How did the old timey guys prep for a show???

[mass 04]

Did guys like Scott, Draper, Oliva etc.. do the 12 week diet with two cardio sessions, carb loading, sodium loading, water restriction etc.. or was it much simpler "back then"?

[chaos]

I may be wrong, but I think alot of those guys grew into the shows, they didn't bulk up 20,30,40 lbs over weight and diet down, they got off the juice and got back on before a show.


If one of the old timers posting here knows the inside scoop I'd like to hear the truth myself.

[mass 04]

I may be wrong, but I think alot of those guys grew into the shows, they didn't bulk up 20,30,40 lbs over weight and diet down, they got off the juice and got back on before a show.


If one of the old timers posting here knows the inside scoop I'd like to hear the truth myself.

yeah, i've read the same. I know a lot of guys would just train harder i.e less rest between sets, double splits, etc. I'm more curious as to the final week, because the drug and supplement aspect is much more advanced.

[LatsMcGee]

Meat, Eggs, Water, training upper body 3 times per week, lower body twice,  very short rests between sets.  Lots of liver tabs and aminos.  That's about it really. 

[Montague]

yeah, i've read the same. I know a lot of guys would just train harder i.e less rest between sets, double splits, etc. I'm more curious as to the final week, because the drug and supplement aspect is much more advanced.

You may find this interesting, too...
This information comes from a buddy of mine whose uncle (and friends) spent a lot of time training around that Venice Beach crowd during the 60’s:

A lot of the BB'ers around that time in Venice or Santa Monica would have a job for awhile, find a reason to get fired and draw unemployment checks for 6 months or so. Spent that time working out as much as they could. When the checks ran out they would get another low level job and after a certain length of time find another reason to get fire and continue the cycle all over again. I had been told quite a few well known BBers did that in the past.

[Figo]

You may find this interesting, too...
This information comes from a buddy of mine whose uncle (and friends) spent a lot of time training around that Venice Beach crowd during the 60’s:

 Quote
A lot of the BB'ers around that time in Venice or Santa Monica would have a job for awhile, find a reason to get fired and draw unemployment checks for 6 months or so. Spent that time working out as much as they could. When the checks ran out they would get another low level job and after a certain length of time find another reason to get fire and continue the cycle all over again. I had been told quite a few well known BBers did that in the past.

 

[Viking11]

Carb loading was maybe some carbs the morning of the show. Sodium loading didn't come in until the 80's. Cardio wasn't big- they trained high volume, many - not all-trained twice a day. Some did some running, Later cardio became more of the in thing. Mentzer did a lot of it because he trained less, burning less calories. Scott didn't do any cardio at all, nor did Oliva and those kinds of guys. 

[wild willie]

Some of the bodybuilders from the 80s would take in only 80-100 of protein, but they would eat quite a bit of carbs, and they were peeled!!!! Nowadays, these guys and gals are eating 400-500 grams of protein and maybe only 150 grams of carbs......they look tired and drawn all the time.

[wild willie]

I like the 80s style of dieting.......more energy from the carb intake......today, people are so afraid of eating carbs.......you need it for energy!!!! IMHO

[powerpack]

LOL agreed

[VGalanti]

a good friend of mine named Len Bosland was the 1953 Mr New Jersey.

he is an old timer that tells great stories.

besides competing, he also MC'd the Mr Olympia a bunch of times back in the 70's and 80's

he tells me that back in the 50's, nobody trained until it was show time. most guys lost their appetite so they never got fat...and when it was time for a show they would eat foods like whole eggs, steak, and milk, on a routine of 5 meals a day.

he told me that the year he won the Mr NJ title, he thought....i want to win this title, why should i stop training in the offseason?
so he continued to eat good and train hard all year long, and when he showed up at the show he shocked a few with his new look.



also, i trained with 84 nationals, and universe champion john hynatshack for his 3rd place finish in the 2000 masters olympia.
he told me that back in the 80's guys never did cardio.

[Montague]

he tells me that back in the 50's, nobody trained until it was show time. most guys lost their appetite so they never got fat...and when it was time for a show they would eat foods like whole eggs, steak, and milk, on a routine of 5 meals a day.

Hey Vinny,
What’s up, brother?

Did Len also ever mention anything about the Blair protein powder, heavy whipping cream, and liver/amino tablets?

Larry Scott had mentioned that he “grew like a weed” once he started mixing his powder with half & half/whole milk & heavy cream.
And I remember reading that bb’ers would do just about anything to get their hands on the amino tablets that Blair also marketed.

I’ve taken a keen interest in the Blair/Gironda era & principles, and I’ll apologize in advance for pestering/boring you with questions and discussions about it.
Thanks.
 

[IronIsLife]

I don't know about you guys, but I can't imagine getting in shape without cardio.

I love the idea - and I've tried it by keeping my diet very tight and doing no cardio at all. I've definitely lost fat but it has always come to a standstill.

I add the cardio and - BOOM - fat loss starts again.

This is one area where I think the genetics factor really comes into play. I know that so many use this as an excuse but I can say that in my case, after many experiments with cardio-free dieting, it has not worked for me.

I am also one that responds well to very low carbs but cardio makes a big difference for me.

Wish I were one of the guys who can pull it off without doing an ounce of cardio but alas - that's probably never going to be the case for me.

[Montague]

At least you’re smart enough to have done your homework (research), you’ve tried some different things, discovered what works best, and have decided to use those methods.

Took me a long time to reach that mindset.

[wild willie]

I believe that the guys from the 80s would clean out during the offseason, but they made sure to continue training without any serious layoffs........they would then start using chemicals again in the months leading up to the show (maybe 16 weeks out).

Whereas now a days, the guys are using a hell of a lot more gear and a hell of a lot more often.

That is why so many of these bodybuilders burn out or look like hell after a while. Bodybuilding in the 80s and early 90s was nothing like it is today.

not a ton of cardio like todays champs perform.......in the 80s it was 30 minutes twice a day.....now it is 1 hour in the morning, 1 hour in the evening.....along with IGF and thyroid meds ect...... the guys today look unhealthy......over dieted and so forth.

[LatsMcGee]

Hey Vinny,
What’s up, brother?

Did Len also ever mention anything about the Blair protein powder, heavy whipping cream, and liver/amino tablets?

Larry Scott had mentioned that he “grew like a weed” once he started mixing his powder with half & half/whole milk & heavy cream.
And I remember reading that bb’ers would do just about anything to get their hands on the amino tablets that Blair also marketed.

I’ve taken a keen interest in the Blair/Gironda era & principles, and I’ll apologize in advance for pestering/boring you with questions and discussions about it.
Thanks.
 

I can tell you that just about Everyone in Vince's gym used Blair's protein until Vince came out with his own Milk and Egg powder.  Vince thought it was a great product but he despised Rheo Blair. 

[Montague]

Thanks for weighing in, brother.
I was contemplating bumping your Gironda thread on the History/Memories board to ask if you had any more articles you’d be willing and able to post.

Sounds like Vince didn’t like too many people, period.
So what was his beef with Blair?

[marcos chacon]

all i can say is that every time i watch pumpig iron is better every time, thats was bodybuilding, no mgs of this and that, no strange tecniques, squat with no shoes ed corney, arnold rows,francos benches wow

[LatsMcGee]

Thanks for weighing in, brother.
I was contemplating bumping your Gironda thread on the History/Memories board to ask if you had any more articles you’d be willing and able to post.

Sounds like Vince didn’t like too many people, period.
So what was his beef with Blair?

I'll be sure to make some additions to my Vince thread soon for you my friend.

Vince had a couple beefs with Blair.  The first was he thought his product was a little pricey.  The second is Vince was a huge homophobe and Blair was pretty damn gay.  Before Vince was into weight training all he did was drink and chase women,  Vince gave up alcohol but he never gave up women. 

[Montague]

 

[VGalanti]

I believe that the guys from the 80s would clean out during the offseason, but they made sure to continue training without any serious layoffs........they would then start using chemicals again in the months leading up to the show (maybe 16 weeks out).

Whereas now a days, the guys are using a hell of a lot more gear and a hell of a lot more often.

That is why so many of these bodybuilders burn out or look like hell after a while. Bodybuilding in the 80s and early 90s was nothing like it is today.

not a ton of cardio like todays champs perform.......in the 80s it was 30 minutes twice a day.....now it is 1 hour in the morning, 1 hour in the evening.....along with IGF and thyroid meds ect...... the guys today look unhealthy......over dieted and so forth.

maybe this is why i have an 80's look still.....lol