Abstract:
The study sought to understand the daily bodily experiences of a group of bodybuilding athletes from the Brazilian cities of Petrolina, PE, and Juazeiro, BA. Ten bodybuilders were interviewed, nine males and one female. Participant observation also was used as a complementary resource in a bodybuilding competition held in Petrolina. The findings indicated that the bodily preparation of these individuals is organized in two stages: Bulking/Off and Cutting/Pre-contest. Each one of them is marked by specific logics and is based on the elements that are essential to these individuals’ bodily work: eating habits and regular physical exercise. We also highlight the behaviors adopted on competition day, when the logic that guides the athletes’ physical preparation changes again.
Keywords:
Bodybuilding; Human Body; Diet; Exercise