Fitness Before the World Got Complicated

Mr_Knight
Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I was curious what a physical specimen looked like Back In The Day, before we knew enough to make fitness complicated.

This is Georg Hackenschmidt, born in 1877 and holds the original bench press record (361 pounds, 1898, age 21). Six foot even, 230 pounds. These photos from over 100 years ago...before Gear, meal timing, protein shakes, paleo, catabolic windows, carb cycling diets, Under Armour, Gold's Gym...

george_hackenschmidt.jpg

george.jpg

Replies

  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    10/10.


    Would bang.
  • WakkoW
    WakkoW Posts: 567 Member
    Impossible!

    Crossfit invented fitness.
  • healthyhot_happy
    healthyhot_happy Posts: 6
    Impossible!

    Crossfit invented fitness.

    LOLing :D
  • MagicalLeopleurodon
    MagicalLeopleurodon Posts: 623 Member
    Amazing :D
  • ThePlight
    ThePlight Posts: 3,593 Member
    Too bulky for me XD
    I like cut but thin :)
  • TheRealParisLove
    TheRealParisLove Posts: 1,907 Member
    I dig the socks!
  • Mr_Knight
    Mr_Knight Posts: 9,532 Member
    This is from a book he wrote in 1911(!)...
    "The progress of civlization has been chiefly marked by the progress of Medical Science...Despite all these improvements, one can scarcely come across any official health report which demoes not bewail an all-round degeneration of physique. There are fewer plagues and pestilences, but there would appear to be an infinitely great number of sickly, weedy, stunted people than there use to be."
  • mike_ny
    mike_ny Posts: 351 Member
    Most of the "strongmen" back then in the circus and other places were built more like farm boys than body builders. They were still strong as could be, but not what we currently consider as the perfect body types. Don't ever pick a fight with a farm boy who's a bit chubby thinking you can win easily. He can probably throw you like a bale of hay up a flight of stairs.

    And consider the media heroes like Tarzan, Superman, warriors, etc... in the movies as being in super top shape. Like most of athletics, the bar's been raised quite a bit since then.
  • yogicarl
    yogicarl Posts: 1,260 Member
    ... if the strongmen back in the day could throw a person up a flight of stairs like a bale of hay, then the bar has hardly been raised since then, I would suggest. People just aspire to look fitter - whatever that has come to mean.
  • cats847
    cats847 Posts: 131
    Great post.

    People need to stop worrying less about spending money on protein shakes and raspberry ketones and worry more about actually busting their *kitten* instead of overthinking everything and/or throwing money at everything.
  • UCSMiami
    UCSMiami Posts: 97 Member
    when I read the thread subject line I thought it referred to the 1970-80s.

    I am surprised the young fellow is clean shaven and with no handlebar mustache.
  • RECowgill
    RECowgill Posts: 881 Member
    I wonder what his actual process was. What was his diet like. You don't look that developed and cut without some routine and thought behind dieting and rest. And I know he doesn't look THAT cut or built, but for 100 years ago that may as well be Lou Ferrigno.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    I was curious what a physical specimen looked like Back In The Day, before we knew enough to make fitness complicated.

    This is Georg Hackenschmidt, born in 1877 and holds the original bench press record (361 pounds, 1898, age 21). Six foot even, 230 pounds. These photos from over 100 years ago...before Gear, meal timing, protein shakes, paleo, catabolic windows, carb cycling diets, Under Armour, Gold's Gym...

    george_hackenschmidt.jpg

    george.jpg

    Oh yes, he was BUFF! :bigsmile:
  • HelloDan
    HelloDan Posts: 712 Member
    What I find particularly interesting, is the relative proportions of his physique. It looks way more functional than the ideal that many guys try to achieve today - Much bigger\thicker core, bigger back\lats relative to chest, relatively smaller arms, and much bigger quads\legs in general.

    EDIT
    Compared to this.
    vewsvs.png
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    There are fewer plagues and pestilences, but there would appear to be an infinitely great number of sickly, weedy, stunted people than there use to be.

    this is so true of life in general....
  • CamillaHerold
    CamillaHerold Posts: 60 Member
    Wow. When I looked at the full length picture, I thought he must be shorter than 6', the proportions were off for that much height. So I checked Wikipedia, and although its information is not always accurate, it did report a shorter height at 5'9" and a weight of 219. That matches the picture better. His physique was apparently all natural and developed by multiple sports, including wrestling, when wrestling was cool. Again, wow. This man is awesome to behold.

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