Tag: Bodybuilding
PNBA Men’s Physique Natural Olympia Champ William Long Explains Why He’s Moving to Classic Physique
Image via Instagram @ricecracker2487
3x Men’s Physique Natural Olympia champ William Long explains why he’s shifting divisions.
The 3x Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (PNBA) Men’s Physique Natural Olympia champ William Long is pivoting from the Men’s Physique category to the Classic Physique category.
William Long is known as “The OG” after becoming the first PNBA Men’s Physique Natural Olympia champ. In addition, Long was the first natural athlete to sign a multi-media contract with INBA PNBA, Generation Iron, and Iron Man Magazine.
Although he won’t compete in the Men’s Physique class this year, he’s the reigning champion. After getting in touch with William Long, he told us why he’s changing divisions. Long stated:
“I feel that I’ve accomplished a lot and made my mark in the Men’s Physique division and that it’s time for a new challenge. I became the first Natural Olympia champion of that division and will end as a Champion, having won it 3x.
I also believe my physique has progressed past the standards of the division. I love the overall look and representation of classic physique. I love the artful display of the posing.
I believe I can be competitive in the classic division. My training hasn’t changed. I still train hard and with intensity. My main focus though is my overall leg development. There’s no hiding them in boardshorts with the classic physique division.”
William Long says he’s taking this year off to focus on sculpting his physique for the Classic Physique category. He plans to make his debut early next summer. Right now, Long is hovering around 185-190 lbs, which he says is 25-30 lbs over his stage weight.
Here’s a recent Instagram post from William Long showing off his triceps gains:
Classic Physique Vs. Men’s Physique
As Long mentioned, leg development in the Classic Physique division is much more critical than in the Men’s Physique class. That’s because competitors wear board shorts in the Men’s Physique class. Also another noticeable difference between the two divisions is the size. Although muscularity and size, muscle shape and fullness, and muscle density are essential for judging for both classes, Classic Physique athletes are bigger and follow a different posing regimen.
William Long dominated the Men’s Physique category, and the Classic Physique will bring new challenges. For example, he’ll have to increase his leg hypertrophy and overall size. Plus, he’ll be competing against the reigning Classic Physique Natural Olympia champ Derek Joe and 3x Classic Physique Natural Olympia champion Brandon Lirio.
It’ll be interesting to see who is crowned victorious in the Classic Physique category at next year’s Natural Olympia since it’s filled with many champs. And another intriguing obscurity will be who takes over the Men’s Physique division. After suffering a deadlifting injury, PNBA Danairo Moore says he has more motivation to place in the top five and even two at this year’s Natural Olympia.
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Steve Kuclo Shares Physique Update Ahead Of Texas Pro, Tells Competition “We Will See You Saturday”
Steve Kuclo is ready, mentally and physically, for his appearance at the 2022 Texas Pro.
Steve Kuclo is looking to keep the momentum of the previous two years going during the 2022 Texas Pro. Just days away from the competition, Kuclo shared a physique update and sent a message to the Men’s Open division.
Kuclo is looking to earn a ticket to his seventh Olympia competition. Over the years, he has taken a step up and has competed with some of the best in the world. This began in 2021, when he finished as the runner-up in this very show and third at the Arnold Classic. In 2022, Kuclo finished third at the Arnold Classic once again.
Kuclo last competed in Boston, where he finished third at the Boston Pro. He is looking to bring his best package to the stage against a talented card at the Texas Pro.
Steve Kuclo: “212, 250, 300…It Don’t Matter”
In a recent Instagram post, Steve Kuclo is seen performing a cable exercise before hitting a most muscular pose. He then moved to a dumbbell exercise and showed off the incredible mass of his back.
Kuclo has been sharing physique updates for followers ahead of the Texas Pro but this time, he felt confident enough to send a message.
“5 days out of @battleupproductions TEXAS PRO??chest & delts highlights212, 250, 300… it don’t matter we will see you Saturday ?”
Steve Kuclo did not compete during the 2022 Tampa Pro last week but four of the top-six finishers from the show will compete in Texas. Kamal Elgargni turned heads during his Men’s Open debut as he finished as the runner-up to Akim Williams. Many thought Elgargni should have been crowned the champion but he will quickly return to the stage. This is a battle to watch come the weekend.
Andrew Jacked is also preparing to compete this weekend. He has been sharing many physique updates as he trains with some of the best of all-time, including Flex Wheeler. Jacked has shown off some incredible size and conditioning in the gym and is ready to take it to the stage.
This year’s Texas Pro is shaping up to be an exciting competition because of the athletes hat are expected to appear. When it is all said and done, Steve Kuclo believes he has the physique to take home the title and qualify for the Olympia.
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Rich Gaspari Speaks On Chris Bumstead’s Brand, Physique Compared To Open Bodybuilding: ‘Their Physiques Are Unattainable’
Rich Gaspari favors Chris Bumstead’s brand and physique over that of Open bodybuilding.
Rich Gaspari is a bodybuilding veteran who remains up to date on the comings and goings of different athletes in the sport. Recently, he sat down for a conversation with John Romano about the current state of bodybuilding and how Chris Bumstead has been able to build such a big brand.
Bumstead is the reigning three-time Classic Physique Olympia champion. He is approaching 10 million followers on Instagram and has even more on other social media platforms, such as YouTube. He has built such a following sharing different content, such as workouts and diets during his preparation for shows.
Gaspari, who joined Romano on Dragon Slayer Media’s YouTube, credits Bumstead for what he has been able to build and compares Classic Physique and Open Bodybuilding.
“Well first of all, Chris Bumstead gets credit that he really grew his popularity. He grew during the time of Instagram when it first started. You can gain followers very quickly,” Gaspari said.
“He’s got three million followers on TikTok. 9.5 plus three million on TikTok. Then, he’s very popular on YouTube. What he’s done is he’s used the vehicle of YouTube to show his training, his progress, how he eats. That has gone into his Instagram that’s grown tremendously, at 9.5 million. He’s become really really popular.”
READ MORE: Rich Gaspari Answers How A Bodybuilder Can Use Posing To Beat A Superior Physique
Rich Gaspari continues to tell a story about a show he attended in New York. The store where the show was taking place gave fans the chance to meet their favorite celebrities. Gaspari recalls the line to meet Bumstead being “just incredible.”
“He has his own brand. I mean, he’s really smart. He’s one of the few competitive bodybuilders that also has a business and a brand.”
Rich Gaspari on Open Bodybuilders: “It Takes Them A Lot Longer”
Rich Gaspari is not the first to make the comparison of Classic Physique to Men’s Open. There are many who believe Classic Physique is the future of the sport, and competitors like Chris Bumstead are a big reason why.
When discussing the current state of Open Bodybuilding, Gaspari comments on how long it takes to attain this type of physique.
“You look at these guys and their physiques are unattainable. It takes them a lot longer. I can’t say that for Nick Walker. Normal guys that are in the Olympia are in their 30s to 40s. It takes that long to gain all that muscle.”
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Gaspari highlights Nick Walker as the exception because of the size he has been able to put on at such a young age.
“Nick Walker is in his 20s and is that big,” Gaspari said.
There is no doubt that Chris Bumstead is one of, if not the most, popular bodybuilders on the planet today. He is preparing to win his fourth consecutive Olympia title and this will only continue to build his reputation and brand.
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PNBA Danairo Moore Has Newfound Motivation After Suffering a Deadlift Injury
Image via Instagram @devon_moore029
PNBA Danairo Moore describes how a deadlifting injury generated more focus and determination to compete at the highest level.
After getting in touch with Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (PNBA) athlete Danairo Moore, he informed us that he endured a herniated L4 and L5 disc injury after deadlifting 405 pounds for reps. In addition, Moore said he heard a pop in his back during the lift. However, Danairo Moore’s not letting this impede his progress or wither his competitive nature. Instead, it’s led to more drive and motivation to dominate natural bodybuilding. Moore stated:
“I’m still recovering from my injury early this spring. I herniated my L4 and L5 disc, still got some numbness in my right foot. But I take my injury as a blessing. Because it made me more focused and willing to go out and give it my all.”
And he believes he can place in the top 5 if not top 2 at Natural Olympia. In 2019, Danairo Moore placed in the top 10 in the Men’s Physique category. Also, Danairo Moore has a multi-media contract with Generation Iron, Iron Man Magazine, and the INBA PNBA. This contract is an opportunity for outstanding INBA PNBA athletes with good standing in the league. It cooperates to undergo the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) guidelines to receive promotional opportunities and professional growth.
Below is an Instagram clip of Danairo Moore doing pull-ups, which he claims he does 400-600 reps per week.
Danairo Moore’s Shift to Fasted Cardio in the Morning
Danairo Moore also says his training’s shifted a bit as he prepares for the International Natural Bodybuilding Association (INBA)/PNBA Pro Am Natural Universe on September 3, 2022, in Tampa, Florida. Moore says that his work schedule has him doing fasted cardio in the morning and lifting late in the afternoon.
It’s intriguing to see what fasted cardio in the morning combined with his anabolic fasting diet–intermittent fasting combined with low cab–will do to his physique as he heads towards the final stretch of the 2022 INBA PNBA season.
Road to Natural Olympia
It’s been a busy month for PNBA athletes as they prime themselves for Natural Universe. And some natural bodybuilders have tweaked their training routines. For example, Philip Ricardo Jr. extended his contest prep to 20 weeks. And he’s noticed more fat loss and muscle maintenance, and he heads to stage with what he believes to be a much-improved physique compared to last year–where he points to a shorter competition prep prevented him from getting his physique to peak condition.
Natural Universe is one of the bigger INBA PNBA shows that come before the king of all natural bodybuilding competitions, Natural Olympia. Natural Olympia takes place in Las Vegas, NV, November 10-13, 2022. The shows before help prepare quality competitors for this Super Bowl natural bodybuilding finale.
One show that recently took place in July is the 2022 Pro/Am Iron Man Magazine Championships. Winners received up to $15,000 in cash and prizes and were featured in the next edition of Iron Man Magazine.
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Joseph Baena Hits Bodybuilding Poses Made Famous By His Father, Arnold Schwarzenegger
Joseph Baena has teased the idea of competing in bodybuilding at some point.
Joseph Baena has been creating his own way, both in the gym and on the big screen. This is not easy to do for the son of Arnold Schwarzenegger but Baena has also embraced where he comes from. On many occasions, Baena has drawn striking comparisons to his father, especially when he hits some classic bodybuilding poses.
Baena, the 24-year-old son of Schwarzenegger, has completed transformed his physique into a lean build with great conditioning. He has teased the possibility of competing in bodybuilding at some point and this could happen if he adds the size necessary. Baena seems to be on his way with the work he has put in while training.
On Tuesday, Baena shared yet another picture on Instagram in the gym where he is hitting a pose that his father used to use on stage.
“Going for it”
The picture was shared in black and white following a workout. Baena is seen hitting Schwarzenegger’s 3/4 back pose.
Joseph Baena And His Fitness Journey
Joseph Baena recently joined Bradley Martyn for a workout and explained how he got started in the gym. He began working out in college and quickly grew a passion for the gym. Now, he has made his way to the cover of Men’s Health, where he was featured for a story.
In the article, Baena explains that he trains six days a week for two hours a day. He adds 20 minutes of fasted cardio in the morning. Baena has also took some time to train at Gold’s Gym in Venice, CA.
Joseph Baena has also tried his hand at acting and released some works. He recently released an acting project entitled Lava. He was able to show off an impressive physique on set and also had to maintain size for his role in Call of Duty: The Last Airshow.
It is clear that Baena has his father’s mentality when it comes to training and this means he will continue to improve his physique as time goes on. This could lead to his debut on the bodybuilding stage when the time is right.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Nick Walker Hits 200-Pound Incline Dumbbell Press For An Insane 10 Reps During Training
Nick Walker continues to prepare for the Olympia by crushing his training sessions.
Nick Walker has been one of the fastest-rising bodybuilders over the course of his career. He went from rookie to one of the best in the world in a short period of time. Now, after a fifth-place finish at the Olympia in 2021, Walker has put all of his attention into preparing for December. This includes completing some massive lifts during training sessions.
Walker burst onto the scene by winning the 2021 New York Pro followed by the Arnold Classic. This came all within a year of earning his Pro Card to compete against some of the best talent around. Walker earned fifth place in his first Olympia but was not satisfied with his performance. This led to Walker deciding to forgo the Arnold Classic in 2022 and put all of his effort into the biggest show of the year.
On Monday, Walker shared a clip during his latest chest day crushing 10 reps of 200-pound incline dumbbell presses.
Nick Walker Provides Update On Training
Nick Walker has been active on his social media platforms, giving viewers insight on his workouts and diets being used leading up to the show. Recently, he shared his feat of strength on the bench.
“200db press for 10 reps. THAT FORM THOUGH
Now we working.”
Nick Walker’s prowess on the incline bench keeps improving as the summer goes on. He recently shared a video completing 10 reps using 185-pound dumbbells. Now, he was able to up the weight.
During the 2021 Olympia, Walker established himself as one of the biggest mass monsters in the world. He finished behind Hunter Labrada, Hadi Choopan, Brandon Curry, and reigning two-time champion Big Ramy. Heading into the 2022 show, there are many that would not be surprised to see Walker improve into the top three.
It is clear that Nick Walker has great dedication to bodybuilding. He has been able to make great improvements to what was already an elite physique. With a few months left of preparation, there is a great chance that Walker is able to shoot his way up the scorecard during the most important show of the year.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
PNBA Natural Olympia Champ Philip Ricardo Jr. Explains Why He’s Extended Competition Prep
PNBA Natural Olympia champ Philip Ricardo Jr. says extending his competition prep to 20 weeks has improved his physique.
Some athletes do longer competition preps, and others opt for shorter ones. Of course, both have pros and cons. Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (PNBA) Natural Olympia champ Philip Ricardo Jr. gave us insight into why he’s extended his competition prep this year compared to last year. He stated:
“Although my energy levels are low, my mindset, focus, and confidence is very high. I feel that I am much improved from the physique I had last year at the Mr. America and Natural Olympia as I was able to go back to what has brought me the most success previously, which is a longer preparation to eat away at the body fat and maintain muscle. Last year I rushed my prep, so this year my body has reacted positively to this 20 week preparation for the stage.
I hope to be able to display a much improved physique on August 20th, and September 2nd at the Natural Universe.”
Philip Ricardo Jr. has won 4 Natural Olympia titles in the Men’s Bodybuilding category, winning his first championship in 2007. Now, he’s the reigning Natural Olympia Men’s Bodybuilding Grand Master’s champion and plans to have a big month to set himself up for the rest of the year.
Philip Ricardo Jr. is set to compete at the INBA PNBA Pro/Am Nationals in Connecticut on August 20, 2022. Ricardo Jr. hopes this competition prepares him for the INBA PNBA Natural Universe in Tampa, Florida, just two weeks after the show in Connecticut.
Longer Competition Preps Vs. Shorter Preps
According to Philip Ricardo Jr., a longer competition prep has allowed him to lose more body fat and maintain muscle mass. That’s because a shorter competition prep didn’t let him lose the body fat he wanted or likely hold onto as much muscle.
If you lose body fat too quickly, you often lose muscle mass too. The slower you lose body fat, the more muscle you’ll preserve and the easier it will be. If you try to lose body fat too fast, you could put your body in a catabolic state, eating away muscle tissue. That’s because you’ll have to cut your calories more to lose weight faster, making it hard to hold onto muscle. Of course, your diet will be more rigorous too.
Your muscles need enough calories to function and grow. Calories are also crucial for you to have the energy required to lift the weight and volume essential to building or maintaining muscle mass. Therefore, a longer prep can allow bodybuilders a smaller caloric deficit and give them the flexibility to lose weight and body fat at a slower rate, allowing them to hold on to more muscle. And even if the athlete chooses to do a more extreme cut, regardless of starting their contest prep sooner, they’ll have more time to lose body fat.
On the contrary, a shorter competition prep will allow lifters a longer time in a bulking or maintenance phase. And give them more freedom with their diet for extended periods, meaning more calories and delicious foods if they indulge in occasional cheat meals.
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Kai Greene Reveals The Truth Of His Past In New ‘Kai’ Trailer
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Bodybuilder Kai Greene reflects on the “revealing” truth about his past in the new official trailer for Kai. Available August 26.
We are less than a month away from the release of Kai on digital – and the film promises to be a revelatory reflection on the true origins of Kai Greene. Generation Iron Network released a brand new official trailer for Kai. In the new promo, we see deeper glimpses into the mysterious childhood that would help shape Greene into the legend that he is today. Kai will be available on August 26, 2022 on all digital platforms. Click here to order your digital copy!
Kai Greene is arguably one of the most complex bodybuilding legends in the history of the sport. Not only did he have a unique personality that literally shined on the stage (in the form of his unique posing routines), he also had a mysterious past that was never directly addressed in public. Instead, Greene would use art to express his reflections of the past. Art via sculpting his own physique, or through his posing routines, or through his paintings and later comic books, or through a live experimental stage play.
Kai Greene is a bodybuilding powerhouse, wrapped in an enigma, wrapped in an artist. It’s not surprising that this combination made him one of the most memorable athletes in the sport’s history. Now for the first time ever – fans will get to understand the truth behind the mind of this mysterious legendary bodybuilder.
Kai promises to be an all-encompassing deep dive into the life story of Kai Greene. Not only will the film chronicle his entire bodybuilding career, including his entertaining and bitter rivalry with Phil Heath, but it will also explore Greene’s childhood and struggles before bodybuilding. The film promises to be the most direct reflection on the past, present, and future of Kai Greene than ever before seen.
That fact becomes all the more clearer with the release of the latest Kai trailer. Kai Greene was interviewed for over 20 hours over the course of production – peeling down and exploring the ultimate truth behind the legend that is Kai Greene. You can watch the new trailer above.
Kai Official Synopsis
Kai Greene is one of the biggest modern day legends in bodybuilding both on and off the stage. He’s an athlete, an artist, an actor, and an entrepreneur. But his journey to greatness first started in childhood – when he chose bodybuilding as a form of survival. Growing up in Brooklyn without parents and later locked up in a juvenile correctional facility, bodybuilding became Kai’s source of hope that eventually took him to stardom.
Later in life Kai became one of the most recognizable faces in the fitness industry, praised by Arnold Schwarzenegger himself. His talent was only matched by one singular opponent, his rival and Mr. Olympia champion Phil Heath.
Now witness Kai Greene’s story of survival and climb to success in the first ever all-access documentary chronicling his life and career into the sport of bodybuilding and beyond.
Release Date Info
Kai is directed by Vlad Yudin (Generation Iron, Ronnie Coleman: The King) and produced by both Yudin and Edwin Mejia Jr. (Generation Iron, Ronnie Coleman: The King). It will be executive produced by David Gendron, Russ Riggins, Viviana Zarragoitia, and The Last Dance‘s Matt Maxson.
Kai will be available on all major digital platforms on August 26, 2022. It’s also available for pre-order today. You can reserver your digital copy now right here or by clicking the banner below.
Andrew Jacked Credits Larry Wheels For Pushing Him To Limits: ‘Larry Has Played A Big Factor In My Life’
Andrew Jacked reflects on when he met Larry Wheels and they began training.
Andrew Jacked is an up-and-coming talent in the Men’s Open division. He is preparing to make an impact at the professional level and credits a large portion of his career to the hip of Larry Wheels.
Jacked won the 2022 Arnold Amateur bodybuilding contest. He is a mass monster with great conditioning that keeps his physique in championship shape all year round. Before really taking off as a bodybuilder, Jacked began training with some of the biggest names in the sport. Recently, Jacked has been working out at the Dragon’s Lair Gym in Las Vegas. He joined Flex Lewis on the latest edition of his podcast to discuss his history with Wheels.
Andrew Jacked Began Lifting With Larry Wheels Early On
Andrew Jacked had bodybuilding aspirations for years and clearly had the physique to impress on stage. He encountered Wheels at the gym and he was the one who guided Jacked on how to build his brand, especially on social media.
Jacked reflected on how the two got together and began crushing workouts.
“I was training with a friend of mine, a client of mine, at one of his friend’s gym and I saw Larry Wheels there doing a video. I didn’t know him because I didn’t know who was popular on social media. As a guy who sees another guy, we did the eye stuff, and he’s like okay cool.
So, I think the next day I was about to train the guys, it’s 8 A.M. In the parking lot, Larry just got out of his car, and I got out of my car and we connected.”
Larry Wheels could not believe that Andrew Jacked was not on Instagram at this point and the two created the account together. Wheels was the one who came up with the name Andrew Jacked.
“From first sight, we connected. We went straight to his hotel room. Thinking about the Instagram name, I told him, ‘hey man, I don’t have any idea what to say.’ I was bringing up all my names, and the assistant said, ‘Andrew Jacked is good. You just Andrew Jacked.’”
Andrew Jacked: “I Still Call Him The Big Bro”
Andrew Jacked continued to explain how Larry Wheels improved his mentality and guided him into building a huge following. This is the way he built his reputation and put his name on the bodybuilding map.
“I still call him the big bro because he’s someone that will push you past your limits. You train with Larry Wheels, you’ll mentality automatically goes up. He’s a wonderful guy. People have said some bullshit about that guy but he’s a very genuine guy.”
Andrew Jacked has continued to share physique updates as he prepares for his professional debut. He seems to have a different mindset and a chip on his shoulder as he prepares to dominate at the next level.
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Bostin Loyd’s Mother Marie Raia Details Steroid Use, Heart Issues From Autopsy
Marie Raia believes it is important to speak on Bostin Loyd’s life and cause of death to spread awareness.
Bostin Loyd passed away suddenly in February. The cause of death was revealed as retrograde aortic dissection, a condition where the aorta comes out of the heart to pump blood to the body. It tore back into the heart and ultimately led to Loyd’s death. In a recent interview, Loyd’s mother and bodybuilder Marie Raia detailed this condition, along with Loyd’s use of steroids and impact on bodybuilding.
Raia began bodybuilding at 21 years old and has enjoyed a career that has spanned four decades. In 2020, Raia competed six times, including a victory in the NPC National Championships. She earned the right to apply for her Pro Card but decided to remain and NPC competitor.
Raia joined Dave Palumbo on RxMuscle’s YouTube page for an in-depth interview on the autopsy, cause of death, and overall career of Bostin Loyd. She believes that it is important to discuss openly.
“It’s very important that people know what happened. And I think Bostin, with the way he was, he would want people to know what he did. That was just his personality. He was honest. We’re just doing wha the would want,” Raia said.
Marie Raia Discusses Bostin Loyd’s Autopsy
Palumbo initially shared the news back in March that Bostin Loyd passed away from aortic dissection. Now, he went in detail with Marie Raia about this condition and what else was found in the autopsy.
Raia remembers Loyd being at the gym on the day of his death experiencing some discomfort but did not want to go to the hospital.
“Back pain, leg pain. He was at the gym and I guess he was on his back and he was in total pain…He did not want to go to the hospital. He did not believe in doctors and that was the problem. Every time he went to the kidney specialist, he thought he kind of knew more than they did,” Raia said.
Palumbo continues to share information from the autopsy and explain that there were three substances found in Loyd’s blood — caffeine, ephedra, and oxycodone. Raia did not know that Loyd was taking these drugs and believes that he was “trying to coat everything,” whether it be mental or physical.
READ MORE: Bodybuilders Are Dying: An Investigation Into Modern Bodybuilding, Health, & PED Use
Over the course of his career, Bostin Loyd was open about his use of steroids and the state of his kidneys. Loyd was experiencing Stage 5 kidney failure and effects of this was found in the autopsy as well. It showed damage to the kidneys, a lot of sclerosis, and damage to filtering mechanisms. This was consistent with high-blood pressure.
Bostin Loyd was aware that he needed dialysis, and eventually a kidney transplant.
“They were saying he needed to but he seemed to not go. They make an appointment and he wasn’t going to the appointment. It was a variety of things,” Raia shared.
The genetic connection came from Loyd’s father, Jon Loyd, who also had an enlarged aorta. This is a problem that is hereditary and Loyd seemed to have a similar issue. Loyd’s centimeter was 5.2 centimeters, which is a size where doctors begin monitoring to make sure it does not get bigger. Surgery is often needed when the aorta reaches this size.
Marie Raia Speaks On Bostin Loyd’s Use Of Steroids
Bostin Loyd was open and honest about his use of steroids over the course of his career. Sometimes, this got him in some trouble but he was always willing to discuss his drug use and health issues. According to Marie Raia, Loyd was smart enough to know that this was harmful.
Loyd was aware of his health problems but would not stop taking certain anabolic steroids.
“Do you think that Bostin, and this is obviously you have to get into his head for a second. Do you think Bostin was in the mindset that if I can’t bodybuilding and take the drugs I want to take, that I don’t want to be alive? Was he at that point?” Dave Palumbo asked.
“I believe so. I believe there was something going on in his brain chemistry. Why that last week he was doing all this stuff, and he’s smart enough to know that this was going to cause death,” Raia responded.
Bostin Loyd showed an interest in bodybuilding very early in life, as early as three years old. He began working out on a regular basis as he got older and began dabbling in steroids at 16 years old. Raia discovered that he was taking steroids when he was putting on size quickly.
“I was mad. It didn’t help when his dad gave it back at 18. That’s like saying ‘son, it’s okay. Now you’re of age.’ I think that’s when he started going full blown. He came back to my house from Northern California. Yeah, he had the steroid boxes and that’s when I asked him to leave. This wasn’t happening. He was working and training people out of my house but he was taking the drugs and getting big. There was a change in his attitude and I didn’t want it in my house. I was totally against it,” Raia said.
Marie Raia knew of Bostin Loyd’s steroid use and believed that something needed to be done. She attempted to have an intervention with her son just six weeks before his death.
“What we needed to do was to have a sit down talk and say ‘you know what, we all love you but you’ve become a drug addict’…He needed to know that we loved him and his actions will effect us all. That’s what we needed. We needed intervention.”
Bostin Loyd’s personality was big and his interviews were always full of excitement, as he spoke his mind openly. Some shied away from this but Marie Raia knows the kind of person that he was when you got to know him. Those who knew Bostin Loyd well speak highly of his personality and character.
“He was very calm, very likable. Even everybody at the gym would say that guy is very nice. With how big he is, he would never be nasty. He wasn’t the type to throw the weights around and grunt and groan. He was very polite. I mean, the kid was educated. I know he had a foul mouth here and there but he knew how to speak.”
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