mr. olympia Archives

Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 285: Arnold 1974 Throwback

Panic ensues at the Fruit of the Loom fashion show when someone sets the thermostat to 45 degrees.

Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 248: Lee Haney’s Size Strategy

Eight-time Mr. Olympia Lee Haney’s intensity secret: insanely tight headbands that sent him into a rage. [Read more…]

Mass Mantra #44

Here’s an eye-opening quote is from former pro bodybuilder Tom Platz, who was third in the Mr. Olympia was third in 1981… [Read more…]

All Speed Sets for More Mass? Part 1

Q: Speed Sets [1.5-second reps] feel great and are working. Just wondering why not do the first high-rep set with speed to get at more fast-twitch fibers. Or how about all sets in the entire workout in Speed style?

A: Have you been watching elite-bodybuilder training videos? Mr. Olympia winners like Jay Cutler use a rapid-fire cadence on almost all of their work sets… [Read more…]

Mass Mantra #36

Mike Mentzer was a proponent of the pre-exhaustion method—using an isolation exercise prior to a multi-joint, or compound, move. For example, using cable flyes prior to decline presses.

Another is eight-time Mr. Olympia Lee Haney. Here’s what he had to say in a recent interview (photo by Art Zeller)… [Read more…]

Mass Mantra #35

Speed Sets—with 1.5-second controlled reps—are a big part of the Old Man, Young Muscle workout. Most of the top bodybuilders have been using them throughout their careers due to instinct—like Arnold.

Another is eight-time Mr. Olympia Lee Haney. Here’s what he had to say in a recent interview (photo by Michael Neveux)… [Read more…]

Legend Used Stretch Partials for Super Size

Throughout my tenure as Iron Man magazine’s Editor in Chief, I was always observing and analyzing the top bodybuilders’ workouts.

I figured that even if they’re on steroids, I may still be able to learn some things about building muscle—although I must admit that the difference in gains from adding drugs to the mix is mind-blowing… [Read more…]

Mass Mantra #11

Here’s an eye-opening quote from four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler: [Read more…]

Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 195: Bob Paris Belts Up

Bob Paris’ aesthetic physique had him looking incredible even when he was just buckling his belt… [Read more…]

Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 184: Arnold Licks His Competition and More

Here’s a rare photo of Arnold in contest-diet mode, suffering a hunger hallucination of a giant candy cane. Mmm. At least that’s his story—and he’s sticking to it. [Read more…]