“Didn’t Want to Go Heavy”: Flex Wheeler Contradicted Most Bodybuilders’ Approach to Training, Yet His Results Were Unbelievable, Secret Revealed in 2016

Flex Wheeler may have never claimed the title of Mr. Olympia for himself. But his presence on stage and conditioned body were hard to miss. Having won Arnold classic four times, Flex is hailed as the “Sultan of Symmetry.” Standing at 5’9″ tall, the retired IFBB winner did not just impress the panel with his impeccable physique but also left the competitors in envy.

When it came to aesthetics, there was hardly anyone who could match Flex. The class and demeanor he bought to the stage were noteworthy. During his prime, he was hailed up against legends like Dorian Yates and Ronnie Coleman. So, what was Flex’s working style that helped him achieve his body? Fellow competitor Lee Priest once talked about it.

Lee Priest talked about Flex’s working-out style

If one revisit’s the old videos of Flex working out or checks his DVD, such as  Hardbody, one will realize that Flex had a unique working style. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he preferred to train very lightly. His workout videos did not involve much intensity.

Flex worked using light weights. He opted for easy exercises. Flex preferred exercises like leg presses instead of squats, and Lee Priest confirmed Flex’s training approach. When they used to work together, Lee in a 2016 interview, reflected, Flex “didn’t want to go heavy; he wanted to do the light stuff.”

Read More: Bodybuilding Legend Flex Wheeler’s Struggles Prompted Him to Create a Pseudo-Identity: “Would Hurt People if They Wanted”

Before pursuing bodybuilding full-time, Flex worked hard to perfect his martial art skills. He was highly inspired by Bruce Lee. However, during his teenage years, Flex became fascinated by weights and shifted his focus to bodybuilding.

What fascinated Flex Wheeler to learn martial arts?

When Flex sat down to watch the cult class “Enter the Dragon” starring Bruce Lee, he got inspired. The movie deeply impacted him and encouraged him to take his karate lesson. Thus, when he was offered free karate lessons, he could hardly turn down the opportunity.

Soon he began training under the martial art GOAT, Bruce Lee. The bodybuilding legend repeatedly expressed gratitude towards Bruce Lee for helping him change his life for the better. He said, “yeah, he pretty much saved my life, you know.” As the years passed, Flex soon realized his true calling lay in bodybuilding. Thus, leaving the police department, he dedicated himself full-time to the sport.

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