Why the steep decline in serious work outs?

I've been BB'ing since 1981 and in the gym biz since 1988, back in the days when folks actually worked out and did it with passion. I was talking to a guy who teaches martial arts about this and we both agreed: that the number of people who work out these days is down considerably. I look across my weight room floor and remember the days when it was packed, people waiting for bars, chalk in the air, heavy metal blaring (forget yr anavar? Just ask a bro, chances are he had some spare in his bag LOL). Now at times I have absolutly no one in the weight area (maybe a few in the cardio). What happened? Where did they go?

I realize economic times are much tougher....and no one has disposable income, especially in this little city where factories have closed, insurance companies are gone and unemployment is high. But I also think we are a lazy society who'd rather take a pill, walk on the golf course for exercise and play on their PC rather than train. Anyone else notice this??

yeah bro i been saying bodybuilding is dead for years! I miss those days!!!

Yr right Bro, in my last several contests, there was only a hand full of BB'ers, rest were physiquers. But past that, just the shear number of at least my members are down. What also cracks me up is the people who come in with these "magic bullet" workouts, when really the key is consistency and just basics. Hell I havent even heard of some of these weight exercises. WTF? I recall reading somewhere that Arnold got his chest by doing basic flat and incline benches, plus some flys, and cable flys. Now we have like 15 different chest excersises to choose from, but has anyone have 15 times better chest? Noper.

Bottom line: ya cant beat fundamentals. Fads dont stand a chance

yeah bro, i know a couple gyms that shut down out here by me, I actually went and looked at a big space for lease to open up a gym where I'm at, but thats what scares me, the dwindling of serious bodybuilders, as i was looking into opening a nice get down and grimy gym, but not sure it would work out here,

and yeah contests are dead with bber contestants, however I'm hoping the new ""classic bodybuilding"" division will help spike new bodybuilders

Presser said:

yeah bro, i know a couple gyms that shut down out here by me, I actually went and looked at a big space for lease to open up a gym where I'm at, but thats what scares me, the dwindling of serious bodybuilders, as i was looking into opening a nice get down and grimy gym, but not sure it would work out here,

and yeah contests are dead with bber contestants, however I'm hoping the new ""classic bodybuilding"" division will help spike new bodybuilders

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The NPC began the "classic bodybuilding" division this yr and I too hope it spikes BB'ing. It looks pretty cool....I gotta tell you, at my age (56 in 2 wks) even when I hit 59, I have to go against someone in my class who is 50 and that 9 yrs difference in yr 50's is huge.

Owning a hard core, no BS gym would be cool as fuck. I would think the larger the city, the more chance of success with a niche like that. But in this farming community of mine, 26K, it would be sure Chapter 13. The soft cores make up 95% of my base. To aleinate them is foolish. So I bite my lip, smile and tell Mrs Jones shes making progress, even at 350lbs, and continue her yoga and cardio.

Whats a platehead to do??

The Survivor said:

The NPC began the "classic bodybuilding" division this yr and I too hope it spikes BB'ing. It looks pretty cool....I gotta tell you, at my age (56 in 2 wks) even when I hit 59, I have to go against someone in my class who is 50 and that 9 yrs difference in yr 50's is huge.

Owning a hard core, no BS gym would be cool as fuck. I would think the larger the city, the more chance of success with a niche like that. But in this farming community of mine, 26K, it would be sure Chapter 13. The soft cores make up 95% of my base. To aleinate them is foolish. So I bite my lip, smile and tell Mrs Jones shes making progress, even at 350lbs, and continue her yoga and cardio.

Whats a platehead to do??

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i dont blame ya brutha! money is money and you gotta do what ya gotta do,

I actually admire even the soft cores who at least make effort to lift. Believe me I'm not condenscending to them. I dont go to a hospital and make fun of sick people so I certainly dont do it here. What irks me is the social society members, the dentist wives and soccer Moms who clunk their fat ass on a bench or machine and text for 10 minutes...or talk on their phone while doing a set. Its just painful to see these 4 older women back in the rubber floor hard core weight area doing their little rubber band work....but like Presser said, hell no one seems to like hard core training these days, so I guess may as well let them.

I just agreed to terms with Silver Sneakers, who is the insurance company wellness program to allow retired members come in. But all I receive is $2.50 oer visit, max $20 per month. it should be an interesting blend starting in January. arghhhh...but need the cash!

Like right now, 10:30AM, a few just left the gym. Not a soul here...I could whip out my junk and rub one out and nobody even know!! LOL

I still go to Planet Fitness - I have yet to outgrow it AND there is a lot of eye candy. Do not underestimate the power of eye candy to make an older guy work out harder.

The weight area of my Planet Fitness did not experience the normal drop in users around March - April time frame. It is a little irritating sine the machines can all be in use when I want them - so I go at 10PM or later and easily get what I want.

My Planet Fitness does not have Pizza day or Tootsie Rolls.

The problem is most poeple think that showing up is 90% of the battle. With weights it is not, just being at the gym and breathing the air doesn't do shit!!

I think a lot of people try to do dumb routines for 2-3 years and make no progress or just just do cardio and go backwards..................After a few year of doing the same thing and getting no results, they quit.

I am always amazed at the number of people that ask for advise and then never use it or want to argue with you about it................I now go to my standard answer..........Be consistant in the gym always trying new things and trying to get stronger, and realize that 80-90% is diet.

you hit the nail on the head bro. most people now would rather train the fingers on the PC or smart phone.
we have become a politically correct weak ass society and this is another symptom... it really is sad...
I blame the dam hippies! the original ones.

Wait....... You mean reading and posting on mc won't make me bigger and stronger?????? But my thumbs hurt from all the typing I've been doing on my phone... doesn't that mean I'm getting a workout??? LOL!

I think Yellow Snow hit the nail on the head, too. I had a kid at work ask me if I've ever done the "insanity" workout... nope... Another guy asked me to show him what he should do in our little gym at work to get started on a basic exercise regimen. I did; he did it once and proclaimed that his knees felt better immediately - and hasn't been back up there since.

And, like the advice asked for and then argued with: a few years ago my wife got motivated and lost about 15 lbs mainly through diet (she's always consistently exercised). Most of her friends asked how she did it and when she told them they either said, "Oh, I couldn't do THAT!" or said, "Oh, well what I do is..." But meanwhile what they're doing is resulting in consistently getting fatter!

I'm with you, Survivor, I give credit to those making a real effort and trying to improve; the ones who are just half assed going through the motions and then complaining that "it's not working" just irritate the shit out of me.

Serious workouts? You mean the guy that weights 120 lbs that has 95lbs on the bench and a band wrapped under the bench and around both ends of the bar isn't serious? (Seriously in the way of getting to a bench)

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Truthfully I think it's our fault. Lifting weights, using juice etc. Has become a joke starting with Lyle Alzado blaming his condition on steroids. All the recreational drug use involved in this sport we love. The public views all of us the same way. The publicity goes to Craig Titus and the image of idiots draining their own bicep absess on national tv. No grunting/yelling in the gym. No dropping (with care) weights. Witch hunts in professional sports or by law enforcement driving more people underground. I could go on couldn't you.
I love "bodybuilding", maximizing my body's potential. Being a super me. I don't know who I would be without it. It has saved my life and given me focus where before there was chaos.

My .02!

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When I was a teen my home town had several great gyms with nothing but free weights and chalk everywhere. They have all been replaced by big chain gyms. Hundreds of cable machines and one curl rack. Uhh, I meant squat rack.

all about the $$ is why bodybuilding is going away!

Iron-game said:

Truthfully I think it's our fault. Lifting weights, using juice etc. Has become a joke starting with Lyle Alzado blaming his condition on steroids. All the recreational drug use involved in this sport we love. The public views all of us the same way. The publicity goes to Craig Titus and the image of idiots draining their own bicep absess on national tv. No grunting/yelling in the gym. No dropping (with care) weights. Witch hunts in professional sports or by law enforcement driving more people underground. I could go on couldn't you.
I love "bodybuilding", maximizing my body's potential. Being a super me. I don't know who I would be without it. It has saved my life and given me focus where before there was chaos.

My .02!

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I don't think the general public links recreational drug use to people who use steroids , I think we know theirs a link in our small community but I personally don't think that's why public demonizes steroid users , I think that comes from media and how pros started looking stupid big

Presser said:

I don't think the general public links recreational drug use to people who use steroids , I think we know theirs a link in our small community but I personally don't think that's why public demonizes steroid users , I think that comes from media and how pros started looking stupid big

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99% of the general public think the top pros are gross, unattractive and of course on steroids. MLB and sports in general have given steroids a bad name, esp baseball. I wish the MLB players would worry about hitting, catching and pitching the ball and leave the juicing to us plateheads

The Survivor said:

99% of the general public think the top pros are gross, unattractive and of course on steroids. MLB and sports in general have given steroids a bad name, esp baseball. I wish the MLB players would worry about hitting, catching and pitching the ball and leave the juicing to us plateheads

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My wife certainly does and told me there is no way in hell she would stay with me if I went that route. I told her I agreed!

I really miss the mid 90's those were the days brothers and sisters of iron every where now it's silver shoe club and a few high school kids most of the time it's one or two other people