บทถอดความฉบับเต็มของ Terrence Ruffin: Everyone Thinks I'm Done - Olympia 2026 & The Full Life Story

personally, but you know, we need you on the sport, yeah. 00:04:14.800 --> 00:04:20.240 I know this is probably what this is what I've heard a lot at this Olympia from a lot of people in the audience too. 00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:25.279 But obviously we don't know what the reasoning is, but uh yeah, dude's just so fucking dark, man. 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:27.360 Like sometimes it's hard to see everything properly. 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:30.800 You know, it's it sucks because like uh you know, I know Gilko. 00:04:30.959 --> 00:04:37.600 Um and Gilko was supposed to do the lighting at this show, and Gilko, every time I see like his production is fantastic. 00:04:37.759 --> 00:04:45.680 So I was super excited about this one because he said he called me and said, Hey bro, I got the lighting figured out, you're gonna look great on stage. 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:51.360 And then, like, literally the night before, he's like, Yeah, bro, they they they canceled, like they're gonna do it themselves. 00:04:51.439 --> 00:04:53.759 And I'm just like, fantastic, you know. 00:04:53.920 --> 00:04:55.040 Damn, yeah. 00:04:56.000 --> 00:04:57.279 What do you do for tanning? 00:04:57.680 --> 00:04:59.360 I do very little because I'm dart, dude. 00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:03.439 Like I for the first for years, I would do just I still wouldn't do that much. 00:05:03.519 --> 00:05:08.879 I would do like a coat um the night before, and then I would go back for touch-ups, like you know, a lot of people do. 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:11.439 But um, I don't know, man. 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:17.839 I forget, I think like a few years ago, I was like, let me just try one coat in the morning, and that's all I do now. 00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:31.920 And to be honest, like I might even try something different, like uh maybe something with the more like red tones, or uh there is this there's this Vaseline they have quick bronze. 00:05:32.160 --> 00:05:37.600 Yeah, I might even literally just do the quick bronze like backstage and see how that looks. 00:05:37.759 --> 00:05:38.800 I feel like that'd be a good idea. 00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:43.360 I'm like almost wondering if you can literally just can you just like not tan yourself up just quiz. 00:05:44.399 --> 00:05:45.519 Yeah, yeah, just straight out. 00:05:46.240 --> 00:05:47.920 That might, that might, I don't know. 00:05:48.079 --> 00:05:48.399 I don't know. 00:05:48.480 --> 00:05:50.879 I'm a little worried that, but yeah, that could be a move, yeah. 00:05:51.040 --> 00:05:52.639 Yeah, maybe maybe try that at some of the other. 00:05:52.959 --> 00:05:54.720 No, actually, when I guess pose, I don't tan. 00:05:54.959 --> 00:05:59.680 So I mean like that, like next time I guess pose, if I'm in pretty good shape, I'm gonna see how that looks. 00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:00.560 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:01.759 I would try that for sure. 00:06:01.920 --> 00:06:03.680 Okay, yeah, for sure, man. 00:06:03.839 --> 00:06:04.399 That's a good idea. 00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:05.040 That is a good idea. 00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:07.120 Yeah, is there something that can make you lighter on stage? 00:06:08.319 --> 00:06:09.839 Bleach with your skin. 00:06:10.720 --> 00:06:11.120 Shit. 00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:12.800 Oh my gosh. 00:06:13.040 --> 00:06:23.519 Well, I was thinking it would be really cool for us to discuss this because I really enjoyed your post, and I think we haven't really talked about this on the past few podcasts that we've done, which I'm surprised why we haven't. 00:06:23.680 --> 00:06:26.879 We've done into your into your history a little bit. 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:34.720 Um, in the last podcast, we talked about your time in the military and why you started bodybuilding and how you started off like uh it was like 120 or 120. 00:06:34.879 --> 00:06:35.759 Yeah, like 120 pounds. 00:06:35.920 --> 00:06:36.879 Yeah, 120 pounds. 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:37.680 Crazy. 00:06:37.839 --> 00:06:42.160 Um, but I think uh we didn't go as early as to like what your childhood was like. 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:46.879 I don't think we got to discuss time that your time with John Meadows and how that experience was. 00:06:47.040 --> 00:06:53.360 So honestly, if we could just turn back the tape a little bit, I think that would be super cool for us to just start from the very beginning. 00:06:53.680 --> 00:06:54.639 Yeah, okay. 00:06:54.879 --> 00:06:58.800 Um I grew my mom had me at like 20 years old. 00:06:58.879 --> 00:07:12.639 Her and my dad were in college, and um they stayed together for a little bit, but for whatever reason they they split, and then she raised me pretty much on my own from like I think I was two or three. 00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:27.600 Um we were living, I think, in Wisconsin at the time, and then we moved back home with my grandmother once they split, and she lived in this little town called Beatrice, Alabama. 00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:30.160 Um, at the time it was like population 300. 00:07:30.480 --> 00:07:32.399 Now it's like 200 people left. 00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:38.639 By the time I'm like 50, it'll probably be like 100 people left, and it'll be a ghost town, you know. 00:07:39.199 --> 00:07:41.360 But um, yeah, it's like a mile long. 00:07:41.439 --> 00:07:43.600 It's like we got our first Dollar General. 00:07:43.839 --> 00:07:45.120 Damn, you know, so that's cool. 00:07:45.680 --> 00:07:46.000 Fire. 00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:49.839 We can get junk food now, like on the go. 00:07:50.480 --> 00:07:53.920 And um, yeah, I'm trying to think of anything else. 00:07:54.079 --> 00:08:02.160 Like, you know, the cool thing is like, you know, like I'm very aware of like, you know, like what people say about African Americans and statistics and things like that. 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:07.680 And you know, I'm very blessed that my mom was like like somehow in some way very, very different. 00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:12.959 Where like growing up, she always had me in sports to keep

me out of trouble. 00:08:13.199 --> 00:08:28.959 Uh, anytime we were in the car, like she had like these books on um The Alchemist, Les Brown, um Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich, uh Robert Kirasaki, um Rich Dad, Poor Dad. 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:41.039 So like all this stuff was like, I didn't know what it was at the time, it was just playing, but now that I'm older, it like really, really helped develop a very positive mindset for me. 00:08:41.360 --> 00:08:48.720 And even with our food, like she's not a bodybuilder or like anything like that, but we didn't have sodas in the house. 00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:58.720 Um, a lot of nights we would eat pretty healthy, like she had like that George Foreman grill, and we would just eat chicken, rice, green beans. 00:08:58.960 --> 00:09:01.759 You know, breakfast was like grits and eggs. 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:10.559 And uh yeah, like a lot of like what I do now was already doing kind of like the light version when I was a kid. 00:09:10.799 --> 00:09:11.840 So that's dope. 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:12.240 Yeah, yeah. 00:09:12.480 --> 00:09:13.440 Fucking grits, man. 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:14.799 It's the shit that makes a man. 00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:16.320 Bro, yeah, yeah. 00:09:16.799 --> 00:09:24.080 Dude, my grandmother, like when we she ate grits every single day, every morning, like like until she passed away, man. 00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:26.799 Like, it's she lived like a bodybuilding lifestyle, dude. 00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:30.720 Every every morning, same time grits, eggs, and bacon, dude. 00:09:30.799 --> 00:09:35.919 So like I'm used to like the monotonous like food culture, like a bodybuilding. 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:36.879 Yeah, gotcha. 00:09:37.039 --> 00:09:37.840 That's dope. 00:09:38.320 --> 00:09:40.480 What was it like growing up with a single mother? 00:09:40.879 --> 00:09:45.279 I don't know anything else, man, but like it was it was fine. 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:49.120 Um she kind of played both roles. 00:09:49.279 --> 00:09:55.440 Like she was definitely was very hard on me, like discipline and everything like that. 00:09:55.919 --> 00:09:57.519 Told me like not to cry. 00:09:57.600 --> 00:09:59.840 I feel like that's what a dad normally tells his son to do. 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:00.320 Yeah. 00:10:00.559 --> 00:10:09.919 She told me like uh things like yo, you're gonna have to work ten times harder than most people to get the same uh type of reward or respect. 00:10:10.399 --> 00:10:11.600 What did she say that? 00:10:11.840 --> 00:10:13.600 That's more of a race thing to be honest with you. 00:10:13.679 --> 00:10:21.039 Yeah, like a lot of a lot of like uh that's like very common in like black cultures, like they'll say stuff like that, you know. 00:10:21.919 --> 00:10:29.679 So like just growing up, you know, like just teaching me work ethic, and like that's gonna be very, very important moving forward. 00:10:32.080 --> 00:10:32.559 Yeah, yeah. 00:10:32.639 --> 00:10:42.559 So I mean like like even in the house, like I I was taught how to cook, clean, I had chores I had to do to get like allowance, like all that type of stuff, you know. 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:44.399 Yeah, and I don't feel like that's very common. 00:10:44.480 --> 00:10:50.000 Like none of my friends had to do anything like that growing up, but like you know, in my household, you know, we had to. 00:10:50.320 --> 00:10:50.639 Right. 00:10:50.879 --> 00:10:57.679 I mean, I think that's pretty remnant of uh southern southern culture, especially especially that culture. 00:10:57.919 --> 00:10:58.720 Yeah, yeah. 00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:06.399 I I still go to grocery stores and uh the fucking checkout will ask me if I'm from the south, because I'll just by default say yes ma'am. 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:07.440 Yes, sir. 00:11:07.840 --> 00:11:08.799 It's funny. 00:11:09.120 --> 00:11:24.080 So no, I think I think uh you know, I'm very blessed to have a mom that was somehow aware of all those type of things, you know, and like you know, worked super hard to like put me in a good place, in a good situation, you know. 00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:25.600 Yeah, yeah. 00:11:25.919 --> 00:11:34.799 You mentioned too in the post, I think that uh she had you she made sure that you worked really hard and you ended up getting to maybe like the top of your class, or yeah, yeah. 00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:49.440 Well, I I I should I like um she would get on so like I in middle school I went to a magnet school, so like um you know, I was very like a lot, I was ahead of a lot of things, you know, in terms of like education. 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:53.360 And then when my grandmother got older, we moved back to the country. 00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:58.399 And dude, the education system out there was not even close, man. 00:11:58.480 --> 00:12:04.720 So like she definitely pushed me to work hard in middle school, but when I got to high school, it was so easy. 00:12:04.799 --> 00:12:10.000 Like, I didn't do I didn't do any homework, and I still was able to get really good grades. 00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:20.639 Um, I graduated a year early, and I tested at the top of some of uh the um the college, it was ASFABs and SATs and stuff. 00:12:21.759 --> 00:12:37.600 So um I wanted to say in high school one more year, just because I'm like, hey, I'm 17, you know, I'll have a year just to do like one or two classes and I get to have some fun, but she's like, no, you're not gonna sit around here, bro. 00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:42.720 So she was like, You can get a job, you can go to college, or you can join the military. 00:12:42.799 --> 00:12:44.879 And so I was like, I'm I'm gonna join the military. 00:12:45.200 --> 00:12:45.519 Fire. 00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:46.240 Fire. 00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:46.639 Yeah. 00:12:46.799 --> 00:12:48.720 What had you decide to join the military? 00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:56.799 I was in ROTC in high school, and like uh there's this guy named Sergeant Brown, and like I really, really

respected him, you know. 00:12:56.960 --> 00:13:03.440 Um, he was like, I guess, a father figure in a sense, and so I I just wanted to do that, you know, because that's what he did. 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:04.159 Yeah. 00:13:04.559 --> 00:13:05.039 Toucha. 00:13:05.840 --> 00:13:14.879 Dude, I wonder how much of a Gen Z these days how's their parents tell them, like, you have three choices, or you have two choices, or you need to fucking just leave the goddamn house, you know. 00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:28.720 Yeah, man, it's funny because like um I feel like it's a very like American thing too, because um, you know, in other countries, like kids will stay with their parents until like you know, mid-20s, late 20s, early 30s, yeah. 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:30.480 Yeah, yeah. 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:32.960 Especially the sons there. 00:13:33.919 --> 00:13:35.120 The moms love their son. 00:13:35.440 --> 00:13:39.200 So yeah, duh, I um definitely completely different, man. 00:13:39.759 --> 00:13:41.440 I feel like I'm super thankful for that. 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:49.440 My mom and I like came to a consensus when I was 15 that we would have me leave the house as as early as a 15-year-old could leave the house. 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:53.600 So I applied to some schools that obviously have dorms for me to live in. 00:13:53.919 --> 00:14:02.480 So uh, and then I got into this math and science school that was state funded, so only had to pay like maybe 300 bucks or something per year, something like that, something super low. 00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:10.480 But um for a school, so that was kind of nice because it kind of gives you a place for you to start creating your own identity away from your family. 00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:16.399 I think whether or not that's good for everybody, I think that's debatable because I think some families can be an amazing influence. 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:17.519 Yeah, but yeah. 00:14:18.399 --> 00:14:19.360 That's crazy, dude. 00:14:19.519 --> 00:14:21.120 Like 15. 00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:22.960 Yeah, yeah. 00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:23.440 Okay. 00:14:24.320 --> 00:14:30.480 I was dude, I um around that age, there were I we did go look at this art school for me. 00:14:31.039 --> 00:14:32.399 Um, it just was too expensive. 00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:36.559 So I was like, she was open to it, but I guess it just didn't work out for us. 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:41.279 But yeah, I don't know how how life would have been different if I would have like left the house at 15. 00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:42.799 Yeah. 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:56.559 Well, I mean, when you moved on to the military, I feel like that's kind of when you took on your own journey of like I'm gonna get fucking huge and I'm gonna start becoming becoming physically adept and shit like that, right? 00:14:56.799 --> 00:15:00.080 It well, it it came after I washed out of the tag pee after that. 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:09.759 Like, that's when it and honestly, at first it was like I'm gonna gain weight and try this again, but yeah, I I found bodybuilding like super quick after I went down that path. 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:11.039 Yeah. 00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:13.200 Do you feel like that was hard for you at first? 00:15:13.360 --> 00:15:21.360 I know you told me, I believe you mentioned that in the first couple months that you were able to blow up on like 40 to 60 pounds or something. 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:26.879 I put on, I got up to like 155, 160 pretty quick. 00:15:27.039 --> 00:15:27.440 Yeah. 00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:30.080 Um, I was just eating. 00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:33.919 Yeah, I literally every chance I got, I would just eat something, man. 00:15:34.080 --> 00:15:36.559 I think too, like, like especially it's funny now, man. 00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:46.720 Like, I look at how bodybuilding was like back then versus now, and like there's so much more like education, and like it's so much easier to do things right. 00:15:46.879 --> 00:15:47.120 Yeah. 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:54.639 Whereas back then I had like a bodybuilding magazine, and it was I literally just followed the diet that the other the bodybuilder in the magazine was doing. 00:15:54.799 --> 00:15:55.759 You know, yeah. 00:15:56.399 --> 00:15:57.679 Do you remember what you were eating? 00:15:57.919 --> 00:16:07.519 When I was still in like they like they call it tech school, um, where you're learning to do your job, I was eating basically whatever the the the uh cafeteria had. 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:10.639 So like like a lot of eggs and oatmeal. 00:16:10.879 --> 00:16:15.200 Uh I was doing soy, soy milk, soy protein milk. 00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:18.960 Um, I would I would get like two or three cartons of that. 00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:26.240 I would eat, and the way I would do it is since it's free, I would eat breakfast there, and then I would take a plate to go and then eat that again. 00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:29.120 Then we would have lunch and it it rotated. 00:16:29.200 --> 00:16:31.600 So like it was whatever the cleanest option was. 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:35.759 You know, sometimes it was chicken, sometimes it was steak and potatoes, whatever it may be. 00:16:36.080 --> 00:16:37.279 Same deal. 00:16:37.759 --> 00:16:41.759 Eat, eat um one meal there, take the other one with me. 00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:46.000 And then uh I was able to have enough money for protein shakes and stuff. 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:50.000 So I would do that after my workout, and then whatever they had for dinner, I would eat that. 00:16:50.080 --> 00:16:50.399 Yeah. 00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:52.720 What do they usually have for dinner? 00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:58.480 Bro, that was like it yo, the Air Force food was actually pretty good. 00:16:58.639 --> 00:17:04.000 Like the other branches, like the Air Force get gets made fun of because like they treat us nice, yeah. 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:06.480 And the other branches get treated like shit. 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:10.960 Like their their rooms

suck, um, the food sucks. 00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:15.119 Uh but yeah, so like they call us a chair for us because we get pampered. 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:16.720 So like everything was pretty good. 00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:17.359 Yeah. 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:27.200 But dude, I remember having like I remember having just ungodly amounts of soy milk when I was in the high school, in the dorm school. 00:17:27.279 --> 00:17:28.319 Like, what is that? 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:31.119 What is that the name of that popular soy milk called stilt milk? 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:33.440 Or shouldn't still oh my god, bro. 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:36.880 When people started telling me that I was gonna grow tits and shit from that. 00:17:37.200 --> 00:17:38.559 Dude, holy fuck. 00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:41.200 I didn't know anything was wrong with it, dude, until like years later. 00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:45.759 Yeah, I was drinking probably like gallons of that for like three years straight, dude. 00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:46.880 Makes me wonder. 00:17:47.519 --> 00:17:50.319 That's why I fucking got a little gyno and shit. 00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:51.839 I don't know, it's us, dude. 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:52.640 It's not the cure. 00:17:52.880 --> 00:18:00.160 Yeah, do you feel like um so failing out of the TAC or the TACP? 00:18:01.200 --> 00:18:04.720 That is what caused you to be like, okay, fuck, I need to gain some fucking weight. 00:18:04.880 --> 00:18:05.200 Yeah. 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:06.160 Right. 00:18:06.400 --> 00:18:09.279 Um, did you ever like what's the okay? 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:12.480 I'm sorry, I'm so ignorant, but like, is there a process for like reapplying for that? 00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:15.519 Or yeah, yeah, no, it's definitely very niche. 00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:30.960 Um so yeah, basically the way that whole the whole special forces program works is like before you join, you take a um I forget what it is, I think it's called a past test, and that's how you get to go. 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:32.480 Um it's not even that hard. 00:18:32.799 --> 00:18:37.119 It's like you do like uh I forget how long of the swim is. 00:18:37.200 --> 00:18:43.920 You do a swim, you do a run, you do pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups, and it's a little bit higher of a standard than like the normal military test. 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:59.440 Um then you get into basic training, and then you get to stay with all the people doing that same those same jobs because you have to do more during PT so you can you know be ready to go when you get to the actual like pipeline. 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:08.640 Once you get there, um if you don't make it past, I think the first week or the or the first two weeks, then it'll just kick you out. 00:19:09.039 --> 00:19:12.079 Which I saw a couple that happened to a couple people. 00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:16.240 And then if you make it past the first two weeks and then you wash out, then they'll give you a different job. 00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:23.279 And then from there, I think you have to wait like two, I think it's like two years to apply again. 00:19:23.839 --> 00:19:24.319 Yeah. 00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:25.759 Yeah. 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:27.200 So what did you do? 00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:33.759 I ended up uh getting a job called uh electronic warfare. 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:50.799 So I worked on jamming systems that attach to aircraft, and uh I was like, dude, as soon as I got to my base, like I spent I think six months going like retraining to that job, and like I found bodybuilding like in month five of that. 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:56.480 So as soon as I got to my base, I was over going back and trying again, and I was all in on bodybuilding. 00:19:57.359 --> 00:20:01.359 And then someone convinced you to do your first show. 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:09.279 Uh basically when I was retraining, someone told me about bodybuilding, and I was really like I that's when I knew I wanted to do it. 00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:11.680 I just had to figure out how to do a show. 00:20:11.759 --> 00:20:19.039 Yeah, and I remember this dude, I knew I met him and I saw he was a bodybuilder, and I asked him, I said, hey bro, how do you sign up for a show? 00:20:19.119 --> 00:20:20.640 And he's like, just go figure it out, bro. 00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:21.279 It's online. 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:24.400 I was like, I was like, okay. 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:26.319 Yo, funny enough, dude. 00:20:26.400 --> 00:20:31.680 Like, I turned pro before him, and he turned pro a few years later, and he he mentioned that to me. 00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:34.319 Um, he's like, Yeah, bro, I was a little mean to you, dude. 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:36.640 I'm like, Yeah, yeah, he was, yeah. 00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:50.480 Uh, but I ended up going to like this this gym, go an old a ghost gym in Fort Wild Beach, Florida, and uh this bodybuilding couple, Heather and John Blats, uh, they had like a bodybuilding team, and like I couldn't afford it. 00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:57.119 So like they still brought me on, but like I had to help them like sweep and clean and do different stuff like that, you know? 00:20:57.440 --> 00:21:01.680 And yeah, they were the ones that had me get started. 00:21:01.839 --> 00:21:10.400 Yeah it's funny, like Heather was like, um she wanted me to do men's physique at first, but I just was all in on bodybuilding. 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:18.880 So like I I tried the men's physique posing like one time in class in like the posing class we have, and then I just was like, nah, I'll just do bodybuilder. 00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:26.160 But you gotta do like a you gotta post the picture of you doing a men's physique pose like any I didn't have any of that. 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:26.960 You know it's funny, dude. 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:31.920 The whole reason I have social media was because of her because she's like, Oh, yeah, you're gonna need social media if you're gonna be bodybuilder, you know. 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:33.359 I'm like,

oh, okay. 00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:42.400 And then like I didn't know what to put as my my social media names, but my cousin, when I was in high school, called me rough diesel, like in football practice. 00:21:42.480 --> 00:21:44.640 So I was like, we just put rough diesel, you know. 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:46.160 Fuck yeah, yeah. 00:21:46.640 --> 00:21:47.279 That's fine. 00:21:47.680 --> 00:21:50.880 Yeah, so that's how that name everyone always asked me about like the other name came around. 00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:55.200 Yeah, it's like every white person ever calling me Goku because I'm fucking Asian. 00:21:55.440 --> 00:21:58.480 Like, wow, like do an Asian guy that lifts is crazy. 00:21:58.640 --> 00:21:59.680 I never heard that before. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:00.720 Is that a thing? 00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:01.359 Yeah, dude. 00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:02.400 For sure. 00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:03.839 Before I had social media. 00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:04.400 Oh, yeah. 00:22:05.119 --> 00:22:05.200 Okay. 00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:07.519 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:08.960 Like, dude, this guy's like Goku. 00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:10.880 Like, what the fuck? 00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:12.319 That's like super random. 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:12.720 Like, yo. 00:22:13.119 --> 00:22:13.759 What's up, y'all? 00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:16.000 So it's been a while since I checked the YouTube analytics. 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:20.079 So it's looking like 55% of y'all are not subscribed. 00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:32.960 And if you guys have found value from this podcast during your one-hour cardio sessions, then if you'd like to help support the pod, if you could just click the subscribe and the bell button if you haven't already, it'll help us immensely. 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:42.000 And I'm sure you guys have noticed as the podcast has grown, it's been easier and easier for me to reach out and get guests on that used to never give me an ounce of their time. 00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:49.759 So it's all thanks to you guys that we can have these conversations that five years ago I couldn't really even have in person, nor was I comfortable to. 00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:57.359 And uh the world is changing year by year, and it's all thanks to you guys supporting content like this and making this a very open space. 00:22:57.599 --> 00:23:02.799 So if you guys would also like to support the podcast, Code Nile for Young LA and Huge Supplements. 00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:05.599 Young LA is the clothing brand I've worn in a bunch of my podcasts. 00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:13.359 You guys may have seen probably about 90% of what I've worn is like Young LA, whereas the other 10%, like thrift stores, maybe Amazon. 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:18.960 And uh Huge Supplements is the company that I have that whey protein and whey isolate that's like really, really sweet. 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:32.720 I like to mix it to ninja creamies and then um the Magnify and the pre-workout products that give me a good pump, but also makes it look juicy whenever you're trying to take those uh after picks to show people that you a gym sometimes. 00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:36.480 So I appreciate you guys, and we'll get back to the episode. 00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:42.400 I know, I know you kind of explained that, like, you know, you started like uh the the people at this gym ended up helping you and you were just sweeping everything. 00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:43.119 But who is this woman? 00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:45.039 Like, how did she know all of this shit? 00:23:45.119 --> 00:23:50.000 How'd she know that like you'd have to be, you know, you'd have to have a social media in order to do well in bodybuilding? 00:23:50.079 --> 00:24:00.480 Like, well, her her um, you know, it was a couple, so she was just a coach, but her um husband at the time was he was like a top-level um amateur. 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:06.400 Like it was it was a whole different scene back then because like amateurs back then were like kind of popular. 00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:15.920 Like they had the what RS muscle had like the in the trenches series where they would fly people out to shoot the amateurs, and like it was like a big deal. 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:19.039 I remember like Nick Trigilli. 00:24:19.839 --> 00:24:26.160 He was funny enough, like he was the reason I actually went to get my pro card as early as I did. 00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:32.720 He was dating this girl in town, and like he was uh like kind of a big deal, even though he wasn't a pro at the time. 00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:40.480 Like he had like a I think like a six-figure contract with muscular development, or not muscular development, but um what's that company Kai used to be with? 00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:41.759 Um Muscle Mads. 00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:42.960 Yeah, yeah. 00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:48.640 So she kind of knew because of her husband and what he was doing. 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:50.319 Okay, I gotcha. 00:24:51.279 --> 00:25:04.079 It's kind of cool to hear about the stories from Bro, it's a whole like it's cool, like the the like that I got into bodybuilding when I did, and kind of I've been able to see like the changes because of social media and everything like that. 00:25:04.480 --> 00:25:06.720 It's been it's been really, really interesting. 00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:07.359 Right. 00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:12.640 How do you feel like this prep for this Olympia is different from the first ever prep you did when you were working for that gym? 00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:15.839 Like, what are all the different things that come to mind first for you? 00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:18.720 Well, yo, man, I didn't know what I was doing, dude. 00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:29.680 Like, I remember um I was eating my meals, the the meals were fine, but uh I remember I was telling one of my friends at the time, he was older, his name was Joe, Joe Luke. 00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:32.160 And I said, Yeah, man, like meal prep's pretty easy. 00:25:32.240 -->

00:25:35.359 You know, I just put a little honey on my food, and like it's I'm good to go. 00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:39.440 And he's like, Yo, bro, you can't put honey on your food, dude. 00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:41.039 And like, I was like, Oh, why not? 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:42.720 He's like, because that's carbs. 00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:44.880 I was like, Oh, I was like, Oh, okay. 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:52.160 So like I'll just do a dumb stuff, man, and like um, yeah, I was just doing, I don't know, man, I was just doing dumb stuff. 00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:53.359 Like, I didn't know any better. 00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:59.920 Yeah, um it was it was honestly pretty easy too. 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:09.119 Like, like I remember during the the it was easy in the sense of like being on schedule because like when I had a job, like I had to eat at this time, and if I didn't, I didn't eat, you know. 00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:10.559 So that was really cool. 00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:23.200 Like the way I would get my meals in is during like I obviously I would eat before we started work, then everyone would take like a 15-minute smoke break, and I would eat while everyone was smoking. 00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:34.400 Then we would have lunch, then they would take their uh like two hours later, they would take their next smoke break and I would eat then, and then I would eat right after work and then I'll go train. 00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:39.200 So it was pretty, pretty easy to keep things on track with that prep. 00:26:39.359 --> 00:26:44.319 The only hard part was like the last few weeks when I got tired and I still needed to work. 00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:52.160 So like when I would be really, really exhausted, I would just go sit in the bathroom for like 20 minutes and just sit on the toilet, dude. 00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:56.240 Dude, oh yeah, so um that was hard. 00:26:56.319 --> 00:26:57.440 Yeah, very, very hard. 00:26:57.599 --> 00:26:58.720 That's fucking real, dude. 00:26:58.880 --> 00:27:02.559 Yeah, and then I'm like, okay, they're probably looking for me. 00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:03.519 Let me get up, you know. 00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:14.480 Yeah, but uh overall the prep preps were I think a little bit harder then too, maybe because I had less muscle mass, so I had to diet and like diet harder, do a lot more cardio too, yeah. 00:27:14.720 --> 00:27:16.720 Yeah, man, I can say the exact same. 00:27:16.880 --> 00:27:23.359 Remember like 1200, 1100 calorie like uh last two to three weeks for me in my first few preps. 00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:38.480 Dude, I like at back then dude, I would it was really common for me to go no carb for a while um with like two hours of cardio and now I've I've the last like three years, I haven't I haven't had any no carb days. 00:27:39.279 --> 00:27:41.279 Yeah, what's the lowest your carbs? 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:58.000 Lowest they go, 30, 16, maybe 90 grams, because I'll have like 30 grams in the morning and uh like 30 grams pre-workout

and then maybe one more meal with 30 grams of carbs. 00:27:58.079 --> 00:27:59.440 Yeah, like 90. 00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:02.319 Yeah, still a lot better, but still fucking like nothing. 00:28:02.640 --> 00:28:04.799 I think I handle it pretty pretty good too now. 00:28:04.880 --> 00:28:13.200 I don't know, like yeah, I thought dude, I talked to a lot of pros, and I I like for me it's gotten a lot easier, but a lot of pros are like, bro, it's just as hard as the first one. 00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:15.039 And I'm like, oh, okay. 00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:22.720 But like for me, whatever reason, it it has gotten handling this type of stuff like the hunger and the tiredness gets a little bit easier. 00:28:22.960 --> 00:28:26.319 A lot of pros say that uh their current preps are just as hard as the first. 00:28:26.559 --> 00:28:27.359 Some of them I have. 00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:38.559 Like, I'll talk, like it'll like I remember when it like anytime a kid will come up to me and I'm like, yeah, bro, like uh it get I'll I'll tell me it gets easier, and then a couple pros will be like, nah, bro, it don't get any easier. 00:28:38.640 --> 00:28:40.480 And I'm like, yo, okay. 00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:43.119 But uh yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:28:43.359 --> 00:28:44.640 It definitely got easier for me, dude. 00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:45.359 It got way easier. 00:28:45.599 --> 00:28:52.480 So I think uh I don't know, it probably depends on like it makes you wonder like uh back then, like uh like was your was your first prep out? 00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:57.200 Like were you even like did you even like do well and were you even doing anything for your first prep? 00:28:57.359 --> 00:29:08.640 And then also I think about like guys that are starting, it could be now who uh not everybody's gonna do this, but there's like the few that'll probably start on like a GLP, for example, yeah, on their first prep. 00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:10.640 I got mixed feelings about that, man. 00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:11.759 I I definitely don't agree. 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:16.480 I think you should do your first prep just it just experience all of it, man, 100%. 00:29:17.359 --> 00:29:32.960 But I think for people who have like legit like jobs and need to like function, and like you know, I think it's a good tool, you know, because like if your job, like if what you do in your job is very important, like brain fog and hunger, you can't be messing up at work, you know. 00:29:33.440 --> 00:29:38.640 So I I I definitely see like a use case for it, but I still think the first one you need to like feel it. 00:29:38.799 --> 00:29:41.279 Yeah, you know, absolutely, I do too. 00:29:41.519 --> 00:29:53.119 I do think of like uh my boy Eric who continuous preps are starting to affect his family life and uh taking care of his his toddlers and his babies uh with his wife. 00:29:53.200 --> 00:30:00.720 So I mean, when it gets to that point and it's affecting your relationships like in your close family, like I I can see how the benefit to risk ratio is very high. 00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:10.960 But aside from that, you know, if you're starting your first prep, man, like I think having that baseline of like just hard is going to set the standard for you for the rest of your entire life. 00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:14.880 You will remember that and you'll be like, dude, at least it's not that fucking hard. 00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:16.319 No, 100%, dude. 00:30:16.400 --> 00:30:18.559 I think you need to test your limits, man. 00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:22.079 I think, and it like you said, it'll benefit you in all aspects of life. 00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:28.160 Like when I was in the military going through the special forces stuff, dude, I was like, that was fucking terrible. 00:30:28.319 --> 00:30:32.160 But like now, a lot of things are easier because I've been through that hard thing. 00:30:32.319 --> 00:30:34.079 Yeah, uh, same thing with the diet. 00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:37.119 My second prep was actually my hardest prep, I think, ever. 00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:44.400 Um, Heather had stopped coaching, so her husband started coaching, and he wasn't as good at all. 00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:49.279 So, like six weeks out, I'm like, I don't think I I'm supposed to look like this. 00:30:49.680 --> 00:30:55.359 So I had to switch coaches, and we went like we went like uh for like six weeks. 00:30:55.440 --> 00:31:06.880 We did two hours of cardio, like just off the bat, and then three days no carbs, um, and then and no carbs and no fats, and then one day with protein and fats. 00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:09.119 Damn, probably not the best diet, you know. 00:31:09.200 --> 00:31:14.720 We didn't know shit at the time 10 years ago, but and dude, yeah, I didn't eat peanut butter. 00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:19.039 Um, I didn't eat peanut butter for like a year after that, dude. 00:31:19.279 --> 00:31:22.160 It was it was the hardest prep I had ever done. 00:31:22.319 --> 00:31:27.599 Um so you know, and but now, yeah, now all other preps, I'm just like, oh, it's not that bad. 00:31:27.680 --> 00:31:28.319 Yeah, you know. 00:31:28.640 --> 00:31:31.759 The first show, too, the results. 00:31:32.400 --> 00:31:33.519 You got last place? 00:31:33.839 --> 00:31:35.759 Yeah, so I like to lead on that. 00:31:35.839 --> 00:31:37.200 So I got last place in the open. 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:43.119 I got second in the teenager division, but yeah, I was hoping to do good in in the open. 00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:43.680 Yeah. 00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:48.640 Uh I remember, dude, I was going there, I had saw the winner from last year. 00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:50.319 His it was his kid named Kel. 00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:53.119 And uh I was like, yo, I'm gonna beat that dude. 00:31:53.200 --> 00:31:54.880 And like that was a whole prep. 00:31:55.039 --> 00:31:58.799 I was gonna beat that dude, and um I did not beat that dude. 00:31:59.519 --> 00:32:05.119 So like so that kind of changed my perspective on like what I

should focus on going into shows. 00:32:05.279 --> 00:32:08.079 But uh, but yeah, I don't know, man. 00:32:08.160 --> 00:32:15.839 Like, I see a I get a when I do the Q ⁇ A's, I get a I get to see like inside a lot of people's minds and like and how they think. 00:32:16.160 --> 00:32:22.799 And you know, people ask me like, oh, you placed third or fifth at the Olympia, are you depressed? 00:32:22.880 --> 00:32:32.319 And I'm just like, no, like it's like motive, like well with that fifth place back then, it was very motivating for whatever reason. 00:32:32.559 --> 00:32:39.599 I just I don't know, found this thing that like, hey, I can like do this and get better at it, and let me see how I do next year. 00:32:39.839 --> 00:32:44.240 I'm like, let me put all my intention into this and like really give it my all. 00:32:44.799 --> 00:32:49.279 And then like I yeah, I came back that following year and won like the novice overall. 00:32:49.440 --> 00:32:53.599 I won my class, and then like six months after that, I got my pro card, you know. 00:32:54.079 --> 00:33:00.480 So I think just in life, man, people have like the wrong like framing for like events, you know. 00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:02.799 There's a you can take things different ways. 00:33:03.119 --> 00:33:05.039 Well, it's all about how you take things, you know. 00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:08.720 Yeah, do you remember what you needed to improve after the first show? 00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:10.400 Why you got last place? 00:33:10.960 --> 00:33:12.079 I was just small, dude. 00:33:12.160 --> 00:33:30.880 I mean, I was I was kinda lean, but I was really I was like, I mean, I was a lightweight, but I was probably at I was at the bottom of the lightweight division, so like I think I was 145 pounds on stage, and if I was a pound lighter, I would have been a banner weight, so yeah, I just need to be bigger. 00:33:30.960 --> 00:33:35.519 So the following year, I think I was 155, yeah, on stage. 00:33:35.599 --> 00:33:37.119 Yeah, what was the weight last time? 00:33:37.519 --> 00:33:38.640 Uh 145. 00:33:38.720 --> 00:33:40.960 So I put on 10 pounds, and that was naturally. 00:33:41.359 --> 00:33:42.079 How did you do that? 00:33:42.640 --> 00:33:43.039 Huh? 00:33:43.200 --> 00:33:44.400 How did you do that? 00:33:44.799 --> 00:33:46.240 Just going all in, dude. 00:33:46.400 --> 00:33:52.640 Dude, my I I really I truly think like you can only do like 100%, be a hundred percent at one thing at a time. 00:33:52.880 --> 00:33:55.200 And like I went all in on bodybuilding. 00:33:55.279 --> 00:33:57.359 Like, I didn't all my money went toward it. 00:33:57.519 --> 00:34:01.839 I didn't have much money, but so I didn't have like a smartphone, I didn't have Wi-Fi. 00:34:02.000 --> 00:34:09.679 So like when I wanted to watch the Olympia that year, I had to drive to Starbucks and like it was closed because I'm on like the East Coast. 00:34:10.079 --> 00:34:11.280 So it's like midnight. 00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:14.719 I'm in like the Starbucks parking lot watching the Olympia, you know. 00:34:15.840 --> 00:34:16.159 Fire. 00:34:16.480 --> 00:34:17.519 Yeah, that's right. 00:34:17.920 --> 00:34:21.280 And um, yeah, just everything went towards it. 00:34:21.440 --> 00:34:23.519 Like I could have I did okay. 00:34:23.599 --> 00:34:28.559 I did good enough in my job not to get in trouble, but it was it was very I was just mid, you know. 00:34:28.800 --> 00:34:33.679 Um but yeah, I just I just put all my time and attention into that, you know. 00:34:33.840 --> 00:34:40.639 Even for I turned 21 like a week before one or two weeks before nationals, and like I didn't go out, I didn't do anything. 00:34:40.719 --> 00:34:43.360 I just you know focus on this. 00:34:43.519 --> 00:34:44.079 Damn, bro. 00:34:44.159 --> 00:34:50.880 I turned 21 right before like my it was a regional show, but like right before like one of my first regional shows before another nationals, too. 00:34:50.960 --> 00:34:53.840 Yeah, it was 20 I turned 21 during peak week. 00:34:54.079 --> 00:35:01.280 So from like from my girlfriend at the time, I got a peak week box and it was like birthday cake-flavored protein bars. 00:35:02.079 --> 00:35:03.280 That's actually thoughtful, man. 00:35:03.440 --> 00:35:05.039 Yeah, super thoughtful, super thoughtful. 00:35:05.280 --> 00:35:10.639 Yeah, but I didn't drink alcohol for a while until I didn't get it get my first like alcohol at the bar or something. 00:35:10.800 --> 00:35:15.039 Yeah, until like, I don't know, sometime towards like months later. 00:35:15.840 --> 00:35:20.800 Uh but do you remember what you did nutrition-wise, training-wise during that year? 00:35:21.199 --> 00:35:28.000 Training was like I was I like high green a lot, so like my whole leg day was just based on his leg day. 00:35:28.239 --> 00:35:32.320 Uh my arm, I was I was basing certain body parts on like certain people I liked. 00:35:32.480 --> 00:35:36.159 My arm day was based on Lee Priest's arm day because I liked his arms. 00:35:36.880 --> 00:35:45.840 Um for like chest and back, I don't remember, but everything was very high volume for me back then, like like extremely high volume. 00:35:46.079 --> 00:35:48.320 Um what is high volume like? 00:35:48.480 --> 00:35:58.880 So like I would do let's say for leg day, I would do like four working sets of leg, and no, actually, I would start with glutes because that's what Cadi ate. 00:35:58.960 --> 00:36:04.800 So I would start with glutes, do like three, four sets of um kitbacks. 00:36:05.679 --> 00:36:12.880 Then I think I would move on to like um the hip abduction machine after that. 00:36:13.360 --> 00:36:20.639 Then from there I would do like leg extensions, and like two sets would be like drop sets or like some type of like intensifier. 00:36:20.800 --> 00:36:23.599 Do you remember how many sets total of each? 00:36:24.159 --> 00:36:26.079 Around four sets of everything. 00:36:26.239 --> 00:36:34.079 So like I would do the

leg extensions, um uh free weights, uh free weight squats. 00:36:34.400 --> 00:36:40.159 Then I would go and do like a machine squat, then I would do like lunges. 00:36:40.400 --> 00:36:41.119 God damn. 00:36:41.840 --> 00:36:42.800 That's a lot, dude. 00:36:42.880 --> 00:36:43.360 I would do a lot. 00:36:43.440 --> 00:36:44.400 I mean, that's what Kai didn't. 00:36:44.559 --> 00:36:45.599 A lot of quadwork, bro. 00:36:45.679 --> 00:36:50.159 Kai and then I would finish up with maybe two hamstring exercises and calves. 00:36:50.480 --> 00:36:50.559 Yeah. 00:36:50.800 --> 00:36:54.400 And um actually probably one hamstring exercise and calves. 00:36:54.480 --> 00:37:02.000 So yeah, it was it was a bit of and I would do like a like a super long drop set for that, that, that uh machine squat, dude. 00:37:02.079 --> 00:37:03.119 It was it was nuts. 00:37:03.360 --> 00:37:03.920 Damn, dude. 00:37:04.000 --> 00:37:04.639 That's wild. 00:37:04.800 --> 00:37:08.320 So, like, so like 16 sets of quads and then like one exercise for hamstring. 00:37:09.440 --> 00:37:11.360 That's why my hamstrings suck for so long, dude. 00:37:11.519 --> 00:37:12.400 That's fire, dude. 00:37:12.480 --> 00:37:15.599 Yeah, I literally can see every like reason what every imbalance I have. 00:37:15.679 --> 00:37:18.960 I'm like, yeah, I was doing that, or I this is the reason, you know, looking back at it. 00:37:19.039 --> 00:37:20.480 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:37:21.199 --> 00:37:22.719 Dude, I was thinking about the same. 00:37:22.800 --> 00:37:28.880 Uh one of my uh biggest weaknesses is my middle back thickness, like the fucking rhomboids and this line downwards. 00:37:29.039 --> 00:37:46.480 And uh I realized whenever I did back thickness exercises for the last like 15 years, it was just me moving my rear delts and my biceps, but my not me retracting and retracting my scapula and stretching it, and yeah, just no retraction, no contraction. 00:37:47.199 --> 00:37:47.840 Just stable. 00:37:48.159 --> 00:38:03.119 Bro, it's crazy now, and like now, like I would say, like if we grew up in this era, like we probably wouldn't have those issues because like there's so much more knowledge out there, like like uh half the mistakes I made, I'm like, yeah, if I would have known that, like I would have gotten to my goal quicker. 00:38:03.199 --> 00:38:07.119 And I think that's why like you see all these young kids looking like huge now. 00:38:07.280 --> 00:38:09.039 I mean, that's one of the reasons, but yeah. 00:38:09.360 --> 00:38:14.000 Dude, I'm actually so excited for what bodybuilding is gonna look like all the divisions 10 years from now. 00:38:14.079 --> 00:38:23.599 Like, I know people will there's gonna be some people that always say, like, oh, the 90s were the best, or the golden era was the best, or whatever this era was the best, but I generally believe that we're only going to elevate. 00:38:23.679 --> 00:38:29.920 Yeah, I think people who are starting now, who are competing

now, 10 years from now, we're gonna have some fucking freaks, dude. 00:38:30.000 --> 00:38:31.199 And it's gonna be wild. 00:38:32.159 --> 00:38:39.440 I made a post um, I think it was yesterday or the day before, of like my entire like pro career. 00:38:39.599 --> 00:39:02.079 And I'm like, it's really cool to see because I'm I'm like uh the only one that's kind of been there since the start to now, and like I've been at the Olympia every single time, and to see like the first year what like an Olympian level physique looked like versus now, like that first year, I don't think that physique would have won like a uh a national show, to be honest with you, dude. 00:39:02.400 --> 00:39:04.400 Crazy, I dude. 00:39:04.480 --> 00:39:06.159 It's yeah, it's insane, man. 00:39:06.400 --> 00:39:10.159 Like the level how much classic has evolved. 00:39:10.239 --> 00:39:14.000 Granted, the weight cap is gone up, but like still, it's crazy, dude. 00:39:14.079 --> 00:39:16.960 I feel the same way like thinking about those physiques too. 00:39:17.119 --> 00:39:20.159 Yeah, I don't think they would have won a national show either. 00:39:20.480 --> 00:39:30.320 Yeah, I think possibly there's a couple that might have like I think Brian might have been able to squeeze through and maybe Araj, but majority of us no, it wouldn't, it wouldn't have worked at all. 00:39:30.960 --> 00:39:33.199 Dude, Brion is still fucking massive at his age. 00:39:33.679 --> 00:39:35.119 He's like what 48 now or some shit. 00:39:35.199 --> 00:39:36.880 He's he's up there, he's almost 50. 00:39:36.960 --> 00:39:37.599 He's up there, man. 00:39:37.679 --> 00:39:38.880 It's crazy, impressive, dude. 00:39:38.960 --> 00:39:41.119 I don't think he gets enough love and respect, man. 00:39:41.280 --> 00:39:44.159 Um, no, dude, he's it's it's insane, dude. 00:39:44.320 --> 00:39:47.119 And like, yeah, yeah, it's crazy. 00:39:47.360 --> 00:39:48.000 It's insane. 00:39:48.159 --> 00:39:50.480 I remember we I remember my first pro show. 00:39:50.559 --> 00:39:56.239 He was he was there, and I saw him and I was like, I hope he's doing men's physique because he was huge. 00:39:56.400 --> 00:39:59.039 And nah, he went on to beat me at that show. 00:39:59.199 --> 00:40:00.400 That's hilarious, dude. 00:40:00.480 --> 00:40:01.039 Yeah, yeah. 00:40:01.280 --> 00:40:06.559 So qualifying for your first Olympia 1.5 years later after your pro card, right? 00:40:06.800 --> 00:40:07.519 Yeah, yeah. 00:40:07.679 --> 00:40:16.880 Well, um, I got my pro card in November of 2014, and yeah, um, what like June or July of 2016 was my first pro show. 00:40:17.039 --> 00:40:19.280 And your first Olympia at 22 years old is pretty crazy. 00:40:19.360 --> 00:40:23.039 Yeah, like I know it was back then, you know, and like Anton at 22 on stage now. 00:40:23.119 --> 00:40:26.719 Okay, his 22 was a lot different than my 22 bro. 00:40:27.519 --> 00:40:28.320 Yeah, yeah. 00:40:28.480 --> 00:40:31.760 Yeah, but still that's fucking that's fucking so sick, man. 00:40:31.920 --> 00:40:33.679 Yeah, Olympia stage at 22. 00:40:33.840 --> 00:40:34.719 What was that like for you? 00:40:34.960 --> 00:40:38.079 It was really well, it was really cool going into it. 00:40:38.159 --> 00:40:39.920 It was a little underwhelming, like being there. 00:40:40.400 --> 00:40:43.360 Like the a lot of people don't really like, you know what's funny? 00:40:43.840 --> 00:40:46.800 There's very few photos of that first class of Zeke Olympia. 00:40:46.960 --> 00:40:51.280 I don't know if they didn't think we were gonna be, they definitely didn't think we were gonna be as popular. 00:40:51.360 --> 00:40:52.239 That's part of it. 00:40:52.320 --> 00:41:01.920 But like there's like I have like a couple shitty like flip phone photos from like from that, and uh that's about it, outside of like the actual stage shots. 00:41:02.480 --> 00:41:11.440 But yeah, not like anything like how they do now where they have photographers and videographers all backstage the whole time, all at the press conference, all at this other stuff. 00:41:11.760 --> 00:41:14.239 Um, yeah, back then it was like it's like nothing. 00:41:14.320 --> 00:41:16.800 I have like two photos of all of us together, you know. 00:41:17.119 --> 00:41:22.400 How scary was it for you to uh just drop out of the Air Force and commit completely to Olympia? 00:41:22.880 --> 00:41:33.119 No, it was it was definitely uh a hard decision, dude, because I wasn't at the point where I was making um much money from bodybuilding. 00:41:33.440 --> 00:41:39.280 Like, so like our the person I was dating at the time, they were like, I think the military's holding you back, you know. 00:41:39.519 --> 00:41:45.840 You know, if you want to pursue that, you know, for a year, you know, I'll be able to help you, and you know, you can get that rolling. 00:41:45.920 --> 00:41:52.000 And so like that was the main the main uh thing that made me feel safe to do it, you know. 00:41:52.480 --> 00:41:55.760 But yeah, it was a struggle the first like two, three years. 00:41:56.000 --> 00:41:59.599 Yeah, it was a really big struggle, you know, to figure out figure things out. 00:41:59.840 --> 00:42:01.679 What are some of the struggles that come to mind? 00:42:01.920 --> 00:42:04.400 Because I think a lot of people, including myself, could relate to this. 00:42:04.639 --> 00:42:05.199 The money, yeah. 00:42:05.280 --> 00:42:06.400 It was just the money, dude. 00:42:06.480 --> 00:42:18.400 Like, um I had a I had one I had one sponsor, MPA Subs, and they paid me like$2K uh a month, and obviously that's not enough to like live off of. 00:42:19.599 --> 00:42:34.639 So very early on, like I've I I was working with Joe, and like for whatever reason, I just started just sharing everything like I was learning from him, and then I started doing pretty well from coaching, you know. 00:42:35.119 --> 00:42:45.199 Nowadays they have all these different people that teach how to get

clients and how to get leads, but back then it was it wasn't that any of that any of that out there. 00:42:45.760 --> 00:42:53.360 And like I just kind of happened to like figure it out, like, oh, if you provide value to people, then like you know, it comes back to you, you know. 00:42:53.599 --> 00:42:55.920 And even back then, like, dude, no one really did that. 00:42:56.000 --> 00:42:59.760 Like, they just coaches and everyone would they wanted to keep their secrets, you know. 00:42:59.920 --> 00:43:02.400 Yeah, so like people keep it out there, dude. 00:43:02.559 --> 00:43:07.039 Bro, it was crazy it's crazy how yeah, like nobody wanted to come on the transparent podcast back then. 00:43:07.360 --> 00:43:09.199 It was completely different, man. 00:43:09.519 --> 00:43:12.800 Um completely different. 00:43:13.039 --> 00:43:19.679 So yeah, I was one of the few people actually like just sharing stuff, and like so that really helped me, helped me out back then, yeah. 00:43:20.559 --> 00:43:24.320 But no, it was that definitely financially was just the hardest part for sure. 00:43:24.639 --> 00:43:31.360 Did you ever end up having to do any like side jobs or anything in addition, like before coaching ended up like no man? 00:43:31.440 --> 00:43:32.880 I I came very close. 00:43:33.039 --> 00:43:34.079 Um, very, very close. 00:43:34.239 --> 00:43:38.639 I remember uh when me and my girlfriend now, I used to start it, um, we were talking. 00:43:38.880 --> 00:43:41.840 I was, dude, I I what happened? 00:43:42.000 --> 00:43:49.679 Um I had I I had to live with my cousin for a couple weeks, and then I was trying to get a job at MI40. 00:43:50.000 --> 00:43:51.920 But yo, Ben would not give me a job. 00:43:52.000 --> 00:43:54.079 He's like, bro, you're a pro and like this and that. 00:43:54.239 --> 00:43:55.280 I'm like, dude, I need a job. 00:43:55.440 --> 00:44:10.400 He's like, I can be a pro and like work at a gym, but he was like I did three interviews with him, like wrote up a whole like um plan for like the year for the gym, and like nothing, dude. 00:44:10.480 --> 00:44:14.159 So like I've had the hardest time getting normal jobs in my life, man. 00:44:14.239 --> 00:44:14.480 Yeah. 00:44:14.880 --> 00:44:16.639 And so like that didn't work out. 00:44:16.719 --> 00:44:18.320 So damn, that's crazy, man. 00:44:18.400 --> 00:44:18.880 I know, right? 00:44:19.440 --> 00:44:20.320 Man, come on. 00:44:21.119 --> 00:44:24.400 Dude, dude, I ended three three separate interviews, dude. 00:44:24.559 --> 00:44:25.119 That's funny. 00:44:25.280 --> 00:44:26.000 I had to drive. 00:44:26.079 --> 00:44:30.639 And when my cousin lived, like, I feel I can't remember, but it was like hours away. 00:44:30.719 --> 00:44:32.320 It wasn't like like a 30-minute drive. 00:44:32.400 --> 00:44:38.639 I he lived in like a he no, it was it was like a six, seven hour drive to get down there, you know. 00:44:39.039 --> 00:44:41.360 Uh, but eventually I just gave up on it. 00:44:41.440 --> 00:44:44.000 I'm like, I'm just gonna try to go all in on this coaching thing. 00:44:44.079 --> 00:44:51.039 And like, I remember I had like I didn't even have enough money for um the down payment for the apartment. 00:44:51.119 --> 00:44:56.320 So she gave me 300 bucks uh to to pay the rest off of it, you know? 00:44:56.480 --> 00:45:03.679 Yeah, and then in that house I had a mattress, a chair, and a microwave, and that was it, you know. 00:45:03.760 --> 00:45:07.840 So I would yeah, yeah, it was it was a wild time, dude. 00:45:08.079 --> 00:45:14.079 I mean it's funny, I like I wish like now everyone's so like transparent and like open about that type of stuff. 00:45:14.400 --> 00:45:18.480 And like now, like I wish like I had like took pictures or like talked about it or anything. 00:45:18.639 --> 00:45:22.639 I have zero, zero like anything from it. 00:45:23.039 --> 00:45:28.719 Um, but but yeah, that was that was uh definitely a difficult difficult time, yeah. 00:45:28.960 --> 00:45:32.800 Um I had a hard business uh when I when I quit being an engineer. 00:45:32.960 --> 00:45:37.199 Luckily I had some savings left from being an engineer, but bro, that didn't last very long. 00:45:37.360 --> 00:45:46.559 Like because I went all in into fitness, social media, and bodybuilding and everything, because I just decided I hate being an engineer, but also like I want to make this this dream grow, you know? 00:45:46.800 --> 00:45:50.639 And like I don't what I'm doing right now, I I hardly have any time. 00:45:51.039 --> 00:46:02.800 So the I'd say the hardest part was like watching my savings dwindle down to zero over the months as I was trying to pay rent and not having any income. 00:46:03.039 --> 00:46:13.280 Bro, and it's like you you like you go into hoping like oh it's gonna be good, I'm gonna get this going really, really quickly and and get like supplement that income, but then it takes way longer than you expect it. 00:46:13.519 --> 00:46:14.400 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:46:14.800 --> 00:46:23.360 Then I think about how my my immigrant dad always had the story of like when he moved to when he moved to America from Asia, someone stole his luggage at the airport. 00:46:23.599 --> 00:46:24.079 Oh my god. 00:46:24.639 --> 00:46:36.719 Yeah, he had to just live off his um like his uh research assistant uh salary and ended up having to eat just like cup ramen cup ramen for like three months or something. 00:46:36.880 --> 00:46:41.440 Yeah, then also basically like sleep on the floor, like on like a mattress or something, that's it, or some shit like that. 00:46:41.519 --> 00:46:44.000 Uh some funny stories wear the same clothes for like three months. 00:46:44.320 --> 00:46:44.719 Holy shit. 00:46:44.960 --> 00:46:45.199 Fire. 00:46:45.599 --> 00:46:46.559 Good shit. 00:46:46.960 --> 00:46:50.239 What was it like working with uh Joe when you guys started working together? 00:46:50.400 --> 00:46:57.519 Like what what were like some of

the top things that you can think of that you learned from your experience and your time with him training? 00:46:57.840 --> 00:47:00.079 Um so yeah, how we met. 00:47:00.159 --> 00:47:04.480 It was it was he saw me after I won my first pro show. 00:47:04.559 --> 00:47:05.679 He saw me on stage actually. 00:47:05.760 --> 00:47:09.360 I won my first pro show was that I won was the Tampa Pro. 00:47:09.440 --> 00:47:12.320 I lost to Brianna and Prestige Crystal Cup. 00:47:12.400 --> 00:47:12.639 Uh-huh. 00:47:12.880 --> 00:47:17.440 And then I think one or two weeks later I went to Tampa and uh won that when what's his Instagram again? 00:47:17.760 --> 00:47:19.440 It's uh fee coach. 00:47:19.679 --> 00:47:20.000 Yeah, yeah. 00:47:20.880 --> 00:47:25.599 So um he sent me a message and he was like, hey man, like great job on the win. 00:47:25.679 --> 00:47:31.840 I I I see some of your training viz, and I think I can help you, like I see some gaps that I can fill in. 00:47:32.320 --> 00:47:39.280 And like I was uh I guess 20, 22, maybe 21, 22 at the time. 00:47:39.679 --> 00:47:48.239 And I knew like like I know some people be like, oh, you're a pro, like you already you should, you know, you should be able to do whatever, but I was like, I don't know shit. 00:47:48.400 --> 00:48:05.840 Like, you know, and like uh just previous to that, like you know, I turned pro, I weighed 155 pounds in uh November 2014, and then you know, over a year and a half later, I won Tampa Pro at like 156, so I gained like a pound. 00:48:05.920 --> 00:48:07.599 So I'm like, I really don't know what I'm doing. 00:48:07.760 --> 00:48:10.480 So like let me let me figure this out. 00:48:10.960 --> 00:48:13.599 So I I saw him and like I was like, okay, yeah. 00:48:13.920 --> 00:48:28.480 So I would drive from Fort Wallon Beach down to Tampa, which I think is like an eight-hour drive once a month, and um I would get in and we would uh train like three times before I had to go back to work in the Air Force. 00:48:28.960 --> 00:48:38.800 I would do that every month until I I got out of the Air Force and moved to Maryland, and that's when he finally wrote me my first plan, like like several months after I started training with him. 00:48:39.360 --> 00:48:45.840 Uh and um I started following that, and then once me and my ex separated, I had a choice. 00:48:46.000 --> 00:49:00.559 It was either move to Vegas to be with my nutritionist coach, Matt Porter, or move to Tampa to be with Joe, and um decide to move to Tampa, you know, um, because it made more sense to be with someone that's gonna train with me. 00:49:00.960 --> 00:49:04.239 So uh yeah, and that's how we got started together, man. 00:49:04.320 --> 00:49:08.800 And like for five years straight, I saw him more than any other person like in my life. 00:49:08.960 --> 00:49:17.039 You know, we would train together five days a week um for like two, three hours, and yeah, well, we talked a lot. 00:49:17.199 --> 00:49:23.599 So it was probably like an hour and a half actual training and like another hour of just just chatting, you know. 00:49:23.679 --> 00:49:26.559 So Joe, you're not keeping up with the uh rest times, brother? 00:49:26.719 --> 00:49:30.800 Bro, no, me and Joe, like I remember my girl would come down sometime, she's like, Y'all talk a lot. 00:49:32.480 --> 00:49:33.679 I was like, Yeah, yeah. 00:49:33.920 --> 00:49:34.719 That's hilarious. 00:49:34.960 --> 00:49:52.400 So yeah, but the things I learned, I mean, the reason why I kept going back was like I remember that first session we had, and I'm like, that was the first time like my muscles like hurt, but I wasn't winded, and that was the that's the best way I could describe it to him at the time when the session was over. 00:49:52.639 --> 00:50:00.719 I was like, I'm not out of breath, but like everything hurts, yeah, you know, because like previously you you know, I was doing the crazy high volume, you know, the drop sets and all that stuff. 00:50:01.199 --> 00:50:09.039 So that was the big thing is learning like, okay, I'm I'm not just going into the gym to like exhaust myself. 00:50:09.440 --> 00:50:11.519 I need to like be more meticulous. 00:50:11.599 --> 00:50:19.199 And then obviously like outside of like the form fixes and things like that, it was literally just law booking, man. 00:50:19.280 --> 00:50:21.280 I think that was the biggest difference he made, you know. 00:50:21.360 --> 00:50:21.760 Yeah. 00:50:22.159 --> 00:50:23.840 The shit we all hate doing. 00:50:24.079 --> 00:50:25.280 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:50:25.360 --> 00:50:26.400 I love I yeah. 00:50:27.599 --> 00:50:28.159 I like it, man. 00:50:28.239 --> 00:50:40.000 Especially I think for people who struggle in the offseason, like like I think it's a good idea to have goals, and like the only thing I can think of in terms of short-term goals is like having like like training goals. 00:50:40.239 --> 00:50:41.360 I think it's a key, man. 00:50:41.760 --> 00:50:46.800 I I'm saying this, I'm saying this to say this also to myself, to make sure I do it. 00:50:46.880 --> 00:50:47.440 You know what I'm saying? 00:50:47.599 --> 00:50:54.480 Like when I logged my when I logged my hex quads, when I logged my leg breakouts over the course of those two years, my legs grew the most. 00:50:54.559 --> 00:50:54.639 Yeah. 00:50:54.880 --> 00:51:01.440 And it was visibly visible and it was spoken about by my audience letting me know that I've grown it. 00:51:01.519 --> 00:51:05.360 That's how I knew I grew it, is because other people told me how much it grew. 00:51:05.440 --> 00:51:13.119 You know, like I didn't even really like I didn't even really see the difference, except for maybe a little in Broadress pictures, but you kind of judge yourself a little hard when you're in bodybuilding. 00:51:13.199 --> 00:51:13.360 Yeah. 00:51:13.599 --> 00:51:22.400 But then, you know, like, for example, right now, sometimes I get in these moments where I don't

fucking log my goddamn incline Smith press. 00:51:22.480 --> 00:51:24.239 I don't like, what the hell am I doing? 00:51:24.400 --> 00:51:30.880 And it's the moments that I realize, like, oh my gosh, like I'm still doing the same fucking weight as I did like like a month ago. 00:51:30.960 --> 00:51:32.079 This is a fucking problem. 00:51:32.159 --> 00:51:33.199 Yeah, this is a fucking problem. 00:51:33.280 --> 00:51:39.599 I'm wasting five we I feel like I wasted five weeks on cycle because I didn't progress, dude. 00:51:39.760 --> 00:51:40.079 You know? 00:51:40.719 --> 00:51:43.280 So there's gotta be something that needs to change, dude. 00:51:43.360 --> 00:51:48.400 I I I subconsciously did like progressive overload with my legs. 00:51:48.480 --> 00:51:54.639 Like before I knew about law book and before I met Joe, uh I was known for my legs, right? 00:51:54.800 --> 00:51:58.880 And like the only reason I think they grew so much is because I had a specific goal. 00:51:58.960 --> 00:52:01.920 I wanted to be like Tom Platt's and like squat like 500 pounds. 00:52:02.000 --> 00:52:12.159 So I was progressing as often as I could on that, but I didn't do that with any other body part, and like I didn't do, I just did whatever. 00:52:12.320 --> 00:52:16.000 I just whatever, but yeah, that was the only thing I had a specific thing I wanted to progress to. 00:52:16.400 --> 00:52:24.320 Um, and the same thing with you said, man, is like when I stopped log booking, that's when I stopped making a lot of progress in the gym, man. 00:52:24.480 --> 00:52:28.559 And um, yeah, I'm I yes, definitely very important for me. 00:52:28.719 --> 00:52:29.039 Yeah. 00:52:29.280 --> 00:52:32.079 What is the biggest thing that changed in your leg training? 00:52:32.239 --> 00:52:40.639 So from your second competition, you were doing like almost upwards of 16 sets of like quads with four different exercises, one exercise of hamstrings. 00:52:40.800 --> 00:52:42.079 Now you're working with Joe. 00:52:42.239 --> 00:52:44.800 What did the leg workouts end up looking like? 00:52:45.280 --> 00:52:48.400 We dropped the volume tremendously. 00:52:48.960 --> 00:52:51.360 Uh we pushed sets a lot harder. 00:52:51.519 --> 00:52:52.960 Like that was that was a big thing. 00:52:53.039 --> 00:52:56.639 Like I thought I was training hard, and then I realized I actually really wasn't. 00:52:56.800 --> 00:53:09.679 Like I was able to still grow because of the amount of volume I was doing, but my intensity was actually pretty low, you know, and that's the only way I could do that much volume, you know, now that now that I think about it. 00:53:10.159 --> 00:53:15.440 Uh so yeah, he really, really raised my my level level of effort like in each and every set. 00:53:15.840 --> 00:53:19.199 He he taught me like, yo, each and every rep is important, you know. 00:53:19.360 --> 00:53:24.960 Um whereas before I would just go up, down, up, down, up, down, like everything needs to be meticulous. 00:53:25.199 --> 00:53:30.639 So he definitely changed just the way I thought about each and every rep. 00:53:30.800 --> 00:53:31.199 Yeah. 00:53:31.519 --> 00:53:37.760 Do you remember how do you remember how much the volume was reduced? 00:53:38.159 --> 00:53:44.800 I mean, now, like he's redu we've reduced it even more now, but like I would say when we first started, right? 00:53:44.960 --> 00:53:48.639 Because now you don't have to grow your legs just as much as you did before, right? 00:53:48.800 --> 00:53:49.119 Yeah, right. 00:53:49.280 --> 00:53:50.880 Like that's not your one of your priorities. 00:53:51.360 --> 00:53:55.280 I think back was probably a bigger priority for you back in the last few years and arms. 00:53:55.840 --> 00:54:02.960 So but so like we would probably do let me think back then when I first started. 00:54:03.039 --> 00:54:13.280 We were doing like a push full legs variation, and we would do maybe two to three sets on everything, probably three, two to three sets on everything, yeah. 00:54:13.440 --> 00:54:18.159 Um, but we would do a leg extension, a hack squat, and a leg press. 00:54:19.039 --> 00:54:25.360 And then occasionally, like when I got into prep, he would have me do these sled pushes, which was awful. 00:54:25.440 --> 00:54:37.280 And his three was um, you know, you you uh you you fatigue and you get the your muscles break down from like negatives, so like there's no or eccentric. 00:54:37.440 --> 00:54:40.400 So but with sled pushes, there's no eccentric, it's all concentric. 00:54:40.559 --> 00:54:46.159 So he said, This is a way to get extra volume, but no, like none of the the um the negatives, you know. 00:54:46.480 --> 00:54:46.960 Interesting. 00:54:47.119 --> 00:54:47.440 Yeah. 00:54:47.679 --> 00:54:56.719 Granted, this is all like like when people if if people want to talk about it's you know science-based and whatever, this is stuff that we were doing like like seven years ago. 00:54:56.800 --> 00:54:59.519 So like the the in the all the level of knowledge is different now. 00:54:59.679 --> 00:55:10.719 But I think Joe was one of the first people like to really, really his main principle was like trying to get more out of doing less, which is like kind of what a lot of the science-based lifting is now. 00:55:10.800 --> 00:55:14.400 Like you don't need as much volume to grow and things like that, you know. 00:55:14.639 --> 00:55:18.000 It's it's it's just a little bit more, it's like taken to the next level now. 00:55:18.079 --> 00:55:21.039 I would say I feel like there's a balance. 00:55:21.199 --> 00:55:23.920 I don't know, I feel like there's a middle ground in science-based lifting. 00:55:24.000 --> 00:55:28.159 Like it sounds like Joe, with you, you guys, you learned intensity. 00:55:28.800 --> 00:55:33.599 I think that's the problem with some of the way that science-based lifting is described these days. 00:55:33.920 --> 00:55:41.840 Because it gives the the idea for a lot of people that

they maybe need to pull back more than they actually do just because of three R AR, for example. 00:55:42.079 --> 00:55:45.280 Yeah, we didn't really do any of the other reps in reserve back then either. 00:55:45.360 --> 00:55:47.519 It was everything, sh everything was to failure. 00:55:48.159 --> 00:55:49.199 All of it was to failure. 00:55:49.360 --> 00:55:49.760 Damn. 00:55:49.920 --> 00:55:51.440 Yeah, all yeah, all of it. 00:55:51.679 --> 00:55:55.840 Um was it like not like every every single set, though, right? 00:55:56.000 --> 00:55:56.880 Every set was to fail, yeah. 00:55:57.039 --> 00:55:57.920 God damn, what the fuck? 00:55:58.079 --> 00:55:58.800 Yeah, yeah, bro. 00:55:58.960 --> 00:56:01.199 Yeah, all this reps in reserve stuff is fair. 00:56:01.440 --> 00:56:03.440 Well, well, John was doing reps in reserve. 00:56:03.519 --> 00:56:04.639 Um John Meadows? 00:56:04.800 --> 00:56:05.039 Yeah, yeah. 00:56:05.119 --> 00:56:08.719 Cause you know, so I've been blessed because I kind of work with you know every both problem, yeah. 00:56:09.039 --> 00:56:11.519 Ton of fucking yeah, dude, ton of G's, dude. 00:56:11.679 --> 00:56:16.639 But but did more volume though, uh compared to Joe as well. 00:56:16.880 --> 00:56:19.519 Like, yeah, some of his programs were insane. 00:56:19.599 --> 00:56:22.159 Um, insanely high volume, too. 00:56:22.480 --> 00:56:27.039 So what was the hamstrings in the leg workout with Joe? 00:56:27.280 --> 00:56:30.000 Um so we three extra quads. 00:56:30.239 --> 00:56:31.840 Okay, right um hamstrings. 00:56:32.079 --> 00:56:40.159 Um, so when he got with me, we moved every hamstrings to the beginning of the workouts because you know, the first thing you do in your session is gonna get the most growth. 00:56:40.239 --> 00:56:42.320 And so we would do that. 00:56:42.639 --> 00:56:47.840 We tried to do stiff legadellos, but dude, my body, like I always get issues with my psoas. 00:56:48.079 --> 00:56:51.199 Every time I get past a certain weight, it always happens. 00:56:51.440 --> 00:57:00.559 Um it literally happened this prep to uh try to do try to do uh T bent over T bar rolls and like it spasmed or whatever. 00:57:00.880 --> 00:57:03.039 Okay, I was I was gonna ask, what does that normally feel like? 00:57:03.280 --> 00:57:04.320 It feels it hurt. 00:57:05.039 --> 00:57:08.320 Yeah, hurts uh it's uh no shit now. 00:57:09.360 --> 00:57:22.239 No, it's uh I have trouble like um moving at the hips once it happens and like uh to the point like um I can't uh like like lift my torso off the bed. 00:57:22.320 --> 00:57:26.880 Like like on when I'm in bed, like I can't like lift up, you know. 00:57:27.039 --> 00:57:36.239 Um the worst has been was like three, four years ago, and like I couldn't even like I would have to like lay like this, I couldn't even lay all the way back, or I can I couldn't sit up. 00:57:36.480 --> 00:57:38.320 It was like in a lot of pain. 00:57:38.559 --> 00:57:38.960 Damn. 00:57:39.199 --> 00:57:39.840 Yeah. 00:57:40.159 --> 00:57:50.639 So I have to be real careful with like hip hinges, but like when we first started, that was the goal was to do the a hip hinge move at first, then do seated leg curls. 00:57:50.880 --> 00:57:52.719 Can I just like spit out a theory? 00:57:52.800 --> 00:57:53.039 Yeah, yeah. 00:57:53.280 --> 00:57:56.320 You know how like bigger cores are better for power lifters? 00:57:56.559 --> 00:58:00.320 Okay, uh, I fucking have problems, man, with any hip hinging movements. 00:58:00.400 --> 00:58:03.280 It's just and it's it's gotten worse as I've grown bigger. 00:58:03.519 --> 00:58:05.440 Like now it's like, dude, I can't. 00:58:05.519 --> 00:58:23.039 I I do I love doing I love doing rowing patterns that require some kind of hip hip hinge stabilization or or movement, such as like uh bent over barbell rows or like cable cable rows, because I feel like I can really do a full stretch and do a full contraction, like Arnold or something. 00:58:23.119 --> 00:58:30.880 Yeah, but dude, if I do that and then I'll also do like uh hack squats for legs at the same week, I'm fucked, dude. 00:58:31.199 --> 00:58:31.920 I'm fucked. 00:58:32.239 --> 00:58:33.679 But yeah, that must be it, man. 00:58:33.920 --> 00:58:40.559 I'm like, I don't know, maybe maybe like having a smaller waist is just like maybe you have to manage that a little bit more, you know, do less volume for your lumbar. 00:58:40.639 --> 00:58:41.280 I don't know. 00:58:41.519 --> 00:58:43.760 Yeah, because yeah, I would love to be able to do it, man. 00:58:43.920 --> 00:59:00.480 The only way I've made I've been able to do a hinge movement is if I'm using um like the glute builder 45 degree thing, uh, or like there's some other machines like that will have like pats on your hips and like uh it's almost like a good morning machine. 00:59:00.719 --> 00:59:03.920 Those are the only ways I can do it without like messing my backup. 00:59:04.159 --> 00:59:07.119 Honestly, we could list out a long list of all the peptides that have helped us. 00:59:07.280 --> 00:59:11.360 You guys have heard these peptides and these research chems in the podcast maybe a million times. 00:59:11.599 --> 00:59:25.599 Peptides I've used from APRs such as BPC157 and TP500 for soft tissue healing, retitrutide, and other GLPs, mitochondrial support such as SS31, MOTC, FIME 01 and Q, methylene blue, SLU. 00:59:26.000 --> 00:59:27.199 There's a bunch of others. 00:59:27.360 --> 00:59:28.960 Obviously, the list goes on and on. 00:59:29.119 --> 00:59:41.039 One of my favorite things, though, that I've been utilizing, such as during my last prep, that has allowed my blood work to come basically pristine, aside from slightly elevated liver enzymes at about 60 and 130 one week after the show. 00:59:41.119 --> 00:59:44.320 And this is after a leg day because my dumbass doesn't want to skip a training day. 00:59:44.480 --> 00:59:46.719 These are probably the things that I think are the most

important. 00:59:46.800 --> 00:59:58.239 So this includes like your injectable glutathione, injectable, or even just normal NAC, liposuble glutathione, GI AIDS such as oral BBC, oral TB, uh, KPV. 00:59:58.639 --> 01:00:12.880 A lot of these things have probably been very substantial in uh reducing oxidative stress and keeping all my blood markers down and thus keeping me as basically health fee as fucking possible that you can be while you're bodybuilding. 01:00:13.039 --> 01:00:27.519 So I couldn't be more thankful to Mike for literally showing me the ropes and also providing me with all of these things, even the compounded supplements that he creates for blood pressure and reducing oxidative stress on all your organs, including your cardiovascular system, your liver, and your kidneys. 01:00:27.679 --> 01:00:31.280 All of these that he creates have been very substantial, honestly. 01:00:31.519 --> 01:00:35.360 So you can find any of these at his site, APR Health Solutions.com. 01:00:35.519 --> 01:00:40.960 And he has offered me a code, code NILE, for you guys to use, which will offer you a 15% discount off of all of that as well. 01:00:41.119 --> 01:00:44.159 If you guys end up using those and you like him, please let me know. 01:00:44.320 --> 01:00:46.800 Shoot in a comment, just give me a DM or something. 01:00:46.880 --> 01:00:49.679 And if you ever have any problems or any questions, I'll be here too. 01:00:49.920 --> 01:00:53.840 This is a community for me, even though I don't have a fucking Discord because I'm lazy as shit, but I fucking should make one. 01:00:54.079 --> 01:00:58.480 So love you guys and um keep training hard. 01:00:58.639 --> 01:01:04.320 I would really love to hear from the audience what they think about the um about your package and the outcome for Olympia 2. 01:01:04.480 --> 01:01:05.280 You know what's funny, dude? 01:01:05.360 --> 01:01:12.719 I think like I put out that video, that Gilko video, and then the first response was like, Oh, I was really off and water and soft. 01:01:12.880 --> 01:01:20.639 And in that video, it doesn't look the best, but then when I look at every other video and every other photo, I'm like, it looks completely different. 01:01:20.719 --> 01:01:26.960 So like, yeah, I I definitely see if people just saw that video, like I'm like, yeah, that doesn't look the best, you know. 01:01:27.360 --> 01:01:33.679 But I was just looking like at the NPC photos, I'm like, holy shit, no, this is really, really good. 01:01:34.159 --> 01:01:36.639 The comparisons were pretty clear, the difference. 01:01:36.719 --> 01:01:41.920 And okay, this is obviously you know, bodybuilding is subjective, so is my opinion. 01:01:42.559 --> 01:01:50.639 But you know, I was I was there in person and pre-searching in the inside the VIP section, so I was kind of I was pretty close to you guys. 01:01:51.840 --> 01:01:56.800 I don't want to say like I don't want to put down anyone else that was in the top five, for example.

01:01:56.880 --> 01:02:02.719 Yeah, but when I saw comparisons, like uh you you were one of the best backs on stage. 01:02:02.880 --> 01:02:04.159 Wesley's back is pretty crazy. 01:02:04.400 --> 01:02:06.719 Wesley's back is pretty crazy, probably takes it. 01:02:07.039 --> 01:02:11.280 Wesley Mike, like just the back up, you had the full back double. 01:02:11.360 --> 01:02:14.079 I think I like I was looking, I was like, dude, this looks really good. 01:02:14.320 --> 01:02:22.079 You had the third best back on stage, I would say, especially like with your back double butt, which is a great improvement from you before. 01:02:22.239 --> 01:02:25.599 Um a lot of time on the back this this all season, yeah. 01:02:25.920 --> 01:02:33.519 Your legs are also fucking amazing, and that's that's common, that's consistent, yeah, you know, especially the shape, but like from the back and the front. 01:02:33.920 --> 01:02:44.559 I feel like I would have to look more at like what the um side relaxed looked like, how much that was judged and pre-judging, maybe that making uh making an impact, as well as maybe like the side chest. 01:02:44.800 --> 01:02:46.239 I don't have an opinion on that. 01:02:46.320 --> 01:02:47.760 That probably made a bigger impact. 01:02:48.000 --> 01:02:51.519 Niall's side chest and side relaxed is pretty fucking crazy. 01:02:51.679 --> 01:02:52.079 Yeah, yeah. 01:02:52.159 --> 01:02:52.639 His yeah. 01:02:52.880 --> 01:02:55.280 He's got some he's got some fucking thickness. 01:02:55.519 --> 01:02:59.119 Uh and from the front, you know, your V taper takes it. 01:02:59.199 --> 01:03:03.199 And I think it's a big I think there's a lot of guys who have this genetically. 01:03:03.360 --> 01:03:09.440 I do, for example, whenever we pull like a vacuum, for example, our mid section tends to look a lot more washed out. 01:03:09.679 --> 01:03:20.400 Um uh so I didn't see that for you as much as your previous years, but obviously, genetically wise, yeah, ours would probably get more washed out compared to the other guys when they're doing it. 01:03:20.480 --> 01:03:26.800 For example, even like Ramon, who's like core still looks fucking dice when he's doing a front double bicep, you know. 01:03:26.960 --> 01:03:36.159 Uh but whenever you did your like avanthighs, for example, conditioning was so on point, everything looked great, your proportions were there, everything was full as well. 01:03:36.320 --> 01:03:38.639 I didn't think there was really anything lacking, honestly. 01:03:38.719 --> 01:03:47.599 So, in my opinion, I told the guys next to me during pre-judging, I also told him during finals, and we all kind of agreed that you looked like, in my personal opinion, the most balanced on stage. 01:03:48.159 --> 01:03:50.239 That was my yeah, it's been my goal, man. 01:03:50.320 --> 01:04:04.320 Like always, is like um I it's more so because of Joe, like I didn't again, I didn't know like how to do any of that stuff when I started, and he was the one that taught me how to like program stuff to like get things to grow, you know, at a certain rate. 01:04:04.480 --> 01:04:17.039 And so no, I uh my first the first bodybuild I ever saw was Dexter Jackson, and I think he was known for being very, very symmetrical, and like that's always been like what I want to look like, you know. 01:04:17.280 --> 01:04:19.599 Yeah, I think you did a great job there, man. 01:04:19.760 --> 01:04:21.119 Um, yeah, dude. 01:04:21.280 --> 01:04:23.119 I think you did an amazing job, dude. 01:04:23.199 --> 01:04:28.239 Like, I I uh I'm I'm the biggest fan of like the late 80s, early 90s. 01:04:28.320 --> 01:04:36.159 So like Sean Ray, um Flex Flex Wheeler, like a young, young Ronnie Coleman, like maybe the first year he won. 01:04:36.400 --> 01:04:43.760 And like I felt like I've probably I definitely still need more size, but like an early Sean Ray, I think I was pretty close to at this show. 01:04:44.000 --> 01:04:47.039 Not like maybe not like him like full blown, but like his early career. 01:04:47.119 --> 01:04:49.840 I'm like, yeah, this is kind of the look I have, I think. 01:04:49.920 --> 01:04:50.159 Yeah. 01:04:50.400 --> 01:05:01.280 I have an opinion for I mean, this isn't specific to you, this is more so for uh all the athletes, or what I think I saw a lot personally in this Olympia. 01:05:01.440 --> 01:05:12.800 But I think um some of the classic and open competitors can kind of work on keeping the core more intact more often during transitions, both during pre-judging and posing as well. 01:05:13.039 --> 01:05:18.880 I think during posing I also saw more of like a real relaxing in between. 01:05:19.119 --> 01:05:19.679 Oh, okay. 01:05:19.840 --> 01:05:20.079 You know? 01:05:20.159 --> 01:05:23.840 Yeah, um, but that's for everybody, but also that's like that's the posing routine. 01:05:24.159 --> 01:05:26.800 So it's the least judged of everything, you know? 01:05:27.199 --> 01:05:27.760 Yeah. 01:05:28.719 --> 01:05:30.079 Yeah, but that's that's about it. 01:05:30.320 --> 01:05:41.440 Um I wanted to ask this later, but I mean, since we're already on the subject, I think it makes sense to ask now when do you feel what what's your plan moving forward now? 01:05:41.519 --> 01:05:43.039 And did you get any feedback yet? 01:05:43.280 --> 01:05:44.639 I got feedback, man. 01:05:44.719 --> 01:05:46.400 Um, I always give feedback after shows. 01:05:46.719 --> 01:05:47.599 That's always my thing. 01:05:47.679 --> 01:05:54.159 Is like if I'm being judged by somebody, like and they determine how I place, why not see how I can do better? 01:05:54.559 --> 01:05:59.760 Uh there's some bodybuilders that refuse to give feedback, dude, and then they wonder why they you know. 01:06:00.079 --> 01:06:01.519 Up in the same place every year. 01:06:01.599 --> 01:06:05.280 But um, I got uh uh feedback from three judges so far. 01:06:05.440 --> 01:06:06.719 I would like to get more. 01:06:06.880 --> 01:06:09.440 Um,

I I can never remember how many there is. 01:06:09.519 --> 01:06:16.000 I think there's nine or something, but I usually get feedback from five because um I think they're being madness the most. 01:06:16.079 --> 01:06:20.639 I don't know, but I'm not gonna say any names, but uh one judge did not agree. 01:06:20.880 --> 01:06:22.719 Um, one really, really high-level judge. 01:06:22.800 --> 01:06:24.400 He was like, dude, I don't know. 01:06:24.800 --> 01:06:30.320 Uh yeah, so uh, you know, they they get rid of the high and the low score, so maybe they got rid of his high score. 01:06:30.400 --> 01:06:30.880 Uh-huh. 01:06:30.960 --> 01:06:36.000 Um, another judge said my conditioning was off, which I was like, okay. 01:06:36.239 --> 01:06:46.880 Um, and I had at the time I had not seen any photos like that, you know, because I I literally asked him when they're going to take a pea break in between the in between the classes, like when it's really, really fresh. 01:06:47.280 --> 01:06:53.280 And then another judge said he felt like I faded, um, which may have been the case. 01:06:53.360 --> 01:06:53.760 I don't know. 01:06:53.920 --> 01:06:54.079 Okay. 01:06:54.559 --> 01:06:58.079 Um, I did pump up more than I normally do. 01:06:58.239 --> 01:07:05.280 Normally I don't really pump up at all uh uh going into the first time I'm on stage. 01:07:05.360 --> 01:07:07.840 But for whatever reason this year, I was like, I'm gonna pump up, you know? 01:07:08.000 --> 01:07:08.320 Right. 01:07:08.559 --> 01:07:15.360 But um I should have I usually wait till uh they do the individual posing and I'll pump up then. 01:07:15.599 --> 01:07:27.039 Because we with so many dudes, man, it's like we're on there's like an hour break in between like when we first go on stage to when we actually do the actual callouts, you know? 01:07:27.519 --> 01:07:31.519 And you can end up trying to pump up three times if you do it every single time. 01:07:32.159 --> 01:07:37.760 So I could see that, but then again, I look at the photos and I'm like, I don't know, you know, I don't know. 01:07:37.920 --> 01:07:38.960 When were these photos taken? 01:07:39.599 --> 01:07:40.239 Yeah. 01:07:40.480 --> 01:07:47.360 Um so those are the three the three judges I spoke to in their feedback so far. 01:07:47.760 --> 01:07:55.199 But man, honestly, at this point, I feel like I just should just do like I should just refer, I just should do what I think I should do, you know? 01:07:55.519 --> 01:07:59.760 So I don't think I'll reach out to the other judges and and ask, you know. 01:07:59.840 --> 01:08:02.960 I think I'm just gonna focus on what I think I need to do. 01:08:03.039 --> 01:08:06.320 And like I still have room to grow, so we're gonna do that. 01:08:06.559 --> 01:08:16.720 And I think um once we get to the point where these other guys are where I'm actually struggling to make weight, the condition is gonna be even better because I have to get down to that weight. 01:08:16.880 --> 01:08:27.680 Yeah, and uh, you know, I think my biggest issue my entire career is and like in life in general is trying to do too much. 01:08:27.840 --> 01:08:43.119 Like I have I say yes to everything, like, and because I always see it as like an opportunity, but like I was talking to a buddy today, and I'm like, I'm gonna stop calling them opportunities and I'm gonna start calling them distractions. 01:08:44.079 --> 01:08:57.279 And I I spoke to another guy and I was like, man, uh, because he was trying to tell me, like, I turned down something today, like there was, oh, they were going shooting uh Jay and a lot of a lot of pros. 01:08:57.520 --> 01:09:02.399 And I'm like, originally I said yeah, because I was like, I'll do, yeah, I can go do that, I can go network, I can hang out. 01:09:02.560 --> 01:09:08.479 But then I thought about it and I was like, man, this year I told myself I'm gonna live in a box, like Jay Color, right? 01:09:09.039 --> 01:09:11.760 And I felt like like this is the first test, right? 01:09:11.920 --> 01:09:20.960 I got the opportunity to go shooting with Jay, and I already told myself, like, literally like two days ago, I was like, You're gonna, you're gonna stop all that, you're gonna say no way more often. 01:09:21.279 --> 01:09:28.960 And so that's the plan this year is to really like stay locked in the box, stay at my house, travel a lot less, only when it's necessary. 01:09:29.680 --> 01:09:33.039 Um, all this guy tried to argue with me. 01:09:33.119 --> 01:09:38.960 He um I know him, he lives in Mississippi, he's a pro in Mississippi, and he was like, dude, you know, you could have done that and been fine. 01:09:39.039 --> 01:09:58.159 And I'm just like, yeah, you're probably right, but like every single Olympia champion I know, Keon, um Nick, uh Jay, uh Phil, um Sydney Gillon, they didn't go anywhere, they didn't do anything, you know what I mean? 01:09:58.399 --> 01:10:03.439 And like, yeah, I've I've like over the past years, I've gotten a lot of cool experiences. 01:10:03.600 --> 01:10:08.800 You know, I've gotten to see the world, do a lot of cool things while they stayed at home. 01:10:09.359 --> 01:10:20.319 But now they're retired, they got all their Olympia wins, like Sid and Chris in particular, and now they get to go have fun while I'm still trying to get that same goal, you know. 01:10:20.720 --> 01:10:25.359 So, like I'm like in my mind, I'm like, let me just try their way, you know. 01:10:26.319 --> 01:10:30.399 So that's the goal, that's the plan is to to travel a lot less. 01:10:30.560 --> 01:10:41.840 Even backstage, I was talking to Keon and his his uh wife, and she's like, dude, if I could just get you like to live with us and like I would lock you in a room and just feed you and let you out the train. 01:10:42.000 --> 01:10:42.720 That's awesome. 01:10:43.279 --> 01:10:48.560 So I'm like, if if Iris Kyle told me the same thing, dude, I was in Japan and she told me the exact same thing.

01:10:48.800 --> 01:10:51.039 Tim the most Olympia wins in history. 01:10:51.119 --> 01:10:52.239 She told me the exact same thing. 01:10:52.399 --> 01:10:52.720 Yeah. 01:10:52.880 --> 01:11:00.640 So I'm like, there's been enough people now in my like who have the thing that I want, and they all tell me the same exact thing, you know? 01:11:01.520 --> 01:11:03.039 So I'm gonna do it, you know. 01:11:03.199 --> 01:11:10.159 I'm really, really sit down and like for 100% 365 days until next year, just lock in on it. 01:11:10.399 --> 01:11:12.079 I uh I very much agree with that. 01:11:12.239 --> 01:11:14.560 Uh I think that's one of the biggest problems that I have as well. 01:11:14.640 --> 01:11:30.800 And I think a lot of people in the industry can say that they do, and it's it's the fact that you are, I mean, it maybe maybe for some people it's different what they're doing, but I think a lot of us want to achieve a lot, and a lot of us are go, go, go. 01:11:30.880 --> 01:11:38.800 Yeah, and your sympathetic drive is always turned on, and that's just not it's not what you need for someone who has become Mr. 01:11:38.880 --> 01:11:39.359 Olympia. 01:11:39.600 --> 01:11:51.840 And I think, man, I think they they the you don't get me wrong, you can be good at a lot of things and still go out and have fun, but like to be the best, I really think it takes a bit more sacrifice, you know? 01:11:52.239 --> 01:12:06.079 It's not even just having fun, it's like actually like doing mental work as well, like being on, like for example, like like for example, that this is just a personal example, but there's a lot of other examples, like for example, like I don't know, like more place, more dates always making videos and like the studying and learning and shit. 01:12:06.159 --> 01:12:08.800 And then I don't know someone else that has to manage something like that. 01:12:08.960 --> 01:12:15.840 Um like maybe you have to manage a gym like 10 hours of the day every single day, and you have to continuously be on calls all the time. 01:12:15.920 --> 01:12:16.640 That's another example. 01:12:16.800 --> 01:12:21.199 Or for me, like the biggest example is like consistently doing podcasts. 01:12:21.439 --> 01:12:24.560 Normally these days, the entire day I am just on. 01:12:24.720 --> 01:12:26.720 Yeah, the entire day I am just focused. 01:12:26.880 --> 01:12:32.159 The entire day I'm like, there's no relaxing, there's no cordisol decrease until I go to bed. 01:12:32.239 --> 01:12:39.039 And even then, there's a lot of things that sometimes I have to implement for myself to be fluid during the day that affects my sleep. 01:12:39.279 --> 01:12:45.680 So that's a whole day of recovery, yeah, and potentially a portion of the night of recovery that's taken away. 01:12:46.079 --> 01:12:52.319 So um imagine that on a consistent basis for an entire year, it does definitely make an impact. 01:12:52.640 --> 01:12:58.319 So like like you said before, you truly believe that you

can only give 100% to one thing. 01:12:58.479 --> 01:13:04.319 And I think unless you are some fucking gifted freak, it's always gonna be true. 01:13:04.479 --> 01:13:06.319 Yeah, you know, you can choose your battles. 01:13:06.640 --> 01:13:07.039 Yeah, man. 01:13:07.119 --> 01:13:17.119 And like the thing is, is like I like I see I have very unique opinions about bodybuilding, and like I see people say um bodybuilding itself is selfish. 01:13:17.199 --> 01:13:20.159 And I I really don't think bodybuilding within itself is selfish. 01:13:20.319 --> 01:13:25.920 You can eat your meals and go hang out with friends, and you can go train with buddies, you can train like honestly. 01:13:26.000 --> 01:13:28.960 Now, dude, like with science-based lifting, you can train three days a week, you know. 01:13:29.520 --> 01:13:30.880 That's not very selfish. 01:13:31.119 --> 01:13:36.159 But what I do believe is if you want to be the best at something, that requires a lot of selfishness. 01:13:36.399 --> 01:13:43.680 Like, and like it's gonna, you're gonna like that selfishness is gonna be in bodybuilding, it's gonna be in business, it's gonna be in whatever it is you want to do in life. 01:13:43.840 --> 01:13:57.119 You know, I and I've I I read a lot and like I see it in every industry, like whether it's um entrepreneurs, whether I've I've read 50 Cent's book when he was uh building his album, like you can't escape it. 01:13:57.279 --> 01:14:01.520 Like, it's not just bodybuilding that that requires that a level of attention, you know. 01:14:01.680 --> 01:14:06.640 Uh even Kobe Bryant, like basketball, any sport will require that, you know. 01:14:06.880 --> 01:14:11.520 So I I think people try to I don't like people trying to downplay bodybuilding. 01:14:11.760 --> 01:14:18.800 I'm like, it's it's not bodybuilding itself, it's you trying to be the best at something, and that's that's gonna happen no matter what you do, you know. 01:14:19.119 --> 01:14:19.760 Yeah. 01:14:21.279 --> 01:14:26.560 Before I'm before I move on to ask you about like how you've managed everything that you're doing now. 01:14:26.640 --> 01:14:32.560 Yeah, uh, do you mind me asking a little bit of your time with Matt Porter? 01:14:32.640 --> 01:14:34.159 Yeah, your experience. 01:14:34.319 --> 01:14:34.640 Yeah. 01:14:35.199 --> 01:14:37.600 Yeah, no, I I'm uh I see Rachel every year. 01:14:37.680 --> 01:14:41.600 I'm in town, his uh widow, and um and his son too. 01:14:41.680 --> 01:14:42.880 I saw that they were at the show. 01:14:43.199 --> 01:14:46.000 I was supposed to hang out with them again yesterday, but I got a little busy. 01:14:46.079 --> 01:14:48.880 But yeah No, Matt was awesome, man. 01:14:49.119 --> 01:14:59.600 Um he was the first, I mean, not the first, but like the first, like big name to believe in me, you know. 01:14:59.680 --> 01:15:03.359 Like he never turned pro, but like he was doing really well in the industry. 01:15:03.520 --> 01:15:05.840 Like he was a really, really good coach. 01:15:05.920 --> 01:15:09.199 He had a supplement company, he was doing really well for himself. 01:15:09.279 --> 01:15:15.520 He has crazy so following on social media, like he was vlogging before like I even knew vlogging was a thing, dude. 01:15:15.680 --> 01:15:20.000 Like um, Matt Matt was a really good guy. 01:15:20.159 --> 01:15:28.079 Um, and I'm very, very blessed to like have him as like my first major coach, like a first person to take me through the pro league. 01:15:28.319 --> 01:15:34.640 Uh, he taught me, he taught me a lot, you know, and um it was a really cool experience. 01:15:34.800 --> 01:15:39.119 Like, and to be quite honest with you, he he was very strict in a sense, dude. 01:15:39.199 --> 01:15:49.920 Like, I I'm I I like it because going from him, like the way he would have things done versus like when I went to John, John John was a lot more relaxed and more easygoing when it came to coaching. 01:15:50.239 --> 01:15:54.800 Like, but with Matt, dude, like I remember he would put in the plans, like uh, I even made a little shirt. 01:15:54.880 --> 01:15:57.840 It was like no jam and no no jam or bullshit. 01:15:58.000 --> 01:16:00.079 Like that was something he would always say. 01:16:00.159 --> 01:16:10.159 Um, even with my like cheap meals or like uh refeeds, um, he would give me specifically a soap waste sandwich, double turkey, no mayo, uh, mustard. 01:16:10.399 --> 01:16:21.119 You could have mustard, and that would be my my refeed, like with my 20, 20 plus week uh preps, you know, and that would happen maybe like two, three times during during that process. 01:16:22.000 --> 01:16:25.359 Um he was no, he was awesome, man. 01:16:25.439 --> 01:16:25.840 Yeah. 01:16:26.159 --> 01:16:30.399 Were you were you still be coached by him when he uh passed away? 01:16:30.640 --> 01:16:31.359 Yeah, yeah. 01:16:31.600 --> 01:16:39.119 Um yeah, I remember I found out like literally at MR40 in the gym, some guy just came up and told me. 01:16:39.279 --> 01:16:45.680 I didn't really think that was the right way to go about it, but yeah, I literally found out like mid-training session. 01:16:46.319 --> 01:16:50.319 Um I couldn't even afford to go to that's when I was struggling. 01:16:50.399 --> 01:16:51.760 This is when she gave me that money. 01:16:51.920 --> 01:16:54.640 I couldn't even afford to go to the funeral, you know. 01:16:54.880 --> 01:17:01.680 And I remember like there was this like group chat called Geared Up, and like it was an awful experience. 01:17:01.760 --> 01:17:12.239 Like, some dude in the group chat like said so much shit about me not going, and I'm like, dude, I could I literally don't have any money to go, you know, and he's like still shitting on me, dude. 01:17:12.640 --> 01:17:18.159 So um, nah, it was a very difficult experience, you know. 01:17:18.960 --> 01:17:19.359 Yeah. 01:17:19.600 --> 01:17:21.520 How do you feel like you dealt with it? 01:17:21.920 --> 01:17:26.800 Um I

don't know the best I could, I guess. 01:17:26.960 --> 01:17:30.319 Uh I I wasn't in the best place either, you know. 01:17:30.399 --> 01:17:32.560 Like I said, I was trying to get back on my feet. 01:17:32.800 --> 01:17:36.640 Um, I just um I it's kind of a blur. 01:17:36.720 --> 01:17:41.199 I didn't, I was kind of fell off with the meal plan quite a bit. 01:17:41.439 --> 01:17:46.800 Um training wasn't very consistent, it was just kind of all over the place, you know. 01:17:47.600 --> 01:17:52.800 And then um yeah, yeah, it was a little difficult. 01:17:53.920 --> 01:18:00.560 I think um I just like the what kind of snapped me out of it was like like I wasn't doing well financially. 01:18:00.640 --> 01:18:02.880 I was like, I need to get my shit together and figure something out. 01:18:03.520 --> 01:18:10.960 Um, I had known John the that whole time too, and like I would go, I actually met John before Matt. 01:18:11.119 --> 01:18:13.760 John uh was at Nationals when I turned pro. 01:18:14.640 --> 01:18:27.199 And um every time I would do a pro show, he would have like for whatever reason have like his uh seminars there, and he would just let me sit in on like I would literally do my weigh-ins like like for Toronto. 01:18:27.520 --> 01:18:35.279 Um I did my weigh-ins and I would just go sit and like listen to him talk, you know, and give his um his um seminar, he would let me go for free, you know. 01:18:35.520 --> 01:18:44.720 And um I just reached out to him and like, hey, I was one of I inquired to him about coaching, and uh it was cool, man. 01:18:44.800 --> 01:18:47.199 He was like, hey man, like I'm not gonna charge you. 01:18:47.359 --> 01:18:51.920 The only thing I ask is if you come up to train with me every couple months so I can get some content. 01:18:52.239 --> 01:18:55.680 And um, I was like, Yeah, let's do it. 01:18:56.159 --> 01:19:00.399 And um that's kind of how things started moving forward again. 01:19:00.479 --> 01:19:01.119 Yeah. 01:19:03.279 --> 01:19:04.399 What happened after that? 01:19:04.560 --> 01:19:06.159 Yeah, so we started working together. 01:19:06.239 --> 01:19:10.640 We we won uh Niagara Falls in 20 at the end of 2019. 01:19:10.800 --> 01:19:14.479 So before Matt passed, so we went to Olympia a few times. 01:19:14.560 --> 01:19:22.479 We got ninth place, we got sixth place, and then we dropped back down to ninth um in 2018. 01:19:23.039 --> 01:19:26.880 And at that point, me and Matt was like, yo, I need to get bigger and I need to take time off. 01:19:27.119 --> 01:19:34.560 So uh we skipped the 2019 Olympia. 01:19:35.760 --> 01:19:53.119 We the plan was to skip the 2019 Olympia and come back and do the Arnold the next year, and so I was he he he passed in that time, and um I just went on to okay, well like I said, I found John. 01:19:53.520 --> 01:20:02.800 We did that show in uh 2019 Niagara Falls, and then we came to the Arnold the following year, and we played second there. 01:20:03.199 --> 01:20:09.520

And um, that was super difficult, man, because like like I had built this up in my head as like I'm gonna get this done for Matt. 01:20:09.760 --> 01:20:13.119 And like when I came up short, like it was really, really hard. 01:20:13.279 --> 01:20:23.359 Like I like it, I don't know what what it was, but like I cried after every pro show I did for like like two years. 01:20:24.079 --> 01:20:32.239 Um I cried after that when I cried both times I got second place at the the Olympia, and I don't know what it was. 01:20:32.319 --> 01:20:44.800 I just felt like Matt had believed in me to like um and like and knew I could get to that point, and I was super sad that he couldn't be there to to see it actually happen, you know? 01:20:45.039 --> 01:20:47.760 And like yeah, it was really, really hard. 01:20:47.920 --> 01:20:55.520 And then when John passed, I was actually able to go to his funeral, which was really good, like closure-wise. 01:20:56.159 --> 01:21:09.760 And then um I think at that point, I just being able to go there and do that, it I don't know, it kind of felt like it put me in a better spot, and like that I didn't cry after every show after that. 01:21:09.920 --> 01:21:10.079 Right. 01:21:10.239 --> 01:21:12.800 But uh but yeah, yeah. 01:21:13.439 --> 01:21:19.199 This might be a little bit of a tough question, but you spoke earlier about how mindset is important to you. 01:21:19.600 --> 01:21:22.159 And I think you've always had quite a stoic perspective. 01:21:22.800 --> 01:21:27.920 What's your perspective on loss and what do you feel like you gained from these two really difficult experiences? 01:21:28.560 --> 01:21:48.159 My perspective on loss, like I think I think death is a part of life, and like you know, while I was in the military too, I I worked in uh I did six months as a uh in the honor guard where we handled funerals for for like the state. 01:21:48.399 --> 01:21:55.279 Any veteran that passed away, we would have to go uh handle the bodies, um not handle the bodies, sorry. 01:21:55.439 --> 01:22:00.960 Uh, you know, the casket, the flag folding, the the shooting, the trumpet, all of that. 01:22:01.520 --> 01:22:16.000 But I yeah, I've I've handling losses obviously hard, but I try to think about like like the positive, like what were they able to do in their life and like try to take value from the things that I learned from them. 01:22:16.800 --> 01:22:20.239 Uh I think that's I guess that's the way I deal with it. 01:22:20.319 --> 01:22:26.000 I maybe I don't deal with it the best, but yeah, that's that's what I try to do now as I as I'm getting older. 01:22:26.399 --> 01:22:29.039 It's just to try to think about about it like that. 01:22:29.279 --> 01:22:34.479 Like, you know, I try to frame things as positively as I can, you know? 01:22:34.720 --> 01:22:35.039 Right. 01:22:35.279 --> 01:22:35.680 Yeah. 01:22:35.920 --> 01:22:36.159 Yeah. 01:22:36.319 --> 01:22:38.960 It's never easy and it's never even an easy subject. 01:22:39.279 --> 01:22:39.600 Yeah. 01:22:39.760 --> 01:22:49.039 I mean, I don't know what I mean gained, I mean, like perspective-wise, I guess just like life is you don't know how long you're gonna be around, you know? 01:22:49.199 --> 01:22:53.199 Like so that's that's that's about all I could take away from that, dude. 01:22:53.279 --> 01:22:56.800 Like both of them like passed away very suddenly. 01:22:56.880 --> 01:23:06.159 Like uh I remember Matt, the way it happened with him was uh he went to the doctor not feeling well, and the doctor said he's fine, and then the next day he he passed away, you know. 01:23:06.319 --> 01:23:08.880 Or maybe not the next day, but like very soon after that, yeah. 01:23:09.279 --> 01:23:14.239 And with uh Sean, I think it was some something very similar, you know. 01:23:15.119 --> 01:23:17.199 Uh take it, yeah, yeah. 01:23:17.439 --> 01:23:20.239 So I don't know, yeah. 01:23:20.479 --> 01:23:21.119 Yeah. 01:23:21.520 --> 01:23:22.000 Yeah. 01:23:22.239 --> 01:23:24.880 Something I've had to think about a lot in the last 10 years. 01:23:25.039 --> 01:23:28.079 Um, I think one of the keys is not to think too much about it. 01:23:28.880 --> 01:23:29.279 For sure. 01:23:30.079 --> 01:23:44.960 But uh I think also you said it plainly and clearly that uh I could be more thankful to have the experiences I did with my boys, you know, with my people, with the guys that changed me, with the people that helped construct me to who I am. 01:23:45.359 --> 01:23:58.800 Um I feel like I wouldn't have the positive perspective I have over world the world and what's to come for me if I hadn't met my boy Ryan and hadn't had those long, long years together. 01:23:59.600 --> 01:24:04.399 Uh if I didn't have that positive influence, that positive perspective that he had to offer for me. 01:24:04.560 --> 01:24:07.520 Um if I didn't have that support and that friendship, you know? 01:24:07.680 --> 01:24:07.920 Yeah. 01:24:08.560 --> 01:24:16.640 And I think the only thing I can think of moving on from that is like, damn fuck, it sucked and it still does, but he's like a part of me now, you know? 01:24:16.800 --> 01:24:17.199 Yeah, yeah. 01:24:17.439 --> 01:24:19.680 He lives on, they live on within within us. 01:24:19.920 --> 01:24:29.119 And I think now we have been offered the opportunity to deliver a piece of them to others. 01:24:29.439 --> 01:24:30.560 Yeah, yeah. 01:24:30.720 --> 01:24:32.560 And I I didn't think I never thought about that. 01:24:32.640 --> 01:24:33.840 Yeah, it is very true. 01:24:34.000 --> 01:24:36.399 And it's it's um it's been a blessing, man. 01:24:36.479 --> 01:24:47.279 Like I'm always surprised with people ask me, like, what's the you know, something I learned from John, or and like being able to tell people that is is is really cool, you know. 01:24:47.760 --> 01:24:50.399 Yeah, and I I like I really do live by it. 01:24:50.479 --> 01:24:56.079 Like I remember one time he said, he's like, if I'm

able to tell somebody something and it helps them, why not share it? 01:24:56.159 --> 01:24:56.720 You know? 01:24:56.960 --> 01:25:02.720 Because growing up, like what I did, is just like ah, if you know, you just keep stuff to yourself, it's private. 01:25:02.800 --> 01:25:08.560 And then, you know, you I learned through him is like yo, everyone's going through stuff, man. 01:25:08.720 --> 01:25:17.840 Like there's no reason to be ashamed if you're struggling in life or something doesn't go perfectly, because to be quite honest with you, nobody's life is going perfectly, dude. 01:25:17.920 --> 01:25:24.560 Like, and once you share that with someone, like they realize it and they feel a lot better. 01:25:24.640 --> 01:25:39.520 And they like, okay, I'm not a complete screw-up, like everyone's gonna dealing with something, and on top of that, most likely that someone has dealt with the same exact thing you've done with and gotten through it, and that brings a lot of people comfort, I think. 01:25:39.760 --> 01:25:40.800 Yeah, yeah. 01:25:41.119 --> 01:25:46.319 A lot of life is a lot of life is lived in your mind. 01:25:46.960 --> 01:25:48.880 That's a that's a problem, yeah. 01:25:49.119 --> 01:25:51.520 But also you can turn that into a strength, right? 01:25:52.000 --> 01:25:57.760 And that's why perspective is what constructs your reality, what you experience. 01:25:58.079 --> 01:26:08.479 So I think by delivering this perspective to other people, by you sharing the stories of John and what you've experienced, I think that gives the lens for other people to live a much better life. 01:26:08.720 --> 01:26:15.520 And they might not even see that like that going into it, be like, oh, you know, this happened, but like I still have my struggles. 01:26:15.840 --> 01:26:24.000 But slowly over time, you realize that the way that you look at things changes what happens to you and it changes what you do. 01:26:24.159 --> 01:26:26.800 And then later on, it changes your entire fucking life, man. 01:26:26.960 --> 01:26:27.279 It's cool. 01:26:27.600 --> 01:26:28.079 It's cool things. 01:26:28.159 --> 01:26:28.560 Yeah, you know. 01:26:28.640 --> 01:26:31.680 A few of you have asked where I get my farmal grade Annivar and IGF 1. 01:26:31.760 --> 01:26:37.520 And of course, it's not through Vinny in the parking lot, it's opticed HP, prescribed and through a doctor. 01:26:37.760 --> 01:26:47.279 And the reason why I helped start this clinic instead of joining an established clinic like Merrick is because I wanted a real say in how our clients are taken care of. 01:26:47.600 --> 01:26:51.920 And the honest truth, it also helps me make living. 01:26:52.079 --> 01:26:53.680 But I couldn't do it through selling snake oil. 01:26:53.920 --> 01:26:54.880 Here's the honest truth. 01:26:55.119 --> 01:26:58.640 Is in a sport where everybody takes it, stops being cheating. 01:26:58.960 --> 01:27:00.159 The game just changes. 01:27:00.800 --> 01:27:03.039 Now instead, it's about who uses it smarter. 01:27:03.520 --> 01:27:05.920 But your health is part of the scoreboard. 01:27:06.159 --> 01:27:13.520 You know, we go back and forth between pharma versus the screen market here, and while it does help you travel, I really don't have the answer. 01:27:13.840 --> 01:27:14.640 That's your call. 01:27:15.199 --> 01:27:18.000 However, every bodybuilder should be getting quarterly blood work. 01:27:18.479 --> 01:27:19.520 Yes, even you. 01:27:19.840 --> 01:27:21.279 The guy who says he feels fine. 01:27:21.600 --> 01:27:23.119 So we built the membership around that. 01:27:23.359 --> 01:27:26.079 The bloods are free, and the membership is just what we call the discount. 01:27:26.319 --> 01:27:28.079 My accountant hates this next part. 01:27:28.319 --> 01:27:30.319 DMs are free always. 01:27:30.800 --> 01:27:32.079 Link is in the description. 01:27:32.319 --> 01:27:33.920 Sign up with code NILE. 01:27:34.159 --> 01:27:35.600 Send me a DM on Instagram. 01:27:35.840 --> 01:27:36.640 I got you personally. 01:27:37.119 --> 01:27:39.359 How was uh 2023 for you? 01:27:39.600 --> 01:27:46.560 I think that might have been the year where maybe you feel like you've experienced a worse placing after years. 01:27:46.960 --> 01:27:50.800 Oh yeah, that was when I dropped from second to uh yeah, six. 01:27:51.039 --> 01:27:59.439 It's funny to think about that because six isn't terrible, but like for me it was like it was like really bad, and like maybe because I didn't handle it the best. 01:28:00.239 --> 01:28:07.520 Um because even like this year I dropped in placing, but like everything is still going for fine. 01:28:07.600 --> 01:28:12.399 Like business wise, it's been a couple it's been like a two days, but everything is going fine, right? 01:28:12.479 --> 01:28:12.720 Yeah. 01:28:13.039 --> 01:28:17.760 But for whatever reason, dude, like everything like fell apart um that year. 01:28:18.319 --> 01:28:23.600 Like uh I I like like lost sponsorships, my business started to fail. 01:28:23.680 --> 01:28:30.079 Like I did a coaching business, and like the amount of leads we had like dropped like tremendously, like like in half. 01:28:30.560 --> 01:28:34.880 Um, it was it was a very, very hard time, dude. 01:28:34.960 --> 01:28:49.039 I like I was used to make a certain level of money and like my lifestyle was set up that way, and then very quickly I didn't like with the with the drop in funds, like I was struggling to pay like everything, you know? 01:28:49.600 --> 01:28:53.680 So yeah, yeah, it was not it was not an easy time. 01:28:53.840 --> 01:29:04.239 I think part of it was definitely just me maybe like a self-fulfilling type of thing, like oh I think everything's gonna get worse and like everything did get worse because like probably me. 01:29:04.800 --> 01:29:26.800 But um some of it is like was true, like like in terms of like people like uh reached out less and for for like uh events, like I got way less calls for events, I

got um way lower offers in terms of sponsorship deals, like all like that part was like reality, you know. 01:29:27.039 --> 01:29:34.399 Yeah, I don't think it's that bad anymore, but like for whatever reason at that point in time, like it like it was crazy. 01:29:34.479 --> 01:29:34.800 Yeah. 01:29:35.039 --> 01:29:36.560 How did the story change over time? 01:29:36.800 --> 01:29:37.439 What do you mean? 01:29:37.760 --> 01:29:39.760 Working through that tough period of time? 01:29:40.079 --> 01:29:42.319 Um, it's the same as anything, man. 01:29:42.399 --> 01:29:53.520 Like I I just like I like for a while, you it like it sucks, and then like for what like in my mind, I'm just like, well, if I sit around and do nothing, I'm gonna be homeless. 01:29:53.760 --> 01:29:59.439 So like I need to get to I need to figure it out and get to work and like keep you know, get things moving, you know? 01:30:00.000 --> 01:30:00.319 Yeah. 01:30:00.560 --> 01:30:02.720 And then slowly over time it kind of just got better. 01:30:02.880 --> 01:30:03.520 Yeah, yeah. 01:30:03.680 --> 01:30:06.880 So um I ended up moving to that's when I moved to Houston. 01:30:07.520 --> 01:30:10.960 Um, kind of like a reset, which was really nice. 01:30:11.119 --> 01:30:13.119 You know, like I guess a lot of people don't know. 01:30:13.199 --> 01:30:18.640 Like I love, yeah, I left Tampa like very quickly, but I just felt like I didn't need to be there anymore. 01:30:18.720 --> 01:30:21.439 Like Joe was kind of ramping down training as well. 01:30:22.159 --> 01:30:26.960 Uh, we used to like I said, we used to train every single day together, and they got to a point where we would train like maybe twice a week. 01:30:27.119 --> 01:30:29.760 And I'm just like, this is like the main reason I came here, you know. 01:30:29.920 --> 01:30:30.000 Right. 01:30:30.159 --> 01:30:31.760 So like that was changing as well. 01:30:31.840 --> 01:30:34.720 So and I think something also about your relationship. 01:30:34.960 --> 01:30:35.520 Yeah, yeah. 01:30:35.680 --> 01:30:38.640 Me and my ex um we split. 01:30:38.880 --> 01:30:48.640 Um, and then even like going into that relationship uh relationship, we were supposed to be working as a team with the coaching thing, and then that ended up being all my responsibility. 01:30:49.199 --> 01:30:51.600 And uh that was a lot, man. 01:30:51.680 --> 01:30:53.359 Like it was a lot more than I expected. 01:30:53.439 --> 01:31:04.640 I was going into that Olympia, I was working like 12 hours a day trying to get all the systems in order and things like that, which is like brings me back to like me always trying to do too much. 01:31:04.720 --> 01:31:08.720 Like looking back, I probably should have just been like, hey, let me let's slow this down. 01:31:08.800 --> 01:31:14.640 I need to focus on this, and like um, but I don't know, I was like trying to do everything, you know. 01:31:14.720 --> 01:31:17.760 I didn't want to be seem like I wasn't capable, you know? 01:31:18.000 --> 01:31:22.000 Yeah, so um, yeah, yeah, yeah. 01:31:22.239 --> 01:31:28.399 That was of a lot of life lessons and learning lessons during that year. 01:31:28.479 --> 01:31:28.800 Yeah. 01:31:29.119 --> 01:31:30.960 Those years fucking suck, dude. 01:31:31.840 --> 01:31:32.640 Yeah, dude. 01:31:32.720 --> 01:31:40.079 But like, it's cool, man, because now I can like like um I can I I can tell people like about that experience and help them avoid it. 01:31:40.239 --> 01:31:43.920 Like um there's like I literally just talked to a 212 guy today. 01:31:44.079 --> 01:31:52.800 He lives in the UK and he's he's telling me he wants he's got an offer to move to the States, and it's it's a it's a different situation, but like I'm like able to tell him, like, hey bro, be careful. 01:31:52.880 --> 01:31:54.560 Like that's a big, that's a big move. 01:31:54.720 --> 01:32:00.319 Like, and like I'll I'm telling him, like, um, make sure the offer is solid. 01:32:00.560 --> 01:32:05.279 Like, he's upset that the other company isn't paying him as much compared to influencers, and I'm just honest with him. 01:32:05.439 --> 01:32:07.039 Like, hey, I'm I'm just honest with them. 01:32:07.119 --> 01:32:09.439 I'm like, bro, are they selling more than you? 01:32:09.520 --> 01:32:11.119 Because that's gonna be the case anywhere you go. 01:32:11.199 --> 01:32:15.119 They're gonna treat the people that's making them the most money the best, you know. 01:32:15.359 --> 01:32:20.479 Um so just I I like yeah, I don't know. 01:32:20.560 --> 01:32:30.560 I I really wanna be able to get back to the sport, and like even though these situations sucked, you know, I'm able to help like people avoid certain things, you know, um, that I had to go through. 01:32:30.720 --> 01:32:33.439 Yeah, whether it's business or relationship or whatever, you know. 01:32:33.680 --> 01:32:33.920 Right. 01:32:34.079 --> 01:32:34.560 Yeah. 01:32:34.800 --> 01:32:58.720 It's funny that uh I actually had a couple people come up to me at the expo and uh at the at Dragons outside of the expo asking me this question about like what would you have to say to people that are struggling right now that don't think there's that aren't working towards something or that don't think that there's light on the other side, or that uh don't think they'll ever get there. 01:32:59.680 --> 01:33:06.319 And that seems to be something that you've fought and been able to overcome consistently over the course of your entire career. 01:33:06.479 --> 01:33:07.840 Yeah, that seems to be the theme, you know. 01:33:08.159 --> 01:33:08.960 More than anybody, man. 01:33:09.039 --> 01:33:09.600 It's funny. 01:33:09.760 --> 01:33:16.880 Like my my the my most popular thing, uh posy song is Survivor, and I feel like that's like kind of my my story, dude. 01:33:17.119 --> 01:33:23.199 Like people, like every every year, dude, there's something like people saying I'm I'm not gonna be able to do this or do that.

01:33:23.600 --> 01:33:30.399 Uh I remember I'm not going from uh the year the first year I sat out, they said I was done. 01:33:30.479 --> 01:33:34.960 Like every only tall people are gonna be good in classic, and then I came back and played second. 01:33:35.199 --> 01:33:39.680 I remember the year I went from second to sixth and then sat out. 01:33:39.840 --> 01:33:44.000 It's funny, we're cool now, but um he's over at Dragon's Lair. 01:33:44.159 --> 01:33:45.279 He was like, Yeah, bro, you're done. 01:33:45.439 --> 01:33:48.880 Like you know, I'm just like, No, dude, just give it a give me a year. 01:33:49.119 --> 01:33:50.880 I promise you I'm gonna be all right. 01:33:51.199 --> 01:33:55.199 And uh yeah, dude, it's I'm so used to it now. 01:33:55.279 --> 01:34:03.760 Like, uh, I get literally after this, after this show, I still got people saying, like, hey dude, um, you're gonna be like Brion, they're gonna slowly push you out until you and until you just leave. 01:34:03.920 --> 01:34:05.680 And I'm just like, okay. 01:34:06.159 --> 01:34:06.800 I'm like, okay. 01:34:07.680 --> 01:34:09.520 That's a crazy thing to fucking say. 01:34:09.760 --> 01:34:27.119 Bro, it I you know, and like my my biggest thing is is like whether it's someone else saying it, or or even in my mind, like you know, if I ever have like a negative thought, like I'm very quick to uh not accept it. 01:34:27.279 --> 01:34:34.880 Like, even to the point where people are trying to like trying to be nice to me, they'll be like, oh bro, you know, you would win if you were two inches taller. 01:34:34.960 --> 01:34:37.359 And I'm like, no, I'm not accepting that, dude. 01:34:37.520 --> 01:34:40.079 Or like you're not winning, like every single reason. 01:34:40.159 --> 01:34:46.079 I've had people say, like, I'm not winning because I'm short, because I'm black, because of like I'm bald now. 01:34:47.359 --> 01:34:48.399 Every reason, dude. 01:34:48.479 --> 01:34:58.079 And I'm just like, no, I will I and they they want they say it as like like they try to say it as comfort, like, hey man, it's it's okay, it's it's not because of the you know your physique, it's because of this other thing. 01:34:58.159 --> 01:35:00.880 And I'm like, I won't, I I'm not, I'm not gonna accept that. 01:35:00.960 --> 01:35:07.039 And I will tell them like that, no, and I will give them reasons to why they are wrong, yeah, you know, right. 01:35:07.279 --> 01:35:09.520 Um, you know, whether it's it's just it's a short thing. 01:35:09.600 --> 01:35:12.640 I'm like, I've beaten every single person on that stage, you know. 01:35:12.800 --> 01:35:17.279 Um, I have the most pro wins in classic, I have the most Arnold Classic wins. 01:35:17.359 --> 01:35:19.600 I'm like, no, that's not the case, you know. 01:35:19.840 --> 01:35:27.600 If you really think about how you how if you really think about you having to deal with that feedback, that's just fucking crazy. 01:35:27.840 --> 01:35:32.319 It's a bunch of

people coming to you telling you that no, it's okay, you're wrong. 01:35:32.399 --> 01:35:33.119 Don't worry about it. 01:35:33.199 --> 01:35:34.640 It's just something you can't control. 01:35:34.800 --> 01:35:37.680 Yeah, so you you know you might never get there because you're bald now. 01:35:37.920 --> 01:35:40.319 You know, it's just like fucking crazy, bro. 01:35:40.640 --> 01:35:42.960 So no, dude, it's it's it's wild, man. 01:35:43.039 --> 01:35:51.359 I and like my whole thing is like I I think words have power, and like I just won't, I just don't, I don't want that in my head, man. 01:35:51.520 --> 01:35:52.159 Yeah, yeah. 01:35:52.720 --> 01:35:54.079 What are you doing with business now? 01:35:54.239 --> 01:35:56.880 Yo, so um, obviously the gym. 01:35:57.039 --> 01:35:59.199 Um, I helped design equipment with bolts. 01:35:59.439 --> 01:36:03.279 So um I have a equity in that, which is really, really cool. 01:36:03.439 --> 01:36:05.680 Um that's nice, that's a nice feeling, right? 01:36:05.840 --> 01:36:06.720 Yeah, dude. 01:36:06.880 --> 01:36:09.359 Um, very cool, man. 01:36:09.520 --> 01:36:17.840 And then uh outside of that, it's just like the personal brand stuff, which I'm I've I feel like I'm 10 years late on that, dude. 01:36:17.920 --> 01:36:19.439 Like, I'm just not figuring it out. 01:36:19.600 --> 01:36:25.680 Like, literally just to hear about personal branding and things like that in social media, you know. 01:36:25.840 --> 01:36:48.880 Like, I was really dude, I'm I'm very like understanding of like people, what people go through now, because I'm like, when I got on social media, there was like no one doing social media, so like it was really easy for me to grow my page and do all this stuff and stand out, and like even in terms of like just the bodybuilding in general, like that's why I like to show the old picks. 01:36:49.039 --> 01:36:53.439 I'm like, bro, I was a top Olympian, like looking like that, and you look better than that. 01:36:53.520 --> 01:36:54.800 So, like, be proud, dude. 01:36:54.960 --> 01:36:59.680 Like, you may not have the placing you want, but like it was honestly easier back then, dude. 01:36:59.760 --> 01:37:00.079 You know? 01:37:00.720 --> 01:37:02.399 Um, same with social media. 01:37:02.479 --> 01:37:08.479 Um, but yeah, I have an I'm doing an app now, which I've been wanting to do for like three, four years. 01:37:08.720 --> 01:37:14.560 Um, I finally figured out how to to properly delegate stuff and not do everything myself. 01:37:14.960 --> 01:37:16.399 Yeah, this is what I was about to ask. 01:37:16.479 --> 01:37:22.800 It's like, how do you feel like you're gonna how do you how do you feel like you're managing all this after just talking about trying not to do too much, you know? 01:37:23.119 --> 01:37:26.479 So the gym thing was way more than I had ever expected. 01:37:26.560 --> 01:37:34.560 I thought I would I thought there would be better systems in place going with the franchise,

and like it was still like 99% me figuring everything out myself. 01:37:35.039 --> 01:37:37.119 And it you know, it was a lot, man. 01:37:37.279 --> 01:37:41.520 Um now that that's mostly done, um you know, we're in a good really good spot. 01:37:41.600 --> 01:37:46.079 I have a manager and she's like amazing, you know. 01:37:46.239 --> 01:37:53.600 Um, it was even a struggle like getting that done because we we had to switch managers like three weeks out from the Olympia. 01:37:53.680 --> 01:38:03.119 So I had to like go through and like hire a bunch of people and like or interview a bunch of people, hire people, get them trained up, literally like within a week's time, you know. 01:38:04.399 --> 01:38:08.399 And um, but now it's it's it's uh it's pretty good. 01:38:08.479 --> 01:38:11.359 I'm I'm like I'm delegating things really well. 01:38:11.520 --> 01:38:17.199 Like she knows what she needs to do and she gets it done, and she only comes to me with like important stuff, you know. 01:38:18.079 --> 01:38:22.000 Uh for the for equipment, that's really easy. 01:38:22.159 --> 01:38:23.760 I don't have to come in almost ever. 01:38:23.920 --> 01:38:29.439 Like, like I'd have to make decisions on like equipment, like everything we brought to the the event. 01:38:29.520 --> 01:38:32.239 I had to like sign off on it, so I came in and do that. 01:38:32.720 --> 01:38:36.960 Uh I have to be a part of like hiring athletes. 01:38:37.039 --> 01:38:39.920 So like we brought on Hunter, I had to be a part of that. 01:38:40.000 --> 01:38:50.319 Like, cause um the the founder, he sh struggled a lot with uh athletes in the past, so that's one of my responsibilities. 01:38:50.479 --> 01:38:52.239 And I've been doing a pretty good job of it, man. 01:38:52.319 --> 01:38:56.560 He'll come like some of the some top pros have come to him, and I'm just like, nah, that's not a good fit. 01:38:56.720 --> 01:38:59.600 And literally a month later, he found out why it's not a good fit. 01:38:59.680 --> 01:39:03.680 I don't want to give details, but like he was a really good call. 01:39:03.920 --> 01:39:14.000 Um, there's certain pros and things and gyms like we like gift equipment to, you know, I have to sign off like if that makes sense or not, depending on the gym. 01:39:14.319 --> 01:39:25.920 Um, say for instance, there's a certain retired bodybuilder out of the country that wants some equipment from us, and I was just like, hey, bro, like it's a good idea, but realize he's probably not gonna do any content with it. 01:39:26.000 --> 01:39:32.000 So we need to fly out and get all the content while we we're delivering it, because if we don't, we're not gonna get it. 01:39:32.399 --> 01:39:40.159 So just stuff like that, like consulting things, and then um just some uh some light marketing um advice. 01:39:40.319 --> 01:39:43.520 He likes to do stuff his way with that, but I'll I'll chime in when I can. 01:39:44.479 --> 01:39:54.000 So um, and then with the app man, I've been wanting to do, I have my posing course, which is really cool, and um, I've been having a hard time finding where to host it. 01:39:54.319 --> 01:39:59.600 So uh I did like a white label app um that kind of fit all my needs. 01:39:59.760 --> 01:40:02.560 So um I really want to grow that, you know. 01:40:02.640 --> 01:40:07.119 Like Chris had his like I don't know, like six years, the standard one, like six years ago. 01:40:07.199 --> 01:40:13.520 So it's I modeled it after that, but with the posing course and posing aspect too. 01:40:13.920 --> 01:40:23.119 Yeah, so so yeah, and there's a couple other things we got coming um that require very little of me. 01:40:23.199 --> 01:40:26.560 Like, we're gonna be I'm gonna be parting with the company for posing trunks. 01:40:27.359 --> 01:40:31.760 Um and uh you gotta send those my way. 01:40:31.920 --> 01:40:32.399 Yeah, bro. 01:40:32.479 --> 01:40:33.439 I'm really excited, man. 01:40:33.520 --> 01:40:35.840 It's it's uh I'm super excited for that. 01:40:36.000 --> 01:40:41.520 But like my big thing is like all the new like partnerships I have or sponsorships I have. 01:40:41.680 --> 01:40:47.119 Like, um I I got to talk with Chef, and Chef gave me some really good advice Chef Rush gave me really good advice. 01:40:47.199 --> 01:40:59.119 He's like, bro, anything you do now um with your business, like make sure like it's not just a paycheck, make sure like you have something, whether it's equity or like a signature product or something like that. 01:40:59.439 --> 01:41:07.359 So that's the way I've been kind of handling like the deals with my personal brand over the past like year. 01:41:07.600 --> 01:41:08.800 Yeah, gotcha. 01:41:08.880 --> 01:41:11.039 Okay, but uh yeah, yeah. 01:41:11.119 --> 01:41:21.119 I'm I do I'm still learning to like I said, I feel like I'm like years behind um all of this stuff, but but I feel like I'm I'm getting a handle on everything. 01:41:21.199 --> 01:41:21.439 Yeah. 01:41:22.079 --> 01:41:22.560 Yeah. 01:41:22.880 --> 01:41:24.399 All this shit is hard, man. 01:41:24.640 --> 01:41:25.279 Yeah, man. 01:41:25.359 --> 01:41:37.920 You know, the one that like I one of the biggest issues I had like back when I was placing second behind Chris was like really trying to keep keep up with him in every aspect of things, but not realizing like the amount of help he had. 01:41:38.079 --> 01:41:51.600 Like, like he had the he was getting his brands, the bits, the businesses done, and all of that, but like I didn't realize I didn't think about it, but that was like like a good portion of that was that Matty Milkshake guy, and a good portion of that was Dom. 01:41:51.680 --> 01:41:58.159 And like I'm over here trying to keep up and do it all myself, and like completely like burnt out, yeah, yeah. 01:41:58.560 --> 01:42:01.600 So uh yeah, just learning, just always learning, man. 01:42:01.680 --> 01:42:04.319 I feel like that's my my right story, yeah. 01:42:04.640 -->

01:42:19.279 So I guess I mean I think that already says it all, but I'm thinking about what advice can we give the audience or give other people in a position that are trying to do well in bodybuilding, you know, but also they got their own lives to manage. 01:42:19.680 --> 01:42:27.439 I would say, man, like the big thing, say for instance, if if you so I'm gonna give a really good example. 01:42:27.600 --> 01:42:31.680 Um, I'm not gonna say his name, but he he works at the gym uh with me. 01:42:31.760 --> 01:42:32.560 He's a trainer. 01:42:32.960 --> 01:42:35.439 I I'm like a hundred, he's you're gonna see him very soon. 01:42:35.520 --> 01:42:37.920 He's doing nationals and he's gonna look insane, right? 01:42:38.079 --> 01:42:45.279 But right now, he's uh he's working as a trainer at the gym and as a bouncer at night. 01:42:45.520 --> 01:42:49.119 And my advice to him was like, dude, like what do you want out of bodybuilding? 01:42:49.279 --> 01:43:00.560 He's like, I want to do this like full time, and I'm like, bro, like realistically nowadays, you have to do social media, like there's no just I'm a bodybuilder in that set, right? 01:43:01.119 --> 01:43:19.520 Um, you have to be an influencer basically, and you have to get comfortable like doing that, and I say that because like there are signs that even like the Olympians aren't doing well, and what I what I want to say is like if you see a Mr. 01:43:19.680 --> 01:43:28.319 Olympia or a top athlete constantly changing sponsorships every year, that's a sign that um they're not doing great. 01:43:28.399 --> 01:43:33.359 That means most likely that sponsorship, they had that contract for a year, they got paid really well. 01:43:33.600 --> 01:43:38.079 That sponsor realized, like, hey, you're not making us any money, we need to change the deal. 01:43:38.239 --> 01:43:43.439 So they go hop to another sponsorship, get that money, and they the cycle repeats. 01:43:43.760 --> 01:43:48.239 It's a very, very high-level Olympian that like Olympians that have that happen to them. 01:43:48.319 --> 01:43:50.479 You'll notice it if you pay attention now. 01:43:50.640 --> 01:43:53.600 But with that in mind, I try to tell them that. 01:43:53.680 --> 01:44:02.319 You know, I'm like, you can if you want to live that life, you want to jump sponsor to sponsor, you can do that, but realize like over time that's not gonna, that's not a great way to do it. 01:44:02.640 --> 01:44:13.680 Uh so my mind is like as a bodybuilder, if that's any of everyone's goals is you have to get comfortable doing things that you really don't like doing in order to do the thing that you love doing, you know. 01:44:13.920 --> 01:44:22.640 Like I had to learn how, I mean, I had to learn how to use a camera, I had to learn how to do photography, I had to learn how to storytell now with the YouTube page. 01:44:22.720 --> 01:44:24.640 Like my YouTube is doing a lot better than before. 01:44:24.720 --> 01:44:26.079 Like I just said 100k.

01:44:26.239 --> 01:44:26.399 Great. 01:44:26.640 --> 01:44:27.760 And it was thank you, man. 01:44:28.000 --> 01:44:33.840 Yeah, but it was because like when I first started, like I do, I did not want to look at it, I did not want to think about it. 01:44:33.920 --> 01:44:38.319 I would film uh my video guy would film it and it would post, and that would be it, right? 01:44:38.720 --> 01:44:45.600 But now that I've like, I'm like, okay, bro, I need to just man up and like like get better at this. 01:44:45.840 --> 01:44:55.680 Like, um, let me plan out these videos, let me see what I suck at, and like uh and actually like intentionally try to get better at it. 01:44:55.760 --> 01:45:02.880 And I think too, I told him, I'm like, dude, it's gonna feel weird the first few times you film yourself, dude. 01:45:02.960 --> 01:45:08.079 Like, you gotta be comfortable with being like cringy the first fucking year, you know? 01:45:08.640 --> 01:45:11.680 Um, because no one starts out great at anything, man. 01:45:11.920 --> 01:45:16.000 Like, look at my first I start, I literally showed himself, these are my first YouTube videos. 01:45:16.079 --> 01:45:21.359 I have YouTube videos from literally like 2015, 2016. 01:45:21.600 --> 01:45:30.319 Like, you have to get comfortable doing that, and like a lot of pro bodybuilders or like just the bodybuilders, bodybuilder, they get mad at influencers, dude. 01:45:30.399 --> 01:45:35.439 They're like, oh well, you know, he's not a real bodybuilder or this and that, and why is he making all that money? 01:45:35.600 --> 01:45:38.960 And like, because they actually put in the work on that side of things, dude. 01:45:39.199 --> 01:45:41.199 Like, you can't be mad at them, man. 01:45:41.279 --> 01:45:44.960 Like, they got good at it, and they sucked, they most likely sucked for a while. 01:45:45.199 --> 01:45:45.680 Look at Mr. 01:45:45.840 --> 01:45:46.079 Beast. 01:45:46.239 --> 01:45:53.039 Like, they you see like how he started, like, it took him a long time to get good at what he does, and it was a lot of concentrated effort. 01:45:53.199 --> 01:46:11.760 So, like, to break that down, I said a lot, it would be my biggest advice is one, you have to put in the work, you have to you have to do the thing you need to do a lot, like in terms of social media, in terms of speaking, in terms of whatever it is, whatever part of it that you suck at, you have to do it a lot, right? 01:46:11.920 --> 01:46:14.800 You can't just go to the gym once a week and expect your physique to change. 01:46:14.880 --> 01:46:18.479 You have to go to the gym a lot, and then you start to see the results. 01:46:18.800 --> 01:46:24.319 And then the the second part is is like once you have that body of work, now you can analyze it. 01:46:24.399 --> 01:46:26.800 Now you can learn, grow, and adapt from it. 01:46:27.119 --> 01:46:29.840 And I think those are the two main things I would say. 01:46:30.079 --> 01:46:35.439 Like, with and you can apply it

to anything in life, do it more and study it and get better, right? 01:46:35.680 --> 01:46:37.199 Yeah, absolutely, brother. 01:46:37.359 --> 01:46:38.319 Absolutely. 01:46:39.119 --> 01:46:41.520 Keep putting in the effort, just keep moving. 01:46:42.159 --> 01:46:43.600 It's just gonna keep going up, man. 01:46:43.760 --> 01:46:51.039 Yeah, I'm like, dude, some of these guys, like they they expect to get good at YouTube by doing one video a month and like, or one video a week. 01:46:51.119 --> 01:46:54.880 I'm like, you you're not gonna get good at it doing it that way, you know. 01:46:55.199 --> 01:46:59.359 Um, you gotta do it a lot, even if you don't post it, just practice, man. 01:46:59.600 --> 01:47:02.319 I think you do one video a week, but you need to actually like do it. 01:47:02.720 --> 01:47:04.479 You have to be very intentional if you do it once a week. 01:47:04.720 --> 01:47:06.159 Yeah, you have to be intentional for sure. 01:47:06.319 --> 01:47:06.640 Yeah. 01:47:07.680 --> 01:47:10.800 How did the uh how did this prep go for you for Olympia? 01:47:11.039 --> 01:47:13.760 I would say the all season started off great. 01:47:14.000 --> 01:47:17.840 Then the gym, like two, three months with the gym opening. 01:47:19.279 --> 01:47:20.079 Down. 01:47:20.319 --> 01:47:24.720 Um I was eating maybe twice a week. 01:47:24.960 --> 01:47:36.159 No, twice a day, twice a day, and it was junk, it was McDonald's because like there was no way like I was I was doing so much, there was no way I would be able to get enough calories from healthy food. 01:47:36.239 --> 01:47:36.399 Right. 01:47:36.560 --> 01:47:40.800 So I was like, okay, let me just order like fucking takeout and shit, you know. 01:47:40.960 --> 01:47:45.359 Um, and I was training anywhere from twice a week to three times a week. 01:47:45.600 --> 01:47:48.000 And yeah, yeah, I was I lost like 20 pounds. 01:47:48.239 --> 01:47:49.600 Fuck you were busy, busy, bro. 01:47:49.680 --> 01:47:50.640 Twice a week, dude. 01:47:50.720 --> 01:47:54.239 I was I was yeah, I lost like 20 pounds through through the process. 01:47:54.319 --> 01:47:57.920 Like that's insane, and I didn't even notice it because I wasn't weighing myself, I wasn't doing any of that. 01:47:58.000 --> 01:48:04.159 And then like we had our opening day, and then I put on like a just a large shirt and it was like loose on me. 01:48:04.239 --> 01:48:08.239 And I was just like, okay, what happened? 01:48:08.479 --> 01:48:12.880 Um, and then I look at pictures from the event, and I'm like, holy crap, I lost a lot of weight. 01:48:13.199 --> 01:48:21.039 And um yeah, so from that point on, like even like maybe three, four weeks after we opened, it was still a lot of chaos. 01:48:22.000 --> 01:48:26.640 And then I realized like, oh shit, we're like we're like 10 weeks out from the Olympia. 01:48:26.800 --> 01:48:29.439 I need to get this shit together, like somewhere around that point. 01:48:30.000 --> 01:48:40.000 So me and my

coach, we got to work, we started gaining size again, and then like we we got up uh to like 205 or something like that. 01:48:40.560 --> 01:48:50.560 And then I think at that point we're like eight weeks out, and then we started to cut down from there, and you know, and then uh yeah, yeah. 01:48:50.640 --> 01:48:55.119 Um from that point on it was it was on point 100%, you know. 01:48:55.359 --> 01:49:03.840 So getting size up till eight weeks out, you kept it pretty decently lean, like because having an eight-week prep is a pretty short prep. 01:49:04.560 --> 01:49:16.880 Yeah, but you know, dude, like it's funny, like um I've had eight-week preps in the past with uh both of the Arnold's classics I won were very short. 01:49:17.520 --> 01:49:23.920 Um the first one was because I had gyneal surgery um a little later than I wanted, and the recovery took a little bit longer than I wanted. 01:49:24.159 --> 01:49:30.079 And the second was just because um John had passed and like I didn't know what I wanted to do at you know at that point. 01:49:30.239 --> 01:49:38.479 Like we were gonna do like a 12-week prep in the past, and then I kind of sat around and did nothing for a week, and then I tried to do it myself, but like I did it completely wrong. 01:49:38.640 --> 01:49:42.800 No, actually, the second week I looked for coaches and nobody wanted to work with me. 01:49:43.039 --> 01:49:51.920 And uh but do I like it may suck to say, but I really do think the judge the coaches thought I was like cursed or something. 01:49:52.000 --> 01:49:58.159 Like that's the only reason because I was at that point I had one, I had one in Arnold, and I was second in the world. 01:49:59.119 --> 01:50:00.720 Did not want Work with me. 01:50:01.119 --> 01:50:04.800 So I thought, yeah, so I mean I I think that's pretty weird. 01:50:05.520 --> 01:50:10.960 So um yeah, yeah, yeah. 01:50:11.039 --> 01:50:14.560 Um that prep ended up being around the same uh length of time, you know. 01:50:15.840 --> 01:50:18.960 So yeah, well, I don't know how lean I was. 01:50:19.039 --> 01:50:22.880 I mean, people saw pages, I mean, they thought I was fat and I and like behind, you know. 01:50:22.960 --> 01:50:23.840 So Right. 01:50:24.159 --> 01:50:29.279 Well, for for that one Arnold prep, you said um you guys didn't really know what you wanted to do since Sean had passed. 01:50:29.600 --> 01:50:32.319 So you just ended up doing an eight-week prep. 01:50:32.640 --> 01:50:37.119 But yeah, but you ended up being able to manage that to the point where I was pretty lean. 01:50:37.199 --> 01:50:39.920 I will say I was already pretty lean for that one. 01:50:40.159 --> 01:50:44.800 Um the Ghana one I was just small because I would I couldn't train for like three weeks. 01:50:45.439 --> 01:50:50.319 Um but yeah, this one I was I don't know. 01:50:50.399 --> 01:50:54.640 I guess I was I wasn't super lean because people said I was super behind, you know? 01:50:55.119 --> 01:50:55.680 Yeah. 01:50:57.279 --> 01:51:10.800 I think some of I think some of that is just a misunderstanding of bodybuilding, where it's like a lot of these top guys are lean so early because they have to they're actually ready like four to six weeks before the show. 01:51:10.960 --> 01:51:14.239 It's just that they have to continue to suck down to make weight, right? 01:51:14.640 --> 01:51:16.000 So and I don't have to do that. 01:51:16.079 --> 01:51:18.000 I don't have to suck down and make weight, yeah. 01:51:18.239 --> 01:51:18.640 Mm-hmm. 01:51:18.880 --> 01:51:19.359 Gotcha. 01:51:19.760 --> 01:51:22.560 What did the the following eight weeks look like pre prep? 01:51:22.720 --> 01:51:25.039 Like what did you guys do training-wise? 01:51:25.359 --> 01:51:30.319 I just told him, bro, like I was so off because of the the the gym stuff. 01:51:30.399 --> 01:51:32.479 I was like, I want to check in every single day. 01:51:32.960 --> 01:51:34.479 I think that's gonna be best for me. 01:51:34.720 --> 01:51:40.800 And you know, I've been doing the torso limb split, and like I just split that into two sessions. 01:51:40.880 --> 01:51:58.000 So like um normally I would do chest and back and uh delts all at one part, and I just split it to back in the morning, chest in the afternoon, and then arms in the morning and legs in the afternoon, and and then I actually stopped doing like a four-day split over a week. 01:51:58.079 --> 01:52:01.680 I went on I went to do two days on, one day off, and just repeated that. 01:52:01.760 --> 01:52:04.239 So it's really just one extra session a week, but yeah. 01:52:04.479 --> 01:52:04.880 Gotcha. 01:52:04.960 --> 01:52:07.119 Okay, and then what about the uh the food? 01:52:07.840 --> 01:52:09.520 How did that change over time for the cardio? 01:52:09.760 --> 01:52:27.520 I mean, my offseason is gets up to 5,000, but I like the lowest I got was maybe like 2,500 for a couple days, but I would say more so it was around 27 to 2900 calories, and uh cardio didn't get above it was for the majority of the time just 30 minutes twice a day. 01:52:27.920 --> 01:52:35.119 Um maybe like for a week it got up to 30 minutes in the morning, 40 minutes in the afternoon. 01:52:35.359 --> 01:52:39.760 Okay, yeah, so it was we didn't do anything crazy, you know. 01:52:39.840 --> 01:52:41.119 It was pretty mild. 01:52:41.199 --> 01:52:41.680 Yeah, yeah. 01:52:41.840 --> 01:52:47.359 Did you say 27 to 2900 calories a day in the last eight weeks of prep? 01:52:47.840 --> 01:52:48.319 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 01:52:48.399 --> 01:52:49.199 Somewhere around there. 01:52:49.439 --> 01:52:51.119 Did it ever like drop lower than that? 01:52:51.359 --> 01:52:55.359 It got to like 25 for a little bit, but not not long, like a week or two. 01:52:55.600 --> 01:52:56.800 That's pretty damn good, man. 01:52:58.399 --> 01:53:01.279 I tell people, dude, like my issue has always been gaining muscle. 01:53:01.359 --> 01:53:02.399 It's never been getting in shape.

01:53:02.479 --> 01:53:04.399 I get in shape like like that, yeah. 01:53:04.640 --> 01:53:08.479 So you've I feel like that qualifies as a hard gainer, honestly. 01:53:08.880 --> 01:53:09.439 Yeah, dude. 01:53:09.520 --> 01:53:11.600 I I could get I can get lean really quick, yeah. 01:53:11.760 --> 01:53:13.520 How much do you have to eat in the offseason then? 01:53:14.239 --> 01:53:18.880 I've been up to like a little over 5,000 calories, which is a lot as really hard for me. 01:53:19.039 --> 01:53:22.239 Well, I'd say like for your height, that's that's a fucking lot, bro. 01:53:22.319 --> 01:53:25.359 That's more than that's more than I have to eat, and I'm taller than you. 01:53:25.600 --> 01:53:26.399 Yeah, dude. 01:53:26.479 --> 01:53:32.399 I remember like uh when when Derek was still in the 212, I would eat more than him in the offseason. 01:53:32.560 --> 01:53:33.359 Damn, yeah. 01:53:33.520 --> 01:53:35.039 I mean that's crazy. 01:53:35.279 --> 01:53:36.399 Yeah, yeah. 01:53:37.840 --> 01:53:39.680 Kind of just have to do it, huh? 01:53:40.000 --> 01:53:42.319 Yeah, man, yeah, yeah. 01:53:43.600 --> 01:53:44.079 Yeah. 01:53:44.399 --> 01:53:44.800 Fuck. 01:53:44.960 --> 01:53:53.039 Is there anything with uh with uh the PED regimen that you guys feel like you had to change for this one or that you guys may have tried differently? 01:53:53.359 --> 01:53:53.680 No. 01:53:54.239 --> 01:53:58.960 Um the only thing is I get I get prescribed prescribed tests now, which is nice from Optimize. 01:53:59.920 --> 01:54:00.479 Yeah, yeah. 01:54:00.720 --> 01:54:02.239 Um super nice. 01:54:02.479 --> 01:54:05.359 Yeah, but but no, nothing, nothing different. 01:54:05.439 --> 01:54:10.000 Uh we do tests, masks, um, trend the last like seven-ish weeks. 01:54:11.039 --> 01:54:16.159 Uh and and Navarre and uh Clint. 01:54:17.600 --> 01:54:18.159 And T4. 01:54:18.319 --> 01:54:18.720 There we go. 01:54:18.960 --> 01:54:21.520 And then peaking for this was that was different. 01:54:21.920 --> 01:54:25.760 Was it okay he um we stayed up all night um eating? 01:54:26.319 --> 01:54:26.720 Oh shit. 01:54:26.880 --> 01:54:38.640 Yeah, we yeah, I got maybe like yeah, I was like, yeah, I was sleeping maybe like an hour or so, and then we we I would wake up, you know, polls so you can see, and yeah. 01:54:38.800 --> 01:54:43.119 Now we never done that before, and then we also drunk a lot more water than I'm used to. 01:54:43.279 --> 01:54:50.880 Like normally I would drink like I don't know, I can't dude, I can't remember off the top of my head, maybe like a hundred mil milliliters per meal. 01:54:50.960 --> 01:54:56.079 And we this time we did like 500 milliliters per meal with 300 milliliters in between meals. 01:54:56.239 --> 01:54:56.960 Damn, yeah. 01:54:57.119 --> 01:54:59.359 So I drank a lot of water, dude. 01:55:00.159 --> 01:55:01.119 Yeah, yeah. 01:55:01.359 --> 01:55:05.920 How did you stay up during the like would you have like alarms and shit to like get your meals in there? 01:55:06.159 --> 01:55:09.039 Well, dude, like number one, I I wasn't sleeping very much anyway. 01:55:09.199 --> 01:55:11.439 Um probably all the stimulants. 01:55:11.520 --> 01:55:17.119 Like, dude, I the whole like last two weeks, I was sleeping maybe four to five hours a night. 01:55:17.279 --> 01:55:18.000 Holy shit. 01:55:18.159 --> 01:55:21.680 Yeah, I like it because I get a lot of work done. 01:55:22.399 --> 01:55:25.359 But obviously, probably this is a conversation we keep having, man. 01:55:25.520 --> 01:55:27.199 Yeah, I yeah, dude. 01:55:27.359 --> 01:55:34.239 My girlfriend, like I should she like I will be working and then she'll fall asleep, and then when she wakes up, I'm still working. 01:55:34.319 --> 01:55:35.439 So she's like, Did you sleep? 01:55:35.520 --> 01:55:40.640 God damn, because I'll I'll I'll sleep maybe like at one midnight or one a.m. 01:55:40.800 --> 01:55:43.439 Yeah, and then but I would wake up at like four or five a.m. 01:55:43.600 --> 01:55:45.600 and I'll be back up doing stuff, yeah. 01:55:45.760 --> 01:55:50.079 Yeah, so and she she sleeps from like 11 to like eight, I think. 01:55:50.239 --> 01:55:54.159 Okay, yeah, she sleeps good, like she sleeps good, yeah, yeah. 01:55:54.640 --> 01:55:57.119 And you were able to just kind of handle that, huh? 01:55:57.279 --> 01:56:10.159 Like, did that you you guys never felt like that uh caused excess fatigue to you know go into the picture faster, or like you had to I I if I can tell the difference, you know. 01:56:10.319 --> 01:56:11.760 I feel like everything worked fine. 01:56:12.239 --> 01:56:12.960 Okay, cool. 01:56:13.039 --> 01:56:14.319 Yeah, damn, brother. 01:56:14.399 --> 01:56:19.039 Oh well, it seemed like it worked out because your physique, your package this Olympia was fucking nuts, man. 01:56:19.119 --> 01:56:20.159 In my opinion, it was crazy. 01:56:20.319 --> 01:56:20.720 Thank you, man. 01:56:20.880 --> 01:56:24.880 I seeing it in person, close up, the conditioning to me looked amazing at pre-judging. 01:56:25.039 --> 01:56:25.840 I wasn't there, yeah. 01:56:25.920 --> 01:56:29.039 I wasn't close up at final, so I can't say that, but for prejudging for sure. 01:56:29.279 --> 01:56:35.920 Yeah, I got really good feedback, man, even from uh Cameron Cheat, you know, I'm cool with him, and like like he went out of his way to say, like, hey man, this you look crazy, man. 01:56:36.000 --> 01:56:40.399 I'm like, yeah, thanks, you know, and I I trust his eye and his look, you know, a lot. 01:56:40.479 --> 01:56:40.640 Yeah. 01:56:41.199 --> 01:56:42.000 Yeah, I do too. 01:56:42.239 --> 01:56:43.600 Cameron has a great eye. 01:56:43.840 --> 01:56:45.199 Damn, okay, cool. 01:56:45.359 --> 01:56:50.239 Well, um, maybe uh I think you have to head to your thing. 01:56:50.479 --> 01:56:55.840 Yeah, but uh I got one last question for myself, and then maybe if we can pick one random QA. 01:56:56.399 --> 01:57:04.159 Uh what are

the top three things you feel like you got from or you learned from your time with John Meadows? 01:57:04.560 --> 01:57:06.079 If you had to choose, might be tough. 01:57:06.319 --> 01:57:12.880 I already gave you the main one, is like if you could share with something um, you know, to help somebody, why not? 01:57:13.039 --> 01:57:14.239 That was the biggest one. 01:57:14.479 --> 01:57:21.279 Um another one I was surprised he said was like if I could uh it's it sounds actually the same. 01:57:21.439 --> 01:57:22.960 If I could make a friend, why not try? 01:57:23.119 --> 01:57:37.840 You know, so instead of like uh him like going out his way or like not even going out his way, but just us uh letting people like have negative whatever, he would just man up and speak to him, like, hey, uh you know what's going on, this and that, just very direct communication. 01:57:38.159 --> 01:57:50.720 Um other thing I would say is he never said this out loud, but like just watching his career is like you don't have to be a top pro to to make it in bodybuilding, you know. 01:57:50.800 --> 01:57:55.039 You don't even he didn't he you don't even have to be a pro to make it in body to in bodybuilding. 01:57:55.119 --> 01:58:02.720 Like he was already way more successful than most pro bodybuilders before he even got his pro card, you know. 01:58:02.880 --> 01:58:04.720 So those yeah, yeah. 01:58:05.600 --> 01:58:07.119 Those are those are good men. 01:58:07.840 --> 01:58:09.439 Okay, let's see if we can pick one. 01:58:10.720 --> 01:58:11.439 Sorry, guys. 01:58:11.520 --> 01:58:11.840 Yep. 01:58:12.239 --> 01:58:17.359 Beaver Thomas asks, what is a piece of advice you didn't listen to and regret not listening to or implementing? 01:58:17.600 --> 01:58:18.159 I don't know, man. 01:58:18.800 --> 01:58:22.079 I gotta think uh advice I didn't listen to. 01:58:22.319 --> 01:58:26.560 The only thing I think of right now is kind of like very specific, it's not super helpful. 01:58:26.720 --> 01:58:41.279 It was uh with the gym, a guy told me to uh just knock down more of the walls, and I didn't, and now I have to spend like uh tens of thousands of dollars to do something that would have been baked into the cost already. 01:58:42.079 --> 01:58:47.039 Um I if I can think of something better, like that's more apical to people, I'll think of it. 01:58:47.119 --> 01:58:49.920 But right now, that's the first thing off the top of my head. 01:58:50.159 --> 01:58:56.000 Is there anything about him that made you feel like I don't know if I want to take his advice? 01:58:56.239 --> 01:58:58.319 He was very nonchalant about it, dude. 01:58:58.399 --> 01:59:00.800 It wasn't very clear the way he did it. 01:59:00.880 --> 01:59:02.960 So he he runs the Ghost Classic show. 01:59:03.359 --> 01:59:05.680 Um, and he was like, That's a lot of rooms, man. 01:59:05.840 --> 01:59:07.439 And that was it, that was the way he said it. 01:59:07.520 --> 01:59:09.439 Yeah, you should like you sure you want to have all those? 01:59:09.600 --> 01:59:13.680 I'm like, I wasn't aware enough to like pry deeper. 01:59:13.760 --> 01:59:15.600 I should have asked more questions, you know. 01:59:15.680 --> 01:59:29.840 I should have been like, Oh, why why do you think there's a lot of rooms, you know, and like figured out I would have like it would have been easier if he just told me, hey man, I think that's too many rooms because XYZ, you know, but he was very like around about around away, you know what I mean? 01:59:30.000 --> 01:59:31.279 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 01:59:31.520 --> 01:59:35.199 So yeah, I would I just wasn't what's the word? 01:59:35.359 --> 01:59:38.720 Um in the moment enough to catch it, I guess. 01:59:38.960 --> 01:59:39.359 Gotcha. 01:59:39.600 --> 01:59:40.560 Okay, cool. 01:59:40.720 --> 01:59:42.399 Um, and this last one's super fast. 01:59:42.560 --> 01:59:47.600 Angel Droggler asks, says legend, and then says, How long do you plan on competing? 01:59:47.840 --> 01:59:48.399 I don't know, man. 01:59:48.479 --> 01:59:54.159 I kind of want to like I've maybe another 10 years, we'll see, dude. 01:59:54.319 --> 02:00:00.479 I uh I'm like, if I I always Brion's like, like you said, in his 40s, and I'm 32. 02:00:00.640 --> 02:00:07.359 So I literally like, and you know, dude, I talked to Kai and I talked to Phil, and he's like, bro, yeah, you're not even like you're like you're maybe halfway through your career. 02:00:07.520 --> 02:00:09.680 Like I'm like, oh you're not even 35 yet. 02:00:09.840 --> 02:00:11.520 Yeah, so I'm just like, okay. 02:00:11.920 --> 02:00:14.159 Well, because you know it's weird, dude. 02:00:14.239 --> 02:00:20.560 I get people asked, I don't know if other pros get this, but every year people ask me, like, are you like, oh, are you are you still gonna compete? 02:00:20.640 --> 02:00:23.439 And I'm just like, what do you what do you mean? 02:00:23.680 --> 02:00:32.800 Like, like you mean like raw, like um the manager at Raw, he's like, I saw him yesterday and he was like, So you're gonna you're gonna do the Olympia again? 02:00:32.960 --> 02:00:36.960 And I'm yeah, bro, it's my job. 02:00:37.119 --> 02:00:39.199 Like, what do you I get that question all the time. 02:00:39.279 --> 02:00:43.840 People always are asking me, am I still gonna compete, or if I'm retiring? 02:00:44.079 --> 02:00:47.199 And I'm I was just like, I don't know, why do you I don't know. 02:00:47.359 --> 02:00:49.359 I don't know why they always ask me that. 02:00:49.600 --> 02:00:54.399 Um, but yeah, I I think I'll compete for a very long time. 02:00:54.479 --> 02:01:08.079 And the other question people ask me all the time is if I'm going to 212 or the open and be quite honest with you, no, um, I don't I might do a 212 show before I retire because I started in bodybuilding, but to do the full on switch, I really don't care too, man. 02:01:08.159 --> 02:01:13.600 Like the amount of weight I would have to gain, and like I haven't gained,

it's been 10 years, bro. 02:01:13.680 --> 02:01:14.159 I haven't gained it. 02:01:14.239 --> 02:01:14.800 Like, people right. 02:01:14.960 --> 02:01:16.640 You're still not at your cap. 02:01:17.039 --> 02:01:23.680 Yeah, I'm like knee hat's like what 23 and like he's at his cap after two years of bodybuilding, you know. 02:01:23.840 --> 02:01:28.239 Like I don't have those those muscle building genetics, you know, um, to do that. 02:01:28.399 --> 02:01:37.199 And then this is I I don't mean this as a dig or anything, but to be honest with you, like financially and commercially, like classic is more popular. 02:01:37.279 --> 02:01:42.159 So like I don't I don't see why I would switch to 212 from like a business perspective either. 02:01:42.319 --> 02:01:48.479 The the only reason I would do 212 is if like I could be like at 212 pounds and push Keon. 02:01:48.880 --> 02:01:52.800 And I don't like I don't think that's like happening anytime soon. 02:01:52.960 --> 02:01:53.199 Yeah. 02:01:53.439 --> 02:01:55.600 Like you said though, it'd be fucking fun to see it once. 02:01:55.760 --> 02:02:03.119 I will yeah, yeah, I'm I would I would probably I would definitely do it once like the like Keon did Pre Art Prague or Sean did, you know, those shows. 02:02:03.279 --> 02:02:04.159 Yeah, yeah. 02:02:04.319 --> 02:02:06.239 Do you have any advice for hard gainers? 02:02:07.359 --> 02:02:11.680 You gotta be meticulous, like like with your logging, that's number one. 02:02:11.760 --> 02:02:17.279 And number two is I personally think like higher frequency, lower volume is gonna be best. 02:02:17.600 --> 02:02:20.720 And lastly, like I know the food stuff is hard. 02:02:21.039 --> 02:02:22.960 You really have to be on top of your food. 02:02:23.039 --> 02:02:30.800 Like with me, if I'm like inconsistent with the times in the off season, it gets really hard for me to stay on track because like I have to eat so much. 02:02:31.039 --> 02:02:36.960 There's sometimes I have seven meals a day, and if I'm off for like 30 minutes, dude, like it fucks up my whole day, you know. 02:02:37.119 --> 02:02:52.960 Um you'll notice if you stay really consistent with the times you eat in the off season, is it it's it's easy, it's easier and smaller increases in food, you know, will probably be your best bet, you know. 02:02:53.199 --> 02:02:53.600 Gotcha. 02:02:53.760 --> 02:02:55.119 Yeah, cool, cool, bro. 02:02:55.199 --> 02:02:55.920 Thanks for coming on. 02:02:56.079 --> 02:02:57.600 Of course, that's fucking sick, dude. 02:02:57.760 --> 02:02:58.479 Hell yeah. 02:02:59.039 --> 02:03:02.960 Love you guys, Terrence Ruffin, um Rough Diesel on Instagram. 02:03:03.119 --> 02:03:03.520 Yes, sir. 02:03:03.760 --> 02:03:05.199 Rough Diesel everywhere, yeah. 02:03:05.680 --> 02:03:06.960 And uh get your blood work done. 02:03:07.039 --> 02:03:08.880 We can both get our blood work from Optimize. 02:03:09.600 --> 02:03:12.239 And uh we're still here, so it's working to work, I guess. 02:03:12.399 --> 02:03:13.840 So love y'all. 02:03:14.000 --> 02:03:14.319 Peace.