Tag: Phil Heath
Phil Heath Joins Cast Of Kai Greene Documentary
Phil Heath, longtime rival of Kai Greene, has joined the cast of the KAI feature film documentary.
7x Mr. Olympia champion Phil Heath has officially joined the cast of the Kai Greene feature film documentary. The documentary, tentatively titled KAI, was first announced in January 2021 with producer of The Last Dance Matt Maxson also involved with the project. The film is currently in production under the direction of Vlad Yudin.
Phil Heath and Kai Greene have a deep history ranging back over a decade. Their rivalry is considered to be one of the most exciting in the history of the sport. Greene was the only bodybuilder to truly threaten Heath throughout his seven-year reign as Olympia champion. Ultimately, Greene retired before having a chance to defeat Heath. Shaun Rhoden ultimately was the competitor to dethrone Heath at the Mr. Olympia in 2018.
But beyond their athletic rivalry, Phil Heath and Kai Greene’s personalities have clashed creating for some truly entertaining spectacle. They were notable for bringing much heat and trading barbs at the Olympia press conferences each year. In what might be their most viral moment – the two athletes nearly came to physical blows on the stage of Olympia stage in 2014.
The film will mark the first time the two titan bodybuilders appeared together in a feature film since the release of the original Generation Iron documentary in 2013.
The Kai Greene documentary will tell the full life story of Greene, ranging from his troubled childhood through his bodybuilding career and into his post-retirement lifestyle. The film promises to be the most uncompromising look into the mysterious past of Kai Greene – and provide unfiltered insight into his perception of the legacy of his bodybuilding career.
Kai Greene grew up in a troubled home in Brooklyn, only to eventually become a ward of the state and an orphan. Struggling to survive, he eventually became incarcerated during his youth. Upon being released from prison, Greene discovered bodybuilding, became a male exotic dancer, and eventually earned his way up into the IFBB pro league.
Phil Heath being interviewed on set of the Kai Greene documentary
Though he may have left his exotic dancing days behind him – he brought a unique brand to the bodybuilding stage. Fusing his skills as a dancer with his intense artistry – Kai Greene was known not only for his impressive physique but also his stellar posing routines. Greene would often wear custom costumes during his guest posings.
Ultimately, Kai Greene unofficially retired in 2016 after winning a string of Arnold Classic competitions. He never achieved the status of Mr. Olympia throughout his career. Many fan to this day believe he may make a surprise comeback. This is due to his physique still being in massive shape nearly six years after his last competition.
After retirement, Kai Greene and Phil Heath maintained a sort of frenemy relationship. The two continue to communicate publicly across social media platforms. The two had also been spotted training together. They both have also teased a potential reunion battle between the two of them on stage – though this has yet to ever materialize.
Phil Heath joining the cast of the Kai Greene documentary promises to provide the most unfiltered look into Heath’s relationship with Greene. It may very well be the most extensive retrospective of their rivalry.
The Kai Greene documentary is currently slated to release in 2022, though no specific date has been announced as of the time of this writing. Generation Iron will continue to provide updates on the project as more information becomes available.
Phil Heath Discusses A Possible Return To Bodybuilding
Seven-time Olympia champion Phil Heath recently discussed his future in the sport.
Phil Heath put together a bodybuilding career that has him up there with the best of all-time. The seven-time Olympia champion continues to train and this has sparked conversation on a potential return to the bodybuilding stage. Also, Heath has not officially announced his retirement from the sport but he has not competed since 2020. Recently, Heath discussed the possibility of making more appearances in competition.
Heath joined The Lobliner Lowdown podcast to discuss his future. The main topic of conversation was Heath making a comeback and attempting to add more Olympia titles to his resume. The legendary bodybuilder broke it down even further that it is not about his desire to comeback but the path might be difficult.
It is not out of the ordinary for bodybuilders to deal with different injuries over the course of their careers. For Heath, he had to deal with issues from a very young age. He discussed how he was sent into hernia surgery at the age of 3 and this is something that he has dealt with over the course of his career — including the 2018 Olympia.
“Three weeks out, I was clinching up on my belt and I’m like ‘oh my gosh,’ I feel like something popped,” Heath explained.
“I called up Dr. Grishkin of Ohio and he’s just like, ‘basically you have a floating belly button. You got to figure it out, you got to just deal with it.’ That’s the information we can’t obviously have. When you compete, people are like ‘oh he’s distended.’ And I am like you try holding something that just popped and it erupted, like you have no feeling.”
Following the 2018 Olympia, Heath had to go through surgery to fix the problem. This is the year his streak of seven consecutive victories at the Olympia ended.
“I had to go right back into surgery, which was a much more extensive procedure because now they have to take both left and right side, bring everything together and then the mesh and the staples.”
This was a difficult recovery process for Phil Heath but he was able to make it back on stage in 2020, when he finished third in the Olympia. In 2022, Heath contracted COVID-19 and this caused him to lose weight and muscle mass. This can halt any bodybuilder in his tracks and is especially hard for one that has not competed recently.
Heath explained that the decision to make a comeback would require a large commitment. This is because he would have to get back into championship shape along with some personal decisions that could impact the decision.
“If you think about it, it’s not like, if you’re gonna do it, it has to be a three-year commitment. And what will you be giving up during those three years with business, relationship, family, all of those things? Excuse the pun but is the juice really worth that squeeze?”
Phil Heath does not have anything to prove in bodybuilding. He is already one of the best of all-time and is currently has the second most Olympia victories ever. This could be the motivation to make a comeback as he is just one behind Ronnie Coleman and Lee Haney, who are tied with eight a piece.
It remains unlikely that Heath will make a return to the stage but never say never. What we do know is that if there is a future in competitive bodybuilding, it will not be anytime soon for Phil Heath.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
10 Best Calves: Who Has The Best Calves In Bodybuilding?
Here is a list of the 10 best calves in bodybuilding.
When we look at those bodybuilders we love, we see all of those massive vanity muscles but may neglect to check out their calves. Calves are a sign that you value leg day and don’t settle for an average physique. Working your lower half and putting special emphasis on your calves lets everyone know you mean business. For those of us who compete, it makes no sense to skip out on our calves.
If you tend to slack in the gym when it comes to building those calves, looking at these professionals will most definitely get you to reconsider. With the right training plan to target your calves, you can be on your way to seeing serious calf growth like these pro bodybuilders themselves. If you’ve ever wondered who has the best calves in bodybuilding, look no further than here and check these bodybuilders who know just what’s up
We’ve put together a list of the 10 best calves in bodybuilding so you have an image of what it takes to compete at the highest of levels. With the right approach to training, nutrition, and supplementation, you not only will have a lower body that others will envy, but your calves will be something extraordinary. So, without delaying anymore, let’s take a look at the 10 best calves for bodybuilding.
10 Best Calves In Bodybuilding
Big Ramy
Big Ramy is your most recent Olympia champion, taking home the title in 2021 and defending his win from 2020. He earned his pro card in 2012 and has been a force ever since. His calves are massive and lend credence to his back-to-back Olympia wins, on top of all the other muscles he works incredibly hard.
Brandon Curry
Brandon Curry took home Mr. Olympia’s top prize in 2019, preceding Big Ramy. Curry was a football player early in his career and since transitioning to bodybuilding has made his name as an incredible muscular specimen. With a killer workout plan, his calves are ones to envy and show just what it takes to continue to compete at a high level.
Kai Greene
Kai Greene is a well-known bodybuilder who loves to have fun while also looking huge. He has quite a few runner-up finishes, but that hasn’t stopped him from being anything short of dominant. Starring in Generation Iron, fans got to see how he works out and how his revolutionary approach to bodybuilding has produced massive calves.
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Jay Cutler
Jay Cutler is a four-time Olympia winner and someone to envy for he is absolutely massive. Appearing in magazines, starting his own company, and being an open supporter of bodybuilding as the sport it is came from hard work and dedication and the way he trains is nothing short of intense. His calf muscles pop and when he turns around, we all certainly see them, and most likely envy them.
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Phil Heath
Phil Heath is a huge name in bodybuilding with seven Olympia wins under his belt. His overall physique has earned him the reputation of being one of the most muscular men on the planet and by the looks of his calves, together with his overall physique, it is no wonder why. Heath remains a massive name and one that both aspiring and professional bodybuilders look up to.
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William Bonac
William Bonac is incredibly humble, an impressive trait considering his monster calves. He is always in the top finishing spots in competitions, and he continues to live up to his nickname as “The Conqueror” while remaining a down-to-Earth competitor. Although he may fall short of those top podium spots, his physique, and especially his calves, are not ones to take lightly.
Chris Bumstead
Chris Bumstead is an absolute force in the Classic Physique division with three Olympia wins. His shredded physique is impressive, but so too are his calves. His workouts prove that he is constantly challenging himself to see the best gains possible.
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Dorian Yates
Dorian Yates, or known by some as the original mass monster, revolutionized bodybuilding with his intense style of training and sheer will to lift massive amounts of weight. A six-time Olympia winner, Yates is considered one of the best in the sport among many of the other top names we all know and love. When he turns around, especially in his prime, his calves are huge and incredibly hard to miss.
Hadi Choopan
Hadi Choopan turns around and the first thing you see are those strong and impressive calves. His resume is extensive and his will to win is something to be feared. His approach to training is one that keeps him at a high level and he never neglects those calf muscles, thus giving him the ability to continue to stalk the stage with these other bodybuilding giants.
Nick Walker
Nick Walker, like all on this list, has an impressive bodybuilding resume and recently joined the list of those big names to win the Arnold Classic. He loves machine exercises and that lends credence to the sheer size of his massive calf muscles and lower body as a whole. Known as “The Mutant”, he is not one to be messed with when it comes to comparing muscle size.
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Wrap Up
Working our calves is something that cannot be understated. By giving yourself the benefit of taking leg day seriously, you beef up your lower half and give those calf muscles time to grow. With the right training, nutrition, and supplementation, you allow yourself the benefit of seeing seriously muscle growth, so when you turn around, others have no choice but to envy you. Hopefully this list of the best calves in bodybuilding inspires you to want to see serious growth, for what they can do for your overall physique is nothing short of impressive.
What do you think of this list? Are these the 10 best calves in bodybuilding, or does someone else impress you even more?
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Phil Heath Looks Monstrous During Chest, Shoulders, and Tricep Workout
Phil Heath continues to look huge during his days off the stage.
Phil Heath has not competed since the 2020 Olympia but he has remained active in the gym. The 42-year-old bodybuilder has been rumored to make a return to the stage since that Olympia competition, where he finished third, but there is no plan as of yet. This does not mean that Heath is done training. He continues to look huge in a recent video sharing an incredible workout routine.
Heath took to Instagram and his YouTube page to share the workout. He focused primarily on chest but sprinkled in some shoulder and tricep work throughout the routine. Heath used machines and discussed they importance of eccentric work.
“You can be hungry for greatness but that ain’t good enough! YOU HAVE TO BE FN STARVING!!! STOP LOOKING FOR COMPETITION TO PUSH YOU! LOOK IN THE DAMN MIRROR BC THAT PERSON YOU SEE IS GOING TO BE THE REASON YOU WIN OR FAIL! #7XMROLYMPIA #PHILHEATH”
Phil Heath began the workout with supersets of seated chest flyer and seated presses. This was a bit of a warmup before he started to intensify his actions. This continued with inclined bench presses but Heath decided to use a machine. He usually performs this movement on the hammer strength inclined bench press.
Heath continued with another superset of pec deck flies and seated chest press. This was a set to hit the lower chest and he did not take much time between for rest. Seated chest flyes completed the chest portion before moving onto shoulders. Lateral raises and front raise medleys were the two sets on the schedule for Heath.
During his career, Phil Heath was a monstrous competitor and this has continued during his time off the stage. He has the second most Olympia victories in history with seven. His last title came in 2017 before being named the runner-up in 2018. Heath took the 2019 competition off before finishing third in 2020.
Heath ended his day with tricep pushdowns with a V-bar before giving some insight on training. He might not return to the stage but Heath’s passion and knowledge of bodybuilding is still there. This gives him a chance to share his wisdom with the next generation.
Fans will still continue to hope for Phil Heath to return to the stage but it seems like a long shot at this point. Now, he is focused on sharing huge workouts for others to try. This will allow him to help change the fortune of others and continue to improve the sport of bodybuilding.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
10 Best Backs In Bodybuilding & On The Internet
Here is a list of the 10 best backs in bodybuilding, also seen on social media!
Bodybuilders are all around impressive mass monsters, however, those with massive backs need to be applauded. While so many people work their front, really beefing up their chests, biceps, and abs, it is an incredible disservice to neglect your back. A massive back can be an impressive sight and these bodybuilders certainly know how to get it done.
If you slack off in the gym and neglect your back, these will definitely put yours to shame. As Olympia competitors and seriously dedicated athletes, what it takes to have a back like this is something else. So, if you’ve ever wondered who has the best backs in bodybuilding, we’ve done the hard work for you by putting it all in one place.
10 Best Backs In Bodybuilding
1. Big Ramy
Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay is an Egyptian bodybuilder and two-time Olympia winner, taking first back-to-back in 2020 and 2021. Since earning his pro card in 2012, he has been nothing but dominant on the pro circuit. His workouts and strict attention to detail have produced a massive back and one clearly worthy of back-to-back Olympia titles.
2. Brandon Curry
Brandon Curry took home the Mr. Olympia title in 2019, just before Big Ramy began his amazing run. As a football player early on, Curry had a physique waiting to be unleashed and his thick muscular appearance lends credence to his massive back.
3. Kai Greene
Kai Greene is one of the bodybuilders to envy and his overall physique lets his back pop. As an Olympia competitor with loads of runner-up finishes, his breakout role in Generation Iron gave fans an insight into Kai and his amazing work ethic. He seeks to create a revolutionary approach to bodybuilding to constantly improve the sport.
4. Phil Heath
Phil Heath is a seven-time Olympia winner with a reputation for being one of the most muscular men on the planet. Overall, Phil is massive and his approach to training is something that pro and aspiring bodybuilders can strive towards.
5. Hadi Choopan
Hadi Choopan has an impressive bodybuilding resume and is a force to be reckoned with. When he turns around, his back is something to envy and as a constant competitor in the pro circuit, his approach to training only continues gains to his back and overall physique.
6. Hunter Labrada
Hunter Labrada has found a great routine over the years working to reduce his volume at times and allowing his body to catch up to his intense training routines. With a massive back to prove his physique is competition worthy, this bodybuilder is a force on the pro circuit when he turns around.
7. Nick Walker
Nick Walker joined the list of big names to win the Arnold Classic, among other competitions, and his giant back is just one of his many physical attributes. With a focus on machine exercises, Nick continues to build a bigger back so those pop every chance they can.
8. William Bonac
William Bonac has a humble attitude and drive to be the best and his top three finishes in many competitions proves his hard work. When he turns around, it separates him from other notable pros and his nickname as “The Conqueror” certainly becomes reality.
9. Chris Bumstead
Chris Bumstead is a three-time Olympia champ in the Classic Physique division and continues to amaze with his shredded aesthetic. He is constantly changing up his back routine to challenge his muscles and continue to build an amazing back for all to envy.
10. Andrea Shaw
Andrea Shaw is a two-time Ms. Olympia winner with wins in 2020 and 2021. Her approach to training has kept her dominant on the pro circuit and her shredded back is something all aspiring bodybuilders can aim for.
Wrap Up
Building a massive back is something to not take for granted. When you turn around, people should envy your entire physique. For those of us who work their biceps, chest, abs, and others impressive muscles, the back is one of those things that can make or break results. These bodybuilders have amazing and impressive backs and put a real emphasis on building these muscles so they can continue dominance on the professional level.
What do you think? Do these backs live up to the hype?
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Best on the Planet! Physiques with Picture Perfect 6-Pack Abs
Best on the Planet – Physiques with Picture Perfect 6-Pack Abs
Nothing else portrays the fitness level of a person more than a set of six-pack abs. A chiseled midriff isn’t easy to get. A six-pack can take months of strict diet, training, and discipline to achieve and maintain. The constant work is why they’re easy to lose, so people like showing them off while they still have them.
Six-pack abs come in all shapes and sizes and we did some digging to bring you some of the best set of abs on the planet. The athletes of the list have such defined and conditioned abs, Greek gods would be proud of them.
The Best Abs on the Planet
Phil Heath
7X Mr. Olympia Phil Heath might get criticism these days for a distended stomach – but during the height of his reign he had the best sets of abs on the planet. Heath is known as the ‘Gift’ and we can vouch for the title. Maintaining the kind of conditioning Phil has for a guy of his size is truly commendable.
Michelle Lewin
If you’ve been around the fitness scene for some time, you’d be familiar with Michelle Lewin by now. The Colombian beauty has one of the best physiques on the planet and her 13.3m followers on Instagram are proof.
Lazar Angelov
Lazar is one of the biggest Instagram fitness celebrities and is acclaimed for his chiseled physique. Only a few people (if anyone at all) can beat the symmetry and definition of Angelov’s abs.
Brooke Ence
Ence is the queen of CrossFit and her washboard abs can put many men to shame. Brooke plays an Amazon Warrior in the Wonder Woman movies. The original Amazon warriors will have absolutely no problem with the casting.
Chul Soon
Man, Chul Soon is something else. The Korean athlete is climbing through the ranks quickly and we might see him on big bodybuilding stages soon. Chul has also got some dance skills which often do the rounds on social media.
Karina Elle
Elle does a great job of staying in shape throughout the year. Karina loves the beach life and her exotic bikinis give us the front row view to her perfectly crafted six-packs. Thank God for the Cali weather.
Sergi Constance
Sergi has one of the most well-defined midriffs on the planet. Constance is one step ahead of everyone in the chiseled midsection game with his eight-pack abs. There is no more real estate on his abdominal for any more abs.
Ashley Kaltwasser
Kaltwasser is the 3X Ms. Bikini Olympia. Ashley is also one of the most fun people to follow on Instagram. If you’re not already following Ashley on Instagram, you’re missing out on a lot. You’ll be surprised at all the things she can do.
Jeff Seid
Jeff is an internet fitness celebrity and has a giant following. Jeff has been training for 13 years and focuses on building aesthetics. Seid has an elaborate Youtube channel and you can check out his vlogs and workouts there.
Paige Hathaway
Hathaway is arguably one of the prettiest Instagram fitness celebrities. Paige Hathaway (along with her abs) can keep you glued to your phones for hours. Hathaway shares her workouts on Instagram for you to follow.
Ulisses Jr.
The best abs list can never be complete without mentioning the king of washboard abs, Ulisses Jr. Ulisses’ abs are in such great shape, they leave us with no words, literally.
Who do you think has the best abs? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
*Header image courtesy of Instagram
10 Daily Habits of Successful Bodybuilders
The Most Common Habits of Successful Bodybuilders
Of all the people working out to get a better physique, only a few can be deemed successful. Most people blame their genetics for not seeing results in the gym while the real problem lies elsewhere.
Being successful at bodybuilding takes a lot of self-discipline. If you follow fitness athletes on social media, you would have seen a common pattern in their days. There are certain things accomplished bodybuilders do every day which makes them the best at what they do.
1. Wake Up Early
We’re sure you would have never seen a professional bodybuilder wake up late and social media is a proof for this. Successful people wake up early and get to work. Most of the successful bodybuilder workout early in the morning.
2. Follow a Schedule
Top bodybuilders follow a schedule. They don’t go to the gym when it is convenient for them. They have a fixed schedule which they follow. Your muscles respond better to your workouts when you hit the gym at the same time every day.
3. Eat Frequently
Following a healthy diet is a must. It doesn’t end there, you have to eat frequently and on time. Feeding your muscles at regular intervals helps in the recovery process. If you’re looking to build muscles, you should be eating anywhere between 6-8 meals a day.
4. Set Goals
You should have short-term and long-term goals. You can’t expect to see results in the gym if you go there without a goal. All the successful bodybuilders have a goal in their minds when they step into the gym and they will do anything to achieve it.
5. Plan in Advance
As Benjamin Franklin famously said, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” You need to have a workout, diet, and a day plan ready in advance. When you have your workout plans ready in advance, you can focus on the workouts instead of thinking of exercises to do next.
6. Visualise
Visualisation is made famous by Arnold Schwarzenegger. He used visualisation techniques to imagine his dream physique and then worked in the gym to achieve it. Visualisation combined with the mind-muscle connection can take your gains to a whole new level.
7. Work on Something Bigger
While you might enjoy your time in the gym, don’t get absorbed by it. Take out the time to work on something bigger. Most of the famous bodybuilders spend short but effective time in the gym and work outside the gym to build their empires.
8. Share
In today’s era, you will hardly find a successful bodybuilder who lives in isolation. If you’ve achieved a goal, share it with the world and motivate them. On the other hand, if you’re working towards a goal sharing it with your friends and family can motivate you to work harder for it.
9. Have Fun
Not seeing results can lead to frustration and anxiety. It is important you have fun in and out of the gym. Don’t let go of a chance to have fun. Follow a hobby or spend some time with your friends and family.
10. Sleep Well
No matter how hard you work in the gym, deep sleep is where all the magic happens. Your muscles need at least six hours of sleep every night to rest and repair after your workouts. It is time you stop wearing sleep deprivation as a badge of honor.
Which of these habits do you need to form? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
*Header image courtesy of Envato Elements.
Phil Heath Looks Strong But Noticeably Downsized in Recent Update
Phil Heath is looking downsized yet still strong.
Phil Heath is looking strong yet downsized in his latest update to social media. The modern bodybuilding legend worked biceps in the gym for a recent YouTube video where you can tell that he’s not quite as massive as he once was.
One the kings of modern bodybuilding, Phil Heath has been in great condition for quite some time now. As a seven-time Olympia champion Heath has known for having one of the greatest bodybuilding physiques of all time. That means having great conditioning as well as massive bulk. But ever since the all time great contracted the virus this past summer there’s been a noticeable difference in his physique.
Phil Heath originally informed the public that he had lost 30lbs of mass during his ordeal with the sickness. Having considerable bulk on your frame is a hallmark of a high level pro bodybuilder. Though we are unsure of Heath will ever make a return to action, many expected him to keep the bulk on his frame. But a recent update from the modern day legend shows a considerably smaller version of the seven time Olympia champion.
Strong Yet Downsized
In one of his most recent updates on Instagram Phil Heath is looking a bit smaller than usual. While he still has plenty of muscle on his frame you can tell that Heath is a bit downsized from the last time he was on stage.
Having some fun in the gym tonight. We’re filming a quick Bicep workout for youtube. Subscribe to my channel- Phil Heath TV ??
?Train Hard
?Train Smart
?Have Fun
While he may not be tipping the scales as much as he used to, Phil Heath still looks strong and has plenty of muscle on his frame. While expected a comeback to the stage at this point is a long shot, you can bet that Heath will still remain in great shape.
What do you think of the strong yet downsized version of Phil Heath?
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.
Phil Heath Reveals He Had Covid, Lost Muscle Mass
Phil Heath talks about his recent battle with Covid.
Phil Heath reveals that he contracted Covid and that he lost a considerable amount of mass in the process. In a recent video posted to his YouTube channel, Heath explained that he dropped a massive amount of weight and his journey to getting back into the gym.
The global health crisis seems to be the gift that keeps on giving. Just when you think it’s subsiding, becoming a thing of the past, it rears it’s ugly head once more. The virus continues to plague communities across the globe. It has even caused certain countries to once again issue lockdowns in order to combat the sickness. Despite that fact it still came as a shock when seven-time Olympia champion Phil Heath revealed that he contracted the virus.
Once the king of the bodybuilding world, Phil Heath has been known as the epitome strength. Yet it appears that Heath was deeply effected by his recent bout with Covid. It appears that not only did the bodybuilding great contract the virus, but that he also lost a considerable amount of mass in the process.
In a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel Phil Heath described his experience contracting the virus. Contracting the sickness laid him up for quite some time and resulted in the bodybuilder losing muscle. The sickness kept him out of the gym for quite some time which is why he ended up downsizing.
“I haven’t been 225 pounds…I wanna say 2007, 2008. So it was definitely something different to deal with.”
It appears that Phil Heath is in good spirits however. He appears to have made a full recovery and is ready to get back into fighting shape.
“Now I’m just essentially going to the gym to get my weight up.”
Good to see that Phil Heath is healthy and ready to hit the gym hard once again. From the looks of things, his training has been going well.
Still wondering if I should get them to 23″ shredded or not ??
What do you think of this revelation by Phil Heath?
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.
Derek Lunsford: “Phil Heath Is The Greatest Bodybuilder Of All Time”
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Derek Lunsford opens up about who inspired him in bodybuilding and why he thinks Phil Heath is the number one greatest of all time.
Derek Lunsford skyrocketed into the spotlight this year with an epic victory at the Men’s 212 Olympia. The division was one of the most competitive categories of the event – making his victory that much more exciting. We had an opportunity to speak with Lunsford following his big win and asked him about his biggest influences that inspired his physique. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Derek Lunsford explains how Phil Heath inspired his career and why he believes Heath is the greatest bodybuilder of all time.
Ronnie Coleman. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Lee Haney. These are legendary bodybuilder names that are often in contention for the greatest of all time in the sport. Phil Heath, a seven time Mr. Olympia champion himself, is often in the mix. But perhaps due to Heath being a relatively recent athlete – many do not cement him above the these legends that came before. There is a strong argument for claiming Phil Heath is one of the best of all time but there has not yet been the time yet to let it all sink in.
However, Derek Lunsford has no qualms calling Phil Heath the greatest bodybuilder that ever lived. Even compared to the likes of legends such as Ronnie Coleman or Dorian Yates – for Lunsford it’s all about Heath. During our recent video conversation after his big Olympia win, Lunsford explains how Heath inspired his career.
Derek Lunsford is a young bodybuilder and part of the new generation of athletes coming into the spotlight. So it might make you feel old to hear that Lunsford was inspired by Phil Heath and the original Generation Iron film growing up. Everything from Heath’s aesthetics, shape, size, and conditioning seemed like perfection to Lunsford. Heath was the pinnacle of what Lunsford wished his physique could look like.
Derek Lunsford ultimately hedged his bets on the smaller Men’s 212 division for success (though now he seems to plan to eventually move up to Men’s Open). During our interview, you could still hear the elation in his voice post-victory. In many ways, he still sees himself as a bodybuilding fan who was watching the films and looking up to Phil Heath on stage. Now he’s a champion himself.
Lunsford acknowledges that everyone will have their personal favorite. He knows that Ronnie Coleman and Arnold Schwarzenegger are both legends who changed the sport forever. But for Lunsford personally, Phil Heath changed his relationship to bodybuilding forever. At Lunsford’s age, Heath is from another era. He’s already a solidified legend separate from the competitive bodybuilding world Lunsford battles in today.
Derek Lunsford doesn’t need more time to evaluate how Phil Heath’s legacy will look as time recedes farther – he already knows everything he needs. Heath is an example of waht the perfect bodybuilder should look like as far as Lunsford is concerned. Without Phil Heath – we may not have Derek Lunsford he Men’s 212 Olympia champion that we do today.
You can watch Derek Lunsford talk in detail about Men’s Open and his bodybuilding inspirations by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!