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Arnold Schwarzenegger Unveils 2-Compound PED Protocol Used During Prime of Career
Bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger has always been honest about using steroids during his career, but he never revealed the exact drugs he took. In a recent Men’s Health interview, that changed as the ‘Austrian Oak’ listed the two-compound cycle he used to win seven Mr. Olympias.
Today, Arnold Schwarzenegger is by far and wide the most popular and visible ambassador of the sport. However, it took hard training, discipline, and consistency to get to where he is. In the 1970s and 1980s, Schwarzenegger was a proven force with a one-of-a-kind physique. His popping biceps and full chest were standout features that helped him climb and claw to the top of the IFBB Pro League.
During Schwarzenegger’s tenure, he was challenged by a handful of icons such as three-time Mr. Olympias Frank Zane and Sergio Oliva. In addition, he competed against Mike Mentzer, who many believe should have defeated Schwarzenegger during his comeback at the controversial 1980 Mr. Olympia competition. Looking back on a decorated career, Schwarzenegger said his toughest battle came against Oliva.
Schwarzenegger managed to claim a total of seven Mr. Olympia titles just shy of the joint record set years later by eight-time winners Lee Haney and Ronnie Coleman. Decades separated from his retirement, fans and bodybuilders alike have wondered about Arnold’s steroid cycles.
‘The Blond Myth’ Lee Priest discussed the topic once and mentioned Dianabol was Schwarzenegger’s favorite compound. Priest explained that times were different back when Schwarzenegger would compete and said athletes didn’t have ‘set rules’ about steroid protocols. Following years of speculation, Schwarzenegger has shared his Olympia-winning cycle, which consisted of Dianabol and testosterone.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Shares Steroid Cycle Used During Career, Says Sport Is Unsafe: ‘People Are Dying’
According to Schwarzenegger, he used 15 milligrams of Dianabol daily and 100 milligrams of testosterone a week.
“One hundred milligrams a week and then three dianabol a day. So that was 15 milligrams,” Arnold Schwarzenegger said describing his steroid use.
Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) is a popular treatment athletes use for muscle maintenance, strength, and a variety of other benefits that aid low testosterone. From powerlifting sensation Larry Wheels to Jay Cutler, TRT continues to have a major impact on athletes’ health in 2023.
With a sudden spike in bodybuilding deaths over the past three years, Schwarzenegger stressed that people are listening to ‘charlatans’ and ‘don’t know what the ‘fuc* they’re doing.’ He added that people today are more obsessed with shortcuts than consistent hard work.
“Bodybuilding always, always was considered a safe sport,” he shared. “But now, it’s not. Now people are dying. They’re dying because of overdoses of drugs, and they don’t know what the fuck they’re doing. And they’re listening to charlatans. If I want to go and get medical advice from a legitimate doctor, I go to UCLA, or I go to the Cleveland Clinic.”
“Don’t go there,” he says of steroids. “Yes, we are at a time now where we always look for the easy way to make money, the fast way to get rich, the easy way to be an influencer. Any time you abuse the body, you’re going to regret it later on. I want young people to know that I have seen people getting kidney transplants, and suffering tremendously from it,” Schwarzenegger told Men’s Health.
This isn’t the first time Arnold Schwarzenegger has shined a spotlight on the dangers present in bodybuilding. In 2021, Schwarzenegger said Open bodybuilding is dangerous and that Classic Physique was the future. Given the rate at which athletes were dying, Schwarzenegger was candid, highlighting that bodybuilding had become the most dangerous sport in the world.
Following the 2022 Mr. Olympia show, Schwarzenegger said the Classic Physique Olympia winner should be crowned the Mr. Olympia title instead of the Open class champion. Some fans agree with Schwarzenegger, as four-time Classic Physique Olympia Chris Bumstead‘s popularity continues to swell.
RELATED: Arnold Schwarzenegger Shares 5-Min No-Equipment Workout of the Week: ‘Get Your Blood Flowing’
Schwarzenegger’s physique, a mix of aesthetics, muscularity, and mass, still impresses bodybuilding fans today. He achieved it with a minimal steroid cycle that did not include growth hormone, which illustrates how far ahead he was during his prime.
Published: 24 May, 2023 | 1:58 PM EDT
Joe Bennett & Lee Labrada Share ‘Guidances’ on Hypertrophy, Genetics, and Injury Prevention
Fitness and bodybuilding coach Joe Bennett has acquired a wealth of knowledge over the years, having trained athletes and Hollywood actors like Dave Bautista. In a recent episode of the Lee Labrada Show, Bennett joined Labrada for a detailed discussion about genetics, exercise selection, and injury prevention.
As a bodybuilding veteran, Lee Labrada left a memorable impact on the Men’s Open division, where he used aesthetics, conditioning, and artistic posing to assert himself as one of the best. Even though he was unable to procure a Mr. Olympia title, Labrada was a perennial contender who placed in the top four at the show for seven consecutive years.
Joe Bennett on the other hand, is a decorated trainer, who helped shape several top-tier IFBB Pro League bodybuilders, some of which include the inaugural Women’s Physique Olympia Dana Linn-Bailey, two-time Arnold Classic winner Terrence Ruffin, and German star Urs Kalecinski.
With their combined knowledge, Labrada and Bennett tackled ‘common sense’ practices in bodybuilding today. In addition, they explained the role genetics play when determining which exercises are best suited for certain individuals.
Joe Bennett, Lee Labrada on Exercise Selection & Full Range of Motion: ‘Not Everyone Has Short Femurs Like Tom Platz’
Bennett believes common sense guidelines must be established to build muscle, like developing an ‘internal response’ while training.
“If you’re anyone outside of someone whose sport is lifting weights then you have to realize the whole thing of weight lifting is to have an internal response. There should be some common sense guidances, I’m choosing this exercise to train my chest, train my shoulders, I should feel it in my chest, I should feel it the right way in my shoulders.
So, if I’m doing an exercise that’s a chest exercise and all I feel is my triceps and shoulders, it’s not a chest exercise for you. Just because it’s written in a book for chest exercise, but your body doesn’t understand that,” said Joe Bennett.
He stressed that genetics factor into training technique.
“It’s [genetics] a pretty big thing. I always joke with people, in the industry, there’s trainers that will really sell things that are customized. Obviously, there’s a big component of truth there because different exercises work for different people.
At the same time, if I have somebody coming in and it’s day 1, I have some ideas, like I know these are going to be some good options to start with right? Then, obviously, even if this works for 90% of people, I have to realize that it might not benefit this one person if they’re that 10% or even if they’re that 1%, whatever it is. So, there’s definitely some differences.”
Bennett shared that Tom Platz had short femurs which enabled him to achieve a better range of motion when performing squats.
“Limb length, I mean some people, again, you look at someone like Tom Platz and everyone looks how he squats, and that’s what everybody thinks about when they want to squat. There’s people that because of their proportions that they have instead of having Tom Platz’s little tiny short femurs, they’ve got these long legs and they might have a short torso. They literally are like an accordion when they try to squat. Everything folds as opposed to there being a nice pretty straight up and down thing,” Bennett said.
“Between limb length, there is some structural differences if we look at different joints, how your shoulder sits in the side of the scapula, how your femur fits in your pelvis. There are differences person to person. There are for sure people that are built better for things than others. There was a reason Tom Platz could squat what he could. The world record bench pressers are built for bench pressing. It’s the same as a lot of things in life. It’s really important that there is some degree of customizing.”
Bennett on Injury Prevention: ‘Physical, Emotional, Mental Stress Play Into It’
As far as injuries are concerned, Bennett says if an exercise causes pain on a consistent basis, then it should be replaced with a different movement.
“That’s the joke amongst strength coaches [just don’t injure your athlete]. You’ve already got the genetic elite, they’ll do almost anything to put on muscle, just make sure they’re doing things – where again, you’re building them up, get them bigger, stronger, more resilient, because they’re likely to get injured on the field.”
Lastly, Bennett highlighted that injuries often occur when people are dealing with physical or psychological stress.
“There are lots of contributing factors, recovery goes into it, how people are when they come into the gym. We think about physical stress, but emotional stress, mental stress, all that can play into it. If I had to say the biggest thing, it honestly is poor exercise selection. Most injuries and there are some exceptions, but most injuries in the bodybuilding world, it’s repetitive stuff. People have signs where something starts to feel uncomfortable.”
“Most of those things [where people work through pain] as you and I both know, if you start to get something and you don’t change something and you keep going, it only goes one direction, it only gets worse.”
In addition to Bailey, Ruffin, and Kalecinski, Joe Bennett recently partnered with Brett Wilkin for an intense back workout. The ‘Hypertrophy Coach’ led Wilkin through the training session and offered up some useful tips. Wilkin is already qualified for the 2023 Mr. Olympia show after claiming gold at last year’s Bigman Weekend Pro contest.
Injury prevention and exercise selection remain widely discussed topics in bodybuilding. Given their expertise, Labrada and Bennett hope to inspire safer practices in the gym, not just for athletes but for people of all fitness levels.
RELATED: 10 Best Bodybuilding Coaches with Proven Track Records
You can watch The Lee Labrada Show on YouTube below:
Published: 24 May, 2023 | 12:11 PM EDT
2023 Strongman Champions League Serbia Results – Gavin Bilton Claims His First International Win
Although the biggest Strongman competitions of the year have already concluded, the season is still extremely active. With many competitions taking place around the globe, one stood out over the past weekend, as the most thrilling action took place in Europe. Specifically, the 2023 Strongman Champions League Serbia took place in the city of Zrenjanin on May 20th.
The Strongman Champions League (SCL) features a lot of incredible athletes, but the competition in Serbia stood out due to Gavin Bilton. Also known as “The Bull”, Gavin is known as a major Strongman figure, but this was the first International win in his career so far.
Gavin Bilton did not have an easy job in Serbia, as he had some fierce rivals chasing him from the start. However, two event wins out of five were enough to take the top spot, as his performance resulted in 56 points overall.
Fatih Karaca finished in second place, but he even had a realistic chance to win the competition. Going into the final event, Fatih was in the lead, as he had 0.5 points more than Gavin Bilton. However, a disappointing eight place finish in the final event ruined Fatih’s chances of winning the show.
2023 Strongman Champions League Serbia Leaderboards
Gavin Bilton — 56 points
Fatih Karaca — 52.5 points
Kelvin de Ruiter — 49 points
Andrea Invernizzi — 46 points
Peter Juhasz — 44.5 points
Evans Nana — 37 points
Nemanja Tasic — 36 points
Dado Stroil — 35.5 points
Jarkko Mehtälä — 34.5 points
Jonathan Cotton — 23 points
Hristo Muskov — 20 points
Andy Black — 5 points
Ervin Toots — 1 point
Related: Gavin Bilton Victorious At 2021 UK’s Strongest Man, Lucy Underdown Sets New World Record
Event One — Truck Pull
The Truck Pull was a fantastic way to start off the 2023 SCL Serbia, as athletes raced to pull the 15,000-kilogram truck as fast as possible. The Turkish representative, Fatih Karaca, was the quickest man to cross the given 25-meter distance, having performed the task in just 30.46 seconds. However, in an extraordinary set of circumstances, Kelvin de Ruiter finished in second, just 0.01 seconds behind Fatih.
Fatih Karaca — 30.46 seconds
Kelvin de Ruiter — 30.47 seconds
Gavin Bilton — 35.35 seconds
Andrea Invernizzi — 36.37 seconds
Dado Stroil — 36.4 seconds
Evans Nana — 36.56 seconds
Hristo Muskov — 39.18 seconds
Jarkko Mehtälä — 39.25 seconds
Andy Black — 39.3 seconds
Jonathan Cotton — 47.39 seconds
Peter Juhasz — 54.87 seconds (Tied-11th)
Nemanja Tasic — 54.87 seconds (Tied-11th)
Ervin Toots — 57.81 seconds
Event Two — Farmer’s Walk
The 2023 Strongman Champions League Serbia continued with the iconic Farmer’s Walk event. It tasked the participants with lifting and carrying 150-kilogram implements for a length of 50 meters.
Peter Juhasz of Hungary displayed the best combination of grip strength and quick feet, as he completed the course in just 23.69 seconds. Fatih Karaca further solidified his impressive start with a second place finish, which he earned by crossing 50 meters in 26.25 seconds. Kelvin de Ruiter finished just behind Fatih, with a time 0.59 seconds slower than his.
Peter Juhasz — 23.69 seconds
Fatih Karaca — 26.25 seconds
Kelvin de Ruiter — 26.84 seconds
Andrea Invernizzi — 30.84 seconds
Gavin Bilton — 33.53 seconds
Evans Nana — 34.63 seconds
Hristo Muskov — 48.4 seconds
Dado Stroil — 47.1 meters
Jonathan Cotton — 46.3 meters
Nemanja Tasic — 42 meters
Jarkko Mehtälä — 25 meters
Andy Black — Withdrew
Ervin Toots — Withdrew
Event Three — Viking Press
The third event of the 2023 Strongman Champions League Serbia was a true test of shoulder and upper body strength. The event tasked the athletes with performing as many overhead press repetitions as possible with 160 kilograms and a 60-second time cap.
Gavin Bilton stood out as the greatest overhead presser on the roster, beasting through 13 reps without much struggle. He was followed by Andrea Invernizzi who had 12 reps, and Peter Juhasz who had 11.
Gavin Bilton — 13 reps
Andrea Invernizzi — 12 reps
Peter Juhasz — 11 reps
Fatih Karaca — 10 reps (Tied-fourth)
Jarkko Mehtälä — 10 reps (Tied-fourth)
Kelvin de Ruiter — 9 reps
Evans Nana — 6 reps
Nemanja Tasic — 5 reps (Tied-eighth)
Dado Stroil — 5 reps (Tied-eighth)
Jonathan Cotton — 4 reps
Hristo Muskov — 0 reps
Event Four — Hercules Hold
The Hercules Hold is known for being a test of grip and determination, which is why it was picked for the 2023 SCL Serbia. The goal was to hold the two pillars for as long as possible.
Being the most experienced in the group with regards to this event, Gavin Bilton easily outperformed the remainder of the competitors. His final time came out to 36.62 seconds, which is 8.31 seconds more than his closest rival, Fatih Karaca. Representing the host country, Serbian Nemanja Tasic placed third with just 0.22 seconds less than Fatih.
Gavin Bilton — 36.62 seconds
Fatih Karaca — 28.31 seconds
Nemanja Tasic — 28.09 seconds
Kelvin de Ruiter — 26.18 seconds
Andrea Invernizzi — 25.28 seconds
Dado Stroil — 22.09 seconds
Peter Juhasz — 18.87 seconds
Jonathan Cotton — 14.03 seconds
Evans Nana — 10.58 seconds
Jarkko Mehtälä — 3.73 seconds
Hristo Muskov — 1.62 seconds
Event Five — Super Yoke
For the final event of the 2023 Strongman Champions League Serbia, the athletes had to perform a Super Yoke. However, while the concept looked as usual, people were used instead of weights. So, four people sat on each Super Yoke and athletes had to carry them for a distance of 25 meters.
Once again boosted by the home crowd, Nemanja Tasic sprinted his way towards an event victory, finishing the Super Yoke in just 16.25 seconds. Jarkko Mehtälä was the next fastest to finish with a time of 17.03 seconds, while Peter Juhasz rounded up the top three with 18.26 seconds.
Nemanja Tasic — 16.25 seconds
Jarkko Mehtälä — 17.03 seconds
Peter Juhasz — 18.26 seconds
Gavin Bilton — 19.51 seconds
Evans Nana — 19.68 seconds
Kelvin de Ruiter — 19.98 seconds
Dado Stroil — 23.66 seconds
Fatih Karaca — 24.59 seconds
Andrea Invernizzi — 28.68 seconds
Jonathan Cotton — 42.87 seconds
Hristo Muskov — 52.35 seconds
Related: Mitchell Hooper Breaks Tom Platz’s 1992 Legendary Squat Record With 24 Reps of 525 Lbs
While Gavin Bilton is 34-years-old and already a popular Strongman athlete, he has only been competing for four years. Therefore, it is understandable that he just recently claimed his first international victory at the 2023 Strongman Champions League Serbia. If everything falls into place, this could set off a chain reaction of success, opening the doors to countless victories for Gavin in the years to come.
Published: 24 May, 2023 | 9:35 AM EDT
Derek Lunsford Goes Through Title-Worthy Back Workout With Chris Bumstead
Bodybuilders Derek Lunsford and Chris Bumstead are in the absolute prime of their physical and mental abilities. The duo are working hard to extend their competitive legacy under famed bodybuilding coach Hany Rambod’s guidance. Recently, they went through an off-season back workout to get ready for this year’s conquests.
Lunsford is an American professional bodybuilder that made a switch to the IFBB Pro League’s Men’s Open division in 2022. Prior to that, he competed in the 212 division and achieved the ultimate goal of winning the 212 Olympia title in 2021. However, the 30-year-old grew out of the division. Upon receiving the special invitation to compete in the Men’s Open division at the 2022 Olympia, the former 212 kingpin got in the gym to put in the work.
At 2022 Olympia, Lunsford dominated the stage and surged past elite competitors like former 2-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay, Nick Walker and Samson Dauda to secure a runner-up finish.
Lunsford’s training partner in this session, Chris Bumstead, is a Canadian IFBB Pro bodybuilder and arguably the most famous active bodybuilder in the world. CBum has established himself as the most successful competitor in the history of Classic Physique division with four consecutive Olympia wins. Since snatching the title from former champ Breon Ansley at the 2019 Olympia, CBum has fended off fierce competition to retain it at the 2020, 2021 and 2022 Olympia.
Both men have handed the reins of their training to famed coach Hany Rambod who is their head coach. Recently, they trained back under his guidance and the video of this session was posted on Lunsford’s personal YouTube channel. So without much ado, let’s see how Hany Rambod guided his pupils through the workout.
Derek Lunsford and Chris Bumstead go through the back workout
Derek Lunsford had to guest pose at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro on the day of this back workout. As a result, he kept the workout relatively light and did not go overly heavy.
“Not gonna go crazy today because we’re doing the guest posing tonight. It’s not like we’re changing anything as far as the diet or workout… Nothing like that. We’re just gonna go in there and have fun tonight but also not trying to fill the stomach up a lot…” Lunsford said.
Iso-lateral Lat Pulldown
Rambod instructed CBum and Lunsford to start the training session with lat pulldown on an iso-lateral plate-loaded machine. He suggested using a reverse grip for the first few sets and switching over to the neutral grip for the subsequent sets.
Lat Pulldowns primarily target the latissimus dorsi and the upper back muscles. It is a great way to increase the back width. According to an ACE sponsored study, lat pulldowns, along with seated cable rows, are the second best exercise for lats after pull-ups and chin-ups (1). Lunsford and CBum pushed through a few sets of lat pulldowns to get things started and took to the next exercise.
T-Bar Rows
Lunsford and Bumstead then moved over to this classic back building exercise and cranked out a few sets. Bodybuilding experts swear by the muscle and strength building benefits of this movement. T-bar rows work the majority of the muscles in the upper and the middle back. This includes latissimus dorsi, trapezius, teres major, teres minor, posterior deltoid and infraspinatus muscles. Additionally, T-bar rows also work the brachialis and pectoralis major muscles as well.
Hany Rambod shed light on some of the common technical errors people make while doing the exercise and stated:
“What you’ve got to make sure is you’re pulling all the way… A lot of people just end up doing a really weird version of a shrug when they use heavy weight. Make sure that you’re being able to bring your elbows back and you’ll be able to contract your last to some degree. If you end up using too much weight, all you’re doing is a shrug.”
The bodybuilder duo performed some solid sets of T-bar rows with perfect technique before taking up the next exercise.
Seated Cable Rows
Seated cable rows not only help with muscle and strength building but also help improve the posture. CBum and Lunsford annihilated a few sets of seated cable rows under Coach Rambod’s watchful eye and took to the next exercise.
Incline Dumbbell Rows
This free weight exercise served as the finisher to Lunsford and Bumstead’s back workout. Incline dumbbell rows help emphasize more on the back muscles as the setup takes the need for muscle stabilization out of equation (2). The duo performed this exercise to stimulate the back muscles further and called it a day in the gym.
Overall, the workout included:
Derek Lunsford’s physique looked stage ready and massively improved during guest posing at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro. Experts suggest that he can beat reigning Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan if he brings fuller pecs and quads. Looking at his progress in the gym, it does seem like he is a step closer to the goal for sure.
Watch Derek Lunsford and Chris Bumstead go through the back workout here, courtesy of Derek Lunsford’s personal YouTube channel:
Reference
What is the Best Back Exercise? (ACE Sponsored Research)
(Authors – Holly Edelburgh, John P. Porcari, Clayton Camic, Attila Kovacs, Carl Foster and Daniel J. Green)
14 Best Back Exercises to Build the Perfect Back
(Author – Jeremy Ethier)
Published: 24 May, 2023 | 3:28 AM EDT
Quinton Eriya Shares Near 3,500-Calorie Bulking Cheat Meal in 2023 Off-Season
Canadian bodybuilder Quinton Eriya emerged as a promising Men’s Open contender with a strong season in 2019. In a recent YouTube video, Eriya consumed a massive helping of about 3,500 calories. In addition, he mentioned that he implements cheat meals like this one five times per week in the 2023 off-season.
Quinton Eriya boasts a physique with impressive muscle mass, shape, and genetics along with a tight waist. He made his IFBB Pro debut at the 2019 Toronto Pro Supershow and finished fifth. He followed up with a sixth-place finish at the 2019 Vancouver Pro. In 2020, Eriya made his way to the New York Pro and took eighth in a competitive lineup.
Eriya left the fans stunned with a crazy aesthetic physique update in Nov. 2021. He turned in a strong performance at the Romania Muscle Fest Pro and placed fifth. He declared his ambitions to earn an invite to the 2022 Mr. Olympia competition with a win at the Toronto Pro Supershow. Ultimately, he narrowly missed out on the top prize to Joel Thomas and took silver in Canada.
Men’s Open standout Nick Walker joined forces with Eriya for a brutal back workout in Jan. 2022. Eriya revealed he enjoyed using high reps for every body part other than the chest while performing the training session with the former Arnold Classic winner.
Last year, Quinton Eriya displayed significant improvements to his physique at the 2022 Tampa Pro. He scored bronze behind former 212 Olympia champion Kamal Elgargni and winner Akim Williams. He was last seen in action at the 2022 Texas Pro, where he placed fifth. Following the event, Eriya received major praise from Mark Anthony and bodybuilding legend Jay Cutler. Cutler lauded the rising athlete as a potential Olympia title contender.
RELATED: Bulking Calculator to help your weight gain / bulking journey!
Quinton Eriya destroys nearly 3,500 cals in a cheat meal
In a recent YouTube video, Quinton Eriya devoured about 3,500 calories in a single cheat meal and says he consumes similar helpings five times a week on the days he works out.
“I have five cheat meals or free meals, whatever you wanna call them, I have five of them every week and they’re only on training days,” said Eriya. “So, normally I have it for my fifth meal. However, sometimes I swap it out just depending on what I have going on during the day.”
He ate the following items along with some ketchup:
2 hamburgers = 1,680 cals
Regular fries = 960 cals
Chocolate Oreo Milkshake = 670 cals
Total = 3,310 calories.
Quinton Eriya and Nick Walker collaborated for a grueling push-day workout a month ago. Walker joined the budding talent during his trip to Canada and smashed a challenging workout targeting the chest, delts, and triceps.
Eriya took to the stage with Walker in a guest-posing appearance at the 2023 Pure Muscle Championships last month. The duo delivered a memorable pose down with Down syndrome bodybuilder Kyle Landi. Based on Eriya’s latest offering, it appears he’s focused on making the most of the off-season as he eyes his ticket to the Mr. Olympia contest.
You can watch the full video below:
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Published: 24 May, 2023 | 2:40 AM EDT
Phil Heath ‘Optimizing Health’ w/Recovery & Medications: ‘It’s Putting Me in The Best Position to Win’
Bodybuilding legend Phil Heath has maintained a muscle-bound physique since stepping away from the stage in 2020. In a recent Instagram reel, Heath shared that his training frequency increased and his medication intake has put him in ‘the best position to win’ moving forward.
“Optimizing your health goes a long way. The goal is to leave life changing and lifelong lasting effects.” Phil Heath shared.
Heath commanded the biggest stages in the sport with authority, having claimed a total of seven consecutive Mr. Olympia titles (2011-2017). At that time, ‘The Gift’ proved to be an incredible force in the Men’s Open class, where he regularly pushed contenders like his arch-rival Kai Greene, the late Shawn Rhoden, and German standout Dennis Wolf.
Late last year, the 2023 Masters Olympia contest was revived and again added to the IFBB Pro League bodybuilding schedule. After an 11-year absence, the show will return August 25-27 in Cluj Napoca, Romania. While fans had hoped for Heath or Jay Cutler’s return, they have both publicly shot down the idea.
In a Voice of Bodybuilding appearance with Bob Cicherillo, Heath underlined that $1 million cash would incentivize his comeback. Considering Heath’s age and record of accomplishments, he believes fans would have called him out if he decided to compete at 2023 Masters Olympia. Nevertheless, Heath’s focus is on health and longevity while he’s away from the stage.
Phil Heath ‘Feeling Fresh,’ Talks Achieving ‘Peak Performance with Recovery & Medications
Even though he no longer trains seven days a week, Heath has retained adequate muscle mass thanks to ‘right types of medications.’
“Even without me training seven days a week, I’ve been able to maintain good muscle mass and that’s because I’ve done things the right way throughout my career. But I’ve made sure I was able to apply the right type of medications for my goals and I am in the gym a little bit more now and I will be more in the upcoming weeks and my body feels really really fresh.”
In addition, Heath stressed that recovery, modalities, and medications are keys to optimizing peak performance and health.
“I know that with Transcend they’re putting me in the best position to win. That’s what I always preached my entire career, you have to train smart, you have to train hard, you have to have fun, but you have to have the recovery, modalities, and the medications to help you stay at your peak performance,” said Phil Heath.
RELATED: Best Speed Up Recovery After Training
Phil’s predecessor, Jay Cutler, has teased a Heath comeback on a number of occasions. According to Jay, Heath could ‘do some damage’ at this year’s Mr. Olympia show. Assuming Heath entered this contest, he would face off against two of his teammates – Derek Lunsford and champion Hadi Choopan, who are both led by the legend’s former coach Hany Rambod.
One of the last time fans heard from Heath, he offered a definitive answer on whether he would make a play at the upcoming 2023 Olympia competition. While he continues to make improvements to his build at 255 pounds, Heath ruled out the possibility of competing later this year in a previous Instagram post.
Phil Heath’s continued dedication to health and fitness puts him in the best position possible to compete at a high level, whether he returns to bodybuilding or not.
RELATED: ‘It’s a 3-Headed Monster’: Phil Heath Reveals His Top Picks for 2023 Mr. Olympia
Published: 23 May, 2023 | 6:55 PM EDT
Mitchell Hooper Breaks Tom Platz’s 1992 Legendary Squat Record With 24 Reps of 525 Lbs
Canadian strongman Mitchell Hooper is one of the fastest-rising strength sports athletes around. He’s coming off a historic first-place performance at the 2023 Worlds Strongest Man, held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. In a recent YouTube video, Hooper broke bodybuilding icon Tom Platz’s legendary 525-pound squat record of 23 reps with 24 reps.
Mitchell Hooper first gained attention for his insane strength after he dominated the qualifying group stages of the 2022 World’s Strongest Man competition. He followed up with back-to-back bronze medals at the 2022 Rogue Invitational and 2022 Shaw Classic. He scored gold at the 2023 Australia’s Strongest International contest as well.
Following the win, Hooper achieved a new PR (personal record) with a 420-kg (925.9-lb) raw deadlift in a training session. He left the fans in awe of his unreal strength by smashing 770-kg (1,697.6-lb) raw leg pressses for eight reps in preparation for the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic. His intense training methods paid off as he secured the title impressively two months ago.
Hooper claimed the biggest win of his career at the 2023 World’s Strongest Man last month. He set his lead early in the opening stanza and extended it further on day two. He created history by becoming the first Canadian to win the coveted WSM title, defeating the likes of former champ Oleksii Novikov and Tom Stoltman.
Bodybuilding legend Tom Platz made a name for himself with his stellar lower body development and conditioning. While he moved on from professional competition decades ago, his passion for working out persists. He showed off his jacked quads after changing his diet and training regimen at the age of 67 last month.
Platz set the squat challenge record of 525 pounds for 23 reps in 1992 in Essen, Germany. He accomplished this epic feat in a head-to-head matchup against Fred Hatfield, who squatted the same weight for 11 reps. This iconic competition was popularly known as the ‘Great American Squat-Off.’
Many have attempted to break the record. Powerlifter Bradon Gulch took on the challenge earlier this month. Matt Wenning broke Platz’s record of 23 reps with 24, however, wasn’t able to match ‘The Quadfather’s’ total weight lifted of 525 pounds.
Mitchell Hooper breaks Tom Platz’s squat challenge record
In a recent YouTube video, Mitchell Hooper surged past Tom Platz’s record on 525-lb squats. Hooper used a lifting belt and wore knee sleeves during the challenge.
“At the 1993 FIBO show, Tom Platz and Fred Hatfield had a squat-off and in the squat-off, they did 525 for reps. Tom Platz set the record at 23 which is a record that stood all the way up until about eight months ago when Matt Wenning went and did 24.”
“It’s going to be difficult. There’s a lot of anxiety around doing that many reps that heavy.
“It gets really challenging at first to squat due to my shoulder mobility.”
“It actually got to a point where just standing with the weight was the challenge. I was losing my balance just trying to stay upright.”
Hooper performed a warm-up set, did a second set of 495 pounds, and finally got to 525 pounds. He didn’t seem too confident before the lift as he recognized the challenge of the task ahead of him.
He performed the squat with proper technique and form at a quick pace for the first 10 reps before taking a brief pause. He continued to get five more reps in and took another quick break before squeezing out a few more reps without breaking form. He appeared to struggle in the last five reps as he began to breathe heavily and had his legs shaking from the load. In the end, he managed to perform 24 reps.
Mitchell Hooper got back to training days after his win at the 2023 WSM. He utilized a bodybuilding style workout to ease his way back into training strongman.
Hooper opened up about his experience competing at the contest weeks ago. He called for a proper ruleset to ensure fair competition and to avoid confusion at the events. Hooper also recently laid out his must-have supplements along with his take on consuming alcohol and sugar for recovery.
He crushed 20 reps on 465-lb squats over a week ago. His latest achievement shows Hooper is continuing to improve and will likely return stronger than ever.
Hooper’s amazing squat set showcases why he’s the current WSM. The strength and endurance required for that many reps are top-notch, and his quads will need some good recovery time.
RELATED: Tom Platz Reflects on Training ‘Unknown’ Dorian Yates: “He Surpassed Everything I Taught Him”
Hooper is making serious strength gains based on the latest performance. He will look to defend the WSM title successfully next year. Given his young age, he has the potential to add many more records to his glittering resume.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 23 May, 2023 | 5:10 PM EDT
Hafthor Bjornsson Shares Graphic Footage Of His Successful Pec Tear Surgery
A month has passed since Hafthor Bjornsson tore his chest during the bench press portion of a powerlifting competition. Ever since then, he has been working on making his recovery as perfect as possible which would shorten the time needed to come back. This included some intense methods, like infrared light exposure, cryotherapy, and more. However, all of this led to the most important moment of Hafthor’s recovery, which was the surgery.
Hafthor Bjornsson recently published a new video on his YouTube channel which covered a span of a few days. It started off with Hafthor preparing for his surgery using some of the aforementioned methods, but it also displayed clips of Hafthor’s surgery, as well as a segment of him lying in a hospital bed after everything was done.
Related: Hafthor Bjornsson Shares Doctor’s Update on Pec Tear Ahead of Surgery: ‘Swelling is Getting Worse’
Hafthor Bjornsson’s Surgery
Hafthor Bjornsson started off his video by completing his final round of cryotherapy and specially made recovery shakes, while also expressing gratitude for everyone who assisted him in this process. He then revealed that the pain in his chest and arm has dialed down drastically and that he only feels a bit bruised.
“It’s actually crazy how good I feel in my arm, like I can move it without any pain. The pain level I have right now is zero. If I press my arm I just feel a little bruised, that is all. Obviously, I am cautious, I am trying not to put my arm in any weird positions.”
While talking to his surgeon over the phone, Hafthor Bjornsson explained how he was excited to undergo surgery, presumably because it marked an important moment in his recovery process.
“I am looking forward to everything, which is kind of weird, but I am actually very excited for it.”
After 2 days of preparation, Hafthor Bjornsson woke up on the third day ready to undergo surgery. With everything prepared, Hafthor was put to sleep by one of the best anesthesiologists around. A clip from the surgery, which lasted for a couple of minutes, was then uploaded to his YouTube channel.
Since Hafthor Bjornsson was under the influence of anesthesia, he was not able to communicate as well following the surgery. So, his doctor took over the video to explain what happened.
“Everything went perfect, no problems, absolutely great. It was tough, but we have been preparing for seven days waiting for this. Really happy with how it went.”
While talking to Hafthor, the surgeon explained that they did everything in their power to enable the 2018 World’s Strongest Man to come back properly. They understand that his priority is to regain his strength, so everything was addressed to the smallest detail.
“Not only is his mass large, but his goals are large. So, he needed a special approach in terms of keeping him safe… I did a heavy duty type of repair so it will help him have the best chance of recovery.”
Seeing Hafthor’s injury first-hand, the surgeon explained to him how severe it was and what needed to be done.
“Yes his pec was totally torn, and Yes it was torn mostly muscular. But, I used a couple of different types of graphs that reinforce the muscle, recreated the tendon, and reattached it using some heavy duty anchors.”
Luckily for Hafthor Bjornsson, his doctor went an extra step in ensuring his comfort, as not a lot of additional treatments will be needed after this surgery. He will, however, only need to take care of his wound for some time.
“The good news about your incision is that you don’t need to do anything to it. It is covered with a special waterproof dressing. You don’t need to do anything about it.”
Watch the video here:
Warning: The graphic footage of Hafthor’s surgery starts at the 16:30 mark, and ends at the 18:17 mark.
Related: Mike O’Hearn & Injured Hafthor Bjornsson Use Tom Platz-Inspired Workout for Ligament Strength
Hafthor Bjornsson originally hoped to set a new All-Time World Record in powerlifting by the end of this year, before transitioning to Strongman next year. However, everything will be delayed now, as Hafthor is expected to put out a follow-up video explaining what his expectations for the recovery process moving forward will look like.
Published: 23 May, 2023 | 2:56 PM EDT
Bodybuilding Icon Ronnie Coleman Opens Metroflex Gym in Tampa, Florida
Prolific bodybuilding legend Ronnie Coleman is keeping busy in retirement. In a recent video shared on his YouTube channel, Coleman filmed the grand opening of his Metroflex Gym in Tampa, Florida after years of training at their facilities.
Coleman, an eight-time Mr. Olympia, reached the pinnacle of the sport and exercised dominance for almost a decade. While his eight-year reign came to an end courtesy of Jay Cutler in 2006, fans and athletes alike consider Coleman to be one of the greatest competitors to ever throw on a pair of posing trunks.
In addition to his bodybuilding journey, Coleman was held in high regard for his powerful weightlifting capabilities. He recorded epic feats of strength while building a successful career, which saw him lock out an 800-pound deadlift for two reps and push 2,300 pounds on the leg press machine.
To this day, Coleman’s successor, Jay Cutler, believes no one in the sport has come close to ‘The King’s’ prime physique. Moreover, Cutler argued that competitors today have yet to match the level of size and conditioning Big Ron displayed on stage.
At 59 years old, Ronnie Coleman remains a leading ambassador for bodybuilding. Whether he’s taking part in a training session with fitness influencers or reacting to gym fails, Coleman’s love for working out is one of his biggest motivators in retirement.
Ronnie Coleman Shows Off His New Metroflex Gym in Tampa, Florida
Coleman, who recently listed his $495,000 Texas house for sale, has now bought up a gym location in Florida.
“What’s up everybody. We here in Tampa, Florida, for the opening of the Metroflex Gym Tampa. We got a nice crowd here, getting ready to take some photos, sign some autographs, and just meet and greet as many people as I can. Yeah buddy,” shared Coleman.
After signing autographs, guests at the grand opening admired Coleman and the sacrifices he endured on the way to building his legacy.
Coleman has been subject to more than 10 back surgeries, all of which occurred after his competitive tenure. As a result of so many operations, Coleman can no longer walk unassisted. Nevertheless, he pushes through training sessions daily even when his extremities feel numb.
Aiming for longevity and health preservation, Coleman has received consistent stem cell therapy treatments. Coleman appeared optimistic in his latest update earlier this month and stressed that he is feeling better with each passing treatment.
Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay’s stem cell doctor, Dr. Khan, appeared on a recent The Menace podcast and said he was confident Coleman would walk one day soon without help. While that remains to be seen, Coleman is adamant that these consistent treatments are assisting with his quality of life.
Given his accomplishments, fans look forward to training at Coleman’s new gym. The Metroflex Gym has been home to several top-tier athletes during their respective careers, like Coleman, Branch Warren, Johnnie Jackson, and Steve Kuclo.
RELATED: Chris Cormier Reflects on Gunter Schlierkamp Almost Defeating Ronnie Coleman at 2002 Mr. Olympia
Check out the full video below from Coleman’s YouTube channel:
Published: 23 May, 2023 | 1:03 PM EDT
Jay Cutler Shows Off Ripped 240-Lb Physique Update & Posing Session Before Turning 50
Jay Cutler continues to make strides in the gym and kitchen as he sets his sights on his latest physique transformation. In a JayCutlerTV interview, Cutler revealed he’s tipping the scales at 240 pounds and plans to achieve more fullness in his chest, shoulders, and legs in the coming months.
As an active Men’s Open pro, Jay Cutler reached the top of the sport with an intense work ethic, grit, and consistency. He is famous for his rivalry with Ronnie Coleman, who is known for winning a total of eight Mr. Olympia titles, tied with Lee Haney for the most ever. Meanwhile, Cutler managed to win four Mr. Olympias during his respective tenure.
In 2006, Cutler dethroned Coleman, a feat he made possible with sharp conditioning and an impeccable lower body. While Cutler lost the title in 2008 to Dexter Jackson, he regained his status as champion a year later in what many consider one of the greatest comebacks in modern IFBB Pro League history.
Since his retirement in 2013, Cutler’s popularity and name recognition is at an all-time high. The four-time Mr. Olympia routinely examines the Men’s Open division of today. Even though he’s happy following a decorated career, Cutler said he planned to transform his physique last year. Initially, fans thought he might have been preparing for a comeback. However, Cutler dismissed that idea and explained that he started this ongoing fitness journey for personal fulfillment before turning 50 years old.
Jay Cutler Turns Heads with Fit-for-50 Shredded Physique Update, Plans to Get Fuller
Jay Cutler won’t compete at the upcoming 2023 Masters Olympia, but the bodybuilding legend has made it clear he’s planning an appearance. It remains uncertain whether or not he will guest pose, but Jay promised to show off his physique on stage. Check out the latest progress from Jay Cutler below:
“Alright, so we’re going to show the physique because I actually start my 12 weeks this weekend. Not to say I haven’t been training, but I’ve been trying to eat like six meals. My weight is close to about 240. Like I said, every week, I’m going to kind of showcase a little bit of the physique and show you guys kind of what I’m working with a little bit.”
“Obviously, I’m trying to stay in great condition and gain the size. You can see, I definitely have a lot of work to do to fill up, especially in the backside I’m sure. I can’t really see my back,” explained Cutler. “At the starting point. I just got to get really a lot fuller in here the legs. Obviously, my leg is always smaller on this side [left] it’s going to be about filling that out. Getting fuller through the chest and shoulders, especially here, my rear delts, to have that size and tighten everything up through here,” Cutler said.
YouTube/JayCutlerTV
During his recent YouTube video, Cutler demonstrated a couple of mandatory poses. Cutler, who has been away from competition for over 10 years, looks to be improving day by day. On the horizon, Cutler stressed that he plans to add fullness to his legs, delts, back, chest, and shoulders.
This is far from the first time Cutler has opened up about details pertaining to his fit-for-50 challenge. With his 50th birthday in August, Cutler said 6-8% body fat is the goal and shared that he was entering ‘uncharted territory’ after his last update, which featured a legendary quad-stomp-inspired training session.
Aside from diet and training, Cutler also discussed his steroid protocols. Given his age and the subsequent risk factor, Cutler underlined that he will achieve this transformation without the use of harder compounds such as trenbolone. Instead, the Massuchessets native said he’s using a strict regimen of testosterone replacement therapy.
Jay Cutler’s progress is a testament to his hard work and dedication to bodybuilding. Fans are excited to see him make a special appearance at the 2023 Masters Olympia show, scheduled for August 25-27 in Cluj Napoca, Romania.
RELATED: Jay Cutler Getting ‘Bigger, Leaner’ Without Bulking & Talks Keeping the Metabolism Guessing
Watch the full video from JayCutler TV below:
Published: 23 May, 2023 | 11:24 AM EDT