Tag: Originals
Derek Lunsford: “Phil Heath Is The Greatest Bodybuilder Of All Time”
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Derek Lunsford opens up about who inspired him in bodybuilding and why he thinks Phil Heath is the number one greatest of all time.
Derek Lunsford skyrocketed into the spotlight this year with an epic victory at the Men’s 212 Olympia. The division was one of the most competitive categories of the event – making his victory that much more exciting. We had an opportunity to speak with Lunsford following his big win and asked him about his biggest influences that inspired his physique. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Derek Lunsford explains how Phil Heath inspired his career and why he believes Heath is the greatest bodybuilder of all time.
Ronnie Coleman. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Lee Haney. These are legendary bodybuilder names that are often in contention for the greatest of all time in the sport. Phil Heath, a seven time Mr. Olympia champion himself, is often in the mix. But perhaps due to Heath being a relatively recent athlete – many do not cement him above the these legends that came before. There is a strong argument for claiming Phil Heath is one of the best of all time but there has not yet been the time yet to let it all sink in.
However, Derek Lunsford has no qualms calling Phil Heath the greatest bodybuilder that ever lived. Even compared to the likes of legends such as Ronnie Coleman or Dorian Yates – for Lunsford it’s all about Heath. During our recent video conversation after his big Olympia win, Lunsford explains how Heath inspired his career.
Derek Lunsford is a young bodybuilder and part of the new generation of athletes coming into the spotlight. So it might make you feel old to hear that Lunsford was inspired by Phil Heath and the original Generation Iron film growing up. Everything from Heath’s aesthetics, shape, size, and conditioning seemed like perfection to Lunsford. Heath was the pinnacle of what Lunsford wished his physique could look like.
Derek Lunsford ultimately hedged his bets on the smaller Men’s 212 division for success (though now he seems to plan to eventually move up to Men’s Open). During our interview, you could still hear the elation in his voice post-victory. In many ways, he still sees himself as a bodybuilding fan who was watching the films and looking up to Phil Heath on stage. Now he’s a champion himself.
Lunsford acknowledges that everyone will have their personal favorite. He knows that Ronnie Coleman and Arnold Schwarzenegger are both legends who changed the sport forever. But for Lunsford personally, Phil Heath changed his relationship to bodybuilding forever. At Lunsford’s age, Heath is from another era. He’s already a solidified legend separate from the competitive bodybuilding world Lunsford battles in today.
Derek Lunsford doesn’t need more time to evaluate how Phil Heath’s legacy will look as time recedes farther – he already knows everything he needs. Heath is an example of waht the perfect bodybuilder should look like as far as Lunsford is concerned. Without Phil Heath – we may not have Derek Lunsford he Men’s 212 Olympia champion that we do today.
You can watch Derek Lunsford talk in detail about Men’s Open and his bodybuilding inspirations by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Interview: The Reason Chef Rush Does 2,222 Push Ups A Day
Chef Rush does 2,222 push ups every day for Veteran suicide awareness.
Chef Andre Rush made headlines last year for being the most jacked White House chef ever seen. That might seem like an easy feat (there aren’t that many White House chefs in the world). But when you look at the man, you’ll quickly realize he might just be the most massive chef in the world. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Chef Rush explains why he does 2,222 push ups a day not for building muscle but for suicide awareness.
Chef Rush does 2,222 push ups every single day (except Saturday and Sunday). This takes him over an hour to complete each time. That sounds maddening, brutal and, for many, seemingly impossible. But Chef Rush isn’t doing this as a realistic way to build muscle. Actually he recommends against it. The real reason he dedicates himself to so many push ups a day is for suicide awareness.
Specifically, the number of push ups have a significance. They represent, according to statistics, 22 veteran suicides a day. Chef Rush has been in the military himself and served over seas. He also suffered from post traumatic stress and depression – something he admits he would have never been able to say on camera only three years ago. He had been in mental health facilities and struggled with trying to find a way to gain inner peace. He understands what many veterans (and even the broader scope of people who suffer mental health issues) goes through.
That’s why Chef Rush does 2,222 push ups a day and talks about it as much as he can. He wants to help change the way the world looks at mental health; the way the government supports veterans and suicide prevention; and hopefully show others who are suffering that they are not alone.
The 2,222 push ups are not Chef Rush’s workout. They don’t give him the massive size you see on his physique. But it’s a different kind of sacrifice he’s willing to make every day. Something for himself and for all others that are desperately seeking relief from their mental health issues in a world that often ignores them.
Check out the full GI Exclusive interview clip of Chef Rush above and make sure to stick around the Generation Iron Fitness Network for more bodybuilding exclusives and news updates!
Chef Rush On The Hardest Part Of Fitness Success: “A Lot Of Times You’ll Be By Yourself”
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Chef Rush reflects back on his success and details the hardest part of success in this industry.
Chef Rush started out as a viral meme. He was the “bodybuilding white house chef.” Over time he turned that wave of attention into an entire career. He’s written a book, is set to start in many high profile TV projects, and always uses his platform to spread awareness about important causes. While his internet fame might have seemed immediate, his journey to success was not an easy one. In our latest GI Exclusive, Chef Rush talks about the hardest part of attaining success in fitness and entertainment.
Chef Rush could have had his 15 minutes of fame and then faded into the massive pile of viral personalities that disappear as fast as they’ve arrived. Instead, Rush was able to transform his opportunity into multiple entrepreneurial endeavors. He’s now an iconic name in fitness, nutrition, and health. In our latest video conversation, we asked Chef Rush about his latest book and what it was like to look back on his life and rise to success. He called it, “A blessing.”
And while Chef Rush does truly feel blessed, he also knows that his success comes directly from sacrifice and hard workout throughout the years. If there’s one message he wants to share with aspiring individuals in fitness, it’s this: the hardest part of this industry is navigating the loneliness.
Chef Rush certainly has close people in his life, but he admits that rising through success in fitness and entertainment opens your eyes to those who want to take advantage of you. He mentions that he’s had to leave family members behind and also friends. He reflects on many moments where the only way for him to succeed without sacrificing his own sense of self – was to only rely on himself.
“This industry, and you know this, I had to cut loose a lot of people. Family, friends, because of this mindset,” Chef Rush states in our interview. He goes on:
“And I’m doing this I’ve had to do everything by myself. I’ve had agents and I’ve had lawyers and I was called a serial firer because if I’m working harder than you, there’s a problem… and instead of us being successful together, everyone wanted to take from the top. I’ve always had that self motivation which you’re always going to need because a lot of times you’re going to be by yourself. And that’s the hard part.”
When applying this to bodybuilding specifically, the sport can already be a lonely one. The dedication to be a true champion pro bodybuilder does not jive well with normal life. Add to this the success that might come with it – and those who suddenly want to latch onto you to reap the benefits. It can be a real struggle. It’s important to not be exploited nor to become an exploiter yourself.
For Chef Rush, his therapy is ultimately helping others. That’s the guiding light that helped him get through times when he had to trudge through the industry alone to get out the other side successful. His advice for others is to do the same. Learn to not lose yourself as you rise in the industry.
You can watch Chef Rush’s full comments in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Philip Ricardo Jr: How Mr. America Will Help Him Reclaim The Natural Olympia Title
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Philip Ricardo Jr. was a last minute entrant into the Mr. America 2021 – but he’s confident the experience will help him be better prepared for this month’s Natural Olympia competition.
In 2019, Philip Ricardo Jr. became the new champion of the Natural Olympia competition. The event is an all-natural WADA compliant version of the Mr. Olympia. They have no direct affiliation – but the prestige is the same for the natural athletes who compete in the INBA/PNBA bodybuilding leagues. Ricardo Jr.’s victory also came the same year Generation Iron produced Natty 4 Life – the fourth film in the Generation Iron documentary series.
Now in 2021, Philip Ricardo Jr. is ready to reclaim his title at the Natural Olympia happening in November. And he believes that the Mr. America might just be the linchpin to help him bring his best physique to the stage. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Philip Ricardo Jr. discusses the challenges of being a late entrant into the Mr. America 2021… and how it will ultimately help him win the Natural Olympia later this year.
Philip Ricardo Jr. is one of the most iconic natural bodybuilders currently competing in the division. He won the Natural Olympia in 2019 and has remained one of the most skilled and impressive competitors in the league. So it was exciting when he was announced last minute to compete at the Mr. America 2021 competition earlier in October. While the announcement was exciting for fans and helped bring an even bigger spotlight on the historic competition – this wasn’t a secret announcement that Ricardo Jr. had been prepping for.
In fact, the decision was just as much a last minute call for Philip Ricardo Jr. as it was for the fans. This meant that his contest prep was shortened. It wasn’t ideal and it was a true struggle for him in the weeks leading up to the show. Ultimately, Ricardo Jr. did not win the Mr. America competition. He’s not concerned though – as he saw this event as a key strategy in preparing for the biggest natural bodybuilding event of the year. The Natural Olympia.
It’s a strategy that is equally risky as it is rewarding. IFBB Pro competitor Iain Valliere committed to the same sort of tactic when he competed at the Arnold Classic just two weeks before competing at the Mr. Olympia. On one hand, it can throw off timing and cause the athlete to be “off peak” when he or she steps on stage. On the other, it can keep the athlete in full preparation weeks before – and then adjust any small issues noticed in the first competition just in time for the second.
Philip Ricardo Jr. seems to believe that the prep for Mr. America will push him harder – giving him an advantage when he steps on the Natural Olympia stage this month. So perhaps the goal wasn’t to put all of his eggs in the basket of winning Mr. America. Instead, it pushed his contest prep harder than ever before, took the Mr. America placing in stride, and is now confident he will be in the best shape of his life when he steps on stage in Las Vegas for the Natural Olympia.
Only time will tell. But as a previous Natural Olympia champion – we know he has it in him to present a championship-winning physique. Will the Mr. America prep do him more harm than good? That remains to be seen. We wish him the best as he battles to reclaim his title as Natural Olympia champion.
You can watch Philip Ricardo Jr. talk in more detail behind the scenes of the Mr. America 2021 in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Iain Valliere: Men’s Open Bodybuilding Is About To Explode In Popularity After A Lull
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Two years ago, Iain Valliere thought the future of Men’s Open bodybuilding was looking grim… now he thinks it’s about to explode into new levels of popularity.
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – bodybuilding has been going through a bit of a transition period over the last five or six years. The old guard of champions have slowly stepped down to new younger athletes – but the younger athletes have yet to truly enter their final form. This explains criticism of conditioning issues and questions of whether or not Classic Physique could take over as the number one division. Iain Valliere was worried as well just a few years ago – but now he believes we are on the verge of a new rise in popularity. In our latest GI Exclusive, Iain Valliere explains why Men’s Open has had a lull… and why he thinks it’s about to explode to new heights.
Iain Valliere is a Men’s Open bodybuilder who has been getting a lot of hype and attention in 2021. He’s not alone. He’s one of many younger athletes finally coming into their own and catching attention at major shows. Hunter Labrada, Regan Grimes, Sergio Oliva, and Nick Walker have all been turning heads. The best part? They aren’t even at the prime of their careers yet.
During our conversation, we asked Iain Valliere what his outlook for the Men’s Open division was in the next decade. He answered that if we had asked him two years ago, he would be pretty pessimistic. However now in 2021, Valliere is extremely optimistic and confident that the division is about to see a massive rise in attention.
Iain Valliere rewinds us back just a few years. Classic Physique was newly introduced during a controversial moment in the sport. Many fans and even experts were complaining about Men’s Open physiques. They felt the physiques were too soft and too bulky and that aesthetics were falling to the wayside. At the same time, Classic Physiques focus on aesthetics over mass monster size really caught on. It’s now one of the most exciting divisions in the sport. Many wondered if it could overtake Men’s Open as the most popular division – or at the very least change the way Men’s Open physiques looked.
During this time, we also had constantly shifting Olympia champions. First a final win from a waning Phil Heath, then Shawn Rhoden’s more aesthetic physique, then Brandon Curry – who received some criticism for the state of his physique at the time. Iain Valliere thought things were looking grim. Where was the excitement for the original division that made bodybuilding great?
But then suddenly everything changed. The younger bodybuilders were finally making headroom on the stage. They built more of a fanbase and are the first generation to really embrace and be born with the social media era. Valliere believes that this engagement with social media alongside physiques that are finally coming into better form are bringing Men’s Open bodybuilding back to a boil.
“I think right now when you look at how many young guys there are that have been really good about putting content out and giving access to the lives of pro bodybuilders and keeping that tradition alive,” Iain Valliere stated in our interview. He continued:
“…And I think there are so many promising young athletes… guys like me and Nick. Hunter, Akeem, Nathan, James Hollingshead. Guys that are in their early 30s that are so promising that are also so good at talking to their fans and so good at putting good information out there. I think these guys are gonna be the leaders on the forefront of keeping that division growing. And I think really over the next five, six, seven years – I think it’s going to explode again.”
In 2013, the film Generation Iron gave an inside look into many of the greatest bodybuilders competing at the time. As of today, many of those athletes are now retired or slowly stepping aside. On top of that, the insight into pro bodybuilders’ lives has blown wide open due to social media. It was a turbulent time of change but it seems that the change is finally making headway to a new pinnacle era of the sport. Perhaps Valliere is right. In the next five or six years we very well may have another Golden Era of bodybuilding.
You can watch Iain Valliere’s full comments on Men’s Open bodybuilding in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Talking Huge With Craig Golias | EP 18: Shaun Clarida & Flex Lewis’ Men’s Open Future
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Craig Golias reacts to Shaun Clarida’s Men’s Open win and debates about his potential in Men’s Open Olympia alongside Flex Lewis and Hadi Choopan.
Welcome to another episode of Talking Huge – a weekly digital series in which Craig Golias talks in-depth with Vlad Yudin on the latest trending topics in bodybuilding. Raw, honest, and uncut – Craig Golias shares his opinions on all things bodybuilding. In this episode, Craig Golias discusses the growing number of Men’s 212 athletes moving to Men’s Open including Shaun Clarida, Flex Lewis, and Hadi Choopan. He also talks thoughts on Only Fans and neck training.
The bodybuilding season might be coming to a close but there’s still a lot of exciting news coming out of the sport post Olympia. While the European Tour is no where near as momentous as it was in decades past, some interesting results have surfaced over the last few weeks. The biggest news was not simply Shaun Clarida winning a Men’s Open competition – but his announcement that he wants to try and compete in both Men’s 212 and Men’s Open Olympia next year.
This news alongside Hadi Choopan’s switch two years ago and the impending debut of Flex Lewis in Men’s Open is bringing a wave of Men’s 212 athletes into Men’s Open. How will it all turn out? Vlad Yudin connected with Craig Golias for a new episode of Talking Huge to discuss at length. Let’s jump into it.
Shaun Clarida’s Men’s Open Victory
At the Legion Sports Fest Pro 2021, Shaun Clarida turned heads by announcing he would compete in the Men’s Open division. This put him against the likes of Regan Grimes and Sergio Oliva Jr. Even more surprising were the results – Clarida beat out Grimes and Oliva Jr. for his first victory in Men’s Open. We asked Craig Golias his thoughts on the victory.
While Craig Golias congratulates Shaun Clarida for the victory – he doesn’t see this as a big change for Clarida’s career. In Craig’s opinion, Clarida wasn’t going up against the best of the best Men’s Open competitors. Craig also points out that Clarida isn’t just any Men’s 212 athlete – he’s the former Olympia champion. A Men’s 212 Olympia champion going against a lineup of non-Olympia champion Men’s Open competitors is very different than if Clarida was competing in the Men’s Open Mr. Olympia.
Of course, it seems that Shaun Clarida knows this as well. He’s already made a statement in a recent interview claiming that he’d like to try and compete in the Men’s Open Olympia. In his perfect world, he’d be allowed to compete in both Men’s 212 and Men’s Open. If and when that occurs, we’ll be sure to follow up with Craig Golias on his take.
The Bigger Picture: More Men’s 212 Athletes Move To Men’s Open
We also asked Craig Golias his opinion in the wider view regarding Men’s 212. Over the past few years, a handful of impressive Men’s 212 athletes have moved over into Men’s Open. Hadi Choopan has been competing in Men’s Open Olympia for three years and has made it into the top 5 each year. Flex Lewis has been preparing for his Men’s Open debut at Mr. Olympia – but has not yet competed due to personal circumstances. And now – Shaun Clarida looks to be making waves in Men’s Open.
Could this be a signal that size is starting to play less importance in Men’s Open? After decades of “mass monster” physiques reigning supreme, will aesthetics start edging out size as a deciding factor for victory? Craig Golias is excited to see what happens. He’s curious to see what Shaun Clarida can do in Men’s Open Olympia. He’s by far the shortest competitor in Men’s 212 to make the transition. Craig is most excited for Flex Lewis. He believes if any Men’s 212 competitor could move up and win Men’s Open Olympia – it would be Lewis.
Wrap Up
There are far more topics discussed in this episode than we can cover in this article. Craig Golias also discusses the world of Only Fans and if he would ever make an account. He also talks about neck training and gives an update on his nerve damage injury. You can check it all out in the latest episode of Talking Huge above! Make sure to check out Talking Huge every week on Friday – only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network!
Patrick Moore Reveals The Game-Changing Advice He Received From Phil Heath
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Phil Heath gave Patrick Moore some powerful advice that may have affected Patrick Moore’s decision to sit out of the 2022 season.
Patrick Moore is a pro bodybuilder that has gained a lot of attention and hype over the past few years. So it came as somewhat of a shock when Moore announced he would not compete in 2022 and focus on growing and improving his physique. During our conversation with Moore right before the Olympia 2021, he revealed some key advice he received from Phil Heath. Looking back, that advice might play into Moore’s 2022 decision. In our latest GI Exclusive, Patrick Moore details the valuable advice he received from seven time Olympia champion Phil Heath.
Patrick Moore considers himself lucky to call Phil Heath a friend. They exchange texts and talk somewhat regularly. That’s a powerful friend to have in the bodybuilding world. Moore is able to pick the mind of one of the greatest Olympia champions in the history of the sport. During our conversation with Moore, we asked him about that friendship and if it’s provided insight into his own training and contest prep.
Patrick Moore reveals that he, in fact, trained with Phil Heath not too long before the Olympia 2021. During that training session, Moore also received sage advice from Heath. Our conversation took place before the Olympia and well before his announcement to not compete in 2022. But looking back at our discussion and the details of Heath’s advice – it seems that perhaps he had some strong influence on Moore’s recent decision to focus on growth and not compete next year.
During our interview, Patrick Moore explains that Phil Heath strongly urged Moore not to compete in the Olympia 2021. This ultimately didn’t happen. While Moore has not publicly confirmed this – it seems a combination of his recent Olympia experience and his conversation with Phil Heath ultimately led to his new direction going into the 2022 season.
“The biggest thing that he told me was in line kind of what I wanted to do already. He told me to take my time,” Patrick Moore stated in our interview. He continued:
“And he actually advised me to entertain the idea of sitting out of this Olympia. Which I 100% understand because he was saying, ‘Man, I want you to be successful. I want you to crack the top spots…’ He told me, ‘If you want to be the best you’re really going to have to go to another level with your dedication.”
Patrick Moore goes on to explain that Phil Heath went into more detail about exactly how Moore could improve to get to the next level. Moore was lucky enough to have Heath sit down and go over every aspect of living the life of a pro bodybuilder. While Moore did not reveal the exact secrets, he made it clear that Phil Heath broke down exact areas where Moore needed to improve – not only his tactics but his dedication.
While this might sound like a slight on Patrick Moore’s passion, the reality was far from it. Moore admits that he is extremely passionate and dedicated to the sport. In fact, speaking with Heath opened up his eyes to just how far beyond greatness a competitor needs to be in order to become the absolute best in the world. Heath shared advice on not only how to win one Olympia – but to be a consistent champion for years to come.
The hard part, of course, is taking that concept and turning it into reality. Patrick Moore ultimately decided to compete at the Olympia 2021. Now, shortly after that competition, his announcement of staying off stage for 2022 seems to be a direct reaction to Phil Heath’s advice. He’s taking a long needed break. Not from bodybuilding but from the stage. So he can dig deep and focus on upgrading to the next level.
With Patrick Moore already an impressive bodybuilder and now with Phil Heath’s occasional advice in his corner – we believe that it’s very possible we see an even further transformed Moore in 2023 and beyond.
You can watch Patrick Moore go into full detail about Phil Heath’s advice in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
The Anabolic Doc Answers: What Defines Actual Steroid Abuse In Bodybuilding?
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Use it, don’t abuse it: Where is the actual line drawn when it comes to steroid abuse in bodybuilding?
Steroid use has been a constant controversial issue in most professional sports – but the spotlight is particularly shined on bodybuilding throughout the decades. While not endorsed by any leagues – it’s widely considered common knowledge that the size of muscle seen in pro bodybuilding is impossible without the use of steroids. It’s also well documented that steroid abuse can lead to serious medical problems in the long term. But where is the line drawn between use and abuse? Is it possible for bodybuilders to use steroids safely? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, the Anabolic Doc attempts to break down the distinction between safe use of steroids and abuse of steroids in bodybuilding.
First thing’s first, recreational use of steroids for athletic enhancement is illegal in the United States and not endorsed by pro bodybuilding leagues. That doesn’t stop athletes from finding ways to use it. For many professional athletes (not just in bodybuilding), there is a choice that needs to be made. Is the athlete willing to take a potential health risk to achieve athletic greatness? If an athlete does indeed choose to go down the path of steroids – is it possible to still gain benefit and be safe? We asked Dr. Thomas O’Connor, aka the Anabolic Doc, this very question.
There is somewhat a limit on what the Anabolic Doc could say on this topic to avoid danger of losing his medical license. But he was able to touch upon the confusion behind the “use it, don’t abuse it” sentiment with steroid use. We’ve spoke to other experts who claim that bodybuilding steroid use is always abuse in order to achieve the physiques we see on stage. Is this true? Or can some bodybuilders gain benefit from steroids and PEDs safely?
The Anabolic Doc admits that low doses of certain steroids can be safe – but the doses are so low that they would barely help with athletic performance. At least, in the way that bodybuilders and many star athletes aim to achieve. The doctor also admits that the definition of abuse in bodybuilding is very confusion. A big part of that confusion comes from lack of research.
The truth is, as it currently exists right now, there is no clear answer on what is safe and what is not in recreational steroid use. Due to its illegal status in the United States, there have been limited studies on the real effects happening in sports where steroids are used regularly. While the Anabolic Doc cannot advocate for legalizing steroids – he does raise the question. Would legalizing steroids lead to a healthier society? Much like the slow legalization of marijuana, it may actually be better for society’s health to provide safe and legal access to these drugs.
Oregon, for example, has decriminalized all drugs ranging from marijuana all the way to heroine. It’s still in the early stages but it would be interesting to see if this has a negative or positive effect on the health of Oregon residents who use drugs. Theoretically, if steroids were made legal for use in sports, individuals could get safer access to drugs and safer access to medical help. It could actually lead to pro athletes being monitored, preventing serious health issues.
So where is the line drawn under the “use it, don’t abuse it” motto? The sad truth is that there is no line. Each individual is different and there is not enough research to safely prove these kinds of definitions. The Anabolic Doc sees medicine and views on drug use/abuse improving over the decades, however slowly, he is optimistic that these questions will one day have real answers. It will simply take time.
You can watch the Anabolic Doc go into full detail about the definition of steroid abuse in real world practices by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
*DISCLAIMER: Generation Iron does not recommend or condone the use of steroids or other PEDs. The views and opinions expressed in this video are not that of Generation Iron.
Mr. America Champ Corey Brown On His First Cheat Meal After A Momentous Victory
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Corey Brown Answers: What Will Be His First Cheat Meal After Winning Mr. America 2021?
This past October held one of the biggest and most historic bodybuilding events of the year – the Mr. America 2021. With its roots going back all the way to 1939 – the competition somewhat disappeared in the new millennium until 2020, when it was revived with the aim of going mainstream in the sport. Now in its second year of revival, the event has already received much attention, praise, and a featured broadcast on CBS Sports. We had a chance to chat with the Men’s Open champion from the event, Cory Brown immediately after his victory. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Cory Brown shares what his first cheat meal will be after being crowned Mr. America.
The Mr. America competition has a dedication to represent the purity of competition within bodybuilding. With that in mind, its revival decided to ensure that this was a natural show by committing to WADA standard drug testing. With a media coverage partnership with Generation Iron and CBS Sports Network broadcasting – it’s well on its way to reaching a wider audience and, hopefully, making bodybuilding more mainstream. Partially leading that charge will be the champion athletes – such as Mr. America 2021 winner Corey Brown.
Generation Iron had a chance to catch up with Corey Brown right after his victory. Still stunned by the weight of the victory, Brown showcased himself as a humble but confident athlete and champion. He shared insight into the kind of work he had to put in to earn the title and also his future plans for the coming year.
But competitive bodybuilding can also take a major strain on your psych when it comes to nutrition and dieting. After putting so much effort into being perfect for stage, it’s only natural for an athlete to indulge in a bit of a cheat meal. With Corey Brown being somewhat new to the public gaze – we wanted to help let fans get to know Brown a little better now that he’s Mr. America champion. We thought of the perfect way – what’s his ideal cheat meal to celebrate his big victory.
Still somewhat awe-struck from his victory, he claimed that he had a lot going on in his head. Ultimately, he landed on trying something delicious and new to him. Not being native to the east coast of the US, he had always heard New York pizza is the best in the country. He wants to put that to the test and grab a slice or two for himself.
“Since this is my first time on the east coast, I want to try something on the east coast that I’ve never ate,” Corey Brown stated during our interview. He continued:
“I don’t ant to go to no chain restaurant. One of my guys told me that if I ever tried pizza here or in New York that I’ll never want pizza again when I go back. So I wanna see how good their pizza is actually.”
The staff here at Generation Iron (a New York located business, by the way) wish Corey Brown the best on his pizza journey and hope it lives up to his expectations. It only makes sense to try the best pizza in America when you’re the Mr. America champion.
You can watch our full post-victory interview with Corey Brown in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Ryan Crowley: The Pros and Cons Of Being An Endomorph Bodybuilder
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Ryan Crowley shares his personal experience on successful training techniques as a person who genetically gains weight easily.
A core school of thought when it comes to fitness and bodybuilding is that everyone falls into three body types. An Ectomorph, endomorph, and mesomorph. Ectomorphs have a heard time gaining weight with little body fat, mesomorphs have a natural high muscle to fat ratio, and endomorphs have a naturally higher fat to muscle ratio and gain weight easily. Ryan Crowley was bullied as a child for being an overweight kid and to this day falls in the endomorph category. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Ryan Terry shares his experiences and tips on how to keep his fat ratio low while building a successful bodybuilding technique.
In competitive bodybuilding, there are some who struggle with building size and forcing themselves to eat enough food. But some bodybuilders gain weight easily during bulking. Typically, these bodybuilders would fall under the endomorph category of genetic body type. This might seem like a blessing. Building weight and size is the first step towards becoming a competitive bodybuilder. But when a competitor ultimately steps on stage, they also want to be as lean as possible. That can be more challenging to pull off for endomorphs.
Ryan Crowley is one such bodybuilder who falls into that category. He has been open about being an overweight child and being bullied. This was part of the reason why he eventually discovered bodybuilding and started sculpting his physique. This doesn’t mean that his genetic predisposition to gain fat disappears. In fact, Crowley’s fans have often been in disbelief how easily he can maintain his weight at around 300 pounds.
It’s so easy for him to stay heavy, in fact, that his bulks can sometimes go too far in the wrong direction. He describes bulking up to near 320 pounds and feeling unhealthy carrying that much weight on his body. Not only that, but he eventually needs to cut back on the fat, try to maintain as much size as possible, and keep it all as lean muscle. This is much harder for endomorphs who gain fat much more easily.
While cardio is often seen as an enemy for bodybuilders (due to cutting muscle alongside the fat), Ryan Crowley finds himself sometimes doing three hours of cardio to keep himself at a respectable weight – even during bulk. This seems to be Crowley’s biggest takeaway about being an endomorph. Bodybuilders who fall under this category need to embrace cardio in order to stay lean.
At the end of the day, Ryan Crowley keeps on weight at lower calorie levels that would cause others to lose weight. This has led fans to call him a liar about his weight and demand he shows video of stepping on the scale. The plus side is that he can keep weight with eating less food and avoiding more carbs. But the downside is if he doesn’t keep an eye on it and add extensive cardio into his routine – he can fall too far into bulking and make his cutting phase a nightmare in prep for a show.
You can watch Ryan Crowley talk in more detail about the pros and cons of being an endomorph bodybuilder in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!