Old School Protein Powder

By Alan Palmieri www.PalmieriBodybuilding.com

In the early 60's the first bodybuilding supplement I ever purchased and used was a vitamin-mineral tablet promoted through the Jowett - Rebhuhn / American Bodybuilding Club mail order course.

I soon advanced to Weider and Hoffman Hi-Protein Tablets and powders. I enjoyed their taste with the exception of Hoffman's Protein From The Sea; man alive that stuff smelled like dead fish and tasted even worse. From there I went on to Weider's Super Pro 101, Crash Weight Formula #7, Wheat Germ Oil, BD/BU, and just about everything Weider and Hoffman had to offer. This was done in addition to sampling other products from various suppliers. All non-steroid products I might add.

At one point I was able to get Blair's Protein. I'll never forget the first time I saw it sitting on the shelf in the health food store. A dream come true, after reading about it and wanting to try it... finally, I'd have my chance. The natural vanilla flavor and the texture it had was second to none, I loved it. Blair's and Weider's chocolate Super Pro 101 were my all time favorites.

Blair's was expensive and I prepared it with milk for a long time before I started using half & half or heavy whipping cream. The cream made it taste like a dessert rather than a healthy supplement. I would also take the liberty of adding almond flavoring from time to time but the natural vanilla taste still lingers with me, even to this day.

Not being a chemist or having any special formal educational background in nutrition, I can't provide anything other than my own personal opinion on supplements. I believe Blair's was the most prized supplement of choice in the 60's. It was expensive, most heath food stores on the east coast didn't carry it, Iron Man magazine was about the only publication that ran articles and/or ads for Blair's, and if you could find it in East Tennessee it was more than likely because someone at the heath food store made a mistake in ordering. After all, in the 60's there were only a handful, if that many, bodybuilders in East Tennessee.

Natural Foods at 708 Locust Street in Knoxville, Tennessee was the store I first found Blair's. There was only one heath food store in Knoxville at the time. That's My purchases were done mostly via mail order, back then it was too far to travel. I remember the day I walked into Natural Foods and saw the few cans of Blair's on the shelf. I had to do a double take, couldn't believe it. I purchased my first can and I was on my way. After a couple of months they discontinued carrying Blair's and my repeated requests went unfulfilled. I was back to mail order for both Blair's and some of Weider's.

Over the years very few... very few, supplements I tried provided any sense of results for me. Blair's was different. I could sense and seemed to feel and see a difference while using the product. Was it all mental or actual physical and chemical differences? I don't know. All I can say is I loved Blair's, it tasted great, mixed easily, and for me, produced results.

It's been many, many years since I had any Blair's; maybe 40 years or so. Because so much of the bodybuilding "Golden Era", the 60's still finds favor with many of us old timers as well as many of the up-coming younger crowd, I thought I'd provide some information on Blair's. I know the internet has a lot of information on Rheo and his products but I've picked out some things, such as an interview, that I thought might be of interest.

I was never an avid follower of Blair's personal life, like most people I had heard all kinds of stories about him. Still, in those days there was a sense of innocence that existed. I simply liked Blair's protein, nothing more and nothing less.

The real inside story of bodybuilding of the 60's is not complete without including some information on Rheo H Blair and his protein.

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, supplement or exercise program. Individuals differ in response to supplements and so will results.