Tag: Ronnie Coleman
Ronnie Coleman Criticizes His ‘Horrible’ Olympia-Winning Physique in Throwback Photo with Jay Cutler
Legendary bodybuilder Ronnie Coleman is widely regarded as one of the greatest competitors of all time. He dominated the IFBB Pro League and shared a heated on-stage rivalry with fellow legend Jay Cutler. In a recent throwback post made on Instagram, Coleman bashed his Olympia-winning physique in the off-season posing snap with Cutler.
Ronnie Coleman first gained attention for his freakish muscle mass, size, and conditioning as a Men’s Open contender in the late 90s. He came out on top of his first Mr. Olympia appearance with a dominant victory over Flex Wheeler. After the win, Coleman went on a commanding reign that saw him ward off the budding talent and defend the title successfully seven times in a row. One of the toughest competitors he faced during his days of competition was Jay Cutler.
Cutler emerged as a promising contender who battled it out with Coleman on the Olympia stage several times. He presented a tough threat but kept falling short of Coleman until he finally dethroned him in 2006.
Since stepping away from professional competition, the pair have put their competitive rivalry behind them. The two joined social media fitness influencer Jesse James West for a collaborative upper-body training session earlier this year. They reflected on competing against each other as Coleman admitted how hard the loss to Cutler was for him.
Ronnie Coleman And Jay Cutler
Ronnie Coleman suffered from a series of health challenges and underwent multiple surgeries stemming from his intense training methods. He’d maintained a candid attitude about the pain he endured throughout the years. Fortunately, things turned around after he started stem cell injections nearly a year ago. He reported positive results from the treatment and revealed the pain subsided completely.
‘The King’ laid out his four favorite bodybuilding poses of all time two months ago. Then, he teamed up with former 212 Olympia champ and 2022 Mr. Olympia runner-up Derek Lunsford for a grueling back and biceps training session a week later.
Jay Cutler is one of the few athletes to have retired without any major injuries. He has kept up a high level of personal fitness and working towards his personal ‘Fit for 50’ body transformation challenge before turning 50 this August. He left the fans stunned with a jacked physique update earlier this month.
Cutler heaped praises on Coleman’s physique and believes no other competitor has come close to the package he presented in his prime. He followed up by detailing his methods for developing a massive chest and provided three movements for building boulder shoulders about two weeks ago.
Ronnie Coleman criticizes his Olympia-winning physique in off-season throwback photo with Jay Cutler
In a recent Instagram post, Ronnie Coleman bashed his physique in a throwback photo where he posed on stage next to Jay Cutler in the 2005 off-season.
“@daveliberman sent me this last night to remind me as I am crushing the next 10.5 weeks toward my goal,” wrote Cutler.
“This was 2005/06 when @ronniecoleman8 and I would guest pose week after week together before the hype of social media 16 weeks out onstage full offseason My weight 300 lbs Ronnie was 320 lbs here.”
Coleman weighed in with his take on the old physiques of the two.
“Hey where is my other arm,” commented Coleman. “I’ve been out angled by missing an arm. We are both out of shape and we both look horrible. It’s all good though. That’s what the off season was for, to be off, sometimes way way off.”
Jay Cutler opened up about his ambitions to add muscle mass while maintaining his lean build for the body transformation challenge two weeks ago. He showed off his shredded package in a physique update where he weighed 240 pounds.
Ronnie Coleman opened his own Metroflex gym in Tampa, Florida a few days ago. He reflected on his career and mingled with fans for the launch of the training facility.
Coleman’s latest comment goes to show the champion mindset he carried to become the winningest Mr. Olympia athlete in history.
Published: 27 May, 2023 | 4:31 PM EDT
Bodybuilding Icon Ronnie Coleman Opens Metroflex Gym in Tampa, Florida
Prolific bodybuilding legend Ronnie Coleman is keeping busy in retirement. In a recent video shared on his YouTube channel, Coleman filmed the grand opening of his Metroflex Gym in Tampa, Florida after years of training at their facilities.
Coleman, an eight-time Mr. Olympia, reached the pinnacle of the sport and exercised dominance for almost a decade. While his eight-year reign came to an end courtesy of Jay Cutler in 2006, fans and athletes alike consider Coleman to be one of the greatest competitors to ever throw on a pair of posing trunks.
In addition to his bodybuilding journey, Coleman was held in high regard for his powerful weightlifting capabilities. He recorded epic feats of strength while building a successful career, which saw him lock out an 800-pound deadlift for two reps and push 2,300 pounds on the leg press machine.
To this day, Coleman’s successor, Jay Cutler, believes no one in the sport has come close to ‘The King’s’ prime physique. Moreover, Cutler argued that competitors today have yet to match the level of size and conditioning Big Ron displayed on stage.
At 59 years old, Ronnie Coleman remains a leading ambassador for bodybuilding. Whether he’s taking part in a training session with fitness influencers or reacting to gym fails, Coleman’s love for working out is one of his biggest motivators in retirement.
Ronnie Coleman Shows Off His New Metroflex Gym in Tampa, Florida
Coleman, who recently listed his $495,000 Texas house for sale, has now bought up a gym location in Florida.
“What’s up everybody. We here in Tampa, Florida, for the opening of the Metroflex Gym Tampa. We got a nice crowd here, getting ready to take some photos, sign some autographs, and just meet and greet as many people as I can. Yeah buddy,” shared Coleman.
After signing autographs, guests at the grand opening admired Coleman and the sacrifices he endured on the way to building his legacy.
Coleman has been subject to more than 10 back surgeries, all of which occurred after his competitive tenure. As a result of so many operations, Coleman can no longer walk unassisted. Nevertheless, he pushes through training sessions daily even when his extremities feel numb.
Aiming for longevity and health preservation, Coleman has received consistent stem cell therapy treatments. Coleman appeared optimistic in his latest update earlier this month and stressed that he is feeling better with each passing treatment.
Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay’s stem cell doctor, Dr. Khan, appeared on a recent The Menace podcast and said he was confident Coleman would walk one day soon without help. While that remains to be seen, Coleman is adamant that these consistent treatments are assisting with his quality of life.
Given his accomplishments, fans look forward to training at Coleman’s new gym. The Metroflex Gym has been home to several top-tier athletes during their respective careers, like Coleman, Branch Warren, Johnnie Jackson, and Steve Kuclo.
RELATED: Chris Cormier Reflects on Gunter Schlierkamp Almost Defeating Ronnie Coleman at 2002 Mr. Olympia
Check out the full video below from Coleman’s YouTube channel:
Published: 23 May, 2023 | 1:03 PM EDT
Jay Cutler: “Since Ronnie Coleman Stepped Away, I Don’t Know If Anyone Has Come Close to His Physique”
Bodybuilding icon Jay Cutler believes Ronnie Coleman’s physique has stood the test of time. In a recent Don’t Be Sour podcast, Cutler discussed Coleman’s next-level physique, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the role of steroids in bodybuilding.
Ronnie Coleman cemented himself as an all-time great with eight Mr. Olympia titles from 1998-2005. Sharing the stage with legends like Flex Wheeler, Kevin Levrone, Shawn Ray, and Chris Cormier, many consider Coleman to be one of the greatest bodybuilders to ever compete.
In 2006, Ronnie Coleman was dethroned by his rival Jay Cutler, who managed to secure a total of four Mr. Olympia victories. However, Cutler was defeated by Dexter Jackson in 2008. Ultimately, Cutler would become the only Men’s Open pro to win back an Olympia title, which he accomplished in 2009 while delivering his iconic quad-stomp pose.
And while it’s been almost 15 years since Coleman stepped on stage, his successor, Cutler, believes no one in the IFBB Pro League has come close to matching the sheer size, volume, and conditioning he displayed throughout his prime.
Jay Cutler Compares Legacies of Ronnie Coleman & Arnold Schwarzenegger
Cutler believes bodybuilders today have more advantages than athletes who trained during Schwarzenegger’s era.
“At his point, where bodybuilding was, he was ahead of it, he won seven in a row, I mean some of them he didn’t really have a lot of competition, they weren’t necessarily paid to be bodybuilders on that level where today there’s great revenue to be a bodybuilder right? You get paid and win money.”
In Jay’s honest opinion, no one has ever come close to Coleman’s physique.
“By the physique and you know… the transition of time, just Ronnie pushed the physique level to just the crazy conditioning, muscle density quality right? Where, you know, he was like a powerlifter and a bodybuilder together; he broke all weight records and had a crazy physique. To be honest, I mean since Coleman stepped away, I don’t know if anyone has even come close to his physique,” said Jay Cutler.
There have been plenty of great champions, but Cutler believes Coleman separated himself from his peers with unmatched size.
“Phil Heath was really good, but not as big and balanced as Coleman was on a size scale, but Phil held his own. Not to say Dexter Jackson hasn’t been great or Big Ramy or Shawn Rhoden or Brandon Curry,” added Cutler.
Cutler conceded that Arnold Schwarzenegger has done more for the sport than Coleman given his ability to break boundaries and trailblaze.
“Arnold has done definitely was more on a total scale, I mean to be an actor, the politician, yeah, put the Olympia on the map, like that’s why you could really do this circular pattern of what a GOAT is. It just depends on your description of what the greatest of all time is.”
Cutler Opens Up on How Steroids Have Changed Since Schwarzenegger’s Era
According to Cutler, enhancements, training, and workout theories have changed substantially since Scwarzenegger’s time on stage. He added that bodybuilders are now afforded the opportunity to fund themselves better with social media.
“Definitely the enhancements changed, but the nutrition changed a lot. The equipment that we train on was way different. Yes, free weights and the training theories — like volume training, I think Arnold overtrained himself a lot, they would spend all day working out and not following a nutrition pattern that would fulfill that. Now, as you know, the rest and the growth is done out of the gym. I think their perception was most of the growth was done inside the gym. I feel like the recovery process, remember, now, people are paid to do this so they can allow themselves not to go out and work a secondary job and instead fund themselves with a career.”
Back when he competed, Cutler mentioned there were times when he needed ‘exotic’ drugs which required him to go overseas.
“Preparing for each year’s contest, whether you needed exotics or whatever else and that was not legal to get. I mean, at certain times you could maybe buy things overseas, but you still need to bring them to the United States or whatever else,” said Cutler. “People can get in trouble [for steroids] but remember, the manufacturing, you’re talking about compounding, steroids to whatever else, those seem to be the big reports but if you’re using for general use, I don’t know what the ramifications of that are. I just know it’s something that some people are willing to take to succeed in what they do.”
The bodybuilding icon stressed that protocols differ depending on the person. When asked if it was possible to win Mr. Olympia drug-free, Cutler dismissed it as a possibility.
“Every guy is not on the same protocol. Yes, certain guys have to take more or less and there’s certain protocols that people use. Is it necessary? You can do a contest without using and kinds of drugs, but you’ll be at a disadvantage because people ahead of you will use compounds that you’re not. Genetics can only take you so far if that makes sense. Yes [you have to use steroids to win] the current Mr. Olympia, yes.”
This isn’t the first time that Jay Cutler took a closer look at performance-enhancing drugs in bodybuilding. During a recent Cutler Cast podcast, the Massachusetts native revealed that he generally cycled on and off steroids every few months. Cutler, who competed against Coleman, admires his rival’s physique for its perfect combination of mass, definition, and shape. Considering his overall package, Cutler is confident that no one has come close to what ‘The King’ presented in his prime years.
RELATED: Jay Cutler Shares Jacked Physique Update Ahead of ‘Fit for 50’ Transformation Challenge
Watch the full video below on the Don’t Be Sour YouTube channel:
Published: 15 May, 2023 | 6:32 PM EDT
Ronnie Coleman ‘Feeling Like Old Self’ Again After Stem Cell Treatments: ‘I’m Very Hopeful’
Bodybuilding legend Ronnie Coleman‘s health appears to be improving following another round of stem cell treatment. In a recent YouTube video, Coleman revealed that his continued therapy has helped reduce his painkiller usage by more than half.
After claiming the Mr. Olympia throne in 1998, Coleman held the title for almost a decade, having captured eight Sandows. He is tied with Lee Haney for the most wins on the Mr. Olympia stage ever. While competing actively, Coleman was revered for his massive proportions, fullness, and vascular conditioning.
Coleman faced the who’s who of the Open class during his tenure, pushing the limits of his body against names like Flex Wheeler, Kevin Levrone, and Dexter Jackson. In 2006, Coleman was finally dethroned by his long-time rival Jay Cutler and later retired in 2007.
Coleman was also celebrated in the bodybuilding community for his jarring power. During the height of his career, Ronnie recorded some incredible feats of strength, including a 2,300-pound leg press and an 800-pound deadlift.
It’s no mystery that Coleman has suffered several health issues since his bodybuilding departure. His back has been operated on more than 10 times and Coleman struggles to walk without assistance. He hopes his latest string of stem cell treatments will direct him toward a healthier and more active life.
Ronnie Coleman Cuts Painkillers by 50% After Stem Cell Treatments: ‘I’ve Made Some Major Improvements’
When asked about his progress, Coleman had the following to say:
“I’ve made some major improvements since I’ve been coming here. I was in a lot of pain when I first started. Now, my pain levels are like almost – almost – eight, nine somewhere in there and you guys got it all the way down – I’ve been coming here almost two years I think; somewhere in there. I found the more I was coming, the better I was getting.
Now it’s been like nine months and I saw that you know it tried to increase a little bit but I see now that I have to come more often to get the treatments because when I come more often I know my improvements will get better and better and better. The way they were before. The key here I see now is more treatment, the better off you’re going to be,” Ronnie Coleman shared.
The medical staff revealed that the stem cell treatments are intended to help Coleman’s nerve damage over the course of a few years.
“What we’re looking for Ronnie, is to improve the nerve damage, which he has had after all of these years, it takes a while, it depends on every patient but at least around two years to have nerve recovery,” the medical assistant explained.
After two years of stem cell treatments, Coleman said the numbness in his arms and shoulders subsided.
“When I had my surgeries and that numbness in my arms and shoulders, my doctors told me it was going to take two years for the nerve damage to go away and it was two years exactly to the date from my last surgery that the numbness went away.”
“I’m very hopeful that this is going to be the same thing,” said Coleman. ”
“When I was coming like every three to four months, I noticed that my numbness would get a whole lot better but I noted that it came back a little bit more when I like skipped all those months and in had been like nine months now, I know it was trying to come back on me. As I was saying earlier, the more that I come, the more consistent I am with my treatment, the better off I am.”
Coleman highlighted that the stem cell treatments have reduced his need to take painkillers by more than 50%.
“When I first came in I was doing like 30 milligrams like four times a day, I think after… like you said, two or three treatments, I was going down to 15 milligrams three times a day,” Coleman said. “Yeah [it helped with the doses], I was lucky.”
Coleman’s IGF-1 Score: 85.3*
The doctor explained that Coleman’s IGF-1 score is in the proper range for his age group.
Before wrapping up for the day, the facility had Coleman train in a hyperbaric chamber.
“What’s up guys, Big Ron here, I want to thank Danny G and their Regenamax team and everything they’ve done for me, yeah buddy.”
In addition to keeping fans informed about his health and well-being, Coleman offered his take on the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia competition this November. According to the eight-time winner, former 212 Olympia Derek Lunsford will take out Hadi Choopan at the upcoming show.
As one of bodybuilding’s most beloved figures, the community would treasure nothing more than to see Coleman’s health back to 100%. With his stem cell treatments showing promising results, he may soon achieve his goal of walking unassisted.
RELATED: Bodybuilding Legend Ronnie Coleman Selling House for $495K After 26-Year Residence
Watch the full video below from Coleman’s YouTube channel:
Published: 15 May, 2023 | 4:44 PM EDT
Ronnie Coleman Reacts to Brian Shaw’s Most Insane Strongman Lifts: ‘Holy Sh*t’
Legendary bodybuilder Ronnie Coleman was renowned for lifting insanely heavy weights during his career. Following the retirement of Strongman legend Brian Shaw, Coleman shared his reaction to some of Shaw’s most impressive lifts on YouTube.
Ronnie Coleman is widely regarded as one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. He presented a jacked package with freakish muscle mass, size, and conditioning in the Men’s Open division. In addition to his look, Coleman made a name for himself with his brutally heavy workouts. He took home the top prize at the 1998 Mr. Olympia and went on a dominant run that saw him win eight Sandow trophies against the likes of four-time champ Jay Cutler, Flex Wheeler, Chris Cormier, and Kevin Levrone.
Given the intense nature of his training, Coleman would eventually suffer from a string of injuries. He needed multiple back surgeries and had trouble walking properly. Fortunately, Coleman made great progress in recovery after getting stem cell treatment. He credited the therapy for helping him recover earlier this year.
As of late, Coleman joined social media fitness sensation Jesse James West for a powerlifting style workout a few months ago. West pranked Coleman by using fake weights to exaggerate his lifts. Coleman conceded he was stunned to see West seemingly lift 700 pounds on the squat with ease.
‘The King’ gave fans a look into four of the greatest bodybuilding poses he incorporated in his performance routine on stage two months ago. He detailed how each pose brought out his strongest features and overall package in the best way possible.
He teamed up with former 212 Olympia champ and Men’s Open standout Derek Lunsford for a grueling back and biceps workout last month. Both men discussed their training philosophies as Coleman mentored him through the session. A few weeks later, Coleman extended his support for Lunsford again by backing him to dethrone reigning Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan at the next event.
The 58-year-old credited fellow legend Flex Wheeler for his immense success in the sport last month. He revealed Wheeler connected him to prolific bodybuilding guru Chad Nicholls, who led him to his first Mr. Olympia victory.
Two weeks ago, the 2023 World’s Strongest Man contest concluded with the win of Mitchell Hooper and the exit of Brian Shaw, widely considered to be one of the greatest strength athletes ever. The four-time WSM winner had announced it would be his final appearance in the build-up to the show.
Brian Shaw is one of the most accomplished strongmen in history. He has won the World’s Strongest Man title four times, in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016. He has also won the Arnold Strongman Classic three times, in 2011, 2015, and 2017. He is the only person to win both competitions in the same year twice. He has set numerous world records in events such as the Atlas Stones, the Hummer Tire Deadlift, and the Rogue Elephant Bar Deadlift.
Shaw was a regular feature of the WSM events with 16 participations in total. He stands as the fourth-winningest Strongman of all time with 26 international contest wins under his belt. During his decorated career, Shaw battled it out against fellow legends Eddie Hall, Hafthor Bjornsson, and Zydrunas Savickas.
Ronnie Coleman reacts to Brian Shaw’s insane Strongman lifts
In a recent YouTube video, Ronnie Coleman shared his reaction to some of Brian Shaw’s jaw-dropping lifts in Strongman contests.
Coleman started by commenting on Shaw performing the Tire Carry.
“Running with them big old heavy ass tires. Running like it ain’t nothing to it and it wasn’t nothing to it.”
Then, he weighed in on Shaw lifting a 530-lb (240.4-kg) bench press and a 1,091 pounds (494.8 kilograms) deadlift.
“530 pounds like it’s 330 pounds easy to lift.”
“1,000-pound deadlift like it ain’t nothing to it but to do it. Pull it, lightweight baby. That’s how you do it. Make the thousand pounds look like a hundred pounds.”
The next clip was Shaw’s 2016 deadlift of about 980 pounds followed by a lower body exercise.
“That was easy, lightweight. Go ahead and put another 45, 50 pounds on there.”
“I don’t know how much weight that is but I see it’s got to be pretty heavy. I don’t know what kind of contraption that is but ain’t nothing easy about what he’s doing.”
Coleman was astonished by Shaw’s crazy strength on the Kettlebell Toss and Overhead Press.
“Those awesome big ass kettlebells and he tossed them like they peanuts. Those are 60-pound kettlebells, holy sh*t!”
“This is one of the hardest I think I’ve seen. He’s just hopping it like it ain’t nothing.”
Finally, Coleman wrapped up by lauding Shaw for his insane Car Deadlifts and Truck Pull.
Recently, Ronnie Coleman made headlines for selling his home of 26 years for $495,000 in Texas over a week ago. He utilized the home gym during his days of competing on stage, making it a great piece of bodybuilding history.
RELATED: Ronnie Coleman On ‘Comical’ Biceps Comparison with Nick Walker: ‘I Shouldn’t Even Be In This Conversation’
Coleman gave his take on iconic bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger’s strongest lifts last week. He offered to train with Schwarzenegger following the reaction video.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 2 May, 2023 | 5:31 PM EDT
Ronnie Coleman Reacts to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Impressive ‘Old School’ Lifts
Bodybuilding legends Ronnie Coleman and Arnold Schwarzenegger ruled their respective eras competing in the IFBB Pro League. In a recent YouTube video, Coleman took a closer look at Schwarzenegger’s best ‘old school’ lifts and offered to train with him in the future.
Schwarzenegger captured a total of seven Mr. Olympia titles throughout the 1970s-80s. Having shared the stage with mainstays like Frank Zane, Samir Bannout, and Sergio Oliva, Schwarzenegger was a giant among Golden Era bodybuilders. Despite setting his sights on other ventures in retirement, Schwarzenegger’s passion for bodybuilding continued as he co-founded the annual Arnold Sports Festival in 1989.
Decades following Schwarzenegger’s last contest, mass monster Ronnie Coleman reached the height of his pro tenure. He won the Mr. Olympia title in 1998 after receiving help from his rival Flex Wheeler, who introduced him to his long-time trainer, Chad Nicholls. In 2005, Coleman tied Lee Haney for the most Sandows ever won at eight.
Coleman, known for his strength, possesses a number of impressive lifts like a 2,300-pound leg press and 800-pound deadlift. This time, Coleman examined some of Schwarzenegger’s old-school lifts back when the 75-year-old was in his prime.
Ronnie Coleman Reacts: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Craziest Old School Lifts
Check out Coleman’s take on some of Schwarzenegger’s lifts below:
“What’s going on guys, Big Ron here, a lot of you guys may already know, me and my buddy Arnold are really good friends so I thought it would only be appropriate if I did a reaction video to some of his old school lifts, so let’s get into it, yeah buddy!” Coleman said.
“He must got like 300 pounds on that — oh, that’s 225, oh light weight,” Coleman said watching Schwarzenegger perform incline bench presses. “That’s 225 I think. I think that’s 225, 275, lift it like it ain’t nothing but a peanut.”
Coleman credits Schwarzenegger for performing intense dumbbell flyes and a few other movements. Then he discusses the training intensity of past Mr. Olympia winners like Dorian Yates and Schwarzenegger.
“Rowing it like it ain’t nothing, and it ain’t, looking big and huge, oh yeah. No pain no game,” said Coleman. “[he’s] one of them [greatest of all time]. It’s between me, Dorian, and Arnold [for hardest training] I think we were some of the hardest trainers out there. Because Dorian was pretty hardcore.”
Before Coleman called it a day, he requested a training collaboration with Schwarzenegger to show the new generation of lifters ‘how it’s done.’
“Yeah guys, a little training session with all kinds of memories that got back up, days and hours of the gym, training really hard, hitting it really hard, going all out, these guys these days, they don’t do that. So Arnold, I think me and you ought to get together and show these guys how it’s supposed to be done, what do you say about that Arnold, yeah buddy, light weight,” Coleman said.
This isn’t the first time that Coleman has shared an exciting reaction video. He gave his raw take following a number of painful gym accidents last November. While he enjoyed most of the stunts and accidents, he used the video to urge people to lift safely and use spotters.
RELATED: Jay Cutler, Milos Sarcev Compare Eras: ‘Dorian Yates/Ronnie Coleman Would Be Super Competitive Today’
Coleman was impressed by Schwarzenegger’s old-school lifts, which showcased his power, skill, and stamina. He named Schwarzenegger as one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time, an opinion he shares with Samir Bannout, the 1983 Mr. Olympia winner.
Check out the full video below courtesy of Ronnie Coleman’s YouTube channel:
Published: 26 April, 2023 | 6:05 PM EDT
Jay Cutler Calls Out Steroid Stigma in Film Industry, ‘Figures’ The Rock Is on TRT
Bodybuilding legend Jay Cutler was a key figure in the Men’s Open division during the 2000s. In his latest interview, Cutler discussed the stigma of steroid use in film, Dwayne ‘The Rock Johnson, and his rivalry with eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman.
In 2006, Cutler finally dethroned Coleman at Mr. Olympia after multiple second-place finishes. Competing actively, Cutler separated himself from the rest of the Open class with exceptional size and conditioning. He’s known for the iconic quad stomp pose and is regarded for having some of the most detailed quads in the history of the sport.
Cutler retired from bodybuilding in 2013. Even though he’s not seen a competition stage in years, Cutler takes his health, fitness, and longevity seriously. He routinely shares motivating workout sessions with fitness influencers. In a collaboration with Lexx Little, Cutler’s physique went viral. Fans immediately questioned if a return was possible for the 2023 Masters Olympia in August.
Unfortunately, Cutler quickly shot down any chance of a comeback days after his progress photo circulated online. Instead, the four-time Mr. Olympia shared that he was transforming his physique as part of a ‘Fit for 50’ challenge. In his most recent undertaking, he joined the Factz Podcast to shed light on his career, Dwayne Johnson, and his experiences with TRT/performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).
Jay Cutler Talks The Rock, Popularity of TRT & Steroid Misconceptions in Film : ‘Everyone’s Protocols Are Different’
Cutler said he was able to offset his wide waist by building his legs and shoulders, which helped his x-frame.
“It’s just really hard to compare the physiques, the structure is usually different. The smaller waist, I wasn’t blessed with a super small waist so I had to really offset by building my legs outwards and my shoulders outwards to make that x-frame.”
Given the availability of equipment, food, and PEDs, Cutler believes bodybuilders today carry more size than in Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s era.
“As you know, the guys got a lot bigger than in Arnold’s day. Food, you know, equipment, drugs, everything. The science has become a lot deeper but at the same time, guys have paid great money to do this for a living, sponsors, the supplement game is huge, it’s a big support of sports and nutrition for the industry. So guys can get paid to literally eat sleep and train. That’s their job,” Cutler said.
“Oh, I can look at someone [and tell right away] yes. I can tell,” said Cutler. “The truth is I feel like diets and everything else, many guys can really dominate without having to struggle as hard if that makes sense.”
Cutler stressed that there are misconceptions about TRT/steroid use and said the compounds ‘never made him crazy.’
“No. It [steroids] wasn’t like that. Usually, the build up, that’s the thing with the films and everything, they portray like a guy takes a shot of testosterone and he gets aggressive; that’s a misconception. I can tell you that. It never made me crazy. And listen, we talk about TRT which is popular now and I know there’s a lot of accusations of who or who isn’t on TRT. Obviously, Dwayne’s name comes up a lot and whatever else.”
“Like I said, all my blood tests and I was very monitored. I had – my ex-wife was a nurse practitioner, so she was very up to speed on like what the protocols were and what we needed to test. Blood work can only show so much.”
When asked about Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s alleged use of PEDs, Cutler had the following to say:
“He doesn’t ever go out there and to give him some sort of respect factor, like he doesn’t go out there and say I’m natural. He just doesn’t talk about it. You know, I know his work ethic, I would figure that at his age, I mean it’s so common, that a lot of people are on TRT. What he does is number one his business. I come out and say, ‘Hey I’m on TRT.’ Because let’s be real: looking at my physique at the wildly muscled look of 300 pounds and I was winning Olympias at 270, if I claimed I was natural, you would have killed me.”
“Everyone’s protocols are different. So guys genetically don’t have to use what other guys may have to use.”
“You had different compounds that kind of would be thrown into a protocol and not everyone would use the same thing but your base would basically be testosterone and then you just, nutrition would have to be on point, and you give yourself four months to get in the best shape possible.”
Cutler Touches on Ronnie Coleman Rivalry & Chasing Size During Career
Before praising Ronnie Coleman as one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time, Cutler named Claude Van Damme and Sylvester Stallone as early inspirations.
“I was overly big, I wouldn’t have been attracted to it, remember, I was married for most of my career. And my whole goal was to be the best bodybuilder,” Cutler said. “In the beginning, Arnold was. Honestly, Van Damme and Stallone were my first heroes. I just thought their physiques were unbelievable at the time.”
“He [Ronnie Coleman] arguably, people question but probably the greatest ever. Arnold obviously, he’s huge. But Coleman had a crazy physique but for me, the first couple were like wow I’m actually second-best. I hate the term you’re the first loser because you’re still right there, right. You’re kind of in line, the problem is there was a curse in bodybuilding where a guy that places second — he usually doesn’t win. So, that was a curse and I actually broke that curse.”
As of late, Jay Cutler discussed which former Mr. Olympias would have held their own against today’s lineup of Open talent. Cutler and Milos Sarcev agreed that six-time winner Dorian Yates and Coleman would contend for gold even today.
RELATED: Jay Cutler Discussed 2023 Physique Goals and Steroids in Bodybuilding: ‘Cycle On, Cycle Off Work Well.’
The last time the 49-year-old looked at The Rock’s alleged use of steroids, Cutler said he respected the superstar for choosing not to talk about the subject publicly. Meanwhile, podcast giant Joe Rogan recently called on The Rock to come clean about his use after Brian Johnson’s (Liver King) steroid cycle was leaked online.
Check out the full video below courtesy of the Factz Podcast:
Published: 26 April, 2023 | 1:48 PM EDT
Bodybuilding Legend Ronnie Coleman Selling House for $495K After 26-Year Residence
Bodybuilding icon Ronnie Coleman is ready for a housing upgrade. In a recent Instagram post, Coleman revealed that he’s selling his Arlington, Texas residence valued at $495,000 following requests from his wife for a bigger home.
During the 2000s, Coleman dominated at the top of the Men’s Open division with unparalleled mass and conditioning. He competed against a number of high-profile threats like four-time Arnold Classic winner Flex Wheeler, rival Jay Cutler, and Kevin Levrone. Before calling it a career, Coleman captured eight Mr. Olympia titles, an all-time record he shares with Lee Haney.
Even though he’s long stepped away from competing, Coleman follows the sport closely. Looking at the Men’s Open landscape this year, ‘The King’ recently predicted that Derek Lunsford will defeat the reigning champion Hadi Choopan when they meet in Orlando, Florida for 2023 Mr. Olympia.
In retirement, Coleman has suffered from several health issues but still trains with discipline. He shows off workouts to motivate his fanbase and also runs a popular YouTube channel with nearly 1.7 million subscribers. With family life taking center stage for Coleman, the 58-year-old decided to list his house in Arlington, Texas.
Ronnie Coleman Selling Texas Home for Almost Half-Million After 26 Years
According to the American real estate company Zillow, Coleman’s house is going for $495,000.
Check out Coleman’s statement below:
“After 26 years in my lovely home, I am finally selling it to move into a bigger house for my bigger family. I’m hoping someone else falls in love with it the way I fell in love with it. I had planned to stay forever but my wife wanted a bigger house for our growing girls. You know what they say, “Happy wife Happy life” plus the time is now. This house has the best gym ever and the best living accommodations ever. We just installed a brand new Jacuzzi that the girls adore. So come on out for a visit if someone wants to purchase a little bit of history. The trophy case is definitely off the chain and one of the highlights of this resident.” Ronnie Coleman wrote.
Coleman’s house is a three-bathroom, five-bedroom with a home gym installed. While competing actively, Coleman utilized the local Metroflex Gym for heavier training sessions. Coleman often used his home gym for cardio at his leisure.
RELATED: Ronnie Coleman: ‘Flex Wheeler Is Pretty Much the Reason Why I First Won The Olympia’
As far as his health is concerned, Coleman continues to show promise. In a recent interview with Giles Thomas, Coleman explained how stem cell treatments have saved his life. He hopes the injections every four months will allow him to one day walk again unassisted.
Published: 24 April, 2023 | 1:46 PM EDT
Ronnie Coleman Predicts Derek Lunsford Will Defeat Hadi Choopan at 2023 Mr. Olympia
Bodybuilding legend Ronnie Coleman still follows the sport in retirement. In a recent YouTube video, Coleman predicted Derek Lunsford will defeat Hadi Choopan when they rematch at the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest scheduled for November 2-5, in Orlando, Florida.
Coleman, who reigned over the Men’s Open division, amassed eight Mr. Olympia titles before calling it a career. He used every bit of his muscle mass and size to remain a dominant champion, having defeated some of his era’s best, like Jay Cutler, Flex Wheeler, and Kevin Levrone.
The Open class has undergone seismic shifts following two major contests. Last year, the 2022 Olympia competition awarded Hadi Choopan the victory after a close battle with 212-turned-Open star Derek Lunsford. Some in the sport such as Shawn Ray and Wheeler criticized Choopan’s victory, arguing that Lunsford’s back was more defined.
To complicate matters at the top of the Open class, sixth-place Olympia finisher Samson Dauda won the recent Arnold Classic. As a result of his performance, event announcer Bob Cicherillo named Dauda and Lunsford as equal threats to Choopan’s title in November.
Ronnie Coleman Predicts Derek Lunsford Defeats Hadi Choopan at 2023 Olympia, Says CBum’s Physique ‘Best He’s Ever Seen’
Coleman didn’t mince words during the ‘Ask Me Anything’ (AMA) segment and believes Derek Lunsford will defeat Choopan to become the 2023 Mr. Olympia.
“Yes, I do [think Derek Lunsford will 2023 Mr. Olympia]. Now, let’s see what’s going to happen,” said Ronnie Coleman.
During the AMA, Coleman also touched on four-time Classic Physique Olympia Chris Bumstead‘s career and package. Despite competing in different divisions, Coleman says CBum has one of the best physiques he’s ever seen ‘period.’
“Well, I think Chris Bumstead is one of the greatest Classic bodybuilders of all time. Absolutely, the best physique I’ve ever seen in Classic Physique, he’s got to be the best physique I’ve ever seen period.”
Over the past few months, fans and even Chris Bumstead, have entertained the idea of a move into the Open class. In a recent The Truth Podcast with Hany Rambod, Bumstead hinted at a possible contest in 2024 and added that he’d compete at the Arnold Classic in the Open if organizers moved the show a few weeks after the Olympia.
Given Bumstead’s growing popularity (over 16.9M followers on Instagram), veterans of the sport like Levrone believe CBum’s physique ushered in a new era of aesthetics in Open bodybuilding. He credited Bumstead’s impact in Classic Physique for helping pave the way for other shapely athletes like Dauda and Andrew Jacked.
RELATED: Derek Lunsford Builds Huge Back and Biceps With Legend Ronnie Coleman
As for Lunsford, he’s remaining busy in the off-season with strenuous training sessions ahead of the Pittsburgh Pro guest posing show. Coleman is confident that the former 212 Olympia winner will have the tools to defeat Choopan and other contenders at the upcoming Olympia.
Watch the full video below, courtesy of Ronnie Coleman’s YouTube channel:
Published: 17 April, 2023 | 2:03 PM EDT
Ronnie Coleman: ‘Flex Wheeler Is Pretty Much the Reason Why I First Won The Olympia’
Despite a heated rivalry, Ronnie Coleman believes Flex Wheeler was crucial to his bodybuilding success. In a recent Nothin’ but a Podcast, Coleman credited Wheeler for introducing him to coach Chad Nicholls and disclosed some of the dietary demands that led to his first Mr. Olympia title.
Ronnie Coleman is widely regarded as one of the best bodybuilders of all time, having earned a total of eight Mr. Olympia titles, tied with fellow legend Lee Haney. During his respective tenure, Coleman laid waste to the Men’s Open division, defeating icon after icon en route to cementing his legacy in the 1990s and 2000s. He was led by Nicholls, who now trains William Bonac and Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay.
In addition to his bodybuilding achievements, Coleman was held in high regard for his impressive feats of strength. Considered one of the strongest bodybuilders to ever compete, ‘The King’ recorded a shocking 2,300-pound leg press and turned heads by smoking an 800-pound deadlift.
While enjoying retirement, Coleman remains infatuated with the sport. In his spare time, he’s trained with fitness influencers and most recently, started a podcast with 212-turned-Men’s Open star Derek Lunsford. In their latest undertaking, Coleman looked back on how Wheeler introduced him to one of the sport’s most accomplished gurus, Chad Nicholls.
Ronnie Coleman Talks Meeting Chad Nicholls Through Flex Wheeler: ‘He Changed Everything I Was Doing’
According to ‘The King,’ his first Mr. Olympia title was made possible thanks to Wheeler. After being introduced to Nicholls, Coleman said his contest preparations were drastically altered.
“It was the same way for me and the guys coming up; a lot of people don’t know it – but Flex Wheeler is pretty much the reason why I won the Olympia because he turned me on to Chad Nicholls. He was like, ‘Hey man, who are you working with?’ I’m like, ‘Dude, I’m doing my own thing.’ He’s like, ‘You need to call this guy Chad Nicholls.’ I’m like, ‘Chad Nicholls…’ yup. He gave me his number I called Chad but Chad didn’t pick up the phone. I said, ‘Flex why’d you have me call this guy Chad he didn’t pick up the phone.’ He says, ‘Nah, he’s just like that man. Call him again, and he’ll call you back.’ He called me back and the rest is pretty much history. I won my first Olympia that year by hooking up with him,” Ronnie Coleman said.
Coleman shared that his food intake exploded as he went from eating a half-pound of food to a whole pound.
“I was doing my own thing pretty much,” shared Coleman. “He changed everything I was doing, everything. Everything. I went from doing like an hour to cardio a day to two hours. I went from eating half a pound of food with every meal to a whole pound. I went from training maybe 45 minutes to an hour a day to about maybe an hour, an hour and a half, sometimes an hour and 15 minutes of training because I was trying to do some of everything. I was working all my body parts as much as I could. All my weak ones, especially!”
“I went from working calves maybe once a week to three times a week, working abs maybe once a week to maybe three times a week, he changed pretty much everything I was doing. Had I not gone with him, I wouldn’t have never ever figured that out on my own. I went from probably eating 400 grams of protein a day to 600. I went from eating like 400 grams of carbs a day to like 100, so it was — major changes going on and he pretty much changed everything I was doing. I would have never ever figured that out on my own for sure because I had no idea that you could put on a lot of quality muscle from eating food, had no idea whatsoever, I’m not going to lie.”
“A lot of people think it’s the drugs was going to put on all that size, no. You had to eat. You can take all the drugs in the world but if you ain’t eating you will not grow. I learned that the hard way,” said Coleman.
Wheeler, who won four Arnold Classic titles, took part in a Cutler Cast appearance to reflect on his career. Looking back on his epic battle with Coleman at the 1998 Mr. Olympia, Wheeler said he ‘didn’t put everything into’ his performance and was ‘ashamed’ of himself. He believes one of his biggest mistakes while competing was chasing the size of Coleman instead of focusing on his own strengths, like aesthetics and conditioning.
RELATED: Ronnie Coleman Talks How Chad Nicholls Helped Him Become The King Of Bodybuilding
Coleman’s gratitude to Wheeler shows that even in a competitive sport like bodybuilding, there can be comradery and mutual respect.
You can watch the full video below:
Published: 13 April, 2023 | 1:28 PM EDT