when did off-season bodybuilders stop going 10lbs over their contest weight?

[Royalty]

I remember magazines you to say that several pro's....like Haney, Labrada, Gaspari, Christian, and Ray would stay very lean in the off season.

I think in 1991-92 Dorian Yates, Mike Mattarazzo, Kevin Levrone, and Gary Strydom scared these guys either into retirement, or into being more proactive about gaining size.

Either way, I would say that the average pro goes up to 40lbs over their stage weight duing the off-season

[the shadow]

I remember magazines you to say that several pro's....like Haney, Labrada, Gaspari, Christian, and Ray would stay very lean in the off season.

I think in 1991-92 Dorian Yates, Mike Mattarazzo, Kevin Levrone, and Gary Strydom scared these guys either into retirement, or into being more proactive about gaining size.

Either way, I would say that the average pro goes up to 40lbs over their stage weight duing the off-season

dude yates was always lean.even at 300lbs he looked pretty lean.same goes for gary too.

[210 and growing]

it cant be healthy to stay too close to contest weight, if you think about the principles involved. If they are at 3% for a show, then if they go to 12-13% off-season (which is still reasonable), then this would be between 30-40lbs of weight (3-4lb per % of body fat is generally considederd normal). This would mean somebody like dexter, if hes around 210-220 on stage, being 250's in the off-season. However, as it is dangerous to stay near contest condition all yr round, i would imagine it is equally as bad to go up to around 30% fat like kamali !!

[Royalty]

dude yates was always lean.even at 300lbs he looked pretty lean.same goes for gary too.

Yeah they were lean....I saw Yates in 1995 @ 300.


But he was still competing at 255-260 (way lighter than he should have been)

I think Strydom won the 1991 WBF show @ 260.

[Royalty]

it cant be healthy to stay too close to contest weight, if you think about the principles involved. If they are at 3% for a show, then if they go to 12-13% off-season (which is still reasonable), then this would be between 30-40lbs of weight (3-4lb per % of body fat is generally considederd normal). This would mean somebody like dexter, if hes around 210-220 on stage, being 250's in the off-season. However, as it is dangerous to stay near contest condition all yr round, i would imagine it is equally as bad to go up to around 30% fat like kamali !!

Well I also think that guys would take extended time off the drugs after the shows. They would lose a muscle and put on some fat....so their weight didnt fluctuate too much....just their body composition.

[the shadow]

Yeah they were lean....I saw Yates in 1995 @ 300.


But he was still competing at 255-260 (way lighter than he should have been)

I think Strydom won the 1991 WBF show @ 260.

yep but even at 300lbs yates always had that grainy look

[Royalty]

I also wanted to say that in the early to mid 90's, that Levrone would go up to 285 in the off season....trying to play Yates' game (something that he changed after 1998)

[210 and growing]

Well I also think that guys would take extended time off the drugs after the shows. They would lose a muscle and put on some fat....so their weight didnt fluctuate too much....just their body composition.

true - but in that sentence may lie your answer - i think it is widely assumed that many pro's hardly come off the sh it any more - maybe a month or so after contest then back on it hard - so with the extra fat aswell as the muscle there comes the weight. I would imagine people in the 80's etc came off for longer periods

[Royalty]

true - but in that sentence may lie your answer - i think it is widely assumed that many pro's hardly come off the sh it any more - maybe a month or so after contest then back on it hard - so with the extra fat aswell as the muscle there comes the weight. I would imagine people in the 80's etc came off for longer periods

I have heard that Gunter takes a bit of time off the drugs when he isnt competing (and consequently doesnt look too good at guest posings). Then he gets back on and gets up to 335-345lbs.

[the shadow]

I have heard that Gunter takes a bit of time off the drugs when he isnt competing (and consequently doesnt look too good at guest posings). Then he gets back on and gets up to 335-345lbs.

dude gunter looks like crap..even at his 330lbs offeseason shape he still sucks..

[210 and growing]

I have heard that Gunter takes a bit of time off the drugs when he isnt competing (and consequently doesnt look too good at guest posings). Then he gets back on and gets up to 335-345lbs.

Exactly - and did you see them pics of him a few years ago with like 15-16 inch arms - didnt even look like a pro bodybuilder !! Im not saying they all do but the ones that do are prob the ones that go up the most. (except for lee, who is just all kfc!!) 

[Royalty]

dude gunter looks like crap..even at his 330lbs offeseason shape he still sucks..

I havent seen him in the off season yet. He did a guest pose here and I didnt go...I heard he didnt look good.

Did you ever see some of the big guys from the 1990's off season....guys like Achim Albrect or Jim Quinn? I wonder if they were in decent shape because they would go up to 300lbs too.

[Royalty]

Exactly - and did you see them pics of him a few years ago with like 15-16 inch arms - didnt even look like a pro bodybuilder !!

I remember that pic!

[MCWAY]

I remember magazines you to say that several pro's....like Haney, Labrada, Gaspari, Christian, and Ray would stay very lean in the off season.

I think in 1991-92 Dorian Yates, Mike Mattarazzo, Kevin Levrone, and Gary Strydom scared these guys either into retirement, or into being more proactive about gaining size.

Either way, I would say that the average pro goes up to 40lbs over their stage weight duing the off-season

I fail to see how Yates scared Haney into gaining more size or going into retirement.

Haney was going to retire anyway. The only milestone left was Arnold's Olympia record, which he broke in 1991. After that, the Awesome One simply took his ball and went home.

Furthermore, Yates was about the same size in 1992 (when he won his first Olympia) as he was in 1991 (when he placed second to Haney).

Ray and Labrada kept their bodyweight down, for the most part. Yet, they always were in the top 5 at the Olympia.

[Mr. Intenseone]

It's pointless to get 30, 40 or 50lbs over contest weight..........discuss!

[210 and growing]

It's pointless to get 30, 40 or 50lbs over contest weight..........discuss!

I dont think it is if you are a 250lb BB on stage, getting 30 or so lbs over weight to 280. It will give your body a break and let it recover from the beating it took during your last diet. Plus you must have to be one boring sad self obsessed b astard with no f ucking life outside of bodybuilding to eat chicken and rice for 12 months of the year !! Its a break for the mind, not just for the body!!

[Mr. Intenseone]

I dont think it is if you are a 250lb BB on stage, getting 30 or so lbs over weight to 280. It will give your body a break and let it recover from the beating it took during your last diet. Plus you must have to be one boring sad self obsessed b astard with no f ucking life outside of bodybuilding to eat chicken and rice for 12 months of the year !! Its a break for the mind, not just for the body!!

I'm all for giving your body a break, but 30-40lbs is utterly ridiculous, there is no physiological basis for that!

[20inch calves]

i would say its helpful to put some fat to help protect joints ect. i only see fitness comp. going 10lbs above there contest weights these days

[Royalty]

I fail to see how Yates scared Haney into gaining more size or going into retirement.

Lee Haney retired at 31.

He had a close call at the 1991 Olympia with Dorain. I think if he knew that he would competing against guys who were 40lbs lighter than him (Gaspari, Ray, Labrada, Beneziza,) he would have competed several years beyond 1991. Even Vince Taylor back then competed under 220. Lee was 250 and had a relatively easy reign.


But in 1991, Lee had a 245lb 29 year old (Dorian) that had lats that were just as big as his....and legs that were bigger. I think Lee sensed that it was time to retire and not risk losing the title.

[njflex]

Lee Haney retired at 31.

He had a close call at the 1991 Olympia with Dorain. I think if he knew that he would competing against guys who were 40lbs lighter than him (Gaspari, Ray, Labrada, Beneziza,) he would have competed several years beyond 1991. Even Vince Taylor back then competed under 220. Lee was 250 and had a relatively easy reign.


But in 1991, Lee had a 245lb 29 year old (Dorian) that had lats that were just as big as his....and legs that were bigger. I think Lee sensed that it was time to retire and not risk losing the title.

true,then yate's really pulled out all the stop's 93-94 and blew the term size out of the water.

[MisterMagoo]

it happened at the same time as guys started to get ultra lean for contests. nowadays you hear about guys dropping 10 pounds of water the day before a contest. in order to stay within even 20 pounds of contest weight all year you'd be talking about nearly no gain in fat all year long.

[210 and growing]

even shawn did it and he is somebody that many people consider to have stayed in shape year round!! i beleve from what i have read he went up to almost 250 off-season at his heaviest - and he only competed around 210.

[GoneAway]

What seems best for health is coming off the drugs immediately after the show, putting on 15-20lbs max (just being in a healthy bf%) and taking it easy until the next show. I don't see the reason for staying on year round apart from photoshoots and guestposing.

But maybe it's beneficial to stay on year round?