18 Retro Fitness Magazines from the ’90s That Are Gone
These magazines once lined gym bags, coffee tables, and doctor’s offices. Now, they’re relics of a different fitness age.
- Alyana Aguja
- 6 min read
In the 1990s, fitness magazines were a major cultural force, shaping how people worked out, ate, and thought about their bodies. Each title had a distinct voice, reflecting trends from hardcore bodybuilding to casual walking and holistic health. As digital media surged and fitness became more personalized and visual, many of these once-popular magazines disappeared, leaving behind a stack of fading issues and some serious nostalgia.
1. American Health
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In the ’90s, American Health straddled the line between wellness and fitness, offering a mix of health trends, natural remedies, and accessible workout advice. It catered to readers who weren’t looking to bulk up but simply wanted to feel good and live longer. The magazine faded away by the early 2000s as its audience aged and newer digital platforms claimed the space it once owned.
2. Muscular Development (Original Format)
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While Muscular Development still exists in name, its golden years were in the ’90s when it focused heavily on hardcore bodybuilding. Back then, it was known for grungy gym-floor photography, real steroid talk, and brutal honesty about training. In later years, it shifted formats and eventually lost relevance with the modern audience.
3. Men’s Fitness (Original Print Edition)
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Launched in the ’80s but finding real traction in the ’90s, Men’s Fitness was every gym bro’s handbook for getting cut and staying stylish. It was glossy, loaded with six-pack promises, and had a hint of GQ flair. The print version was discontinued in 2017 as it folded into the digital side of Muscle & Fitness.
4. Sports Fitness
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This underrated gem was tailored for people who played sports recreationally and wanted to train smarter. Articles covered everything from endurance drills to off-season weight training for softball players. It disappeared quietly in the late ’90s, overtaken by niche digital fitness content.
5. Walking Magazine
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Yes, there was a magazine just for walking, and it thrived during the fitness-walking boom of the early ’90s. It spoke to those who didn’t identify with the gym crowd but still wanted a structured fitness plan. As interest shifted to high-intensity workouts and CrossFit-style culture, Walking Magazine walked itself off the newsstands.
6. MuscleMag International
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Founded by legendary Canadian bodybuilder Robert Kennedy, MuscleMag had its heyday in the ’90s. It offered no-nonsense advice for bodybuilders who lived for the pump and didn’t care about aesthetics. Despite its loyal fanbase, it closed in 2013 following Kennedy’s passing and the magazine’s financial struggles.
7. Shape (Original Format)
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Shape magazine in the ’90s was one of the few fitness publications aimed squarely at women, focusing on toning, flexibility, and overall lifestyle wellness. Its cover lines promised sleek abs and yoga-inspired calm. Though the name lives on, its original print form vanished in 2019 as Meredith Corp. transitioned to a digital-first strategy.
8. Exercise for Men Only
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With a bold and often controversial tone, this magazine was unapologetically masculine and full of ripped physiques. It was a staple for men chasing an idealized version of alpha fitness. The print run eventually died out in the 2000s as trends leaned toward more inclusive and lifestyle-driven content.
9. Women’s Sports & Fitness
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A spinoff of Sports Illustrated, this magazine celebrated athleticism in women before it was trendy. It profiled female athletes, offered fitness regimens, and took a serious tone toward health. Sadly, it was merged into Self magazine in 2000, ending its independent voice.
10. Health & Fitness (US Edition)
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This was the American version of a UK staple that tried to cross the pond with optimism in the ’90s. It had a clean design and solid beginner-to-intermediate workout advice but never fully gained traction stateside. By the early 2000s, it quietly exited the market.
11. Physical
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A niche but passionate magazine, Physical tried to blend fitness with philosophy and personal growth. It explored training as a mind-body pursuit long before wellness was trendy. The market didn’t quite know what to do with it, and it disappeared before it found a foothold.
12. Bodybuilding Lifestyles
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This glossy, almost glamorous take on gym life targeted bodybuilders with a taste for aesthetics and luxury. It covered training but also nutrition, gear, and even fitness travel. It flamed out in the late ’90s as the industry refocused on performance rather than lifestyle glam.
13. Inside Sports: Fitness Annual
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Though Inside Sports was a broader magazine, its annual Fitness issue was a big deal in the ’90s. It compiled the latest trends, gear, and training philosophies in a thick yearly volume. When Inside Sports folded in 2000, so too did its fitness-focused spinoffs.
14. Jump: The Magazine for Girls Who Love Sports
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Short-lived but culturally important, Jump offered girls fitness and sports content without dumbing anything down. It had athlete profiles, training tips, and empowering messages for teen girls. It only lasted a few years in the late ’90s but was ahead of its time.
15. Energy for Women
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Focused on aerobics, dieting, and mental health, this magazine rode the tail end of the aerobics wave into the early ’90s. Its pastel covers and soft-focus photography spoke to women finding confidence through fitness. It quietly faded from print as more intense programs like Tae Bo took center stage.
16. American Bodybuilding
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Often abbreviated to ABB, this mag had a hardcore underground vibe, with gritty gym photos and intense training programs. It wasn’t polished but it felt real, speaking to serious lifters who weren’t in it for Instagram likes. It eventually collapsed under competition from better-funded glossy magazines.
17. Vitality
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A quirky blend of fitness, nutrition, and holistic living, Vitality had a small but loyal following. It covered stretching, vitamin trends, and featured trainers who looked more like your neighbor than an action figure. Print costs and shifting wellness trends ended its run quietly in the late ’90s.
18. Flex (Original Era)
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Flex magazine was for the elite bodybuilder, featuring high-level routines, scientific supplements, and contest prep. In the ’90s, it felt like the gritty cousin of Muscle & Fitness, less glossy but more intense. The print edition ended in 2018 after years of declining circulation and a shift to digital-only.