Tag: Lee Priest
Lee Priest Shows Off Favorite Tricep Exercises Learned from Arnold Schwarzenegger
Bodybuilding veteran Lee Priest learned from the best during a career lasting decades. In a recent IFBB AMA video, Priest walked fans through Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s favorite tricep-building techniques that he’s kept in his arsenal. Even though Priest didn’t boast a tall stature, he proved himself against some of the biggest names in the sport. Having […]
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Lee Priest on Training Legs w/Tom Platz: ‘I Was so Fuc**ng Fried, Thought I Was Having a Heart Attack’
Australia’s Lee Priest remains enamored with the sport following a decorated career. He competed for decades en route to cementing his name as one of the best. In a recent Jujitoine Podcast on YouTube, Priest, joined by Milos Sarcev, opened up about training legs with bodybuilding legend Tom Platz.
While he might have lacked stature, Lee Priest made up for it on stage with granite conditioning, huge arms, and freaky fullness. In addition to winning multiple Pro titles, Lee Priest pushed some of the sport’s most elite at prestigious competitions like the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia. He gave eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman, Dexter Jackson, Kevin Levrone, Chris Cormier, and many others tough battles during his tenure.
Before settling into retirement, Priest claimed a pair of victories in 2006 at the NOC New York and the PDI Night of Champions. He came back in 2013 for his final competition, which saw Priest leave the sport on top with a big win at the NABBA Mr. Universe. Priest remains a beloved figure in the sport despite his controversial nature.
Tom Platz, on the other hand, is a golden era bodybuilder known for his remarkable lower body strength and defined legs. His intense workout methods have been lauded for generations. Platz helped shape many competitors after him, such as six-time Olympia winner Dorian Yates, who attended some of Tom’s teaching seminars years ago.
‘He Was Demented & You Had to Go With Him’ – Lee Priest Looks Back on Training Legs with Tom Platz
Priest, a popular member of the Gold’s Gym in Venice Beach, distinctly remembers a gruesome leg training session with Platz. Hours after the workout, Priest said he thought he was having a heart attack in the middle of the night.
“When I trained with Tom, Tom Platz, we would always mainly stick around four or five plates and just really rep them out. You know, Tom was crazy on static holds, whether it be leg press, hack squat, go halfway, hold it, then he would start pulling on the fucking thing, saying, ‘Go back up Lee, come back down.’ I’m thinking, fucking hell, have you ever trained with Tom, Milos?
When he went to that place in his mind, you’re like, ‘Oh fucking hell.’ He just went demented and you had to go with him. I’d get home that night and wake up in the middle of the night thinking I’m having a heart attack because my nervous system is so fucking fried from doing legs with Tom. I’d wake up in a sweat at 1 o’clock, like, ‘I’m having a heart attack, this is it, I’m fucking dying,’” shared Priest.
Sarcev shared his experience training with Platz as well. He said Platz eventually jumped on top of the machine he was using to make the workout more difficult.
“One time, he was coming to the Coliseum Gym and I was finishing calves. Here it is, from the door, he’s coming in. He saw me, okay. I’m on the seated calf. He didn’t even say hello right? ‘You’re doing my set, he says. I’m doing your set, what is it?’ I had two plates on the seated calf, he put another one, then put another one, put another one, as many as – shit – then he jumps on it, you know,” shared Sarcev.
“Something as simple as dumbbell laterals. I’ll do my set, Tom does his, he’d be like this and get lower and lower five minutes later, [he’s barely moving] he’s still going,” added Priest.
Priest remembers asking Tom to make a comeback, but Platz would always say he couldn’t compete again because he’d have to adopt a ‘crazy’ mindset.
“I used to say to Tom make a comeback, he said, ‘Oh Lee I couldn’t. If I got in that mindset I’d just go crazy.’ I couldn’t do it,” said Priest.
“He was doing with Monica Brant some cover shoot. Legs, were exactly like they were back in the day,” said Sarcev.
“In Gold’s Gym he had his green belt on doing squats. His legs had the shape, but as soon as he flexed them, they doubled in size, it’s like what the fuck?” Priest said.
Priest on Being Marked Down for Bloated Stomachs in Bodybuilding: ‘Certain People Were, Other People Weren’t’
According to Priest, the IFBB Pro League announced a rule discouraging bloated stomachs and bubble guts back when he was competing.
“Remember, because we were all competing back then when the judges brought out that rule, ‘If you have a bloated stomach, you’re going to be marked down, you’re going to be marked down.’ Certain people were marked down other people weren’t. To be bigger, everyone was like I got to get bigger, I got to get bigger.
So really, back then, there were a lot of great Classic Physique bodybuilding, the judges just let it go too far and ruined it. So, if they just judged how they are meant to judge, they would have gone to those grotesque bloated stomachs and shit. If someone has a bloated stomach, and you put him in seventh, that’d be like, ‘Fuck. I got to fix this problem. I can’t come in like this or I’m not going to place well.’ But if you give them first or second, they’re not going to change how they look,” said Lee Priest.
“Think about this: how can you let yourself as a bodybuilder get the bubbly gut, big stomach, how can you let yourself? It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to get bigger because once you see this is coming up, I say you have to do something about it,” said Milos Sarcev.
Even at 68 years old, Tom Platz hasn’t slowed down his leg training. He still pushes at the gym with the same principles he adopted as a bodybuilding star. Earlier this month, Platz showed why age is just a number with a jacked quad physique update.
Platz’s energy and training techniques are difficult to replicate, as was his iconic 525-pound squat record for 23 reps. However, reigning World’s Strongest Man and Arnold Strongman Classic champion Mitchell Hooper broke Tom’s record in May by a single rep.
To this day, Tom Platz remains an influential figure in bodybuilding. His attention to detail and tenacity inside the gym turned him into a one-of-a-kind talent. Priest, who had the benefit of learning from Platz, was blown away by his training practices.
RELATED: Lee Priest Says Remove ‘Useless’ Divisions & Backs Arnold Schwarzenegger Over Chris Bumstead
You can watch the full video from the IFBB AMA YouTube channel below:
Published: 20 July, 2023 | 6:50 PM EDT
Lee Priest Responds to Backlash on Urging Removal of 212 & Other Divisions: ‘Shouldn’t Be a Pro’
Australian bodybuilding veteran Lee Priest is not one to shy away from ruffling some feathers with his hot takes. The outspoken pro has been vocal about his dislike for the evolution of some elements in the sport. In a recent IFBB AMA YouTube video, Priest responded to the backlash he received after calling for getting rid of the Men’s 212 and more categories in a debate with renowned bodybuilding coach Milos Sarcev.
Lee Priest made a name for himself with his immense muscle mass, size, and symmetry in the Men’s Open division in the 90s and 2000s. He dominated the regional Australian circuit with his massive arm muscle development before making his way to international competitions such as the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia.
Although Priest did not win the Sandow trophy, he presented a major challenge to the likes of eight-time champion Ronnie Coleman and six-time winner Dorian Yates in his six Mr. Olympia appearances. His final outing saw him score gold at the 2013 NABBA Mr. Universe.
Priest voiced his disapproval of the Men’s 212 division earlier this year. Given the success of former 212 standouts like Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan, Priest suggested dissolving the division altogether and merging the prize money into the Men’s Open class. He argued the best competitors would be able to hold their own next to the mass monsters of the Open.
Priest laid out effective tips for maximizing preacher curl to build bigger biceps and get a better pump four months ago. He detailed various different ranges, machines, and grip variations to utilize for the best results. Then, he took issue with the Minnesota court’s ruling on USA Powerlifting allowing transgender athletes’ participation in women’s sports.
The 51-year-old criticized the eligibility criteria of the returning 2023 Masters Olympia three months ago. According to Priest, the show should raise the age to 50+ instead of 40 and only permit competitors who have been out of competition for about two to three years.
Lee Priest opened up on his secrets to maintaining a high level of personal fitness post-retirement two months ago. While he largely follows the same training plan that he did in his 20s, he’s adjusted how heavy he lifts to accommodate for his injuries. He also reported burning body fat got more difficult with age.
Two months ago, Priest proposed the idea of hosting a ‘Golden Era’ seminar and facing four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler in a guest-posing appearance following the 2023 Masters Olympia. Then, he suggested taking on Kai Greene in an Olympia-themed superhero showdown at a bodybuilding show to entertain the fans.
Lee Priest Responds to Backlash on Urging Removal of 212
In a recent YouTube video, Lee Priest went on a rant defending his calls for removing the Men’s 212 and more categories while debating coach Milos Sarcev.
Priest believes the best competitors would rise to the top regardless of the division and those who don’t should not get a pro card.
“I mentioned a long time ago that 212 should be gone and then I hear people saying, ‘yeah Lee but if we don’t have the 212, these guys wouldn’t have an opportunity to compete as pros.’ That’s true but you know why they wouldn’t have an opportunity to compete as pros? Because they’re not f**king good enough,” Priest continued. “To be a pro, you got to be the best of the best. You’ve got to win the Nationals overall or win your class. Stop giving out pro cards like they’re popcorn because what other sport does that? If I want to be in the NBA, they’re not going to lower the hoop five feet and do a layup in the ball and sh**. No other sport dumbs it down.”
Priest bashed hosting divisions such as the Men’s Physique and Women’s Wellness and Bikini.
“Look, you might want to be a pro but guess what? Maybe the genetics aren’t good enough. Be a good amateur. There’s lots of guys who don’t even compete who make a lot of money training people and competing. But now we’ve got Classic, Physique, in the women’s, we’ve got wellness and bikini.
“You want to do that sh**? Go join the Hawaiian tropics and be a male model or bikini girl. We don’t need to sit at bodybuilding shows bored sh**less watching guys do this sh** with their hands and all that crap. Their legs look sh**, they wear board shorts. You don’t want to train your legs go do the wheelchair division for f**k’s sake. We don’t need all these classes.”
Priest mentioned the likes of Lee Labrada, Franco Columbu, and Lunsford to solidify his case. Sarcev pushed back on his argument but found some points of agreement.
“Labrada competed in the Open, Franco did, I did, Derek Lunsford, all these guys who were 212, they would’ve made it to the Open because they got the genetics,” said Priest. “If you don’t have the genetics to be in the Open you shouldn’t be a pro.”
“Back in the day they gave the Open chance like a lightweight and heavyweight Mr. Olympia and then the overall,” Sarcev replied. “Derek Lunsford, it took him years to switch from 212 to the Olympia when he felt comfortable that he can be competitive.”
Priest responded, “If they had to put like Flex Lewis against Phil Heath for an overall, yes I would agree with that. That’s the best of the best.”
‘212 is not Mr. Olympia,’ says Sarcev
They both agreed the 212 winner would not be Mr. Olympia. Sarcev supported the idea of presenting an opportunity to the smaller athletes whereas Priest argued the pool of pro contenders got diluted because of it.
Sarcev said, “Let’s face it, 212 is not Mr. Olympia. That’s a winner of 212 class but it shouldn’t really be called Mr. Olympia because there’s one Mr. Olympia. If they were given a chance to stand and compete that’s a different story. I agree with you. How can you measure it equally? It can’t be.
“Open division is the best bodybuilder in the world. But it gave an outlet for the smaller guys so they can maybe win something. Look at Shaun Clarida, he’s phenomenal but the best he could do is a fifth at the Arnold Classic.”
“He’s good enough for the Open, he’s proved that,” said Priest. “Back in our day, when we saw a pro stage lineup nearly all the pro shows were almost like the Arnold Classic or Olympia generally Mr. Olympia was the only guy missing. The Iron Man would be you, Dillet, Chris Cormier, Flex Wheeler, you knew everyone up there. Now sadly you go to some pro shows and half the guys on stage look like a pot plant, actually the pot plant looks better. Half of them look like sh** standing up there like stage decorations. Nothing against them I’m sure they train hard. We don’t know their names, who they are, they look like bad amateurs on a pro stage because they shouldn’t have got their pro card.”
Lee Priest gave his take on dieting while in prep for a contest last month. He’d target following a strict diet at least 16 weeks out from a show and getting stage-ready about four weeks out.
Two weeks ago, Priest urged for the removal of ‘useless’ bodybuilding divisions, which covered every category other than the Open and Fitness.
Priest’s latest comments might rub some competitors, especially those in the divisions he wants to eliminate, the wrong way. However, it would bring more attention back to the Open class.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 16 July, 2023 | 9:47 AM EDT
Lee Priest Says Remove ‘Useless’ Divisions & Backs Arnold Schwarzegger Over Chris Bumstead
Australia’s Lee Priest has turned into a knowledgeable bodybuilding source since his days of competition. In a recent RxMuscle YouTube video, Priest urged removing ‘useless’ divisions in bodybuilding and picked Arnold Schwarzenegger to defeat Chris Bumstead in a fantasy matchup.
Lee Priest made a name for himself with impressive muscle mass, size, and conditioning in the Men’s Open division in the 90s. He participated in six Mr. Olympia events and went up against the likes of six-time champion Dorian Yates and eight-time winner Ronnie Coleman. Besides his insane arms, Priest was celebrated for his longevity having spent more than 15 years competing in the IFBB Pro League. He took to the sidelines after winning the 2013 NABBA Mr. Universe in his final showing.
Earlier this year, Priest called for removing the Men’s 212 division and redistributing the prize money in the Open category. He argued the worthy 212 competitors would be able to hold their own in the Open, as proven by two-time 212 Olympia winner Shaun Clarida, and former 212 Olympia champions Kamal Elgargni and Derek Lunsford.
Priest maintains a healthy lifestyle and trains daily post-retirement. Following the return of the Masters Olympia after more than a decade, there was speculation about whether Priest would make a comeback at the event. However, he dismissed the possibility due to his chest atrophy.
Lee Priest / Instagram
The 50-year-old provided fans with some of his best tips on how to maximize preacher curls for building bigger biceps and getting a strong pump three months ago. He detailed the different equipment and variations to use along with the ideal rep range.
Lee Priest criticized the eligibility criteria of the 2023 Masters Olympia two months ago. He suggested raising the age limit to 50+ instead of the current 40 and over and also adding the condition of being away from competition for at least two to three years.
Priest called for a friendly showdown with bodybuilding legend Jay Cutler after the 2023 Masters Olympia last month. He suggested hosting a ‘Golden Era’ seminar and going up against the four-time Mr. Olympia in a guest-posing appearance for the fans.
Lee Priest urges removing ‘useless’ divisions
In a recent YouTube video, Lee Priest called for eliminating several bodybuilding divisions. He believes in keeping only the Open and Fitness categories and none of the others.
“As I sit here pondering the sport of bodybuilding and I watch these Pro shows, these people standing on stage like pot plants, don’t know their names,” said Priest. “Back in our day, the old guy’s going back there, you knew everyone’s name. Every Pro show was top quality guys minus Mr. Olympia. Now everyone gets a trophy bulls***. Bodybuilding, this is how it should be. Only Open bodybuilding, open for the women, and fitness. Physique, Bikini, Wellness, go to your model girl pageants at Hawaiian Tropics because you’re f**king useless. But if we don’t have these classes, where do they compete?
“In the amateurs, stay there with your weight classes because you’re not good enough to be a Pro. That’s why you’re not making it anywhere because even as a Pro you suck. Just go back to being an amateur. 212 out the window. If you’re not good enough to be a good bodybuilder, you can’t make it. That’s just life people. That’s reality. Life’s hard. You suck. You shouldn’t be a Pro.”
Priest backed Nick Walker & Chris Bumstead as the most marketable bodybuilders
Lee Priest extended his support for Nick Walker and Chris Bumstead as the most marketable bodybuilders in the sport.
“In bodybuilding, I’d probably have to go around Nick Walker. In the sport, you’d probably go with Chris Bumstead because of the following. He’s marketable both to bodybuilders and the guys who don’t want to get that big because they can’t because they suck.
“What I’m saying is Bumstead is marketable but then if we just went bodybuilding, probably Nick because he’s young, marketable, good-looking, and stuff like that.”
He backed Samson Dauda as his favorite to win the 2023 Mr. Olympia.
“Samson. I think he’s got a nice combination of size and shape and he’s getting that freaky look. He has a nice balance overall so I’ll go Samson.”
Reigning four-time Classic Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead ruffled some feathers when he declared he would defeat legendary bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger in a hypothetical matchup three months ago. Former Mr. Olympia Samir Bannout pushed back on Bumstead’s claim a week later.
Priest picks Arnold Schwarzenegger over Bumstead
Priest shared his thoughts on a fantasy showdown between Schwarzenegger and Bumstead, picking the seven-time Mr. Olympia to win.
“Arnold wins. Chris is good but Arnold just seemed to flow better. Chris has got great chest, nothing against Arnold’s chest and yeah, he didn’t have the best legs but they worked for him and in 74 he looked great. The arms, the twisting shots, it would be close but I’d give it to Arnold still.”
Lee Priest voiced the idea of taking on Kai Greene in an Olympia-style superhero showdown three weeks ago. He suggested donning superhero attire and performing skits with ‘The Predator’ on stage at a bodybuilding show.
Priest opened up on his diet philosophy while getting ready for competitions weeks ago. He revealed he would start dieting a minimum of 16 weeks before an event and get in top form four weeks out from a contest.
Priest’s latest take on removing some bodybuilding divisions may not be well received by the competitors but some believe it would shine a brighter light on Open talent.
You can watch the full video below.
RELATED: Lee Priest Reveals Changes in Training & Diet from His 20s to 50s
Published: 30 June, 2023 | 12:19 AM EDT
Lee Priest Shares Diet Philosophy in Contest Prep: ‘Always Dieted 16 Weeks Minimum’
Australian bodybuilding veteran Lee Priest rose to the highest level of competition during his days of competition. He presented insane arms and granite conditioning on par with some of the freakiest mass monsters of the Men’s Open class. In a recent episode of IFBB AMA, Priest shared his diet philosophy for contest preps.
Lee Priest first made a name for himself with his impressive muscle mass, size, and detail in the IFBB Pro League in the 90s. Hailing from Australia, he dominated the national circuit before making his way to the most elite fitness showcases in the world, such as the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia contests.
Priest proved to be one of the most disciplined athletes in the sport with six Mr. Olympia appearances against Dorian Yates, Ronnie Coleman, and Chris Cormier. His longevity saw him enjoy an illustrious career that spanned over two decades with his final outing resulting in a win at the 2013 NABBA Mr. Universe.
Since stepping away from competition, Priest has turned into an analyst known for his candid takes on controversial issues. In Nov. 2022, he opened up about gaining 20 pounds of solid muscle by taking Deca (Nandrolone) as a teenager. He credited daily training and proper nutrition for helping him retain muscle mass after coming off his steroid cycles.
Lee Priest / Instagram
Priest gave fans a look into some of his favorite exercises to build jacked forearms earlier this year. To much surprise, he revealed he did not train the muscle group and believes his genetics boosted the growth.
Lee Priest sparked debate about eliminating the Men’s 212 division five months ago. Given the rise in talent from the division, he theorized the elite competitors would be able to hold their own in the Open class and suggested dissolving the category.
As far as training goes, the 50-year-old offered tips on maximizing the preacher curl to get bigger biceps and optimize the pump. Priest laid out the ideal rep ranges along with different techniques and equipment to utilize for maximum gains.
Priest continues to train regularly in his later years. He reflected on the differences in his training and diet plan over the years from when he was competing in his 20s to now. He revealed not much had changed in his regimen except for some workout modifications.
Lee Priest shares diet philosophy in contest prep
In a recent YouTube video, Lee Priest shared his thoughts on the dieting philosophy he used while in prep for a contest.
Priest believes switching to a clean diet after consuming whatever he wanted helped him lean out very quickly. He followed a strict diet for at least 16 weeks and would get in stellar shape about four weeks out from a show.
“The thing was I’d go from eating anything I wanted like sh*t food and come Monday I’d go strict on my diet,” said Priest. “I’d go straight to chicken breast and rice and cardio an hour a day, I got the three hours but the first two weeks of my diet I was that sick because here I am eating fats and sugars and everything.
“Now, I just go super clean. My body would just go into this f**king rebound where I just cut all the bad food out, fats and sugars, two weeks I’d be sick until I started getting into the diet but I always dieted 16 weeks minimum. My first two weeks, people were like oh you lost a bit of weight because I cut out all the preservatives and the sodium. I’ll drop about 15 pounds in two weeks just from water.
“My face would be [shrunken], go in a bit. Almost like I just dropped water weight and then it would slow down. I was always ready about 12-13 weeks and then I did all my photo shoots before the contest so I’d get in shape pretty quick once I turned it on.”
Lee Priest / Instagram
Lee Priest admitted he’d find it more challenging to stick to a diet if he went into prep lighter.
“One year I started my diet I only got to like 250 and mentally hit was harder because if I’m 285, I’m a fat pig I figure f**k Lee, you’ve got to train hard, you’ve got to diet strict, gotta do cardio. When I started with 250 I’m like I’m already 30 pounds ahead I can take it easy. So, I found it actually harder getting ready when I was lighter. When you’re heavy, you got motivation to get in shape.”
He gave his take on eating fruits while in prep for a show.
“I did a lot of [s**t loading]. When I came to America, I didn’t do. But I did it through my whole career. I ate a ton of fruit and now I hear some bodybuilder saying they’re starting to have fruit in the diet I’m thinking I always did that. Because when I went to America people were like, can’t have fruit, it’s got sugar in it. I’m like, I’m training twice a day. I’m doing two to three hours of cardio. I don’t think having a couple of apples is going to do anything to me.”
Lee Priest expressed his willingness to take on bodybuilder Jay Cutler in a guest-posing appearance in light of the upcoming 2023 Masters Olympia. He suggested hosting a Golden Era seminar where he could engage in a friendly battle with the four-time Mr. Olympia.
Earlier this week, Priest called for a superhero showdown with bodybuilding icon Kai Greene to entertain fans, which would surely bring back some fond memories for all parties involved. His latest offering will certainly add more clarity for competitors on how they can improve their diets while in contest prep.
RELATED: Lee Priest Reflects on Maintaining Muscle Mass: ‘Even If I Came Off a Cycle, I Never Really Lost Size’
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 8 June, 2023 | 4:39 PM EDT
Lee Priest Wants ‘Olympia-Themed’ Superhero Showdown with Kai Greene: ‘Come Back for an Encore’
Australian bodybuilding veteran Lee Priest has an undying passion for fitness and working out that he has kept up even in his later years. Since stepping away from professional competition years ago, he has become a revered analyst in the game. In a recent episode of Iron Rage, Priest called for an Olympia-themed superhero showdown with Kai Greene at an upcoming bodybuilding show.
Lee Priest rose to prominence for his insane arm muscle development along with his impressive muscle definition and conditioning as an IFBB Pro League’s Men’s Open contender in the 90s and early 2000s. He dominated the regional circuit before making his way to internationally renowned shows like the Arnold Classic.
Priest secured a qualification to the Mr. Olympia contest in 1997 and place sixth in his first outing under the banner. While he didn’t lay claim to the Sandow trophy, he was one of the most consistent athletes with six Mr. Olympia appearances. He took to the sidelines after a final showing at the 2013 NABBA Mr. Universe, where he dominated the competition to score gold.
With the anticipated return of the 2023 Masters Olympia set for August, Priest expressed his interest in potentially competing at the show. However, he would not be able to do so due to the atrophy in his chest and compromised arms. Earlier this year, he revealed the difference would be significant if he leaned out to step one stage.
The 50-year-old laid out some crucial bicep-focused tips on the preacher curl to maximize pump three months ago. He explained the reasons for using different rep ranges, equipment, and grip variations while offering his take on developing the bicep peak.
Two months ago, Lee Priest criticized the eligibility criteria for the 2023 Masters Olympia. He took issue with the show allowing athletes above age 40 and suggested raising the bar to 50 along with the condition they did not compete for at least two to three years.
Lee Priest / Instagram
American bodybuilder Kai Greene is regarded as one of the best Men’s Open contenders of all time to have never won Mr. Olympia. He displayed an impeccable blend of freakish muscle mass, size, and definition. He separated himself from the pack with his memorable posing routines.
Greene came close to winning the Mr. Olympia contest multiple times but kept falling short of legendary bodybuilder Phil Heath. He developed a fierce rivalry with the seven-time champion who kept knocking him down to second place from 2012 to 2014. After taking three silvers, Greene did not return to the Mr. Olympia stage again and stepped away with three Arnold Classic titles under his belt.
Greene teamed up with budding Men’s Open competitor Blessing Awodibu for a grueling arm workout in Jul. 2022. The duo forged a strong partnership as they regrouped for another brutal shoulder workout six weeks out from the 2022 Mr. Olympia. The veteran helped solidify Blessing’s prep for the show with a final hamstring and back training session where he stressed the importance of building neurological awareness.
Three months ago, Greene reflected on his career competing as a natural athlete for over 15 years. He encouraged his followers to avoid steroids and revealed he consumes anywhere between 2,500 and 6,000 calories daily. Then, he showered praises on his former rival Heath, and left the door open for a comeback. He followed up by showing off his massive delts in a workout update two months ago.
Related: 5 Superhero Workout and Diet Programs: From Hulk to Ant-Man
Lee Priest wants an Olympia-theme superhero showdown with Kai Greene
In a recent YouTube video, Lee Priest called for an Olympia-theme showdown with Kai Greene where they’d portray superheroes and villains for an entertaining skit.
Priest donned the prosthetic arm worn by Bucky(the Winter Soldier) in the Marvel Cinematic Universe before suggesting the idea he plays a superhero against Greene’s villain.
“I’m getting ready, I can cover the bad arm [with the prosthetic arm]. I can come back for an encore,” said Priest. “We could do like a skit. Kai could be a villain. I could be Superman. It would be great. Kai could make a really good Venom character or something or Predator.
“I could do like the Bucky and then do something else but at the end the big Superman muscle suit.”
Dave Palumbo responded, “I’d like you to reenact the scene where Superman’s dead and then he comes back from the dead. I think that would be better if you could do that.”
“Can hit me on stage like a big bright light and then the cables raise me up off the stage. That would be amazing,” Priest said. “Then the music changes, the lightning flashes, and Kai comes out as the evil villain.
“They’re going to have a painted backdrop of Metropolis or something or just project Metropolis and then have scaffolding there because remember Kai did that routine once where he started climbing the scaffolding. He could be up on the scaffolding Venom hanging down.”
Lee Priest would like to incorporate the play into a bodybuilding show to entertain the fans.
Palumbo said, “I mean really you’re Superman. What about would you do Spider-Man or whatever? I would like to see actually I’d like to see Kai as octo. He gets in all those positions and yeah that would be Dr. Octavius versus Spider-Man. You could be Spider-Man.”
“Or the Punisher. The villains and the heroes together.”
“The whole show’s just going to be Lee and Kai. It’s Lee and Kai variety hour. It would be entertaining like Lee and Kai going to do three or four different skits throughout the show but they’re well-choreographed and all that sort of stuff. It would be entertaining. But then you could use some of the other bodybuilders too, just people on the stage that you’re working around like general public type thing.”
Palumbo: “It’d be nice to have an Olympia theme.”
“I think it would be good too because superheroes these days people associate whatever they are with the muscular characters in superheroes and that X-Men type things and stuff.”
Lee Priest detailed the difference in his diet and training routine from the time he was in his 20s to now that he’s his 50s last month. While a lot did not change, he modified his training due to injuries and believes burning body fat might have got more difficult.
Last week, Priest suggested doing a Golden Era seminar with bodybuilding legend Jay Cutler and facing the four-time Mr. Olympia in a guest-posing appearance after the conclusion of the 2023 Masters Olympia.
Priest’s idea of bringing Greene back to the stage in such an entertaining fashion would surely be a treat for the fans to enjoy. However, it remains to be seen whether it comes to fruition.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 4 June, 2023 | 12:39 PM EDT
Lee Priest Calls for Guest-Posing Seminar with Jay Cutler after 2023 Masters Olympia
Bodybuilding legend Jay Cutler did not lose his passion for fitness after moving on from professional competition years ago. During his career, he battled it out with several notable names such as Australian bodybuilding veteran Lee Priest. In a recent episode of RxMuscle, Priest shared his thoughts on potentially facing Jay Cutler on stage in a guest-posing appearance at the 2023 Masters Olympia and called for a ‘Golden Era seminar.’
Jay Cutler made a name for himself with his insane muscle mass, size, and conditioning in the IFBB Pro League Men’s Open class. He won the Arnold Classic title three times and found Olympia glory in 2006 after placing second four times. His last appearance came at the 2013 Mr. Olympia, where he finished sixth and hung up his posing trunks as a four-time champion. He continued to work out regularly and stay in stellar shape post-retirement.
After an 11-year hiatus, the Masters Olympia is set to make a comeback on Aug. 25-27 in Cluj Napoca, Romania. The competition was started in 1994 to provide older bodybuilders an opportunity to showcase their talents in front of fans and vie for the title. Robby Robinson created history by winning the inaugural event whereas Vince Taylor etched his name in the record books with six titles under his belt. The show’s last edition was won by Dexter Jackson in 2012.
Given the impressive package Cutler boasts, there were rumors about his return to action for the upcoming 2023 Masters Olympia. He’s looking to level up his fitness game for his own ‘Fit for 50’ body transformation challenge. He laid out his ambitions in the gym and believes he could achieve them with proper nutrition, diet, and only using TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) last month. However, he later shut the door on competing again.
Lee Priest opened up on the possibility of signing up for the event earlier this year. As much as he would’ve liked to compete, Priest revealed he would not be able to due to his chest atrophy and other health challenges.
Jay Cutler and IFBB head judge Steve Weinberger announced the full roster of all 10 divisions for the contest a few weeks ago. Former 212 Olympia champion Kamal Elgargni goes into the show as the betting favorite to win the Open title. Following the announcement, Priest called on the organizers to revamp the eligibility criteria and raise the qualification age to 50+ instead of 40.
Lee Priest talks about chances of guest-posing against Jay Cutler at the 2023 Masters Olympia
In a recent YouTube video, Lee Priest shared his thoughts on potentially going against Jay Cutler in a guest-posing appearance at the 2023 Masters Olympia.
Priest believes Cutler would rather do a guest-posing showing instead of competing.
“He did say he might take his shirt off, joked around about guest posing that he might take his shirt off but he said he’s definitely not competing,” said Priest. “But he said he could take his shirt off and maybe guest pose or something like that. I’d say it could be more of that than competing again.”
When asked if he would pose next to Cutler, Priest voiced his hesitation and seemed to be against the prospect.
“I don’t get invited to go anywhere. It’s a bit late now I haven’t got much prep time. My birthday’s coming up in July. I’ll be 51.”
Priest calls for a ‘Golden Era seminar’ with Cutler
Lee Priest / Instagram
The 50-year-old suggested hosting a similar event where competitors of yesteryears could pose in front of fans without the pressure of competition.
“I always said, you get a good promoter, if you had like Kevin, Flex, get in shape or like you did back then like you have Jay now, you could probably have Victor, myself, a few who could over 12-16 weeks get in decent shape. I say don’t compete just have them do a golden era seminar where they do a seminar and a bit of posing would be great.”
Lee Priest offered some of his best tips on effectively performing bicep preacher curls to maximize pump using different rep ranges, equipment, and grip variations two months ago. He followed up by revealing the difference in his training and diet from when he was in his 20s to now at the age of 50.
2023 Masters Olympia will feature Michelle Brent, a 65-year-old bodybuilder with over 36 years of experience. Hidetada Yamagishi will also be in attendance as a frontrunner for the title.
Jay Cutler opened up on his ambitions to lower his body fat to six to eight percent for the body transformation challenge earlier this month. He showed off his shredded package in a physique update two weeks ago and provided another jacked update where he weighed 240 pounds days later.
Whether Cutler competes at the show or not, a guest-posing appearance would send fans into a frenzy over witnessing the iconic competitor take to the stage again.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 28 May, 2023 | 12:21 PM EDT
Lee Priest Predicts ‘Beef Stu’ and Tonio Burton Will Battle for 1st at 2023 New York Pro This Weekend
The bodybuilding season marches on as competitors prepare for another busy weekend. In a recent Rx Muscle interview, Lee Priest predicted which bodybuilders are most likely to walk away with gold at the 2023 New York Pro.
Over the last six months, the Men’s Open division has changed dramatically. At the 2022 Mr. Olympia contest, mass monster Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay failed to repeat as champion. Instead, Iranian-born Hadi Choopan claimed the title after outlasting contenders Derek Lunsford and Nick Walker in the finals.
Nick Walker and Hadi Choopan at The Mr. Olympia 2021
With a new Mr. Olympia champion looking over the category, fans’ attention turned to Columbus, Ohio for the 35th annual Arnold Classic. Once again, Walker was in the running to win but was narrowly defeated by Samson Dauda.
Considering Choopan, a former 212 bodybuilder, was able to win the Open title at Mr. Olympia, some in the sport believe the division is shifting to favor shape and conditioning over freak factor. And while the season has remained somewhat quiet since Dauda’s victory, that is about to change at the sport’s third most prestigious contest this weekend.
Lee Priest Names Tonio Burton & ‘Beef’ Stu Sutherland As 2023 New York Pro Favorites
Having assessed Tonio Burton‘s physique, Lee Priest shared that he was impressed with the athlete’s shape, muscularity, and conditioning, adding that he could ‘definitely win it.’
“Yeah, I think I just saw some photos, he’s the one that has the tattoos on him doesn’t he? Yeah, I’ve always been impressed when I’ve seen him with his shape, muscularity, and conditioning I’ve sometimes seen him in.
I think he popped up on Instagram this morning he was doing a lat spread or something . Like I said, he looks great. Just the proportions and what he has, he has one of those physiques where he’s going to look so much better on stage, the illusion of the round muscles and the shape. He can definitely win it,” said Lee Priest.
Before looking at other contenders, Priest was taken aback by the lack of big names participating this weekend.
“Back in the day, remember the big names that would turn up at those shows, it was always the Olympia, the Arnold, and the Night of Champions, now the New York Pro, those were good shows and if you wanted them, they were a good win. Like I’ve said before, a lot of these pros sit out so many shows where they could fuc**ng win them if they turned up in great shape.”
Priest dubbed Maxx Charles as a dark horse given his consistent ability to enter shows with great conditioning.
“The thing about Maxx, I like Maxx, I think I’ve seen him in a few shows,” said Priest. “There’s a few shows I’ve seen him in. Like last year, where I thought he should have placed higher than he should have than he did I mean. His conditioning is generally on point. He can, like I said, it’s going to be one of those things, you don’t know till the day.”
In addition to Burton, Priest anticipates ‘Beef’ Stu Sutherland fighting for gold. He explained that Stu managed to hold his own against Hunter Labrada during a guest-posing event earlier this year.
“I could see him being, he could win or be top three easy from the names so far,” Priest shared. “Wasn’t there a guest posing a while ago where he was posing next to Hunter Labrada and he held his own.”
While some in the community had hoped for bigger names in the 2023 New York Pro, Priest believes it’s exciting because there’s no clear winner leading up to the contest.
“We don’t a lot them but that still makes it exciting like I said, because there is no clear winner. Watching this show is going to be picking the winner as well with the judges. There’s nothing worse than you go, ‘Okay the judges are going to put him first he always wins.’ Make it exciting that way. Even for the competitors too, they must know.
It sounds bad when you say there’s no big names in it, like there’s no good bodybuilders, because these guys competing are great bodybuilders. You know what I mean, back in the day, it had to be like those names, like Kevin Levrone, it was like, ‘Oh, Kevin was going to win.’ Even for the guys competing in this show, they’re probably all going in it with the mindset, ‘Shit any of us can win this.’ There’s no standout person here. It probably makes them try harder.”
Before making his New York Pro debut, Stuart Sutherland joined Fouad Abiad on a recent Bro Chat episode. He was happy there wasn’t a ‘bunch of studs’ performing this weekend and said he was feeling confident about his chances of success.
The winner of this year’s 2023 New York Pro will earn an invitation to the Mr. Olympia contest November 2-5 in Orlando Florida, where they will have the chance to face off against the reigning champion Choopan.
RELATED: Sergio Oliva Jr. Aiming for 2023 New York & Cali Pro, Fires Back at ‘Instagram Bodybuilder’ Label
Watch the full video below from the Rx Muscle YouTube channel:
Published: 18 May, 2023 | 4:05 PM EDT
Lee Priest Reveals Changes in Training & Diet from His 20s to 50s
Australian bodybuilding veteran Lee Priest made a name for himself with his insane conditioning levels and longevity. He’s one of the few competitors who continued to perform even after stepping away from professional competition. In a recent video uploaded on YouTube, Priest shared the changes in his training and diet from when he was in his 20s to now that he’s in his 50s.
Lee Priest started his career in the IFBB Pro League as a Men’s Open contender in 1989. He became one of the youngest athletes to earn a Pro Card at the age of 20. Boasting gigantic arms with razor-sharp muscle detail, he worked his way up the ranks with frequent contest appearances. He secured an invite to the Mr. Olympia competition in 1997, where he placed sixth in his debut.
Priest was a regular feature of the Olympia shows with six participations between 1997 and 2003. While he did not win the Sandow trophy, he went up against the likes of eight-time champ Ronnie Coleman, six-time champ Dorian Yates, Shawn Ray, and four-time victor Jay Cutler. He scored his biggest win at the 2006 Ironman Pro and made his final IFBB appearance at the 2006 Grand Prix Australia.
Lee has not lost his passion for working out and maintains a high level of personal fitness. He opened up about taking Deca (Nandrolone) in his teenage years to build muscle and how he’s managed to retain it despite facing health challenges such as a neck injury last November. Then, he offered his expertise on performing the decline bench press for optimal chest muscle growth. He cautioned his fans against loading up too heavy as the decline motion could increase the risk of injuries.
Earlier this year, Priest gave fans a look into building gigantic forearms. He revealed he never trained the muscle group suggesting his refined forearms were down to genetics and overall training. He listed eight exercises that could help grow weak forearms. The 50-year-old went on the offensive against the Men’s 212 division a few months ago. He believes the 212 competitors could hold their own against some of the freakiest mass monsters of the Men’s Open class if they brought their best package.
Following the announcement of the returning 2023 Masters Olympia, Priest expressed a desire to complete the show had it not been for his chest atrophy. Two months ago, Priest laid out tips for effectively using preacher curls to maximize biceps gains and pump.
Priest weighed in on the Minnesota court’s ruling permitting transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports weeks ago. He bashed the decision for being unfair to women and urged the females to go on strike in protest.
Lee Priest reveals changes in his diet & training from his 20s to his 50s
In a recent YouTube video, Lee Priest shared how his training and diet protocols have changed over time from when he was in his 20s to now that he’s entering his 50s.
While he continues to train in a similar fashion, he needed to make some adjustments due to his injuries.
“The only thing that’s probably changed now is the weights,” said Priest. “Until I had this or the neck injury from the car accident, exactly the same. I’d still go as heavy as I could because I get good heavy days. But now with injuries I just gotta work around things. But overall still exactly the same as when I started really.”
“It’s good to focus on your form and also seated you can’t cheat as much and you can’t go as heavy. If you do have a back problem it’s probably easier to do it seated as well rather than just bending over but whatever feels comfortable for you. Don’t be one of those people where they go well he does them seated I have to do them seated when you could feel it better standing up. Everyone’s going to be different because their limbs are longer or shorter. That’s fine what works for you. I say do both if you can.
“[Recovery is] about the same really. I sometimes go sort of hard on leg still but not as heavy. I do a good amount of weight higher reps but really focus on the quads and it still might be sore for two or three days at the most after but still recover pretty quick as long as I’m getting the sleep, the food in. I can still train and not eat a lot of food and not sleep well and feel like sh*t.”
He theorized burning fat might be tougher but he manages to stay in good shape with cardio while being around 211-213 pounds currently.
“Now, maybe burning body fat gets harder as you get older. Metabolism might slow down but I still do lots of cardio so it’s good for burning fat and keeping healthy.”
“2 hours minimum of cardio. An hour in the morning and another in the afternoon. Then I’ll walk the dogs as well so anywhere between two to three hours a day.”
“I’m sitting around 96-97 kilos (211-213 pounds). It’s a comfortable weight. I’m not force feeding myself. Sometimes I only have two meals a day so I could probably go heavier but I can’t be bothered.”
Lee Priest voiced his disapproval of the qualification requirements for the 2023 Masters Olympia last month. He encouraged the organizers to raise the age criteria from 40 to 50+ with the condition that the athlete did not compete for at least two to three years.
Based on the latest update, it’s evident Priest continues to enjoy working out and leading a healthy lifestyle even without competition.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 7 May, 2023 | 11:07 AM EDT
Lee Priest Critical of 2023 Masters Olympia Being Age 40 & Over: ‘To Me Masters is 50+’
Australian bodybuilder Lee Priest is celebrated for his longevity with over two decades of competitive experience. In a RxMuscle YouTube video, Priest called for changes to the eligibility criteria for the 2023 Masters Olympia by changing the age cap to 50 and over.
The Masters Olympia competition was started by former Olympia president Joe Weider in 1994. He created the event to provide a platform for older bodybuilders past their prime who still love to compete. Dexter ‘The Blade’ Jackson was the last man to win the Masters Olympia title when the show returned in 2012.
Jake Wood confirmed the contest would make a comeback this season after an 11-year break. The weekend of August 25 was announced as the official date for the three-day event scheduled to be hosted in Cluj Napoca, Romania. It is set to feature 10 divisions from the IFBB Pro League.
Some had mixed feelings about the event’s return. Renowned bodybuilding guru Milos Sarcev expressed his concerns about athletes’ risking their health by overusing steroids at an older age in preparation for the competition.
Bodybuilding veteran Lee Priest indicated his desire to compete at the show but ruled out his participation due to chest atrophy earlier this year. He speculated about the potential contenders and favored the chances of Victor Martinez to take the title if Dexter Jackson and four-time Mr. Ollympia Jay Cutler did not compete.
Two months ago, Martinez opened up about his ambitions to compete at the Masters Olympia. However, made it clear he wasn’t interested in the risks unless the prize money stood at $250,000. In the end, the organizers declared the overall prize money for the show at $229,000 days later.
Former 212 Olympia champ Kamal Elgargni was considering making his way to Romania for the event if the prize money was fit for his needs. And sure enough, the Masters Olympia roster was released and Kamal Elgargni will fight for the Open title in August.
Japanese bodybuilder Hidetada Yamagishi will come out of retirement to contend for the title at the age of 50 in the 212 division. Last week, he made headlines for a ripped physique update where he showed off his insane conditioning levels 18 weeks out.
Lee Priest calls for Masters Olympia to be over 50 & talks about top contenders
In a recent YouTube video, Lee Priest shared his thoughts on the upcoming 2023 Masters Olympia with Dave Palumbo. He called on the organizers to raise the age ceiling to 50.
“I’m still upset though it’s 40 and over,” said Priest. “To me, Masters should be 50 above and you haven’t competed for at least 2 or 3 years. Seeing that $229,000, $9,000 goes to the Masters.”
Priest and Palumbo gave their takes on the competitors and highlighted some missing names.
“A lot of these guys I don’t even know who they are,” said Palumbo. “I see Fred Biggie Smalls is on the list, he’s making a comeback. You’ll probably see some guy who we don’t even expect to do well probably win it. Someone who won the Masters Nationals at 40 years old, never competed their whole life, fresh-looking muscle.”
“Victor Martinez could do it and still do very well,” said Priest.
Palumbo responded, “I don’t know why he isn’t competing. He should. It’s actually a pretty weak lineup when you consider it’s only 40 and over. There are guys actively competing who are 40.
“I’d love to see Phil Heath do the show or Kai Greene.”
They believe Elgargni is the frontrunner to win the event.
“Kamal, who’s probably the highest rated guy in the lineup,” said Palumbo.
“I think Kamal is going to be very hard to beat just because he hasn’t been out of the sport. He’s been competing consistently. It’s going to be hard for guys that haven’t competed in a bunch of years to come back and look that great, especially at that age.”
On April 25, Cutler and IFBB head judge Steve Weinberger announced the full lineups for each division of the 2023 Masters Olympia with Elgargni, Maxx Charles, and Phillip Clahar entering as favorites in the Men’s Open division.
RELATED: 52-yo Johnnie Jackson Teases 2023 Masters Olympia Comeback: ‘I’m Leaning Towards Yes’
The show will offer fans an opportunity to see some of their favorite bodybuilders of the past take to the stage once again.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 28 April, 2023 | 12:02 AM EDT
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