“I Get Hungry, I Still Don’t Eat”: 80-Year-Old Bodybuilding Legend Had a Radical Diet Opinion in 2019

Many fans remember Frank Zane as the king of aesthetics. The bodybuilding icon attained the peak of his career when he won the 1977 Mr. Olympia title. Zane won the under 200 lbs, and the overall category. Frank also pulled off a three-peat, winning both classes for the next two years. Now 80, Zane’s passion for fitness hasn’t waned, though he stopped competing nearly four decades ago.

In an interview in 2019, the bodybuilding legend spoke about the radical philosophy that helped him stay lean.

Frank Zane’s secret to staying lean

David Robson from Boodybuilding.com interviewed the three-time Mr. Olympia. During the conversation, Robson inquired about Zane’s diet and asked if Zane could explain his radical approach to dieting. The king of aesthetics obliged. “What I found works best for me is to cultivate the feeling, the sensation of hunger.”, said Zane. He also explained that people who want a defined body should eat less.

“So I wait until I get hungry. And the first time I get hungry I still don’t eat.”, said Frank. The former champion explained he didn’t worry about losing muscle because unless someone stops eating for eight hours, they won’t lose muscle mass. Frank also said it is a sign that the body burns fat when someone feels the sensation of hunger.

Zane said he likes to feel the sensation of hunger for a while before eating something. “I encourage people to do it too. If they want to lose weight, they have to know what it feels like to be hungry,” said the three-time Mr. Olympia winner.

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Most bodybuilders consume thousands of calories while bulking to put on more muscle. However, since Zane didn’t chase after putting on the maximum muscle mass, he probably ate comparatively less, even during his bodybuilding days.

The bodybuilding icon’s diet

Besides explaining how he stayed lean, Zane also revealed what he ate. The 80-year-old said he ate snacks twice, and had two large meals. Zane said he took a protein drink, with some supplements and fruits, twice.

For lunch and dinner, Zane said he ate meat and vegetables. The combination of meat and vegetable varied but not the size of the meal. Zano also revealed he had dinner early.

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The bodybuilding icon’s take on dieting and weight loss may not follow the norm. However, everyone is different, and the method has helped keep Zane fit at 80.