I remember when bodybuilding was...

[Flexb]

COOL.

I remember when I went to a show, it was always the same people, small circle of competitors and friends and up and comers. It was like an underground cult but cool. I started going to shows in '94. Saw Bruce Patterson go pro, saw Henderson Thorne guest pose multiple occasions, remember Eric Alstrup kick Kovacs ass to get his pro cards. Eric had the conditioning that would kill 99% of competitors these days. It wasn't all about gear and GH back then. Competitors actually had small waists and striations in their quads. Sure, they were 250lbs on stage, but their shape and conditioning mixed with a good amount of muscle is what bodybuilding was supposed to be.
Now we see even the juniors all geared up and many dabbling in GH. It's as if getting a cycle is the first thing people do as opposed to putting years and year of hard training in. I put 8 years into training before stepping on stage and did my first show clean, and I still won. Now days it's all chemical and the physiques aren't nearly the same or as good as they used to be. Yea, they're bigger now, but so what? Not at the expense of expanding your waist 3-4 inches.

Now days, it seems like everyone and their dog is a figure/bikini competitor. It's detracting from the bodybuilders, the people that this federation was made for. But I understand, these divisions bring more people and $$. But I personally can't stand sitting around a show watching all of these model wannabe's running around screaming "look at me". Bodybuilding is vain, yes, but this figure/bikini stuff has brought it to a whole new level. I won't attend shows much anymore because it's taken a turn away from what it used to be, and become something I didn't want it to.

Now this is just my opinion, I've been around this BB world a long time. I miss how it used to be and how competitors used to look. It used to be cool.

[BDH]

I hear ya. Seeing 3 or 4 times the competitors in those categories bugs me. Really wish the shows could be separated.

[St]

I feel you FlexB so true.

[dainbramaged]

Completely agree. 18 year old guys juiced to the hilt, looking for the bragging rights to a $20 trophy? NOT ALL, but a number of bikini competitors having worked out and dieted maybe a few months (in their entire lives?) doing a show and thinking they should be on a magazine cover and competing nationally? Shows where the figure, fitness, bikini, model, etc, etc, etc outnumber the bodybuilders by multitudes and where bodybuilding becomes an 'addition' to the show? Not trying to be disrespectful to the women who've put the serious effort in - especially for the more physical categories, but I remember a time when having that many women on stage used to be called a Beauty Pageant. I agree, separate the categories. See exactly what kind of interest lies with what classes or divisions, not to just lump everything together so there's more butts in seats. Yes, it's all about money, but things may change even more soon enough. LOL, never know, maybe a new hardcore bodybuilding only federation might pop up and everyone will jump ship to it.

[drdnj]

I am with you all on this one....

[Delt King]

The one thing I really liked about shows 15 to 20 years ago was that they didn't last 8hrs. There s only so much show people can take.

[#8]

Never been to a show but overall i agree with the post about the commercialization and regression of the sport / image / attitude. Work out one time at Liberty Village Goodlife and all he said comes true.

[TT Eric]

LOL this is so true. My first competition in 90 it was a big one, cause it was a good place to qualify for a biggest competition to come soon. We were 70! It included JR, SR, master, women, the animator, the photographer and all. Second one, we were about half that. IIRC pre-judging and the night show were done each in less then one hour. And they were quite a lot of people in the audience.

Eric

[Hosehead]

COOL.

I remember when I went to a show, it was always the same people, small circle of competitors and friends and up and comers. It was like an underground cult but cool. I started going to shows in '94. Saw Bruce Patterson go pro, saw Henderson Thorne guest pose multiple occasions, remember Eric Alstrup kick Kovacs ass to get his pro cards. Eric had the conditioning that would kill 99% of competitors these days. It wasn't all about gear and GH back then. Competitors actually had small waists and striations in their quads. Sure, they were 250lbs on stage, but their shape and conditioning mixed with a good amount of muscle is what bodybuilding was supposed to be.
Now we see even the juniors all geared up and many dabbling in GH. It's as if getting a cycle is the first thing people do as opposed to putting years and year of hard training in. I put 8 years into training before stepping on stage and did my first show clean, and I still won. Now days it's all chemical and the physiques aren't nearly the same or as good as they used to be. Yea, they're bigger now, but so what? Not at the expense of expanding your waist 3-4 inches.

Now days, it seems like everyone and their dog is a figure/bikini competitor. It's detracting from the bodybuilders, the people that this federation was made for. But I understand, these divisions bring more people and $$. But I personally can't stand sitting around a show watching all of these model wannabe's running around screaming "look at me". Bodybuilding is vain, yes, but this figure/bikini stuff has brought it to a whole new level. I won't attend shows much anymore because it's taken a turn away from what it used to be, and become something I didn't want it to.

Now this is just my opinion, I've been around this BB world a long time. I miss how it used to be and how competitors used to look. It used to be cool.


Well my friend, as much as I agree with you and as much as I'd like to see builds like Lee Haney's and Vince Taylor's come back to the fold it ain't gonna happen. With all due respect to the current pros we are stuck with blocky grotesque bodies like Branch Warren's and Kai Greene's. The 36 inch waist is here to stay. Amateurs look at these guys and think they must use the same shit because who wants to be 5ft11 and weigh 195 when the guys in the mags who are that tall carry 100 lbs more at a lower BF%. It all got ****ed up at some point IMO. And it's all because of genetic freaks like you !! LOL. I recall seeing you throw around 80lbs dbs with ease for curls while most guys who were doing double what you did were curling the 50s. This is a generation of entitlement and it has moved into the realm of bbing. He has a great body and I should get to have one too. So I'll train naturally for six months then do five compounds, slin, HGH and maybe throw some synthol in the mix. Because I put a whole six months of training in and I can't wait any longer to have 20 inch arms and a 450lb bench. That's the mindset.

And blame Kim Chiveski and her anadrol horce face for all but ruining female bodybuilding. It has never recovered and won't. Again, Lenda Murray set a standard, largely due to incredible genetics, and the less gifted had to resort to whatever it takes to keep up. That's my take on things. I could be totally wrong.

[Flexb]

Well my friend, as much as I agree with you and as much as I'd like to see builds like Lee Haney's and Vince Taylor's come back to the fold it ain't gonna happen. With all due respect to the current pros we are stuck with blocky grotesque bodies like Branch Warren's and Kai Greene's. The 36 inch waist is here to stay. Amateurs look at these guys and think they must use the same shit because who wants to be 5ft11 and weigh 195 when the guys in the mags who are that tall carry 100 lbs more at a lower BF%. It all got ****ed up at some point IMO. And it's all because of genetic freaks like you !! LOL. I recall seeing you throw around 80lbs dbs with ease for curls while most guys who were doing double what you did were curling the 50s. This is a generation of entitlement and it has moved into the realm of bbing. He has a great body and I should get to have one too. So I'll train naturally for six months then do five compounds, slin, HGH and maybe throw some synthol in the mix. Because I put a whole six months of training in and I can't wait any longer to have 20 inch arms and a 450lb bench. That's the mindset.

And blame Kim Chiveski and her anadrol horce face for all but ruining female bodybuilding. It has never recovered and won't. Again, Lenda Murray set a standard, largely due to incredible genetics, and the less gifted had to resort to whatever it takes to keep up. That's my take on things. I could be totally wrong.

I did get up to 90s at one point for 5-6 reps. lol Mind you i was pretty sauced at that time. These days I'm completely clean minus the TRT *therapy* i'm on. I only go to maybe 60s but I don't do heavy shit anymore anyway nor try to get bigger. 220 is fine and still pretty lean.
Where do I know you from? Don't recognize the name but obviously we trained at the same gym I'm assuming.

Yea the days of bob paris, labrada, young Flex wheeler, are long gone. I don't even see much talent coming out of the pro's in the US anymore. It seems 90% of the competitors miss the mark completely and can't dial it in and the winners are usually something I wouldn't write home about. I remember every year back in the 90s you would get a chris cormier, kevin levrone, Flex Wheeler, hell even Mike Matarazo, Dexter Jackson and the list goes on. I don't even know who I can name the past 5 years that really impresses me. I went to the nationals in the US a few times and jr. nationals as well, it's amazing how many guys come in looking 2-3 weeks out.

[Flexb]

double post

[natenator]

Meh, who cares. Bodybuilding was never actually cool. It was a cult following, we just thought it was cool because we were doing it.

Ping Pong players think they're sport is cool too...

[Flexb]

Meh, who cares. Bodybuilding was never actually cool. It was a cult following, we just thought it was cool because we were doing it.

Ping Pong players think they're sport is cool too...

Well, muscle showcases health and strength, which has an affinity to being cool, much like someone who's athletic or someone who's tough in high school. What is actually cool depends on each persons outlook. In this industry, it was cool to be the bigger man. Outside of this industry I still think BB's of the 70s,80s and 90s got respect. Although now days being 250lbs shredded is more viewed as being a juicepig or extremely vain. But yes, standing on stage in posing trunks flexing isn't cool no matter how you look at it. lol But it is a form of art i guess.

[#8]

Meh, who cares. Bodybuilding was never actually cool. It was a cult following, we just thought it was cool because we were doing it.

Ping Pong players think they're sport is cool too...

Are you saying ping pong isnt cool dude? Ouch.

Beer pong certainly is.

Bodybuilding has existed since the time of the ancient Greeks who sought to perfect the human physique. Hardly comparable to ping pong, but I see where you are going with it. Arnold changed the sport and turned it much more mainstream and caused the ripple effect that has led to where it has now landed. MMA is the next force I believe that is ruining bodybuilding, martial arts, and any combination of the two. Everyone and their brother is an MMA fighter and has the tapout gear to prove it.

Nothing beats the massive dbag I saw driving down King street in rush hour today with his windows down BLASTING a reggae song till his cavalier windows rattled. All while sporting a TAPOUT steering wheel cover. I felt like leaning out of the streetcar and yelling for him to turn it up because they couldnt hear his music yet on mars. He probably goes to LV Goodlife lol.

[Hosehead]

I did get up to 90s at one point for 5-6 reps. lol Mind you i was pretty sauced at that time. These days I'm completely clean minus the TRT *therapy* i'm on. I only go to maybe 60s but I don't do heavy shit anymore anyway nor try to get bigger. 220 is fine and still pretty lean.
Where do I know you from? Don't recognize the name but obviously we trained at the same gym I'm assuming.

Yea the days of bob paris, labrada, young Flex wheeler, are long gone. I don't even see much talent coming out of the pro's in the US anymore. It seems 90% of the competitors miss the mark completely and can't dial it in and the winners are usually something I wouldn't write home about. I remember every year back in the 90s you would get a chris cormier, kevin levrone, Flex Wheeler, hell even Mike Matarazo, Dexter Jackson and the list goes on. I don't even know who I can name the past 5 years that really impresses me. I went to the nationals in the US a few times and jr. nationals as well, it's amazing how many guys come in looking 2-3 weeks out.

New Age Fitness. My real name isn't Hosehead. The only guy I've seen curl more was Ginaud Dupuis who was a national level pler and a dude who owned a local supps shop.. Ginaud did sloppy reps with the 100s but the other guy could do the 110s with strict form for 6-8. Incline hammers with the 90's using strict form. Insane. I've got up to the 75s for 6 strict. Now gear free I'm good with the 65s for 8 strict. Ok for me.
I agree with you about the 90's but I think the reason why nobody impresses me that much is that there are ten new pros every month. And they all look the same to me. One guy who really impresses me is Toney Freeman. He has it all. Warren and Greene make me wanna vomit. I just don't get it.

[Hosehead]

BDH will appreciate this one. Guy won the 1988 Night Of Champions. Why he never placed well at the Mr O I will never know. 31862

[Flexb]

New Age Fitness. My real name isn't Hosehead. The only guy I've seen curl more was Ginaud Dupuis who was a national level pler and a dude who owned a local supps shop.. Ginaud did sloppy reps with the 100s but the other guy could do the 110s with strict form for 6-8. Incline hammers with the 90's using strict form. Insane. I've got up to the 75s for 6 strict. Now gear free I'm good with the 65s for 8 strict. Ok for me.
I agree with you about the 90's but I think the reason why nobody impresses me that much is that there are ten new pros every month. And they all look the same to me. One guy who really impresses me is Toney Freeman. He has it all. Warren and Greene make me wanna vomit. I just don't get it.

Good old New Age. Damn, those were the days.
Sorry, I meant to say I don't recognize your handle -- didn't think hosehead was your real name. lol

Branch is a savage in every way. I don't like his physique, although he is was the best teen I ever saw. His physique used to be really good before he turned into a mutant. I had dinner with him and worked a couple shoots with him, even got T-boned by another SUV with him riding passenger with me in Venice Beach. lol He's very quiet and humble, but loves killing wild boars. Told me a story once about one of his pitbulls biting the boar in the balls while on a hunt. haha
I also met Toney Freeman and spent time with him. He's a pretty funny guy. I agree about his physique, had more potential to do more damage than it did.

[Hosehead]

Good old New Age. Damn, those were the days.
Sorry, I meant to say I don't recognize your handle -- didn't think hosehead was your real name. lol

Branch is a savage in every way. I don't like his physique, although he is was the best teen I ever saw. His physique used to be really good before he turned into a mutant. I had dinner with him and worked a couple shoots with him, even got T-boned by another SUV with him riding passenger with me in Venice Beach. lol He's very quiet and humble, but loves killing wild boars. Told me a story once about one of his pitbulls biting the boar in the balls while on a hunt. haha
I also met Toney Freeman and spent time with him. He's a pretty funny guy. I agree about his physique, had more potential to do more damage than it did.

I was trying to be funny. Yeah, New Age was pretty good. Heavy flowing juice gym. Equipment was OK considering the dbs only went to 100s. Some good bbers out of that place and one pro. I remembr renewing my membership for a full year on a Thursday night and when I went in at 9pm the next night they were putting paper on the windows. I was the last guy to work out there. Poor Casey new nothing about it tanking when he renewed me. Oh well, not the first time a gym has done that.
I certainly don't hate on Branch. He trains to the extreme and his body says so. I just think he has no lines or flow. By all accounts and as you say - he is a nice fella.. At least a good guy is winning some shows.

[Flexb]

I was trying to be funny. Yeah, New Age was pretty good. Heavy flowing juice gym. Equipment was OK considering the dbs only went to 100s. Some good bbers out of that place and one pro. I remembr renewing my membership for a full year on a Thursday night and when I went in at 9pm the next night they were putting paper on the windows. I was the last guy to work out there. Poor Casey new nothing about it tanking when he renewed me. Oh well, not the first time a gym has done that.
I certainly don't hate on Branch. He trains to the extreme and his body says so. I just think he has no lines or flow. By all accounts and as you say - he is a nice fella.. At least a good guy is winning some shows.

I also worked out there the last day, in the afternoon. I was the only one in the gym most of that workout. It had turned into a ghost town in '99. I remember I always trained at around noon and never more than 2 people other than myself training there. It was a sad, sad day that last day I trained there. I never competed again after that and was shortly after I blew my pec out at progress. I had a membership at Leading Edge after New Age but they were closed on Victoria day so I had to train at Progress. I was supposed to train legs or something that day and didn't like the equipment at progress for the bodypart I was supposed to do, so I opted to wing a chest workout and ended up at decline on my second exercise and that was it.
I used to wonder if New Age didn't close, or if Leading Edge hadn't been closed that day, I would've actually fullfilled the potential I had. That offseason I was almost 250lbs at 22 yrs old and still had another 10 or so months off offseason left before the ontario's. Would have been interesting how much more I could've progressed that year and years beyond. But don't wanna kick that old horse, i did it enough after that tear.
I do think about competing from time to time, but the edge you need is long gone for me. I think once you allow yourself to stop caring so much about it all, you never get it back mentally, the focus and everything. But enough of that.

Yea, that gym had a lot of talent. I remember in '98 we had like 7 or so guys doing the Kingstons/easterns all trained by Rhonda. Haven't seen any of those guys pretty much since new age closed. I do see Green around though, mind you he rarely trained at New Age. He's on his way now doing the nationals. Good guy and an old good friend.

[cog]

Meh, who cares. Bodybuilding was never actually cool. It was a cult following, we just thought it was cool because we were doing it.

Ping Pong players think they're sport is cool too...

I guess this would account for the crowds of people around Golds on the beach back in the 70"s.Nobody made any movies about ping pong players either.Do you have any idea just how many mags the bicep of Larry Scott appeared in before you were even born?Bodybuilding has always had a kind of cool,even if so many wimps criticized it.

[Hosehead]

I also worked out there the last day, in the afternoon. I was the only one in the gym most of that workout. It had turned into a ghost town in '99. I remember I always trained at around noon and never more than 2 people other than myself training there. It was a sad, sad day that last day I trained there. I never competed again after that and was shortly after I blew my pec out at progress. I had a membership at Leading Edge after New Age but they were closed on Victoria day so I had to train at Progress. I was supposed to train legs or something that day and didn't like the equipment at progress for the bodypart I was supposed to do, so I opted to wing a chest workout and ended up at decline on my second exercise and that was it.
I used to wonder if New Age didn't close, or if Leading Edge hadn't been closed that day, I would've actually fullfilled the potential I had. That offseason I was almost 250lbs at 22 yrs old and still had another 10 or so months off offseason left before the ontario's. Would have been interesting how much more I could've progressed that year and years beyond. But don't wanna kick that old horse, i did it enough after that tear.
I do think about competing from time to time, but the edge you need is long gone for me. I think once you allow yourself to stop caring so much about it all, you never get it back mentally, the focus and everything. But enough of that.

Yea, that gym had a lot of talent. I remember in '98 we had like 7 or so guys doing the Kingstons/easterns all trained by Rhonda. Haven't seen any of those guys pretty much since new age closed. I do see Green around though, mind you he rarely trained at New Age. He's on his way now doing the nationals. Good guy and an old good friend.

Well next time you decide to 'wing' a workout try not using 455lbs on the decline lol. At least that's what I had heard at that time. I remember you posting pics of a few years ago and you seem concerned that your pec was noticeably torn. I couldn't tell at first glance. It is probably much more apparent to you than anyone else. We are our own harshest critics after all. It wouldn't stop me from competing. Lack of decent genetics has though lol.
Leading Edge was ****ing horrible. Terrible bland atmosphere, shit equipment and that prick manager Richard. I joined after New Age closed and lasted a month before going to the Y. 150lb Ivanko dbs FTW. I may go back there yet again when my year at Turd Life ends. ****ing awful atmosphere, terrible db rack, shitty generation of Hammer Strength (stack loaded cable crap) crowded as hell. I only joined to get my wife to go. And she didn't. I lose again.

Green wasn't very large when I saw him last. It was the Y a few years ago. Of course at that time he was fresh into his new job and wanted to carry a smaller build, which was understandable. Wouldnn't take him much to get back on track. Good lad.

[Flexb]

Well next time you decide to 'wing' a workout try not using 455lbs on the decline lol. At least that's what I had heard at that time. I remember you posting pics of a few years ago and you seem concerned that your pec was noticeably torn. I couldn't tell at first glance. It is probably much more apparent to you than anyone else. We are our own harshest critics after all. It wouldn't stop me from competing. Lack of decent genetics has though lol.
Leading Edge was ****ing horrible. Terrible bland atmosphere, shit equipment and that prick manager Richard. I joined after New Age closed and lasted a month before going to the Y. 150lb Ivanko dbs FTW. I may go back there yet again when my year at Turd Life ends. ****ing awful atmosphere, terrible db rack, shitty generation of Hammer Strength (stack loaded cable crap) crowded as hell. I only joined to get my wife to go. And she didn't. I lose again.

Green wasn't very large when I saw him last. It was the Y a few years ago. Of course at that time he was fresh into his new job and wanted to carry a smaller build, which was understandable. Wouldnn't take him much to get back on track. Good lad.

Yes, I remember the pics you're talkin about. I was thinking of competing back then but as I leaned out I found my pec was getting really sensitive and kinda sore so I said fuk it. I had this happen 2 years in a row, I'd lean out nicely and just around when I looked about a month out, my pec would freak me out. I finally realized, years later, that it was the winstrol doing it! It was just a few weeks after I was on it that started happening both times. Had I have realized that at the time I could've adjusted things.lol

Yea leading edge was garbage and had a pretty awful atmosphere too. That's the great thing about the Toronto area i'm living now, there's never a shortage of good gyms to train at. I don't see strong guys and big guys like I used to during those New Age years though. I swear to see a guy bench over 225 for reps is as rare as seeing a white person in Mississauga. lol jk