Where It All Started
In the 1910s, Eugen Sandow, widely considered to be the first modern bodybuilder, advocated the use of dietary supplements to control and enhance muscle growth. Later, bodybuilder Earle Liederman advocated the use of "beef juice" or "beef extract" as a way to enhance muscle recovery. In 1950s with recreational and competitive bodybuilding becoming increasingly popular Irvin P. Johnson began to market egg-based protein powders specifically at bodybuilders and physical athletes. Marketing works! His success enticed others like Bob Hoffman to start investing into nutritional supplements, and now there are entire lines of protein targeted for people looking for a meal replacement.
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Through time and the study of anatomy, scientist have been able to adequately determine what the nutritional needs of the average adult needs nutritionally on a daily basis. The average adult needs 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram, or 0.8 grams of protein per 2.2 pounds of body weight per day. Strength training athletes need about 1.4 to 1.8 grams of protein per kilogram, of body weight per day. However these are just recommendations, the modern day strong man and physique athletes diet differs greatly from the suggested amount put out by the Food and Drug Administration. Endurance athletes need about 1.2 to 1.4 grams of protein per kilogram, of body weight per day. The amount of food that needs to be consumed in order to gain weight the way these athletes would like is staggering. It would take some time for your body to regulate the amount of food you'd be consuming. Strength, size, and endurance of muscle are built by the overload principle. This entails lifting increasingly heavy weights or increasing the volume of work over time, and with a caloric surplus muscle and strength are increased. Nobody on the planet utilizes this concept quite like the men who compete in the Strong Man Competitions. Theres a Youtube video below that details the modern day Strong man diet, and training routine. It's amazing to watch, for awhile I used to train similarly to this. Obviously not to this extreme, but when you're playing football at the college level and you have defensive linemen that are typically six foot three inches tall weigh in at 265 have a six pack and run a 4.8 second 40 yard dash. Your going to do everything you can to make sure that your in the best physical shape you can get yourself in for your own safety, no matter what position you play.
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