Ronnie Coleman x Ranveer Allahbadia begins
00:00:00Ronnie Coleman is a legendary figure in the bodybuilding world, especially in India. His popularity is evident from the overwhelming response he received during his mall appearance, where too many people showed up and they had to shut it down. He remains humble and grateful for the love he receives.
Winning his first Olympia
00:03:40Winning the Olympia The experience of winning my first Olympia was overwhelming and surreal. I blacked out for about 10-15 minutes, but consciously felt an intense excitement. It was unexpected because I initially got into bodybuilding just for a free gym membership.
Challenges in Bodybuilding I faced challenges in gaining recognition as a professional bodybuilder due to lack of fanfare and being overlooked by the industry. Turning pro quickly and outside the US contributed to this, making it difficult to build popularity.
Family Support My family has been with me every step of the way, from moving states after college graduation to attending my competitions worldwide. Their support has made my journey in bodybuilding far from lonely or sad despite negative stereotypes about the sport.
His family
00:07:51Throughout his entire career, the bodybuilder's family played a crucial role in his success. They provided support by cooking meals, helping with fan mail and car stuff, cleaning the house, and doing laundry. Their unwavering assistance allowed him to focus on winning eight consecutive Olympia titles.
His journey of winning the Mr. Olympia
00:10:10The All-Consuming Journey of Winning Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman's journey to winning the Mr. Olympia was all-consuming, leaving no time for leisure activities or relaxation. His dedication and commitment were 24/7, 365 days a year as he trained relentlessly to maintain his title against fierce competitors.
Technical Edge: Training Regimen & Visualization Coleman's technical edge in bodybuilding came from his intense training regimen and unwavering determination. He visualized success before achieving it, attributing much of his strength and accomplishments to mental preparation and visualization techniques.
Bodybuilding
00:17:40The Importance of Muscle Thickness Modern day bodybuilders are debating whether to lift heavier or focus on lighter weights and more reps. The speaker emphasizes the importance of muscle thickness for size, definition, and overall appearance. He recalls his own experience and how adding thickness made a significant difference in his physique.
Feeling Invincible at Peak Performance At the peak of his career, the speaker reflects on feeling invincible while lifting heavy weights such as deadlifting 800 pounds and squatting 800 pounds. He describes achieving a 2,300-pound leg press with confidence and without regrets. His mindset was focused solely on entertaining the audience during competitions.
His life as a bodybuilder
00:21:15Life as a Bodybuilder Ronnie Coleman discusses the impact of bodybuilding on his everyday life, including challenges with cars and clothing due to his size. He also talks about how he had to tailor all his clothes, even for work in the police department.
Police Department Experience Coleman shares experiences from working in law enforcement, witnessing violence and dealing with challenging situations. He emphasizes that these experiences built character and strengthened his faith.
Motivation for Bodybuilding The motivation behind Coleman's pursuit of bodybuilding was driven by a desire to become world champion and earn respect through hard work. He highlights the importance of earning respect through dedication.
Challenges of Professional Bodybuilding Coleman reveals the intense physical demands of professional bodybuilding, particularly regarding diet requirements such as eating large amounts of food multiple times a day regardless if hungry or not. The mental challenge is also discussed.
Genetics in Bodybuilding The role genetics play in bodybuilding is emphasized by Coleman who acknowledges genetic gifts related to size and strength among different athletes. Additionally, he addresses potential factors contributing to India's absence from Mr.Olympia competitions.
His diet as a bodybuilder
00:39:10The bodybuilder discusses his diet, emphasizing the importance of red meat in building muscle mass. He believes that while chicken and fish can help build muscle, they may not produce the same results as a diet including red meat.
Using steroids
00:42:30Using Steroids with Medical Guidance Ronnie Coleman emphasizes the importance of medical checkups and guidance when using steroids. He highlights the need for regular health checks, doctor supervision, and a personalized plan to ensure safety while using steroids.
Initial Experience with Steroids Coleman recalls his first experience with steroids in 1995 at age 30. He sought advice from experienced bodybuilders like Flex Wheeler and followed their recommendations cautiously. Despite public perception, he insists that he used normal dosages under strict medical monitoring.
Health Prioritization in Bodybuilding Emphasizing the significance of prioritizing health over excessive muscle growth, Coleman discusses how maintaining overall well-being contributed to his success on stage as a bodybuilder. He contrasts his healthy appearance with others who neglected their health while pursuing extreme muscularity.
'To Each His Own' Attitude Towards Steroid Use Coleman adopts an open-minded approach towards steroid use by acknowledging individual choices without judgment or interference. While sharing personal decisions about steroid usage at age 30 after thorough research and consideration for safety measures.
Impact on Sexuality Discussing the impact of testosterone levels due to steroid use on sexual activity, Coleman shares that heightened testosterone did not increase libido but rather decreased it during intense training periods before competitions.
Dealing with injuries
01:13:10Bodybuilding legend discusses his experience with injuries, lack of soreness after workouts, and the mental impact of surgeries. He shares how he overcame a herniated disc through consistent training and determination to improve.
His mindset after winning his 8th Olympia
01:16:32After winning his 8th Olympia, he found it hard to imagine the streak ending. It only took him a couple of hours to come to terms with the streak ending and move on. He felt sad at first but then accepted that everything comes to an end.
Aging
01:18:34The Gifts of Aging Aging brings the gift of relaxation and freedom from hard work and sacrifice. It allows you to do what you want, eat what you want, go where you want, and enjoy family time.
Advice for Young Bodybuilders Knowledge is key in bodybuilding. Learning from experienced coaches is essential to understanding diet, training, recovery, and everything it takes to become a champion.
Training tips & mental health
01:21:43Training Tips and Consistency Making small changes in training, like using different exercises for specific muscle groups, can make a big difference. Consistency is key to maintaining physical health. Ronnie Coleman emphasizes the importance of doing something rather than nothing when it comes to exercise.
Mental Health and Happiness Ronnie Coleman shares his approach to mental well-being through regular prayer for good health and happiness. He believes that sadness has no place in life as happiness is a choice. Despite challenges, he maintains an optimistic outlook on life.
Thank you for watching
01:26:22Discovering Your Gift As we grow older, we start questioning our purpose in life and the gifts that God has given us. It took me 34 years to figure out my gift, but I always tell everyone that God gave each of us a gift; it's up to us to discover what it is.
Staying Chill and Enjoying Life I've always been a chilled-out guy, even as a bodybuilder. Many people who lift weights lose their chill and take life too seriously, but not me. I find a way to enjoy everything I do.
End of the podcast
01:28:11Ronnie Coleman is praised for his pure and innocent heart, with a reminder to keep the inner child alive in the world of fitness. The focus is on enjoying the process rather than just eyeing the results.