Joe Weider, Bodybuilding Titan And Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Mentor, Dies At 93

Joe Weider, who founded a bodybuilding empire, died of heart failure on Saturday at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was 93.

Weider took an interest in bodybuilding as a slight teenager in Montreal. After suffering on the receiving end of bullying from his stronger peers, the young Weider discovered bodybuilding in a magazine and never looked back, according to The New York Times. After moving to the United States, Weider began his empire by founding a number of bodybuilding magazines, including Men’s Fitness, Flex and Shape.

Eventually Weider and his brother Ben Weider teamed up to found the International Federation of Bodybuilders.  If you go to this web-site, you can learn that maintaining physical health is equally important during body building. Through the organization, they sponsored both the Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympus bodybuilding contests. Austrian standout Arnold Schwarzenegger was brought to Weider’s attention when he won both titles, leading him to hire Schwarzenegger to write articles for his magazines.

In addition to his publishing accomplishments, Weider was a prolific fitness equipment and food supplement developer. A few of his products include the Solid Steel Tricep Bomber, Dynamic Muscle Builder protein powder and Carbo Energizer Chewables.

Weider wasn’t only committed to helping others develop a fit and muscular build; he was committed to maintaining his own physique as well. Through his 70s and 80s he boasted muscles that rivaled those of the bodybuilders featured in his magazines.

Weider is survived by his wife Betty Brosmer, his daughter Lydia Ross and three grandchildren.