The American Council on Exercise (ACE) knows a thing or two about fitness trends—the good, the bad and the ugly. Here are three of their favorites from days of yore that fall squarely in the ‘ugly’ category:
1. Dehydration Therapy—A common, pre-20th century belief was that you should withhold water or you'd get too heavy or sick.
2. Recreational drug use during competition—In 1869 athletes were encouraged to use ''speed balls'' of heroin and cocaine to increase endurance.
3. All-potato diet—The early 20th-century scientist Horace Fletcher encouraged a spud-specific diet, along with excessive mastication of food, aka ''chewing your way to health.''
Someone selling you on a questionable fitness trend? Call us here at Gym Source. We’ve got your back.