Tag: Flex Lewis
Flex Lewis Reunites With Neil Hill Who Vows He Will Bring Something Special
Flex Lewis and coach Neil Hill vow to bring something special to the stage in 2022.
It appears that Flex Lewis and his coach Neil Hill are back together and looking to bring something special to the stage in his return. The former 212 champ is looking to make his case for Mr. Olympia.
The Open Bodybuilding division has been getting much more interesting these days. Not only is the division getting some new young blood to compete, it’s also drawing the attention of champions from other divisions. While Shaun Clarida has declared his intentions to move to compete in the Men’s Open division, another former 212 kingpin had made it clear he wanted to make the step up to the bigger category.
James “Flex” Lewis was angling to compete at the 2020 Olympia in the Men’s Open Bodybuilding. Unfortunately Flex Lewis was injured ahead of the show. Further complications led to the former 212 champion missing the 2021 show as well.
It’s clear that Flex Lewis already had the goods to become a top contender in the Men’s Open Bodybuilding division. But without being able to step on stage to prove that point, the notion still lingers. While 2021 may have been a bust for Flex Lewis, 2022 could prove to be much more promising.
Bringing Something New
After being away from his coach Neil “Yoda” Hill for several months it appears that Flex Lewis is ready to get back on the horse. The former 212 champ posted the below on social media featuring coach Hill.
After several months of separation we are back with Chest day @the_dragons_lair so happy to train again with Coach @neil_yoda_hill1 excited for all that’s to come.
In the video the famed coach stated that Flex Lewis would be bringing something special to the stage in 2022. With that said, Lewis has been unable to make good on his promise to compete in the Men’s Open division for years now. At this point it’s possible that Shaun Clarida could beat Lewis to the punch in being the first 212 champion to become a legit contender in the Open. But coach Neil Hill has all but confirmed that Flex Lewis is definitely itching to come back in 2022.
“There’s been a lot of challenges over the last three years since Flex Lewis has been on stage,” said Hill. “I know there’s a lot of excitement and anticipation, and people keep asking ‘When is Flex Lewis back on stage?’ … Like everything in life, you have to look at longevity and you also need to prioritize what’s more important. There’s been a lot of things taking place in Flex’s life… we are officially back in official off-season training. So our eyes are firmly on the prize.”
You can see the full video of their training together here.
Do you think Flex Lewis can become Mr. Olympia in 2022?
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News and Editorial Writer at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
How Flex Lewis Works Out For Huge Gains & Recovers With CBD
This Flex Lewis workout will give you a great pump for serious growth with CBD as your ultimate recovery tool.
Flex Lewis is a Welsh bodybuilder with a number of titles to his name. He is a 7-time winner of Olympia 212 and has a first place finish at the 2014 Arnold Classic 212 as well. Knowing what is needed to perform at a high level, Flex uses CBD supplements in tandem with his workouts to see the best growth possible.
When it comes to getting a great workout, it can be tough to find the right exercises to do. We all know what we want, but getting there can be the biggest struggle. While many fitness influencers and other social media personalities claim to have the missing link to your bodybuilding success, there’s no better place to look than to the pros for your workout. Not only are these top athletes in the best of shape, but they are living proof of what these gains can do for your overall physique. They are also good role models for us to follow as clear examples of hard work and dedication with a good workout plan.
Flex Lewis is certainly a great influence to take notes from as he’s been there and done it all before.
Full Name: James “Flex” Lewis
Weight
Height
Date Of Birth
225-235 lbs.
5’5’’
11/15/1983
Division
Era
Nationality
Men’s 212
2000, 2010
Welsh
With grueling workouts comes the need to take your recovery as seriously as possible. Flex Lewis works out for sheer strength and size, but also knows how beneficial CBD can be to boost all his gains.
About Flex Lewis
James “Flex” Lewis is a Welsh IFBB pro bodybuilder who has won seven Mr. Olympia titles in the Men’s 212 Division consecutively. As a real force in the pro bodybuilding circuit, Lewis spent years perfecting his strength and power which ultimately led him to being one of the best in the world. With over 28 professional contest wins, he has become one of the greatest bodybuilders to leave the UK. While his early career saw its fair share of struggles, he made a name for himself in the UK and has since made his claim as a top bodybuilder in the world, staking his claim as a real Mr. Olympia 212 champion to date and one of the best 212 competitors to ever take the stage.
Flex Training Workout Routine
This workout from Flex Lewis will certainly help see great gains. With a variety of exercises and plenty of opportunity to challenge yourself, you will get a massive pump and boost any and all of your muscle building needs.
#1. Back Day For Those Wide Lats
Exercises
Sets
Reps
Pull-Ups
3
10
Hammer Strength Low Row
3
10
High Rows
3
10
Bent Over DB Rows
3
12
Low Pulley Cable Row
3
12
Back Extensions
3
8
#2. Chest Day For Massive Pecs
Exercises
Sets
Reps
Cable Flys
3
8-12
DB Floor Press
3
10
Seated Hammer Wide Press
3
10
Pec Deck
3
10
Dips
3
15
#3. Leg Day
Exercises
Sets
Reps
Leg Extension
4
10-12
Leg Press
4
10
Hack Squat
4
10-12
Reverse Lunges with Barbell
4
12
Hip Extensions
4
12
DB Lunges
4
12
Standing Machine Calf Raises
4
12-15
Leg Press Calf Raises
4
12-15
#4. Boulder Shoulder Day
Exercises
Sets
Reps
Cross Cable Lateral Raises
3
12
Barbell Front Raises
3
10
Overhead Shoulder Press
3
10
DB Side Lateral Raise
3
10
Plate Extensions
4
10
#5. Biceps & Triceps
Exercises
Sets
Reps
DB Biceps Curl
4
10-12
Barbell Curl
4
10-12
Triceps Pushdowns
3
10
Overhead Triceps Extensions
3
10
Preacher Curls
3
10-12
Cable Curls
3
10-12
Smith Machine Body Weight Push Press
3
10
Seated Close Grip Triceps Press
3
10
Flex Lewis & cbdMD Supplementation For Optimal Recovery
Flex Lewis uses CBD products from a great company in cbdMD, whose mission is to enhance the overall quality life of athletes and everyday people while bringing CBD education, awareness, and accessibility to all. CBD has great potential to aid in a number of ways including relieving muscle pain, reducing anxiety and depression, promoting better sleep, supporting your immune system, and much more (2,3,4).
As an accomplished bodybuilder, Flex knows exactly what he needs to not only grow muscle, but also repair it. Bodybuilding can be a real strain on your body especially those vital joints. How you train impacts what kind of muscle you could build, but how you recover influences how much muscle you actually do build. With cbdMD, Flex has all these needs covered to maximize his own recovery.
Let’s take a look at a favorite cbdMD supplement for Flex. A great topical, this will help relieve any muscle aches and pains in a calming and soothing way for the best effects.
cbdMD Recover Tub
cbdMD Recover Tub offers soothing CBD cream with pain killing and herbal ingredients for a warming sensation while providing temporary relief from minor aches and pains.
Recover is a CBD cream made from soothing herbal ingredients and pain killing medicine to help relieve any muscle soreness and pain. Superior Broad Spectrum hemp extract works with histamine dihydrochloride, to provide temporary relief and increase blood flow, while other ingredients like arnica, aloe vera, and MSM, provide a creamy, moisturizing base. Perfect for sore muscles and joint pain, Recover is a great supplement for you.
Check out our list of the Best CBD Supplements for more great pain relieving products!
Wrap Up
Flex Lewis is an accomplished and world class bodybuilder who knows exactly what it takes to see huge gains. On top of it all, working out doesn’t come without its fair share of pains and strains and knowing what to use to optimize recovery as best you can will greatly affect the amount of muscle grown. CBD supplements are incredible in that they work to alleviate muscle pain and soreness in a safe and natural way. Flex uses cbdMD for all his CBD needs as they are reliable and only produce the highest quality products as he seeks to continue his dominant reign atop the bodybuilding world.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Flex Lewis Instagram
References
Boyaji, Shafik; Merkow, Justin; Elman, R. N.; Kaye, Alan D.; et al. (2020). “The Role of Cannabidiol (CBD) in Chronic Pain Management: An Assessment of Current Evidence”. (source)
Shannon, Scott; Lewis, Nicole; Lee, Heather; Hughes, Shannon (2019). “Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series”. (source)
Nichols, James M.; Kaplan, Barbara L. F. (2020). “Immune Responses Regulated by Cannabidiol”. (source)
Ryan Crowley Answers: Can Flex Lewis Match Up To The Size Of Men’s Open?
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Ryan Crowley shares his thoughts on Flex Lewis’ future in the Men’s Open division and going up against mass monsters like Big Ramy.
Flex Lewis announced in 2018 that he was going to retire from Men’s 212 and move into the Men’s Open division. Since then, we have sadly not seen him compete due to unforeseen circumstances. After over a year of training for the transition, he dropped out of the Olympia 2020 due to injury. He then dropped out of the Olympia this year due to focusing on starting his own gym and having another child. Needless to say – fans are on the edge of their seats waiting for his official reveal in Men’s Open when it finally happens. Until then, all we can do is speculate how he will match up to the larger size competitors. In our latest GI Exclusive, bodybuilder Ryan Crowley weighs in on how Flex Wheeler will compare in the Men’s Open division.
Ryan Crowley is an up and coming bodybuilder who made headlines this year due to a gruesome injury that went viral. Crowley tore his pec severely – which threatened his entire bodybuilding future. He is in recovery now and optimistic he will return better than ever – but it will take some time. We connected with Crowley via video chat this month to discuss his injury and also his thoughts on the latest trending topics in the sport.
In today’s segment, we asked Ryan Crowley to name his favorite bodybuilder physiques in the sport. There was no question – he placed Jay Cutler, Dallas McCarver, and Flex Lewis as his favorite bodybuilders. In fact, Flex Lewis specifically provided him much of his inspiration to become a competitive bodybuilder. Much like Crowley, Lewis is a UK bodybuilder – and Lewis’ enormous success in the Men’s 212 league is of create motivation for Crowley to follow in his footsteps.
Upon mentioning his admiration and respect for Flex Lewis, we ask Ryan Crowley for his thoughts on Lewis’ transition to the Men’s Open division. Does Crowley think Lewis can bring the same level of champion status to the Mr. Olympia proper? There’s no doubt that Lewis has one of the most finely crafted physiques in history – but can the size difference put him at a disadvantage.
Ryan Crowley struggles to answer this question. He respects Flex Lewis so much that he doesn’t want to cast negativity over his transition to Men’s Open. That being said, Crowley can’t help but wonder how the size change will effect Lewis’ chances. Even if Flex Lewis brought his best physique of his entire life – could it stand up to the pure mass of Big Ramy?
We make mention that Hadi Choopan made a similar transition from Men’s 212 to Men’s Open. While he hasn’t won the Mr. Olympia yet – he has placed in the top five both years upon competing in Men’s Open. It was a shocking success story – and one that could pave the way for Flex Lewis.
Ryan Crowley agrees – but also states that until we see Flex Lewis next to the other competitors at Mr. Olympia, it’s impossible to really know for sure. There are many factors at play. What will Lewis look like with added pounds on his frame? Will he lose the sharp conditioning that made his Men’s 212 reign so iconic? We can’t know these answers – and the extended delay before seeing Lewis compete only makes the tension stronger.
Ryan Crowley has the highest hopes for Flex Lewis to succeed – but the realist in him worries about the various factors that can be hurdles in Lewis’ first year in a new division. For now – only time will tell.
You can watch Ryan Crowley talk about Flex Lewis’ Men’s Open future in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Flex Lewis Will Not Compete In Mr. Olympia 2021
Lewis, who has dominated for years in the 212 division, will not compete in Mr. Olympia for the second-straight year.
Flex Lewis is one of the all-time greats in the Men’s 212 division. He totaled seven-straight victories at Mr. Olympia in that division, the most all-time. In 2018, Lewis announced that he would retire from the 212 division and make the transition up to Men’s Open. Lewis recently announced that he will not compete at Mr. Olympia 2021. This makes for the second year in a row.
Flex Lewis posted a video on his YouTube channel explaining the decision. This is now the second year in a row that fans will have to wait for Lewis to make his much-anticipated debut at his new division. In 2020, Lewis withdrew from the competition after complications with a shoulder injury.
The video begins with Lewis giving us a look at his new gym, the Dragon’s Lair, that he opened in Las Vegas. He walks viewers through the gift shop and then into the back offices. When he reaches the gym itself, this is where he begins to break down his decision. It is around the four-minute mark of the video.
When discussing the reason for his opt out, Flex Lewis highlights the move to Las Vegas and the process opening up his new gym. Finally, Lewis discusses a deeper reason — he and his wife are trying to have another child.
Lewis also wanted to clarify that he did not withdraw from this year’s competition because of an injury.
“I feel really good. That time off last year from competing, did it mentally f*** me up? Yes, it did, because I knew what I look like, and I know I could be doing damage up on that stage. So now this year has come, and there are a wide variety of things that have happened this year.”
Flex Lewis made a name for himself as one of the best non-heavyweight bodybuilders of all-time. He enjoyed a reign of dominance from 2012-2018 where he was crowned champion in the 212 division at Olympia. As a Men’s 212 champion, Lewis can enter the competition automatically under his own ambition. That is not the case in Men’s Open. Lewis would have to qualify or receive an invitation to compete, which he had not yet this year.
Lewis has not competed since 2018 but he made it clear that he is not retiring.
“I appreciate everybody’s support. I’m not retiring,” Lewis said in the video. “There’s still so much burning desire and ambition for me to fulfill my bodybuilding dreams, and, God willing, injury-free, I will be on that bodybuilding stage next year.”
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THROWBACK: Flex Lewis Tells His Story – “The American Dream Was Put In Front of Me”
Inside the mind of Flex Lewis.
UPDATE: In celebration of Independence Day – we are republishing our article from 2018 detailing Flex Lewis’ journey to America and becoming arguably the single greatest Men’s 212 champion in pro bodybuilding. Below is the original article.
James ‘Flex’ Lewis won his sixth straight 212 Mr Olympia title in 2017, tying the record set by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Now the 34-year-old legend lives and trains in Florida, but still holds close to his Welsh roots. He sat down with WalesOnline to talk about his life- past present and future.
Flex said that rugby and gymnastics gave him a fantastic frame for bodybuilding. In fact his nickname “Flex” was from rugby, long before his bodybuilding days. When he did start training in a local gym, they had a massive poster of Mr Wales up and the gym owner said he would give Lewis a free membership if he competed in the show. Lewis agreed, won the show, and it’s head judge, Niel Hill, still coaches Lewis to this day.
“He advised me at the time to go for Olympic junior under-21 weightlifting. I won that show. Pictures from that show ended up on the internet, which was still relatively new at the time, and it made its way to the owner of the famous Gold’s Gym in America. The next thing I knew, he was requesting I fly out to LA.”
On his first-ever trip to America, Lewis was having dinner with guys like Hulk Hogan and Jean-Claude van Damme. He sees himself as a poster boy from the American dream, attributing all his success to hard work and dedication.
“I wasn’t given any blueprint of how to be a bodybuilder; I just decided to give it my all.”
Lewis also commented on his rigorous training mentality.
“I see it as a job. You don’t want to go to work sometimes, but that’s why I’ve given my body that mental break…I never cheat, I never miss training sessions and I’ve never missed a cardio session in the years. Even when I’ve had injuries, I’ve still altered my cardio and training to get around the injuries.”
Though he still stays in excellent shape, Lewis is now pursuing opportunities outside of bodybuilding. He has developed many contacts in entertainment though he says the work can be less than exciting,
“Up until this year, I’ve never been presented or entertained anything to do with acting,” he said. “I’ve done some stuff with Paris Hilton when I lived in LA, but I found it incredibly boring standing on set all day long and eating from a food truck.”
No matter if he decides to dive into acting, Lewis says he is proud of what he’s created for himself and his family.
“The investments I’ve made ten years ago are now doing very well, and I’ve got other businesses in the process of being bought out. I pride myself in knowing what I’ve gone through, my family will never have to go through. They’ll be financially secure for life.”
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“Meet the Olympians: Red Carpet Event” To Be Held This Weekend in Orlando
The “Meet the Olympians: Red Carpet Event” will be held this weekend in Orlando.
The 2021 Mr. Olympia will take place from Oct. 7-11 in Orlando. This weekend, some of the top bodybuilders in the world will gather for a different event for a great cause. Ed and Betty Pariso will promote an event called “Meet the Olympians: Red Carpet Event” beginning on Friday.
This will be a two-day event that will take place on Friday and Saturday at Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. Phil Heath and Flex Lewis will highlight the list of competitors set to make an appearance. Heath is one of the best bodybuilders of all-time. He totaled seven-straight victories at Mr. Olympia from 2011-2017. He returned to the competition last year where he finished third. Lewis is the king of the Men’s 212 division, where he has total seven 212 Olympia wins during his run. Fans are still eagerly waiting for his Men’s Open debut – which was delayed due to an injury last year.
Breon Ansley and Cydney Gillon are also scheduled to appear. Ansley exploded onto the scene in 2018 by winning the inaugural Arnold Classic Physique title. Later in the season, he added his second-straight Olympia Classic Physique victory. Gillon is one of the top female competitors earning wins at Figure Olympia at the 2018 IFBB Olympia and the Arnold Classic 2019 Figure International.
Other competitors set to appear include Natalia Coehlo, Raymont Edmonds, George Dabull Peterson, Derek Lunsford, Sheronica Henton, Lauren Dannenmiller, Lee Labrada, Hunter Labrada, Casey Marshall, and Terrance Ruffin. Former IFBB Pro Bob Cicherillo will host the event.
Ed and Betty Pariso will promote this event. Betty is a former IFBB Pro who has victories at events such as the 2001 Jan Tana Pro Classic and 2009 IFBB Tampa Bay Pro. This event will promote their charity, “The Ed & Betty Pariso Cancer Charity.”
Ed was diagnosed with a rare sarcoma cancer when masses were found in his lower abdomen and pelvic area in February 2017. After a surgery that spanned over 10 hours, the two large masses were successfully removed. Today, Ed and Betty have made it their goal to help whoever is in need and struggling with this horrible disease.
The Pariso’s have promoted and held many events over the years. Along with partners, such as Bodybuilding.com, Ed and Betty have become known for their shows that attract some of the top athletes in the world. Their goal is to help families dealing with cancer put it aside for an exciting day at a special event.
This weekend, Orlando will be the place to be to see some of the top competitors in the world. They will begin arriving at 3 pm on Friday an 11 am on Saturday. This is a chance for fans to meet some of their favorite athletes in the sport while contributing to a great cause.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
2020 Mr. Olympia Open Division Invites Flex Lewis To Compete
Flex Lewis Accepts Special Invitation To Compete In 2020 Mr. Olympia Open Division Flex Lewis Agrees To Compete At 2020 Mr. Olympia by Derek Hall February 6, 2020 in 2020 Mr. Olympia, Bodybuilding, Mr. Olympia, News Fans have been wondering whether or not we would see Flex Lewis compete at the 2020 Mr. Olympia. That wait is over, as it has…
Kamal Elgargni Wins Mens 212 Mr. Olympia
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2018 Mr. Olympia, Phil Heath Going For A Record Tying 8th Sandow
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