Tag: Videos
Terrick El Guindy On Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ‘Forever Legacy’: ‘He’s an Icon of Modern Times’
Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s overall impact on bodybuilding is tough to measure given his accolades, but Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy gave it his best shot. In a recent Olympia TV YouTube video, El Guindy recapped Arnold Schwarzenegger’s career, evaluated his physique, and named him the most iconic bodybuilder of all time.
No one can deny that Arnold Schwarzenegger is the most famous and recognizable figure in bodybuilding today. But he didn’t achieve that status overnight. He had to work diligently, stay disciplined, and maintain consistency in his pursuits both on and off the stage.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Schwarzenegger dominated the sport with his unique and impressive physique highlighted by his massive biceps and full chest. These features set him apart from the rest of the IFBB Pro League competitors at the time.
En route to winning seven Sandow trophies, Schwarzenegger faced some cutthroat opponents during his tenure, such as Frank Zane and Sergio Oliva, who both won the Mr. Olympia title three times. He also had a close call with Mike Mentzer, who many think should have beaten Schwarzenegger in the controversial 1980 Mr. Olympia comeback, like Samir Bannout. Looking back on his career, Schwarzenegger mentioned that Oliva was his toughest opponent by far.
Aside from bodybuilding, Schwarzenegger has enjoyed great success as an actor, philanthropist, and politician. He continues to take part in TV shows and films, many of which have gained considerable traction over the last few months. To honor one of the greatest talents of this generation, bodybuilding judge Terrick El Guindy took a closer look at Schwarzenegger’s career and accomplishments.
Terrick El Guindy Reviews Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Documentary, Physique, and Legacy
El Guindy named Schwarzenegger the greatest icon in bodybuilding.
“I loved this documentary. Arnold Schwarzenegger is the greatest icon in bodybuilding and for many of us, the greatest icon in the acting world. Who doesn’t love his movies? Arnold Schwarzenegger is a legacy and will be a legacy forever.”
Then, El Guindy shared his thoughts on Arnold’s physique before he went on to become a dominant champion.
“This guy has very very large clavicle bones, huge structure, he’s massive. But he needed to be more conditioned to overcome the winner Frank Zane. Now, Arnold is a younger competitor he has all the potential but in order for him to beat some of these smaller more experienced bodybuilders, he’s going to have to work on his conditioning.”
El Guindy said Arnold’s initial goal was to be like his idol Reg Parks.
“His hero was Reg Park. Yes. Hercules. He was always always thinking about him. He wanted to be like him. He saw him in the movies, he saw him in the magazines, and eventually, he met him in London. He was the Arnold for Arnold Schwarzenegger. And yes, Reg Park is one of the greatest bodybuilders of all times and he was Arnold’s hero. Like everyone else, Arnold always, and like us, had a hero.”
El Guindy took a closer look at the physique Schwarzenegger brought to 1968 Mr. Olympia where he lost in second to Frank Zane.
“He came to America to compete in 1968 against Frank Zane. He thought – he was convinced – that he was going to win that competition. He was the big shot in Europe. Everybody knew him and he did not win. He came in second. He was huge but he wasn’t conditioned. He lost to Frank Zane who eventually became a great friend along with Franco Columbo and helped him become more conditioned for the future. Frank Zane and Franco Columbo are the two bodybuilders that truly helped Arnold become better,” said Terrick El Guindy.
Lastly, El Guindy underlined Arnold’s courage and said he continues to ‘carry the legacy of bodybuilding for all of us.’
“Arnold was very courageous in this documentary, opening up to all his great victories but also some of the mistakes that he has made in life. He has succeeded after all. He has managed to have a great career and a great family life. And I commend Arnold because all of us make mistakes and Arnold just like any other human, has made mistakes but he has survived. He has survived from the beginning to the end to become this icon of modern times. Arnold Schwarzenegger lost many friends like Franco Columbo, he lost his hero Reg Park, but he continues to carry the legacy of bodybuilding for all of us.”
Schwarzenegger recently looked back on the struggles he encountered during his acting career. In an honest interview with Academy Museum, ‘The Austrian Oak’ talked about an ‘unbelievable turnaround’ in acting despite some in the industry suggesting that his muscles and accent would get in the way of procuring movie roles.
Bodybuilding hasn’t always been as mainstream or accepted as it is nowadays. Schwarzenegger has discussed this at length before. However, he believes the turning point for the sport’s popularity came following his role in the popular docudrama Pumping Iron in 1977.
Having built his name with seven Mr. Olympia titles, acting projects, politics, and philanthropy, Schwarzenegger’s story shows what is possible from someone who started from very humble beginnings.
RELATED: Arnold Schwarzenegger Reveals The Reason For Using The ‘Suicide Grip’ For Bench Press
You can watch the full video from the Olympia TV YouTube channel below:
Published: 4 July, 2023 | 9:34 AM EDT
Flex Wheeler Told By Docs He Needs TRT for Life, Relives Synthol and Insulin Use: “It Created So Much Scar Tissue”
Flex Wheeler still gives back to the bodybuilding community years after his retirement. In The Menace Podcast with Dennis James, Wheeler discussed competing ‘naturally, using testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), and recapped his experiences with insulin and site-enhancement oils such as synthol.
For more than two decades, Wheeler was a global phenomenon in the sport of bodybuilding. He displayed an unforgettable blend of aesthetics, proportions, and v-taper with many also crediting him for his flexibility, slim waist, and graceful posing skills.
While he never laid claim to a Mr. Olympia title, he came remarkably close. Despite his status as a heavy favorite at the 1998 Mr. Olympia, Wheeler fell to Ronnie Coleman after introducing ‘The King’ to his long-time coach Chad Nicholls.
Wheeler’s incredible run in bodybuilding was filled with obstacles, many of which he still endures today. In 2019, Wheeler lost his right leg by amputation following a medical complication. In addition, he’s suffered from an array of health scares in the hospital. Currently, his transplanted kidneys are showing signs of failure, which he discussed in detail on a previous The Menace Podcast appearance with Dennis James.
In his latest undertaking, Flex Wheeler looked back on beating drug tests and competing ‘naturally.’ He also reflected on his use of TRT, insulin, and synthol in a conversation with James, Milos Sarcev, and Chris Cormier.
Flex Wheeler: “I Was Natural, I Passed the Tests and I Took What the Doctors Told Me To”
While Milos Sarcev doesn’t believe Wheeler was natural when he returned to the sport, Flex said he passed drug tests and took what doctors told him to take in a legal manner.
“I didn’t tell the truth already, but the pierce is the problem that you want to bring that up. Natural, half-natural, whatever you want to call it,” said Flex Wheeler.
“It was different. The clear – there’s no such thing as a half-natural, almost natural, and this kind of stuff. There’s no such thing, you’re either or right?” asked Milos Sarcev.
“I’m natural. I was natural. I passed the tests and I took what the doctors told me to take,” said Wheeler. [If a doctor gives you testosterone are you natural?] I don’t know I guess there’s an argument right but I wasn’t taking it illegally, I was on prescriptions at that time for health reasons.”
As for his testosterone, Wheeler recounted his levels being at 79, which prompted him to receive TRT to bring him back to a ‘natural level.’
“I’m not a doctor, I don’t know, I’m being sincere, I’m being serious, I would think if it’s bringing your hormones back to a natural level, and you’re down to, I think I was at 79 when I started, somewhere around that right, because I definitely wasn’t competing in the 2000s like I was.”
“USADA doesn’t allow testosterone replacement. If you get it from a doctor because your test level is super low and you got this limp spaghetti, they will not allow for you to do testosterone replacement, that’s considered doping,” said Dennis James.
Wheeler said he used EPO and growth hormone while receiving dialysis for his kidneys.
“Seriously though, seriously, not joking, what’s crazy is when I was on dialysis, they were giving me EPO and GH,” added Wheeler.
“When you say you were natural, and I know that you were not natural, we all know that you were not natural and you tried to force it, and you passed the test, I wasn’t in the project world record for people passing tests left and right. Passing a test and being natural are two completely different things,” said Sarcev.
‘The Sultan of Symmetry’ highlighted that he took minimum dosages after returning to the stage later in his career. He was informed by doctors that he would be required to take TRT for the rest of his life or face health consequences.
“I was taking such minimum dosages, right? It has nothing to do with being gifted. I was taking what my doctors were prescribing me right? What Milos is saying right, when I went back to doing what we normally do, there was a massive change,” Wheeler replied.
“I didn’t take anything illegal. I didn’t even take any diuretics, Clenbuterol, or anything. I did only what my doctors said to take and even at that time I stopped taking EPO. So for me, that is as natural as I can get.”
“When they told me I had to go back on testosterone for the rest of my life I was so pissed because I stuck myself for over half my life and I was looking forward to never having to do it again, when he told me I had to…”
Wheeler Talks Losing Joe Weider Contract from Broken Neck and His Experiences with Synthol and Insulin
According to Wheeler, he lost his lucrative Joe Weider contract after breaking his neck. He was eventually diagnosed with colitis (the inflammation of the inner lining of the colon). Given Joe’s history, Wheeler was worried Weider would fire him for his health condition as well.
“I lost my contract with Joe Weider for breaking my neck. Nothing I had control over,” said Wheeler. “I can’t go in there and tell this dude the truth that I got an eating disorder if he’s going to drop me for breaking my neck. I told a lie. I told a lie to be able to keep my contract. He didn’t fire me for that, but he fired me for breaking my neck.”
“When he fired me, I lost my seven-story house. I had to go live with Neil,” said Wheeler.
Sarcev first brought up rumors that Kevin Levrone used 120 insulin shots before a single show. Wheeler admitted he used a product called Pump and Pose, which James confirmed was a site-enhancement oil. Looking back, Wheeler said he used the product in his calves and shoulders but avoided injecting it into his gluteal muscles.
“There was a rumor that he [Kevin Levrone] put 120 insulin shots for one show,” said Milos Sarcev.
“If you wanted to know who used the most [site enhancement oils] Kevin did,” said Wheeler. “Pump and Pose, I never messed with Synthol but I used Pump and Pose, the very first version of it. I wouldn’t mess with it later on.”
“That’s exactly what it is, Synthol,” said Dennis James. “Like Chris said, he stopped injecting his butt because it would cause it to inflame up. I understand it causes inflammation. The majority of the things that I would take, I would put them in my calves, and then I would only use in secular, the other stuff, for my shoulders. What happens is it created so much scar tissue.”
This isn’t the first time Wheeler has revealed details about compounds used throughout his career. He joined Dennis James for a discussion a month ago. Wheeler talked about a cycle he used in 1993 and stressed that competitors were taking minimal amounts back in the day.
And Wheeler isn’t the only 1990s pro bodybuilding veteran calling attention to rampant drug use in the sport today. Recently, Rich Gaspari, who pioneered striated glutes in competition, tackled the subject. He posited that athletes are abusing drugs on a more frequent basis instead of building a physique with hardcore training and a clean diet.
A living legend of bodybuilding, Flex Wheeler will always be adored by fans given his honest and straightforward nature. While Sarcev may doubt some of his natural claims, it’s evident Wheeler overcame adversity on a number of occasions during his career.
RELATED: Lee Haney: Open Athletes Are ’60-Lbs Overweight Traumatizing Themselves with Terrible Diets’
You can watch the full video below from the Muscle and Fitness YouTube channel:
Published: 3 July, 2023 | 12:37 PM EDT
Chris Bumstead All Excited To Train In His Private Gym – “Dreams Do Come True”
Chris Bumstead is all set to take his game a notch up with his personalized gym that is nearing completion. In a recent back workout video posted on his YouTube channel, CBum gave a tour of this gym and spoke about the potential benefits of having one for yourself.
Bumstead is the foremost representative of Canadian bodybuilding. He has a global appeal among bodybuilding fans due to his insanely aesthetic physique. Since winning the Classic Physique Olympia title in 2019, CBum has honed his physique further and further to defend his top spot at 2020, 2021, and 2022 Olympia.
While most champions would attempt maximum title defenses in their capacity, CBum has a very clear plan of action. He intends to win only a couple of more Classic Physique Olympia titles and move on from competing. A few other trophies like the prestigious Arnold Classic Physique would have looked good on the champion’s shelf. However, collecting Olympia trophies is the only competitive goal for the 28-year-old.
CBum is currently in the middle of his off-season and making gains before the start of his 2023 Olympia prep. Although he will be a massive favorite heading into the show, CBum will not leave any stone unturned.
Apart from his bodybuilding schedule, Bumstead is working on his new gym. He showed the progress they have made so far before the workout and gave a tour of the gym in making. So without a second’s delay, let’s see how Bumstead is achieving back growth this off-season.
Chris Bumstead shows his personal gym
At the beginning of the video, Chris Bumstead talked about the progress of his personal gym which is being built at the moment. He gave a brief tour of the place and stated that a personal space would really help him focus on training and content creation.
“Everyone has the dream to have their own gym. I didn’t think I would get one because I didn’t think I would ever want to run a gym… Coz I knew a lot of hell went into it and you don’t make a lot of money for it.”
He further stated:
“But I am super grateful right now to be in the opportunity to be able to build it for myself and literally, just like, use it for content and prepping for Olympia. So I think this is going to be something that, really like, puts me on a straight focus drive this year at the Olympia.”
Bumstead can do without the company of a lot of people when he is training. Additionally, he feels a lot more comfortable making videos and talking into a camera when there aren’t many people around. So he expects the training as well as the YouTube content to be far better when his gym becomes operational in a few weeks’ time.
“Super pumped, excited… Dreams do come true. There’s a lot of things I’ve wanted in my life but gym is one of those things where you come her, shut off, put everything away and just kill yourself in the gym,” CBum concluded.
A place customized to meet every personal requirement will definitely add more quality to Bumstead’s training sessions. So the task of dethroning the champ might be a little more difficult for the opponents as Bumstead intends to prep for the 2023 Olympia in his new personal gym. After showing the gym around, Chris Bumstead proceeded to perform the off-season back workout at the local gym.
CBum goes through a back workout
Lat Pulldown
CBum’s workout started with this lat-focused vertical pulling movement. This compound exercise primarily works the latissimus dorsi muscles in the back. It helps build a wide back and imparts that much desired ‘tapering down into the waist’ look as a result.
Bumstead used extremely heavy weights in the first set and tried to control the negative/eccentric phase of the rep as much as he could. He reduced the weight for the second set and paused at the bottom of the first five reps so as to get a good squeeze.
Another benefit of this method was that it helped him make the second set equally difficult in spite of using lighter weights. The 28-year-old felt a good pump in the muscles after ripping both sets and moved on to the second exercise.
Incline Dumbbell Rows
Bumstead next took to this free-weight horizontal pulling exercise. Incline dumbbell rows work all the major pulling muscles in the upper body like latissimus dorsi, teres major, teres minor, trapezius, and biceps brachii. Performing rows on an incline bench uses gravity to maintain focus on back muscles.
Since the person is in an inclined position with chest pressed against the bench, it is not possible to rely on momentum or sway back and forth to pull the weights when the reps get difficult. As a result, only back muscles have to be utilized to lift weights without any assistance.
CBum cranked out a few good sets of incline dumbbell rows and took to another highly effective rowing movement next.
T-Bar Rows
In a world where you were forced to incorporate only one rowing exercise in your training routine, T-bar rows would be your best bet. This compound movement is an effective back builder that enables growth in terms of muscle and strength gain as well as density.
Chris Bumstead warmed up with a couple of sets first. He then got a few heavy sets of T-bar rows under the belt and moved on to the next exercise.
Seated Rows
The Classic Physique Olympia champion took to one more rowing exercise and performed seated rows. He did the exercise on a Prime plate-loaded rows machine to add more stimulus to the back muscles. Seated rows work almost all the muscles in the middle back region and also help with improving upper body posture.
Bumstead demolished some good sets of seated rows and took to a lat pulldown variation next.
Reverse Grip Lat Pulldown
Bumstead took the next stop at the Hammer Strength plate-loaded machine and performed reverse grip lat pulldown. The reverse grip targets more of the lower lats as the upper arms are closer to the body. Additionally, this variation also engages the biceps due to a reverse grip and enables pulling heavier weights in comparison to the traditional lat pulldowns.
CBum performed this exercise maintaining a good tempo and jumped into a cable machine exercise next.
Superset – Banded Cable Lat Pullovers and Barbell Curls
Bumstead finished the back workout with this superset. He mentioned that he is working on improving mobility these days and also explained the reason for performing reverse grip lat pulldown instead of regular grip for the previous exercise.
“Underhand grip pulldown machine because sometimes the pulldown bar breaks my wrist. I am working on mobility. So I am doing 10 sets of superset – biceps curls and lat pullovers. Just going back and forth 10 reps ish… until I die. So hopefully getting a hundred reps of each and then that’s it,” CBum stated.
After pushing through all the sets within this superset in rapid succession and minimal rest periods, Chris Bumstead called it a day in the gym.
Overall, the workout included:
Chris Bumstead is all set to start the competition prep for the 2023 Olympia soon. Training in his personal gym will definitely help him maintain focus and add more wrinkles to the game. If he stays healthy and continues to increase the training intensity, we will certainly see him wear the Classic Physique Olympia crown for the fifth time.
You can watch the full workout video here, courtesy of Chris Bumstead’s personal YouTube channel:
Published: 2 July, 2023 | 9:05 AM EDT
A Look into World’s Strongest Man Mitchell Hooper’s Day
Canadian strongman Mitchell Hooper has quickly established his place as one of the strongest athletes on the planet. While he doesn’t have a lot of competitive experience yet, he’s already scored some of the biggest wins in the sport. So, many people wondered what exactly he does to achieve such great success. In response, Hooper gave fans a look into his daily routine in a recent Muscle & Strength video on YouTube,
Mitchell Hooper grew up playing a wide variety of team and individual sports before finding his passion for Strongman. He first gained attention for his unreal strength after he got the opportunity to replace Rauno Heinla, who withdrew, at the 2022 World’s Strongest Man competition. Hooper used the opportunity that was given to him by dominating the qualifying group stages, beating Strongman legend Brian Shaw. After an amazing debut, Hooper got invites for other prestigious competitions. So, he then made his way to the 2022 Shaw Classic and placed third there.
The relentless Canadian came out on top of the 2022 Arnold Pro Strongman World Series UK in his next outing in September 2022. Hooper followed this up with another commanding victory at the 2022 Giants Live World Tour Finals. In his next contest, the 2022 Rogue Invitational, Hooper finished third and set a new World Record on the Dinnie Stones Hold event.
Hooper amped up his training following the third-place finish and returned with a vengeance at the 2023 Australia’s Strongest International contest, where he handily dispatched the competition for first place. He extended his lead by scoring gold at the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic en route to the 2023 World’s Strongest Man event.
The 27-year-old was last seen in action at the 2023 WSM two months ago. He faced an intense challenge from former champions Tom Stoltman and Oleksii Novikovm, who were eager to get gold once again. However, Hooper took the lead early on and managed to retain it to win his maiden WSM title, the biggest win of his career. Immediately after the competition, Hooper returned to the gym for a bodybuilding-style workout as his first training session back.
Mitchell Hooper opened up on his experience competing at the 2023 WSM weeks ago. He went through the events and took issue with the lack of a proper ruleset for the show, which led to some confusion among the competitors. Then, he followed up by revealing his non-negotiable supplements a month ago. He also provided ways to use alcohol and sugar to boost recovery.
Hooper left the fans stunned with his insane endurance last month. He crushed a heavy set of 465 pounds squats for 20 reps to level up his conditioning ahead of his next show. Next, he smashed Tom Platz’s 1992 legendary squat record by pulling off 24 reps of 525-pound squats.
A Look into World’s Strongest Man Mitchell Hooper’s Day
In a recent YouTube video, Mitchell Hooper gave fans a look into his daily routine, including an insight into his business, training, and diet. While he does not follow a strict dietary plan, he targets getting enough protein and calories with good food choices.
Breakfast – 8 am.
Morning shake: Milk, 2 1/2 Canadian maple whey isolate, 4-5 Aussie bites (little grain raisin bites)
“The priority for my morning routine is just to get food in as quick as possible,” said Hooper.
“Every meal I’ll try to get anywhere between 65 and 80 grams of protein. That’s my priority and wherever things fall after that, just try to keep it good food for the most part.”
Work – 9 am. Hooper is the director at Longevity Nexum Exercise Physiology.
“I find the work that I do at the clinic more rewarding than what I do as a Strongman in a way because that there is a certain element in winning WSM that inspires people to get moving, but it is a whole another world when you see the individual in front of you. Helping them get to a place where they are much healthier.”
Lunch – 2 pm. He consumes a lot of caffeine, about 1.5 grams a day. His meal consisted of a turkey sandwiches as well as garlic, tomatoes, spinach, and more side dishes.
Daily macro goals: 330g protein, 5,500 calories.
Workout – 4 pm. He had pre-workout and consumed Snickers with a feed meal of 500-600 calories mid-workout. During the workout, Hooper trained the bench press, incline dumbbell bench, front raises, cable face pulls, and dips.
Post-Workout – 5.30 pm. Smoothie of bananas, mango, pineapple, strawberry, and a full brick of yogurt with 2 scoops of protein, coconut, and milk.
Mitchell Hooper took on strongman icon Eddie Hall’s notorious ‘Death by Deadlift’ set challenge a month ago. While he did not level Hall’s record, he feels energized and declared his plans to try it out again in the near future.
Hooper detailed the anabolic protein shake, pre-workout slushy, and supplement stack he utilized to become the World’s Strongest Man two weeks ago.
His latest offering provides insight into the day of the World’s Strongest Man and will surely benefit fans looking to get stronger.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 1 July, 2023 | 10:19 AM EDT
Jay Cutler on New-Gen Athletes Openly Discussing Anabolics: “They Need to Be Careful”
Jay Culter looks over the Men’s Open division in retirement having firmly cemented his name in the record books. In the latest Cutler Cast Podcast, Cutler took questions from fans regarding a number of topics including his nutrition journal, whether younger athletes should openly discuss steroids, and his macro count.
During his tenure, Cutler distinguished himself from fellow competitors with a wide chest, great arms, and perhaps one of the strongest lower bodies of all time. His perseverance propelled him to a Mr. Olympia title in 2006 after he toppled ‘The King’ Ronnie Coleman. This victory prevented Coleman from winning a ninth Sandow, which would have broken the record he shares today with eight-time winner Lee Haney.
With four Olympia titles attached to his legacy, Cutler remains one of the greatest to take part in the sport. He hasn’t stepped on a pro stage in 10 years but maintains an impressive physique today. He recently committed to a body transformation which he intends to complete in August.
In addition to tracking his nutrition in a diary, Cutler has been forthcoming about his supplement and steroid use but only in retirement. With active competitors openly discussing gear nowadays, Cutler worries their transparency could cause problems down the road.
Jay Culter Talks Nutrition Diary, Creatine, Macros, and New Gen of Athletes Talking About Anabolics
Cutler confirmed that he kept a nutrition journal when he competed actively. He added that his journal would look vastly different from bodybuilding coach Milos Sarcev’s.
“I did. I did. I should compare mine to Milos’. See the difference between my log is mine’s all nutrition and training and Milos’ is all gear. He’s going to have to come on and defend himself. So yeah, I used to have these little books, these notebooks, I would have each show. They’re in my mom’s attic with all the magazines. Yeah, I could put them out. But today, [it’s in] your phone,” said Jay Cutler. “Who writes stuff down these days besides Milos,” said Jay Cutler. “Like do you see people in the gym doing log books anymore, they’re in their phones.”
Cutler believes the newer generation of competitors who discuss steroids openly are at risk for unwanted or unfavorable ‘exposure.’
“Man, that’s a huge topic [the younger generation of bodybuilders openly talking about anabolics]. I did a Greg Doucette interview, it’s probably the only one where I really talked about kind of got into usage and I’ll mention it a lot whether what I’m talking or TRT and you know everyone thinks there’s a lot of things outside of that are being used which is not the case. I don’t know, I don’t like it. I don’t like it because before we were first of all contracted by many different endorsement deals. I believe that no one that endorses something especially if it’s products or whatever else, they need to be careful when they talk about this. I’m sure you’ll give more reasons why. It’s not the greatest idea. It sets you up for a lot of exposure if that makes sense.”
Despite suspicions, Cutler stressed that he’s only using testosterone replacement therapy.
“You remember the team I had around me, I mean… you know what we did in bodybuilding I mean obviously is outside of what they call – it’s funny everyone say’s I’m on TRT now but they seem to be on their own TRT. I see a doctor. But no, they’re doing their own. They are getting their own supply. It’s not the right thing.”
As for creatine use, the four-time Mr. Olympia recommended five grams before, during, or after training.
“I think five grams I would take it either before, during, or after training. Sometimes you can split it maximum 10 grams. I think it’s the most long researched product that’s very great for giving yourself more strength, recovery, muscle fullness, remember it’s about keeping muscles full and getting your ATP output out of your muscle the most you know. I think it’s definitely beneficial,” shared Jay Cutler. “You can [use it while cutting] I mean, I would cut it out the last couple of weeks from the contest. I cut out any supplements a couple weeks out,” Cutler explained. “I think you would have to eat a lot of red meat to be honest [to get optimum creatine.”
Lastly, Jay Cutler detailed his macros as of late, which included 300 grams of protein and 500 grams of carbohydrates.
“I have no idea [total calories]. I would say about 3,500. I’m eating about 300 grams of protein a day and maybe 3-500 grams of carbs. Obviously, there’s fats in the meats I eat, the chicken, the steak, a couple whole eggs in the morning. Sometimes I add an avocado in there or almond butter or whatever. I’d say around that I was eating double when I was trying to get bigger so I was over 6. But I would say about 3,500 calories.”
This isn’t the first time that Cutler has detailed his nutrition at 49 years old. He recently took part in a JayCutler TV appearance where he opened up about keeping the metabolism guessing. He offered solutions for bulking without having to add a substantial amount of size. Cutler has a history of talking about bulking. In a Cutler Cast Podcast last year, the Massachusetts native revealed that he favors ‘lean bulking’ over dirty bulking. At the time, Cutler wasn’t obsessed with muscle mass but emphasized that most people these days aspire to keep leaner physiques. Steroid discussions continue to dominate discussions online, but Jay Cutler believes younger athletes should approach the subject with caution. In the meantime, Cutler’s focus is on kicking his transformation into overdrive in the next six weeks.
Watch the full video from the Cutler Cast YouTube channel below:
RELATED: Jay Cutler Says He’s Gained 15 Lbs During ‘Fit-for-50’ Challenge, Reveals New Physique Goals
Published: 1 July, 2023 | 4:07 AM EDT
“$20K Should Be the Minimum” Bob Cicherillo Demands More Prize Money At Bodybuilding Shows
Athletes rep Bob Cicherillo is known for tackling controversially-charged topics. In his latest Voice of Bodybuilding Podcast, Cicherillo took issue with low bodybuilding pay and called for a minimum of $20,000 to be distributed at each pro show.
Prize money in bodybuilding has remained steady for quite some time. And over the past decade, competitors have seen the financial landscape change dramatically. From magazine covers to supplement contracts, bodybuilders have been afforded a handful of options for accruing wealth. However, those avenues have mostly dried up. In their wake, social media took over and athletes have adapted and used the platforms to bring in extra income.
Fortunately, the bigger events like the annual Mr. Olympia and Arnold Classic shows continued to offer impressive purses. In fact, 10 years ago, when Phil Heath won his third Mr. Olympia title, he was awarded $250,000. Fast forward to 2022, the latest Mr. Olympia winner, Hadi Choopan, raked in a grand prize of $400,000.
Meanwhile, the second-most prestigious contest of the year, the Arnold Classic’s prize money continues to go up. Last year, Arnold Schwarzenegger and his promotion announced that the prize money had jumped from $200,000 to a staggering $300,000.
And while Bob Cicherillo doesn’t believe the major events need a makeover, he did highlight that smaller shows should start offering more suitable purses given the expenses an athlete incurs before stepping on stage.
Bob Cicherillo Says Bodybuilders Are Opting Not to Compete Due to Low Prize Money
Cicherillo blamed a lack of lucrative supplement contracts and social media for low turnout at contests. He shared that supplement contracts used to have stipulations in which athletes would have to compete at a minimum number of events per year. Bob also said supplement sponsors used to match an athlete’s prize money if they won first place.
“I was thinking about this the other day and thought to myself, ‘Well what has changed over the past 10 years that’s made this a little different.’ Well, lack of supplement contracts. This isn’t a topic a lot of people have explored but as somebody who has been on the block for a few minutes, I can tell you first hand this has absolutely had an impact.
How? Really simple. In the old days, when you signed a supplement contract it was usually in the contract that they wanted you to compete X amount of times throughout the year so you were out there in the marketplace. You were out there representing yourself, representing the company in effect, and putting it forward and of course, they wanted you to win a show or just try and do your best and ultimately try to get to the Olympia,” said Bob Cicherillo.
“If you had an athlete on your staff or on your team so to say, you absolutely want them at the Olympia. It’s the biggest stage we got throughout the year and in the world. Now with that, came bonus structure. Usually, if you were to win a show there was a clause in your contract that might pay you a bonus, maybe it was $5,000 or $10,000 a lot of times they matched the prize money. If you won 20 grand they would match it with a $20,000 bonus. With less contracts coming in for these guys, there’s less bonus structure, and that of course, means there’s less opportunity and less money.”
Since competitors aren’t bound to obligations via a contract, they feel no need to push themselves at various shows throughout the year. Considering the amount of money that can be made on social media, Cicherillo added that there’s not as much incentive to prepare for competitions.
“The guys aren’t feeling the heat that they’ve signed a contract with a company that says you need to compete three times this year. So, has that taken a toll, has that made an impact, I believe it has. There’s no obligation to get out there and compete other than your own goals and even those have changed. Social media has changed over 10 years.
Now, everybody has a platform to get out, put themselves out there, whether you’re a personal trainer, you have a podcast, you have other business ventures, whether you make money on YouTube or any other venture that’s out there. So all of a sudden, it maybe becomes not very important to compete,” said Cicherillo.
Cicherillo says prize money is stagnant and promotions are still disbursing a relative amount to what was awarded 15 years ago. He called for a minimum of $20,000 per show and said bodybuilders who win first place and earn $10,000 are likely losing money after expenses are tallied.
“These purses got to come up, $20,000 should be the minimum.”
“And let’s face it, let’s not overlook and gloss over the fact that the prize money has not really significantly changed in the last 10-15 years. This is not good for anybody. Not in the sport, not in the federation and certainly not for the athletes. A lot of shows are still $10,000 shows. I was complaining about this myself and a host of other people 20 years ago. 20 years ago… we were talking about $10,000 shows. You know what a lot of shows are today, $10,000 I’m talking about first prize. First-place prize money.
Maybe it’s a $20,000 purse, 10 for first, 5 breaks down from there. Literally with those numbers and the market of today, if you win a show and you win $10,000. You take taxes out. You take your expenses out. Preparation, money, travel, everything else that’s concerned. YOu don’t have a company sponsoring you or paying for these things — it’s out of pocket. The guy who wins the show loses money. I’ll guarantee it. If you win $10,000 for a show, you’ve just lost money,” said Cicherillo.
Cicherillo believes the lackluster prize money isn’t good for the sport, the community, or the competitors.
“This is something I do believe we need to look at as an entity, as a federation, as a community, what can the bodybuilding community do to increase prize money at the shows,” wonders Cicherillo. “The money has to come from somewhere. If it comes from sponsors well that’s one thing but sponsors are harder and harder to come by these days because of social media, direct to consumer, a lot of companies don’t have to be out in the marketplace these days.”
“But $10,000 purses and such, again, we all get it’s a stage and platform folks but that’s not going to cut it in this day and age and I think it’s showing itself. A lot of these guys are just opting not to compete. And that’s not good. Not for our sport and it’s not good for any sport.”
This isn’t Bob Cicherillo’s first time addressing low bodybuilder pay. Last August, he joined Dennis James on The Menace Podcast to lay out his opinions on the subject. According to Bob, his best solution for athletes would involve a pay-per-view revenue-sharing system, similar to what is offered to high-level fighters/champions under the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) banner.
Cicherillo, who serves as an athletes rep and announcer for Mr. Olympia, would love to see a prize money increase across the board in the IFBB Pro League. Though, he understands it’s a steep hill to climb since sponsorship opportunities aren’t what they used to be.
RELATED: 2023 Masters Olympia Announces Overall Prize Money at $229,000
You can watch the full video from the Voice of Bodybuilding YouTube channel below:
Published: 30 June, 2023 | 8:33 PM EDT
Andrew Jacked Builds Dense Back, Looks Stage-Ready In Physique Update Ahead of Texas Pro
Andrew Jacked is gearing up for earning his second invitation to compete on the Olympia stage and you better believe that the 2023 Texas Pro could very well be a foregone conclusion. Why? Because Andrew Jacked is looking absolutely menacing and stage-ready in his recent physique updates.
Chinedu Andrew Obiekea, better known by his stage name Andrew Jacked, is a Nigerian professional bodybuilder that shot to stardom within a blink of an eye in 2022. He grabbed the attention due to his extremely aesthetic physique in spite of an unusually tall 6ft-1in frame, narrow waist and a perfect v-taper.
Andrew Jacked made the transition to NPC in 2022. He earned the IFBB Pro card with a dominant win at the 2022 Arnold Classic Amateur and then secured a direct invitation to the 2022 Olympia by bringing home the 2022 Texas Pro trophy. The Nigerian also bagged the 2022 Arnold Classic UK title before Olympia.
At this point, bodybuilding experts were intrigued by his chances against the top Men’s Open competitors. It is very rare to see so much hype around someone with so little competitive experience. However, Andrew carried the burden of expectation quite well, finishing eighth at the 2022 Olympia in the process. He last competed at the 2023 Arnold Classic and finished third. He now awaits the opportunity to successfully defend the Texas Pro title in 2023.
As a part of this effort, Andrew Jacked went through a back workout and also posted a physique update for his coaches to get a better understanding of his progress. So let’s check out how much Andrew’s physique has improved since we last saw him.
Andrew Jacked goes through a back workout
Andrew Jacked agrees with the phrase that shows are won from the back. As a result, he is maintaining his focus on improving the thickness, density, and width in the back. Although he has made massive improvements over the last few years, Andrew Jacked believes there is always room for improvement.
The focus of this back workout was to improve back density and the 2022 Texas Pro winner was joined by his friend George, who motivated him to perform this workout.
T-Bar Rows
If you want your back to grow, you’ve gotta row. If you had to choose only one rowing exercise for back building, our team at Fitness Volt would recommend going with T-bar rows for sure. That being said, all rowing exercises have their benefits and deserve a spot in your training routine.
T-bar rows are an ultimate back builder as they work all the pulling muscles in the upper body and contribute towards building muscle and strength. Andrew Jacked pushed through some heavy sets of the exercise with incrementally heavier weights to stimulate the back. Following this, he took to the next compound exercise.
Bent Over Chest Supported Barbell Rows
Andrew Jacked next performed the bent-over chest-supported rows using a cambered bar. Chest Supported Rows eliminate momentum from the play and compel back muscles to pull the weight up without assistance.
After testing his strength with a few solid sets of this compound exercise, the 2022 Texas Pro winner carried his momentum over to perform a superset.
Superset – Reverse Grip Seated Rows and Cable Pullovers
Andrew then went on to perform this superset to increase the aerobic intensity of the workout while trying to get more work done in a shorter period. Reverse grip seated rows primarily target the biceps, lats, lower back, and shoulder muscles.
A cable pullover, which is a severely underappreciated isolation movement, takes the biceps out of the picture and forces the back muscles to do the work. Andrew Jacked performed all the sets within this superset in rapid succession to take on the next exercise.
Vertical Rows
Another variation of seated rows followed next as the Nigerian powerhouse performed vertical rows on a selectorized machine to work the back muscles from a different angle. After cranking out some solid sets to add more stimulus to the back muscles, Andrew Jacked took to the final exercise of the day.
Lat Pulldown
Andrew Jacked wrapped up the back training session with this lat builder. Lat pulldowns are one of the most common and effective vertical pulling movements in gyms around the world. They primarily target the latissimus dorsi muscles and help build a wide back. Andrew Jacked annihilated a few good sets of lat pulldowns to put an end to the workout.
Overall, the workout included:
After wrapping up the workout, Andrew Jacked stated that he didn’t really start the day feeling motivated to hit the gym. But he still managed to get a good day’s work because of his friend.
“That’s the end of the workout today. It’s good that I got a good push here today from my friend here George. Or else I would have just done something like arms bro. There are some days when you just wake up and it just doesn’t feel like doing anything.
It was like that. I challenged myself to come to the gym, spoke to my friend… At the end of the day, it was good though. Nothing crazy but we did something…” Andrew Jacked said about his workout.
Following this, Andrew Jacked headed over to give a physique update check-ins for his coach as the prep is drawing closer. The Nigerian bodybuilder is known for the insane v-taper and narrow midsection. The same is looking more pronounced and well-defined at this stage.
Additionally, Andrew’s quads drew attention because of their fullness. Although there is room for more definition in the back, no one can deny that there is a perfect balance of width and thickness in Andrew’s back.
Andrew Jacked looks primed to defend the Texas Pro title in 2023. It will be interesting to see how he performs at the 2023 Olympia which is drawing closer and closer with each passing day.
You can watch the full video here, courtesy of Andrew Jacked’s personal YouTube channel:
Published: 30 June, 2023 | 6:40 PM EDT
Jay Cutler Unveils Impressive Physique Update Just 7 Weeks from Fit-for-50 Transformation Goal
Jay Cutler‘s physique continues to transform in front of our eyes. In a recent YouTube video, Cutler shared an impressive posing session, a chest and calf workout, and discussed his physique goals in 2023.
“I’ve been starting with calves for years. I always start training when I do chest day with calves. And the reason being I always feel like if you prioritize the weaker body parts, you’ll get better results,” Cutler explained.
Cutler’s bodybuilding career was defined by grit, hard work, and determination. He placed runner-up to Ronnie Coleman four times before exacting revenge against ‘The King’ in 2006. In addition to sharing the stage with countless legends, Cutler is the only Open Mr. Olympia to ever win back a title he lost, which he accomplished in 2009 when he etched his name in the history books with an iconic quad stomp pose.
As a four-time Mr. Olympia and three-time Arnold Classic titleholder, Cutler remains passionate about bodybuilding even in retirement. His last show came in 2013 where he placed sixth at Mr. Olympia. Having stepped away, he focuses on training, YouTube collaborations, and hosting his popular podcast Cutler Cast.
Cutler announced that he would undergo a physique transformation late last year. He emphasized that he was aiming to get in the best shape of his life since 2013. Dubbed the ‘Fit-for-50’ challenge, Cutler has documented his journey to the delight of fans. He’s shown physique updates, diet plans, and training sessions en route to the transformation.
Fans hoped he would hop on a competition stage, but Cutler said he’s taking on the fitness challenge to show the world what is possible at 50 years old. And with Jay’s birthday coming in August, the former champ is ramping up his efforts. He’s also has been teasing a possible guest posing appearance at the 2023 Masters Olympia taking place in Romania.
Jay Cutler’s Chest Workout List w/Calf Warmup
Standing Calf Raise – 4 sets 12 reps
Calf Raise On Leg Press Machine – 4 sets 12 reps
Seated Calf Raise – 4 sets 12 reps
Chest press Machine – 6-7 12 sets 12 reps
Vertical Press Machine – 3-4 sets pyramiding the weight up
Dumbbell Bench Press – 1 set (90 lbs) 12 reps
Cable Fly Machine – 2 sets
After he finished the workout, Jay Cutler reflected on his fitness goals for the rest of the year. He also revealed he’s weighing 245 pounds.
“Alright, that wraps up chest and calves. We are just over seven weeks out right now and I’m feeling good. Like I said, I had a little mishap not this past week but the week before where I didn’t get a lot of my meals in and I think the meals, like I mentioned, are the most important thing. The body weight is not where I want it to be, I want to be 250. I’m about 245 now. The goal now after this weekend is still continue to get a little leaner and a little fuller at the same time.”
“I did my cardio this morning, I did 40 minutes, I added two sessions of cardio in, I’m doing at least 30 minutes after – in the evening. So I do first thing in the morning and evening, and every day is a little different. I try to switch it up.
What I’m doing different from competing for Olympia titles or Arnold Classics or whatever else, I’m actually using an instinctive approach. Remember: I’m not trying to be super ripped I’m just trying to be lean and fuller. If I feel like I’m getting flat, I’ll allow myself to eat and back down off the cardio and get a little fuller because I have a goal for August 3, and that’s the end goal to really kind of showcase the physique. But it’s not going to be finished then, I’m going to keep going. So by the time everybody sees me at Olympia in November I’ll probably still be in the phase of keeping this size and who knows what the goal will be,” Cutler said.
Then, the former Mr. Olympia showed off some bodybuilding poses in a separate video. Cutler’s progress is remarkable as he looks bigger, fuller, and more detailed while holding less body fat. Earlier this year, he targeted a body fat goal of 6-8%. It’s evident Cutler’s leg development is still a top priority as well.
Cutler has been open with fans about the training techniques he’s using to revamp his physique. The last time he showed off a training session, he demonstrated how to build 20-inch arms with a grueling workout. Cutler prefers starting with the triceps before biceps on arm days.
Anyone who has been following’s Cutler’s ‘fit-for-50’ physique transformation has probably noticed changes to his body. In one of his previous updates, the 49-year-old revealed that he had gained 15 pounds since starting the challenge.
Transformations are some of the most compelling stories in the fitness industry. While he has no plans of stepping on stage, Cutler’s journey has served as a great inspiration to fans and followers.
RELATED: Jay Cutler Shares His ‘Ultimate Fasted Cardio’ Routine for ‘Fit for 50’ Challenge
You can watch the full video on the CutlerTV YouTube channel:
Published: 30 June, 2023 | 11:15 AM EDT
Terrick El Guindy, Chris Cormier Talk Bodybuilding Conspiracies & Andrew Jacked v Samson Dauda
Whether or not taller competitors have an edge in bodybuilding has long been debated. In a recent Prime Time Muscle episode, Terrick El Guindy shared with Chris Cormier why stature is overrated in bodybuilding. In addition, they discussed a possible battle between Andrew Jacked and Samson Dauda at 2023 Olympia.
The currents of the Men’s Open division have been choppy and unpredictable lately. With Hadi Choopan and Derek Lunsford taking the No.1 and No. 2 spots on the 2022 Mr. Olympia stage, many have begun to question if the category is swaying to favor physiques with less size and more detail, shape, and symmetry.
Following Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay‘s unceremonious drop to fifth place and the results of the 2023 Arnold Classic, El Guindy believes a new era of aesthetic bodybuilders is taking over the Open. This sentiment was also shared by 1990s standout Kevin Levrone. However, he believes Chris Bumstead is to thank for the rise of aesthetics in the Men’s Open.
In Nov., Dauda plans to bring his best to dethrone Choopan. And while Andrew Jacked shares the same goal, he has yet to qualify for the upcoming Mr. Olympia show. He’s targeted the 2023 Texas Pro in mid-Aug. where he intends to defend his title from last year successfully. Given the similar statures of Dauda and Jacked, Cormier and El Guindy discussed a pobable showdown between the two.
Terrick El Guindy Says Stature in Bodybuilding Is ‘Highly Highly Overrated’
While stature and height can be imposing, El Guindy argued it’s overrated as shorter athletes have found success in the Open such as Lunsford and Choopan.
“This thing about stature… is highly highly overrated, highly overrated. I mean look at Hadi Choopan. He’s one of the shortest guys and he’s Mr. Olympia. Shaun Clarida out of all the 212s he’s possibly the shortest 212 and he is Mr. Olympia 212,” said Terrick El Guindy.
“Listen a lot of people are talking about Chris Bumstead’s stature and how tall he is right now, well look at the history of the sport. The first Classic Physique champion was one of the shortest guys, Danny Hester. We move on to Breon Ansley, well what happened to the stature when Breon Ansley was beating Chris Bumstead? That wasn’t in play. It’s highly highly overrated.
It looks imposing on stage to look at a guy like Samson Dauda and Andrew Jacked but at the end of the day we’re judging the best bodybuilders and in this case, Hadi Choopan is the superior bodybuilder based on the 2022 Mr. Olympia,” said El Guindy.
Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan are shorter than Nick Walker, Brandon Curry, Andrew Jacked, Big Ramy, Samson Dauda, Michal Krizo, Rafael Brandao, Iain Valliere and they are all placing ahead of them. I’m telling you right now, this height stuff is highly overrated.”
Cormier added that Lee Haney looked taller than he actually was while competing at the height of his career.
“Lee Haney made everyone look like children next to them and he wasn’t actually that tall but he appeared that way because he was so imposing. No [he wasn’t the tallest] but just the way his body looked,” said Cormier.
Conspiracy Theories in Bodybuilding? Terrick El Guindy Says ‘Stop It Right Now’
El Guindy said there were conspiracies about who would win the 1998 Mr. Olympia. He added that there were rumors Big Ramy would win Olympia in 2013 and that never materialized either.
“All the conspiracies, so many conspiracies that Ronnie was going to win the ninth Mr. Olympia, he didn’t. So many conspiracies, oh who is going to win the 1998 Mr. Olympia? Nobody had it in mind that it was going to be Ronnie Coleman. He came out of nowhere. Oh, Big Ramy wins the New York Pro in 2013 and doesn’t win the Olympia approximately 7-8 years shows up in shape and wins the 2020 Olympia.
“Shawn Rhoden, nobody had him on the map winning against the supposed eight-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath so he could equal Ronnie Coleman and equal Lee Haney. It didn’t happen. Shawn Rhoden won. Stop it. Just stop it right now.”
El Guindy & Cormier Compare Andrew Jacked vs Samson Dauda
Cormier gave Jacked credit for an extremely busy schedule and said if he adds 10-15 pounds he’ll have a ‘devastating physique.’
“His [Andrew Jacked’s] body of work over the rookie season. It’s a huge body of work. He hasn’t had an off-season, he’s been trying to improve body parts on the fly, trying to improve posing on the fly, he’s a great showmen is what I’ve noticed.”
“Talking to both Chris’s, he was in 293-ish area for Olympia but maybe 10 pounds lighter at the Arnold Classic. With the length of his arms and legs and everything, you’re going to see that difference. Even the muscle appeared a lot harder, you’re going to see the fullness,” said Cormier. “I feel like if he came with that same type of tightness but add another 10-15 pounds if you could, then that’s a devastating physique.”
El Guindy emphasized that Andrew Jacked’s biggest enemy is Samson Dauda. He believes if Andrew was by himself on stage, he would have freak factor similar to Ronnie Coleman.
“At the Olympia Samson gets the first call out. Samson Dauda goes into the Arnold and places ahead of him. First place and third place. Samson Dauda is tall, not as tall as Andrew Jacked but he possesses more muscle density than Andrew Jacked. Andrew Jacked I thought was more conditioned than Samson Dauda,” said El Guindy.
“The biggest enemy for Andrew Jacked is Samson Dauda. He takes the impact away. If you see Andrew Jacked by himself, oh my God that’s the next coming of Ronnie Coleman. Then you bring Samson Dauda next to him and you go that’s kind of a Lee Haney-type of guy. If we didn’t have Samson Dauda, all of us would be betting on Andrew Jacked to dominate the business for the next 10 years.”
Chris Cormier isn’t the only bodybuilding veteran keen on discussing Andrew Jacked’s future. Recently, Jay Cutler gave his thoughts on the topic as well. Considering the improvements Jacked made from the Olympia to the Arnold, he believes it’s possible he could shock the world, assuming he qualifies for the event.
In the meantime, other top contenders are gearing up for their prep, like 2022 Olympia runner-up Derek Lunsford. He joined Hany Rambod on The Truth Podcast recently, where they discussed a number of topics including his progress, anxiety, and dealing with depression.
It remains to be seen if taller competitors truly have an advantage over their counterparts. Though El Guindy and Cormier agree if Andrew adds more tissue, he’ll be a dangerous threat to anyone on the Olympia stage, even the champion.
RELATED: Big Ramy Discusses Mental State Ahead of 2023 Mr. Olympia: ‘I Can’t Take a Year Off, I Need to Give It Everything”
You can watch the full Olympia TV YouTube video below:
Published: 30 June, 2023 | 9:21 AM EDT
Lee Priest Says Remove ‘Useless’ Divisions & Backs Arnold Schwarzegger Over Chris Bumstead
Australia’s Lee Priest has turned into a knowledgeable bodybuilding source since his days of competition. In a recent RxMuscle YouTube video, Priest urged removing ‘useless’ divisions in bodybuilding and picked Arnold Schwarzenegger to defeat Chris Bumstead in a fantasy matchup.
Lee Priest made a name for himself with impressive muscle mass, size, and conditioning in the Men’s Open division in the 90s. He participated in six Mr. Olympia events and went up against the likes of six-time champion Dorian Yates and eight-time winner Ronnie Coleman. Besides his insane arms, Priest was celebrated for his longevity having spent more than 15 years competing in the IFBB Pro League. He took to the sidelines after winning the 2013 NABBA Mr. Universe in his final showing.
Earlier this year, Priest called for removing the Men’s 212 division and redistributing the prize money in the Open category. He argued the worthy 212 competitors would be able to hold their own in the Open, as proven by two-time 212 Olympia winner Shaun Clarida, and former 212 Olympia champions Kamal Elgargni and Derek Lunsford.
Priest maintains a healthy lifestyle and trains daily post-retirement. Following the return of the Masters Olympia after more than a decade, there was speculation about whether Priest would make a comeback at the event. However, he dismissed the possibility due to his chest atrophy.
Lee Priest / Instagram
The 50-year-old provided fans with some of his best tips on how to maximize preacher curls for building bigger biceps and getting a strong pump three months ago. He detailed the different equipment and variations to use along with the ideal rep range.
Lee Priest criticized the eligibility criteria of the 2023 Masters Olympia two months ago. He suggested raising the age limit to 50+ instead of the current 40 and over and also adding the condition of being away from competition for at least two to three years.
Priest called for a friendly showdown with bodybuilding legend Jay Cutler after the 2023 Masters Olympia last month. He suggested hosting a ‘Golden Era’ seminar and going up against the four-time Mr. Olympia in a guest-posing appearance for the fans.
Lee Priest urges removing ‘useless’ divisions
In a recent YouTube video, Lee Priest called for eliminating several bodybuilding divisions. He believes in keeping only the Open and Fitness categories and none of the others.
“As I sit here pondering the sport of bodybuilding and I watch these Pro shows, these people standing on stage like pot plants, don’t know their names,” said Priest. “Back in our day, the old guy’s going back there, you knew everyone’s name. Every Pro show was top quality guys minus Mr. Olympia. Now everyone gets a trophy bulls***. Bodybuilding, this is how it should be. Only Open bodybuilding, open for the women, and fitness. Physique, Bikini, Wellness, go to your model girl pageants at Hawaiian Tropics because you’re f**king useless. But if we don’t have these classes, where do they compete?
“In the amateurs, stay there with your weight classes because you’re not good enough to be a Pro. That’s why you’re not making it anywhere because even as a Pro you suck. Just go back to being an amateur. 212 out the window. If you’re not good enough to be a good bodybuilder, you can’t make it. That’s just life people. That’s reality. Life’s hard. You suck. You shouldn’t be a Pro.”
Priest backed Nick Walker & Chris Bumstead as the most marketable bodybuilders
Lee Priest extended his support for Nick Walker and Chris Bumstead as the most marketable bodybuilders in the sport.
“In bodybuilding, I’d probably have to go around Nick Walker. In the sport, you’d probably go with Chris Bumstead because of the following. He’s marketable both to bodybuilders and the guys who don’t want to get that big because they can’t because they suck.
“What I’m saying is Bumstead is marketable but then if we just went bodybuilding, probably Nick because he’s young, marketable, good-looking, and stuff like that.”
He backed Samson Dauda as his favorite to win the 2023 Mr. Olympia.
“Samson. I think he’s got a nice combination of size and shape and he’s getting that freaky look. He has a nice balance overall so I’ll go Samson.”
Reigning four-time Classic Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead ruffled some feathers when he declared he would defeat legendary bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger in a hypothetical matchup three months ago. Former Mr. Olympia Samir Bannout pushed back on Bumstead’s claim a week later.
Priest picks Arnold Schwarzenegger over Bumstead
Priest shared his thoughts on a fantasy showdown between Schwarzenegger and Bumstead, picking the seven-time Mr. Olympia to win.
“Arnold wins. Chris is good but Arnold just seemed to flow better. Chris has got great chest, nothing against Arnold’s chest and yeah, he didn’t have the best legs but they worked for him and in 74 he looked great. The arms, the twisting shots, it would be close but I’d give it to Arnold still.”
Lee Priest voiced the idea of taking on Kai Greene in an Olympia-style superhero showdown three weeks ago. He suggested donning superhero attire and performing skits with ‘The Predator’ on stage at a bodybuilding show.
Priest opened up on his diet philosophy while getting ready for competitions weeks ago. He revealed he would start dieting a minimum of 16 weeks before an event and get in top form four weeks out from a contest.
Priest’s latest take on removing some bodybuilding divisions may not be well received by the competitors but some believe it would shine a brighter light on Open talent.
You can watch the full video below.
RELATED: Lee Priest Reveals Changes in Training & Diet from His 20s to 50s
Published: 30 June, 2023 | 12:19 AM EDT