The modern terminology for those men and women who endure pain (and a plentiful but plain diet) to gain muscular definition that would make a Greek God proud. But acquiring that Herculean look is an arduous, full-time job -- and obsession, part narcissism, part health-driven desire to defy mortality.

Just ask Cao Xiongjie, winner of two national bodybuilding competitions in May and July and the only Shanghai participant in the Asian Games in Busan, South Korea last month.

Like the comic book Incredible Hulk, the muscles that ripple under his shirt look as if they'll rip the fabric if he so much as moves an inch. To attain such sinews, Cao says, involves long workouts, countless reps and crunches, and consuming extra-large protein food.

The real secret, though, is that "to some degree, I've eaten to build my muscular body. Each day, I eat 40 eggs -- whites only -- 2 kilograms of chicken breast, a bunch of fruit and 1 kilogram of vegetables. Yes, a hard workout is very important. But a scientific diet, in the long run, may count more," says Cao.

"Bodybuilding places restrictions on diet. All food intakes must be high protein and low fat, and cooked without oil, spice or salt. Only by doing this can the nutrition and protein be absorbed to optimal effect, in a way that will build muscles. I have had no salt at all since this February," he adds.

In addition to food, nutritional supplements like whey protein, amino acids and fat burners are key, because they "help boost the composition and growth of muscles."

Wang Hua, Cao's training and competition partner, agrees. "Ninety percent of bodybuilding depends on diet and only 10 percent on the workout."

The attention to nutrition pays dividends in competition, but it's an expensive habit. Cao spends about 1,500 yuan (US$180) on food and 800 yuan on his nutritional supplements monthly, an expense that is aggravated by the fact that he quit his last job (as a marketing staff at a beverage company) to prepare for competition and hasn't found a new one yet.

All of Cao's 178-centimeter, 97-kilogram body seems to be pure muscle. It's hard not to look at those muscles in fascination; they seem to have a life of their own. His brawny arms show well-defined biceps and triceps; the contours of his massive chest and wide, solid shoulders are defined under his skin-tight shirt.

He looks every inch the bodybuilding professional, but the 28-year-old national champion, with no false modesty, says that he is a complete amateur.

"All bodybuilders in China are amateurs. We have no trainers, no squad. I have done all my workouts and training without guidance since the beginning," he points out.

Cao's interest in bodybuilding goes back to high school, when he saw "Commando" with Arnold Schwarzenegger. "I was fascinated by the image of Schwarzenegger in the film," he says. "The muscles on his body were nearly perfect. I wanted to look like him. Then I managed to find a pair of dumbbells and I began working out," he says.

More importantly, he has continued to work out with religious zeal. "Some people started, with great interest, like me," says Cao. "But most of them have given up." Cao works out five days a week, and admits that he understands why bodybuilding has such a high dropout rate. "It's very boring and dull. The smallest improvement takes a long time, and it's painstaking," he explains.

Wang, his training partner, attributes Cao's success to the seriousness and dedication which he applies to his sport. "His great conscientiousness has helped him progress rapidly. Of the five national competitions he has entered, he has won four medals. We all respect him and call him big brother," Wang says.

That perseverance also applies to his diet, which Cao says is probably harder to stick to than his physical workout. "Eating 40 eggs a day can make anyone sick, let alone that much chicken breast. But no other food or cooking method can substitute for the results I want. This is the only way that works. Therefore I have no other option, even though I still feel hungry all the time," he says.

Yet despite all this work, Cao's international debut in the Asian Games ended quickly. He dismisses it, saying "I was not that upset, because I saw the gap between the Asian top bodybuilders and myself. Some countries have professional teams. That's an enormous advantage," he says.

"The lack of attention from the government is a big problem for the sport in China," he adds. "Without government support, it can't develop properly. Even the national team was set up temporarily for the Asian Games. That really showed in the outcome."

He indicates that the problem may be caused by a misperception of bodybuilding. "I want to change people's concept of the sport. We are not boors with brawn but no brains," says the graduate of Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Cao may do just that. The bodybuilder says that this is just a hobby, and he hopes to find a job in marketing or computers soon. "Brainwork," he says. It makes a nice complement to the bodywork of which he is already a master.

(eastday.com November 2, 2002)