How did they move up in weight in the old days?

[GrandpaBernard]

I know a common old boxing myth is to not lift weights, so how did they do it?

[JAB5239]

I know a common old boxing myth is to not lift weights, so how did they do it?

Adults on average naturally put on 1lb a year. It also becomes more difficult to lose excess weight the older you get. I would imagine nutrition was looked at differently and people probably ate more starchy food which is more filling. This is just my opinion based on some fact, some conjecture.

[Holtol]

Like jab said you put on weight as you get older. People reach their maximum bone and Muscle mass at about age 40.

[Scott9945]

Like jab said you put on weight as you get older. People reach their maximum bone and Muscle mass at about age 40.

Also as you grow older your metabolism slows down, which makes us have to re-evaluate our diets (or be fat slobs). When I was 20 I could eat anything I wanted and was skinny as a stick. Now even if I dieted seriously and trained hard I'd still be about 20 lbs heavier than I was then.

[Holtol]

Also as you grow older your metabolism slows down, which makes us have to re-evaluate our diets (or be fat slobs). When I was 20 I could eat anything I wanted and was skinny as a stick. Now even if I dieted seriously and trained hard I'd still be about 20 lbs heavier than I was then.

Yeah thats true, when I used to train hard I weighed about 160 pounds till around age 27. But I trained strickly for endurance not power so my muscles were smaller and more economical then they are now. Plus like you say I have become a little fat and I am 34 now and my weight 250 pounds. Lol it does not take long to put on a lot of weight when you stop training.

[GrandpaBernard]

Adults on average naturally put on 1lb a year. It also becomes more difficult to lose excess weight the older you get. I would imagine nutrition was looked at differently and people probably ate more starchy food which is more filling. This is just my opinion based on some fact, some conjecture.

Is this extra pound per year fat, muscle, or bone density?

[Holtol]

Is this extra pound per year fat, muscle, or bone density?

Most likely all three. Some people have more efficiant systems so they may store fat easier then others. Which is a good survival mutation in times of famine but if they get to fat it can be a problem for their athletic performance. In the past Some boxers may have practiced exercises that caused muscle growth and gone up weight classes. Its my opinion that boxers should train their muscles to be economical for long fights plus I don't think added muscle effects their punching power much.

[Spartacus Sully]

Is this extra pound per year fat, muscle, or bone density?

I think its more like:

"hey doc did you notice that last year on average every one of our patients weighed 1 lbs less then they do this year?"

"hmmm interesting, seems adults gain about a pound of weight a year."

not:

"per my findings the bone and muscle denisty of the human body increase by 5.7% every year effictively adding 1 lb of body mass every year"

[JAB5239]

I think its more like:

"hey doc did you notice that last year on average every one of our patients weighed 1 lbs less then they do this year?"

"hmmm interesting, seems adults gain about a pound of weight a year."

not:

"per my findings the bone and muscle denisty of the human body increase by 5.7% every year effictively adding 1 lb of body mass every year"

Im not a doctor but I'll go with this!

[SBleeder]

Plenty of fighters nowadays move up in weight without lifting weights. It's unnecessary to lift weights to gain muscle.