Episode 39 of The Mike O’Hearn Show was published on Generation Iron‘s YouTube channel on March 31, 2023. It featured the show’s namesake and fitness model Clark Bartram chatting with one of bodybuilding‘s most legendary icons: Frank Zane.
The 80-year-old Zane has not competed on stage for many years, but his knowledge of building one of the aesthetic physiques in the sport’s history still carries exceptional value. He shared some of his best tips for competitive bodybuilders in the video below:
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O’Hearn was 53 years old at the time of the video recording, and Zane mentioned how well his physique has held up into middle age. Zane recalls how he was also in “pretty good shape” in his early 50s.
The older you get, the harder it gets — the less motivated I was.
When asked for advice about how to maintain a healthy physique into older age, Zane didn’t hesitate:
Don’t stay peaked. Stay less than your best. I always looked at 94 percent.
O’Hearn resonated with that, claiming that society at large believes bodybuilders should stay peaked. Zane feels that doing so is too burdensome on one’s diet and mental health.
Being happy — doing things that make you happy — being useful; it’s positive feedback for you and for your legacy.
Zane said he only peaked once yearly because doing so twice was too much. Being at his best in the fall of each year was the “most natural” for his physique, and he didn’t stray from that.
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Don’t give it away ahead of time. Don’t do all this publicity where everybody sees you — then they know what to expect.
Zane would keep his physique covered in the gym two weeks before a pro show. He felt that part of the performance of competing on stage is a wow factor for the judges and fans in attendance. He didn’t want to reveal his physique before it counted.
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Featured image: @therealfrankzane on Instagram
