As social media continues to amplify the profiles of emerging talents in the bodybuilding world, Sam Sulek is among the newest sensations attracting attention. Two seasoned bodybuilding experts, Lee Priest and Milos Sarcev, recently shared their perspectives on the young bodybuilder in their Bro Chat podcast dated October 1, 2023. During their conversation, the duo delved into contemporary practices surrounding performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) and evaluated Sulek’s budding potential within the bodybuilding arena.
Lee Priest: An Unfiltered Voice in Bodybuilding
Lee Priest’s career with the IFBB Pro League has left an indelible mark on the world of bodybuilding. Beyond his achievements in the competition circuit, Priest is renowned for his candid commentary, unhesitatingly delving into even the most contentious topics within the bodybuilding community. Now, at 51, while he remains distanced from the competitive stage – his last win being at the 2013 NABBA Mr. Universe – his sculpted physique bears testament to his unwavering dedication to the discipline.
The Evolving Dynamics of the Sport
Reflecting on the shifts he has witnessed over the years, Priest acknowledged that bodybuilding has undergone both positive and negative changes. A growing concern for many veterans of the sport, including Priest, is the increasing normalization and glorification of PEDs, especially among younger enthusiasts. The allure of swift results, facilitated by these drugs, raises questions about their long-term impact on health and the essence of the sport itself.
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Bodybuilding’s PED Dilemma: Priest and Sarcev Share Insights on Modern Practices
In the realm of bodybuilding, where every fiber and muscle is meticulously sculpted, Lee Priest and Milos Sarcev stand as veterans with a vast reservoir of experience and wisdom. In a recent discourse, these bodybuilding stalwarts shed light on the escalating issue of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) and their growing prevalence in today’s competitive scene.
Lee Priest: An Unwavering Voice in Bodybuilding
Lee Priest’s legacy in bodybuilding goes beyond his competitive accolades. Renowned for his candidness, Priest has never hesitated to discuss pressing issues in the sport, regardless of how controversial they may be. This open dialogue continues as he and Sarcev confront the burgeoning problem of PEDs in contemporary bodybuilding.
The Quest for Immediate Gains: A Concerning Trend
Milos Sarcev, with his deep understanding of the sport, articulated a growing concern: the impatience of the younger generation. Sarcev stressed the burgeoning mindset among aspiring bodybuilders that demands instant results, often sidelining the painstaking dedication that traditionally defined the sport. This quest for swift gains has increasingly drawn young enthusiasts towards anabolic drugs, often without a thorough understanding of the potential long-term consequences.
Sarcev succinctly encapsulated this concern, saying, “You don’t know what you’re getting.” The implication being that while these substances might offer immediate muscular enhancements, the ramifications, both physical and ethical, are often underestimated or overlooked entirely.
In essence, as the landscape of bodybuilding continues to evolve, luminaries like Priest and Sarcev find themselves at a crossroads, advocating for the sport’s integrity and the well-being of its participants. Their insights underscore the need for a more educated and cautious approach to bodybuilding, emphasizing dedication and hard work over shortcuts and potential health risks.
“Now, now, now, 20 years old and I need to do this,” said Milos Sarcev. “That’s the problem, I want it all and I want it now and I don’t care what it takes. This is the problem. Lee you just mentioned you were on steroids and then off completely. When I talked to Dennis James, Chris Cormier, Flex [Wheeler] we all did on and off and off means off. It’s not cruising, it means off,” said Milos Sarcev.
“If you stimulate and feed it and have some little anabolic enhancement and you go off and on, off and on, especially when you’re young, you can maintain health. If you decide okay, for next for year’s I’m not going to stop anything, I’m going to be on and I’m going to be Nick Walker in 2024, then you’re going to maybe run into the troubles. This is how all this starts. Then, you have all these health issues and now you have the alarms and you have to put the breaks on,” Sarcev said.
Lee Priest’s Candid Conversation with a Young Aspirant
In a world driven by instant results, Lee Priest recently recalled a poignant interaction that underscores the changing dynamics of bodybuilding. During their in-depth discussion on the contemporary state of the sport, Priest shared an anecdote about a conversation he had with an 18-year-old bodybuilding enthusiast.
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The young man approached Priest, expressing his eagerness to delve into the world of steroids. For this budding bodybuilder, PEDs seemed like the ticket to quick success, a shortcut to achieving the chiseled physique he so ardently admired.
Priest, with years of experience under his belt and having witnessed firsthand the evolution of bodybuilding, found himself in a position to impart crucial wisdom. Instead of simply admonishing the youngster, he initiated a dialogue, probing the young man about his understanding of steroids, their effects, and the potential long-term consequences. It was a conversation rooted not in judgment but in genuine concern and the hope of fostering a more informed perspective.
This exchange highlights the crucial role seasoned veterans like Priest play. In a world where PEDs are increasingly normalized, these interactions serve as vital touchpoints, guiding young aspirants towards a healthier, more sustainable approach to bodybuilding.
“I was having an argument with an 18-year-old just before I came on here. ‘Lee, as a teenager do you think I should take steroids?’ I’m like no. He wrote back ‘Why not?’ I said because you’re a teenager how old are you? He says, ‘I’m 18.’ I said just be patient it takes years and years and years just keep training. He wrote back, ‘I’ve been training two years I’ve hit a plateau, I want to get big.’ I’m like, but don’t ask me, I told you no so whatever,” explained Lee Priest.
Lee Priest’s Personal Insight on PED Usage
Diving deeper into the topic of Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs), Lee Priest opened up about his own experience, shedding light on the pressures and dynamics that professional bodybuilders face behind the curtain.
For Priest, the journey into the world of PEDs wasn’t a casual exploration, but rather a strategic move to level the playing field. As he ascended the competitive ladder, he found himself up against competitors possessing not only “great genetics” but also the advantage of PEDs. To compete on equal footing and ensure his hard work wasn’t overshadowed, Priest too began incorporating PEDs into his regimen.
However, while reflecting on the current landscape, Priest expressed concerns about the authenticity and safety of PEDs available today. Unlike the past, where athletes had relatively more clarity about what they were using, today’s market is rife with dubious substances. “You don’t know what you’re getting,” he lamented, highlighting the increased risks contemporary bodybuilders face. This sentiment underscores the profound changes the sport has undergone, emphasizing the need for caution and due diligence among aspiring bodybuilders.
“I’m competing with other guys who have great genetics and they’re on them, so for me to keep up with them sadly I’m going to have to go on them too, so,” Priest added. “Well the deca I did then too was pharmaceutical, so if you had a sore shoulder or whatever you could take it and it would help.
Now I’ve had injuries now and that car accident, my neck, someone gave me a deca, I took it, and it didn’t do shit.”
“You don’t know what’s it in anymore, you don’t know what you’re getting. I think the quality was better back then so you could actually use less.”
Priest and Sarcev Discuss Sam Sulek: “Unbelievable Genetic Freak”
In their recent discussions, bodybuilding icons Lee Priest and Milos Sarcev didn’t hold back their admiration for Sam Sulek, labeling him an “unbelievable genetic freak.” Sarcev, while acknowledging Sulek’s enormous potential, cautioned Fouad Abiad, Sulek’s sponsor, saying, “Do it carefully, smartly.” The underlying message was clear: immense talent like Sulek’s needs to be nurtured with care and strategy.
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“He’s an unbelievable genetic freak, he has all the potential right? It’s just one of those things you want to rush him into do it? No. I love the fact that he wants to satisfy himself with a vision of what he wants to bring on the stage.
There’s obvious potential that’s going to flourish into something great. Rushing him… and what we were talking about, okay, don’t take a break, don’t take a break, push the level they are doing it… No. Do it carefully, smartly, if you are sponsoring him I hope you have some influence on him. I would most definitely have cycles and PCTs and off and in between,” Milos Sarcev said.
Don’t abuse, just use when necessary, and always with knowledge:
“My golden rule of thumb was always as much time as I was on, I would have to be at least half time off,” added Sarcev.
Sarcev Emphasizes the Importance of Protein: “It’s Fundamental for Physique and Longevity”.
“You’ve got to have enough protein period. Obviously, if he’s lean enough he’s getting away with whatever macros in whichever form he is taking. I’m not going to say necessarily you have to be strict as me. I just had shitload of good foods that I love eating. My diet was not suffering. My diet was always I loved it. Right now, 40 years later I still eat my egg whites in the morning.”
Sulek Defies Convention, Priest and Sarcev Applaud His Authenticity
Sam Sulek’s increasing visibility in the realms of fitness and bodybuilding has sparked many discussions regarding his potential. Notably, Lee Priest has recently addressed some fans who have voiced concerns about Sam’s atypical dietary choices and lifestyle.
Though Sulek might not strictly adhere to the conventional bodybuilding diet of plain chicken and white rice, both Priest and Sarcev concur: Sulek’s authenticity in representing his true self is invaluable for the broader bodybuilding community.
For those interested in the detailed conversation, the full video can be found on the Fouad Abiad Media YouTube channel:
Overview
Lee Priest and Milos Sarcev, legends in the world of bodybuilding, engage in a candid conversation about the sport’s current state, the rise of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) among younger enthusiasts, and their thoughts on emerging bodybuilder Sam Sulek. While both acknowledge Sulek’s potential, they emphasize the importance of caution and knowledge when it comes to PED use. Their insights shed light on the evolving dynamics of bodybuilding and the need for a more informed and sustainable approach to the sport.
Featured Image @Fouad Abiad (Youtube), @sam_sulek (Instagram)
