Tag: Videos
Derek MPMD on Andrew Tate’s Steroid Rumors: ‘Evidence Leans Toward Natural’
Controversial influencer Andrew Tate’s physique is making the rounds online as questions surrounding his alleged steroid use continue. In a recent YouTube video, PED expert Derek of More Plates More Dates dispelled a rumor spread by former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen and laid out why he believes Tate has a natural body.
Tate, known for his boisterous attitude, has quickly become one of the most influential figures on social media. ‘Cobra’ speaks his mind regardless of the repercussions which has seemingly boosted his popularity.
Romanian authorities arrested Andrew and his brother, Tristan Tate in Bucharest last December for suspected involvement in human sex trafficking. Following a number of attempts to be released from custody, the Tate brothers were freed and placed on house arrest on March 31, 2023. They claim to be innocent of all charges.
I am on precisely zero steroids or TRT of ANY KIND. NEVER HAVE BEEN. Never taken them in my life, ever.
I am a man who eats once a day and trains. THAT IS ALL. I swear this before GOD.
I will take and pass ANY TEST, try me.
Accept i am a genetic specimen of absolute…
— Andrew Tate (@Cobratate) April 19, 2023
With over 6.2 million followers on Twitter, Tate documented his time in jail and described the conditions as very poor. And while he admits he only ate one meal a day in accordance with Ramadan, the influencer exited his cell looking more ripped than when he entered the facility. In a public statement, Tate recently underlined that his physique was created naturally and said he’s never touched steroids or testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in his life.
As discussions surrounding Tate’s physique heat up, PED expert Derek took a closer look at the 36-year-old’s natty or not status. He also addressed rumors made by Chael Sonnen and argued why he believes Tate is currently natural.
Derek More Plates More Dates Calls Out Chael Sonnen for Innacurate Andrew Tate Steroid Rumors
During Derek’s reaction video, he played a clip of Chael Sonnen, who suggested he can tell whether a physique is natural not just by looking at someone.
“We find ourselves in the midst of a controversy it seems. Andrew Tate versus More Plates More Dates, I was not expecting to see this title or this video or this thumbnail when I’m logging into my YouTube, it’s me laughing my ass off and Tate with Chael… apparently throwing me under the bus in another video on the same day where he absolutely shits on Andrew Huberman. This video is a hectic one dude.”
“Let’s stick to the one that has me in the title, me versus Andrew Tate,” added Derek.
Derek then advised Sonnen to come out with natty or not videos on The Rock, Chris Hemsworth, and Kumail Ali Nanjiani.
“Let’s see Chael, you can do [natty or not] on The Rock, Chris Hemsworth, and you can do… let’s pick hard one, and Kumail Ali Nanjiani – these guys are all arguably a little bit saucy saucy. You tell me, bro, exactly what are they doing, dosage, compound selection, would fuc**ng love to see that video, I’d watch it.”
Orthodox southpaw orthodox.
5 years retired and I still miss fighting.
Gona miss it forever.
Guess I’ll just have to crack the matrix have 20 sons and be a billionaire instead. ? pic.twitter.com/Gfv6j2CRV9
— Andrew Tate (@Cobratate) May 5, 2023
What Chael Sonnen had to say:
“It does amaze me when Derek says, ‘I don’t know.’ Now, if you wanted to say I don’t know what it was, I don’t know if that was growth, I don’t know if that was anabolic, I don’t know if that was some peptides or if that was some SARMs. I do know, but I can understand if he does. But to just not know in general? It really does blow my mind,” Chael Sonnen shared.
“I did see Andrew’s response, where Andrew said, ‘Hey Derek, I appreciate you I know you’re an expert, and thanks for talking about me, I’m not an expert in that field but I am an expert in myself, and I know I didn’t take anything ever! That’s true. I’m not telling you what Derek said isn’t true because I didn’t hear it, but I will tell you with Tate, it’s true.”
According to Derek, Chael was trying to get a response from him.
“What a wild way to get — is this like the ultimate get a response video video? Because it’s like, you didn’t hear what I said, but are sort of implying that you know exactly what I said at the same time.”
Derek explained that he published a ‘natty or not’ video on Andrew Tate last year. Even though Tate provided two biomarkers, Derek shared that it wasn’t enough information to reliably say whether or not Tate uses PEDs.
GM. pic.twitter.com/Qmbp9FCCrT
— Andrew Tate (@Cobratate) May 6, 2023
“He provided two biomarkers, one of which was free testosterone [during Derek’s video on Andrew Tate] and there were no gonadotropins and he had a disproportionately high free testosterone and that kind of didn’t really help him. And the actual age and stuff on the thing, it looked weird. It was kind of an odd thing to publish as proof, which is kind of what I went over in the video.”
“I was basically saying there’s no way to prove you’re natural with this blood work, but my conclusion in the video, I did make a pretty conclusive one,” said Derek.
“I know he does eat kind of what he wants, he has like one meal a day, a shit ton of coffee, and great genetics, but how does that the first thing that comes to your mind when you see this [Chael], is he eats donuts sometimes [therefore he’s natural].”
GM. pic.twitter.com/2ImIM0Y8FA
— Andrew Tate (@Cobratate) May 4, 2023
Considering that Tate’s physique looked arguably better after prison than before, Derek can understand why fans are accusing him of potential steroid/TRT use.
“The reason people are bringing this up I think is because his physique now is arguably in some pictures looks as good or better than before he went to jail. This is a before and after,” added Derek. “He’s looking housey as fu** just standing there.”
“Looking beefy dude, looking lean, looking bigger than even when he was younger. The guy is in top shape seemingly. And how? Was he slipped some gear in jail or what happened? That’s what people want to know.”
Having followed the Tate brothers for years, Derek said he ‘never saw anything that was indicative of hormone use.’ With that in mind, Derek doesn’t believe Tate is taking gear.
“I’ve seen their progress over time. I haven’t seen any sort of fluctuations [with their physiques] really, I never saw anything that was indicative of hormone use, and my best guess at the time of this video and still is, is that the guy is indeed natural. For Chael to be like, ‘It’s kind of wild for Derek to say he doesn’t know,’ I feel like it would have taken you two fuc**ng seconds to watch the video dude.”
“There’s some level of scrutiny whereby the evidence is leaning more toward natural than not, take from that what you will I guess,” said Derek. “Would it be possible to prove with absolute certainty that anyone is natural versus enhanced? No, not really. But you can get some pretty fuc**ng substantial evidence almost to the point it’s essentially irrefutable.”
PED expert Derek has become famous in the fitness sector for busting natty or not myths. Last year, he leaked private emails detailing a steroid cycle sent from Liver King (real name Brian Johnson). Following Derek’s revelation, Liver King later apologized for lying about his gear use and now claims to be steroid-free.
In one of his latest endeavors, Andrew Tate took aim at bodybuilders by suggesting they are all ‘pussys afraid of combat sports,’ which garnered reaction videos from Kenny KO and Greg Doucette.
RELATED: Joe Rogan & Derek from MPMD Examine Mike O’Hearn’s Insanely Jacked Physique: ‘Is It Possible He’s Natty?’
You can watch the full video from Derek More Plates More Dates below:
Published: 17 May, 2023 | 12:24 PM EDT
Dexter Jackson Maintains Herculean Chest With This Training Routine
Veteran bodybuilder Dexter Jackson has transformed his physique into a lean and athletic one from the heavily muscled Mr. Olympia body in recent years. He is now sharing the training regimen that helps him stay in shape at 54. Recently, Blade posted a video of his chest training session on YouTube.
Jackson is a retired IFBB Pro bodybuilder from the USA that competed in the Men’s Open division of the IFBB Pro League. In a career spanning over two and a half decades, he has won several Pro shows including the prestigious Mr. Olympia competition. Jackson hovered around the top three space for a long stretch of his bodybuilding career and gave dominant Mr. Olympia champions like Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler a run for their money.
Dexter’s sole Mr. Olympia win came in 2008 when he dethroned 4-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler. Apart from that, he has secured the Arnold Classic title a whopping five times in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2013, and 2015.
Since retiring from the sport after a ninth place finish at the 2020 Olympia, Blade has been prioritizing health and shed a significant amount of muscle mass in favor of long term health. Arthritis of the back was keeping him from going hard in the gym for a while. However, the Jacksonville native is now able to lift heavy after receiving stem cell therapy in Columbia a few weeks ago.
The former Mr. Olympia is active on social media and gives insights into his training routine through workout videos. Recently, he familiarized the followers with his chest training routine. So let’s check out which exercises help Dexter Jackson look lean and mean at 54.
Dexter Jackson’s Chest Training Circuit
Jackson is slowly increasing the amount of weight in his exercises after the stem cell therapy. Additionally, he has inclined more towards machine exercises off late to take the stress off the joints. The 54-year-old’s chest workout is an efficient combination of pressing and flying movements for complete development. He likes to keep the rep range between eight to twelve but ends up doing ten reps on most of the exercises.
Hammer Strength Iso Flat Bench Press
Jackson’s chest training circuit starts with this compound exercise on the plate-loaded machine. The exercise primarily targets the pectoralis major, anterior deltoids, and triceps muscles. Both arms and weight stacks of an iso-lateral machine move independently, which helps eliminate strength imbalances.
Machine chest press activates only about 79 percent of muscles compared to the bench press, which is ranks at the absolute top. However, chest press machines provide a much more stable environment. Also, they reduce overall workout time as the setup does not require elaborate preparation.
Additionally, studies have found that machine and free-weight exercises are equally effective in increasing muscle thickness and strength over long periods of time.
Jackson performs 4 sets of iso flat bench press with incrementally heavier weights and takes up the second and final pressing exercise of the day.
Machine Incline Chest Press
Incline chest press targets the clavicular head of the pectoralis major muscles, commonly known as the upper pecs. As per popular belief, an incline in the bench angle helps emphasize the upper pecs more than the other parts of the pectoralis major muscles. However, there is conclusive evidence which shows that the upper pecs experience higher muscle activity when the bench is inclined at an angle of 30 degrees. Additionally, incline press also increases anterior deltoid engagement.
Dexter Jackson performs four sets of incline chest press maintaining a ten rep range. After finishing with the exercise for filming the video, he spoke about the effects of competitive bodybuilding training on his joint health and what he did to prevent further deterioration. Jackson said:
“All the free weight stuff with heavy weights that I used to do, really really tore my joints up. So if you guys got joint pain and you’re looking to ease the pain, make sure you try and do some more Machine work. That’ll take a lot of stress off the joints versus free weight.”
Following this, he took to flyes and performed two variations of machine flyes.
Arsenal Strength Incline Flyes
While chest press improves the pushing strength of the upper body muscles, flyes contribute significantly towards developing the adduction ability of the upper body. Although flyes come nowhere close to the chest press in terms of pectoral, triceps, and anterior deltoid muscle activation, they stimulate biceps brachii to a far greater degree. Jackson performs the arsenal strength incline flyes maintaining a similar rep range of ten for four reps and moves on to the final exercise of the day.
Decline Cable Flyes
The 54-year-old performs four more sets of standing decline cable flyes. This exercise adds the final bit of stimulus to the chest muscles. It is an isolation movement that distributes the load evenly throughout the range of motion. Decline cable flyes serve as the fisher to Dexter Jackson’s training routine. He wraps up the training session after pushing through this exercise.
The chest training circuit follows this exercises sequence and rep range:
Hammer strength Iso Flat Bench Press (4 sets of 10 reps)
Machine Incline Chest Press (4 sets of 10 reps)
Arsenal Strength Incline Flyes (4 sets of 10 reps)
Decline Cable Flyes (4 sets of 10 reps)
Dexter Jackson has set a positive example for the young bodybuilders to follow when they eventually walk away from the sport. His admission about transitioning to machines to preserve joints, downsizing to a more normal human size and revelations about PED use will certainly help others realize the need to make changes in time.
You can watch the full workout video here, courtesy of Dexter Jackson’s personal YouTube channel:
References
Rodríguez-Ridao D, Antequera-Vique JA, Martín-Fuentes I, Muyor JM. Effect of Five Bench Inclinations on the Electromyographic Activity of the Pectoralis Major, Anterior Deltoid, and Triceps Brachii during the Bench Press Exercise. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Oct 8;17(19):7339. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17197339. PMID: 33049982; PMCID: PMC7579505.
Schwanbeck, Shane R.1; Cornish, Stephen M.2; Barss, Trevor3,4,5; Chilibeck, Philip D.1. Effects of Training With Free Weights Versus Machines on Muscle Mass, Strength, Free Testosterone, and Free Cortisol Levels. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 34(7):p 1851-1859, July 2020. | DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003349
Top 3 Most Effective Chest Exercises (Solely funded by a grant from American Council of Exercise) (Authors – Whitnee Schankee, John P. Porcari, Emmanuel Felix, Charles Hendrix and Carl Foster)
Published: 17 May, 2023 | 10:48 AM EDT
Flex Lewis Talks Steroid Use, Says He Could’ve Won Open Mr. Olympia: ‘I Beat Hadi & Lunsford’
Welsh bodybuilding icon Flex Lewis pioneered the gold standard for the Men’s 212 division during his days of competition. Although he was eyeing a move to the Open division, he chose to hang up his posing trunks officially last year. In a recent episode of Bradley Martyn’s Raw Talk, Lewis opened up on his steroid use and argued that he could’ve won Mr. Olympia in the Open based on the results of the 2022 Mr. Olympia.
Flex Lewis made a name for himself as a 212 competitor with insane arms, overall muscle development, and next-level conditioning. In 2011, Lewis narrowly missed out on 212 Olympia gold to Kevin English in his debut. He returned with a vengeance the next year and secured his maiden Sandow trophy at the 2012 Mr. Olympia.
He went on a dominant run that saw him win seven 212 Olympia titles in a row from 2012-2018. Besides the Olympia, Lewis also went undefeated in other contests such as the EVL Prague Pro, the inaugural 212 event at the Arnold Sports Festival, and more.
Lewis was considering the idea of moving to the Men’s Open class but eventually decided against it. He announced his retirement from competition in May 2022 due to health problems stemming from contest prep issues. Since stepping away, Lewis dropped down in size significantly. He showed off his downsized look weighing 213.6 pounds last June.
Flex Lewis / Instagram
Flex continued to lean down and even got on a personalized TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) plan to help him achieve his new physique goal. He offered a jacked physique update presenting his new look in Sep. 2022. Then, he laid out an intense arms workout routine targeting triceps and biceps while teasing the possibility of a comeback months later.
In Nov. 2022, Flex Lewis teamed up with budding Men’s Open prospect Andrew Jacked to help him get ready for the 2022 Mr. Olympia. He mentored Jacked through a grueling quads training session. The pair regrouped for another taxing back workout weeks later.
The 39-year-old showed off his shredded physique in an update earlier this year. He laid out the diet and training regimen he utilized to gain weight after dropping 60 pounds as he reported a weight of 200 pounds. Lewis has not completely shut the door on competing again. He revealed he would be willing to entertain a comeback, but only if it’s for a seven-figure deal.
Flex Lewis opens up on his steroid use & cautions others
Flex Lewis / Instagram
In a recent YouTube video, Flex Lewis discussed details pertaining to his steroid use.
“The truth of the matter is I went through a sport where I had a weight cut,” said Lewis. “I had to make a class. I never had the ability to have an incredible off-season and if I was to do more to get in shape then I would make weight. I was able to retire very healthy, obviously injuries and stuff like that, but I have two kids whilst I’ve been prepping, retired with all my hair. This means nothing or something.
“Take it from me. I have nothing to hide by saying this legitimately I’ve done obviously more than the average gym-goer but I never used and abused my body. Thankfully, I had a coach, Neil Hill, who is known for being very conservative. His mindset was if you can grown on ABC why do you need XYZ?”
He issued a warning to others against using gear too much.
“Anybody young that makes the decision to go that route, first of all, whatever they do they are going to respond but the tren aspect of things, holy sh*t! There’s people joining the gym and talking about taking that stuff. I didn’t use that stuff until four weeks out from my show. That’s the god’s honest truth. There was no reason for me to use it in the off-season for obvious reasons I had to make a weight cut. But somebody now just to look good in the gym, there’s so many. You can forget kids to be honest with you if you’re running this for day in day out for years and years.”
“In terms of the supplementation that some of these guys are taking, you start off with that, that’s not going to make you a better bodybuilder. It’s actually going to be a detriment to you because you are going to destroy your receptors and then when you go okay I’m not growing so now I have to take more and that’s the mentality. More is better. It’s not. It’s the glass gets full then there’s nowhere else to go.”
Lewis highlighted the dangers of using Trenbolone for regular gym-goers.
“I have an end goal to compete, to be the best in the world, by adding things periodically you knew what was working what wasn’t working but then in the off-season you’re eating and drinking everything. A lot of these guys train their a** off Monday to Friday and then chase pu**y at the clubs on the weekends and they’re doing stacks that some guys are doing pre-contest which blows my mind. The trending word I see everywhere is tren. It blows my mind. That’s so mainstream that guys are coming up to me like what do you think about this?”
Lewis: ‘I Could Have Been the First Champ-Champ’
Flex Lewis is confident he could have become the first athlete to win titles in 212 and the Open division at the Mr. Olympia contest.
“I truly believe I would’ve won the Olympia or been the first ever champ-champ but it’s a woulda, coulda, shoulda right? But if you look at the people who just came first and second, I beat them both. Hadi just won, I beat him in Korea and Derek Lunsford came second, who took over the reign from me as a 212 champ, incredible guy, will be a champion in the future but I’ve beaten him too. So, it would’ve been a great mix for me to be up in that.
“I felt [the direction of Open bodybuilding] was going there. That’s one of the reasons why because originally when I had this mentality of shifting from the 212 to the Open, people were telling me no they’re always going to go for the biggest guy. But then shape and structure started coming through because of guys like Chris Bumstead and the Classic Physique getting such a great response.
“I wanted to have the best of both worlds, bringing Classic lines, symmetry, and structure, and bring it to the Open class.”
Lewis revealed many people were trying to convince him to return, including a judge who attempted to lure him out of retirement following Olympia.
“There’s a lot of people trying to get me back out of that mentality but I was okay. I moved on, done a lot of different things. I had to process it my own way.”
“When I made that decision, I had to stand on my two feet and say no. Everybody wanted me to come back. After the Olympia, you know any judge came up to my ear and basically said hey you could have won this. You could do it next year, good hype. My heart was in this sport since I was 19. I devoted my life to this craft and right now, I’ve set myself up for that segue. But that transition was tough though.”
Flex Lewis gave fans a look into three of his favorite exercises for building massive triceps two weeks ago. He joined forces with Strongman legend Eddie Hall for a collaborative arm workout session days later.
You can watch the full video below:
RELATED: Retired Bodybuilder Flex Lewis Crushes a Sleeve-Ripping Arms Workout on Fans’ Demand
Lewis is the winningest Men’s 212 competitor in the history of the Mr. Olympia show with seven wins. He appears content with his achievements and has moved on to other business ventures.
Published: 16 May, 2023 | 10:16 PM EDT
Ramon Queiroz Unveils Massive 251-Lb Physique Update in 2023 Off-Season, Crushes Chest Workout
Rising Brazilian star Ramon Queiroz is on a mission to win his first Classic Physique Olympia title later this year. In a recent YouTube video, Queiroz pushed through a chest workout and shared a physique update.
Queiroz has quickly become one of the biggest names in his respective division, courtesy of his popping biceps, thin waist, and sharp conditioning. He gained steam in the IFBB Pro League following his second-place finish at the 2021 Europa Pro Championships. In his Olympia debut, he finished fifth.
Forging ahead with a huge following, Queiroz took to the 2022 Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio. Ultimately, he came close to gold but was denied the title by two-time champion Terrence Ruffin. Nevertheless, fans instantly recognized Queiroz as a future threat to four-time Classic Physique Olympia Chris Bumstead.
Last December’s Mr. Olympia contest saw Bumstead secure another Classic Physique title. However, before Ramon got the chance to step on stage, he was nearly disqualified after initially missing the height/weight cap requirement. Since the Classic Physique weight cap is based on an athlete’s height, some have argued that taller competitors such as Bumstead have a distinct advantage over shorter competitors.
Back in March, Queiroz won his first Classic Physique Arnold Classic title. En route to the victory, he defeated Germany’s Urs Kalecinski and Alex Cambronero. Given his recent victory, many fans have dubbed him a promising contender for the biggest show of the year.
251-Lb Ramon Queiroz Showcases Intense Chest Training Session & Impressive Physique Update
Find a list of the exercises used by Queiroz below:
Despite pushing each other on stage, Bumstead and Queiroz aren’t opposed to teaming up in the training room. Shortly after the 2023 Arnold Classic, they joined hands for a laborious back workout, which featured six movements.
While Bumstead has been eying retirement for quite some time, it’s uncertain when he’ll actually pull the trigger on his career. He made it clear that he will assess his physique and mental outlook year-by-year, but as of right now, his sole focus is on winning a fifth Classic Physique Olympia title. Should he decide to stop competing, many believe Queiroz becoming an Olympia winner is a foregone conclusion.
Considering his success in Ohio, Ramon Queiroz is the leading man to upset Cbum in November. Since Bumstead still has room to grow in Classic Physique, fans have questioned whether or not the weight/height cap should be adjusted to offer a more even playing field for other competitors.
RELATED: Chris Bumstead Opens Up on Pressures of Being Dominant: “I’m Afraid That I’m Going to Lose”
Watch the full video below from the Max Titanium YouTube channel:
Published: 16 May, 2023 | 1:04 PM EDT
Arnold Schwarzenegger Leads Workout, Discusses Sleep & Alcohol with Comedians Bert Kreischer & Fortune Feimster
Bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s love for the pump was on full display in a special workout collaboration. In a recent YouTube video, Schwarzenegger joined comedians Bert Kreischer and Fortune Feimster for an upper body training session.
Competing in the 1970s and 80s as a bodybuilding pro, Schwarzenegger reached the top of the sport with exceptional proportions, crazy bicep peaks, and one of the best chests of all time. While navigating his career, Schwarzenegger shared the stage with IFBB Pro League icons such as Frank Zane, Franco Columbo, and Sergio Oliva en route to winning seven Mr. Olympia titles.
As a movie star and former governor of California, Schwarzenegger is a pioneer of the sport and has played a major role in making bodybuilding more mainstream. In addition to starring in the 1977 docudrama Pumping Iron, the 75-year-old runs the annual Arnold Sports Festival, which he co-created with the late Jim Lorimer in 1989.
In a change of pace, Schwarzenegger decided to promote his Netflix series FUBAR with comedians Bert Kreischer, and Fortune Feimster. He put them through a four-exercise routine that worked the delts and chest, which you can find below.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bert Kreischer, and Feimster Push Through Workout Demonstration
Schwarzenegger led the training session and started with machine lat pulldowns.
“Simple pull-down machine, all the way down until you hit the bottom, and then all the way up, and down, and up, and down,” said Arnold Schwarzenegger. “Bert is next, nice and easy nice and easy, stand up grab the top part [and then sit down]. All the way down, go all the way down. Don’t stretch the biceps, we’re training the wings [delts].”
During Fortune’s sets, Schwarzenegger instructed her to go deeper into the contraction.
“No pain, no gain,” said the icon. “I’m just [training] maintaining, but I don’t train heavy anymore too many heart surgeries.”
“Oh, well those are coming for me,” said Bert Kreischer.
Bert asks Schwarzenegger to count her set in German.
“This makes me sound like I’m in trouble,” shared Fortune Feimster.
Schwarzenegger moved to machine incline presses. Then, he revealed his max deadlift was 710 pounds.
“For the chest, all the way down and then all the way up,” Schwarzenegger suggested. “A pump up routine: how to get delts and chest. The key thing is to do it the right way, when you go down in squat position, then you use your thighs and back at the same time [for a deadlift]. 710 [pounds was my max deadlift.”
For his next demonstration, Schwarzenegger offered guidance while performing machine-seated rows.
“This is a stretch exercise, you stretch and you flex.”
Schwarzenegger revealed that he commonly used hotel fitness centers for staying in shape during acting projects. According to Arnold, his best movie physique was displayed during Conan, The Barbarian 2.
“Be careful with the shoulders and just push forward and push them together as much as you can,” said Arnold. “Yes, I’ve had surgeries, shoulders, hips, knees, yeah, the whole body.”
When asked about the quality of his sleep and alcohol consumption, Schwarzenegger had the following to say:
“Six or seven hours, yeah very well, not always. No [I don’t drink alcohol]. Not much, not very often, maybe a little bit of wine, but that’s maybe once a week. I used to drink more, like 10 shots of Schnapps, but not anymore.”
Finally, Schwarzenegger discussed his recently released Netflix series FUBAR. He then stressed that luck doesn’t exist.
“There’s no such thing as luck, there’s talent, and then talent meets opportunity, that’s luck,” said Schwarzenegger. “For her to jump into a high-action series with big players, it’s an opportunity. Why is there an opportunity? Because the talent is there and everybody thought it was to be funny, the intense scenes, stabbing, throwing, cutting the throat and all that stuff, but there’s comedic stuff too there that makes people laugh.”
Whether it’s detail-oriented training sessions or advice on living a healthier life, Schwarzenegger is dedicated to longevity. In a previous newsletter, the Austrian native shared how caffeine can serve as a ‘champion performance-enhancer,’ if used as a pre-workout option.
Schwarzenegger offered the comedians advice on proper form and follow-through despite their lack of experience. Even with his busy schedule, Schwarzenegger is determined to spread the knowledge he’s acquired over the years.
RELATED: Arnold Schwarzenegger Recommends ‘Wave Training’ To Get Out Of A Rut
Watch the full YouTube video below:
Published: 16 May, 2023 | 11:27 AM EDT
Jay Cutler: “Since Ronnie Coleman Stepped Away, I Don’t Know If Anyone Has Come Close to His Physique”
Bodybuilding icon Jay Cutler believes Ronnie Coleman’s physique has stood the test of time. In a recent Don’t Be Sour podcast, Cutler discussed Coleman’s next-level physique, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the role of steroids in bodybuilding.
Ronnie Coleman cemented himself as an all-time great with eight Mr. Olympia titles from 1998-2005. Sharing the stage with legends like Flex Wheeler, Kevin Levrone, Shawn Ray, and Chris Cormier, many consider Coleman to be one of the greatest bodybuilders to ever compete.
In 2006, Ronnie Coleman was dethroned by his rival Jay Cutler, who managed to secure a total of four Mr. Olympia victories. However, Cutler was defeated by Dexter Jackson in 2008. Ultimately, Cutler would become the only Men’s Open pro to win back an Olympia title, which he accomplished in 2009 while delivering his iconic quad-stomp pose.
And while it’s been almost 15 years since Coleman stepped on stage, his successor, Cutler, believes no one in the IFBB Pro League has come close to matching the sheer size, volume, and conditioning he displayed throughout his prime.
Jay Cutler Compares Legacies of Ronnie Coleman & Arnold Schwarzenegger
Cutler believes bodybuilders today have more advantages than athletes who trained during Schwarzenegger’s era.
“At his point, where bodybuilding was, he was ahead of it, he won seven in a row, I mean some of them he didn’t really have a lot of competition, they weren’t necessarily paid to be bodybuilders on that level where today there’s great revenue to be a bodybuilder right? You get paid and win money.”
In Jay’s honest opinion, no one has ever come close to Coleman’s physique.
“By the physique and you know… the transition of time, just Ronnie pushed the physique level to just the crazy conditioning, muscle density quality right? Where, you know, he was like a powerlifter and a bodybuilder together; he broke all weight records and had a crazy physique. To be honest, I mean since Coleman stepped away, I don’t know if anyone has even come close to his physique,” said Jay Cutler.
There have been plenty of great champions, but Cutler believes Coleman separated himself from his peers with unmatched size.
“Phil Heath was really good, but not as big and balanced as Coleman was on a size scale, but Phil held his own. Not to say Dexter Jackson hasn’t been great or Big Ramy or Shawn Rhoden or Brandon Curry,” added Cutler.
Cutler conceded that Arnold Schwarzenegger has done more for the sport than Coleman given his ability to break boundaries and trailblaze.
“Arnold has done definitely was more on a total scale, I mean to be an actor, the politician, yeah, put the Olympia on the map, like that’s why you could really do this circular pattern of what a GOAT is. It just depends on your description of what the greatest of all time is.”
Cutler Opens Up on How Steroids Have Changed Since Schwarzenegger’s Era
According to Cutler, enhancements, training, and workout theories have changed substantially since Scwarzenegger’s time on stage. He added that bodybuilders are now afforded the opportunity to fund themselves better with social media.
“Definitely the enhancements changed, but the nutrition changed a lot. The equipment that we train on was way different. Yes, free weights and the training theories — like volume training, I think Arnold overtrained himself a lot, they would spend all day working out and not following a nutrition pattern that would fulfill that. Now, as you know, the rest and the growth is done out of the gym. I think their perception was most of the growth was done inside the gym. I feel like the recovery process, remember, now, people are paid to do this so they can allow themselves not to go out and work a secondary job and instead fund themselves with a career.”
Back when he competed, Cutler mentioned there were times when he needed ‘exotic’ drugs which required him to go overseas.
“Preparing for each year’s contest, whether you needed exotics or whatever else and that was not legal to get. I mean, at certain times you could maybe buy things overseas, but you still need to bring them to the United States or whatever else,” said Cutler. “People can get in trouble [for steroids] but remember, the manufacturing, you’re talking about compounding, steroids to whatever else, those seem to be the big reports but if you’re using for general use, I don’t know what the ramifications of that are. I just know it’s something that some people are willing to take to succeed in what they do.”
The bodybuilding icon stressed that protocols differ depending on the person. When asked if it was possible to win Mr. Olympia drug-free, Cutler dismissed it as a possibility.
“Every guy is not on the same protocol. Yes, certain guys have to take more or less and there’s certain protocols that people use. Is it necessary? You can do a contest without using and kinds of drugs, but you’ll be at a disadvantage because people ahead of you will use compounds that you’re not. Genetics can only take you so far if that makes sense. Yes [you have to use steroids to win] the current Mr. Olympia, yes.”
This isn’t the first time that Jay Cutler took a closer look at performance-enhancing drugs in bodybuilding. During a recent Cutler Cast podcast, the Massachusetts native revealed that he generally cycled on and off steroids every few months. Cutler, who competed against Coleman, admires his rival’s physique for its perfect combination of mass, definition, and shape. Considering his overall package, Cutler is confident that no one has come close to what ‘The King’ presented in his prime years.
RELATED: Jay Cutler Shares Jacked Physique Update Ahead of ‘Fit for 50’ Transformation Challenge
Watch the full video below on the Don’t Be Sour YouTube channel:
Published: 15 May, 2023 | 6:32 PM EDT
Ronnie Coleman ‘Feeling Like Old Self’ Again After Stem Cell Treatments: ‘I’m Very Hopeful’
Bodybuilding legend Ronnie Coleman‘s health appears to be improving following another round of stem cell treatment. In a recent YouTube video, Coleman revealed that his continued therapy has helped reduce his painkiller usage by more than half.
After claiming the Mr. Olympia throne in 1998, Coleman held the title for almost a decade, having captured eight Sandows. He is tied with Lee Haney for the most wins on the Mr. Olympia stage ever. While competing actively, Coleman was revered for his massive proportions, fullness, and vascular conditioning.
Coleman faced the who’s who of the Open class during his tenure, pushing the limits of his body against names like Flex Wheeler, Kevin Levrone, and Dexter Jackson. In 2006, Coleman was finally dethroned by his long-time rival Jay Cutler and later retired in 2007.
Coleman was also celebrated in the bodybuilding community for his jarring power. During the height of his career, Ronnie recorded some incredible feats of strength, including a 2,300-pound leg press and an 800-pound deadlift.
It’s no mystery that Coleman has suffered several health issues since his bodybuilding departure. His back has been operated on more than 10 times and Coleman struggles to walk without assistance. He hopes his latest string of stem cell treatments will direct him toward a healthier and more active life.
Ronnie Coleman Cuts Painkillers by 50% After Stem Cell Treatments: ‘I’ve Made Some Major Improvements’
When asked about his progress, Coleman had the following to say:
“I’ve made some major improvements since I’ve been coming here. I was in a lot of pain when I first started. Now, my pain levels are like almost – almost – eight, nine somewhere in there and you guys got it all the way down – I’ve been coming here almost two years I think; somewhere in there. I found the more I was coming, the better I was getting.
Now it’s been like nine months and I saw that you know it tried to increase a little bit but I see now that I have to come more often to get the treatments because when I come more often I know my improvements will get better and better and better. The way they were before. The key here I see now is more treatment, the better off you’re going to be,” Ronnie Coleman shared.
The medical staff revealed that the stem cell treatments are intended to help Coleman’s nerve damage over the course of a few years.
“What we’re looking for Ronnie, is to improve the nerve damage, which he has had after all of these years, it takes a while, it depends on every patient but at least around two years to have nerve recovery,” the medical assistant explained.
After two years of stem cell treatments, Coleman said the numbness in his arms and shoulders subsided.
“When I had my surgeries and that numbness in my arms and shoulders, my doctors told me it was going to take two years for the nerve damage to go away and it was two years exactly to the date from my last surgery that the numbness went away.”
“I’m very hopeful that this is going to be the same thing,” said Coleman. ”
“When I was coming like every three to four months, I noticed that my numbness would get a whole lot better but I noted that it came back a little bit more when I like skipped all those months and in had been like nine months now, I know it was trying to come back on me. As I was saying earlier, the more that I come, the more consistent I am with my treatment, the better off I am.”
Coleman highlighted that the stem cell treatments have reduced his need to take painkillers by more than 50%.
“When I first came in I was doing like 30 milligrams like four times a day, I think after… like you said, two or three treatments, I was going down to 15 milligrams three times a day,” Coleman said. “Yeah [it helped with the doses], I was lucky.”
Coleman’s IGF-1 Score: 85.3*
The doctor explained that Coleman’s IGF-1 score is in the proper range for his age group.
Before wrapping up for the day, the facility had Coleman train in a hyperbaric chamber.
“What’s up guys, Big Ron here, I want to thank Danny G and their Regenamax team and everything they’ve done for me, yeah buddy.”
In addition to keeping fans informed about his health and well-being, Coleman offered his take on the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia competition this November. According to the eight-time winner, former 212 Olympia Derek Lunsford will take out Hadi Choopan at the upcoming show.
As one of bodybuilding’s most beloved figures, the community would treasure nothing more than to see Coleman’s health back to 100%. With his stem cell treatments showing promising results, he may soon achieve his goal of walking unassisted.
RELATED: Bodybuilding Legend Ronnie Coleman Selling House for $495K After 26-Year Residence
Watch the full video below from Coleman’s YouTube channel:
Published: 15 May, 2023 | 4:44 PM EDT
Derek Lunsford & Samson Dauda Stand Out as 2023 Mr. Olympia Favorites After Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing
Jim Manion’s 2023 Pittsburgh Pro concluded with six new champions. However, one of the biggest talking points of the weekend was the guest posing spectacle, which featured Derek Lunsford, Nick Walker, Samson Dauda, Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay, Hunter Labrada, and Shaun Clarida.
Brimming with contenders, the Men’s Open division continues to add excitement to the sport, and the division has seen major changes as of late. At last year’s 2022 Pittsburgh Pro, Big Ramy failed to show up. Instead, Derek Lunsford took his place and dominated headlines for weeks. He posed alongside Quinton Eriya, Nick Walker, Brandon Curry, and Labrada. While Ramy later apologized for his absence, some were concerned that his misstep might cost him on the horizon.
In Sept. 2022, Derek Lunsford accepted a special invitation to compete in the Open class at Mr. Olympia. With zero size limitations, Lunsford would shock the world by taking second place to his teammate and newly crowned champion, Hadi Choopan. Surprisingly, Ramy fell to fifth.
Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing / gilcoproductions
Nick Walker, who earned third at the same contest, made a quick turnaround at the 2023 Arnold Classic in March. He entered the show as the on-paper favorite but was outmatched by Samson Dauda in second place as judges deemed the Nigerian’s physique more complete.
With this year’s Mr. Olympia show taking place in less than six months, many of the division’s top contenders stormed the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro for a special guest posing appearance. Given the shape and fullness of Lunsford in the 2023 off-season, many fans believe he has the greatest chance of dethroning Choopan in November.
Is Derek Lunsford or Samson Dauda the 2023 Mr. Olympia No. 1 Contender? – Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing Highlights
Find pictures and videos below from the guest posing event at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro last weekend:
Given the physiques on display in Pittsburgh, it’s safe to say this year’s Mr. Olympia contest will be immensely competitive. Some Open contenders such as Nick Walker believe Choopan won’t repeat as champion. With that in mind, ‘The Mutant’ envisions the next Mr. Olympia title being won by himself or Lunsford.
Two-time Arnold Classic winner William Bonac also chimed in on the 2023 Olympia discussion. He appeared on The Menace Podcast with Dennis James and recently predicted Choopan will defend successfully. However, he acknowledged that the Mr. Olympia title is within Walker’s grasp if he can add more quad sweep.
Meanwhile, Samson Dauda, fresh off his 2023 Arnold Classic victory, is confident he has the skills to upset the champ. According to Dauda, if he improves his back, there are no other areas in which Derek or Hadi can beat him.
RELATED: Ronnie Coleman Predicts Derek Lunsford Will Defeat Hadi Choopan at 2023 Mr. Olympia
Big Ramy’s plans for the rest of the year are unclear, as the former champion suggested he might take a break. Nevertheless, the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest is still generating a lot of excitement among the fans, who are eager to see how Choopan copes with the challenge of defending his title.
Published: 15 May, 2023 | 11:06 AM EDT
Jay Cutler Shares Jacked Physique Update Ahead of ‘Fit for 50’ Transformation Challenge
Bodybuilding legend Jay Cutler dominated the IFBB Pro League Men’s Open division in the mid-2000s with his monstrous muscle mass and size. While he moved on from professional competition years ago, he has kept up an insanely high fitness level. In a recent post made on Instagram, Cutler shared a jacked physique update ahead of his ‘Fit for 50’ body transformation challenge.
Jay Cutler presented one of the best packages of any Open competitor during his days of competing on stage. He shared a fierce rivalry with legendary bodybuilder Ronnie Coleman. Cutler racked up three Arnold Classic titles while taking four silvers at Mr. Olympia, falling short of the eight-time Mr. Olympia champ on each occasion. In 2006, Cutler returned with a vengeance and finally won his maiden Sandow trophy. He defended the title successfully the next year before getting dethroned by Dexter Jackson in 2008. He reclaimed the title and hung up his posing trunks with four wins under his belt.
Cutler has not lost his passion for working out. He’s working on achieving his best look outside of competition as part of his personal ‘Fit for 50’ body transformation challenge.
Earlier this year, Cutler gave fans a look into his chest training techniques. He laid out the four exercises he used to target the chest after pairing the session with a brief calves workout routine. Then, he left the fans stunned with a massive physique update as part of the challenge. The update ignited speculation about whether Cutler would make a comeback for the returning 2023 Masters Olympia. However, renowned coach Chris Aceto shut down the talks quickly.
via YouTube @JayCutlerTV
Cutler is confident he could improve his physique through proper nutrition, training, and TRT (testosterone replacement therapy). He argued against using other steroids or amping up the intensity based on his existing package last month.
Jay Cutler broke down his training style in comparison to six-time Mr. Olympia Dorian Yates a few weeks ago. Cutler believed in using high-volume routines in stark contrast to Yates’ high-intensity training methods where he’d push himself to near failure in every session. He also reported eliminating fasted cardio from his routine.
Last month, Cutler joined forces with Classic Physique standout Urs Kalecinski for a heavy back workout. He lauded the rising German sensation’s potential and encouraged him to increase his presence in the American market.
The 49-year-old laid out the high-protein diet he’s utilizing in preparation for the body transformation challenge along with a shredded physique update last week.
Jay Cutler shares jacked physique update ahead of ‘Fit for 50’ transformation challenge
In a recent Instagram post, Jay Cutler shared an impressive physique update ahead of his ‘Fit for 50’ body transformation challenge.
He revealed he tipped the scales at 239.5 pounds in the update.
“239.5. It begins,” wrote Cutler.
Jay Cutler gave his take on the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro earlier this week. He backed former 212 Olympia champ and Men’s Open sensation Derek Lunsford to turn in another stunning performance. He also extended his support for some of the other elite contenders, including Nick Walker, Samson Dauda, and former two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay.
Cutler offered an intense lower body training routine inspired by quad-stomp a few days ago. He opened up on his ambitions to get to a lower body fat percentage, preferably between 6 and 8 percent this year.
Based on the latest update, Cutler appears to be in good shape and will likely crush his goal by the time his 50th birthday comes around.
Published: 14 May, 2023 | 10:36 AM EDT
Dana Linn Bailey Joins Jay Cutler, Defends Natural Status, Talks Health Scares & Thyroid Issues
Dana Linn-Bailey is a pioneer of the growing Women’s Physique division. In a recent Cutler Cast podcast, Linn-Bailey discussed a number of topics including breast implants, competing drug-free, thyroid issues, and Kai Greene’s influence on her posing routines.
Despite struggling to find her footing in the IFBB Pro League, Dana Linn-Bailey would eventually carve out a successful career, having graced the stage with a unique balance of muscularity, conditioning, and detail. Her striated chest and shoulders helped her reach the pinnacle of bodybuilding in 2013 when she claimed her lone Olympia title in the newly created Women’s Physique category.
While she would surrender gold to Juliana Malacarne in 2014, Dana continues to prove herself in the training room and online. Since stepping away from the sport, she’s built a successful empire, boasting over 2 million followers on Instagram and half a million on YouTube.
Dana’s ability to create engaging content online has only bolstered her name recognition within the bodybuilding and fitness communities. She has taken part in brutal workouts with four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler, as well as Hany Rambod, who coached Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan to first and second at last year’s 2022 Olympia.
Sitting down with Cutler, DLB spoke about breast implants and whether or not she uses steroids. In addition, she discussed health problems stemming from a Rhabdomyolysis infection and a thyroid condition.
Dana Linn-Bailey Looks Back on Breast Implant Pressures and Talks ‘Natty or Not’ Status
Linn Bailey ultimately decided that she didn’t want the procedure despite what it could have done to further her career.
“As a competitor, you want – your wanting to do, like what if I stopped training the way I trained and I became a pro Figure girl, I wouldn’t have been the first Physique winner; I followed what I wanted and I just think it’s such a weird decision to even think, just not getting boob implants.”
“We sat down because I wanted to do this thing, and I wasn’t doing well. I thought, ‘Cool, I’m not going to get sponsored, none of this is going to be happening, I won’t be there unless I do well in this sport.’ So I sat down, ‘Do I get them so I actually do well?’ He’s like [her husband] he just asked me, ‘Do you want them?’ I’m like, ‘Not really.’ Because again, I went back to, ‘How am I going to bench?’” said Bailey.
“We just sort of moved forward with it [not getting implants], he’s like, ‘You’re perfect the way you are, you’re getting attention no one else is getting by being you. So there’s something there.’”
According to Dana, she suffers from hyperthyroidism. Having considered a comeback, Dana said if she followed through, she would prove her natural status by receiving drug tests in the weeks leading up to the show.
“If I travel a lot my labs will be off because stress messes with your thyroid, the thyroid messes up everything. It’s something I have to regulate all the time. Every year, I was always like, yeah, I was like maybe I’ll come back, I feel like I need to do something. And Rob’s always been the one like, ‘No don’t do it.’ He’s so… I just felt like it would be great for business.”
“There’s a part of me that just wants to see what the heck I would look like on stage but I don’t want to see myself next to the girls that are winning now,” laughs Bailey.
“Cool, I’m going to use this, if I’m going to compete, I’ll get drug tested every single week leading up to the show to just be like, ‘Suck it guys.’ They’ll probably just say I had a doctor alter it, it’s okay I’ll never win it’s fine. That was going to be my, ‘Okay, if I do compete I’m going to do it at a different angle.’ Only to prove, that hey you can do this. It takes 30 weeks for me [a prep drug-free].”
Linn-Bailey Details Health Struggles, Names Kai Greene As Biggest Posing Inspiration
In addition to problems with her thyroid, Dana revealed that she contracted Rhabdomyolysis and said it caused her liver to fail.
“Usually with Rhabdomyolysis it affects your liver your pee will be like brown a brownish, it will be discolored because it’s breaking everything down, but my pee was fine, and she thought that was so weird and but she said, ‘I’m pretty sure you have rhabdo.’ Like, ‘You shouldn’t have done the GHDs it’s a huge no-no in the CrossFit world, they shouldn’t have let you do that.”
“I went to the doctor probably by Friday, they took my labs, Saturday or finally got them back a day or two, this is like a week later, my labs were astronomical. I can only imagine what they probably were on Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday. So literally, my liver was not – I was in liver failure.”
Even though she didn’t have a lot of female bodybuilding idols, Dana was inspired by the detail and artistry of Kai Greene’s posing skills.
“I’m such a meathead. All my favorite bodybuilders were all men, I never looked at women. Like Kai [Greene] as far as posing and stuff – like a lot of my routines I used to just watch videos of him posing and a lot of the moves and lot of my poses are from him.”
Given her decorated career and active lifestyle, there’s a lot to learn from DLB. From building bigger biceps to her three favorite squat tips, she makes her fans feel included. She also shares her personal struggles and achievements, inspiring others to overcome their own challenges and pursue their goals.
Unafraid to speak her mind, Dana Linn-Bailey is a trailblazer of the sport who paved the way in helping make the Women’s Physique division one of the most exciting in the IFBB Pro League.
Watch the full video below, from the Cutler Cast YouTube channel:
Published: 13 May, 2023 | 11:50 AM EDT