SANDOW ON DIET, HIS TYPICAL DAY AND HIS EXERCISE TIME

Sandow was interviewed about his daily routine in 1894. Paraphrasing his Victorian syntax, he said:

ON DIET:
I do not care for anything intoxicating (hard liquor), but do enjoy a beer or some wine on occasion. I never touch tea or coffee. I eat "plain", wholesome food for the most part, but do "indulge" on occasion. I have my meals at regular intervals, and prefer simple foods that are easy to digest. I chew my food well and believe strongly that mastication is a key to good health. I believe a good nights sleep is very important in maintaining health. I am not able, due to my performance schedule, to go to bed before midnight, so I remain in bed asleep until 11 typically.

SANDOW'S TYPICAL DAY:
Year round I take cold baths, and afterwards, I do a light-weight dumbell routine. I then have breakfast, then attend to my correspondence. I then enjoy seeing my friends. After this, I typically go for a long walk or if it is not sunny, I will take a ride in a horse-drawn carriage. I have my dinner promptly at 7 p.m., then attend my evening performance. After appearing at the theatre, I will have my evening cold bath, followed by a late night supper.

SANDOW'S EXERCISE TIME:
My muscle display performances, coupled with my daily walks and dumbell exercises, supply me with all the exercise I need. I occasionally prefer a bit more, so I will do this while smoking a cigar (Sandow had his own cigar brand) or reading in my chair by "flicking" (tensing and flexing) my muscles. (Sandow understood the benefits of muscle tension and stretching as exercise. A similar technique was the foundation of the Charles Atlas Dynamic TensionTM bodybuilding method still being used today by many athletes.)