Where is Kali Muscle now?
Chuck Kirkendall, better known as “Kali Muscle,” has made a name for himself as a bodybuilder, actor, and popular YouTuber. While he’s no stranger to controversy — like his infamous suggestion to eat just one avocado as a full meal — his dedication to fitness and training is undeniable.
Kali Muscle’s journey into bodybuilding began during his time in prison, and decades later, he’s still going strong in his 50s. Despite the challenges of aging and sarcopenia, he seems to have mastered the art of preserving lean muscle while shedding fat, defying expectations, and inspiring many (1).
In this post, we take a closer look at the man behind the muscle. How has Kali Muscle transformed his physique and maintained such impressive muscle mass while losing weight? Dive into this update on Kali Muscle’s journey to uncover his motivations, methods, and the secrets behind his remarkable transformation.
Kali Muscle’s Age & Height
| Full Name: Chuck Kirkendall (Kali Muscle) | ||
| Weight | Height | Date of Birth |
| Old Weight 270 lbs — New Weight 170 lbs | 5’10” (178 cm) | 02/18/1975 |
| Profession | Era | Nationality |
| Bodybuilder/Personal Trainer/Actor | 1980s Till Date | American |
Chuck Kirkendall was born and raised in Oakland, California, USA, on February 18, 1975. Kali Muscle didn’t have it easy as a child, being raised by his mom and stepfather. He eventually became the black sheep of the family, having to work hard to earn everything he got.
As a teen, Kali Muscle excelled in football, wrestling, and track and field. He even got a football scholarship to Fresno State University as a running back. Unfortunately, in his second year, he got into trouble due to a lack of finances. Kirkendall also lost a sibling to gun violence and ended up in a life of crime before being caught and sent to prison for seven years.
Kali Muscle Weight Loss
At San Quentin prison, Kali Muscle began to grow because he was eating foods like honey, buns, ramen, tuna spreads, and Duncan sticks. He also picked up bodybuilding using trash bags, water bottles, and even fellow prisoners as weights.
“I was huge. I was 230 [lbs]. There was no need for steroids.”
— Kail Muscle
When he would come off these steroids, he would lose significant weight.
After being released from prison, Kali Muscle had one goal: to spread positivity through bodybuilding and fitness in the streets. “My sole purpose on this earth is to help the kids. I started my foundation XCON to ICON, where I’m going into juvenile halls, prisons, and CYAs,” he said. “I’m going to the inner city school where people don’t know where to go, and I’m showing these kids that you don’t have to use the negativity that you are involved in your community for negativity.”
Kail Muscle has also participated in some bodybuilding shows. His first professional competition was the Orange County Classic, where he placed first. Then, in 2010, Kali Muscle decided to relocate to Los Angeles to chase a career in acting.
Just two weeks after his arrival, he got an opportunity and auditioned for a role on a Matthew McConaughey project. He then signed with an agency and immediately got another gig with Old Navy. From there, he went on to do other projects for Taco Bells, Snickers, Honda, Comcast, Geico, and so many others.
He has also made appearances in a host of blockbuster movies and TV shows, including:
- Wonder Woman
- The Dog Who Saved the Holidays
- Roscoe and Maggie
- Wilfred
- Raising Hope
- Workaholics
Kali Muscle is passionate about bodybuilding and has a vast online presence. On his YouTube channel, he currently boasts close to 4 million subscribers.
Why Did Kali Muscle Lose Weight?
During his time as a bodybuilder, he had to take a break after a severe heart attack that nearly caused his death. Since then, Kali Muscle vowed to stop taking PEDs. He even went as far as warning both beginners and professional athletes about the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs. Before his heart attack, Kali Muscle admitted to being hypersensitive to steroids. He usually took up to 500 mg of testosterone weekly.
“I was hypersensitive to steroids back then. Taking 500 milligrams per week of testosterone when I was competing. I was scared of tren, so I kept it under testosterone. I was taking 400 mg a week of that. I was also doing anadrol, d-bol, and this was my first year, 2009.”
— Kail Muscle
He also used clenbuterol, winstrol, and T3 to prepare his physique for competition.
“To get ready for shows, I would take clenbuterol, T3, winstrol, all the stuff. I was reading. I had books, and I was on the internet for hours a day because I didn’t want to kill myself. So I studied at least 6-8 hours a day about nutrition and mostly steroids.”
— Kali Muscle
Though he used steroids, he claimed he always did extensive research on these drugs. He always made sure he used them safely, occasionally cycling off these compounds for a period of two to three months, leading to weight loss.
Kali Muscle has warned fellow IFFB bodybuilders like William Bonac, Nick Walker, and Andrew Jacked against using PEDs. With his experience of using PEDs, he admits their merits. However, he points out the dangers of its misuse and is ever passionate about educating people on the best ways to live a healthy and fit life.
Besides getting cycling off PEDs, his strict dietary routines also yielded weight loss.
Kali Muscle’s Workout Routine
Kali Muscle’s workout routine before his heart surgery was a prison-intense workout with low volumes, high-intensity sets, and heavy weights. If the heavy weights were not available, he used his training partner as resistance.
However, now, Kali Muscle has changed his workout. Some of his routines are simple at-home workouts that are equally effective in building muscle. All you need is a pair of dumbbells and the determination to complete the routines. Here is Kali Muscle’s workout routine.
Home Workout
| Exercises | Sets | Reps |
| Dumbbell Standing Calf Raises | 4 | 20 |
| Dumbbell Floor Chest Presses | 4 | 15-20 |
| Dumbbell Bench Chest Presses | 3 | 15-20 |
| Dumbbell Bench Flyes | 3 | 15-20 |
| Superset — Seated Lateral Raises & Triceps Kickbacks | 3 | 15 |
| 3 | 15 |
Leg Workout
Before starting his leg workouts, he begins with five minutes on the stair master and does another five minutes on the treadmill.
| Exercises | Sets | Reps |
| Standing Calf Raises | 2 | 15-20 |
| Seated Calf Raises | 2 | 20 |
| Leg Extensions | 2 | 20 |
| Single Leg Hamstring Curls | 2 | 15 |
| Leg Presses | 2 | 12-15 |
| Machine Power Squats | 3 | 15 |
| Machine Glute Kickbacks | 2 | 12 |
Back Workout
| Exercises | Sets | Reps |
| Mag Grip Lat Pulldowns | 2 | 15-20 |
| Wide Grip Pull-Ups | 2 | 20 |
| Kroc Rows | 2 | 10 |
| Machine High Rows | 2 | 15 |
Chest Workout
| Exercises | Sets | Reps |
| Dumbbell Bench Presses | 2 | 15 |
| Machine Chest Presses | 4 | 10 |
| Chest Dips | 3 | 20 |
Arm Workout
| Exercises | Sets | Reps |
| EZ Bar Biceps Curls | 4 | 20 |
| Dumbbell Curls & Alternating Dumbbell Curls | 3 | 20 |
| Cable Preacher Curls | 3 | 12-15 |
Diet
Kali Muscle’s diet is all about what keeps him healthy. He doesn’t take caffeine, but he takes supplements that he regards as safe. Honey is also part of his pre-workout supplement. These supplements include:
- Hyphy Aminos
- Hyphy Brain
- Caffeine Gum
His meals are mostly whole foods with essential macronutrients like protein, carbs, and fats. Although there were times he had extreme eating habits, such as eating just watermelon for thirty-two days or just pineapples for eleven days.
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Reference
- Wilkinson, D. J., Piasecki, M., & Atherton, P. J. (2018). The age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and function: Measurement and physiology of muscle fibre atrophy and muscle fibre loss in humans. Ageing research reviews, 47, 123–132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2018.07.005
