Tag: Flex Wheeler
Carlos Thomas Jr. Says He’ll Beat Andrew Jacked & Hunter Labrada at 2023 Texas Pro for Olympia Entry
American bodybuilder Carlos Thomas Jr. is one of the fastest-growing names in the fitness industry. He’s set to make his pro debut and has gained a ton of attention already. In a recent video uploaded on Olympia TV’s YouTube channel, Thomas Jr. backed himself to join the Mr. Olympia roster by defeating Hunter Labrada and Andrew Jacked at the upcoming 2023 Texas Pro.
Carlos Thomas Jr. first rose to prominence for his insane muscle mass, size, and symmetry after dominating the competition at the 2021 NPC National Championships. He emerged as one of the most promising prospects after his victory in the super heavyweight division and overall. The win earned him his pro card. However, he has been on the sidelines in preparation since.
Although Thomas Jr. intended to participate in the 2023 New York Pro, which concluded with Tonio Burton taking home the top prize two months ago, he was forced to pull out of the contest due to a major issue with his ulcer colitis. He did not let the setback hold him down and plans to finally make his highly anticipated pro debut at the upcoming 2023 Texas Pro.
There has been a surge in budding talent in the Men’s Open division over the last few years. Legacy competitor Hunter Labrada, son of Lee Labrada, established his place in the mix of title contention with a fourth-place finish in only his second Mr. Olympia appearance in 2021. He received a lot of praise for his jacked frame and posing skills going into the 2022 Mr. Olympia.
Along with Labrada, rising sensation Andrew Jacked made waves with his aesthetic package. He turned in one of the best rookie seasons last year, scoring back-to-back gold medals at the 2022 Texas Pro and 2022 Arnold Classic UK.
In the end, Labrada missed the mark on the Olympia stage last December. He dropped out of the top six and settled for seventh place. As for Jacked, he turned in an impressive performance and cracked the top ten in his Mr. Olympia debut, finishing eighth.
Both competitors are on the hunt to secure their entry for the 2023 Mr. Olympia and will face Carlos Thomas Jr. at the nearing Texas Pro.
Carlos Thomas Jr. Confirmes He’ll Do 2023 Texas Pro
In a recent YouTube video, Carlos Thomas Jr. confirmed his plans to compete at the upcoming 2023 Texas Pro.
“Yes, I’m doing the Texas Pro,” said Thomas Jr. “Less than five weeks they’re going to see something that’s going to be brand new and it’s going to shock a lot of people. We’re going to be bringing some enthusiasm to the sport for the rest of the year.”
Thomas Jr. opened up on his reasons for pulling out of the New York Pro due to ulcer colitis.
“Issues we had going into New York with the ulcer colitis, that kind of put a damp on everything. We chose the show kind of far this out because I wanted to take things a little bit slower and make sure that I didn’t incur any flare-ups from the stress of trying to force the body to get ready. We were just kinda going like when it’s ready, it’s ready. So far, it’s been going in a smooth and consistent pace, barely any hiccups. That’s why we chose Texas because it was one of the ones that was farthest out and allowed us to make manipulations and not stress my body out.”
Thomas Jr. opened up about his struggles with heartburn in the past and argued he would’ve won the New York Pro if he competed.
“I used to get a lotta heartburn as a teenager and young adult so in my early 20s. But I’ve been on my gut health regimen for a while now making sure I’m taking my salad and meat, but I’m also doing aloe Vera juice, apple cider vinegar, mushroom root extract, lemon juice, things like that to help with the acidity of my stomach and help break down food. I haven’t been getting any heartburn now for a while.”
“Yeah, I think it’s a show I would have been able to win. I love my boy Tonio, Beef Stu, great guy, but I think bringing in the package that we’ll bring in coming into Texas, it would have been one that I could’ve easily won.”
Flex Wheeler, Bob Cicherillo & Olympia Judge Shower Praises on Thomas Jr. for his immense potential
Bodybuilding legend Flex Wheeler and IFBB Pro League athletes’ representative Bob Cicherillo lauded Carlos Thomas Jr. to be a top-five contender at the 2023 Mr. Olympia.
“Yep, if he nails the condition,” said Wheeler.
“Top 5? Absolutely! He’s going to have a chance to prove it because the front-runner, expected favorite as he should be coming up is Hunter Labrada. Everybody knows that. You’re going to take on a guy who’s been as high as fourth place in the Olympia. If Carlos can bring it and beat Hunter Labrada and knock him out of contention and put yourself in there, you got to be feeling really good about your chances of making that top six at the O.”
Thomas Jr. reacted to receiving praise from four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler.
“It’s still shocking to hear. He told me, ‘hey man, you have the potential to go all the way.; That to me was like blown away. I’m just always blown away even to hear you guys talk about me in this way. I still kind of see myself as a middleweight from back in 2017 so I’m always just humble and gracious.”
Cicherillo believes Carlos Thomas Jr. has everything it takes to become a superstar. Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy and Cicherillo both agreed his side chest post could stand with the best in the game.
“As we talk physiques, and Flex and I have been talking physiques for many many years, we’re always looking at the same first things,” said Cicherillo. “You’re looking at symmetry, proportion, and shape. He checks all those boxes. He ain’t missing nothing. You’re looking for muscularity and conditioning follows up, you got to have everything. Every box has to be checked. But we’re looking for the basics here. Does he have any weak points? Not really. Yes, the back needs to come up, gotta keep that midsection tight, the legs are tremendous. He’s got more quad sweep than anybody we’ve seen come along in a long long time. His back can be eeasily brought up. His thickness from the side can literally hang with anybody right now at the Olympia level. He checks every box to be a superstar. Now the only thing you got to do is actually do it okay.”
“That pose is incredibly. You can put it next to Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan and he looks incredible here,” said El Guindy.
Wheeler and Cicherillo debated whether Men’s Open now prefers shorter contenders over taller ones.
Wheeler: “It went back to a short men’s game. It’s not a tall guy’s game right now. Look at number one and number two in Mr. Olympia.”
Cicherillo: “Wait a minute. I’m going to challenge you on that one big time because you’ve got Samson and Jacked who are both big men coming up and I don’t know if it’s a short man’s game.”
El Guindy backed Thomas Jr. as the best amateur competitor of the last decade.
“In my opinion, he’s the best amateur we have seen in the last decade. He has the thickness and he has the front and side poses to go against some of the top Olympians. If his back is improved, we might just be seeing the future of bodybuilding.”
Thomas Jr. Says He’ll Beat Andrew Jacked & Hunter Labrada at 2023 Texas Pro, Will Take the Year Off Otherwise
Carlos Thomas Jr. explained why he’s confident he’ll beat Hunter Labrada at the show.
“Great physique and this dude is former top four. I feel like my side poses, I have the thickness from top to bottom thickness, hamstring, quads, that’s front to back, I’ll have everything that pose but better. From the front, I feel like I have a better taper, better legs. He has tremendous arms but I feel like my arms match up just as well. From the back, he may have more maturity but as far as muscle wise, I’ve picked that up as well. And conditioning, we’re going to be right on the money comparable. From the glutes and hams, I’ll be strong in that standpoint as well. Ab and thigh, I got that one too.”
He made the case for himself to beat Andrew Jacked at the event.
“He’s awesome but honestly, I remember seeing him at the Arnold. I was there in person. He looked great, tremendous. However, I do feel that in certain poses I just fare better. If we’re talking front double, he has a great front double, great taper but I feel like I have one just as well and I’m thicker than him in certain areas; my legs, my arms, I have better lat thickness. I honestly feel like my front lat spread would bode well against his. Mine is just a more complete pose from top to bottom.
“I really fill in a lot of gaps in that pose. You’ll barely see any. Then, same thing from the side, leg thickness, arm thickness, chest thickness, I feel like I bode well in all those shots. The back poses too, top to bottom, hamstrings, glutes, arms, and everything. I just honestly think that all these poses I just edge them out in certain areas such as in muscularity, symmetry, so I would bode well against them because their weaknesses are my strengths and if anything, you can toss them up one shot, the back double maybe.”
If Thomas Jr. doesn’t come out on top, he will likely take to the sidelines for the year.
“Yeah, I would probably shut it down most likely, I would say I’m about 85 percent sure. I’m no stranger to going back and doing the work.”
Fans will be excited to see Carlos Thomas Jr. inject some fresh blood into the Men’s Open class when he faces Andrew Jacked and Hunter Labrada on stage in less than five weeks at the 2023 Texas Pro.
You can watch the full video below.
https://www.youtube.com/live/k6hTimnQTvo
Published: 21 July, 2023 | 7:50 AM EDT
Flex Wheeler on Getting Bigger: ‘If Your Frame Can’t Handle It, It’s A Big Mistake’
Kenneth ‘Flex’ Wheeler is a major inspiration for bodybuilders, having cemented a legendary career during the 1990s and 2000s. In a recent Olympia TV video, Wheeler and Bob Cicherillo discussed a few topics like athletes hanging around too long, and chasing size unnecessarily.
Wheeler is widely regarded as one of the best bodybuilders to ever compete despite a lack of Mr. Olympia titles. He’s a four-time Arnold Classic winner and brought an unparalleled level of detail, proportions, and aesthetics to the IFBB Pro League Men’s Open division. In addition to his round muscle bellies and slim waist, Wheeler bested some great competitors in his prime, such as Kevin Levrone, Shawn Ray, and Chris Cormier.
Looking back on his career, even Ronnie Coleman admits he wouldn’t be where he is today had it not been for Wheeler. Coleman has appeared in interviews and explained that Wheeler introduced him to his long-time trainer, Chad Nicholls. In the years that would follow, Coleman became a dominant eight-time Mr. Olympia titleholder whose size was chased by the entire division.
Wheeler has been open with fans about his on-stage battles with Coleman. In an interview with Jay Cutler on the Cutler Cast Podcast, Wheeler reflected on his second-place finish to Coleman in 1998. In hindsight, Wheeler said he was ‘green’ back then, and could have done more both in terms of nutrition and training.
In his latest undertaking, Wheeler joined Bob Cicherillo to discuss athletes who delay retirements. In addition, they examined competitors who are obsessed with adding size at the cost of their physiques.
Flex Wheeler, Bob Cicherillo Answer Why Bodybuilders Delay Retirement: “We Are Extreme Athletes”
Flex accepts that he didn’t retire on top and mentioned that he wasn’t looking for an ‘exit strategy’ during the prime years of his career.
“You know, unfortunately, I didn’t get there yet. I felt that I achieved one of my best ever in 1999 at the English Grand Prix. Then, you know, it didn’t go well because I started getting sick. I still was like in a developing stage that I thought I had more in the tank and when I got sick that just changed everything and it changed my ability to compete.
I wasn’t even looking at an exit strategy. Look at Ronnie, Ronnie existed a lot longer after I left. I was looking like I had at least that much time that they did. I wasn’t even thinking about it. I was thinking about I have a third gear to get to and I’m only in second gear,” said Flex Wheeler.
According to Cicherillo, many athletes stick around too long, such as Ronnie Coleman. Seldom do bodybuilders retire on top, like Lee Haney or Lee Priest did.
“I think Ronnie hung out one show too long, you know, Dave I think honestly hung out one show too long, to me, the perfect scenario is you get to write your own story,” added Cicherillo. “We don’t see that a lot. We don’t see a lot of people that write their own ticket off. Yeah, Lee Haney. We haven’t seen that in years.”
“You know, Bob I think it’s because we’re extreme athletes. You look at someone great like Muhammad Ali, you look at that belief, you still have it until someone comes along and proves you don’t. You still believe that. You look at every great. You look at the great Michael Jordan, he came back after going to baseball, he thought he had game going to baseball, it was like nah, this game changed you ain’t no good at baseball. Then, when he came back to basketball, you had Kobe, the younger version of him,” explained Wheeler.
Wheeler & Cicherillo Talk Bodybuilders Being Obsessed with Size & Getting Bigger
Wheeler believes athletes are over-concerned with size and adding tissue instead of focusing on getting better. He said most young competitors nowadays would benefit from losing 15 pounds.
“It’s dysmorphia, especially in our sport, a distorted vision is what I called it and I had it. I never thought I was big enough, I always wanted to put on more size. But it’s not putting on more size, it’s getting better. And bigger doesn’t always mean better, sometimes better is just better.”
“In our sport, it’s probably one of the worst examples that we always feel that we have to get bigger, especially when we turn pro, oh I got to compete with the big boys I better get bigger. That’s always a mistake, especially if your frame can’t handle it.”
“I would almost argue if young men lost 15 pounds of muscle he’d be a more competitive bodybuilder and a more dangerous bodybuilder too,” added Wheeler.
This isn’t the first time that Flex Wheeler has cautioned athletes about adding size. Last year, before the 2022 Mr. Olympia show, Wheeler told Wiliam Bonac to avoid chasing the champion, Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay’s muscularity as it could ultimately work against him. In the end, the last Mr. Olympia contest was determined mostly by the conditioning and balance of Hadi Choopan‘s physique.
And it’s not just Wheeler who is calling for less size in the Open. In April, bodybuilding veteran Tony Pearson joined The Menace Podcast to discuss the role of size in Men’s Bodybuilding. He believes it’s not about size and argued the category should focus more on the lines of a given physique.
While size obviously factors into the upper echelons of the Men’s Open, Flex Wheeler is confident most athletes could find success 15 pounds lighter. He continues to stress that bigger isn’t always better in the world of bodybuilding.
RELATED: 57-yo Flex Wheeler Inspires With Leg Press Workout Using Prosthetic Leg
You can watch the full video from the Olympia TV YouTube channel below:
Published: 8 July, 2023 | 2:58 PM EDT
Flex Wheeler Told By Docs He Needs TRT for Life, Relives Synthol and Insulin Use: “It Created So Much Scar Tissue”
Flex Wheeler still gives back to the bodybuilding community years after his retirement. In The Menace Podcast with Dennis James, Wheeler discussed competing ‘naturally, using testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), and recapped his experiences with insulin and site-enhancement oils such as synthol.
For more than two decades, Wheeler was a global phenomenon in the sport of bodybuilding. He displayed an unforgettable blend of aesthetics, proportions, and v-taper with many also crediting him for his flexibility, slim waist, and graceful posing skills.
While he never laid claim to a Mr. Olympia title, he came remarkably close. Despite his status as a heavy favorite at the 1998 Mr. Olympia, Wheeler fell to Ronnie Coleman after introducing ‘The King’ to his long-time coach Chad Nicholls.
Wheeler’s incredible run in bodybuilding was filled with obstacles, many of which he still endures today. In 2019, Wheeler lost his right leg by amputation following a medical complication. In addition, he’s suffered from an array of health scares in the hospital. Currently, his transplanted kidneys are showing signs of failure, which he discussed in detail on a previous The Menace Podcast appearance with Dennis James.
In his latest undertaking, Flex Wheeler looked back on beating drug tests and competing ‘naturally.’ He also reflected on his use of TRT, insulin, and synthol in a conversation with James, Milos Sarcev, and Chris Cormier.
Flex Wheeler: “I Was Natural, I Passed the Tests and I Took What the Doctors Told Me To”
While Milos Sarcev doesn’t believe Wheeler was natural when he returned to the sport, Flex said he passed drug tests and took what doctors told him to take in a legal manner.
“I didn’t tell the truth already, but the pierce is the problem that you want to bring that up. Natural, half-natural, whatever you want to call it,” said Flex Wheeler.
“It was different. The clear – there’s no such thing as a half-natural, almost natural, and this kind of stuff. There’s no such thing, you’re either or right?” asked Milos Sarcev.
“I’m natural. I was natural. I passed the tests and I took what the doctors told me to take,” said Wheeler. [If a doctor gives you testosterone are you natural?] I don’t know I guess there’s an argument right but I wasn’t taking it illegally, I was on prescriptions at that time for health reasons.”
As for his testosterone, Wheeler recounted his levels being at 79, which prompted him to receive TRT to bring him back to a ‘natural level.’
“I’m not a doctor, I don’t know, I’m being sincere, I’m being serious, I would think if it’s bringing your hormones back to a natural level, and you’re down to, I think I was at 79 when I started, somewhere around that right, because I definitely wasn’t competing in the 2000s like I was.”
“USADA doesn’t allow testosterone replacement. If you get it from a doctor because your test level is super low and you got this limp spaghetti, they will not allow for you to do testosterone replacement, that’s considered doping,” said Dennis James.
Wheeler said he used EPO and growth hormone while receiving dialysis for his kidneys.
“Seriously though, seriously, not joking, what’s crazy is when I was on dialysis, they were giving me EPO and GH,” added Wheeler.
“When you say you were natural, and I know that you were not natural, we all know that you were not natural and you tried to force it, and you passed the test, I wasn’t in the project world record for people passing tests left and right. Passing a test and being natural are two completely different things,” said Sarcev.
‘The Sultan of Symmetry’ highlighted that he took minimum dosages after returning to the stage later in his career. He was informed by doctors that he would be required to take TRT for the rest of his life or face health consequences.
“I was taking such minimum dosages, right? It has nothing to do with being gifted. I was taking what my doctors were prescribing me right? What Milos is saying right, when I went back to doing what we normally do, there was a massive change,” Wheeler replied.
“I didn’t take anything illegal. I didn’t even take any diuretics, Clenbuterol, or anything. I did only what my doctors said to take and even at that time I stopped taking EPO. So for me, that is as natural as I can get.”
“When they told me I had to go back on testosterone for the rest of my life I was so pissed because I stuck myself for over half my life and I was looking forward to never having to do it again, when he told me I had to…”
Wheeler Talks Losing Joe Weider Contract from Broken Neck and His Experiences with Synthol and Insulin
According to Wheeler, he lost his lucrative Joe Weider contract after breaking his neck. He was eventually diagnosed with colitis (the inflammation of the inner lining of the colon). Given Joe’s history, Wheeler was worried Weider would fire him for his health condition as well.
“I lost my contract with Joe Weider for breaking my neck. Nothing I had control over,” said Wheeler. “I can’t go in there and tell this dude the truth that I got an eating disorder if he’s going to drop me for breaking my neck. I told a lie. I told a lie to be able to keep my contract. He didn’t fire me for that, but he fired me for breaking my neck.”
“When he fired me, I lost my seven-story house. I had to go live with Neil,” said Wheeler.
Sarcev first brought up rumors that Kevin Levrone used 120 insulin shots before a single show. Wheeler admitted he used a product called Pump and Pose, which James confirmed was a site-enhancement oil. Looking back, Wheeler said he used the product in his calves and shoulders but avoided injecting it into his gluteal muscles.
“There was a rumor that he [Kevin Levrone] put 120 insulin shots for one show,” said Milos Sarcev.
“If you wanted to know who used the most [site enhancement oils] Kevin did,” said Wheeler. “Pump and Pose, I never messed with Synthol but I used Pump and Pose, the very first version of it. I wouldn’t mess with it later on.”
“That’s exactly what it is, Synthol,” said Dennis James. “Like Chris said, he stopped injecting his butt because it would cause it to inflame up. I understand it causes inflammation. The majority of the things that I would take, I would put them in my calves, and then I would only use in secular, the other stuff, for my shoulders. What happens is it created so much scar tissue.”
This isn’t the first time Wheeler has revealed details about compounds used throughout his career. He joined Dennis James for a discussion a month ago. Wheeler talked about a cycle he used in 1993 and stressed that competitors were taking minimal amounts back in the day.
And Wheeler isn’t the only 1990s pro bodybuilding veteran calling attention to rampant drug use in the sport today. Recently, Rich Gaspari, who pioneered striated glutes in competition, tackled the subject. He posited that athletes are abusing drugs on a more frequent basis instead of building a physique with hardcore training and a clean diet.
A living legend of bodybuilding, Flex Wheeler will always be adored by fans given his honest and straightforward nature. While Sarcev may doubt some of his natural claims, it’s evident Wheeler overcame adversity on a number of occasions during his career.
RELATED: Lee Haney: Open Athletes Are ’60-Lbs Overweight Traumatizing Themselves with Terrible Diets’
You can watch the full video below from the Muscle and Fitness YouTube channel:
Published: 3 July, 2023 | 12:37 PM EDT
Flex Wheeler Reveals 1993 Cycle, Says ‘People Didn’t Take Large Amounts Back Then’
Flex Wheeler, a 1990s bodybuilding icon, still represents the sport with class today. In a recent The Menace Podcast with Dennis James, Wheeler laid out his 1993 steroid cycle and discussed whether or not he used diuretics and growth hormones throughout his career.
During a tenure lasting over 20 years, Wheeler traveled the world as a bodybuilder and showcased a remarkable physique with round muscle bellies and superb conditioning. He paved the way for future pros by sharing the stage with greats such as eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman, Chris Cormier, and Kevin Levrone. Before calling it a career, Wheeler won four Arnold Classic titles and placed in the top two at Mr. Olympia three times.
Wheeler would face adversity after his retirement, however. He struggled from a series of health scares and injuries, which often saw him stuck inside a hospital. In 2019, tragedy struck as a medical emergency resulted in the amputation of his leg. While Flex persevered following the surgery, the 57-year-old was candid about his deteriorating health recently.
Last year, Wheeler told Dennis James that his transplanted kidneys from 2003 were starting to show signs of failure. Despite the hardship, Wheeler has remained busy. He recently accepted an Arnold Classic Lifetime Achievement Award in March. Now he’s back to discuss one of his first-ever cycles with Dennis James and company.
Flex Wheeler Talks 1993 Cycle, Diuretics – Says He Didn’t Know He Was Taking “5:1 Anabolics vs Androgens”
As far as contest prep was concerned, Wheeler said he introduced two diuretics: Aldactone and Dyazide on the Wednesday before a respective event.
“Back then I did my same regimen, it was 100 milligrams a day of Dactone, including the 25 milligrams of Diazide that was in there. What is that, 150 milligrams. Just the last three days [before a show] from Wednesday.”
Wheeler said his 1993 cycle consisted of Deca, Winstrol IV and tablet, Anavar, and testosterone propionate.
“Charles never knew more than I did about diuretics and dieting. He never wrote a cycle. He never did any of that for me,” added Wheeler. I have it all written down. Even after I retired, I had these books that I use to always write my whole cycle down. Somebody threatened to break into my house and steal it.
1993, if I can remember correctly, 800 milligrams of deca a week, 600 milligrams of Winstrol, I think 100 milligrams a day of Winstrol tab,” Wheeler said. “I think it was something like 30 milligrams of Anavar. I think back then, my go-to was like testosterone propionate. That was pretty much it.”
“Me and him were like super close, he was super cool, he was always like, ‘Damn Flex, why you always running this candy?’ You’re not running androgens you’re only running anabolics. You’re like 5:1 with anabolics versus androgens. I didn’t understand. I didn’t know.”
Again, Wheeler mentioned he used Lasix and Aldactone but sometimes switched to Aldactazide to dry out his physique.
“What did I take, nothing. It’s just my body was fighting against me. Like I said, man, I won’t say the amounts of diuretics and Lasix I took in 1998 and 1999 but I still couldn’t achieve a good condition,” added Wheeler. “It wasn’t diuretics again. My body and kidneys were failing. I think I took, I can’t even remember the amount.
My go-to, and that was a big mistake back then even when the diet diuretics started changing, I always stayed to what I knew. I always took out Aldactone and then I switched over to Aldactazide. That was the go-to back then. I didn’t know. Remember, back then, diuretics ripped water from you. You would just take a little bit and be shredded.”
Even though Flex Wheeler thought he was taking an excessive amount of GH, he specified that it was less than what bodybuilders use today.
“GH, you know how much GH I was taking? I thought I was crazy, one IU every other day,” said Wheeler. “Listen, back then, people didn’t take large amounts and if they did, they didn’t tell us. I know one pro bodybuilder’s name, he had his own clothing line. That was the first I ever heard of somebody taking 10 IUs a day. If you don’t believe me, call up Paul Dillett.”
Wheeler Talks ‘Reward Meals’ Instead of Cheat Meals & Eating French Fries During Prep
Initially, Wheeler said his diet for bodybuilding in 1993 was mainly eating out at Sizzler or Firehouse. He added that he was able to eat French fries during prep until eventually, his body wouldn’t allow him to ‘get away with it.’
“I’ve talked about worse, right? Yeah 1993, I don’t think I cheated in ’93. You got to understand my diet. Even in 1993, my breakfast was eating at Firehouse, right? Then, my next five meals were eating at Sizzler. Maybe [cheeseburgers in 1997] I was used to eating French fries, so I ate French fries all the way up till I left for the Arnold Classic, French fries, and ketchup.
My point is, now we understand that we need a little more fat. The second thing is I was always in such good shape right, now, right, back then we called it cheating but no, it’s called reward food,” Flex Wheeler said.
“I figured if I could get away with it and it made me look better, then I really didn’t look at it bad. The truth is, the truth is, only until about 1998, I think my was my kidneys were really started failing and I didn’t know what was going on. I couldn’t get away with it anymore. And it wasn’t that, it was the diuretics.”
While battling on stage, many saw Wheeler winning Mr. Olympia as a foregone conclusion. Though, he never was able to match the sheer size of Ronnie Coleman. Since then, Wheeler has made it a point to warn competitors of today not to chase size unnecessarily.
Wheeler was a consummate professional. Despite his competitive nature, he was open to helping others and actually introduced Coleman to his long-time coach Chad Nicholls. To this day, Ronnie has said had it not been for Flex Wheeler, he never would have won his first Mr. Olympia competition.
Bodybuilding cycles have become a very popular subject in the fitness community as of late. Just a few weeks ago, Arnold Schwarzenegger sat down to discuss the two-compound steroid cycle that he used during his Mr. Olympia reign. While some found it surprising, Schwarzenegger shared that he only used deca (Nandrolone decanoate) and testosterone.
Wheeler’s insight surrounding steroids makes for some interesting conversations. Given his expertise, he continues to serve as a valuable resource for upcoming talent in the IFBB Pro League.
RELATED: Flex Wheeler Recaps 2023 Arnold Classic, Says Samson Dauda Exposed Everyone’s Weaknesses
Check out the full video from the Muscle and Fitness YouTube channel below:
Published: 5 June, 2023 | 11:32 AM EDT
Ronnie Coleman: ‘Flex Wheeler Is Pretty Much the Reason Why I First Won The Olympia’
Despite a heated rivalry, Ronnie Coleman believes Flex Wheeler was crucial to his bodybuilding success. In a recent Nothin’ but a Podcast, Coleman credited Wheeler for introducing him to coach Chad Nicholls and disclosed some of the dietary demands that led to his first Mr. Olympia title.
Ronnie Coleman is widely regarded as one of the best bodybuilders of all time, having earned a total of eight Mr. Olympia titles, tied with fellow legend Lee Haney. During his respective tenure, Coleman laid waste to the Men’s Open division, defeating icon after icon en route to cementing his legacy in the 1990s and 2000s. He was led by Nicholls, who now trains William Bonac and Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay.
In addition to his bodybuilding achievements, Coleman was held in high regard for his impressive feats of strength. Considered one of the strongest bodybuilders to ever compete, ‘The King’ recorded a shocking 2,300-pound leg press and turned heads by smoking an 800-pound deadlift.
While enjoying retirement, Coleman remains infatuated with the sport. In his spare time, he’s trained with fitness influencers and most recently, started a podcast with 212-turned-Men’s Open star Derek Lunsford. In their latest undertaking, Coleman looked back on how Wheeler introduced him to one of the sport’s most accomplished gurus, Chad Nicholls.
Ronnie Coleman Talks Meeting Chad Nicholls Through Flex Wheeler: ‘He Changed Everything I Was Doing’
According to ‘The King,’ his first Mr. Olympia title was made possible thanks to Wheeler. After being introduced to Nicholls, Coleman said his contest preparations were drastically altered.
“It was the same way for me and the guys coming up; a lot of people don’t know it – but Flex Wheeler is pretty much the reason why I won the Olympia because he turned me on to Chad Nicholls. He was like, ‘Hey man, who are you working with?’ I’m like, ‘Dude, I’m doing my own thing.’ He’s like, ‘You need to call this guy Chad Nicholls.’ I’m like, ‘Chad Nicholls…’ yup. He gave me his number I called Chad but Chad didn’t pick up the phone. I said, ‘Flex why’d you have me call this guy Chad he didn’t pick up the phone.’ He says, ‘Nah, he’s just like that man. Call him again, and he’ll call you back.’ He called me back and the rest is pretty much history. I won my first Olympia that year by hooking up with him,” Ronnie Coleman said.
Coleman shared that his food intake exploded as he went from eating a half-pound of food to a whole pound.
“I was doing my own thing pretty much,” shared Coleman. “He changed everything I was doing, everything. Everything. I went from doing like an hour to cardio a day to two hours. I went from eating half a pound of food with every meal to a whole pound. I went from training maybe 45 minutes to an hour a day to about maybe an hour, an hour and a half, sometimes an hour and 15 minutes of training because I was trying to do some of everything. I was working all my body parts as much as I could. All my weak ones, especially!”
“I went from working calves maybe once a week to three times a week, working abs maybe once a week to maybe three times a week, he changed pretty much everything I was doing. Had I not gone with him, I wouldn’t have never ever figured that out on my own. I went from probably eating 400 grams of protein a day to 600. I went from eating like 400 grams of carbs a day to like 100, so it was — major changes going on and he pretty much changed everything I was doing. I would have never ever figured that out on my own for sure because I had no idea that you could put on a lot of quality muscle from eating food, had no idea whatsoever, I’m not going to lie.”
“A lot of people think it’s the drugs was going to put on all that size, no. You had to eat. You can take all the drugs in the world but if you ain’t eating you will not grow. I learned that the hard way,” said Coleman.
Wheeler, who won four Arnold Classic titles, took part in a Cutler Cast appearance to reflect on his career. Looking back on his epic battle with Coleman at the 1998 Mr. Olympia, Wheeler said he ‘didn’t put everything into’ his performance and was ‘ashamed’ of himself. He believes one of his biggest mistakes while competing was chasing the size of Coleman instead of focusing on his own strengths, like aesthetics and conditioning.
RELATED: Ronnie Coleman Talks How Chad Nicholls Helped Him Become The King Of Bodybuilding
Coleman’s gratitude to Wheeler shows that even in a competitive sport like bodybuilding, there can be comradery and mutual respect.
You can watch the full video below:
Published: 13 April, 2023 | 1:28 PM EDT
Flex Wheeler Opened Up On Mental Health And Trauma During His Career: “I Was Very Dedicated To Trying To Take My Life”
Flex Wheeler reflected on many aspects of his bodybuilding career.
Bodybuilding legend Flex Wheeler built a reputation on stage as one of the most conditioned and well-rounded competitors of all-time. He continues to work as a coach and trainer while being active in the gym himself. In a recent interview, Wheeler opened up about his mental health during competition years and other aspects of his career.
Wheeler was aesthetically pleasing during his career. He was unable to attain the elusive Sandow Trophy but is a four-time Arnold Classic champion. During his career, Wheeler had some battles with the likes of Ronnie Coleman and Dorian Yates. Following his career, he has dealt with health issues.
In 2019, Wheeler dealt with blood clots and kidney failure that led to his right leg being partially amputated. Wheeler also battled Covid-19 toward the end of 2021. He has dealt with different issues involving his back and shoulder as well.
In a recent episode of Cutler Cast, hosted by four-time Olympia champion Jay Cutler, Flex Wheeler opened up about some different topics involving his career.
Flex Wheeler Opens Up About Trying To Take His Life
The sport of bodybuilding can be taxing to some when taking the training and supplements into account. Wheeler admitted that he entered the sport with little background and kept improving as he trained.
“I didn’t know anything about bodybuilding, dieting or diuretics, so I took one deca for the show and tried to be the best. I didn’t hit the 90 percentile right away, but I kept getting better,” Flex Wheeler said
“I just emulated other greats, like Phil Hill, who had massive legs and did the splits, and I thought I could do it too, so I taught myself the pose.”
Flex Wheeler dealt with trauma over the course of his career and this led to him attempting to take his own life.
“The first time I tried to kill myself, I was very dedicated to trying to take my life. I look at pictures of myself smiling and I wish I loved myself more. The last time I was in a hospital was just so horrible. My heart did something eight times in a row and I was told I had to keep breathing or else I’d be taken off with the medication.”
Flex Wheeler Discusses “Dark Thoughts”
Flex Wheeler continued the conversation by explaining his thoughts that kept him from sleeping regularly.
“I couldn’t go to sleep because I had dark thoughts about dying. I wondered when people who passed away realized they were not here anymore. I realized I’m not hearing, I don’t want that, so I decided to live as hard as I can and embrace life, the pain and everything else.”
Unfortunately, Flex Wheeler knows he is not the only one who has had these thoughts. He explains how bodybuilders have confidence but many have been abused as children.
“Bodybuilders are often loaded with confidence, but the truth is that a lot of them have been sexually abused and beaten up as children. I fought in martial arts but I couldn’t bring myself to hit someone because I was afraid I would break their nose or ribs.”
Flex Wheeler might have never won an Olympia but he is one of the best Arnold Classic competitors of all-time and built an incredible career. Wheeler continues to be an inspiration to, not just those in bodybuilding, but all who listen to his words.
[embedded content]
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Andrew Jacked Looks Impressive Days Out From Texas Pro
Andrew Jacked looks ready for action days out from the Texas Pro.
Andrew Jacked is looking impressive ahead of his IFBB Pro League debut at the Texas Pro. He looks poised to give the best of the best like Steve Kuclo a run for their money, but can he get the job done?
One of the top bodybuilding prospects of the modern day, Andrew Jacked has exploded onto the scene and looks poised to have a stranglehold on the Open Bodybuilding division. The talented athlete has received his pro card and now looks to obtain his first IFBB Pro League victory.
Looking to make a big splash in his first IFBB Pro League show, Andrew Jacked has pulled out all the stops. Utilizing his connections with top level bodybuilding legends like Flex Wheeler, the IFBB Pro League newcomer has soaked up the knowledge of talented individuals and has been putting it to work.
In preparation for his pro debut at the Texas Pro, Andrew Jacked has been training out of The Dragon’s Lair gym in Las Vegas. Quickly becoming a staple in the bodybuilding arena as a training ground for the greats, Andrew has had the opportunity to work with former reigning 212 champion Flex Lewis and legend Milos Sarcev. This has afforded him the opportunity to meet prominent IFBB Pro League figure Steve Weinberger.
Flatter than Pancake ? ?
Awesome blessing and pleasure to have an encounter with the Big Steve @bevsgym , thanks to @flex_lewis and @milossarcev for the introduction ??.
Yesszzziirrr!!!
Days Out
It’s clear that Andrew Jacked has the potential to go far and with the backing of so many figures it seems a foregone conclusion that he’ll make some major waves. However, Andrew will need to overcome the talented veteran Steve Kuclo at the Texas Pro to achieve his dreams of stepping onto the Olympia stage.
As such Andrew Jacked is taking his preparation very seriously and his training reflects that perfectly.
Chiseling………
Cable Fly variations for Width!
Yesszzziirrr !!!
What do think of Andrew Jacked? Can he win the 2022 Texas Pro?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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.
Flex Wheeler States That His Kidney Is Starting To “Show Signs Of Failure” In Recent Health Update
Legendary Bodybuilder Flex Wheeler shares a health update with some trouble news as he announces a new hurdle he to clear.
Flex Wheeler is over two weeks out from surgery to repair a repeat rotator cuff surgery in his left shoulder. While this was supposed to be a surgery that allowed him to return home shortly after, the legendary bodybuilder remains in the hospital recovering.
Wheeler recently joined The Menace Podcast on the Muscle and Fitness YouTube page to discuss his current state. He gave a full health update, including some issues that were found in his kidneys. Wheeler began by explaining that he was originally kept in the hospital because of the pain.
“The pain from all that was crazy. They had to keep me first from the pain but then I got some sort of GI infection. I started having diarrhea for like four days straight. Being that I’m a kidney transplant patient, being dehydrated for me is not safe. Which then triggered my kidney to start having problems,” Flex wheeler explained.
[embedded content]
Flex Wheeler has had a difficult year when it comes to health. He was hospitalized toward the end of 2021 with COVID-19 and underwent a recovery process that lasted a month. In 2019, he experienced kidney failure and blood clots. This caused his right leg to be amputated.
Two years later, Wheeler explains how his kidney has lasted 20 years and this is not the norm when a kidney is replaced.
“Still having a GI problem but mostly, it’s a kidney problem. My numbers are super unstable so they scheduled me for a kidney biopsy. The kidney is 20 years old and the average kidneys don’t last over seven years, is the average life for a kidney,” Wheeler said.
Flex Wheeler is one of the great bodybuilders of all-time, meaning he carries around great size and muscle mass. The donor that he received the kidney from was small. Because of the size of the kidney, it has seen some wear and tear over the years and is showing signs of failure.
Flex Wheeler Considers Himself A Dreamer
Flex Wheeler is one of the all-time greats in stage, despite never being able to win an Olympia title. He is a four-time Arnold Classic champion and is known for having one of the most-conditioned physiques of all-time.
Last week, Wheeler shared an Instagram post with the caption “Time To Say Goodbye To The Dreamer …” This brought up some conversations on what the meaning was.
During his interview, Wheeler was asked on what he thought about some fans thinking this was a message about suicide or depression.
“Would I really use Instagram as a platform to say that to people?”
“I consider myself a dreamer in bodybuilding and everything. I’ve done that same video again before and I would just say “The Dreamer.” If you listen to the music, the song was really powerful and I don’t really remember. I don’t wanna ruin it. They’re saying they can never have this, that they’re dreaming.”
It seems as though Flex Wheeler is in for another long battle and recovery process. Generation Iron wishes him the best and a speedy recovery during this time.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Flex Wheeler Undergoes Repeat Rotator Cuff Surgery In Left Shoulder
Flex Wheeler has dealt with some serious health issues over the years.
Flex Wheeler is known as a bodybuilding legend for the work he did on stage. Since retiring from the sport, he has dealt with different health issues that he has battled. Most recently, Wheeler took to social media to share that he had to undergo a repeat rotator cuff surgery in his left shoulder.
Wheeler took bodybuilding by storm in the 90s and into the 2000s. He was unable to capture the elusive Sandow Trophy but won the Arnold Classic four times. There are many who would describe Wheeler’s physique as one of the most conditioned during his time. Unfortunately, he has had to battle different issues since his time on stage has ended.
In 2019, Wheeler went through surgery when he suffered kidney failure and blood clots. Because of this, he had his right leg amputated. Toward the end of 2021, Wheeler was hospitalized with COVID-19 and went through a recovery process that lasted a month.
On Monday, Flex Wheeler shared on his Instagram account that he was still at the hospital because his pain was too severe.
Flex Wheeler Dealing With Pain Following Shoulder Surgery
This is not the first time that Flex Wheeler has underwent this procedure. It is a repeat surgery but the pain was severe this time around. Wheeler remains in the hospital from the surgery, which took place on Monday.
“MondayLeft Shoulder surgery AGAIN ..
Repeat rotator cuff repair. It was supposed to be an outpatient surgery.
But they are unable to get my pain under control ??? so, I’m still laying here in a hospital.
Jesus, the amount of pain I’m in and the amount of pain I’ve been through over the past years it’s truly just Mind-bending ?.
HELP??JESUS HELP ME.Amen ??”
In retirement, Wheeler has remained active in the gym. He regularly trains himself but also trains bodybuilders that want to make improvements to their physique.
Flex Wheeler did not disclose how long he would have to remain in the hospital. As usual, Wheeler will continue to battle adversity and make a full recovery from this injury.
Generation Iron wishes a speedy recovery to Flex Wheeler. For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
[embedded content]
Chris Cormier, Flex Wheeler, and Milos Sarcev Share Thoughts On PEDs In Bodybuilding
Some of the best minds in bodybuilding decided to discuss the impact of PEDs in the sport.
The sport of bodybuilding has been hit hard by a string of deaths over the last year. This has caused some of the biggest names in the sport to speak out on different issues. Recently, the trio of Flex Wheeler, Milos Sarcev, and Chris Cormier got together for an interview to discuss PEDs in bodybuilding along with the deaths that have hit the sport hard.
The deaths of 2018 Olympia champion Shawn Rhoden and George Peterson hit the bodybuilding world hard at the end of 2021. In April, Cedric McMillan tragically passed away and this continued talk of how to better the sport overall.
In a recent interview with Muscle & Fitness, the three great bodybuilding minds were asked what they think is going on in bodybuilding and would could be done to make it better moving forward.
[embedded content]
Flex Wheeler
Flex Wheeler is one of the top bodybuilders of all-time and continues to be an influential voice in the sport. During this conversation, he discussed how the use of different drugs has changed since his days on stage.
“Parabolan was our go-to drug. You can take it for extensive times, it didn’t have any heart damage and it didn’t have all these crazy side-effects like Tren. With Tren you can only run it for four weeks and then you have to get off. Flex said. I’m like ‘why?’ And they say because it’s toxic and I’m like ‘what!’. There were some things back in our day that you knew that you could only take this for 2-3 weeks and then you have to get off.”
Wheeler continued by stating that people are not as interested in the workout plan and diet of the athletes anymore. They are focused about hearing about their cycle.
“I think it’s obvious that it’s more of a drug world now. Because we traveled the world, and what was some of the first questions we get from all around the world: “What drugs do you take?” It’s not about back in our era when we were going to seminars, we want to know about their diets and training.”
Chris Cormier
Chris Cormier started off the conversation by discussing heart health of bodybuilders nowadays. He believes that there is too much stress on the heart due to the overall size of bodybuilders and the work that they have to put in.
“These guys are pushing a lot more, not how it is in the gym, but they’re putting a lot more stress on the heart. I feel like these bodybuilders are way bigger than what they were.
READ MORE: Chris Cormier On 90s Bodybuilding: The Best In The World Changed On Any Given Day
I just feel like pay close attention to that heart. You’re pumping it and putting a lot of stress on the heart. I feel like that’s going to be the biggest thing, is wise guys, you’ve been pumping for a lot of years.”
Since McMillan passed away, there has been an emphasis on heart health and Cormier believes this is the problem today.
Milos Sarcev
Last week, Charles Glass spoke on the dangers of drugs today because bodybuilders do not know what they are taking. There are counterfeit drugs out there being pawned off as something that they are not.
READ MORE: Milos Sarcev Lists The Most Shocking Pro Bodybuilding Transformations Ever
Milos Sarcev backed up this notion with his recent comments during this interview. This is becoming a growing problem in bodybuilding and it is dangerous for all involved.
“Back in the 90s, it was pharmaceutical grade. You get something that is from the pharmacy. You know what you’re taking. Now, it’s underground, god knows. Like Chris said, you have some names that you can’t even pronounce.
There are many issues that athletes believe need to be fixed when it comes to bodybuilding and PEDs are at the forefront. It will be interesting to see if these problems can be fixed and the overall health of the competitors can improve.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
- 1
- 2