Tag: All GI Exclusives
The Anabolic Doc Answers: What Defines Actual Steroid Abuse In Bodybuilding?
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Use it, don’t abuse it: Where is the actual line drawn when it comes to steroid abuse in bodybuilding?
Steroid use has been a constant controversial issue in most professional sports – but the spotlight is particularly shined on bodybuilding throughout the decades. While not endorsed by any leagues – it’s widely considered common knowledge that the size of muscle seen in pro bodybuilding is impossible without the use of steroids. It’s also well documented that steroid abuse can lead to serious medical problems in the long term. But where is the line drawn between use and abuse? Is it possible for bodybuilders to use steroids safely? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, the Anabolic Doc attempts to break down the distinction between safe use of steroids and abuse of steroids in bodybuilding.
First thing’s first, recreational use of steroids for athletic enhancement is illegal in the United States and not endorsed by pro bodybuilding leagues. That doesn’t stop athletes from finding ways to use it. For many professional athletes (not just in bodybuilding), there is a choice that needs to be made. Is the athlete willing to take a potential health risk to achieve athletic greatness? If an athlete does indeed choose to go down the path of steroids – is it possible to still gain benefit and be safe? We asked Dr. Thomas O’Connor, aka the Anabolic Doc, this very question.
There is somewhat a limit on what the Anabolic Doc could say on this topic to avoid danger of losing his medical license. But he was able to touch upon the confusion behind the “use it, don’t abuse it” sentiment with steroid use. We’ve spoke to other experts who claim that bodybuilding steroid use is always abuse in order to achieve the physiques we see on stage. Is this true? Or can some bodybuilders gain benefit from steroids and PEDs safely?
The Anabolic Doc admits that low doses of certain steroids can be safe – but the doses are so low that they would barely help with athletic performance. At least, in the way that bodybuilders and many star athletes aim to achieve. The doctor also admits that the definition of abuse in bodybuilding is very confusion. A big part of that confusion comes from lack of research.
The truth is, as it currently exists right now, there is no clear answer on what is safe and what is not in recreational steroid use. Due to its illegal status in the United States, there have been limited studies on the real effects happening in sports where steroids are used regularly. While the Anabolic Doc cannot advocate for legalizing steroids – he does raise the question. Would legalizing steroids lead to a healthier society? Much like the slow legalization of marijuana, it may actually be better for society’s health to provide safe and legal access to these drugs.
Oregon, for example, has decriminalized all drugs ranging from marijuana all the way to heroine. It’s still in the early stages but it would be interesting to see if this has a negative or positive effect on the health of Oregon residents who use drugs. Theoretically, if steroids were made legal for use in sports, individuals could get safer access to drugs and safer access to medical help. It could actually lead to pro athletes being monitored, preventing serious health issues.
So where is the line drawn under the “use it, don’t abuse it” motto? The sad truth is that there is no line. Each individual is different and there is not enough research to safely prove these kinds of definitions. The Anabolic Doc sees medicine and views on drug use/abuse improving over the decades, however slowly, he is optimistic that these questions will one day have real answers. It will simply take time.
You can watch the Anabolic Doc go into full detail about the definition of steroid abuse in real world practices by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
*DISCLAIMER: Generation Iron does not recommend or condone the use of steroids or other PEDs. The views and opinions expressed in this video are not that of Generation Iron.
Mr. America Champ Corey Brown On His First Cheat Meal After A Momentous Victory
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Corey Brown Answers: What Will Be His First Cheat Meal After Winning Mr. America 2021?
This past October held one of the biggest and most historic bodybuilding events of the year – the Mr. America 2021. With its roots going back all the way to 1939 – the competition somewhat disappeared in the new millennium until 2020, when it was revived with the aim of going mainstream in the sport. Now in its second year of revival, the event has already received much attention, praise, and a featured broadcast on CBS Sports. We had a chance to chat with the Men’s Open champion from the event, Cory Brown immediately after his victory. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Cory Brown shares what his first cheat meal will be after being crowned Mr. America.
The Mr. America competition has a dedication to represent the purity of competition within bodybuilding. With that in mind, its revival decided to ensure that this was a natural show by committing to WADA standard drug testing. With a media coverage partnership with Generation Iron and CBS Sports Network broadcasting – it’s well on its way to reaching a wider audience and, hopefully, making bodybuilding more mainstream. Partially leading that charge will be the champion athletes – such as Mr. America 2021 winner Corey Brown.
Generation Iron had a chance to catch up with Corey Brown right after his victory. Still stunned by the weight of the victory, Brown showcased himself as a humble but confident athlete and champion. He shared insight into the kind of work he had to put in to earn the title and also his future plans for the coming year.
But competitive bodybuilding can also take a major strain on your psych when it comes to nutrition and dieting. After putting so much effort into being perfect for stage, it’s only natural for an athlete to indulge in a bit of a cheat meal. With Corey Brown being somewhat new to the public gaze – we wanted to help let fans get to know Brown a little better now that he’s Mr. America champion. We thought of the perfect way – what’s his ideal cheat meal to celebrate his big victory.
Still somewhat awe-struck from his victory, he claimed that he had a lot going on in his head. Ultimately, he landed on trying something delicious and new to him. Not being native to the east coast of the US, he had always heard New York pizza is the best in the country. He wants to put that to the test and grab a slice or two for himself.
“Since this is my first time on the east coast, I want to try something on the east coast that I’ve never ate,” Corey Brown stated during our interview. He continued:
“I don’t ant to go to no chain restaurant. One of my guys told me that if I ever tried pizza here or in New York that I’ll never want pizza again when I go back. So I wanna see how good their pizza is actually.”
The staff here at Generation Iron (a New York located business, by the way) wish Corey Brown the best on his pizza journey and hope it lives up to his expectations. It only makes sense to try the best pizza in America when you’re the Mr. America champion.
You can watch our full post-victory interview with Corey Brown in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Ryan Crowley: The Pros and Cons Of Being An Endomorph Bodybuilder
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Ryan Crowley shares his personal experience on successful training techniques as a person who genetically gains weight easily.
A core school of thought when it comes to fitness and bodybuilding is that everyone falls into three body types. An Ectomorph, endomorph, and mesomorph. Ectomorphs have a heard time gaining weight with little body fat, mesomorphs have a natural high muscle to fat ratio, and endomorphs have a naturally higher fat to muscle ratio and gain weight easily. Ryan Crowley was bullied as a child for being an overweight kid and to this day falls in the endomorph category. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Ryan Terry shares his experiences and tips on how to keep his fat ratio low while building a successful bodybuilding technique.
In competitive bodybuilding, there are some who struggle with building size and forcing themselves to eat enough food. But some bodybuilders gain weight easily during bulking. Typically, these bodybuilders would fall under the endomorph category of genetic body type. This might seem like a blessing. Building weight and size is the first step towards becoming a competitive bodybuilder. But when a competitor ultimately steps on stage, they also want to be as lean as possible. That can be more challenging to pull off for endomorphs.
Ryan Crowley is one such bodybuilder who falls into that category. He has been open about being an overweight child and being bullied. This was part of the reason why he eventually discovered bodybuilding and started sculpting his physique. This doesn’t mean that his genetic predisposition to gain fat disappears. In fact, Crowley’s fans have often been in disbelief how easily he can maintain his weight at around 300 pounds.
It’s so easy for him to stay heavy, in fact, that his bulks can sometimes go too far in the wrong direction. He describes bulking up to near 320 pounds and feeling unhealthy carrying that much weight on his body. Not only that, but he eventually needs to cut back on the fat, try to maintain as much size as possible, and keep it all as lean muscle. This is much harder for endomorphs who gain fat much more easily.
While cardio is often seen as an enemy for bodybuilders (due to cutting muscle alongside the fat), Ryan Crowley finds himself sometimes doing three hours of cardio to keep himself at a respectable weight – even during bulk. This seems to be Crowley’s biggest takeaway about being an endomorph. Bodybuilders who fall under this category need to embrace cardio in order to stay lean.
At the end of the day, Ryan Crowley keeps on weight at lower calorie levels that would cause others to lose weight. This has led fans to call him a liar about his weight and demand he shows video of stepping on the scale. The plus side is that he can keep weight with eating less food and avoiding more carbs. But the downside is if he doesn’t keep an eye on it and add extensive cardio into his routine – he can fall too far into bulking and make his cutting phase a nightmare in prep for a show.
You can watch Ryan Crowley talk in more detail about the pros and cons of being an endomorph bodybuilder in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Victor Martinez: A Lot Of Bodybuilding Coaches Want To Be Dictators Over Athletes
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Victor Martinez talks about the importance of constructively questioning coach protocols… and how many coaches don’t want to be questioned
Health has been a heavy topic of discussion in bodybuilding as of late. This is due to an unfortunate string of deaths that passed through the industry over the past few months. While there is no real connection or deep evidence as to how many of these deaths happened – the specter of death looming over the sport has put health on a lot of people’s minds. So how do bodybuilding coaches play into this conversation? Are they responsible for the health of their clients? We asked this very question to pro legend Victor Martinez. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Victor Martinez warns of coaches that want to be dictators over their athletes… and the importance of asking questions.
Over the years, there has been questions raised about the ethical relationship of coaches to athletes. It’s no secret that coaches provide protocols, not only of nutrition and training, but also recommended drug use. Some of these drugs are legally obtained without prescriptions… others are not. Coaches are not doctors though – so what happens if a protocol leads to health issues both long term and, potentially tragically, short term in the form of sudden hospitalizations or death? Is a coach responsible if something bad happens to an athlete under their supervision?
During our latest conversation with Victor Martinez, we asked him this very question. He believes that, while coaches are partly responsible, putting the full ethical blame on them is a scapegoat. His reasoning being that athletes know what is being recommended to them. They also know these coaches are not doctors. Martinez believes that athletes need to be responsible for themselves by doing their own research and asking questions. If an athlete blindly follows a coach’s protocol – they have no one but themselves to blame for bad outcomes.
“If a coach says ‘do this’ and you don’t question it, it’s your fault,” Victor Martinez states during our interview. He goes on to stress just how important it is for athletes to constantly ask questions.
Of course, he also understands that the system is not perfect. Victor Martinez admits that many coaches see themselves as dictators over their clients. They don’t want to be questioned. They are experts who should be trusted based on their reputation and name alone. It’s also part of the reason why some coaches get angry when an athlete leaves them for another coach.
“I know some coaches can be a little… a lot of coaches want a dictatorship. If you train with them, you’re great. You follow them. You leave them… they’ll fucking call you the worst athlete ever. Listen, if you’re training the athlete for free. By all means. Air out your grievance. But if the athlete is paying you. No. He’s allowed to leave you.”
Victor Martinez uses the word “dictatorship” to drive the point home. He’s not being literal but he does want to warn athletes that they shouldn’t feel trapped by their coach. If they think something is wrong in how they are being trained, for their health or otherwise, they should be able to leave without issue in a business relationship.
You can watch Victor Martinez talk in full detail about the ethics of coaching in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Berry De Mey: Matt Mendenhall Was The Most Talented Bodybuilder That Ever Lived
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Berry De Mey sings praises of bodybuilder Matt Mendenhall… so why didn’t he ever go pro?
Berry De Mey is a former pro bodybuilder and currently a well respected bodybuilding coach. His evaluation of physiques and the sport as a whole carries a significant weight due to his knowledge and insight into bodybuilding excellence. So when he calls a competitor one of the most talented that ever lived – it’s an eye catching statement. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Berry De Mey explains why amateur bodybuilder Matt Mendenhall was one of the best bodybuilders of all time… and the likely reason he never went pro.
Beloved bodybuilder Matt Mendenhall sadly passed away earlier this year. He was a bodybuilder known for an immensely pleasing physique. But despite this, he never actually went pro in the sport. During our latest video conversation with Berry De Mey, Mendenhall’s name and memory were brought up. De Mey was quick to claim that, in his opinion, Mendenhall was one of the most talented bodybuilders that had ever lived. That’s a major statement – especially for a competitor who never ended up going pro.
So we asked Berry De Mey to speculate exactly why Matt Mendenhall never became a pro bodybuilder. If he was truly that talented, how could he have not made it into the elite ranks and at least tried to compete and win a Mr. Olympia? De Mey believes that, at the time, Mendenhall never brought in his conditioning enough to earn him a pro card. While his conditioning never came together, it was clear to De Mey that he could have gone the distance once he overcame that hurdle.
Berry De Mey had the pleasure of training with Matt Mendenhall for quite some time. During those training sessions, it became clear to De Mey that Mendenhall was a spectacular talent. Of course, hindsight is 20/20 – and looking back now, De Mey honestly believes that Mendenhall could have become an iconic and legendary pro in the sport. If he had only gotten that pro card, De Mey is confident that he would have become a Mr. Olympia champion.
Berry De Mey isn’t alone in this outlook of Matt Mendenhall. Over time, his name and physique had grown to legendary status despite never going pro. Upon his tragic passing, the bodybuilding community sent an outpour of tributes to the late great bodybuilder. A true testament to how memorable his talent was regardless of his status in the pro league. Perhaps in a different timeline – he would have been a Mr. Olympia great on the same level of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dorian Yates, Lee Haney, or Ronnie Coleman.
When discussing the greatest athletes of all time, it’s easy to focus on statistics such as championship wins. But the truth behind all sports is that there is simply not enough room for all great talent to reach ultimate victories. It’s part of the beauty behind competition. There are a variety of factors that can determine who rises to the top and who doesn’t. In life, there have always been well deserved beloved figures and at the same time unknown genius talents that never get recognized until much later.
That’s why it’s so encouraging to hear a respected name such as Berry De Mey speak to Matt Mendenhall’s legacy. He might not have statistically been the greatest bodybuilder of all time – but in the hearts of many, he was one of the most talented bodybuilders that ever lived.
You can watch Berry De Mey speak in full about Matt Mendenhall in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Dr. Testosterone Warns: You Must Not Smoke Or Drink While On A Steroid Cycle
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Dr. Testosterone discusses the strict realities of combining steroids with other recreational drugs such as cigarettes, alcohol, cocaine, and more.
There’s no question that steroids are a major health risk when used recreationally for athletic enhancement. Whether an athlete wants to take that risk is up to the individual. But having as much information and education before making that decision is crucial for the athlete to make the right choice. That’s why Dr. Testosterone is crystal clear in his messaging regarding steroids and bodybuilding. He’s not against using the drug – but he’s not ignorant to the real and dangerous risks involved. This is especially true when considering the rest of your habits in relation to steroid use. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Dr. Testosterone explains why athletes must not smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, or use party drugs while on a steroid cycle.
When discussing any sort of drug use, the most challenging aspect for doctors and scientists is that these things do not happen in a vacuum. Asking if steroids are safe, for example, is more complicated than it seems. There are the inherent dangers of using such a powerful drug. But there are also dangers when considering other human habits that can go along with it. A doctor cannot control what we do outside of their office – they can only warn and suggest the right strategies for a healthy life.
Most bodybuilders understand the pros and cons of using steroids for athletic enhancement. What might be less known are the bad habits that can actually increase risk alongside the drug. Other things that we put in our body including the type of food we eat, other drugs we take, and also social drugs such as alcohol or cigarettes can all have a huge impact on the effect steroids put on our bodies.
During our conversation with Dr. Testosterone, we asked him how serious it is for a bodybuilder to continue other vices such as drinking or smoking while on steroids. Dr. T makes it very clear. He tells all of his patients that they much choose between steroids and. other drugs. He warns that a bodybuilder or athlete must not smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, or use other drugs such as cocaine while on a cycle.
Dr. Testosterone warns that continuing to use these drugs alongside steroids, at best, will lead to worse results. At worst, it can amplify health dangers caused by both the other drugs and also the steroids. It’s the kind of cocktail that is not worth it. It’s these kinds of habits that can lead to bodybuilders becoming frustrated with results of steroids, for example, and then start taking higher doses in hopes of seeing results. This can be a slippery slope towards serious health issues.
Additionally, alcohol and cigarettes are already bad vices to have as an athlete. They make fitness simply harder, and can lead to degradation of your body that pulls away from your athletic ability. Add steroids into the mix and you are simply getting more negative effects than positive. No serious athlete should ever consider these things in combination.
You can watch Dr. Testosterone go into full medical detail by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
*DISCLAIMER: Generation Iron does not recommend or condone the use of steroids or other PEDs. The views and opinions expressed in this video are not that of Generation Iron.
Mohamed El Emam: Ronnie Coleman’s Best Package Would Easily Win Olympia Today
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Mohamed El Emam believes no bodybuilder currently competing would be able to beat Ronnie Coleman at his best.
Whenever we have a chance to interview a pro bodybuilder for our GI Exclusives, we always ask them for their picks of the best bodybuilders of all time. Each person’s list can reveal some insight into their own goals and careers. At the same time, there is also often a commonality between each list. Certain competitors so impressive that they can’t be ignored. Ronnie Coleman is one of those athletes. For Mohamed El Emam, Ronnie is the absolute best of all time. He goes a step further by claiming that no modern bodybuilder today could defeat Ronnie in his prime. In our latest GI Exclusive, Mohamed El Emam claims Ronnie Coleman would easily win the Mr. Olympia today – including against current champ Big Ramy.
It’s no secret that Ronnie Coleman has the reputation as one of the sport’s best bodybuilders. That’s for good reason. Ronnie solidified the mass monster era and displayed a package so massive and so conditioned – that it seemed almost inhuman. To this day, few have been able to match that kind of shocking physique. It’s for this reason that Mohamed El Emam believes Ronnie is the single greatest bodybuilder of all time.
In fact, Mohamed El Emam believes that Ronnie Coleman’s physique is so impressive – that he would easily win the Mr. Olympia today if he were magically in his prime. That’s an example of how legendary Ronnie’s physique has become in bodybuilding. Some believe he has yet to be matched.
Big Ramy, our current and now two time Mr. Olympia champion, has often been compared to Ronnie Coleman. They both bring mass monster size (even compared to an entire division now packed with mass monsters). Both Ronnie and Big Ramy are unnaturally huge compared to the competition. In recent years, Ramy has also gotten his conditioning under control to look even closer to Ronnie’s impressive package during his prime years.
That being said, Mohamed El Emam cannot but Big Ramy on his list of best bodybuilders just yet. It’s only been a short while that Ramy has been champion – and it remains to be seen if he could maintain the conditioning needed to reign in the long term. El Emam believes that in five more years we can look back and more accurately evaluate Big Ramy.
Even still, Mohamed El Emam is very clear in his statement that Ronnie Coleman could “easily win the Mr. Olympia today.” That includes Big Ramy. So despite Ramy often being compared to Ronnie – El Emam still doesn’t quite put Ramy in the same category. In a way, that’s a major factor that’s been missing from the sport the past few years – a new mind blowing step forward in the form of a competitor.
In some ways, this makes for more exciting competitions. We’ve had more Mr. Olympia champions in the past four years than usual. Big Ramy just earned his repeat victory but before that each year brought us new champions including Shawn Rhoden, Brandon Curry, and most recently Big Ramy. There’s been no knockout champion. Even Ramy’s 2021 physique was a slight notch down from 2020. There were those who thought Brandon Curry would rise for revenge and reclaim his title. That didn’t happen – but the fact that it was close showcases how there is no “Ronnie Coleman level” monsters on the stage currently.
You can watch Mohamed El Emam break down his adoration for Ronnie Coleman in more detail (plus his other top bodybuilder picks) in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Lukas Osladil: “Young Bodybuilders Don’t Care About Their Health”
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Lukas Osladil makes a plea for younger bodybuilders to “stop and think” about their future health.
It’s a natural part of the human condition to be somewhat short sighted. Youth is wasted on the young – as they say. This holds true for health in bodybuilding. Young bodybuilders may feel immortal so they are more willing to push the boundaries of what is healthy in hopes of becoming a legend. Sadly, these actions might not have consequences until much later down the line of life. Lukas Osladil is a bodybuilder who has always tried to balance his health with the risks of Men’s Open bodybuilding. He notices many young bodybuilders are taking bigger risks – and fears for what that might lead to in the future. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Lukas Osladil discusses health in bodybuilding and the different perspectives between young and older competitors.
Lukas Osladil made a pretty memorable statement during our video conversation: “I am always concerned for my health.” It’s a sort of self awareness that you don’t always see in competitive bodybuilders. Men’s Open bodybuilding can be risky – like many other pro sports that test the limits of human potential. Osladil has always made sure to put just as much effort into his health as he does into his training and growth as an athlete.
This is why Lukas Osladil takes larger breaks between competition cycles. He learned the trick from Kevin Levrone, who would often takes three months off from heavy bodybuilding training to reset. This is a tactic he’s recently took on after many years of no breaks. Osladil thinks more bodybuilders should do this. He thinks that living the bodybuilding lifestyle 24/7 is dangerous and will lead to health complications.
Lukas Osladil is also happily being trained by George Farah, who in his later years has emphasized health in bodybuilding more than his past self. Osladil would like to think his outlook helped influence Farah’s training style over the years. He’s not sure if this is true – but in either case, he’s happy with the nice fit they have as bodybuilder and trainer.
Osladil also understands the catch 22 of pro bodybuilding. Namely, that younger bodybuilders will always take greater risks. Unfortunately, those risks don’t show health consequences until years later – when it’s too late to go back. Older bodybuilders understand how their health has been effected – and so take more precaution. But for many it’s too late by that point. Is it possible to overcome the confident cockiness of young athletes?
Lukas Osladil isn’t sure if it can be changed but he wants to use his platform as a pro to urge young bodybuilders to be more careful. He sees bodybuilders dying all around him and worries that it will get worse. He hopes young competitors can get a wake up call and start playing it safer with their health.
You can watch Lukas Osladil’s full comments on bodybuilding and health risks in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Gunter Schlierkamp Full Interview | Beating Ronnie Coleman, Bodybuilding’s Future & More
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Watch the full uncut GI Exclusive interview with Gunter Schlierkamp
Gunter Schlierkamp is a former pro bodybuilder who was known for his mass monster size. In fact, his size was so enormous it challenged Ronnie Coleman… and even beat him in one rare occasion after Ronnie was already Olympia champ. Now retired and dropped down in size – we reconnected with Schlierkamp to get his thoughts on modern bodybuilding and dive into his career.
Gunter Schlierkamp has been rather quiet and less engaged with the bodybuilding world. That’s why we were excited to land a video interview to get his opinion on how things have changed over the years and an first person account of his greatest accomplishments.
Over the past few months we’ve released multiple GI Exclusive segments from our interview with Gunter Schlierkamp. Now we’re releasing the full length interview including topics such as how he beat Ronnie Coleman, his critique on modern bodybuilding physiques, and his thoughts on Phil Heath’s Olympia reign – among other topics.
Listen To Our Gunter Schlierkamp Interview On The Generation Iron Podcast
Our full length interviews are now also in podcast form! Subscribe to the Generation Iron Podcast for candid, full length interviews with the biggest names in bodybuilding, fitness, combat, and strength sports.
Listen to the full Gunter Schlierkamp interview here:
Gunter Schlierkamp Answers: How He Beat Ronnie Coleman In His Mr. Olympia Prime
Gunter Schlierkamp is a bodybuilder who is beloved by many fans in the history of the sport. He may not have earned an Olympia win – but his mass monster physique was impressive and earned him a spot as an icon in bodybuilding. But there is one fact that might be shocking to fans who don’t know Schlierkamp’s career in detail. In 2002, just three weeks after Ronnie Coleman won his fifth Mr. Olympia title, Schlierkamp defeated Ronnie Coleman.
Of course, Ronnie Coleman had been defeated before. It’s well known that Coleman struggled to place high initially before dominating the field. That being said, after he started winning the Mr. Olympia year after year – Gunter Schlierkamp is the only bodybuilder to have defeated him during his reign. How did he do it?
We asked this very question to Gunter Schlierkamp during our latest video interview. His answer has little to do with some sort of mysterious trick – and more to do with continued hard work mixed with a boost of extreme confidence.
Gunter Schlierkamp faced off against Ronnie Coleman at a pro show in New Orleans three weeks after the Mr. Olympia. During the Olympia show – Schlierkamp placed fifth. This his first time making it into the top five at Mr. Olympia. Afterwards, famous bodybuilding journalist Peter McGough came up to him backstage. With extreme excitement, McGough stated that Schlierkamp should have placed in the top five the previous year. His placing in 2002 was vindication of the mistake that the judges made sleeping on him last year.
This news from such a trusted voice in bodybuilding made Gunter Schlierkamp ecstatic. So when he went into the New Orleans show just three weeks later – he had extreme confidence in his own ability going into the show. Not only that but he felt the energy of the fans. Any self doubt was thrown out the window. Mix that with continued hard work – and Schlierkamp found himself with the best conditioned physique he ever had.
Contest timing is always important as well. We asked Schlierkamp if he felt that Ronnie might have peaked at the Olympia only to be off three weeks later. Gunter Schlierkamp dismissed this idea. In his opinion, Ronnie Coleman looked better at the New Orleans show compared to the Mr. Olympia. By that notion, Schlierkamp believes to not have won by luck – but by pure hard work and will power. He didn’t defeat Ronnie on an off day. He defeated Ronnie at the top of his game.
Gunter Schlierkamp: It’s Dangerous For Young Bodybuilders To Get Too Big, Too Fast
We asked Gunter Schlierkamp about his thoughts on Big Ramy’s win and if it will push forward the trend of increasing the average size of pro bodybuilders. Gunter is unsure at the moment whether or not Big Ramy will reign as Mr. Olympia long-term. But he is a bit worried about the growing trend he’s seeing in modern bodybuilding. Less so about mass monster physiques in general and more about how its influencing younger athletes.
Gunter Schlierkamp understands that pushing the limits of size is part of bodybuilding – but he thinks that younger athletes are now rushing too fast to get there. Reaching a weight of near 300 pounds should be a slow process over many years. It shouldn’t be achieved short term. It seems, at least to Schlierkamp, that in today’s society of instant gratification – some young athletes want to reach the pinnacle faster than ever before.
Schlierkamp fears that this will lead to serious health issues. Again, he understands that mass monster physiques are a part of bodybuilding in the big picture. He knows all athletes take some risk to achieve it. But he’s convinced that rushing too fast at too young of an age almost guarantees serious health issues that could be avoided.
Gunter Schlierkamp reflects on Dallas McCarver, who passed away too soon at the age of 26. While it’s impossible to directly connect his cause of death to his mass monster size – Schlierkamp worries that this was the underlying cause.
He recounts a moment just before McCarver died – where he was asked on his opinion of the athlete. He admitted that his physique and size was astounding and impressive. But he also worried that he achieved it at such a young age that something bad would happen. Shortly afterwards, he heard the news of Dallas McCarver’s death. He was deeply saddened by not only the untimely death but the timing of his statement. Was he right? He worries so – and hopes that incoming bodybuilders take their time to build mass monster muscle rather than rush it.
Wrap Up
Gunter Schleirkamp discusses many more topics than what we can cover in this single article. He shares his thoughts on Women’s Bodybuilding and it’s return, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Sylvester Stallon – among many other topics. That’s why you should check out the full GI Exclusive interview above! He shares his personal experience and tips for training, nutrition, and more.
Iain Valliere: The Struggle Of Mass Monster Eating & Vital Tips For Hardgainers
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Iain Valliere discusses the often ignored struggle of eating mass amounts of food to reach pro bodybuilding size… and shares tips to improve your appetite.
Iain Valliere is a pro bodybuilder on the rise in Men’s Open. In 2021, he received much hype for his physique winning multiple shows throughout the year. He also placed 7th at the Olympia 2021. This is nothing to slouch at. That’s why we turned to him for advice that he could share with up and coming bodybuilders. During our discussion, the topic of diet, nutrition, and the challenge of eating high amounts of calories became a focus. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Iain Valliere shares his personal struggles with eating like a mass monster and shares his tips for how to improve appetite.
Men’s Open bodybuilders are massive. There’s no getting around that. For fans of the sport, we might all be used to the mass monster size. But to the average person, these athletes look like freaks. That’s part of the appeal. But the reality is, even if it’s largely muscle, Men’s Open bodybuilders weight between 240-300 pounds on average. That’s a lot of weight. Training hardcore in the gym alone doesn’t build that kind of size. It takes a lot of food to build up that kind of weight as well. It’s a situation that Iain Valliere knows very well.
It’s no secret that most pro athletes consume far more calories than the average person. Bodybuilders fall on the most extreme side of this. In order to maintain 250 pounds of muscle, a bodybuilder needs to eat a lot. This is not natural for most people – even for most bodybuilders dedicated to the sport and lifestyle. In fact, Mr. Olympia champion Jay Cutler himself described a bodybuilder diet as force feeding.
During our conversation with Iain Valliere, we talked about bodybuilding diets and the struggle of eating mass amounts of food. Valliere revealed that he is naturally a hardgainer. When he graduated high school he only weighed 106 pounds. Putting on massive bodybuilding weight was always a challenge for him. Eating large amounts of food every day was basically a chore.
So what can a hardgainer do when they simply have no appetite to eat more food? What happens when the prospect of eating one more bite of anything disgusts them? We asked this question to Iain Valliere – and he had some vital tips to share.
First there’s the unfortunate truth, it simply takes time for you to physically and psychologically adapt to eating mass amounts of food. Iain Valliere admits he had more struggles when he first started. But consistency and constant effort into the sport simply rewires your mentality over time. It’s not going to make the early efforts any easier – but it does get better.
Thankfully, Iain Valliere also has some truly actionable tips to help increase your appetite. Many bodybuilders will avoid cardio during bulking season. This is due to the fear of cardio cutting away at muscle on top of the fat. Valliere has learned that cardio is actually necessary for bodybuilders – even during the off season. It doesn’t have to be hardcore cardio – but some aerobic action each day will increase your appetite. Valliere suggests talking a jog or walk after every meal. It will not burn too many calories – but help prevent bloating and fullness in the long run.
You can watch Iain Valliere explain his full experience with eating and his tips to increase appetite in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!