My Encounter with Kenneth "Flex" Wheeler
By Ron Cecchini
Origianlly posted on misc.fitness (Posted without Ron's knowledge --sorry Ron, I didn't think you'd mind --
and material not related to Flex Wheeler has been edited out)
I met Flex Wheeler last Thursday, January 7th at the World Gym in
Brockton Mass. They gym was celebrating their 3rd anniversay,
complete with 2 hour party before hand (with many kegs of beer on tap,
ironic, eh?), Flex guest posing and stuff, and a "fashion" show
afterwards.
Flex was signing pictures for about an hour and talking to people. I
figured that since it cost me $10 to get into the place, I'd splurge
and spend another $10 to have Flex autograph an awesome picture of
himself.
At the table, I told him that I was a big fan of his and of his rival
Kevin Levrone, both of whom possess very similar physiques, with their
classic lines and full muscle bellies. "Thank you, and you're right.
We are similar. But soon Kevin and I will meet!" And I predict Flex
will absolutely blow him away. Kevin is lagging in his chest, and his
legs may actually overpower his upper body. But after seeing Flex up
close, I can't find a single flaw!
After the picture signing, he got on stage and answered questions for
an hour. He is 5'9.5'' and is currently 247lbs., though he plans to
compete this year at 237 (a little heavier than when he won this
year's Mr. USA).
I thought I knew what big was, as I've seen some really huge guys in
our gym. But unless you've seen a pro bodybuilder up close, you
really can't imagine what they look like. And being that Flex has
been one of my top 3 favorites since I first saw his picture, I just
sat there in awe. This guy has the absolute best arms in all of
bodybuilding. They are so perfectly shaped, its sick. And when he
was sitting down, a time when most of us have our guts hanging over
our pants, the only thing you could see was the huge ridges of his abs
poking through his tanktop.
Of course, I thought it was kind of weird to have a few hundred people
standing around drinking beer gaping at this behemoth seated behind a
table, but anyways...
Flex is a genuinely cool guy - and he really does talk very quietly
like the mags say. He had to be asked to speak up a few times, even
with the microphone. I seemed to be the one asking the most
questions, and Flex was really cool, but he got really bizarre at one
point, reciting one of those muscle-mantras or something:
ME: "What, if any, were your weak bodyparts and what did you do to
bring them up?"
FLEX: (in paraphrase) "My legs, my calves and my chest."
At this point, Flex is speaking in a monotone, and then, all of a
sudden, his gaze become very fixed - as if he were in a trance or
something.
FLEX: (in paraphrase) "I concentrate on the bodypart as I mentally
masturbate imagining my competitors watching me. This inspires
me even more, as the masturbation having taken effect makes me
work the muscle even more..."
The above isn't an exact quote, but it does get the gist of what he
said. It was weird, and he did say "mentally masturbate" or "mental
masturbation" as "his competitors watched". But at this point, I was
just thinking to myself "O-o-o-k Flex... whatever." So, of course, I
just nodded my head and let him go on to someone else.
One lady also asked him about girlfriends and stuff, and if he
wouldn't in fact like a romp with her, at which he responds "I can get
that *any* time, *any* where." Needless to say, all us guys were like
"ooooooohh".
He talked about Shawn Ray for a little bit as well. He said because
Shawn was a friend of his, he felt like he was able to tell people
that "Yeah, Shawn can be an asshole" and that Shawn is the way he is
because he was born into money and always had it and has always been
cocky.
Oh yeah, get this, Flex claims that he sleeps *16* HOURS A DAY! And
what does he do during the 8 hours that he's actually awake? Well,
not only does he train (6 on, 1 off), but he eats *7* TIMES A DAY!
"When I'm not training or sleeping, I'm eating. Yeah, I admit it, I'm
a bum!"
"What do you do on your day off?" -> "I like to drive my car around."
"What do you do for fun?" -> "I don't have fun. I don't have time for
it."
[Side note, though no one asked it, I'm sure he doesn't eat those 7
meals during the 8 hours he's awake. He *must* wake up periodically to
eat - and then go back to sleep.]
Finally, someone asked "What supplements do you take, you know,
vitamins and stuff?" "I take a good multivitamin and mineral pack
every time I eat," he says, "I use some aminos and, of course, I use
Joe Weider products." At this point, everyone laughs, but he goes
"No, really. I'm not being paid to say this. I really like Weider
products." [As a side note, I don't believe he is under Weider
contract, just as he says.]
Then someone must've said something like: "Is that all?", because the
next thing I heard him say was: "No, thats really about it. But are
you alluding to something else?" At this point, he turns to the crowd
and says: "Look people. You can ask me *anything* you want. I'm not
afraid to answer any question."
So, someone with balls much larger than mine yells out: "Are you all
natural?" And, in a slow and deliberate manner he says: "Of *course*
I'm *not* all natural!" He then goes on "I won't tell you what I'm
doing, but no, I'm not all natural. But let me tell you: no
bodybuilder or professional athlete at this level of competition is
all natural. Whether it be football, or baseball or race car driving
- in any sport where theres big money at stake and where size,
strength and agility are needed, you're going to find "sports
medicine". You don't think race car drivers take anything to get them
psyched to drive that long at those speeds? They all do."
And instead of there being hushed "oh-my-gods" and stuff, the crowd
went wild and heavily applauded his very candid answer. Good PR for
Flex!
Someone then asked "But aren't you nervous?" and he says: "No. I
don't smoke or drink" as he waves his hand over the beer-guzzling
crowd, "I don't use recreational drugs. I eat and sleep very well.
And I know what I'm doing." Hmm... Interesting, to say the least.
So, before I left, I went up to him once again, and as I was shaking
his hand I said "I just wanted to thank you once again, especially for
being so candid." "Thank you" he says. I then told him that I was
strongly rooting for him and good luck, and he said "Thank you, thank
you very much."