Bodybuilding legend Frank Zane‘s sculpted physique earned him three Mr. Olympia titles. Through hard work and strict dieting, Zane was able to maintain his exquisite form. In a recent YouTube video, Frank Zane shared how he manipulated carbohydrates and used high-protein diets to build a top-tier physique.
As the ‘King of Aesthetics’, Frank Zane’s physique exemplified symmetry, proportions, and definition, making him a timeless icon in the history of bodybuilding. Zane’s impact on bodybuilding transcends his three Mr. Olympia titles as he developed the perfect fusion of artistry and athleticism.
Frank Zane’s masterful physique was attained by maintaining a low-carb diet with an emphasis on eating high quantities of protein. The 81-year-old even shared his meal replacement protein drink that can keep him satiated while still providing essential nutrients.
Frank Zane Discusses Low-Carb Dieting Strategies and Avoiding Junk Food and Alcohol
Frank Zane’s hardcore dedication to dieting is still on full display at 81 years old. His most important words of wisdom were to “avoid junk foods and alcohol.”
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“Our metabolisms slow down and our diet really, we can’t eat as much or we can’t eat enough of the right foods.
You really have to stay more on a high-protein diet and avoid junk foods and alcohol and all that. So if you’re not disciplined, you get out of shape pretty easily” Zane said.
Throughout his epic bodybuilding tenure, Zane kept his weight in the same range, which was usually around 185-190 pounds. Since he was always close to his stage weight, preparing for contests was never too arduous:
“I always kept my weight in the same range. It would be somewhere around 185 to 190. I really didn’t have a problem. I really didn’t have to lose very much because I was very close to it all the time.”
Made famous for his year-round low-carb diets, Zane admits it was always a priority.
“Yeah [I watched my carbs].”
As for the amount of carbs Zane consumed regularly, he mentioned it was half of his protein intake. Weighing approximately 200 pounds, Zane would consume 200 grams of protein and always under 100 grams of carbs.
“It was usually about half my protein intake. My protein intake was one gram of protein per pound of body weight so if I weighed 200, then I would get under 100 grams of carbs a day,” shared Frank Zane.
In addition, Zane talked about carb cycling, which for him, meant eating less carbs for three-day stretches and then incorporating more on the fourth day.
“Keep your carbs low,” said Zane. “What I would do is keep my carbs low for three days in a row and have more carbs on the fourth day. Cycle them.”
In the past, the former three-time Mr. Olympia has been candid about the nutritional measures he took to command bodybuilding’s greatest throne. Zane admitted that supplements played a healthy role in the success of his physique. For most of his tenure and even in retirement, Zane took a multi-vitamin, an amino acid supplement, and acid supplements.
There’s no denying the impact of Frank Zane, who continues to give back to the bodybuilding community following an illustrious career. Given his thoughts on carb cycling and dieting, Zane was ahead of his time with nutritional strategies.
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