Henry Graham, known as 'Iron Man', sports his mega muscles during a bodybuilding competition at The Jamaica Pegasus in 2006.Left: Jamaica's Judith Allen shows her abs to the judges on her way to winning the lightweight division in 2006. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

They've got ribbed torsos, super-broad shoulders, large arms and humungous thighs. And like Ford's motto, they are built like a rock. These fellas and girls give good competition to that mean, green spandex-wearing monster (wow, those pants can stretch), the Incredible Hulk. This is a regular man - a man of steel.

Enter the world of 'bulkdom', where muscle mania is never out of season. Boys try to get them. Adults revel in their ability to make some women go gaga. Old men recall their heyday of being the Stif-Meister.

Is the path to thickness a craze?

"For some, it is, but I think for most people, it's all about health and having a toned body. For the most part, as was the case with me, it was about competition," said Frederick Smith, president of the Jamaica Amateur Bodybuilding and Fitness Association.

Smith has been practising bodybuilding for 24 years, winning a Mr Jamaica bodybuilding title and three Caribbean titles. He has also been on the international stage with men like the 'Governator', Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"It depends on your intentions. It's all about ego for some guys. They want to look good on the beach and catch the eyes of the ladies," said Smith. "But many of them, when they start the process of building the body, go about it the wrong way. Then they end up looking like carrots."

The carrot shape - Minotaur torso with slimline waist precariously balanced on stilts - is a major turn-off for women like Kenisha O'Connor, administrative assistant.

"I like tall, thick men, but when the bulk is too much, it becomes very unattractive. Muscle up, but don't go overboard."

Felicia, who used to date a buff maniac, said while toning the body is commendable, care must be exercised in achieving proportionality.

"When you walk around and your arms can't rest comfortably by your sides, what's up with that?" she said.

Daniel Chisholm, who has been doing bodybuilding for eight years, said reactions to his muscle mass have been mixed.

"Some women love the muscles but others are sceptical and are afraid of getting involved with a big guy."

Felicia said she fears physical abuse. "I'm thinking he might lose his temper one day and get so angry that he hits me. With arms as big as small branches, am I going to survive?"

For female bodybuilders like Judy Rowe, the feedback from men has been positive.

"The men I know are not affected by me bodybuilding. I think it encourages and challenges them a bit, but it's not a deterrent."

Rowe has been in the business for approximately 20 years and is a former Miss Jamaica bodybuilder.

KEYS TO BUILDING

The path to all that thickness is three-pronged. Smith told Saturday Life that rest, nutrition and proper weight training are key to muscle development, but all three must be done sensibly.

"Sticking to training and eating right will not give the desired results if one misses the rest periods," the bodybuilding boss said.

To speed up the process, some bodybuilders use performance-enhancing substances or human growth hormone. But Smith urges caution, saying these substances pose life-threatening dangers.

"Sometimes performance-enhancing substances are used the wrong way, so much so that it affects the heart, kidneys and liver. The body is not accustomed to the excess chemicals and starts to react negatively," he explained.

Smith said teens who want to build muscle should focus on doing so naturally - at gyms. Most gym instructors should be able to give guidance, but not all are equipped with the necessary scientific knowledge to instruct in bodybuilding. For those who cannot afford a gym, he says regular push-ups and a balanced diet can work just as well.

OTHER BENEFITS

Smith says bodybuilding has other positives, such as its far-reaching effects on mental outlook and perspective.

"It changes one's attitude towards life. Your whole approach is different and you're more focused," he told Saturday Life.

"I grew in this sport, having started in 1966, competing. I aimed for the next level and the next level and now I'm a coach and president of the national body."

Felicia used to protect identity.

Smith

shaunette.jones@gleanerjm.com