The bodybuilding world has undergone a significant shift from the days when aesthetics ruled the roost to the present-day mass monster era. From training methods and nutritional understanding to the overall culture of the sport, the realm has transformed completely. Greg Doucette, the IFBB Pro fitness coach, recently shared a clip from 1941 that showcased a very different kind of physique being exhibited on stage. And, well, it led to some pretty interesting observations.

In the video Doucette shared, one could not only see athletes coming and posing on stage but also how things were a lot more subdued back then compared to bodybuilding competitions right now. As the video progressed, the awe was visible among the audience, cheering for the bodybuilders on stage. Wanting to know about the primary differences between bodybuilders then and now, Doucette posed a very important question to his followers.

He wrote, “Throwing it back to bodybuilding. What do you think the biggest differences are?” Looking at the bodybuilders on stage, the fitness community got talking about the glaring differences. While there were many points they highlighted, the major aspect they touched upon was the fact that most bodybuilders from that era went on to live longer than their counterparts in the present. But why is that?

Greg Doucette’s followers grabbed this opportunity to point out how many bodybuilders depend on external stimulation to build their physiques these days. Back then, most athletes were natural, and that was what made the sport safe. That was what used to stand out. And as Doucette made the fitness community ponder, the comments raised quite a few concerns.

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Natural lifters vs. “science experiments gone awry”

Many fitness enthusiasts noted the exceptional massiveness in physiques seen in the sport due to ster**d usage these days, which was not the case earlier. They left comments like, “Natural physiques, no ster**ds & not as lean. Look is healthier,” and “Back when being natural was normal.”

In the current era, many bodybuilders have passed away at a young age due to alleged ster**d usage. This includes famous figures like Jo Lindner, a.k.a. Joesthetics, and Rich Piana. Lindner died at just 30, while Piana lost his life at 46. The latter’s usage of PEDs once even got Joe Rogan to say, “He took ungodly amounts of ster**ds.”

A user, concerned about this phenomenon, wrote, “They didn’t die in their 50s,” referring to the major difference between the current crop and bodybuilders from the past. While a few others pointed out how regular teenagers right now look like the bodybuilders back then, one user noted, “Funny how these guys would be considered “small” today by internet standards. This is what natural lifters look like.”

Another fan even stated that the physiques earlier were way more pleasing than what they are now. They wrote, “They look aesthetic instead of like science experiments gone awry.” With all the external stimulation bodybuilders use these days – which invariably leads to deteriorating health conditions in some cases – the sport isn’t necessarily as safe as it was back then. “When bodybuilding could be considered a healthy sport,” a follower pointed out.

Echoing that sentiment, another follower wrote, “Soooooo much better than today.” All in all, one underlying message was clear from the reactions: “We’ve gone backwards.” With the advent of PEDs, bodybuilding has undoubtedly seen significant changes. But do you think it is as bad as most people claim it to be? Or do bodybuilders just require more caution with their PED intake? Let us know in the comments section below!

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