Planet Muscle

I have seen advertisements for the new book about Ben and Joe Weider called Brothers of Iron. The book advertisement states that the Weider’s created the fitness revolution. Would you agree?

Yes and no. I interviewed for the book you mention and provided author Mike Steere, several old Weider magazines to help get the project moving as some of us started worrying the Weider’s might expire before the book deal points expired. Mike was determined, dogmatic and dedicated. Yes, 100% -- Ben and Joe are Bro’s of Iron. They could qualify as a literal definition of true-blue brothers. Rare it is where any two brothers have as much love, support, and respect for each other. These Weider traits are to be much admired. My guess is that neither Ben nor Joe would argue they created a fitness revolution. Is there even such a thing?

Relative to all population bases, (anywhere in the world), less and less percent of people exercise, and in ‘civilized’ societies, more people are getting fatter and many obese, (especially in the USA). Some revolution! Even today, a vast majority of physicians do not actively understand bodybuilding. Once more, almost all certified trainers eschew so-called muscle magazines and the Certified Strength and Conditioning Coaches Group, won’t even use the word bodybuilding, using the term resistance training, instead. What the Weider’s did do extremely well was to develop, and promote, competitive physique competition and the training of the pros involved in the IFBB. Unfortunately, enormous steroid use unavoidably came along with this physique movement. That is a shame really, as the Weider’s labored to get competitive pro physique competition upgraded, honorably, out of the hands of the AAU. From the 60’s to 2000, the Weider’s used M&F and FLEX to promote physique. They also promoted the associated stars, and along the way, their food supplements. But, if their iron supplements aren’t that popular today, there is plenty of iron irony. Do the Weider’s end with a polluted legacy, reigning over a polluted sport, one so bad that the international Olympic Committee won’t even blink an eye at it, one so bad, that some media refer to the hard-training dedicated women, as she-he's, one so uncared about, that while the media hounds Barry Bonds for possible steroids, they could care less if Mr. Universe’s nephrons are in a Kamikaze kidney crash. It is no secret, that effectively 100% of the pros are practicing felons, where Winstrol is our Wheaties breakfast of champions. The Weider’s strongest legacy is physique competition. That is both good and bad. Yes, Joe and Ben are Brothers of Iron, but bodybuilding as fitness revolution?

That’s a long shot (no needle pun intended!)