Las Vegas Weekly

September 25, 2008 · 6 AM

Exclusive interview: Vegas’ Mr. Olympia no mere poser

By Robin Leach

Photo: Firm PR

Mr. Olympia champion Jay Cutler.

The most prestigious event in the world of bodybuilding starts today (Thursday) here at the Orleans Arena, and Vegas hero Jay Cutler will compete to defend his Mr. Olympia title for the third consecutive year. The International Federation of Bodybuilders organizes Olympia Weekend and a win at the 44th annual event is regarded as the highest accolade in the field.

Jay will compete against 12 other national and international challengers, including Melvin Anthony, Gustavo Badell, Phil Heath, Dexter Jackson and Dennis Wolf. In addition to Mr. Olympia, there’s a Ms. Olympia plus Fitness and Figure Olympia championships. Tonight (Thursday) fans and competitors get to meet all the Olympians at a free-admission party in the Orleans Hotel’s Mardi Gras Ballroom. Preliminary judging is at the Orleans Arena tomorrow (Friday) at 7 p.m., with the finals on Saturday night followed by the midnight victory gala.

Jay has become bodybuilding’s most recognized and personable athlete. Born in Massachusetts 34 years ago, he moved to Vegas to live and train full-time and he’s racked up awards for fist-place finishes at championship events across America and around the world, as far away as Russia, Holland and Romania. When he took time out of his schedule getting ready for this year’s event for an interview, my first reaction was just how large he was because I literally became a ‘lost’ person inside his shadow.

Robin Leach: Just how big are you?

JC: I am 5’9” and I weigh about 280.

RL: So you are into contest weight and ready for Mr. Olympia? Can you give me the stats on you the inch of your arms and thighs?

JC: My arms are 22.5, my thighs are 31 inches. Waist is 35, neck is about 20.

RL: When people start on this process of building their bodies, that is a growing process, are you still growing? Will you get even bigger?

JC: I like to think so. It is the name of the game, Robin. This competition is the best in the world. You always get new guys and new breeds of people that are better athletes and bigger and stronger, so I am trying to keep up.

Jay Cutler, far right, in competition.

RL: So it is not just a case of maintaining what you have already but it is a case of improvement?

JC: You have to improve because the competition is getting stiffer all the time.

RL: How do you get bigger? Is it a case of both eating and working out more?

JC: There are a lot of variables that come into body building, for me, as big as I am, size is easy for me. I was bigger as a teenager; I turned professional at 23, which is a very young age to do that, so for me my regimen includes so many things. I moved to Vegas to further my career from the East coast, I train in the best facilities. I am always trying different things, training more frequently, less frequently, Pilates, kettle bells, deep tissue massage a few times per week to open up and let the muscle grow further, new diet techniques. It is always about meal time too, it is getting in the calories right after you train, getting the best benefit from working out. Also, sleep is a huge part of what we do.

RL: How many hours do you sleep?

JC: I sleep at least 8 at night, and then I try to nap at least 1-2 hours during the day.

RL: How many calories must you intake?

JC: Anywhere from 4,000 to 7,000 per day. Eating fish is a major part of that I eat six pounds of fish per day. It is expensive, and I am single-handedly supporting Costco. I have an extra large fridge filled with eggs and fish. I eat eggs, turkey breast and steak once a day, and I eat eight times a day right now, every two hours.

RL: How many hours a day of working out?

JC: Four hours of training. I love every moment of it especially come this week, when I win my third consecutive title.

RL: Jay I don’t know these things, but if you didn’t keep this up, would the muscles collapse?

Photo: Firm PR

All those hours practicing posing have paid off for Jay Cutler.

JC: They would shrink; the muscle is 70 percent water. So I drink 3 gallons of water a day that’s about 24 bottles of water, at least two cases a day! With all the calories, protein holds onto muscle, carbs give the muscle energy and it builds glycogen, which gives the illusion of looking really muscular, really full. It would shirk down, but not to fat unless I ate pizza and burgers and 7,000 calories a day. I will tone done one day like Arnold Schwarzenegger did. He is still toned, but he lost a lot of his mass.

RL: Is there an age when you pack this in?

JC: I am 35; the body is best between 34-36, which Arnold never saw because he chose to go into the movies. He retired at 31. They say the body is fully matured at 35. I am coming to the end of my career; I am not fresh into it. I have been Mr. Olympia twice.

RL: So if you win again, the third, is that when you think of retirement?

JC: I will, I may compete in ’09, but that would be my last.

RL: Would you then consider a career a la Arnold of movies and politics?

JC: I would consider it is someone called me and asked, but I am not going to play a muscle head in a phone booth on Venice Beach. I am not going to stay 280 pounds, I am going to shrink down and I am going to throw the fish out the window because I can’t stand it. My neighbors are dying because I am cooking the fish outside and it is flying over the fence.

RL: In retirement where would your ideal weight drop down to?

JC: 220-230 around there, more of an athletic physique. I am always going to weight train, not to the extreme I am now and I am not going to eat crazy food like I am now.

RL: Do body builders of your physique get to date bodybuilding ladies? Is that a buddy base?

JC: Maybe in the years past, but now days it is not as popular. Like the men, pushing and pushing limitations, the women’s championship has lost that femininity. I am not into that. I like a chick that is in shape, but I don’t want to be fighting over my chicken and fish with some girl.

RL: Do girls go crazy over you physique?

JC: Some do, when I do guest appearances overseas. I am not the normal guy, it is a little outrageous. They like it when they realize I am a pretty nice guy. Body builders have a reputation of being egotistical, and that is not the case with me.

RL: How many guys in bars get drunk and say that they want to show you they’re stronger in a fight?

JC: Not very many because I am very respected. Everyone knows who I am. It happened before when I was younger.

RL: Clint Eastwood told me that was the biggest problems with the roles he had.

JC: Chuck Norris would, too. There is always that question of who is the toughest guy. Body builders aren’t like UFC fighters, we don’t fight, and we are performers.

RL: Other than the fish and someone wanting to pick a fight, what is the worst advantage and the best advantage of being Mr. Olympia?

JC: Well, it is hard because we can’t hide what we have. With me you can’t run from the physique. For me to go out in public in shorts and a T-shirt, it draws a lot of attention and even though I look great people just look at it as odd. Sometimes you don’t want the stares and the questions. The best is having the dream to be the best at something and it came true. I wanted to be a bodybuilder. I am a role model; I get hundreds of emails each day from people that are influenced by my articles or something they read, that gives me a lot of drive. It is all driven by the fans and how you get recognized as a person and respected as a leader.

RL: How do you feel living in Vegas? Is this the best place on Earth for you?

JC: I love Vegas, when I want to go out and let loose and be somewhat normal where else is better? It is a 24-hour city, I can eat 24 hours, I can work out 24 hours and I can fly out 24 hours. It is ideal.

RL: If retirement does loom, do you think of what you would do after?

JC: I have thought about that. I have been thinking that for years. Bodybuilding is not guaranteed, if you get hurt that is it. I have invested in real estate. I have contracts and sponsors that I continue with even after I retire. I will still promote bodybuilding to the best of my ability. I want to promote health and fitness and I grew up in the construction field and I still work with that.

RL: I am older than you and one of the most painful things is when I get a Charlie horse when I am sleeping and I have to jump up out of bed and stand on it till it goes away. Do you ever get those?

JC: Once in a while, but I have a beautiful wife next to me that will massage it. A lot of it is dehydration. You get cramps when they are dehydrated, but I get six hours of massage per week, I did two hours this morning. A lot of it is keeping the toxins out and to stay hydrated. Thus the cases of water each day. You can join me for a glass of champagne after this week. After the contest, it is Miller time.

RL: What can we expect at this year’s contest?

JC: We can expect number three, but hopefully in a convincing fashion. I want to win gold. I am the two-time champion and if I come in like I need to, it is money for the taking.”

The Ms. Olympia contest began back in 1980 and three-time champion Iris Kyle holds the championship. They will also stage figure and fitness contests and a Bikini Model Search at the Orleans Arena as part of all the bodybuilding bouts at the 44th annual Olympia Weekend.

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