Ronnie Coleman and 70#

I saw on the cover of Flex, I think, a picture of RC in 1992 and of him now, 2003. It said he had put on 70# of muscle. This is a lot of meat, but it's only approx. 7#/year. This doesn't seem like very much to me. Am I missing something? What's your take on this? Thanks!!

7# is not accurate because he put on 20 of it in the last year, supposedly. *yikes*

I have seen quite a bit over the years but I have to admit that I was staring at that cover like a 14 year old kid with acne and protruding collar bones. I just couldn't believe what he looked like.

On the other hand, the guy is probably already 3 feet under with only 3 feet to go. He has made some reference to not knowing how much longer he can continue to do the things that he is doing to be successful. I think he is obviously questioning his health and if he isn't, he should be.

Ronnie is very impressive and has set a precedent, yet again, in the sport. I just think that there comes a time when enough is enough and you have to choose between living and dying.

Just my OPINION, I could be wrong........

Skip

Thanks Skip. It is crazy what he has done. WOW! So if we take away the last 20# that averages out to (50#/10yrs) 5#/yr. This seems really, really low!! He was probably natural until just last year. (wink wink) Thoughts??

maybe its the sudden increase in the anti catabolic drugs being used , damn some of the new drugs are crazy ! like skip said , the guy is probly already 3 feet under ! i just saw a post made by phil henron at promuscle , he said "top 5 at the Olympia reads something like 8, 0, 3 13, etc.. for the HDL readings. " . thats just crazy man !

As far as muscle gain, those 70lb refer to weigh-in weight, not maximum muscle mass during those years (off seaseon). This assumes that body fat was equally low and the weight of organs was the same and that his carb-up was equivalent. Not necessarily true.

The big factor that plays a role seems to be how well Ronnie holds on to his muscle when he diets down. For the 2002 Olympia, when he intentionally tried to come in smaller, he lost a lot of weight in the weeks preceding the show. He weighed in 20+lb heavier for the GNC two or three(?) weeks later (which he lost to Gunter) w/o noticeable loss of conditioning. Look at his videos (the 1st and "Unbelievable" and his off-season condiitoning is amazing) I think he's like 4 weeks out in Unbelievable and 286.

The main strategy used last year (from what I gathered from Chad Nicholl's posts) was to bring Ronnie in looking like he usually does 3-4 weeks out - amazingly full and lean.

Bottom line is I think Ronnie grew a TON over those years, but it was this past year that he figured out how to hold on to his off-season muscle the best and come in as a bigger monster than he had before...

-Randy

Skip said:

7# is not accurate because he put on 20 of it in the last year, supposedly. *yikes*

I have seen quite a bit over the years but I have to admit that I was staring at that cover like a 14 year old kid with acne and protruding collar bones. I just couldn't believe what he looked like.

On the other hand, the guy is probably already 3 feet under with only 3 feet to go. He has made some reference to not knowing how much longer he can continue to do the things that he is doing to be successful. I think he is obviously questioning his health and if he isn't, he should be.

Ronnie is very impressive and has set a precedent, yet again, in the sport. I just think that there comes a time when enough is enough and you have to choose between living and dying.

Just my OPINION, I could be wrong........

Skip

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I've made a prediction that I told my significant other (Girlpatriot) Ronnie will have a major health related problem this year (heart attack, etc..) He stated that he wants to come in even heavier next year, plus the 20 additional he came in with this year. The things he had to do to his body to get that 20# I could not even imagine.
It is too bad, he used to look so good.

he continues to get better every yr I was a doubter a few yrs back that he could repeat. He has grew a lot since. I wonder how long he can continue this he is what 40yrs old now.

I was not a big Ronnie fan but he gains more respect every yr.

nice post homonunculus. it's sad to think any of you would say the bro is three feet under or near dying. pros are having health related problems like kidney failure ect but failing kidneys is a problem worldwide not just in bodybuilding. the size obtained is not only drug related. besides food it takes hard work. living or dying is not a choice be it being a policeman, a soldier in iraq or a bodybuilder. there were other bros up there the same weight. they just didn't work as hard as ronnie and never will.

What is sad is that he is three feet under. You have your opinion and I have mine. I don't want anything to happen to the guy, bro. I don't wish him anything but good health. However, you know as well as I do that the amount of drugs he has to take - not just gear but other shit like EPO and such (let alone the shit that he is taking that we may not have even heard of yet) will ultimately get him in the end if he doesn't back off. Hell, HE elludes to the SAME thing on several occasions.

It is also sad that you so quickly dismiss high protein intake of bodybuilders and the higher than normal amount of renal failure lately in the sport. Things like this need to be evaluated long and hard. I am beginning to think that high protein intake is just as bad, if not worse, than any gear I have taken.

Take my words for what they are - an opinion.

Skip

Skip said:

What is sad is that he is three feet under.
It is also sad that you so quickly dismiss high protein intake of bodybuilders and the higher than normal amount of renal failure lately in the sport. Things like this need to be evaluated long and hard. I am beginning to think that high protein intake is just as bad, if not worse, than any gear I have taken.

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I have heard this exact same thing from many pro's. Many of them are more concerned with their excessively high protein intake rather than the drugs they take. That causes a ton of stress on the kidneys and could definitely be the cause of kidney failure after many many years of this abusive diet.

Although I'm sure they're concerned with the excessive amounts of AAS and even worse the excessive amounts of diuretics that they use as well, IMO the combination of drugs, and diet year after year has put the top competitors three feet under.

points well taken bros. theres a serious health risk weather you drink, smoke or use drugs be it recreational, OTC or prescribed. i just know kidney problems are a problem in millions of folks outside of steroid/protien use. your opinion is valuable to me as well as others. i just don't buy the three feet under thing. these comments solidify the proposed ban on (non gear) prosteroids especially those who consider themselves natural. i'm sure he has health problems but to say he is near death is irresponsble. just my opinion. i respect yours.

I appreciate your opinion too, bro. I just feel that it can't be all too irresponsible of me as it is an opinion based on things that he has actually said. I understand your point that opinions like the one I stated don't help further our cause for aas "mainstreaming" anytime soon. However, I am not saying that gear is incredibly unhealthy or dangerous - I have spoken quite a bit on my opinions of health vs. gear BUT it isn't even the large amounts of the basics like tests and decas that he is concerned with, I would bet. It is the EPO, it is the diuretics, it is the DNPs, it is the growth factors that, to be honest, we have little to no information on any sort of sides or long term affects, it is the long term use of anti-e's that, at best, can completely fuck up your cholesterol levels, etc., etc.....

As much as I think aas, in moderate dosages and with taking precautions for your health, would be relatively safe, it would be irresponsible of me to say or think that abuse of these things could not lead to potential health problems. I mean, you can eat fast food a couple times a week for a long time and not have any problems but you can bet that if you ate it at every meal, everyday for a year, you will run a very big risk of causing yourself health problems and probably some pretty damned bad health problems.

I am just calling a spade a spade and giving my opinion. Plus, you have to figure: Even if he is 3 feet under, they would still have to dig another 6 below that or his pecs would be coming out of the ground. So, in a sense, he still has 6 feet to go just like the rest of us.

Skip

thanks for the education bro.

I recently saw an article interviewing another pro and he was asked about Ronnie. He mentioned Ronnie remained natural for a long time before using any gear. He was already a freak. But his combo of genetics and all the drugs available today make him a true monster. Chad Nichols and Ronnie are truly creating history as far as taking the human body further than it's ever been before. It's interesting to hear from Skip that Ronnie has made reference to his doubts, probably questioning his health. Obviously though, he doesn't have anything to prove. I hope he makes his own health #1 priority from now on and organdonor's prediction is wrong.

It would be nice to really know how healthy the big boys really are. I heard years ago from a "guy in the Know" that Arnold had kidney problems and dialysis treatments. Maybe he did, maybe he didnt. We will never know for sure. If these guys never open up , we may all be in for a huge suprise someday....but then again maybe not. Thats a nice comforting thought huh? The only way to stay in this game is sort of not caring, otherwise you'd be so damn paranoid youd go nuts. Don Long and Dennis Newman both have had VERY serious health issues and both have denied they were drug related. ( luekemia and kidney failure)
May be they were, maybe they werent. Have I had health issues over my 20+ years of using gear? Maybe I have, Maybe I havent.....doesnt that suck? I have to be honest, yes I have had a few ailments that were absolutley directly caused by supplemetation...I can say it why cant they??

Sweatmachine, if you would care to elaborate on your ailments I and I'm sure others would be very interested. If not I respect your privacy!! I wish you the best of health now and in the future!!