Ed Corney answers your questions | bodybuilding workouts, bodybuilding tips, muscle fitness and squats form.

Website visitor:
I was wondering what you would consider your best ever condition and what you did different that time to achieve it.

Ed: You always have the feeling that you are in the best condition you've ever achieved when you walk onstage at each successive competition . . . or at least, I always had that feeling. I had a sense that I had improved over time and so I was always competing in the "best ever" shape of my life at each show.

A good example is during the IFBB USA in 1971 in New York. Some folks thought I was one of the “smallest” guys there and not even a “contender” . . . but I knew I was in my best condition yet and I took home the title despite the "naysayers" . . .

The only exception was when I won the two Masters Olympia 60+ titles. At that time, I knew I wasn't in the greatest physical shape of my whole career . . . but I also knew that I looked damn good for 61, that I had my posing technique mastered (pardon the pun) and that I delivered what was my best "performance" ever on that stage.

Now, looking back . . . it's difficult to pinpoint my "peak" moment of conditioning over a 31 year competitive career . . . however, I could probably come up with a few examples of times that, I now realize, I might have been able to show up in a bit better shape for this or that particular contest.

Sorry if I sound vague . . . but the truth is, it's probably easier for an "outsider" to offer an opinion of when I looked my best . . . I have been "by my side" for my whole life . . . and so, I naturally possess less perspective than many of you might have regarding my career highs and lows.

I will say, that a divorce always has a great motivational impact on my training . . . and I was in some exceptional shape right after a few of those. Don't go tell your wives that this is what I've offered up as "training advice".
Website visitor:
I have always been fascinated by the scenes in Pumping Iron that showed your posing and also the section on posing in Arnolds book from the '80s, "The Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding". in which he used a series of photographs of one of your posing routines. In my research on the Golden Era of bodybuilding I have seen it mentioned that you wrote a book on posing. I have looked for it online for a while now but with no luck. If you have copies of your posing book would you be willing to part with one of them?

Ed: Sorry, but all copies were sold out completely! Even I didn't get to keep a copy! However, a revised, in depth book, on the Art of Posing will soon be available through my bookstore. I'm working on it right now.
Website visitor:
It's been a few years since you came through Fresno. I met you at Casey's Gym. You were my inspiration. You engraved a weight lifting belt with my name and yours for me. You used a screwdriver and an ice pick! I hope you remember that . . . I still cherish it to this day . . . and I'm 55 years old now. I also remember that Cheesecake was your favorite.

Ed: Arnold introduced me to cheesecake . . . or he introduced cheesecake to me!
Great for putting on the Calories!
Website visitor:
I’ve always admired your development and excellent posing. I missed the chance to catch your open forum interview on Iron Age in January. I wanted to ask you few questions. How long did you diet when preparing for a contest? Your muscularity was incredible, even in your later years competing in the Masters Olympia. Also what influence, if any, did Clancy Ross have on your training? Thank you for your time.

P.S. - I recently returned to my own training after a 16-year layoff. When I started back in the gym I weighed a soft 165 lbs. with very little muscle. Now I’m at 205 and preparing to compete in the N.A.B.B.A Junior Nationals in Philly in August. I hope to cut done to about 180 -185 ripped.
The last time I competed was in 1985, but seeing you compete in the Masters Olympia gives us older guys inspiration.

Ed: The more time one has to adjust to eating properly, the better off and the easier your mind set will adjust. Clancy Ross was before my time, as good as he became, I said to myself "If he can do it, so can I" . . . and I did!
Website visitor:
I'm glad I can actually write to you and tell you a little bit about myself. I'm 20 years old and I started lifting weights in my garage when I was 14. I used to be real skinny and I got tired of it. I worked out for two years and got the muscles that I wanted. After that I would just work out to keep in shape. A few months before I turned 19, I got more into bodybuilding and that's when I saw the movie Pumping Iron. I started learning more, working out all my muscles and eating right. I went from weighing about 118 lbs. to151 in just six months time. I'm 5' 7" tall. I know I gained a lot of that muscle from the squats I was doing and I was doing really well, until I messed up my back squatting. I wanted to ask you if you ever messed up your back from squatting, or if you know anyone that has? I didn't just mess it up once, I re-injured it again later on. That was one year ago. I just started lifting again but only for my upper body. I don't know if I'll be able to do squats again. When I use to do squats I was using the right form and a weight that I could handle.

Ed: After both shoulder replacements, I am able to squat again, using the TOP SQUAT attachment, developed by Dave Draper. But!!!! You have to strengthen your mid section and lower back! Performing the following exercises. Deadlifts, Good Mornings, Crunches, Leg lifts . . . these will help you to get a stronger mid-section, and so support the squat movement.
Website visitor:
I am now 59 and my rotators are pretty shot. I experience a lot of restriction of movement in my shoulders the following day when I do flat or incline bench presses in my workout. Quite a while ago, I believe that I saw somewhere that you had stopped benching because it was "too much" for your shoulders. Could you recommend a chest workout for someone my age with shoulder restrictions?

Ed: Perhaps the following tips, on chest exercises maybe helpful. Having had both shoulder replacements, my chest program is now as follows:

I do not use the Olympic bar at all.

I do Hammer/strength decline machine presses. Three sets x 10-12, 1/4 reps. (I begin my press from arms length, for lower chest fibers).

I do Incline dumbbell presses, Three sets x 10 - 12, 1/4 reps (I begin my press from arms length, for upper chest fibers.

I do Dumbbell pullovers for thickness of chest and ribcage.

I perform all exercises using the Pyramid system, or increasing the weight each set. This increases your effort, your intensity, your positive mindset, and muscle stimulation. All of which leads to maximum growth.

The above exercises are not absolute, but have worked for me. You will have to experiment, to find out what works for you!
Website visitor:
I am a 34-year-old Police Officer in Canada. I've been bodybuilding for 18 years, and it all started watching the movie Pumping Iron with a few high school pals. We are all still friends and successful now . . . and we still try to train together whenever possible. We also shared a lot of fun times in the gym, similar to those you all shared at Gold's. There's nothing like it. You are an inspiration to me and to all who love the sport! P.S. - The 25th anniversary edition of Pumping Iron stated you had some health issues. I hope you are doing well and I don't believe for one moment anything could ever stop you!!!

Ed: Those that train together develop a tremendously strong bond and friendship forever. Well, there is one good thing about hitting bottom . . . No where else to go but UP! There’s only one thing that can stop me . . . ME!

Website visitor:
I Just wanted to say thank you so very much for the autographed Pumping Iron book. I love it very much. I have a question for you as well. I have been training now for 3 months using a full body workout. I've seen others recommend a 3-day split instead. What would you recommend? I am 37 years old and I have a wife and two kids . . . so, a four, five, or six day split is out of the question. I still, however, want to look good . . . hopefully as good as you, in 5 or 6 years. Thanks, for your time and dedication to the sport and to your fans!

Ed: Scheduling your workouts, will take a bit of work. I am unable to do this for you because I don’t know all the exact details of your daily schedule. You will have to consider the following: 1. Lifestyle 2. Priorities 3. Employment 4. School 5. Family 6. Relationship 7. Time to workout. You will have to balance all of these crucial items so that one doesn't take away from another. Whatever and however you decide to schedule it, it will work for you. So get busy on that drawing board!