Bodybuilding veteran Rich Gaspari has found a place as a respected analyst in the sport since moving on from professional competition years ago. In a recent episode of Fitness, Fame & Fortune, Gaspari shared his thoughts on the proposal to update telehealth laws for restricting access to controlled substances. He also shared the benefits he reaped from using TRT (testosterone replacement therapy).
Rich Gaspari became a mainstay of the IFBB Pro League Men’s Open division in the mid-1980s through the 1990s. He was renowned for his insane muscle definition, stellar conditioning levels, and glute striations. While he did not win the coveted Sandow trophy, Gaspari scored silver in three Mr. Olympia competitions. He was the inaugural champion at the 1989 Arnold Classic. He got inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004 and received an Arnold Classic Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.
Since stepping away from competition, Gaspari has become a revered analyst known for his outspoken personality and hot takes. He regularly shares his expertise in fitness online. Two months ago, Gaspari issued a passionate message motivating his fans to challenge themselves in the training room. He called on them to focus on amping up workout intensity to get the best results.
Gaspari also opened up about his decade-long experience of using TRT earlier this year. He’s a strong proponent of the substance and stressed the importance of getting your blood work done to minimize the risk of any side effects.
The 59-year-old took issue with the prevalence of harsh diuretics used by athletes who intend to achieve a drier look on stage. He shared his take on the adverse effects of extreme dehydration and revealed Insulin and other diuretics weren’t a part of his protocol as a competitor.
In retirement, Gaspari laid out a peptide stack he’s utilizing for anti-aging benefits last month. Then, he followed that up with some of his favorite exercises to enhance the quality of calf muscles.
Rich Gaspari defends telehealth law update proposal
Earlier this month, DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) announced a proposal to limit Telehealth prescriptions, including testosterone. The update would require patients to make at least one in-person visit to the doctor to obtain a prescription.
In a recent YouTube video, Rich Gaspari shared his thoughts on the proposal that could restrict access to controlled substances. He explained how the rule isn’t a change in the law but rather enforcement of the pre-existing one.
“Right now any type of telemedicine on testosterone, the laws will be enforced,” said Gaspari. “This is what I’m seeing is that they think this is a new law. It’s not a new law. This is a law that’s been in effect but because of COVID, the law was very lax because as we know it was very hard and difficult to see doctors in person so they kind of let that go and let you see doctors online.
“What we’re saying here is that they’re now enforcing the laws on those class III, IV, and V. I guess because it started just getting I think anytime where there’s less regulations, people take advantage of the system. There’s people doing it right. You get blood work first and then meet with the doctor and then the doctor goes over that via zoom and sees if you’re low in testosterone, he prescribes you the testosterone. I think what was happening, where the government gets involved, you have the greedy people out there that are saying we don’t need to get a doctor involved.
“Maybe we don’t even have to get the blood work, or they can do it once and then we don’t check after that. You can keep getting testosterone in perpetuity like that every month.
“It’s not a new law. It’s a law that’s been in effect since 2008. They’re just following the guidelines of that law.”
Gaspari shares the benefits of using TRT
Rich Gaspari shared the benefits he reaped from using TRT.
“The testosterone for me makes me feel first of all very alert,” said Gaspari. “When I had low T, I had bouts of depression and a lot of people don’t realize that if you have a 200 total T, you’re going to feel like crap. You don’t want to get out of bed. I get up at 5 o’clock in the morning and go to the gym. I train. I work all day and I believe a lot of it has to do with using testosterone. I don’t believe I would want to go above that high normal range because it wouldn’t be beneficial to me health-wise.”
“It’s just the convenience of injecting yourself with testosterone is so much easier for me.”
While Iain Valliere had mentioned that TRT isn’t a necessity for everyone, Rich argued that the substance is important, especially as you age.
“Iain Valliere put out anyone older should not be on TRT except the fact that you’re old and it lets your testosterone go down. I go yeah because you’re freaking young. Let’s see how you feel when you’re in your 50s. Let me see how you’re going to feel if you’re depressed, you feel like sh*t and you’re saying anyone above 50 shouldn’t be using testosterone. Let the natural aging process happen to you and let your T go down to 100.”
Rich Gaspari gave his take on building bigger leg muscles with some techniques to incorporate into training sessions last week. Additionally, he isn’t a fan of the way the Open class evolved over the years and credits Classic Physique for preserving the art of the sport.
His latest offering will help add clarity to the telehealth law proposal for many who feel concerned with the recent developments.