after. It is for this reason that physique
transformation contests and magazines as a whole produce greater failure than
success in. The thoughts of maintaining or bettering one's physique after
12-weeks of grueling effort is enough to shatter anyone's motivation. Believing
that you must continue training in a similar manner (something to which we have
all fallen victim) is the best guarantee to exercise termination.
Interestingly, can you imagine the loss in profits that supplement manufacturers
(magazine owners) are encountering due to frustration of their readers and the
thousands dropping out of exercise - or perhaps no longer purchasing that
magazine and the supplements it endorses. If sound training information were
provided, particularly long-term application, there would be more successes and
supplement purchases from advanced trainees. Rather, supplement companies are
hoping and expecting a new generation of customers to make up for those
recently lost ? short-term solutions for a quick buck.
You may publish this article in your newsletter, on your web site, or other
publications, so long as the article's content is not altered and the resource
box is included. Add byline and active link. Notification of the use of this
article is appreciated, but not required.
Brian
D. Johnston is the Director of Education and President of the
I.A.R.T. fitness certification and education institute. He has
written over 12 books and is a contributor author to the Merck
Medical Manual. An international lecturer, Mr. Johnston wears many
hats in the fitness and health industries, and can be reached at info@ExerciseCertification.com.
Visit his site at http://www.ExerciseCertification.com
for more free articles.
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