Make the Time™

Wristband

     You and Fitness—you’re a bonded pair. Why not wear your commitment with pride? You’ve learned that your exercise is a high priority and now you can inspire others to do the same. Introducing the industry’s first and only solidarity wristband—Make the Time™. Get the unique teal band and show your solidarity among fitness fans worldwide.

     The Make the Time™ motivational campaign has been approved by the National Board of Fitness Examiners (NBFE). A portion of the revenue from the sales of Make the Time™ wristbands will be paid to the NBFE. If you are interested in purchasing these wristbands, please contact Linda Pfeffer at (800) 225-2322, extension 204, Lisa Shapiro, extension 213, or lisap@afaa.com. Distributor pricing and bulk quantity discounts are available.

THE HISTORY OF STRENGTH TRAINING

The history of strength training started with the ancient Greeks. Hippocrates of Cos (c. 460 BC–380 BC) was an ancient Greek physician, commonly regarded as one of the most outstanding figures in medicine of all time; he has been called "the father of medicine." He was a physician from the so-called medical school of Kos, and may have been a pupil of Herodicus. Writings attributed to him (Corpus hippocraticum, or "Hippocratic writings") rejected the superstition and magic of primitive "medicine" and laid the foundations of medicine as a branch of science.  He eloquently explained the principle behind weight training when he wrote "that which is used develops, and that which is not used wastes away." Progressive resistance training dates back to at least the 6th century BC.

The 5th and 6th centuries BC were a time of empires, but more importantly, a time of learning and philosophy, when legend has it that wrestler Milon of Croton (late 6th century BC) was the most famous of Greek athletes in Antiquity.  He was born in the Greek colony of Croton in Southern Italy. He was a six-time Olympic victor; once for Boys Wrestling in 540 BC at the 60th Olympics, and five-time wrestling champion at the 62nd through 66th Olympiads. Milo kept on competing, even well after what would have been considered a normal Olympic Athlete's prime: by the 67 Olympiad, he would have been over 40 years of age. He also attended many of the Pythian Games.

Galen was born in Pergamum (modern-day Bergama, Turkey), the son of Nicon, a wealthy architect. His interests were eclectic - agriculture, architecture, astronomy, astrology, philosophy - until he concentrated on medicine.  He described strength training exercises using the halteres.  Halteres (singular halter or haltere) are small knobbed structures found as a pair in some two-winged insects; they are flapped rapidly to maintain stability when flying.

Halteres are an early form of dumbbell.  A dumbbell is a piece of equipment used in weight training. It is a weight that is held in one hand. Dumbbells therefore normally come in pairs.  In the 2nd century AD, the dumbbell was joined by the barbell.   It consists of a steel bar that is 5 to 7 feet (approx. 2 metres) long. The central portion is one inch (2.54 cm) in diameter, and is engraved with a crosshatch pattern (knurling) to help lifters get a good grip. Cast iron disc weights (plates) are slid onto the outer portions of the barbell to obtain the desired total weight. These weights are often secured with collars to prevent them from sliding off during the exercise (which can result in injuries).

Bodybuilding is the process of developing muscle fibers through the combination of weight training, increased caloric intake, and rest. Someone who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. As a sport, called competitive bodybuilding, bodybuilders display their physiques to a panel of judges, who assign points based on their aesthetic appearance.

Probably one of the most famous bodybuilders, Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (born July 30, 1947 in Thal, Styria, Austria) is an Austrian-born American actor, politician, and businessman, currently serving as the 38th Governor of California. 

In the 1990's, increasing numbers of women have taken up weight training, influenced by programs like Body for Life.  Body for Life™ is a popular 12-week diet and exercise program, created by Bill Phillips, a former competitive bodybuilder and the founder of EAS, a manufacturer of nutritional supplements. It has been popularized by a bestselling book of the same name. The first annual Body for Life competition was held in 1997.

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