In an intimate dialogue on YouTube with the Anabolic Doc, fitness aficionado Chuck “Kali Muscle” Kirkendall shed light on his harrowing encounter with performance-enhancing drugs. Reflecting upon his own near-death experience, he unveiled the stark realities of these substances, especially in the high-stakes arena of bodybuilding.
A Journey from Incarceration to Inspiration
From the confines of prison to the expansive digital domains of YouTube and Instagram, Kali Muscle’s transformative journey has been both inspiring and instructive. Through his platforms, he has attracted legions of followers, offering them a window into his unique dieting and training methodologies, which often challenge conventional wisdom.
An Unconventional Star in Bodybuilding
Kali Muscle isn’t just another bodybuilder. His distinctive physique and flair for performance have garnered him notable accolades. However, it is his inimitable charisma that has truly cemented his place in the annals of bodybuilding. Tragically, in 2021, a severe health crisis – a heart attack precipitated by a fully blocked artery – forced him to reevaluate his choices.
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The Imperative for Change in Bodybuilding
The bodybuilding world was further jolted in 2022 with the sudden passing of the esteemed Cedric McMillan. For Kali Muscle, it was another grim reminder of the lurking dangers, particularly concerning steroid abuse. Joining voices with other industry luminaries like Seth Feroce, he now campaigns for a paradigm shift in the sport. With a fervent plea to fellow competitors, including notable figures such as Andrew Jacked and Nick Walker, Kali Muscle underscores a crucial message: the preventability of heart attacks.
Kali Muscle Opens Up About Health Struggles and Near-Fatal Heart Attack: “I Woke Up from the Dead”
Kali Muscle, renowned in the fitness world, offered a chilling recount of his heart attack during a recent discussion. Although he regularly took breaks from performance-enhancing drugs, spanning 3-4 months each year, he suffered this life-threatening episode. He attributes this harrowing event to a combination of a poor diet and the effects of steroids.
“I was always scared of health issues. I’ve always had a problem since I was young. My right ankle and foot would retain water. So, I was always concerned with that, and scared, really. Even when I did shows, I would take diuretics or whatever, and I would look at that foot and it wouldn’t be shredded and hard like I wanted it.”
Kali Muscle revealed that during his heart attack, he was following Stan Efferding’s Vertical Diet.
“I ate a vertical diet by Stan Efferding. It’s beef and rice with broth. I do something I never do – I’m lactose intolerant and I don’t eat ice cream but this night I had an ice cream sandwich, went to sleep at 12am, it was like I woke up from the dead. I was dead asleep. I just popped up. Hold on, what’s going on it feels like I have heartburn. I told my wife to get me some heartburn medication.”
“The only way I found it felt better is if I sat on the couch on my knees, it relieved the little burning sensation. After about 30 minutes of being in that position I got cold sweats and I started vomiting like I’ve never seen in my life,” said Kali Muscle.
“Don’t think it won’t happen to you. I thought, you know what I mean, I didn’t think it would happen to me because I was taking off every 3-4 months out of the year. I thought I was eating healthy but I look back, I wasn’t. It’s unnecessary. If your testosterone is not low, if you’re 35-40, and your test is normal, don’t even get on it. There’s no need. All you have to do is eat healthy.”
Muscle disclosed plans to resume testosterone replacement therapy due to his low testosterone levels.
“I feel good, but I’m going to hop on some TRT though because you see my test is at 280. I’m dealing with a wellness clinic now.”
Kali Muscle Cites Wheeler, Coleman, and Ray as Formative Influences
Prior to his deep dive into bodybuilding, Kali Muscle named Flex Wheeler, the eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman, and Shawn Ray as the figures who significantly inspired his journey.
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“You know how nattys say about guys on roids, I was one of those guys. So, I understand. Them all juice heads! I don’t need no roids, I’ve binged more than them. They don’t even lift heavy. Yeah, that’s how you know. I was anti-steroid, anti-drugs, then it just took from my mentor to tell me that I got what it takes. I thought there was a lot of money in it, so that was my reason for getting into bodybuilding.
Flex Wheeler, Ronnie, Shawn Ray, they put up this image – I’m like wow, Arnold. I’m like man, I’m going to try to get some of that money,” shared Kali Muscle. “I had did the West Coast Classic in 2014. I would look good, you know at this point I said I was done before then. I looked good. There’s a show next week, I’m going to go do it. I just dropped my carbs a little bit went in and won superheavyweight and the overall show,” said Kali Muscle.
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Kali Muscle’s Unique Dietary Experiments and Health Advocacy
Beyond the discussions on steroids and bodybuilding, Kali has never been shy about sharing his unconventional dietary choices with his audience. Recently, he embarked on an unusual nutritional journey by adopting an all-watermelon diet. On updating fans about his nine-day experiment of this ‘fruitarian’ lifestyle, Muscle disclosed that the regime assisted him in slimming down to 188 pounds.
This wasn’t the first time Kali gave fans a glimpse into a leaner version of himself. This past July, he presented a notably more svelte physique, attributing this transformation to a life free from performance-enhancing drugs. However, given his current low testosterone levels, Muscle contemplates returning to testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) in the foreseeable future.
In terms of heart health, Kali Muscle remains a vocal advocate, repeatedly alerting the younger demographic about the perils associated with steroid use. In light of the disconcerting frequency of bodybuilders facing untimely demises, he fervently hopes his warnings resonate.
For a comprehensive understanding of Kali’s perspectives, you can access the complete discussion on the Anabolic Doc’s YouTube channel:
Overview
Chuck “Kali Muscle” Kirkendall, transitioning from prison to a digital fitness influencer, recently addressed the dark side of bodybuilding. After surviving a heart attack, Kali highlights the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs, advocating for a safer approach in the industry while acknowledging past icons like Flex Wheeler and Ronnie Coleman.
Featured Image @kalimuscle, @Anabolic Doc (Instagram & Youtube)
