Despite being on the mend from a hamstring and calf tear, bodybuilder Nick Walker remains in touch with the sport. In a recent conversation on the Mutant and the Mouth Podcast, Walker candidly discussed his experience with kratom and expressed reservations about the messaging being spread by influencer Sam Sulek.
“Listen, if it works for him that’s great. I just hope when he’s a little older, he gets some more understanding of how this shit really works,” shared Walker
Nick Walker has quickly become one of the most prolific bodybuilders on the planet, a feat he made possible thanks to his freakish muscle volume and conditioning. Last year, Walker shocked the world with an impressive third-place finish at 2022 Olympia, behind only Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan.
In pursuit of a second Arnold Classic title in 2023, Walker brought a menacing look to Columbus, Ohio, but it wasn’t enough to stop the shape and aesthetics of Samson Dauda. Even with the setback, Walker’s focus on 2023 Mr. Olympia gold only strengthened. Days before stepping on the big stage, tragedy stuck, Walker suffered a hamstring and calf tear that prevented him from competing.
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On the sidelines, Walker continues to heal from his wound and recently caught wind of the Sam Sulek hype train. With the bodybuilding community consumed with Sulek’s personality and potential, Walker explains why that might not be such a good idea.
Nick Walker Questions Sam Sulek’s Diet & Messaging
According to Walker, younger audiences online preach dangerous practices, which he believes can get “instilled in the young kids’ heads”
“They [younger audiences] think they know better. No bro. I blame all that shit on fucking social media because you have little kids that are 18, 19, preaching how you gotta diet this way, drugs this way, this and that way, and that’s what gets instilled in the young kids’ heads.”
“The kids that are preaching that they do this, this, and this, is the most horrific dangerous way possible while you did it being successful, the somewhat same type of way per se, just a lot safer and better,” explains Walker.
Walker underlines that Sulek’s views on diet and training are dangerous because he truly believes the quality of food doesn’t matter as long as the caloric intakes are comparable.
“Okay, at 22, listen, whatever. But the only issue I have is he [Sam Sulek] truly believes. He compares… oh this is the same as eating chicken and rice, calories in, calories out, no! I would be more accepting of it if he was like this is what I do you can try it but it’s not the right way or the healthiest way.”
Given the conviction behind Sulek’s videos, Walker is concerned that others will follow in his footsteps, whether it be nutrition, drugs, or training.
“I feel like he’s putting it out there and then truly believes what he’s saying, and for me, that’s where the problem lies. I don’t care what anyone puts out. I don’t care if he says I eat this, this, and this, I do this drug, this drug, and this drug, whatever. That’s what I do and I don’t advise anyone to do that and this is what I do. I’d be like okay, that’s cool.”
“What he eats in a day would be like my cheat,” laughs Walker. “That’d be my cheat day.”
“After training, it was like a protein shake and six Krispie Kreme donuts and shit and I’m like, but that’s what he does on the reg! By all means bro.”
While Walker has no problem with Sulek, he doesn’t appreciate “what he is putting out.”
. “No. Listen, I don’t know the kid. I can’t say I don’t like him. He seems fucking cool. But just what he is putting out, I’m just not okay with it.”
“Kids will argue it all day because of what’s being said on social media. It’s fucking horrific.”
“I hope for his sake it is good [his blood panels],” added Nick Walker.
Walker Discusses Kratom As Part of His Morning Routine for Cardio
Walker credited kratom as a useful method for helping him reap the most benefits from his cardio in the morning.
“Speaking of feeling like shit, I will just be honest. I did do the 120 shot [of kratom]. The whole thing. No, no, no. I never threw up. I don’t wanna say felt like shit… I just felt overly high. But like, you know the high you get when you’re just too high? I didn’t throw up by any means but I had that — cardio was really amazing though.”“For me, taking a 60 for me in the morning, I get that nice mellow, focused feeling and I’m fine. That’s where my level is.”“I do it in the mornings because that’s when I feel like I need it the most. It did [help with sleep], and I also did it without it and I didn’t see a dramatic change. I sleep fine so I just wanted to see if it would make it better. I sleep pretty good so there was no dramatic difference but morning is definitely my go-to for it, 100%.”
This wasn’t “The Mutant’s” first time describing his experiences with kratom. In February, the Men’s Open star detailed how kratom helped him during cardio sessions in preparation for the 2023 Arnold Classic. At the time, Walker also praised kratom for enhancing the quality of his sleep.
Nick Walker has revealed that he will take some much-needed time away from the limelight to focus on his recovery. He has also clarified that he won’t participate in the 2024 Arnold Classic and hopes to receive a special invite for the next Mr. Olympia.
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