Back then if a guy had weak arms, he’d almost never have a chance at a pro card. Now, guys just shoot their arms to be equal to the rest of their bodies. Shawn Rhoden and his horrible oil-filled arms is a perfect example.
The physiques now look bloated and soft. If they are not flexing they look like soft blobs. I won't even mentions the big stomachs.
Many gym friends round me always say 80s bodybuilders are better than now. Their bodies are more nature and they are focusing on bodybuilding, less earning money activities. i don't think they have better male physiques. do you agree?
I was looking at the pics of the pro bodybuilders from the recent New York Pro Show and I noticed how big everyone's arms and delts were. It's almost like there are not any weak points (except structural) on any of the bodybuilders any more. What used to make bodybuilding interesting in the '70's and '80's was analyzing each pro's physique and assessing their strong points and weak points. I remember an interview with Ken Waller before the 1977 Olympia where he talked about all the bodybuilders competing in the Olympia that year and talking about their weak bodyparts and strong ones. Now, there is no individuality in the physiques because they are injecting oil into any weak bodyparts. It's more of a science experiment than bodybuilding now.
So escalation has caused abuse?
excellent post. I agree today their is really no individuality. They all have "the same" build. Arnold used to talk about the Herculean build vs. the appolonian build. And you could see the difference on stage. Now it's just varying degrees of the same look: Bloated.
