Sam Sulek and Jay Cutler came together for a special podcast on December 23, 2024. Sulek revealed the secrets behind his fame, his biggest bodybuilding inspirations, and his plans for approaching his debut in the Classic Physique division.
At the age of 21, Sam Sulek‘s star power exploded thanks to his shredded physique, peculiar eating habits, and laidback content. Although he has yet to compete on a bodybuilding stage, that could all change soon. He announced plans to test himself as a Classic Physique bodybuilder in a year to a year-and-a-half.
To prepare for the venture, Sulek has trained alongside notable stars in the sport, from bodybuilding legend Jay Cutler to active standouts such as reigning Mr. Olympia Samson Dauda and Urs Kalecinski—all the while taking valuable tips to enhance his nutrition, supplementation, and workouts. With questions about his bodybuilding splash percolating, he opened up on what’s to come.
Sam Sulek Joins Jay Cutler to Discuss His Fame, Bodybuilding Inspirations, and Classic Physique Contest Plans
During the YouTube video, Sulek attributed his rapid fame to recording three components: cardio, calorie tracking, and consistency. He adds that he didn’t plan for his massive following.
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“Out of everything, work hard, but probably the main staples I end up talking about are cardio, calorie tracking, and you can take consistency. Those are probably like the big things,” Sulek shared. “It’s definitely big [my following] by now, but I didn’t really plan for it.”
For those seeking fame, Sulek emphasized that consistency, a quality microphone, and enjoying what you talk about are paramount.
“What made it blow up like that, the consistency is going to help, adjusting what you post is going to help, and try to — maybe don’t get a $20 mic from Amazon because it’s going to sound real scratchy. That’s like 30 percent, how you’re showing off what you’re doing it. The next of it is you got to enjoy whatever it is you do or what you’re talking about.”
Sulek has taken motivation from several bodybuilding icons and fitness influencers, including Dorian Yates, Tom Platz, Lee Priest, Kevin Levrone, Jeff Cavaliere, and Jeff Nippard.
“Hours watching the Dorian Yates ones, the Tom Platz ones, the Lee Priest, Kevin Levrone, all those… it was to the point where all the videos that you watch about how to train and you watch all the ATHLEAN-X.
I was watching a ton of Jeff Nippard videos, he made them really well about how you’re a beginner, how many sets should you do a week and of what? Push-pull-legs just basic stuff. The outline has kind of been set up. You don’t have to be a neuroscientist to think I should hit every muscle group twice a week-ish.”
With a bodybuilding debut on the horizon, Sulek says he’s eliminated ‘trash’ from his diet in favor of ‘conventionally good bodybuilding meals.’
“When I’m bulking up, my percentage, my ratio has improved of what someone would say is a conventionally good bodybuilding meal versus trash. That ratio in my bulking phases has probably creeped up to 70 percent oats, rice, potatoes, steak, ground beef, I mean the protein is always good. If you’re eating real protein, you can’t really get shit protein,” he shared.
While his protein demands have largely stayed the same, he has manipulated his carbs and fats to build his physique.
“But it’s the carbs and the fats, those have improved. More just at the rate of plain stuff. I’ll still have the occasional whatever, Krispy Kreme Donuts.”
Sulek doesn’t plan to start his bodybuilding career in the Open and admits his biggest challenge for Classic Physique is weight.
“I’ll see the same comments, ‘Well, he’s pretty big, but he’s nowhere near Urs.’ And then I’ll see, ‘He wants to do Classic? He’s way too big, he’s got to do Open.’ Well, Urs is Classic and you’re saying I’m smaller than Urs, so I think Classic as the debut, will be the goal. But it’s really just a weight thing.”
Ideally, he revealed that he’ll need to weigh 217 pounds to step on stage as a Classic Physique bodybuilder.
“For me, for that local whatever first show, I’ve got to be 217 depleted,” he shares. “So I’ve got to go into it with a cap of okay, I’m 227 three days out, 10 [pounds] that’ll just come off. Just a day of travel if I don’t drink enough water I’ll drop five.”
As Sulek envisions his target weight for his bodybuilding debut, the prospect seems closer than ever. With valuable advice from Cutler, it’s only a matter of time before he steps on stage. Given his impassioned following, many expect him to cement his status as a rising star in the sport.
RELATED: Sam Sulek Shares Fat Loss-Focused Grocery Haul, Reveals Favorite Protein Sources
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