Gambling with life instead of inspiration: why bodybuilding with kidney failure shouldn't be celebrated

Max Amsden's story has been making the fitness community rounds. The bodybuilder, who stood on stage with a dialysis catheter in his chest, is a symbol of indomitable will for many. But we in the newsroom have to ask: Where does inspiration end and the dangerous gamble with life begin?

Max Amsden took part in two prestigious competitions in just four days - first the NPC Ace of Stage and then the Amateur Olympia. That's a feat that would destroy a perfectly healthy athlete. But for a man diagnosed with kidney failure, it's a game with fire that shouldn't be unreservedly celebrated.

An extreme that should not be the norm

Preparing for competition, the so-called "peak week", is all about water and mineral handling. The body is getting a workout, the kidneys are working flat out to filter metabolites and maintain homeostasis. But Max's kidneys aren't working.

"Racing on dialysis is not heroic. It's a huge risk when an athlete is teetering on the edge of metabolic disruption."

While the fact that he was able to take second place at the NPC and stand on the podium at the Olympia is a testament to his genetics and hard work, it also sends a message to the world that health comes second. Seeing an athlete pose with a tube sticking out of his chest should be more of a warning sign than a reason to applaud.

Two competitions in four days: why?

To complete supercompensation and drainage twice in such short succession is a brutal strain on the cardiovascular system. The heart has to pump thickened blood while the body fights exhaustion. For a patient on dialysis, the risk of heart failure or critical potassium imbalance is many times higher.

It's fascinating to see what the human body can withstand. But we have to remember that bodybuilding is meant to lead to the consolidation of physical fitness and aesthetics, not to self-destruction in a straightforward way.

Our view.

Max Amsden deserves credit for not giving up on life and fighting. But as a medium, we feel compelled to say: Don't try this at home. If you are suffering from serious health problems, listen to your doctors, not your ego.

Because the real victory in this sport is longevity and health, not a plastic cup redeemed by risking your life in a hospital bed.

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Příspěvek sdílený Max (@therookielifter)

Source:FitnessVolt