Will Men’s Fitness Model Contests Kill Bodybuilding?

[kennylo]

During a recent episode of Big Nation Radio, WBFF Pro Fitness Model World ChampionObi Obadike boasted of a newfound six-figure contract with MusclePharm. Which coincidentally aired around the same time that Supplement King Muscletech cut their bodybuilding roster by more than 60%, releasing nearly all of their lesser known Pro Bodybuilders.

It made all of us at MuscleWeek sit back and wonder if we were witnessing a seismic shift in the marketing strategies of the supplement companies, and made us ask the question:

Do the relatively new Men’s Fitness Model and Physique Competitions signal the end of the line for Bodybuilding?

Now before we jump on the latest bandwagon of prematurely announcing the death of bodybuilding, let’s look at a few facts:

- Most guys get into bodybuilding to improve their muscularity
- Most guys look up to Pro Bodybuilders because they get the magazine covers and attract the most attention
- Most competitive bodybuilders mention getting their Pro card as one of the reasons they continue to compete
- The perceived benefit of having a Pro card is to obtain sponsorship from an apparel, supplement, or beverage company.

And when one looks at the above facts, one quickly realizes that all of the above can be attained by competing and being successful in the Men’s Fitness Model Competition. Better yet, instead of having a grotesquely large and unhealthy body that is ogled by 90% men and 10% emotionally stunted women (figure, bikini and fitness competitors), a winning men’s fitness model competitor will have a body that 99% of women crave and 1% of men ridicule as being ‘twinks’.


Gregg Plitt
Gregg Plitt is a fitness model who has been sponsored by Met-Rx for the past 3 years. THREE YEARS! That’s an eternity in bodybuilding, where guys typically jump ship every 1-2 years by virtue of their perceived value either rising or falling in the eyes of their sponsor.

If you ask the hardcore bodybuilder to drop weight to compete in Men’s Physique, he might look at you like you’ve gone mad. But that’s his Hulk-smashing ego fronting for him. A quick look at today’s trend in sponsorships reveals that even guys with average physiques like Isaac Hinds are landing contracts (Muscletech) and the guys landing the covers of previously bodybuilder-dominated magazines like Muscle & Fitness are more likely to resemble a physique competitor (i.e. an MMA fighter) than a Mr. Olympia winner.

The numbers show us that magazines like Men’s Health and Men’s Fitness routinely outsell bodybuilding publications by a 10:1 or even 20:1 margin. The main reason you don’t see Muscletech Advertorials and BSN ads (along with the smaller companies) plastered everywhere in those magazines is because their advertising rates are astronomically higher than what you’d find in a bodybuilding rag.

But what does Men’s Physique really mean to most of us?

It means:

- Significantly less drugs (out with the ridiculously high levels of androgens).
- Less food (no more 6000 calorie/day diets).
- More cardio (with less reliance on gh).
- A more attainable physique to sell most guys on how they really want to look.
- A more fit physique capable of walking two flights of stairs without requiring oxygen.
- A body that is much closer to a woman’s idea of manly perfection.
- That Hugh Jackman can walk off a movie set and become a Pro Men’s Physique Champion overnight.



IFBB Pro Hugh Jackman


As much as the hardcore bodybuilding fan base has ridiculed the introduction of the Men’s Physique category, the supplement companies that run bodybuilding have clearly thrown their support behind this new division, and if there’s one thing we all know: We’d all rather look 27,583% BETTER than be 27,584% STRONGER.

[Brackneyc]

I don't think it will.*

[NYkarate]

I don't think it will.*

**************
Bodybuilding will remain, it will just wax and wane in popularity.

[Simpy]

I think if anything is going to kill bodybuilding, it's going to be bodybuilding. *The IFBB pros of today are rarely, if ever, aesthetically pleasing. *They are big for the sake of being big. *The general public doesn't love that look. This is unlike the bodybuilders of yester-year, who, though large, were still pleasing to the eye. *

[fitmom43]

Better yet, instead of having a grotesquely large and unhealthy body that is ogled by 90% men and 10% emotionally stunted women

*

This part really made me laugh *

[ThePinsir]

and if there’s one thing we all know: We’d all rather look 27,583% BETTER than be 27,584% STRONGER.

I'm going to have to disagree with you on this. A lot of us aren't in it (solely) for the*aesthetics. A great many of us just want to be strong!

[Simpy]

I'm going to have to disagree with you on this. A lot of us aren't in it (solely) for the*aesthetics. A great many of us just want to be strong!

Really? *You're on a path to being an IFBB pro and you're going to do it by getting stronger. *

[nvrstopworking]

I think if anything is going to kill bodybuilding, it's going to be bodybuilding. *The IFBB pros of today are rarely, if ever, aesthetically pleasing. *They are big for the sake of being big. *The general public doesn't love that look. This is unlike the bodybuilders of yester-year, who, though large, were still pleasing to the eye. *

I agree.

Give me Steve Reeves over Jay Cutler any day (only 1.8% homo)

[NYkarate]

Really? *You're on a path to being an IFBB pro and you're going to do it by getting stronger. *

There is a problem with the term Bodybuilding. To some it means you are going to compete in "bodybuilding" competitions, to others it means you are building your body with resistance training for a myriad of reasons.

[ArchAngel'73]

Let them have their male and female descendents of bodybuilding, we all know where this started and bodybuilding is of no danger to be taken over by people who can't live up to the standard of being a bodybuilding competitor. They have their place and bodybuilding has its place. One appeals more to the masses and bodybuilding always has and always will appeal to people who want to become or see "freaks". The supp companies and federations smell where the money is and it isn't with the relatively small population of competitive bodybuilding. You want less AAS?? Go compete in a drug tested federation. This area is booming and I predict in the near future there will be more drug tested bodybuilding competitors than there are untested. Why? Because it appeals more to the masses. It is obtainable. Which is exactly what the supp companies want to promote but being a male model, female bikini, fitness, or figure competitor is easier than bodybuilding and gets the individual's name out there. Before you trounce on me for saying bodybuilding is harder look @ the facts. The aforementioned classes come in with a higher bodyfat %, less muscle, and have less owness placed on posing skill. In addition male models wear board shorts which covers up the legs, a significant bodypart in almost any other physique judging class.

[crupiea]

here is what will happen. The new fitness model will be very popular and eventually push out the giant bodybuilder types.

After it gains in popularity it will demand that guys get bigger and bigger every year to feed the unending appetitie of the masses.

Of course the audience for this stuff is men so we dont care to see pretty boys, we want to se the giants.


After about 10 years they will be just as big as the big guys are now or bigger and the whole thing will reset itself again.

If anyone is a superman fan then you should already know that this insane ability to be everything and do everything is what killed him off.

Only to return as just plain old superman.

I am sure some here remember bev francis. she was huge when other females were half her size. That type of physique was not too popular so it fell from popularity.

[ljimd]

Everyone has a different idea of what bbing is. And that, is ok. Personally, I'm "old school", but I don't see anything wrong with new classes. Competition is competition, even if it's only with yourself.

[nvrstopworking]

Let them have their male and female descendents of bodybuilding, we all know where this started and bodybuilding is of no danger to be taken over by people who can't live up to the standard of being a bodybuilding competitor. They have their place and bodybuilding has its place. One appeals more to the masses and bodybuilding always has and always will appeal to people who want to become or see "freaks". The supp companies and federations smell where the money is and it isn't with the relatively small population of competitive bodybuilding. You want less AAS?? Go compete in a drug tested federation. This area is booming and I predict in the near future there will be more drug tested bodybuilding competitors than there are untested. Why? Because it appeals more to the masses. It is obtainable. Which is exactly what the supp companies want to promote but being a male model, female bikini, fitness, or figure competitor is easier than bodybuilding and gets the individual's name out there. Before you trounce on me for saying bodybuilding is harder look @ the facts. The aforementioned classes come in with a higher bodyfat %, less muscle, and have less owness placed on posing skill. In addition male models wear board shorts which covers up the legs, a significant bodypart in almost any other physique judging class.

Seriously? Wow.... I would have thought that they'd be wearing briefs at the most... weird.

[Marius_Ursus]

I'm experiencing deja vu.

[pharmamarketer]

I think if anything is going to kill bodybuilding, it's going to be bodybuilding. *The IFBB pros of today are rarely, if ever, aesthetically pleasing. *They are big for the sake of being big. *The general public doesn't love that look. This is unlike the bodybuilders of yester-year, who, though large, were still pleasing to the eye. *

I agree with you. They are getting out of control with the size IMO. The HGH gut is out of control at times. That being said I still respect teh pros of today very much. I realize what work and sacrifice goes into what they do.

[adoniscomplex]

there does seem to be a huge shift in general bb.com population wanting to be*aesthetic instead of massive over the past few years anyways
somthing i find crazy though is if *Men’s Physique category got real big it would have to be ridiculous to pick a winner if you had 5 dudes that all look like greg plitt , its gonna be tough to pick a winner*

[GuyJin]

Where's DaddyR when you need him?

Personally, it's just another division to me. I don't compete, respect those who do, and think that having a new division of less muscular guys will appeal to a broader fan base. Brian's (Archangel's) point of appealing to the masses was well taken. The promoters are going where the money is. Period. Those who want the "freak" status i.e. the inhuman IFBB look will stay there; those who want a more obtainable look will either do the physique thing or compete in lesser known, natural (?) organizations.

Bodybuilding for some means getting as big and strong as you can; for others, it means going for a "look" that people like. You can't pigeonhole everyone into one category, like it or not.

[chescori]

Better yet, instead of having a grotesquely large and unhealthy body that is ogled by 90% men and 10% emotionally stunted women (figure, bikini and fitness competitors)

"ogled by 90% men and 10% women" no way, more like maybe 10% and 5%. Maybe.

[freebirdmac]

Seriously? Wow.... I would have thought that they'd be wearing briefs at the most... weird.

This is the one thing that pisses me off about men's physique. Granted, men don't usually wear speedos to the beach here in the US, but still. Leaving out quads, hams, and glutes is wrong.

[Bushmaster]

As much as the hardcore bodybuilding fan base has ridiculed the introduction of the Men’s Physique category, the supplement companies that run bodybuilding have clearly thrown their support behind this new division, and if there’s one thing we all know: We’d all rather look 27,583% BETTER than be 27,584% STRONGER.

If you'll recall, this is identical to what Bill Phillips tried in the late 90's. He was hell-bent to "change the face of bodybuilding," and for a while it looked like he was coming on strong. He supposedly drug tested everybody who appeared in his magazine and competed in his contests, and sure enough there weren't any "mass monsters" to be seen.


But then.... I dunno. It either didn't catch on, or something. I heard he made a series of questionable business decisions that led to him selling off his company, but really, who knows. I actually like the idea of it myself as far as "physique" and wish Strongman would gain in popularity as well.

[Brackneyc]

As much as the hardcore bodybuilding fan base has ridiculed the introduction of the Men’s Physique category, the supplement companies that run bodybuilding have clearly thrown their support behind this new division,

I can see why...the physique category (the "look"), while still out of reach for most, is more "reachable" by the average supplement buyer. The average pro BBer 'look" is not. This goes hand in hand with the average guy who buys these supps, and also commits to a good diet and a solid routine.....attributing his gains to supps.

Or so it seems to me. Heck of a marketing plan if you ask me.

No different than the Shakeweight company promoting their product, with the disclaimer that for best results, eat a balanced diet.

[cozener]

ebbs and flows...

[kennylo]

During a recent episode of Big Nation Radio, WBFF Pro Fitness Model World ChampionObi Obadike boasted of a newfound six-figure contract with MusclePharm. Which coincidentally aired around the same time that Supplement King Muscletech cut their bodybuilding roster by more than 60%, releasing nearly all of their lesser known Pro Bodybuilders.

It made all of us at MuscleWeek sit back and wonder if we were witnessing a seismic shift in the marketing strategies of the supplement companies, and made us ask the question:

Do the relatively new Men’s Fitness Model and Physique Competitions signal the end of the line for Bodybuilding?

Now before we jump on the latest bandwagon of prematurely announcing the death of bodybuilding, let’s look at a few facts:

- Most guys get into bodybuilding to improve their muscularity
- Most guys look up to Pro Bodybuilders because they get the magazine covers and attract the most attention
- Most competitive bodybuilders mention getting their Pro card as one of the reasons they continue to compete
- The perceived benefit of having a Pro card is to obtain sponsorship from an apparel, supplement, or beverage company.

And when one looks at the above facts, one quickly realizes that all of the above can be attained by competing and being successful in the Men’s Fitness Model Competition. Better yet, instead of having a grotesquely large and unhealthy body that is ogled by 90% men and 10% emotionally stunted women (figure, bikini and fitness competitors), a winning men’s fitness model competitor will have a body that 99% of women crave and 1% of men ridicule as being ‘twinks’.


Gregg Plitt
Gregg Plitt is a fitness model who has been sponsored by Met-Rx for the past 3 years. THREE YEARS! That’s an eternity in bodybuilding, where guys typically jump ship every 1-2 years by virtue of their perceived value either rising or falling in the eyes of their sponsor.

If you ask the hardcore bodybuilder to drop weight to compete in Men’s Physique, he might look at you like you’ve gone mad. But that’s his Hulk-smashing ego fronting for him. A quick look at today’s trend in sponsorships reveals that even guys with average physiques like Isaac Hinds are landing contracts (Muscletech) and the guys landing the covers of previously bodybuilder-dominated magazines like Muscle & Fitness are more likely to resemble a physique competitor (i.e. an MMA fighter) than a Mr. Olympia winner.

The numbers show us that magazines like Men’s Health and Men’s Fitness routinely outsell bodybuilding publications by a 10:1 or even 20:1 margin. The main reason you don’t see Muscletech Advertorials and BSN ads (along with the smaller companies) plastered everywhere in those magazines is because their advertising rates are astronomically higher than what you’d find in a bodybuilding rag.

But what does Men’s Physique really mean to most of us?

It means:

- Significantly less drugs (out with the ridiculously high levels of androgens).
- Less food (no more 6000 calorie/day diets).
- More cardio (with less reliance on gh).
- A more attainable physique to sell most guys on how they really want to look.
- A more fit physique capable of walking two flights of stairs without requiring oxygen.
- A body that is much closer to a woman’s idea of manly perfection.
- That Hugh Jackman can walk off a movie set and become a Pro Men’s Physique Champion overnight.



IFBB Pro Hugh Jackman


As much as the hardcore bodybuilding fan base has ridiculed the introduction of the Men’s Physique category, the supplement companies that run bodybuilding have clearly thrown their support behind this new division, and if there’s one thing we all know: We’d all rather look 27,583% BETTER than be 27,584% STRONGER.

i would like to comment that bodybuilding is not an easy thing. being ripped really takes a lot of hard work to put on quality mass and then again get ripped . both r different and we shuld respect both forms of bodybuilding. this is my thought i believe all bodybuilders (the huge guysare on steriods to me the look is no natural and i dont understand the apeal to be so big.. to honest it really does not look good and is not healthy. ithought bodybuilding was about maintianing a healthy lifestyle, not trying to see who can become the biggest!!!

[kennylo]

Fitness competing is more about being healthy and having a natural physique. Being bulky is not natural and usually requires unsafe means(steriods,HGH) to obtain and maintain large muscles... – Tobe honest you can honest. I’d rather develop a physquie like Greg Pitts rather than looking freakish. Just my thought

[GuyJin]

Kenny,

I agree with your thoughts, but when you mentioned that bodybuilding is about health (as it should be) once you get up to the mid to high-level amateurs, not to mention the pro ranks, it's anything but about health. (I'm going to forget about the gym rats who use the special supps just to be big for no other reason than to be big. It's their choice, after all and I'm not going to tell them what to do).

FWIW, I could easily live with the "model" look as typified by Greg Plitt or others in that category. Bigger than I am now, but lean all over. Yeah, I could live with that.