Robert Kennedy - Encyclopedia of Bodybuilding: The Complete A-Z Book on Muscle Building

H as it really been 10 years since I published the first MuscleMag International Encyclopedia of Bodybuilding ? Perhaps Einstein was right after all time is relative. But one thing is for sure its been quite the 10 years!

It seemed that no sooner had the massive Brit, Dorian Yates, headed back to England with his sixth Mr. Olympia title when a relative unknown, Ronnie Coleman, started his record-tying run of eight Mr. Olympia wins. The big Texan was to continue the trend of ever-increasing physique size, carrying 290 pounds of ultra-striated beef into battle. With 2006 and 2007 winner Jay Cutler also tipping the scales in the 280+ pound range, the time seems near that the first 300 pounder will walk away with the sports most coveted title.

Besides the escalating size, another revolution to come about during this time was in the training styles of most bodybuilders. Although a few bodybuilders still follow the traditional high-volume style of training made popular by Arnold Schwarzenegger back in the 1970s, most now follow the shorter, more intense form of training advocated by Dorian Yates.

And speaking of bodybuildings most famous alumni, the lad from Austria has done quite well for himself since the first edition of this book. Not content to be the sports No. 1 star and worlds most successful actor, Arnold decided to throw his hat into the political arena. In typical Schwarzenegger fashion, he won the governorship of California in 2003. Many feel that with an amendment to the constitution (to allow those not born in the USA to run for the presidency) its only a matter of time before Arnold flexes his way into the Oval Office.

While the popularity of both Arnold and male bodybuilding continues to climb, the same cannot be said for the female side of the sport. After starting with such promise in the early 80s and reaching very respectable heights, thanks in part to the great Cory Everson in the late 80s, the sport took a nosedive in the 1990s. Although numerous theories have been put forward as to why, the most prevalent is that bodybuilding fans male and female are just not interested in female physiques that would have won the Mr. America 40 or 50 years ago. Even the sports top female title the Ms. Olympia is not immune, having nearly been canceled on numerous occasions.

As female bodybuilding began its tumble, the new sports of womens fitness and figure took off. Displaying physiques hard and athletic yet still feminine, fitness and figure contestants have far exceeded their female bodybuilding counterparts in both popularity and prize money. Unless theres a change in the judging standards, this trend will no doubt continue.

One area that hasnt changed over the last 10 years is the popularity of food supplements. Creatine and whey protein are still the biggest sellers, but nipping at their heels are a whole host of others including nitric oxide, glutamine and the latest generation of fat-burners.

Related to the topic of supplements is the topic of performance-enhancing drugs. While at one time there was a definite distinction between the two, the supplement companies muddied the water in the late 1990s by releasing a new category of supplements called pro hormones. As the name suggests, pro hormones are not drugs in the classical sense, but can be converted to anabolic substances by the body. When baseball superstar Mark McGwire got caught with the pro hormone androstenedione in his locker, sales went through the roof. It was short-lived, however, as the U.S. government quickly added pro hormones to its list of banned substances. Thanks to the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1991 and subsequent modifications, possession of either steroids or pro hormones is now a felony in most states.