Tag: Mike O’Hearn
Jay Cutler On Mike O’Hearn And The Rock Not Discussing Natural Status: ‘For A Long Time, I Did The Same’
Jay Cutler has been open about bodybuilding in retirement and recently discussed Mike O’Hearn and The Rock being natural.
Since retiring from competition, Jay Cutler has been open and honest about the sport of bodybuilding. It does not matter whether it is about his own career, the status of the sport, or other topics gaining attention. In a recent interview, Cutler took the time to discuss the natural status of Mike O’Hearn and The Rock.
Both O’Hearn and Dwayne Johnson are figures that carry great attention when it comes to building an elite physique. O’Hearn is a former Mr. Universe champion who has been featured on the cover of many fitness magazines. The Rock made a great career for himself in the WWE before becoming a star on the big screen. Over the years, he has continued to work on his physique and is larger than life now.
On The Michael Sartain Podcast, Jay Cutler discussed the notion that both Mike O’Hearn and The Rock are natural. This is a topic that Cutler knows well and understands why it is not discussed.
“You know those things I don’t really comment as much on because I understand the positioning. Everyone has their own position and if they choose not to talk about it, I respect that because for a long time I did the same right. I didn’t come out and say I take this or that and I kind of went into interviews knowing that many weren’t going to ask and the ones that I thought might, I was protected where, ‘hey don’t blatantly ask me hey do you take this or that, don’t put me on the spot’ and that’s why I was limited on where I put my publicity.”
Jay Cutler is a four-time Olympia champion and one of the best bodybuilders of all-time. During his career, Cutler dealt with plenty of noise in solving steroids in the sport. This is something he did not discuss when he was competing but it has come out since he is done on stage.
Cutler also discussed how the Olympia was covered and the vibe around the reporters. Steroids and bodybuilding are linked and it was kind of understood heading into shows.
“All the local news stations before the Olympia covered the event but they didn’t touch on that and I think it was kind of known, hey don’t ask these kinds of questions but you have to prepare yourself.”
Jay Cutler did not accuse either The Rock or Mike O’Hearn of using steroids. Nor did he acknowledge the claim that they are all-natural. Cutler simply said that it is not his place to comment on the alleged use of steroids by others. This is a stance that many around the sport should take until the athlete themself wants to come out and discuss it.
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Mike O’Hearn Tips On Getting Shredded & How To Keep Up Your Physique
Photo via @mikeohearn Instagram
Mike O’Hearn offers advice on how to get shredded and best way to take care of your body.
For so many of us, we look back on our younger selves, or even photos of us from a few years past, and wonder how we looked so good and how to get that back. Given our busy schedules and lives, it can be easy to lose the discipline and start to slack off in our routine. Before long, we find ourselves asking these questions with no real place to turn.
Mike O’Hearn is a familiar name to many and as a natural bodybuilder he knows just how important it is to thrive and stay consistent with an all-natural approach to building his body and seeing huge gains. Now that he has quite the accomplished career stacked up, he seeks to push himself to new heights, trying new approaches and testing his body. However, he still takes proper care for he knows how important his body is.
He is updating folks on his new diet and the progress he is seeing, being sure to mention some key tips and offer advice on how best to stay the course and see the best gains. For someone like Mike, it might seem easy to reach those goals, for he is a natural physical specimen, but even this pro has his own struggles, but doesn’t let those get in the way.
Let’s take a look at Mike and some of the great tips his picked up along his career. For those wondering how to reach these goals in a natural way without help from PEDs or other junk, Mike is the perfect mentor and role model to follow.
Photo via @mikeohearn Instagram
About Mike O’Hearn
Mike O’Hearn is a bodybuilder, fitness model, and entrepreneur, having a long of apparel, supplements, and workout plans. Having been in the bodybuilding games for decades now, he is a role model and someone to look up to for his calm demeanor, fun personality, and natural approach to looking huge.
As the youngest of 10 kids, Mike always strived to keep up with his older siblings. His dad being a former bodybuilder and football player, Mike wanted to follow in his footsteps and really took the health and fitness lifestyle.
Over the years, his hard and heavy approach to training earned him tons of bodybuilding wins, hundreds of magazine covers, and appearances in American Gladiators and Generation Iron 4: Natty 4 Life. Now with a massive platform and a desire to help others achieve their goals, Mike makes his best efforts to share what he knows and keep people up to date on the best ways to see gains.
Photo via @mikeohearn Instagram
Getting Shredded & How To Keep Physique
In a latest YouTube video, Mike offers up an update and helpful advice as he moves into his shredding diet. Mike wants to get a full body back and one that was seen in his younger years. With this diet being all about metabolism, he wants to get his metabolism to that of when he was 20-years old because he wants to peak and have people question how he can do all this naturally. But this requires his body working at 100%.
Eating almost 5,000 calories a day, people often ask how he can function at 100%. He makes it clear that your body has to tell you when it’s time and when it’s ready. You can’t tell your body. For Mike, it’s his body at the right time operating the right way as he wants to live his life. It is never about the show, but rather how well his body is functioning.
Mike uses an interesting metaphor that is actually very wise. He says how all of these fitness guys want to be millionaires for a day only to spend it all in a day. What he is alluding to is the fact that so many of these influencers want to get there fast so they load up on junk, try to get off it, and end up losing everything.
You have to do things the right way if you want to keep it. In the words of Mike, when you force it and cheat it, you don’t get to keep it.
For Mike, he keeps the same workouts and doesn’t mess around with cardio, supersets, or other extracurriculars because he is keeping everything for later. He isn’t trying to blow it all right away and seeks to only set himself up to win. At the end of the day, the whole goal is to keep it.
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Why Your Metabolism Is So Key
Mike makes a point to talk a lot about your metabolism and how important this is especially for those looking to make changes and really shred down. Your metabolism is what allows you to lose or gain weight. We all know that a faster metabolism allows you to lose weight faster (1).
In the video, Mike refers to wanting to get his metabolism back to when he was 20-years old. As we age, our metabolism starts to slow down (2) and for Mike, who wants to cut and shred in his older years (older being relative to when he was a teenage competitor), taking care of his body and working to improve his metabolism is key.
Thankfully, there are some key ways to improve your metabolism along with dieting that include strength training, high-intensity interval training, increasing your intake of green tea, coffee, and spicy foods, and getting more sleep, just to name a few (3,4,5).
Wrap Up
As Mike O’Hearn looks to shred and see great gains during his new diet, he was great in sharing some key tips that make a difference when on something like this. A key takeaway is to take care of your body and give it time. Those who rush the process will look back and wish they didn’t. A well-sculpted and toned body takes time so enjoy the process and know it will happen.
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 Mike O’Hearn Instagram
References
Harvard Medical School (2021). “The truth about metabolism”. (source)
Pennington Biomedical Research Center (2021). “Metabolism changes with age, just not when you might think”. (source)
Hirsch, K.; et al. (2021). “Metabolic effects of high-intensity interval training and essential amino acids” (source)
Acheson, K.; et al. (1980). “Caffeine and coffee: their influence on metabolic rate and substrate utilization in normal weight and obese individuals”. (source)
Sharma, S.; et al. (2010). “Sleep and Metabolism: An Overview”. (source)
Frank Zane Shows Mike O’Hearn Great Exercise That Is Not Done Much Today
Mike O’Hearn joined Frank Zane for a workout including movements that are not done as frequently.
Frank Zane is one of the all-time great bodybuilders. At 79 years old, he has not stopped training in the gym and continues to share some of his knowledge with others. Recently, Zane was joined by Mike O’Hearn where the two went through some exercises that you might not see much today.
O’Hearn continues to show off a strong physique at 52 years old. He is a former Mr. Universe champion who has built an incredible following. O’Hearn has appeared on many magazine covers because of his natural physique.
Zane is known for being one of the pioneers of bodybuilding. He had battles with Arnold Schwarzenegger and even defeated the best to ever do it back in 1968. Zane went onto win the Mr. America and Mr. Universe title that same year. Over 50 years later, Zane still trains in his home gym and is not shy about helping others.
Mike O’Hearn has taken the same path as Frank Zane in recent years and shared a recent video to his YouTube page showing the encounter.
In the video, Zane is seen coaching O’Hearn during a set of dumbbell pullovers. Zane explains that this is a great exercise that is not performed much anymore. O’Hearn continues with a question to Zane asking what he would say if someone said that the lift causes injury.
“Maybe they would (get hurt), but that’s not me. So who cares anyway you know? I never was concerned with what people say. When I was in the gym, I never even talked to people. I just go in there and train,” Frank zane responded.
“Why don’t you go on social media and show them how to do it the right way? We don’t even have to mention them. Instead of going after people’s natives and criticizing, that’s just giving them attention. Just go out with something positive and say ‘ this is the way you do it.”
Mike O’Hearn went through movements and techniques of Frank Zane and likes hi mentality. He has been training for over 60 years and this mindset has not wavered one bit.
“You’ve got an old-school mentality that I just love. Because I feel like that it’s around the ones I came up with and everything. It’s like ‘yeah, great response it’ll hurt you it won’t hurt me’ it’ll enhance me. It was a minor change but I loved it better than what I do. It was more of a stretch than an over-exaggeration of technique.” Mike O’Hearn said.
Both Mike O’Hearn and Frank Zane have remained in great shape over the years. Contrary to belief, just because a motion is unorthodox or awkward, it does not mean that it will cause injury. This is exactly what Zane was showing here. In fact, it might be the most effective.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Huck Finn Reflects On His 40 Beers Deep Workout With Mike O’Hearn & Shares Hangover Cure
Huck Finn looks back at the most beers he ever drank in a single day before his workout (with Mike O’Hearn).
You may have heard of the viral stunt bodybuilder Huck Finn. And if you haven’t, you’re missing out on some hilarious and shocking entertainment. Reminiscent of the show Jackass but with a bodybuilding twist – Finn performs insane and dangerous stunts revolved around feats of strength. We spoke with him previously – but decided to catch up to learn about his latest antics. In our latest GI Exclusive, Huck Finn shares the most beers he ever drank before a workout… which happened to be with Mike O’Hearn.
Viral bodybuilder Huck Finn is all about two things – beer and hardcore weightlifting stunts. In fact, he somewhat recently injured himself in his attempt of a recent stunt involving fire and a human ramp. You can check it out below:
While this particular stunt didn’t involve heavy lifting, a quick glance through Huck Finn’s Instagram page will show a man who very often drinks heavy amounts of alcohol before or even while lifting massive weight. It’ dangerous. It shouldn’t be done at home. But it’s damn fun to watch.
During our recent video conversation with Huck Finn, we asked him to detail the most he ever drank in a single day before a workout or stunt. To no surprise, his answer would be shocking to most casual drinkers and lifters.
Huck Finn reflected back to a day where he went to an event at a Dallas gym and drank over forty beers. After the event, he decided he was still in good enough shape to train in the gym. It turned out this training session involved natural bodybuilder Mike O’Hearn. While many of the bodybuilders and lifters at the event thought it would be impossible for Finn to start training – he went ahead with it anyway.
Ultimately, Huck Finn managed to bench 500 pounds that training session. And in some predictable outcome for Finn – he also ended up having a chair crushed over his head by Mike O’Hearn (all in good fun of course). This is the kind of mentality and lifestyle that Huck Finn leads in the bodybuilding industry.
Huck Finn also discusses with us how he manages to stay somewhat lean despite consuming so much alcohol. He also shares his hangover cure for the day after heavy drinking. He can’t let a hangover prevent him from hitting the gym and keeping his strength and physique up.
You can watch Huck Finn talk about his recent injury, his heavy drinking stunt with Mike O’Hearn, and his hangover cure in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Mike O’Hearn Shares Tactics To Build Massive Quads
Mike O’Hearn recently shared some tips on building huge legs.
Mike O’Hearn is a legend in the fitness industry so when he gives out some advice, it is beneficial to listen. This is exactly what he did when he went to the gym and completely a massive leg workout recently. O’Hearn shared some tips on how to build bigger quads using his overall knowledge of different muscle groups.
O’Hearn took to his YouTube page to shared his workout tips on quads. He began practicing two-a-days and this is not something that is usually implemented. This is when someone trains twice a day — in the morning and later in the day. This does not always have to be different body parts. O’Hearn explained how he likes to perform compound movements and bigger lifts in the morning followed by secondaries later in the day.
While this might work best for him, O’Hearn says that each lifter will figure out what works best for them.
“You learn, do the roadmap and at the end of fit after you become somewhat of a master at it, no rules apply.”
Mike O’Hearn begins his leg day workout on the hack squat machine. This is one of the best when building big quads. This is because it can handle a lot of weight while not having to focus on stabilization as much. This is one of the machines that is beneficial but there are some that might not help much.
When finding machines to use, O’Hearn suggest finding ones that are not easy because of the counterbalance.
“Find awkward ones. There should always be pressure on you.”
When training quads, there are plenty of machines that can help. In the video, O’Hearn hops on the leg press machine. This one makes you turn and pull the knee out. This emphasizes the outer portion of the leg and the quad muscle. This was a new machine for O’Hearn to use and one that he liked immediately.
Mike O’Hearn also explained the importance of focusing on the negatives in order to get a good stretch and ensure that you are activating the muscle through a slow movement.
“There’s so much value in the negative you have to understand. If you pull the muscle down correctly in the negative it will activate that way out of the positive.”
The session finished with leg extensions. Throughout the workout, O’Hearn wanted to make sure that this is an advanced way of training. This is a way for experienced lifters to take it to the next level but also a base for beginners. Mike O’Hearn continues to have an impressive physique and has plenty of knowledge to share.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Frank Zane Reveals Favorite ‘Golden Era’ Exercise During Training Session With Mike O’Hearn
Frank Zane and Mike O’Hearn recently got together for a workout session.
When two bodybuilding legends get together for a workout session, it is wise to listen to what they have to say. Frank Zane and Mike O’Hearn recently linked up in California at the home gym of Zane. Here, the two were able to discuss bodybuilding and share some knowledge.
During the workout, Zane revealed that the wide, neutral grip pulldown is his favorite Golden-Era exercise. This is because it is equivalent as performing a wide-grip pull-up. Zane prefers this lift because he can use a hammer grip, which takes stress off the elbows. He finished his set in his home gym, which is a bit smaller than that of other athletes. Zane confirmed that he has all he needs in his setup.
The full video can be seen here courtesy of Mike O’Hearn’s YouTube page.
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Frank Zane is one of the best bodybuilders of all-time. He has three victories at the Olympia and Mr. Universe competitions. Zane has gone toe-to-toe with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbu during his time at the peak of the sport. Zane won three consecutive Olympia titles from 1977-1979. He wanted to try for a fourth but did not get the chance because of a tragic accident. This forced him to compete at a lower body weight and was unable to bring the same look.
“I wanted to go four in a row but I never made it,” Zane said.
“The thing I learned in bodybuilding is when you’re competing, you not only got to be better than everybody else but you have to be the best you’ve ever been.”
This is something Mike O’Hearn knows about. He is a four-time Mr. Universe champion. During his bodybuilding career, O’Hearn has been featured on the cover of many magazines and event went into business as an actor. He was able to use his incredible physique to find success in other avenues.
The workout continued as Zane and O’Hearn began discussing the importance of posing. This is something that does not gain as much focus as it should and Zane believes this is because of ignorance. Posing is a form of exercise in its own right because of the static tension. This involves creating force in the muscle without changing the length of it.
Both Mike O’Hearn and Frank Zane continue training to this day. O’Hearn is still in incredible shape while Zane is still active with weights at the age of 79. This means they will both continue to be influential voices in bodybuilding and give advice that is well worth the listen.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
White House Chef Andre Rush Joins Mike O’Hearn For Arm Day
Mike O’Hearn trained arms with Chef Andre Rush and his 24-inch arms.
Mike O’Hearn remains in tremendous shape at age 52. He is still able to push himself to the limit and perform some strenuous workouts to better his physique. Recently, O’Hearn joined White House Chef Andre Rush for arm day and the results were incredible.
Rush has been working in the White House for 21 years and has made a great career for himself. Aside from preparing meals, Rush has become known for his enormous arms that measure around 24 inches. In a bicep session, O’Hearn and Rush put together a YouTube video of the afternoon.
The two began with a bicep routine then went into conversation on what the other excels in. For Rush, the answer is clear.
“Just so you guys understand. These are 24 inch arms. These bands are not for arms. These are the leg bands, that we are using on his arms. That’s how jacked this man is. So most of you that are watching this, his arm is the size of your leg,” O’Hearn said about Rush.
This comment was brought on at the beginning of the video while Andre Rush was getting a blood Flow restrictor put on his arms. Mike O’Hearn reveals that they were using a leg band because there was not an arm one that would fit around his biceps.
The two men continued to show off their workout. It began with some dumbbell hammer curls followed by preacher curls. During the early exercises, O’Hearn kept discussing the size of Rush and his overall strength.
“I reversed it, truthfully just to open up the arm. Open up means I want the joints and the elbows to fire from all different positions. It’s great my arms are getting pumped, they’ll get pumped regardless. But I want my elbows and my wrist to rotate, I want my shoulders to open.”
O’Hearn explains that he performs preacher curls with a reverse grip to open up all parts of the arm. This is a more intense version than the traditional underneath grip.
Andre Rush is a US Army Veteran. He ensiled in 1993 where he was trained in hand-to-hand combat and food service. He began as a chef at the White House in 1997. All throughout, Rush began being known for his biceps as well as his food. To start his day, Rush says he does 2,222 pushups as part of the 22 pushup challenge. This is to raise awareness for the roughly 22 veterans who die by suicide each day.
There is no doubt that Rush can hold his own in the gym and he proved it with Mike O’Hearn. Both men put on a show that is worthy of being seen.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
How Mike O’Hearn Works Out With Real Intensity For Gains
Get a great pump from this monster natural bodybuilder.
Mike O’Hearn is a bodybuilder, fitness model, actor, and entrepreneur who has had a long career both inside and out of the gym. With a massive physique and following, people fell in love with his hard style of training in the gym and his cool, personable attitude out of it.
When it comes to getting a great pump, and especially for those of us only seeking the natural approach, we need to pay attention to those natural bodybuilders with incredible accolades. They’ve done it before, they know what it takes to succeed, and they are living proof that you can get huge without using any enhancing drugs to see gains. While it does take more effort from your training, diet, and supplementation, clearly it is possible to see massive gains all-naturally and Mike O’Hearn is a prime example.
For training hard and seeing all those gains you want most, looking to someone like Mike can be incredibly helpful for he wants to inspire others and share his knowledge of the bodybuilding and fitness world.
Full Name: Mike O’Hearn
Weight
Height
Date Of Birth
245-255 lbs.
6’3’’
01/26/1969
Profession
Era
Nationality
Bodybuilder, Fitness Model, Actor, Entrepreneur
1990, 2000, 2010
American
These workouts from Mike will provide serious growth with a variety of exercises for all your gains and give you a chance to see results while remaining all-natural. Mike has made a great career for himself staying free of enhancing drugs and these workouts can show you how.
About Mike O’Hearn
As the youngest of 10, Mike was always picked on by his siblings. Coming from a family of bodybuilders and powerlifters, Mike’s way of living up to and exceeding expectations was to be the best out of everyone. Hitting the gym and starting his bodybuilding journey gave him not only a massive physique, but also the confidence to do just that.
His career includes notable finishes as a 4-Time Mr. Natural Universe Champion, Mr. America, Mr. International, Mr. World, and a 4-time California Powerlifting Champion. He has starred in movies and television and was featured in over 500 magazines, mostly on the cover. He also was featured in Generation Iron: Natty 4 Life. Working with charities as well, Mike’s philanthropic work involves helping animal rescue shelters so animals can find loving homes.
Mike O’Hearn Training Routine
Mike’s hard style of training is well noted and a main reason people love him. He generally works with heavy compound movements, but of course, sometimes will sneak isolation movements to change things up. Either way, he puts out as much intensity as he can. With his core lifts being the incline bench, squat, and deadlift, he is sure to target all of his muscles to aid in his absolutely shredded aesthetic.
Let’s take a look at some awesome workouts from Mike including chest, back, legs, and arms so you too can see serious growth like Mike himself.
Chest
Exercises
Sets
Reps
Incline Barbell Bench Press
3
10
DB Bench Press
3
10
Incline Fly
3
8
Decline Chest Fly
3
8
Push Press
3
10
Back
Exercises
Sets
Reps
Underhand-Grip Lat Pulldown
3
12
Cable Row
3
10
Underhand-Grip Chest Lat Rows
3
12
Elevated Pulldowns
3
10
Back Extensions
3
10
Legs
Exercises
Sets
Reps
Back Squat
4
8
Leg Press
4
10
Hack Squat
4
10
Arms
Exercises
Sets
Reps
Triceps Pushdown
3
10
Skullcrushers
3
10
Triceps Extension
3
10
Barbell Curls
3
12
Cable Curls
3
12
Cable Concentration Curls
3
10
Preacher Curls
3
10
Cardio Work
For cardio, Mike does put a bit of an emphasis on this and will break his cardio training into week cycles as follows:
Weeks 1-4, 4 days/week, 30-minute sessions
Weeks 5-8, 5 days/week, 45-minute sessions
Weeks 9-12, 6 days/week, 1-hour sessions
Mike’s Nutrition
As a bodybuilder, and someone who prides themselves on routine and a shredded physique, Mike typically eats up to 8 meals a day. About half of his meals include protein, carbs, and fat, and the other half will see a swap out for vegetables instead of carbs. Trying different things can greatly impact your gains and for Mike, what works for him may not work for others and he wants people to know that. Finding your own groove is what will help keep you on track to avoid any diet slipping.
Best Ways To Enhance Natural Gains
While diet and the right training routine are exactly what you need to see huge gains, it would be a disservice to neglect a good supplementation routine to capitalize on all those goals. What supplements can do are assist your daily routine by providing you with extra nutrients and important ingredients that are worthwhile to promote gains like muscle growth, recovery, immunity, and many more.
For those looking to increase strength and improve recovery, definitely check out protein powders, but also look into mass gainers, creatine, and BCAAs for highly effective muscle building supplements. If you struggle to get started before your workout, definitely look into a pre-workout which can offer energy and give you a great boost to help tackle any of your needs. For outside training, consider a multivitamin or omega-3 supplements to aid in health and wellness to keep you thriving inside and out of the gym.
Wrap Up
Mike O’Hearn has had an incredible bodybuilding career, among other notable professions. As someone who prides themselves on their ability to work hard and see the best gains possible, Mike is certainly one of those athletes for us all to pay attention to as we seek the best from our own workouts. Between his training, nutrition, and supplementation, Mike knows exactly what is needed to see real growth and of course, give you that massive and shredded aesthetic that others will envy. Give these workouts from Mike a try and see what they can do for your routine today.
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 Mike O’Hearn Instagram
Mike O’Hearn Returns Full Interview | Health & Bodybuilding, Macho Mentality, & More
That’s why in our follow up full length interview with Mike O’Hearn – we dig deep into the health side of bodybuilding. Is it possible to be a mass monster without taking health risks? Does the sport demand a base level of danger? O’Hearn has been dedicated to being all natural his entire career. He brings the kind of insight that’s rare in this industry.
Over the past few months we’ve released multiple GI Exclusive segments from our interview with Mike O’Hearn. We are now releasing the full length interview including additional topics such as – how to be healthy in bodybuilding, the macho complex in lifting culture, and how having a baby changed O’Hearn’s bodybuilding lifestyle.
Listen To Our Mike O’Hearn Interview On The Generation Iron Podcast
Our full length interviews are now also in podcast form! Subscribe to the Generation Iron Podcast for candid, full length interviews with the biggest names in bodybuilding, fitness, combat, and strength sports.
Listen to the full Mike O’Hearn interview here:
Mike O’Hearn Answers: Is A Bodybuilding Lifestyle Bad For Your Heart & Blood Pressure?
Is that fully possible when carrying mass monster levels of muscle? We asked this question to Mike O’Hearn, specifically in regards to heart health and blood pressure. Vlad Yudin states that he had a conversation with a cardiologist claiming that heavy weightlifting and massive muscle is ultimately bad for your heart in the long term. The reasoning behind this is two fold. On one hand, you are still carrying a massive amount of weight on your body. This is harder for the heart to pump blood through. On the other hand, the heart can actually grow like a muscle. Heavy weightlifting can increase hearts size (this is ultimately a bad thing).
When asked about this, Mike O’Hearn had his own rebuttal. He recently visited a cardiologist for a routine check up. Not only is O’Hearn incredibly healthy for his age. He also discussed overall heart heath when it comes to heavy weightlifting. His conversation with a doctor revealed the opposite opinion. Lifting weights helps make the heart stronger. Mix that with a healthy diet and you avoid high blood pressure as well.
So what is the correct answer here? Two different doctors with two different opinions on bodybuilding and heart health. Mike O’Hearn chooses to then look at anecdotal evidence. O’Hearn looks back at pro bodybuilders from the golden era and what we know about their health now in their twilight years. According to O’Hearn, many of these older former bodybuilders are healthier and more able bodied than many people their age. This makes O’Hearn believe bodybuilding, when done correctly, is ultimately healthy for your heart.
Mike O’Hearn puts an important caveat on that statement. It’s very easy for a bodybuilder to abuse the techniques to make up an ultimately unhealthy lifestyle. Bodybuilders can eat crap to bulk up muscle. These “dirty” foods can lead to high blood pressure and ultimately heart problems. Heavy lifting can also go too far. Going hardcore each session in the short term does not look forward towards health in the long term.
O’Hearn also makes one more statement in regards to bodybuilding and heart health. Ultimately, there is a randomness to health as a whole. Some people smoke their whole lives but live to be 100. Some people are incredibly healthy-minded but die in their thirties. This doesn’t mean it’s not worth focusing on health – but it does mean that we shouldn’t accidentally assume coincidence is evidence of an actual statistical trend.
Mike O’Hearn: How Being Macho In Bodybuilding Can Backfire
Mike O’Hearn is an extremely focused and proactive person. It’s been well documented and discussed how seriously he takes his bodybuilding lifestyle in Generation Iron Natty 4 Life. He gets up at the crack of dawn to train every single morning. He never misses one day. On top of that, he’s stuck to an incredibly strict diet to obtain a physique that many think is impossible to build without steroids. O’Hearn has stayed consistent in his all natural claims. With the kind of intense routine he follows – he just might be one of the few to really pull that kind of natural physique off.
But behind all of that focus and strict routine – how does he deal with anxiety and depression? What does Mike O’Hearn do when life throws a tragic curveball? We asked this very question to O’Hearn during our latest interview.
Mike O’Hearn reflects back on two times in his life that were very painful. It was the moment his mother and father passed away. Both deaths occurred separate from each other. His father passed first. At the time, O’Hearn decided to push his emotions and grief down. He wanted to be strong and macho. The kind of strong man that mentally to mach his massive muscle.
It wasn’t until after Mike O’Hearn’s mother passed away that the pain and grief he was suppressing all poured out. Everything that he had avoided during his father’s death boiled up to the surface on top of his new grief upon his mother passing. O’Hearn spiraled into a depressed state. The only thing that brought consistency into his life was his ongoing training and nutrition schedule. It was the only thing he had control over.
Ultimately, Mike O’Hearn slowly recovered and pulled himself out of the hole. By facing his emotions and admitting to others that he was facing emotional struggles – he was able to finally face a series of grief that he had been avoiding for years.
Mike O’Hearn tops off the conversation with advice for others who are facing anxiety or depression. Speak out about it. Be open and don’t be afraid to reveal the pain you are going through. Whether that’s speaking to a family member, a friend, or getting professional help.
Many bodybuilders entered into the bodybuilding lifestyle because they wanted to be strong. Perhaps because they were bullied as a kid or simply unhappy with the way they looked. This creates a sort of macho mentality down the road. Bodybuilders will do anything possible to appear strong – not just physically but emotionally.
Mike O’Hearn wants the world to know that it’s okay to open up. That there is actual strength in admitting to grief or anxiety or depression. Instead of hiding behind muscle and a tough guy persona – be honest with not only yourself but also others. It will make you stronger in the end. It will also hopefully make you a happier and more fulfilled person in the big picture.
Wrap Up
Mike O’Hearn provides a unique insight into the world of natural bodybuilding – making this full conversation a must watch. There are far many more topics we discussed in our hour plus interview that could be vital for anyone looking for insight into optimizing bodybuilding training. So make sure to watch our latest full length GI Exclusive interview with Mike O’Hearn above!
Mike O’Hearn Answers: Does Having A Child Change Your Bodybuilding Lifestyle?
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Mike O’Hearn talks about having a child and how that affected his rigorous bodybuilding lifestyle and schedule.
In 2019, Mike O’Hearn became a father and introduced the world to his son Titan. O’Hearn is a bodybuilder known for his insanely rigorous schedule. He would wake up to train at 4am every single day and has stayed committed to that schedule for the past few decades. A child is a big commitment – and one that changes a person’s life forever. So how does that affect the demands of bodybuilding? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Mike O’Hearn details his personal experience on how having a child changed his bodybuilding lifestyle.
There’s no doubt that having a child is a massive commitment. It changes the parents’ lives forever. Especially in the early years, a child is in constant need of supervision, it adds a lot to financial demands, and starts forcing you to think beyond yourself. A bodybuilder lifestyle, on the other hand, is one that requires a certain level of selfish focus. It also requires a great deal of commitment.
Mike O’Hearn is a bodybuilder who exemplifies the ultimate bodybuilding dedication. He has stuck to an extremely rigorous schedule for training and dieting for nearly four decades. Those who know him well claim that he has never stumbled and always stayed on point. So did having a child throw a wrench into his four decade long dedication?
Mike O’Hearn admits that he needed to start changing up his schedule in order to meet the needs of raising a son. But he’s also lucky in that he owns his own gym and has built a successful life that allows for him to be more flexible. Despite now having to dedicate time to loving and raising a child – he still makes sure to stick to his bodybuilding plans. In fact, he claims to have put on even more muscle over the past year.
This is in large part due to the pandemic as well. Just a year after Mike O’Hearn’s son was born, COVID-19 shut down the United States and most of the world. This meant that one aspect of O’Hearn’s life was put on pause. There were no more public speaking arrangements or guest posings. This allowed him to have his first ever “off season” in a very long time.
Mike O’Hearn is always dedicated to staying in lean shape for guest posings throughout the year. Between the pandemic and having a son – he’s had more time to focus on recovering and bulking up a bit more. He’s now preparing for his first string of guest posing events in over a year. He’s excited because he in fact thinks his physique has improved.
It’s often a common held believe that having a child means putting your other passions on hold. But Mike O’Hearn seems to buck this trend and prove that notion wrong. It of course requires incredible will power – but since bodybuilding is a passion for him – that dedication is fun. In the same way others might want to play video games or go out for drinks – Mike O’Hearn looks forward to training and focusing on his health.
You can watch Mike O’Hearn go into more detail about having a son and his new bodybuilding lifestyle in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!