Correct. I kept training as a bodybuilder, but never seriously as far as leg training was concerned or when training for competition in general. But I always made the effort to always stay in decent shape, but training for competition requires very intensified training.

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[ Q ] So prior to your comeback at the 1992 Mr. Olympia in Helsinki, Finland, you had to go back to the drawing board to plot your approach for this contest with its new generation of top professionals. What exactly did you do differently compared to when you trained for the 1975 Mr. Olympia?
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I trained the same way but the change was the diet. In the old days of Pumping Iron and when I won the Universe it was more like a low calorie, high carbohydrate diet. So I realized the difference were the carbohydrates. And instead of training down for the competition I would train hard off-season. And the body parts (training) were the same it was just that I trained smarter and paid more attention to correct form (for the 1992 Olympia).

RELATED VIDEO


1994 Olympia
Lou Ferrigno's Posing Routine.

Lou Ferrigno's posing routine from the 1994 IFBB Masters Olympia And Jan Tana Pro where he placed 2nd right below Robby Robinson.

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[ Q ] Did you try anything new as far as supplementation for the 1992 Olympia?
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The supplements were much the same but I do know I was eating twice as much because I have learned that if you eat four or five meals a day this is better than eating three huge meals. I became more educated about dieting and how the metabolism works.

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[ Q ] So prior to the 1975 Olympia you were eating only three times per day.
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Yes.

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[ Q ] History shows that you were not at your best in the 1992 Olympia. Reports say you could have been fuller and more ripped. What happened?
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Well there were two mistakes that I made when I came back at the '92 Olympia: I was overtrained - I was actually ready a month before - and I did not work on my posing. I didn't realize that there was a change in the symmetry and the compulsory rounds.

You really had to be tensed and flexed and I didn't put enough time into that so that was my fault. So this made me realize what I did wrong and the following year I came in bigger and more prepared. Bodybuilding changes every ten years, what with the rules and the regulations and the biggest factor (in my result at the 1992 Olympia) made me realize how important posing was.

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Lou Ferrigno.
[ Click To Join The Thread. ] Lou Ferrigno.
Its a shame he never won an Olympia. He would've been a huge force if he would have been born in this generation of body building.
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[ Q ] In saying that, do you feel you were judged fairly at the 1992 Olympia, all things considered?
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I would say that the judges probably did the best they could because I came in too light and too drawn. Maybe I could have been one-or-two notches higher but I do think I was overtrained for this contest and could have placed much higher. In fact I predict that if I looked the way I looked a month before I could have definitely cracked the top five.

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[ Q ] So a month before the 1992 Olympia how exactly did you look compared to what you presented onstage?
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I was very full and hard. But although I was probably one of the most ripped guys in the whole show I was very flat.

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[ Q ] And your stance in the so-called relaxed pose at the pre-judging obviously didn't help you.
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Yes and I still didn't understand: I was still learning about peaking out. I just peaked out too early. You have to remember that after 17 years it's tough. You know all the stress, the pressure, and the state of mind you have when you have a family. I simply didn't have enough time to learn all about peaking out.

Stress Articles:

o Stressed Out - Cause And Solution! - By Mauro Di Pasquale
o Competitive Bodybuilders And Stress! - By Jeff Behar
o Don't Sweat The Stress! - By David Sloniegura
o Other Stress Articles...

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[ Q ] If you could do it all over again what would you do differently?
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Well if I could do it all over again I would probably give a few posing exhibitions before the contest to learn how to peak out properly.

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[ Q ] How did your fellow competitors respond to you at the 1992 Olympia?
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Well at the same time they were my peers, fans and friends. And of course they also wanted to defeat me. Bodybuilding is very competitive. But they were very nice to me; I had a great time with the whole crew. Everybody from Vince Taylor to Dorian Yates, they really had a lot of respect for me and they really welcomed my comeback and that was what I was excited about.

PRO BODYBUILDING WEEKLY
Guest: Vince Taylor
Date: 04/10/06 (Radio Show 34) - mp3 (12.4 MB)

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[ Q ] Excellent. Comparing and contrasting your fellow competitors at the 1992 Olympia with those from the 1975 Olympia, what were the main physical differences?
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There was a greater amount of muscularity, they were bigger and much more superior in their leg development and in the back.

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[ Q ] After your second comeback Olympia appearance in 1993 you gave the 1994 Masters version a shot: a contest that was controversial in more ways than one. In fact many felt you should have won the whole thing yet you placed second to Robby Robinson. Should you have won this contest?
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I personally felt I should have won the competition but then there was the problem with my tanning solution. And I had a feeling that the only advantage they gave to Robby was the fact that he had more years of training and a little more maturity. And when a bodybuilder competes, on the day of the contest it is very hard to tell him and make him understand why he should have placed where because you can't really see yourself because you are so into the training and the diet.

Now that I look back I think if I had had more (muscle) maturity and more time, things would have been different. But that is where it stands and I gave 110 percent so there is nothing I regret. But I know the audience felt I should have won.

John
Enlarge Click Image To Enlarge.
Lou Ferrigno At The
Reg Park Memorial Service.

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[ Q ] After that contest you walked away from competitive bodybuilding. Why did you decide to do this?
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I gave 110 percent and competed for three years and felt I did what I wanted to do. So there was no sense for me to continue competing because I proved what I had to prove to myself. I wanted to go back to the film business and make more movies because that was my other passion.

o 1971 Pro Mr. America - WBBG, Teen 1st
o 1971 Teen Mr. America - AAU, 4th, Most Muscular 5th
o 1972 Pro Mr. America - WBBG, 2nd
o 1972 NABBA Mr. Universe, Tall 2nd
o 1973 IFBB Mr. America, Overall Winner
o 1973 IFBB Mr. Universe, Tall 1st, Overall Winner
o 1974 IFBB Mr. International
o 1974 IFBB Mr. Universe, Tall 1st, Overall Winner
o 1974 Mr. Olympia, Heavyweight 2nd
o 1975 Mr. Olympia, Tall class, 3rd place
o 1992 Mr. Olympia, 12th
o 1993 Mr. Olympia, 10th
o 1994 Olympia Masters, 2nd

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[ Q ] What kind of shape are you in these days Lou? You still training hard?
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Oh yes, I am still training the same way I did years ago. Moderate to heavy, I'm really smart with my training and I still have the same passion for training that I have had for the last 45 years.

Celebrity Program Articles:

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o Rambo 4 - Stallone's Blockbuster Workout! - By Jaime Filer
o Brad Pitt's Transformation Workout! - By Brian Bullman
o Other Celebrity Program Articles...

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[ Q ] And how are you looking these days?
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Pretty good for 56: I can take my shirt off and flex and hold my own against guys my age. I'm very proud.

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[ Q ] Can you give me an example of how you would train these days, your training split.
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Well I still train chest and back on Monday, on Tuesday I would do legs, Wednesday I would do shoulders on their own, then Thursday would be biceps and triceps. It is a four-day on, one-day off.

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[ Q ] What is your diet like these days?
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A balanced diet: meat, fish, eggs, fruits and vegetables; maybe no more than 3500 calories per day. I do everything in moderation.

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[ Q ] You have been in bodybuilding for 45 years now and you have trained very hard over this time. How is your health today?
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My health is good.

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[ Q ] Do you have any current injuries?
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I have had injuries but my health is good. Sure I have had injuries just like everyone else but nothing current.

FORUM THREAD
Lou Ferrigno.
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I know he lost some size from the old days, but you got to admit he's still in great shape for a guy in his late 50's.
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[ Q ] And are you getting a good response from the bodybuilding community these days?
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Yes I do, all the time. I have a service on my website and see fans and people from all over the world; they still come and train with me. I love training them more than anybody else because it gives me a chance to help and motivate them and minimize their mistakes.

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[ Q ] How have you given back to the bodybuilding community that has given you so much over the years?
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Well I am very active. I have a Weider contract and am involved with the magazine. And I am still happy to be an IFBB champion today; plus I still do seminars on my own where I can to preach the word about bodybuilding and fitness.

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[ Q ] I understand you have a number of projects you are running from your website. Tell me about these.
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Yes I have books, posters, all my pictures, and also my home line of gym equipment and the (Ferrigno Fitness®) PowerBlock®. This is unique. Why have a home gym when you can employ and use the PowerBlock®.

If you don't want to use a home gym you still have 28 pairs of dumbbells in one set. So it takes up little space and it is all free weight and it is a very effective approach as opposed to cables. It is mostly free weight and the cables you can utilize through the machines (the compete Lou Ferrigno home gym package) so you get a complete body workout also, free weight-wise.

Signature
Enlarge Click Image To Enlarge.
Handprints Of Lou Ferrigno In
Front Of The Hollywood Hills Amphitheater.

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[ Q ] Sounds really impressive.
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It is fun. When you first use the unit you say, "Wow, this is great" when you look at the picture. But the fact is I would have given anything for something like this when I was a kid. I would have killed for it. It is just very practical and very useable.

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[ Q ] What are some bodybuilding lessons you have learned over the years Lou?
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Oh about three or four years ago I was talking to Reg Park and he told me to be smart about training and not over train. Not to train too heavy because it is hard on the joints. So it is really great to talk to people like him, because these guys have experienced training all these years. And also Bill Pearl; he is one of my mentors too.

RELATED ARTICLE

[ Click here to learn more. ] A Tribute To Reg Park!
In this article, fans and competitors alike share their thoughts on, and pay tribute to Reg and describe how he has influenced them as bodybuilders.
Author:
David Robson

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[ Q ] And speaking of bodybuilding legends, you yourself fall into this bracket as well. Of all the great pioneers within bodybuilding, men like Bill Pearl, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Reg Park and Steve Reeves, who would you consider to be number one and why?
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Well that is a tough question because it changes every 15 to 20 years. I would say they are all great: those guys. In my book, I love Steve Reeves and Arnold.

Dan, Lou & Reg
Click Image To Enlarge.
Dan Laurie With Lou Ferrigno & Reg Park.

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[ Q ] What did you like about Steve Reeves best?
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His symmetry, he was very strong, he came from nothing and was self-made and he was very handsome. And he was very smart with how he conducted himself and he had a good lifestyle.

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[ Q ] What advice would you give to one who is just starting up in bodybuilding?
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Be patient, do not compete with others but compete with yourself because you have a certain genetic make-up, be the best you can be, give yourself personal satisfaction and most of all be very consistent.

Beginning Bodybuilding Articles:

o Destroy These Bad Habits And Lose Fat! - By Brigitte Brodski
o A Beginner's Guide To Losing Body Fat! - By Jim Brewster
o 10 Facts Every Bodybuilder Should Know. - By David Robson
o Other Beginning Articles...

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[ Q ] Do you feel that bodybuilding is a viable career option for those with good potential?
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Sure, depending on what you want to get out of it. Not everybody can be Mr. Olympia, but at least you can be the best you can be. Bodybuilding leads to so many different things because you build wonderful discipline and it can be applied to other things: for instance, guys go from bodybuilding into other sports like baseball, football and wrestling or into the film business. So it has tremendous potential, but still I think bodybuilding builds a fantastic foundation for your body, yourself and for your mind.

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[ Q ] If your son wanted to become a professional bodybuilder what would you say to him?
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Well, take pictures of yourself, see the potential; you see the desire they (the champions) have and how hard they want to train because they have great potential. If they don't put the effort into it they just won't become champions. I would say be the best you can be and take one step at a time.

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[ Q ] Both your boys are involved in the fitness industry I understand.
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Yes they are personal trainers and they are active bodybuilders: they emulate me and they live a great lifestyle because they are great bodybuilders themselves.



MfG Steven