Bodybuilding Legends Reflect on Career Mistakes and Regrets

Biggest Career Mistakes in Bodybuilding

Some of bodybuilding's biggest names recently sat down to discuss the biggest mistakes and regrets from their competitive careers. Their candid reflections offer valuable insights for up-and-coming bodybuilders looking to learn from the experiences of past champions.

Chris Cormier on Missed Investment Opportunities

When asked about his biggest career mistake, Chris Cormier pointed to missed financial opportunities:

"I think when I had good money, you know, getting some real estate...I'm having...I look at it now, every time I see Starbucks. I had 40-50 whatever in the bank at one at any given time of the day."

Cormier regrets not investing his earnings into real estate or other ventures when he had the chance. He also shared a story about turning down an early opportunity with Red Bull:

"I was sitting there next to Red Bull at one of the Arnolds. I was at the Legends table, I got invited for that, and this guy from Red Bull handed me a card said 'Hey man, we're trying to get into bodybuilding.' And we would like to talk to you more about it, we have an energy drink. And at the time I'm like energy drink, there was no one ever heard of Red Bull at the time."

In hindsight, Cormier wishes he had pursued that opportunity with Red Bull before they became a global brand. He noted that many bodybuilders likely have similar regrets about not investing in companies like Amazon early on.

Milos Sarcev on Synthol Use

Milos Sarcev shared that his biggest regret was using synthol, an oil injected to artificially enhance muscle size:

"Literally I ruined my career completely because by '97, I was not a top tier but I would be top 10 Olympia on a good day...but then in '98, '98 I lost my Weider contract and it was like my daughter was born and you know I needed some pressure and stuff like that. So then '99 I went for size, just like to blew up, and then I blew up my arms."

Sarcev explained that he started injecting synthol daily into his biceps in an attempt to quickly add size after losing his sponsorship. While it initially made his arms look bigger, he soon regretted the decision:

"By the Canada Pro, I made my biceps look like Mount Everest...You end up losing separation, changing anatomic shape of separation."

He noted that the quality of the muscle diminishes with synthol use. Sarcev said greed and the desire for quick gains led him down that path, but he soon realized it was a huge mistake that negatively impacted his physique and career.

Flex Wheeler on Shoulder Injections

Flex Wheeler admitted that his biggest regret was injecting substances into his shoulders:

"Same thing, my shoulders. Milos's biceps, my shoulders...It was a thing back then, you know. It was new, it wasn't looked down upon, it wasn't frowned upon. Almost everybody did it and it was just like one of those things that just came across the sport that just was accepted."

Wheeler said he didn't fully realize the negative impacts until after the 1998 Mr. Olympia. Like Sarcev, he noted that it made his muscles look cartoonish and unnatural. Wheeler explained that he was ignorant about the differences between various performance-enhancing substances at the time:

"In my ignorance, you know, people say 'Okay well that muscle isn't yours.' I mean everything I did, it wasn't me, I wasn't natural anymore. So I just didn't get it when they said you know this is cosmetic and this isn't, because I'm like it's all cosmetic, you know. We don't look like that naturally."

In retrospect, Wheeler deeply regrets using those injections and wishes he had pushed himself naturally instead.

Dennis James on Calf Injections

Dennis James shared that he regrets injecting substances into his calves:

"I never had great calves, but I had decent calves. I had everything, you know, soleus and gastros left and right. But then inspired by my arms blowing up, I say 'How about if I blow up the calves?' And by '99 I had a stuffy calves. Okay, and they atrophy, they're gone, they left the building."

James believes the injections likely caused nerve damage in his calves, leading to atrophy over time. He noted that the damage depends on how frequently someone injects and whether it impacts the nerves.

Lessons for the Next Generation

The bodybuilders emphasized that they hope current competitors can learn from their mistakes. Some key takeaways they shared:

• Don't take shortcuts - push yourself naturally instead of relying on artificial enhancements
• Invest your earnings wisely while competing
• Be careful about what you put into your body - even substances that seem accepted can have long-term consequences
• Focus on overall conditioning and aesthetics rather than just size
• Perfect your posing and stage presence
• Work with one coach consistently rather than frequently switching
• Get regular health checkups and bloodwork
• Address any mental health struggles or self-destructive tendencies

Flex Wheeler noted that many current classic physique competitors embody the aesthetics and conditioning that defined the 90s era of bodybuilding. He hopes to see more focus on those elements rather than just extreme mass.

The legends also discussed the mental challenges of competing at the highest level. Wheeler candidly shared his struggles with self-doubt and self-sabotage, especially when it came to the Mr. Olympia title:

"I was just terrified of being number one. If it was the Arnold or the Iron Man, I'm going to that show hot, smoking, and it was like it's my house, you know, can't nobody come and take this from me. But if it was Olympia, I just geared down. I'm like man, you know, I'm just trying to hold second down. I just didn't believe it."

He encouraged current competitors to believe in themselves and push past mental barriers holding them back from reaching their full potential.

Reflections on Today's Competitors

When asked about their favorite physiques among current competitors, the legends had trouble naming specific athletes. Flex Wheeler said he's most impressed by some of the classic physique competitors, feeling they best embody the aesthetics of the 90s era.

In the open division, Wheeler pointed to Samson Dauda as a standout:

"Just him showing, you know, it's for one what he had to go through, you know, and then you look back and you seen he played soccer...I can't even see that guy in him, it's like Incredible Hulk, you know, you don't see that in David Banner. And then as he started growing, and then he had problems for a while, and once he just stepped outside of that, it was just the size and condition was amazing, especially at the Olympia."

Wheeler also expressed hope that Andrew Jacked can reach his full potential, noting his "complete and beautiful physique." However, he wondered if mental barriers or frequent coach changes might be holding Jacked back from consistently nailing his conditioning.

The legends emphasized the importance of posing practice and muscle control in developing a mature, polished physique. They encouraged current competitors to spend more time in the posing room to accelerate their progress.

Closing Thoughts

While the bodybuilding legends shared many regrets and mistakes from their careers, they also expressed gratitude for their experiences in the sport. Flex Wheeler gave an encouraging update on his current health and mindset:

"I'm doing great, man. I'm doing great, you know. Still dealing with my health problems and everything like that as far as my leg. Probably doesn't hurt maybe 10% of what it used to, so it's a lot more manageable...I don't have no thoughts of harming myself whatsoever. Haven't had thoughts like that in probably over two years. So that's an amazing monkey off my back...Life is beautiful, it's great."

Their reflections offer valuable perspective for current and aspiring bodybuilders. By learning from the mistakes of past champions, the next generation can push the sport forward while avoiding some of the pitfalls that impacted their predecessors. The legends' continued passion for bodybuilding was evident as they analyzed today's competitors and offered advice to help them reach their full potential.

Article created from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tqp6Om6YclQ