The Unseen Side of Bodybuilding: A Natural Athlete's Journey

Bodybuilding competitions demand extreme leanness, achieved through strict dieting and intense training. Let's explore the journey of a drug-free bodybuilder who prepared for a contest over 18 weeks. They adopted evidence-based nutrition and tracked various health indicators, including hormone levels, resting energy expenditure, body composition, and mood. During this period, their free triiodothyronine (T3) and total testosterone (TT) levels dropped significantly. Their resting energy expenditure decreased by a notable amount, and their respiratory exchange ratio also fell.

The bodybuilder lost a considerable amount of weight and body fat. Interestingly, their oral temperature and resting heart rate correlated with their weight loss. Mood remained stable until the final two weeks, but strength performance in key lifts dropped slightly. After two days of modest energy repletion, T3 levels bounced back, while TT levels continued to decrease.

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