In the late ’90s and early 2000s, Ronnie was in his prime, performance-wise. He was invited to many talk shows and late night interviews. He posed, flexed and talked about his future plans to conquer the world of bodybuilding. At one of these shows, he revealed for the first time how much depth he needed to be ready for the stage. The moment was broadcast on the air and managed to create a benchmark for all aspiring physical athletes.
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Ronnie Coleman shared details about his “stage-ready” physique
In an episode from around 2000 on the show “Late Night With Jay Leno”, this 8x Mr. Olympia winner had his presence. The segment was absolutely diverse with Jay and Ronnie sharing wonderful chemistry. Topics ranged from Ronnie’s flexibility, which he was very proud of, to his personal life.
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Along with this came the question of Coleman’s body fat percentage. What Ronnie said scared everyone. His “off-season” body fat was a mere 5%. But, if that wasn’t surprise enough, his “in-season” body fat percentage had some gasping.
“The lowest… the lowest was .33%. That was the way of the contest.” coleman era verdict. His body fat was even less than a single digit number. No wonder he was the one who was able to dethrone some greats like schwarzenegger.
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And Ronnie was not only painting that 5% body fat constantly, but revealed that he was also eating junk food like pizza and hamburgers during that time. That’s straight real behavior.
Coleman’s flashy lifestyle and dedication
Behind this huge monster with perfect muscles was Ronnie’s epic dedication to maintaining his image. Ronnie once revealed that his diet was over 5,000 calories, divided into six small meals throughout the day. He had to eat 450g of chicken a day, even waking up in the middle of the night to continue working.
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But, not only the food. Ronnie was also one of the few who was absolutely candid about his steroid use for his shows. He was famous for taking it and then cold turkey. Coleman had also worked for around a decade through a life-changing injury. No matter what the obstacle, it was never greater than his love for lifting.
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WATCH THIS STORY: Mr. Olympia Legends Arnold Schwarzenegger Vs Ronnie Coleman Body Comparison
And, even today, when he no longer has anything to prove to anyone; when he is barely mobile and mostly in a wheelchair, he exercises. He exercises because it gives him joy and fills him up. And, precisely for that reason, he is “The King”.
