Tag: Mike O’Hearn
“Natty or Not | My Actual Opinion”: Seth Feroce Delves Into The Natural Status of Influencers Yet Again
The use of steroids and performance-enhancing drugs has been a subject of debate in the fitness industry for decades now. While it’s evident that bodybuilders frequently use these substances to showcase a chiseled physique on stage, the widespread availability of these drugs in the internet age is certainly a worrisome issue. Retired IFBB Pro bodybuilder […]
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Jay Cutler Mike O’Hearn Talk Rep Ranges, Light vs Heavy Weight, & Time Spent in Gym
Jay Cutler and Mike O’Hearn have built physiques that many of us dream of having. Cutler cemented himself as a four-time Mr. Olympia champion during his bodybuilding tenure. Former Mr. Universe winner O’Hearn continues to influence the fitness sector with his shredded build. In a recent YouTube collaboration, Cutler and O’Hearn talked about the best rep ranges, light versus heavy weight, and time spent in the gym for reaching physique goals.
Despite moving on from the stage in 2013, Jay Cutler remains committed to his physique and bodybuilding. Last year, he revealed that he was undergoing a physique transformation. He left a competitive return off the table but said he was rebuilding his body as part of a fitness goal before turning 50 years old.
Cutler has kept fans updated on his body transformation and targeted 6-8% body fat. He’s opened up about training, nutrition, performance-enhancing drug use, and mindset as he’s embarked on the challenge. The former Olympia titleholder also revealed a clean bill of health days after the death of the late Gustavo Badell.
Mike O’Hearn is a fitness icon, revered for his yolked body and longevity. He’s remained ripped for over 30 years and is known for taking an eclectic yet calculated approach to training. Previously, he’s offered exercise demonstrations based on knowledge passed on from stars of the sport such as Tom Platz and Kai Greene.
Jay Cutler, Mike O’Hearn Talk Stimulating Deep Muscle Fibers, Training Strategies & Mindset
According to Cutler, any time he’s at the gym, each body part requires at least 20 sets, which are typically performed with six different exercises. Cutler doesn’t believe in warm up sets but uses ‘feel sets’ to get started in the gym.
“If I choose six exercises to do with my workout which is standard. I might do three, four, five sets of those each. No matter what the workout I’m doing, I’m doing 20 sets per body part. Does that make sense? That may or may not include feel sets. I hate warm up sets. I don’t use that term,” said Jay Cutler. “Feel sets.”
“I agree, it doesn’t fatigue you or get you all pumped up,” said Mike O’Hearn.
“What it does, it’s a set up set, your grip, focus, body position, it’s a plane you’re pushing through. You have that position, that’s the set up. It’s called the set up. That’s how I use – I say feel sets so there’s a lot of meaning in that.”
Even though Cutler has a reputation for always practicing 12 reps, he says that’s not always the case. Instead of focusing on reps or set numbers, his chief concern is the quality of each contraction.
“You can kind of put your body in motion, okay this is how I’m going to power through because I’m only thinking about okay what is my peak contractive set of this? Not a weight. Your weights determined when you get to that, say okay, what is my point of doing this?”
“So repetitions don’t matter. You’re thinking fiber, fiber control. Like where are we going – how much fibers are we going to – I don’t want to say tear, it scares people, tearing is not, but how much fiber are we going to bring into this movement because we are going to stimulate those fibers, right? said Jay Cutler.
“When Jay Cutler says 12 reps, everything should be 12 reps, I’m lying because I can do six, I can do eight, I can do four and still get stimulation and I’ll sometimes stop,” said Cutler. “I feel people shortchange themselves.”
As for O’Hearn, he believes people make the mistake of ‘blasting through’ reps with the intention of completing the set. However, they neglect time under tension and mind-muscle connection by not slowing the movement to feel the burn.
“One of the biggest things for me is if you say, I wish people would listen and watch, there’s a difference between what our belief is like do one rep at a time until you get to 10-12. But I find if I say to people, ‘Hey do 10.’ They went from lifting a plate one or two times slow and controlled a nice contraction, there was a meaning there, to just 10 reps, they just blast though it,” Mike O’Hearn shared.
“Number one tip, when you’re not in the zone, don’t expect to be 95, 100%. We trained more just sometimes more to just go through the motions,” added Cutler.
Cutler on Achieving a Dream Physique: ‘There’s a lot of Thought Process That Goes Into It’
To achieve a dream physique, the four-time Mr. Olympia underlined the value of training the mind. He also stressed that sculpting a next-level body was a detailed effort that demands finesse.
“I started with the mental mindset that weight training put me in. When I got under that bar or I was under you know the pearls and just my mind-to-muscle connection was just no stress yeah. The gym was my game, it was how I kept myself sane right? You have to love it. I’m not sure that everyone today loves it. They might have a dream to look a certain way. You have to eat, sleep, and breath it.”
“Everything is strategic. I can go through my workouts in my mind as I’m walking in the gym. I’m visually like I’m going to do this this and this and that’s how I foresee it. it’s not like I’m walking to the gym and picking up a bar. There’s a lot of thought process that goes into it. It’s surgical,” said Cutler.
Before ending the discussion, Cutler shared that he’ll turn 50 next week and has experienced zero joint pain since retirement.
“I don’t have to be in the gym seven days a week. I don’t get paid to work out any longer,” added Cutler. “I have zero joint pain, zero restriction. I feel like this could all start again. I’ll be 50 next week. It’s the best part of my day.”
“I still deadlift every week, I don’t go crazy but I never did either.”
With Cutler closing in on his ‘Fit-for-50’ physique goal, he’s been transparent about his diet lately. In a recent JayCutlerTV YouTube video, the Massachusetts native revealed that his appetite has been ‘through the roof’ in the final leg of his journey without using ‘heavy’ anabolic steroids.
O’Hearn, meanwhile, continues to impart training wisdom to his fanbase. He took to a video where he explained the number one mistake new lifters make at the gym. Given how many people he’s seen injure themselves, O’Hearn believes it’s important to take exercising seriously and to approach it aggressively.
Whether it was rep ranges, lifting heavy versus light weight, or stimulating muscle fibers, Cutler and O’Hearn were able to find some common ground. When building a dream physique, they both agree it takes a comprehensive and calculated effort.
RELATED: Jay Cutler on Mike O’Hearn and The Rock Being Natural: ‘If They Choose Not To Talk About It, I Respect That’
You can watch the full video from Mike O’Hearn’s YouTube channel below:
Published: 1 August, 2023 | 11:59 AM EDT
Bodybuilder Seth Feroce ‘Exposes’ 12 Most Famous Influencers in the Fitness Industry: ‘Natty or Not’
The ‘Natty or Not’ debate has remained one of the most talked about fitness subjects in the industry. Recently, retired bodybuilder Seth Feroce posted a YouTube video where he examined the bodies of some popular influencers in the industry. He also gave his opinion on whether they use steroids or not.
“We’re not doing one person, you said everybody,” Feroce shared.
Feroce is a highly respected bodybuilder who made a name for himself in the Men’s Open and 212 Bodybuilding divisions. During his tenure, which occurred mostly in the 2000s, Feroce displayed exceptional conditioning, balance, and symmetry. He was led by Hany Rambod, a decorated trainer who is currently responsible for guiding top-tier athletes such as Hadi Choopan, Derek Lunsford, and Andre Deiu.
Over the last few years, ‘Natty or Not’ disputes have become the center of online discussions in the fitness world. Influencers are known for tackling these sensitive topics like Kenny KO. He’s discussed Mike O’Hearn’s natural status with him face-to-face. O’Hearn claims to be a lifetime natural athlete, who continues to defy age with a ripped physique and powerful lifts.
Joe Rogan has insinuated that Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Chris Hemsworth should come clean and admit their gear use as well. This revelation came after Derek of More Plates More Dates’ infamous exposé of Liver King’s (Real name: Brian Johnson) leaked steroid cycle. Meanwhile, Bradley Martyn also suspects that The Rock uses steroids.
The latest to take part in the controversial discussion was Seth Feroce. He systematically broke down 12 of the most popular influencers’ physiques and determined whether or not they are using PEDs.
Alex Eubank – Not Natty
“He is on the fucking border. I like Alex I’ve talked to him a handful of times on IG. He seems like a good kid. He says he’s natty. I know he’s made a lot of videos about him possibly transitioning over to the dark side, it looks like he takes something. He does have good genetics,” said Seth Feroce.
Shizzylifts – Not Natty
“They’re saying this dude is natural? There’s no fucking way. Is this an edited photo? Dude, this dude has got some serious arms. He trains hard, doesn’t he? I’ve seen these training videos of him.”
Sam Sulek – Not Natty
“That’s like asking if I’m natural. I just found him maybe a couple of weeks ago because it just popped up on my YouTube. He’s young too, isn’t he? This is all I see. This is the reason I like this kid. I see parts of me in him. This guy is definitely fucking batshit crazy. He has his shit together. In his videos, he’s calm, cool, and collected. Does his own thing.”
“He is fucking in it. You can’t pass judgment upon people for what they want to do with their lives because Sam seems to be having a massive impact on the fitness community,” said Seth Feroce. “A lot of people want to focus on the bad which would be his acne, the issues with steroid abuse, the long-term effects. But then at the same time, nobody would give two flying fucks about who Sam is if he wasn’t being who he is now.”
Jesse James West – Natty
“I could say that he’s natural. He seems like a decent guy. He seems like he loves what he’s doing. That’s all you can ask for for people that are doing things like this. I’d say out of everyone so far, he’s the one that I would say is natural.”
Tristyn Lee – Natty
“He seems like an actual genuine good guy, him and his brothers. Stupid genetics run in his family, stupid genetics. Dude, it’s [his conditioning] always around with him. But I’ve seen the videos that Doucette did on him about the being too skinny or too shredded all the time. You know that this young man is going through his own battles. Because if he’s training like he’s doing those things and eating like he is, he is obsessed.”
“I don’t know man. I think he’s probably dabbled with a few things. More recently in the past couple of years simply because he loves the gym. At the same time, you can throw in an oral for six weeks and notice a difference, especially if you’re on point like he is with everything he does. Why would you do such a thing? To learn and have fun. He could be natural because he has crazy genetics.”
“He’s had such steady progress, I could say that he’s natural because he’s never made massive jumps in weight, never. He is stronger than a motherfucker though.”
Tren Twins – Not Natty
“Obviously they’re not natural but by no means do I think these two take as much as people think they do. Their name was catchy they called themselves the Tren Twins. It’s awesome, it’s fun, it’s entertaining. They’re big, swole as fuck right here.”
Greg Doucette – Not Natty
“Greg is not on Tren no way. He’s on TRT obviously, he talks about it regularly. Yeah, dude, Greg is always in shape. He’s always in shape. Greg has been around, he’s older than I am and I can tell you right now if I cut peanut butter pretzels out of my diet, I’ll lose weight.”
“Greg has been like, ‘I rolled out of bed this is what I look like.’ We’re like yeah, you look like you’re on TRT. And post-workout, yeah, Greg you look like you’re taking Tren because the veins on your legs look paper thin.”
Mike O’Hearn – Natty
“Do I think he’s natty? I do think that he is natty but I do not think he’s human. I say Mike is an alien. Mike is an alien, he’s not a real human being. I think he’s from a different planet. There’s no reason, no amount of gear that still says you being a 50-plus-year-old man, that you should be able to bench 405 pounds for reps and do all the crazy wild fucked up shit he does. No fucking way. Why are you doing that? How are you doing that? Not from earth.”
Liver King – Not Natty
“The thing is Omnitrope, that growth hormone is some of the wildest growth hormone I’ve ever taken. There’s different levels of growth hormone, you can get the Chinese, and that’s some fucking knock-off bullshit, does it work, yeah sure. I could take ten IUs of it and be pretty good.”
Jeff Seid – Not Natty
“I think that he dabbled. Put him in the category of like Alex. If everything was off, he might be like ‘No, I just never have.’ But I wouldn’t be surprised if he was like, ‘Yeah, I took some stuff, I took Anavar, I took some SARMs.”
David Laid – Not Natty
“These people in person are probably not as big as they look on here,” said Seth Feroce. “These guys work, they’re not not doing shit. That’s not what this video is, but I don’t think he’s natural. It’s a little too much to claim natural.”
Lexx Little – Natty
“He’s probably strong but then you tell me he benches 405, that’s a strong lift for a little man. I mean, he’s got a great physique. He’s using the camera angle and the lends and the twisting waist. His upper body, I’d say you could achieve this naturally yes.”
Parting Thoughts
“Whenever you’re young you’re supposed to experience life and chase after things that are unique and special. You don’t get to be elite or great without intensity or passion okay? It just doesn’t fucking occur,” said Feroce.
“Most of the people on the list have a following that is very intense. My hats off to you young gentlemen, I hope you continue to do cool shit but keep living. It’s okay, you will be scrutinized for anything you do.”
This won’t be the last fans hear of ‘Natty or Not’ discussions. Just recently, former kickboxing champion and controversial influencer Andrew Tate was the center of the debate due to his built physique. According to Tate, he’s never touched testosterone replacement therapy or steroids in his life. In response to the claim, Derek of More Plates More Dates examined his body and determined that the evidence ‘leaned toward’ Tate being natural.
RELATED: Dan Bilzerian Shares His Opinions About ‘Natty Greek God’ Mike O’Hearn
As for Seth Feroce, he believes no matter what athletes do, if they find any sort of success, scrutiny will follow them. Even though he suspected that many of these influencers used PEDs, Feroce refused to discount the hard work that went into achieving such impressive physiques.
Watch the full video from the Seth Feroce YouTube channel below:
Published: 26 July, 2023 | 11:50 AM EDT
Frank Zane Discusses Competing vs Sergio Oliva & Longevity Tips: “Don’t Stay Peaked”
Bodybuilding legend Frank Zane still inspires fans at 81 years old. In a recent YouTube video on Mike O’Hearn’s channel, Zane looked back on competing against Sergio Oliva in 1967 at the Mr. Universe. In addition, he opened up about his best tips for longevity, where he advocated against peaking for long periods of time.
Zane, one of the most iconic bodybuilders of the golden era during the 1960s and 70s, cultivated a strong mental game en route to becoming a three-time Mr. Olympia champion. His unique ability to utilize meditation, visualization, and positive affirmations no doubt assisted him along his journey as a Pro.
Nicknamed ‘The Chemist,’ Zane is celebrated for his calculated approach to the sport. He left nothing to chance in his quest for a perfect physique. From muscle development, skin tone, posing, and workout routines, Zane developed a remarkable body that combined elements of artistry and hard work. During his storied career, Zane went toe-to-toe against legends such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Robby Robinson, and Franco Columbo.
While building a successful legacy, Zane maintained low body fat and exceptional conditioning. In an appearance on The Menace Podcast, Zane told Dennis James that he used a low-carb diet year-round during his prime. Additionally, Zane said that he preferred to use sunbathing as a natural diuretic.
In retirement, Zane still offers the bodybuilding community a helping hand from time to time. He recently guided fans who were looking for useful stretching and recovery strategies. In a previous meeting with Mike O’Hearn, Zane also shared some uncommon exercises he used to fuel his Mr. Olympia title reign. Now, he’s back to discuss his career with O’Hearn.
3x Mr. Olympia Frank Zane Looks Back on Career, Competing vs Sergio Oliva: “He Blew Everybody’s Mind”
According to Frank Zane, at 81 years old, ‘all you have left’ is pictures because ‘the body fades.’
“You know that’s all you have [is pictures] in the end. That’s all you have because the body fades. You can hold on. You’re what Mike, 52?” asks Frank Zane.
“Yeah, 53,” O’Hearn said.
“Well, you’re doing good for that age. I was in decent shape in my early 50s too. But the older you get the harder it gets. The less motivated I was to keep doing it because there’s no good reason to keep up keep doing this.
Zane underlined that he modeled his career after the late Bill Pearl. His last competition came in 1983 at the NABBA Mr. Universe.
“My last show I think I was 41, 1983. I sort of looked at Bill Pearl’s career and the way he did things, his last competition he was 41, the NABBA Universe, I was actually in that against him. And of course, I always had my complaints about him because he was always smooth he was never really cut. He knew how to work that. He did that really well,” said Frank Zane.
In another blast from the past, Frank remembered losing to Sergio Oliva at the 1967 Mr. Universe, a show he said he wasn’t quite ready for. Oliva told him that he would one day win the sport’s top title, which later came true.
“That reminds me of a ’67 Mr. Universe contest in Montreal. I went up there. You know I really wasn’t ready for it to tell you the truth. I was saving for you know for a little bit into the future. And Sergio shows up at the last minute and he just psyched everybody out. And he was in shape too of course. But he just blew everybody’s mind. He looked incredible.”
“Oh, I knew what he had looked like. I had seen him before. I was friends with Sergio. He told me, he says, how do I put it, he says, ‘You’re going to win one of the top titles because you know how to do.’ You know how to do, you know, how to pose and all that stuff. So, I put a great deal of stock into that.
Zane Gives Crucial Tip for Longevity: “Don’t Stay Peaked, Stay Less Than Your Best”
Zane’s best piece of advice for athletes aiming for a long and healthy life is not to stay peaked for an extended period of time. As time passed, Zane realized he could only peak at his best one time a year.
“Yeah, I don’t get sick,” said Zane. “I always had this in mind, basically, don’t stay peaked. Stay less than your best. Always stay under. I always looked at the 94% number.”
“If you’re climbing Mt. Everest, you don’t stay up there do you? You can’t stay up there. You come down to base camp. You can live in base camp but you can’t live at the top. It’s too much sacrifice to keep doing that. You know what you have to do with the dieting and mental framework, you’re not meant to do that.”
“I always put in the work, it wasn’t like things came naturally to me. I always did the work,” said Zane. “It’s what sustains you. The thing is, I realized that I could only peak one time a year. Even doing it twice was too much. One time a year in the Autumn. I looked at it this way.
Frank doesn’t believe it’s healthy to sustain low levels of body fat for months or years at a time. Zane also mentioned that it was natural for him to peak in July, August, and September since those months were close to his birthday.
“I was born late June, so my periods of most growth in my life were July, August, September and that paralleled my competitive career. I was always in shape in the fall. That’s what was natural for me. If I tried to do more than that I wasn’t as good. Some of that is physical, a lot of it is mental,” explained Frank Zane.
“Don’t spend it all,” said Zane. “Don’t stay peaked. To be peaked, you have all this gold: if you want to stay deep, you have to keep spending it spending it spending it, you’re going to run out. You got to save some. Keep some in reserve.”
Before wrapping up the discussion, Zane told O’Hearn that bodybuilders need to achieve a ‘great unveil’ to find succes. He believes athletes hinder their chances on stage by offering fans consistent looks at their physiques before contests.
“Yeah, I never exposed myself in the gym. Well, you know, it’s like the great unveil. You don’t walk around that way. The whole thing about it is you have to shock people. When you go into the show, the unveiling should be exactly that, they should be astonished you look so good. The way you do that, is you don’t give it away ahead of time. You don’t do all this publicity where you’re posing in public where everyone sees you and knows what to expect.”
This isn’t the first time Frank Zane has taken a closer look at bodybuilders competing today. In January, the former three-time Mr. Olympia warned that competitors who rush to gain extra weight will ruin their symmetry and proportions in the long run. He also specified that building mass in extremities like the forearms and calves can help a body look more symmetrical.
There’s no denying that Sergio Oliva was a dominant force on stage. Even Arnold Schwarzenegger has looked back on competing against Sergio Olvia, and he described him as the toughest foe of his entire career.
RELATED: 8x Mr. Olympia Lee Haney Talks Dorian Yates Rivalry and The Longevity of Frank Zane
You can watch the full video on Mike O’Hearn’s YouTube channel below:
Published: 11 July, 2023 | 7:16 PM EDT
Mike O’Hearn Reveals Crucial Mistake Lifters Make on Bench: ‘Take It Serious & Get Aggressive’
Known for his incredible power and strength, Mike O’Hearn has acquired a wealth of exercise knowledge by attending the gym for decades. In his latest offering to fans, O’Hearn highlighted that a lack of aggression can prevent lifers from making meaningful gains from bench press movements.
“So, the only problem here that I saw him lift and he was so… he was walking into the lift like he walked into your house. There was no fight in him, going, ‘Hey I need to set myself up take this and push myself.’ And there’s a different mode, you’re not the same person when you’re lifting as you are out shopping for groceries,” O’Hearn explained.
For well over three decades, O’Hearn has been a titan of fitness. In addition to winning the prestigious Mr. Universe bodybuilding show, O’Hearn has showcased his youthful shredded physique for years in magazines, films, and on his YouTube channel. He’s also tested his strength in other avenues like powerlifting, arm-wrestling, and strongman.
Historically, bench press exercises have come with considerable risk. Bodybuilder Ryan Crowley found this out the hard way. Despite being spotted by powerlifting star Larry Wheels, Crowley still sustained a serious pec tear after a failed bench press attempt.
And it’s not just bodybuilders who have injured themselves bench pressing. Recently, strongman legend Hafthor Bjornsson announced his foray back into powerlifting. However, his ambitions were dashed temporarily after he sustained a painful pec tear while attempting to bench press 556.7 pounds.
Since the accident, he’s been open about the recovery process and has received successful surgery to repair the damage. Thor also joined O’Hearn for a special Tom-Platz-style training session designed to strengthen ligaments in the legs. And given the danger of bench exercises, O’Hearn thought it was best to underline the biggest mistake made by lifters.
Mike O’Hearn Talks Bench Exercises, Says to Take Them Serious or ‘You’re Going to Get Hurt Someday’
According to O’Hearn, bench movements, and big lifts require aggression. He believes those who lift casually will end up injuring themselves.
“There’s got to be some kind of attitude in an attempt of aggression to frequently lift the weight. If it’s not, if you’re just phoning it in and just going, ‘Oh it’s the same as buying milk.’ Not only are you not going to get any benefit, but you’re also going to get hurt someday,” Mike O’Hearn explained.
His biggest piece of advice was to ‘take it serious, get underneath the bar, and get aggressive’ when tackling a big lift.
“Take it serious, get underneath the bar and get aggressive. It might not be somebody else’s 700 but it’s heavy for you and your attitude should represent that. It is a fight. If you go down in a slow motion but controlled where you were like, ‘Oh let me just try to get it down and up as fast as I can.’ If you took yourself out and go, ‘I’m going to lose this battle no matter what,’ instead of ‘I’m going to freakin fight for this thing.’ Control it, bring it down in a slow controlled and press up.”
What sets O’Hearn apart is his endurance, strength, and longevity. At 54 years old, he maintains an incredible build and routinely challenges himself inside the gym. Mike also collaborates with other fitness stars such as Joseph Baena, Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s son. O’Hearn has offered Baena insight with several training sessions, which are typically designed for wellness and living longer.
In another recent demonstration, O’Hearn offered fans a Kai Greene-inspired mind-muscle connection back training session. The back can be difficult to activate properly due to its complexity, but O’Hearn emphasized that it’s essential to longevity.
If anyone is qualified to speak on chest exercises, it’s Mike O’Hearn. Throughout the years, he’s shown off impressive feats of strength and impressive upper body development. While taking part in a brutal arms workout, Mike close-grip bench pressed 385 pounds for 10 reps.
Figuring out bench mistakes has become a popular subject in fitness given the prevalence of injuries. Whether the problem is half reps, elbow flare, bouncing the barbell, or not retracting the shoulder blades, O’Hearn is confident he has the solution.
RELATED: Nick Best Reveals How a Bench Press Injury Saved His Life from Cancer
O’Hearn likens bench pressing to a fight and believes one’s attitude should represent that during a lift. In light of his recent tip, he hopes to make the movement safer for anyone who is dedicated to building the chest.
Watch the full video from the Mike O’Hearn YouTube channel below:
Published: 28 June, 2023 | 10:52 PM EDT
Mike O’Hearn Shares Kai Greene-Inspired Back Training for Better Mind Muscle Connection
Mike O’Hearn understands training on a deep level and has possessed a shredded physique for most of his life. In a recent YouTube video, O’Hearn demonstrated two back exercises he learned from Kai Greene for improved mind-muscle connection.
For over 30 years, O’Hearn has been a juggernaut in the training room. He has built a reputation as one of the most dedicated and accomplished fitness personalities of all time. He won the Mr. Universe title as well, but O’Hearn’s talents extend far beyond bodybuilding. He has also been featured in numerous magazines, acted in movies, and even released his own fitness clothing line.
What is perhaps most impressive about O’Hearn is his longevity. At 54 years old, he is still in peak physical condition. He continues to train hard and has shown no signs of slowing down. Mike regularly collaborates with fitness influencers for workouts like Joseph Baena, the son of seven-time Mr. Olympia Arnold Schwarzenegger.
With longevity a top priority for many, O’Hearn doesn’t mind sharing some of his trade secrets. The last time he teamed up with Baena, he led the aspiring actor through a back workout intended to strengthen joints and ligaments. During the training session, Mike said if Joseph followed his guidance, he’d be able to lift like his father well into his 70s.
Mike O’Hearn Shares 2-Exercise Training Routine for Enhancing Back Mind Muscle Connection
O’Hearn performed sets of GHD back extensions and dumbbell pullovers as part of his workout demonstration.
GHD Back Extension
Dumbbell Pullover
While training the back can be a daunting task, O’Hearn underlined its importance for overall longevity. He added that he trains back even when he’s stiff or sore.
“Like Robbie or Arnold or anybody… when you see them doing an exercise, you can see it working. It’s a beautiful thing to see. So hopefully you guys can see exactly where I’m rotating at and where I’m trying to develop. Again, I think I would have incorporated this in so much younger but I just thought it was always such a – that young mentality. The lesser exercise compared to the deadlifts and everything. Yeah, there really is no lesser exercise, they all do something. They all play a part. Here’s rotation and flexing contraction. Three great reasons to do it.”
“I want you guys to know at home if it’s stiff when you wake up, that’s so irrelevant to the day and the workout if your schedule is set up. Our back is sore and stiff. Doesn’t mean we’re not going to train back. We’re just warming up. As soon as your warm-ups are done and you start getting into it, everything loosens up.”
“I would not not force blood into that area. That seems to be what a lot of people think. What’s going on there if I’m not putting any blood into that which I think is a very weak mental state because blood heals. Just keep that in mind when you’re feeling like something is a little stiff when you wake up, we’re all stiff when we wake up.”
According to O’Hearn, he learned these exercise techniques from bodybuilding veteran Kai Greene. During the mid-2000s, Greene was a perennial Mr. Olympia contender who gave seven-time winner Phil Heath all he could handle on stage. Even though Greene never touched a Sandow trophy, he’s well respected for his mass, class, and posing routines.
“I got this one from Kai Greene. He was talking about, sometimes – I don’t want to mislead this – he said for me… to connect to the muscle and I agree with this, this is how I do squats and everything. To connect to the muscle, you can choose an exercise to start with, that’s a hard exercise, by connecting to that muscle using that exercise not fatiguing yourself, it sets you up for a good back workout for guys that maybe can’t connect.
And the back is maybe one of the hardest muscles to connect to. And pull overs is one of the hardest exercises of anything to connect that to the back or to the chest depending on what you’re training,” said Mike O’Hearn.
O’Hearn said he can achieve better mind-muscle connection with a thorough warm-up.
“What I’m trying to do is what Kai Greene talked about is to connect solely with the back and have that great connection between my mind and that muscle today, prior to getting to the workout. I’m not even considering this part of the workout right now. I think that’s and again, it’s a great statement for all you kids. When somebody says well pull overs are a chest exercise, well pull overs are a back exercise, pull overs can be a triceps exercise if you do it incorrectly.”
“My point is just to be focusing on that connection between the back which it’s doing. You’re getting a nice sweat going right now waking up the body especially coming off a leg day like I did. That’s the biggest thing.”
Range of motion is important for O’Hearn but keeping the mind-muscle connection in his back was the main reason he performed this particular workout.
“On this one today for me, I’m just trying to keep it connected to the back. And then the range of motion is – if I feel any hiccups, I’m going to try to work through the hiccups, but I’m feeling nothing like that. What I mean is when I feel like something is holding me back, that’s a red light to me, like an engine light. Wait a minute why is there something going on? But I don’t feel anything like that. So I’m just going a good range of motion and stretching the back.”
Regardless of age, fitness level, or injury, O’Hearn doesn’t miss a chance to impart wisdom to other athletes. Fans last saw him join hands with strongman star Hafthor Bjornsson for a Tom Platz-inspired training session. Mike guided an injured Thor through most of the leg day workout.
After countless hours of training in the gym, O’Hearn has a unique grasp on exercising whether it be for muscle, leanness, longevity, or strength. As for training the back, O’Hearn highly favors GHD back extensions and dumbbell pullovers.
You can watch the full video from the Mike O’Hearn YouTube channel:
RELATED: Mike O’Hearn Joins Hands With Strongman Brian Shaw For A Chest Workout
Published: 24 June, 2023 | 2:43 PM EDT
Mike O’Hearn & Injured Hafthor Bjornsson Use Tom Platz-Inspired Workout for Ligament Strength
Mike O’Hearn and Hafthor Bjornsson, two titans of strength, met up for a special collaboration on leg day. In a recent YouTube video, O’Hearn guided Bjornsson through a brutal hack squat variation as the former strongman recovers from a pec tear injury.
At 53 years old, Mike O’Hearn has become somewhat of a legend in the fitness industry for his maintenance of mass, power, and strength. In addition, he’s kept up with a remarkably ripped physique for over three decades.
With experience in bodybuilding and strongman, O’Hearn doesn’t shy away from fitness challenges. He has trained with plenty of notable figures in bodybuilding and strongman, including four-time WSM legend Brian Shaw, who recently announced his retirement from the sport.
In April, former strongman star Hafthor Bjornsson suffered a painful pec tear on his third attempt at trying to bench press 556.7 pounds. While Hafthor revealed his upper chest was torn off the bone, he’s not letting the setback stop him from working out completely.
Mike O’Hearn Guides Injured Hafthor Bjornsson Through Longevity Leg Workout Created by Tom Platz
O’Hearn used the hack squat machine to demonstrate a technique he learned from Tom Platz. Platz, known as the ‘The Quadfather,’ possessed some of the best legs in bodybuilding history.
“That is a quad, that’s a teardrop at the knee, keep it healthy, they’re going to freak out, ‘What? How is that healthy?’ Because we’re stressing. Remember what we talked about, load the joints. The muscle is only so strong. The joints is God’s gift. I’m trying to force it, the joints and ligaments around the knee to be so strong. I learned this in 1989, Tom Platz, training with him from 89 to the early 90s, this is something he lived with.”
“I could see at that stage how strong his connective tissue [was], his legs were enormous, Tom Platz, great legs, but his knees were so healthy. That’s again, another fun exercise that somebody your size that’s a rarity to see that kind of movement. So we’ll do a moderate and see where we can find stress in the knee in a safe position.”
Hafthor was impressed with O’Hearn’s variation of the hack squat, where he utilized a wedge to place his feet at an angle.
“He’s just so focused each and every rep every set, he manages in the moment, everything with his muscles, the tightness of the squeeze,” Hafthor said about O’Hearn.
O’Hearn highlighted why the technique is so effective for quad training.
“I don’t know if you guys can see it at home, the difference between, you’re still leading with the quads compared to leading with the hip,” O’Hearn said. “So the way he was doing it first of all, he was great for the first time doing it but it was still a hack squat because it wasn’t leading with the ass. The last couple of reps were beautiful because he was rotating the ass up, stretching the quads, and getting more isolation. It’s such an odd position.”
Even though they were lifting light weights, Bjornsson was surprised by the work rate.
“You feel like you’re working so hard but at the same time, it’s light weight. It’s a very interesting movement for sure, different, like I said, like I’ve never done before,” shared Hafthor.
Bjornsson asked if O’Hearn adds extra weight or keeps the workout light when on his own.
“I do add more and more but I want to try to get a better range of motion. On this one… this would be like a finisher for me, I’d hit my squats, I’d do like a leg press or a similarity squat, some kind of moderation – we have a like I said, kind of hack squat and then I’d do something like this at the end to kind of finish that leg out.”
“Stress done right will strengthen your body,” said O’Hearn. “The possibility of you being like this in 30 years… is a possibility, it really is. Where most people will go, I hit 30, I hit 35, I’m done, I’m only going to get older and weaker but that’s not the mentality you have.”
Before wrapping up the video, Hafthor explained how training has changed from his 20s to his 30s.
“In your 30s, you got to be more detailed, more prepared, and have everything lined up: nutrition, sleep, training, recovery, rest, everything has to be dialed in and I can’t even imagine, I know that every single day you’re doing whatever you can to even get 1% better,” Hafthor Bjornsson said.
This isn’t the first time Mike O’Hearn has led a longevity-inspired training session. He joined Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son, Joseph Baena recently, where they teamed up to attack a back training session. During the workout, O’Hearn shared that some of the movements they practiced could help Baena’s joints when he’s around his father’s age (75).
While the technique may differ from the norm, Mike O’Hearn is living evidence of his training practices and has employed these exercises for more than three decades.
RELATED: Hafthor Bjornsson Shares Intense Pre-Surgery Recovery Techniques for Gruesome Pec Tear
Watch the full video below from Mike O’Hearn’s YouTube channel:
Published: 17 May, 2023 | 4:09 PM EDT
Bodybuilding Icon Robby Robinson Defies Age: Astonishingly Shredded at 76!
Turns out that veteran bodybuilder Robby Robinson never lost the eye of the tiger and continues to train hard at 76 years of age. The Black Prince partnered with natty Greek god Mike O’Hearn for an arms workout and his incredibly shredded physique stole the show.
Mike O’Hearn posted Glimpses of the veteran bodybuilder’s training session on his YouTube channel. Robby Robinson is seen performing barbell preacher curls in the video. The 76-year-old looked incredibly shredded and rock solid during the workout. You can see the video below, courtesy of Mike O’Hearn’s YouTube channel:
Robby Robinson performed a drop set of barbell preacher curls in the session after a warm-up set. For the drop set, he started with a 70 lbs barbell and pumped out seven solid reps with a great form. Mike O’Hearn handed him a 50 lbs barbell and the former Masters Olympia champion cranked out five more reps to close the show.
“Look at this… The fibers, the striations, insertions…That is what we do this for,” Mike O’Hearn marveled as Robinson flexed to show his pecs and arms.
Robby Robinson responded:
“I’m working, working, working all the time.”
“You’ve gotta put in the work. If you’re not willing to put in the work like you see myself and Mike, seriously, just go home,” He added.
Mike O’Hearn obviously knows a thing or two about maintaining the body at an age where it is supposed to fall apart. Him being astonished by Robbinson’s physique says a lot about the latter’s commitment to maintaining a shredded physique at 76.
Robby Robinson’s bodybuilding career at a glance
Robinson proudly belongs to the golden era of bodybuilding. He took his first steps in competitive bodybuilding in the early to mid 1970s. As an African-American born in the deep south, Robinson had a tough path leading up to the stature of a legendary bodybuilder. However, he competed successfully for nearly 27 years and left a lasting legacy in the sport.
Mr. Lifestyle started out as an amateur in 1974, winning the AAU Mr. Southeastern USA and Mr. Southern States competitions. Robby won four titles in 1975, the Mr. World title being the most prominent of those.
IFBB Pro League’s Mr. Olympia contest turned out to be the real proving ground for the Georgia native bodybuilder. He took home the Heavyweight title at the 1977 and 1978 Olympia and finished third in the Lightweight division at the 1979 Olympia. Unsurprisingly, Robinson was the runner up to Mr. Olympia overall winner Frank Zane in 1977 and 1978.
The 1981 NABBA Mr. Universe Pro turned out to be his only victory in the winless stretch of nearly seven years. However, The Black Prince never stopped working and emerged victorious at the 1988 IFBB Niagara Falls Pro Invitational. In the later stages of his career, Robbie became a Masters Olympia mainstay. He has his name etched on the 1994 Masters Olympia as well as the 1997 and 2000 Masters Olympia 50+ trophies.
Robby Robinson’s contribution to the sport is undeniably important. Fitness Volt wishes him good health and a fulfilling life.
Published: 2 May, 2023 | 1:00 PM EDT
Mike O’Hearn Hits Back at Haters Who Fell for Synthol Fish Hook
American bodybuilder and model Mike O’Hearn carved his own space with his insane longevity in the fitness industry. In a recent video posted on his YouTube channel, O’Hearn hit back at the haters who got fish hooked about his use of Synthol.
Fitness sensation Mike O’Hearn has proven to be one of the most consistent athletes of the last few decades. He first gained attention for his jacked physique as a bodybuilder who won the Mr. Natural Universe title four times. Besides competition, O’Hearn’s aesthetic qualities led him to succeed in modeling. He won Fitness Model of the Year seven times and has graced the covers of more than 400 magazines.
O’Hearn found his passion for acting in the early 90s. He started his run with supporting roles before getting the role of Thor and Titan in American Gladiators. He also made several guest appearances in popular television series like Days of Our Lives.
Given the extraordinary build of O’Hearn, there has been a ton of speculation about the possibility of steroid or Synthol use. In Jul. 2022, O’Hearn declined using TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) and credited his physique to be consistent every day.
O’Hearn teamed up with Joseph Baena, son of bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger, for a brutal arms workout in Aug. 2022. He opened up about his intense mindset about training as they performed the bicep and triceps routine.
The 54-year-old left the fans stunned with an impressive sneak peek of his role in the bodybuilding film Magazine Dreams last August. He showed off his shredded physique while playing the role of Brad Vanderhorn.
O’Hearn partnered with Baena for an ‘old-school’ upper body training session a few months ago. He mentored Baena through the back workout focused on enhancing longevity. He caused a stir in the community with his claims suggesting testosterone levels didn’t decline with time. Former Mr. Olympia Samir Bannout chimed in voicing his disagreement with O’Hearn beliefs last October.
Following the rise in steroid accusations lodged against him, O’Hearn issued a fiery message pushing back on the allegations in Sep. 2022.
Mike O’Hearn admits fish hooking haters on Synthol use
In a recent YouTube video, Mike O’Hearn talked about tricking haters with a fish hook about his fictitious use of Synthol. He explained the promo stunt was based on his character in an upcoming project.
“Let’s talk about the rumors with Synthol,” said O’Hearn. “That was an easy troll by me because I knew majority would jump on it, not read anything, bypass that and just go this is awesome, gotcha! That’s the reason I kinda did it to just make you a little awake. I think it is stemmed from hate.
“It doesn’t matter what I say, it matters what I do. The evidence is there of what I do and have been doing for a lifetime.”
“I hope you guys understand it really doesn’t matter what you say. You can say pretty much anything but your actions are going to prove who you are as an individual.”
“For everybody that got fish hooked from the post about Synthol, that’s my character I’m playing on Monday. He’s a character I play on 911 that gets busted for synthol, drugs, and stuff. It was too easy not to fish hook you guys.”
Check out the 9-1-1 promo below:
Two months ago, Mike O’Hearn collaborated with Baena for a fierce shoulder workout. He lauded Baena for the improvements he made to his fitness levels by working on his dancing skills.
O’Hearn’s latest update might come as a surprise to those who fell for it but it certainly helped bring more attention to his upcoming role.
You can watch the full video below:
Published: 16 April, 2023 | 2:44 PM EDT
Stan Efferding: Cardio Is Nowhere Near As Important As You Think It Is | The Mike O’Hearn Show
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Stan Efferding & Mike O’Hearn want you to stop making cardio a religion.
Cardio sucks. Everyone knows it – and it’s particularly a thorn in the side of strength athletes and bodybuilders. However, the benefits of cardio for heart health and endurance are well known. As the fitness industry continues to grow in the mainstream – cardio has become a must-do activity for athletes and the regular person. In fact, it’s not uncommon to be guilted for not including cardio into your lifestyle – at risk of your life longevity. While cardio certainly has wonderful benefits, Mike O’Hearn believes many athletes are actually hurting their fitness goals with too much cardio. Pro bodybuilder and powerlifting legend Stan Efferding agrees. In Generation Iron and Barbend’s latest episode of the Mike O’Hearn Show, Stan Efferding explains how most fit individuals are doing way too much cardio.
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States – especially for males. This reality has driven science and fitness experts to stress improving lifestyle via a better diet and increased cardio activity. While this may be an important truth for the average sedentary American – the message has also affected the athletic world. Mike O’Hearn and Stan Efferding are seeing a troublesome trend in modern athletes – they all do too much cardio.
Mike O’Hearn gets down into the weeds discussing this concept in detail with Stan Efferding – explaining how modern athletes often do cardio to the detriment of their fitness goals. Let’s break it down.
What Are METs In Cardiovascular Health?
A MET is the ratio of your working metabolic rate in relation to your resting metabolic rate. MET stands for metabolic equivalent – it’s the energy exhausted per unite of time. In simplest terms, it’s a scientific way to measure the intensity of exercise or an activity.
The base level, one MET, is your energy expenditure at rest. So when thinking about METs, you get a better idea of what it is measuring. 10 METs would be spending energy ten times more than when you are at rest.
Stan Efferding explains that for good cardiovascular health and decreased mortality rate – an individual should be able to maintain 8 METs during activity. 8 METs would be the equivalent of riding a bike on flat terrain. In comparison, running (at about 7mph) would equate to about 11-12 METs. This is important in understanding why he believes athletes and fit individuals are spending too much time on cardio. Let’s move on.
“Cardio is not a religion.”
– Mike O’Hearn
Stan Efferding Explains The Reason Athletes And Fit People Should Do Less Cardio
Mike O’Hearn and Stan Efferding make it clear from the top that this discussion is about fit individuals and athletes specifically. Their advice about cardio would change significantly for the average person or a person who lives a sedentary lifestyle.
Stan Efferding breaks down athletes into three categories regarding cardiovascular health:
People who meet 8 METs without needing cardio exercise
People who do cardio or weightlifting in order to successfully meet 8 METs
People who do cardio or weightlifting but still do not meet 8 METs
Stan Efferding claims that studies show the individuals who meet the first category are able to successfully commit to 8 MET activities despite not doing regular cardio. This can be due to genetics or overall lifestyle (such as an active job). But what is important to note, is that the individuals in category three, who do cardio regularly but still can’t meet 8 METs, have a higher mortality rate than the individuals in category one who do zero cardio.
What Stan Efferding is trying to point out here is that cardio in and of itself is not the singular solution to cardiovascular health. It’s not about the individual action, it’s about the outcome. What is important is that your cardio or weightlifting or activity leads to improvement in your ability. If you can’t measure an outcome – then you are simply doing a repetitive task, like cardio, for no reason.
This ties into the notion of diminishing returns in exercise. Over time your body will adapt, so you must adapt your training. If you do the exact same cardio routine every day for the rest of your life – you will not necessarily be gaining a cardiovascular benefit from the cardio.
“I find very few individuals who need more cardio if they are already generally fit.”
– Stan Efferding
Cardio Should Not Be A Religion, But It’s Also Not The Devil
Mike O’Hearn and Stan Efferding also want to stress that they are not saying you should never do cardio – or that cardio accomplishes nothing. What they are trying to say is that many fit athletes who don’t do cardio… probably don’t need to start doing it. The outcome or result of your lifestyle is more important than the exact mode that gets you there.
If you are a generally fit person but still suffer from factors such as high blood pressure, high lipids, or high blood sugar – cardio will help you become healthier, lower those levels, and decrease your mortality rate.
But if you are a bodybuilder without these issues and you can hit a consistent 8 METS of activity without cardio – that’s okay too.
At the end of the day, Stan Efferding values movement most above all else. If that movement is cardio and it fits your overall athletic goals, great. If that movement is weightlifting without cardio, that’s also okay.
Stan and Mike have far too often run into athletes who pressed too much cardio throughout their training regiment – and are now leading into a competition with limited options to improve because the cardio has worn them down. This is the worst situation when you are close to a competition. It leaves you with limited to no options and may pull away from your success at the competition.
This is why Mike O’Hearn and Stan Efferding are stressing to pull back on cardio if you are an athlete. Odds are you are doing too much. There are ways to keep longevity high without having cardio diminishing your muscle mass or your athletic ability. It ultimately depends on what sport you compete in – but for bodybuilders, don’t succumb to the pressure. You may not need cardio to stay healthy while you prepare for your competition. Each individual varies – but don’t fall for the blanket “cardio is always important” opinion.
Wrap Up
You can watch Mike O’Hearn and Stan Efferding talk about cardio in full detail by watching our latest episode of The Mike O’Hearn Show above. Make sure to catch new episodes every Friday only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network or wherever podcasts are downloaded.