There is a plethora of information available online about fitness – so much that it can be overwhelming. So where to start? That depends on what you’re looking for. Here are a few tips, broken down by category.
Workout Tips
Sites such as Bodybuilding.com and others have staff writers who can help you with the ins and outs of fitness, whether your are a beginner, expert, or anywhere in between. Articles can help you learn how to use equipment, perform exercises, learn new techniques, or design workout regimens of your own.
Research
Whether it’s on the effectiveness of certain supplements or which type of cardio will be most beneficial for you, there is a lot of research available online. Scientific journals such as the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research have articles and abstracts posted online for your perusal. However, some of this can be difficult to understand, so you can look for other places where this information is broken down and explained, such as the Studies and Research Blog here on Bodybuilding.com.
Buying Supplements
With the fast pace of most people’s lives today, diets can’t always be perfect, so supplements are a big help. Additionally, being busy often means that you don’t have time to hit the store during normal business hours, and even if you do, the employees at your local retailer may not be the most informed individuals. Luckily, you can go online and learn about supplements and read reviews before you buy. And most of the time, you can find supplements cheaper online than you can in stores, so it’s really a win-win situation.
Camaraderie
Unless you know a lot of people at your gym, training can be a lonely road. And for those who train at home, the problem is exacerbated. However, the online community is massive, and you can exchange ideas with others in the forums, start a workout journal to log progress and elicit opinions on your routine, or follow along on someone else’s BodyBlog or journal for motivation. The possibilities are endless.
Finding a Trainer or Gym near you
You probably don’t have time to drive up and down every street in your town and check out where all the local businesses are, and the internet makes it incredibly easy to find trainers and gyms near you, as most have websites that list hours, rates and locations. But if you don’t know the name of any trainers or gyms in your area, head over to Google Maps and in the search box, type “personal trainer loc: [your area]” and you’ll be able to see where trainers are and how to contact them, and even get driving directions! How easy is that?
Diet Help
Nutrition is a HUGE part of reaching your goals, whether you’re trying to lean out or add mountains of mass. The internet is incredibly useful for this, offering calorie counts and nutrition information for every food imaginable, as well as programs to track your daily calories. In addition, there are a multitude of sites to find tasty recipes and learn how to make healthier versions of your favorites.
Finding Cheap Equipment
Probably the most expensive part of leading a fit lifestyle is the equipment and/or gym membership. And unlike cars, there aren’t a lot of stores that sell used equipment. Thankfully, sites such as eBay and Craigslist can help you find cheap equipment in your area.
How did bodybuilders of the past become so informed and successful with no access of the internet?
While having a massive online community is a very cool concept, there is something to be said for the tight-knit community among bodybuilders of the past. Without access to the internet, ideas had to be spread through word of mouth and contact with others at the gym. This allowed for a lot of camaraderie and a lot of anecdotal information – you knew a method or training technique worked because you saw it in action. Of course, someone just a few miles away could have come up with a breakthrough technique that you wouldn’t know about if it wasn’t publicized, so that could be an issue. However, I think the lack of the internet made more bodybuilders “do it yourself” kind of guys who were extremely driven, dedicated and intense, because that was a sure-fire way to produce results. Most of these hardcore bodybuilders would probably laugh at ‘fad’ workouts of today. The main difference though, comes down to community – while it wasn’t as widespread, the old-school community was more involved, as bodybuilders saw each other in person instead of anonymously over the internet. This meant they could trust each other more and they probably had more meaningful relationships, which helped make up for the lack of breadth in the community.
What kind of impact has the internet had on your fitness/bodybuilding lifestyle, knowledge, goals, etc? How do you think your bodybuilding lifestyle would be different without the internet?
The internet has had an incredibly large influence on my fitness lifestyle and knowledge. Without the internet, I wouldn’t have nearly the knowledge that I have now. While there are a lot of books on the subject, the amount of free resources on the internet has been great in expanding my understanding of exercise science, muscular anatomy, supplements and nutrition. Also, books can be a great tool, but if you have a question or need clarification, you can’t exactly call up the author and ask for a more thorough explanation. However, with message boards and chat rooms, it’s very easy to get more information any time that you need it. Additionally, when I’m not at school, I’m training at home, which can be a lonely pursuit. Luckily, I can interact with friends on the message boards, share my progress, get new ideas and meet new people with similar interests and goals. This makes things a lot more interesting and provides some motivation to work harder. I’m not sure I’d be working out as hard or as often if I didn’t have the internet as a resource for communication and knowledge. Lastly, I do all of my supplement shopping online, as not a lot of products are available in my area, and the stores that do have a decent selection are very expensive. Shopping online is very convenient, and I can easily compare prices and get the best deal, no matter what time I’m doing my shopping – often at odd times after I’m done with class and work. It’s very hard to imagine how things would have been for me without the internet, but I’m sure they would not be as successful. Before searching around online, I didn’t know how to create an effective split, or what to eat, or even when to eat to make the most progress. Through emulating and adapting others’ routines, I have developed routines of my own and have applied others’ ideas about fitting exercise into my busy schedule. And because new ideas are coming out all the time, the learning never stops.
Written bysoundcheck129 for Bodybuilding.com. Check out his thread Here!
World Domination with Arthur Pledger 