Okay. We know Huey Lewis loves it; and Sheryl Crow likes to cruise Santa Monica Boulevard. Many a kid with stars in their eyes has ended up there; and many a musclehead, with dreams of a Weider Contract, a Harley and Vette, babes galore and eventual movie stardom have flocked there. My question is for you guys on “The Forum” who are in the everyday, Fitness and Bodybuiding, LA “trenches”. Is it really a “Mecca” for fitness and bodybuiding? Are the trainers and clients more “knowledgeble and suavy”? Is there an atmosphere more conducive to reaching your fitness goals there? I guess I’m more curious to hear the thoughts of the people who are actually part (or who have been a part) of the whole LA fitness scene. (P.S…keep your “flame” button off…I’m not some snotty-nosed naive kid, with stars in his eyes, wishing to move to LA on a hope and a prayer; I just want to hear the thoughts of my Iron Brothers and Sisters in LA…)
I recently moved from So. Calif. to the East Coast. I was not in “the scene” but did get to attend numerous contests and workout at the Gold’s in Venice Beach. That is the most outrageous gym I have ever worked out at!! The amount and types of equipment I have yet to find anywhere else. And you never know who will be working out next to you. Just walking into that place pumps you up!
I lived outside of LA for over three years would go over to Venice Beach every now and again to the outdoor gym on the beach where Arnold and Franco used to lift in the 70’s. To be honest, I never thought that it was that big of a deal. I only saw a few pros there every once in a while, and to be honest, most of those guys are real dicks. There’s also a certain aura in the air where if you’re not a total steroid monster (which I’m not), you’re a pussy and have no business there. The only people that do well from a “fitness” point of view are the women. Anyway, that’s just my impression. Other people could certainly have experienced something very different…
That was Randy Newman who recorded “I Love L.A.”. Sorry, I’m a little anal about music, since it’s my job. I’ve only been to L.A. a couple of times, and the smog made me feel horrible. Arnold always wrote that working out with the L.A. bodybuilders was great for motivation, but I’ll take my MT winters and snow bunnies any day.
In my humble opinion L.A. is no more cutting edge on fitness or supplements than any other area. I don’t live there, but have stayed with friends and relatives many times and even know a trainer there. I laughed at the nutrition stores there, they all looked like shit with the exception of a max muscle store in Venice. They carried no different products that you could get in the midwest. As far as knowledge goes I doubt that the “L.A.” crowd is any smarter than any one else when it comes to fitness in general. In fact most of the people I encountered did not impress me with their knowledge. They are either genetically gifted, took lots of drugs or thought they were the shit because they lifted in Venice. I think the sheer number of people into lifting/fitness are maximized in So. Cal, I don’t think they have any magic bullets, except perhaps a short distance to pharmaceuticals.
YOU’RE RIGHT! I think Huey “…Wanted to find a new drug…!!” , right? I thought that there was SOMEWHERE that Huey expressed his love for L.A…oh well…these are great thoughts. I would think that the folk in LA are like folk everywhere else…but this IMAGE…keep your thoughts coming, guys…this is great!
Maybe something a LITTLE “special” about Venice (not counting the Venice outdoor gym)…and Venice “Gold’s”?