Intro
Lou Ferrigno is one of the most popular professional bodybuilders, actors, and coaches of all time. For TV watchers, he was best known as 'The Hulk' in the CBS series "The Incredible Hulk", which lasted for 5 seasons, and was well rated in the United States and Europe. For bodybuilding fans, you would recognize him from the early '70s when he was going against rivals Arnold Schwarzenegger and Serge Nubret at the Mr. Olympia and other competitions, along with a brief come back in the early '90s. At his peak, Lou was a large man 6'5'' and almost 300 pounds, hence why he was cast as 'The Hulk' over guys like Arnold who wanted that gig.
In this article we will go over his life and what steroids he may have used then and now.
Early life
Born in Brooklyn, New York to an Italian family in 1951, Lou suffered from permanent hearing problems due to an ear infection he suffered. Kids in school bullied him due to this, and he used sports as an outlet. His favorite sport was weight training and he wanted to become like a comic superhero, so he started to lift weights at just 12 years old and would continue to sculpt his body throughout his teenage years.
When he was 20 years old he won the WBBG Pro Mr. America and was awarded the Most Muscular Title.
The next year, Lou ended up getting 2nd place at the NABBA Mr. Universe and WBBG Pro Mr. America in 1972.
Rapid ascension
When he was just 22 years old he won the IFBB Mr. America and Mr. Universe. The next year he also won the IFBB Mr. International and started training with his rival Arnold Schwarzenegger. They both would become household names over the next few years and compete against one another.
At the 1974 Mr. Olympia, Lou finished 2nd to Arnold, and in 1975 he finished 3rd to Arnold and Serge Nubret. Although Lou never won Mr. Olympia, his connection with Arnold helped pay dividends when he starred along with him in "Pumping Iron". This documentary helped launch both their acting careers, and if you haven't seen it I recommend you do.
Acting
Lou's childhood inspiration to weight train was superheroes like 'The Hulk' whom he wanted to emulate. Thanks to his goofy personality and his massive size he would be the perfect guy to cast as this character. The hit tv show helped Lou make a lot of money and also raise his profile further, so he stopped competing in bodybuilding to work in Hollywood. Aside from The Hulk, he also was in Sinbad and Hercules. Although he never reached quite the same heights as Arnold did when it came to bodybuilding or acting, he still made a very good living for himself.
Bodybuilding comeback
Lou always loved fitness during his acting career, and he would spend many hours training in the gym not just to look good for the camera but also for his well-being and health. In 1992, while in his early 40's, he competed at Mr. Olympia and got 12th place, then the next year got 10th place. The next year he got 2nd place at the Olympia Masters.
Coaching and social media
Lou helped celebrities from actors to entertainers by working as a personal trainer throughout his life.
His Instagram has 250K followers
One of my favorite pictures from his page is him next to Arnold. They both look really good!
Another thing I like about him is he is an animal lover and he talks about how his dogs will never do anything bad to you.
Training and diet
Lou has always said there is no excuse, no matter your age or level of experience, why you shouldn't lift weights 3X per week minimum. During his peak years, he followed a split routine as almost all bodybuilders do. This added up to training his muscle groups twice a week and doing around 4 sets and 8 reps per lift. It was popular during the '70s to train 6 days a week and take Sunday off to rest the body. Another thing he believes in is having a good attitude and being positive because that will lead to more success in the gym. check out a popular video of him working out
During the 70's most guys ate whole food meals and did not snack. For Lou, he followed what we would refer to today as a low-calorie but high-carb diet. His staple foods were fish, eggs, fruit, vegetables, and other protein sources.
Opinion
Lou has lived an incredible life and I respect the fact he took a more modest approach to his career path. You won't find many who have anything bad to say about him. I loved that he made a comeback to bodybuilding even in his 40's. Even to this day at 70 years old, he is still dedicating his life to helping others achieve their dreams also.
Steroid use
Lou has been a steroid denier his entire life which is fine as it isn't anyone's business what others do. Critics will point to other competitors who have discussed steroids like Arnold and wonder why Lou isn't being upfront. The reality is to compete at Mr. Olympia you need to be using steroids and we can speculate what Lou used then and now.
1970's style Steroid Cycle:
800mgs a week Deca Durabolin
800mgs a week Primobolan
50mgs a day Proviron
30mgs a day Dianabol
What Lou may take today as a senior:
3-4Iu's per day HGH
250mgs a week Testosterone replacement therapy
peptides
multi vitamins
Evolutionary.org quotes on Lou
"Lou Ferrigno was the big dude in the movie Pumping Iron with Arnold"
"dude was a legend in his own right"
"guy is a monster, I love seeing these older guys diet and cycles"
Forum
Lou Ferrigno or Arnold? Did Lou Ferrigno take steroids?
Lou ferrigno steroid use amounts for his size.
Question about jeep swenson
Steroid Laws in Canada vs. U.S
Why does everyone use supplements these days?
References
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15076791/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23280519/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2892728/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7018798/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20020365/
Written by Steve Smi
Steve Smi (Also known as Steve Smith), has over 12 years of experience in the bodybuilding and fitness industry. He's the co-Host of the popular Evolutionary Radio Podcast - over 500,000 listens! He has been a personal trainer and writer for the last 10 years with over 1000 articles written. He's been a moderator on forums for over 10 years. Steve holds the following certifications and records: NASM Personal Trainer NASM Fitness Nutrition Specialist Florida Local Powerlifting champion Top writer for 2019 Fitness rated
"There wasn't much knowledge back then but Lou learned from trial and error"
Lou Ferrigno is one of the most popular professional bodybuilders, actors, and coaches of all time. For TV watchers, he was best known as 'The Hulk' in the CBS series "The Incredible Hulk", which lasted for 5 seasons, and was well rated in the United States and Europe. For bodybuilding fans, you would recognize him from the early '70s when he was going against rivals Arnold Schwarzenegger and Serge Nubret at the Mr. Olympia and other competitions, along with a brief come back in the early '90s. At his peak, Lou was a large man 6'5'' and almost 300 pounds, hence why he was cast as 'The Hulk' over guys like Arnold who wanted that gig.
In this article we will go over his life and what steroids he may have used then and now.
Early life
Born in Brooklyn, New York to an Italian family in 1951, Lou suffered from permanent hearing problems due to an ear infection he suffered. Kids in school bullied him due to this, and he used sports as an outlet. His favorite sport was weight training and he wanted to become like a comic superhero, so he started to lift weights at just 12 years old and would continue to sculpt his body throughout his teenage years.
When he was 20 years old he won the WBBG Pro Mr. America and was awarded the Most Muscular Title.
The next year, Lou ended up getting 2nd place at the NABBA Mr. Universe and WBBG Pro Mr. America in 1972.
Rapid ascension
When he was just 22 years old he won the IFBB Mr. America and Mr. Universe. The next year he also won the IFBB Mr. International and started training with his rival Arnold Schwarzenegger. They both would become household names over the next few years and compete against one another.
At the 1974 Mr. Olympia, Lou finished 2nd to Arnold, and in 1975 he finished 3rd to Arnold and Serge Nubret. Although Lou never won Mr. Olympia, his connection with Arnold helped pay dividends when he starred along with him in "Pumping Iron". This documentary helped launch both their acting careers, and if you haven't seen it I recommend you do.
Acting
Lou's childhood inspiration to weight train was superheroes like 'The Hulk' whom he wanted to emulate. Thanks to his goofy personality and his massive size he would be the perfect guy to cast as this character. The hit tv show helped Lou make a lot of money and also raise his profile further, so he stopped competing in bodybuilding to work in Hollywood. Aside from The Hulk, he also was in Sinbad and Hercules. Although he never reached quite the same heights as Arnold did when it came to bodybuilding or acting, he still made a very good living for himself.
Bodybuilding comeback
Coaching and social media
Lou helped celebrities from actors to entertainers by working as a personal trainer throughout his life.
His Instagram has 250K followers
One of my favorite pictures from his page is him next to Arnold. They both look really good!
Another thing I like about him is he is an animal lover and he talks about how his dogs will never do anything bad to you.
Training and diet
Lou has always said there is no excuse, no matter your age or level of experience, why you shouldn't lift weights 3X per week minimum. During his peak years, he followed a split routine as almost all bodybuilders do. This added up to training his muscle groups twice a week and doing around 4 sets and 8 reps per lift. It was popular during the '70s to train 6 days a week and take Sunday off to rest the body. Another thing he believes in is having a good attitude and being positive because that will lead to more success in the gym. check out a popular video of him working out
During the 70's most guys ate whole food meals and did not snack. For Lou, he followed what we would refer to today as a low-calorie but high-carb diet. His staple foods were fish, eggs, fruit, vegetables, and other protein sources.
Opinion
Lou has lived an incredible life and I respect the fact he took a more modest approach to his career path. You won't find many who have anything bad to say about him. I loved that he made a comeback to bodybuilding even in his 40's. Even to this day at 70 years old, he is still dedicating his life to helping others achieve their dreams also.
Steroid use
Lou has been a steroid denier his entire life which is fine as it isn't anyone's business what others do. Critics will point to other competitors who have discussed steroids like Arnold and wonder why Lou isn't being upfront. The reality is to compete at Mr. Olympia you need to be using steroids and we can speculate what Lou used then and now.
1970's style Steroid Cycle:
800mgs a week Deca Durabolin
800mgs a week Primobolan
50mgs a day Proviron
30mgs a day Dianabol
What Lou may take today as a senior:
3-4Iu's per day HGH
250mgs a week Testosterone replacement therapy
peptides
multi vitamins
Evolutionary.org quotes on Lou
"Lou Ferrigno was the big dude in the movie Pumping Iron with Arnold"
"dude was a legend in his own right"
"guy is a monster, I love seeing these older guys diet and cycles"
Forum
Lou Ferrigno or Arnold? Did Lou Ferrigno take steroids?
Lou ferrigno steroid use amounts for his size.
Question about jeep swenson
Steroid Laws in Canada vs. U.S
Why does everyone use supplements these days?
References
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15076791/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23280519/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2892728/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7018798/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20020365/
Written by Steve Smi
Steve Smi (Also known as Steve Smith), has over 12 years of experience in the bodybuilding and fitness industry. He's the co-Host of the popular Evolutionary Radio Podcast - over 500,000 listens! He has been a personal trainer and writer for the last 10 years with over 1000 articles written. He's been a moderator on forums for over 10 years. Steve holds the following certifications and records: NASM Personal Trainer NASM Fitness Nutrition Specialist Florida Local Powerlifting champion Top writer for 2019 Fitness rated
"There wasn't much knowledge back then but Lou learned from trial and error"
Attachments
Last edited:
