Lee Haney: We Reached A ‘Level of Conditioning’ In My Era Where We ‘Could Walk Away Alive’

[alfresco]

thank you for the share and wisdom

this sounds interesting

From skinny scholar to muscle-bound showman. “Easily the best memoir ever written about weight training, steroids and all” (Men’s Journal).

When blue-blooded, storklike Samuel Wilson Fussell arrived in New York City fresh from the University of Oxford, the ethereal young graduate seemed like the last person on Earth who would be interested in bodybuilding. But he was intimidated by the dangers of the city—and decided to do something about it. At twenty-six, Fussell walked into the YMCA gym. Four solid years of intensive training, protein powders, and steroid injections later, he had gained eighty pounds of pure muscle and was competing for bodybuilding titles.

And yet, with forearms like bowling pins and calves like watermelons, Fussell felt weaker than ever before. His punishing regimen of workouts, drugs, and diet had reduced him to near-infant-like helplessness and immobility, leaving him hungry, nauseated, and prone to outbursts of “ ’roid rage.” But he had come to succeed, and there was no backing down now.

Alternately funny and fascinating, Muscle is the true story of one man’s obsession with the pursuit of perfection. With insight, wit, and refreshing candor, Fussell ushers readers into the wild world of juicers and gym rats who sacrifice their lives, minds, bodies, and souls to their dreams of glory in Southern California’s so-called iron mecca.

Sam's book was good. One of the first bodybuilder 'confessionals' out there.
But Bob's book dealt with bodybuilding at a much higher level (not taking
anything away from Sam).

Bob talks about his depression and starts out on a low note. It is not a book
about training methodology or steroid education, the does and don'ts, but he
does make note, and you can see this in photographs of him, of his GH usage
and how he felt it destroyed or was on it's way to destroying the aesthetics
of his physique, what he was known for.

That's my take on it.

 

[subzero]

I remember reading that book (muscle) along time ago. Was a good read.

 

[Ranchhand]

Looks like he did, if anyone wants to read a book about it

Sorry qbkilla, my post was misinterpreted, I meant switching teams back to being heterosexual. That was big news when he came out of the closet, even though there was a decent amount of people in the BB community that were already aware of his sexual preference.

 

[buck]

With the diuretic use back then it seems it may have been more abused then it is now. Momo died the year after Lee's last win. And others just shortly after that did not fare well either. The hazards seem to change as the years go by. Trying to push things to the limit has never been a safe activity in any sport. I remember an interview with Haney's wife after his last show where she said he would not compete again as the last show came close to killing him. Now what she meant by that can be up for interpretation.

 

[hawkmoon]

With the diuretic use back then it seems it may have been more abused then it is now. Momo died the year after Lee's last win. And others just shortly after that did not fare well either. The hazards seem to change as the years go by. Trying to push things to the limit has never been a safe activity in any sport. I remember an interview with Haney's wife after his last show where she said he would not compete again as the last show came close to killing him. Now what she meant by that can be up for interpretation.

Lasix and spironolactone were the goto drugs then. Both tricky in their use.