Modern Bodybuilding Aesthetics

[LifeEditing]

Right up front... this is a passionate opinion post. I mean no offense and no disrespect to anybody involved in Bodybuilding and all of the extremely hard work and sacrifice they've committed to reaching their goals.

Just airing some thoughts

And so... I look at the "sport" today, and feel like its been ruined. I mean... WTF!?

Everybody is over developed, they all look the same, and the distended bellies scare me. Then there's the bronzer - waaaaay overdone. And women's bodybuilding? Why are they forced to sacrifice an irreviersible loss of their femininity just for size gains? Why can't they be Rachel McLish beautiful - even Cory Everson beautiful - instead of having to go as far as Kim Chizevsky or Iris Kyle?

I think I knew when Shawn and Flex couldn't win an Olympia title, that it was all just going to get worse from there...

I guess I just don't know how it's all become so freakishly... unattractive or interesting. And not just from an aesthetic standpoint, but the insane regimen of gear that these guys have to take (and all the risk involved) is just beyond unreasonable to me. This is not the bodybuilding I want. Does anybody want this?

I think I'm about to say what I've seen many others say in this forum - that the "classic look" (Arnold, Farnk, Sergio, etc.) are much better models for what we should be trying to achieve. Size not necessarily being the goal, but shape, design, and proportion. Artistry in the sport, not just gorilla weight gain. Granted, in their time, they WERE the biggest thing out there, and Arnold pushed that envelope far past where it had ever been before, but at least we can look back now and say - yep, that was a good place to be/stop.

It's a sad thing when I look at Olympic athletes and think... wow, that kid looks 10x better than anyone that showed up at the Olympia show this year, and he weighs an easy 150lbs less. If anybody finds a time machine please let me know. I want 1970 back.


-EL

 

[BarbellBeast]

I'll agree with you. I refuse to use slin or gh and the really limits how far I can go in even amateur bodybuilding. It's scary to think that it's just going to keep escalating. The envelope keeps getting pushed closer to 300Ibs(competition weight).

 

[MAYO]

I'm waiting for Kai Greene to sprout a tail or grow hooves. Peptide free for all.

 

[cfreetenor]

Those sorts of physiques still exist in the natural Mr. Olympia - it just doesn't get as much hype as the regular Mr. O because people WANT to see the mass monsters. I think, when the envelope is eventually pushed beyond what anyone could ever consider attractive, that is when we will see a resurgance of symmetry and Arnold-esque physiques.

 

[MAYO]

Those sorts of physiques still exist in the natural Mr. Olympia - it just doesn't get as much hype as the regular Mr. O because people WANT to see the mass monsters. I think, when the envelope is eventually pushed beyond what anyone could ever consider attractive, that is when we will see a resurgance of symmetry and Arnold-esque physiques.

I think a good example of this was last year's Olympia Figure Competition. Nicole Wilkins-Lee dominated and had no striations of any kind and very little definition comparatively. She looked like a woman. Very natural looking muscle and tone coupled with strong curves. Definately a trendbreaker from all of the square-jawed quasi bodybuilders that occupied the figure stage in previous years.

 

[cfreetenor]

Exactly. I completely respect the big guys like Ronnie and Jay, they've gotten farther than I ever will even if I had elite genetics and all of the drugs in a Chinese pharmacy. But I think the novelty's starting to wear off. A lot of people are starting to get turned off by that look now.

 

[LifeEditing]

That's good to hear. I really feel for the ladies, in particular. It'll be nice when they can enjoy bodybuilding without having to grow a third thumb in their chonies.

Just something I felt the need to say. When I'm looking for inspiration these days, I find myself throwing Pumping Iron into my PS3, and rarely if ever turn to anything modern, which is just sad.

 

[MAYO]

That's good to hear. I really feel for the ladies, in particular. It'll be nice when they can enjoy bodybuilding without having to grow a third thumb in their chonies.

Just something I felt the need to say. When I'm looking for inspiration these days, I find myself throwing Pumping Iron into my PS3, and rarely if ever turn to anything modern, which is just sad.

Tom Platz.......real legs without peptides

 

[LifeEditing]

Tom Platz.......real legs without peptides

Platz. There's a name. The most bottom-heavy bodybuilder of the golden era.