Muscle Clinic by David Gentle - Vol. 2

From David's Mailbag.... Physical Culture expert, David Gentle responds to a series of questions sent in by our readers on a variety of topics including weight training, bodybuilding, nutrition and wellness.

QUESTION. I am just a beginner in the sport of bodybuilding and recently purchased some packs of protein shakes. When mixed as directed they give 25 grammes of protein to a glass, but after studying the ingredients I have found that they contain sugar and glucose syrup solids. Should I still take this supplement as I have read that sugar will destroy ones energy levels?

ANSWER. Carryon taking the protein packs, which will aid your progress in bodybuilding. Nearly all commercial foods contain a certain amount of sugar, for example a can of tin baked beans has a very high proportion of sugar added to please 'modern' tastes. Certainly harmless, it will not affect your energy levels, just add extra calories. Admittedly too much sugar is bad for your health, you can watch this by not adding extra sugar to your normal drinks, such as tea or coffee.

QUESTION. I am considering doing some power lifting as a change from my usual bodybuilding schedules. Will this different type of training ruin my physique, or perhaps even help me to gain some larger muscles?

ANSWER. I believe that the power training will in fact do you a lot of good, making some useful muscles that also have strength. Most power lifters have enormous muscular physiques.

QUESTION. Do food additives harm your health?

ANSWER. The problem is that unless you are a vegetarian who grows your own food, you will be unable to avoid eating foods that have not been treated in some way or another. Currently modern products use as many as 5,000 additives. Recent independent medical opinion is that as much as 12% of all hospital admissions are in some way connected with allergic reactions to food additives. These range from hyperactive behaviour in children to nervous reactions in adults ... Some villains in the additive section are: tartrazine which is often found in fizzy drinks and has been found to be detrimental to children; sulphur dioxide in instant coffee; sodium derivatives which are strongly linked with the many problems of hypertension; and the well known 'chinese food syndrome' of monosodium glutamate, used mainly as flavouring.

Most confectionery also contains huge ranges of dyes, to make them look more attractive to the eye. Ham is often injected with water holding phosphates to make it look 'juicy'. In fact the more you study it the bigger worry it becomes.

QUESTION. Is the STRADDLE LIFT of any use as a leg exerciser? I have seen it mentioned in earlier magazines, but I do not know how to do it, or what muscles it will develop. By the way, thank you for answering some of my other questions.

ANSWER. The straddle lift you mention is an exercise not seen much of today, yet it really is a great exercise for the legs, as it involves the hips, the inner vastus group, and the adductor muscles, which are located on the inner thighs. It is a simple movement and of great use for anyone who does not have the use of squat racks. To perform it is as the name suggests, you step over the bar with one leg, or straddle it, keeping the spine upright and as flat as possible, bend the legs and grip the barbell fore and aft. Straighten the legs, lifting the bar with arms held straight. Stand upright, then lower so that the top of the thighs are parallel to the floor, stand up and repeat the movement for a fairly high number or reps i.e. about 12 to 20.

muscle clinic

Nautilus champion, Mr. Heavy Duty Mike Mentzer rips his chest in pieces on the Pec Deck.

QUESTION. I have just started weight training, but my dad (who used to be in athletics) says bodybuilders are poor at sports and a lot of muscle is useless. What do you say?

ANSWER. Bodybuilding is a specialist sport and really it is unfair to judge weight trainers on athletic performances, anymore than you would say dart players. Long distance runners are poor high jumpers, few swimmers make pole-vaulters and so on.

If you have two people with equal skill, there is no doubt that in a contest the STRONGER person would win. If you wish to give dad an argument it is a fact that there are numerous top line athletes in the ranks of bodybuilding. Many top stars would have been champions in other sports.

FRANCO was a champ boxer, ZANE a great archer, BILL PEARL Olympic standard wrestler, who also used to cycle over 50 miles a day, LOU FERRIGNO excelled at many sports, participating several times in world class SUPERSTARS, breaking records at rowing etc.

ARNOLD was a great sportsman in his native Austria and so on ...Listen to your own inner voice, and follow the occupation of your own choice ... and good luck.

QUESTION. Can you supply me with a list of ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER's bodybuilding titles? And has he ever been beaten?

muscle clinic

ANSWER. His titles are ... 1965 Mr Europe Jr.; 1966 Mr Europe Amateur; 1966 Best Built Man of Europe; 1967 Amateur Mr Universe NABBA; 1968 Professional Mr Universe NABBA; 1968 Mr International; IFBB 1969 Professional Mr Europe; 1969 professional Mr Universe; 1969 Mr Universe IFBB; 1970 Professional Mr Universe NABBA; 1970 Professional Mr World AAU; he then won the IFBB's Olympia title in 1970, 1971, 1972,1973,1974, 1975, and the controversial contest in 1980. Yes he has been beaten naturally when not in his best shape. This was in the NABBA Universe in 1966 when CHET YORTON beat him, in the IFBB Mr Universe in 1968, when FRANK ZANE beat him, and in 1969 when SERGIO OLIVA beat him in the Mr Olympia contest.

Powerlifting does build a huge physique - witness Steve Zetolofsky,
British Power Champion 1980 in the Superheavyweight (over 110 kg) class.