I’ve gone through a bit of a paradigm shift in terms of who inspires me and what type of physique I’d like to emulate.

Bodybuilders used to be a big sources of inspiration for me.  I can still remember ordering Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding.  I’d spend hours perusing the contents of that book.  I was simply amazed at the physiques and feats of strength pictured there–the images of Franco deadlifting are still some of my favorites.

These guys represented the “golden era” of bodybuilding: mass was balanced with symmetry. I still get inspired when I look at some of their old black-and-white training photos from Gold’s Gym. 

But somewhere along the way I’ve lost interest in the sport of bodybuilding.

Maybe it started when I realized just how much were involved.  I guess I always knew, but magazines just didn’t talk about it much in the 80’s.  Steroids were the 500 lb gorilla in the proverbial living room. The message was to eat 6 times a day, take a bunch of supplements, and you, too could be a ripped 230 lb.  

Maybe it’s the current state of bodybuilding.  The contestants have gotten progressively bigger, and the sport now only appeals to a relatively small subculture.  

I still visit from time to time.  I also get a kick out of watching Ronnie Coleman throw around super-human levels of iron while screaming “light weight, baby!”

Don’t get me wrong–I still love going to the gym and lifting weights.  I’m not planning to quit anytime soon.  But now I find myself more inspired by mixed martial arts athletes.  MMA, after all, is much, much more exciting in my opinion. 

I’m OK with not being “huge”–I’d rather be lean, strong, and work on overall conditioning.