Tag: Videos

Rafael Brandao Flaunts Massive Physique After Destroying Heavy Back Workout with New Coach

Rafael Brandao Flaunts Massive Physique After Destroying Heavy Back Workout with New Coach

Rafael Brandao, one of Brazil’s hottest names in the Men’s Open, has decided to take the year off to transform his body. In a recent YouTube video, Brandao, joined by his new coach Neil Hill, showed off his monstrous off-season physique after completing an arduous back workout.

“It’s not going to happen overnight. What I will say is: next year we will bring the new generation of Rafael to the stage which will be much improved,” Rafael’s coach Neil Hill shared. 

The potential of Brandao was evident from the moment he began his bodybuilding career in 2017. However, he became the talk of the town after finishing third in 2020 at the Europa Pro. It didn’t take long for fans to take notice of his unique build on stage. Brandao sports a slim waist, a defined x-frame, and mass on par with his contemporaries in the Open. 

In 2021, Rafael’s season was short but sufficient as he proved himself in first place at the Romania Muscle Fest Pro. This victory saw him surpass the now-2023 Mr. Olympia contender Samson Dauda and Quintin Eriya. While it appeared he would test himself at the 2022 Arnold Classic, Brandao pulled out due to health concerns. He made up for lost time at the Arnold Classic South America contest instead, where he handily took first. 
Having qualified for the 2022 Mr. Olympia show, Brandao, led by former coach Chris Aceto, brought an impressive look. In his debut, he outperformed nearly 20 competitors to take tenth place. Now, with improvements being his top priority, Brandao decided to suspend his contest plans until 2024 in hopes of bringing his best look ever in the future. 
Rafael Brandao Gets Pushed Through Brutal Back Workout By Trainer Neil Hill, Shows Off Huge Physique 
Before he began the punishing back workout, Neil Hill talked about the pressure he’s under to bring the best Rafael Brandao to the stage next year. 

“Brazil is a very passionate country. There’s so much passion in the fitness industry as well as all of the other industries within health and fitness. There’s a lot of enthusiasm, right… not everybody has that little bit of magic alright? There’s a genetic element, but Raphael has that genetic element and he also has got those lines. For me, shape and structure – it’s something that always draws my attention, do you understand? I’m super excited. I appreciate the opportunity to work with him. He’s going to get so much time and so much of my attention,” said Neil Hill.  

Find the full workout list below: 

Lat Pulldown Machine – 4 sets 
Hammer Strength Front Lat pull Down – 4 sets 
Hammer Strength Plate-Loaded Iso-lateral Row – 4 sets
Bent Over Dumbbell Rows – 4 sets

Neil Hill offered Brandao some guidance on each exercise as well as tips on improvements and recovery. 
Lat Pulldown Machine
“As I said, your arms have to be straight otherwise it’s all biceps. You’re stretching out your lats but you’re also – those bounces are letting you get momentum to pull it here. If you stop, it’s like pulling it dead. So what you’re doing is able to get extra reps and stretch out the lats.” 
Hammer Strength Front Lat Pull Down 
“The thing is as well while you’re training while we’re trying to force your weight up, recovery is harder as well right. It’s because we’re fighting the weight, you’ve got to this sickness, you’re fighting off, yes. You take the rest.” 
Hammer Strength Plate-Loaded Iso-Lateral Row 
“Your fat levels are okay for the off-season. Not bad, yeah,” Hill shared. “I don’t think you’re going to come in your prime until you’re about 35-37. Then you’re just going hold it hold it and refine refine. As long as your body is healthy and fresh. I don’t think you’re going to hit your peak till 35-37. But when I say hit your peak, you could probably hold your peak for 3-5 years.” 
Bent Over Dumbbell Rows 
“On average for back, probably four different exercises. Four different exercises, four sets, that’s 16 sets. That doesn’t sound like a lot but when you’re putting everything into working sets, 16 sets is more than enough believe you me. It’s more than enough.” 

In a show of transparency, Neil Hill explained that turning Rafael Brandao into a Mr. Olympia winner could take up to ten years. Though, he does expect Brandao to look at his all-time best in two or three years. 

“I feel like I’ve got the whole of Brazil looking down on me. This is going to be a work in progress. I personally feel the work that I want to do with Rafael I feel will be a 10-year process. I feel it’s going to take 2-3 years to bring that look where everyone says what the fuck have we just witnessed? Do we understand? It’s not going to happen overnight, it’s going to take time. If you look at some of the greatest athletes of all time.
Okay, Dorian Yates was a one-off, look at Ronnie Coleman, look at Jay Cutler – these guys just to name a few. They didn’t hit the industry in the Mr. Olympia in their first Mr. Olympia and get a top 10 finisher. But they went on to win multiple Mr. Olympias right. Rafael has that ability to win the Olympia but it’s going to take time.”

Brandao’s 2023 bodybuilding season has not been without its fair share of obstacles. In May, the top Men’s Open Pro revealed that he was hospitalized due to a severe case of Dengue fever. The disease, which spreads from the bite of a mosquito, can cause debilitating headaches, diarrhea, body aches, and nausea. 
Despite the setback, Rafael appears to be in good spirits given the momentum he picked up at the last Mr. Olympia. Since that fateful night, judges, fans, and bodybuilders alike have suggested that size is no longer being awarded by judges. Even Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy has mentioned that the new wave of aesthetic talent is trouble for athletes who rely on size and freak factor, like Nick Walker. 
While Rafael Brandao won’t be competing this year, fans are excited about the next chapter of his career. Under the tutelage of Neil Hill, Rafael hopes to bring his biggest and freakiest physique to the stage in 2024. 
RELATED: Bodybuilders Flex Lewis and Rafael Brandao Join Hands For An Intense Back Workout
You can watch the full video from the Rafael Brandao YouTube channel: 

Published: 22 June, 2023 | 1:37 PM EDT

‘Bionic Body’ Edgard Augustin Talks Life as Amputee Athlete and His Impact in Classic Physique

‘Bionic Body’ Edgard Augustin Talks Life as Amputee Athlete and His Impact in Classic Physique

Edgard John Augustin, a contender in the Classic Physique division, continues to prove himself after a lengthy hiatus. In a recent Muscular Development interview, the ‘Bionic Body’ shared his inspiring story with Ron Harris, revealing how he overcame the loss of his legs, how he motivates others, and how he adapts to challenges.

Having kicked off his IFBB Pro League tenure in 2017, Augustin started as a Men’s Open athlete. However, that quickly changed. The following year he made the change to Classic Physique, and held his own against tough lineups at the 2018 Toronto Pro (9th) and Veronica Gallego Classic (10th). In 2019, Augustin entered the New York Pro but wasn’t able to finish in the top 15. Then, he took 12th at the Toronto Pro Supershow. 

And despite losing his legs in a car accident at four years old, Edgard hasn’t lost sight of his athletic goals and competitive spirit. He was out of action for three years (2020-2022) but made a statement in his return this year. Thus far, Augustin has finished 14th at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro, then put on an impressive show at the New York Pro even though he didn’t place. His most recent contest came at the Toronto Pro Supershow in a career-best performance that saw him take fourth. 

In his latest undertaking, Edgard Augustin recapped his busy season but also laid out some of the struggles he’s faced while navigating his career as an amputee athlete. In addition, he talked about his future in the sport and training without legs. 
Bodybuilder Edgard Augustin Reflects on Becoming Amputee at 4 Years Old, Shares Inspiring Journey 
Augustin revealed that he lost most of his legs as a result of a car accident in South America. He said his brother also lost one leg following the misfortune. 

“With my family, we had a car accident when I was four years old in South America – my country. And yeah. In the car accident… you know, my legs were cut. My brother’s leg, also just one was cut also. We were so lucky to get someone to bring us to the nearest hospitals.

Then, we – I’m still here today thanks to these guys. So, now I’m 38 years old. All my life [my legs have been amputated]. Especially in America, they used to say thank you for your services because people see that I’m – yeah, like a military guy. Compared to Europe for example,” said Edward Augustin. 

Training with partially amputated legs poses a unique set of challenges, especially for those who aim to develop their quads and hamstrings, like Edgard.

“It took me like one year to really practice well [with amputated legs]. You know, I used to say at four years old, it’s hard because you’re still very young but at the same time, you have so much to learn and to discover, compared to someone in my age now, losing his legs… it’s like lost. Because you already lived your life with your legs or your hands or whatever and then today, you need to learn how to [do] life again to live again without. 

At four years old, you don’t really care about it. You just want to do what other kids are doing. I learned to walk quickly. I can run today. I can do bicycle, I can do whatever I want, even leg days. It took me one year in France without my family just my brother and thank God he was with me because it was very hard.” 

Edgard wants to inspire his followers and fans by showing that ‘everything is possible.’ He shared how he went viral on social media and how he came up with his nickname, ‘Bionic Body.’ 

“He posted [a photographer] it on my Facebook page. People who didn’t know that were surprised. It’s crazy. They said you should show people that everything is possible. This is how I create my Instagram page. I remember, I was in my office with my colleague and I said okay, now we need to find a nickname. A very strong nickname. I said body… for the body, discipline, and then we said bionic because the legs look like a robot.” 

“Everything started from there. And then, when I start to publish my page, it goes viral. People told me there is a disability class in bodybuilding. You should. This is how I said okay, let’s try.” 

When he first began in the sport, Augustin said bodybuilding wasn’t on his radar. 

“Bodybuilding was no option for me and it wasn’t in my mind. I just saw some guys, some friends of mine, since they are young, they wanted to be professional bodybuilders. It was not my case. My goal was to be fit because at the end I was not happy with my physique. This is what I always thought.” 

At 38 years old, Augustin seeks longevity and wants to live a happy life after his bodybuilding career. 

“I’m 38 years old. I have three kids. I really don’t care about the Mr. Olympia stage. I just don’t – I want to see my kids grow, you understand? I want to play with them. There is a life after bodybuilding. I don’t want to [build] my physique just for the Olympia stage, then what happens after? He told me we are going to do a very light prep and it was my best prep ever and my best physique ever, more is not always better.” 

Even though he’s dealt with surgeries and adversity, Augustin is aiming to be the best amputee bodybuilding athlete of all time. 

“My last show in 2019, in my mind, I wanted to be the best amputee athlete bodybuilder biggest everything [ever]. With my coach before, we push. We pushed the physique. Maybe that’s why I had the surgeries and stuff like that.” 

In the face of adversity, athletes like Edgard Augustin continue to inspire those around him. Having gathered momentum this year, fans look forward to seeing him back on a bodybuilding stage soon. 

You can watch the full video from the Muscular Development YouTube channel below: 

Published: 21 June, 2023 | 6:02 PM EDT

Derek Lunsford, Samson Dauda Look Huge in Update During 2023 Mr. Olympia Battle Workout

Derek Lunsford, Samson Dauda Look Huge in Update During 2023 Mr. Olympia Battle Workout

Preparations for the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest are ramping up for Open class talent. In a special Olympia TV production, Derek Lunsford and Samson Dauda gave physique updates and pushed each other with a back workout battle/posedown. 

“We’re going to have – we need some intensity guys. This is not going to be a show for powderpuff training. It’s going to be hardcore, I want to see everybody going all-out. I mean this – we got to bring it today. You guys ready?” Cormier said.  

Many fans believe the Men’s Open division has never been more exciting. There have also been major shake-ups in the category over the last several months. At the 2022 Mr. Olympia contest, a new hierarchy was established after Hadi Choopan claimed gold. After receiving a special invite for the Open class, former 212 Olympia Derek Lunsford proved himself with a second-place finish. This event also served as Samson Dauda‘s Mr. Olympia debut where he placed sixth. 
While Lunsford decided to sit out the 2023 Arnold Classic, Dauda had other plans. With momentum from Las Vegas, Dauda brought his best to Columbus, Ohio, and ultimately defeated finalists Nick Walker and Andrew Jacked to claim gold. Veterans and figureheads of the sport took notice of his Mr. Olympia-winning potential. Athletes rep Bob Cicherillo has gone on record saying that Choopan’s biggest threats are Lunsford and Dauda.

Ronnie Coleman, a name that carries a lot of weight in the IFBB Pro League, has suggested that Lunsford will become the next Mr. Olympia champion. He specified that the former 212 winner will likely dethrone Choopan later this year. When tasked with choosing his favorite bodybuilder of this generation, Coleman said it was a tie between Lunsford and Dauda.  
Meanwhile, Nick Walker, who also aims to win Mr. Olympia, doesn’t see Dauda as a concern despite losing to him in March. In ‘The Mutant’s’ opinion, the next Sandow trophy will be awarded to himself or Lunsford, depending on who brings better improvements in November. Though, for Samson Dauda, he has never been more confident, and believes with a bigger back, he can become the number one bodybuilder in the world. 
Derek Lunsford, Samson Dauda Give Physique Updates & Test Limits with Back Workout Battle 
Led by Chris Cormier, Lunsford, and Dauda pushed each other through a series of back workouts. Lunsford believes his back is currently better than Dauda’s. Samson, on the other hand, said he would have won the 2023 Arnold Classic even if Lunsford entered the contest. 
“Yeah man, I mean back has always been my strong point. So, I figured we’d get in here today and have some fun,” said Lunsford. “Like I said, I think my back shots are my strong points, so as of right now, I would say yes [my back shots will beat Samson Dauda at 2023 Olympia] and I’m prepared to improve it for this year.” 
“Bodybuilding is judged on more than just a back shot right, it’s about who is the most complete and that’s what I bring. At the same time, I know I can learn a thing or two like I’ve always done in the past, I’ve taken my opponent’s strengths and made them my own, and use the same strengths to beat them,” said Dauda. “Oh yeah [if Derek Lunsford was at the 2023 Arnold I would have beat him] damn right. I don’t back down for no one.” 

Cormier predicted that there would be palpable tension during the training session since they share the same goal of wanting to become Mr. Olympia. 
“I think they’re going to have to show each other who is going to be the more dominant competitor on stage. And I think it’s all going to start right here with Olympia Battle 3. I think my man [Samson Dauda] is large and in charge and I think being second at the Olympia [for Derek Lunsford] there’s going to be some tension today,” Chris Cormier said. 
Find their full back workout list below:

Lat Pulldown Machine – 4 sets
Barbell Rows – 5 sets 
Seated Cable Row Machine – 4 sets
Stiff Arms Pulldown Aka Straight Arms – 4 sets
Chest Supported Low Row Machine – 4 sets

“That’s the bodybuilding mentality,” Lunsford shared. “This is fun for me to come out here, train with the Arnold Classic champion Samson. It’s a big back day.”
“This is the off-season. This is bodybuilding. This is a big man’s game,” said Dauda. 

Following the workout, Lunsford and Dauda removed their pump covers for a posedown. They both hit mandatory poses on command before ending the battle. 
Even though Choopan hasn’t been competing in the U.S. or guest posing doesn’t mean he’s not attacking his off-season with a chip on his shoulder. Last week, ‘The Persian Wolf’ gave fans a sneak peek into the off-season physique he’s been building. In addition, Choopan continues to push himself with heavy workouts posted on Instagram. 
As for Derek Lunsford, he joined his coach Hany Rambod for The Truth Podcast recently. They sat down to discuss anxiety, depression, and obstacles in the way of his 2023 Mr. Olympia prep. Despite some setbacks during the off-season, Lunsford assured his fans that ‘everything is good’ as he eyes the next stage of his preparations. 
Many believe Lunsford and Dauda cemented themselves as Mr. Olympia favorites during the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro guest-posing event. Given their dedication and work ethic, fans look forward to seeing how they fare in Orlando, Florida this November. 
RELATED: Samson Dauda, Milos Sarcev Say Back Thickness Key to Defeating Hadi Choopan: ‘No Breaks from Training’
You can watch the full video from the Olympia TV YouTube channel below: 

Published: 21 June, 2023 | 11:28 AM EDT

Chris Bumstead Builds Girthy Legs With This Off-season Workout

Chris Bumstead Builds Girthy Legs With This Off-season Workout

Chris Bumstead is inching towards the fifth Classic Physique Olympia title slowly but surely. The reigning champ went through an off-season leg workout to add strength and size to his already impressive physique.
Bumstead is one of the most famous active bodybuilders and a global superstar. He is the posterboy for the Canadian bodybuilding community and has proven his worth by establishing dominance over the IFBB Pro League’s Classic Physique division. His resume includes a whopping four Classic Physique Olympia titles. After snatching it from the former champ Breon Ansley at the 2019 Olympia, Bumstead has defended the Classic Physique Olympia title at the 2020, 2021 and the 2022 Olympia.
Having reigned supreme over the division for a long time, the 28-year-old bodybuilder intends to defend the strap a few more times before calling it a career. Olympia is Bumstead’s primary focus and he is not keen on competing at other Pro shows. Having recovered from the bicep tear he suffered ahead of the 2022 Olympia, Bumstead has eased his way back into training. He recently unveiled a private gym in-the-making and shed light on the 2023 Olympia diet.
Bumstead is on the mission to win his fifth Classic Physique Olympia title in 2023. He went through a leg training session as a step in the direction of achieving the goal and posted the video on his YouTube channel. So let’s delve into the champ’s workout and see how he is building the tree-trunk legs this off-season.

Chris Bumstead goes through a full leg workout
CBum targeted all the major muscles – quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes and calves as well as the adductor group of muscles with this training session for overall leg development. He admitted that bringing big adductors is one of the goals of his preparation this year. As a result he is putting emphasis on working the adductor muscles.
Leg Extensions
This quad isolation movement served as the beginner to the training session. Knees are without a doubt the most crucial joint for most of the lower body movements. Therefore, it is essential to maintain healthy knees to avoid subsequent derailment of your training journey. Sufficiently warming the knees up before heavy workout is one of the key elements of staying injury free.
Apart from building the quads, leg extensions are an excellent way to warm up the knee joints. However, this exercise can also be harsh on the knees if done with heavier weights without caution. CBum performed three sets of 12 reps of leg extensions to get the party started and took to the next exercise.
Hack Squats
This compound movement followed up the leg extensions in Bumstead’s leg workout. He performed hack squats on the Cybex hack squats machine. Hack squats target the same primary muscle group that the traditional barbell squats do. While quadriceps are the main target muscle of the movement, the posterior chain of muscles are heavily involved in the movement. But what separates hack squats from barbell squats is the fact that it is generally a lot safer for most people to perform as it puts far less stress on the lower back due to the angle of movement as well as the set-up. 
Hack squats are not a replacement to the barbell squat but a great addition to the leg training routine. The Classic Physique king annihilated three sets of the exercise maintaining a 12 to 15 rep range and took to the next exercise.

Leg Press
To stimulate the quads and other leg muscles further, the 28-year-old phenom performed the leg press next. One of the most effective ways to build muscle and strength in the lower body, leg press compliments primary leg exercises like barbell squats really well. This compound movement targets the quads as well as hamstrings, glutes, adductors and abductors. 
Leg press offers increased safety compared to free weight exercises and its variations can help emphasize different parts of the muscles. CBum cranked out three working sets of the exercises and wrapped up after doing a double drop set to failure.
Walking Lunges
This walking variation of the static lunges helps strengthen the leg muscles as well as core, hips and glutes. Additionally, this exercise can help increase the range of motion by increasing flexibility in the glutes and hamstrings. It also improves functional strength as the movement pattern resembles everyday movements like walking, sitting down, ducking down to pick an object etc.
Bumstead pushed through two sets of the exercise and shifted his focus to working the calves next.

Seated Calf Raises
While the standing calf raises work the gastrocnemius muscles in the calf region, the seated variation of the exercise works the soleus muscle which lies underneath it. CBum performed two sets of seated calf raises to failure and took to the final exercise of the day.
Hip Adduction Machine
Adductors are a group of muscles that lie on the inner side of the thigh that helps adduct (bring together) the legs. Bumstead did two sets of hip adduction on the machine to work these muscles and called it a day in the gym.
Overall, the workout included:

Chris Bumstead has fended off the competition successfully so far. While experts within the bodybuilding community predict that he can have a great run in the Men’s Open division, Bumstead does not see it as an effort that is worth making. It will be interesting to see how the remainder of his career unfolds.
You can watch the full workout video here, courtesy of Chris Bumstead’s personal YouTube channel:

Published: 21 June, 2023 | 10:33 AM EDT

Bob Cicherillo Talks Official Men’s Physique Judging Criteria, Says Thin Legs ‘Can Hurt You’ on Stage

Bob Cicherillo Talks Official Men’s Physique Judging Criteria, Says Thin Legs ‘Can Hurt You’ on Stage

Bob Cicherillo has taken issue with Dave Palumbo over his interpretation of the Men’s Physique rules set to go into effect following 2023 Mr. Olympia. In the latest Voice of Bodybuilding Podcast, Cicherillo shared evidence that the Men’s Physique judging criteria takes legs into consideration. 
Judging and officiating have taken center stage since last year’s action-packed Mr. Olympia contest. In the end, Hadi Choopan hoisted gold above his shoulders, a victory he earned after years of placing in the top four. Derek Lunsford, meanwhile, also made a statement in his Open class debut by placing runner-up. Given the success of two former 212 competitors, some believe the judging criteria underwent a shift to favor balance, proportions, and conditioning over size and freak factor. 
Concerns about judging once again dominated discussions online following Nick Walker‘s loss to Samson Dauda at the 2023 Arnold Classic. Factoring in Walker’s conditioning levels, some veterans of the sport thought ‘The Mutant’ should have earned first. When the dust settled, even Walker expressed doubts about the judging process as he thought he was the rightful winner.
With fan backlash at an all-time high, athletes rep Bob Cicherillo stepped in. He’s taken to multiple podcasts to explain the fair and proper ways to judge a bodybuilding contest. Bob also provided reasons for why the judges awarded Dauda the victory in Ohio instead of Walker. 

Weeks ago, IFBB Vice President Tyler Manion announced new changes to the Men’s Physique division. Specifically, the category will impose a weight/height restriction in the coming months. In light of the new statute, Dave Palumbo worried that competitors would ignore leg training in order to game the weight cap. However, in Bob’s opinion, Palumbo couldn’t be more wrong. 
“Dave, You’ve Made a Whole Career Out of Lying,” Bob Cicherillo Blasts Dave Palumbo Over Men’s Physique Ruling 
According to Cicherillo, competitors could hide their legs 10 years ago but not anymore because the board shorts have changed and now fit tighter on the legs. 
“What is it about [Dave] Palumbo that I just have to constantly, constantly correct what he puts out there? So now the big thing is, all this Men’s Physique back and forth is that I’m a liar! And Dave is even mean when he says I’m lying to the athletes, and damn it, he’s not going to take it anymore because he cares so much about the athletes, so much, that he doesn’t even go to the shows. But we’re going to stick with the plot here and actually prove to everybody that I am indeed not the liar. Dave, you’ve made a whole career out of lying.” 
“You insist that you do know what’s going on but you really don’t. We’re going to put up a graphic right here and show you how much it’s actually changed. In this picture you’re going to see, this is an actual 10-year difference from your first-ever champ in Mark Anthony to Brandon Hendrickson and you could see – the shorts have changed dramatically.
Yes, you could hide some leg development or lack thereof 10 years ago, but as you can see in the photo, the shorts they wear today are more spandex, they are tighter hugging to the legs because the athletes like to show off their leg development to go with their upper bodies even though it’s Men’s Physique,” Bob Cicherillo explained. 
Citing an official IFBB Pro League document, Cicherillo underlined that the whole body is taken into account when judging bodies in the Men’s Physique category. 

“We have found the actual written criteria. This is where you’re going to have a problem my friend. The written criteria, now this is from many many years ago but this still holds true, what it means to assess a Men’s Physique physique. I’ll paraphrase, you can see the part right here where it says, and I’ll quote: ‘Assessment should begin at the head and extend downwards, taking the whole physique into account. Whole Dave. W-H-O-L-E- that would mean in its entirety. The whole physique is taken into account.”
“I know who your top head judge is I actually talked to him today. That’s not actually what he said. Even though what you put out there and this is what you do. You try to stack the deck in your favor to try to make your case. But you get caught every single time because you’re not as smart as you think you are.”
Even though an official score isn’t given for leg development in Men’s Physique, Bob shared that it’s still factored into the end result. 
“There’s no specific score that goes to leg development as I just read the criteria. The whole body is assessed, okay? And, I do have an actual quote from the same said person that we could put up right now that actually says there’s a little bit more involved isn’t there? The whole physique should be assessed. We look at the physique as a whole. We look at the silhouette of the physique. If you’ve got thin legs, okay, if your legs don’t match your upper body, it will hurt you.” 
“Don’t listen to this idiot [Dave Palumbo]. That’s my advice to all the people out there. He has absolutely no idea what he’s talking about and we just proved your wrong once again. Top judges, you can catch anyone of them, any one, go out and get a consensus Dave, talk to 10 of them, they are all going to tell you the same thing I did. The entire physique is taken into consideration in Men’s Physique.” 
This isn’t Bob Cicherillo’s first time dropping knowledge on Palumbo over the new rules. In a Voice of Bodybuilding Podcast last week, Cicherillo stressed that competitors in Men’s Physique still need to train their legs otherwise they will appear imbalanced on stage. In addition, Cicherillo mentioned that he’s seen Physique competitors lose shows due to a lack of leg development. 
The bodybuilding community is unsure how the new Men’s Physique height/weight cap will affect the growing class. As with any division, Bob Cicherillo made it clear that the ‘entire physique’ is taken into account during the judging process. 
RELATED: Jeremy Buendia Shares Massive 4,600-Calorie Bulking Diet That Helped Him Gain 19 lbs in 2 Weeks
You can watch the full video below from the Voice of Bodybuilding YouTube channel: 

Published: 20 June, 2023 | 7:49 PM EDT

Dana Linn Bailey Discusses Steroids and Potential Comeback: “Maybe Just One More”

Dana Linn Bailey Discusses Steroids and Potential Comeback: “Maybe Just One More”

Dana Linn Bailey continues to flirt with the idea of a potential comeback. In a recent Muscular Development interview, Bailey teased a return and defended her position as a lifetime natural athlete who has never touched steroids. 

“I love training. I love volume. So, yeah, those lateral raise sets where I’m doing like 40 reps. People are like what… I think if I even touched a little bit of drugs, I would have been on the same stage as Iris Kyle the way I train,” Dana Linn Bailey shared. 

Bailey faced many obstacles on her way to finding success in the IFBB Pro League. However, she never gave up on her dreams and in 2013, reached the height of her career after winning the inaugural Women’s Physique Olympia title. Even though she surrendered gold a year later, she remains a trailblazer in the division – and has yet to officially retire. 
Having stepped away from the bright lights, Bailey grew her legacy online with platforms like YouTube and Instagram, where she routinely influences millions of followers. She is known for her strenuous and rapid workout intensity. This was on full display in sessions with top names in the sport such as coach and FST-7 training founder Hany Rambod and four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler. 

In a recent Cutler Cast Podcast, Dana shared that she was a lifetime natural athlete, devoid of all performance-enhancing drugs. At the time, Bailey said if she chose to compete again, she’d volunteer for weekly blood tests leading up to the competition. Given her ability to stay shredded year-round, fans are convinced Bailey could shock the world if she mounted a comeback. 

According to Dana Linn Bailey, she never used the word retirement after she stopped competing. 

“You know, that’s why I’ve never said the retired word. Because there’s a silly part of me – because I do look at myself now – fu** man, you’re in better shape now than you’ve ever been. I would love to see what I look like because I have – I’m going to be 40 in a couple of weeks. I’m an ’83 so I’m going to be 40. The kids on stage now are in their 20s. There’s a silly little thing in my head that’s like maybe just one more. So I’ve just never said anything.” 

Bailey said she’s not lying about being natural despite the differing opinions of fans online. She added that she’d never look like reigning Women’s Physique Olympia Natalia Coelho or Sarah Villegas if she eventually returned. And if a comeback was in the cards, Dana said she would need at least a 30-week camp to develop her legs without steroids. 
“It used to affect me I used to get really upset. I just – because I’m not lying. I’m just being honest. People would literally get hate me. Then, throw me everywhere, I’m lying, I’m a fake natty, this and that. It used to really bother me. Then I switched, and it’s like you know, I must be doing something right obviously.” 
“No, no one reached out [Masters Olympia]. I heard about it but for me to prep I need like 30-something weeks to prep for a show. Yeah, 30 weeks. Dude, yeah. 30 weeks out,” said Lin Bailey. “For me to get my legs out, yeah I need time. We can talk about the natural not natural, I’ve been competing natural my entire life. So for me to get my legs to come out, it takes like 25 weeks.”
“There’s no way I would look like that [Sarah Villegas and Natalia Coelho]. I’m also very realistic with myself. I’m not crazy. I understand: there’s a part of me that would just love to go up there and not freakin’ care and I would be the smallest, may not be the most shredded but I would love to see what I could do.”
Even though Dana doesn’t use steroids, she understands why men do. In addition, she shared that very few men can keep up with her training intensity but Kai Greene was one of them.
“I’ve trained with some of the top bodybuilders in the world. Jose Raymond, he quit on me halfway through. The only one that like – it’s not even that he trains at my intensity like Kai trains for a very long time. He’s probably the one person that can, ‘Cool, this guy can hang with me.’ But no other, especially no other dude has hung with me. Generally, girls can hang because we just have more endurance.” 
“I don’t care if guys do it. It works with your bodies. I want to see the freaks, I want to see Kai Greenes and Ronnie Colemans,” added Bailey. 
Linn Bailey Reflects on the Evolution of Women’s Physique Class and Winning 2013 Olympia

At first, Bailey was afraid of losing on the Olympia stage because she thought fans would no longer follow her. However, after losing in 2014, she said her following stuck around. 
“Obviously once you go pro, you kind of space things out. But, yeah, won the first Olympia, got second at the second Olympia. I tell people this all the time, getting second place was probably one of the best things that ever happened. It sounds weird obviously. I love winning. Being first was awesome. It was really cool. But there was so much pressure – unneeded pressure that I put on myself.
And when I got second, I will say I looked better the second year. I’m just saying, I looked better. Just saying. I looked better the second year and got second but that’s fine. Afterward, I thought everything was over. I thought my whole world was going to fall apart. Still second place, I just thought, ‘Okay, everyone is going to go follow that one person now. I thought everything revolved around being on stage and winning,” said Dana Linn Bailey. 
“I think I had a very strong head on my shoulders. I never did anything weird. I never – my diet was actually very very healthy. I did everything super healthy but there was a little bit of crazy.” 
Dana announced a recent fitness challenge she’s aiming to complete in the coming months, titled the ‘Summer shredded 4.0 body transformation challenge.’ She invited her fans to tag along while she aims to add muscle and lean down at the same time. 
The Women’s Physique division has evolved significantly since Bailey’s reign. She remains undecided about a comeback but still hasn’t completely abandoned the idea of gracing the Olympia stage one more time.
RELATED: Video: Bodybuilder Dana Linn Bailey Goes Through A Gains Unlocking Push Day Workout
You can watch the full video from the Muscular Development YouTube channel below: 

Published: 20 June, 2023 | 12:12 PM EDT

Urs Kalecinski ‘Pumped’ for 2023 Olympia Showdown w/Ramon Queiroz, Says He’ll Cut to 1,800 Calories Daily

Urs Kalecinski ‘Pumped’ for 2023 Olympia Showdown w/Ramon Queiroz, Says He’ll Cut to 1,800 Calories Daily

German native Urs Kalecinski is determined to bring a bigger and better physique to the 2023 Mr. Olympia stage. In a recent HD Muscle Podcast, Kalecinski discussed the game plan for his next appearance in November and life at 275 pounds. 

“It would be cool – the first Classic guy at 300 pounds just for like clickbait reasons. It’s crazy, I don’t remember the last time when I wasn’t hungry,” shared Urs Kalecinski. 

Kalecinski, one of the sport’s fastest-rising stars, continues to make strides as a competitor in the Classic Physique division. Fans quickly took note of his tight waist, symmetry, and lower body detail, which are weapons he’s already used to find success in the IFBB Pro League. 
In 2021, Kalecinski won the 2021 Tampa Pro, and that victory paved the way for his first Olympia appearance. He was awarded fourth in his debut, something many took as a promising sign of his future. A year later, the 25-year-old earned third at the Arnold Classic, trailing behind two-time winner Terrence Ruffin and his rival, Ramon Queiroz. 

Undeterred by that showing, he won the Boston Pro to earn a 2022 Olympia invite. Again, Urs set his sights on Brazilian powerhouse Queiroz and Chris Bumstead. While he brought an impressive physique to last year’s Olympia (2022), Kalecinski finished third. Kalecinski had another shot at taking down Queiroz in Columbus, Ohio, but was unable to claim Arnold Classic gold. With time to prepare for the year’s biggest event, Kalecinski sat down to discuss progress and preparations.
Urs Kalecinski Talks Struggles of Preps, Rivalry with Ramon Queiroz, & Diet Plan for 2023 Olympia
Kalecinski said his prep for 2022 Olympia was one of his easiest but encountered problems turning around two months later for the 2023 Arnold Classic. He mentioned that a bout of food poisoning affected his performance in Ohio. 
“This prep [2022 Mr. Olympia] for the Olympia was so easy. You know those preps which doesn’t feel like prepping at all. I had energy till peak week. I was feeling bad because I’m not suffering so hard. I had cheat meals every four days because my metabolism was fire and no problem at all going to the weight limit. And then, what fuc**d up my whole life was the Olympia to the Arnold. 
Because it was back-to-back I would say. It was only six or seven weeks. And I can’t do any breaks between it, so I had to keep continuing. My hunger and everything went skyrocketing. Then, imagine, you work your ass off and you don’t have a social life during prep, that’s normal, but then not only the social life but also feeling like dog shit every day. I didn’t have that in my whole life before. When you work so hard and then at the very end, you get fuc**ng food poisoning from chicken when I was flying,” said Urs Kalecinski. 

After going to the hospital for blood work, Kalecinski said his coach warned him that a few markers were off. However, the problem was ultimately resolved. 
“I went to the hospital, and did my blood work because my coach luckily he has a medical background and he’s very very good with those health things and he knows exactly how to handle this and he says, ‘Okay, some points are not good, like of course, your liver enzymes are not good and your cholesterol is not that good at the end of your prep.
The magnesium and other minerals are not in a good range then we need to stop this.’ Then, I prayed to God, ‘Please let it don’t be like this.’ At the end, it was good. We nailed it perfectly to the weight limit and then to filling back up. I had like three days with 1,000 grams of carbs for the carb-up. And I still wasn’t full at the prejudging.” 
To combat Ramon Queiroz and Cbum on stage in November, Kalecinski shared that he bulked up to 275 pounds and looks forward to another meeting. 

“It’s so crazy in Classic. It’s all about this one day or one two or three hours. Also in bodybuilding but I think in Classic it’s – it’s a bit harder,” said Urs Kalecinski. “My weight, yeah it’s 275 [pounds].” 
“I can battle him [Ramon] and that’s what I’m pumped for this year. The fans and the people are going to see some good battle between us and that’s what I’m shooting for. Getting bigger and better. We’ve made some good improvements and also here – got some motivation back.” 

Eventually, Kalecinski plans to cut his diet of 3,500 calories to only 1,800. 

“Officially 16 weeks out but I tried to bring my weight down right now because where I want to go,” said Urs. “It’s crazy. I’m always hungry. I’m fuc**ng – yeah it’s crazy [I go from 3,500 calories] to 1,800.” 
“That’s like a Bikini girl diet,” replied Antoine Vaillant. 
According to Kalecinski, bodybuilders who want to make improvements sometimes need to ‘look like a bag of shit’ in the off-season. 

“That’s like I said, that’s always what the people say, [switch to the Open] I swear to God, eight or 10 weeks, you’re going to see it everywhere, Urs is too shredded to be ready on stage. That’s what I like about the old days. Dorian Yates didn’t give a fuc*. I get tons of messages, ‘What happened to your fuc**ng face  it’s blown up.’
I’m like, ‘Bro, back in the day everybody looked like this. Come on. It’s just Instagram where you see all the influencers being shredded all year-round but they don’t make improvements. To make improvements you need to look like a bag of shit in my opinion. Not the body, but when your face blows up,” said Kalecinski. 

In a recent Olympia TV edition of Prime Time Muscle, esteemed Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy talked about the rivalry between German standouts Kalecinski and Mike Sommerfield. El Guindy went as far as to say that Urs wants to ‘beat the hell out of’ Mike when they meet again on stage. 
There’s no denying ‘The Miracle Bear’s’ popularity in the IFBB Pro League. With a new and improved 275-pound physique, fans are curious how Kalecinski will compare to Ramon Queiroz and Classic Physique Olympia king Chris Bumstead later this year. 
RELATED: Urs Kalecinski And Jay Cutler Wreck A Potent Back Workout
You can watch the full video from the HD Muscle YouTube channel below: 

Published: 19 June, 2023 | 11:53 AM EDT

Martyn Ford Reveals Food & Supplements of 10,000 Calorie Diet for Bulking at 360-lb

Martyn Ford Reveals Food & Supplements of 10,000 Calorie Diet for Bulking at 360-lb

British bodybuilder Martyn Ford transformed himself into one of the freakiest mass monsters in the world. Having started relatively frail for his size, he spent years working hard in the training room to achieve his present physique. In a recent interview with Escape Fitness, Ford revealed the food sources he likes to consume when on a diet and when he’s eating 10,000 calories to bulk up at 360 pounds.
Social media fitness influencer Martyn Ford grew up playing professional cricket before finding his passion for bodybuilding. He rose to prominence for his humongous physique with unreal muscle mass, size, and overall muscularity. Standing at 6 ft 8 inches, Ford’s extreme package amassed him a huge following of 4.5 million on Instagram and earned him the opportunity to get on the silver screen. He made headlines for his antagonistic role in his acting debut in the film Boyka: Undisputed (2016) alongside fellow Brit Scott Adkins.
Ford sparked a heated rivalry with internet sensation Sajad Gharibi, popularly known as the ‘Iranian Hulk’ over the last two years. The pair traded verbal jabs online and were scheduled to settle their differences in a boxing match in April 2022. During the build-up to the outing, Ford shoved Gharibi to the ground with ease after the latter failed his attempt in a face-off. Gharibi later opened up about his mental health challenges that stemmed from the fact he got disowned by his family due to the incident.
Given Gharibi’s admission to suicidal thoughts, the organizers pulled the plug on the bout and Ford added the discrepancy between Gharibi’s online image and real-life factored in as well. Nevertheless, Ford pulled off an incredible body transformation, losing nearly 60 pounds in preparations for the scrapped contest.

Martyn Ford continued to train boxing and left the fans stunned with an insanely jacked physique update following the cancelation. Despite calls from Gharibi to proceed with the match, Ford decided against it as he was concerned about his opponent’s mental health in case the outcome would not be in his favor.
‘The Nightmare’ began training in MMA in hopes of competing under the Polish MMA promotion KSW in May 2022. He showed off his giant physique in a workout update a month later. He was even eyeing a boxing fight with legendary strongman Hafthor Bjornsson but faced issues in making the showdown come to fruition.
Martyn Ford reveals food & supplements of 10,000 calorie diet for bulking at 360-lb

In a recent YouTube video, Martyn Ford revealed his preferred food sources to fit into his diet, which can go up to 10,000 calories to add muscle to his 360-pound frame.
“My appetite is ridiculous and I’m very carb-sensitive so like sweet potato, oats, rice. I could do three or four thousand calories in a meal easily if I am not careful,” said Ford.
“A typical not training for anything day would be oats and eggs for breakfast, rice cakes, cottage cheese, fruit, Greek yogurt snacks, nuts, snacks, and then sweet potato, salmon, steak, rice, potato chips but made myslef in the oven. Just generally that kind of food is where I’m staying at. About eight meals a day easily. When I’m growing I can easily go up to eight meals a day, I’ll wake up starving and eat twice in the night.”
“I’m still doing 4,500 calories dieting so it’s nice because it’s normal whereas when I’m bulking, if I want to put some size on, I’m up to eight, nine, 10,000 calories, which is hard work when it’s good food.”
Ford listed the staple supplements he likes to utilize in addition to whole food.
“The big ones that I’d always lean on to will be glutamines, creatines, aminos, if I’m bulking I’ll have a carb drink intra, post, and then isolate whey. But again, only after workout I would never replace food if I don’t need to with a protein shake. [Greens supplement] as well.”
Martyn Ford opened up on using steroids to achieve fitness goals in July 2022. While he believed there were benefits that can be derived from taking gear, he argued there was a major downside as well if one used substances from the black market and without proper research. Then, he teamed up with former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping for a brutal chest workout last September.
Ford showed off his monstrous package while crushing an intense training session last month.
It’s fascinating to get insight into the diet and supplementation of the man who boasts one of the craziest physiques in the world. His latest offering could benefit others who may be on a similar path to get some gains.
You can watch the full video below.

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Published: 18 June, 2023 | 12:11 PM EDT

Ric Flair Reveals Diet, Training & Supplements to Stay Jacked at 74-Yo

Ric Flair Reveals Diet, Training & Supplements to Stay Jacked at 74-Yo

Ric Flair has been a mainstay of professional wrestling for decades and has a legacy spanning generations. Although he no longer competes regularly, his impact is palpable to this day. In a recent Men’s Health video, Flair revealed the diet, training, and supplements he takes to stay jacked in his 70s.
Ric Flair is widely considered to be one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time. Having started his pro career in 1972, Flair enjoyed a highly decorated tenure of over 50 years. He made his debut under the AWA (American Wrestling Association), where he got to compete with fellow legends like Dusty Rhodes, Andre the Giant, and Chris Taylor. He won his first championship in a tag team match after joining Jim Crockett Promotions in the National Wrestling Alliance in 1974.
In 1981, Flair’s celebrity status skyrocketed largely due to his brash persona and heel character. He attacked many of the promotion’s fan favorites with his infamous team called The Four Horsemen. He spent about a decade performing at shows in All Japan Pro Wrestling during his stint in the organization as well.
Flair made his way to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1991. He secured the WWF Championship by coming out on top of the 1992 Royal Rumble. After two years under the banner, Flair made a comeback to the WCW. He later claimed the World Heavyweight and International World Heavyweight Championships.

Following his return to the WWF/WWE in 2001, Flair delivered some action-packed performances against the likes of The Undertaker, Hollywood Hulk Hogan, Eddie Guerrero, Triple H, and Stone Cold Steve Austin. He experienced a late-career resurgence in 2012 and has since performed sporadically in the wrestling ring with his final outing happening in July 2022.
In June 2017, Ric Flair made headlines for a horrific hand injury as a result of a brawl with a Dub-Nation member following the Cleveland Cavs’ loss in Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
Flair picked up a string of injuries from his days of performing in the ring. He needed to undergo surgery after getting admitted to the intensive care unit in Aug. 2017. Given his contributions to the sport, messages of support poured in from members of the community.
‘The Nature Boy’ got rushed to the hospital after a major health scare in May 2019. His son-in-law later revealed the situation wasn’t as concerning as it had first been reported. Flair issued an optimistic statement to his fans a week later.
Ric Flair reveals his diet & supplements to stay jacked at 74-yo

In a recent YouTube video, Ric Flair revealed the diet and supplements he utilizes to stay jacked at the age of 74.
He started off by showing the items in his fridge and then laid out his daily food intake.
“Lean beef, chicken, a lot of fresh fruit, salads, prepared salads, all very healthy. I do drink a lot of water.
“Mushroom food is the hottest thing in the world.”

Breakfast: Egg whites, turkey bacon, two cups of coffee
Lunch: Chicken, sometimes Ramen , double order of chicken lentil bean soup with some chicken in it or a pre-wrapped chicken.
Dinner: About as healthy as he can possible be whether it be shrimp, beef, chicken, all pretty generic.

Favorite meat: Salmon
He laid out how his eating habits have changed over the years and how he stays on track while traveling.
“When I was wrestling everyday I could eat anything I wanted because I was wrestling up to an hour every night,” said Flair. “I used to live by the rule for every pound of body weight you want to have a gram of protein. That’s hard to do. You’d have to eat 20 chicken breasts, two dozen raw eggs a day in the blender. I ate a lot more carbs than I do now. I don’t eat much bread unless it’s wheat bread. I love pasta but I eat very little pasta and the result of my surgeries I gotta go watch what I eat spicy food will kill me.”
“It’s hard [traveling] especially with airline food but most hotels are there will have chicken stuff like that. A lot of sauce on my food to this point it can be generically healthy but I have to have a sauce on it. My go to sauce is barbecue. My go to comfort food is marinara sauce, tons of meatballs, and angel hair pasta.”
“[I hate] pastry. I don’t eat desserts, never have.”
Ric Flair shared the supplements he takes along with testosterone, presumably TRT (testosterone replacement therapy).
“Vitamin B12, I take tri aminos, and 1 cc of test a week. 400 is normal for a guy my age I keep it at a thousand.”
Flair shares his training regimen
Ric Flair gave fans a look into his training protocol and health goals.
“I train three to four days a week and if I’m training hard I do 500 free squats, try to do 200 push-ups, sets of 100 crunches, and the airdyne bike which I think is one of the most difficult pieces of cardio equipment, 5,000 meters in 10 minutes.
“Just stay in the best shape I can possibly be and to stay motivated. My goal right now is I want to do 10,000 meters on [the airdyne bike] and I want to bench press 225 by Feb. 25th, 24. I want to make sure that as each year goes by that I can do what I did when I was 23.”
“My last match live I got in kind of shape, in better shape than I’ve ever been in my life 500 free squats, running, pushing the sled, pulling, working on strengthening my neck, insane cardio stuff.”
“For me it was a religion. If I didn’t workout I didn’t feel good. I did 500 free squats everyday, 250 push-ups every day. I would do sets between everything I did when I was doing benches, inclines, pulldowns.
“I don’t lift heavy weights anymore because I grow out of my clothes and I’m taking supplements that people might take normally. If I lift weights heavy I grow. I try to keep my weight at 220 or under.
“I hate running. I’d rather beat my brains out for 20 minutes than play around for 30.”

“As you get older, you have to get your second win no matter how much you warm up until you get your second wind you got to see your way through it.”
Ric Flair left the fans stunned with a workout update showing off his impressive physique in June 2022. He crushed an intense training session in preparation for his planned final outing in the ring.
Flair opened up on his experience of surviving a deadly plane crash two months ago. The accident resulted in his back being broken in three places and the death of a passenger onboard. Despite being told he’d never wrestle again, he persevered and continued to follow his passion.
His latest offering provides insight into how a wrestling legend keeps fit in his later years and will certainly inspire fans to lead a healthy lifestyle.
RELATED: WWE’s Cody Rhodes Tore Pectoral Muscle Before Epic Performance at ‘Hell in a Cell’ Main Event
You can watch the full video below.

Published: 17 June, 2023 | 4:33 PM EDT

Tristyn Lee Teases Bodybuilding Venture in 2024, Says He’s a Lifetime Natural Athlete

Tristyn Lee Teases Bodybuilding Venture in 2024, Says He’s a Lifetime Natural Athlete

Fitness celebrity Tristyn Lee is eying a bodybuilding stage next year. In a recent Straight Outta the Lair Podcast with Flex Lewis, Lee teased a show in 2024, defended his status as a lifetime natural athlete, and underlined the benefits of his carnivore diet. 
Lee is a 20-year-old fitness sensation who boasts an incredibly lean physique. His ability to stay shredded with minimal body fat year-round has made him one of the most talked about influencers over the past few years. 
While building his name with social media platforms, Tristyn’s fame spread like wildfire. In addition to showcasing his statue-esque build, Lee offers fans engaging content, like his 17,000-calorie ‘carnivore Big Mac’ recipe. He also collaborates with other popular names in the community such as Bradley Martyn and Larry Wheels. 

Lee maintains that he’s never used performance-enhancing drugs. As with any ‘natty or not’ topic, fans continue to debate whether he’s ever used steroids. However, Tristyn worries that even discussing the topic publicly could cause harm to his younger audiences. 
Tristyn Lee Talks Competing in Bodybuilding, Mental Clarity from Carnivore Diet & Being Natural
Looking ahead, Tristyn Lee hopes to step on a bodybuilding stage in 2024. 
“I want to just experiment on myself and see how far I can take things. In the coming year, I want to step on a stage, hopefully early next year. Depending or not on my coach Jared allows me to. Yes. This is the first time I’ve even talked about this.” 
“We’ll see how it goes. This next year, I’m going into a massing phase with Jared. That’s definitely something that I need to check off my bucket list and just see how far I can push my body in that sense. It’s cool to have a date in mind.” 

Lee says ‘commentary culture’ has taken over social media which influences young children to take measures they shouldn’t. 
“On social media, there’s this commentary culture I like to call it where everybody is talking about another person. And there’s benefits to this obviously, you’re spreading the news, and you’re creating this dialogue that may be necessary to bring up certain topics. But there’s also this hyper-focus on what everyone else is doing and it propels young kids to do things that they shouldn’t be doing.
I’ve seen 15, 16, 17-year-old kids going into stuff that they shouldn’t even be going into just because they’re seeing it so frequently on social media and it’s like, ‘Oh well, everybody is doing it so I might as well.’ It’s just crazy to me that you haven’t even gone through any level of experience for yourself before jumping into something you don’t know anything about,” said Tristyn Lee. 
You’re talking about PEDs I’m guessing right?” said Flex Lewis. 
“Yeah,” replied Lee. 
Before moving on, Flex Lewis outright asked Lee if he has ever used steroids. 
“As you are a lifetime natural right? And that’s something you’re very proud of,” said Lewis. 
“Right,” said Lee. 
“I want to point out to the viewers. As you are truly an anomaly right now in a sport where if someone joins a gym for a week they’re already looking at doing PEDs. You don’t want to talk about this because there’s somewhat of a backlash that you feel will come from this. But what I said to you is I think it’s a very important conversation to have,” shared Lewis. “You’re still on that natural path of growth and what you’ve achieved is tremendous.” 
Lee credits genetics and personal experiences to his physique. 
“I haven’t put any of this stuff on social media the reason being this: my first and primary belief is that you will never look like anyone else. It doesn’t matter what you take, it doesn’t matter how you train. The science doesn’t matter with any of that, you have your own individual genetics. You will look how you look.” 
“Even if it’s for better or for worse, you have to go through your own personal experiences, you have to put the work in, you have to train hard, you have to find out what your true potential is regardless of the route or the path that you go down.” 
“It’s not about what the other person is doing, it’s about what you can do,” added Lee. 
According to Tristyn, the mental clarity he’s received from his carnivore diet has been substantial. 

“I started looking a little stringy and flat. As I started working with a coach, I’ve reimplemented some carbs and I feel great. The mental clarity on carnivore is like literally nothing I’ve ever experienced. I’m dialed 24/7. Whether or not that’s for better or for worse, a lot of people say, ‘Oh you’re in a survival state.’ Well, I’m thinking I’m surviving pretty well then. I feel pretty good.” 
“So it worked for me. A lot of people low-carb diets are good for losing weight because you drop a lot of water weight because a lot of people can’t handle having carbohydrates because they’re so addictive but that’s not for everyone.” 
The last time fans heard from Lee he revealed a go-to five-minute back workout. During the training session, Lee decided to perform his heaviest movement first. Given the detail of his back, Tristyn’s methods have a proven track record. 
Tristyn Lee aspires to be more than a fitness influencer, but a mentor and an inspiration for emerging young athletes who seek his advice and follow in his footsteps. 
You can watch the full video from the Straight Outta the Lair podcast below:

Published: 17 June, 2023 | 12:04 PM EDT