It appears Larry Wheels will continue to embrace life as an aspiring bodybuilder. In a recent Rx Muscle interview in Dubai, Wheels reflected on gaining 55 pounds in two days and gave his thoughts on his future in bodybuilding.
Testing his strength as a powerlifter, arm wrestler, and strongman, Larry Wheels has become one of the most-talked-about names in the fitness community. In addition to boasting a shredded physique, Wheels has raised eyebrows for years thanks to his shocking power, which even earned him special honors from none other than former eight-time Mr. Olympia great Ronnie Coleman.
Last year, Wheels injured his back which sidelined his strongman career. After deciding to quit all performance-enhancing drugs except testosterone, Wheels mapped out another splash in bodybuilding.
Having never opted for the easy road, Wheels attempted to earn his Pro card in Classic Physique at the 2023 Amateur Olympia contest but took second place. With time to spare, he laid out what’s next on his agenda in 2024.
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Larry Wheels Talks Vacuum Poses, His Unofficial Weight Gain World Record, and His Bodybuilding Future
Wheels explained that he was able to hit vacuum poses at various weights throughout his latest bodybuilding prep.
“It was one thing to do it [vacuum poses] at 250, at 230 no problem, 280, I don’t know how I’m going to pull this off but I was able to suck in my innards enough and all that food I had was actually at night time as well after about seven meals. I don’t know how I did it. I just had lunch literally ten minutes ago I would show you guys right now.”
According to Wheels, he gained 55 pounds during a two-day stretch, adding that he consumed a 2,000-calorie meal with water every two hours.
“It was 55 pounds in two days. To be honest, I thought what could go wrong with just one day of eating whatever I want,” said Larry Wheels. “Okay, so if I were to list off everything I had we would need at least another 20 minutes because it was just every two hours a 2,000-calorie meal.
I must have been gaining several pounds every meal because it wasn’t just the food but the water I was having with each meal that added to that massive weight gain and I was going into that show with diuretics, dehydrated, right?”
Since the 28-year-old was depleted from multiple bodybuilding preps, he mentioned that the water he drank also contributed to his rapid weight gain. He specified that his 55-pound rebound “just might be” a world record after doing some online research.
“I was like a dried-up sponge and once you put some water on me, I ballooned up. Now I heard of cases of bodybuilders putting on 20 pounds, 30 pounds, rookie numbers, right? I Googled what’s the most weight ever gained in one or two days, the most I saw was like 40-something. It just might be a [world record] not one I’m super proud of but I’m proud nothing went wrong aside from some really thick cankles,” said Wheels.
Wheels mentioned that he dieted so hard for the contest that his voice changed temporarily.
“I learned that on 1,200 calories a day I can get to 230 pounds no problem at all. I never dieted that hard in my life. I never was ever able to relate to bodybuilders being fully depleted because five years ago when I did my first two shows back in 2018 I wasn’t fully depleted.
Now, I know what that really feels like to the extent when two days out from a show, my voice changed. It was higher pitched. I had a higher-octane voice. I could only draw so much volume from my voice. It sounded like I was whispering. I thought when I heard bodybuilders talking like that they were exaggerating. Now I know and I can also relate to them on that level which I think is really cool. I have that much more respect for them.”
Mapping out the future, Wheels intends to add volume to his quads and hamstrings, acknowledging that his upper body hasn’t been proportionate with his lower half.
“Jokes aside, I need to get my quads and hammies bigger. We all know my upper half is significantly larger than my lower half. I have to correct that balance. I’m going to train upper body as I always been, but instead of one day of leg training, three days a week. I’ve proven it to myself in the past where I did legs three times a week and my legs grew three inches in two months.”
“I know I have it in me with the right training to get my quads and my hammies bigger. My calves, however, I may have to deal with the cards I’ve been dealt.”
Questions surrounding Larry Wheels’ future in bodybuilding have swirled since he stepped on stage at the Amateur Olympia. Clearing the air, Wheels took to the Transparent With Nyle Nayga Podcast to tackle a few topics.
In addition to opening up about his Mr. Olympia ambitions, Wheels revealed his first impressions of surging fitness influencer Sam Sulek. All in all, he supports Sulek’s popularity and believes if he’s going to push his body, it’s best to do so at a young age, something Wheels admits he’s familiar with.
Targeting improvements to his quads and hamstrings, Larry Wheels plans to make a statement in his next bodybuilding appearance. Should he announce his first contest of the 2024 season, we will keep you updated here at Fitness Volt.
Watch the full video from the Rx Muscle YouTube channel below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO0dC7gAqXA
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