Tag: Originals
Talking Huge With Craig Golias | EP 2: Bodyguarding, Crazy Fight Stories, & Bodybuilding
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Craig Golias and Vlad Yudin discuss Logan Paul vs Floyd Mayweather, crazy bodyguard stories, social media & bodybuilding, and how pro bodybuilding is the hardest sport of them all.
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 how the Logan Paul boxing match was boring, his craziest bodyguard stories, and how social media ruined the sport of bodybuilding.
Craig Golias has had quite the rollercoaster of a career. Before becoming a bodybuilder he was a male stripper and a bodyguard. This led to a large variety of crazy and entertaining stories. Some of which Craig discusses in this episode. He was also a competitive bodybuilder before hanging up the towel and focusing on his brand and being an influencer. He shares some stories from his competitive days and why he decided to step down.
He also shares his opinion on how social media affected the sport of bodybuilding. Social media has certainly benefited Craig – but he thinks it has ruined the sport for pure competitive athletes. He also comments about the hardest parts about competitive bodybuilding – stating that it’s the hardest sport in the world.
Logan Paul Vs Floyd Mayweather – “It Was Boring”
Craig Golias and Vlad Yudin’s conversation in this episode came straight off the heels of the much hyped and controversial Logan Paul vs Floyd Mayweather boxing match. Ultimately, Logan Paul lasted the entire match against Mayweather. No knockout occurred. This was a good look for Logan Paul – who was going up against one of the greatest boxers in recent memory.
But to Craig Golias, the boxing match was boring. Because there was no knockout – the fight pretty much slugged along. As far as boxing matches go – Craig found it pretty uneventful. If it weren’t for the two names being so massively popular, this would be a boxing match unremembered.
Vlad Yudin asks Craig if he would ever step in the ring for an exhibition match. Perhaps for charity. Craig Golias admits he’s not much of a fighter – and prefers to stay out of combat. Vlad then asked him theoretically who would be the best opponent for him in the ring. Craig jokes that Big Ramy would be the ultimate opponent. Both of them are sponsored by Enhanced Labs. Both of them are mass monsters. Who would win? Sadly, it will simply be left to the imagination.
Craig Golias’ Bodyguard Stories
Craig Golias also talks about his time as a bodyguard before he was full fledged into bodybuilding. He tells one of the craziest stories from his time as a bodyguard. He was guarding a drug addict who ultimately tried to stiff paying Craig. This caused Craig to loose his patience and wrap his hands around the man’s throat. He was in a popular spot in Las Vegas.
Ultimately, his friends convinced him that it wasn’t worth going to jail over. So he let the man go. Craig claims that he did ultimately follow up with the drug addict and get his fair pay for bodyguarding. Craig Golias’ lesson for others? Make sure to always get paid up front and don’t work with drug addicts.
Bodybuilding Is The Hardest Sport In The World… And Social Media Ruined It
Craig Golias also talks with Vlad Yudin about his years as a competitive bodybuilder. He ultimately stepped down because he didn’t enjoy the back and forth of bulking and then shredding. He also claims that bodybuilding is the hardest sport of them all – above all other major pro sports. He thinks the focus and dedication to transform your body to champion status requires more work than any other sport.
Craig Golias also believes that social media has completely ruined the sport of bodybuilding. He admits that he favors from this shift. Since he no longer competes – he uses social media to promote his training, his clothes, and his overall brand. But Craig believes that serious pro bodybuilders get the short end of the stick.
Specifically, he thinks that influencers get more money than pro bodybuilders do from the sport. Some pro bodybuilders find a way to balance using social media alongside competing – but it’s rare. Craig believe that the prestige and the higher paying sponsorships, magazine covers, etc don’t come through if you are simply a champion level bodybuilder. It now requires a strong social media presence as well. That’s more work. It’s more than competitors needed to do in the past.
Wrap Up
You can watch Craig Golias and Vlad Yudin discuss Logan Paul vs Floyd Mayweather, bodyguard stories, and pro bodybuilding in our new episode of Talking Huge above. Make sure to check out Talking Huge every week on Friday – only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network!
Akim Williams Full Interview | Underdog Status & Insanely Heavy Lifts
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Watch the full uncut GI Exclusive interview with Akim Williams
Akim Williams turned heads at the Olympia 2020 when he stepped onto stage and eventually landed sixth place. Williams is a massive bodybuilder with a lot of potential. That potential in past years seemed to never come to fruition. His previous Olympia placings were 9th in 2019 and 15th in 2016. Now many are considering him to be the biggest threat in 2021.
Akim is also known for being one of the heaviest lifters currently competing in bodybuilding. That’s why we connected with Akim Williams for a long form interview to discuss in-depth all things bodybuilding.
Over the past few months we’ve released multiple GI Exclusive segments from our interview with Akim Williams. Now we’re releasing the full length interview including topics such as his underdog status and becoming more of an Olympia threat, his heaviest lifts, and 90s bodybuilding vs today.
Listen To Our Akim Williams 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 Akim Williams interview here:
On Being The Underdog And The Big Change That Improved His Physique In 2020
During our interview with Akim Williams, we asked him what it was like to be labeled with the underdog monicker. What is it like when fans and experts predict low placings? Williams admits that he tries not to let it bother him. In fact, he looks at the positive. Being the underdog means he can fly under the radar. That’s exactly what happened in 2020. No one expected a top six finish from Williams. When he stepped on stage, many were shocked. He was immediately in the running for standout of the weekend.
But these sorts of improvements don’t just happen out of thin air. What exactly changed to bring Akim Williams up to the next level? What was he working on while he flew under the radar? Williams says that the biggest factor was confidence.
Beyond the Mr. Olympia, Akim Williams placed well at the Chicago Pro and Arnold Classic. He also landed a high placing at the New York Pro in 2019. This gave him proof that he could achieve what he’s been striving for all these years. It gave him confidence in his own abilities.
Beyond that, Akim Williams also discusses how he put more training into presentation and posing. He worked extremely hard on improving his posing routine to showcase his physique in the best possible way. He credits that focus and dedication during prep to his higher placing this year.
And of course, his better placing this year only gives Akim Williams more confidence going in 2021. With the conversation now talking up Williams more than ever – he has all the tools he needs to bring his best package this year. We can’t wait to see what he comes up with.
On His Heaviest Lifts And The Accident That Almost Crushed Him
During our video interview, we wanted to reflect back to his heaviest lifts and how you build up the mentality to keep pushing further. He explained that each new personal record created a hunger to beat it again. It wasn’t something that happened over night. Nor was it full on ego lifting that could lead to too much stress on his body. It was gradual improvements. Breaking PRs inch by inch until suddenly he was throwing up insane amounts of weight.
Of course, just because he didn’t dive straight into ego lifts doesn’t mean that these huge lifts weren’t dangerous. Akim Williams describes one moment where he was almost crushed doing a massive lift. It was less due to the weight being too heavy. Instead, he misread the movement of his spotter. He thought the weight was racked when it wasn’t and then the weight nearly crushed him completely.
Luckily, Williams only got by with a scrape – but it was a wake up call for training moving forward. While building personal best lifts can be exciting and empowering, Akim Williams is also a pro bodybuilder first. If he injures his body, he loses time from becoming a champion.
The accident made him reflect on what he stands to lose and how lifting lighter weight can benefit him in the future. Not only from injury but also as a tactic to better hone his conditioning and physique.
Wrap Up
We discussed far more topics with Akim Williams than we can cover in one article. That’s why you should check out the full uncut GI Exclusive hour long interview above. It provides great insight into a bodybuilder that is poised to be a big threat in the coming years at Olympia. The time for sleeping on Akim Williams is over – we can’t wait to see what he’ll do next!
George Farah: Kai Greene Has Never, Ever, Ever Used Insulin
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George Farah uses Kai Greene as an example to debunk the recent myth that insulin is needed to build a top level mass monster physique.
Last week, we went into detail with George Farah about his thoughts on insulin use in bodybuilding. It’s a topic that he has spoken about before and only seems to have become more strongly against insulin a year later. In this new segment, we discuss further with Farah whether it’s possible to be healthy as a top level pro bodybuilder. Farah certainly thinks it does – and uses Kai Greene as an example. In our latest GI Exclusive, George Farah claims that Kai Greene has never used insulin to build his massive physique.
There is a persistent rumor in the world of bodybuilding regarding insulin. That rumor is many of the pros use this drug to further enhanced their physiques to the next level. This inspires younger bodybuilders to do the same – thinking it’s necessary to succeed at the top level of the sport.
George Farah couldn’t disagree with these rumors more. He is sternly against the use of insulin in bodybuilding. He also thinks it’s dangerous for coaches such as Milos Sarcev to promote them. In fact, Farah believes that it’s incorrect to assume pro bodybuilders must be unhealthy to succeed. It’s a bad thought he’s seeing trend in bodybuilding. It’s causing bodybuilders to make unhealthy decisions. He thinks it’s the reason we have seen so many bodybuilders pass away too soon.
George Farah is a legendary coach in the sport. He has trained many bodybuilders who have stood tall as top tier bodybuilders at the Mr. Olympia. Athletes like Branch Warren and Kai Greene. He uses his experience to definitely tell people today – abusing drugs and using insulin are not necessary. Why? Because these legendary greats he trained didn’t use insulin at all.
The entire topic gets George Farah very passionate. He loves bodybuilding. And he loves the people in bodybuilding. He hates to see them make choices that they can’t take back years down the road.
“You’re gonna tell me Kai’s not a freak? I can put my hand on anything you want and swear to you that Kai never touched insulin,” George Farah states in our interview. He goes on:
“As long as I’ve known him. We’ve been eleven years together. Never, ever, ever. Do you understand what I’m saying? He’s walking around 300 pounds shredded. So you’re not going to duplicate this because you don’t have the genetics or you don’t have the heart or work ethic. Like Branch or all of these guys. Branch used to have no genetics but he proved to everybody hard work can make it. Guess what? Branch never used insulin. Never. Never!”
If you watch George Farah in our interview above – you can see how fired up he’s getting about this. In his later years, Farah has become increasingly more focused on health in bodybuilding. After a cancer scare that he survived and recovered from – he’s seen life through a different lens. You only live once. Bodybuilding is not worth dying over.
You can watch George Farah go into full detail about health in bodybuilding by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Victor Martinez Answers: Why Do People Criticize Phil Heath So Much?
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Victor Martinez reflects on the love/hate relationship many fans had with Phil Heath during his Olympia reign.
Phil Heath is one of the most winningest Olympia champions in the history of the sport. With seven Sandow trophies he ties Arnold Schwarzenegger and falls one victory behind Ronnie Coleman and Lee Haney. Yet despite this, Phil Heath often received a lot of public criticism. Towards the end of his Olympia streak, that criticism was aimed at his physique – particularly his stomach. But bodybuilding fans also seemed to love to hate on Phil overall as a champion. Many wanted to see him defeated. But why? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Victor Martinez explains why so many fans criticize Phil Heath.
We are still too close to Phil Heath’s reign as Mr. Olympia to know for sure how he will be seen in history. Certainly, he must be placed in the pantheon of greatest Olympia champions of all time at the very least. But what we do know is throughout his career, he faced a large amount of criticism from fans. He in many was was painted as a villain. The longer he continued to win Olympia, the stronger fans wanted to see him taken down.
But why is this? Was Ronnie Coleman seen as a villain during his eight year run as Mr. Olympia? Was Lee Haney? The reaction seems different. Perhaps that is partly because of social media elevating different kind of voices. Perhaps it’s because of Phil Heath’s being seen as a villain compared to Kai Greene in the original Generation Iron.
During our conversation with Victor Martinez, we had these thoughts on our mind, so we decided to ask him why he thought Phil Heath faced so much criticism. Martinez was a fellow competitor in the same era as Phil. He was also in Generation Iron alongside Phil. So perhaps he has a more direct insight into the public reaction to Phil.
Victor Martinez boils it down to one thing – Phil Heath’s major confidence. That confidence borderlines on cocky – which is an easy thing to villainize. Floyd Mayweather also received a lot of criticism despite being one of the greatest boxers of all time. This is likely due to his confident and cocky attitude.
Victor Martinez finds this unfortunate, as he believes that strong confidence is an important factor in a top tier athlete. Whether they telegraph it publicly or not – all great athletes believe deep down that they are the best in the world. Without the belief, they would hold themselves back. This would cause them to never become great. So that near delusional feeling of greatness needs to exist. It eventually makes it a self fulfilling prophecy – at least for a select few.
On top of this, Victor Martinez thinks that a cocky and confident personality helps make bodybuilding more exciting. He points towards the Olympia press conferences. They would be extremely boring, and sometimes are, if there was no drama. The Phil Heath vs Kai Greene rivalry made for some of the most entertaining press conferences in bodybuilding history. It’s good for the sport.
Ultimately, this kind of confidence and drama leads to fans being swept up in the excitement. The fans pick sides and, for some, they start to engage in the drama as well. Social media allows that to happen much more immediately and publicly. The fans who criticize Phil Heath – whether it’s due to his personality or the flaws in his physique – are swept up in the drama. They get emotional. They’re passionate about the sport and take it personal.
Does this make Phil Heath deserving of so much criticism perhaps even border lining on online abuse? Yes and no. Victor Martinez admits that this is all part of being a public figure. Sometimes it can go too far. Martinez believes that it’s not something that can be stopped. Instead, he hopes that someone like Phil understands how to personally deal with it and not become personally affected by the insults. Rather than fight back and try to get fans to shut up – it’s more important for someone like Phil to not be affected by the hate.
You can watch Victor Martinez go into more detail about the criticism of Phil Heath in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
INTERVIEW: Does Mike O’Hearn Prefer Classic Physique Or Men’s Open Bodybuilding?
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Mike O’Hearn reacts to Big Ramy’s Olympia win and addresses which kind of physique he prefers – Classic Physique or Men’s Open.
In December 2020, Big Ramy won the Mr. Olympia. It was an epic moment – but also one that solidified an ongoing trend in the IFBB – rewarding bigger mass monster muscle over more classic aesthetics. In 2018, when Shawn Rhoden won the Mr. Olympia, it seemed that perhaps the tables would turn allowing for lighter weight competitors with incredible conditioning to win the day. Just two years later, Big Ramy seems to reverse the tide back towards the likes of Ronnie Coleman. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, we ask all natural bodybuilder Mike O’Hearn what he prefers – a more Classic Physique or the mass monster look of Men’s Open.
Mike O’Hearn has consistently claimed to be a natural bodybuilder his entire life. This has led to backlash due to his massive and impressive physique. His musculature is so large and sculpted that bodybuilding fans have a hard time believing he could be all natural. Regardless of the controversy – O’Hearn has remained steadfast in being all natural his entire life.
While O’Hearn certainly has a massive physique – his body does fall more in line with the Classic Physique division than the bulky mass monsters seen in Men’s Open. With the recent win of Big Ramy at the Mr. Olympia 2020, we wanted to know what Mike O’Hearn personally though about the direction of pro bodybuilding. Does he prefer the Classic Physique division? Or do the “freaks” in Men’s Open still hold an important place in the sport?
Mike O’Hearn may personally prefer to hold more of a classic physique on his body – but that doesn’t mean he disrespects the Men’s Open competitors. In fact, he still holds them in high regard and looks up to their talents. Not only that, but he thinks that Big Ramy’s Olympia 2020 physique maintained good aesthetic while also being a mass monster. In other words, Big Ramy wasn’t just a bulky mass of muscle – he still had the conditioning, shape, and lines displaying the beauty of the sport.
In Mike O’Hearn’s mind – Big Ramy is exactly the example of what a Men’s Open bodybuilder should be. Yes, his massive weight still puts Ramy in the mass monster category – but he also had wonderful aesthetics. At least according to O’Hearn. It reminds him of the first time he started getting into bodybuilder and saw Lee Haney as Olympia champion. It was the perfect combination of superhuman size and beautiful aesthetic.
Mike O’Hearn also deeply enjoys the Classic Physique division. He sees no reason for controversy. Having both divisions gives everyone exactly what they want. There’s still room for the spectacle of the Men’s Open mass monster freaks. At the same time, fans who prefer smaller classic physiques can watch the Classic Physique division.
Will one ultimately become more popular than the other over time? It’s possible – but popularity does not equal quality. Each division has talented athletes showcasing the kinds of physiques they are comfortable with. There should be respect among all divisions by both fans and the athletes.
You can watch Mike O’Hearn’s full comments on Big Ramy, Men’s Open, and Classic Physique in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Joey Swoll: Blessing Awodibu Is Great For The Sport Of Bodybuilding
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Joey Swoll looks analyzes the most promising young bodybuilders rising in the ranks and highlights Blessing Awodibu’s contributions to the sport.
Joey Swoll might not be a competitive bodybuilder – but he is deeply passionate and involved with the sport. Which is why upon reconnecting with him for an interview, we asked for his thoughts on the Olympia 2020. We also asked for his thoughts looking towards the future. What up and coming bodybuilders seem primed to become a rising star in bodybuilding? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Joey Swoll discusses how Blessing Awodibu has both the physique and personality to bring something great to bodybuilding.
Blessing Awodibu is a bodybuilder who garnered a lot of attention going into the Indy Pro and the New York Pro in 2021. This is certainly due to his physique looking impressive on social media updates. But it’s also because of Blessing’s ability to stir up controversy and hype leading up to the show.
Blessing started up a rivalry with up and comer Nick Walker, who was also set to compete at the New York Pro. The rivalry led to some back and forth trash talk. It lit up the internet in bodybuilding. It was exciting, sometimes controversial, but 100% in the front of everyone’s mind.
Ultimately, Blessing Awodibu fell behind Nick Walker and placed sixth at the New York Pro 2021. Walker landed first place. This was somewhat disappointing to fans fo Blessing. But to Joey Swoll – that’s not too much to be concerned about. Blessing is still relatively new to the competitive world of bodybuilding. His physique shows promise and can always improve.
Joey Swoll believes that Blessing Awodibu is great for the sport of bodybuilding. He’s bringing an element of entertainment and excitement to the sport. If he can continue to combine that with a threatening physique – we can have another Kai Greene type athlete on our hands.
“Blessing, that kid, I think he’s great for the sport. He’s very, how do I say this, he has a lot of personality,” Joey Swoll states in our interview. He continues:
“He brings a lot of character to the stage. He’s not quiet. And I love that. I love that there was a little bit of beef between him and Nick. I didn’t get too involved into it but I like that. It’s good for the sport. It creates some, like you know, everyone is always going to talk about Phil and Kia. When Phil and Kai got beef and got on stage next to each other that was probably the most exciting Olympia finals ever.”
Joey Swoll goes on to clarify that it’s important to know the difference between competitiveness and disrespect. A rivalry and some trash talk is good for the sport, it helps engage the fans, and creates more drama. But if it becomes disrespectful, that’s not professional. That’s not what a pro athlete should represent. It’s a fine line – but Blessing seems to be the kind of guy who knows how to walk it.
Joey Swoll also mentions other standout rising stars such as the aforementioned Nick Walker and also Hunter Labrada. These athletes all show incredible promise that is starting to solidify in recent years. A new generation of athletes are on the horizon and the future looks bright.
You can watch Joey Swoll’s full comments on Blessing Awodibu and other young bodybuilding hopefuls in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Samir Bannout: Bodybuilders Are Rushing To Build Muscle Too Fast
Samir Bannout stresses that bodybuilding is a marathon, not a sprint.
Pro bodybuilding, like any other professional sport, requires a certain level of sacrifice. Everyone knows that football isn’t 100% healthy. The same holds true for bodybuilding. But can pro bodybuilding be healthier than it is today and maintain its prestige? Is it impossible to be Mr. Olympia and still be healthy? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Samir Bannout explains that a bodybuilder can be 100% healthy and become Mr. Olympia… but too many are rushing to gain muscle.
Samir Bannout agrees that pro bodybuilding can be an extreme sport. But he also thinks that the idea that top level bodybuilders must be unhealthy is overstated. Yes, carrying massive amounts of muscle over long periods of time can put strain on the body – but it doesn’t have to be as unhealthy as it has become today.
Samir Bannout believes that the only truly unavoidable unhealthy part of pro bodybuilding is contest prep. Specifically, the dehydration that is required to have paper thin skin and a conditioned physique. The process of dehydration before a show is unhealthy. There’s no way around it. This same risk is present in other sports that require a weight in – such as MMA or boxing.
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Check out our latest GI Exclusive with Samir Bannout above!
That being said, Samir Bannout does observe that the new generation of bodybuilders are taking unnecessary health risks. Most of this has to do with PEDs. The reason for this – is that bodybuilders are looking to get to the top tier level too fast. Some bodybuilders hope to compete in the Olympia and place high all in the same year that they earned their pro card. According to Bannout, that’s a big mistake.
The desire to rush to greatness leads to making risky choices. Far too often bodybuilders abuse steroid use and other PEDs. This is in the hopes of building more muscle faster. Samir Bannout stresses that bodybuilding is meant to be a marathon not a sprint. If you gain eight pounds of muscle in a year – that’s more than enough.
“Several guys told me what they are using. They didn’t really do well with their coaches, but they are still having health issues. And when I found out what they take… oh my god,” Samir Bannout states in our interview. He continues:
“You know this is the difference. For me, I’d rather drive to New York in three days, four days instead of rushing to be there and getting into an accident. This is my idea. Just be patient. Gaining seven or eight pounds of muscle per year is plenty of muscle. Mr. Olympia cannot happen in one to two years.”
Samir Bannout doesn’t outright condemn steroid use. But he thinks the level of which bodybuilders use steroids and other PEDs is too much. He thinks this isn’t because bodybuilders can’t succeed without an increase of drug use. Far from it. He thinks it’s all due to impatience.
Many Mr. Olympia champions where first awarded the title in their late 30s or early 40s. But there are young bodybuilders in their 20s hoping to become Mr. Olympia champion right away. Samir Bannout thinks this leads to drug abuse in the hopes that they can skip ahead of the line.
You can watch Samir Bannout’s full comments on health in pro bodybuilding by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview above!
Danny Hester: The Biggest Mistake People Make Trying To Get Shredded Abs
Danny Hester cuts through the fat and gets real on how to truly get six pack abs.
With summer just around the corner, people are starting to focus again on obtaining the perfect beach body. For many, shredded six pack abs are the ideal. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the hardest things to obtain even for people with a focused fitness routine. Why is it so hard? And what are some tips to help achieve the goal of a shredded abs? In our latest GI Exclusive, Danny Hester shares the most important factor for getting shredded six pack abs.
Obtaining sick pack abs is probably one of the hardest things for most people right next to building up legs. This is largely due to your belly being one of the core places fat stores when you start gaining weight. Even for a typically healthy and fit individual – shredded abs can be hard to come by.
That’s why we connected with pro bodybuilder and former Olympia champion Danny Hester. Hester is the kind of bodybuilder who stays lean all year round. You’ll rarely ever see him with bloated bulk. And you’ll almost always see him sporting a six pack. So what’s the secret? Why is it so hard for even fit individuals to showcase conditioned abs?
While there is no trick to get shredded abs fast, there are some key tactics that must be done in order to succeed at earning that six pack. Danny Hester wants to make it clear that there is no way to spot check fat away from your abs. Doing 100 crunches per day can certainly be helpful – but it won’t cut more fat in your stomach area.
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Check out our GI Exclusive segment with Danny Hester above!
It goes without saying that a very strict and clean diet are essential to getting a six pack. On top of that, cardio is a must. As we mentioned, you can’t spot check fat but you can reduce fat overall by upping your cardio. As Danny Hester states, “You can’t see abs if you have fat on them, no matter what you do.”
But there are, in fact, ways to train abs to really bring them out and make them pop. One of the biggest mistakes that people make while training abs is doing too much weight. This ultimately makes your waist thicker. You don’t want that. It makes it harder to see your abs.
Danny Hester explains that you want your abs to be really strong and really deep. So training specifically with that in mind and avoiding massive weight will help bring out your abs alongside a good diet and cardio. For example, range of motion is key to really stretching abs. Hester often recommends his clients do crunches beyond the typical range of motion for a longer and harder stretch. Over time, this helps really build your abs into deep cut muscle.
Danny Hester suggests this tip alongside higher reps with less weight. He also explains that whenever doing any sort of ab exercise, it’s important to keep your stomach sucked in and your abs flexed tight. That way you’re guaranteeing that your abs are doing the work. Avoid momentum or other parts of your body doing the heavy lifting. That won’t help your abs.
You can watch Danny Hester explain in deeper detail the biggest dos and don’ts about getting shredded six pack abs in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Talking Huge With Craig Golias | EP 1: Dirty Bulking, Guy Flips Out, & Fasting Sucks
Craig Golias and Vlad Yudin discuss health in bodybuilding and how to build muscle without getting fat.
Welcome to Talking Huge – a new 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 our premiere episode, Craig and Vlad discuss Guy Cisternino’s angry gym outburst, dirty bulking vs clean bulking, and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle as a mass monster bodybuilder.
Craig Golias only has one goal in life, to be as huge as possible. His obsession with being huge has made him a popular figure in the world of bodybuilding. Not only that, but it earned him a featured spot in our recent film Bigorexia – exploring the mindset of those who never feel big no matter how large they become.
But what is refreshing about Craig Golias is that he’s honest about his journey towards getting huge. He no longer competes in pro bodybuilding and is open to discussing more taboo topics about the sport. He’s also very open about the realities of his massive size when it comes to health and fitness.
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Watch the first episode of Talking Huge with Craig Golias above!
How To Be Healthy In Bodybuilding When Weighing Over 300 Pounds
Craig Golias is a true mass monster and aims to hover at around 300 pounds. With that amount of weight being carried on his body – does he fear long term health ramifications down the road? This is something that originally didn’t concern Craig, but as he’s gotten older, he has become more responsible in managing his health.
He visits a doctor regularly for bloodwork and an overview of his health. He recommends that any bodybuilder putting on large amounts of mass do the same. He’s focusing on taking care of his liver with medication – but beyond that he’s maintained a healthy lifestyle. This is largely due to him changing his habits after consulting a doctor more regularly.
He is honest about one painful detail. No matter what, when a person is carrying 300 pounds of weight – it’s a strain on the heart. Whether it’s fat or muscle – the human body is not meant to be so large. This is part of the reason why Craig takes going to the doctor regularly seriously. He knows it’s a risk. So being proactive with doctor visits can help in the long run.
How To Build Muscle Without Gaining Fat
Craig Golias and Vlad Yudin also discuss bulking. How does one build massive amounts of muscle like Craig without earning fat. The key is to make sure you do a clean bulk. The kinds of food you eat will effect how you gain wait. Yes, a bodybuilder needs to consume a massive amount of calories to build muscle. If you eat lean clean foods, that will turn into more muscle and less fat. If you’re stuffing your face with dirty foods – this will turn into muscle along side the fat.
Craig Golias also shares some stories of some of the worst dirty bulks he has ever seen in bodybuilding. He’s seen bodybuilders bulk so dirty that their waist goes up to 40 inches or more.
Guy Cisternino’s Gym Outburst
Craig Golias and Vlad Yudin also touch base on the viral video of Guy Cisternino. The video blew up and made headlines in May 2021. We also interviewed Cisternino about it to get his take on the whole situation. Ultimately, Cisternino admits he overreacted – but also believes that context matters.
Craig Golias agrees with this sentiment. Pro bodybuilders are in the zone when they are training in the gym. It’s their job. It’s not just a hobby like it is for most gym patrons. While Craig believes that positivity is always the better option – sometimes people overreact. This is especially true when a bodybuilder is training seriously in the gym.
Ultimately, it seems as if both parties overreacted. The younger men filming in the gym were being disrespectful and defensive. After Guy Cisternino asked for them to give him space politely – they got even more defensive. This caused Cisternino to go off the handle. It’s an unfortunate situation but not a damning one. The video itself removed context and led to some false conclusions. Sadly, that’s simply the nature of the internet attention span.
Wrap Up
You can watch Craig Golias and Vlad Yudin discuss bulking, health in bodybuilding, and the entire Guy Cisternino viral video in our premiere episode of Talking Huge above. Make sure to check out Talking Huge every week on Friday – only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network!
Milos Sarcev Full Interview | Steroids, Insulin, & PEDs In Bodybuilding
Watch the full uncut GI Exclusive interview with Milos Sarcev.
Milos Sarcev is a former competitive bodybuilder turned coach who has had significant sway in the industry over the past few decades. He has been open about steroid use in the sport (even calling it healthy). He was also the first big proponent of insulin use in bodybuilding. This arguably was responsible for a massive shift in the sport – making the drug more commonly used in the industry.
That’s why we connected with Milos Sarcev for a long form interview to discuss in-depth all things bodybuilding including his controversial views on steroids, insulin, and synthol. Typical to Milos, he holds nothing back and gives his full in-depth opinion.
Over the past few months we’ve released multiple GI Exclusive segments from our interview with Milos Sarcev. Now we’re releasing the full length interview including topics such as whether or not steroids are healthy, the proper use of insulin in bodybuilding, and the moment he almost died from using synthol.
Listen To Our Milos Sarcev Interview On The Generation Iron Podcast
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Listen to the full Milos Sarcev interview here:
Milos Sarcev: “Steroids Are Healthy For Bodybuilders”
When asked about the health of bodybuilders and their ability to recover from illness – Milos Sarcev jumped straight into the conversation about steroid use. He explains that steroids are used, when prescribed, for an amazing amount of things that help people become more healthy. Help them recover after major accidents. Help them maintain testosterone levels when they drop as they get older. They are used to help fight certain infections and illnesses. So Milos argues – why are steroids being called unhealthy when used for sports?
Milos goes on to argue that the side effects listed for a wide variety of other drugs available at pharmacies match if not exceed the kind of risks steroids might bring. But for some reason steroids are villainized. Athletes who use them are seen as druggies or dope fiends. Milos Sarcev finds this reputation unfounded. He thinks that bodybuilders and athletes who use steroids are likely healthier than most people.
Of course, Milos does concede that overuse can be dangerous. But this is true of any drug. It can be true of headache medication you get over the counter. And that’s part of the problem. By regulating and banning steroid use in sports – it makes information harder to find. It makes young athletes use these PEDs incorrectly and risk their health. If it was allowed for open use – athletes would be even healthier. There would be no increase in deaths or serious health issues.
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Check out the full uncut GI Exclusive with Milos Sarcev above!
Insulin Isn’t Dangerous, Uninformed People Are Dangerous
Milos Sarcev claims to be the man who brought insulin into the sport of bodybuilding. And he still stands by its use today. He believes it is a vital part of evolving the sport and allowing athletes to push the bar to the next level. In regards to health, he thinks the drug isn’t dangerous so long as the person using it is informed and educated about its use.
We’ve interviewed other coaches and gurus who disagree with Milos’ sentiments. In our previous conversation with George Farah – he admits that he regrets jumping on the insulin bandwagon when it was first introduced. Now looking back, Farah believes that insulin shouldn’t be used at all by bodybuilders.
Of course, it must be made clear that the way insulin is being used by bodybuilders is not how it was intended to be utilized. Insulin as a drug has very specific uses that can be prescribed by a doctor. Becoming a mass monster bodybuilder is not one of them.
Milos Sarcev couldn’t care less about what doctors believe. Milos used insulin throughout majority of his competitive career. He’s suggested it to many athletes as well. He understands that doctors must lean on the safe side when condoning or endorsing drugs for casual use. But Milos believes the reality is that it makes perfect scientific sense for a bodybuilder to use the drug. But like with any drug, it must be used correctly.
Wrap Up
Our conversation with Milos Sarcev covered far more topics than could be discussed in this article. We also discuss the dangers of diuretics, his near death experience with synthol, and the topic of bodybuilding gurus. You can watch the full uncut GI Exclusive interview with Milos above!