Gironda was an interesting character. I can remember reading Vince's monthly column in MMI back in the late 80's - early nineties (before MMI sucked). I also remember him granting the occasional interview with Kennedy, Zulak, etc. This was long before Muscle Tech - back when MMI acknowledged the importance of steroids in bodybuilding, and was actually a fairly credible magazine.
In addition to the low carbs, I remember Vince recommending several pounds of meat a day. He liked to suggest steak and whole eggs fried in butter. And lots of dessicated liver tabs and some other more exotic supplements he said were hormone "precursors". For bulking he also recommended a daily blended drink consisting of a large amount of half and half with protein powder and a large number of raw eggs to be sipped throughout the day.
His training recommendations were also somewhat unique. He advised against squats in favor of other leg exercises like front squats, smith squats, hacks, sissy squats, etc. He didn't like bench presses or deads either. I'm sure it's no coincidence that his physique (and those of many of his pupils) had a lean, aesthetic look, but seemed to have mediocre development in the legs, traps, etc., and seemed to lack that "powerful" look one gets after many years of heavy basics. He also advised against aerobic activity. He felt that diet and a quicker training pace would get one ripped without eating away muscle.
He seemed to be rabidly anti-steroid. He even went so far as to deny that his prize pupil and Mr Olympia runner up Mohamed Makawy (sp?) was ever using.
His column was usually quite entertaining. He came off as an obnoxious character, sort of a bodybuilding version of a Don Rickels. He seemed to get his fair share of hate mail, which he answered with hysterical one-liner insults and obnoxious rants. I also recall seeing a video where he was training this chick, and he was screaming and yelling at her like a drill sargeant, to the point where the girl was near tears. It was said that he was a heavy drinker, which I'm sure only made him more abrasive.
