Gregg Valentino loves steroids – but even he thinks that young bodybuilders are going too far with PED use and risking their lives
In the fourth and final episode of GI Conversation With Gregg Valentino, host Vlad Yudin concludes his deep dive into the bodybuilding world with one of its most outspoken figures, Gregg Valentino. This episode touches on somber topics like the passing of controversial bodybuilder Bostin Loyd, as well as hot-button issues like steroid use, viral fitness personalities, and the intersection of health and performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in modern bodybuilding.
True to form, Valentino provides blunt, no-nonsense insights on each topic, making for a powerful and thought-provoking conclusion to the series.
The Passing of Bostin Loyd: A Cautionary Tale
The episode begins with a discussion about Bostin Loyd, a bodybuilder known for his extreme advocacy of steroid use and who tragically passed away at a young age. Yudin asks Gregg Valentino what Bostin’s passing means for the fitness industry. Visibly saddened, Valentino reflects on Loyd’s death, noting that many close to him saw it coming due to his deteriorating health. Loyd’s kidneys had failed, yet he continued to experiment with steroids and other substances, treating his body as a “testing ground.”
Gregg Valentino emphasizes the lesson to be learned from Bostin Loyd’s life and untimely death. He cautions that young people, especially teenagers, should avoid anabolic steroids and push their natural limits as long as possible before considering PEDs. Valentino blames social media for glamorizing steroid use and influencing younger generations to dive into dangerous substances without fully understanding the long-term consequences. He hopes Loyd’s death serves as a wake-up call for those entering the sport, underscoring the real dangers of steroid abuse.
Knowing the Risk: Bostin Loyd’s Tragic Experimentation
Vlad Yudin follows up by asking Gregg Valentino about his comment that Bostin Loyd’s death was somewhat expected. Valentino recounts conversations with Loyd where he would express excitement over trying new PEDs, even as he awaited medical results about his failing kidneys. According to Valentino, Loyd believed he could find the perfect combination of drugs to restore his kidney function, a belief that, tragically, proved unfounded.
Gregg Valentino is quick to point out that Loyd was not unintelligent—he was, in fact, highly knowledgeable about steroids and PEDs. However, Valentino believes that Loyd’s intelligence may have been his downfall, as he grew overconfident in his ability to manage his health while continuing to push his body to dangerous extremes. Valentino concludes that, without his involvement in bodybuilding and steroids, Bostin Loyd would likely still be alive today.
The Transformation of Kali Muscle: From Steroid Advocate to Natural Bodybuilder
Vlad Yudin shifts the conversation to another controversial figure in the bodybuilding world: Kali Muscle. Once a staunch advocate of steroid use, Kali Muscle suffered a heart attack, which led him to drastically change his lifestyle and become a vocal advocate for natural bodybuilding. However, this shift has made him the subject of mockery within the bodybuilding community.
Gregg Valentino explains that the ridicule comes from how extreme Kali’s newfound natural approach has become. For instance, Kali claims to eat only watermelon, a diet Valentino believes is unhealthy and unrealistic. Valentino suspects that Kali Muscle is using these outrageous claims to garner attention and build a following rather than genuinely living by them.
Moreover, Gregg Valentino argues that Kali’s sudden reversal on steroids makes him appear hypocritical. After years of openly advocating for PEDs, his newfound stance against them has rubbed many in the bodybuilding community the wrong way.
Gregg Valentino acknowledges that Kali’s health scare is a valid reason to change his approach, but he believes Kali could deliver his message more effectively without resorting to extremes. He suggests that Kali could educate his audience on the dangers of steroid abuse while still acknowledging why some people use them responsibly. Rather than promote gimmicky diets, Kali could focus on the benefits of natural, balanced nutrition.
PJ Braun and Aaron Singerman: A Case of Mislabeling or Overpunishment?
Next, Vlad Yudin brings up the cases of PJ Braun and Aaron Singerman, the founders of Blackstone Labs, who were imprisoned for selling mislabeled products. Yudin asks if Gregg Valentino believes they were unfairly profiled or if their sentencing was justified.
Gregg Valentino admits he doesn’t know all the details of their case but feels that they might have been better punished with hefty fines rather than prison time. He reveals his personal bias, stating that he likes both Braun and Singerman, but notes that hitting someone’s wallet can be a powerful deterrent against future misconduct.
Gregg Valentino also suggests that the legal actions against Blackstone Labs could have significant repercussions for the broader bodybuilding and supplement industry, possibly signaling that the government is taking a harder stance on mislabeling and illegal supplement sales.
Sam Sulek: A Viral Sensation With Unrealized Potential?
The conversation then turns to Sam Sulek, a viral fitness personality who has gained massive popularity without having yet competed in a bodybuilding competition. Gregg Valentino compares Sulek’s rise to that of other viral sensations, attributing his success to timing and social media virality rather than genuine bodybuilding prowess.
While Gregg Valentino acknowledges that Sulek is jacked and impressive, he believes that Sulek lacks the conditioning and aesthetics necessary to compete at a professional level. He even advises Sulek not to compete, as doing so might shatter the mystique that has contributed to his viral success. Valentino shares his own experience of financial loss, cautioning Sulek to invest his money wisely rather than waste it on material things, as he did in his own youth.
The Rise and Fall of the Liver King
To close out the episode, Vlad Yudin asks Gregg Valentino about the Liver King, another viral fitness figure known for promoting an extreme ancestral diet and lifestyle. Valentino doesn’t hold back, calling the Liver King a fraud.
He believes that Liver King’s persona is a carefully curated business move designed to sell supplements, and that he likely doesn’t live the lifestyle he preaches. Valentino is skeptical of the raw organ-eating habits that the Liver King showcases on social media, suggesting that he probably spits them out once the cameras stop rolling.
According to Gregg Valentino, the Liver King should have been upfront from the start about his true lifestyle and his possible use of PEDs. Instead, by hiding behind a false image, he’s eroded the trust of his audience. Valentino’s stance on the Liver King reflects his broader belief that honesty is paramount, even in an industry that often thrives on illusion and spectacle.
Wrap Up
The final episode of GI Conversation With Gregg Valentino is a fitting conclusion to a series packed with unfiltered insights into the bodybuilding world. From the tragic passing of Bostin Loyd to the rise of viral fitness personalities like Sam Sulek and the Liver King, Gregg Valentino offers a candid, sometimes brutal, perspective on the state of the industry today.
As one of bodybuilding’s most controversial figures, Valentino’s reflections serve as both a cautionary tale and a call for greater honesty and responsibility within the fitness community. This episode leaves viewers with much to think about, particularly the consequences of extreme PED use and the role of social media in shaping the future of bodybuilding.
You can watch the full episode above. And make sure to check back every week for more original content only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network!
