{"id":10898,"date":"2023-02-09T19:31:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-09T20:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/?p=10898"},"modified":"2023-02-09T21:13:40","modified_gmt":"2023-02-09T21:13:40","slug":"lee-haney-thinks-modern-bodybuilding-contest-prep-is-too-dangerous","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/everything-else\/lee-haney-thinks-modern-bodybuilding-contest-prep-is-too-dangerous\/","title":{"rendered":"Lee Haney Thinks Modern Bodybuilding Contest Prep is Too Dangerous"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Few people understand what it truly takes to <a aria-label=\"eat (opens in a new tab)\" data-lasso-id=\"201985\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/how-to-eat-more\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\">eat<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/powerbuilding\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\" data-lasso-id=\"201998\">train<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/how-to-burn-fat\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"prepare (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\" data-lasso-id=\"201999\">prepare<\/a> like a dynastic bodybuilding champion. Lee Haney is one of them. With eight consecutive <a aria-label=\"Mr. Olympia (opens in a new tab)\" data-lasso-id=\"201987\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/hadi-choopan-ripped-physique-update-2023-mr-olympia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\">Mr. Olympia<\/a> titles from 1984-1991, Haney spent nearly an entire decade at the top of the fitness world. To this day, his eight Olympia titles are tied with <a aria-label=\"fellow legend Ronnie Coleman (opens in a new tab)\" data-lasso-id=\"201988\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/ronnie-coleman-health-update-stem-cell-treatment\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\">fellow legend Ronnie Coleman<\/a> for the most ever. That&#8217;s why a recent interview might paint the picture of a man who doesn&#8217;t appreciate where modern bodybuilding stands. <\/p>\n<p>On Feb. 6, 2022, <strong>Haney appeared in a podcast episode with <em>Muscular Development<\/em><\/strong>. Amidst a discussion of various current events, <a aria-label=\"like the rise of Derek Lunsford (opens in a new tab)\" data-lasso-id=\"201989\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/derek-lunsford-2023-arnold-classic-2023-olympia-plans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\">like the rise of Derek Lunsford<\/a>, Haney particularly centered on modern conditioning standards for the best of the best. In a few words, he isn&#8217;t a fan. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"video-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"container-lazyload preview-lazyload container-youtube js-lazyload--not-loaded\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=IWLLwxx4X5A\" class=\"lazy-load-youtube preview-lazyload preview-youtube\" data-video-title=\"Lee Haney: &quot;Stop Rewarding Dry Conditioning!&quot;  Ronline Report\" title=\"Play video &quot;Lee Haney: &quot;Stop Rewarding Dry Conditioning!&quot;  Ronline Report&quot;\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=IWLLwxx4X5A<\/a><noscript>Video can&#8217;t be loaded because JavaScript is disabled: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=IWLLwxx4X5A\" title=\"Lee Haney: &quot;Stop Rewarding Dry Conditioning!&quot;  Ronline Report\">Lee Haney: &quot;Stop Rewarding Dry Conditioning!&quot;  Ronline Report (https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=IWLLwxx4X5A)<\/a><\/noscript><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"is-layout-constrained wp-block-group is-style-call-out-bm-icon\">\n<p><strong><em>More from Breaking Muscle:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/reverse-biceps-curl\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\" data-lasso-id=\"201990\">How to Do the Reverse Biceps Curl for Complete Arm Development<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/dumbbell-split-squat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\" data-lasso-id=\"201991\">How to Do the Dumbbell Split Squat for Single-Leg Size and Strength<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/arnold-schwarzenegger-classic-physique-replace-mr-olympia\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Similarly to Arnold Schwarzenegger (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\" data-lasso-id=\"201992\">Similarly to Arnold Schwarzenegger<\/a>, Haney thinks modern bodybuilding is too fixated on size rather than aiming for symmetry and balance. Per the legend, the top names might be larger than ever, but they&#8217;re missing vital details that used to be a primary focus during his era. <\/p>\n<p>When one factors in potentially excessive dehydration to display even more muscular detail, Haney thinks this overall mentality comes at a significant cost to the athletes&#8217; health. <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>\u201cA lot of athletes end up sick or end up dying because of trying to achieve that level of dryness,&#8221; Haney explained. &#8220;I think we need to change the cultural mindset of what\u2019s happening when it comes to judging these competitions.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Ultimately, while he appreciates the dedication to competition and fitness, Haney expressed that what bodybuilders are asked of nowadays goes too far. For him, having a long and enjoyable life is more important than having a fruitful, rigid career that could potentially put that at risk. <\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>\u201cAt the end of the day, you want to enjoy yourself as an athlete, but you want to walk away with your health,&#8221; Haney said. &#8220;You shouldn\u2019t have to die to reach this level of conditioning. They\u2019re asking too much of the athletes, period. You look at the former school of bodybuilding. People say &#8216;old school,&#8217; that is the real school. It <em>is<\/em> the school. Forget that &#8216;old school.&#8217; &#8230; We reached a level of conditioning that let us walk away after the competition and still be alive, and still be healthy.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The 63-year-old Haney maintained that previous bodybuilding contest standards let the icons of his era go on to lead long lives. He explained that figures like the <a aria-label=\"late and influential Bill Pearl (opens in a new tab)\" data-lasso-id=\"201993\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/bill-pearl-mr-universe-bodybuilding-obituary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\">late and influential Bill Pearl<\/a>, three-time Mr. Olympia Frank Zane (1977-1979), and even Schwarzenegger lived or have all reached their senior years, well into their 70s and 80s, for a good reason. Their bodybuilding preparations didn&#8217;t ask too much of them. <\/p>\n<p>As such, it might be time to reassess and trace steps back to those past days before it&#8217;s too late. Haney suggests that the onus may be on the bodybuilding judges to only reward certain physiques in the context of earlier bodybuilders.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\">\n<p>&#8220;They remember the fact that we were healthy. Nobody passed out on stage. Maybe we got a little dehydrated, got a little light-headed, but nobody had to call in paramedics to revive anybody. So, there\u2019s a pattern that already exists. I\u2019m saying, let\u2019s get back to those patterns,&#8221; Haney said. &#8220;It doesn\u2019t take a lot to do that. It just takes a joining of the minds. &#8230; I think we have to step back and rewrite, reassess, because the blood of these athletes that are dying, is on your hands. They\u2019re on your hands.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"sbi-embed-wrap\">\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media sbi-embed\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CoLb105vUy7\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:500px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\">\n<div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CoLb105vUy7\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <\/p>\n<div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; 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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\">\n<div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"margin-left: auto;\">\n<div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\">\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CoLb105vUy7\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Lee &#34;Hercules&#34; Haney (@lee_haney_official)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.instagram.com\/en_US\/embeds.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div class=\"is-layout-constrained wp-block-group is-style-call-out-bm-icon\">\n<p><em><strong>More from Breaking Muscle:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/hip-thrust-alternatives\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"8 Hip Thrust Alternatives to Build Your Glutes and Hamstrings (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\" data-lasso-id=\"201994\">8 Hip Thrust Alternatives to Build Your Glutes and Hamstrings<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<li><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/back-and-biceps-workouts\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"The Ultimate Back and Biceps Workout for Every Lifter (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"ek-link\" data-lasso-id=\"201995\">The Ultimate Back and Biceps Workout for Every Lifter<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Haney&#8217;s thoughts are noble and worthy of being listened to, especially coming from a legend well-known for suggesting that bodybuilders &#8220;stimulate, don&#8217;t annihilate&#8221; in the gym. For bodybuilding to even consider scaling back to his preferred health ideal will likely take a Yeoman&#8217;s effort from everyone involved. That includes competition organizers, athletes, and their coaches seeing the forest for the trees together. <\/p>\n<p>Because if an all-time great thinks the sport isn&#8217;t in a quality place, then it could be time to reconsider the dangerous path that lead to this point. <\/p>\n<p><em>Featured image: @lee_haney_official on Instagram<\/em><\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\/lee-haney-bodybuilding-contest-conditioning-dangerous\/\">Lee Haney Thinks Modern Bodybuilding Contest Prep is Too Dangerous<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingmuscle.com\">Breaking Muscle<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Few people understand what it truly takes to eat, train, and prepare like a dynastic bodybuilding champion. Lee Haney is one of them. With eight consecutive Mr. Olympia titles from 1984-1991, Haney spent nearly an entire decade at the top of the fitness world. To this day, his eight Olympia titles are tied with fellow legend Ronnie Coleman&#8230;<br \/>\nThe post Lee Haney Thinks Modern Bodybuilding Contest Prep is Too Dangerous appeared first on Breaking Muscle.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10736,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":""},"categories":[20,1,21,22,19],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10898"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10898"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10898\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10899,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10898\/revisions\/10899"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10736"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10898"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10898"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bestratefinders.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10898"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}