Tag: dennis james
Chris Cormier, Dennis James, Dave Palumbo, Milos Sarcev Talk Steroids, Synthol, & Bodybuilding After 40
Longevity in bodybuilding has become a booming subject given some of the risks associated with the sport. In a recent The Menace Podcast, Chris Cormier, Dennis James, Milos Sarcev, and Dave Palumbo discussed some of those risks, which included site-enhancement oils and expired steroids. They also talked about life as a bodybuilder after 40 years old.
The IFBB Pro League serves as the ultimate arena for bodybuilders who strive to sculpt their physiques into artistic masterpieces. These athletes dedicate their lives to achieving the perfect balance of muscle mass, symmetry, and proportions but diet and exercise alone are not enough to reach the pinnacle of this sport. To keep up with their rivals, competitors use an array of substances and methods to enhance their appearance or performance.
The use of site-enhancement oils goes back decades now. As was the case with 1990s veterans Milos Sarcev and Chris Cormier, both of whom have used Synthol. Looking back, Sarcev believes shooting his arms with Synthol was the biggest regret of his career.
Meanwhile, Cormier has mentioned that he used the same drug and remembers injecting it into his calves. He’s gone on to warn upcoming talent about the dangers associated with the practice. Cormier has also been honest about what it did to his physique, and said the ‘damage is real.’
“We All Inject Something” Milos Sarcev, Chris Cormier, Dave Palumbo, Dennis James Talk Synthol in Bodybuilding
When asked if the top 10 Open bodybuilders from Mr. Olympia are using site-enhancement oils, Palumbo implied they are all using ‘something.’ As for Chris Cormier, he believes athletes lack striations nowadays because of Synthol use.
“We all inject something,” said Milos Sarcev.
“I think every single one of them is doing something,” added Palumbo. “I don’t know one person that doesn’t shoot something in their shoulders and arms to make them bigger. I don’t know one person.”
“I see it down the back. I see it in the quads. You don’t have the quad striations you should normally have. When you do see quad striations everyone is like, ‘Oh my God.’ But that should be the standard if you’re that lean,” said Cormier.
Palumbo elaborated and said athletes today are using up to 10,000 milligrams of testosterone, which is unintentionally serving as a site enhancement.
“I think what happened is nowadays, guys are using it but they are not abusing it much. There’s still a couple of nut cases that do, but by and far, people understand that you have to be creative about the process of how you do it. Now a lot of guys just use their regular gear. You see these guys today. I know guys taking 10,000 milligrams of testosterone a week, I don’t know why they’re doing it but they don’t even need site injection oil, they just use the testosterone as their site injection oil because they’re popping it everywhere on their body,” said Dave Palumbo.
“It takes away from the quality of muscle. But that’s the look I see, because there’s no way you have striated glutes and hardly no body fat, I mean the diet is impeccable, but then when you do that as opposed to leaning on that side of the coin instead of the other side of the coin where you train hard, put it where you got to put it, but don’t put it where you don’t need to put it just because you’re trying to look a certain way. It’s taking away from the quality,” responded Chris Cormier.
Milos Relives 12-Year Expired Parabolan, Masteron Experience: ‘My Whole Body Exploded w/Acne’
Next, the group discussed the efficacy of expired steroids. Sarcev regretfully took a batch over 10 years expired back in his heyday.
“The only side effect that I could say [from expired drugs] is acne. That was – I got a guy that brought me 12 years expired parabolan and masteron and all this shit right. It expired 12 years before. When you have it in your hands, this is original. You can’t throw it away. How bad can it be?” laughed Milos Sarcev. “Man, my whole body exploded with acne.”
Sarcev added that there were points during his career when he used drugs like Viagra on stage.
“Did any of you use Viagra for the stage? Because in ’97, there was no Viagra man. Yeah, I told you too right,” Milos Sarcev said. “One million percent you get fully pumped.”
Bodybuilding After 40: Prostate Health, Blood Work + Stem Cell Updates
According to Chris Cormier, he began to experience problems in the restroom when he took steroids for more than two weeks.
“I started to urinate, and then towards the end of me urinating, I got to shit. I did that [checked my prostate]. Yup. I know when I was in competition I would take Equipoise and my prostate would get really sore for some reason,” said Cormier.
“You probably convert to DHT at a very high level,” said Dave Palumbo.
Monitoring blood work is a great way for athletes to keep an eye on relevant health markers. However, Dennis James worries that athletes would rather not know than go to a doctor and find out what’s wrong.
“Athletes now are more cautious with doctors and getting themselves checked since we see so many people dying,” said Dennis James. “I think these guys they just don’t want to know. The worse thing for them is they go somewhere, the doctors tell them this is high and tells them they shouldn’t be doing this or that,” said James.
Palumbo stressed that anyone over the age of 40 should have a cardiac CT angiogram done. He told Rich Gaspari to have the test done years ago and ‘The Dragon Slayer’ discovered a 100% blocked artery.
“Everyone over the age of 40 should have a cardiac CT angiogram done, it’s a CT scan, they put a little dye in you and you know what, you know if you have a blockage or not. If you have a blockage you go and get a stent, I told Gaspari to go get it done. He went and found out he didn’t even know he had 100% blockage in one artery,” said Palumbo.
Lastly, Dennis James updated fans on his training regimen, which has increased considerably since his stem cell injections.
“Yesterday, I was in the gym yesterday. By the way Milos, I started training. It was the first real workout I had in years. I did six exercises, normally I do two, two sets each and I did six with five sets each. I’m sore all over. I think it is [the stem cells],” explained Dennis James. “I also said when I’m done with the stem cell treatment I was going back to the gym and getting serious again. That’s why yesterday I really started training seriously.”
Flex Wheeler also appeared on The Menace Podcast recently and discussed his use of insulin and Synthol. While Flex admits his contemporaries also used it, he said prolonged site-enhancement oil use resulted in excessive scar tissue at the injection sites.
Even though the sport can be unforgiving, plenty of notable pros have found longevity in retirement. Most importantly, James, Sarcev, and Cormier agree that health after 40 requires a more consistent and calculated effort.
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Watch the full The Menace Podcast on YouTube below:
Published: 17 July, 2023 | 11:45 AM EDT
Dennis James, Milos Sarcev Talk Stephane Matala’s Potential, Say He’s a Threat to Chris Bumstead
Rising bodybuilder Stephane Matala is determined to make a statement when he takes to the stage in July. In a recent The Menace Podcast, Dennis James and Milos Sarcev discussed the Classic Physique division and how Matala will fare should he compete against top-tier Olympia talent, such as four-time winner, Chris Bumstead.
“You know how it is always. You can look great standing by yourself. We have to see him stand next to these guys to really compare him,” shared Dennis James.
Since Classic Physique’s inception, the category has been talent-rich and extremely competitive. The division’s popularity only grew year-to-year and the same can be said for the skill level of the participants. Over the last four years, Chris Bumstead has worn the crown after taking the honor from two-time Classic Physique Olympia Breon Ansley in 2019.
In his latest title defense, Bumstead managed to defend his throne against hungry bodybuilders like 2023 Arnold Classic champion Ramon Queiroz and third-place 2022 Olympia finisher Urs Kalecinski, who has since bulked to 275 pounds in an effort to dethrone the champ in November.
Given Bumstead’s continued dominance, fans are curious what it would take to overthrow such a formidable champion. And while no competitor has found a winning recipe, the community is rapidly getting behind a new Classic Physique contender: Stephane Matala.
Known as ‘Mr. Unchained’ on Instagram, Matala continues to captivate fans with a jaw-dropping physique. He first began his bodybuilding career by entering a number of local contests. Eventually, he took on the Musclemania Paris Junior Champion competition, where he impressed fans in the Men’s Physique category.
He’s showcased progress photos and videos in preparation for his Classic Physique splash at the upcoming 2023 Mr. Big Evolution Pro Portugal. Given his lines, condition, shape, and striations, the community is highly confident in his chances ahead of the show.
“The Dude Looks Fuc**ng Ridiculous,” – Dennis James & Milos Sarcev Debate Stephane Matala’s Potential
According to Milos Sarcev, he’s never seen a chest as striated as Stephane Matala’s
“Let me ask you something else guys, did you guys see that Classic guy that’s out there training in Dubai, that brother, that black guy. What’s his name, Stephane Matala,” said Dennis James.
“Oh, oh, holy shit. Yeah, I don’t know his name,” said Milos Sarcev.
“That dude hasn’t even been on stage yet and he has a huge following on Instagram. I don’t know if it’s just the videos or the pictures, the dude looks fuc**ng ridiculous,” added James
I’ve seen him pose next to Andrew Jacked,” added Sarcev. “That puts it in perspective man. Probably [doing Portugal], the guy is – I’ve never seen a striated chest like this in my life.”
Dennis James believes Matala possesses an ‘old school bodybuilding look’ and said he was impressed with his lack of scar tissue from steroid injections. After, Sarvev suggested Stephane work on his front double biceps pose.
“He’s clean, he’s clean, all his muscles are clean. The striations are still there, you can see it’s not all shot up with scar tissue everywhere. He’s clean. Chris you know what I’m talking about, you see the striations in the shoulders, you see stuff that you don’t see on the guys anymore. And full and round,” said Dennis James. “Stephane, crazy. I see old school bodybuilding when I see this guy. You’re absolutely right Don. With the striations in his shoulders, all the way, it’s just good to see there’s still people out there.”
“I think the front double biceps he doesn’t show correctly. There’s more to it. It doesn’t pop,” Milos Sarcev explained. “This is as good as it gets. Oh my God.”
Milos Sarcev Says Chris Bumstead Has Better Structure But Stephane Matala Beats Him ‘Muscle for Muscle’
Sarcev believes Bumstead would defeat Matala in a battle right now. However, he agreed with Dennis and Chris Cormier that he’s a future threat to the reigning champion.
“When we talk about Classic Physique, major thing is structure. Like Chris Bumstead when you compare him muscle for muscle with this guy, would lose right? But structure is so dominant, then, once it’s only front double biceps, back double biceps, serves that crazy v-taper, that Chris is so goddamn good [at] then his side chest is excellent, this guy’s [Stephane] side chest is excellent. I think Chris has more detail through the hamstring glutes tie ins, so there is still level that I think Chris could beat him now. If this guy gets expanded and gets a little bit more wider and creates that v-taper illusion…” said Sarcev.
“I just see a picture of him standing next to Mike Sommerfeld. I guess they were training together. But they were posing next to each other, now look at the size difference, and Mike is not the biggest guy.”
Dennis James is so confident in Stephane’s chances he believes he’ll earn a qualification to the 2023 Mr. Olympia show.
“Like I said, the condition that this guy brings, and if he brings that to the stage, I think he’s going to do very well. I think he will qualify for the Olympia this year. And I think because of his fanbase, he has a huge fanbase, I think because of his fanbase he won’t get overlooked,” Dennis James shared.
Maintaining health and longevity as a bodybuilding pro is no easy feat. It takes considerable attention to measures such as diet, supplementation, and training. When Bumstead first began his journey in the sport, he was thankful for guidance from his brother-in-law and Men’s Open competitor Iain Valliere. In a recent Straight Outta the Lair Podcast, Bumstead said Valliere helped him prevent long-lasting damage to his physique from unnecessary steroids.
While there is mystery surrounding Stephane Matala, fans will have a clear idea of his potential when he competes next month. Should he claim victory at the 2023 Mr. Big Evolution Pro Portugal, he’ll have a shot at competing against Bumstead in November.
RELATED: Rich Gaspari Says Classic Physique Is Saving The Art of Bodybuilding
You can watch the full video from the Muscle and Fitness YouTube channel below:
Published: 26 June, 2023 | 11:59 AM EDT
Roelly Winklaar Rethinking Retirement: “I Never Thought I Would Have Ended It Like This”
Egberton Rulove “Roelly” Etienne-Winklaar‘s official retirement status has yet to be decided. In a recent The Menace Podcast, Winklaar, joined by Dennis James, Milos Sarcev, and Chris Cormier, discussed injuries, protein intake, and whether or not a comeback is on the horizon.
As a standout Men’s Open competitor, Winklaar quickly garnered attention in the IFBB Pro League with cartoonish muscle density, size, and pronounced triceps. The Curaçaoan/Dutch native has proven himself against elite talent, having earned and competed at Mr. Olympia a total of 10 times.
Fans of bodybuilding will be amazed but not surprised to hear that Roelly Winklaar has the most impressive and colossal triceps in bodybuilding history. Roelly’s triceps are so enormous that they redefine what is possible in bodybuilding.
What’s more, Roelly’s triceps are massive even when his arms are at rest. But he also knows how to show off his triceps with perfect posing. Whether he’s doing his signature side triceps pose or a cross-body arm pose, Roelly has unparalleled triceps that make him stand out as the best in the business. No one else even comes close to his impressive physique.
In 2018, Winklaar recorded his best Mr. Olympia performance, where he pushed the late Shawn Rhoden in the first call-out. He ultimately finished third but also received the Olympia People’s Champ Award. Well-respected for his active schedule, Winklaar’s last competition saw him reach ninth at the 2021 Romania Pro.
Questions surrounding Roelly’s retirement have lingered for some time. Last year, fans noticed he downsized his physique, which spurred rumors of his departure from the sport online. In addition, he helped fellow compeittor William Bonac prepare for 2022 Mr. Olympia.
Following a five-hour left shoulder rotator cuff surgery, Winklaar voiced that his future in bodybuilding was uncertain. He said the healing process would factor into his decision to make a comeback. And while he admits he may never build the physique he carried in his prime, Winklaar isn’t ready to close the door on his career.
Roelly Winklaar Hints at Comeback, Talks Injuries and Retirement
When explicitly asked if he was officially retired, Roelly Winklaar had the following to say:
“I can’t answer that no, [officially retired] I don’t want to retire. I don’t want to retire but the injuries that I have I think I can do better to be my best back on stage. I was fighting with myself to train so I can compete with myself even training to look good, but to be the best and what I want… I think it could be never anymore but,” Roelly Winklaar said.
“If I go back, I’ll be smarter and just control the muscle, the pump, and everything,” said Winklaar. “It was after Tampa, after my surgery, exactly. It was… I was training light weight but I was still feeling fit. It was after my surgery [where I decided to stop]. I was just trying to but it wasn’t going.”
Winklaar believes his heavy training likely caused the shoulder injury that has prevented him from working out and competing.
“I don’t know how to call it in English, rotator cuff, it’s done. It’s too much, third-grade [tear]. I tried food, I tried. No, it’s only from the gym from all the years of heavy training,” said Winklaar. “Yeah [I had surgery] that was in 2020 when I did it. I started training back again. And exactly all my last shows, 2021, I didn’t want to eat well. I don’t exactly know, that’s why I placed bad.”
According to Dennis James, ‘The Beast’ has nothing left to prove as a bodybuilder.
“Roelly doesn’t have anything to prove anymore, your name is cemented in the IFBB Pro League forever. People will talk about ‘The Beast’ for the next 100 years. You’ll never have to worry about that. Maybe, I would have loved to see was you getting off stage and telling your fans ‘This is it for me, I’m going to hang it up.’”
Winklaar would have preferred to leave the sport on his own accord instead of an injury forcing him to stop.
“Exactly, I’ve never had a chance to do that. I never thought that I would have ended it like this, you know,” says Winklaar.
Regarding his career’s best physique, the 45-year-old believes his greatest look came in 2018.
“The Arnold Classic Australia,” added Roelly.
During his tenure, Roelly was over 300 pounds but said pushing the limits of his size never helped at shows.
“The heaviest I have ever been was maybe 138 kilos (305 pounds),” said Winklaar. “I can’t go heavier because in that time, I was like heavier on stage. I was like 128 and nobody was liking my shape anymore. That’s why I don’t be heavier anymore.”
To maintain muscle mass, Winklaar discussed common proteins he consumed.
“I was eating in my prep I was always eating fish. No more, like two kilos, two kilos of chicken,” said Winklaar. “I don’t have protein [shakes] no, shakes. No shakes. With eggs [and chicken] for breakfast.”
This isn’t the first time Roelly Winklaar has reflected on his career. In a special appearance on William Bonac’s Gye Nyame podcast, Winklaar revealed that politics affected his placings at contests ‘a lot.’ However, he made it clear that his exit from bodybuilding was a direct result of his recent shoulder injury.
RELATED: Kevin Levrone on Winners Being Hand Picked in Bodybuilding: ‘It’s Business, I Didn’t Take It Personal’
While it doesn’t appear to be final, Roelly Winklaar is heavily considering a comeback. Given his abrupt departure, fans would love to see him back on stage.
You can watch the full video below from the Muscle and Fitness YouTube channel:
Published: 8 May, 2023 | 11:50 AM EDT
Dennis James Hospitalized With Pneumonia in Germany: ‘Thank God for Great Hospitals/Doctors’
Dennis James, a former Men’s Open pro, was recently hospitalized in Germany last weekend. In an Instagram post made on April 18, James revealed that a severe case of pneumonia led to his recent stay.
Competing actively throughout the 90s and 2000s, Dennis James led a successful career, having competed against the IFBB Pro League’s best. A perennial top 10 contender at the Mr. Olympia contest, James tested his talents against heavy hitters in the Open class such as Ronnie Coleman, Jay Cutler, and Phil Heath.
James’ last competition saw him finish third place at the 2012 Masters Olympia show, won by Dexter Jackson. While he’s taken kindly to retirement, Dennis James keeps up with the sport, hosting a weekly YouTube show called The Menace Podcast. His show serves as an open forum where former bodybuilders and active competitors discuss current events and their respective careers.
In addition to his duties as a podcast host, James has shaped the next wave of Open talent. In preparation for the 2022 Mr. Olympia event, James helped train the former-two time winner, Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay. James shared glimpses of their workouts just weeks before Ramy came up short in Las Vegas, Nevada in fifth place.
Dennis James Hospitalized With Pneumonia Last Sunday; Bodybuilding World Reacts
While details are limited at the time of this writing, James shared that he missed his flight back home and is currently hospitalized in Germany with pneumonia. He specified that he’s received fantastic care while under the weather, as noted by his thumbs-up in the post.
“Guess I won’t be flying home tomorrow morning. Sunday night I ended up in the hospital here in Germany where I was diagnosed with pneumonia. Thank god for great hospitals and doctors.” Dennis James wrote.
Following his hospitalization, fans, and bodybuilders alike wished for the best as Dennis James aims to recover in the coming days.
This isn’t the first time a high-profile bodybuilder has suffered from pneumonia. Chris Dickerson was the sixth man to win Olympia in 1982 and later dealt with this ailment until he ultimately passed away in 2021. He was also a notable coach, commentator, and podcaster for bodybuilding.
Additionally, Golden Era bodybuilder and actor, Lou Ferrigno fell ill with pneumonia as well, which required hospitalization. However, his problems with the infection stemmed from a vaccine he received back in 2018.
RELATED: Dennis James Shares Recent Physique Update That Shows How Jacked He Still Is At 54
Despite limited information, fans and athletes are hopeful that Dennis James makes a full recovery. Fitness Volt wishes him well in 2023.
Published: 19 April, 2023 | 1:04 PM EDT
Dennis James Guarantees “The Best Ramy Ever” During the 2022 Olympia
Big Ramy and his coach Dennis James are putting together what could be another championship physique.
Dennis James is the bodybuilding coach of Big Ramy, who has won two consecutive Olympia titles. Is there any chance that he could come into the 2022 competition in better shape than previous years?
It was said following the 2021 Olympia that Big Ramy did not begin his preparation until just before the show. That was not the case this time around. Following his victory, Ramy and James were back in the gym just a couple weeks later preparing for 2022. According to James, this will be “the best Ramy” that we have seen.
Big Ramy has been a bit more active on social media sharing different workout videos and physique updates. This is all fans have seen since he missed out on being a guest poser at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro. Regardless, there are many who believe that Ramy will win the show going away if he comes in shredded at his current weight.
There is still 15 weeks before the biggest bodybuilding show of the year. James and Ramy are hoping to be on track to bring home a third consecutive title.
Dennis James On Big Ramy’s Physique: “It’s Next Level”
Dennis James got on the topic of the Olympia during an episode of The Menace podcast. As impressive as the physique updates have been, James believes that you have to see Big Ramy in person to completely understand.
“I’m pushing him hard. He’s willing to get totally pushed. It’s surprising to me because it’s four months out and I could push him really really well. Ramy looks f***ing bad! I had him pose today again. The videos and the pictures do not do him any justice.”
Bodybuilding veterans believed that Hadi Choopan showed up to the 2021 Olympia in the best shape and could have been crowned champion. Instead, the overall size of Ramy continued to impress during his routine. Because of his lack of preparation, Ramy was not in his best shape.
According to Dennis James, he is aware of that and is preparing to bring a better version of himself.
“He knows he wasn’t at his best. He was better Saturday, but he knows Friday he wasn’t on. He knows. He knows because there was over six months where he didn’t even train. So, three and a half, four months before the Olympia – trying to gain all that muscle back and get into shape at the same time — that’s not possible.”
Not only is Ramy looking good but he is stronger than ever. He showed that off by machine pressing 440 pounds during one of his workouts.
Big Ramy will be the favorite heading into the 2022 Olympia and Dennis James believes it will be the best we have seen.
“He’s going to be so good everywhere else, I guarantee you, if nothing goes wrong… I guarantee you, this is going to be the best Ramy ever. Then, it’s going to be really really frustrating for a lot of people.”
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Tony Huge Responds To Dennis James Over Big Ramy’s Deal With Enhanced Labs
Tony Huge responds to Dennis James recent comments on the Big Ramy and Enhanced Labs controversy
Former IFBB Pro and current coach Dennis James recently made comments about Big Ramy’s deal with Enhanced Labs. When the two-time Olympia champion was allegedly offered a new contract behind the back of his coach, James called the company “unprofessional” and a “clusterf**k.”
In an exclusive conversation with Generation Iron, Tony Huge responded to the comments made by James regarding business with Enhanced Labs.
“Dennis was brought on simply to be the liaison to help get content. But it didn’t happen. That’s fine. Ramy is a Middle East A-list celebrity with more money and influence than he ever could’ve imagined. He’s a super nice guy and a bodybuilding and success story champion. I think it’s fantastic that Enhanced supported him. But Enhanced marketing is based on cutting edge honest and revolutionary educational content. Ramy could be a tremendous benefit to Enhanced if he was interested in giving value to the American audience.”
Tony Huge Expresses Interest In Continuing Business If Done Right
The allure of working with Big Ramy was there for Huge and Enhanced Labs if it was done right. Huge continued to discuss how business is done in 2022. It might be different than how it was done years ago.
“As for the Dennis thing, I would love to work more with Ramy. I used to talk to him at every expo and even met up with him at Oxygen Gym in Kuwait years ago when he was training for Olympia. So I was excited to work with him and produce some next level content.
I don’t see any meaningful content on YouTube or Instagram. Enhanced isn’t asking for a refund but it also can’t continue paying a liaison who isn’t able to liaison. But also understand I’m not a party to the contract, I didn’t have any business communication with Dennis or Ramy. The only contact I had was trying to get content for which I was unable to get from them.”
Big Ramy has turned into a superstar in the Middle East and this is the reason he might be working on different projects in his home country. If there is time to contribute in other ways, Huge would be open to working with the duo once again.
“If Ramy is ready to rock and roll and do some content for the American audience then I am also ready and I’d love to work with him. But I also understand he has a lot of other projects that take his attention so I think if I was in his position I would also focus on the Middle East and also not waste time on America.”
Tony Huge: “Content Is King In 2022”
Having big-name sponsors is important for any company in any area but in the media today, there has to be content provided. The name alone is not as important as the content being put out anymore.
After Dennis James made his comments, Tony Huge decided to inquire about sales within Enhanced.
“I asked Enhanced what the effect of Dennis complaining was and it resulted in a bigger boost in sales than when he was sponsored. Which goes to prove exactly what I try to tell Enhanced and the community that you can’t just stick someone’s picture on a bottle. Content is king in 2022. If Dennis would have done content like this before then he would’ve been able to produce a lot of sales.”
They say that there is no such thing as bad publicity and this recent engagement between James and Enhanced is a prime example. Even if the content provided is negative toward one side, the publicity gets the name out there and could boost sales or engagement in a big way.
Tony Huge continued by explaining how this could continue if James put the energy in producing content for Enhanced and promoting different sales.
“If Dennis put that same energy into promoting sales before then he would’ve been a good investment and he still could. He still could get on board with Enhanced and increase sales. He just needs to understand again that a bodybuilder reputation isn’t alone valuable enough to increase sales. In 2022, it takes work. The old generation of bodybuilders are going to really need to learn to adapt or become obsolete.
In the end, Tony Huge reiterated his claim that he would still be open to working with Dennis James and Big Ramy if they have the time and desire.
“I love helping bodybuilders get exposure and produce content. And I’m still here to help Dennis if he wants. And I would still love to do content with Ramy if any of his time and energy gets freed up from his obligations in the Middle East.
“Anyways I stand ready to help Dennis and Ramy if they have the time, energy, and desire.”
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Dennis James Unfiltered: Claims Big Ramy Made A “Mistake Not To Show Up In Pittsburgh”
Dennis James states he is “disappointed” with Big Ramy and believes skipping Pittsburgh was a bad call.
Dennis James got candid in a recent roundtable interview regarding Big Ramy, his absence at the Pittsburgh Pro, and what this means for his future as the current Mr. Olympia champion. James has been working with Ramy and helped prepare him during Olympia prep alongside other coaches – which eventually earned him the Mr. Olympia title in 2020 and 2021. In this new interview, it appears that Dennis James himself has no clue what really happened, why Ramy missed the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro, and claims to be “worried” and “disappointed” in Ramy’s recent actions and lack of communication.
The main takeaway from the interview is that Dennis James has not heard from Big Ramy since the Pittsburgh Pro – and it has him worried. James has been deeply involved with Ramy’s Mr. Olympia prep over the past few years. In fact, James even let Ramy stay at his house in the United States to finish his contest prep in 2021 before the Olympia.
Dennis James is a legend both on stage in his former active competition years and as a bodybuilding coach in recent years. So for James to still have no clarity on what exactly happened after Big Ramy skipped the Pittsburgh Pro is a bit of a shock. Even more shocking is that James was at the Pittsburgh Pro ready to help with last minute prep before the guest posing. Up until the very day of the show – James expected to see Ramy. He has yet to hear or see him since.
Dennis James gets candid about Big Ramy and his absence at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro
During the roundtable interview with Muscle & Fitness, Dennis James didn’t hold back with his info and thoughts on Big Ramy and the Pittsburgh Pro. It’s clear that there are a lot of gaps to still fill in – but James was as honest as he can be with the information he currently knows:
“Everybody has some stories you know, and I’m going through the internet trying to find out what happened because I don’t even know. I seriously don’t know. I don’t know. I was there to support him because we agreed that I’d come to Pittsburgh to help him out. I was there. He was the one that didn’t show up.”
Listen, all I know is that he’s okay, supposedly. I haven’t spoken to him. I reached out a couple of times, he didn’t respond, and I didn’t hear anything back. I’m still waiting to hear from him to find out what really happened.” Dennis James says.
While Dennis James does not know why Big Ramy missed the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro guest posing – he does at the very least know that it was not a medical emergency. He has been told that Ramy is stable and fine. However, he did not receive an answer as to what really happened.
Due to having no given excuse after so many weeks, Dennis James is “worried” and considers that Big Ramy missing the guest posing was a mistake. As he goes on to explain:
“I still don’t know what happened. I still don’t know. All I know, I think that was a big mistake not to show up in Pittsburgh.”
Dennis James then goes on to state that he fully expected Big Ramy to be present at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro literally up until the day of the event. James was at the event and waiting for Ramy to appear for final prep. He never came. This is what concerns James most – the lack of communication.
Knowing now that a medical emergency is out of the cards – what possible excuse can Ramy have for not showing up and not informing Dennis James about his absence. Even further, with weeks having passed since the event – how is it that James still has received no contact or answer?
Whatever the reason is, Dennis James is currently very concerned and, frankly, confused as to how this will effect the future of Big Ramy’s career. He goes on to state:
“Man. I don’t know. I don’t think it’s… I don’t know, it’s not good. I still hope that he will contact me and fill me in on what happened… The main thing for me is, i just want to know, what is he thinking not going there without calling and excusing himself in any way shape or form? that’s the only thing that bothers me a little bit right now.”
Dennis James continued:
I don’t know. I really don’t. I’m disappointed. I’m kind of disappointed, and I’m kind of worried, to the point where I’m like ‘what’s going on’ because i talked to him, two days before he was suposed to leave. I said, ‘Listen, make sure everything is good, don’t miss your flight’ because I know he missed a couple of flights here and there by accident… like I said, I don’t have an excuse for him. I’m not going to make up any excuses. we will have to see what happens. what comes from him when he’s ready to talk I guess.”
What does Big Ramy’s absence mean for the future of the 2022 bodybuilding season?
Ultimately, Dennis James has no new information as to what happened with Big Ramy’s 2022 Pittsburgh Pro absence. But James has become one of many who are worried and concerned for what it means for Ramy’s career. However, James is open to hearing a valid excuse when Big Ramy is ready to give it. Only time will tell if we get that response or not.
Regardless of Big Ramy’s absence, the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro was an exciting event that gave us the special surprise of Derek Lunsford guest posing. Not only that – but his massive size has spurred rumors that he may go up to Men’s Open in the future. Those rumors were further stocked by Hany Rambod admitting that Men’s Open is “not if, but when…”
You can watch the full roundtable interview including Dennis James’ comments below:
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Derek Dufour has been managing all digital operations on the Generation Iron Network for over six years. He currently manages a team of editors, writers, and designers to provide up-to-date content across the GI Network.
Josh Lenartowicz Speaks on Brain Tumor Recovery in Interview with Dennis James
Josh Lenartowicz Speaks on Brain Tumor Recovery in Interview with Dennis James
Australian bodybuilding veteran Josh Lenartowicz recently spoke about brain tumor recovery. In an interview with Dennis James, Lenartowicz touched on the subject as well as a host of things that have kept him from competing in recent years.
Health is wealth, health is everything. There’s a reason why so many sayings about health and well being. It’s because it’s the truth. If an individual doesn’t have a clean bill of health than being a rich athlete or a celebrity really doesn’t matter all the much. When you’re afflicted with a life threatening diagnosis it can be a truly terrifying circumstance. It’s exactly what Josh Lenartowicz went through when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Luckily for the Australian bodybuilder he was able to find out his predicament in time and was able to combat it and come through to the other side.
The last few years have been interesting for Josh Lenartowicz. The veteran bodybuilder hasn’t been on stage for some time leading to a great deal of speculation. Many wondered what happened to the veteran and soon received some terrible news. Like his northern before him who suffered a brain tumor at age 18, it was Josh’s turn to go through the terrifying ordeal.
But rather than pretending all was well, Josh Lenartowicz chose to confront his circumstances head on. In a recent podcast interview with Dennis James, Lenartowicz discussed his predicament with the brain tumor. The Australian bodybuilder spoke on his initial discovery of the tumor.
“Man, I got back from, I won the Bigman contest in Spain. My wife was pregnant. It was in Spain. Tried pale for the first time, life is great,” said Lenartowicz. “Europe went to Body Power for a guest appearance, then coming home for Mr. Olympia. I started getting these weird headaches, and I was like ‘I never get headaches what’s going on here?’ I went to the doctor, and said ‘hey man, I’m getting these headaches and I never get headaches’. He said take some aspirin, and I said I have a little lump here (points to head). And my brother, when he was 18, he had this tumor. I’m like ‘maybe…nah, you’re okay. Take the Asprin’. I went home, couldn’t sleep.”
During his prep for the 2019 Olympia Josh Lenartowicz noticed things were quite right. He was suffering inexplicable headaches. Rather than sit back, Lenartowicz took matters into his own hands.
“Went back the next day, and said I needed a scan. I said, ‘I want this scan for my head’,” said Lenartowicz. “He said, ‘alright’. I’m a hypochondriac man, I think if I wasn’t, bad things would have happened. You and I know bodybuilding. Everybody is going to die some way. The goal in life isn’t to live the longest, but at the same time, you need to do things to protect your health and your family and stuff. So, doing things the right way is important.”
The clip below shows a bit of the conversation between Josh Lenartowicz and Dennis James.
Indeed Josh Lenartowicz going to the doctor and getting a proper diagnosis likely saved his life. It’s good to see that the Australian bodybuilder was able to handle the situation correctly and take the steps necessary to heal.
It’s also great to learn that Josh Lenartowicz isn’t retired and his ready to get back to work. To see the full interview click here.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
News and Editorial Writer at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
Q&A With IFBB Pro Dennis ‘The Menace’ James On Training & More
Photo via @bigdjames Instagram
Today we’re sitting down with former Olympia competitor Dennis ‘The Menace’ James.
Dennis James is a former top tier IFBB professional bodybuilder and is now a coach to many high-profile athletes such as Mr. Olympia Big Ramy. We’ll talk about the training, nutrition and supplement protocols that Dennis uses with his clients.
Photo via @bigdjames Instagram
About Dennis James
Dennis James is a former professional bodybuilder born in Germany. He was always active and started training at a young age. But when he was 18-years old, he started bodybuilding and his training went to a whole new level. He competed at Mr. Olympia seven times and proved he had what it took to be the best in the world. He has been featured in many magazines and his social media presence is massive. His relationship with two-time Olympia Champ Big Ramy also brings increased notoriety as he continues to promote the sport of bodybuilding while inspiring others so they can succeed as he has.
Q&A With Dennis James
We sat down with Dennis James to talk about his training, nutrition, and supplement protocols that he uses with himself and his clients. Someone as knowledgeable as Dennis can greatly help your gains by offering only the best guidance.
Generation Iron: Hi Dennis James. Thanks for taking the time to talk with us today. Before we get into the Q/A session, I wanted to complement you on how great Big Ramy looked at the Mr. Olympia!
Dennis James: Thank you for the kind words. Big Ramy is like a brother to me. It’s a privilege to coach him.
Generation Iron: You have a fantastic reputation as one of the best bodybuilding coaches around. Does coaching come naturally for you?
Dennis James: People often forget that I competed as a professional bodybuilder for over 10 years. I’m dating myself now, but I turned pro back in 1998. Throughout the years I’ve learned from trial and error what works and what doesn’t. Coaching becomes very easy with that much experience.
Generation Iron: Wow! I didn’t realize you were such a veteran of the sport. Do you still follow a lot of the same training and nutrition principles?
Dennis James: Yes. I’ve always believed in the fundamentals. It’s easy to get distracted with fancy looking machines and tasty sounding protein bars but free weights and real food is what builds quality muscle.
Generation Iron: That makes a lot of sense. What did your diet look like when you were competing?
Dennis James: I always followed a high carbohydrate, moderate protein and low-fat diet. I feel that a lot of bodybuilders go overboard with the protein. Anything over 1g/pound of bodyweight isn’t needed. Too much protein causes poor digestion and a distended stomach.
Photo via @bigdjames Instagram
Generation Iron: You were always known as having a very small waist for such a large bodybuilder. Would you say that keeping your protein low is one of the ways you were able to achieve that?
Dennis James: 100%. I also trained abs every single day. A lot of new bodybuilders don’t train abs and that never made sense to me. Regularly training the abdominals keeps the waist tight and toned.
Generation Iron: Let’s talk about your training then! How many days per week did you train?
Dennis James: I always trained 6 days per week with Sundays completely off. Sunday was always family time for me.
Generation Iron: What was your training split?
Dennis James: Push/Pull/Legs. Repeat. I trained each body part twice per week. Except abs and calves, which I trained every day.
Generation Iron: How about your workouts? Did you train high volume?
Dennis James: I always trained hard and heavy. When people asked if I trained high volume or high intensity, I always replied ‘both!’ lol.
Generation Iron: Last question before we close off; how did you change your diet and training after retiring from competing?
Dennis James: Great question. I slowly transitioned into a less strict program. I still eat and train like a bodybuilder but I only workout 4 days per week and I eat much less food. I still follow the fundamental principles of nutrition, but I eat much more fruits and vegetables now that my focus is health and longevity
Generation Iron: That’s good advice! Do you have any closing remarks for our fans before we sign off?
Dennis James: Remember that your body needs time to build muscle. There are no secrets and no magic pills. It takes dedication to build a beautiful physique. As the saying goes ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day!’
Best Supplements To Take For Gains
When it comes to building muscle and seeing the right gains, having the best supplements on your shelf is imperative. The right products can be game changers for your health and performance. Looking to protein powders, pre-workouts, and BCAAs can provide for those pre-, mid-, and post-workout needs. Other supplements to definitely consider are super greens and multivitamins as these will boost your health immensely.
Wrap Up
Dennis James is an accomplished bodybuilder and coach who knows what needs to be done in order to see real success. This Q&A will hopefully be exactly what you need to succeed as we talk about training, nutrition, and supplementation to give you the best gains for yourself. We thank Dennis for taking the time and giving us great advice on how to boost our own gains.
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 Dennis James Instagram
How Dennis ‘The Menace’ James Works Out For Upper Body Gains
Get a great pump like Dennis James himself and see serious gains.
Dennis James is a former professional bodybuilder from Germany who is well-known for his personality and successful bodybuilding career. With a big following on social media, he uses his platform to post new photos, throwbacks of his bodybuilding days, and those posts to inspire others to make their own desired changes.
For many of us, finding the right workout can be a challenge and one we may not be up for. We live busy lives, deal with a lot. The last thing we want to do is take time to sit and decipher who online is telling the truth and who is just plain lying. But it doesn’t have to be that hard. With professional bodybuilders and other athletes who now having larger platforms, we can take their workouts and what drives them to succeed and apply to our own routine and lives. Use these pros for they have done it before and know exactly what needs to be done to succeed at the highest of levels.
Dennis James has had a long and accomplished bodybuilding career and is definitely one to take notes from. He has competed against some of the best in the world and it wasn’t just by chance. His approach to training and nutrition is top notch and has served him well throughout his career.
Full Name: Dennis James
Weight
Height
Date Of Birth
255-265 lbs.
5’8’’
05/31/1966
Profession
Era
Nationality
Bodybuilder
1990, 2000, 2010
German, American
This upper body workout from Dennis consists of chest, arms, and shoulder exercises to give you a well-rounded and massive physique. By targeting this muscle groups individually, you can pay more attention to building each of them, working on mind-muscle connection, and seeing the gains you want most.
About Dennis James
Dennis James is a former professional bodybuilder born in Germany. He was always active and started training at a young age. But when he was 18-years old, he started bodybuilding and his training went to a whole new level. He began competing in junior competitions and would eventually grow his name more and more until he finally began competing on the biggest stage. He competed at Mr. Olympia seven times and proved he had what it took to be the best in the world.
He has been featured in many magazines and his social media presence is massive. His relationship with two-time Olympia Champ Big Ramy also brings increased notoriety as he continues to promote the sport of bodybuilding while inspiring others so they can succeed as he has.
Dennis James Training Routine
Dennis focuses on those heavy movements, and with his training partner as two-time Olympia champ Big Ramy, their workouts are simple but highly effective at seeing results. Dennis created an approach to lifting called the Menace Time Under Tension. Essentially, this involves lifting the weight slower, really involving the full range of motion and then returning to the starting position at a normal speed. It helps reduce injury and only adds to your gains.
Let’s take a look at these chest, arms, and shoulder workouts so you can start to see serious gains and a massive physique you want most. A mix of machine and free weight exercises, as well as mixing in those compound and isolation exercises, gives you a well-rounded and versatile workout, leaving room for alternatives if need be. The nice part is that many of these exercises can be changed out for others to provide for muscle confusion and offer the best for gains.
Chest
Exercises
Sets
Reps
Incline Machine Press
3
10
DB Chest Fly
3
10
Push Press
3
8
Cable Chest Fly
3
10
DB Press
3
10
Incline DB Fly
3
8
Arms
Exercises
Sets
Reps
Triceps Pushdowns
3
12
Machine Preacher Curls
3
12
Skullcrushers
3
10
One Arm Preacher Curl
3
10
One Arm Triceps Pushdown
3
10
Concentration Curls
3
12
Seated Hammer Curls
3
8
Incline Triceps Extensions
3
8
Shoulders
Exercises
Sets
Reps
Lateral Raise
3
10
Front Raise
3
10
Upright Row
3
10
Reverse Pec Deck
3
10
Dennis James Nutrition
Dennis focuses on a rather simple plan but makes sure he eats plenty of calories and tons of protein. When he would be in the offseason, his carb intake would increase, but his meals would still consist mainly of protein, like lean meats, and carbs, like brown rice. Following a simple diet allowed him to eat well, eat the foods he needed to, and make life easy when it came to preparing and cooking food.
Why Upper Body Workouts Are So Important
Working our upper bodies makes a lot of sense. For those us bodybuilders, building that massive upper half physique is what everyone sees. But when it comes down to building real gains, the benefit of a strong upper body plays into all aspects of our training and performance, as well as physical health. Working to strengthen muscles around those supporting joints limits injury and we tend to use our upper body muscles for many functional movements. Posture, imbalances, and developmental support are just some of the key benefits associated with building a strong, stable, and massive upper half as you seek the best for your gains.
Along with these great workouts from Dennis James, consider upper body workouts like the close grip lat pulldown for back and bis, hanging leg raises for a stronger core, and kettlebell rows for a versatile exercise to boost pulling movements.
Wrap Up
This workout from Dennis James is one to certainly fire up your muscles to grow so you only see the best in terms of growth and overall gains. Dennis has had an amazing career and knows just what it takes to compete with the best. Using his workouts and other advice to better ourselves and our routines can help see gains as great as his as we seek to embark on our own bodybuilding or fitness journey. Give this workout a try, get the right supplements to help you, and see those gains you want most in no time.
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 Dennis James Instagram
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