Seth Feroce Discusses Abuse Of Steroids, Compares To Drug Addiction
Seth Feroce had an in-depth conversation on the use and use of steroids.
Seth Feroce has always been known for his views and speaking his mind about bodybuilding. Recently, it has gone to a new level as he has discussed the issue of steroids within the sport on many occasions. In a recent interview, the former bodybuilder compared the use of steroids to a drug addiction.
Feroce was a professional during the 2000s. He displayed an impressive physique using his size and conditioning on stage. Feroce knows a thing or two about steroids and this is why he has been outspoken against them all together. In with Greg Doucette, another former professional, Feroce went deep into the feeling of steroids.
“I said that in a video about this possibly starting to potentially look like a little bit of an addiction problem. You love lifting weights. We all love lifting weights. We all chase the pump, or this something that is occurring, your bench is constantly going up,” Feroce explained.
[embedded content]
Seth Feroce Highlights Psychological Effects Of Steroids
Seth Feroce explains how a person on steroids becomes addicted to the feeling in the gym. They will continue to see their numbers rise and their physique grow. This is how a person can “fall in love” with the drug.
“The crazy thing is, all of a sudden you fall in love even more so with a feeling a certain drug can give you because all these different steroids do all different things. That’s why I was attracted to them.
I was like, ‘I get to conduct my own science experiment on myself?’ This is the coolest thing in the world because you know, we are nerds to a certain degree.”
Seth Feroce continues to explain that he believes there is a connection mentally between steroids and working out. This is the main argument he makes when comparing it to a drug addiction.
“All that shit starts to come true. So, for people not to think there’s a mental connection that’s almost uncontrollable.”
“I became so attracted to that, like you said, when you go into the gym and all of a sudden, you’re constantly progressing. All the work you were doing as a natural bodybuilder or a gym rat or whatever, all those dreams that you had about getting a much fuller, rounder biceps, and capping your delts off, and having the traps into the capped delts, into the triceps, into the swooping chest.”
Both Seth Feroce and Greg Doucette went deep into the conversation during this interview. There has been a recent string of deaths that has hit the bodybuilding world hard. This has made many athletes question the use of certain PEDs when it comes to bodybuilding. Feroce continues to be one of the advocates against the substances.
[embedded content]
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Chris Bumstead Crushes 585-Pound Deadlifts For Six Reps
Chris Bumstead is preparing to in his fourth consecutive Olympia title.
The Classic Physique division has a top-tier and it is only growing. Of course, Chris Bumstead is at the top after winning three consecutive Olympia titles. He has continued to be active on social media sharing different workouts and diet plans. Recently, Bumstead shared a video during training crushing 585-pound deadlifts for six reps.
Bumstead has been back to full strength in the gym after dealing with COVID-19 earlier in the year. He lost a significant amount of weight but has since put it back on using his bulking diet. Bumstead has shared his 5,000-calorie diet used to put on size this offseason. Bumstead will enter December as the favorite to win the Olympia once again.
Chris Bumstead decided to let fans in once again to his training. This time, it was not a workout that the average person might be able to pull off.
“There’s something primitive about deadlifting that just feels right. Both miserable and powerful at the same time, perfectly balanced as all things should be…”
Bumstead continues to show explosive power and strength that has built a championship physique. He is a great blend of size and conditioning. Bumstead always displays a symmetric physique that keeps him at the top of a growing division.
Chris Bumstead & Classic Physique
This is a division that has been dominated by Bumstead but he has seen more competition in recent years.
Terrence Ruffin is a two-time Arnold Classic champion. He has finished as the runner-up to Bumstead in the 2021 Olympia. As of now, he seems like the biggest threat to the champ but there are some newcomers to keep an eye on.
Ramon Rocha Queiroz jumped the field and finished second to Ruffin at the Arnold Classic. This set the stage for the Olympia in December. Urs Kalecinski is another name to watch who is quickly turning into a star — and of course, Breon Ansley.
The former Mr. Olympia is looking more motivated than ever heading into the summer. Ansley finished fourth at the Arnold Classic and was unhappy with his performance. Ansley is looking to take his title back come December.
Chris Bumstead has hinted a move to Men’s Open but that seems like it would be a one-time appearance before he retires. As of now, Bumstead certainly has the size and could add on even more if he were to jump to Men’s Open. Instead, he has his sights set on continuing to dominate Classic Physique.
Best Forearm Workouts With Dumbbells That Popeye Would Envy
Give these dumbbell workouts a try to make even Popeye jealous.
Our forearms. We often take these for granted, always working out biceps and triceps, chests, and back. But forearms add to the overall arm aesthetic of our physiques and shouldn’t be overlooked as effective ways to get things done. Necessary for both functional and sport specific movements, our forearms need as much love as anything else.
Now, we mentioned Popeye, our rugged, big armed sailor. You might not want to look like Popeye himself, but those forearms, if paired well with the rest of your arm muscles, will certainly show off a great physique. Someone could have showed Popeye the gym to at least fix a few of those muscle imbalances, but thankfully, you don’t have that problem.
The right workouts can greatly affect your muscle growth and how you actually see effective changes to your physique. Dumbbells are a great workout tool to use for they work to isolate out certain muscles, fix any muscle imbalances, and give you the best chance at seeing convenient gains with an easy to use piece of equipment.
Let’s take a look at some of the best forearm workouts with dumbbells so you can add these to your routine and see the right forearm strength start to unfold. Plus, all you need is a set of dumbbells to see great work done.
Benefits of Strong Forearms
Improve grip strength: By working these muscles, you strengthen your grip which is essential for both functional and sport specific movements (1).
Necessary for all lifts: Any lift where you hold a weight requires forearm strength and this is important as you look to get the most out of each and every exercise.
Prevent injury: Strong forearms gives you better support as you lift big weight to avoid injury that can occur from weak muscles.
Add to your physique: Bigger forearms can add to your physique to make those arms pop and add to an overall aesthetic.
Related: 10 Exercises for Thicker Forearms
Why Using Dumbbells Are So Effective
Using dumbbells is a great way to enhance strength in a convenient way that only requires one piece of equipment. Dumbbells have the ability to take our gains to new heights and with the right approach to dumbbell training, we better set ourselves up for success.
Benefits of dumbbells include:
Effective muscle growth: Add good resistance and time under tension for great muscle building.
Fix imbalances: Great for isolating muscle groups to enhance symmetry and even out those muscles.
Good variety: Dumbbells allow for a host of workouts to take place and can add nice variety to your routine.
Best Forearm Workouts With Dumbbells
Now that we’ve covered the bases of what strong forearms and dumbbells can do for you, we can get into the best forearm workouts with dumbbells so you can add these to your routine and get the most out of each and every workout.
Farmer’s Walks
With farmer’s walks, you will carry a set of most likely heavier dumbbells a set distance or for a set amount of time. This is a great exercise to combine strength building with cardio and serves as a really nice conditioning exercise. Where your forearms come into play are with the grip necessary to hold the weight. Your core will be engaged to stabilize your body and your forearms will be engaged to really hold the weight and make it as effective as possible.
Zottoman Curls
Zottoman curls require a twisting motion during the actual movement which will work your forearm muscles and give them that bit of tension needed to grow. Designed to really enhance bicep strength and size, the use of your forearms and the nature of this movement, make this an effective exercise for building forearm strength.
Related: The Eight Best Bodyweight Exercises for Forearms
Wrist Curls
Wrist curls work to develop strength in the forearms but also your wrists. As vulnerable joints we need to keep these strong and stable and here is where your forearm grip is important. As an isolation exercise that mainly targets the forearms, this is a nice exercise to put into the mix to show those forearms some love.
Push-Up To Row
The push-up to row is a great exercise to work many muscles and your forearms are an important group to focus on. The movement of the push-up and then into the row all require different muscles, however, the constant is your forearm grip on the weight. A great exercise for those push days or those pull days, you can’t go wrong with the push-up to row exercise.
Best Dumbbells For Working Out
Finding a quality pair of dumbbells can be challenging, but it is certainly not impossible. With the right approach to looking, you can find a premium set of dumbbells that won’t break the bank. We wanted to share a great set with you so you could capitalize on those gains and see the best results possible.
papababe Dumbbells
papababe Dumbbells are perfect for free weight strength training. Made from solid cast iron with a rubber head, this ensures durability, longevity, and protection.
papababe Dumbbells are great workout equipment for those looking to build strength, burn fat, and create a stellar physique that others will envy. Perfect for free weight training, these can be stored easily for optimal convenience. Made from solid cast iron, these ensure durability and longevity and the rubber coating helps prevent damage to floors and other equipment. With a hexagon-shaped head to prevent rolling, the grip is also secure to prevent slipping and injury.
Price: $289.99
Check out our list of the Best Dumbbells for more great lifting products!
Wrap Up
The best forearm workouts with dumbbells can greatly enhance your lifting goals so you see effective growth and a real change to your physique. Strong forearms can add to your aesthetic and give you that bigger look you are striving for. Plus, by using dumbbells, you give yourself the benefit of using a quality set while reaping the pros of these lifting products. Give these forearm workouts a try and see what this can do for all those lifting and physique goals today.
Generation Iron may receive commissions on purchases made through our links. See our disclosure page for more information.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Envato
References
Anakwe, R.; et al. (2007). “Grip strength and forearm circumference in a healthy population”. (source)
Big Ramy Breaks Silence: Apologizes To Jim Manion & IFBB Pro
Big Ramy issues a direct apology to Jim Manion, the IFBB Pro league, and the fans for missing the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro.
After a long period of silence, Big Ramy has issued a direct statement apologizing to Jim Manion and the IFBB Pro league for his unexplained guest posing absence at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro. His apology comes after a wide amount of criticism from fellow athletes, coaches, and fans. While Ramy does directly apologize, he still does not provide a detailed reason for why he missed the guest posing – other than citing “personal issues.”
The 2022 Pittsburgh Pro is one of the most exciting pro competitions of the year. This is largely because of the massive selection of super star guest posers that appear to pay tribute to IFBB Pro president Jim Manion. This year, Big Ramy was the featured headliner for the guest posing event. However, Ramy did not appear. Instead, Derek Lunsford jumped on stage last minute to replace him.
Fans were confused – and we later found out that even Big Ramy’s own coach Dennis James was confused as well. There was no advance notice of Ramy’s absence. In fact, even after the Pittsburgh Pro event, which was on May 6-7th, Ramy and his team were virtually silent with no explanation. Now just two and a half weeks later, Ramy has opened up and spoken directly for the first time about the issue.
You can watch Big Ramy’s official statement, which was posted on Instagram, below:
In the video, Big Ramy appears solemn and somewhat reserved. He acknowledges that he has been silent for quite some time – and then jumps directly into an apology to Jim Manion:
“Hey guys, I know I have been absent for a while now and I would like to explain to you all what has been happening. First I would like to apologize to Mr. Jim Manion and IFBB Pro league for not coming to the Pittsburgh Pro.”
Big Ramy then moves on to mention the reason for his inability to make it to the Pittbsurgh Pro event. However, he does not give much detail at all – stating that he cannot go into detail about the situation for an undisclosed reason.
“Due to personal reason that I cannot go into details about, I can’t fly to Pittsburgh. It’s nothing hurts me more than to know I missed that event and I let many people down. Mr. Jim Manion and last bodybuilding fans, I am very sorry from the bottom of my heart.”
Big Ramy then takes a moment to confirm that he is still dedicated to being a champion bodybuilder – and always strives to do what is best for the sport. But he also acknowledges that he is human and that mistakes do happen and will likely happen again in the future.
“I think you all know, I am from day one I start bodybuilding, I try to do my best to be a good guy for any person he need to be a bodybuilder. Maybe I make some mistakes but I am a human and I know in the future I will make some mistakes because I am still a human.”
Big Ramy is the current and 2x Mr. Olympia champion. With that crown comes a responsibility to the sport. Many fans look up to him as a champion and expect the best attitude and performance from his presence year after year. His silence and his absence at the Pittsburgh Pro, to many, was unbefitting of a Mr. Olympia champion.
That being said, Big Ramy has finally addressed the fans, his fellow athletes, and the league directly. This will likely build, perhaps, some good will in those who have been waiting for some sort of answer.
On the flip side, Big Ramy still is not able to give a specific reason for missing the show or his silence. Perhaps it truly is a private issue that he cannot publicly comment on. However, there will be some who see this as a cop out and a non satisfying answer.
Regardless of how the larger community reacts to this – his apology will hopefully put this conversation behind us and allow the sport to look forward towards Big Ramy’s next showing at the Mr. Olympia later this year.
Generation Iron will update this article as more information becomes available. Until then, stick around the Generation Iron Fitness Network for news and coverage on all things bodybuilding, strength sports, and fitness.
Martyn Ford Adds Six Pounds Following Bodybuilding Workout, Training For Eventual MMA Debut
Martyn Ford is planning to make the switch to MMA at some point in the near future.
Martyn Ford saw his fight fall through with the Iranian Hulk but he is still training in different ways to prepare for a fight. While he has no opponent lined up at the moment, Ford expressed an interest in signing an MMA contract at some point. To stay in shape, he decided to throw it back to a bodybuilding workout that added six pounds to his physique in just one hour.
Ford and his team decided to blackout of the fight with Iranian Hulk because they were not comfortable with his mental state. This came to light after Sajad Gharibi became emotional during an interview about how his family viewed the face-off between both men.
In a recent training session, Ford as able to put on six pounds of muscle in an hour. This came after Ford claimed that he is “one under percent” eyeing MMA.
“Well, with no clear date in mind to fight, thought I’d do a cheeky body building session ??♂️ guess muscle memory is a real thing … thing I’ve added about 6lb in an hour ??”
READ MORE: The Martyn Ford Workout For Intensity & Serious Muscle Growth
Martyn Ford’s MMA Plan
Martyn Ford was hard at work in the gym preparing for his fight with Iranian Hulk. Now, he will have to set his sights on another opponent. There might not be one lined up but Ford certainly wants to make his debut in MMA at some point.
“One hundred percent I am planning on getting involved in MMA,” Ford told Mirror Fighting. “I am already speaking to KSW. This is something that was set pre-covid. I have still been doing pieces of Jiu-Jitsu and stuff. They are looking at coming to London in October, and that is an event I would love to get involved with.”
This is not the first time that Ford has been linked to KSW. This is a Polish MMA promotion that previously signed Ford to a contract. He did not appear in a fight under this contract. The promotion is planning a show in October and Ford has expressed interest in fighting. It will be interesting to see if the two sides come to an agreement over the summer.
“It just needs to be the right person and right time, my feelers have been put out there to try and get this set up as soon as possible. I understand the frustration from people about not yet seeing me fight. I am still training, only thing I am not doing is active sparring.”
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
PNBA Bodybuilder Mitch Jarvis Uncovers Mind-blowing Leg Transformation
Image via Instagram @mitchjarv
PNBA bodybuilder Mitch Jarvis unfolds what lead to his dumbfounding leg transformation.
Let’s face it; it’s common for many lifters to skimp out on leg day. But experienced lifters, exceptionally professional natural bodybuilders, know that’s a big no-no. Your legs will add more mass to your frame and improve your other lifts. Plus, your legs host the most significant muscle in your body – the gluteus maximus (butt). How do you get your legs to grow, though? Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (PNBA) natural bodybuilder Mitch Jarvis uploaded an astonishing leg transformation picture on social media and explained how he was able to make his legs grow to such an extent.
Mitch Jarvis is a British PNBA bodybuilder who was the runner-up at the PNBA World Championships in 2021. He also competes with the United Kingdom Drug-Free Bodybuilding Association (UKDFBA), where he was a champion in 2020 and 2021.
On Instagram (IG), Mitch Jarvis posted an IG post of a side-by-side comparison of his leg growth and explained how he gained so much muscle mass. Jarvis said:
“Weak body part? Prioritise it! Hit it first, hit it hard & hit it more often. This is what I did for legs; at one point I was squatting 3x per week, always at the start of the session and progressively adding weight/reps (with deloads sprinkled in of course!)”
PNBA natural bodybuilder Mitch Jarvis developed significant muscle mass in his legs by adding more volume to his workouts. He also utilized the progressive overload principle by ensuring he added weight/reps to his squats each week, combined with periodical deload weeks.
Below you can see his leg photo comparison on IG.
What Are Some of the Best Leg Transformation Exercises?
Of course, you don’t want to exclude squats from your leg training regime—many regard squats as the king of all exercises. Squats are a compound movement–targeting multiple joints at a time–allowing you to load heavy weights on a barbell to target your quads, hamstrings, and glutes. Back squats will target more of your posterior chain (glutes, hamstring), and the front squats will target your anterior chain (quads).
You’ll also want to include isolation–single-joint–leg exercises in your training plan that specifically engage your quads, hamstrings, and glutes. For example, try machine seated leg extensions for your quads and machine seated leg curls to target your hamstrings.
Furthermore, barbell hip thrusts are a great exercise to grow your glutes. And Bulgarian split squats are an excellent unilateral leg exercise–a single-limb–workout to emphasize your quads and glutes. Plus, they engage your core and stability muscles since they are unilateral exercises.
Natural Bodybuilding
Natural bodybuilding is progressively growing with the International Natural Bodybuilding Association (INBA)/PNBA league. The INBA PNBA is the largest natural bodybuilding federation with athletes from over 60 countries. In addition, they host the biggest natural bodybuilding competition in the world each year, Natural Olympia.
The INBA PNBA gives natural athletes an opportunity for growth and promotion through multi-media contracts. And they make competition fair and look out for the health of their athletes by requiring all competitors to get drug-screened through World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) variant labs.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for more workout tips from the best natural bodybuilders!
2022 World’s Strongest Man: Day Two Results & Recap
2022 World’s Strongest Man results are in for Day 2 with complete breakdown of qualifiers.
The 2022 World’s Strongest Man competition is underway. The scene is set in Sacramento where 30 of the world’s best strongmen will compete from May 24-29 to see who will be crowned this year’s champion.
The qualifiers began on Tuesday and will run through Thursday. There are a total of six events that will be spread out over all three days. The competitors will have a chance to rest on Friday before the finals begin on Saturday. The final day of the event will take place on Sunday.
Today marked the second day of the competition. All groups competed in the car walk and log lift. Below, you can find the results as they continue to come in from Sacramento!
2022 World’s Strongest Man: Day Two Events
Car Walk – All Groups
Log Lift – All Groups
The second day of action is completed in Sacramento. Checkout the full results and current standings from the World’s Strongest Man competition.
2022 World’s Strongest Man Leaderboard
Rank
Name
Points
Group 1
1
Tom Stoltman
18
2
Kevin Faires
13
3
Gabriel Rheaume
12
4
Aivars Smaukstelis
10
5
Andy Black
7
6
Manuel Angulo
3
Group 2
1
Mitchell Hooper
18
2
Bobby Thompson
11
3
Mark Felix
9
4
Gabriel Pena
9
5
Brian Shaw
9
6
Konstantine Janashia
7
Group 3
1
Oleksii Novikov
16
2
Adam Bishop
12
3
Rob Kearney
11
4
Trey Mitchell
10
5
Grzegorz Szymański
7
6
Mika Torro
7
Group 4
1
Martins Licis
17
2
Gavin Bilton
12
3
Pavlo Kordiyaka
12
4
Maxime Boudreault
11
5
Shane Flowers
6
6
Nedzmin Ambeskovic
4
Group 5
1
Luke Stoltman
17
2
Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf
11
3
Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted
11
4
Kelvin De Ruiter
9
5
Evan Singleton
8
6
Kim Ujarak
6
2022 World’s Strongest Man: Day Two Qualifier Results
The second day of qualifiers featured two events — the car walk and log lift. This is the second day of three qualifiers where competitors will earn points in hopes of making it through to the finals over the weekend.
Before the second day of competition began, Evan Singleton announced that he will be returning to action. He went into anaphylactic shock prior to the start of day one and was unable to breathe. The reaction has subsided and Singleton will return to the field.
Car Walk
The car all led off day two in Sacramento. Competitors were asked to lift a hollowed out car and walk it down a 25-meter course. This is an event that tests speed and strength together. All parts of the body are engaged while the car is in the air because strongmen must keep it balanced while making sure the tires do not touch the ground.
Group 1
Tom Stoltman – 0:14.65s
Gabriel Rheaume – 0:16.44s
Kevin Faires – 0:19.32s
Aivars Smaukstelis – 0:19.91s
Andy Black – 0:32.71s
Manuel Angulo – 1:00.00s
Group 2
Mitchell Hooper – 0:11.64s
Mark Felix – 0:13.96s
Bobby Thompson – 0:16.05s
Konstantine Janashia – 0:18.16s
Brian Shaw – 0:19.97s
Gabriel Pena – 18.90m
Group 3
Rob Kearney – 0:11.63s
Grzegorz Szymański – 0:14.26s
Oleksii Novikov – 0:15.23s
Trey Mitchell – 0:19.24s
Adam Bishop – 0:23.38s
Mika Torro – 9.50m
Group 4
Pavlo Kordiyaka – 0:12.92s
Martins Licis – 0:18.93s
Gavin Bilton – 0:23.67s
Maxime Boudreault – 0:49.28s
Nedzmin Ambeskovic – 13.60m
Shane Flowers – WD
Group 5
Evan Singleton – 0:09.86s
Luke Stoltman – 0:16.65s
Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted – 0:29.07s
Jean-Stephen Coraboeuf – 0:41.34s
Kelvin De Ruiter – 1:00.00s
Kim Ujarak – 11.40m
Log Lift
Results coming soon!
2022 World’s Strongest Man: Event Schedule
Day Three Qualifiers: Thursday
Wrecking Ball Hold
Stone Off
Day One Finals: Saturday
Giant’s Medley
Deadlift
Flintstone Barbell
Day Two Finals: Sunday
Bus Pull
Power Stairs
Atlas Stones
Continue to tune in to our coverage of the 2022 World’s Strongest Man event for more updates. For more news, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.
Lee Priest Discusses Competing Against Flex Wheeler and IFBB Ban: “That Was All Made Up, But Technically Yes”
Lee Priest took some time to reflect on certain topics around his bodybuilding career.
Lee Priest did not hold back his thoughts over the course of his bodybuilding career. He remains open to discuss certain topics and recently did an interview where he talked about all things bodybuilding — from his competition against Flex Wheeler to his IFBB Pro League ban.
Priest joined the Muscle and Fitness YouTube page for an interview where he was able to provide updates and experiences. After some discussion on bodybuilding today, Priest began with his competition days.
[embedded content]
Lee Priest on IFBB Pro League Ban
Lee Priest received a one-yer ban from the IFBB Pro League after competing in a bodybuilding show for Wayne DeMilia. After more developments, it ended up being a lifetime ban. Since this decision was made, the league has been restricted. Because of this, Priest does not believe that he is banned.
“Well, Bob Chicarello, the athletes rep, says I’m not, that was all made up. But if we go technically, yes I was but now, of course, the IFBB and them have gone different ways. The new organization I’m technically not suspended from.”
“I had no choice, after Wayne’s show, they suspended me for one year. They said, ‘oh, we see you going to England, don’t go and we will only make it for one year’. I said I have to go, and sell tickets, I’m on the poster. I said just make it a two-year suspension and they said okay.”
Just because he might not be suspended, does not mean that Priest is going to return to do a show. However, it is still possible given the physique that he has built recently. For Priest to do so, there might have to be some amends made with the league.
Lee Priest on Facing Flex Wheeler and the 2003 Olympia
Lee Priest began bodybuilding in the 1980s and enjoyed a career that spanned over 20 years. Priest was extremely active early on and built a championship physique. He was able to secure victories in many shows, such as the 2006 Iron Man Pro and 2013 NABBA Mr. Universe competition.
In 1997, Priest competed against Wheeler at the Iron Man and shared a story about the experience.
“The ’97 Iron Man was funny when I got second to Flex because Shawn was helping Flex backstage. So, Shawn comes over and says ‘you’re looking great Lee, it’s going to be close between you and my boy Flex.’”
“Flex heard him say it and walks over and goes, ‘yeah I’ll give you credit, you’re looking good, but you’re not going to beat me because of who I am.”
The interview continued on with Lee Priest discussing the 2003 Olympia, where he finished 15th. This was not a competition that he wanted to appear in but ended up on stage.
“Back in 2003, I didn’t want to do the Olympia. If you’re not 100%, okay I’m going to do it, I dieted for a week. McDonald’s for a week. Diet for a week, McDonald’s. So, I put online, I tell my fans, I think it was don’t get big at the time, that was the site. I’m sorry, look, I’m just not in it. I’ll be at the expo. I got abused,” Priest said.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Straight Facts: The Reason Bodybuilders Lack Dietary Fiber… And Why That’s Dangerous
[embedded content]
Jerry Brainum breaks down the straight facts about bodybuilding diets, dietary fiber, and the health consequences of missing this vital nutrient.
It’s often said that bodybuilding is a lifestyle, not just a sport or a hobby. This is made abundantly clear when looking at the extreme detail that goes into a bodybuilding diet. Every single thing put into the body is monitored and adjusted for optimal results in building a perfect physique. However, sometimes a diet perfect for a masterful body is in contrast for what is best in regards to long term health. This is especially true when it comes to fiber – though many don’t often know this. In our latest episode of Straight Facts, Jerry Brainum details the importance of dietary fiber and the health consequences of missing this vital nutrient in the long run.
Dietary fiber is often an overlooked nutrient by the population at large. The most that individuals usually know is that it helps fight constipation and helps with bowel movements. This is certainly true – but there is so much more to dietary fiber than just making your bathroom visits more pleasant. In fact, it has a massive effect on your intestinal microbiome in ways that can have a major impact on your overall health in the long term.
Jerry Brainum knows about this first hand, as he’s faced a medical emergency in his past tied directly to dietary fiber (or lack thereof). Not only that – but as a passionate fan of bodybuilding, he is extremely aware of how little fiber usually exists in bodybuilding diets. This worries him. Which is why this week he goes into extreme detail on how to help boost fiber and the effects it can have. Let’s jump into it.
What does dietary fiber do?
In the most basic terms, dietary fiber helps food and waste move through your system more smoothly. By doing so, it essentially helps cleanse your intestinal microbiome. Your intestinal microbiome is a massive series of organisms that exist in your stomach and intestines. They are directly responsible for how you absorb nutrients and also how you dispose of waste from your body.
Most importantly, recent studies have found that a healthy intestinal microbiome is much more vital to human health than previously thought. It appears that the microbiome is in direct “communication” with your immune system. An unhealthy microbiome seems to lead directly to a weaker immune system.
Unhealthy microbiomes have also shown to increase risk of colon cancer and various other intestinal diseases.
How much dietary fiber should you take?
The CDC recommends that individuals take approximately 14 grams of dietary fiber per 1000 calories consumed. So if you were to consume generally 2000 calories per day – you should eat around 28-30 grams of dietary fiber.
In an era of processed foods – this goal is much harder to reach for most Americans. But beyond the general public, Jerry Brainum explains that typical and popular bodybuilding diets leave much less room for dietary fiber.
Why do bodybuilders have low dietary fiber?
In modern bodybuilding, diets such as carnivore diets, ketogenic diets, and other low-carb diets have become very popular. These diets often do not provide the daily dietary fiber needed for a healthy intestinal microbiome.
This does not mean these diets are inherently bad. In fact, these diets are designed to only be used in the short term. Jerry Brainum explains that being one one of these diets for one month, three months, or even six months will likely do little damage to your overall health. But if you stick longer than six months – and push a low-carb diet into a permanent eating lifestyle – you may be in for some serious health risks in the long term.
As mentioned, low fiber can contribute to an increased risk of colon cancer and can also weaken your overall immune system. Leaving bodybuilders (and any individual low in dietary fiber) open to getting seriously sick more often.
In addition to this, Jerry Brainum cites some studies that show high-fiber diets have shown increased heart health, lower blood pressure, and (as stated previously) an improved immune system.
Supplementing your diet with fiber
So what is a bodybuilder to do if he or she wants to build better health but stay on track for optimizing their physique? Jerry Brainum suggests dietary fiber supplements taken with water. They are relatively tasteless and easy to add to a meal or simply with a glass of water.
Jerry Brainum also suggests starting off slow. If you jump in with 30+ grams of dietary fiber in a supplement, you’ll get extremely gassy and bloated. It’s uncomfortable and might entice you to stop supplementing with fiber. Instead, start small and slowly build up so your microbiome adjusts to the dietary change.
Wrap Up
Dietary fiber is not an exciting or often discussed nutrient when talking about healthy diets. But it’s extremely important and can be a contributing factor to various ailments. Since bodybuilders are often lacking in dietary fiber – it’s important to take this information and these suggestions seriously. Just get used to going to the bathroom a bit more often as part of your daily schedule.
You can watch Jerry Brainum go into complete detail about dietary fiber and bodybuidling in our latest episode of Straight Facts above. Make sure to stop by each Wednesday for new episodes every week!
