Tag: Rich Gaspari
Rich Gaspari Bashes Young Lifters Using ‘Dangerous’ Amounts of Steroids: ‘It’s A Big Problem’
Bodybuilding veteran Rich Gaspari has a sharp eye for talent based on his decades of experience in the sport. While he no longer competes, he remains active in the community with hot takes. In a recent Instagram post, Gaspari criticized young lifters for using steroids at the beginning of their fitness journey.
Rich Gaspari first gained attention for his insane mass, size, and refined lower-body muscle development in the Men’s Open division in the mid-80s. His dry conditioning coupled with striated glutes made him stand out from the competition. While he did not find Olympia glory, Gaspari took a bronze medal in his Mr. Olympia debut and earned three silvers to eight-time champion Lee Haney. He created history by becoming the first Arnold Classic winner and got inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2004.
Gaspari has been a vocal critic of the Open division in the last few years. As a talented poser, he considers bodybuilding an art form and not a sport due to its subjective nature. However, he sees a lack of artistic focus with more athletes favoring sheer muscle mass instead of posing.
‘The Dragon Slayer’ highlighted the rise in the popularity of trenbolone in the fitness space. While he admitted the compound could lead to significant gains, he warned about its use due to the damage it wreaks on the liver and cardiovascular system. He added tren use could lead to anger issues for even the nicest person.
Gaspari fired shots at modern bodybuilders for not paying enough attention to their calves. He left the fans stunned with a throwback clip where he showed off his massive calves while crushing an intense training session. He suggested training the muscle group three times a week with high volume and heavy weights.
Rich Gaspari reckons Chris Bumstead would need to put on 40 pounds to have a shot in the Men’s Open division. He praised the four-time Classic Physique Olympia winner’s symmetry and backed him to defend the title successfully at the 2023 Mr. Olympia. However, he criticized ‘CBum’s’ arm development and muscle density when compared with Open contenders.
Gaspari is a strong proponent of high-intensity training. He opened up on some of the crazy ways he used to pump himself up for an intense weight training session and offered a grueling abs routine for boosting strength and hypertrophy. Then, he emphasized incorporating slow-mo reps to amp up workout intensity and build muscle.
Rich Gaspari Speaks Out Against Harmful Steroid Practices Among Young Lifters
In a recent Instagram post, Rich Gaspari criticized young lifters for starting steroids early. He highlighted the health risks that come with taking harsh compounds like tren and called for training quality above all else.
“I’m going to talk about a subject that I’m going to get a lot of flak for from a lot of the younger kids that are training with weights and that’s the usage of anabolic steroids,” said Gaspari. “A lot of these young kids just starting out to train go directly on really hardcore drugs like trenbolone, high doses of testosterone, anadrol, Dbol, all these drugs. Now, I was a professional bodybuilder I had to use steroids to compete. But, the dosages were much lower than I see today in a lot of these bodybuilders.”
Gaspari claims the dosages were way lower in his days of competing on stage.
“And I’ve done blood work to make sure I stay healthy and cycled with steroids. A lot of these guys are taking steroids continually. These are kids 18 year olds, 17, 18, 19, doing high doses of trenbolone and not really monitoring themselves, which is really dangerous. It’s a big problem.
“What I’ve seen is that a lot of kids just don’t know that they have to work hard, train hard, train smart, and eat the right type of foods, eating nutritionally, eating the right amount of macronutrients, which I see a lot of people just don’t eat enough to really grow muscle.
“Just me talking out saying if you are going to take the risk of taking steroids, you need to get blood work done, you need to be able to go off and on cycles, but these kids are not doing that. They just continually stay on high doses of really toxic steroids that later on… they might not be here.”
Rich Gaspari revealed the technique he used on the incline dumbbell one-arm row to build thickness in his back with a bench. He used an incline bench to reduce any momentum from the swing to ensure optimal gains during the entirety of each movement.
Gaspari listed Jefferson squats as his exercise of choice for developing bigger legs. He emphasized going down to a full range of motion for the best results. Then, the 60-year-old detailed the modified sumo squats as a solid movement to target the glutes and build strength in the legs. He suggested performing the exercise on an elevated platform for the best results.
RELATED: ‘I’ve Been on TRT for Nearly 10 Years & Feel Amazing’: Rich Gaspari Shares Important Tips for Using TRT
His latest update might encourage some lifters against taking steroids. Overall, Gaspari just wants to see the sport practiced in a safe and healthy manner.
Published: 3 August, 2023 | 10:15 PM EDT
Rich Gaspari Emphasizes Depth in Jefferson Squats for Supreme Leg Development
Bodybuilding veteran Rich Gaspari was renowned for his insane lower body muscle development, being the first athlete to showcase striations in his glutes. Having been in the sport for decades, he contributes his knowledge to the community. In a recent post made on Instagram, Gaspari shared the benefits of using Jefferson squats to build bigger legs.
Rich Gaspari made a name for himself with his insane muscle mass, size, and sharp conditioning in the Men’s Open division. He turned heads in his Mr. Olympia debut and took the bronze medal in 1985. He set a new standard for the division with his freakish legs and a dry look on stage. While he did not win the Sandow trophy, he was a consistent threat at the contests. He placed runner-up three times against eight-time Mr. Olympia Lee Haney and created history by becoming the first Arnold Classic winner.
Since taking to the sidelines, Gaspari turned into a respected analyst. He believes bodybuilding is an art form and not a sport due to its subjective nature. He disapproves of the Men’s Open contenders neglecting posing skills in favor of sheer muscle mass in the last few years and praised the Classic Physique category for preserving the essence of bodybuilding.
Having competed for more than ten years, Gaspari understands the risk of taking steroids. He cautioned his followers against using harsh compounds like trenbolone, which has gained popularity amongst fitness enthusiasts. While he admitted the substance resulted in significant gains, he highlighted the damage it could have on the liver and cardiovascular system.
Rich Gaspari / Instagram
The 60-year-old reckons there has been a decline in the quality of calves presented in the Men’s Open division. He fired shots at modern bodybuilders for neglecting the muscle group and called on them to bring back enhanced lower bodies like the competitors of yesteryears for the stage. He also provided a look into the calves training routine he utilized in his heyday.
Rich Gaspari used a range of techniques to craft his insane glute muscles. Beyond the traditional exercises, he used special techniques like a variation of the sumo squats to get the best results. He performed the movement on an elevated platform to increase the range of motion for added load.
Gaspari is a big proponent of high-intensity training. He used some crazy ways to motivate himself to go to the limit in the training room such as imagining his whole family would get killed if he didn’t complete the workout. He also took advantage of three movements to build strength in his midsection.
Rich Gaspari Shares Advice on Jefferson Squats for Impressive Leg Muscles
In a recent Instagram post, Rich Gaspari shared Jefferson Squats as an effective exercise to build muscle. He stressed focusing on going all the way down to target glutes.
“Another great exercise for working the Glutes and Legs is Jefferson Squats,” wrote Gaspari. “They are a little awkward in the movement as you have the bar in between your legs when doing it. Go all the way down with weight touching the ground to feel the glutes and use reps of at least 15-25.”
Among the many intensity techniques Rich Gaspari incorporated, he took advantage of slow-mo reps with five seconds on each contraction and expansion to boost muscle growth. For Gaspari, the most important thing is to control the weight in a slow manner to get the most out of the exercise.
Gaspari suggests performing the incline dumbbell one-arm row on a bench to eliminate momentum and keep the load on the back, which can help with building more thickness.
His latest update offers a way for fans to diversify their leg training routines and build strong glutes.
Published: 30 July, 2023 | 1:01 PM EDT
Rich Gaspari Shares Tips for Developing Back Thickness with Incline Dumbbell One-Arm Row
Bodybuilding veteran Rich Gaspari has developed a unique eye for the sport since stepping away from the bright lights. He’s known for providing valuable tips based on his years of competing against the best. In a recent Instagram post, Gaspari shared his technique for building the back using the incline dumbbell one-arm row.
Rich Gaspari led a decorated career in the IFBB Pro League Men’s Open division with his insane muscle mass, definition, and conditioning. He started his career in the mid-80s and is widely credited for being the first athlete to display glute striations. He proved to be one of the most consistent competitors, racking up three silver medals in a row at Mr. Olympia contests from 1986 to 1988. Although he did not win the Sandow trophy, Gaspari created history by becoming the inaugural winner of the Arnold Classic. His final outing happened at the 1996 San Jose Pro Invitational.
Despite moving on from competition, Gaspari has kept his finger on the pulse of bodybuilding. He took issue with the rampant use of PEDs (performance-enhancing drugs) in female divisions such as Wellness and Bikini earlier this year. He suspected that coaches are to blame as they push clients to take steroids unnecessarily and as a result, risk their health.
Gaspari provided fans with some of his best tips for growing muscle in the lower body three months ago. He encouraged going to failure between 20 and 50 reps and offered techniques for training as hard as possible.
The bodybuilding veteran wants to see changes. Rich Gaspari fired shots at modern competitors for not paying attention to their calf muscle development weeks ago. He gave fans a look into the calf training he did in his days of competing on stage and admitted it was hard to grow the muscle group.
Gaspari has also shed light on the health risks of bodybuilding. He voiced his disapproval of the rise in Trenbolone use and laid out some of the adverse effects of taking the compound which included damage to the liver and the cardiovascular system.
Rich Gaspari Shares Tips for Developing Back Thickness with Incline One Arm Row
In a recent Instagram post, Rich Gaspari shared tips for developing back thickness with incline one-arm rows. He stressed using an incline bench and minimizing any swing in the movement.
“Here is a great way to do your one arm rows and do them strict with no swing,” said Gaspari. “Doing on the incline bench takes out the momentum of doing a DB row and makes them really work middle back thickness.”
Gaspari offered a brutal variation of the sumo squats for building strength in the lower body two months ago. He suggested using an elevated platform to extend the range of motion so as to feel the burn in the glutes.
Rich Gaspari opened up on the techniques he would use to carve out his abs during his prime a few weeks back. Whether it’s hypertrophy or slow-mo reps for muscle growth, Gaspari has a unique understanding of training mechanics following several wars on stage.
If you’re aiming to build a strong and muscular back while minimizing the risk of injury, the single-arm incline dumbbell row is an excellent choice. Whether you’re a beginner focusing on getting the form right or an experienced gym-goer seeking a fresh challenge, this exercise has got you covered.
RELATED: Rich Gaspari, Milos Sarcev Shed Light on Harsh Diuretics and the ‘Cost’ of Dangerous Dehydration
Gaspari is a living legend, who continues to contribute to the sport and its competitors with intense workouts. At 60 years old, he doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
Published: 19 July, 2023 | 10:10 PM EDT
Rich Gaspari Shares Tip on Stimulating Muscle Growth with Slow-Mo Reps
Bodybuilding veteran Rich Gaspari amassed a ton of fitness knowledge from his years of competing in the sport. Although he no longer competes, he stays in top form and provides insight into the training methods of an elite bodybuilder. In a recent post made on Instagram, Gaspari broke down how to stimulate muscle growth by incorporating slow-mo reps.
Rich Gaspari first rose to prominence for his insane muscle mass, definition, and conditioning in the mid-1980s. He displayed a dry look and was the first athlete to showcase striations on his glutes. He proved to be one of the most disciplined Men’s Open competitors during his run with seven consistent top-10 finishes at the Mr. Olympia contests. While he did not win the Sandow trophy, he took three silver medals, falling short of eight-time champion Lee Haney on each occasion. He graced several magazine covers and was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2004.
Since moving on from competition, Gaspari has been a vocal critic of the evolution of the Open class. He fired shots at modern competitors for depending too much on steroids instead of focusing on quality training earlier this year. He followed up with a motivational message asking his fans to push themselves in the training room a month later. Gaspari provided the keys to training with intensity using techniques such as supersets, drop sets, giant sets, and more.
Gaspari opened up on the difference in the gear bodybuilders from the 90s would take to now five months ago. While many compounds, such as Anavar, Winstrol, Testosterone, and Trenbolone, continue to prevail, he highlighted the issue of procuring these substances from the black market instead of getting a pharmaceutical-grade product.
The 60-year-old provided tips and techniques to maximize the gains on leg day workouts three months ago. He stressed the importance of training the lower body to failure to get it to grow and laid out some methods for achieving the same.
Rich Gaspari voiced his disapproval of the lack of artistic touch in the Open class weeks ago. He argued bodybuilding is an art form that cannot be treated like a sport and credited the Classic Physique competitors for keeping the art form alive.
Gaspari detailed a modified version of the sumo squats for a stronger lower body two months ago. He suggested using elevated feet to get an extra range of motion and add stress to the glutes.
Rich Gaspari shares tips on stimulating muscle growth with slow-mo reps
In a recent Instagram post, Rich Gaspari shared tips on utilizing slow-mo reps for enhancing muscle growth.
“A lot of you have seen videos of me doing drop sets to train a muscle to failure,” said Gaspari. “Works really well, we do supersets, drop sets. Going quickly sometimes the motion can be a little bit more free meaning they’re not prefect reps. Then there’s other type of training that I do, slow mo reps. Slow mo reps I do every once in a while just to have a different feel to my muscle to stimulate them. Slow mo rep is doing a rep five seconds on the extension and five seconds on the contraction. For example, doing a leg press, five seconds on the way down and five seconds on the way up. Normally on my leg training I like to do reps of 20 or 30. When you’re doing reps super slow and you’re controlling the weight the whole time, no momentum. What’s going to happen is you’re going to have to lighten the weight tremendously and in doing that you’re also going to feel the muscle fibers working, slow and fast twitch you’re going to really feel them working and you may only be able to do 10-15 reps. You can follow this principle and can bee only able to do maybe three exercises.”
Rich Gaspari extended his support for reigning four-time Classic Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead last month. He believes Bumstead has a stellar package and could hold his own against the freakiest mass monsters of the Open if he added 40 pounds of muscle to his frame and grew his arms. Then, he provided abs exercises for building strength along with a tip on training intensity for muscle growth earlier this month.
His latest offering will certainly help many fitness fans take their physiques to the next level with the intensity technique.
Published: 5 July, 2023 | 8:12 AM EDT
Rich Gaspari Shares Abs Exercise for Strength & Training Intensity Tip for Hypertrophy: ‘Total Annihilation’
Bodybuilding veteran Rich Gaspari is a strong proponent of using intensity to enhance his package in the gym. Although he moved on from professional competition years ago, his decades of experience have turned him into a revered figure in the community. In recent posts shared on Instagram, Gaspari shared an abs exercise for building strength and offered a tip on how to boost training intensity for hypertrophy.
Rich Gaspari first gained attention for his insane muscle mass, definition, and granite conditioning in the mid-1980s. He’s widely regarded as the first Men’s Open competitor to display striated glutes. Although he did not win Mr. Olympia, Gaspari was a perennial contender who participated in seven Mr. Olympia contests and took three silvers to eight-time champion Lee Haney. He also made history by becoming the inaugural champion of the Arnold Classic. Following a glittering career, he was inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2004.
Gaspari opened up about the cost of bringing dry conditioning on stage earlier this year. He revealed he never took harsh diuretics and achieved the grainy conditioned look with consistent training and also credited genetics. Given the focus on being dry in contemporary competition, Gaspari bashed coaches for risking their athletes’ lives with diuretics.
Three months ago, Gaspari fired shots at the Women’s Bikini and Wellness athletes for the rampant use of PEDs (performance-enhancing drugs) in competition. He believes trainers push athletes to use heavy amounts of gear when it’s not necessary, making even regional shows hard to compete in as a natty.
Rich Gaspari / Instagram
Gaspari has kept up with training regularly post-retirement and often educated his audience on topics related to fitness. He detailed the anti-aging peptide stack he’s utilizing to improve his quality of life months ago.
The 60-year-old fired shots at modern bodybuilders for not giving much attention to their calf muscle development three months ago. He offered donkey calf raises as an effective exercise for enhancing muscle growth and definition in the group. Then, he provided some of his best tips to grow legs and techniques for increasing intensity on leg day.
Rich Gaspari shares abs exercises for building strength
In a recent Instagram post, Rich Gaspari shared leg raises, crunches, and twisting crunches as effective abs exercises for building strength.
“Training abs strengthens your core that can help you with training other parts of your body,” wrote Gaspari. “Leg raises are great to do for training lower Abs. I also do ab crunches to work overall abs along with twisting crunches to work intercostals. Rep range on abs for 15-50. Do Abs at least 2-3 times a week.”
Rich Gaspari is not a fan of the modern Men’s Open division. He voiced his disapproval of the evolution of the category, arguing a loss in the creative element three months ago. He feels bodybuilding is an art form instead of a sport and praised the Classic Physique division for keeping the art alive.
Gaspari issued a cautionary message against the use of trenbolone two months ago. While he conceded the steroid could result in impressive gains, he highlighted the adverse effects it may cause to the liver and cardiovascular system.
Gaspari’s tip on increasing training intensity for hypertrophy
Gaspari shared tips on how to get in the right mindset for intensity training and boost it further for hypertrophy.
“I still train with total intensity, train a muscle to failure. I don’t have my phone with me that I’m constantly texting or reading e-mails or looking at YouTube or doing whatever,” he said. “I’m going to the gym to train a certain body part I’m training. What I see right now is I see too many people distracted. And they are not making the gains. You really have to train with intensity.
“When I went to a gym training for competition, I went to the gym with the mindset I was going to battle, to war, to train a body part to total annihilation or total failure. If I didn’t do a certain weight or personal max in reps, drop set, giant set, if I didn’t finish that I imagined that my whole family is going to get killed and they were going to kill me. That’s really extreme but when you have that type of mindset going to the gym for total annihilation, you’re going to train a muscle much harder than you’ve ever trained before. That’s what it’s going to take for hypertrophy and muscle to grow.”
Rich Gaspari laid out a modified version of sumo squats to boost lower-body strength two months ago. He recommended using a platform to elevate feet for added range of motion to target glutes.
Gaspari extended his support for four-time Classic Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead for his dominant reign last month. He backed Bumstead to be competitive in the Open class if he packed on about 40 pounds of muscle mass.
His latest offerings are sure to help many fans take their fitness game to the next level with a strong core and intense mindset.
Published: 2 July, 2023 | 11:44 AM EDT
Rich Gaspari: ‘Chris Bumstead Needs 40 Lbs to Win Open Mr. Olympia, No One Is Close to Him in Classic’
Bodybuilding veteran Rich Gaspari is back to discuss the career of reigning four-time Classic Physique Olympia Chris Bumstead. In a recent Fitness Fame & Fortune podcast with John Romano, Gaspari critiqued Bumstead’s physique and shared what it would take to win the Open title at Mr. Olympia.
Since Bumstead’s 2019 Olympia takeover, contenders have yet to catch up to his physique. His full muscle bellies, x-frame, and conditioning have made for an overwhelming combination on stage. Before taking his talents to Las Vegas in December, Bumstead and his brother-in-law Iain Valliere decided to stop working together. With 12 weeks until the big show, Bumstead joined forces with bodybuilding coach Hany Rambod.
When the dust settled after 2022 Mr. Olympia many fans were shocked to find out Bumstead thwarted his competition successfully with a torn bicep. He has been open about his career as of late and mentioned that he’s on the hunt for a fifth title.
In addition to his growing popularity on social media, talks of Cbum moving to the Open have percolated for some time. Earlier this year, the 28-year-old said he would consider competing in the Open at the Arnold Classic if the contest was scheduled two weeks after Olympia. The latest to discuss his career was Rich Gaspari, who made a solid case for Bumstead winning Open Mr. Olympia with an added 40 pounds.
Rich Gaspari Assesses Cbum’s Physique, Believes He Needs 40 Lbs to Be a Mr. Olympia
According to Gaspari, competitors of Classic Physique lack muscle density and that ‘crazy look.’ When critiquing Bumstead’s physique, Rich said his arms were a weak point.
“Even in Classic, I don’t want to toot my own horn, you look at my physique when I won the 86 Pro Worlds, the density in that muscle, first of all, it was never seen those striations. Then, you look at guys that are winning now in Classic, they don’t even have that look, that crazy look. They have great symmetry, small waist.
You got Chris Bumstead, a really small waist. The one thing about Chris he doesn’t have huge arms, kind of weak in the arm size but a really good front double biceps. You see how he looks with the vacuum, good legs, but he doesn’t have big arms. That class is very very hard.”
“I saw him at the Pittsburgh Pro, they asked him if he’s considering going to the Open, he goes, ‘Are you crazy? How can I go to the Open? I’m grateful that I came into this sport at a time when Classic was big and I just fit the mold of what a Classic bodybuilder should look like and because of height and because of my weight, I can look a certain size that’s still impressive at my height and weight in the Classic category. And this is why I’m winning that category,’” shared Rich Gaspari.
Given his current build and genetics, Rich Gaspari laid out what it would take for Bumstead to make a play for Open Mr. Olympia gold.
“At least 40 pounds [he’d need to win Open Mr. Olympia]. Yeah, at least 40 pounds. He said it. He was like, ‘I’ll have to be 40 pounds bigger to be competitive with these guys and how do I know I’m going to look right?’ Because, you know, when you gain that muscle it may not necessarily look the way he looks now with the streamlined look that he has. It may not look the same.
He goes, ‘Why would I put my body through that when I’m doing really well in my category? That’s my category, I was fortunate to be born at this time.’ He’s dominating. He’s dominating, I think he’s going to win again, this is his fourth win, he’ll win a fifth Classic Bodybuilding because there’s no one close to him with his small joints, wide clavicle, small waist, big muscle bellies in his legs, the only weakness I see, he doesn’t have these huge arms, these huge peaked arms, but still, they’re good.”
Gaspari says Bumstead has found success in the category because of his bone structure, small waist, and wide clavicles. When comparing the Canadian to Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rich said Bumstead lacked charisma but made up for it with an authentic personality.
“He’s got 17 million followers, it’s an anomaly. Nobody has that type of following. He’s not flamboyant, charismatic, he’s actually, I hate to talk about him bad, he’s kind of boring. He’s authentic, he’s not like this charismatic, he’s not like Arnold, Arnold was very charismatic. Chris Bumstead is not charismatic, I’m not putting anything against him.”
“To really look good in Classic bodybuilding you need small bone structure, small waist, you need a wide clavicle, there’s a lot of factors that makes a good Classic bodybuilder. You can’t take a Jay Cutler and make him a Classic bodybuilder.”
Recently, event announcer Bob Cicherillo shared a similar prediction about Bumstead. However, he specified that Chris could be a threat on the Mr. Olympia stage with an added 20 pounds. If that were the case, Cicherillo argued that Cbum could push Samson Dauda, Nick Walker, or Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay.
Gaspari isn’t the only bodybuilding veteran to assess Bumstead’s physique and impact on the sport. Arnold Schwarzenegger has suggested that the Classic Physique champion should be crowned the Mr. Olympia title instead of the Open winner.
It’s evident that there’s a public interest to see Bumstead switch divisions. Though, in the meantime, he’s made it clear that his sole focus is on repeating as the Classic Physique Olympia on November 3.
RELATED: Bodybuilding Veteran Chris Cormier Breaks Down Chris Bumstead’s Chances In the Men’s Open Division
You can watch the full video from the Dragon Slayer Media YouTube channel below:
Published: 2 June, 2023 | 5:53 PM EDT
Bodybuilder Veteran Rich Gaspari Reveals Effective Glute-Targeting Exercise for a Stronger Lower Body
Bodybuilding veteran Rich Gaspari revolutionized the Men’s Open division during his days of professional competition. He became the first athlete to display striations in his glutes. In a recent post made on Instagram, Gaspari shared an exercise for building leg muscles and glutes.
Rich Gaspari started his career in the IFBB Pro League in the mid-1980s. He boasted an impressive blend of muscle mass, definition, and conditioning levels. His potential was evident from the start as he cracked the top three of the 1985 Mr. Olympia competition in his maiden appearance. While he did not win the Sandow trophy, he proved himself as a top contender with three runner-up finishes, falling short of eight-time Mr. Olympia Lee Haney on each occasion.
Gaspari was the inaugural winner of the 1989 Arnold Classic and earned an entry into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2004. He decided to hang up his posing trunks in 1996 after an illustrious career lasting over two decades. Since retiring, he’s become a revered analyst with hot takes.
Following Hadi Choopan’s win at the 2022 Mr. Olympia, Gaspari fired shots at the champion for a perceived lack of conditioning in the back. He urged Choopan to work on the area and bring back an older drier look to the stage in his return.
Gaspari criticized the modern mass monsters of the Open class for relying on steroids and neglecting quality training. He highlighted the decrease in conditioning levels and called on the competitors to prioritize training.
Rich Gaspari has kept a high fitness level after stepping away from competition. He opened up on his use of peptides to achieve anti-aging benefits along with testosterone, weight training, and growth hormone three months ago. Then, he stressed the importance of maintaining proper nutrition to build muscle in addition to effective training.
The 59-year-old believes modern Open athletes take considerably higher dosage of drugs than the competitors of past eras. He issued a cautionary message against using harsh diuretics in hopes of athletes achieving drier looks. In The Menace Podcast with Dennis James, Rich revealed he didn’t use such diuretics to sculpt his physique and laid out the risks involved in using synthetic substances.
Gaspari provided fans with some of his best tips on growing lower body muscles with intense training last month. He encouraged users to reach failure in their leg workouts and offered techniques to maximize the pump.
Rich Gaspari’s Ultimate Glute-Burner for a Strong Lower Body
In an Instagram post, Rich Gaspari shared an effective glutes exercise for building muscle in the legs. He suggested performing sumo squats on an elevated platform to extend the range of motion at the bottom of the movement.
“Great exercise to hit glutes are Sumo squats with a Dumbbell elevating feet so you get more stretch at the bottom of the movement,” wrote Gaspari. “3 sets of 20-30 reps and feel your glutes burn.”
Rich Gaspari continued his feud with the Open division last month. He believes bodybuilding is an art form that is not properly represented in the marquee division. He credited the Classic Physique athletes for bringing the artistic element back into the game.
RELATED: Rich Gaspari Talks PEDs in Bikini/Wellness Divisions and Poor Coaching: ‘It’s Gotten Out of Hand’
Incorporating elevated sumo squats into your workout routine can help you strengthen your lower body, improve balance, and achieve a more sculpted and toned gluteal region. Give this exercise a try and discover the benefits it can bring to your fitness journey.
Published: 28 May, 2023 | 10:44 AM EDT
Rich Gaspari Calls Out Bodybuilders Neglecting Calves: ‘Seems Calf Isn’t As Important Today’
Bodybuilding veteran Rich Gaspari has been at odds with the modern competitors of the Men’s Open division. In a recent post made on Instagram, Gaspari called out contemporary bodybuilders for neglecting calf muscle development.
Retired bodybuilder Rich Gaspari made a name for himself with his insane muscle mass, definition, and conditioning as a Men’s Open competitor. He’s widely credited for pioneering the division’s focus on striated glute muscles. In his heyday, Gaspari cemented his status as one of the most consistent athletes in the game. While he didn’t win the Mr. Olympia title, he took silver thrice and went up against the likes of eight-time champ Lee Haney and six-time winner Dorian Yates. He hung up his posing trunks in 1996 and got inducted into the IFBB Hall of Fame in 2004.
Gaspari isn’t fully convinced by the Open division’s evolution over the last few years. He called on reigning Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan to work on his conditioning and bring back a drier more defined look as seen in generations prior. Earlier this year, Gaspari fired shots at the Open competitors for relying on drugs too heavily. He claimed mass monsters depend on using enormous amounts of steroids instead of focusing on quality training.
Three months ago, Gaspari opened up about his use of peptides to slow down the aging process. He listed different kinds of peptides that helped boost natural GH (growth hormone) levels. He also identified legendary bodybuilder Phil Heath’s reign as the turning point for conditioning requirements in the Open category. Then, he stressed the importance of maintaining proper nutrition to pack on the pounds.
Along with a solid diet, Gaspari encouraged his fans to push their limits in the training room months ago. He detailed some intensity techniques that were sure to leave anyone exhausted. The 59-year-old revealed he’d been using TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) for about 10 years. He gave his take on the benefits he derives from the substance and recommended getting blood work done regularly to minimize the risk of any side effects.
Rich Gaspari calls out bodybuilders for neglecting calves
In a recent Instagram post, Rich Gaspari took aim at modern bodybuilders for not paying enough attention to their calf muscle development. He shared some general tips for building muscle in the area.
“Seems today the calf muscle is not as important to train and many of todays Bodybuilders neglect calves,” he wrote. “As you see I trained calves heavy and hard. It was an important muscle back in the 80’s And 90’s. I would train them 3 times a week with high reps of 15-20 and heavy. Calves can take a lot to grow.”
Rich Gaspari lauded the Classic Physique competitors for preserving the essence of bodybuilding as an art form last month. He argued the same quality is not found in Open events. A week later, Gaspari promoted the use of TRT and weighed in on the recent Telehealth law proposal by the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) last month.
Gaspari pushed back on the excessive use of steroids for competition earlier this week. He detailed the health risks that come along with gear use but conceded it was an inevitable part of the sport.
RELATED: ‘Athletes Don’t Focus on Calves Anymore?’: Rich Gaspari Shares Calf Exercise for Muscle Growth
His latest offering could help bring more awareness to the importance of developing strong calves to match an overall physique.
Published: 10 May, 2023 | 7:08 PM EDT
Rich Gaspari, John Romano Talk Health Implications of Competitive Bodybuilding
Bodybuilding veteran Rich Gaspari joined industry expert John Romano for a candid discussion about steroids. In a recent Fame, Fitness & Fortune podcast, Gaspari and Romano examined the use of trenbolone in-depth and revealed some of its benefits and drawbacks.
Gaspari, who competed in the 1980s and ’90s, was a conditioning pioneer, having been the first man to display striated glutes on a bodybuilding stage. Even though he was unable to capture the prestigious Mr. Olympia title during his tenure, Gaspari was the first winner of Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s inaugural Arnold Classic in 1989.
Given his accolades and achievements, Gasapri’s voice holds weight in the bodybuilding community. He regularly compares different eras of competitors. For instance, he sparked fan backlash online after posting a side-by-side picture of Dorian Yates and Hadi Choopan. He made the comparison because he was trying to argue that dry conditioning has fallen by the wayside in the Open class today.
Gaspari’s issues with the Open class didn’t end there. In the 58-year-old’s opinion, athletes in the Open have begun to rely on drugs more so than hard work, training, and proper nutrition. In his latest endeavor, Rich took a closer look at a powerful compound called trenbolone, which has quickly become popular and controversial due to its reputation for causing dramatic gains and mental instability.
Note: Fitness Volt does not condone and/or recommend the use of recreational or performance-enhancing drugs. This article reports on information relayed by the athlete or subject. FitnessVolt is not a medical resource and the content provided to you is for informational purposes only.
Rich Gaspari & John Romano Praise Trenbolone for Gains But Highlight Harsh Side Effects on Mood
Romano started by saying the younger generation of athletes has nicknamed insulin ‘slin.’
“One of my classic most-hated terms is running slin, running slin, you ever heard that one, insulin, running insulin. What am I running, EQ and deca,” said John Romano.
Gaspari said tren has become one of the most talked about compounds in the fitness sector. He added that the gains from trenbolone are impressive but come with drawbacks, specifically to the liver and cardiovascular system.
“The new one is tren, these tren people, you hear about Trenbolone constantly online and you guys, if you want to know what Trenbolone is, let’s talk about it, you probably know more about the characteristics of what it does. First of all, it’s a very harsh steroid, you can make really great gains off trenbolone, but it’s very harsh on your liver, it’s very harsh on your cardiovascular system, when you inject it, you cough right way. And then the tren cough,” says Rich Gaspari.
“These are the pellets that — back in the day, this is what [we used],” said Gaspari. “Today’s bodybuilders… they only know about the liquid oil that you get, it’s a very yellow liquid, but explain to them these pellets and you had to set up this old kit, that was the old trenbolone.”
Romano explained the differences in trenbolone formulations as some are more quick-acting than others. Gaspari and Romano agree that pairing trenbolone and Sustanon together results in an effective combination for promoting muscle growth.
“You got to remember it’s the ester that’s important, so trenbolone acetate is the quick-acting tren, the most powerful one right, so it’s – they don’t make it for humans. At the time, I don’t think they still do this, but when it started getting big in the late 80s early 90s because people were taking finijet, but finijet, the Ester’s name is this long, it’s like hex blah blah blah, LMNOP, we’ll just call it hex for short. That was a real Caddy drug, very expensive hard to get,” said John Romano.
“But acetate esters is the more potent one,” added Romano. “That’s why tren and sustanon made such a great mix because you had to take sustanon every other day too because of the propionate component – you always defer to the fastest esters regardless of if it’s a mix. Proprianate is the faster ester of the [bunch],” said Romano.
“Sustanon is a blend of four testosterone one of them being proprianate – that’s the important one because you have to defer to it because it’s the fastest acting one. That’s why you have to take sustanon every other day and that’s why tren goes very well with it because sustanon is a powerful well-used steroid paired with trenbolone acetate. If you don’t grow on that, you’re not growing.”
Gaspari contends even the nicest person would turn ‘nasty’ on a regular trenbolone dose.
“What people are taking are the tren acetate,” added Gaspari. “What I’m seeing with people, so we’re talking about the great effects, really great gains, you’re going to get really big. Tell them the bad things. One of the things I’ve noticed taking tren is it makes you nasty, nuts. Even the nicest, even Mr. Rogers would be nasty.”
In the past, Romano said trenbolone use caused him to feel anger over manufactured thoughts that weren’t real.
“Me, included, me especially, not only does it make me nuts, like wanting to kill, but it causes me to fabricate scenarios in my brain that do not exist and I react to them and get angry over them. Man, it’s only because I do have a strong mind that I’m able to understand that that’s why that’s happening and not to react to it. For as long as I’m on tren, it’s always a struggle to remember reality and what I’ve manufactured are two different things, and don’t react.”
“Users beware, you’re probably going to punch people in the face at the gym,” joked Gaspari.
Gaspari isn’t the only athlete in bodybuilding calling attention to the dangers of trenbolone. Powerlifter and bodybuilder Larry Wheels said he used the compound for some time, which he described as a ‘living hell.’
Contrarily, Nathan De Asha, a popular UK-based Open competitor, swears by the compound and says he takes it year-round for maintaining strength. He also mentioned that using the compound hasn’t made him any more aggressive.
RELATED: Zack Khan Says Athletes Should ‘Stop Chasing the Scale’ and Mega Dosing Steroids: ‘I Don’t Understand It’
While Gaspari and Romano respect the benefits of trenbolone, they understand that taking the compound should be approached with caution. However, there’s no denying it’s widely used at the top levels of the IFBB Pro League.
Watch the full video below from the Dragon Slayer Media YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DvXjAFYynI
Published: 9 May, 2023 | 2:10 PM EDT
Rich Gaspari Promotes TRT Use & Defends Telehealth Law Proposal: ‘It’s Not A New Law’
Bodybuilding veteran Rich Gaspari has found a place as a respected analyst in the sport since moving on from professional competition years ago. In a recent episode of Fitness, Fame & Fortune, Gaspari shared his thoughts on the proposal to update telehealth laws for restricting access to controlled substances. He also shared the benefits he reaped from using TRT (testosterone replacement therapy).
Rich Gaspari became a mainstay of the IFBB Pro League Men’s Open division in the mid-1980s through the 1990s. He was renowned for his insane muscle definition, stellar conditioning levels, and glute striations. While he did not win the coveted Sandow trophy, Gaspari scored silver in three Mr. Olympia competitions. He was the inaugural champion at the 1989 Arnold Classic. He got inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004 and received an Arnold Classic Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.
Since stepping away from competition, Gaspari has become a revered analyst known for his outspoken personality and hot takes. He regularly shares his expertise in fitness online. Two months ago, Gaspari issued a passionate message motivating his fans to challenge themselves in the training room. He called on them to focus on amping up workout intensity to get the best results.
Gaspari also opened up about his decade-long experience of using TRT earlier this year. He’s a strong proponent of the substance and stressed the importance of getting your blood work done to minimize the risk of any side effects.
The 59-year-old took issue with the prevalence of harsh diuretics used by athletes who intend to achieve a drier look on stage. He shared his take on the adverse effects of extreme dehydration and revealed Insulin and other diuretics weren’t a part of his protocol as a competitor.
In retirement, Gaspari laid out a peptide stack he’s utilizing for anti-aging benefits last month. Then, he followed that up with some of his favorite exercises to enhance the quality of calf muscles.
Rich Gaspari defends telehealth law update proposal
Earlier this month, DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) announced a proposal to limit Telehealth prescriptions, including testosterone. The update would require patients to make at least one in-person visit to the doctor to obtain a prescription.
In a recent YouTube video, Rich Gaspari shared his thoughts on the proposal that could restrict access to controlled substances. He explained how the rule isn’t a change in the law but rather enforcement of the pre-existing one.
“Right now any type of telemedicine on testosterone, the laws will be enforced,” said Gaspari. “This is what I’m seeing is that they think this is a new law. It’s not a new law. This is a law that’s been in effect but because of COVID, the law was very lax because as we know it was very hard and difficult to see doctors in person so they kind of let that go and let you see doctors online.
“What we’re saying here is that they’re now enforcing the laws on those class III, IV, and V. I guess because it started just getting I think anytime where there’s less regulations, people take advantage of the system. There’s people doing it right. You get blood work first and then meet with the doctor and then the doctor goes over that via zoom and sees if you’re low in testosterone, he prescribes you the testosterone. I think what was happening, where the government gets involved, you have the greedy people out there that are saying we don’t need to get a doctor involved.
“Maybe we don’t even have to get the blood work, or they can do it once and then we don’t check after that. You can keep getting testosterone in perpetuity like that every month.
“It’s not a new law. It’s a law that’s been in effect since 2008. They’re just following the guidelines of that law.”
Gaspari shares the benefits of using TRT
Rich Gaspari shared the benefits he reaped from using TRT.
“The testosterone for me makes me feel first of all very alert,” said Gaspari. “When I had low T, I had bouts of depression and a lot of people don’t realize that if you have a 200 total T, you’re going to feel like crap. You don’t want to get out of bed. I get up at 5 o’clock in the morning and go to the gym. I train. I work all day and I believe a lot of it has to do with using testosterone. I don’t believe I would want to go above that high normal range because it wouldn’t be beneficial to me health-wise.”
“It’s just the convenience of injecting yourself with testosterone is so much easier for me.”
While Iain Valliere had mentioned that TRT isn’t a necessity for everyone, Rich argued that the substance is important, especially as you age.
“Iain Valliere put out anyone older should not be on TRT except the fact that you’re old and it lets your testosterone go down. I go yeah because you’re freaking young. Let’s see how you feel when you’re in your 50s. Let me see how you’re going to feel if you’re depressed, you feel like sh*t and you’re saying anyone above 50 shouldn’t be using testosterone. Let the natural aging process happen to you and let your T go down to 100.”
Rich Gaspari gave his take on building bigger leg muscles with some techniques to incorporate into training sessions last week. Additionally, he isn’t a fan of the way the Open class evolved over the years and credits Classic Physique for preserving the art of the sport.
RELATED: Rich Gaspari Favors Chris Bumstead’s Physique Over Men’s Open Look: “You Look At These Guys and Their Physiques Are Unattainable”
His latest offering will help add clarity to the telehealth law proposal for many who feel concerned with the recent developments.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 20 April, 2023 | 9:00 AM EDT
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