Rich Gaspari Claims “Drugs Replacing Hard Work” in Bodybuilding on “The Mike O’Hearn Show
The mistakes made by younger bodybuilders are discussed by the three-time Mr. Olympia runner-up.
Episode 36 of The Mike O’Hearn Show, released on Generation Iron’s YouTube channel on March 10, 2023, features bodybuilder Rich Gaspari talking about the differences between his era of bodybuilding and modern bodybuilding. Gaspari has competed in the Mr. Olympia contest seven times and finished on the podium four times, with three silver-medal finishes between 1986 and 1988.
During his conversation with O’Hearn, Gaspari said that he has faced criticism from younger bodybuilders but believes that “hard work is being replaced by drugs.”
Discussion on Intensity and Misunderstood Areas of Training with Bodybuilder Rich Gaspari on The Mike O’Hearn Show
O’Hearn kicked off the discussion by acknowledging Gaspari as an inspiration to him during his earlier days in the fitness industry, citing Gaspari’s training approach as one he tried to emulate.
The conversation quickly turned to the topic of intensity and the perceived lack of it in today’s gym-goers. Gaspari chimed in, discussing the importance of proper form during exercise, but also noting that some individuals become too rigid with it, even when they’re fatigued or attempting “cheat movements” within a certain range of motion.
O’Hearn introduced Gaspari as a figure that inspired and stimulated the kind of lifter he aspired to be like when he was coming up in the fitness industry. O’Hearn heralded the camaraderie of how he trained with his partners that emulated how Gaspari navigated his training.
Without wasting time, O’Hearn’s target of discussion was “intensity and today is a snowflake mentality.” Gaspari’s first tag was the discussion surrounding form and how adherent gym-goers are to it even when reaching fatigue during a set or doing “cheat movements” in a particular range of motion.
There were specific areas of training that Gaspari feels are not understood by younger lifters: intensity, going to total failure, and sufficient caloric intake.
To train with effective intensity for muscle growth, one needs sufficient calories to fuel that training. That includes the correct macros and avoidance of refined sugars. You have to eat to grow muscle.
A requisite caloric surplus is necessary for gains, and none of the macros that comprise those calories are inherently bad. However, Gaspari routinely encounters athletes who think “carbs are evil.” Carbs are converted into glucose that muscles use for fuel, and there isn’t anything “inherently evil” about them.
Most of the time, keto diets are not the proper diet for people to use. Gaspari’s bread and butter macro breakdown is typically 35 percent protein, 45 percent carbs, and 20 percent fat.
Although Gaspari doesn’t train with as much intensity as he did during the prime of his career, he still trains with the maximum intensity that he is capable of.
Be sure to watch the entire interview between O’Hearn and Gaspari to hear all the tips for training and health they suggest athletes should adhere to.
Courtesy image @richgaspari (Instagram)
