“What If I Wake Up One Day Dead”: Days after Recovering from Near-Fatal Disease, Larry Wheels Opens Up on His Anxiety with the Death of Joesthetics and Dallas McCarver Looming over His Head

Larry Wheels is one of the most promising strength athletes to have made his presence felt on social media. Despite having a tough childhood and facing bullies, the powerlifter overcame the challenges through sheer determination. Once Wheels found his footing in the powerlifting domain, he broke record after record. However, once a sports person reaches the top level, it becomes challenging to maintain the status quo. Larry Wheels is going through moments of nervousness, wondering if he has pushed his body too much.

In a recent episode of the ‘Straight Outta The Lair’ podcast, host Flex Lewis poses some tough questions to Wheels. The fitness icon opened up about his “anxieties” as an athlete.

Larry Wheels is worried about the unhealthy practices

At 6 feet 1 inch and weighing 255 lbs, the social media sensation is a force to reckon with. In 2022, the behemoth bench pressed 661.4 pounds, beating his record of 644.9 pounds in 2020. Moreover, the bodybuilder also sports a lean and conditioned physique.

Those familiar with Wheels persona might argue that the athlete is a pro in displaying strength. However, the seemingly innocuous practices require a lot of discipline, hard work, and pushing the body beyond its limits. Moreover, Wheels has openly discussed using PEDs to enhance his performance. Now, the icon is worried about the after-effects of such practices.

He said in the podcast posted nine days ago on YouTube: “The anxiety would be from health concerns—Dallas McCarver passing away, just young bodybuilders dropping dead. 

He added, “I knew I was pushing my limits with PEDs, nutrition, with training. I was really going to my limits and going beyond that. I had that constant feel like, Well, if I have a heart attack, what if I just wake up one day dead? Don’t wake up at all?” So, fighting this apprehension, Wheels revealed that he continuously gets his bloodwork done.

Read More : “I F**ked Around”: Larry Wheels, Who Holds the World Record for Lifting a Mindboggling 2275 Lbs, Battles a Severe Medical Condition That Can Be Fatal or Result in Permanent Disability

However, he also knows that the danger is not “nullified” completely. Dallas McCraver was 26 when he died in 2017, and Jo Lindner was 30. The world is still reeling under the shock of the demise of Lindner in 2023. Both were promising talents, but they were gone too soon. Even Wheels was suffering from a life-threatening issue. And a famous coach highlighted the rampant use of steroids.

Wheels was suffering from a life-threatening condition

A few weeks ago, the New York native was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis. He informed netizens of his ordeal from the hospital bed. The fitness industry wished a speedy recovery to the influencer, including IFBB Pro Greg Doucette. He stated, “We’re praying that he comes out of this 100 percent.” 

However, he also gave a stern warning. “If he’s suffering from some kidney damage, it would help immensely if he were to downsize all these extra muscles,” advised the coach. Moreover, the fitness coach opined that all the extra muscles are due to PEDs, which put an unnecessary load on organs like the kidneys, heart, and liver.

Although Wheel has recovered from the issue and is now back to the grind, his statements showcase the constant fear bothering him. One can only hope that the bodybuilding community takes care of each other. 

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