Tag: All GI Exclusives
Victor Martinez: “I Don’t Trust Government. Period.”
Victor Martinez talks about living a year in a pandemic, if restrictions were effective or fair, and whether or not he trusts the new vaccines. The past year was a complicated and hard time for many people during the pandemic. This is true for nearly all walks of life – including the world of bodybuilding….
Samir Bannout: Insulin Works… But Is Ruining Modern Bodybuilding
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Samir Bannout talks on how insulin works in bodybuilding short term but ruins physiques (and health) long term.
One of the newer controversial substances to enter bodybuilding is insulin. A drug that offers benefits to those in need has been transformed into another tool for building muscle fast in the sport. Bodybuilding guru Milos Sarcev claims to have introduced the drug into bodybuilding and stands by its safety when used correctly. Others fear that it leads to major health issues and early deaths in the sport. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Samir Bannout goes in-depth about insulin, how it works, and why he thinks it is ruining modern bodybuilding.
Samir Bannout is seeing a trend in modern bodybuilding over the past few decades. To be fair, it’s a trend we’ve all been noticing for quite some time now. Competitive bodybuilding is becoming more and more about excessive muscle mass. Starting from Dorian Yates, to Ronnie Coleman, and jumping ahead to the current Olympia champion Big Ramy – a clear through line is seen. Pushing the limit on muscle mass is the goal of modern bodybuilding.
With such emphasis put on building mass as much and as fast as possible, new protocols with drugs have been concocted to optimize this goal. Insulin is one such drug that has grown in popularity. Insulin can provide faster muscle growth – but it can also have much more dire consequences when abused.
We asked Samir Bannout about his opinion on the direction of modern bodybuilding. What started as a conversation about excessive muscle mass turned into a deep dive into the abuse of insulin. Perhaps the two are connected. In Bannout’s mind, they are both tied together and have put a negative impact onto professional bodybuilding.
Samir Bannout argues that the focus on massive muscle above all else can lead to an impressive physique. But that physique will only last in the short term. He uses legendary champions like Dorian Yates and Ronnie Coleman as examples. Yes, they did both win multiple Mr. Olympia titles in the long term. Bannout isn’t arguing that. But what he does believe is that both of these athletes looked phenomenal the first two to three years as champion… then starts to look worse.
Ronnie Coleman, for example, eventually became an eight time Mr. Olympia champion. That’s the most ever recorded in the history of the sport (only tied with Lee Haney). That being said, most people find Coleman’s physique peak to be around 2001. After that, while he did continue to win – it was clear his physique never hit the same level again.
Now fast forward to today. Modern bodybuilders are still chasing that legendary massive physique of Ronnie Coleman. But now there are new drugs that promise to bring muscle growth even fast. Insulin has become, to some, a necessary element in becoming a larger than life bodybuilder. Much like the overall obsession with excessive muscle – this has Samir Bannout worried.
Samir Bannout doesn’t argue that the drug isn’t effective. It does indeed help build muscle as bodybuilders have been using it. But at what cost? Samir Bannout believes that even when used correctly, consistent use of insulin leads to short term success and long term failures. At worst, it can lead to serious health issues or even death. At it’s best, it will give you two or three years of an incredible physique… and then the quality starts to go down.
“It’s [insulin] a ruin for modern bodybuilding. It’s a ruin for bodybuilding,” Samir Bannout states in our interview. He continues:
“I mean look, now you look at guys like Chris Bumstead. He comes out and stay waisted, sharp, and tight. But those bigger guys who are using insulin on a regular basis. What happens? They may get lean in this area but… you are growing the visceral fat in the inner intestine. It’s imminent that you will have the bulgy fat stomach after a year or two. It may work the first year but as it goes on it will get worse and worse.”
Samir Bannout is no doctor. His statements here seem to be solely based on what he’s observing. He doesn’t know exactly who is and who isn’t using insulin. But he fears that it’s creating a shorter shelf life for bodybuilders. Both in terms of health and the longevity of an amazing physique.
You can watch Samir Bannout go into complete detail about mass muscle and insulin in bodybuilding by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Guy Cisternino: “An Open Olympia Would Never Lose To A Men’s 212 Olympia”
Guy Cisternino talks about Hadi Choopan and the differences between Men’s 212 and Men’s Open. Hadi Choopan shook up the bodybuilding world in 2019 when he transitioned from Men’s 212 to Men’s Open and competed at the Olympia. Not only that – he ended up finishing third place. This wasn’t a fluke either, in the…
Mike O’Hearn: How To Really Make Money In Bodybuilding
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Mike O’Hearn talks about his personal rise to success and shares tips on how to make money as a bodybuilder.
Love him or hate him, Mike O’Hearn is a successful bodybuilder who has made multiple TV appearances, graced the cover of dozens of magazines, and owns accomplished businesses. He took his passion for bodybuilding and turned it into life success. It’s often talks about how competitive bodybuilding in and of itself hardly provides enough funds to make a living. So how does one become a financially successful bodybuilder? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Mike O’Hearn details the key tactics for making money in bodybuilding.
During our latest video conversation with Mike O’Hearn, we asked him point blank – what advice would he give on how to make money in bodybuilding. He starts off with direct advice and then goes into his own past experiences as examples. His first advice – is to not copy other successful bodybuilders. If it worked for Ronnie Coleman, copying him will only make you a familiar version of that. You want to be original – that’s where real success comes in.
His second piece of advice is to “flip the bird to everybody.” What he means by this is to follow the beat of your own drum. This ties into his first tip. If others think you are breaking the mold too much and are too “weird” or “doing it wrong” – ignore them. True greatness is about breaking the mold. It’s about changing things. The status quo doesn’t make greatness – breaking it does.
Mike O’Hearn also touches on how the typical path to financial success has changed over the past few decades in bodybuilding. He describes how it used to be that you needed to win a big competition, then that got you interviews and TV appearances. If you took those appearances seriously and showed charisma – then you would get more opportunities and eventual sponsorships. Use that initial financial boost for more opportunities – work hard at them – and then suddenly you have a full and successful life.
Now Mike O’Hearn explains that the competition side of things is less important. With social media, you can focus first on your charisma, personality, uniqueness, and of course, your physique. If you get enough followers the opportunities will appear. Then you still have to work hard at those to turn it into a life of success.
Mike O’Hearn then dives into his past and his personal steps that led to his success. He claims that being one of 10 children made him realize the importance of money at a very young age. So when he started succeeding at bodybuilding – he put away all of his money rather than spend it on flashy items. This gave him a foundation for when the competitions stopped.
He then later met Arnold Schwarzenegger who advised him to use his savings to invest in real estate – that’s where the real money is. This is something Schwarzenegger himself did to help bolster his funds (besides, you know, the superstar acting). After O’Hearn did that – the rest is history. He continued to challenge himself and find new opportunities. With the money he had as a foundation he was able to take those risks and succeed long term.
Mike O’Hearn’s last piece of advice was probably the hardest one to swallow. At least for younger bodybuilders. He said that your 20s should be spent working your ass off so you have at least $100k in the bank by 30. He even said that’s on the low end. O’Hearn believes that too often young people spend their 20s having fun. It comes at the cost of building a financial foundation for success. Money later gives you less time in your life to grow that money. If you focus while you are young and have more energy – you can grow that money quicker.
They say that youth is wasted on the young. Mike O’Hearn seems to believe in that statement. But it seems O’Hearn was one of the few young men who decided to try and waste as little time as possible. It explains his intense work ethic with training and business to this day.
You can watch Mike O’Hearn’s full comments about money in bodybuilding by watching our latest GI exclusive interview segment above!
The Anabolic Doc Full Interview | Realities Of Steroids, Synthol, And Other PEDs In Bodybuilding
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Watch the full uncut GI Exclusive interview with The Anabolic Doc.
Dr. Thomas O’Connor has appeared in a selection of our Generation Iron original films over the years. This is due to the fact that he is a doctor that bridges the gap between muscle and medicine. He was strength athlete in his past, he has taken steroids, and he now has a medical license to treat people for after effects of long term steroid use. For this reason, he’s known as The Anabolic Doc.
That’s why we decided to sit down with him for an extensive interview going into detail all health aspects of bodybuilding. He sort of bridges the gap between the knowledge of medical science into the experience of what it actually takes to be a bodybuilder or strength athlete.
Over the past few months we’ve released multiple GI Exclusive segments from our interview with the Anabolic Doc. Now we’re releasing the full length interview including topics such as the health risks of steroids, the realities of synthol abuse, and if it’s easy to cheat drug tests – among other topics.
Listen To Our Anabolic Doc 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 Anabolic Doc interview here:
There Is NO Safe Way To Use Steroids For Bodybuilding
What Dr. O’Connor won’t accept, is lies about the dangers of steroids. He won’t sit and let people believe that steroids are actually “not that bad” for your health. He makes it plain and clear – long term steroid use will have permanent effects on your heath. It will lower your testosterone to the point where it might never come back. This leads to needing testosterone replacement therapy (or TRT) for the rest of a person’s life. It can lead to enlarged arteries and enlarged hearts. This can then in turn lead to heart disease and death.
Dr. O’Connor will never step down from detailing the truly dangerous risks of steroids. But he leaves the decision to use up to the athlete afterwards. Just like cigarettes, people will make their own decision on how they want to handle long term health.
With all of that being said, we wanted Dr. O’Connor to clear the air. Is it possible to safely use steroids in bodybuilding at all? Is there some sort of tips or protocol that can help prevent these long term dangers of use?
The Anabolic Doc’s answer is a simple one. No. Each body is different. Each drug has different effects on different users. Some people might make it out clean – but that’s not due to a specific way of use. It’s due to luck. There is no medical way to condone the use of steroids safely for sports like bodybuilding. Dr. O’Connor believes that the research shows it’s simply impossible.
Realities Of What Happens After Synthol Use
Dr. Thomas O’Connor is a doctor who deals specifically with steroid users. That’s why he’s called the Anabolic Doc. So of course in his time treating patients he’s also ran past individuals who have used synthol or other site enhancement oils on their physiques. He admits it’s very rare – but it has happened on occasion.
We often see the results of using these kinds of oils on a bodybuilding physique. The freaks with bulging inhuman fake muscles or even more well trained bodybuilders with strange shaped peaks on certain muscles. But what happens to these people in the long term after injecting oils into their body? What are the actual health risks? How does the body absorb sythol after it expands in their body? Does it absorb it at all? These are all questions we wanted to ask Dr. O’Connor. As you can imagine, the answer isn’t pretty.
Yes, synthol does get absorbed in your body but this in itself can lead to certain complications. Some patients have had neurological complications leading numbness or even loss of motor ability. In rare cases the oil can infiltrate the blood stream and heart leading to potential deadly results. The most common negative side effect, though, seems to be infections. As seen in extreme cases when “synthol freaks” have such bad infections they need amputation. Yes, that’s an extreme case – but infections are certainly possible on a smaller scale for anyone who uses synthol.
The silver lining here seems to be that Dr. O’Connor truly receives very few patients who use synthol in the first place. While the freaks and the shocking headlines might bring a sense of urgency to the use of these substances – it doesn’t seem to take hold in a major way the same way drugs like steroids or insulin have been adopted into the bodybuilding and fitness world.
Wrap Up
Dr. Thomas O’Connor, aka The Anabolic Doc, has an extreme wealth of knowledge that this article can only begin to scratch the surface. That’s why you should check out the full GI Exclusive interview with The Anabolic Doc above. His expertise, advice, and opinions on the world of health and bodybuilding could be a game changer.
Remember – the statements and opinions stated here are not the direct advice of a medical professional. This is general advice backed by research but is in no way meant to be taken as direct medical advice. Always consult your doctor.
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.
Zane Watson: Bodybuilding Doesn’t Have To Be 24/7 And 365 Days A Year
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Pro Bodybuilder Zane Watson explains why he’s not afraid to call bodybuilding a hobby.
Zane Watson is a Men’s 212 Pro Bodybuilder who takes his job as a competitor seriously. That being said, he has stated in the past that he considers bodybuilding a hobby. This can have negative connotations in a professional sport. The word hobby implies something less serious and certainly less competitive. This is a far cry from the mantras we hear from professional athletes. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Zane Watson explains why he calls bodybuilding a hobby and why it doesn’t need to be a 365 days a year obsession.
Often when speaking with pro bodybuilders, or any pro athlete for that matter, you hear certain advice. One major point often made is this – if you want to be successful in a professional sport, you have to make it your life. That means sacrificing other things in order to try and become the greatest.
This is a far cry from our conversation with pro bodybuilder Zane Watson. He wants to send a message out to aspiring bodybuilders – pro bodybuilding does not have to be the only thing in your life. But don’t be fooled. That doesn’t mean Watson is a bodybuilder who doesn’t take his sport and craft seriously. He simply wants the world to know – you can have more than one joy in your life and still succeed as a pro bodybuilder.
In our new interview with Zane Watson, we probe this idea a bit further. People can often take Watson’s words as not being serious enough about his success in the sport. Zane Watson argues that life is never really about putting all your eggs in one basket. Watson has a career, he’s an entrepreneur, and he has a family. In fact, a big part part of what brings him joy in bodybuilding is having his family by his side.
The truth of the matter is, Zane Watson has more than one thing that fulfills him in his life. He believes he can succeed as a pro bodybuilder without throwing those other things away. But he also doesn’t want people to accuse him of being lazy. When he dedicates himself to a show date – he will “disappear” for three to four months during his contest prep. He has a competitive spirit in him and he wants to win.
That being said, Zane Watson reiterates one final time, “eat, sleep, breathe bodybuilding 365 days a year is not something that I live by.” There is never one right way to do something and find success. Yes, some will live 24/7 bodybuilding and fully succeed – whether that’s through winning Mr. Olympia or building a following for lucrative sponsorship opportunities. But there are also workhorse bodybuilders who find success while also making time for other things in life.
There’s a fine line between passion and obsession. Each person needs to decide what ultimately works for them. But the key is to be honest. When reflecting on your life – decide what you really want and the “why” behind doing it.
You can watch Zane Watson go into full detail about his relationship with pro bodybuilding in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Gunter Schlierkamp: The Biggest Reason Lee Haney Should Be Considered Greatest Of All Time
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Gunter Schlierkamp goes into great detail as to why he believes Lee Haney is the undisputed greatest bodybuilder of all time.
There are only two people who earned the world record of most Mr. Olympia wins. Lee Haney and Ronnie Coleman have yet to be matched in the years since their bodybuilding careers. But for the most part, it seems history has favored Ronnie Coleman of the two. He is often considered the greatest bodybuilder to ever live. This is due to his unfathomable mass monster size. A size that still has not been matched to this day. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Gunter Schlierkamp explains why Lee Haney, and not Ronnie Coleman, is the undisputed greatest bodybuilder of all time.
Gunter Schlierkamp is an old school kind of guy. That becomes clear in the beginning of our latest interview segment. We discuss bodybuilding’s popularity in mainstream culture and how the internet influenced it. Schlierkamp goes into detail as to why he feels something has been lost in all the technological change.
There are too many options for things and consumers seem to favor cheaper items over high quality items. It’s a quantity not quality world. He finds this to affect bodybuilding itself. It’s evident in the supplements people buy, the influencers people follow, and the number of divisions the sport now has.
So it makes sense that Gunter Schlierkamp considers Lee Haney his favorite bodybuilder of all time. Haney was the first bodybuilder to achieve a world record eight Mr. Olympia wins. This was later matched by Ronnie Coleman. Often times, Coleman gets more of the spotlight. This is due to his inhuman physique that would make Haney look small in comparison.
But Gunter Schlierkamp has very good reasons for favoring Lee Haney as the greatest of all time. Side note – he also puts Ronnie Coleman in his top five, just one notch behind Haney. We asked Schlierkamp why he felt Haney is the ultimate best bodybuilder of all time. In a refreshing move, he gave a very detailed answer. The answer is so convincing – that it might perhaps cause others to pause and reconsider their own “best of” list.
Gunter Schlierkamp first defines what, in his opinion, makes a bodybuilder the best. Who did it and was the most dominant at the end, who is still healthy today, and who did it the right way. These may seem like vague terms – but what he’s talking about here is the past, present, and future of a bodybuilding icon.
Lee Haney was the first to change the game of bodybuilding. He was the first to win eight Mr. Olympia competitions. Schlierkamp also believes that Haney could have won more if he hadn’t decided to retire. And that’s exactly the point, Haney went out on top instead of slowly dwindling down into a has-been. This is rare in the bodybuilding world.
Gunter Schlierkamp also points out the Lee Haney is healthy and active in his twilight years after bodybuilding. Ronnie Coleman, on the other hand, has had a massive amount of health issues – very possibly due to how hard he pushed his body. We covered it extensively in our documentary film Ronnie Coleman: The King.
Lastly, Gunter Schlierkamp believes that Lee Haney “did it right.” Meaning that he knew his own limitations, knew how to keep his achievements as healthy as possible, and still changed the game in memorable way. It’s the reason we still talk to him today. Perhaps by today’s standards, if you simply compare physique to physique – you would be more impressed by a mammoth like Ronnie Coleman. Again, Coleman’s achievements are incredible. But for Schlierkamp – Haney gets a notch above for doing everything perfectly right.
You can watch Gunter Schlierkamp go into full detail about Lee Haney in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
George Farah’s Honest Opinion On Phil Heath’s Olympia 2020 Comeback
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George Farah: “They put Phil Heath exactly where he belonged.”
Not too long ago, Phil Heath was the dominant champion with seven Mr. Olympia titles under his belt. He seemed unstoppable and many believed he would match, if not surpass, the 8x Olympia record set by both Ronnie Coleman and Lee Haney. In the end, this didn’t happen. Heath was dethroned in 2018 by Shaun Rhoden. He then took a year off. Many thought he may never return.
But with a sudden burst of excitement, Phil Heath announced he would make his comeback just one year later in 2020. He seemed more confident than ever and was laser focused on matching Ronnie Coleman’s and Lee Haney’s eight title wins. The drama was set. It seemed to be the ultimate comeback story. Except it wasn’t. Instead, Phil Heath seemed plagued by the same problems he held in 2018. He ultimately placed third at the Olympia 2020. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, we turn to legendary trainer George Farah for his honest opinion on Phil Heath’s comeback physique.
George Farah has been behind some of the most legendary pro bodybuilders in history. His name is known for a reason. He is noted as one of the most legendary bodybuilding coaches in the history of the sport. A bodybuilding coach that had the magic touch. That’s why we asked him for his honest analysis of Phil Heath’s physique during the 2020 Mr. Olympia. Was he better than his 2018 performance and simply outmatched by young blood? Or was he missing the mark in terms of expectations?
George Farah felt a little disappointed by the physique we ultimately saw on Phil Heath. this was largely due to the perceived rejuvenated energy of Phil Heath leading into the show. He seemed rested after a year off and ready to bring a physique more matched to his prime years. Perhaps it was just the narrative that drummed up excitement – but Farah truly believed we would see Phil Heath back in pitch perfect form.
George Farah didn’t see that on stage. Instead, he believes that Phil Heath still had the same problems he suffered from in 2018. Not only that, but his stomach, in Farah’s opinion, looked worse than ever before.
“It’s a little disappointing. Honestly, I can say I’m a little disappointed because… the way he talked I was like, ‘Oh my god this is going to be his show.’ He really made us all believe he is right on the money. And Phil never said anything like that and he didn’t deliver, you know? But then as soon as he came out I was like, ‘Oh my god his stomach is worse.’ He didn’t even not fix it. It looked worse.”
Farah made a point to mention that Heath is still one of the greatest of modern bodybuilding. In fact, his physique was still impressive compared to most on stage. That’s why ultimately, George Farah 100% agrees with the final score given to Heath.
“And I love Phil as a person. I’m just saying as a bodybuilder, they placed him exactly where he belonged. That’s why I feel… because he deserves some respect. Because he still ahs one of the best double biceps, glutes were in, striated hamstring, everything. But that stomach man. It just took a lot off his brilliance.”
It’s commonly known at this point that Phil Heath was dealing with a few surgeries over the years that was affecting his ability to bring in his stomach. Some fans even noticed a difference in the symmetry of his abs due to the surgery. Unfortunately, it seemed as if Phil’s prime was behind him. That is, unless he can bring out something shocking the next time he competes – if he decided to return again.
You can watch George Farah’s full comments on Phil Heath’s Olympia 2020 physique in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Victor Martinez Is Open To Rematch Jay Cutler In A Special “Exhibition” Show
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Victor Martinez would be more than happy to have a bodybuilding rematch with Jay Cutler.
Most bodybuilding fans know the infamous Olympia 2007 battle between Victor Martinez and Jay Cutler. Many believed that Martinez was a shoe-in to defeat Cutler and become the new Mr. Olympia. That ultimately didn’t happen. In a major upset, Cutler retained his champion. To this day many fans and even athletes believe Martinez should have won that show. Now all these years later and with the rise of “super fights” in boxing – could we one day see a rematch between them? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Victor Martinez opens the possibility of an exhibition rematch with Jay Cutler.
For Victor Martinez, his bodybuilding career didn’t go as expected. By 2007, he was one of the biggest threats to the Mr. Olympia title. The controversial loss to Jay Cutler still stands out as a big moment in bodybuilding history. After that, Martinez found himself incarcerated, which completely removed his ability to maintain his superior physique. His attempt to return was chronicled in the original Generation Iron in 2013.
Since then, Victor Martinez has had some ups and downs in the sport. He’s found some success on major bodybuilding competitions – but never came as close to Olympia victory as he did in 2007. Most recently, he hardly competes.
That’s why during our most recent interview, we asked him what his future plans are in and out of bodybuilding. He is a man who has started a few businesses in the past. He has an entrepreneurial spirit – and is eyeing a few options ahead. But what about in terms of competitive bodybuilding?
Victor Martinez admitted he has little reason to return to seriously competing. But there was one catch. He discussed how he would be open to rematching Jay Cutler. Not in a tried and true IFBB league show – but instead as a sort of super match. Something similar to the recent super fight between Logan Paul and Floyd Mayweather.
“Now I’ll tell you one thing. The only way I will compete is that if we do some Mayweather or Connor stuff.,” Victor Martinez states in our interview. He continues:
“Let’s say Jay Cutler says, ‘Vic I want to challenge you’ or say I want to challenge Jay. Let’s go for a one on one pay per view, you know, and make it American Idol type – let them choose the winner. Let’s collect funds Jay.”
At this point, the entire conversation is completely theoretical. There is no match being prepared and not even a clue if Jay Cutler would be interested. But one thing that’s important to note – is that Martinez states this is the only way he would compete again.
It seems whether or not this dream rematch will come true – that Victor Martinez has little interest in competing within the traditional IFBB path. He’s moved onto other future plans. Whether or not that would include a special battle against Jay Cutler… well, maybe it will become a reality if the fans make enough noise after his statement.
You can watch Jay Cutler discuss his future plans and his dream rematch against Jay Cutler in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Brad Castleberry Bares All On How He Deals With Depression
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Brad Castleberry talks about the lowest moments of his life and how he deals with depression to this day – in hopes of inspiring and helping others.
In a previous interview we did with Brad Castleberry last year, we discussed the lowest moment in his life. It was a devastating moment of his business career that left him broke on Christmas day. Since then he’s recovered but he still struggles with anxiety and depression. The feeling of never being good enough often looms in his mind. Castleberry has found healthy coping mechanisms that have gotten him through low points. In our latest GI Exclusive, Brad Castleberry reveals all about his inner thoughts and how he overcomes depression and anxiety.
2020 was a tough year for nearly everyone in the world to different degrees. It’s been reported that depression and anxiety are on the rise after such a turbulent time. While things do seem to be getting better globally – the mental struggles of many individuals could continue to press on for quite some time.
That’s why we asked Brad Castleberry how he deals with depressive thoughts and anxiety. Castleberry has dealt with many past traumas in his life between a business partnership that left him penniless, personal family struggles, and being a controversial online persona that receives extensive online hate.
Over the past few years, Brad Castleberry has grown into a very different kind of bodybuilder and man. What used to be of value to him today is very different than just five years ago. Most notably, he is open to speaking about it candidly and at length. In our latest interview, Castleberry held nothing back discussing not only his past struggles – but how he continues to have be, in his own words, “crazy in my mind a lot of the time.”
Brad Castleberry starts off by expressing the importance of communication and finding help. He cannot stress enough how much unloading depressive thoughts can be towards finding stability. Keeping it bottled up inside can only lead to more torment and possible dangerous actions – including self harm.
Brad Castleberry also understands that some people are in tough situation. They may be lonely with no one to turn to for an open conversation. He presses that therapy or counseling should not be taboo. It should be something everyone has access to and should not be ashamed to engage in.
Brad Castleberry also shares some small habits that can help bring out more calming thoughts. When Castleberry faces darker thoughts of feeling unsuccessful or incomplete – he takes a walk, goes hiking, and simply makes sure to be outside in nature. While this isn’t medical advice – breaking bad habits and entering out into the world, even alone, could have healing affects on a moment of crisis. Or at least, that’s what works for Castleberry.
He also points out how even the most basic principles of bodybuilding are helpful in keeping a more stable foundation both mentally and physically. Eating healthy and finding a routine in training that betters your body can bring a sense of progress at times when a person might be feeling lost. Small incremental improvements day by day can make a big difference in dealing with anxiety and depression. Bodybuilding provides exactly that. Daily small improvements to your health and physique
But the true crux of Brad Castleberry’s advice doesn’t necessarily come from his specific tips – but more from how earnest and honest he is in this conversation. More than anything, he seems like a person who hopes to make some sort of connection through his transparency. A far cry from the viral bodybuilder who was often dodgy and accused of lifting fake weights.
You can watch Brad Castleberry bare all about his past experiences with depression and how he continues to find healthy ways to cope to this day. Watch it all in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!