Tag: Stem Cell Therapy
8x Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman Gives Health & Mobility Update: “My Walking Is About the Same”
Ronnie Coleman, a bodybuilding legend known for his strength and muscle mass, has prioritized his health and well-being in retirement. In a recent Muscular Development interview, Coleman discussed his mobility, his stem cell treatments, leg training, and selling his house in Texas.
During his reign of eight years, Coleman was the undisputed king of the Men’s Open division. He won the Mr. Olympia contest from 1998-2005 and at that time, established himself as an all-time great. His massive physique and near-flawless definition saw him defeat formidable mainstays of the IFBB Pro League such as Flex Wheeler, Jay Cutler, and Kevin Levrone.
After stepping away from the sport, Coleman has remained an ambassador for bodybuilding. In addition to receiving prestigious honors like the Arnold Classic Lifetime Achievement Award, Coleman is held in high esteem for his contributions to the sport both on stage and off.
Whether he’s taking part in a training session with influencers or reacting to epic gym stunts, Coleman is a beloved figure in the fitness community. He’s been subjected to over 10 back surgeries which have left him unable to walk without assistance. Nevertheless, Coleman doesn’t use the setback as an excuse as he still trains regularly.
Ronnie Coleman Says ‘Something Is Off’ with His Quad/Hamstring Atrophy: ‘I Can’t Put My Finger On It’
Coleman feels less pain after the stem cell treatments, but they have not improved his mobility.
“That’s why I was going there [stem cell therapy] because my pain was really high, it was keeping me up at night. I go there every four months and it pretty much alleviates all my pain,” Ronnie Coleman said. “No [it hasn’t helped me walk] I didn’t notice anything, I’m still on the crutches pretty good… my walking is about the same. He was saying maybe it might help regenerate some nerves but nothing yet… you know.”
‘The King’ specified that some of his muscles are not ‘activating’ due to fused discs and hopes a chiropractor will help him fix this problem. Coleman trains his legs twice a week but shared that he loses his pump 15 minutes post-workout.
“I was talking to a chiropractor about a couple weeks ago, he was saying something that I have some muscles that are not activating and he knows a way to help me activate those – but he’s not coming down here until August to help me with that. He was saying that would help my mobility a lot if I can get some of these muscles activated that are de-activated right now, he said that’s probably why I’m having the mobility problems. After all these surgeries and stuff you go through, they fuse your discs, it kind of de-activates some of the muscles.”
According to Coleman, his walking hasn’t gotten any better and he’s concerned with atrophy in his quads and hamstrings.
“I kind of got an idea of what he’s talking about because I have a lot of atrophy in my quads and hamstrings. Something is not right. Something is off. But I just can’t put my finger on it because I train legs twice a week. It ain’t doing hardly nothing. It’s stayed the same. So something is not activating that I need to turn on.”
“Stem cells take a while to activate some of the nerves too. He said maybe a couple of years. But I should be coming up on a couple of years in about another six months or so. I think I’ve been there for about a year and a half now. He said I’ve been down there three times and like I said, I go every four months.”
Even though he deals with numbness in his extremities from time to time, Coleman said his max leg press at 59 is 360 pounds for 15-20 reps.
“I’m not that strong, for sure. The most I can leg press is like 3-4 plates for like 15-20 reps. That’s nothing compared to what I used to do. I can feel – every now and then I feel a little tightness [a pump] but it doesn’t last hardly no time. It goes away really quick. Well, when I say tightness I’m trying to say a pump. I can get a pump in my quads for about maybe 15 minutes or so, 20 minutes maybe. But it goes away really quick. Like I said, something is not activating there.”
Coleman Reflects on Selling Texas House and Upgrading to Bigger Home
Recently, Ronnie Coleman sold his Texas home of 26 years, which was listed at $495,000. He also sold all of the gym equipment and plans to move into a bigger and more kid-friendly house.
“Yeah, it’s [gym equipment from his home] all gone now,” said Coleman. “This house was pretty good for me when I was by myself. It’s five bedrooms, 3,000 square feet, it’s got the gym – another 1,000 square feet. The reason why I’m selling the house is because the kids are getting older. They’re getting where they need their own bedrooms, their own space, their own bathrooms, that’s why I’m moving to a bigger house.”
“The house we found is about 6,000 square feet. It’s got an acre of land. It’s got a pool and everything. Stuff kids really like. This house doesn’t have hardly no land, no pool or nothing. Like I said, it’s 3,000 square – it’s kind of small for a family of what six, seven of us living here now. So that’s kind of small for family of seven people.”
He said there was no point in keeping his old weights as he recently opened a MetroFlex Gym in Tampa, Florida.
“There wasn’t no need to hold on to all this [gym] equipment when I have brand new stuff coming in. I bought that gym back in 2001 and that’s back when I got all that equipment. So it’s pretty old but it’s still in good condition though.”
This isn’t Coleman’s first health update of 2023. In Feb., former two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay’s stem cell doctor, Dr. Khan, began treating Coleman. He was quite optimistic about Coleman’s chances of walking again soon. At the time, he said he was confident he could ‘fix’ Coleman’s issues. However, judging by Ron’s recent update, it doesn’t appear the icon is close to walking without assistance or help.
As one of the strongest bodybuilders to ever compete, many have taken inspiration from Coleman’s career. Even though he faces challenges in retirement, he still shows the same passion for the sport that he had when he was champion.
RELATED: Ronnie Coleman Reacts to Chris Bumstead’s Biggest Feats of Strength
You can watch the full video on the Muscular Development YouTube channel:
Published: 22 June, 2023 | 6:49 PM EDT
Dorian Yates Gives Stem Cell Therapy Update: “Increased Energy & Shoulder Is Definitely Better”
Legendary bodybuilder Dorian Yates led one of the most successful careers of any competitor in the IFBB Pro League’s history. Besides his stellar physique, he was renowned for his exhausting training methods. In a recent post made on Instagram, Yates shared updates after one month of stem cell treatments.
Dorian Yates emerged as the first true bodybuilding superstar from the UK in the early 90s. After dominating the regional circuit, he earned an invite to the Mr. Olympia competition in 1991, where he placed runner-up to eight-time winner Lee Haney in his debut. He secured his first Sandow trophy in 1992 and went on a dominant run that saw him defend the title successfully five times in a row against Flex Wheeler, Lee Priest, and Shawn Ray.
Yates was known for his high-intensity training techniques where he pushed himself to near failure in every training session as opposed to following a set number of reps and sets. He opened up on the mindset he kept during his decorated career in Oct. 2022. Whether it’s diet, training, or recovery, Yates did not compromise on any aspect. However, he conceded he could’ve avoided some injuries if he took things a bit easier.
Earlier this year, Yates got a health check and VO2 max test done in Brazil. He reported positive findings from the test and shared that his biological age came out between 30 and 39. Other than training frequently, he credited incorporating HIIT (high-intensity interval training) for boosting his health.
The 61-year-old left the fans stunned with a shredded physique update four months ago. He boasted his washboard abs while crushing an arms workout on a beach in Brazil. Then, Yates encouraged his fans to train efficiently and focus on optimizing hormone balance for improved quality of life.
Dorian Yates / Instagram
Dorian Yates laid out the proper way to perform lat pulldowns two months ago. He stressed the importance of pulling with your elbows to take the load off your biceps and forearms. He followed up by offering some of his best high-intensity training techniques a week later.
Yates provided a breakdown on performing hamstring curls for building muscle a few weeks ago. He highlighted the need to control the movement throughout with a short squeeze at the top. Then, Yates revealed the diet and training along with the steroid cycles he utilized while in contest prep. He also credited using TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) following his retirement for helping elevate his mental health.
Dorian Yates shares update after 1 month of stem cell treatment
In a recent Instagram post, Dorian Yates shared an update a month after getting on stem cell treatment.
“An update on my treatment,” he wrote. “A month ago I had stem cell treatment with @bioxcellerator in Colombia. I’m definitely feeling the benefits and am looking forward to seeing even more great progress in the coming months.”
Yates reported feeling less inflammation and improvement in his shoulder but is yet to test out the change in his elbow and knee.
“Update on my stem cell treatment,” said Yates. “30 days ago I was at Bioxcellerator in Medellin, Colombia for my stem cell treatment I had in my right shoulder, right elbow, right hip, left knee, and the intravenous stem cells as well which hopefully just goes everywhere where it’s needed. What do I have to report on 30 days? Actually, initially within the first week, I felt less general inflammation I guess.
“Now a month in, having a sense of well being, perhaps, increased energy, and my shoulder is definitely better, my knee and my elbow I don’t really know because I haven’t really tried them out too much. My hip is improved in mobility and less inflammation. It’s not a 100 percent, which I’m hoping for by a later date in three or four months. But definitely improved and I’ll update you again at the three month mark hopefully with good news.”
Dorian Yates gave his take on the optimal time to recover from high-intensity training last month. He argued against training with high intensity for longer than 45 minutes and called on his followers to push themselves in each minute of the workout.
Yates believes squats are not a necessary exercise to include in workout plans for lower body muscle growth. He explained the need to focus on stimulating the muscle groups with resistance, which can be achieved through techniques other than squats.
RELATED: Dorian Yates Reflects on Successful Career: ‘Bodybuilding Was On My Mind 24/7, It Changed My Life’
Based on the latest update, Yates appears to be recovering from the injuries he picked up during his days of competition and it is only a matter of time until his health improves further from the stem cell treatment.
Published: 3 June, 2023 | 12:09 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
Dexter Jackson Talks Recent Stem Cell Therapy, TRT Cycles & Protein Demands During Prime
Despite stepping away from the stage in 2020, Dexter Jackson still holds himself accountable in terms of fitness and nutrition. In a YouTube video, Jackson detailed his recent stem cell therapy session, his nutritional plan, and how he’s used testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) to preserve his health.
During his illustrious career lasting over two decades, Dexter Jackson was constantly pushing himself at shows and breaking records as an IFBB Pro. While competing actively, Jackson became a five-time Arnold Classic winner, a feat he made possible with conditioning, symmetry, and most importantly, consistency. His tenure saw him face a number of icons such as seven-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath, Kai Greene, and four-time winner Jay Cutler.
In 2008, Jackson would reach the pinnacle of his career by defeating Cutler at Mr. Olympia. He wasn’t able to regain the prestigious title but competed for several years en route to his final contest, which came at the 2020 Mr. Olympia where he finished ninth. Jackson also holds the honor of having won the 2012 Masters Olympia competition.
While fans hoped for his eventual comeback, Jackson appeared in an Olympia TV interview and made it clear he’s not returning nor does he miss the sport. When asked why, Jackson explained that his long career was fueled by the idea that he would have no regrets when he finally stopped competing.
Dexter Jackson Says Neck Mobility Has Improved Since Stem Cell Therapy
After seeing doctors, Jackson discovered that he had four discs in his neck that displayed considerable arthritis. However, he had positive findings to report after receiving the stem cell treatment.
“Well, they say it takes anywhere from six weeks to three months before you start really benefitting from the stem cell. But when I went over there, got an MRI, they did an MRI on me to check everything, right, found that I had a couple of – four of the discs in my neck that need – that has some arthritis in it as well. I thought I slept on the pillow wrong two months ago and my neck has been bothering me, I mean, I could turn like probably about three-quarters of the way without feeling some pain.
Now I can turn it all away, I’m not saying it’s from the stem cells, it could have just been from rest or maybe it could be, who knows. Stem cells affect people differently, right? Just like anything else. So, it could have been from maybe a little stem cell treatment and rest.”
“All I know is I can turn [my neck] all the way now, I don’t feel nothing,” said Jackson. “Hopefully that I got treated, hopefully, it’s now going to prevent me – it’s supposed to, prevent me from getting that way, hopefully, I’ve caught it early. I got stem cell treatments in my neck and back. In my spine, I had arthritis there.”
Jackson Details Diet and Current/Past TRT Use: ‘I Like to be Cautious and Safe’
According to Jackson, he now consumes four or five ounces of protein daily. Conversely, at the height of his career, he ate six-to-eight ounces. Moreover, he reduced his meals from seven to three in retirement.
“Let’s show you how I’m living and eating nowadays,” said Jackson. Shrimp, sometimes steak, I don’t eat like I use to no more. Instead of eating eight ounces or six-to-eight ounces of beef or protein, you know, with my meals, I probably do now, about four to five ounces. Not six or seven meals a day no more, so probably about three meals a day with one of my shakes. And like I said, I don’t do two cups or rice or none of that stuff no more.”
During his tenure, ‘The Blade’ said it was common to consume approximately 50 grams of protein per meal.
“For 30 years, about 50 grams per meal [of protein] six or seven meals a day. 300 grams or maybe more. Protein has always been around that. I manipulated the carbs depending on off-season versus prep, contest prep right? You have to manipulate the carbs during contest preps so they would go down as low as 150 grams. But on my high days, I was probably eating 100 grams per meal, so 6, 7, 800 grams of carbs a day.”
He said he ate grits almost every morning while competing. He added that he switched to baked potatoes as a breakfast option because it helped avoid midsection bloat later in his tenure.
“I used to eat grits every day for breakfast. Even you get turned off of grits too much because of the mountain I had to eat and how long I had to eat it for. Now, I probably have a baked potato/grits for breakfast depending on how I feel that day. I started doing backed potatoes during the end of my career because it kept my stomach from getting bloated.”
Jackson shared that he started TRT two years ago and took an on/off approach. Generally, he preferred to use TRT for 12 weeks and then take a 12-week break.
“I started doing TRT about two years ago. I did it off and on for a little bit. I was even coming off. A lot of people think you stay on TRT or HRT or whatever, low test is what that means. You can stay on that forever and you don’t have to come off, but of course, me, I like to be cautious and safe and I would even come off of TRT and just be on it for like 12 weeks… come off that, be off for 12 more weeks. I did that for probably about a week but now I don’t even do that anymore.”
Jackson isn’t the only high-profile 2000s bodybuilder open about his TRT regimen. Bodybuilding legend Jay Cutler shared that he’s using TRT to transform his physique as part of a fit-for-50 challenge. He mentioned he plans to steer clear of more powerful compounds like trenbolone. In a separate interview, Cutler underlined that TRT is still a steroid despite some in the industry suggesting it’s not.
Given that Jackson has won every major title in the sport, he has nothing left to prove in bodybuilding. In retirement, he continues to give back to the community by sharing the wisdom he’s accrued following a long and successful career.
Watch the full video below on Dexter Jackson’s YouTube channel:
Published: 8 May, 2023 | 3:32 PM EDT