Bodybuilding legend Phil Heath hasn’t slowed in the gym even though he hasn’t competed for a few years. In a recent YouTube video aired on February 20, 2025, he discussed his latest TRT regimen and backed Samson Dauda to win the 2025 Arnold Classic.
Phil Heath is a seven-time Mr. Olympia winner, tied with the legendary bodybuilding icon Arnold Schwarzenegger. En route to building his sterling legacy, Heath denied popular Men’s Open threats an opportunity to touch the coveted Sandow trophy, including his intense rivalry with Kai ‘The Predator’ Greene.
Heath was guided by Hany Rambod, who was Derek Lunsford’s former coach until he decided to retire. This gives him unique insight into the current athletes in the Men’s Open division. With the 2025 Arnold Classic around the corner, ‘The Gift’ not only discussed his TRT routine but laid out why he believes Dauda could walk away as a two-time champion.
Phil Heath Talks TRT Dose at 45, Gives Advice to Derek Lunsford and Samson Dauda for 2025 Arnold Classic
In a recent YouTube video, Heath revealed that he’s taking 200 milligrams of testosterone to maintain his physique at 45 years old. He added that his diet has changed and his inflammation has improved as of late.
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“How many milligrams of testosterone are you using now? 200, I weigh 246-248 and normally around this time I would be 275-280 pounds. My diet has changed.
The inflammation is definitely leaving my body much more than what it would be if I was doing different PEDs and stuff like that. As you can see, I’m kind of getting leaner in the face, so I’m probably looking a little bit younger as well,” shared Heath.
As for his expectations of the Arnold Classic, he is backing Samson Dauda given his recent performance on the Mr. Olympia stage where he dethroned Lunsford.
“Derek Lunsford or Samson Dauda? Well, as of right now we’re going to have to go with the champ who just recently won the Olympia, Samson Dauda. He did beat Derek and Derek got third with Hadi Choopan placing second.”
Heath emphasized that Lunsford’s success in the past has been predicated on his superior back detail and mass.
“I do realize with Derek Lunsford the things I would probably focus more on, we when I say we, he, creates a lot more balance with the physique than what he’s presented. I feel like last year it was very well predicated on a lot of back. His back wins the shows and such. And that’s a huge body part for me, he has an incredible back.”
However, if he hopes to get past Dauda on stage, he urges Lunsford to improve the balance of his legs to match his dominant upper body.
“One of the greatest [backs] of all time in my opinion. But with that said, it can showcase some of your weaknesses as well.
So it can make you more top-heavy and I think that’s — I wouldn’t say it’s ruining anything because I think he’s amazing. I just think that it didn’t carry the balance with the legs. If the legs grew as fast as the back did, I don’t think he would have had a problem,” he shared.
He advised Lunsford to slow down on the back training and increase the frequency of his leg workouts.
“If he maybe slows down the back training and increases the frequency of leg training and has good responses from that, I think he’d be very well favorable to give Samson Dauda a run for his money.”
He also credited Dauda for making improvements and not slowing down.
“With that said, we’ve seen some pictures and videos of Samson and he has not let off the gas at all,” Heath shared. “A part of me was like, why? You don’t need to be bigger you just need to be better but he’s actually gotten better and it looks like he’s actually gotten better.”
Considering how successful Phil Heath was as a Mr. Olympia, it’s always fascinating to hear how he sees the Men’s Open landscape he ruled over. Don’t miss the 2025 Arnold Classic from February 27 to March 1 in Columbus, Ohio!
Watch the full video from the Phil Heath YouTube channel below:
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