Skip to Content

Why Did Ronnie Coleman Say Yeah Buddy?

why did ronnie coleman say yeah buddy

Why did Ronnie Coleman say yeah buddy?

Ronnie Coleman is the greatest bodybuilder of all time. He weighed an unbelievable 300 pounds during his bodybuilding competitions, and he won the prestigious Mr. Olympia competition 8 times in a row!

Ronnie is famous for saying the following quote in the gym:

  • “Yea buddy! Light weight baby!”

Ronnie likes to say this before he performs his heaviest exercise, including 200 pound dumbbell presses, 500 pound bench presses, and 800 pound squats and deadlifts. But why?

Ronnie Coleman says “yeah buddy!” and “light weight baby!” to psych himself up for his heaviest lifts. He is trying to get in the zone where everything feels light and easy!

Ronnie Coleman’s strategy paid off, and today he is known as the greatest of all time!

Now let’s take a closer look at some of Ronnie Coleman’s most iconic quotes that he used to become a bodybuilding champion!

Ronnie Coleman’s Famous “Yeah Buddy!” 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. “Ain’t nothin’ but a peanut!”

-Ronnie Coleman.

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

-Ronnie Coleman.

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

-Ronnie Coleman.

6. “If you always do what you’ve always done… you’ll always get what you always got.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

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

-Ronnie Coleman.

8. “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.

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

-Ronnie Coleman.

10. “When you hit failure, your workout has just begun.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

11. “I loved challenging myself every day. The weight room was my therapy for everyday life stresses.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

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

-Ronnie Coleman.

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

-Ronnie Coleman.

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

-Ronnie Coleman.

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

-Ronnie Coleman.

Ronnie Coleman Bodybuilding Quotes

16. “You can’t do this if you’re not dedicated and determined and have a strong faith. Because it’s extremely hard, especially trying to work a job and do it.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

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

-Ronnie Coleman.

18. “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.

19. “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.

20. “If you take a hammer and hit something over and over again, it’s gonna be destroyed. I don’t wanna destroy my body cause I want my body to last me as long as it possible can. If you train hard and push it everyday, your body is going to wear out. So I give my body time to recover.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

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

-Ronnie Coleman.

22. “I eat chicken and rice, steak, and baked potato. That’s it.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

23. “I’ve had quote a few injuries during my time and if you are not injured in this sport [bodybuilding], you are not doing anything.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

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

-Ronnie Coleman.

25. “I Just take it year by year. So much time is dedicated to doing this that I can’t see having too much time for much else.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

26. “Bodybuilding is about building your body. Whether you do it to maintain your fitness levels, climb Everest, run the marathon, or be a competitive bodybuilder is up to you.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

27. “The next thing I would have to go with is diet because it is so hard and mentally tough. By comparison, the training is the easiest of them all because it’s my hobby as well as my job.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

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

-Ronnie Coleman.

29. “Get proper training right from the beginning. It prevents injuries and avoids wasting your time with misdirected effort, which is what most people generally don’t understand. Give it your all from day one.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

30. “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.

31. “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.

Ronnie Coleman Motivational Quotes

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

-Ronnie Coleman.

33. “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.

34. “It’s almost better than winning the lottery because you worked for it. It’s like something you want all your life, but you never thought it would happen, and all of a sudden it did.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

35. “As my athletic career was coming to an end in 2007, I asked myself, do I want to work for somebody, or go out and make a difference?”

-Ronnie Coleman.

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

-Ronnie Coleman.

37. “Progress takes time and discipline.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

38. “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.

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

-Ronnie Coleman.

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

-Ronnie Coleman.

41. “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.

42. “When you love something as much as I love bodybuilding you don’t have to do much extra to push yourself, it just happens.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

43. “Eat healthy, sleep well, work hard, train hard, never give up.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

44. “I’ve been in pain for so long now I’m just used to it.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

45. “My biggest competition is always myself. I mean no disrespect, but I do not look at any of the guys as being my competition for the simple reason that I can’t control how they’re going to look. I can only control how I look.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

46. “I don’t know how well-known it is, but I had back surgery in ’07, and it took about two years to recover.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

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

-Ronnie Coleman.

48. “A day in the life of Ronnie Coleman mainly consists of eating, training or sleeping.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

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

-Ronnie Coleman.

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

-Ronnie Coleman.

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

-Ronnie Coleman.

Ronnie Coleman Inspiring Quotes

52. “It is important to have people believe in you. With this support, what you can achieve is limitless.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

53. “Your body produces a lot less testosterone each and every single year no matter who you are. We are all human, nobody is superhuman.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

54. “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.

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

-Ronnie Coleman.

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

-Ronnie Coleman.

57. “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.

58. “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.

59. “Different things work for different people.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

60. “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.

61. “You have to train the best way that is suited to you, a way that will allow you to progress.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

62. “There’s no secrets or magic tricks to being successful in life. 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 aint nothing to it but to do it!”

-Ronnie Coleman.

63. “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.

64. “Train harder and grow bigger.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

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

-Ronnie Coleman.

66. “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.

Ronnie Coleman Funny Quotes

67. “Thank god for pure natural strength.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

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

-Ronnie Coleman.

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

-Ronnie Coleman.

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

-Ronnie Coleman.

71. “Women really do pay attention to a man’s glutes. A tight, compact ass is often voted even more desirable than a man’s arms or chest. So, if you’re lacking, start squatting!”

-Ronnie Coleman.

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

-Ronnie Coleman.

73. “I’m just normal.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

74. “No dessert. I don’t do dessert.”

-Ronnie Coleman.

75. “Let’s go eat!”

-Ronnie Coleman.

Ronnie Coleman’s Workout Routine

What did Ronnie Coleman’s workout routine actually look like? This is a great question.

The truth is Ronnie Coleman trained 6 days per week using a high-volume bodybuilding training program. He trained 6 days in a row, and then on the 7th day he took a “rest” day. 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
  • Day 7: Off

Incredible! Most people get their best results training 3-5 days per week in the gym, but for Ronnie that extra 6th day was absolutely essential for getting the most out of his workouts.

Here are some of Ronnie Coleman’s exact bodybuilding 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: Back squat, 4 sets of 6-12 reps
  • Exercise #2: Leg press, 4 sets of 8-20 reps
  • Exercise #3: Leg extension, 4 sets of 8-20 reps
  • Exercise #4: Standing leg curl, 4 sets of 8-20 reps
  • Exercise #5: Stiff-legged deadlift, 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

Now that’s what I call an intense training program!

Ronnie Coleman pushed himself to the limit in his workouts – he often lifted the 200 pound dumbbells for chest, or did barbell rows with 500 pounds for his upper back!

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 is known for his incredible bodybuilding career. He absolutely dominated the sport of bodybuilding for almost 10 years, winning every single contest that he entered!

Here are some of Ronnie Coleman’s bodybuilding 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
  • 2002 Mr. Olympia — 1st
  • 2003 Mr. Olympia — 1st
  • 2004 Mr. Olympia — 1st
  • 2005 Mr. Olympia — 1st
  • 2006 Mr. Olympia — 2nd

As you can see, Ronnie Coleman was a force to be reckoned with on the bodybuilding stage! Once he started winning in 1998 he didn’t stop!

It wasn’t until he finally came in 2nd place in the 2006 Mr. Olympia contest that he decided he was past his prime, and it was time to retire.

Ronnie Coleman’s Net Worth

Ronnie Coleman has an estimated net worth of $10 million dollars in 2023.

He made most of his money working as a police officer, competing as a professional bodybuilder, signing sponsorship deals, and starting successful companies like his “Yeah Buddy!” supplement company.

Ronnie Coleman Stats

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

Ronnie Coleman is proof that former professional athletes have all the tools they need to be successful in the world of business. Other professional bodybuilders like Arnold Schwarzeengger and Jay Cutler have also done extremely well for themselves in the business game.

Ronnie Coleman’s Favorite Supplements

According to Ronnie Coleman, supplements aren’t THAT important. Your diet and training have a much bigger impact on your overall results. However, if you are serious about making progress as fast as possible then taking some good supplements can be a great idea. Here are some of the best overall supplements for building muscle:

1. Whey Protein

Whey protein is one of the best supplements in the world. Dozens of research studies show that whey protein is a superior protein source, and a great way to recover from your most intense workouts [1, 2, 3]. Some good times to take a whey protein shake include immediately following your workout, and during the day as a meal replacement shake. 

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

2. Pre-Workout

Pre-workout supplements are absolutely incredible for hitting PRs in the gym and maximizing the pump! Most preworkout supplements use a blend of ingredients like caffeine, creatine, beta-alanine, citrulline, and more which work synergistically to fuel your toughest 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 another fantastic supplement for anyone looking to build quality muscle mass.

Research shows that essential aminos help to minimize muscle protein breakdown, while simultaneously ramping up muscle protein synthesis [7, 8, 9]!

Essential aminos are often a great choice as an intra-workout or post-workout drink.

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

Why Did Ronnie Coleman Retire From Bodybuilding?

Ronnie Coleman retired from bodybuilding because he lost the 2006 Mr. Olympia competition. He decided he was past his prime, and it was time to move onto the next phase in his life.

What Is Ronnie Coleman’s Net Worth?

Ronnie Coleman has an estimated net worth of $10 million dollars.

Where Does Ronnie Coleman Live?

Ronnie Coleman lives in Arlington, a mid-sized town in Texas in the United States.

What Is Ronnie Coleman’s Height And Weight?

Ronnie Coleman is 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighed as much as 300 pounds at the peak of his competitive bodybuilding career.

Did Ronnie Coleman Have Surgery?

Ronnie Coleman had surgery to get rid of the pain in his spine. His surgeries were ultimately successful, and today he reports having way less pain in his back.

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.