Bodybuilding Legend With More Mr. Olympia Trophies Than Arnold Schwarzenegger “Recommend Never Going Below 50 Grams of Carbs”

Bodybuilding legend Lee Haney has voiced his concerns about the increasingly popular ketogenic diet, particularly for bodybuilders. The 63-year-old veteran bodybuilder holds 8 Mr. Olympia titles, which is just one more than Arnold Schwarzenegger. In a candid conversation with Escape Fitness, Haney underscored the vital role carbohydrates play in a bodybuilder’s meal plan and warned of potential hazards linked to embracing a ketogenic lifestyle.

The keto diet has gained popularity lately. Many individuals, particularly competitive bodybuilders, have adopted this low-carb, high-fat diet for weight loss. However, Haney has a unique perspective to share.

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Bodybuilding legend claims low carb is for fat boys

The low-carb diet is praised for helping with weight loss, reducing blood sugar, and boosting energy. Whereas, Haney mentioned that extreme aerobics and starvation can cause stress, affecting one’s appearance. The former bodybuilder, who also trains young athletes, suggests a unique method to manage body weight. Haney recommends not exceeding 12-15 pounds above one’s competition weight. Following this approach, an individual can easily reduce their weight by one percent each week during the 15-week training period. Haney commented with a laugh, “These guys get 40, 50, and 60 pounds overweight and they have to just traumatize themselves eating chicken and green beans, what kind of life is that?“.

“Low carb is for ‘fat boys’, if you look like Porky the pig in all season, you are fat, you got to burn this stuff off”, Haney stated.

Mastering the Art of Carb

Haney suggests maintaining low carbs for the body to burn stored fat as energy, but never eliminate them. In the interview, he shared, “You have to be smarter, knowing how to manipulate. I recommend never going below 50 grams of carbs,” as his advice. During the interview, Haney revealed that his lowest carbohydrate consumption was 100 grams. He also criticized the diet industry for advocating “steaks and cheese” to keto followers, which may increase their cholesterol levels. “We are bodybuilders, we understand the science of food, they don’t, they just read stuff and don’t get it right,” the 63-year old legend stressed.

Is the ketogenic diet truly ideal for bodybuilding despite its popularity? The former Mr. Olympia disagrees with it anyway. The subject of keto consistently divides opinion. How does a keto dieter react when one of history’s greatest bodybuilders says a big ‘nay’?

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