Tag: Originals
Melvin Anthony: How To Beat Big Ramy At The Mr. Olympia
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Melvin Anthony breaks down how Big Ramy needs to be more than “a little off” to lose Mr. Olympia. He needs to be knocked out.
After many years of close calls, Big Ramy has finally become the Mr. Olympia champion many fans hoped he would be. Now with the 2020 Olympia under his belt, he’s entering the biggest competition of the year as a returning champion. Will he be hard to defeat? Or will his past challenges with conditioning plague him in 2021? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Melvin Anthony details what it will take for Big Ramy to lose the Mr. Olympia 2021.
During our conversation with Melvin Anthony, we asked if he had watched the Mr. Olympia 2020 last year. He does indeed continue to follow bodybuilding and was incredibly impressed by Big Ramy’s physique. He believes that the athlete certainly deserved the champion title.
But what does the future hold for Big Ramy? Will he continue to reign as champion or another one shot champion? Melvin Anthony doesn’t claim he can read the future – but he does look back at past champions to predict what it will take for Big Ramy to be defeated.
Melvin Anthony knows one thing is certain, an Olympia champion almost always maintains some sort of reign and repeat victories. There are exceptions and the past few years actually showcased that in the form of Shawn Rhoden and Brandon Curry. That being said, the majority of bodybuilders who win Mr. Olympia go on to win multiple in a row.
So while this is not a guarantee for Big Ramy, Melvin Anthony believes that it will take more than him being “a little off” to lose the title. Judging is meant to be as objective as possible. At the end of the day, though, it’s a subjective sport. Judges will see Big Ramy differently than in previous years. He’s no longer a competitor hungry to win his first Olympia, he’s now a returning champion.
So Melvin Anthony believes that the only way Big Ramy will lose is if he is defeated by a “knock out.” What he means by this is that either Ramy has to make significant mistakes to his physique or someone has to show up with a next-level physique than we’ve seen so far. Big Ramy has a lot of mass on his side – but his conditioning is where he has struggled in the past. No one will be him on pure mass alone – so all other competitors will need to be more perfect than they ever have been in order to surpass Ramy. Or again as we mentioned earlier – Big Ramy would have to make a huge mistake.
Melvin Anthony acknowledges that everyone on the stage has a great challenge ahead of them. Big Ramy has the pressure of either matching his 2020 physique or making it even better. The other competitors all need to try and contend with Ramy’s massive size.
You can watch Melvin Anthony speak in full detail about Big Ramy and the future of Mr. Olympia in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Guy Cisternino: Love For Social Media Is Replacing Love For Training In Bodybuilding
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Guy Cisternino shares one of the biggest things he hates about bodybuilding today.
Guy Cisternino is a pro bodybuilder who is not afraid to speak his mind – even if it’s not what people want to hear. That’s why we asked him to share one thing he loves about modern bodybuilding… and one thing he hates about modern bodybuilding. In our latest GI Exclusive, Guy Cisternino details how he loves the camaraderie of bodybuilding but hates how social media has changed training.
In our first GI Exclusive segment with Guy Cisternino, we discussed the viral video showcasing him confronting people at the gym. He was in the middle of a set and was angry due to younger gym patrons filming aggressively close to the current exercise machine Cisternino was using. Ultimately, he was able to explain himself and patch things up with the young gym-goers.
But the problem that started it, filming constantly in the gym during training, is the biggest thing that Guy Cisternino dislikes about modern bodybuilding. In his own words, he believes that, “the love for training is becoming more a love for social media.” What he means by this is that young bodybuilders see training more as “content” rather than a means to improving their physique.
This is, of course, a very generalized statement. But it tracks with what Guy Cisternino was telling us in a previous segment as well. Cisternino loves hardcore focused bodybuilders. Branch Warren is one of his biggest inspiration. Today, he sees less of that and more young bodybuilders constantly filming their training and filming random content in between sets. Cisternino worries that young bodybuilders are trying to skip the line and become famous before they accomplish major victories as a competitive bodybuilder.
Social media has also proved that you can be successful without ever competing. Influencers like Rich Piana, Bradley Martyn, and Craig Golias find success through social media without having to compete on the pro level. Guy Cisternino argues that those individuals are the outliers. The problem is everyone wants to be the outlier instead of doing the hard work of becoming a successful pro.
“They’re trying to be in our shoes as professionals before even stepping on stage. And it’s frustrating,” Guy Cisternino states in our interview. He continues:
“And yeah, in my eyes, and I don’t think it’s bad to say But for me to say it’s not disrespectful to think that a 20 year old kid has a camera crew filing himself working out because he thinks… he’s trying to be somebody on the same level as somebody like me? What I do? It’s crazy. It’s like, I would never act like I’m a professional football player on social media because I’m not a professional football player. But you’re going to act like you’re a professional bodybuilder or professional trainer and you’re 20 years old and have a camera crew? Like work for what you have.”
This is a divide between generations that exists beyond bodybuilding. A portion of millennials and Gen Z grew up a world where it feels like anyone can become famous because sites like YouTube and Instagram have a low bar for entry. Namely, it’s free to upload and broadcast content. Once that content became monetizable – newer generations discovered there was money to be made via influencer success.
But much like fame in any era – it can only be a small percentage who actually achieve it. Now with the bar for entry lower, it at least seems like more individuals are attempting to pursue it. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this. But when it enters tried and true traditions or public spaces – it can clash with the old way of doing things.
Is one inherently worse than the other? Time and reflection on an entire generation will be the true teacher. But for Guy Cisternino, it’s simply something he hates about the current state of bodybuilding. It’s not wrong. It’s not right. But it’s something that clashes with what he loves about bodybuilding – the passion for training above all else.
You can watch Guy Cisternino explain his full comments in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
George Farah: How To Travel Before A Competition Without Ruining Your Physique
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Traveling takes away from a normal bodybuilding routine. Here’s how to avoid ruining your physique.
While a bodybuilder might first compete in their local state pro shows, eventually all pro bodybuilders must travel to compete. This presents an interesting challenge. Competition prep is a very delicate and specific time for pro bodybuilders. Traveling can disrupt that routine. So how do pro bodybuilders prevent ruining their physique while traveling to a pro show? In our latest GI Exclusive, George Farah explains how to properly travel without ruining your bodybuilding physique.
At some point or another, a successful bodybuilder will have to jump onto a plane to compete at a major pro show. It might be the New York Pro, Chicago Pro, Arnold Classic, or Olympia. In either case, long term travel will be involved. How do bodybuilders successfully travel so close to a competition without disrupting their prep diet and training?
We asked this very question to legendary bodybuilding coach and guru George Farah. His advice, while aimed at competitive bodybuilders, can also be very insightful for anyone looking to travel living a bodybuilding lifestyle. A massive and shredded physique requires a very strict diet and training. That goes out the window when you’re stuck on a plane for six-twelve hours being fed airline food. It’s never perfect – but George Farah has key tips to keep you on point.
While it may seem the biggest challenge is not getting the proper diet, the truth is that water weight is your biggest enemy while traveling. This is due to staying still for so long in one place sitting up. Whether it’s a car, a plane, or a train – sitting still for so long will cause your body to look “soft” due to water weight. That’s why George Farah stresses the importance of getting up and walking every 45 minutes of traveling.
It’s essential to getting blood flowing and preventing your water weight from going out of whack. In addition to this, if you are going to a show or someplace to showcase your physique – make sure to arrive 48 hours beforehand. This give you extra time to adjust once you land if anythings starts to look off.
It should also be noted that George Farah’s walking advice is a great tip for anyone traveling long distance – not just bodybuilders. Taking some time to stretch and walk every 45 minutes helps prevent the possibility of blood clots. While rare – if this does form it can eventually dislodge and flow to vital organs such as your heart. That can ultimately cause serious damage.
So George Farah’s advice is powerful on two fronts. It helps maintain your physique while traveling and also can help prevent blood clots. It’s a win/win situation. So make sure to take Farah’s advice seriously. It may sound simple and ineffective – it can actually make a big difference.
You can watch George Farah go into more detail about the key rules of traveling without ruining your physique in our latest GI Exclusive interview above!
Keone Pearson Full Interview | Last Year’s Lockdown Prep, Genetic Phenom Claims, & More!
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Watch the full uncut GI Exclusive interview with Keone Pearson.
Keone Pearson’s first competition was in 2017. Only three years later and he’s been dubbed a genetic phenom with big possibilities in his future. During his early years, Keone also had the distinction of being trained briefly by Flex Wheeler. He became an “it” competitor and all eyes were on every move he made. This past weekend, he won the Chicago Pro 2021, reigniting the hype behind his name.
Just last year, we were able to connect with Keone Pearson to talk about his rising star status among other topics about his training, nutrition, and future plans during an uncertain time for the world. With his recent win – we decided to now release the full uncut interview.
Over the past year we’ve released multiple GI Exclusive segments from our interview with George Peterson. This uncut full length interview including topics such as his early status as a genetic phenom, the pressures that come with it, and how he trained during the uncertainty of the lockdown in 2020 and other topics.
Listen To Our Keone Pearson Interview On The Generation Iron Podcast
Our full length interviews are now also in podcast form! Subscribe to the Generation Iron Podcast for candid, full length interviews with the biggest names in bodybuilding, fitness, combat, and strength sports.
Listen to the full Keone Pearson interview here:
On The Pressures Of Being Dubbed A Genetic Phenom
Keone Pearson details what it was like to suddenly be a name in headlines across the web. It certainly made him nervous. It also threatened to distract his focus away from the most important thing – training his physique to perfection so he can live up to the hype.
Ultimately, he received some good advice from his coach at the time. He was told to simply avoid social media and the web. Don’t look at the comments or the posts. Just do what you need to do quick for your sponsors… then put your head down and get back to training.
This helped Keone block out the stress and anxiety and focus on competing. With each passing year and each competition under his belt, Keone becomes more experienced. Perhaps soon he will become no longer a promising young phenom and instead a proven champion.
So far his fondest moment has been winning the New York Pro. It’s his proudest accomplishment to stand tall on Steve Weinberger’s very own stage. Now poised to compete in the Men’s 212 division – perhaps he will make a new greater memory in the form of a major win. Only time will tell – but Keone hopes to prove himself worthy of the prodigy title bestowed upon him.
Keone Pearson Details His 2020 Lockdown Training
In an interesting window into the past of the pandemic, we spoke with Keone Pearson about the lockdowns that spread across the country mid-2020. At the time, we were only a few weeks into the lockdwon. It’s an interesting look into how Pearson was planning to keep his body in pro shape despite gyms closing.
Keone Pearson discusses how, initially, the lockdowns provided a good break for recovery. He makes mention of the legendary Flex Wheeler and how he would typically take 2-3 weeks off after a big show. This kind of mental and physical recovery is what Keone was looking for. By being forced upon him – it allowed him to bring himself to a reset.
Of course, the lockdowns and pandemic have lasted much longer than a few weeks. Luckily, gym openings did eventually return. And it seems like his reset break helped. He just won the Chicago Pro 2021. Keone Pearson has long been seen as a future champion in the sport. This win further builds that hype. We can’t wait to see what he has in store after a more traditional year when this pandemic is behind us.
Wrap Up
Keone Pearson is a powerhouse bodybuilder who is also open to going in-depth on some of the most vital topics in bodybuilding. That’s why you should check out the full GI Exclusive interview above! He shares his personal experience and tips for training, nutrition, and more.
Gunter Schlierkamp Debates: Sylvester Stallone Movies Vs Arnold Schwarzenegger Movies
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Which muscle action star has better movies: Sylvester Stallone or Arnold Schwarzenegger? Gunter Schlierkamp answers.
There was a golden era of muscle-bound action movies in the 80s. Two of the biggest stars from that era were Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. Both brought powerful physiques to the mainstream via blockbuster films. But of these two shredded actors – who had the best movies? We asked that very question to Gunter Schlierkamp. In our latest GI Exclusive, Gunter Schlierkamp makes his pick between Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger movies.
While majority of our interview segments deal directly with bodybuilding and strength sprots trends – we sometimes like to throw a few curveball fun questions into the mix. That’s why during our conversation with Gunter Schlierkamp we asked him to pick his favorite action star – Sylvester Stallone or Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Both of these actors were significant in bringing chiseled muscle onto the mainstream blockbuster circuit. Schwarzenegger was, of course, a pro bodybuilder himself. While Stallone didn’t match his size – he brought an unprecedented amount of muscle to the screen compared to majority of Hollywood actors. It was a golden era of sorts for muscle in Hollywood.
So who does Gunter Schlierkamp prefer more? He was torn – he didn’t want to directly choose one over the other. Instead, he focused on the things that made each actor different and why he liked those qualities.
For Sylvester Stallone, Schlierkamp felt that his films brought more of a message behind the stories. Films like Rocky and First Blood had something to say beyond being fun action films. On the other hand, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s films focused more on flash and bang. The cartoonish nature of his action films are entertaining in their own right.
Gunter Schlierkamp also makes mention of Schwarzenegger’s comedic side. With films like True Lies, Jingle All The Way, and Kindergarten Cop – Schwarzenegger showcased that he had comedic chops to match his action muscle. It’s a big part of what allowed him to stay relevant in Hollywood. While he was not a Shakespearean level actor – he had true versatility in his roles.
Ultimately, Gunter Schlierkamp enjoys the work of both actors equally. He finds a different thing to enjoy about each muscle-bound actor’s films. Which films do you prefer? You can watch Schlierkamp go into full detail by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Melvin Anthony: Bodybuilders Today Train Hard, But They Can Train Harder
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Melvin Anthony talks about new school bodybuilders and their training ethic.
Melvin Anthony is a bodybuilder that was in his prime between the second Golden Era of the 90s and the modern era we see today. He competed from the late 90s through to 2008. So he brings an interesting perspective on the recent debate about modern bodybuilding. Is the quality not up to par with the 90s and earlier? Or is this an unfair criticism? Do bodybuilders today not train as hard as earlier eras? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Melvin Anthony believes that bodybuilders train very hard today… but thinks they can also train harder.
Melvin Anthony doesn’t want to to knock the new school era of bodybuilders. He understands how general sweeping statements can paint a broad stroke on a very diverse group of athletes. That’s why when we asked him about the current state of bodybuilding – he was very careful with his words. He doesn’t think that there is a bad training ethic in bodybuilders today – but he does think that it could push to the next level to match the greats of yesteryear.
In fact, history is very important to Melvin Anthony. He worries that we are not focusing enough on the history of bodybuilding to learn from what was done in the past. Anthony thinks that social media and short attention spans might be preventing bodybuilders today from reaching their best.
“I’m not saying they’re not training hard,” Melvin Anthony states in our interview. He continues:
“I’m not saying that they are not worthy of what they are getting on stage. But there’s a level that they can get to that they haven’t tapped into yet. And I believe they will. Hopefully they’ll get it. Hopefully they’ll start talking to a Flex Wheeler or a Jay Cutler – ‘Hey man, how did you train. Can you show me what you did?’ Watch how those guys train… I’m not saying they’re not training as hard. I just think they can train harder.”
Melvin Anthony stresses the difference between training hard and training beyond hard in a similar manner as past legends. He thinks that the immediacy of the internet has changed the attention span of everyone – including bodybuilders. He worries that they don’t deeply learn enough about the past and actually engage with it.
But Melvin Anthony also makes a point to say he’s hopefully that this will pass. The current era of bodybuilding seems to be almost a transitional one. We still have some greats of the early aughts competing such as Phil Heath and Roelly Winklaar among others. The new crop of bodybuilders, such as Hunter Labrada or Nick Walker, are only just now exploding onto the scene.
Melvin Anthony is optimistic that these bodybuilders are only on the beginning of their journey – and that their training will become even more focused as they continue to grow as athletes. He hopes that the new generation will learn from the past greats and become the next legends of the sport.
You can watch Melvin Anthony’s full comments about new school bodybuilding and training in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Samir Bannout: “No Bodybuilder Should Accept The Problem We Are Having Today”
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Samir Bannout: “Mass has to come with class”
Samir Bannout is a bodybuilder who was inspired to compete by the Golden Era of the sport. He was also lucky enough to make his way into the pro leagues right at the tail end of the Golden Era. The sport has changed a lot since then. While Bannout sees a lot of good discoveries happening over the decades, he also thinks the sport has accepted certain bad discoveries as well. He wants to try and help course correct the sport and inspire a new generation by looking at the past. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Samir Bannout explains why the increased mass of the past few decades need to now be matched with “class” as well.
Samir Bannout doesn’t think that increased mass monster size in bodybuilding is inherently a bad thing. In fact, he understands that as technology and science changes – so too does bodybuilding. The limits have been pushed to new levels. That’s the nature of any sport – for athletes to push boundaries and set new standards.
But Bannout also believes that in pushing new boundaries of mass, other negative changes have been accepted as well. Namely, Samir Bannout believes that the new increase in mass has led to less attention to conditioning. Not only that – but the focus on mass has led to some seriously unhealthy habits that pro bodybuilders were not taking back in the Golden Era.
We asked Samir Bannout if he thought that the Golden Era of bodybuilding held better physiques than the bodybuilders of today. He didn’t answer the question directly. He does believes that some of the changes in physiques today are supremely impressive. Bodybuilders like Ronnie Coleman showcased a new level of perfection – and he is being remembered as a legend for it.
But the cost of how this changed bodybuilding overall has led to some changes that Samir Bannout doesn’t agree with. The size of Ronnie Coleman has remained but hardly anyone matches his kind of conditioning. More importantly, he thinks that the new level of mass that has been desired by bodybuilders has led to extremely risky methods. Athlete want to get big “at any cost.” The health of the sport is at stake.
Samir Bannout makes a quick statement that he thinks all bodybuilding should live by. “Mass has to come with class.” What he means by this is that bodybuilders shouldn’t do merely anything to build more mass.
“You don’t want to be a champion and die at 30 or 40 by crossing the line,” Samir Bannout states in our interview. Here’s referring to the increased risks that bodybuilders are taking to build mass fast and push new limits. This usually involves higher doses of PEDs compared to what athletes were taking back in the Golden Era.
Samir Bannout hopes that we can find a middle ground between the advances bodybuilding has made with physiques while also looking and learning from the past of bodybuilding. It’s often said today that Arnold Schwarzenegger’s physique wouldn’t even land in the top five of today’s athletes. But perhaps this is part of the problem. Perhaps there’s something between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ronnie Coleman that can be achieved. A blending of the old way and the new that can lead to a “classier” version of the sport – to use Samir Bannout’s words.
Do you think that the modern era of bodybuilding has pushed he limits too far? Watch Samir Bannout’s full comments in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above and then decide for yourself!
Zane Watson: I Can’t Be Perfect At Men’s 212 Weight
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Zane Watson looks to the future of his career and potentially moving up to the Men’s Open division.
One very interesting thing about Zane Watson is how completely candid and honest he is about his own bodybuilding physique and progress. He’s not a blunt controversial talker – but he will plainly talk about his own deficiencies vs his successes. For example, in our previous segment he was very open about life being more than just bodybuilding 24/7 – despite his desire to be a champion competitor. That’s rare for athletes looking to be the best.
So when it comes to his career in Men’s 212 – he is once again directly honest about his current situation. He is on the edge between divisions – unsure if he wants to go all in on Men’s Open or continue with Men’s 212. It all comes down to his weight. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Zane Watson explains how dropping down to 212 pounds hurts his physique – and his thoughts on moving up to Men’s Open.
As Zane Watson has aged, he’s found it harder to come in naturally under 212 pounds. This is required in order for him to compete in the Men’s 212 division. It’s natural for athletes in this category to bulk up and then cut down to make weight. But Watson is coming to the realization that he physically can’t bring his weight down without sacrificing the quality of his physique. On the other hand, he ideally would sit right at 225 pounds to pull of his perfect physique. This is also on the lighter side for Men’s Open – where athletes typically land around 250 pounds or higher.
“I’m in a really weird spot,” Zane Watson stats plainly in our interview. He continues:
“I don’t think I have more to accomplish in 212 just because I can’t be perfect at that weight. I’m 222 pounds with 5% body fat. And for me to pull 12 pounds from that, 10 pounds from that, it hurts my look.”
Ultimately, this strange spot doesn’t concern Zane Watson much. He’s looking ahead at the possibility of competing in Men’s Open. He’s applied for the Arnold Classic this year. This competition doesn’t hold the Men’s 212 event, so he would have to go Open regardless. For him, this can be a test to see how he holds up.
He knows at first he won’t place first. Again, he’s bluntly honest about this with himself. But he will still train like he can be a champion. Somehow he’s able to keep those two thoughts in his head at once. Not only that – but he’s also not too worried about being on the light side for Men’s Open.
Zane Watson thinks that if Men’s Open was only a weight contest, bodybuilders would simply step on a scale and the highest number wins. He looks to athletes like Dexter Jackson as examples of what can be accomplished regardless of trending size in the division.
Vlad Yudin counters by mentioning Shaun Clarida, a bodybuilder who for years struggled to find champion status in the Men’s 212 division. Finally, after never giving up, Clarida won the Men’s 212 Olympia in 2020. Perhaps there is still a future in Men’s 212 for Zane Watson as well.
Watson agrees that persistence can pay off. But he knows his body well. He’s convinced that his ideal weight hovers around 225 pounds rather than 212. Genetically, he simply can’t bring his best package below 212 pounds. He would rather bring a perfect physique at 225 pounds, despite being lighter on stage than most competitors, than go onto stage knowing his physique could be better.
You can watch Zane Watson go into full detail about Men’s 212 vs Men’s Open in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Guy Cisternino: Why You Shouldn’t Worry About Heavy Weight vs Light Weight Training
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Guy Cisternino shares some wisdom as to why people should stop worrying about free weights vs machines or heavy weight vs light weight.
A common question that comes up when people are looking for bodybuilding advice is what generation training style they should focus on. Is it better to do more free weights or more machine exercises? Is it best to do heavy weight and low volume or light weight and high volume? Guy Cisternino is someone who has been notoriously known for his hardcore heavyweight training. But surprisingly, he gives a different kind of advice when it comes to these general questions. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Guy Cisternino explains why you shouldn’t worry about free weights vs machine or heavy weight vs light weight training.
In one of our previous interviews, Guy Cisternino talked about how Branch Warren was his biggest inspiration. The reason for this was due to his hardcore passionate training style. It’s how Cisternino himself loves to train. He worries that not enough young people still have that hardcore passion in the gym anymore.
But that hardcore style of training has less to do with what is successful for bodybuilding and more to do with the culture. While Guy Cisternino loves to train hardcore – he also understands it is not necessary to be a massive shredded bodybuilder. Rather than it being a necessity for success – he simply sees it as a cultural passion that excites him. He likes that attitude and that atmosphere.
That’s why when we ask him whether or not heavy weight vs light weight matters. Or whether or not free weight vs machines matter – his answer is more open minded. Guy Cisternino has been through some injuries and is now a slightly older (but not old) bodybuilder. He hooked up with John Meadows as his trainer more recently – and Meadows changed up the kind of training he does in light of his age and injuries. What Cisternino learned through this process changed his perception on what is important in bodybuilding training.
To Guy Cisternino, it matters less whether or not you do machines vs free weights or heavy weight vs light weight. Instead, it matters more how you break up your body parts and how much focus you put into each workout. Yes, there are little differences – pros and cons to each approach – but ultimately they are not game changers. Whether you lift heavy weight or hight weight or free weight or machines – you can be a successful and massive bodybuilder with any of these approaches. What matters more is how you do these tactics and the way you break up each body part throughout your week of training.
What he means by this is that by changing up how you break up the body parts you work in a given workout – you can be saving your joints from too much pressure in one session. This can save you injury, wear, and tear in the long run. So someone like Guy Cisternino can train hardcore to his liking with less risk (though still there is always risk) of injury. This provides longevity. So you can be like Dexter Jackson or you can be like Branch Warren.
Both of these bodybuilders are legendary in their own right and they both used vastly different techniques – but if you break up the body parts right, you can extend your longevity as an athlete.
You can watch Guy Cisternino go into full detail in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Talking Huge With Craig Golias | EP 8: Surgery Mishaps, Travel Diet Tips, & More
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Craig Golias discusses the tragic death of Odalis Santos Mena, training to failure, and how to maintain a bodybuilding diet while traveling.
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 talks about the tragic and recent passing of Odalis Santos Mena, training to failure, and diet trips for bulking while traveling.
There were a lot of topics to cover in this week’s episode of Talking Huge after a busy week and as the bodybuilding season moves closer and closer to Olympia weekend. The top of the week was met with tragedy in the bodybuilding world. Odalis Santos Mena sadly passed away at just 23 years old due to a botched surgery. Craig and Vlad discuss the situation and open up the conversation to surgeries in bodybuilding as a whole. They also discuss training to failure, how important it is in bodybuilding, and tips to properly train to failure without injury. Other topics include how to stay motivated after taking a break from the gym, the best supplements for bodybuilders, and how to properly diet while traveling without losing gains. There’s a lot to cover so let’s jump right into it.
The Tragic Passing of Odalis Santos Mena
Odalis Santos Mena’s death this past week hit the bodybuilding world hard. Not only is any death sad – but to pass away at such a young age (23 years old) is truly heartbreaking. Additionally, the death was seemingly preventable. Odalis Santos Mena underwent a procedure to stop sweating. A strange, and rare procedure indeed. Unfortunately, it was a procedure she would not survive. Though there has yet to be an official investigation – signs point towards the anesthesia as the main attribution to her death. Was it due to a freak accident, malpractice, or something else? We’re not quite sure at the moment.
Craig Golias and Vlad Yudin send condolences out to friends and family of Odalis Santos Mena. They also talk about how much more sad it feels when a death happens so randomly as this one. All deaths are tragic. But seemingly sudden and simple ones such as this feel heavier on the heart. Of course, the sad truth is that there is always an inherent risk to any procedure or surgery that requires anesthesia.
Craig and Vlad talk about other surgeries that are popular in bodybuilding and the risks involved. Is this kind of surgery culture bad in the big picture? Is the risk, even when minimal, not worth it when an outcome like this could happen? Craig and Vlad break it down.
Craig Golias’ Tips On How To Travel And Stay Huge
Craig Golias is a bodybuilder who values staying huge above all else. He has admitted previously to doing unhealthy things with his diet just to achieve that in the past. More recently, he has become more educated on how to properly bulk with clean meals, stay huge, and keep himself healthier.
But when it comes to traveling – a lot of healthy options get thrown out to of the window. If you have a six hour flight or even longer, how do you maintain the mass amount of clean meals required to keep bulking? Is it okay to take one day off? Or does it throw off everything completely?
Craig Golias breaks down his tips and tricks to staying huge and staying on diet while traveling. The truth of the matter is, sometimes you have to do some things that are less pleasurable when it comes to taste and comfort in your diet. Pre-prepped meals are always the way to go. If you need to eat over 6,000 calories in a day – make sure to bring pre-prepped chicken and rice on your flight.
Craig recounts having to cut up his cooked chicken into small cubes and breaking it down into tiny bags so that it would pass security on check out. He would then scarf down little cubes of chicken on the plan every few hours. It wasn’t glorious. It felt like work in fact – but sometimes that is what is necessary to maintain a bodybuilding diet.
Ultimately, Craig Golias states that anyone who is serious about their bodybuilding lifestyle and diet will see food as a means to an end rather than a pleasurable dining experience. Like Jay Cutler once said, “I don’t eat for taste, I eat for function.” Traveling is not an excuse to break your bodybuilding diet. It’s simply a challenge you’ll have to overcome.
Wrap Up
There are far more topics discussed in this episode than we can cover in this article. You can watch Craig Golias and Vlad Yudin discuss other topics such as training to failure and tips on how to avoid getting injured. They also discuss the best supplements that all bodybuilders should take who are looking to bulk up. 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!