Tag: hany rambod
Hany Rambod Talks Enhanced vs Natural Athletes & Steroid Abuse: ‘You Can’t Run PEDs Forever’
Renowned bodybuilding guru Hany Rambod has cemented his status as one of the greatest coaches in the sport. He boasts a stellar roster of athletes that have won nearly two dozen Olympia titles under his guidance. In a recent episode of The Truth podcast, Rambod shared his thoughts on how natural and enhanced athletes might differ in the off-season and cautioned against the constant use of PEDs performance-enhancing drugs).
Over the last two decades, Hany Rambod has helped shape top talent in multiple divisions such as the Men’s Open, Figure, and Men’s Physique. He guided the likes of Phil Heath and Jay Cutler during their days of professional competition. His unique training methods helped Heath become a dominant champion with seven Mr. Olympia wins in a row and also helped Cutler during his illustrious career.
In addition to the Open contenders, he assisted in Jeremy Buendia’s rise to the top of the Men’s Physique Olympia. He also played a role in helping Nicole Wilkins and Jenny Lynn win Figure Olympia.
Rambod presently serves as a coach for former 212 Olympia champion Derek Lunsford, four-time Classic Physique Olympia winner Chris Bumstead, and reigning Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan. He gave fans a look into his signature FST-7 (fascia stretch training) style legs workout with Choopan in preparation for the 2022 Mr. Olympia last November.
Bumstead is one of the more recent athletes to join Rambod. He teamed up with ‘The Pro Creator’ after splitting with his longtime coach and Men’s Open contender Iain Valliere last season. Considering the incredible track record of Bumstead, many believed Rambod was under a ton of pressure to deliver results. In the end, Bumstead added the fourth title under his belt whereas Choopan won the Mr. Olympia while Lunsford slotted in second in his Open debut.
Following the event, Hany Rambod opened up on working with ‘CBum’ in the final stages of his preparations for about 12 weeks. He also stayed in communication with Valliere leading up to the contest. Over time, Cbum and Rambod built a close bond.
Rambod gave his take on training Choopan and Lunsford at the same time earlier this year. He compared the experience to the time he worked with Heath and Cutler in their heydays. To deal with the problem, he just focused on bringing the best out of both athletes as individuals.
Hany Rambod Talks Natural vs Enhanced in Off-Seasons
In a recent YouTube video, Hany Rambod shared his thoughts on the differences in off-season preparations for a natural and enhanced bodybuilder.
“When it comes to natural and unnatural, I think people try to break it down a little differently. The key is, off-seasons should be just dependent on what you are going through at the time,” said Rambod. “It shouldn’t be because you’re natural or not, it’s just that you gotta listen to your body. If you are an enhanced athlete, you’re going to go through a set time of off-season that usually has to do with either a training cycle or a PED cycle and you can’t just keep running PEDs forever.”
Rambod Torches PED Abusers: “For Those That Are, Shame on You”
Rambod warned those using PEDs and encouraged being conservative with protocols.
“For those that are, shame on you. You’re not doing your body any justice. You’re creating excessive wear and tear to your organs but you’re also not allowing your body to actually benefit from taking gear. That’s why it’s called a cycle. You don’t stay on it perpetually because if you do, you end up actually having reduced amounts of benefit from what you’re taking.”
He stressed the importance of balancing out PEDs and cautioned against their adverse effects.
“It’s an addiction to the look, the feel, the endorphins are heightened because of the hormones. So, know your place and know what these are for; recovery. When you’re doing PEDs and you’re balancing that out, you’re trying to get away with taking the least amount of gear to get the best benefit so that’s why you build sleep, supplements, diet, active therapy all around it. You don’t make your PEDs the base of anything. You just sprinkle it in like seasoning to help with recovery.
“If you do that you’re going to get the best out of your gains and being able to take the longevity of your body so you’re not going to have problems down the road with your kidneys, liver, and everything else that goes along with the destructive effect of PEDs.”
“What you need to do is balance things out and add in for additional recovery and not build it as the base foundation of any program,” he added. “The more that you do the lesser your career is going to last.”
Hany Rambod expressed his excitement for Lunsford’s guest-posing appearance at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro last week. Lunsford left the fans stunned with his monstrous package on stage and goes into the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia as one of the frontrunners. Samson Dauda, who claimed gold at the March’s Arnold Classic is also considered a threat.
RELATED: Hany Rambod on Big Ramy’s 2022 Olympia 5th Place Finish: ‘His Physique Looked ‘Faded/Watery’
Rambod’s latest offering will certainly help educate fitness enthusiasts and competitive bodybuilders on the proper way to incorporate PEDs into their prep.
You can watch the full video below:
Published: 19 May, 2023 | 9:45 AM EDT
Hany Rambod Teases Big Package from Derek Lunsford at 2023 Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing
Excitement for the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro continues to build as a star-studded lineup is expected to guest pose at the event this weekend. In a recent The Truth Podcast, Hany Rambod previewed the show and provided off-season updates from Derek Lunsford, Hadi Choopan, and Chris Bumstead.
Months before last year’s Mr. Olympia contest, Rambod’s pupil Derek Lunsford stole the show at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro. He guest posed alongside other Open class talents without appearing undersized, having gone toe-to-toe against the likes of Brandon Curry, Nick Walker, and Hunter Labrada.
In light of Derek’s dominant showing in Pittsburgh, many believe it prompted Olympia officials to award him with a special invitation to compete in the Open category. After accepting the honor last September, Lunsford wasted no time in asserting himself as a title contender.
At the 2022 Mr. Olympia event, Hadi Choopan claimed gold after finally blending together an immaculate balance of size, muscularity, and hard conditioning. Unlike in years prior, champion Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay fell short on stage in fifth while Lunsford, who debuted in the Open class, walked away in second.
With the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro guest posing show taking place this weekend (May 13-14), Rambod took a closer look at the gathering. In addition, he discussed the off-season progress of Lunsford, Choopan, and Bumstead.
Hany Rambod Talks Hadi Choopan Training at 100% & Derek Lunsford Not Having Size Limitations
Before starting a prep, Rambod mentioned that he sometimes implements a ‘dry run’ where he manipulates water, sodium, and carbohydrate intake. He added that Lunsford was attempting to keep his weight controlled last year, but that won’t be the case this weekend.
“Now, if you’re four or six weeks out, that’s a whole different story. I have done that in the past, where it’s four to six weeks out and someone is guest posing and we do what we call a dry run. What we do is a manipulation of maybe water, carbs, sodium, to get to know the person’s body. I have done that in the past.”
“Like I said, [last year] it was definitely low calories, low carbs, and all of the things that made him in better shape. Theoretically, he’s not going to be in as good of shape because he’s not trying to keep his weight down. Where last year, they’re like why did he look so good, it was because he was trying to keep his weight down. No weight control [now].”
Hany says the Pittsburgh Pro sets up the rest of the bodybuilding calendar. Following the guest posing obligation, Rambod plans to lay out more aggressive game plans for Lunford, Choopan, and Bumstead.
“Pittsburgh is a whole different story, the great thing about Pittsburgh, with Phil, Jay, Ronnie, I’ve been going to Pittsburgh for 25 years. It’s one of the places where you get to see guys that are getting ready for shows that just want to jump on stage or you have people that are just the top five, you see Gunter, Ronnie, Jay, Kai, and you’re just like, ‘Whoa.’”
“Yes, Derek is guest posing. Yes, he is guest posing. He’s been doing a lot of appearances but he hasn’t guest posed. I think he’s ready to take his shirt off finally,” says Hany Rambod. “Not usually, but because of where we’re at in the season, I do like my athletes looking a certain way by this time in terms of where we’re at and we reverse-engineer from the Olympia backward, and now that the Olympia is a little sooner this year, four or five weeks… it is something I use as a gauge.”
“Derek is going to be coming out here so we can kick off the season and we will see where he’s at when he gets to guest pose and see what everyone looks at and be able to assess where we need to be from here and how we can make adjustments but so far everything is going very well with his previous check-ins, same with Chris. I think it was the first time he [Bumstead] has never done off-season check-ins before,” added Rambod.
According to Rambod, the reigning Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan is now training at 100% intensity.
“I’ve spoken to Hadi, he’s now back to training 100% or what I consider 100%, he’s really pushing himself hard, can’t wait to get together with him again.”
Rambod Says Chris Bumstead’s Bicep is Healed and They Are Looking to Hit New ‘Milestones’
Rambod believes Bumstead’s stem cell therapy treatment helped his torn bicep. He finished the conversation by stressing the need to keep all of his athletes within striking distance for the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia competition.
“I just don’t think he trained. I don’t think he trained period. I think he literally took months and months off before he was able to train,” said Rambod. “He did stem cells and a bunch of therapy on it [his biceps] and he trained and was able to get back up to 100% fairly quickly even then I told him to take it easy, you don’t want to reinjure yourself. But getting all the guys in striking distance to start the prep is really what it’s all about at this point.”
“You need to hit those milestones and make sure you’re tracking it properly.”
In a previous appearance on his podcast, Rambod discussed Nick Walker’s potential as an IFBB Pro. Speaking with Fouad Abiad, Rambod underlined Walker’s love and loyalty for bodybuilding, expressing that he ‘lives the sport 24/7.’
Fellow coach and guru, Chris Aceto, rendered his thoughts on the guest posing gathering in Pittsburgh. He anticipates an on-stage battle between Lunsford and Big Ramy given the strengths of their respective physiques. Regardless, he stressed that the Pittsburgh guest posing event is an opportunity to leave an impression with judges months from Olympia.
A packed lineup will take over Pittsburgh this weekend, including Nick Walker, Hunter Labrada, Samson Dauda, Derek Lunsford, Big Ramy, and Shaun Clarida. If the spectacle is anything like last year, bodybuilding fans will have a lot to talk about in the lead-up to 2023 Mr. Olympia.
RELATED: Hany Rambod: Coaching Hadi Choopan/Derek Lunsford at 2022 Olympia Felt Same As Training Jay Cutler/Phil Heath
Watch the full video below from Hany Rambod’s YouTube channel:
Published: 11 May, 2023 | 5:01 PM EDT
Fouad Abiad, Hany Rambod Talk Nick Walker’s ‘Fuc**ng Crazy’ Mindset: ‘He Lives Bodybuilding 24/7’
Hany Rambod and Fouad Abiad joined forces for a special sit-down discussion recently. On The Truth Podcast, Rambod and Abiad examined Nick Walker‘s championship mentality and overall impact on the IFBB Pro League Men’s Open division.
Nick Walker’s influence on the category was impossible to ignore from the moment he stepped on stage. In 2021, he gathered momentum with back-to-back victories at the New York Pro and Arnold Classic. In his first Mr. Olympia appearance, Walker proved his physique was more than just hype as he finished fifth.
Instead of defending his Arnold Classic title in 2022, Walker opted to make improvements on the sidelines, specifically to his waistline and v-taper. Before taking his talents to a second Mr. Olympia contest, Walker and Derek Lunsford stole the show at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro, where they guest posed alongside Brandon Curry and Hunter Labrada.
Despite his status as the overwhelming favorite, Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay was unable to defend successfully. As a result, Hadi Choopan claimed the 2022 Mr. Olympia title with Lunsford and Walker leaving in second and third, respectively. Walker returned in March at the 2023 Arnold Classic but finished second behind Samson Dauda.
Even though he came up short in Ohio, Walker is confident months before his next Olympia. In a recent Mutant and the Mouth podcast, the 28-year-old made it clear he doesn’t think Choopan will repeat as champion. With the bodybuilding season picking up, Rambod and Abiad took a closer look at Nick Walker and his career trajectory.
Fouad Abiad and Hany Rambod on ‘Insane’ Nick Walker: ‘I Never Took His Confidence as Arrogance’
Abiad, who led a successful career himself, said he was shocked by Nick Walker’s determination and loyalty to the sport from the moment he met him.
“He can look at a lineup and really believe what he says when he says – some guys look at a lineup and they are like, ‘Yeah, I’m going to win.’ You’re thinking to yourself there’s no way you’re going to win. I feel like that’s disingenuous also, it’s great to be confident, but are you real with yourself? You know,” said Fouad Abiad.
“You have a relationship with Nick Walker, how do you feel about – what’s his personality do you feel compared to like an Iain?” asks Rambod.
“Here’s the thing, the first ever podcast I did with Nick was before I ever knew him and we did a one-on-one, and he was like, ‘I’m going to win the Mr. Olympia in two years.’ In my head, I was like this kid is fuc**ng crazy. But it was also what drew me to him, it didn’t seem arrogant. It just seemed like this kid’s got a lot of fuc**ng confidence, I don’t know if he’s insane but I like it, that’s kind of how I saw it,” replied Abiad.
“It was crazy for me to hear it. But then when he started competing and he won New York and then he fuc**ng won the Arnold, I’m like, ‘This kid could be fuc**ng right.’ That’s why I never took it as arrogance. I took it as a really firm belief in his own abilities.”
Given Walker’s accomplishments, Rambod believes the hype behind him was/is justified.
“I think that the bottom line is he’s backed it up,” said Rambod.
Rambod, Abiad Compare ‘WWE Character’ Blessing Awodibu & Nick Walker’s Mindsets
According to Abiad, Walker’s confidence is more genuine than Blessing Awodibu‘s. At times, Abiad suggested that ‘The Boogieman’ prefers to entertain whereas Walker is 100% committed to improving as a bodybuilder.
“On the flip side of that, do you feel Blessing does the same thing though, how is he different? Obviously, his placing isn’t there but because they’ve gone back and forth, he sounds very similar to that, but do you feel that it’s different and take aside the fact that he hasn’t been able to live up to that standard that he’s set. In general, do you feel like it was the same or that it was different?” asks Rambod.
“I hope Blessing doesn’t take any offense to this because I think Blessing is a very good bodybuilder. I think Nick lives bodybuilding 24/7 and nothing can interrupt that, not money, not girls, not work, nothing. It’s like, this is all I am here on earth to do, that’s Nick right? Blessing, is like, ‘I’m a really good bodybuilder and I think I can be great but I also like to be an entertainer.’ So, I think he’s playing a part to a certain degree. But also has a belief in himself.
But it’s not the same as Nick. At least from what he portrays, he’s not living the same way Nick is. Maybe this year, this last off season it looks like he’s made incredible progress, but more what I think Blessing is doing when he talks about winning Olympia, I think he’s kind of playing a WWE character to a certain degree,” added Abiad.
“Nick actually believes what he says, it’s not just an act.”
Following his second-place finish to Samson Dauda, Nick Walker has been open with fans about the outcome. He can understand why the judges favored Dauda’s package but underlined that his conditioning levels were enough to win on the scorecards. Walker later called for a revamp to the judging process and requested more transparency.
RELATED: Nick Walker Demolishes an Arduous Push Day Workout
Despite the setback, Nick Walker is focused on the 2023 Mr. Olympia competition, which is scheduled for November 2-5 in Orlando, Florida, where he will once again meet the two men who placed above him last year: Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan.
You can watch the full video below courtesy of Hany Rambod’s YouTube channel:
Published: 6 May, 2023 | 2:54 PM EDT
Hany Rambod Says Andrew Jacked Faces Threats From James Hollingshead and Martin Fitzwater at Arnold UK
Hany Rambod thinks Andrew Jacked, James Hollingshead, and Martin Fitzwater will battle for the top spot at the Arnold Classic UK.
With the Arnold Classic UK fast approaching, Hany Rambod believes Andrew Jacked, James Hollingshead, and Martin Fitzwater will be battling for the top spot at the show. All three bodybuilders have their own distinct body types that they will showcase on stage.
There’s no denying that Andrew Jacked is one of the best up and coming bodybuilders in the world today. His impressive win at the Texas Pro showed that the IFBB Pro League newcomer has what it takes to challenge the top of the division. But as he heads into the 2022 Arnold Classic UK, the talented upstart will face some tough competition.
Hany Rambod, one of the top bodybuilding coaches in the world today, recently confirmed that Andrew Jacked would compete at the show. There was a bit of confusion as to whether Andrew would compete or not. But it appears that Rambod has put those questions to bed.
“[The 2022 Arnold Classic UK] the next big show since the Texas Pro and one thing it has in common: Andrew Jacked. So, Andrew Jacked is in. We got confirmation — someone saw that George mentioned that he is in because there’s been a lot of talk about him being in, him being out.
“I talked to several people — George did comment that he is in. So as of right now, he’s in. Those of you who think that he’s out and think he’s not going to be a part of the equation, he’s back in.”
A UK Threat
Singing the praises of Andrew Jacked in a recent podcast, Hany Rambod explained that the IFBB Pro League newcomer has a ton of momentum heading into the Arnold Classic UK. In the same podcast Rambod explained that homegrown UK talent James Hollingshead could be a legit front runner at the show.
“The momentum he has… I think the person that is going to try to give him the most amount of trouble is Hollingshead. You have James Hollingshead, who is regrouping, putting his physique back together. He looks massive. We’re going to have two different types of physiques going after this title.
“I think that you’re going to have apples and oranges to a degree but it’s going to be great to see him next to some other types of athletes.”
Here Comes Another Challenger
James Hollingshead isn’t the only bodybuilder that Hany Rambod says will test Andrew Jacked. Rambod also spoke on Texas Pro runner up Martin Fitzwater who also shows great potential to play spoiler.
“Another athlete that’s going to try to take another run at him is the guy who placed second — Martin. Martin Fitzwater is going to be in this show as well. He took second in Texas and I know that he’s going to work on his tan, work on his conditioning to try to bring it in even tighter.”
Click here for the full podcast.
With so many different body types expected at the Arnold Classic UK, it’s anyone’s guess as to who will pick up a win. Will it be Andrew Jacked, James Hollingshead, or Martin Fitzwater?
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.
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.
Hany Rambod Gets Serious About Year-Round Steroids Use: “You’re Going To Die Younger”
Beyond training Phil Heath, Hany Rambod is also currently coaching the reigning 212 Olympia champion Derek Lunsford (who just might be moving up to the Men’s Open someday soon). Rambod also helped train the much hyped Hadi Rambod during his transition into Men’s Open at the Mr. Olympia.
After a small hiatus from the podcast, Hany Rambod returned with a truly powerful episode released on May 5th, 2022. In the episode, Rambod focused less on training techniques and coaching insight. Instead, he focused on the long list of deaths in the pro bodybuilding community. Particularly the young athletes who passed away tragically too soon.
Most recently, the sport was crushed to learn that Cedric McMillan passed away at 46 years old. This came shortly after the passing of Bostin Loyd, who was only 29 year old and openly admitted to testing mass amounts of PEDs on his body. Sadly, these deaths were just the tip of the iceberg as many, many young athletes have passed over the past two years. This also includes former Mr. Olympia Shawn Rhoden and beloved Men’s Open pro bodybuilder George Peterson.
Truly, these deaths have been weighing heavily on those in the bodybuilding community. And it appears that Hany Rambod is one of them. Which is why in his comeback episode of his podcast he jumped into detail about steroid use and health in bodybuilding. You can watch the full episode below:
[embedded content]
RELATED: Bodybuilders Are Dying – An Investigation Into Modern Bodybuilding, Health, & PED Use.
Hany Rambod gets candid about bodybuilders who do year-long cycles
While Hany Rambod is no stranger to the fact that steroids are frequently used in bodybuilding – he also wants to warn about the abuse side of PEDs that have become increasingly normalized in modern bodybuilding.
Rambod used Bostin Loyd as a key example of this. Loyd’s death, at an extremely young age, is representative of the problem that is happening in the sport today.
“People really need to understand that these are short term fixes and that’s all it is. You cannot sit there and take gear perpetually and think that it’s going to be okay. It’s not. You’re going to have long-term health consequences that could be in the very short-term majorly catastrophic health consequences. People used to have problems when they were in their fifties and sixties, and they’ve been geared up for a long time and they didn’t take care of their blood pressure, didn’t take care of all these other issues and end up having a heart attack and passing away in their fifties or sixties.
Now, you got guys in their 20s that are passing away! How old was Bostin Loyd? I think he was 29 years old and he’s another guy from the bay area. “At the end of the day, the kid just abused.”
Hany Rambod continues to explain that steroids is, in some ways, an inevitable part of bodybuilding competitively. However, Rambod echos what others have said about waiting as long as possible before using PEDs. See how far your body can be pushed naturally – and then jump into PEDs when you are older, understand your body more, and are more mature.
He continues:
“Look. If you’re listening to this podcast, and you’re thinking of contemplating taking drugs. You should really consider the consequences. Turn around and say, how old am I? Do I want to work within my genetic potential? If so, let me wait until I’m in my mid 20’s before I gear up. If that’s something you decide to do when you’re 22, 23, 24…then you should do it. Then, you’re a little bit more mature.”
“This isn’t just for Trenbolone, steroids, I’m talking about when it comes to anything. Even when it comes to these peptides now, they’re big. SARMS and shit. All this stuff. When you’re older, you’re going to be older and a little more wiser and you’re going to be able to make better decisions when as you become older. But when you’re young and you’re doing these types of things, you just haphazardly don’t think about the consequences and the repercussions of your actions.”
Hany Rambod also reflected back at his time training Dallas McCarver. In some ways, McCarver was the first majorly shocking young death in the modern industry. Rambod reveals that Dallas McCarver was weighing in at 345 pounds at the time of his death. This was after Rambod stopped training him – as he stated he would only let McCarver push up to 285 pounds under his watch. On top of this, autopsy reports later revealed that his heart was three times the size of an average adult.
To see how much farther Dallas McCarver pushed his size truly angers Hany Rambod. He’s angry how far and fast young athletes are willing to push drug use and size – to the point where it has led to tragic young deaths:
“It’s like, I buried a lot of that anger, a lot of that emotion because honestly, I don’t even want to see myself get that angry but I am. I’m angry and very disappointed out there with what I’ve seen.” It’s time for people to realize that…you know, the rides gotta stop. The rides gotta stop.”
Hany Rambod truly gets passionate during this episode while discussing a powerfully sad situation that is arising in the sport. Rambod joins a growing chorus of experts, athletes, and coaches that are publicly warning young bodybuilders about the dangers of steroid and PED abuse.
Perhaps this is the start of a sea change in how the next generation will handle drug use in bodybuilding. However, it’s truly sad that these deaths had to occur at all. While many of the deaths cannot be directly connected to steroid use – it’s clear that health is on the minds of many in the industry. The main message: prioritize your health over being the best bodybuilder in the world. At the very least – when it comes to PED use.
Make sure to stick around the Generation Iron Fitness Network for more news and updates on all things bodybuilding, strength sports, and fitness.
Hany Rambod On Derek Lunsford’s Future: ‘He’s Going To Be In Open, It’s Just A Matter Of When’
Hany Rambod believes that Derek Lunsford will eventually make the move to Open Bodybuilding.
Reigning 212 Olympia champion Derek Lunsford recently appeared as a guest poser during the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro. After originally not be scheduled to appear, Lunsford stepped on stage and turned heads immediately. So much so that coach Hany Rambod discussed a potential move to Open Bodybuilding, which he described as “inevitable.”
Lunsford has been one of the top 212 competitors for years now. He has built a reputation as a hard worker in the gym and was able to reach the pinnacle of the sport in 2021. Lunsford upset Shaun Clarida at the Olympia and will now look to defend his title.
The Pittsburgh Pro saw the likes of Nick Walker, Brandon Curry, and Hunter Labrada. Lunsford was not on the regional list but decided to step in once Big Ramy was taken off. Next to some of the other mass monsters in Open, Lunsford stood out and sparked the conversation on his potential move.
“There’s a lot of things that we have to do to try to work around the fact that his body does want to get bigger. That’s why it’s inevitable that’s he’ going to be in Open, it’s just a matter of when and we have to sit down and figure that out and have those conversations now after he guest posed,” Rambod said.
[embedded content]
What is Derek Lunsford’s Potential in Open?
Derek Lunsford has put on some incredible size and this is the reason he looks like he can stack up against some of the best in the world in another division. Rambod discussed how others have seen Lunsford since his guest posing appearance in Pittsburgh.
“I looked over at Jay Cutler and asked ‘what do you think’ and he said ‘ridiculous’. He looks good right, and he said, ‘no, he looks amazing’. The judges were offering feedback, hitting me up, they’re like wow. All of a sudden my phone started blowing up because the pictures hit the internet.”
Since this appearance, Lunsford has been given even more hype. This began in October when he took down Clarida in 212 and will be taken up a notch heading into the Olympia this year.
Lunsford finished as the runner-up during the Olympia in 2018 and 2019. He saw his production drop in 2020 by finishing fourth. From this moment on, Lunsford began working on improvements and it paid dividends. He was able to jump all the way to champion last year. Despite his success in 212, Rambod believes that there is still some thinking to do on a potential switch.
“It’s still a tough decision as much as everyone wants me to sit there, and tell you he’s going one way or another. It’s definitely something we are sitting down and having to consider. There’s ramifications beyond him just competing that people don’t realize.”
Will Derek Lunsford Make Weight In 212?
The work ethic of Derek Lunsford makes it difficult to believe that he will be unable to do anything. Hany Rambod did express some concern on the bodybuilder being able to make weight for 212.
“It’s going to be difficult, it’s super difficult. He was already flat last year. He’s put on a lot of good muscle and he’s keeping the calories and the food really low. Everyone is like, oh man he must be blowing up because he wants to do the Open, Hany has him doing the open.”
These speculations have come after Lunsford showcased incredible size in Pittsburgh. To this point, there is no plan of a switch and Rambod wanted to clarify that this has not been the plan.
“This is not something we were planning to do whatsoever. It was not something, like this was a prelude or a sneak-peek of him doing the Open, not at all. This was literally trying to be the best version of him, so he can be in striking distance of doing the 212 to hold on to his crown and that’s what this is about.”
At the end of the day, it is about how Lunsford might be able to stack up against other mass monsters in Men’s Open. Thanks to a surprise and unplanned guest posing appearance, the conversation has begun and Rambod believes a switch will come at some point.
“All of a sudden, you see them start posing next to each other and that’s when you can see it. Wait a minute, this guy that’s supposed to be a lot smaller than everyone else, looks just as big because again, bodybuilding is an illusion.”
[embedded content]
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Derek Lunsford Reveals The Machine-Like Specificity Of Training With Hany Rambod
[embedded content]
Derek Lunsford On Hany Rambod’s Intense Training: “It Was Almost Like I Had To Count The Breaths In A Day”
Derek Lunsford has been on top of the world in 2021 – specifically due to his epic win at the Men’s 212 Olympia. As a true passionate man of bodybuilding, his excitement has been infectious since winning the Olympia. And it seems that excitement and passion is matched by his extremely focused training ethic that earned him the victory. A big part of his training and diet routine came in the form of legendary trainer Hany Rambod. The two linked up just 10 months before the Olympia 2021.
In our latest GI Exclusive, Derek Lunsford goes into great detail his experience working with Hany Rambod. In particular, he reveals the machine-like specificity behind Rambod’s program. In no way meant as an insult, he expresses that nearly every single second of his life was calculated towards the final weeks before the Olympia. It was that level of detail, matched with his passion, that helped him break through to the next level and win the biggest show of the year.
Hany Ramod is well known as a legendary guru and trainer for many decades. His FST-7 program has been much touted in the industry. He’s also best known for coaching seven time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath. That same magic and talent was lended to Derek Lunsford. It was a typically shorter lead up time that Rambod is used to – but the two worked together to pull off an amazing feat by the time Olympia 2021 rolled around.
“He coached my mind just as much as he coached my physique,” Derek Lunsford stated in our interview. He continued, “That was actually the first thing he said was, ‘I’m a trainer first. I’m going to coach you and train you first – not just give you a meal plan.’”
Derek Lunsford then went on to explain just how hands on and detailed Hany Rambod was as they drew closer to the Olympia 2021:
“At the very end, I think that’s the biggest thing, the very last week things were very, very specific. The last two to three weeks I was taking notes, being very diligent, on everything I was doing. It’s almost like I had to count the breaths in a day it felt like. Not literally but it just felt like – every time I went to the bathroom or took a nap or did cardio or ate this meal or whatever… I was writing it down. Everything that went into my body or everything that I did physically was being calculated.”
What’s most inspiring about hearing Derek Lunsford talk about his intense contest prep, is how much he seemed to be loving it. Bodybuilding contest prep can be very grueling and bring out the worst in people’s moods during those final weeks. While this may have happened to Lunsford – in retrospect he speaks so lovingly and passionately about the entire experience.
That mentality is the kind of outlook needed to become a champion. It’s no wonder he was able to become the Men’s 212 Olympia victor. Lunsford speaks later in our interview about how excited he is for 2022. His successes this year was simply after 10 months working with Hany Rambod. As he noted earlier, Rambod typically takes more time with his athletes. So in Lunsford’s mind – there is no where to go but up from here.
You can watch Derek Lunsford go into extreme detail about his Olympia 2021 training regimen by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview above!
Hany Rambod: Phil Heath Will Not Compete In 2021 Olympia
Phil Heath will not be present at the 2021 Olympia, confirmed by his coach Hany Rambod.
Phil Heath is one of the best bodybuilders to ever step on stage. He is a seven-time champion at the Olympia but will not seek win No. 8 — at least not in 2021.
On his podcast, “The Truth With Hany Rambod,” the legendary coach confirmed that Heath will not participate in the 2021 Olympia. Rambod was asked flat out if Heath was doing the Olympia and Rambod’s response was simple.
“Phil Heath — seven-time Mr. Olympia — is not doing the 2021 Mr. Olympia. Bottom line…because he doesn’t need to.”
Rambod made sure to highlight that Heath never pulled out of the Olympia lineup. Instead, there was no intention for him to do it at all. Rambod continued by explaining that Heath will be revealing some information soon about other projects that he is working on. Does Rambod believe that Heath could perform well at the Olympia? That is a different question entirely.
“Phil is very dangerous if he decides to do something. He’s a threat to any show he does.”
Phil Heath is tied with Arnold Schwarzenegger for second all-time with seven Olympia victories. Heath’s victories were consecutive from 2011-2017 making him one of three competitors to ever win seven in a row — along with Lee Haney and Ronnie Coleman. Heath trails only Haney and Coleman, who have both won eight Olympia titles in their careers.
Heath placed second at the Olympia back in 2018 and returned in 2020. He finished third behind the likes of Big Ramy and Brandon Curry. It will be interesting to see if the 41-year-old Heath decides to return to the Olympia stage and earn that eighth victory.
It is unknown when Heath will step on stage again or if he will ever decide to compete again. If he does, like Rambod said, he will be a force and a tough competitor to beat.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.