A Website Dedicated to the Study of Strength, Health, Fitness and Sport Across Centuries, Countries and Contests.
When Atlas Wasn't Playing Tug-of-War he was giving out Diet Tips “I realize you are anxious to build up great strength and power as soon as possible. Here is a simple secret which should help give you the results you hope for.” Charles Atlas, Mail Order Workout Programme, Lesson Two, c.1930s In 1921 Charles Atlas... Continue Reading →
Born at the turn of the twentieth-century, Tony Sansone is perhaps one of the most famous physical culturists never to turn his hand to bodybuilding. Nevertheless his influence on bodybuilders and those seeking to get in shape was remarkable. Training under both Bernarr McFadden and Charles Atlas, Sansone developed one of the most sought after... Continue Reading →
Born at the turn of the twentieth-century, Tony Sansone is perhaps one of the most famous physical culturists never to turn his hand to bodybuilding. Nevertheless his influence on bodybuilders and those seeking to get in shape was remarkable. Training under both Bernarr McFadden and Charles Atlas, Sansone developed one of the most sought after... Continue Reading →
Constipation: a condition in which there is difficulty in emptying the bowels, usually associated with hardened faeces. Constipation may seem an odd topic of study, but the history of the condition and efforts aimed at relieving it open up interesting social, political and economic histories . From 1900 to 1940, the United States suffered a... Continue Reading →
After three years of pumping up, slimming down and posing, Britain, and the world was treated to the first ever bodybuilding competition in 1901. Hosted by the legendary Eugen Sandow, the 'Great Competition' as it was known claimed to have found the most perfect specimens alive. Unsurprisingly it wasn't long before other nations, notably America, began to hold their own... Continue Reading →
The Physical Culture Creed We Believe... That our bodies are our most glorious possession; that health-wealth is our greatest asset; that every influence which interferes with the attainment of superb, buoyant health should be recognised as a menace. We maintain that weakness is truly a crime; that sickness is the penalty of violated health laws;... Continue Reading →
It's funny given the current obsessions with macro counting that few bodybuilders produce cookbooks for the general iron populace. This is in stark contrast to the early foundations of the sport, which saw dozens of cookbook and health works printed by enthusiastic physical culturists. Today's brief article focuses on Bernarr McFadden's 1901 'Physical Culture Cookbook'... Continue Reading →
Born at the turn of the twentieth-century, Tony Sansone is perhaps one of the most famous physical culturists never to turn his hand to bodybuilding. Nevertheless his influence on bodybuilders and those seeking to get in shape was remarkable. Training under both Bernarr McFadden and Charles Atlas, Sansone developed one of the most sought after... Continue Reading →
After three years of pumping up, slimming down and posing, Britain, and the world was treated to the first ever bodybuilding competition in 1901. Hosted by the legendary Eugen Sandow, the 'Great Competition' as it was known claimed to have found the most perfect specimens alive. Unsurprisingly it wasn't long before other nations, notably America, began to hold their own... Continue Reading →
Attached below is Bernarr McFadden's classical book Vitality Supreme. Whilst McFadden wrote a number of works, Vitality Supreme is one of the more interesting publications. Luckily for us in 2014, it’s also free to download and free to read. Vitality Supreme Find out McFadden's advice for strengthening your stomach, improving your diet and building inner strength. It’s a great book for... Continue Reading →