Where has the quality gone in pro bodybuilding?!

[jcmbbfuture]

I was watching a video between Shaw Ray, Flex Wheeler, and Ronnie Coleman not to long ago and Shawn asked the question, "How come most of the bbs today don't look as good or have the same quality as all of the guys had when we competed?" Ronnie had a somewhat weak answer about sponsorships, but Flex had a very interesting answer. Flex said that the lack of quality in his eyes was due to when and how competitors use AAS today. He explains this by saying that when he was coming up many of the top guys were quite genetically gifted but had also built a very solid foundation before using AAS. The competitors then used them to amplify or enhance their base (what they had already built naturally). He goes on to say that most of the competitors today start using right off the start. They use AAS to build their physique from ground up instead of using them to enhance what they have worked hard to achieve naturally. So...how does the EF community feel about Shawn's question? Opinions? Comments?

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[needtogetaas]

I was watching a video between Shaw Ray, Flex Wheeler, and Ronnie Coleman not to long ago and Shawn asked the question, "How come most of the bbs today don't look as good or have the same quality as all of the guys had when we competed?" Ronnie had a somewhat weak answer about sponsorships, but Flex had a very interesting answer. Flex said that the lack of quality in his eyes was due to when and how competitors use AAS today. He explains this by saying that when he was coming up many of the top guys were quite genetically gifted but had also built a very solid foundation before using AAS. The competitors then used them to amplify or enhance their base (what they had already built naturally). He goes on to say that most of the competitors today start using right off the start. They use AAS to build their physique from ground up instead of using them to enhance what they have worked hard to achieve naturally. So...how does the EF community feel about Shawn's question? Opinions? Comments?

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Muscle built is muscle built period. If I add 20lb of muscle to my frame using steroids and you are my exact twin brother and you add 20lb of muscle to your frame naturally. You and I will still look identical and no amount of arguments no matter how great they sound is ever going to change that... 20lb of muscle is 20lb of muscle period end of discussion.


The reason the way the men on the IFBB stage look different today then they did 30 years ago has nothing to do with when they started taking steroids nor how much steroids they are taking ether. No the blame for this falls solely on the judges and the people who vote on the bodies that stand in front of them..

The judges are voting these monster freaks the winners and thus it is their fault and their fault alone that everyone who competes is gunning for this kind of a look. If they were still voting in the Arnold body then everyone would be eating, training, supplementing , and juicing, centering everything they do around obtaining that look.

If Arnold stepped on a IFBB stage today he would not even place let alone rank in the top 3 and the blame for that falls on the judges alone no one else. The bodybuilders all look like big beefy slop bags today because that is what the judges and federation has made them into. The federation, people running it, the judges and people in charge need to man the fuck up and take responsibility for what they have done. Stop tryint to point the finger at others.

 

[jcmbbfuture]

That's a very good point needto. I def. agree about the judging and how the preferred bodybuilder "look" has gotten out of hand. I do think however, that a certain level of muscle maturity is reached through years of training (regardless of what AAS are being taken). The emphasis now days has been taken more off the training and has become focused on how fast Joe schmoe can get to the next level. (I.m.o.)

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[Judo Tom]

it definitely has a lot to do w/ gh and some things we do not discuss here

but need2 is right its the damn judges fault and the people supporting them.

bodybuilding used to mean one thing and now its a freak show.. who can pack on the most insane amount of mass and then diet down like crazy... which does not produce the same results of the guys from the past who were just always in good shape and looking good and just improved month to month...

im not taking anything away from todays dudes.. they are sick and the level of dedication they have is insane and if the judging criteria changed im sure more of the same guys would still be on the podium.

 

[jcmbbfuture]

For sure... All of the top level guys work their ass off, no doubt. The demand has just gone crazy. Not to mention that the "instant gratification" mentality that the present day person person has makes competitors do some pretty crazy things to reach those crazy levels ASAP. Bbs use to look great (and healthy as well). Now days most look like a heart attack is around the corner. Call me old fashioned but shouldn't bbing be about being healthy as well? Building yourself up inside and out?

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[jester72]

Regardless of how things in the sport have "evolved", Needto is right on the money. It's almost solely the judges that influence how the competitors will look when they hit the stage. Their perception of what a competitor should look like, is what is going to drive the athletes to transform their bodies to fit that perceived "mold".

In my eyes though, Arnold had one of, if not "THE" best stage body ever.

 

[jcmbbfuture]

I agree completely. The bbs of the 70-80s had the best physiques ever. Outside of maybe Shawn Ray. Ha ha.

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[needtogetaas]

Regardless of how things in the sport have "evolved", Needto is right on the money. It's almost solely the judges that influence how the competitors will look when they hit the stage. Their perception of what a competitor should look like, is what is going to drive the athletes to transform their bodies to fit that perceived "mold".

In my eyes though, Arnold had one of, if not "THE" best stage body ever.

But of course I am...

 

[ConanX]

Needto is right. What wins on stage is a super conditioned mass monster. Not someone who is aesthetically pleasing like the guys from the 70s and 80s. This is the look I want to achieve.

But also, A LOT of it has to do with HGH and Insulin abuse. Its quite obvious that once growth+slin hit the scene, the physiques changed from tiny waists and realistic looking muscles to round, full muscle bellies and a big disgusting gut. It is necessary for guys to compete at the top level unfortunately. I wish some of the top guys would protest what's going on and that the judges would change their ways. The insulin look is embarassing.

One more thing I noticed is that the old timers looked lean year round. This generation eat themselves into oblivion at 300lbs+ while also retaining crazy amounts of water from 20-30ius per day of Growth and multiple grams of Test year round. Let's hope that bodybuilding isn't dead. Also, let us strive as a community not to chase after the dream of being a big walking freakshow but to be someone that can be admired.