Bodybuilding legend Frank Zane mastered the art of presentation and muscle building, which resulted in three Mr. Olympia titles. In his latest effort, shared via Instagram on December 17, 2024, he clapped back against bulking, emphasizing that quality muscle takes time to acquire.
As a three-time Mr. Olympia winner, Frank Zane redefined what it meant to be a bodybuilder. With his slim waist, granite conditioning, and exquisite symmetry, Zane proved that aesthetics mattered as much as size, especially when going up against legends like Arnold Schwarzenegger.
For Frank Zane, bodybuilding was an art, and his methods reflected that. He utilized techniques such as breathing exercises, positive affirmations, and sunbathing as a natural diuretic to refine his physique. His nontraditional regimen set him apart from his competitors and highlighted how his mind-body harmony helped propel him to the top of the sport.
Frank Zane Warns Against Bulking, Says ‘Quality Muscle Takes Time To Develop’
With his level of mastery in the fitness and bodybuilding industry, Frank Zane remains a pillar in the community, sharing how he achieved his success. Recently, Zane discussed bulking and whether or not it is worth the trouble. For many bodybuilders, bulking is a special part of their process to build muscle and pack on mass. However, Frank Zane thinks bulking is a waste of time.
“Bulking up means packing on a lot of bodyweight in a relatively brief period of time. Is this productive or are you wasting your time?
My advice based on my own experience is don’t do it. Quality muscle takes time to develop—it’s better to add not more than 5 pounds of solid muscle a year by training and eating right than to gain 30 or 40 pounds of surplus tissue, much of which is fat and water retention.”
He says oftentimes, bulking will leave athletes in the same position where they started.
“When you train down and lose the excess bulk you will most likely find yourself in the same place where you started, often a year later, a year wasted” Zane shared.
While Frank Zane made it clear he finds bulking to be a waste of time, others in the bodybuilding community don’t agree. Four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler shared how to add lean muscle mass without becoming overweight. Cutler suggests eating as clean as possible and limiting carbohydrates and fats while focusing on getting enough calories.
Along with clean bulking, there is another strategy referred to as dirty bulking. Dirty bulking is simply eating high-caloric foods, which are often junk foods and takeout. While it seems incredibly appealing to eat all your favorite foods, it can be incredibly unhealthy, which bodybuilder Jeff Seid learned the hard way after suffering from high blood pressure and 40-pound weight gain due to the practice.
Though bulking can be an effective way to put on mass, Zane’s philosophy emphasizes slow, steady muscle gain for better quality results without the added fat and water retention. Do you agree with Frank Zane about bulking? Let us know in the comments below!
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I prefer the physical look of Frank Zane. Natural look is better. At 70 bulking is more difficult!
I’m only been into the bodybuilding for about 2 years now. Started at age 59. I decided to get into it and be smart about it also. I gotten a lot of good advice from people such as IFBB Pro Olha Horobets. But what I have found is exactly Zane advises. Working for me. But I also found battling kidney problems that what works for one person, doesn’t mean it will work for the next.
My personal advise is a Doctor and find what your particular body needs are.