Boxing myths

[SeanBrennan]

Roy said he didn't think he'd get a fair shake in Germany and I think Dariusz thought the same about the US, although I have never heard that. Plus, I don't think the numbers would add up. Michalczewski was earning a lot in Germany, but he was pretty much unheard of in the states. If the fight was in Vegas it would likely make a similar amount of money to one of Roy's other defences. The only way I could see it happening would been a huge stadium fight in Germany, but at a time for US fans. Either way, we'll never know.

Indeed. Was Dariusz very good? I know the name well but never seen him fight.

Good but RJJ levels above
Woods would have been a good matchup for DM

cheers. Woods was one of my faves, such a humble man, just went back to work after career too, like you do.

[margaret thatcher]

dariusz wouldve beat up clinton but be out of his depth vs roy. probably wide decision loss

[SeanBrennan]

dariusz wouldve beat up clinton but be out of his depth vs roy. probably wide decision loss

Woods did get better with age, and one of his fights with Johnson was good. Rico was hyped as this mad ex killer but Woods won well.

I am aware I'm clutching at straws....

[si7dog7]

dariusz wouldve beat up clinton but be out of his depth vs roy. probably wide decision loss

Woods did get better with age, and one of his fights with Johnson was good. Rico was hyped as this mad ex killer but Woods won well.

I am aware I'm clutching at straws....

You’re not
DM was a good hometown fighter. He wasn’t that good. A WBO champ who protected it.
Clinton would be a live one in this.

[margaret thatcher]

clinton would get soundly beat, not that level. as far as home fighters go, clint lost every time he stepped outside the uk except one soft matchup in poland

[Boxerbeetle]

The biggest myth must be the one that every "die hard" fan keeps on repeating that if you've boxed in the centuries before our time you are automatically better than the guys of our times. I mean it's absolutely embarrassing.

good point. And even any era before the current was somehow magical. Absolute tripe usually spouted with zero real knowledge but rose tinted gogs.

by the same token i find the idea that boxers who fight a maximum 3 times a year could be as skilled and have the ringcraft as those who fought 12 times a year, to be fanciful

if you think a bit of HGH or test makes up for the huge comparative lack of ring experience, good for you

in say tennis, the idea that Federer or Nadal could compete with their own peers 3 or 4 times less often than their equivalents thirty years ago, and actually be as good as people playing 3-4 times more games, also strikes me as fanciful

Plus despite all the PEDs being so clearly prevalent, lots of modern boxers at the higher weights seem to gas pretty easily.

[SeanBrennan]

good point. And even any era before the current was somehow magical. Absolute tripe usually spouted with zero real knowledge but rose tinted gogs.

by the same token i find the idea that boxers who fight a maximum 3 times a year could be as skilled and have the ringcraft as those who fought 12 times a year, to be fanciful

if you think a bit of HGH or test makes up for the huge comparative lack of ring experience, good for you

in say tennis, the idea that Federer or Nadal could compete with their own peers 3 or 4 times less often than their equivalents thirty years ago, and actually be as good as people playing 3-4 times more games, also strikes me as fanciful

Plus despite all the PEDs being so clearly prevalent, lots of modern boxers at the higher weights seem to gas pretty easily.

I've never understood the angle that PEDS provide CV improvement. My usage is since 2011 and for 2 different sports, but one of them - strongman - especially in multiday comps or longer single day comps - does require CV fitness. I found however that the more I was using, the worse my fitness - although this may be linked to higher bodyweight. And I've used pretty much every single compound there is.

[Boxerbeetle]

by the same token i find the idea that boxers who fight a maximum 3 times a year could be as skilled and have the ringcraft as those who fought 12 times a year, to be fanciful

if you think a bit of HGH or test makes up for the huge comparative lack of ring experience, good for you

in say tennis, the idea that Federer or Nadal could compete with their own peers 3 or 4 times less often than their equivalents thirty years ago, and actually be as good as people playing 3-4 times more games, also strikes me as fanciful

Plus despite all the PEDs being so clearly prevalent, lots of modern boxers at the higher weights seem to gas pretty easily.

I've never understood the angle that PEDS provide CV improvement. My usage is since 2011 and for 2 different sports, but one of them - strongman - especially in multiday comps or longer single day comps - does require CV fitness. I found however that the more I was using, the worse my fitness - although this may be linked to higher bodyweight. And I've used pretty much every single compound there is.

That's my point, it's clearly hindering them, another reason why I think modern boxers would struggle against past fighters.

[SeanBrennan]

Plus despite all the PEDs being so clearly prevalent, lots of modern boxers at the higher weights seem to gas pretty easily.

I've never understood the angle that PEDS provide CV improvement. My usage is since 2011 and for 2 different sports, but one of them - strongman - especially in multiday comps or longer single day comps - does require CV fitness. I found however that the more I was using, the worse my fitness - although this may be linked to higher bodyweight. And I've used pretty much every single compound there is.

That's my point, it's clearly hindering them, another reason why I think modern boxers would struggle against past fighters.

very valid point, there must be something beneficial endurance wise not being full of all this toxic crap they use.

[Steveh583]

I've never understood the angle that PEDS provide CV improvement. My usage is since 2011 and for 2 different sports, but one of them - strongman - especially in multiday comps or longer single day comps - does require CV fitness. I found however that the more I was using, the worse my fitness - although this may be linked to higher bodyweight. And I've used pretty much every single compound there is.

That's my point, it's clearly hindering them, another reason why I think modern boxers would struggle against past fighters.

very valid point, there must be something beneficial endurance wise not being full of all this toxic crap they use.

our local strongman aaron page died a few years back at a very early age, it cant be good for you training/living like that.

[dr_devious]

Beterbiev beats RJJ at LH imo, not exactly a detailed analysis but he's too accurate and heavy handed for Jones to handle.

I’m starting a petition to get this person banned from posting.

[margaret thatcher]

how about bert vs dariusz?

[SeanBrennan]

That's my point, it's clearly hindering them, another reason why I think modern boxers would struggle against past fighters.

very valid point, there must be something beneficial endurance wise not being full of all this toxic crap they use.

our local strongman aaron page died a few years back at a very early age, it cant be good for you training/living like that.

I remember Aaron, only 31 the poor man. A much better competitor than me, my training partner competed against him. He was a good person, a tragic and very premature departure. He was the best log presser I ever watched live. God bless him. And it is definitely not good for you. My genetics and structure were inferior to the giants (barely 6 foot, 22 stone on everything but roller skates) - I did the cycles the top people did and it is beyond toxic for one's body. It is like a known secret - we all walk around with crazy blood results (if we dare get our bloods done), and when we have a TIA or stroke we account it as something genetic or familial - it never is. It is the most perverse sport. It's more toxic than boxing but the health implications are proportionately the same whomever uses. There is no 'healthy' level of usage.

[Steveh583]

very valid point, there must be something beneficial endurance wise not being full of all this toxic crap they use.

our local strongman aaron page died a few years back at a very early age, it cant be good for you training/living like that.

I remember Aaron, only 31 the poor man. A much better competitor than me, my training partner competed against him. He was a good person, a tragic and very premature departure. He was the best log presser I ever watched live. God bless him. And it is definitely not good for you. My genetics and structure were inferior to the giants (barely 6 foot, 22 stone on everything but roller skates) - I did the cycles the top people did and it is beyond toxic for one's body. It is like a known secret - we all walk around with crazy blood results (if we dare get our bloods done), and when we have a TIA or stroke we account it as something genetic or familial - it never is. It is the most perverse sport. It's more toxic than boxing but the health implications are proportionately the same whomever uses. There is no 'healthy' level of usage.

He was certainly very well thought of locally. My mate runs a martial arts school and did some pad work within shortly before he fell ill . told me he was huffing and puffing after a minute. Must take years off your life training like that. Do u still train or do I just tick over on the weights? A lot of numb nuts locally were posting “if co vid can kill off a healthy strong man like Aaron, we can all die of it” and I thought what a bunch of clueless muppets.

[jwfg]

dariusz wouldve beat up clinton but be out of his depth vs roy. probably wide decision loss

Woods did get better with age, and one of his fights with Johnson was good. Rico was hyped as this mad ex killer but Woods won well.

I am aware I'm clutching at straws....

You’re not
DM was a good hometown fighter. He wasn’t that good. A WBO champ who protected it.
Clinton would be a live one in this.

He won the IBF and WBA when he comprehensively beat Virgil Hill. When you compare Dariusz and Roy in their primes, they have a very similar record at LHW.

[Kilburn]

how about bert vs dariusz?

That's the fight,. Both ridiculously consistent, used to having things their own way. Would have been a classic between two very solid world champions.

[Noxy]

Contrary to popular belief, Tony Bellew’s nickname isn’t actually a reference to the Manchester Arena bombing after an Ariana Grande concert.

Question.

Do you think Sky told him to say that or he just thought, ah what the heck, just something for me to say in my annoying voice, and just said it himself..

He probably had to say it. Nowt would surprise me anymore.

[Frostieballs]

Contrary to popular belief, Tony Bellew’s nickname isn’t actually a reference to the Manchester Arena bombing after an Ariana Grande concert.

Question.

Do you think Sky told him to say that or he just thought, ah what the heck, just something for me to say in my annoying voice, and just said it himself..

He probably had to say it. Nowt would surprise me anymore.

Same difference. He controlled the boxing output at Sky at the time.

[SeanBrennan]

our local strongman aaron page died a few years back at a very early age, it cant be good for you training/living like that.

I remember Aaron, only 31 the poor man. A much better competitor than me, my training partner competed against him. He was a good person, a tragic and very premature departure. He was the best log presser I ever watched live. God bless him. And it is definitely not good for you. My genetics and structure were inferior to the giants (barely 6 foot, 22 stone on everything but roller skates) - I did the cycles the top people did and it is beyond toxic for one's body. It is like a known secret - we all walk around with crazy blood results (if we dare get our bloods done), and when we have a TIA or stroke we account it as something genetic or familial - it never is. It is the most perverse sport. It's more toxic than boxing but the health implications are proportionately the same whomever uses. There is no 'healthy' level of usage.

He was certainly very well thought of locally. My mate runs a martial arts school and did some pad work within shortly before he fell ill . told me he was huffing and puffing after a minute. Must take years off your life training like that. Do u still train or do I just tick over on the weights? A lot of numb nuts locally were posting “if co vid can kill off a healthy strong man like Aaron, we can all die of it” and I thought what a bunch of clueless muppets.

you were very correct re the muppet comment! I do still train. Heart failure for my sins, ruptured achilles, two spinal surgeries, rotator cuff torn, etc. Apart from that it's a really healthy sport. I tick over, love training though. Toyed with going back in and dropping back into novices (you can if you're open about past competing and have not competed for a long time, especially when you'll definitely be rubbish like me). I've signed up to a little 3 event comp for charity in July for the mental health charity I am a trustee for, but it's only a truck pull and a couple more similar events so won't really train for it (training truck pull is like practising headbutting a wall), just want to see if I can do it. Think I'll be ok. There are two other people called Sean doing it so I've told everyone I'll be top 3 in the Seans.

My body is ruined from doing it, it is nice to be able to give younger people in the gym advice when they're tempted to use. A few pics of the surgeries and recovery, helps to educate them. So does showing them the scar tissue. What nobody speaks about is that when you pin up to 3/4 times a week for years, your shoulders and arse cheeks look like a bomb site, there is literally pure scar tissue, lumps and old healed cysts. Showing people those is especially useful for people who want to look good in a mirror. I always use the analogy that your body ends up with the consistency of broken biscuits. That and the gyno. I'm not very body conscious so not bothered, but showing people what gyno looks like has turned a few away as it looks horrific and is a gland that goes all the way back to your armpit. And once you get gyno, that bad boy is never leaving unless you get the gland removed. At best you take tamoxifen or anastrazole forever to keep it in check.

I have no idea why I've not been snapped up for modelling tbh...

[banjo]

Not a boxing myth but a question

Why are professional boxing championships "belts" as opposed to trophies or medals?

[Steveh583]

I remember Aaron, only 31 the poor man. A much better competitor than me, my training partner competed against him. He was a good person, a tragic and very premature departure. He was the best log presser I ever watched live. God bless him. And it is definitely not good for you. My genetics and structure were inferior to the giants (barely 6 foot, 22 stone on everything but roller skates) - I did the cycles the top people did and it is beyond toxic for one's body. It is like a known secret - we all walk around with crazy blood results (if we dare get our bloods done), and when we have a TIA or stroke we account it as something genetic or familial - it never is. It is the most perverse sport. It's more toxic than boxing but the health implications are proportionately the same whomever uses. There is no 'healthy' level of usage.

He was certainly very well thought of locally. My mate runs a martial arts school and did some pad work within shortly before he fell ill . told me he was huffing and puffing after a minute. Must take years off your life training like that. Do u still train or do I just tick over on the weights? A lot of numb nuts locally were posting “if co vid can kill off a healthy strong man like Aaron, we can all die of it” and I thought what a bunch of clueless muppets.

you were very correct re the muppet comment! I do still train. Heart failure for my sins, ruptured achilles, two spinal surgeries, rotator cuff torn, etc. Apart from that it's a really healthy sport. I tick over, love training though. Toyed with going back in and dropping back into novices (you can if you're open about past competing and have not competed for a long time, especially when you'll definitely be rubbish like me). I've signed up to a little 3 event comp for charity in July for the mental health charity I am a trustee for, but it's only a truck pull and a couple more similar events so won't really train for it (training truck pull is like practising headbutting a wall), just want to see if I can do it. Think I'll be ok. There are two other people called Sean doing it so I've told everyone I'll be top 3 in the Seans.

My body is ruined from doing it, it is nice to be able to give younger people in the gym advice when they're tempted to use. A few pics of the surgeries and recovery, helps to educate them. So does showing them the scar tissue. What nobody speaks about is that when you pin up to 3/4 times a week for years, your shoulders and arse cheeks look like a bomb site, there is literally pure scar tissue, lumps and old healed cysts. Showing people those is especially useful for people who want to look good in a mirror. I always use the analogy that your body ends up with the consistency of broken biscuits. That and the gyno. I'm not very body conscious so not bothered, but showing people what gyno looks like has turned a few away as it looks horrific and is a gland that goes all the way back to your armpit. And once you get gyno, that bad boy is never leaving unless you get the gland removed. At best you take tamoxifen or anastrazole forever to keep it in check.

I have no idea why I've not been snapped up for modelling tbh...

fair play for the mental health support, thats great. do u not worry about the implications of that type of training as you approach old age? Do u do anything to counter the damage like ice baths or cryotherapy etc? How old are you know if you dont mind me asking?

[Frostieballs]

I remember Aaron, only 31 the poor man. A much better competitor than me, my training partner competed against him. He was a good person, a tragic and very premature departure. He was the best log presser I ever watched live. God bless him. And it is definitely not good for you. My genetics and structure were inferior to the giants (barely 6 foot, 22 stone on everything but roller skates) - I did the cycles the top people did and it is beyond toxic for one's body. It is like a known secret - we all walk around with crazy blood results (if we dare get our bloods done), and when we have a TIA or stroke we account it as something genetic or familial - it never is. It is the most perverse sport. It's more toxic than boxing but the health implications are proportionately the same whomever uses. There is no 'healthy' level of usage.

He was certainly very well thought of locally. My mate runs a martial arts school and did some pad work within shortly before he fell ill . told me he was huffing and puffing after a minute. Must take years off your life training like that. Do u still train or do I just tick over on the weights? A lot of numb nuts locally were posting “if co vid can kill off a healthy strong man like Aaron, we can all die of it” and I thought what a bunch of clueless muppets.

you were very correct re the muppet comment! I do still train. Heart failure for my sins, ruptured achilles, two spinal surgeries, rotator cuff torn, etc. Apart from that it's a really healthy sport. I tick over, love training though. Toyed with going back in and dropping back into novices (you can if you're open about past competing and have not competed for a long time, especially when you'll definitely be rubbish like me). I've signed up to a little 3 event comp for charity in July for the mental health charity I am a trustee for, but it's only a truck pull and a couple more similar events so won't really train for it (training truck pull is like practising headbutting a wall), just want to see if I can do it. Think I'll be ok. There are two other people called Sean doing it so I've told everyone I'll be top 3 in the Seans.

My body is ruined from doing it, it is nice to be able to give younger people in the gym advice when they're tempted to use. A few pics of the surgeries and recovery, helps to educate them. So does showing them the scar tissue. What nobody speaks about is that when you pin up to 3/4 times a week for years, your shoulders and arse cheeks look like a bomb site, there is literally pure scar tissue, lumps and old healed cysts. Showing people those is especially useful for people who want to look good in a mirror. I always use the analogy that your body ends up with the consistency of broken biscuits. That and the gyno. I'm not very body conscious so not bothered, but showing people what gyno looks like has turned a few away as it looks horrific and is a gland that goes all the way back to your armpit. And once you get gyno, that bad boy is never leaving unless you get the gland removed. At best you take tamoxifen or anastrazole forever to keep it in check.

I have no idea why I've not been snapped up for modelling tbh...

Interesting stuff….

[SeanBrennan]

He was certainly very well thought of locally. My mate runs a martial arts school and did some pad work within shortly before he fell ill . told me he was huffing and puffing after a minute. Must take years off your life training like that. Do u still train or do I just tick over on the weights? A lot of numb nuts locally were posting “if co vid can kill off a healthy strong man like Aaron, we can all die of it” and I thought what a bunch of clueless muppets.

you were very correct re the muppet comment! I do still train. Heart failure for my sins, ruptured achilles, two spinal surgeries, rotator cuff torn, etc. Apart from that it's a really healthy sport. I tick over, love training though. Toyed with going back in and dropping back into novices (you can if you're open about past competing and have not competed for a long time, especially when you'll definitely be rubbish like me). I've signed up to a little 3 event comp for charity in July for the mental health charity I am a trustee for, but it's only a truck pull and a couple more similar events so won't really train for it (training truck pull is like practising headbutting a wall), just want to see if I can do it. Think I'll be ok. There are two other people called Sean doing it so I've told everyone I'll be top 3 in the Seans.

My body is ruined from doing it, it is nice to be able to give younger people in the gym advice when they're tempted to use. A few pics of the surgeries and recovery, helps to educate them. So does showing them the scar tissue. What nobody speaks about is that when you pin up to 3/4 times a week for years, your shoulders and arse cheeks look like a bomb site, there is literally pure scar tissue, lumps and old healed cysts. Showing people those is especially useful for people who want to look good in a mirror. I always use the analogy that your body ends up with the consistency of broken biscuits. That and the gyno. I'm not very body conscious so not bothered, but showing people what gyno looks like has turned a few away as it looks horrific and is a gland that goes all the way back to your armpit. And once you get gyno, that bad boy is never leaving unless you get the gland removed. At best you take tamoxifen or anastrazole forever to keep it in check.

I have no idea why I've not been snapped up for modelling tbh...

fair play for the mental health support, thats great. do u not worry about the implications of that type of training as you approach old age? Do u do anything to counter the damage like ice baths or cryotherapy etc? How old are you know if you dont mind me asking?

you can ask me anything, of course. 39, 40 in May. I don't do heavy compounds anymore, I deadlift sporadically but never go above 220kg. I use machines. The biggest legacy strain in terms of wear and tear is my rotator cuff, did not have the surgery for it just physio, so it's something I do prehab with now, lots of stretches and little exercises to keep on top of it. Also had an imbalance in terms of pressing so much when I started training, so shoulders were rounded and that caused rear delt and upper back pain, so do a lot of face pulls and rear delt work. I stretch my hips a lot and also do a lot of hamstring work too for my back health. I've never done ice baths or cryotherapy, I do take hot bath every day for my hips (I sound ancient), and take various medications for pain management and the nerve damage - amitriptyline for the nerve damage, naproxen and tramadol for the back, and citalopram for the old noggin (been on the latter or similar for 2 decades, hence an interest in mental health). I take nothing pain med-wise for a week every 4 weeks though, and miss Sat/Sun, as I worry with the tramadol being an opioid and know it's less than ideal taking medication permanently. Also take an embarrassing spray for the heart where you have to sit or preferably lay down when you've taken it, which is comedy gold when you're at work. I have a super supportive company I work for though so feel very lucky. They know I work long hours (60+) so if I need to take time or work from home it's never an issue. If I was on a shop floor or the like I'd struggle.

I can have a spinal fusion but nobody I know who has had one, seems to have fared well and it seems to have degraded their spinal health further, so I've stuck with 2 discectomy and laminectomy surgeries and just plod on. I feel very lucky as my mate has MS so I have zero to whinge about, especially when my ailments are self inflicted from chasing a placcy trophy.

I drone on I know... :)

[Steveh583]

you were very correct re the muppet comment! I do still train. Heart failure for my sins, ruptured achilles, two spinal surgeries, rotator cuff torn, etc. Apart from that it's a really healthy sport. I tick over, love training though. Toyed with going back in and dropping back into novices (you can if you're open about past competing and have not competed for a long time, especially when you'll definitely be rubbish like me). I've signed up to a little 3 event comp for charity in July for the mental health charity I am a trustee for, but it's only a truck pull and a couple more similar events so won't really train for it (training truck pull is like practising headbutting a wall), just want to see if I can do it. Think I'll be ok. There are two other people called Sean doing it so I've told everyone I'll be top 3 in the Seans.

My body is ruined from doing it, it is nice to be able to give younger people in the gym advice when they're tempted to use. A few pics of the surgeries and recovery, helps to educate them. So does showing them the scar tissue. What nobody speaks about is that when you pin up to 3/4 times a week for years, your shoulders and arse cheeks look like a bomb site, there is literally pure scar tissue, lumps and old healed cysts. Showing people those is especially useful for people who want to look good in a mirror. I always use the analogy that your body ends up with the consistency of broken biscuits. That and the gyno. I'm not very body conscious so not bothered, but showing people what gyno looks like has turned a few away as it looks horrific and is a gland that goes all the way back to your armpit. And once you get gyno, that bad boy is never leaving unless you get the gland removed. At best you take tamoxifen or anastrazole forever to keep it in check.

I have no idea why I've not been snapped up for modelling tbh...

fair play for the mental health support, thats great. do u not worry about the implications of that type of training as you approach old age? Do u do anything to counter the damage like ice baths or cryotherapy etc? How old are you know if you dont mind me asking?

you can ask me anything, of course. 39, 40 in May. I don't do heavy compounds anymore, I deadlift sporadically but never go above 220kg. I use machines. The biggest legacy strain in terms of wear and tear is my rotator cuff, did not have the surgery for it just physio, so it's something I do prehab with now, lots of stretches and little exercises to keep on top of it. Also had an imbalance in terms of pressing so much when I started training, so shoulders were rounded and that caused rear delt and upper back pain, so do a lot of face pulls and rear delt work. I stretch my hips a lot and also do a lot of hamstring work too for my back health. I've never done ice baths or cryotherapy, I do take hot bath every day for my hips (I sound ancient), and take various medications for pain management and the nerve damage - amitriptyline for the nerve damage, naproxen and tramadol for the back, and citalopram for the old noggin (been on the latter or similar for 2 decades, hence an interest in mental health). I take nothing pain med-wise for a week every 4 weeks though, and miss Sat/Sun, as I worry with the tramadol being an opioid and know it's less than ideal taking medication permanently. Also take an embarrassing spray for the heart where you have to sit or preferably lay down when you've taken it, which is comedy gold when you're at work. I have a super supportive company I work for though so feel very lucky. They know I work long hours (60+) so if I need to take time or work from home it's never an issue. If I was on a shop floor or the like I'd struggle.

I can have a spinal fusion but nobody I know who has had one, seems to have fared well and it seems to have degraded their spinal health further, so I've stuck with 2 discectomy and laminectomy surgeries and just plod on. I feel very lucky as my mate has MS so I have zero to whinge about, especially when my ailments are self inflicted from chasing a placcy trophy.

I drone on I know... :)

Fukk me that’s some strong pain medication. amitriptyline turned me into a zombie, horrible stuff. The other 2 are nice tho lol. Mate that sounds a harsh deal for so little in return. Do you feel it was worth it? What would you have done differently if you could go back? It’s fascinating hearing the ‘life after’ side of things. I watch Eddie halls channel, and he seems relatively free of injury. It that down to still being on PEDs do you think? Or is it all an act?

[SeanBrennan]

fair play for the mental health support, thats great. do u not worry about the implications of that type of training as you approach old age? Do u do anything to counter the damage like ice baths or cryotherapy etc? How old are you know if you dont mind me asking?

you can ask me anything, of course. 39, 40 in May. I don't do heavy compounds anymore, I deadlift sporadically but never go above 220kg. I use machines. The biggest legacy strain in terms of wear and tear is my rotator cuff, did not have the surgery for it just physio, so it's something I do prehab with now, lots of stretches and little exercises to keep on top of it. Also had an imbalance in terms of pressing so much when I started training, so shoulders were rounded and that caused rear delt and upper back pain, so do a lot of face pulls and rear delt work. I stretch my hips a lot and also do a lot of hamstring work too for my back health. I've never done ice baths or cryotherapy, I do take hot bath every day for my hips (I sound ancient), and take various medications for pain management and the nerve damage - amitriptyline for the nerve damage, naproxen and tramadol for the back, and citalopram for the old noggin (been on the latter or similar for 2 decades, hence an interest in mental health). I take nothing pain med-wise for a week every 4 weeks though, and miss Sat/Sun, as I worry with the tramadol being an opioid and know it's less than ideal taking medication permanently. Also take an embarrassing spray for the heart where you have to sit or preferably lay down when you've taken it, which is comedy gold when you're at work. I have a super supportive company I work for though so feel very lucky. They know I work long hours (60+) so if I need to take time or work from home it's never an issue. If I was on a shop floor or the like I'd struggle.

I can have a spinal fusion but nobody I know who has had one, seems to have fared well and it seems to have degraded their spinal health further, so I've stuck with 2 discectomy and laminectomy surgeries and just plod on. I feel very lucky as my mate has MS so I have zero to whinge about, especially when my ailments are self inflicted from chasing a placcy trophy.

I drone on I know... :)

Fukk me that’s some strong pain medication. amitriptyline turned me into a zombie, horrible stuff. The other 2 are nice tho lol. Mate that sounds a harsh deal for so little in return. Do you feel it was worth it? What would you have done differently if you could go back? It’s fascinating hearing the ‘life after’ side of things. I watch Eddie halls channel, and he seems relatively free of injury. It that down to still being on PEDs do you think? Or is it all an act?

Hi Steve. I'm lucky enough to have done a comp where Eddie was guest star slash ref. He was lovely, had time for everyone. I would say Eddie is a genetic phenom and athlete, his body could handle the does for a period. He is still huge but a lot healthier than when he was doing WSM. Read his writings though, he talks openly how he knew after winning 1 WSM he was to retire, he knew the impact it was having on his body. He gave up natural size to others so literally pushed it to the bone to win one. And I don't just mean PEDS. I think Eddie has the mindset and ability to be brilliant at any sport or endeavour he did, I tip my hat.

Was it worth it for me? I could do the cliche "I regret nothing as it made me who I am" - but I'd be lying. I massively regret ever taking anything, it ruined my health, contributed towards end of first marriage (a gram of tren a week is not conducive to empathy). I wish I had never taken anything other than protein powder mate. I live with pain and would happily go back and do it differently. The only good thing is I am massively grateful to be alive and have very good perspective. I am always positive and am known as someone who will help anyone. And I think going through some of the physical and mental health issues from my time using and competing, has helped me to get to that.