Healthier physiques

[scottlove]

would anyone else want to see competitors go back to this look?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-ry0jPnnlA

[TT Eric]

Personally I'm stuck with the physique of the 70s, 80s, early 90s, then it went down IMO.

Eric

[scottlove]

Personally I'm stuck with the physique of the 70s, 80s, early 90s, then it went down IMO.

Eric Same here, I just think the guys looked alot healthier in that era. The guys now look great, no offense to anyone who competes, but the toll your body takes, in my opinion, from a guy who has never competed, would be so much easier if they weren't so focused on how 'dry' you are. I have a friend who has won the heavyweight division at the Canada's who could barely stand up straight because his kidneys were so sore.

[Skailes]

Matt was one hell of a great bodybuilder and he graced more magazine covers than most of the pro's from that era. I agree the physiques back in the mid 80 were generally healthier and had a more attainable look to them, but as it is with womens bodybuilding it's the judges that dictated the direction of the sport, and now we have guys who are killing themselves for the extreme dry/peeled look and for what? If bodybuilding were to return to what it was in Arnolds or Matts era I doubt many guys would complain.

[scottlove]

Matt was one hell of a great bodybuilder and he graced more magazine covers than most of the pro's from that era. I agree the physiques back in the mid 80 were generally healthier and had a more attainable look to them, but as it is with womens bodybuilding it's the judges that dictated the direction of the sport, and now we have guys who are killing themselves for the extreme dry/peeled look and for what? If bodybuilding were to return to what it was in Arnolds or Matts era I doubt many guys would complain. Do you think, now that they're testing for diurettics, that we might start to see a bit of a reversal and judges not put so much emphasis on whether a competitor is completly dehydrated or not? The sport is bodybuilding, not body drying and torturing. I read that Mendenhall was only 235 in that video at 5'11 but he looks much larger, I guess because of the extra water.

[steve_d]

the problem is that you'll always have someone who has an easier time getting dry, and therefore there would always be a freaky dry looking dude even if it was possible to eliminate diuretics from the sport. Its a genetic thing, and those with the superior 'getting dry' genetics will end up rewarded, forcing the others to make up for it by doing dangerous things.

The only way to 'get back' to those days is to make the sport even MORE subjective, ... kinda like the way figure/bikini is. Judges would simply say 'kai's too freaky ripped, phil is too big and ripped... branch looks like he's about to have a heart attack, etc etc. Then eventually you start giving the victory to guys who are perhaps at the same potential as those dudes, just not on as many things... Would make a healthier sport, but more subjective, and bodybuilders would hate it. Especially because how would you judge national level shows? provincial level shows? But the cycle would continue because the mr olympia winner would still be way freakier than say a cbbf national winner, and therefore at the national level, you would see just as much craziness going on with diuretics and what not.

[scottlove]

the problem is that you'll always have someone who has an easier time getting dry, and therefore there would always be a freaky dry looking dude even if it was possible to eliminate diuretics from the sport. Its a genetic thing, and those with the superior 'getting dry' genetics will end up rewarded, forcing the others to make up for it by doing dangerous things.

The only way to 'get back' to those days is to make the sport even MORE subjective, ... kinda like the way figure/bikini is. Judges would simply say 'kai's too freaky ripped, phil is too big and ripped... branch looks like he's about to have a heart attack, etc etc. Then eventually you start giving the victory to guys who are perhaps at the same potential as those dudes, just not on as many things... Would make a healthier sport, but more subjective, and bodybuilders would hate it. Especially because how would you judge national level shows? provincial level shows? But the cycle would continue because the mr olympia winner would still be way freakier than say a cbbf national winner, and therefore at the national level, you would see just as much craziness going on with diuretics and what not. So what you're trying to say is that there is no hope for a water retaining freak like me? I'm closing in on 290lbs, respectably cut, but to lose my water, I'd be competing at 150. Just kidding, not quite that bad, but may make a run at masters in the future. Hopefully the judges are a little bit easier on us old geezers.

[Skailes]

So what you're trying to say is that there is no hope for a water retaining freak like me? I'm closing in on 290lbs, respectably cut, but to lose my water, I'd be competing at 150. Just kidding, not quite that bad, but may make a run at masters in the future. Hopefully the judges are a little bit easier on us old geezers.Losing water isn't all that hard once you understand how to properly manipulate it and your macro's, and if done properly you won't need much in the way of diuretics either. To really nail this down you may need to do one or two "dry" runs before the show, but generally most people can get pretty damned dry.

[GYMBRAT]

Matt was one hell of a great bodybuilder and he graced more magazine covers than most of the pro's from that era. I agree the physiques back in the mid 80 were generally healthier and had a more attainable look to them, but as it is with womens bodybuilding it's the judges that dictated the direction of the sport, and now we have guys who are killing themselves for the extreme dry/peeled look and for what? If bodybuilding were to return to what it was in Arnolds or Matts era I doubt many guys would complain.

Agree 100% plus it would create more interest with the younger generation imho with the thoughts being on a much more attainable look for them. And therefore keep our sport popular in a good way!!!!

[Hosehead]

Everything about that era was cool, except for the hair. Those type of builds are still unattainable for me but seem safer.

[scottlove]

Everything about that era was cool, except for the hair. Those type of builds are still unattainable for me but seem safer.Mike Katz had the greatest hair in the history of bodybuilding.