Chris Bumstead is already eying preparations for his potential fifth Classic Physique title at the Mr. Olympia contest. In a recent Straight Outta the Lair podcast with Flex Lewis, Bumstead detailed his split from Iain Valliere, discussed his current supplementation, and 2023 off-season.
In 2019, Chris Bumstead brought an undeniable look which led to him defeating the two-time Classic Physique Olympia titleholder, Breon Ansley. Despite the explosive popularity of the division, no one from the Classic Physique category has been able to stop Cbum’s reign.
Prior to laying claim to his fourth title last December, Bumstead was dealt his fair share of adversity. Roughly 12 weeks before 2022 Olympia, he and his long-time training partner, Iain Valliere, decided to part ways. Instead, Bumstead would join Hany Rambod for his title endeavor. And while he performed with a torn bicep on stage, Rambod successfully guided the Canadian native to another victory.
With four Classic Physique Olympia titles in his arsenal, Bumstead has quickly become one of the most recognizable faces in the sport on social media, second to only Arnold Schwarzenegger. The 2023 Mr. Olympia show is approaching in less than six months, which prompted Cbum to update fans on his current progress before battling to become a five-time champion.
Chris Bumstead ‘Feeling Great,’ Says ‘Supplements Are Low,’ Talks 2023 Off-Season: ‘Pushing Training and Putting Size On’
While his supplements are ‘low,’ Bumstead says he never looked better at this stage before starting a prep.
“That’s still to come [true off-season] so I’m eating right, training right, supplements are low. Just focusing on doing everything the best I can right now with the travel. Then, when I come back I have one more trip to Italy, when I come back from that in June, I’m going full tilt and locking everything in and focusing on it.
This is the best I’ve looked at this point in a year even. I’ve always taken a lot of time off, like complete time off. Not even in the gym, taking nothing barely eating, losing too much weight. Okay, let’s not go that hard and just take a little bit of time off,” Bumstead shared.
Looking ahead, Bumstead says his health is in order and he has no injuries.
“The second I started pushing training I started putting size back on. I maybe need to put on another five pounds to be a little heavier than I was last year even. I’m in a great spot right now, I feel healthy, body feels young, no injuries, knock on wood.”
Some believe taking time off is a disservice to Bumstead, but he sees it as essential to his growth and longevity as a bodybuilder.
“I think it’s helped me a lot [stem cell therapy]. It’s hard to say and I try not to push it on people it’s expensive. I don’t say you need to do this to be healthy. You don’t, but someone with an autoimmune condition which is all about inflammation and systemic stem cells flush your inflammation so that’s been super helpful for me.”
“I focus on my time off that I take, people might think it’s a deficit, but everyone in the top four at the Olympia did the Arnold. They took a few weeks off and jumped into prep. Their bodies are beat up. I’m getting younger. I’m taking time off resting staying healthy. I feel good, I’m really holding on to that and that allows you to compete longer.”
Bumstead: ‘I Didn’t Fu** Up My Health and Do Too Much Drugs Because of Iain Valliere’
According to Bumstead, Iain Valliere is the reason for his success at a young age. He added that Valliere motivated him to train harder and advised him not to use excessive amounts of steroids.
“Iain is the reason I was able to be successful at a young age. I came into that first show I did, won, and climbed so quick, and the reason I didn’t fu** up my health and do too much drugs, do too much stupid shit in the beginning of my bodybuilding career was because of Iain,” Bumstead said.
“He was the reason I always trained with someone that was lifting two plates more than me on anything. So I pushed myself to be stronger and better. Iain was always stronger and bigger than me. He pushed me and he’s the reason I got to where I was in my career. I’m super grateful for him. I don’t think I’d be where I am without him, at least at this young. That was a really tough decision to leave, to make that call, it was really hard.”
“We came to a decision it would be best for both of us,” Bumstead added. “I was talking to Hany and he just talked to me about Derek Lunsford, how he had a crazy mental and physical transformation, 180, now he’s just crushing it. We were talking about that, mindset, he’s worked with business CEO people on training and mindset. He’s focused a lot on mental. I didn’t even tell him that’s what I was super interested in.”
After going their separate ways, Cbum explained that he started talking to Hany Rambod after the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro.
“He’s a maniac, super outgoing, extroverted, I’m a little more quiet sometimes, that’s why I flow with people crazy like that. We clicked off then. I held that in my back pocket. I was worried to pick someone because it’s a family. You’re bringing someone into your family. A lot of trust very intimate moments, very serious.
Held off for a while before asking Hany to coach me, it was August three and a half months out. I asked him to coach me, he thought I meant mentally help him, I kind of worded myself weird, you know, ‘Could you maybe help me with that,’ then we talked again and I told him I meant coach me fully. He said, ‘Oh, I need to think about that.’ He put me on hold, yeah, motherfuc**r,” said Bumstead.
This isn’t the first time that Bumstead has opened up about some of his struggles in the sport. In a recent Don’t Be Sour podcast, Bumstead discussed the pressures of being a dominant champion. His goal is to exit the sport on top but highlighted that the fear of losing motivates him to continue.
Chris Bumstead is set to return on stage at the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest, taking place Nov. 2-5 in Orlando, Florida. Fans look forward to seeing him face off against the rising contender, 2023 Arnold Classic winner, Ramon Queiroz.
RELATED: Chris Bumstead: “I Brought My PEDs Down & It Allowed Me to Have to Train Harder”
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