Tag: Video
George Farah: Kai Greene Has Never, Ever, Ever Used Insulin
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George Farah uses Kai Greene as an example to debunk the recent myth that insulin is needed to build a top level mass monster physique.
Last week, we went into detail with George Farah about his thoughts on insulin use in bodybuilding. It’s a topic that he has spoken about before and only seems to have become more strongly against insulin a year later. In this new segment, we discuss further with Farah whether it’s possible to be healthy as a top level pro bodybuilder. Farah certainly thinks it does – and uses Kai Greene as an example. In our latest GI Exclusive, George Farah claims that Kai Greene has never used insulin to build his massive physique.
There is a persistent rumor in the world of bodybuilding regarding insulin. That rumor is many of the pros use this drug to further enhanced their physiques to the next level. This inspires younger bodybuilders to do the same – thinking it’s necessary to succeed at the top level of the sport.
George Farah couldn’t disagree with these rumors more. He is sternly against the use of insulin in bodybuilding. He also thinks it’s dangerous for coaches such as Milos Sarcev to promote them. In fact, Farah believes that it’s incorrect to assume pro bodybuilders must be unhealthy to succeed. It’s a bad thought he’s seeing trend in bodybuilding. It’s causing bodybuilders to make unhealthy decisions. He thinks it’s the reason we have seen so many bodybuilders pass away too soon.
George Farah is a legendary coach in the sport. He has trained many bodybuilders who have stood tall as top tier bodybuilders at the Mr. Olympia. Athletes like Branch Warren and Kai Greene. He uses his experience to definitely tell people today – abusing drugs and using insulin are not necessary. Why? Because these legendary greats he trained didn’t use insulin at all.
The entire topic gets George Farah very passionate. He loves bodybuilding. And he loves the people in bodybuilding. He hates to see them make choices that they can’t take back years down the road.
“You’re gonna tell me Kai’s not a freak? I can put my hand on anything you want and swear to you that Kai never touched insulin,” George Farah states in our interview. He goes on:
“As long as I’ve known him. We’ve been eleven years together. Never, ever, ever. Do you understand what I’m saying? He’s walking around 300 pounds shredded. So you’re not going to duplicate this because you don’t have the genetics or you don’t have the heart or work ethic. Like Branch or all of these guys. Branch used to have no genetics but he proved to everybody hard work can make it. Guess what? Branch never used insulin. Never. Never!”
If you watch George Farah in our interview above – you can see how fired up he’s getting about this. In his later years, Farah has become increasingly more focused on health in bodybuilding. After a cancer scare that he survived and recovered from – he’s seen life through a different lens. You only live once. Bodybuilding is not worth dying over.
You can watch George Farah go into full detail about health in bodybuilding by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Victor Martinez Answers: Why Do People Criticize Phil Heath So Much?
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Victor Martinez reflects on the love/hate relationship many fans had with Phil Heath during his Olympia reign.
Phil Heath is one of the most winningest Olympia champions in the history of the sport. With seven Sandow trophies he ties Arnold Schwarzenegger and falls one victory behind Ronnie Coleman and Lee Haney. Yet despite this, Phil Heath often received a lot of public criticism. Towards the end of his Olympia streak, that criticism was aimed at his physique – particularly his stomach. But bodybuilding fans also seemed to love to hate on Phil overall as a champion. Many wanted to see him defeated. But why? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Victor Martinez explains why so many fans criticize Phil Heath.
We are still too close to Phil Heath’s reign as Mr. Olympia to know for sure how he will be seen in history. Certainly, he must be placed in the pantheon of greatest Olympia champions of all time at the very least. But what we do know is throughout his career, he faced a large amount of criticism from fans. He in many was was painted as a villain. The longer he continued to win Olympia, the stronger fans wanted to see him taken down.
But why is this? Was Ronnie Coleman seen as a villain during his eight year run as Mr. Olympia? Was Lee Haney? The reaction seems different. Perhaps that is partly because of social media elevating different kind of voices. Perhaps it’s because of Phil Heath’s being seen as a villain compared to Kai Greene in the original Generation Iron.
During our conversation with Victor Martinez, we had these thoughts on our mind, so we decided to ask him why he thought Phil Heath faced so much criticism. Martinez was a fellow competitor in the same era as Phil. He was also in Generation Iron alongside Phil. So perhaps he has a more direct insight into the public reaction to Phil.
Victor Martinez boils it down to one thing – Phil Heath’s major confidence. That confidence borderlines on cocky – which is an easy thing to villainize. Floyd Mayweather also received a lot of criticism despite being one of the greatest boxers of all time. This is likely due to his confident and cocky attitude.
Victor Martinez finds this unfortunate, as he believes that strong confidence is an important factor in a top tier athlete. Whether they telegraph it publicly or not – all great athletes believe deep down that they are the best in the world. Without the belief, they would hold themselves back. This would cause them to never become great. So that near delusional feeling of greatness needs to exist. It eventually makes it a self fulfilling prophecy – at least for a select few.
On top of this, Victor Martinez thinks that a cocky and confident personality helps make bodybuilding more exciting. He points towards the Olympia press conferences. They would be extremely boring, and sometimes are, if there was no drama. The Phil Heath vs Kai Greene rivalry made for some of the most entertaining press conferences in bodybuilding history. It’s good for the sport.
Ultimately, this kind of confidence and drama leads to fans being swept up in the excitement. The fans pick sides and, for some, they start to engage in the drama as well. Social media allows that to happen much more immediately and publicly. The fans who criticize Phil Heath – whether it’s due to his personality or the flaws in his physique – are swept up in the drama. They get emotional. They’re passionate about the sport and take it personal.
Does this make Phil Heath deserving of so much criticism perhaps even border lining on online abuse? Yes and no. Victor Martinez admits that this is all part of being a public figure. Sometimes it can go too far. Martinez believes that it’s not something that can be stopped. Instead, he hopes that someone like Phil understands how to personally deal with it and not become personally affected by the insults. Rather than fight back and try to get fans to shut up – it’s more important for someone like Phil to not be affected by the hate.
You can watch Victor Martinez go into more detail about the criticism of Phil Heath in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
INTERVIEW: Does Mike O’Hearn Prefer Classic Physique Or Men’s Open Bodybuilding?
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Mike O’Hearn reacts to Big Ramy’s Olympia win and addresses which kind of physique he prefers – Classic Physique or Men’s Open.
In December 2020, Big Ramy won the Mr. Olympia. It was an epic moment – but also one that solidified an ongoing trend in the IFBB – rewarding bigger mass monster muscle over more classic aesthetics. In 2018, when Shawn Rhoden won the Mr. Olympia, it seemed that perhaps the tables would turn allowing for lighter weight competitors with incredible conditioning to win the day. Just two years later, Big Ramy seems to reverse the tide back towards the likes of Ronnie Coleman. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, we ask all natural bodybuilder Mike O’Hearn what he prefers – a more Classic Physique or the mass monster look of Men’s Open.
Mike O’Hearn has consistently claimed to be a natural bodybuilder his entire life. This has led to backlash due to his massive and impressive physique. His musculature is so large and sculpted that bodybuilding fans have a hard time believing he could be all natural. Regardless of the controversy – O’Hearn has remained steadfast in being all natural his entire life.
While O’Hearn certainly has a massive physique – his body does fall more in line with the Classic Physique division than the bulky mass monsters seen in Men’s Open. With the recent win of Big Ramy at the Mr. Olympia 2020, we wanted to know what Mike O’Hearn personally though about the direction of pro bodybuilding. Does he prefer the Classic Physique division? Or do the “freaks” in Men’s Open still hold an important place in the sport?
Mike O’Hearn may personally prefer to hold more of a classic physique on his body – but that doesn’t mean he disrespects the Men’s Open competitors. In fact, he still holds them in high regard and looks up to their talents. Not only that, but he thinks that Big Ramy’s Olympia 2020 physique maintained good aesthetic while also being a mass monster. In other words, Big Ramy wasn’t just a bulky mass of muscle – he still had the conditioning, shape, and lines displaying the beauty of the sport.
In Mike O’Hearn’s mind – Big Ramy is exactly the example of what a Men’s Open bodybuilder should be. Yes, his massive weight still puts Ramy in the mass monster category – but he also had wonderful aesthetics. At least according to O’Hearn. It reminds him of the first time he started getting into bodybuilder and saw Lee Haney as Olympia champion. It was the perfect combination of superhuman size and beautiful aesthetic.
Mike O’Hearn also deeply enjoys the Classic Physique division. He sees no reason for controversy. Having both divisions gives everyone exactly what they want. There’s still room for the spectacle of the Men’s Open mass monster freaks. At the same time, fans who prefer smaller classic physiques can watch the Classic Physique division.
Will one ultimately become more popular than the other over time? It’s possible – but popularity does not equal quality. Each division has talented athletes showcasing the kinds of physiques they are comfortable with. There should be respect among all divisions by both fans and the athletes.
You can watch Mike O’Hearn’s full comments on Big Ramy, Men’s Open, and Classic Physique in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Joey Swoll: Blessing Awodibu Is Great For The Sport Of Bodybuilding
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Joey Swoll looks analyzes the most promising young bodybuilders rising in the ranks and highlights Blessing Awodibu’s contributions to the sport.
Joey Swoll might not be a competitive bodybuilder – but he is deeply passionate and involved with the sport. Which is why upon reconnecting with him for an interview, we asked for his thoughts on the Olympia 2020. We also asked for his thoughts looking towards the future. What up and coming bodybuilders seem primed to become a rising star in bodybuilding? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Joey Swoll discusses how Blessing Awodibu has both the physique and personality to bring something great to bodybuilding.
Blessing Awodibu is a bodybuilder who garnered a lot of attention going into the Indy Pro and the New York Pro in 2021. This is certainly due to his physique looking impressive on social media updates. But it’s also because of Blessing’s ability to stir up controversy and hype leading up to the show.
Blessing started up a rivalry with up and comer Nick Walker, who was also set to compete at the New York Pro. The rivalry led to some back and forth trash talk. It lit up the internet in bodybuilding. It was exciting, sometimes controversial, but 100% in the front of everyone’s mind.
Ultimately, Blessing Awodibu fell behind Nick Walker and placed sixth at the New York Pro 2021. Walker landed first place. This was somewhat disappointing to fans fo Blessing. But to Joey Swoll – that’s not too much to be concerned about. Blessing is still relatively new to the competitive world of bodybuilding. His physique shows promise and can always improve.
Joey Swoll believes that Blessing Awodibu is great for the sport of bodybuilding. He’s bringing an element of entertainment and excitement to the sport. If he can continue to combine that with a threatening physique – we can have another Kai Greene type athlete on our hands.
“Blessing, that kid, I think he’s great for the sport. He’s very, how do I say this, he has a lot of personality,” Joey Swoll states in our interview. He continues:
“He brings a lot of character to the stage. He’s not quiet. And I love that. I love that there was a little bit of beef between him and Nick. I didn’t get too involved into it but I like that. It’s good for the sport. It creates some, like you know, everyone is always going to talk about Phil and Kia. When Phil and Kai got beef and got on stage next to each other that was probably the most exciting Olympia finals ever.”
Joey Swoll goes on to clarify that it’s important to know the difference between competitiveness and disrespect. A rivalry and some trash talk is good for the sport, it helps engage the fans, and creates more drama. But if it becomes disrespectful, that’s not professional. That’s not what a pro athlete should represent. It’s a fine line – but Blessing seems to be the kind of guy who knows how to walk it.
Joey Swoll also mentions other standout rising stars such as the aforementioned Nick Walker and also Hunter Labrada. These athletes all show incredible promise that is starting to solidify in recent years. A new generation of athletes are on the horizon and the future looks bright.
You can watch Joey Swoll’s full comments on Blessing Awodibu and other young bodybuilding hopefuls in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Samir Bannout: Bodybuilders Are Rushing To Build Muscle Too Fast
Samir Bannout stresses that bodybuilding is a marathon, not a sprint.
Pro bodybuilding, like any other professional sport, requires a certain level of sacrifice. Everyone knows that football isn’t 100% healthy. The same holds true for bodybuilding. But can pro bodybuilding be healthier than it is today and maintain its prestige? Is it impossible to be Mr. Olympia and still be healthy? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Samir Bannout explains that a bodybuilder can be 100% healthy and become Mr. Olympia… but too many are rushing to gain muscle.
Samir Bannout agrees that pro bodybuilding can be an extreme sport. But he also thinks that the idea that top level bodybuilders must be unhealthy is overstated. Yes, carrying massive amounts of muscle over long periods of time can put strain on the body – but it doesn’t have to be as unhealthy as it has become today.
Samir Bannout believes that the only truly unavoidable unhealthy part of pro bodybuilding is contest prep. Specifically, the dehydration that is required to have paper thin skin and a conditioned physique. The process of dehydration before a show is unhealthy. There’s no way around it. This same risk is present in other sports that require a weight in – such as MMA or boxing.
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Check out our latest GI Exclusive with Samir Bannout above!
That being said, Samir Bannout does observe that the new generation of bodybuilders are taking unnecessary health risks. Most of this has to do with PEDs. The reason for this – is that bodybuilders are looking to get to the top tier level too fast. Some bodybuilders hope to compete in the Olympia and place high all in the same year that they earned their pro card. According to Bannout, that’s a big mistake.
The desire to rush to greatness leads to making risky choices. Far too often bodybuilders abuse steroid use and other PEDs. This is in the hopes of building more muscle faster. Samir Bannout stresses that bodybuilding is meant to be a marathon not a sprint. If you gain eight pounds of muscle in a year – that’s more than enough.
“Several guys told me what they are using. They didn’t really do well with their coaches, but they are still having health issues. And when I found out what they take… oh my god,” Samir Bannout states in our interview. He continues:
“You know this is the difference. For me, I’d rather drive to New York in three days, four days instead of rushing to be there and getting into an accident. This is my idea. Just be patient. Gaining seven or eight pounds of muscle per year is plenty of muscle. Mr. Olympia cannot happen in one to two years.”
Samir Bannout doesn’t outright condemn steroid use. But he thinks the level of which bodybuilders use steroids and other PEDs is too much. He thinks this isn’t because bodybuilders can’t succeed without an increase of drug use. Far from it. He thinks it’s all due to impatience.
Many Mr. Olympia champions where first awarded the title in their late 30s or early 40s. But there are young bodybuilders in their 20s hoping to become Mr. Olympia champion right away. Samir Bannout thinks this leads to drug abuse in the hopes that they can skip ahead of the line.
You can watch Samir Bannout’s full comments on health in pro bodybuilding by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview above!
Danny Hester: The Biggest Mistake People Make Trying To Get Shredded Abs
Danny Hester cuts through the fat and gets real on how to truly get six pack abs.
With summer just around the corner, people are starting to focus again on obtaining the perfect beach body. For many, shredded six pack abs are the ideal. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the hardest things to obtain even for people with a focused fitness routine. Why is it so hard? And what are some tips to help achieve the goal of a shredded abs? In our latest GI Exclusive, Danny Hester shares the most important factor for getting shredded six pack abs.
Obtaining sick pack abs is probably one of the hardest things for most people right next to building up legs. This is largely due to your belly being one of the core places fat stores when you start gaining weight. Even for a typically healthy and fit individual – shredded abs can be hard to come by.
That’s why we connected with pro bodybuilder and former Olympia champion Danny Hester. Hester is the kind of bodybuilder who stays lean all year round. You’ll rarely ever see him with bloated bulk. And you’ll almost always see him sporting a six pack. So what’s the secret? Why is it so hard for even fit individuals to showcase conditioned abs?
While there is no trick to get shredded abs fast, there are some key tactics that must be done in order to succeed at earning that six pack. Danny Hester wants to make it clear that there is no way to spot check fat away from your abs. Doing 100 crunches per day can certainly be helpful – but it won’t cut more fat in your stomach area.
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Check out our GI Exclusive segment with Danny Hester above!
It goes without saying that a very strict and clean diet are essential to getting a six pack. On top of that, cardio is a must. As we mentioned, you can’t spot check fat but you can reduce fat overall by upping your cardio. As Danny Hester states, “You can’t see abs if you have fat on them, no matter what you do.”
But there are, in fact, ways to train abs to really bring them out and make them pop. One of the biggest mistakes that people make while training abs is doing too much weight. This ultimately makes your waist thicker. You don’t want that. It makes it harder to see your abs.
Danny Hester explains that you want your abs to be really strong and really deep. So training specifically with that in mind and avoiding massive weight will help bring out your abs alongside a good diet and cardio. For example, range of motion is key to really stretching abs. Hester often recommends his clients do crunches beyond the typical range of motion for a longer and harder stretch. Over time, this helps really build your abs into deep cut muscle.
Danny Hester suggests this tip alongside higher reps with less weight. He also explains that whenever doing any sort of ab exercise, it’s important to keep your stomach sucked in and your abs flexed tight. That way you’re guaranteeing that your abs are doing the work. Avoid momentum or other parts of your body doing the heavy lifting. That won’t help your abs.
You can watch Danny Hester explain in deeper detail the biggest dos and don’ts about getting shredded six pack abs in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Talking Huge With Craig Golias | EP 1: Dirty Bulking, Guy Flips Out, & Fasting Sucks
Craig Golias and Vlad Yudin discuss health in bodybuilding and how to build muscle without getting fat.
Welcome to Talking Huge – a new weekly digital series in which Craig Golias talks in-depth with Vlad Yudin on the latest trending topics in bodybuilding. Raw, honest, and uncut – Craig Golias shares his opinions on all things bodybuilding. In our premiere episode, Craig and Vlad discuss Guy Cisternino’s angry gym outburst, dirty bulking vs clean bulking, and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle as a mass monster bodybuilder.
Craig Golias only has one goal in life, to be as huge as possible. His obsession with being huge has made him a popular figure in the world of bodybuilding. Not only that, but it earned him a featured spot in our recent film Bigorexia – exploring the mindset of those who never feel big no matter how large they become.
But what is refreshing about Craig Golias is that he’s honest about his journey towards getting huge. He no longer competes in pro bodybuilding and is open to discussing more taboo topics about the sport. He’s also very open about the realities of his massive size when it comes to health and fitness.
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Watch the first episode of Talking Huge with Craig Golias above!
How To Be Healthy In Bodybuilding When Weighing Over 300 Pounds
Craig Golias is a true mass monster and aims to hover at around 300 pounds. With that amount of weight being carried on his body – does he fear long term health ramifications down the road? This is something that originally didn’t concern Craig, but as he’s gotten older, he has become more responsible in managing his health.
He visits a doctor regularly for bloodwork and an overview of his health. He recommends that any bodybuilder putting on large amounts of mass do the same. He’s focusing on taking care of his liver with medication – but beyond that he’s maintained a healthy lifestyle. This is largely due to him changing his habits after consulting a doctor more regularly.
He is honest about one painful detail. No matter what, when a person is carrying 300 pounds of weight – it’s a strain on the heart. Whether it’s fat or muscle – the human body is not meant to be so large. This is part of the reason why Craig takes going to the doctor regularly seriously. He knows it’s a risk. So being proactive with doctor visits can help in the long run.
How To Build Muscle Without Gaining Fat
Craig Golias and Vlad Yudin also discuss bulking. How does one build massive amounts of muscle like Craig without earning fat. The key is to make sure you do a clean bulk. The kinds of food you eat will effect how you gain wait. Yes, a bodybuilder needs to consume a massive amount of calories to build muscle. If you eat lean clean foods, that will turn into more muscle and less fat. If you’re stuffing your face with dirty foods – this will turn into muscle along side the fat.
Craig Golias also shares some stories of some of the worst dirty bulks he has ever seen in bodybuilding. He’s seen bodybuilders bulk so dirty that their waist goes up to 40 inches or more.
Guy Cisternino’s Gym Outburst
Craig Golias and Vlad Yudin also touch base on the viral video of Guy Cisternino. The video blew up and made headlines in May 2021. We also interviewed Cisternino about it to get his take on the whole situation. Ultimately, Cisternino admits he overreacted – but also believes that context matters.
Craig Golias agrees with this sentiment. Pro bodybuilders are in the zone when they are training in the gym. It’s their job. It’s not just a hobby like it is for most gym patrons. While Craig believes that positivity is always the better option – sometimes people overreact. This is especially true when a bodybuilder is training seriously in the gym.
Ultimately, it seems as if both parties overreacted. The younger men filming in the gym were being disrespectful and defensive. After Guy Cisternino asked for them to give him space politely – they got even more defensive. This caused Cisternino to go off the handle. It’s an unfortunate situation but not a damning one. The video itself removed context and led to some false conclusions. Sadly, that’s simply the nature of the internet attention span.
Wrap Up
You can watch Craig Golias and Vlad Yudin discuss bulking, health in bodybuilding, and the entire Guy Cisternino viral video in our premiere episode of Talking Huge above. Make sure to check out Talking Huge every week on Friday – only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network!
Milos Sarcev Full Interview | Steroids, Insulin, & PEDs In Bodybuilding
Watch the full uncut GI Exclusive interview with Milos Sarcev.
Milos Sarcev is a former competitive bodybuilder turned coach who has had significant sway in the industry over the past few decades. He has been open about steroid use in the sport (even calling it healthy). He was also the first big proponent of insulin use in bodybuilding. This arguably was responsible for a massive shift in the sport – making the drug more commonly used in the industry.
That’s why we connected with Milos Sarcev for a long form interview to discuss in-depth all things bodybuilding including his controversial views on steroids, insulin, and synthol. Typical to Milos, he holds nothing back and gives his full in-depth opinion.
Over the past few months we’ve released multiple GI Exclusive segments from our interview with Milos Sarcev. Now we’re releasing the full length interview including topics such as whether or not steroids are healthy, the proper use of insulin in bodybuilding, and the moment he almost died from using synthol.
Listen To Our Milos Sarcev Interview On The Generation Iron Podcast
Our full length interviews are now also in podcast form! Subscribe to the Generation Iron Podcast for candid, full length interviews with the biggest names in bodybuilding, fitness, combat, and strength sports.
Listen to the full Milos Sarcev interview here:
Milos Sarcev: “Steroids Are Healthy For Bodybuilders”
When asked about the health of bodybuilders and their ability to recover from illness – Milos Sarcev jumped straight into the conversation about steroid use. He explains that steroids are used, when prescribed, for an amazing amount of things that help people become more healthy. Help them recover after major accidents. Help them maintain testosterone levels when they drop as they get older. They are used to help fight certain infections and illnesses. So Milos argues – why are steroids being called unhealthy when used for sports?
Milos goes on to argue that the side effects listed for a wide variety of other drugs available at pharmacies match if not exceed the kind of risks steroids might bring. But for some reason steroids are villainized. Athletes who use them are seen as druggies or dope fiends. Milos Sarcev finds this reputation unfounded. He thinks that bodybuilders and athletes who use steroids are likely healthier than most people.
Of course, Milos does concede that overuse can be dangerous. But this is true of any drug. It can be true of headache medication you get over the counter. And that’s part of the problem. By regulating and banning steroid use in sports – it makes information harder to find. It makes young athletes use these PEDs incorrectly and risk their health. If it was allowed for open use – athletes would be even healthier. There would be no increase in deaths or serious health issues.
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Check out the full uncut GI Exclusive with Milos Sarcev above!
Insulin Isn’t Dangerous, Uninformed People Are Dangerous
Milos Sarcev claims to be the man who brought insulin into the sport of bodybuilding. And he still stands by its use today. He believes it is a vital part of evolving the sport and allowing athletes to push the bar to the next level. In regards to health, he thinks the drug isn’t dangerous so long as the person using it is informed and educated about its use.
We’ve interviewed other coaches and gurus who disagree with Milos’ sentiments. In our previous conversation with George Farah – he admits that he regrets jumping on the insulin bandwagon when it was first introduced. Now looking back, Farah believes that insulin shouldn’t be used at all by bodybuilders.
Of course, it must be made clear that the way insulin is being used by bodybuilders is not how it was intended to be utilized. Insulin as a drug has very specific uses that can be prescribed by a doctor. Becoming a mass monster bodybuilder is not one of them.
Milos Sarcev couldn’t care less about what doctors believe. Milos used insulin throughout majority of his competitive career. He’s suggested it to many athletes as well. He understands that doctors must lean on the safe side when condoning or endorsing drugs for casual use. But Milos believes the reality is that it makes perfect scientific sense for a bodybuilder to use the drug. But like with any drug, it must be used correctly.
Wrap Up
Our conversation with Milos Sarcev covered far more topics than could be discussed in this article. We also discuss the dangers of diuretics, his near death experience with synthol, and the topic of bodybuilding gurus. You can watch the full uncut GI Exclusive interview with Milos above!
Victor Martinez: Logan Paul Isn’t Hurting Boxing, Lack Of Prime Athletes Is
Victor Martinez reacts to the upcoming boxing match of Logan Paul and Floyd Mayweather.
Victor Martinez may be a bodybuilder first and foremost but he’s also an avid fan of pro boxing. Admittedly, boxing has fallen quite a bit in popularity from its heyday in decades past. There is one exception – spectacle super fights that have brought in record amounts of revenue. The latest spectacle fight in boxing is Logan Paul vs Floyd Mayweather. But is the spectacle worth it? Or simply diminishing the respect of boxing even further to a sideshow attraction? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Victor Martinez shares his thoughts on boxing super fights, Logan Paul, and the current state of boxing.
Logan Paul is a YouTuber with a massive following and a strong personality. This leads to him being a lover him or hate him kind of influencer. So of course, when he started dipping his toes in to boxing – it led to mixed reactions. Now he’s set to face off against Floyd Mayweather in a super fight expected to bring in record amounts of profits. But is allowing YouTubers special exhibition matches damaging to the reputation of the sport?
We asked this very question to Victor Martinez. A pro bodybuilder who is also a deeply passionate boxing fan. How does he feel about Logan Paul’s entrance into the world of boxing? Victor admits that the fight is pure spectacle. It’s for money and it will succeed in bringing in tons of cash. That being said, Victor doesn’t see this as primarily a bad thing.
If anything, Logan Paul is bringing more attention to boxing at a time when it needs it most. UFC and MMA as a whole has taken a lot of boxing audience into a new direction. MMA is now arguably a more popular sport than boxing. It’s brining in fight fans and fight talent and away from boxing. The Logan Paul might not be a respectable title fight – but it’s still bringing young new energy into a sport that has diminished slowly over the years.
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Check out the latest GI Exclusive segment with Victor Martinez above!
In fact, Victor Martinez does not see Logan Paul or any social media influencer to be the actual problem for boxing. It’s simply a reaction to a deeper problem with the sport. According to Victor, the main problem with boxing is a lack of premiere talent – especially in male boxing. There is no Muhammad Ali or George Foreman. Even the last legendary boxer, Floyd Mayweather, has been retired and only comes out for special fights.
Logan Paul vs Floyd Mayweather is a direct reaction to the fact that current title holders don’t hold the same kind of popularity as legendary boxers in the past. Simply put, these super fights are the only way for boxing to get attention. Victor Martinez has no solution to fixing this problem other than hoping that more notable talent comes into the sport in the coming years.
This brings Victor Martinez to a bigger point regarding social media, influencers, and their place in professional sports. Bodybuilding faced a similar intersection of social media and competition over the past 10 years. You now have bodybuilding influencers who hold more attention than actual champion athletes. Is this bad? Victor says no.
In fact, Victor Martinez thinks that those who are angry about social media influencers taking the spotlight away need to start adapting to the new world. The world will not change back to what it used to be. Bodybuilders, or any athletes, that cannot adapt to social media will eventually be left behind (with rare exception). If they don’t want to adapt, that’s fine. But they also shouldn’t be angry about the new influencers gaining attention. If you don’t like it adapt.
You can watch Victor Martinez’s full comments on Logan Paul, boxing, and social media influencers in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Melle Mel: Shaun Clarida Had A Better Physique Than Big Ramy At Olympia 2020
Melle Mel explains why he believes Shaun Clarida was the best bodybuilder of the entire night at Olympia 2020.
Melle Mel previously stated in one of our interview segments that the quality of the Men’s Open bodybuilders were impressive but not ideal. By that he means that there was no Ronnie Coleman, Phil Heath, or Dorian Yates type of brilliance on display. In his mind, Big Ramy was no better than anyone in the top 10 at Olympia 2020. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Melle Mel goes a step further. He believes that Men’s 212 champion Shaun Clarida had a better physique than Big Ramy and anyone else on the Men’s Open stage.
Melle Mel loves bodybuilding but he falls into the camp of people who think Men’s Open has become too bloated with size. While he does enjoy the freak factor, he laments the loss of beauty in more conditioned and aesthetic physiques. Which is why he was happy for the creation of Classic Physique.
Somewhat ironically, it wasn’t the Classic Physique Olympia 2020 champion that stood out to him this past year. It was the Men’s 212 champion – Shaun Clarida. Known for his small height, Clarida was a Men’s 212 bodybuilder that often got overlooked. He proved the world that they should start paying attention with a truly career defining physique at Olympia 2020. He won and became champion.
Melle Mel believes that Shaun Clarida is the ideal phyisque that bodybuilders should all aspire towards. He goes as far to claim that if Clarida stood on stage next to Big Ramy – that Clarida would have won the Mr. Olympia overall. That’s how much Melle Mel was impressed by Clarida’s physique.
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Check out our GI Exclusive segment with Melle Mel above!
Of course, the sheer height and size difference would be a challenge for Clarida to overcome. But Melle Mel believes that size should not always matter. Bigger is not always better. He believes that Clarida should be able to stand side by side with Big Ramy – and fans and judges should be able to award Clarida victory regardless of his smaller size.
“Now had he stood beside Big Ramy, I guarantee you he would look better than Big Ramy,” Melle Mel states in our interview. He goes on, “He just wouldn’t be bigger. So you would probably overlook him. Absolutely he was in better conditioning than Big Ramy.”
The point Melle Mel seems to be making here is that it’s natural for us to overlook smaller stature people. Even if Clarida held a better conditioned physique – it would be less noticeable when an elephant is standing next to him. That being said, if it was possible to really let the crowd evaluate each of them honestly – Melle Mel thinks it’s clear that Clarida was superior in every single way.
There was a time in bodybuilding’s younger era, where the lightweight and heavyweight bodybuilders would ultimately battle on stage side by side for an overall winner. That has disappeared with the removal of traditional weight classes and the creation of divisions. Perhaps one day the IFBB and NPC can open up special crossover categories.
Imagine the Mr. Olympia standing next to the Men’s 212 Olympia and so on. Would it always be guaranteed that the Men’s Open competitor wins? Or would we have some surprise upsets? Melle Mel wants to believe that someone like Clarida can win overall – but we’ll never know unless these sort of crossover events are allowed to happen.
You can watch Melle Mel’s full comments on Shaun Clarida and Big Ramy in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!