Supported by NIS, USA reports.

Phil Heath, the 7-time Mr. Olympia, is well-versed in bodybuilding. Over the years, he has shared his valuable opinions and his journey to the top, helping his fans choose the right strategy. Currently, the legend has also opened up about the worst advice many bodybuilders get and follow.

On April 28, Heath shared a short clip on his Instagram of himself giving a brief but revealing interview, during which the interviewers asked him about the worst advice in bodybuilding.

In response, the Gift said, “That if you took s*******, you would be a champion”. So, why he did say that? Let's talk with facts.

According to a 2023 literature review by Zhang Wenbo and his team, published on NIH USA, many gym-goers and bodybuilders misuse the s*******, with 25 to 50 percent of competitive bodybuilders and 5 percent of gym-goers.

The popularity of this has grown so much that young adults have also started taking s******* to build impressive muscle.

According to another report from the NIH in the USA, in 2022, nearly 0.8 percent reported misusing s*******. For 10th graders, the number was 0.5 percent, and for 12th graders, the number was 1.3 percent.

Heath’s statement reveals a major concern that needs to be addressed properly. In 1974, the International Olympic Committee’s Medical Commission listed s******* in the banned class.

Even in the July/August 2023 cover story for Men's Health, Arnold Schwarzenegger strongly spoke out against s*******.

The 7-time Mr. Olympia said, “Bodybuilding always, always was considered a safe sport. But now it’s not. Now people are dying because of overdoses of d****, and they don’t know what the f*** they’re doing”.

While opening up about the worst experience in bodybuilding, The Gift also opened up about how long it takes to build a body.

Phil Heath’s suggestion on building an impressive physique

People generally prefer s******* to build their physique quickly. While calling this the worst idea, Heath also said one must dedicate “as long as it takes” to build a great physique.

So, what suggestions has the legend given to his fans to follow during the process?

• Forget impressing people with heavyweight. Do not overdo it just to show people.
• For building a heavy chest and upper body machine chest presses are one of the most valuable exercises.
• Cardio is a must. He used to do cardio early in the morning, before his Mr. Olympia contest, on an empty stomach.
• Squats do not work for everyone, especially if form is not perfect. Supporting his claim, Health said, “I remember reading a long time ago that Dorian Yates never really believed in squats. He did leg presses instead, and he won six Olympia titles with two of the biggest legs”.
• To work on the weakest body part, use sevens, developed by his trainer Hany Rambod, to finish off workouts. He said, “There are seven final sets in a row with only 30 seconds rest between sets.”
• Instead of focusing only on the pump, one needs to focus on doing intense sets with maximum weights and proper form.
• Do curls with a machine to get the maximum tension in the biceps.
• Work hard to build and maintain strong back muscles. Heath used to do free-weight and machine exercises for the back.
• Patience is the most important part of bodybuilding. Shortcuts like s******* cannot give one a healthy life.

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Written by

Supradeep Dutta

Edited by

Ashvinkumar Patil