LAST SET
HARD TIMES
BY PETER MCGOUGH
OXYGEN GYM:
A BREATH OF FRESH AIR
156
FLEX | JANUARY ’18
“Training, eating,
sleeping is what takes
priority each day. I get
constant supervision,
particularly from my
main coach, Abdullah.
They cover everything:
‘How much are you
peeing, how is the
pump, and how many
meals have you eaten?’
are constant questions.
Their programs are
specifically designed
for your needs; it’s
never one size fits all.
“I typically wake
around 7 a.m., then head
to the gym for cardio
and some touch-up
work on muscle
groups that need extra
attention. I will normally
eat seven meals a
day. After my third meal
I train under my coach’s
supervision for 60 to
90 minutes. When
we finish, I take my
post-workout
supplementation that
is not included in the
seven-meal count
and then eat 30 to 40
minutes later. I have a
third training session
later in the day.
“All the trainers out
there have great
knowledge in generating
off-season gains and
then dialing it in for
contests. Where have
they gathered this info
from? These guys have
been following and
studying bodybuilding
way before anyone even
recognized them on the
scene. All the guys have
a personal love for the
sport and experimented
themselves along
the way. Abdullah
recognizes the most
subtle changes in my
physique. He is always
testing my reaction to
slight variations, taking
what he learns to
incorporate it at an
appropriate time. No
one has learned my
physique so fast.”
Look for more pros
to head eastward to
take advantage of
Bader Boodai’s House
of Pain and Gains.
BADER BOODAI’S
OXYGEN GYM
in Kuwait is fast
becoming the “in” place
for high-ranking
Olympians to work
toward improvement.
From the 2017 Olympia
lineup, we’re talking
about Big Ramy
(second), whose
dimensions morph into
a walking eclipse; Roelly
Winklaar (sixth), who
had been somewhat
wayward earlier in his
career but has in his
time at Oxygen Gym
maintained his knockout
body parts while
streamlining his mid-
section and carving in
refinement elsewhere;
Britain’s Nathan De
Asha (seventh), who
practically lives in
Bader’s emporium and
who, in his two-year pro
career, has won two
pro shows, was named
Rookie of the Year in
2016, and has earned
the accolade of most
improved in 2017;
Brandon Curry (eighth),
who after years
of not really living up
to his potential had
a sensational
breakthrough in 2018
with a newly minted
physique that really
tapped into his potential.
So what’s the
secret? Oxygen Gym
is set up like a boot
camp, with advisers
and coaches on hand
to direct all elements
of training, nutrition,
and supplementation.
Here’s how Brandon
Curry explains the
Oxygen experience: