Dorian Yates is no stranger to the risks associated with bodybuilding. In a recent interview with High Intensity Business, Yates stressed the importance of balancing hormones and shared his current motivations for staying fit at 60 years old.
Ushering in an era of mass monsters, Dorian Yates dominated the Open class with granite conditioning and arguably the most detailed back of all time. Yates secured second place at the Mr. Olympia competition in his debut back in 1991. He returned the following year and staked his claim as the world’s best bodybuilder. Before calling it a career, Yates retired on top after winning his final sixth Sandow trophy in 1997.
In addition to his accolades, Yates’ impact on the sport is felt to this day, courtesy of his signature near-failure training philosophy. Instead of focusing on reps/sets, Yates listened to his body and was known for pushing through incredibly exhausting workout routines.
Even though he stopped competing more than 20 years ago, Yates’ dedication to fitness has remained one of his biggest motivators in retirement. In his latest endeavor, Yates discussed how to stay in shape at 60 and some of the dangers he avoided while building a legacy.
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Dorian Yates Says ‘Correct Nutrition’ and Rest are Keys to Optimum Hormone Balance
According to the six-time Mr. Olympia, training efficiently is still a top priority for him. He said he’s been working out four times a week for 45 minutes lately.
“My first Mr. Olympia, I’d be training 12 hours a day or 14 hours a day if that was necessary I would have been doing it. But it wasn’t, I was doing 45 minutes to an hour four times a week and beating the best in the world who were training much more than this because I was training more efficiently and I felt I got more out of my genetic potential than they did.”
“So the average person doesn’t need to do that because they don’t need to work on the side delts, the rear delts, the long head of the triceps, whatever, they just need to work the main muscle massess intensively. Correct nutrition, correct hormone balance, enough rest, and it’s a formula. You will get results.”
Yates underlined that optimum hormone balance will make someone feel better and will benefit their health.
“The supplements, there’s hormonal treatments, not from ourselves, we will have partners from the outside, they can assess peoples’ hormones and they can advise them on whether they’re deficient or not or whatever help they might need; optimize that. It’s very important not just for physical results but the quality of life. If hormones are in an optimal place, you’re going to feel better results, you’re going to feel better, and you’re going to have better health,” said Dorian Yates.
Yates 235 Lbs ‘Muscular and Lean’ at 60, Focused on Improving Quality of Life
The former Mr. Olympia says most people can achieve ‘optimal cardiovascular fitness’ with around eight minutes of exercise twice a week.
“I’m also being my own project, working on myself. How do I optimize my health and my fitness as I’m going into my 60s – and my quality of life. So, I’m doing all this myself. I was on a Joe Rogan podcast five years ago. I was telling Joe Rogan I think you can get optimal fitness – I’m not talking about being a marathon runner or a martial artist, just optimal cardiovascular fitness for the average person, in or around eight minutes twice a week.”
Yates took part in a health screening back in January. Following a VO2 Max test and a few others, the bodybuilding legend said his biological age was recorded at 30-39.
“I’m still like 235 and very lean and muscular. So, my goal with the weight training is just to maintain what I got. Just not to lose muscle mass, so that’s quite easy for me. Someone that needs to build it, that’s a different story. I just did extensive cardiovascular testing in Brazil.”
“I did very extensive VO2 Max testing, heart rate recovery, blood pressure – everything, and I was very happy with the results because it said chronologically I’m 60, but biologically I’m in between 30-39. Let’s be honest here, I’ve lived a life.”
Given his use of steroids and growth hormone, Yates is pleased to have his health intact following an extensive tenure in bodybuilding.
“Professional bodybuilding, it’s not the healthiest sport in the world, you know we’re using steroids and growth hormone and so on and a lot of guys haven’t even made it to 60. Right. Let’s face the facts. That sport is not the healthiest sport in the world so I’m very happy I have that outcome and it validates what I’ve been saying,” Dorian Yates said.
Aside from podcast appearances, when Yates has spare time, he shares helpful advice for growing different body parts. ‘The Shadow’s’ last tip was a demonstration of how to build a massive back with modified barbell rows.
RELATED: 60-Year-Old Bodybuilding Legend Dorian Yates Shows Off Jacked Physique in Recent Update
Yates isn’t the only retired bodybuilding veteran determined to reverse the aging process. Rich Gaspari, a 1980s standout, also voiced his support for several peptides, which he says are helping him deal with aging.
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