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Top 49 Ronnie Coleman Famous Quotes | Yeah Buddy, Lightweight Baby!

What are Ronnie Coleman’s most famous quotes?

Ronnie Coleman is the most famous bodybuilder of all time. He won the Mr. Olympia contest 8 years in a row, and went on to start his very own nutritional supplements company!

Ronnie Coleman has many famous quotes, including:

  • “Yeah buddy! Light weight baby!”
  • “It is a lot of pressure to prepare for Mr. Olympia.”
  • “I know that in order for something to work for me, it has to be extremely powerful.”

He said these quotes (and more!) while training in the gym, and in interviews while preparing for the prestigious Mr. Olympia competition.

Ronnie Coleman believed there was no substitute for hard work, and you had to be willing to go all-out to become the best. 

Without further ado, here are 49 of Ronnie Coleman’s most famous quotes:

Ronnie Coleman Famous Quotes

1. “Yeah buddy! Light weight baby!”

-Ronnie Coleman.

2. “Everybody wanna be a bodybuilder, but no one wants to lift heavy ass weights!”

-Ronnie Coleman.

3. “It is a lot of pressure to prepare for Mr. Olympia.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

4. “I work out every body part twice a week, and that is what helps me stay in shape.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

5. “I know that in order for something to work for me, it has to be extremely powerful.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

6. “Time to put that secret weapon on.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

7. “Hard work and training. There’s no secret formula. I lift heavy, work hard and aim to be the best.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

“To have your job as your hobby – life don’t get better than that.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

8. “It’s plain and simple. Work harder than everyone else and the only way to do that is to do it. It may sound silly but it’s the truth and there ain’t nothing to it but to do it!”

-Ronnie Coleman.

9. “I’ve never really considered myself as being the best bodybuilder. I always try to let the people decide that. I just try to do the best I can do at whatever it is that I’m doing.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

10. “The gym is one of the few places where I can just be myself without any hindrances and inhibitions.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

11. “Just because your triceps have fallen behind your biceps, doesn’t mean you should back off your triceps workouts.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

12. “I always say to myself right before a tough set in the gym, Ain’t nothin’ to it, but to do it.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

13. “I always train heavy and it worked well for me. Most people would be worried about an injury but if you’re gonna worry about it so much, it’s gonna happen anyway.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

14. “I’ve attained my mass basically by training hard and very, very heavy.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

15. “Father time and injuries are tough adversaries.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

Ronnie Coleman Bodybuilding Quotes

16. “There were some tough times and when those came up I just used my mental strength to push through knowing that my mind-controlled everything.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

17. “I’ve been training so long, it’s second nature to push myself to the limit.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

18. “Recovery is not a gift from clinicians, but the responsibility of us all. We must become confident in our own ability to change our lives, we must give up being reliant on others doing everything for us. We must have the confidence to give up being ill so that we can start being recovered.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

19. “Bodybuilding is a hobby. At least for me, it is. I’ve trained since I was 12 or 13 years old. It’s a hobby I just have so much fun with it. I get so much enjoyment from it.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

20. “I’m focusing on my muscle. I’m just trying to get the weight up. I’m trying to build muscle.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

21. “Just because your triceps have fallen behind your biceps, doesn’t mean you should back off your triceps workouts.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

22. “I never focus on contraction. I’m focusing on my muscle. I’m not focusing on a certain style of lifting or contracting. I’m just trying to get the weight up. I’m trying to build muscle.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

Ronnie Coleman Motivational Quotes

23. “To have your job as your hobby – life don’t get better than that.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

24. “Progress takes time and discipline.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

25. “I take about 12 weeks to get ready for a show. But I train all year round.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

26. “The time between sets should be short and just long enough so that you are sufficiently recovered to hit the next set hard.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

27. “Never underestimate the power of wide-grip pull-ups to develop width and size.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

28. “I love you all. Y’all made me have the best life that a guy could ever have. I could have never done it without you all.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

29. “What I’ve always tried to do is pick short-term goals.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

30. “The more I have to do, the better off I am.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

31. “I quit working in the police force full time only after I won my third Mr. Olympia.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

32. “I want to help the up-and-coming kids. A lot of times, kids don’t have much to do in the summertime. When I was a kid, I didn’t do nothing. I want to get bodybuilding out there, and it will start with the younger generation.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

Ronnie Coleman Inspiring Quotes

33. “People actually go out of their way and say a prayer for me to do this. That really means a lot. I put my heart and soul, and when they pray it makes me work even harder and harder and harder.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

34. “I’m a bodybuilder, so we do a lot of stuff on repetition.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

35. “Train harder and grow bigger.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

36. “One thing you can’t beat in this world is time. I learnt that the hard way. You can’t play basketball forever. You can’t play football forever. You can’t bodybuild forever. I mean you CAN do it, but not at a high level against younger guys who have more time and have not reached their peaks yet. There’s only so much the body can do and once you’re done, you can’t go back in time.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

37. “I’ve been always a big guy – I was much larger and stronger than my peers when I was 13 years old.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

38. “I have fans from every level of the fitness world, whether it’s the elite competitor or just someone living a healthy lifestyle, and it’s been my goal since day one to make sure that my brand has something to offer everyone.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

39. “No matter what I was doing, I always wanted to be the best.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

40. “Different things work for different people.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

41. “I’m always trying to improve on my overall package. Just try to get a little bit harder and maintain the same muscle quality.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

Ronnie Coleman Funny Quotes

42. “I was always trying to stay one to two steps ahead of the game.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

43. “No dessert. I don’t do dessert.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

44. “Let’s go eat!”

-Ronnie Coleman.

45. “Where I’m from, Bastrop, Louisiana, you played football, basketball, and baseball; you ran track – and that was about it.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

46. “I’m just normal.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

47. “It’s all just apples and oranges.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

48. “Time to show ya how it’s gonna be done.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

49. “I know that in order for something to work for me, it has to be extremely powerful.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

Ronnie Coleman’s Workout Routine

Ronnie Coleman was known for his incredible work ethic.

He trained 6 days per week using a high-volume bodybuilding split where he trained each muscle group twice per week! Check it out:

Ronnie Coleman’s Training Split

  • Day 1: Back / Shoulders / Biceps
  • Day 2: Legs
  • Day 3: Chest / Triceps
  • Day 4: Back / Shoulders / Biceps
  • Day 5: Legs
  • Day 6: Chest / Triceps

Talk about an intense training split! Ronnie Coleman only took 1 day off during the week. For him, this was more than enough to recover and get his best workouts in.

Here are some of Ronnie Coleman’s sample workouts that you can try. Check it out:

Ronnie Coleman’s Back / Shoulders / Bicep Workout

  • Exercise #1: Lat pulldown, 4 sets of 8-20 reps
  • Exercise #2: Lat pulldown (behind back), 4 sets of 8-20 reps
  • Exercise #3: Seated cable row, 4 sets of 8-20 reps
  • Exercise #4: Lying dumbbell pullover, 4 sets of 8-20 reps
  • Exercise #5: Machine curls, 4 sets of 8-20 reps
  • Exercise #6: Dumbbell curls, 4 sets of 8-20 reps
  • Exercise #7: Standing cable curl, 4 sets of 8-20 reps
  • Exercise #8: Dumbbell overhead press, 4 sets of 8-20 reps
  • Exercise #9: Machine lateral raise, 4 sets of 8-20 reps
  • Exercise #10: Machine overhead press, 4 sets of 8-20 reps
  • Exercise #11: Dumbbell front raise, 4 sets of 8-20 reps
  • Exercise #12: Cable pull-apart, 4 sets of 8-20 reps
  • Exercise #13: Bent-over cable pull-apart, 4 sets of 8-20 reps

Ronnie Coleman’s Legs Workout

  • Exercise #1: Front squat, 4 sets of 8-20 reps
  • Exercise #2: Machine squat, 4 sets of 8-20 reps
  • Exercise #3: Walking lunge, 4 sets of 8-20 reps
  • Exercise #4: Lying leg curl, 4 sets of 8-20 reps
  • Exercise #5: Seated leg curl, 4 sets of 8-20 reps

Ronnie Coleman’s Chest / Triceps Workout

  • Exercise #1: Flat dumbbell press, 4 sets of 8-20 reps
  • Exercise #2: Incline dumbbell press, 4 sets of 8-20 reps
  • Exercise #3: Flat dumbbell fly, 4 sets of 8-20 reps
  • Exercise #4: Ez-bar extensions, 4 sets of 8-20 reps
  • Exercise #5: Seated dumbbell french press, 4 sets of 8-20 reps
  • Exercise #6: Dumbbell kickbacks, 4 sets of 8-20 reps

Talk about some tough workouts! Ronnie Coleman performed anywhere from 5-13 exercises per workout. Now that is a ton of volume!

If you want to read more about Ronnie Coleman’s training program, then check out the following article:

Now let’s take a closer look at Ronnie’s bodybuilding career…

Ronnie Coleman’s Bodybuilding Career

Ronnie Coleman started competing in bodybuilding as a hobby, but it soon turned into his primary source of income. By the time he retired he already won 8 Mr. Olympia competitions and countless other bodybuilding contests!

Here are some of his career highlights:

Ronnie Coleman’s Bodybuilding Career Highlights

  • 1998 IFBB Mr. Olympia — 1st
  • 1999 IFBB Mr. Olympia — 1st
  • 1999 IFBB Joe Weider’s Pro World — 1st
  • 1999 IFBB Grand Prix England — 1st
  • 2000 IFBB Mr. Olympia — 1st
  • 2000 Grand Prix England — 1st
  • 2000 Joe Weider’s Pro World Cup — 1st
  • 2001 Arnold Classic — 1st
  • 2001 Mr. Olympia — 1st
  • 2001 New Zealand Grand Prix — 1st
  • 2003 Mr. Olympia — 1st
  • 2004 Mr. Olympia — 1st
  • 2005 Mr. Olympia — 1st
  • 2006 Mr. Olympia — 2nd

As you can see, Ronnie Coleman won almost every competition he entered 8 years in a row.

He finally came in 2nd place in the Mr. Olympia contest in 2006 (behind Jay Cutler), and decided to retire from the sport of bodybuilding.

Ronnie Coleman’s Net Worth

Ronnie Coleman is easily one of the wealthiest bodybuilders in the world today.

He has an estimated net worth of $10 million dollars, which is incredible for a retired police officer!

Ronnie Coleman Stats

  • Net Worth: $10 Million
  • Birthday: May 13th, 1964
  • Height: 5 feet 11 inches
  • Weight: 300 pounds
  • Career: Professional bodybuilder

Ronnie Coleman acquired his wealth by competing in bodybuilding contests, working as a police officer, and starting multiple successful businesses including his “Yeah Buddy!” supplement line.

Ronnie Coleman’s Favorite Supplements

Ronnie Coleman knows the importance of taking the right supplements for building quality muscle mass.

That’s why he started his own supplement line – to help people just like you! Here are three of Ronnie Coleman’s all-time favorite supplements for building mass:

1. Whey Protein

Whey protein is one foe most researched supplements in the world today.

Studies show that whey protein is more anabolic than other protein sources like chicken and steak, and when taken post-workout or during the day as a meal replacement drink, it can have a powerful impact on your ability to recover and build quality muscle mass [1, 2, 3].

Click right here to get started with our #1 favorite whey protein supplement!

2. Pre-Workout

Pre-workout supplements are quickly becoming one of the most popular bodybuilding supplements (right behind whey protein).

Preworkout supplements use a proprietary blend of many different ingredients, including caffeine, creatine, beta-alanine, citrulline malate, and more. These ingredients work synergistically to energize you and power you through your most intense workouts [4, 5, 6]!

Click right here to get started with our #1 favorite pre-workout supplement!

3. Essential Amino Acids

Essential amino acids are one of the most underrated supplements in the world today.

Coaches like Charles Poliquin have been using amino acids sense 1982, and more recently coaches like Milos Sarcev and John Meadows have started using them during their workouts and throughout the day to build muscle faster.

Indeed, the latest studies show that taking essential amino acids during your workout is a powerful way to stimulate protein synthesis and overall muscle growth [7, 8, 9].

Click right here to get started with our #1 favorite essential amino acids supplement!

Ronnie Coleman Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about Ronnie Coleman

How Did Ronnie Coleman Get Injured?

Ronnie Coleman suffered multiple long-term injures towards the end of his bodybuilding career. His worst injuries were to his spine, and he required multiple spinal surgeries to reduce his pain so he could live a normal life again.

Is Ronnie Coleman On Crutches?

Ronnie Coleman started using crutches after his spinal surgeries. He says they take pressure off his spine and legs, and allow him to move with less pain.

What Is Ronnie Coleman’s Net Worth?

Ronnie Coleman has an estimated net worth of $10 million dollars, making him one of the richest bodybuilders in the world today.

Is Ronnie Coleman Natural?

No, Ronnie Coleman is not natural. He used performance enhancing drugs during his career to bulk up his physique and become the greatest bodybuilder of all time.

Where Does Ronnie Coleman Live?

Ronnie Coleman lives in Arlington, Texas with his wife and family.

Verdict | Top 49 Ronnie Coleman Famous Quotes

So what’s the verdict… what are Ronnie Coleman’s most famous quotes?

The truth is Ronnie Coleman has many famous quotes, including:

  • “Yeah buddy! Light weight baby!”
  • “It is a lot of pressure to prepare for Mr. Olympia.”
  • “I know that in order for something to work for me, it has to be extremely powerful.”

Ronnie is known for saying some extremely funny things in the gym when he gets ready for his heaviest sets, and in interviews when he talks about his bodybuilding career.

At the end of the day, Ronnie Coleman believes hard work is the key to reaching your goals. As he used to say, “nothing to it but to do it!”

References

  1. Duarte NM, Cruz AL, Silva DC, Cruz GM. Intake of whey isolate supplement and muscle mass gains in young healthy adults when combined with resistance training: a blinded randomized clinical trial (pilot study). J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2020 Jan;60(1):75-84. doi: 10.23736/S0022-4707.19.09741-X. Epub 2019 Sep 23. PMID: 31565912.
  2. Park Y, Park HY, Kim J, Hwang H, Jung Y, Kreider R, Lim K. Effects of whey protein supplementation prior to, and following, resistance exercise on body composition and training responses: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study. J Exerc Nutrition Biochem. 2019 Jun 30;23(2):34-44. doi: 10.20463/jenb.2019.0015. PMID: 31337204; PMCID: PMC6651693.
  3. West DWD, Abou Sawan S, Mazzulla M, Williamson E, Moore DR. Whey Protein Supplementation Enhances Whole Body Protein Metabolism and Performance Recovery after Resistance Exercise: A Double-Blind Crossover Study. Nutrients. 2017 Jul 11;9(7):735. doi: 10.3390/nu9070735. PMID: 28696380; PMCID: PMC5537849.
  4. Kaczka P, Batra A, Kubicka K, Maciejczyk M, Rzeszutko-Bełzowska A, Pezdan-Śliż I, Michałowska-Sawczyn M, Przydział M, Płonka A, Cięszczyk P, Humińska-Lisowska K, Zając T. Effects of Pre-Workout Multi-Ingredient Supplement on Anaerobic Performance: Randomized Double-Blind Crossover Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Nov 9;17(21):8262. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17218262. PMID: 33182295; PMCID: PMC7664913.
  5. Curtis J, Evans C, Mekhail V, Czartoryski P, Santana JC, Antonio J. The Effects of a Pre-workout Supplement on Measures of Alertness, Mood, and Lower-Extremity Power. Cureus. 2022 May 10;14(5):e24877. doi: 10.7759/cureus.24877. PMID: 35702476; PMCID: PMC9179939.
  6. Curtis J, Evans C, Mekhail V, Czartoryski P, Santana JC, Antonio J. The Effects of a Pre-workout Supplement on Measures of Alertness, Mood, and Lower-Extremity Power. Cureus. 2022 May 10;14(5):e24877. doi: 10.7759/cureus.24877. PMID: 35702476; PMCID: PMC9179939.
  7. Church DD, Hirsch KR, Park S, Kim IY, Gwin JA, Pasiakos SM, Wolfe RR, Ferrando AA. Essential Amino Acids and Protein Synthesis: Insights into Maximizing the Muscle and Whole-Body Response to Feeding. Nutrients. 2020 Dec 2;12(12):3717. doi: 10.3390/nu12123717. PMID: 33276485; PMCID: PMC7760188.
  8. Wolfe RR. Branched-chain amino acids and muscle protein synthesis in humans: myth or reality? J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017 Aug 22;14:30. doi: 10.1186/s12970-017-0184-9. PMID: 28852372; PMCID: PMC5568273.
  9. Santos CS, Nascimento FEL. Isolated branched-chain amino acid intake and muscle protein synthesis in humans: a biochemical review. Einstein (Sao Paulo). 2019 Sep 5;17(3):eRB4898. doi: 10.31744/einstein_journal/2019RB4898. PMID: 31508659; PMCID: PMC6718193.