From: horwath@rtsg.mot.com (George Horwath)
Subject: Adam's crappy posts
Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Group
Distribution: na
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 21:15:24 GMT

While I'll admit that Adam's postings are a little rough around the
edges at times, his point is that there is confusion out there,
as evidenced by some of the questions posted here regarding supplements,
and much dishonesty as well.

Let's face it, throughout history, unscrupulous people have always
been able to take advantage of the desire to "get rich quick"
whether "rich" is defined in terms of money, popularity or size &
strength. Today's supplement industry is dominated by these
unsavory types.

As an example, try to get a hold of some back issues of the more
popular muscle mags going back 10 to 15 years and take a look at
the supplement ads. I believe Bill Phillips was the first to
point out the amusing phases these companies have gone through.
First, there was "pre-digested protein". Then there was "mega
protein supplements". Then came "anabolic activators". Now we
seem to be in the "mega calorie" and/or "weird substance"
phase. (Being the holidays and all, doesn't poinsettia bark
do something? - sorry poinsettias are poisonous. :)

The point is that people are always looking for the latest
development and there are always many companies happy to
provide it in order to turn a profit regardless if "it"
does anything. Or, even if "it" works, they'll put it on the
label but not in their product since the government does
not have the manpower or budget available to test everything
that's out there.

Weight training in general, should be a very difficult area
to make a profit in. The basics have been published for over 50
years. Your average John or Jane Doe could pick up an issue
of Ironman from the 1930's at a garage sale, follow the routine
described therein and become significantly stronger and better
developed. Such a routine and variations thereof could be used
for a lifetime of lifting pleasure.

Even though Adam's continuing study does not have control groups,
etc., it shouldn't be dismissed out of hand. Weren't formal
studies conducted which "proved" that steroids don't work? Wasn't
this cited into the 1980's as "proof"? Even though 20 years
before, York saw fit to send lifters to "their" pharmacist
to get some of the new wonder potion - steroids.

IMHO, if Adam's posts can open the eyes of some people as to what's
real and what isn't, they will have served a very good cause. Think
about this the next time you go into a health food store and you
see some lanky fellow dishing out his hard earned money for special
supplement PDQ because Mr. XYZ endorsed it - even though most of
Mr. XYZ's results are due to hard work and steroids.

-George

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If you never hear anyone say:                     |  Motorola C.I.D.
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Newsgroups: misc.fitness