Natural Bodybuilding Q&A Thread Submission

Here's a little question and answer that took place on Getbig.com forums.

Quote from: Krankenstein on January 07, 2012, 05:53:12 PM

So tell everyone why it is that you dont jump to the WNBF and compete there as a pro and potentially win money?  Thats the most amazing thing to me when these guys who shove their 'natural' status down everyones throat and constantly compete in the Team U.  You arent going anywhere if you win the show, and you aren't getting 'exposure' by not winning it.

Serious question....serious answer please....Oh, and just an fyi...I did compete in WNBF.  As a natural for as long as I was...I would say that you are in no way natural.  My opinion...

My Response:
Competitive bodybuilding is and always will be about what each individual wants to accomplish.  I talk about that throughout my blog.  I say, in detail, how I used to believe what I read on the boards and I wanted to see the truth with my own eyes.

Since I was 16 years old, I have been getting drug allegations.  I've never been much to look at tbh.  However, I have a build that is well suited for competitive bodybuilding.  That's why I started competing, in 2009, after 10 years of serious lifting.  All of this is stated in my blog.

The WNBF is great.  As are the IFPA, PNBA, SNBF, etc.  There's SO many different federations out there, and they all have different contest formats.  Some allow you to use props during posing routines, and some don't.  I like the way the NPC and IFBB does things.  I think it exemplifies bodybuilding as a sport and not just a "show."

Prize money is great when it's available.  But let's be realistic, depending on how you look at things (if you factor hotel, travel costs, and anything unexpected) the WNBF prize money isn't going to make much of an impact in anyone's income.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Dave Goodin hold the record for winning the most prize money in the history of their organization over the course of one year?  This was the case several years ago, but someone might have surpassed that in recent history.  That amount was around, $10,000 for X amount of shows.

Also, many organizations try to prohibit their top athletes from competing anywhere else and offer nothing in exchange for their loyalty.  And, since winning prize money is never guaranteed you're basically letting them exploit you in exchange for nothing.

At least in the NPC/ IFBB you get to be in magazines that people actually read/ know about, and have historical significance.  NPC News, Flex, MD, everyone knows about these publications; even the top natural bodybuilders follow them.  I have been fortunate enough to be in several of these magazines, and I was thrilled!  That was/ is one of my goals.

The truth is, if every single natural had the genetics, and the determination to build a national level or IFBB worthy physique they would compete at that level.  Unfortunately, that isn't the case.  People should compete in the organization that coincides with their goals and best suits their physique.

If you get into this sport solely to make lots of "prize money,"  you'll be sorely disappointed.