Tag: Steve Reeves
Steve Reeves Profile & Stats
The biography, life, and accomplishments of Steve Reeves
Steve Reeves is still to this day an inspirational and accomplished bodybuilder known for his size on the global stage. With a successful career as a bodybuilder and an actor, Reeves held the title of Mr. America, Mr. World, and Mr. Universe before switching gears and going into acting.
Below is a complete breakdown of his profile, stats, biography, training and diet regimens.
Full Name: Stephen L. Reeves
Weight
Height
Date Of Birth
215-225 lbs.
6’1″
01/21/1926
Profession
Era
Nationality
Bodybuilder, Actor, Writer, Trainer
1940, 1950, 1960
American
Biography
Steve Reeves was born in Montana and became interested in bodybuilding in high school. He was enlisted into the U.S. Army upon graduation and served in the Philippines before returning to the United States and going to college in California to be a chiropractor. However, Reeves had begun training again and would soon enter into his first competition, one that would launch him into a dominating and successful bodybuilding career.
He won his first competition, Mr. Pacific Coast, and continued to compete having fallen in love with the sport. In a pre-Mr. Olympia era, Reeves would go onto win Mr. America, Mr. World, and Mr. Universe. After being contacted by an acting agent, he would soon become more than just a world class bodybuilder.
Reeves made the decision to move to New York City where he began to study acting. As fate would have it, the roles began to come in and Reeves would star in 18 movies from 1954 to 1969. Such movies included Athena, Hercules, Goliath and the Barbarians, The Trojan Horse, and A Long Ride From Hell.
After a lucrative career, injuries, stress, and a market that no longer looked for his type of movies, Reeves made the choice to retire and spent the last decades of his life in California. He enjoyed writing, breeding horses, and promoting drug-free bodybuilding, going back to his roots of what got him to where he is.
Reeves died in May of 2000.
Training
When it came to Reeves’ training, he would work all muscle groups around 3-4 times a week. On off days, he would stay active with a walk or a swim but do his best to give his body the rest it needed.
Day 1 – Chest
Incline Dumbbell Press: 3 sets, 10 reps
Flat Bench Press: 3 sets, 10 reps
Dumbbell Fly: 3 sets, 12 reps
Push-Ups: 3 sets, 15 reps
Decline Push-Ups: 3 sets. 10 reps
Day 2 – Shoulders
Barbell Snatch: 3 sets, 8 reps
Overhead Press: 3 sets, 10 reps
Front Raise: 3 sets, 10 reps
Side Raise: 3 sets, 10 reps
Rear Dumbbell Fly: 3 sets, 12 reps
Day 3 – Legs
Barbell Squat: 3 sets, 8 reps
Leg Press: 3 sets 10 reps
Walking Lunges: 3 sets, 15 reps
Front Squat: 3 sets, 10 reps
Calf Raises: 3 sets, 12 reps
Day 4 – Arms
Dumbbell Curls: 3 sets, 10 reps
Dumbbell French Press: 3 sets, 10 reps
Incline Dumbbell Curls: 3 sets, 8 reps
Triceps Extension: 3 sets, 10 reps
Standing Curl with Bar: 3 sets, 12 reps
Day 5 – Back
Bent Over Bar Row: 3 sets, 10 reps
Low Bar Row: 3 sets, 8 reps
Dumbbell Row: 3 sets, 12 reps
Dumbbell Shrug: 3 sets, 10 reps
Barbell Shrug: 3 sets, 15 reps
Deadlift: 3 sets, 8 reps
Nutrition
When it came to nutrition, Reeves made sure to really pack a punch and get all those vital nutrients into his body as efficiently as possible. With high amounts of protein and plenty of leafy greens, this helped fuel his workouts and recovery so he could see that amazing growth.
Meal #1
Custom Power Drink
1 banana
14 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice
1 tbsp. Knox gelatin
1 tbsp. honey
2-4 raw eggs
2 tbsp. protein powder
Meal #2
This would typically involve some sort of lean protein (grilled chicken or lean steak) with a small amount of carbs, mixed vegetables, and fresh fruit to cover all of his bases.
Meal #3
Typically, this meal was a large salad with oil and vinegar as the dressing. It would have a source of lean protein like turkey, fish, or chicken, and typically a serving of carbs like whole grain bread, potatoes, beans, or rice.
Supplementation
While Reeves used his own form of supplementation, most notably a protein powder in his power drink, it is important to know some other supplements around today that can really boost your gains to new heights. For all of your pre-workout needs, looking to a high-quality pre-workout supplement can provide for muscle pumps and energy to keep you going strong. A BCAA intra-workout product can reduce fatigue and allow for better recovery continuing to hydrate your muscles. And of course, for those looking to shed that unwanted fat and have a stellar physique like Reeves, a fat burner can do the trick and really give you the edge when it comes to sculpting and shedding that stubborn belly fat.
Competition History
1946, Mr. Pacific Coast
1947, Mr. Pacific Coast
1947, Mr. America
1948, Mr. USA
1948, Mr. World
1948, Mr. Universe
1949, Mr. USA
1950, Mr. Universe
Lou Ferrigno Answers: Who Deserves To Be Called The Greatest Bodybuilder Of All Time?
[embedded content]
Lou Ferrigno debates who is truly the greatest bodybuilder of all time.
Lou Ferrigno is a bodybuilder who competed in the Golden Era of the sport alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbu. Even after retiring, he has remained passionate about bodybuilding and fitness up until today. That’s why we asked him who he thinks is the best bodybuilder in the history of the sport. Of course, Ferrigno finds the answer not 100% easy to answer. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Lou Ferrigno answers – who truly deserves to be called the greatest bodybuilder of all time?
Lou Ferrigno competed alongside many greats in his time – and was inspired by legendary bodybuilders before him. He’s stood on stage next to Arnold Schwarzenegger and looked up to Steve Reeves – which inspired him to become a bodybuilder. So who does he think deserves to be called the greatest bodybuilder of all time?
That’s the very question we asked Lou Ferrigno when we sat down with him for a video interview about his latest hearing implant. As a true lover of bodybuilding – he can’t easily pick one name. He compares each legendary bodybuilder like a different type of muscle or sports car. They each stand tall as beautiful and beloved machines (or people). Neither is truly 100% better or worse than the other. It just depends on your preference.
For Lou Ferrigno – that preference might ultimately fall on Steve Reeves. To Ferrigno, Reeves had one of the greatest classic physiques of all time. His proportions, aesthetic, and conditioning all came together like a marble statue. He explains in our interview that it was Steve Reeves who inspired him to become a bodybuilder in the first place. Without Reeves, we wouldn’t have the Incredible Hulk – nor would we have the epic rivalry with Arnold Schwarzenegger seen in Pumping Iron.
Lou Ferrigno also of course mentions Arnold Schwarzenegger. The bodybuilder who stood tall with seven Mr. Olympia titles and ultimately became an international phenomenon through big screen movies. It’s impossible to deny that Schwarzenegger is in contention for the greatest of all time.
Interestingly enough, Lou Ferrigno does not mention the new school bodybuilders in his self debate trying to determine the best of all time. Perhaps this is due to his connection to the Golden Era. While he does pay attention to the modern sport – he finds the denser physiques less appealing than the Classic Physiques of the past. He enjoys that the sport has spread its wings with multiple divisions. But he does find it a completely different sport than the one he participated in all those years ago.
Ultimately, Lou Ferrigno doesn’t land on a particular name. He does find that the bodybuilders of the past had more camaraderie than bodybuilders today. This is something that he has stated much in the past as well. He also doesn’t completely discount his own name from the options for best of all time. He doesn’t go as far to say he is the greatest – but he believes that his placement and past shows – including the Mr. Universe – put him as an option (a type of sports car to go back to the analogy) that some would find preferable to the rest.
You can watch Lou Ferrigno go into full detail about the best bodybuilders of all time in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!