I know this will sound like a Charles Atlas story but it’s true. Not that I should be compared to Charles Atlas.
I played some sports in grade school but by the time I got to high school most everyone had hit their growth spurt but me. Being a light weight weighing about 130 lbs at 5’ 6”as a senior, the big three sports basketball, baseball and football were not in cards for the little guy. I took interest in cars and applied myself academically. Finally, I got my growth in college, though it was a slow process as opposed to a spurt. By this time in my life, studying took precedent and I lived pretty much sedentary life.
I had always admired the bodybuilders in the mags and occasionally I would start a workout in my basement though it never lasted long. I expressed interest to my parents in being the like those bodybuilders, unfortunately they discouraged me. Hey this was the 60’s and bodybuilding was in the closet so to speak. Only the weirdo’s did it according to my parents. Bodybuilding was not cool and I have to admit in those days the “hoods” were the only ones that did. For those of you that have no idea what a “hood” is, that was the slang for the bullying gang of guys that smoked and drank heavy, greased their hair like Fonzy and whose future was to be in the State penitentiary.
By the time I reached my junior year in college, I was a slug at 200 pounds. My senior year in college was a turning point. I decided I was going to get in shape and lose weight. I pulled my weight down to 175. I rode my bike to college, a 12 mile one way trek, and began to workout at the campus gym. I had no idea what I was doing. Boy could I have used help.
In 1974, I graduated from College with a BS in Mechanical Engineering, moved to Louisville, KY and was finally living on my own. Knowing no one in Kentucky, I thought this was a good time to join a health spa and start working out faithfully. No one could discourage me and no responsibilities in the evening.
Yes it was a health spa! Can you believe it! There was not a single gym in Louisville in 1974. I’m telling you, this was the dark ages of bodybuilding. The health spa was not even coed.
I worked out for two years before anyone could tell that I was starting to take a more muscular shape. By 1976, I met guys that were genuinely nice and were serious about bodybuilding. I fit in. Training got easier as I improved and as others motivated me further through their dedication. By 1978, I had competed in my first local bodybuilding contest and was aiming for my next. A gym or two popped up around town. For inspiration and learning, the bodybuilding gang yearly went to Mr. Olympia in Columbus and the AAU Mr. America contests in various cities. This was the Arnold years.
Precontest Photos about a 3 weeks out from the above contest.
Scott 2
Scott 3
Scott 4
Scott 5
Scott 6
Though this was still the dark ages, Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium was pretty crowded even in those days, but only by competitor’s fans and wannabe competitors. No three piece business suit guys were there like there is today. You could walk up to Arnold, Frank and the Mike Mentzer like any other guy in those days and talk about working out and ask about diet. I know you will find this hard to believe but Arnold was not household name like today. Actually, like all bodybuilders of that time, he was still a freak to the average person. I could go on about the good old days of bodybuilding but I will save that for another article.
For me, if dedication and desire were the only factors that created a champion, I would have made it. I identified with then 27 year old Mr. America Steve Michalik who said something like “I would eat dirty crankcase grease at 5 bucks a pound if I thought it would make me Mr. America”….exactly the way I felt.
Unfortunately, it takes more fanatical commitment to succeed. It also takes genetics. Though I did okay at the regional level of competition, I was never destined to be a national competitor. That never discouraged me from training to be my best.
If you remember I said when I started out, “I had no idea what I was doing.” Now let me say why this site exists. Bodybuilding Program Zone exists with the intent to encourage you, give you solid information instead of hyping a product and share my candid learning, experience and opinions for your success. Keep in mind success is not necessarily measured by a trophy or even I would have quit a long time ago. Success is really pushing yourself to become your very best. In the obese world today, being your best will still shine brightly among the masses as a recognizable bodybuilder.
I am passionate about this sport for over 30 years and also your success. I hope more will come to appreciate the value it has for health and mental well being.
UPDATED MAY 2007
I am still applying the workout and nutritional techniques that I believe will help you be your best in bodybuilding. I am almost 56 years old in these 3 pictures which I hope encourages the more senior bodybuilder to press on. Admittedly, it becomes more difficult to be lean in these years compared to my earlier years but still an above average build is achieveable.
To your bodybuilding success....Scott
"Sweat eventually hardens to Muscle".....Scott
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