The Buffed Historian

  Laverie Vallee (stage name: Charmion), pioneer strongwoman and trapeze artist I've always been attracted to strong women. I was six years old when I first saw Conan the Barbarian (the classic original starring Arnold, not the crappy remake). When I saw Sandahl Bergman fighting alongside Arnold as Valeria the Valkyrie, I was immediately enthralled. Despite being years away from finding the opposite sex interesting, seeing an athletic, genuinely strong woman was as enthralling as Arnold's massive chest and biceps. It was the same when, a year later, I gazed upon Virginia Hey in The Road Warrior ... and before you ask, yes, my parents let us watch pretty much anything growing up. A few years later, when I was eleven, Aliens became one of my favourite films. Sigourney Weaver was a bad-ass, though I was immediately drawn to Jenette Goldstein as Marine PFC Jenette Vasquez. The moment she started doing behind-the-neck pullups, I was enraptured. There are other examples, such as Li...

Summer 2019 (280 lbs) vs Summer 2023 (206 lbs) While this blog is dedicated to health and fitness across history, I'm often asked about my own fitness journey, especially since I don't look like the stereotypical "bookish" type (whatever that is). The following is a bit of background on my personal journey, with basic overviews of my current routine. This is not an advice column, but  simply a very brief summary of what has worked for me. It may or may not be what is right for you. "Books and Biceps" 😁Hmm, the pic on the right makes me look like I have 20" arms. In reality, they're not even close to that. Honestly, it was just a good camera angle!  Some Background:  As of this post, I'm forty-eight years old, leaner, fitter than at any time in my life, often mistaken for someone in their early to mid-thirties. To be fair, I use lots of face moisturiser, and my hair colour comes in a box! 😄Those who've only known me for the past few years ...

  A Ride on Penny Farthing, by Joe Diamond  (Artist's page on DeviantArt ) I'm just going to say it, I love road cycling! It is fantastic cardiovascular exercise, great for the heart, lungs, and staying fit. It burns a lot of calories and avoids the jarring impact of running. Which is great for someone who in their early twenties snapped their ACL being stupid and required multiple knee surgeries (but we won't talk about that). There are drawbacks, of course. Cycling is very much seasonal, especially if, like me, you are averse to riding in the cold or rain (I admit, I'm a big baby when it comes to both). Bicycles also require maintenance and can be very expensive. Competitive triathletes and cyclists can spend upwards of $20,000 USD on their gallant steeds! My own Giant full-carbon road bicycle retails for around $3,000 USD. Thankfully, there are plenty of economic options available for the casual hobbyist who's not training for an Ironman. One can find a decent cr...