Retired for Almost Four Decades Now, Bodybuilding Legend Tom Platz Gives His Take on Modern Bodybuilding

Tom Platz, reflects on the evolution of the iron game since his retirement nearly four decades ago. For him, the essence of bodybuilding transcended mere physicality; it was a symphony of “abundance and prosperity”, an ode to the golden days of Arnold Schwarzenegger, camaraderie, sleek corvettes, and the backdrop of swaying palm trees.

As Tom Platt’s gaze falls upon the modern bodybuilding landscape, his perspective unveils a nuanced narrative. The bygone era was not a chapter of asceticism, sacrifice, and relentless punishment; instead, it was a colorful canvas painted with the vibrancy of life. The ‘Quad Father’ in the snippet of his interview reminisces, “It wasn’t about deprivation.”

Tom Platz found bodybuilding to be a vast realm full of opportunities

In the YouTube short video shared by OOFA Fitness, Platz recalled, that during his youthful foray into bodybuilding at 18, 19, and 20, Platz found humor in the idea that someone might have confined him to an apartment, dictating strict meal schedules and enforced solitude. His journey in bodybuilding was not a sentence to isolation but an exploration that broadened the horizons of life.

In Platz’s words, “When I went into bodybuilding, life became bigger for me. It added to my life. It didn’t take away.” The gym, far from being a chamber of suffering, was a sanctuary where the worthiness of the toil became apparent. The pain was a currency for the gains, a fair exchange that embellished his existence rather than diminishing it.

The 68-year-old consistently faced the aftermath of his intense workout routines. Surprisingly, during a seminar, he confessed to once despising squats, despite being hailed as the king of this exercise.

Platz used to hate Squats!

In a snippet shared by a YouTube channel, Muscle Mind Media, Platz shocked everyone by saying he used to hate squats. Imagine that – the squat king didn’t like squats! This surprised a lot of people who thought he loved them.

But Platz didn’t stop there. He told us about what happens after his tough squat sessions. About a week later, he feels like he’s in a wonderland. “I’m like high. I’m like a stone for a week from squats, okay,” says Platz. It’s not just about getting stronger; it’s like a happy and excited feeling in his mind and heart. He even said it’s like seeing the sun and feeling super happy.

READ MORE: Who Is Quadfather and Why Is He Celebrated So Much Despite Never Winning Mr. Olympia?

So, what can we learn from Platz’s surprise? Even if you don’t like exercise, the good stuff might come later. Platz is honest and challenges what many people think about going to the gym. He says that doing things you don’t like can bring you unexpected and big rewards. Maybe there’s more to getting fit than just what happens during squats!

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