Jay Cutler is one of the iconic figures in modern bodybuilding. He has won the Mr. Olympia title four times, pushing Ronnie Coleman off the podium in 2007 and Dexter Jackson in 2009.
He is the only modern bodybuilder to regain the title after losing it, and the third in the history of bodybuilding after Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbu. His list of achievements includes several other titles, including three consecutive wins at the Arnold Classic.
In this article, we have gathered interesting facts about the life of bodybuilder Jay Cutler: biography, interviews, achievements, training specifics, as well as an example of a weekly training routine in preparation for the Mr. Olympia competition.
Main thoughts:
Jay Cutler on training: “… I always prefer heavy free weights”
Jay Cutler on training: “For me, training intensely means resting less between sets”
| Bodybuilder Jay Cutler |
|---|
| Website: www.jaycutler.com Instagram: @jaycutler Date of Birth: August 3, 1973 Place of Birth: Las Vegas, USA |
| Anthropometric Data 1 |
| Height: 178 cm Off-season weight: 132 kg Competition weight: 118 kg Biceps: 56 cm Chest: 150 cm Thigh: 76 cm Waist: 86 cm Calves: 51 cm |
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Titles, Achievements in Bodybuilding 1
- 2010 Mr. Olympia – 1st place
- 2009 Mr. Olympia – 1st place
- 2008 Mr. Olympia – 2nd place
- 2007 Mr. Olympia – 1st place
- 2006 Mr. Olympia – 1st place
- 2005 Mr. Olympia – 2nd place
- 2004 Mr. Olympia – 2nd place
- 2004 IFBB Arnold Classic – 1st place
- 2003 GNC Show of Strength – 2nd place
- 2003 IFBB Arnold Classic – 1st place
- 2003 Dutch Grand Prix – 1st place
- 2003 British Grand Prix – 1st place
- 2003 Russian Grand Prix – 2nd place
- 2003 Mr. Olympia – 2nd place
- 2003 San Francisco Pro Invitational – 1st place
- 2002 IFBB Arnold Classic – 1st place
- 2001 Mr. Olympia – 2nd place
- 2000 Mr. Olympia – 8th place
- 2000 Joe Weider’s World Pro Cup – 2nd place
- 2000 Grand Prix England – 2nd place
- 2000 Night of Champions IFBB – 1st place
- 1999 Ironman Pro Invitational IFBB – 3rd place
- 1999 Arnold Classic IFBB – 4th place
- 1998 Night of Champions IFBB – 12th place
- 1996 Nationals – NPC, HeavyWeight – 1st place
- 1993 Teen Nationals – NPC, HeavyWeight – 1st place
Facts about bodybuilder Jay Cutler 2
- Favorite food: steak.
- Favorite pastime: various sports.
- Who has the greatest influence: family.
- Brand collaborations / sponsors: ISS Research and Flex Equipment (1 year).
- Biggest fears: fear of failure, financial stability.
- Something interesting that few people know about Jay Cutler: Jay started working in the family construction business Cutler Brothers Concrete at the age of 11.
- Started bodybuilding: upon entering college.
- Body parts he loves to train: legs and delts.
- Favorite exercise: walking lunges with a barbell.
- Favorite cheat meal: low-fat frozen yogurt.
- Favorite movies: Die Hard with Bruce Willis.
- Favorite actors: Robert De Niro and Bruce Willis.
- Favorite sports: basketball and soccer.
- Favorite music artists: The Cure, Tupac Shakur, and Snoop Dogg.
- Pets: cockapoo (a hybrid of cocker spaniel and poodle) and Airedale Terrier.
- Interests: Reading, bowling, motocross, and animals, especially dogs.
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Biography of Bodybuilder Jay Cutler
Jay Cutler started working in his brother’s construction business – concrete structures manufacturing – at the age of 11.
At 18, he began training in bodybuilding.
In 1993, he graduated from college with a degree in criminal justice, intending to work as a prison guard in a maximum-security prison.
His serious commitment to bodybuilding was particularly inspired by a meeting with Marcos Rodriguez. He wanted to become one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time.
The first competition he participated in was the Gold’s Gym Bodybuilding Championship in Worcester, where he took 2nd place.
As Jay Cutler became well-known in the bodybuilding world, he frequently appeared in bodybuilding films, including The Battle for the Mr. Olympia Title 2001 – a documentary about the preparation of various athletes for Mr. Olympia 2001.
Jay Cutler won the Arnold Classic consecutively in 2002, 2003, 2004 and placed second four times at Mr. Olympia, losing to Ronnie Coleman, until he took first place in 2006.
At Mr. Olympia, Jay Cutler failed a doping test as a banned diuretic was found in his urine, but he sued and reclaimed his second place.
In 2007, Cutler again took first place at Mr. Olympia. This was his second consecutive win. In 2009, he became the third Mr. Olympia in history (after Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbu) to regain first place after losing it in 2008, when Dexter Jackson took the title.
In 2010, Jay Cutler became Mr. Olympia for the fourth time. In 2012, due to a bicep injury, Cutler, much to the delight of his competitors, was unable to participate in Mr. Olympia. In 2013, he only placed sixth in this competition.
After that, Jay Cutler began to focus more on his business: he launched his own sports nutrition brand, Cutler Nutrition, an online coaching program, and worked on his presence on social media.
Today, Cutler lives in Las Vegas. In 1998, he married a girl named Kerry, but the marriage was short-lived, and they soon divorced.
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Interview with Jay Cutler: The Evolution of Training 2
– How did you start bodybuilding?
The first time I went to the gym was on my 18th birthday, August 3, 1991.
My sister’s boyfriend was collecting bodybuilding magazines, and I started doing the same: I searched for all the magazines with Chris Dickerson on the cover. They were old issues and were lying around the house.
At that time, I already had developed muscles because I had worked for many years in the family construction business, but I decided that I wanted to move forward and look like the guys on the magazine covers.
– Chris Dickerson? It doesn’t seem like the sixth bodybuilder to win the Mr. Olympia title had the physique that you ultimately displayed on stage..
I remember his calves and muscularity very well. The year of the magazine I had was the year he became Mr. Olympia.
At that time, he was the best, and I understood that to also win shows, I had to look at least as good as him. What I achieved as a result doesn’t necessarily have to resemble the model I started with.
Back then, in the very beginning, I was muscular enough but not defined enough. Gradually, I became bigger and bigger, and as a result, I became a bodybuilder with a greater emphasis on mass rather than aesthetics.
At 16, I bought Bob Paris’s bodybuilding book Beyond Built. This was my first bodybuilding book that taught me the technique of performing exercises.
In 2004, I wrote the book CEO Muscle, which is very similar to Paris’s book. That book is still in my collection.
– What mistakes, as you see them now, did you make at the beginning of your bodybuilding journey?
I overtrained, without a doubt. I trained too much.
Chris Dickerson taught me many aspects of nutrition in bodybuilding and created a daily meal plan for me, each consisting of six meals; I hung it on the fridge and followed it, strictly adhering to portion sizes and food composition.
Since I started following this meal plan, I began to progress very quickly. Thus, despite overtraining, I paid close attention to nutrition and got enough nutrients.
Jay Cutler on nutrition: “.. I started to progress quickly from the moment I began to carefully follow the meal plan created for me”
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– When looking at you, it is obvious that your legs are the part of your body that you find easy to train. Which muscles do you find the hardest to train?
I think it’s the chest, as I am very wide and my shoulders are very big. I had to learn how to build my chest muscles; I have a very large rib cage. I had to learn how to work on my chest muscles instead of just pressing weights, as I was very, very strong.
I needed to figure out how to make my chest muscles contract: now, when I train, I perform exercises so that my chest touches my chin in each repetition, and then I feel that my chest muscles are contracting.
It was also very difficult for me to make my arm muscles grow. I have very small calves compared to my thigh muscles.
Underdeveloped back muscles did not allow me to surpass Ronnie Coleman in the early years of my participation in Mr. Olympia. I had to work hard to develop them, doing a lot of pull-ups and bent-over T-bar rows.
In reality, I am constantly trying to improve. I am not genetically gifted to be Mr. Olympia and I believe I have worked quite well to achieve that.
– Do the exercises you perform change over time?
I do everything I can: I constantly introduce variety into my workouts.
I regularly do squats, and then I start squatting with my heels elevated.
I constantly switch between dumbbells, barbells, and machines. When I became a professional bodybuilder, I started using Hammer Strength machines more often as I gained access to them.
But overall, I always prefer heavy free weights.
When I started preparing for Mr. Olympia, to defeat Ronnie Coleman, I began using the T-bar more often and squatting with the barbell in front on my shoulders, doing barbell lunges – all things I had never done at the beginning of my career.
Jay Cutler on training: “…I always prefer heavy free weights”
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– Are there any exercises that you dislike doing and try to avoid?
In my youth, squats were always my favorite exercises. As I got older, it became slightly harder for me to perform them. When I was able to squat 317 kg, I felt that there was no need for such weights.
Later, after I became first at Mr. Olympia, I never exceeded a weight of 183 kg and 12-15 repetitions.
Jay Cutler: “…after I became first at Mr. Olympia, I never exceeded a weight of 183 kg in squats and 12-15 repetitions”
– Are you one of those guys who always tries to “just one more time”?
No.
I always tell everyone that I pressed 250 kg from the chest twice only once in my life. I never tried again. Most likely because I was a professional bodybuilder and simply didn’t want to risk getting injured by lifting weights that were unnecessary.
Many guys make the mistake of thinking that intensity is equivalent to the weight used. But no one knows what intensity really is. For me, training intensely means resting less between sets.
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Jay Cutler on training: “For me, training intensely means resting less between sets”
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– When someone meets you on the street and asks, “How much can you lift?”, what do you answer?
“A lot” or I just laugh. But inside I think, “here we go again..”.
But of course, I never rude to anyone. I often joke and sarcastically respond that I only train on weekends.
– You and Phil Heath train differently than Ronnie Coleman, and that’s probably why you avoid injuries that guys like him often get?
Actually, I got injured at the end of my career, but I really avoid craziness in training.
Phil Heath didn’t learn anything from me; he’s a genetic monster and his goal is heavy weights and muscle growth. I also trained with heavy weights at first to gain muscle mass, but I don’t do that today, so I don’t have the same mass.
But Phil and I train in a similar way just because we don’t want to get injured. It’s very important to train while listening to your body.
Jay Cutler on training: “.. today I don’t train with heavy weights because I don’t want to get injured.. it’s important to train while listening to your body”
– How necessary is it for a pro bodybuilder to have a personal trainer/nutritionist/expert today?
I’ve always had someone. An extra pair of eyes never hurts.
At a certain time, I needed help with nutrition. I have always been in good shape; however, to accurately determine the amount of calories I needed, it took a long and hard adjustment of my diet.
If you ask my personal trainers who their most challenging client is, they will undoubtedly say it’s me.
In nutrition, I have always tried to find the balance between having dry muscle mass and not losing it. When the amount of carbohydrates in my diet is 400 g, I start to gain fat mass. I have a crazy metabolism.
Of course, like everyone else, I face the problem of water retention in my body when I eat a lot of carbohydrates. My usual weight is 132 kg; but due to my diet, it significantly decreases during competitions.
Jay Cutler on nutrition: “..in nutrition, I have always tried to find the balance between having dry muscle mass and not losing it.. when my diet has 400 g of carbohydrates, I start to gain fat mass..”
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– Everyone knows you as a bodybuilder who loves to train late at night. Why?
There are several reasons why I train late at night. First, because the gym is crowded during the day.
Secondly, I enjoy knowing that I am doing something that no one else is doing.
I am also constantly exploring my body and want to better understand under what conditions it achieves its best form.
The Mr. Olympia competition always takes place around 9-10 PM, and it is important for me to see how my body looks when I have had 4-5 meals.
Usually, I train two days in a row, take the third day off; four times a day: two cardio sessions at home and two workouts at the gym. This routine is the secret to my shape.
I eat and train to be big. There are no secrets. Old-school heavy training and a clear goal.
Jay Cutler on training: “… usually I train two days in a row, take the third day off; four times a day: two cardio sessions at home and two workouts at the gym”
– Definitely, many young bodybuilders come to you for advice. What do you usually tell them?
Most often, I advise: be patient and consistent.
I also talk about how diet is one of the most important factors, as none of them eat enough, and none of them eat to be healthy.
They read various tips online, but the internet is one of the best and worst inventions of mankind. For example, they read online that I eat burgers, and they start doing it too. But I never ate them before I became Mr. Olympia. I need calories to maintain a huge muscle mass.
All young guys just need to follow the right principles and understand that there is no shortcut. I advise them to get enough sleep, train, and eat. The quality of the workout is determined by the quality of the preceding nutrition.
Jay Cutler on nutrition: “… diet is one of the most important factors for success… none of the beginner bodybuilders eat enough, and none of them eat to be healthy”
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– What does your usual workout and diet look like today?
I train 5 days a week. After waking up, I have a cardio workout. In each training session, I train one or two body parts.
I always tell everyone that today I eat half the amount of food I used to eat and use weights that are half of what I used before. I also do fewer repetitions, 12-15 instead of 20.
Yesterday I did an exercise with a T-bar, but I plan to reduce their volume, as well as deadlifts.
Today I still eat 5-6 meals, but the portions are very small. For example, 150 g of chicken instead of 300-360 before; 50 grams of rice compared to 100 g before.
Breakfast is the same as always: egg whites and protein, an omelet. Breakfast has always been the largest meal of the day.
After training, I take a protein shake with a small amount of sugar and carbohydrates. I generally try to eat as simply as possible. My weight is still 120 kg, but I maintain dry muscle mass.
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Example workout of bodybuilder Jay Cutler 3
Monday – Delts, Traps, Triceps & Abs
Delts
- Dumbbell lateral raises: 3 sets x 12 repetitions
- Dumbbell press: 3 sets x 8-12 repetitions
- Side lateral raise on cable machine: 3 sets x 8-12 repetitions
- Barbell raise with arms extended in front: 2 sets x 10 repetitions
- Dumbbell flyes standing bent over: 3 sets x 10 repetitions
Triceps
- Standing tricep pushdown: 4 sets x 15 repetitions
- Overhead dumbbell tricep extension: 3 sets x 15 repetitions
- Narrow grip barbell press: 3 sets x 8 repetitions
- French press: 3 sets x 8 repetitions
- Dumbbell lateral raise bent over: 3 sets x 12 repetitions
- Reverse dips: 3 sets x 15 repetitions
Trapezius
- Shrugs: 4 sets x 12 repetitions
Abs
- Crunches: 3 sets x 20 repetitions
- Crunches on the upper cable: 3 sets x 20 repetitions
- Leg raises while hanging: 3 sets x 12 repetitions
- Leg raises: 3 sets x 10 repetitions
Tuesday – Back
- Lat pulldown to chest: 3 sets x 10 repetitions
- Dumbbell row bent over: 3 sets x 10 repetitions
- Barbell row bent over: 4 sets x 10 repetitions
- Deadlift: 3 sets x 12 repetitions
- T-bar row bent over: 3 sets x 10 repetitions
- Lat pulldown behind the head: 3 sets x 10 repetitions
- Low cable row: 3 sets x 10 repetitions
- Hyperextensions: 3 sets x 10 repetitions
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Wednesday – Rest
Thursday – Chest, Biceps, Upper Arms & Abs
Chest
- Incline Barbell Press: 5 sets x 10-12 reps
- Dumbbell Bench Press: 3 sets x 8-10 reps
- Dumbbell Flyes on Incline Bench: 3 sets x 10 reps
- Cable Crossovers: 3 sets x 12 reps
- Decline Barbell Press: 3 sets x 8 reps
Biceps
- Barbell Curls: 5 sets x 15 reps
- Dumbbell Curls: 3 sets x 12 reps
- Scott Bench Dumbbell Curls: 3 sets x 10 reps
- Dumbbell Hammer Curls: 2 sets x 12-15 reps
Upper Arms
- Reverse Grip Barbell Curls: 6 sets x 15 reps
Abs
- Crunches: 3 sets x 20 reps
- Crunches on High Pulley: 3 sets x 20 reps
- Leg Raises Hanging: 3 sets x 12 reps
- Leg Raises: 3 sets x 10 reps
Friday – Legs
- Leg Extensions on Machine: 3 sets x 20 reps
- Leg Press: 4 sets x 12 reps
- Squats: 4 sets x 6-10 reps
- Barbell Lunges: 3 sets x 8 on each leg
- Leg Extensions on Machine (with heavy weight): 4 sets x 10 reps
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Saturday – Hamstrings, Calves & Abs
Hamstrings
- Leg curls on the lying machine: 6 sets x 12 repetitions
- Romanian deadlift: 3 sets x 10 repetitions
- Single leg curls: 3 sets x 12 repetitions
- Leg press (feet high and wide): 3 sets x 12 repetitions
Calves
- Standing calf raises: 4 sets x 10 repetitions
- Incline calf raises: 2 sets x 10 repetitions
- Seated calf raises: 3 sets x 10 repetitions
Abs
- Crunches: 3 sets x 20 repetitions
- Crunches on the upper block: 3 sets x 20 repetitions
- Leg raises while hanging: 3 sets x 12 repetitions
- Leg raises: 3 sets x 10 repetitions
Sunday – rest
