The Modern Body Builder Diet Carbs and Fats, and the Powerlifter

Carbs and Fats

Although my approach to the high fat/high protein/low carbohydrate is new, it’s interesting to
note that an early form of the diet was favored by many bodybuilders back in the 1960’s. It wasn’t
well refined at the time. Nor did it feature the critical aspects of hormonal manipulation and
stimulation I’ve added. But it concentrated on meat consumption with very few carbs, and
bodybuilders were pleased to find themselves maintaining maximum muscle with very little bodyfat.

The Diet

In fact, the diet produced some huge men back in the 60s. They didn’t have all the components
of the diet perfected and didn’t get the “super-ripped” look bodybuilders work for today but,
nonetheless, the diet produced some big, big men. Unfortunately, the trendy diets stressing high
complex carbs, high protein and low fat swept through the bodybuilding community so
completely that these earlier experiments in a high fat approach were wiped out.

The Powerlifter

As often happens, the blinders went on to alternatives to the high carb movement, and the
high fat diet was ignored by most people. I was the exception. I began working with the diet as
an active powerlifter in the 1970s and used an earlier version of what you’ll find in this book on
my way to winning the world championship in powerlifting in 1976 and the World Games in
the sport in 1981.