Dennis James was accompanied by Milos “The Thoughts” Sarcev, Chris Cormier and bodybuilder-turned-coach Mike Morris on Episode 229 of The Menace Podcast—and the chat quickly turned to Morris’ battle with PED’s and pain killers. His story is a cautionary however hopeful one which any younger competitor ought to pay attention to.
Mike Morris turned an IFBB Professional and appeared as a literal bodybuilding poster boy earlier than hanging up the wrist straps and retiring from the game however throughout his look on The Menace Podcast, Morris mentioned that his profession started to take a flawed flip when he listened to recommendation from his friends concerning the usage of painkillers as a way of pushing previous main discomfort to make extra reps. Milos Sarcev concurred with the notion that painkillers had been used on this approach, including that even anesthetics had been handed round prolific gyms.
Dennis James shared his personal experiences, sharing that he’d been launched to Nubain whereas visitor posing in Hawaii. Nubain is a pain relief agent that is so potent, it is often used after surgery, however James mentioned he refused to take it when provided. “I used to be just a little bit traumatized,” mirrored the podcast host.
Little question, the 90s had been a heady time when newly rising however little understood medicine had been accessible over-the-counter. “GHB, on the time, was very extensively used,” mentioned Chris Cormier, explaining that it was consumed by bodybuilders predominantly for the restoration results of sleep. “I acquired my first bottle at GNC,” mentioned Mike Morris, noting that Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid was completely authorized on the time, regardless of its extremely addictive nature and rising record of unintended effects, to not point out its anecdotal hyperlinks to delinquent habits. Lastly, federal regulation restrictions started so take maintain on the activate the millennium, however for a lot of, the injury was already setting in.
Mike Morris Discovered Gentle Past the Darkish Aspect of Bodybuilding
“As soon as I used to be taking it frequently, I assume a great way to elucidate it … it was like a cigarette,” mentioned Morris. “There’s factors the place I didn’t wish to take it, you recognize, I’d get up (and assume) I’m not gonna take my factor … as soon as it’s in your system, the sensation of desirous to take it simply begins to creep on you. And it’s rather a lot like a cigarette. Very first thing, if you get up, you need it. After a meal you need it. After intercourse you need it. I used to be doing it, geez, fifteen occasions a day.”
Cormier famous that drug use took away Morris’ spark, as a result of he’d beforehand been “vibrant eyed” and had an enormous presence within the gymnasium. “He was a powerful cat,” he added. When the drug abuse caught up with the promising bodybuilder, Morris suffered together with his kidneys, blood strain, and coronary heart, earlier than retiring from the game and at last kicking his unhealthy habits.
“So, how lengthy did it take so that you can utterly get away from it,” requested James. “I assume my dependancy began someplace round after I turned professional (within the late nineties),” shared Morris. Explaining that he then became addicted to numerous other substances as he handled the despair round retiring and seeing his muscle-mass shrink. “… it was most likely round fifteen years earlier than I lastly kicked it,” he mentioned. Morris mentioned that getting common sleep, consuming entire, clear meals and consuming loads of clear water has actually helped him keep the course.
“You recognize, similar to in bodybuilding, the place you must have your food plan in place and be sure to get your protein and your carbs, and your fat, every part all systematic, that’s how I dwell my way of life now,” defined a hopeful Morris, who now trains a choose group of shoppers. “I make sure that I eat very systematically, three-times a day, I make sure that I get my sleep, I make sure that I’m solely placing pure, clear meals into my physique.”
The coach admits that he nonetheless lives in worry that his kidney points may flare up so he avoids soda and sugar for essentially the most half, however fortunately he’s lastly in a spot the place he can start to comply with the world bodybuilding as soon as once more.
To look at your entire dialog and full episode, the place the panel additionally make their predictions for the 2025 Pittsburgh Professional, see beneath.
