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Larry Wheels may have looked leaner than ever in the leadup to the 2023 Amateur Olympia, but it didn’t take long for him to move the needle in the opposite direction after falling short of securing his IFBB Pro League card.

Coming off an impressive performance at the 2023 NPC Ultimate Warriors in which he won his Classic Physique debut, the uber-popular powerlifter-turned-bodybuilder still had to trim a few inches off his sizable frame. Unfortunately for Wheels, his peak week efforts to go from 240 to 232 pounds didn’t result in a first-place finish in Orlando, FL, as Ejike Enwereuzor Jr. captured the Amateur Olympia Classic Physique championship on Nov. 2, 2023.

Less than a week later, however, Wheels’ body appeared vastly different than it did when he stood on stage at the Orange County Convention Center. On Nov. 5, 2023, a noticeably larger version of the versatile strength athlete shared a video on his YouTube video detailing how he gained 53 pounds in five days after competing in the Amateur Olympia. Not only did Wheels discuss his use of diuretics, but he also delivered a complete breakdown of the cheat meals he consumed that contributed to such a substantial jump.

Having last stepped on stage at around 265 pounds, Wheels went on a serious cut to get contest-ready for the Classic Physique category. Besides severely reducing his calories and essentially eliminating carbohydrates from his diet for several weeks, his weight-loss process also involved the use of diuretics, which bodybuilders often use during peak week to reduce muscle water retention, increase urine output, and excrete sodium to present a more aesthetic physique. (1)

“This was my first time getting fully depleted for a show,” Wheels explained. “I did use diuretics to make weight and to have that dry, hard look on stage.”

Despite falling short of his goal of earning his IFBB Pro League card, the record-setting powerlifter-turned-bodybuilder certainly proved how powerful combining diuretics with a calorie-restrictive diet can be for quickly transforming your physique. Yet after tipping the scales at 231.4 pounds during weigh-ins on Oct. 30, 2023, and competing in the Amateur Olympia at 238 pounds two days later, Wheels surprised himself by ballooning up to 284 pounds by Nov. 4, 2023.

“I don’t think I’ve consumed enough fluid and solid food to add up to 40 pounds,” he said. “I don’t understand where all the weight came from.”

[Related: Walking for Weight Loss: A Guide to Drop the Pounds]

While Wheels’ massive weight gain may seem shocking, it shouldn’t be based on both his diuretic use and his post-contest diet. After utilizing diuretics twice within three days to make weight for both shows, it would only be natural for his body to begin retaining fluids instead of shedding them. Plus, when you stop taking diuretics and start binge eating like Wheels did, you’re bound to see the number on the scale go up as you replenish your muscle glycogen stores.

In a classic example of the effects of a post-contest cheat meal spree, here’s what the social media star ate that left him 53 pounds heavier.

Larry Wheels’ Full Cheat Meal Lineup

After abstaining from any type of comfort food for quite some time, Wheels went all-in over two days with nine calorie-dense cheat meals:

Day One

• Cheat Meal One: Two bacon double cheeseburgers and one large fry (Five Guys)
• Cheat Meal Two: 16-pounce ribeye steak and sweet potato mash (Ruth’s Chris Steak House)
• Cheat Meal Three: One bag of Pop-Tarts
• Cheat Meal Four: Two cups of noodles

Day Two

• Cheat Meal Five: Cinnamon roll pancakes, hash browns, and sunny-side-up eggs
• Cheat Meal Six: Cinnamon roll bagel with cream cheese, orange juice, and a bowl of cereal
• Cheat Meal Seven: Bacon double cheeseburger with French fries and lemon cookies
• Cheat Meal Eight: Fried chicken sandwich, six bone-in wings, three chicken tenders, and French fries — plus chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream for dessert (Buffalo Wild Wings)
• Cheat Meal Nine: 14-inch margherita pizza, garlic knots, and a salad

Ultimately, Wheels estimated that he consumed about 20,000 calories within the first 24 hours after stepping on the Amateur Olympia stage. But after taking a no-holds-barred approach to eating and seeing the number on the scale shoot up by more than 50 pounds in such a short amount of time, he sounded ready to get back to a more disciplined lifestyle.

“It’s time to screw my head back on straight and eat clean,” he said.

Featured Image: Larry Wheels / YouTube

References

1. Escalante, G., Stevenson, S.W., Barakat, C. et al. Peak week recommendations for bodybuilders: an evidence-based approach. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil 13, 68 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-021-00296-y

The post Larry Wheels Gained 53 Pounds in 5 Days After Finishing Second at 2023 Amateur Olympia appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

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With nearly 3 million YouTube subscribers and a laundry list of accolades as a strength athlete, Larry Wheels is easily one of the most recognizable figures in the fitness industry. However, if you only know him by name, you may be surprised at how drastically different he looks compared to some of the photos from his powerlifting days.

Noticeably leaner across the board, Wheels has clearly worked hard to prepare for the next phase of his bodybuilding journey. With his sights set on earning his International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Pro Card at the 2023 Amateur Olympia on Nov. 1, 2023, the winner of the 2018 NPC Gold Coast Muscle Classic Heavyweight division gave a glimpse at his trimmer frame in a chest day workout vlog posted on his YouTube channel on Oct. 25, 2023.

Joining forces with IFBB Pro Luis Sierra at Team Zero Gravity Fitness in Claremont, Calif., Wheels kicked off the session with a quick physique update. After pointing out that he weighed about 265 pounds (120.2 kilograms) the last time he competed in bodybuilding, Wheels said, “I’ve never been this conditioned in my life.”

Currently tipping the scales at 240 pounds (108.9 kilograms), he needs to trim eight more pounds (3.6 kilograms) off his sizable frame before he steps on stage. But with the 2023 NPC/IFBB Pro League Ultimate Warriors contest taking place in Anaheim, Calif., just four days before the 2023 Amateur Olympia, Wheels didn’t want to risk getting injured by going too heavy during the workout.

Still, he and Sierra, along with Team Zero Gravity founder and head coach Ryan Bentson, completed a series of four chest exercises that provided a fantastic pump. The workout begins at the 2:45 mark of the video.

Plate-Loaded Chest Press Machine

Starting off on a TuffStuff Fitness chest press machine prototype designed by Bentson, Wheels warmed up with a 45-pound (20.4-kilogram) plate per side. He pushed his pecs further using a progressive overload method, adding another 45-pound plate per side for his second set.

Although Bentson noted that the machine can feel heavy quickly, that didn’t stop the trio from increasing the weight again. Gripping the handles so that his palms faced inward, Wheels had no trouble completing a third set that included an additional 25 pounds (11.3 kilograms) on each side. Even when the group swapped out the 25-pounder for a 45-pound plate, he completed every rep with relative ease compared to his training partners.

Perhaps that shouldn’t have been a surprise given Wheels’ powerlifting background. He told Sierra that he’s used 250-pound (113.4-kilogram) dumbbells for bench press training and 185-pound (84-kilogram) dumbbells for the seated shoulder press. However, lifting that heavy can be a challenge when you’re at the end of a contest prep and depleted of muscle-fueling glycogen.

Interestingly, although Wheels revealed that he’s been eating an incredibly low 1,000 calories per day (including zero carbohydrates) for the previous three weeks to drop from 270 pounds (122.5 kilograms), he doesn’t find cutting nearly as difficult as bulking.

“When you’re doing bulking right, you wake up full, you go to bed full, you’re never hungry,” Wheels explained. “If you’re hungry and you’re bulking, you’re not bulking hard enough. When I’m bulking, there’s never a point in the day where I’m enjoying anything.”

After finishing up their final set, the group moved on to another machine that worked the chest in a much different manner.

Plate-Loaded Incline Flye Machine

Next, Wheels and his training partners worked on the plate-loaded incline flye machine to get a full stretch of the pecs. Despite being “flat” due to a lack of glycogen in his muscles, Wheels had visible striations in his chest as he performed the exercise.

Ordinarily, bodybuilders will consume carbohydrates shortly before a contest to produce a fuller look. However, with Wheels needing to make weight for the Amateur Olympia just 48 hours after he hits the stage in Anaheim, Bentson said he will compete in the first show without any carbs in his system.

In between sets, Wheels practiced his poses, showcasing a well-balanced physique that should surely look even more impressive when he’s filled out for his second show.

Plate-Loaded Incline Press Machine

The second-to-last exercise targeted the upper pecs, anterior deltoids, and triceps. Starting with a pair of 45-pound plates per side, the group ramped up the intensity with every set. A shirtless Wheels looked right at home working with 180 pounds (81.6 kilograms) worth of plates on each side for five repetitions on the penultimate set.

To finish off this portion of the workout, the group utilized a “burn out,” in Wheels’ words. The weight was reduced back to the starting point, 90 pounds (40.8 kilograms) per side, and the athletes aimed to complete as many repetitions as possible, with Wheels tallying 19.

High-to-Low Cable Crossover

The workout ended with cable crossovers — an isolation movement that applies a high amount of tension to the pecs. This chest flye variation brought out the striations in Wheels’ chest and arms even more, especially as he squeezed his pecs together.

During the final part of the session, Wheels discussed the differences between getting contest-ready and following a less-strict lifestyle.

“I’m a lot happier at 280. I’m a lot happier when you eat what you want, whenever you want,” Wheels said. “Looking good is great for the odd time that I look in the mirror and make a video. Outside of that, it’s a constant battle mentally of ‘can’t have that’ and ‘can’t have this’ and it’s just not as fun as being huge and eating whatever you want.”

Ultimately, though, the decorated athlete acknowledged that he’s on a mission to see what he’s capable of. Still determined to become the strongest professional bodybuilder of all time, Wheels stated that he hasn’t abandoned his goal of eventually completing a 1,000-pound deadlift.

Efficient Contest Prep Chest Workout

Although no specific number of reps or sets were provided, you can utilize this short-but-sweet chest workout as a baseline for your own muscle-building goals. Aim for three to four sets of eight to 12 reps of each exercise, and don’t be afraid to use a relatively challenging weight on the chest press and incline press, as they’re multi-joint movements which incorporate your shoulders and triceps, as well as your chest.

• Plate-Loaded Chest Press Machine  
• Plate-Loaded Incline Fly Machine
• Plate-Loaded Incline Press Machine
• High-to-Low Cable Crossover

Given all the success he’s enjoyed as a strongman, powerlifter, bodybuilder, and fitness influencer, no one should doubt Larry Wheels’ ability to deliver a winning performance. However, he certainly faces a tough challenge to go from being a 270-pound strength athlete to a 232-pound Classic Physique competitor in what’s become arguably the most popular division in the sport of bodybuilding.

Featured Image: Larry Wheels / YouTube

The post Larry Wheels Crushes Chest Workout One Week Out from Pursuing Classic Physique Dream at Amateur Olympia appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

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