Fouad Abiad has watched the sport evolve since hanging it up as an IFBB Pro from the Men’s Open. In his latest venture, he joined Mark Bell on the Power Project podcast to discuss the rising number of deaths in bodybuilding. He also examined the physique and genetics of Nick Walker.
Safety concerns in bodybuilding have influenced the landscape on an unprecedented level over the past few years. No one has been immune to the sport’s dangers, regardless of where they sit on the totem pole. Three years ago, former 2018 Mr. Olympia Shawn Rhoden tragically passed away due to a heart attack.
It’s become a horrifying trend that hasn’t shown signs of letting up. Last year, popular bodybuilder Jo Lindner died from a suspected aneurysm. And as of late, Brazilian bodybuilder Christian Figueiredo met his demise after suffering complications during a liver surgery. In light of these tragedies, Fouad Abiad opened up on what could be causing these deaths before discussing the commitment levels of top IFBB Pro Nick Walker.
Fouad Abiad Talks Bodybuilding Deaths and Nick Walker’s Genetics: ‘Some Guys Are Just Built For This’
While many point to steroids as the common denominator for deaths in bodybuilding, Abiad contends that it has more to do with athletes wanting to walk around at 300 pounds.
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“Look, if I had to bet on it, I’d be like you’re doing yourself a complete disservice by going into bodybuilding if your primary concern is your health. Because even if you took, people are like ‘Oh, the steroids are killing people.’ I’m like no, it’s not the steroids necessarily. Your body is not meant to be 300-fucking pounds of muscle.”
Abiad doesn’t believe the heart was designed to pump blood to 250-270 pounds of muscle tissue.
“That in itself, your heart is not meant to pump to 250-270 pounds of lean muscle tissue. So, it’s like, I use the analogy of driving a car in first gear just keeping it in first gear and the RPMs are at 6,000, you’re redlining it all day long. It’s just wear and tear.”
Refusing to sugar-coat his opinion, Abiad mentioned that ‘no matter how you slice it, you’re taking some years off your life’ if you pursue a bodybuilding career.
“No matter how you slice it — and I think a lot of bodybuilders know this, they’re not stupid. No matter how you slice it, you’re taking some years off your life. If you’re meant to live till 80, you might live to 70. That’s kind of how I think a lot of bodybuilders look at it. The ones who say they don’t look at it that way are probably either lying to you or they have their head in the sand or they just don’t know but I think a lot of them do know.”
According to Abiad, he didn’t believe in the term ‘hyper-responder’ until he met Nick Walker.
“I use to think the term hyper responder was bullshit. I don’t anymore after talking to a couple–Derek of More Plates More Dates, he did some really good videos on it. I talked to Stefan Kinsel he’s the boss of Outlaw on Instagram. He’s really knowledgeable,” shares Fouad Abiad.
Abiad compared Walker’s commitment to the sport to that of a robot.
“Now, I don’t want to say any of this to say that Nick is just drugs. I will tell you this about Nick. Nick was sponsored by us for just under a year. I’ve never seen somebody in my life that is as dedicated as Nick. It’s like, it’s ridiculous. It’s like a fucking robot, I’m not joking.”
He credits Walker for his discipline and consistency, adding that he’s ‘never seen a guy with more passion and dedication.’
“He doesn’t care if his food is cold, he doesn’t care if it’s warm, he doesn’t care if he’s in a car, he doesn’t care if he’s sitting in a restaurant, he doesn’t care, if it’s time to eat, it’s time to eat. If it’s time to train, it’s time to train. Where are we training, what are we training? This is his whole life is training and competing.”
“When it comes to strictly bodybuilding, training, and getting on stage, I haven’t seen a guy with more passion and more dedication than Nick. Now, the reason I said the first part is obviously genetics matter. Nick has the genetics for it. He has the ability to put on a massive amount of muscle. He trains extremely hard so, he’s just got it. Some guys are just built for this.”
With the reigning Mr. Olympia Derek Lunsford announcing that he’s at the heaviest weight of his career, it appears the pursuit of size isn’t going anywhere. However, Abiad warns that strictly aiming to breach 300 pounds could shorten the lifespans of bodybuilders in the future.
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