• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The BarBend Logo in white.

BarBend

The Online Home for Strength Sports

  • News
    • CrossFit
    • Strongman
    • Bodybuilding
    • Top Athletes
    • Powerlifting
    • Weightlifting
    • HYROX
    • Competition Results
    • Latest Research
  • Reviews
    • Recovery
      • Best Cold Plunges
      • Best Saunas
      • Best Mini Massage Guns
      • Individual Recovery Reviews
    • Supplements
      • Best Protein
        • Best Vegan Protein Powders
        • Best Whey Isolate Protein Powders
        • Best Mass Gainers
        • Best Protein Bars
      • Best Pre-Workouts
        • Best Pre-Workouts for Women
        • Best Pre-Workouts for Men
        • Best Non-Stim Pre-Workouts
        • Strongest Pre-Workouts
      • Best Creatine
      • Best Electrolyte Supplements
      • Best Greens Powder
      • Best Meal Replacements
      • Best Nitric Oxide Supplements
      • Best Fat Burners
        • Best Fat Burners for Men
        • Best Fat Burners for Women
        • Best Non-Stim Fat Burners
      • More Supplements
        • Best Supplements for Muscle Growth
        • Best Supplements for CrossFit
        • Best Supplements for Weight Loss
        • Best Supplements for Bodybuilding
        • Best Supplements for Men
        • Best Supplement Stacks
      • Individual Supplements Reviews
    • Equipment
      • Cardio
        • Best Treadmills
        • Best Rowing Machines
        • Best Exercise Bikes
        • Best Ellipticals
        • Best Recumbent Bikes
      • Strength
        • Best Adjustable Dumbbells
        • Best Dumbbells
        • Best Kettlebells
        • Best Barbells
        • Best Squat Racks
        • Best Free Weights
        • Best Weight Benches
        • Best Resistance Bands
        • Best Slam Balls
        • Best Weighted Vests
        • Best Leg Extension Machines
        • Best Cable Machines
        • Best Power Racks
        • Best Pull Up Bars
      • Best Home Gyms
        • Best Smart Home Gyms
        • Best Gym Equipment Under $100
        • Best Home Gym Essentials
        • Best Home Gym Flooring
      • Individual Equipment Reviews
    • Fitness Accessories
      • Apparel
        • Best Weightlifting Shoes
        • Best Cross Training Shoes
        • Best Gym Bags
        • Best Gym Shorts
      • Training
        • Best Weightlifting Belts
        • Best Knee Sleeves
        • Best Lifting Straps
        • Best Grip Strengtheners
        • Best Wrist Wraps
        • Best Lifting Gloves
      • Individual Fitness Product Reviews
    • Certifications
      • Best Sports Nutrition Certifications
      • Best Personal Trainer Certifications
      • Best Nutrition Certifications
      • Individual Certifications Reviews
    • Programs
      • Best Online Workout Programs
      • Best Workout Streaming Services
      • Best Home Workout Programs
      • Individual Program Reviews
  • Nutrition
    • Diets
      • Carb Cycling
      • Vertical Diet
      • Reverse Dieting
      • Carnivore Diet
      • Ketogenic Diet
      • Intermittent Fasting
      • IIFYM Diet
    • Fat Loss
      • Macros for Fat Loss
      • Calorie Deficits
      • Natural Fat Burners
      • Cut 2 Pounds Weekly
    • Muscle Gain
      • How to Dirty Bulk
      • Go From Cutting to Bulking
      • Eat These Carbs
      • How to Eat for Muscle
    • Supplement Guides
      • Pre-Workout
      • Whey Protein
      • Mass Gainers
      • Greens Powders
      • Creatine
      • BCAAs
    • Nutrition Tips
      • Daily Protein Needs
      • Pre- and Post-Workout Nutrition
      • Foods With Creatine
      • Bulking Tips
  • Training
    • Workouts
      • Back Workouts
      • At-Home Workouts
      • Chest & Back Workouts
      • Full-Body Workout
      • HIIT Workouts
    • Exercise Guides
      • Deadlift
      • Bench Press
      • Back Squat
      • Overhead Press
      • Bent-Over Row
      • Lat Pulldown
      • Crunches
      • Farmer’s Carry
    • Best Exercises
      • Shoulder Exercises
      • Back Exercises
      • Chest Exercises
      • Glute Exercises
      • Ab Exercises
      • Hamstring Exercises
      • Quad Exercises
      • Calf Exercises
      • Biceps Exercises
      • Triceps Exercises
    • Programs
      • Push-Up Program
      • Pull-Up Program
      • German Volume Training
      • 5/3/1 Program
      • Powerbuilding Program
      • The Cube Method
      • 5×5 Program
      • Bodybuilding Programs
      • Build Your Own Program
    • Fat Loss
      • How to Burn Fat
      • Spot Fat Reduction
      • How to Train on a Cut
      • Body Conditioning
      • Workouts
        • Kettlebell Circuits
        • Dumbbell Complexes
        • Farmer’s Carry Workouts
    • Muscle Gain
      • Muscle Hypertrophy Explained
      • How to Build Muscle
      • How to Maintain Muscle
      • What Researchers Say About Muscle Gain
        • Workouts
          • 20-Minute Workouts
          • Kettlebell Circuits
          • CrossFit Workouts for Muscle
          • Bodybuilding Workouts
  • Calculators
    • Protein Intake Calculator
    • Macros Calculator
    • BMR Calculator
    • Squat Calculator
    • Calorie Calculator
  • Community Forum
Home » Bodybuilding News » Jay Cutler Refuses to Start Chest Day Without Training a Completely Unrelated Body Part

Jay Cutler Refuses to Start Chest Day Without Training a Completely Unrelated Body Part

The four-time Mr. "O" is still a creature of habit

Written by Stephen Sheehan, ISSA CPT, CNC, CSCS
Last updated on April 8th, 2025

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Like most bodybuilders, Jay Cutler is a creature of habit. Even though the four-time Mr. Olympia no longer trains to compete, he’s still committed to training the same way that made him a dominant force during the early 2000s.

One of Cutler’s non-negotiables centers around how he starts every chest workout. On Nov. 26, 2024, the 51-year-old began his routine focusing on a muscle group that has nothing to do with building massive pecs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxXtv6qsZvc&t=251s

[Related: Best Pre-Workout Supplements]

Jay Cutler Puts Calves Before Pecs

Instead of diving straight into a set of cable crossovers or seated chest flyes, Cutler starts each chest workout the same way: training his calves.

At first, it seems strange to start a pec-building session with lower body. Most people pencil calves into their leg workouts — a logical approach that certainly isn’t wrong. However, Cutler has a different outlook.

  • “I only train [calves] on chest day,” Cutler explained. “I try to prioritize muscles, especially what I call minor muscles, so it would be forearms, calves, whatever, that you might not put as much effort into.”

Cutler tried training calves daily, every other day, and even three times per week. However, after decades of trial and error and observation of other lifters, he identified a major drawback to the typical calf-building strategies.

“People tend to say, “Ah, I gotta train calves,” but the intensity is just not there anymore,” Cutler explained. “You’re spent from the workout.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jay Cutler (@jaycutler)

[Related: Best BCAA Supplements]

To reap the most hypertrophy rewards, Cutler concentrates on three calf exercises:

  • Standing Calf Raise
  • Seated Calf Raise
  • Donkey Kick (variation of a glute kickback)

That combination of movements provides a sufficient stimulus for Cutler, who sticks with two warm-up sets and three working sets for each exercise. He offered advice for people who want to maximize their calf-building efforts:

“The secret to calf growth is a really nice stretch and a great peak contraction,” Cutler explained. “It’s a stubborn muscle, so sometimes you have to adjust to a lot of reps, lower reps, heavy weight. The more consistency you get your mind to muscle connection, you can get some growth out of the calves.”

[Related: Best Supplements for Muscle Growth]

Olympia-Level Chest Workout

Cutler cranked up the intensity with a chest workout that included the following exercises:

  • Incline Press Machine
  • Dumbbell Bench Press
  • Atlantis Pec Flye
  • Flat Cable Flye
  • Pec Deck Machine
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jay Cutler (@jaycutler)

Here are key applicable takeaways from Cutler’s training session:

  • Cutler never uses full extension on incline presses, preferring to shorten the range of motion to maintain constant tension on his pectoral muscles. Time under tension is one of the biggest drivers of muscle growth.
  • To tighten or build up the lower chest, Cutler recommends focusing on diet, as most people “carry a little more body fat” in that area, and decline flye movements.
  • Per Cutler, the flat cable flye is the best chest-building movement because the pulleys provide constant tension. You can lose tension with free weights.

Although putting pecs and calves in the same workout is unconventional, doing things differently can sometimes spark better results. For Jay Cutler, it’s just rinse and repeat.

More Bodybuilding Content

  • Jay Cutler’s 3 Favorite Triceps Exercises Features an Underrated Move
  • Dr. Mike Israetel’s Best Chest Exercise Might Surprise You
  • What An Evidence-Based Hypertrophy Training Program Looks Like

Featured Image: @JayCutlerTV / YouTube

About Stephen Sheehan, ISSA CPT, CNC, CSCS

Stephen is an ISSA-certified personal trainer and nutrition coach as well as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. A two-time University of Florida graduate and longtime rugby player, he brings over ten years of strength training experience to BarBend, with particular expertise in personal training, nutrition, weight loss, and sport-specific strength and conditioning tactics. When he’s not writing or hitting the gym, he enjoys traveling, cooking, and practicing his DJ skills.

View All Articles

Primary Sidebar

Latest Reviews

EveryPlate Review

EveryPlate Review (2025): A Tasty, Budget-Friendly Meal Kit, Tested By Our Experts

ARMRA Colostrum Review

ARMRA Colostrum Review (2025): A Certified Nutrition Coach’s Critique of this Trending Supplement

Sun Home Luminar Review

Sun Home Luminar Review (2025): Our Experts Sweat It Out With This High-Quality Outdoor Sauna

Cover image for CookUnity review of a filled reusable box of 6 CookUnity meals

CookUnity Review (2025): An Expert-Tested and Flexible Prepared Meal Service

Transparent Labs Prebiotic Greens Review

Transparent Labs Prebiotic Greens Review (2025): Our Experts Examine This Nutrient-Filled Profile

BarBend

BarBend is an independent website. The views expressed on this site may come from individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect the view of BarBend or any other organization. BarBend is the Official Media Partner of USA Weightlifting.

  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Pinterest

Sections

  • CrossFit
  • Strongman
  • Bodybuilding
  • Powerlifting
  • Weightlifting
  • Reviews
  • Nutrition
  • Training

More

  • BarBend Newsletter
  • BarBend Podcast
  • The Ripped Report
  • 1RM Calculator
  • BMR Calculator
  • Macros Calculator
  • Protein Calculator
  • Squat Calculator

Policies

  • Accessibility
  • Advice Disclaimer
  • Cookies Policy
  • Disclaimers
  • Disclosures
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use

Copyright © 2025 · BarBend Inc · Sitemap