The sport of bodybuilding has constantly evolved throughout its history. However, it evolved more rapidly from the 70s to the 90s than in any other period. Champions like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Frank Zane highlighted redefined aesthetics, proportions, and posing. Then came the era of Lee Haney, when conditioning, the idea of paper-thin skin, and a shredded physique became one of the mainstays of competing at the highest level. In a recent interview, the 63-year-old divulged the dieting and cardio secrets that helped him win the Sandow eight times.

During the interview, Hercules revealed why a low-carb diet and insane amounts of cardio are not the answer to getting shredded. Besides giving his bold take on low-carb diets, the “carb monster” also revealed the right way to conditioning.

Lee Haney took a dig at bulking

While appearing on Escape Fitness, the former Mr. Olympia talked about diets, extensively. After revealing how many calories he consumed leading up to each contest, the interview asked Haney, what he thinks about diet and its relation to getting shredded. “What do you think about all these diets?” asked the interviewer. “You’ve had the ultimate ripped physique,” he added.

As the interviewer listed the popular diets, Haney stopped him at a low-carb diet. The eight-time Mr. Olympia then made a bold claim about the diet. “Low carb is for fat boys… if you look like a pokey the pig in the offseason,” said Haney. The bodybuilding legend pointed out that a common mistake bodybuilders make is putting on too much weight.

Since the mass monster era, bodybuilders often put on considerably more weight during the offseason. While bulking builds muscle, it also increases the body’s fat percentage. The problem intensifies further, “trying to get rid of all the weight through aerobics and starvation,” said Lee Haney. However, extreme cardio takes a toll on the physique.

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“You’re aerobic-ing yourself to death and stress will show up on your physique… It’ll tear you up,” said the legendary champion. However, Haney also said there is a better way to shred.

The bodybuilding legend reveals how to do it properly

The eight-time champion revealed that advises athletes to “always stay within striking distance. Train (at) no more than around 12 to 15 pounds over your con competition weight,” said the 63-year-old. Doing so helps the bodybuilder to slowly cut their body weight and body fat percentages, without overdoing cardio and massively reducing food intake.

“Say if you’re 15 weeks out… you’re at 15% body fat. Guess what? You can drop a percentage every week until you bottom out at about 3%,” explained Haney. He also said, if a competitor reaches the goal too early, they can simply increase the calorie intake before the competition.

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Putting on a lot of weight doesn’t give a competitor any flexibility with diet, and it also drains their body before the show as they have to cut insane amounts of body weight in a short window.