A Website Dedicated to the Study of Strength, Health, Fitness and Sport Across Centuries, Countries and Contests.
We have come a long way in terms of boosting our workout performance by fine-tuning all the habits that surround that single one, and in particular, by refining our menus to suit our goals. Athletes have always done their absolute best to find that perfect ratio when it comes to food intake in order to... Continue Reading →
One of the strongest men of the early twentieth-century, Thomas Inch was known in both Great Britain and the United States for his feats of strength. Unlike others however, Inch was hardly strict with his diet. In fact Inch was recorded as saying There is nothing so wearisome as having to be extremely particular about what one... Continue Reading →
Dieting in the 1900s The concept of “dieting” has been around for a very, very long time. If historical data is to be believed, people have been convinced about the power of dieting for as long as 500 years now. Can people control their body weight and composition by controlling what they eat, when they... Continue Reading →
For many Steve Reeves was the epitome of bodybuilding. Alongside John Grimek, he helped to define a mid-century Iron Game obsessed with beauty, strength and uncompromising health. Though undoubtedly blessed with fantastic genetics, Reeves was known for his work ethic and attention to detail when it came to his diet. Coming from the Steve Reeves... Continue Reading →
Coming from the 1984 Playboy interview previously covered on this website, the Lalanne 'Power Drink' serves as a timely reminder that one of the oldest physical culturists in the game was adamant about the importance of vitamins, minerals and copious amounts of vegetables. Let it serve as a timely reminder to eat, or in this... Continue Reading →
No matter if you believe that detox is beneficial or a complete fad, one is for sure—detox has been used by many civilizations for thousands of years. According to research, many detox practices date back to ancient China, Egypt, India, America and even Rome. So what do you need to know about this practice’s history... Continue Reading →
The history of dieting is quite convoluted and challenging for a lot of people. But it does go to show that people have started to try and stay in shape for quite some time. And there’s a reason for that. The reality is that working out is only one thing that people from the old... Continue Reading →
If you thought bodybuilding and serious involvement in sport is mere exercising and pushing your body to its limits, think again. Of course, building up your muscle mass is crucial. However, you won’t get far with just that alone. In the era of food full of additives, one might frown upon the mere mention of... Continue Reading →
Bovril is a blended meat extract created by Scotsman John Lawrence during the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871). Made primarily from Beef, Bovril quickly associated itself with ideas of British nationalism and the caricatured embodiment of Britain, ‘John Bull’. This was certainly the case during the Second South African War when Bovril advertisements explicitly told of its... Continue Reading →
The keto diet is a diet with the idea to force the human body into a state of ketosis. When in ketosis, the body burns fat instead of carbs for energy. The body’s primary source of energy is carbs and sugars, and when they are not there, the body needs to burn fat to stay... Continue Reading →