Jay Cutler continues to guide the next wave of bodybuilding competitors since stepping away from the stage. In an August 10 YouTube video, he cleared up the biggest misconception around professional bodybuilding.
In the 2000s, Cutler cemented himself as a four-time Mr. Olympia champion. He built his résumé by defeating top-tier competitors, including Ronnie Coleman, Branch Warren, and Dexter Jackson. Cutler earned the nickname ‘Comeback Kid’ when he reclaimed the Mr. Olympia crown in 2009 after losing the year before to Jackson.
In Cutler’s final Mr. Olympia contest (2013), he earned sixth place and called it a career. He still trains seven days a week in retirement and showcases impressive longevity. Despite no longer competing, he remains a top ambassador for the Men’s Open class. He regularly offers advice on training, physique development, and how to make your mark in competitive bodybuilding.
Jay Cutler Discusses the Biggest Misconception in Professional Bodybuilding
During the video, Cutler explained that the biggest misconception in professional bodybuilding is that athletes approach diet and training differently:
“I think the biggest misconception is that we do things really extremely different. That’s not necessarily the case. It’s very, very basic what a professional bodybuilder does, and I’ve been basic since the beginning. I started on a specific diet. I stuck with the basics of training,” Cutler said.
According to Cutler, there’s really no secret to finding success in professional bodybuilding. Above all else, he credits daily progression, consistency, and dedication as the most important hallmarks for building a championship-caliber physique.
“I get a common question all the time; people approach me and say, Jay, what’s the secret, what’s the secret? And there’s no secret. The secret is progression, consistency, dedication day in and day out.”
Cutler isn’t the only athlete taking a no-nonsense approach to bodybuilding. Former 2024 Mr. Olympia Samson Dauda recently urged fans and competitors not to overcomplicate weekly training volume, saying, “You’re trying to find the right numbers that give you just enough to get you there… that’s not how this works.”
Overall, the four-time Mr. Olympia believes true progress lies in the mundane, whether it’s sticking to a strict diet or running the same workout program. He stands by progression, consistency, and dedication as the foundation for bodybuilding success.
