Bigger physiques have always been valued as long as they conformed to specific aesthetic criteria, which is why bodybuilding is all about growing aesthetic muscle. However, as the late Larry Scott, the first Mr. Olympia, once pointed out, the bulk of bodybuilders in his period lacked the genetics for truly massive physiques. Mr. Olympia champions in the past, like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sergio Oliva, were enormous, strong guys who were unable to expand to the level of today’s behemoths.
“Bodybuilders in the 1950s and 1970s appeared to be outstanding from head to toe. For the fans in attendance, the distinctiveness of their sculpted physiques, combined with elegant poise, was a stunning sight to behold. However, things have progressed significantly since then. The use of performance-enhancing drugs in the sport of bodybuilding has grown commonplace, and many people are unaware of their negative consequences. Arnold Schwarzenegger famously described the distinctions between today’s bodybuilders and past generations of bodybuilders.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is baffled by the current breed of bodybuilders
The negative consequences of boosters are a major concern these days. Most bodybuilders, to his astonishment, did not compete in bodybuilding tournaments. Steroid misuse, in particular, is a serious issue in the sport. People are becoming increasingly motivated to get in shape and appear great to the naked eye. Arnold mentioned the same thing, as well as a message he intended to relay.
“It’s about spreading the word that it’s called ‘bodybuilding,’ not ‘body destroying.'” “We don’t want to ruin the body; we want to build it,” Arnold stated, puzzled by the state of the sport. “You want to build health, fitness, agility, and all those things,” he continued.
The side effects of steroid use are severe, as they can lead to life-altering issues. Most bodybuilders suffer from the issues of a ‘bubble gut,’ which creates an unattractive picture while posing on stage.
There’s no denying that those who are physically larger and more mesomorphic are more drawn to bodybuilding nowadays. The possibility to make good money as a pro bodybuilder was limited until lately. Really mesomorphic players, who are huge and muscular, would be more attracted to sports like football, which provide greater renown and higher pay.
Also read: Members at wellness centers are encouraged to take control of their fitness
But, thanks to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s success in the 1970s and 1980s, bodybuilding became more mainstream, with him winning Mr. Olympia titles, being featured in the book and film Pumping Iron, and becoming a famous movie star. The success of other movie icons such as Sylvester Stallone, Lou Ferrigno, and Jean-Claude Van Damme aided the popularity of muscles and muscularity. Having big, defined muscles became the new normal as more artists and athletes discovered the benefits of bodybuilding-style weight training.
Because more and more athletes in a wide variety of sports train seriously with weights, competitors in most sports are becoming stronger and more muscular. With so many teens and college-aged athletes pumping iron in gyms and weight rooms, a certain number of them will decide that bodybuilding is the sport for them.
The problem of bubble gut in modern bodybuilding
When looking at mid-90s bodybuilding photos, most people notice bodybuilders with a V-shaped structure. Things, however, have changed. For most bodybuilders, the appearance of a bubble gut is evident right now. The use of insulin and Human Growth Hormone in conjunction with a high-calorie diet is the cause of bloated midsections these days.
Although it has nothing to do with steroids, there is a reason why most bodybuilders compete with inflated bellies. Arnold Schwarzenegger, for one, urges bodybuilders to concentrate on their fitness. Bodybuilders need to stay in shape for their health, and Schwarzenegger wants them to remember this in the future.
