Tag: Video
‘Kai’ Exclusive Clip – How Kai Greene Was ‘Born’ In Juvy: “I Wanted To Kill Every Living Thing”
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Kai Greene holds nothing back reflecting on the violence, anger, and rage of prison that was channeled into the KAI persona.
Watch the new exclusive clip from Kai – available August 26 on digital! You can pre-order KAI today right here. In this clip, Kai Greene reflects back on his time in prison and how a lifetime full of rage was channeled into a passion for bodybuilding. It was here that he adopted the first name of Kai. Leslie Greene was dead – Kai Greene the bodybuilder was born. You can watch the exclusive clip above.
Kai Greene’s physique is more than enough to warrant the fame and legendary status he achieved during his bodybuilding career. But Kai’s past and journey into bodybuilding is nearly as fascinating as his elite physique itself. His past was one full of trauma, abuse, and struggle. And like any champion stories – he overcame many hurdles to grow only stronger. To grow into the champion bodybuilder we know and admire today.
One segment of Kai Greene’s past was a period of time behind bars in juvenile detention. After Kai became an orphan and ward of the state – a few violent encounters at school landed him in prison. The lifestyle Kai led up to this point combined with the dangerous and violent lifestyle in juvenile detention turned him into a ball of pure rage. If something didn’t change soon – he would possibly fall into a deep spiral of violence, pain, and despair.
Instead, Kai Greene challenged all of that rage and energy into becoming stronger. He wasn’t sure what bodybuilding was as a sport quite yet. But he knew he wanted somewhere to place the extreme rage that consumed his very soul. If it wasn’t into becoming stronger – it would have gone into potentially more dangerous and less healthy endeavors.
So Kai Greene did pushups. Over and over again. He ate only bread and water – believing that was the best food he can eat in prison to bulk up and become stronger. He repeated the pushups, bread, and water over and and over ad nauseam. It was at this moment that Kai was no longer a boy. He dropped the use of his real first name (Leslie) and transformed into Kai Greene. The man. The bodybuilder.
During this period of time, a man working at the juvenile detention facility would notice Kai Greene’s strength and determination. So he showed Kai a bodybuilding magazine. He introduced him to a world where his hard work and desire to be stronger could be an actual athletic career.
With an origin story in place, so to speak, Kai Greene had a new goal upon returning to the world outside of prison. He would become a bodybuilder. While his journey to the IFBB Pro league would still be filled with hurdles including a stint as a male stripper and a video involving a grapefruit – the stage was set. Nothing would stop Kai Greene from becoming the legend we now all know today.
You can watch the exclusive Kai clip, in which Kai Greene becomes extremely emotional reflecting back on some of the angriest years of his life, above.
Kai will be available on all major digital platforms on August 26. You can pre-order today by clicking right here or on the banner below.
Golden Era Bodybuilding Legend Steve Davis: “Even the Mr. Olympias pose like sh*t” | The Mike O’Hearn Show
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Mike O’Hearn talks with iconic golden era bodybuilder Steve Davis about training lessons learned from over 50 years of experience and hindsight.
Steve Davis is a bodybuilding legend – best known for his legendary physique transformation. Davis went from a powerfully strong 285 pound weightlifter into a 200 pound champion bodybuilder. Training alongside the Golden Era greats such as Vince Gironda, Frank Zane, and Arnold Schwarzenegger – Davis is a wealth of history and knowledge for bodybuilding superfans. That’s why on this week’s episode of Generation Iron and Barbend’s The Mike O’Hearn Show, special guest Steve Davis reflects on 50 years of bodybuilding and the biggest lessons he’s learned.
To say Mike O’Hearn was excited for this week’s special guest is an understatement. Steve Davis is a bodybuilding legend from an era that inspired O’Hearn himself to become a bodybuilder. So being able to sit down with a living legend and pick his brain about all things weightlifting, nutrition, and fitness was a truly special opportunity.
The Golden Era of bodybuilding as a very different beast than the well worn systems and media in the sport we have today. Information on how to build up muscle was far less prevalent – and many of the Golden Era icons learned through trial and error – and of course pushing each other to new levels.
Steve Davis was one such bodybuilder. A man who started with a love of weightlifting and really didn’t know the “rules” of how to properly lift for bodybuilding. For example, he claims to have never done a deadlift during his prime bodybuilding years. He had no clue it was considered a “core requirement” of bodybuilding basics. Despite this, he became an aesthetic marvel and eventually became the Mr. World champion.
That’s why the most important aspect of this week’s episode was breaking down the bodybuilding tactics from Steve Davis’ era, what he learned to do different with decades of hindsight, and what things changed for the worse as information (and misinformation) became more prevalent int he sport. Let’s jump into it.
“Never did a deadlift in my life.”
– Steve Davis
Steve Davis wishes he trained less during his prime years of bodybuilding
During the conversation with Steve Davis, Mike O’Hearn asked a key question – if you could go back, what would you change about your bodybuilding strategy? Davis was quick to answer with a key lesson he’s learned throughout decades of weightlifting. Steve Davis wishes he trained less.
That might sound like a shocking statement. But as he breaks it down he reveals a vital strategy that should be listed to by all aspiring bodybuilders today.
Steve Davis explains how many Golden Era bodybuilders believed “more is better” when it came to bodybuilder. The more time you spend in the gym, the more results. The more steak you eat during the offseason, the more bulk and eventual muscle you could build. Davis himself would do 30 sets three times per week.
“It’s the idea to crush the muscle, feed the muscle, let it rest,” Steve Davis states in the conversation. But the problem was – the rest part was not being properly focused on. When you are trying to do too many sets and too many reps per day – there’s no way a night’s rest was enough time to recover. Davis believes that if he trained less, focused on heavier weight, and rested more – he would have been able to put on even more size and become more dangerous as a competitor.
Steve Davis describes bodybuilding like lighting a match. The most important thing is maintaining intensity – not how many sets you do. When you light a match – the most powerful moment is that first spark. You want to harness that spark instead of letting it burn slowly and have it fizzle out.
Reflecting on ways bodybuilding has changed for the worse
Steve Davis is truly appreciative at how much bodybuilding and fitness science has improved over the years. How much more mainstream it has become. And how much more information athletes can get today. It’s through those changes and his own personal experience that he learned how to train less to gain more.
However, he is also aware that some of these changes have led to negative shifts in the sport as well. Steve Davis and Mike O’Hearn touch on the fact that years of history, rules, and systems embedded into the sport might have led to close-minded thinking. Bodybuilders are too busy trying to lift “the right way” that they don’t listen to their body, push limits, or think outside the box.
For example, Mike O’Hearn points out how many online experts warn against lifting too heavy – due to risk of injuring joints that will hurt in later age. But O’Hearn believes that lifting heavy weight (with smart strategy) is key towards strengthening joints and ensuring you battle decay as you age. Medical professionals have even pointed out that weightlifting, not just cardio, is vital for over-the-hill individuals to prevent joint issues that might end you up in a walker at older age.
Steve Davis agrees, and is shocked to hear that certain heavy movements are seen as “dangerous” in modern society. He thinks that this way of thinking has led to less originality in bodybuilders and their physiques. You used to be able to look at a sillhouette and know exactly which bodybuilder you were staring at. Today, you wouldn’t be able to tell them apart.
Steve Davis also thinks this is true about posing. With less importance put on posing and no scoring round – most bodybuilders are encouraged to simply hit the mandatories and move on. Davis is shocked that even the best in the world – Mr. Olympia champions – have lackluster posing routines.
“Even the Mr. Olympias pose like shit.”
– Steve Davis
Wrap Up
Steve Davis wraps up the conversation by bringing up the myth of Milo. In the myth, Milo would cary a calf up a mountain every day. Each day, the calf would grow older and eventually larger in size. But he kept carrying the cow up every day. As the cow grew larger, so did Milo.
That, in essence, is true bodybuilding. It’s progressive training – and the key element that all bodybuilders should fall in love with if they want to truly live the lifestyle. Davis even spent his masters degree thesis on how progressive training can be used to improve the image of mentally abused children. While he never completed his masters program – it’s a core attitude he still believes in today.
You can watch Mike O’Hearn’s full conversation with Golden Era legend Steve Davis in our latest episode of The Mike O’Hearn Show above. Make sure to check out brand new episodes every Friday only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network or wherever podcasts are downloaded.
Straight Facts: Everything You Need To Know About Fake Steroids On The Black Market
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Jerry Brainum breaks down the straight facts of black market steroids and the odds that the substances will be fake.
In the 1990s, the United States passed the Steroid Control Act – which changed the legal status of steroids and many other PEDs. It became much more strict on how doctors can prescribe steroids. Thus, the athletic use of steroids was altered away from more legitimate sources and turned towards the black market. Much like other illegal designer drugs such as ecstasy, cocaine, and heroine – you simply don’t know exactly what you are getting in black market steroid products. In our latest Straight Facts episode, Jerry Brainum explains in detail the reality of black market steroids – and your odds of getting a fake or dangerous product as a result.
The legality of obtaining steroids and other PEDs changed significantly in the 1990s. Due to steroids becoming a fully controlled substance – a black market emerged to fill the gap for athletes and bodybuilders looking to still obtain these drugs. Much has been talked about how the war on drugs simply drives users to turn to shadowy less legitimate sources. For steroids, this is no different. Now many steroid users turn to the dark web or foreign countries to obtain substances.
The problem with this, as Jerry Brainum points out in this episode, is that there are no regulations for black market substances. This means that you never really know what you are purchasing and putting into your body. Drug deals simply want to make a profit – and will do whatever is possible to reduce costs and earn more overhead. That means diluted substances, cheaper packaging, and cheaper methods of creating these substances.
It should come as no surprise this hurts consumers the most – and not just in their wallet. It can have serious health risks caused by bogus substances being put in a person’s body. Or it can have health risks by requiring a user to simply take more and higher doses of the drug due to their lack of optimal effect.
That’s why Jerry Brainum has dedicated this episode to looking at a series of studies that breaks down the reality of what black market steroids and PEDs actually look like – and what the odds are that a user is getting fake substances. Let’s jump into it.
RELATED: Bodybuilders Are Dying: An Investigation Into Modern Bodybuilding, Health, & PED Use
Nearly 1/3 of black market steroids are fake
Jerry Brainum starts the episode with a few anecdotal stories. While Brainum does not use steroids himself, he is deeply rooted into the bodybuilding industry. He has spoke with many individuals who claim to be using certain steroids – and aren’t getting the kind of results that Brainum knows should be possible from earlier eras of the sport. It’s clear even on an anecdotal level that black market steroids are scamming buyers.
To back this up, Jerry Brianum turns to a recent series of studies that analyzed 5,400 anabolic agents on the black market. Overall, the study showed that cumulatively, 36% of the substances were found to be fake. That’s over 1/3 of all black market steroids.
While this number should be alarming to you – it does alter depending on where you live. For example, the study showed that Brazil was best known for selling fake steroids. Fake or diluted substances were found in 49% of the substances analyzed compared to as low as 15% in other countries.
In addition to this, the type of steroid substance mattered as well. Oil based steroid substances were far more likely to be fake or diluted. With 43-65% of analyzed oil substances being fake vs 29-37% of tablet steroids being found fake.
What does it mean for a steroid substance to be fake? They contain substances other than anabolic materials. For example, Jerry Brainum points out one note from the study that claimed certain so-called steroids contained anti-malarial substances instead.
RELATED: The Anabolic Doc Reaction To VICE Video: How Steroids Became More Popular Than Heroin
Other concerns with black market steroids
Jerry Brainum also discusses other findings made by the studies. Particularly that methods of cutting costs lead to sub-optimal steroid substances on the black market. Business would cut back on packaging, storage conditions, and purposefully dilute the substances in order to make more money out of less substance.
All of these factors can lead to a steroid becoming sub-optimal. Even if the steroid is not fake – it will be less powerful than its dose purports to contain. This has many dangers – one being that an individual may believe they can handle a certain dose of the diluted drug. When they then get hands on perhaps a non-diluted version of the substance – they will unknowingly take more – wreaking havoc on the body and possibly leading to long term serious health risks.
Wrap Up
Jerry Brainum is aware that drug and PED use will not disappear from bodybuilding or any other sport. With the current state of laws in the United States regarding steroids – it’s unavoidable that individuals will turn to the black market. But Brainum hopes that this information can help educate those who are thinking about taking the risk.
If a bodybuilder wants to take that risk – that’s their freedom. But individuals unknowingly taking a risk, believing the black market substances are legitimate, is a tragedy. That’s why Brainum hopes people watch and absorb this episode.
You can watch Jerry Brainum’s full breakdown in our latest episode of Straight Facts. Make sure to watch new episodes every Wednesday only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network. Or where ever podcasts are downloaded.
‘Kai’ Exclusive Clip – Kai Greene Tells All On The Grapefruit Video
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Kai Greene opens up about the infamous grapefruit video in this exclusive clip from the Kai movie.
Watch the new exclusive clip from Kai – available August 26 on digital! You can pre-order it today right here. In this clip, Kai Greene directly confronts his past by addressing the infamous grapefruit video that shocked the bodybuilding industry during his rise to success in the sport. Kai’s past has always been mysterious – but that didn’t stop the internet from unearthing an erotic video that temporarily changed the conversation surrounding his bodybuilding success.
While Kai Greene‘s past is still mysterious today – there is much more we know about the artistic champion bodybuilder than we knew back in his early days of competing. Today, it’s well known by fans that Kai grew up as a ward of the state, went to prison, and turned towards exotic dancing upon release. This was less chronicled during Kai’s rise to fame in bodybuilding.
So it certainly came as a shock to fans, judges, and fellow competitors alike when a certain video surfaced and went viral on the internet. That video in question is the “grapefruit video” as it’s causally known. The video was recorded during Kai Greene’s exotic dancing days. But instead of it simply being a video of Kai dancing alone – it was a “soft core” video of Kai having relations with a grapefruit.
The video’s release coincided with Kai Greene’s rapid rise in competitive bodybuilding. By the time the video went viral – Kai was already seen as threat at the Mr. Olympia. His rivalry with Phil Heath was just getting started. He was on top of the world.
The grapefruit video slightly altered the perception of Kai Greene and nearly derailed his success in the sport. While there was no direct action taken or proven penalty for the video (why would there be?), it pained Kai in a different light by the public. There is often talk about how a Mr. Olympia champion is seen as an ambassador to the sport. Would the IFBB Pro league want a man who simulated having sex with a grapefruit as their ambassador?
Ultimately Kai Greene moved past the drama of the video’s release. He continued to succeed in the sport and battle with Phil Heath year after year. While he did not ever win the Mr. Olympia, there’s little to no evidence that the grapefruit video had an affect on his placing on stage.
But questions always lingered. Why exactly does this video exist? What was the origin of why Kai Greene decided to record it? In the feature film documentary, Kai, we finally get a direct answer. Kai looks directly at the camera and lays out a play-by-play of how he ended up filming the grapefruit video. You can watch a preview of the exclusive clip above.
Kai will be available on all major digital platforms on August 26. You can pre-order today by clicking right here or on the banner below.
Mike O’Hearn Responds To Bloggers Calling Out Hollywood’s Biggest Fake Natty | The Mike O’Hearn Show
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Mike O’Hearn and Vlad Yudin debate “tabloid content creators” in bodybuilding and whether it is worth trying to educate audiences to look past clickbait headlines.
In July 2022, Kenny KO released a video featuring Mike O’Hearn in which he tried to get O’Hearn to admit that he took, at minimum, TRT due to being middle age. While the video wasn’t quit “gotcha journalism” – it did attempt to disprove O’Hearns long held general assertion. That he has been completely natural with an amazing physique and powerful strength for nearly four decades. In Generation Iron and Barbend’s latest episode of The Mike O’Hearn Show, Vlad Yudin and Mike debate about “tabloid content creators” and whether it is a waste of time to engage with them.
When Mike O’Hearn was approached by Kenny KO in the aforementioned video. O’Hearn took quite a bit of time to try and explain his position. Instead of just blowing off Kenny KO’s questions. He instead challenged him, and his audience, to understand O’Hearn’s perspective. Mike O’Hearn has long been criticized for his all-natural bodybuilding and powerlifting claims. Some in the fitness industry believe it to be impossible to accomplish what O’Hearn has done without the aid of PEDs or steroids.
But Mike O’Hearn thinks that this belief is simply due to cultural programming. Why does the mass audience in bodybuilding and fitness think that there cannot be outliers from the norm? Why is it impossible for O’Hearn to be all-natural with a physique similar to an enhanced athlete? Just like there are timeless legends in other sports – such as Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Muhammad Ali. Why can’t there be exceptions like that for all-natural athletes?
Generation Iron’s Vlad Yudin, after watching the video, believes that Mike O’Hearn is barking up the wrong tree. Why waste his time trying to explain it to an audience that just wants shock value? Let’s break down how Mike and Vlad debate on the topic below.
Is it worth engaging with clickbait content creators?
Initially during this episode’s debate, Mike O’Hearn defends his actions. He thinks that it is worth trying to educate Kenny KO and his audience on a different perspective of bodybuilding and fitness. One that is, perhaps, less popular than the mainstream norm.
Mike O’Hearn understands that most people cannot accomplish what he’s done all-natural. Genetics play a big part. But even beyond genetics – intense unreal work ethic is needed. In a world of convenience and constant entertainment, it’s hard to dig deep and build the drive to push limits. But that doesn’t mean it’s not impossible. O’Hearn wants to help open people’s minds to believe that the impossible is possible. In the hope of inspiring more people to reach new levels of accomplishment.
O’Hearn uses cancer as an example. We know cancer is a very dangerous disease. It kills many people every year on this planet. But we also know that many people survive it thanks to advances in science. But even beyond that – we have all seen or heard stories of miracle survival stories beyond even science’s expectations.
If we can believe and understand those kinds of miracles. Why can’t the bodybuilding community believe in rare individuals like Mike O’Hearn? Why can’t we believe that, despite it being common, a rare exception can exist. An all-natural mass monster at age 50.
“I want people to experience health and fitness like I did or Robby or Lee Haney. You can really make a great life for yourself healthy wise.”
– Mike O’Hearn
This is what Mike O’Hearn was trying to explain to Kenny KO and his audience in the viral video. However, Vlad Yudin believes this is a waste of time. It’s the wrong audience to try and convince. They watch for a specific purpose. So O’Hearn’s words will likely fall on deaf ears.
O’Hearn ultimately concedes and agrees with Vlad. Perhaps his time is better spent educating his own audience – people who tune in with different expectations. However, O’Hearn does not see tabloid content creators as an enemy. He understands that we all like to be entertained. Kenny KO is simply entertainment – not educational. Perhaps even many of the comments online criticizing O’Hearn are people just entertaining themselves – and are not real hard felt beliefs.
Is tabloid viral content influencing audiences? Or are audiences influencing the content?
Mike O’Hearn and Vlad Yudin then jump into the wider topic of clickbait, tabloid journalism, and viral content. Does clickbait only exist because audiences have a natural demand for it? The same way roman citizens wanted to see gladiator matches despite it leading to the deaths of real people? Are we just inherently looking for entertainment despite how it affects the subjects?
Or are content creators subconciously training audiences to want certain content. That tabloids and clickbait have slowly rewired humanity’s brains to desire a different kind of entertainment that we didn’t expect a century ago?
Mike O’Hearn believes that perhaps it’s a bit of both. At an early age of success, O’Hearn quickly learned he needed to expect criticism and tabloid journalism. He couldn’t defeat it. So he also learned to have fun with it. He understands how this kind of content is entertaining.
However, he does lament the overall cultural shift that has taken place alongside internet culture. O’Hearn admits that he thinks the world of bodybuilding and strength sports shifted from hope to cynicism. And perhaps the larger culture has done the same. That’s why O’Hearn uses his content – such as The Mike O’Hearn Show – to discuss stories of motivation, hard work, and hope. He wants to believe the next generation can return to a more optimistic state.
“I wish we can go back. The 80s was hope. That’s what the lifting was. It was friendship. Its was hope. We are all going to get better. We’re going to do it together. We’re going to compete with each other. I’m not going to give you an easy competition – but we’re going to make each other better. And now it seems like everybody is slighting everybody. And it’s like – wow this is ugly.”
– Mike O’Hearn
Wrap Up
Mike O’Hearn is a rare public figure that is able to have fun with the criticism that is thrown his way by comments and content creators alike. The Kenny KO video is one example of this. Last week, during our show promos, O’Hearn joked about taking tren. He doesn’t get offended by it. He doesn’t mind trolling back at the trolls.
However, he does also spend significant time trying to preach about motivation, hard work, and optimism. He wants to see a future generation outperform his accomplishments. He wants to see new Lee Haneys, Tom Platz’, and Phil Heaths.
You can watch Mike O’Hearn’s full comments in our latest episode of The Mike O’Hearn Show above. Make sure to catch new episodes every Friday only on Generation Iron – or wherever podcasts are downloaded.
Kai Greene Reveals The Truth Of His Past In New ‘Kai’ Trailer
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Bodybuilder Kai Greene reflects on the “revealing” truth about his past in the new official trailer for Kai. Available August 26.
We are less than a month away from the release of Kai on digital – and the film promises to be a revelatory reflection on the true origins of Kai Greene. Generation Iron Network released a brand new official trailer for Kai. In the new promo, we see deeper glimpses into the mysterious childhood that would help shape Greene into the legend that he is today. Kai will be available on August 26, 2022 on all digital platforms. Click here to order your digital copy!
Kai Greene is arguably one of the most complex bodybuilding legends in the history of the sport. Not only did he have a unique personality that literally shined on the stage (in the form of his unique posing routines), he also had a mysterious past that was never directly addressed in public. Instead, Greene would use art to express his reflections of the past. Art via sculpting his own physique, or through his posing routines, or through his paintings and later comic books, or through a live experimental stage play.
Kai Greene is a bodybuilding powerhouse, wrapped in an enigma, wrapped in an artist. It’s not surprising that this combination made him one of the most memorable athletes in the sport’s history. Now for the first time ever – fans will get to understand the truth behind the mind of this mysterious legendary bodybuilder.
Kai promises to be an all-encompassing deep dive into the life story of Kai Greene. Not only will the film chronicle his entire bodybuilding career, including his entertaining and bitter rivalry with Phil Heath, but it will also explore Greene’s childhood and struggles before bodybuilding. The film promises to be the most direct reflection on the past, present, and future of Kai Greene than ever before seen.
That fact becomes all the more clearer with the release of the latest Kai trailer. Kai Greene was interviewed for over 20 hours over the course of production – peeling down and exploring the ultimate truth behind the legend that is Kai Greene. You can watch the new trailer above.
Kai Official Synopsis
Kai Greene is one of the biggest modern day legends in bodybuilding both on and off the stage. He’s an athlete, an artist, an actor, and an entrepreneur. But his journey to greatness first started in childhood – when he chose bodybuilding as a form of survival. Growing up in Brooklyn without parents and later locked up in a juvenile correctional facility, bodybuilding became Kai’s source of hope that eventually took him to stardom.
Later in life Kai became one of the most recognizable faces in the fitness industry, praised by Arnold Schwarzenegger himself. His talent was only matched by one singular opponent, his rival and Mr. Olympia champion Phil Heath.
Now witness Kai Greene’s story of survival and climb to success in the first ever all-access documentary chronicling his life and career into the sport of bodybuilding and beyond.
Release Date Info
Kai is directed by Vlad Yudin (Generation Iron, Ronnie Coleman: The King) and produced by both Yudin and Edwin Mejia Jr. (Generation Iron, Ronnie Coleman: The King). It will be executive produced by David Gendron, Russ Riggins, Viviana Zarragoitia, and The Last Dance‘s Matt Maxson.
Kai will be available on all major digital platforms on August 26, 2022. It’s also available for pre-order today. You can reserver your digital copy now right here or by clicking the banner below.
Stan Efferding: How To Lift Heavier At 50 Than You Ever Could At 20 | The Mike O’Hearn Show
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Episode 10: Stan Efferding debunks the common held belief that you become weaker as you get older.
Stan Efferding is best known for being one of the strongest bodybuilders that ever lived. While he does not compete today, he is still well regarded for his functional training knowledge and expertise in weightlifting. That’s why Mike O’Hearn invited Efferding onto the podcast to dive deep into advanced training techniques – specifically on how to continue to excel as you age. In Generation Iron and Barbend’s latest episode of The Mike O’Hearn Show, Stan Efferding details how it is 100% possible to lift your strongest at 50 years old compared to your max weight in your 20s.
Throughout the entirety of this podcast, Mike O’Hearn has been consistent on the importance of longevity in strength and health. O’Hearn would rather be successfully lifting without limits well into his 50s today, rather than be a champion in his 20s only to burn out in later years.
Stan Efferding is a bodybuilder and powerlifter who not only holds those same beliefs but also lives them. Efferding, aka The Rhino, is often regarded as one of the strongest bodybuilders that has ever lived. While he no longer competes on the bodybuilding stage – he still showcases a level of strength often unseen at his age (he’s 54 at the time of this writing).
In fact, Stan Efferding believes that one of the biggest misconceptions in fitness is that we become naturally weaker as we age. Yes, taking an overview at the general populous seems to show that people degenerate as they age. But that’s not how it has to be. It’s simply because of the way we culturally live our lives through fitness.
Efferding is proof that you can actually be strong in your 20s – and then grow to become even more capable and stronger in your 50s. It requires a different outlook on training, consistency, and knowledge of the right techniques. Let’s jump into it.
Debunking The Myth: Degenerating Vs Regenerating As We Age
In the big picture, yes we degenerate naturally as we age. This is obvious for anyone who looks at a grandparent and sees grey hair and wrinkled skin. But the amount we degenerate – and at one point this occurs can be controlled more than we often believe.
The average person probably believes we are at our most physically fit during our late teens and early 20s. This does not have to be the case. In fact, Stan Efferding believes that you can be stronger and lift more at 50 than ever possible at 20. The key to obtaining this is through forward thinking in your training techniques.
“We have to eliminate the mindset that your body wears out. People think that the body is degenerative over time. And it’s actually regenerative with the correct stimulus.”
– Stan Efferding
Too many people believe that heavy lifting actually wears us down in the long run. Many think that weightlifting leads to worn down joints and injuries. The reality is that the opposite is true – if your training routine and technique is done correctly. Modern science has shown that inactivity leads to faster degeneration as we age. Whereas consistent weight training will help us become more capable and stronger as we age.
Generation Iron’s own Jerry Brainum has discussed this at length in our other podcast series – Straight Facts. Efferding further confirms this and mentions how doctors will now prescribe “barbell medicine” – weightlifting as a solution towards recovery for older folks.
This can be seen in other respects as well. In past decades, medicine believed that after a person suffers a heart attack that they must rest to recover. Today, a doctor would recommend a person who suffered a heart attack stay active to help make the heart stronger.
Stan Efferding’s Techinques For Lifting Heavier At 50 Than At 20 Years Old
So now that you know it’s possible to be at your strongest in older age – how do you actually achieve it? Stan Efferding explains that it requires deconstructing what you culturally understand about weightlifting – and applying fact-based and proven techniques. The biggest mistake young lifters make is to push too hard to the point of degrading the body. Yes – this might help in the short term become the heaviest lifter with the most massive physique. But it won’t last in the long term.
Stan Efferding explains that intensity needs to stay consistent. What Efferding means by that is you always need to be 2-3 reps away from complete exhaustion. If you’re not pushing to that point – you are not going to see real improvement. Lower weight with higher reps can be extremely effective – but only if the intensity is there.
Stan goes on to say that, ironically, if you max out at the gym – that leads to more inactivity overall. You are tired faster, it makes you want to indulge in cheat meals more to replenish yourself after being exhausted. What Stan promotes is to use exercise and weightlifting to “feel refreshed” rather than “feel depleted.”
Too many people think that not sleeping, training more, never recovering, always working – is the way to improve. That’s not true. It’s important to make time to recover. To make time for sleep. To sometimes stop training to allow for your body to replenish and actually improve. This is regenerating rather than degenerating.
“If it’s not measurable and progressable – I don’t think it’s terribly effective. It’s just exercise, it’s not training.”
– Stan Efferding
Stan Efferding talks about setting up a goal to reach new PRs and make progress is very different than showing up and doing the same thing at the gym every day. One is “exercise” vs “training.” It’s good to get your heart pumping and get you sweating. But if you want to see long term improvement – you need to reach new goals every session or every training cycle.
To dive deeper into this concept, Stan Efferding discusses speed of lifting vs the weight. If you can deadlift 600 pounds and think you are stronger and can increase the weight – but now the movement speed decreases. You didn’t get stronger – you exerted more energy to achieve a higher weight. Due to this – sometimes it is okay to realize that lowering your weight – but slowly increasing your speed is a more effective (and safer) way to improve rather than just maxing out the most weight as possible.
The Importance Of Deloading
Impatience is the biggest enemy of long term success. This is often what leads to overtraining, burning out your body, and setting up habits that lead to long term degradation of your body.
If progress stalls – instead of training harder perhaps you should practice deloading. Sometimes it’s okay to take a week break and then return back to training. It’s often the very thing you needed in order for your body to reset and start making gains and strength improvements again.
“You will deload whether it’s voluntary or involuntary. If you don’t voluntarily deload – you will eventually get sick or injured forcing it upon you.”
– Stan Efferding
Rest and recovery is vital towards consistently improving your ability as you age. This goes not only for rests between workouts – but rest in general. It’s been scientifically proven that culturally we often get too little sleep. This can cut years off of our lives. This takes the form of our body degrading as we age instead of improving.
Ultimately, you must master the art of keeping your intensity consistent – while also allowing yourself to rest when you need to, deload if you need to. If you don’t, your body will do it for you whether you like it or not. But if you don’t provide yourself that time – it will instead force itself upon you in the form of getting sick or injured. This leads to degrading rather than regenerating.
Wrap Up
Stan Efferding and Mike O’Hearn talk shop and technique in great detail throughout this entire episode. That’s why it’s vital for anyone who wants to continue to improve with strength and fitness to watch our latest episode.
You can watch Stan Efferding’s full comments in our latest episode of The Mike O’Hearn Show above. Watch new episodes every Friday only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network. Or listen wherever podcasts are downloaded.
Straight Facts: The Very Real Dangers Of “Blasting And Cruising” With Steroids
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Jerry Brainum explains why you should never follow a “blasting and cruising” steroid regimen due to very serious health concerns.
Last week, Arnold Schwarzenegger restated his worry about the abuse of steroids in modern bodybuilding. Jerry Brainum agrees – and he believes the most dangerous aspect is in an increasingly popular new steroid regimen that pushes the boundaries into serious health consequences. Brainum is referring specifically to “blasting and cruising” – a steroid regimen that avoids cycles all together and instead keeps you on some form of steroid non stop. In our latest episode of Straight Facts, Jerry Brainum breaks down the very serious dangers of blasting and cruising – and warns that bodybuilders avoid it entirely.
It’s no secret that steroids are used in bodybuilding. While the pros avoid directly commenting on use – it’s an unspoken understanding in the industry for fans and athletes alike. Typically, a bodybuilder will go on a steroid cycle. This involves taking steroids for a set period of time and then coming off the steroids. Then repeat. It’s a literal cycle.
When a bodybuilder is “off cycle” – they go into post-cycle therapy. Over time, a bodybuilder is unable to naturally product testosterone after a cycle. Post-cycle therapy is a series of supplements that helps kick start that natural testosterone production.
Blasting and cruising abandons the cycle entirely and keeps a bodybuilder on some form of steroids throughout the entire year. Jerry Brainum has noticed that this is a more modern technique that was rarely done in previous eras fo the sport. It’s also a technique that has extremely dangerous consequences. Let’s jump into it.
What Is Blasting And Cruising?
Blasting and cruising is an alternate technique of steroid use in bodybuilding. It foregoes the typical cycle in favor of a new one that keeps the individual on steroids throughout the entire year. Instead of a typical on and off steroid cycle – this new cycle is blasting and then cruising.
Blasting is when you go on a typical normal heavy steroid regimen. This is very similar to a traditional cycle. However, instead of going off cycle after – the bodybuilder will “cruise” which is to switch into a low dose steroid regimen. After the cruising period, the bodybuilder goes back to blasting. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.
Why is Blasting And Cruising Dangerous?
Blasting and cruising keeps a bodybuilder on some dosage of steroids all year. This prevents the body from having a break from these powerful drugs and repairing the potential damage caused by them.
Jerry Brainum explains that during a traditional cycle, the body processes steroids via the liver. Of time, this can lead to inflammation and even damager to the liver. Typically, when a bodybuilder goes off the cycle, the liver is able to slowly repair any of that damage. It should be noted that in rare instances, this damage cannot be undone. This all comes down to genetics – but majority of individuals do recover.
Compare this to blasting and cruising. By never coming off steroids, the repair of the liver never happens. While the cruising period is a relatively safe dose of steroids (typically somewhere around 100mg), staying on the drug non-stop has slow long term consequences.
The liver never repairs. Instead, it continues to slowly become inflamed and damaged. Eventually, this turns into liver disease. Once a person reaches the point of liver disease, this cannot be undone. It can lead to severe complications and even death.
A Note About Steroids And Cardiovascular Health
It should be noted that while a typical cycle often allows the liver to repair and recover – there are still other serious side effects and health risks to taking steroids recreationally. Even if a person does not blast and cruise – a typical steroid cycle can lead to long term heart complications and cardiovascular disease.
In addition to this – long term steroid use can lead to a permanent inability for the body to natural produce testosterone. This requires a lifetime on testosterone replacement therapy (or TRT). If this is not done, an individual will suffer many consequences. Not particularly fatal – but life changing.
This is all to say that a traditional steroid cycle is not a 100% safe alternative to blasting and cruising. However, science proves that the blasting and cruising method is far more dangerous and leads to far quicker and more guaranteed health risks.
Wrap Up
The bodybuilding community have been debating about the rise of steroid abuse for years now. With many deaths plaguing the sport, fans, athletes, and industry professionals are worried that drug use has gone too far. The abuse has reached a fever pitch – and serious consequences will continue to follow.
This is why Jerry Brainum wanted to break down the blast and cruise steroid technique. It is simply one aspect of how far drug abuse has been pushed in the sport compared to older generations. It’s a warning and hopefully a wake up call for young athletes to consider their health before diving into these risky trending regimens.
You can watch Jerry Brainum go into full detail in our latest episode of Straight Facts above. Make sure to check out new episodes every Wednesday only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network. Or wherever podcasts are downloaded.
CT Fletcher: Today’s Generation Is “Screaming To The World” That They Are “A F**king Pussy” | The Mike O’Hearn Show
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Episode 9: Mike O’Hearn Talks with CT Fletcher about the difference between passion and motivation.
CT Fletcher is known as one of the most motivational people on the planet. His massive personality and epic lifts have turned him into an icon within the weightlifting and bodybuilding world. So much so that an entire documentary film dedicated to his life story was released in 2016 titled – CT Fletcher: My Magnificent Obsession. It was so motivating that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson tweeted about the film urging all of his followers to watch it. In this week’s episode of Generation Iron and Barbend’s The Mike O’Hearn Show, Mike connects with CT Fletcher to talk about passion, motivation, and a key trait that is lacking in the modern generation of aspiring lifters.
Mike O’Hearn and CT Fletcher have one key thing in common – they are both relatively older lifters who pride themselves on their immense strength and ability despite being “over the hill.” They are living proof that with dedication and consistency, you can lift more than a young person even well into your 50s and beyond.
That core value is split into different approaches between the two of them. Mike O’Hearn is more clean cut and lets the work speak for him. CT Fletcher is a foul-mouthed aggressive personality who enhances his actions with truly poetic and motivating speeches. That’s why O’Hearn was excited to have Fletcher onto the podcast this week so they can wax philosophically about the nature of intensity at the core of their personalities. Let’s jump into it.
Passion vs Motivation
It’s often been said that CT Fletcher is one of the most motivational men on the planet. His epic lifts combined with his powerful monologues have led to viral videos. This popularity later led to Fletcher becoming a public speaker to motivate the youth. But motivation has its limits. And Mike O’Hearn pointed out to Fletcher that there is a big difference between motivation and passion.
CT Fletcher understands that too. He describes motivation as being an external source that encourages you to complete a task. Whether that’s lifting weights, sticking to your diet, or something completely unrelated to fitness. Passion is something that comes from within. It’s an inherent desire to complete a task and surpass your own goals.
Motivation, as CT Fletcher describes it, is only temporary. It can only take you so far. Passion burns uncontrollably within you. It’s an evergreen personality trait that will drive you towards greatness.
Mike O’Hearn asks if motivation can be used to teach someone to become passionate. CT Fletcher believes so. The reason he dedicates himself to motivating others is the hope that he can “unlock” a passion within someone. Motivation is a sort of gateway into a deeper dedication.
Ultimately, passion is doing something for yourself. If you’re competing for a reward or money – that’s not passion. That’s motivation. And just as described earlier, it’s limiting and will prevent you from becoming the next elite superstar.
CT Fletcher explains that he grew up poor – but he was happy. He never wanted to be rich or needed a reward. The lifting was something he could do in his means and he was happy. When the money came later – it was a fantastic reward – but he would still do it free to this day if he had to.
“Not giving a fuck is one of the most powerful tools a person can have”
– CT Fletcher
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CT Fletcher believes too many “experts” have coddled the modern generation
CT Fletcher and Mike O’Hearn touch upon a topic that might sound a bit cocky at first. They acknowledge that both of them can lift more than kids can today – and they are over 50 years old. Not only that, it’s likely that they will lift more than today’s generation ever will. Why? Fletcher believes it’s because today’s online culture has coddled young folks to play it safe and not push limits.
CT Fletcher thinks there are too many self proclaimed experts warning the youth about injury and how to play things by the book. This prevents an “off the leash” mentality that you see in athletes like Fletcher, Mike O’Hearn, Branch Warren, Ronnie Coleman, and many others.
Because of this – CT Fletcher beleives, and O’Hearn agrees, that majority of the modern generation will achieve less (at least in terms of weightlifting and bodybuilding) because they are conditioned to not risk getting hurt.
CT Fletcher even jokes about young folk who state that watching CT Fletcher or Mike O’Hearn lift makes their bodies hurt. That’s a signal that they will never push themselves hard enough. If it hurts just to watch others lift – how can they drive themselves to lift to new levels?
“When you watch Mike O’Hearn do 50-60 reps of something and you say it makes your back, your shoulders hurt watching him do it. You are screaming to the world that I am a fucking pussy.”
– CT Fletcher
ABOVE: An example of CT Fletcher’s aggressive and poetic motivational speeches.
Wrap Up
Mike O’Hearn has often talked about the importance of internal desire trumping external rewards and motivation. He believes that today’s generation are too conditioned to avoid being uncomfortable and desire rewards – that they will not push to deeper levels like past legends have. CT Fletcher seems to agree – and he’s not afraid to state it in more aggressive and possibly insulting terms. That’s just his style – straight from the hip.
You can watch Mike O’Hearn and CT Fletcher’s full conversation in our latest episode of The Mike O’Hearn Show above. Make sure to catch new episodes every Friday only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network or wherever podcasts are downloaded!
Straight Facts: Why You Need To Stop Taking Turkesterone Now!
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Jerry Brainum breaks down the straight facts behind the popular supplement Turkesterone – and how it fails as an anabolic substance.
In the effort to be the best in the world, individuals will search high and low for the best way to get an edge over the competition. In bodybuilding this can take many forms including searching for the key secret workout plan, discovering a new posing trick, or finding a new supplement that increases gains. Ecdysteroids are a class of substance that are often marketed as a legally anabolic supplement. Most popular of these substances is Turkesterone. But does it really work? In our latest episode of Straight Facts, Jerry Brainum explains why Turkesterone fails as an anabolic substance.
In no secret in the bodybuilding world that anabolic steroids are used to increase muscle growth and recovery. But the truth of the matter is that steroids are illegal to use for recreational activity and often banned in most professional sports. So there will always be individuals looking for the next new substance that acts like steroids – but is legal. For example, many have turned to SARMs, which have a more of a grey area legally compared to steroids – at least in the United States.
This is also where Turkesterone comes in. Turkesterone is a legal supplement that can be purchased over the counter. It is part of a class of substances called Ecdysteroids and has gained popularity as an anabolic supplement by athletes over the past few decades. But does Turkesterone really work? Jerry Brainum turns to past studies – and a more recent study to break down the truth behind this controversial over the counter substance.
Is Turkesterone Anabolic?
The short answer is – no, Turkesterone shows no proven record of being anabolic. Jerry Brainum digs back through past studies on insects and rodents that showed promise for anabolic effects – but it has never been proven in human consumption. Up until recent, Turkesterone was never studied specifically – but many other Ecdysteroids have gone through trials that yielded little to no results.
So how did we get here? Why is this supplement seen as an anabolic option by athletes and bodybuilders? It started due to the chemical makeup behind Ecdysteroids. They contain a similar structure to testosterone. But just because the structure is similar – doesn’t mean the effects are. Which is why scientists took it to studies for proof. The ultimate human trials were disappointing for anyone hoping to find a healthy and legal way to boost muscle protein synthesis in a serious way.
Debunking The Myths Behind Turkesterone
There will be those who doubt the accuracy of past studies behind Ecdysteroids. For one, most studies do not focus on Turkesterone specifically. Perhaps that specific substance does work compared to others. This is why Jerry Brainum turns to a much more recent study that focus specifically on Turkesterone.
Ironically, this study was only done on rodents. While other past Ecdysteroid studies seemed to show some slight promise in rodents – this study found that the substance did not reach any anabolic pathway for the mice. Therefore – there was no way it could have an anabolic effect on muscle protein synthesis.
Deniers will also point out that these studies were not done on humans. Furthermore, the mice were not put through exercise. Perhaps this substance, like steroids, needs exercise to show results. Jerry Brainum debunks this line of thinking as well. He points to a 1966 study that proved once and for all that testosterone, even when not exercising, increased muscle mass. Yes, exercise is vital to reach more noticeable levels. But the important point is that anabolic substances will work with or without exercise. Turkesterone does not.
The Placebo Effect
So why do so many people still swear by Turkesterone if it has no proven effect? Why do so many people believe it works? Even Joe Rogan has given time on his podcast discussing with Andrew Huberman about Turkesterone. This is a big platform that can influence a lot of people.
Jerry Brainum believes that this is simply the placebo effect. In fact, he thinks for some people, Turkesterone really does help them increase muscle size. Not because of the actual chemical makeup of the substance but instead because of the psychological boost it gives users who think it works.
Brainum goes on to say that just because a person believes they saw results from the supplement, doesn’t mean that is proof. There are many factors to account for – which is why studies are done in the first place. Correlation does not equal causality.
Is Turkesterone bad for you? It doesn’t seem so. But Jerry Brainum is convinced after looking at the data – this supplement does not have an anabolic effect. It’s a waste of money and energy that can be better spent elsewhere.
Wrap Up
Ultimately, there is no damage being done if you take Turkesterone. But it won’t be helping your gains either beyond a possible placebo effect. You can watch Jerry Brainum go into detail and break down the facts behind Turkesterone in our latest episode of Straight Facts above. Make sure to check out new episodes every Wednesday only on Generation Iron or wherever podcasts are downloaded!