Jay Cutler Reveals Why He Walked Away From Bodybuilding: “I Struggled So Hard”

Jay Cutler is one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time, who still holds immense expertise in the field. Aptly known as the Comeback King, Cutler’s dramatic win on stage in 2006 set a milestone in history. He went on to defeat the reigning champion, Ronnie Coleman. Cutler was also the only bodybuilder to win back his title the very next year after losing it in 2008. However, after four Sandow trophies, the icon decided to hang up his posing trunks for good. In a recent YouTube video, Cutler reveals what prompted him to call it quits with bodybuilding in a recent podcast.

Jay Cutler rose to fame due to his rough childhood and longtime onstage tiff with the king of bodybuilding, Ronnie Coleman. However, in 2006, Cutler successfully dethroned him to nab the Mr. Olympia title. His reign came to an end after countless sessions of hardcore training and a diet that even saw him consume absurd amounts of eggs. 

Jay Cutler opens up on his reasons for quitting bodybuilding

After years of intense training, Cutler won his first Mr. Olympia at the age of 33. He later made the decision to retire within a decade. In his podcast, Cutler opened up about the tiresome nature of competing and how it drained him after a point.

“I just got burnt out on it man…and you know I just…when I decided to walk away it was just too hard peaking…I struggled so hard”

Bodybuilders from the mass monster era are especially known for their passion for the sport. However, Cutler acknowledged a moment when the excitement disappeared while preparing for the Olympia at the height of his career: 

“It became an annoyance to me right because I just had to land it perfect…2010 I wasn’t as sharp as ’09 so it was really hard to peak that right and then in ’11 you know Phil Heath came into his own and I realized after ’11 dude it was like this just isn’t fun anymore no matter how much money you make and how much like you travel in the world and people are showing you respect it just wasn’t fun…if it’s not fun it’s not going to be as enticing for you to put full effort forward”

Cutler lists his struggles while preparing for titles

In 2009, when Jay Cutler returned for the Mr. Olympia title, he trained under popular coach Hany Rambod. Rambod, who now coaches champions like Derek Lunsford, Hadi Choopan, and Chris Bumstead, helped Cutler build his legacy. 

“I remember sitting at my at my bar with Hany, and he was just feeding me and feeding me and he’s like dude you have to eat you have to eat…and the problem is with me I had to dehydrate so much…and sometimes that it just I had no appetite”

Despite his struggles, Cutler’s epic return on stage is still talked about today. The veteran has managed to set standards for not only his unique conditioning and posing but also through aging gracefully. His recent ‘Fit for 50’ challenge was a testament to the fact that Cutler still pushes his limits when it comes to building his body.  

RELATED: Jay Cutler Talks 2023 Mr. Olympia, Shares Daily Breakfast & His ‘Shake of Champions

Cutler remains one of the most accomplished bodybuilders of all time. Even though he doesn’t boast the most Olympia victories, he continues to demonstrate why his reign was so special. 

Watch the video below:

Stay on top of the latest fitness news and updates by adding Fitness Volt to your Google News feed: You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for even more content.