Tag: GI News
Eddie Hall’s Epic Full Day Of Eating For His Strongman Comeback Crams 4,600 Calories Into Just Three Meals
Image via Eddie Hall’s YouTube channel
This is what Eddie Hall eats to bulk up for his strongman return.
Prepping for his return to strongman, Eddie Hall has revealed his full day diet to build back his monster size in a recent video published on his YouTube channel. Hall is a legendary strongman known best for his enormous size. He was so massive in his prime that he was dubbed “The Beast” – weighing in at about 400 pounds.
Eddie Hall took time away from strongman to prep for his much publicized boxing match against fellow strongman Hafthor Bjornsson. The two focused on transforming their physiques (and tactics) to best prepare for boxing in the ring. Thor ultimately shredded off many more pounds with Hall focusing more on power over speed. However, Hall still trimmed down and showed off an incredibly shredded physique considering a starting point of 400 pounds.
Now that the boxing match is behind him, Eddie Hall has dedicated himself to returning for a special strongman comeback. He plans to compete in the 2022 Giants Live World’s Strongest Nation on November 26, 2022. That means he has been spending time bulking back up to prepare for the contest.
While bulking on some massive calories isn’t uncommon even in the bodybuilding world. Eddie Hall seems to place his 4,600 calorie diet into just three meals. Three massive meals. The diet even includes a meal he dubs the “beast burger.” You might get full just watching the whole video – which you can see below:
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Meal 1 (Breakfast)
Eddie Hall started his morning with a protein shake consisting of milk, peanut butter, bananas, chocolate spread and protein powder. He states that he throws in about 65 grams of protein into the mix.
During his breakfast routine, he also hops on the scale to check in on his weight. He comes in weighing at about 354 pounds. This is already a big step up from his weight during his boxing debut. But he still wants to pack on more weight before the big strongman return.
Meal 2 (Lunch)
Eddie Hall’s lunch consisted of chicken wraps cut into small pieces with scissors. He also cut up onions, tomatoes, and coriander all packed into the wraps. Between the wraps and his breakfast shake – he accounts for consuming about 2,800 calories up until that point. Protein count came to about 305 grams.
Meal 3 (Dinner)
This is where the infamous “beast burgers” come into play. Eddie Hall prepped two burgers and added sauce, tomatoes, and cheese. He also had potato chips/fries on the side. Unfortunately, his planned bacon didn’t make it into the meal – as he burned the strips.
All combined the full day of eating came to 4,600 calories and 385 grams of protein. While not an enormous amount for a large athlete – to combine this into just three meals is quite impressive.
What is even more impressive is how far off this diet is compared to his more active prime years. This comeback diet is essentially a “light” version of what he used to consume. Since winning the World’s Strongest Man in 2017, Hall claimed he would step down from the sport to focus on his health. It’s unclear if this special comeback will lead to motivation for more shows in the future.
In either case, his soft comeback of 4,600 calories is more than most average humans would ever put their stomach through. We’re happy to see Eddie Hall still living life as “The Beast” in some fashion. And we can’t wait to see how he performs later this year.
Stay tuned to the Generation Iron Fitness Network for updates on Eddie Hall’s comeback progress and also for news on all things bodybuilding, strength sports, and fitness.
Kai – The Kai Green Story Debuts As Top 5 Documentary
The Kai Greene life story documentary, Kai, earns a top 5 documentary debut on the iTunes digital charts.
The wait is over. Kai – the Kai Green feature film documentary – is now available on all major digital platforms. And it looks like the film has made a splash receiving a top five documentary debut on the iTunes charts. If you haven’t had a chance to watch the film yet – you can order your digital copy right here.
The film’s rise in the charts continues to the trend of bodybuilding entertainment becoming more accepted in mainstream culture. One that has seen many bodybuilding storylines adapted into feature narrative films and TV shows.
Kai Greene is arguably one of the most complex bodybuilding legends in the history of the sport. Not only did he have a unique personality that literally shined on the stage (in the form of his unique posing routines), he also had a mysterious past that was never directly addressed in public. Instead, Greene would use art to express his reflections of the past. Art via sculpting his own physique, or through his posing routines, or through his paintings and later comic books, or through a live experimental stage play.
Kai Greene is a bodybuilding powerhouse, wrapped in an enigma, wrapped in an artist. It’s not surprising that this combination made him one of the most memorable athletes in the sport’s history. Now for the first time ever – fans will get to understand the truth behind the mind of this mysterious legendary bodybuilder.
Kai promises to be an all-encompassing deep dive into the life story of Kai Greene. Not only will the film chronicle his entire bodybuilding career, including his entertaining and bitter rivalry with Phil Heath, but it will also explore Greene’s childhood and struggles before bodybuilding. The film promises to be the most direct reflection on the past, present, and future of Kai Greene than ever before seen.
That fact becomes all the more clearer with the release of the latest Kai trailer. Kai Greene was interviewed for over 20 hours over the course of production – peeling down and exploring the ultimate truth behind the legend that is Kai Greene.
Kai also features bodybuilding contemporaries such as Mike O’Hearn, Victor Martinez, Rich Gaspari, and long time rival Phil Heath opening up on his relationship with Kai for the first time on film since the original Generation Iron.
Kai Official Synopsis
Kai Greene is one of the biggest modern day legends in bodybuilding both on and off the stage. He’s an athlete, an artist, an actor, and an entrepreneur. But his journey to greatness first started in childhood – when he chose bodybuilding as a form of survival. Growing up in Brooklyn without parents and later locked up in a juvenile correctional facility, bodybuilding became Kai’s source of hope that eventually took him to stardom.
Later in life Kai became one of the most recognizable faces in the fitness industry, praised by Arnold Schwarzenegger himself. His talent was only matched by one singular opponent, his rival and Mr. Olympia champion Phil Heath.
Now witness Kai Greene’s story of survival and climb to success in the first ever all-access documentary chronicling his life and career into the sport of bodybuilding and beyond.
Where To Watch
Kai is directed by Vlad Yudin (Generation Iron, Ronnie Coleman: The King) and produced by both Yudin and Edwin Mejia Jr. (Generation Iron, Ronnie Coleman: The King). It will be executive produced by David Gendron, Russ Riggins, Viviana Zarragoitia, and The Last Dance‘s Matt Maxson.
Kai is available now on all major digital platforms including iTunes, Amazon Prime, and Google Play. You can grab your digital copy right here or by clicking the banner below.
Phil Heath’s 2022 Mr. Olympia Predictions: Hadi Choopan & Brandon Curry Can Beat Big Ramy
7x Mr. Olympia bodybuilding champ Phil Heath believes Hadi Choopan has the slight edge over Brandon Curry to possibly beat Big Ramy at The 2022 Mr. Olympia.
7x Mr. Olympia Phil Heath has revealed his initial predictions for the 2022 Mr. Olympia. In a recent video interview, Heath goes into detail about the current Olympia lineup and predicts that both Hadi Choopan and Brandon Curry have potential to defeate Big Ramy “if he leaves the door open.” Heath ultimately gives a slight edge to Choopan based on what he’s seen recently.
While it still might be a bit early to be making predictions for the 2022 Mr. Olympia, when a 7x Mr. Olympia legend speaks – you start to listen. In prep for his upcoming commentary duties this year, Phil Heath took part in an extensive interview discussing the current Olympia lineup and who has the most potential to win the trophy. He gives a deep analysis of Big Ramy and also his thoughts on the few who could possibly disrupt his reign.
There has been much talk about the rising tide of young bodybuilders finally coming into their own. Nick Walker has been the most hyped rising star – with some even believing the can take the entire Olympia title this year. Other notable mentions are Hunter Labrada, Andrew Jacked, and newcomer Michal Krizo – who has yet to earn his IFBB Pro card but is hyped by many including Jay Cutler.
However, at this moment, Phil Heath still believes that the old guard will hold onto their positions this year. Heath acknowledges the strong and deep talent of the young rising stars – but believes that last year’s top three will still be the ones to bring the most heat. Specifically, he believes that Hadi Choopan and Brandon Curry are the two best bets to win the 2022 Mr. Olympia – that is if Big Ramy slips up.
You can check out the full video below:
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Phil Heath’s predictions on who can defeat Big Ramy at the 2022 Mr. Olympia
Phil Heath starts off discussing Big Ramy himself – who he still believes is the top contender to win the Mr. Olympia this year. He only believes that Ramy will fall behind if he “leaves the door open.” What does he mean by that? Not making enough improvements. Heath – like many other bodybuilders – acknowledges that the judges expect a returning Olympia champion to not only look the same but look even better than the previous year. If Ramy can’t pull that off, he leaves the door open for others to slip in.
This led to Phil Heath being asked who could possibly take down Big Ramy if he left that door open. Heath sticks with consistency and looks towards the top placings last year – Hadi Choopan and Brandon Curry.
“You gotta go with the top three. You got to go with Brandon and Hadi. That was who was in the mix last year. I would say based on what I saw recently, Hadi. I’m not biased because I’ve worked with Hany. That dude has some serious muscle. All it takes is for Ramy to slip. We saw that happen last year. He wasn’t better than when he won his first one.”
However, Phil Heath also points out that there is a world of difference between seeing a physique in person versus in photos or video. Heath hasn’t seen every single of the top contenders in person – which he admits creates a wild card in his predictions.
“Usually, if you leave the door open for two years, things can happen right. This is what sucks by not being there live and just seeing pictures and some video. I haven’t seen Nick Walker in person. I’ve not seen him compete in person. Of course, you’re going to lean towards him being a disruptor. No question about it. I believe he is the youngest disruptor out of anyone in the world.”
Phil Heath points out Nick Walker as having real potential to disrupt this year’s Mr. Olympia. But he falls short of saying he could win – in part because he has not seen Walker in person himself.
Phil Heath shares his opinion of Michal Krizo’s physique
Phil Heath also touches base on the latest hyped athlete of the season – Michal Krizo. Originally an IFBB Elite Pro competitor, Krizo recently announced he would be moving to the IFBB Pro league. He has yet to earn his pro card but the hype is so strong with him that some believe he will become pro and qualify for Mr. Olympia in time to compete in 2022.
While Heath sees why Krizo has earned the hype, he also thinks that it’s too soon to really expect him to do any major damage this year. Phil Heath believes that Michal Krizo still has some holes in his physique.
“What I saw, he [Michal Krizo] looked great. When he was at Gold’s Venice and Jay was with him and stuff, I thought he looked really good, but I do see holes in the physique. I see holes in everything right. I think he definitely needs to work on his presentation. Even when you research his contest videos, he can’t hold poses very long. Just look at the tape.”
It’s fantastic to see Phil Heath really take on the role of a bodybuilding analyst (and future commentator) for the sport of bodybuilding. His thoughtful analysis of the current lineup of competitors is exactly the kind of conversation that helps raise the stakes for the upcoming Mr. Olympia.
That being said, Phil Heath may be commentating this year – but that doesn’t mean he won’t be returning to compete again. He has been silent about any plans but a recent post claiming, “I ain’t done yet. I’m just getting started,” gives fans hope that he will hit the stage again in the future.
Stay tuned to the Generation Iron Fitness Network for more news and updates on all things bodybuilding as we get closer to the 2022 Mr. Olympia.
WATCH: ‘Kai’ Official Release Trailer | The Life Story Of Bodybuilder Kai Greene
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Witness the inside story of bodybuilding’s biggest modern legend – Kai Greene.
We are exactly one day away from the release of Kai on digital. Available on August 26, 2022 – the film will be the first comprehensive and official look into the life story of bodybuilding legend Kai Greene. To celebrate the launch, Generation Iron Network has released one final trailer for the film – which you can watch above. You can also pre-order the film today right here.
Kai Greene may be one of the most exciting and mysterious bodybuilders to ever exist in the history of the sport. His powerful physique speaks for itself and is among one of the best in modern bodybuilding – if not bodybuilding as a whole. But his artistry took that physique to the next level bringing him fame beyond the sport and into the mainstream arena.
However, despite being so large in the public eye, Kai Greene’s life and past have always been a mystery. The large strokes are known by most. During childhood, without a father in the picture, Kai was taken away from his mother by child services and he became a ward of the state. He grew up in orphanages only to eventually be arrested and sent to juvenile detention. It’s there where he was introduced to bodybuilding. He left juvy, became a male stripper for a short while, and eventually rose in the ranks to be a champion bodybuilder.
But many intimate questions remained. What was his experience like in juvenile detention? What was life as an exotic dancer like? How did he receive the massive scar on his face? And what’s up with that grapefruit video? Up until now, the closes we have been to learning of this past was in the form of an experimental stage show called BELIEVE.
Kai promises to answer all of this questions. For the first time ever, after dozens of hours of interview footage, Kai Greene has fully opened up above his entire life story. From his days as a child in a troubled home, through juvenile detention, and into pro bodybuilding. The film also follows up with Kai in the present – as he attempts to publish his graphic novel – The Chronicles Of King Kai.
The Kai Greene documentary is not just a deep insight into a bodybuilding legend for fans of the sport. It’s a dramatic life story that promises to resonate with anyone from all walks of life.
Kai also features Victor Martinez, Rich Gaspari, Mike O’Hearn, George Farah, and longtime rival Phil Heath – all speaking in brand new interviews.
From The Producer Of The Last Dance
In addition to being produced by The Vladar Company and Generation Iron Network – producer Matt Maxson is also attached to the Kai Greene documentary – who is best known for producing The Last Dance.
Emmy nominated Producer Matt Maxson’s The Last Dance starring Michael Jordan took the world by storm in 2020 – becoming one of the most talked about TV events of the year on ESPN and Netflix. He now took his producing talents to the world of bodybuilding and fitness with his involvement in the Kai documentary feature.
Matt Maxon’s other producing credits include Andre The Giant and The Circus: Inside The Greatest Political Show On Earth. Before producing, he spent five years working in production at HBO Sports where he worked on the network’s documentary series 24/7 which garnered 18 Emmy Awards.
The Last Dance received critical acclaim, with praise for its directing and editing. It won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series at the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 96% based on 53 reviews. The documentary series provided the most in-depth look at Michael Jordan’s career with the Chicago Bulls where he played alongside other legendary players such as Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and coach Phil Jackson.
Kai is directed by Vlad Yudin (Generation Iron, Ronnie Coleman: The King) and produced by both Yudin and Edwin Mejia Jr. (Generation Iron, Ronnie Coleman: The King). It will be executive produced by Matt Maxon, David Gendron, Russ Riggins, and Viviana Zarragoitia.
Kai will be available on all major digital platforms on August 26, 2022. You can order your digital copy today right here or by clicking the banner below.
Pro Bodybuilder Brett Wilkin Breaks Down His Massive 6,000 Calorie Bulking Diet
Images via Instagram @brett_wilkin
Brett Wilkin shares his super-bulk 6,000 calorie diet during off-season prep.
In a recent video, pro bodybuilder Brett Wilkin goes into detail about his off-season 6,000 calorie bulking diet. Wilkin has been turning heads with his impressively massive physique recently – and has been a much-hyped competitor in the 2022 bodybuilding season. He’s a rising star with much potential – though he has yet to qualify for the Mr. Olympia this year. If he does, he will join what is sure to be a truly deep and exciting lineup come December.
Most bodybuilders go through two major phases in a bodybuilding season. The off-season bulk and then the contest prep cutting phase. The bulking phase comes when a competitor is far and away from their planned competition. It’s a period of time focused on building as much size and muscle as possible – with less focus on conditioning and shred. Then as the competition comes closer, a bodybuilder will move on to the cutting phase and whittle away the the body into a large and shredded conditioned physique.
In modern bodybuilding, Men’s Open bodybuilders have been trying to push the limit of how big they can appear on stage while also maintaining conditioning. Big Ramy, the current Mr. Olympia, is a prime example of this competing close to 300 pounds. Just yesterday, Samson Dauda revealed his off-season physique update at 330 pounds.
Brett Wilkin is one such bodybuilder also trying to pack on the size to compete with these mass monster competitors. In July, Wilkin appeared for a guest posing showcasing a truly massive physique. Now in his recent YouTube video post – he reveals the massive diet that helped him get so large. You can check it out below:
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Brett Wilkin’s 6,000 Calorie Diet Explained
In the internet age of bodybuilding, fans no longer need to wait for magazines to reveal a bodybuilders training regimen or diet. The competitors themselves can connect directly with fans via Instagram or YouTube to give a true behind the scenes look at their lifestyle and tactics. Let’s break down the 6,000 calorie meal plan of Brett Wilkin.
First Meal
For Bretty Wilkin’s first meal, he consumes two ounces of lemon juice with REVIVE’s GI plus and greens powder. He claims that he uses this supplement for breakfast due to not wanting to include vegetables in his diet at this phase of his bulk. He also adds collagen powder and fiber supplements into a morning shake.
12oz fat free milk
1 scoop whey
150g Oats
35g Almond Butter
100g Blueberries
Second Meal
After breakfast, Brett Wilkin’s second meal of the day is his pre-workout meal. He focuses on carb loading and packing in more protein. He also makes a point to note he is avoiding fats at the moment – but admits that it’s okay to include fats during a pre-workout meal. He just personally doesn’t have them included due to his belief that it slows down digestion through the workout.
7oz chicken breast
150g Rice n Grinds
Intra: Baggy Time
50g Carbs from Gatorade Powder
5g Creatine
10g Glutamine
25g Carbs from RAW Intra
Third Meal
For his mid-day meals, Bretty Wilkin focuses on prioritizing carbs and protein as these will come before, during, and after his training sessions.
RAW Intra Carb 2 scoops
60g RAW Whey Iso
12oz Strawberry Banana Juice
1 banana
RELATED: Best Protein Powder Supplements For Strength & Size
Fourth Meal
Contiuing with his focus on carbs and protein, Brett Wilkin’s fourth meal contains rice and beef – which he claims is his personal favorite. This meal lands at about 130 grams of total carbs and 50 grams of protein.
8oz Megafit 93/7 ground beef
100g carbs from Rice
12oz Orange Juice
Fifth Meal
Brett Wilkin’s fifth meal focuses on a meal prep solution – where he consumes a sweet and sour chicken prepped meal. This is another meal that he claims to enjoy eating – which is why it has been a staple in his recent bulking diet.
Sweet and Sour Chicken (Meal Prep Service)
12oz Orange juice
Sixth Meal
Brett Wilkin’s last meal is what he calls a “free meal.” He states that he likes to do a free meal every other night. In this case, he has attended a friend’s party where he eats chicken, salmon, and some bread.
Wilkin is excited to showcase his meal prep on this day – as he sees it as a perfect example of bulking with five base meals followed by a cheat meal at the end of the day.
Chicken
Bread
Salmon
Samson Dauda Shows Off Maxed Out Off Season Bulk At A Monstrous 330 LBS
Images via Instagram @samson__dauda
Pro bodybuilder Samson Dauda shares one final off season photo maxed out at 330 pounds, a weight that was always the goal but he didn’t think he would hit.
Samson Dauda has ended his off season bulk and training at 330 pounds as per his latest physique update photo. Dauda has been hyping fans throughout all of 2022 with continued off season bulking updates. Sharing his look at 320 pounds, then 324 pounds, and now finally maxing out at 330 pounds. Samson Dauda is qualified to compete in the 2022 Mr. Olympia and appears to now just be starting his contest prep and shred leading into the show.
Samson Dauda is a Men’s Open bodybuilder that many have their eye on. He has continually showed an impressive physique – and he’s been pushing the limits of just how far he can grow during the off season. His size and musculature has been so impressive that he has been labeled a FREAK – all capital letters.
In his latest Instagram update, Dauda shares a video of his latest physique and claims to be weighing in at 330 pounds. He also states that this is the max weight that he and his team have been aiming for – but he wasn’t quite sure if he’d be able to pull it off. Spoiler alert: he did. You can check out the post below:
“Finally ending this off season at 330lbs, the exact number we hoped to hit but not for one minute did I really think I was really going to achieve it ? but @milossarcev had no doubt”
– Samson dauda on Instagram
Earlier in the year, Samson Dauda started turning heads with an incredibly chiseled physique ahead of the 2022 Arnold Classic. While he didn’t take top honors at the show – he did place an impressive fourth place behind William Bonac, Brandon Curry, and Steve Kuclo. He’s since had the rest of the year to prepare for the Mr. Olympia competition. And it seems that he’s not taking any changes and pushing his size to the absolute limit.
Samson Dauda’s bodybuilding origins
Samson Dauda’s bodybuilding origins started in the United Kingdom. Born in Nigeria, he later moved to the UK and took a passion for rugby. He played rugby for his hometown in the UK. It was there that he was first introduced to the concept of bodybuilding.
Dauda was confronted by one of his teammates in the locker room. Upon seeing his physique, the teammate asked him if he would ever consider competing on a bodybuilding stage. Dauda had no idea what bodybuilding was. He had no idea what the teammate was talking about.
Fast forward a bit and after numerous suggestions, Samson Dauda decided to watch the 2013 Mr. Olympia. He was blown away. He knew it then – this is what he wanted to do. He would later compete for the first time in April of 2014. The rest is history.
Now we are looking at a bodybuilder with true freaky mass monster appeal. With his 330 pound update, Dauda shows that he has no trouble matching up to the likes of Big Ramy in terms of size. So now he needs to focus on cutting down and presenting a truly aesthetic and conditioned physique. Based on what he was able to bring earlier this year at the Arnold Classic – we can’t wait to see what kind of progress he makes over these next few months of contest prep.
Stay tuned to the Generation Iron Fitness Network for more updates on Samson Dauda and general news updates on all things bodybuilding, fitness, and strength sports!
Bodybuilding Legend Tom Platz Reveals His Two-Compound Steroid Cycle
Images via Instagram @tomplatz
Tom Platz, bodybuilding legend best known as the Quadfather, explains his steroid cycle and compares it to modern regimens.
Golden Era legend Tom Platz has opened up about his bodybuilding steroid cycle in a new video interview published by Golden Era Bookworm. Perhaps surprising to some, Platz took the “very minimum” with only two compounds in his cycle. He also shares his thoughts on modern bodybuilding steroid doses and cycles.
Tom Platz is an iconic bodybuilder and household name for any fan of bodybuilding and fitness. Best known as a Mr. Universe champion and for his insanely incredible legs – Platz had a reputation of incredible strength and consistency. Platz was a late Golden Era bodybuilder who competed well into the 1980s.
Tom Platz was not only an incredible legend during his prime – but continues to be beloved to this day for his intense training sessions now as a coach. He has also kept up with the work on himself – revealing incredible legs even at 65 years old. His work ethic has been revered similar to the likes of Mike O’Hearn. He is a one of a kind. A true legend in the sport.
Due to his long list of accolades, it comes as a treat when Tom Platz opens up in a brand new interview. Platz is the definition of success – so his words hang heavy on fans of the sport and aspiring bodybuilders. This might be especially true in his recent interview where he opens up about his steroid cycle and how it compares to the regimens that modern bodybuilders take today.
It’s no secret that steroid and drug use in bodybuilding has been an extreme and controversial topic of discussion as of late. There have been a number of tragic deaths in bodybuilding over the past few years – including George Peterson, Cedric McMillan, Bostin Loyd, and former Mr. Olympia champion Shawn Rhoden. This is just to name a few. Sadly there have been over a dozen of too-soon deaths in the bodybuilding world.
While none of these deaths have been exposed to be directly related to steroids – it brought these drugs to the forefront of conversation in the industry. Many have spoken out about the dangers of steroids, the massive increase in doses for modern bodybuilders, and what effects it might have on the current generation as they age.
It’s for these reasons as well that Tom Platz openness about steroids take on more weight. Why? Because he specifically emphasizes just how little he took in comparison to today’s athletes. You can check out the video below:
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Tom Platz Claims To Have Only Take Two Steroid Compounds During His Entire Career
Tom Platz admits that many bodybuilders today may be shocked or simply not believe him – but he only two two compounds in his steroid cycle. This remained true for the entirety of his career. Platz states to have only taken Winstrol and Deca.
“I gotta tell you though because it’s on my mind — and nobody is going to believes me, they’re not going to believe me when they hear this. 20 milligrams of Winstrol (Stanozolol) a day, the little pills, the little pink pills and one shot of Deca (Nandrolone) a week, 100 milligrams That was my life’s drug cycle. That’s it. That’s all I ever did… I never took testosterone. I never took any of these designer drugs. I took the very minimum. I took less than the girls would take but it really worked for me. It worked for me.”
Tom Platz explains that he never used “designer drugs” or testosterone. The focus for him was on longevity. He wanted to not only succeed as a bodybuilder while he was young – but also have a healthier future beyond his prime years.
“It gave me longevity, a livelihood, to this day. I think a high dosage of drugs can really lead to problems as we’re seeing today.”
Platz goes on to compare bodybuilders and their bodies on stage to cars at a car show. He claims that his friend, Terry Wogan, had said to him that, “drugs aren’t going to mkae a Volkswagen into a Ferrari.” The idea being that the drugs don’t make the main – the perseverance and hard work (and a little bit of genetics) do. This is clear in the lifestyle that Platz lived. Today he is still best known for his incredible work ethic and strength.
And also much like a car – how well you take care of it determines how long it will last before you have to scrap it. Using the same analogy, the most drugs you pump into your system, the shorter distance you’ll ultimately get out of your life in the long run.
Tom Platz Reacts To Modern Bodybuilding Steroid Cycles
Tom Platz also looked towards the current crop of bodybuilding athletes and shared his thoughts on the kinds of steroid cycles they take. He admits that what he hears of today seems like a completely different world.
“But I see what some of the guys do now with androgens and how they affect sarcoplasm, which is a fluid substance around the muscle, as you know. It’s not really sailor muscle gains, it’s more water being distributed. I’ve come to respect and understand modern day — I think we’re in a pharmacological quagmire… It’s a different world.”
While Platz doesn’t outright condemn the current steroid cycles of bodybuilders today – it’s clear that he is overwhelmed by how different it is compared to his usage. He literally calls it another world. Perhaps this is a major reason why Platz is able to still showcase incredible strength to this day. He had it all – the legendary fame during his youth and a well lived life after retiring from the stage.
Stay tuned to the Generation Iron Fitness Network for more news and updates on all things bodybuilding, strength sports, and fitness.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Looks Like A Tiny Child Next To André The Giant & Wilt Chamberlain In Throwback Photo
Image via Instagram @schwarzenegger
How do you make 7x Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger look small? Put him next to Andre The Giant and Wilt Chamberlain.
A throwback photo of Arnold Schwarzenegger has gone viral due to the extreme height difference of Arnold compared to Andre The Giant and Wilt Chamberlain. The photo was taken on the set of Conan The Destroyer – but has been resurfaced online and spreading like wildfire on Twitter. At 6′ 2″ tall and over 200 pounds of muscle during his prime – it’s hard to make Arnold look small. Leave it to Andre and Wilt to bring in a true change of perspective.
During his prime, Arnold Schwarzenegger was one of the most accomplished bodybuilders in the sport. With seven Mr. Olympia titles under his belt – he became an instant legend. His physique set the standard for an entire generation of bodybuilders. To this day he is still considered one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. This is a long way of saying that Arnold was a massive man that would dwarf nearly anyone he stood next to.
Unless, of course, he was standing next to Andre The Giant or Wilt Chamberlain. Both of these titans stood over seven feet tall. With Arnold Schwarzenegger at just over six feet – they both had a good foot over the bodybuilding legend. This becomes most clear in a behind the scenes photo from the set of Conan The Destroyer – where all three men stood together for a photo. You can check it out below:
At 6′ 2″, Arnold Schwarzenegger was tall for the sport. Most bodybuilders ran under six feet. So it becomes even more impressive just how tiny Arnold looks next to Andre and Wilt in this photo. Over the years, some have pointed out that by today’s standards, Arnold’s overall muscle mass and size might not stand up to today’s mass monsters. While true, there is no denying that compared to the average person, even today, Arnold in his prime was a massive force.
Andre The Giant was a professional wrestler in the WWE and known for his abnormally massive height at 7′ 4″ tall. He became a sensation and an icon for fans of wrestling and beyond. Wilt Chamberlain was a pro basketball player standing tall at 7″ 1′ tall. He is widely regarded as one of the best basketball players in the history of the sport.
Three legends from three different sports came together for the Conan The Destroyer film. To see these three athletes together at the time was truly exciting for fans of any three of the sports. Now with both Andre and Wilt both having passed away – this photo takes on an even more powerful nostalgic energy. Aided by the humorous effect of Arnold Schwarzenegger looking like a child in comparison.
There are very few people in this world who can make Arnold Schwarzenegger seem small. So it is a gift that this photo exists bringing together three legends. Maybe it’s about time to bring out Conan The Destroyer for another rewatch.
Stay tuned to the Generation Iron Fitness Network for more news on all things bodybuilding, fitness, and strength sports.
‘Kai’ Exclusive Clip – How Kai Greene Was ‘Born’ In Juvy: “I Wanted To Kill Every Living Thing”
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Kai Greene holds nothing back reflecting on the violence, anger, and rage of prison that was channeled into the KAI persona.
Watch the new exclusive clip from Kai – available August 26 on digital! You can pre-order KAI today right here. In this clip, Kai Greene reflects back on his time in prison and how a lifetime full of rage was channeled into a passion for bodybuilding. It was here that he adopted the first name of Kai. Leslie Greene was dead – Kai Greene the bodybuilder was born. You can watch the exclusive clip above.
Kai Greene’s physique is more than enough to warrant the fame and legendary status he achieved during his bodybuilding career. But Kai’s past and journey into bodybuilding is nearly as fascinating as his elite physique itself. His past was one full of trauma, abuse, and struggle. And like any champion stories – he overcame many hurdles to grow only stronger. To grow into the champion bodybuilder we know and admire today.
One segment of Kai Greene’s past was a period of time behind bars in juvenile detention. After Kai became an orphan and ward of the state – a few violent encounters at school landed him in prison. The lifestyle Kai led up to this point combined with the dangerous and violent lifestyle in juvenile detention turned him into a ball of pure rage. If something didn’t change soon – he would possibly fall into a deep spiral of violence, pain, and despair.
Instead, Kai Greene challenged all of that rage and energy into becoming stronger. He wasn’t sure what bodybuilding was as a sport quite yet. But he knew he wanted somewhere to place the extreme rage that consumed his very soul. If it wasn’t into becoming stronger – it would have gone into potentially more dangerous and less healthy endeavors.
So Kai Greene did pushups. Over and over again. He ate only bread and water – believing that was the best food he can eat in prison to bulk up and become stronger. He repeated the pushups, bread, and water over and and over ad nauseam. It was at this moment that Kai was no longer a boy. He dropped the use of his real first name (Leslie) and transformed into Kai Greene. The man. The bodybuilder.
During this period of time, a man working at the juvenile detention facility would notice Kai Greene’s strength and determination. So he showed Kai a bodybuilding magazine. He introduced him to a world where his hard work and desire to be stronger could be an actual athletic career.
With an origin story in place, so to speak, Kai Greene had a new goal upon returning to the world outside of prison. He would become a bodybuilder. While his journey to the IFBB Pro league would still be filled with hurdles including a stint as a male stripper and a video involving a grapefruit – the stage was set. Nothing would stop Kai Greene from becoming the legend we now all know today.
You can watch the exclusive Kai clip, in which Kai Greene becomes extremely emotional reflecting back on some of the angriest years of his life, above.
Kai will be available on all major digital platforms on August 26. You can pre-order today by clicking right here or on the banner below.
Can Phil Heath Win Olympia Again? Hany Rambod Believes “That’s Really Difficult To Do”
Hany Rambod believes that is very difficult, but not impossible, for Phil Heath to Win Mr. Olympia again.
Hany Rambod is a legendary bodybuilding coach – perhaps most notable for coaching Phil Heath throughout his seven Mr. Olympia victories. So perhaps there is no better person than Rambod to predict if Heath could possibly make a comeback and win the Olympia title again. During the latest episode of Dennis James’ The Menace Podcast, Hany Rambod admits that it would be very unlikely, but not impossible, for Phil Heath to win Olympia again.
Hany Rambod is a legendary coach for a reason. He has worked with elite bodybuilders such as Hadi Choopan, Jay Cutler, and new rising star Derek Lunsford. Most notably, he also coached 7x Mr. Olympia champion Phil Heath. So it goes without saying that Rambod has some valuable insight into whether or not Heath will make a comeback… and if he could actually succeed in reclaiming his title.
In the short term, it appears clear that Phil Heath will not be competing this year. He’s set to be commentator for the Mr. Olympia broadcast – dashing any rumors that he would surprise return to compete. Of course, Heath is still notably in extremely good shape. So 2023 and beyond shouldn’t be crossed out for a return just yet.
While nothing is set in stone, Hany Rambod did cast some light on whether or not Phil Heat could return to the stage in the future. During his guest spot on The Menace Podcast, Rambod stated about Heath, “Could he come back? Absolutely.”
The bigger question – is does he want to come back? And if he did – could he ever possibly win?
Hany Rambod evaluates the reality of a Phil Heath comeback to Mr. Olympia
When the topic of Phil Heath came up during The Menace Podcast, Hany Rambod was extremely honest and open. It’s clear that Rambod has already given this much thought – but he also doesn’t sugar coat the reality of where Heath is in his career currently.
“Could he win? I think the hardest thing is that he would never, I don’t think he would end up looking at it like… can Phil beat this guy or this guy, it’s can he beat his best. Because when you do this and you come back like with Jay Cutler in 09, you have to come back and be your best ever to be able to win again after losing. There’s only one bodybuilder who has ever done it so far and that’s Jay in 09.”
Hany Rambod brings up two really good points here. The first is about the mindset of why Phil Heath would return. If he returns simply to win and beat other physiques – that is a recipe for disaster. What Heath needs to believe deep down in his core – is whether or not he can beat his best self. If he does not believe that, a comeback becomes a much harder road.
Rambod also brings up a second point – which is statistically, it is extremely unlikely for a former Mr. Olympia champion to come back and win after losing. This has only been accomplished once by Jay Cutler in 2009. While there have been other champions who came back to win (such as Arnold Schwarzenegger) – they never lost. They simply retired and then came back to win again. That seemingly small difference has a big impact.
That being said, the beauty of sports is that nothing is impossible. Hany Rambod knows this and follows up his statement with further clarification:
“I think Phil obviously is a phenomenal athlete, but do I think he can be as good as he ever was? That’s really difficult to do. I mean I never say anything is impossible, but I think it’s very very difficult. I’m just speaking being honest here because you know… look at how many years he went on that run.”
Time is another important factor that Hany Rambod alludes to here. Phil Heath’s seven Mr. Olympia wins was a long run. Period. That’s seven years of competing at the very best of the best quality. On top of this, it’s been five years since he last won. Phenomenal athlete or not – it is simply more challenging for Heath to bring his best in 2022 (or beyond) than it was when he was 10 years younger.
That being said, no matter how difficult it would be for Phil Heath to win another Olympia title – Hany Rambod would still support and coach him for a comeback. Why? Because if there was anyone who can redo what Jay Cutler accomplished in 2009, Phil Heath would be the one to do it.
Does Phil Heath actually want to return to competing? It’s complicated.
Hany Rambod’s analysis is extremely insightful. But it falls short in one aspect – he can’t read Phil Heath’s mind. At this moment, there has been no definitive yes or no to retirement rumors for Heath. Nor has he stated anything definitively about coming back to the Mr. Olympia.
All we know is that he is 100% out of this year’s competition due to his commentator commitments at the Mr. Olympia. However, Phil Heath teased that his competitive life may not be over just yet. In a recent Instagram post, Heath showcased an incredible physique alongside a statement: “I ain’t done yet, I’m only getting started.”
That comment is just vague enough to keep us guessing. He is referring specifically to competing? Is he simply hyping up fans for fun? Or is he referring to he bigger picture of his business ventures? We don’t know. And that’s the way Phil Heath likes it. Only time will tell if we see him on the Olympia stage again.
Stay tuned to the Generation Iron Fitness Network for future updates on this story and general updates on all things bodybuilding, fitness, and strength sports.