Tag: All GI Exclusives
Ryan Terry: How To Prepare For Long Distance Travel Before A Bodybuilding Competition
[embedded content]
Ryan Terry shares the tips and tricks of preparing for long distance travel without ruining your bodybuilding diet and retaining too much water.
Ryan Terry is a pro bodybuilding competitor in the United Kingdom. Due to this – he often has to travel long distances for the biggest competitions of the year. The Arnold Classic and the Olympia, two of the biggest bodybuilding shows each year, both are held in the United States. This creates a mandatory 10 hour flight for Terry anytime he wants to compete at a major show.
This kind of long distance travel does not fit in with the structure needed for the daily bodybuilding lifestyle. When trying to look perfect for a competition – one 10 hour flight can throw off your peak timing right before a show. So how does a pro bodybuilder prevent disaster before appearing on stage? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Ryan Terry breaks down his tactics for maintaining the necessary bodybuilding diet during long distance traveling before a competition.
It can’t be emphasized enough, a pro bodybuilder runs his or her body like a well oiled machine. Just like a machine, or say a car engine, everything must be kept in perfect condition to prevent issues down the road. This comes down to a daily level for bodybuilders – especially during the final weeks of contest prep. One wrong move can throw off peak timing. This means the athlete’s physique is off and a year of hard work is thrown out the window.
So when it comes to travel, a long flight can be a death knell for a pro bodybuilder right before a competition. Unfortunately, many pro bodybuilders must travel, sometimes across the globe, in order to compete in the best shows of the year. This is certainly true for Ryan Terry – who must usually travel at least 10 hours via plan to arrive in the states. During our video conversation, we asked for his personal tactics on maintaining his pinpoint diet and training alongside a flight throwing a wrench in traditional daily planning.
Ryan Terry acknowledges that a long flight can be disastrous for a bodybuilder. The 10 hours sucks up any time he could have been training and food options are limited. Also – staying seated on a flight for 10 hours can build up water retention in the body. This is the worst thing that can happen to a pro bodybuilder right before a show. That’s why Terry works backwards from landing in the United States – and plans out every single step of his travel plans well in advance.
It’s important to arrive early before a show – so that any problems that arise can be dealt with once settled in the competition location. Beyond this, Ryan Terry plans out his meal prep and his actions after landing off the plane by the minute. He looks up where nearby grocery stores are that fit his diet needs (usually Whole Foods), and plans out his trip step by step. He knows when he will land, when he will arrive at the grocery store, when he can get his first training session in a nearby gym.
By working backwards, he can then plan out the necessary meals to bring on the plan with him. Know if he needs to squeeze in a meal right before getting on a flight. He ensures that he eats the right kind of food to avoid water retention on the flight as much as possible. If it sounds like a lot – that’s because it is. The day of traveling requires the laser focus of a bodybuilder diet cranked up to 11.
You can watch Ryan Terry break down his travel prep in even more detail by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Colin Congo Answers: Are All Pro Sports Riddled With Steroids?
[embedded content]
Colin Congo compares pro bodybuilding to other sports when it comes to steroid use and policing of PEDs.
Colin Congo is a pro natural bodybuilder and also an active member in the FBI. This creates an interesting intersection between his personal beliefs about steroid use in bodybuilding – and the legal reality behind policing illegal steroid use in bodybuilding and other sports. The sport of bodybuilding is a strange beast in this way. Most leagues don’t actively test for illegal steroid use. That being said, it’s a general understanding that most pro bodybuilders use PEDs in order to reach the shocking level of muscular and size on display during contests. This fact, it’s argued, is what prevents a more mainstream version of success for the sport – such as being televised on mainstream broadcasts.
But there are those who point out that bodybuilding really isn’t any different from other pro sports. While different sports have different degrees of testing – it can be argued that almost all pro sports have athletes that use steroids and PEDs. The fact that Olympic teams such as Russia were the subject of wide spread steroid use seems to be proof that not everything can get caught (even if they do get caught eventually). That’s why we ultimately pulled on Colin Congo’s expertise as both a natural bodybuilder and a member of the FBI – do all pro sports really engage in consistent use of steroids? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Colin Congo shares his take on steroid use across all pro sports, how it’s policed, and if it can ever really be stopped.
No matter the sport, it seems at some point in time the greatest athletes in sporting culture ultimately get caught for steroids or other PED usage. Lance Armstrong is a famous example, as well as MMA legend Jon Jones. Most recently, the entire Russian Olympic team was the subject of a in-depth documentary exposing wide-spread steroid use among its athletes. Different pro sports handle drug testing in different ways. But one thing that seems to remain true is this – pro sports cannot 100% police PED use. Even for the most lucrative leagues – it’s too expensive and too logically complicated to regularly test all athletes.
With this in mind, how often are pro athletes really using steroids? Pro bodybuilding often gets a bad rap for steroid use and its unwillingness to test for it. But is bodybuilding really any different to other pro sports that are far more popular? Baseball, Basketball, Football – all major sports have their own steroid scandals. Is steroid use simply unavoidable on a pro level?
We asked this very question to Colin Congo – a bodybuilder who has dedicated his life to being all natural and also is an active member in the FBI. While he has no way of knowing the truth behind all key athletes across all pro sports – he is able to use his anecdotal experiences between the FBI and natural bodybuilding as a foundation for the bigger picture. As far as Congo is concerned, the logic is sound – steroid use is most likely far more used in pro sports than many fans realize.
Colin Congo says that a combination of massive money on the line and an uneven playing field contribute to steroid use in pro athletes. If an athlete knows some are using steroids, that puts them at a disadvantage. So why not close the gap by using PEDs as well? On top of that, many pro athletes have their income directly related to their ability. When hundreds of thousands of dollars are on the line – the risk is suddenly becomes more worth it.
Colin Congo points out the irony for how reviled athletes become upon being caught for steroids. For example, Congo recounts Lance Armstrong having his entire reputation destroyed by being caught for PED usage. A friend and colleague of Congo’s took a look at the stats for other cyclists during Armstrong’s time. All of them were hitting close levels to Armstrong. After he was caught, in the years after those times and stats dropped significantly.
Congo’s take on that data? Many more cyclists were using the same drugs – but didn’t get caught. The reality is that Lance Armstrong was doing the same thing as all other athletes on his level. He got caught, his reputation is sullied, but really the entire sport’s reputation should take a hit. The problem is more endemic than media makes it out to be.
You can watch Colin Congo go into full detail about his thoughts on steroid use across all pro sports in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Patrick Moore Explains The Reason It’s Offensive To Suggest He Move To Classic Physique
[embedded content]
Patrick Moore details why he was annoyed at the suggestion he move down to Classic Physique division.
In 2021, there are now more divisions in pro bodybuilding than there ever has been in the history of the sport. What once used to be squarely one division now has eleven. This allows athletes to determine what kind of ultimate physique they want to achieve and find success in that framework. It also brings a lot of couch critics out of the woodwork. Fans can and will often speculate if a pro competitor would be better off in a different division. Patrick Moore has no plans to leave Men’s Open bodybuilding – and has found it offensive to suggest he does otherwise.
This became clear when King Kamali publicly stated that Patrick Moore should move to Classic Physique. The comment sparked a back and forth reaction between Moore and Kamali and brought their debate into bodybuilding headlines. During our conversation with Patrick Moore, we asked him about this moment so that he could further explain his mentality and why he was annoyed by the comment. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Patrick Moore explains why it’s offensive to suggest he move down to Classic Physique.
With so many divisions in pro bodybuilding, there are more options than ever for athletes to find success. No one competitor is locked into the division they start in. There has been some debate as to whether or not this is a good thing. Some believe that this dilutes each division and encourages athletes to not push as hard. Supporters find that this brings in more athletes as a whole – and encourages athletes to compete who otherwise wouldn’t try due to the kind of physiques Men’s Open demands.
Some bodybuilders have had great success changing divisions, such as Hadi Choopan, who moved from Men’s 212 to Men’s Open. Many were worried he would fall behind against larger competitors. Ultimately, his risk paid off with consistent top five placings at Mr. Olympia. So when King Kamali suggested that Patrick Moore possibly move down to Classic Physique – it might not have been that crazy of an idea in general.
But from Patrick Moore’s perspective, this comment was unhelpful, unrealistic, and slightly insulting. During our interview, he explains that all it took was one competition where he looked off for the suggestion to come along. In fact, he points out that Kamali had praised his Men’s Open physique in 2019.
Patrick Moore points this out directly during our conversation:
“What lost it for me with him was this was a guy that was giving me praise in 2019 when I was in the open class. So once I come in a little off… so now I should go to Classic? It’s just crazy.”
Patrick Moore also points out that he would need to drop down to about 206 pounds at his height. So he would have to lose quite a bit of weight in order to qualify to compete in Classic Physique:
“So at the Olympia 2019, I was 236 [pounds]. There’s no way – and I was peeled. I had no fat. There was no way I was going to cut down to 206 pounds. So for him to say some ignorant sh*t like that… it’s like he’s miseducating… you’re telling people I should do something that’s impossible.”
Patrick Moore feels that, since King Kamali has a rather large following, his comments are misleading fans to expect something that Moore believes to be impossible. It poisons the well and changes the kind of fan interaction Moore has leading up into the next competition. Moore felt that key aspect is what made the comment disrespectful.
You can watch Patrick Moore explain his comments in full detail by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Berry De Mey Clarifies His Critical Comments: “Bodybuilding In Total Is Becoming Insane”
[embedded content]
Berry De Mey debates Vlad Yudin in deep analysis of his previous critical comments of modern bodybuilding physiques.
Berry De Mey found himself in some hot water when he made a post on Instagram criticizing modern bodybuilding physiques. His comments came immediately after the Arnold Classic and Nick Walker’s massive win. In the aftermath, a controversial barrage of comments flooded De Mey’s post. Some defending and many criticizing his take on modern bodybuilding. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Berry De Mey deeply explains and clarifies his comments criticizing bodybuilding physiques of today.
There’s nothing new about the old guard of bodybuilders criticizing the modern physiques of bodybuilding athletes currently competing. We’ve seen the likes of Dorian Yates, Ronnie Coleman, and more throw shade at the current state of bodybuilding. Now we can add former bodybuilder and now coach Berry De Mey into this category.
Berry De Mey took to Instagram swiftly after Nick Walker’s big Arnold Classic win. Though not directly pointed at Walker – De Mey had some critical words about the current state of the sport.
We had the opportunity to connect with Berry De Mey and discuss at length his comments about modern bodybuilding. More than can be explained in a simple Instagram post or in comments – the discussion and debate between Vlad Yudin and Berry De Mey goes into the deep details of De Mey’s criticism. De Mey has a particular criteria for what he thinks bodybuilding should look like – he doesn’t think the judges today are on that same page.
Berry De Mey admits that he is likely biased beyond his control. He believes if he was born into this era – he would see no problem with today’s physiques and push himself to the massive size we are seeing on the stage today. It’s the exact thing he did during his prime competing. The only difference is that the limit was far lower than it is today. That’s what worries him.
He understands that no single person or entity is to blame. But he thinks each passing generation of bodybuilders is pushing the limit of the human body further. With each new limit being crossed – the new normal becomes more dangerous and also less pleasing (to Berry De Mey’s eyes). His main criticism is that each passing decade focuses more on size and conditioning over lines and aesthetic. De Mey thinks aesthetic should be valued equally to size.
But Barry De Mey is at a loss on how to properly fix it – or even on how to fully express himself. He feels trapped in the same bias that all individuals in bodybuilding are. It’s impossible to escape the bias of your generation. When he tries to take a step back to the bigger macro picture – he becomes worried. If we are all unavoidably a victim of our own upbringing and bias – how can we fix the dangerous size that bodybuilders are pushing towards?
Ultimately, he traces the problems he sees with modern bodybuilding all the way back to the Golden Era. He finds the totality of bodybuilding to be too extreme.
“The reason that I’m saying this all is not about that I don’t like the aesthetic that much anymore. You know, it’s not about that result,” Berry De Mey states in our interview. He continues:
“I’m at the point willing to say not today, back in the day, same for me, that bodybuilding in total is becoming insane. Because what guys have to do today, what I would have done if I was an 18 year old kid today, so it’s not a finger to point, but bodybuilding in total has become insane.”
It’s interesting that Berry De Mey includes himself in this category. He admits that he would fall victim to the same trap if he was young and competing today. He goes on to say that he can’t blame one specific group, person, or entity. He doesn’t know who to blame. But he’s concerned – and he’s seeing more young bodybuilders dying or going to the hospital. He doesn’t know what it will take – but he hopes that something changes the sport of bodybuilding.
Do you agree with Berry De Mey? Watch his full comments in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above and decide for yourself!
Derek Lunsford Reflects On Olympia Win And Details His Battle With Shaun Clarida
[embedded content]
Derek Lunsford gives us insight into his mindset winning the Men’s 212 Olympia 2021 and a play-by-play of his face-off with Shaun Clarida.
The Men’s 212 division was one of the most thrilling competitions of the Olympia 2021. This is due to the pure impressiveness of the top athletes in the division. A battle between Shaun Clarida, Derek Lunsford, and Kamal Elgargni could have fallen in any direction by the time finals hit. That lack of clear winner made the event electric. Ultimately, Lunsford earned his first ever Olympia victory in a stunning showcase. We connected via video chat with Lunsford to follow up on his victory. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Derek Lunsford dives deep into his Olympia win and gives and inside look into his neck and neck battle with Shaun Clarida.
It’s always exciting when a new bodybuilder earns an Olympia trophy for the very first time. Derek Lunsford is a competitor that has long since been hyped as the next coming of Men’s 212 Olympia greatness. In 2021, he finally fulfilled that hype with a close call – but well deserved win. We linked up with Lunsford to congratulate him on his win as well as go into detail about his mindset from prejudging through to finals and his victory.
During our interview, it quickly became clear that Derek Lunsford is a very humbled and appreciative champion. In many ways, he’s still riding on the waves of excitement and shock from the win. He claims that he feels like he was “made for this.” But emphasized that this is not meant as a cocky statement. It’s simply what feels right – and he acknowledges that victory came through patience and confidence rather than cockiness and rushing towards the goal.
He also notes that he it is surreal to now be a champion interviewed by the very network that inspired him as a young bodybuilder. The original Generation Iron film was a major inspiration for Lunsford to become a bodybuilder. Now all of these years later, not only is he a champion, but he’s speaking with the very director of the film that helped him head down this path.
We asked Derek Lunsford to give us an inside play-by-play of his battle on the Olympia stage from prejudging to finals. What was his mindset like during such a close call match? Lunsford claims that he walked out of the prejudging feeling very confident. But the more he reflected back – the more he recognized just how close the battle would be during the finals. He “went back and forth” on whether or not Shaun Clarida had the edge over him. That razor thin tightrope walk remained throughout the entirety of the finals.
Derek Lunsford acknowledges that his physique is very different that Shaun Claridas. Both of their physiques were in top form – but their aesthetics were very different. The title win might have very well come down to personal preference of the judges. Do they prefer a denser physique like Clarida? Or would they go for a more streamlined look in Lunsford?
It’s this very fact that Derek Lunsford makes sure to speak clearly about in our interview. He is so impressed by Clarida’s physique – and was so honored to see Clarida smiling upon Lunsford winning the Olympia trophy. In Lunsford’s eyes – both of them are top brass bodybuilders. He is proud to now share the distinction of Olympia champion with the likes of Clarida – while also sharing the stage with him.
You can watch Derek Lunsford’s full comments on his Olympia 2021 win in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
INTERVIEW: Will Jujimufu Continue Competitive Bodybuilding?
[embedded content]
Jujimufu talks about his competitive bodybuilding journey and if it will become his focus moving forward.
Jujimufu is known for his incredible stunts and acrobatics alongside an impressive muscular physique. He had dedicated his life to gymnastics and acrobatics – but has slowly built a bodybuilding fanbase because of his physique and personality on display in viral videos. This past year he decided to make a change and seriously focus on bodybuilding competitively. His first show was at this past week’s Olympia Amateur show. In our GI Exclusive interview, we talked to Jujimufu about his competitive bodybuilding prep and what he expects to do moving forward.
This past week, Jujimufu competed in the Olympia Amateur 2021 competition. He ultimately placed fifth in the super heavyweight division. We had a chance to connect via video call just before his competition to talk about his contest prep, why he decided to start competing, and what his future holds. Jujimufu is dedicated to his passion for stunts and acrobatics – but that might need to be sidelined somewhat if he maintains a competitive Men’s Open bodybuilding physique. Is it the kind of sacrifice he’s willing to make in the long term?
Jujimufu is unsure. He knows he will always allow himself to do some form of acrobatics. He mentions that his flips and splits can be done no matter how large he becomes. Though he also admits that other more complicated maneuvers might not be doable as his legs grow in size specifically. That being said – he also understands that his prime gymnastic years are behind him. Whereas bodybuilding and strength building blooms in later years through into a person’s 40s.
So will he continue to compete in bodybuilding? Will he go pro and stand amongst the greats on major stages such as the Olympia? Jujimufu states that it all comes down to his experience at the Olympia Amateur. His placing won’t determine his future – but rather his experience. If it was an enjoyable experience that promises realistic success and growth down the line – he’s 100% open to focusing on bodybuilding. He’s excited by the possibility of just starting his growth in this arena – whereas his acrobatic life is in the early stages of being past his prime.
That’s just a simple fact about gymnastics – it’s a young man’s game. Bodybuilding favors time, experience and muscle maturity. He’s excited by that notion and if he feels empowered by his Olympia Amateur show – he’ll continue.
We’d imagine Jujimufu’s fifth place finish was ultimately promising – he was up against dozens of competitors all hungry for a pro card. Jujimufu also comments about how lucky he feels to have so much attention put on his physique only being in an amateur show. He feels like he was able to skip the line in terms of attention. He’s simply grateful to have that kind of attention and opportunity.
You can watch Jujimufu talk about his competitive bodybuilding prep and his thoughts of going long term in the sport by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Derek Dufour has been managing all digital operations on the Generation Iron Network for over six years. He currently manages a team of editors, writers, and designers to provide up-to-date content across the GI Network.
Victor Martinez Warns: All It Takes Is One Bad Injection To Collapse A Muscle
[embedded content]
Victor Martinez opens up about the threat of nerve damage caused by badly performed injections.
Victor Martinez is a legend in the sport of bodybuilding. He was a top tier competitor in the early aughts and also a featured subject in the original Generation Iron documentary. While he may no longer compete today (for now), he is a highly skilled and respected modern bodybuilder. That’s why he hopes his words in our latest interview segment are heeded carefully – as he brings up a topic often overlooked in the bodybuilding. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Victor Martinez explains how bad injections can lead to nerve damage and collapsed muscles.
Though best known for his heated face-offs with Jay Cutler during the 2000s, Victor Martinez also had the experience of going toe to toe with Ronnie Coleman. Known for his unbeatable physique and a world record matching eight Olympia wins – we asked Martinez what it was like to (mentally and physically) to prepare to battle against Ronnie.
Martinez’s answer was an interesting one – “I stayed in my lane.” He knew that he couldn’t train the same way Ronnie could. Martinez also admits that nearly everyone competing during that time wouldn’t talk about actually winning the Olympia – they would know the battle was for second place. That is – until Ronnie’s physique started noticeably declining.
This then pivoted our conversation into something unexpected but very vital in the bodybuilding world. Victor Martinez notes that Ronnie Coleman’s later years competing started showing signs of his nerve damage and injuries (that were then later documented in more detail in Ronnie Coleman: The King). This sprung us into a conversation about the dangers of nerve damage for bodybuilders.
Victor Martinez goes into detail on how nearly all pro bodybuilders are on a slow and steady path towards nerve damage. It can be prevented – but it’s not nearly talked about in public as Martinez thinks it should be. He even gets candid about how nerve damage can come from the constant injections many bodybuilders undergo throughout their career.
“When you have a muscle and you can’t flex it and you can’t feel it – a lot of people don’t know they think it’s something simple. No, it’s just nerve damage,” Victor Martinez states in our interview. He continues:
“People don’t realize when you take an injection it’s a form of acupuncture. You can take a bad injection and collapse a muscle without even noticing by hitting a wrong nerve. I hope people are listening to this because people think they can just poke themselves and be fine the next day. It only takes is one bad angle, one injection, and one bad part of hte muscle and it will collapse a bicep, a tricep, a shoulder, a lat, a quad – it will just collapse it without you noticing.”
Victor Martinez then mentions that he knows someone personally who suffered through this. A friend who took a bad injection that killed his triceps permanently. Of course, we all know that muscle is the most vital aspect to a bodybuilder’s career. That’s why Martinez wants this information to be more spoken about publicly. Bodybuilders will be injecting substances into their body – they should know the warning signs before it’s too late.
You can watch Victor Martinez go into full detail in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
The Anabolic Doc: The Truth About Sex Problems Post-Steroids
[embedded content]
The Anabolic Doc doesn’t mince words when it comes to sexual problems after coming off steroids.
Dr. Thomas O’Connor, also known as the Anabolic Doc, has dedicated his life to working with strength athletes and bodybuilders who use anabolic steroids. He’s been very clear about the dangers these drugs hold but has also provided an empathetic viewpoint as to why athletes turn to PEDs in the first place. Beyond serious health concerns of long term steroids use – the Anabolic Doc went into detail about the realities behind sexual performance and steroids. What is true? What is a myth? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, the Anabolic Doc gets real about what happens to your sex life after coming off steroids.
Beyond roid rage, the second most overplayed stereotype about steroids is enhanced sexual performance. It makes sense – blast your body with testosterone and give your private parts a boost. But just how true are these claims and how much is fiction? We turned to Dr. Thomas O’Connor – aka the Anabolic Doc – for answers.
First things first, the Anabolic Doc makes it clear that increased sexual performance is 100% a side effect from using steroids. In many ways, this is an additional appeal to using these drugs. Beyond the improved athletic performance and muscle building – private life between the sheets sees a dramatic boost in “energy.” That being said, there is also a downside – it just might not rear its ugly head until many years down the line.
As with many things in long term steroid use – over time health complications begin to arise. This is even more true when coming off steroid use permanently after decades of cycles. It’s well documented that long term steroid use will lead to a permanent decrease in testosterone within your body. This can affect many things. It can make you feel depressed. It can make you feel weak and lethargic. It can also diminish your sex drive and performance.
But for those who think it’s not that big of a deal – the Anabolic Doc has some grave news for you. Without treatment such as Testosterone Replacement Therapy, it’s almost guaranteed that your future sex performance will dry up after coming off steroids. The Anabolic Doc has often talked about the “suffering” of steroid users during older age. This isn’t just medical pain and suffering – it’s also psychological.
The Anabolic Doc receives many patience who are mentally suffering due to a diminished sex life and worsening sex performance. We’re not talking about 80 year olds here. We’re talking 50 year old men who should still be able to function well enough. But due to low levels of testosterone production from steroid use – their “ability” falls apart.
Even worse, this can happen at a much younger age as well. If a person goes through multiple cycles of steroids – when they are off cycle, their sexual performance will be diminished as well. The Anabolic Doc specifically states many men in their 20’s who can’t date women whenever they are off cycle. When they come back on steroids – everything works fantastic. But at such a young age – without the continued use of these drugs – they become lame ducks.
“You’re going to come off this shit and you’re going to crash like a lead balloon,” Dr. O’Connor states in our interview. He then goes on, “And you’re going to be with a girl and if you’re 20 or 23 or 27 and you can’t date… that’s the new thing now… the new lexicon. It’s ‘can’t date.’”
You can watch the Anabolic Doc’s full comments on steroid use and sexual performance in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Chef Rush Reveals The Reality Behind Racism & Death Threats Online
[embedded content]
Chef Rush opens up about his PTSD and dangerous comments he has received online.
This past week, Facebook has been on blast after a whistleblower revealed the alleged dangerous tactics behind the company. Namely, that the company cares more about profits than huma beings – and purposefully allows toxic behavior to continue and is even sometimes pushed by their algorithms. Toxicity online is something nearly all people are aware of – especially those with large followings. Chef Rush is a viral bodybuilder who has faced some of the worst of it. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Chef Rush opens up about death threats and racist comments he’s received online.
Chef Rush is best known as the “Bodybuilding White House Chef.” He went viral upon photos released online showing his jacked physique while working at the White House. Since then, Rush has used that momentum to spread awareness about veteran PTSD and start his own businesses. As such, he’s become a bit of an online celebrity with a massive following.
As with most people in the spotlight, having a following often means receiving mass criticism as well. Often times, influencers and celebs simply ignore the comments. But we are all human – and people’s words, no matter how anonymous, can do damage. Then there’s the step above that – when online users take the next step to make direct attacks on influencers and iconic figures. This can be done through direct messages, death threats, racist comments – and also all bolstered by programmed bots to flood online pages with hate.
Chef Rush has experienced these kinds of attacks. In general, he tries to keep an open and positive mind about the internet. He understands that many toxic comments online are simply anonymous individuals looking for likes, clicks, and attention. But in a certain specific moment, Rush started to feel unsafe for himself and his family.
This moment came out of a strange extrapolation of an online post. Chef Rush made a comment about how much sleep he gets at night. He talked about getting very little (he states it was about 4 hours at the time). Somehow, this comment became so controversial that an online user programmed bots against him.
At this point Chef Rush would not even care. He knew that the swarm of comments were not real people. The problem came not due to the bot attack in and of itself – it was what they were saying. A comment about how much sleep to get suddenly turned into a swarm of comments throwing racial slurs on Rush’s posts. Not only that – but he was receiving death threats.
The barrage was so constant and cruel – that Chef Rush started to worry about his safety and the safety of his family. Posting your personal life as a viral influencer can open you up to online sleuths determining where you might physically be located – where you live, where you are on a trip, etc. What if this online hate turned into something in the real world?
That’s why Chef Rush did what he normally doesn’t do – he responded to the comments. He made it clear that if any single person were to approach him aggressively in public, he would take matters into his own hands. He kept it vague – but the implications were clear. If he felt that himself or his family were threatened in person, he would fight back.
Eventually the entire situation blew over. But the experience revealed just how out of control attention on social media can become. A comment about sleep turned into racism and death threats. It’s a level of extremism that seems propelled by the instant gratification and anonymity of social media.
You can watch Chef Rush’s full comments about the entire experience in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Big Ramy Looks Back In Detail About His First Ever Bodybuilding Competition | GI Vault
The current Mr. Olympia champion, Big Ramy, shares his experience competing in bodybuilding for the first time.
In December 2020, Big Ramy finally achieved what fans had been hoping for the past decade – he won the Mr. Olympia. Earlier in 2017 during the filming of Generation Iron 2, we sat down for an hour long interview with Big Ramy going through his origins through to the present of his bodybuilding career. Majority of this was not able to make it into the final film. That’s why to celebrate Ramy’s big Olympia victory, we are releasing uncut segments of never before seen footage. In our latest GI Exclusive Vault interview, Big Ramy details the first time he ever competed in a bodybuilding competition.
Everyone has to start somewhere – even Mr. Olympia champions. Big Ramy is a bodybuilder who has had hype behind his name for quite a few years now. But his story goes even further back into the early 2000s. In the extended clip above, Big Ramy details his origins from the son of fishermen through to his first ever bodybuilding competition.
When we interviewed him for Generation Iron 2, it was just before his epic display at the Olympia 2017. This is the year he placed second just behind Phil Heath. He was on top of the world and ready to prove his massive size can be matched with equally matched conditioning. While he fell short – he eventually made good on his promise last year with his big win.
But his experience starting out in bodybuilding was very different than the mammoth athlete we know today. He threw himself into the sport as an opportunity to find bigger success. While training and building muscle is a great first step – you learn a lot from actually stepping on stage and seeing the competition.
Big Ramy was ready to become a pro bodybuilder but he realized that he had a lot of improvements to do after standing beside other competitors. Specifically, he was embarrassed by his thin legs.
Instead of discouraging him, it drove him to try harder. He saw a real future in going pro and making bodybuilding his main career. Of course, his path towards learning and success would require a roller coaster path of twists and turns. Discovering Kuwait and Oxygen Gym provided him with basically a bodybuilding bootcamp.
While this help provide a foundation and extreme growth over his career, he ultimately moved on to try other coaches and other gurus in perfecting what works best for his body. Adapting and reacting is key towards improving and moving up amongst the top athletes in bodybuilding. That’s exactly what Big Ramy did and it paid off in full.
With all of that in mind, watching Big Ramy reflect on his first every bodybuilding competition just reminds us how far he’s come. How nothing is guaranteed. How only a select few through incredible hard work (and a little bit of luck) become the legends we see today.
Some believed that Big Ramy was too inconsistent to ever really win the Mr. Olympia. Others thought it was inevitable for him to reign as Olympia champion. If Ramy decided to play it safe and stick with being a fisherman, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.
You can watch Big Ramy reflect back on his early years and his first ever bodybuilding competition in our GI Exclusive Vault interview segment above. You can also watch Generation Iron 2 on digital today. Click here or the banner below to stream or download!