What must it be like to live a day in the shoes of bodybuilding GOAT Ronnie Coleman? The former bodybuilding giant called it quits in 2007, but by then had achieved what most bodybuilders could only dream of. It was an all-year-round rigorous process of training, diet, exercise, and whatnot for ‘The King’, just to prepare his physique for the big stage. However, Coleman also had a rule for himself to take time off of bodybuilding for a particular period of time. This helped him rejuvenate and maintain a good work-life balance, both mentally and physically. Coleman revealed the idea of rest in detail.

Recently, Ronnie Coleman appeared for an interview with former 212 Olympia champion Derek Lunsford on his YouTube channel. The two shed light on everything bodybuilding and spent the day together in the gym. Here’s where Coleman made the revelation.

Ronnie Coleman reveals a secret to his rejuvenation

“Do you know how long I took off after every Olympia?” questioned the 8X Mr. Olympia to Lunsford. Unable to guess correctly, Lunsford asked him for the answer. “Three months,” said Coleman. This left Lunsford surprised! It may not be an easily comprehendible thought that the then-regular Olympia winner took a 3-month break after every competition. But for Coleman, rest was of utmost importance.

Coleman continued, “Was trying to give my body a break, and I didn’t want to get to the point where I was just always working out”. Coleman, who underwent 13 surgeries in his lifetime and battles a herniated disc, and has had stem procedures, believed it was important to relax the body from time to time. Lunsford, still surprised at the notion, further questioned him if he loved spending time with his near and dear ones. Coleman responded, “I hang out with my girl, I hang out with my family… I go back to being a regular person, basically for like 3 months.”

READ MORE – What Happened to 8x Time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman’s Health?

But this never meant that he extended his leave by a single day. True to his core principles, Coleman always returned to the gym with double the energy, enthusiasm, and passion to do well. During that time, he only had one motive – training for Olympia.

Coleman put twice the effort when he got back in the gym

Ronnie Coleman also said to Lunsford, “And when I go back to the gym, I start all over.” He said that the very things that were important to him during his 3-month-long breaks, such as family, friends, and his girlfriend, took second preference now. They were still of utmost importance to him, but for 9 months, Coleman only focused on building a perfectly symmetrical body.

This might very well be the reason why he never lost a single title from 1998-2005. It wasn’t just his 9-months of rigorous training that helped him build his mass-monster muscles. But the 3-month window gave him the much-required break, essential for mental stability. This went a long way in his performance on the big stage.

Coleman defined his era of bodybuilding with an incredible mass-muscle ratio, nicely balanced with his perfect symmetry. And yet, even he gave ample rest to his body. Giving the body rest for enough time might be crucial to peak fitness after all.

Watch This Story: From Arnold Schwarzenegger to Chris Bumstead – Here Are the Top 5 Most Aesthetic Bodybuilders to Ever Compete in Mr. Olympia