Ryan Terry, winner of the Arnold Classic UK 2021, is currently taking some well earned time off before beginning Mr Olympia prep. And with his free time he chose to answer questions from a few lucky followers. In his cold tub, sauna and hot tub, of course. Because where else would you film a Q&A?
There was a reason Ryan decided to shoot this video in his recovery hut. He recently tore part of his lat. He's aware of what improvements he needs to make before entering competition, and one of the areas he’s been working on is his back. But his determination led to overtraining and injury.
He’s since adapted his recovery routine, taken some time off and will learn from the mistake. And that’s where he is now: recovering in the ice bath.
What is your next competition?
As a competitive bodybuilder, Ryan always has his eyes on the prize. And what prize has he set his sights on next? The Mr Olympia title. It's a little while away, so Ryan is soaking up some family time and enjoying a holiday before getting into full prep. He'll be putting himself through 20 weeks in the runup to the competition, which is longer than he’s ever done before. He's used to 12-16 weeks, so this will be a challenge. But he’s looking forward to it.
Top supplements for an intermediate lifter?
For Ryan, these are the top supplements no matter your experience level. Whether you’ve been in the gym five minutes or five years, he recommends protein powder, creatine and a good sports multivitamin.
Normally Ryan would say that food always supersedes supplements, but in the case of protein, a powder is likely to be more fast acting and can get into your system quickly after training.
Creatine is great if your goals are to build muscle and increase your strength. It’s one of the most heavily researched supplements, and there is plenty of scientific evidence for its benefits.
And you can’t go wrong with a good multivitamin to make sure you’re getting all the essential vitamins.
Who are two of your fitness icons?
Ryan cheated on this question by giving three icons, but who can blame him? He's got a great bunch to choose from. First up, Flex Wheeler for bodybuilding physique. While Ryan never actually wanted to be a bodybuilder, he always admired his physique. Next up, Flex Lewis for this work ethic. He always respected how much time he puts in for his fans. And finally, and unsurprisingly, Chris Bumstead. Not only has he done phenomenally well for himself and for the sport, he’s also spoken candidly about the negatives of the sport too.
Will you be coaching yourself again for the Olympia?
If you’re a Ryan fan, you’ll know he coached himself for the Arnold Classic — and won. He sorted his own training, nutrition and cutting programme, which is an immense amount of work alongside all the training and eating. But he liked the fact that he was accountable for his own result, and it was the best prep he ever did.
Should you reduce or cut out creatine completely when trying to cut?
You absolutely don’t have to cut creatine, although creatine monohydrate is water-based and gives you a slight puffy look. If you want to look dry for a specific day, maybe cut it out a few days or a week before, which is what Ryan does.
Another option if you’d rather not cut creatine is to switch your source to creatine ethyl ester, which may help.
Take Home Message
And if, like me, you’re nosey, head over to watch the full video on Ryan’s channel. Stay tuned for the start of his prep for the Olympia competition — you’re not gonna want to miss it.
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