Renowned bodybuilder and YouTube influencer Coach Greg made a bold statement in a recent interview with Cutler Cast that has sparked debate across the fitness community. He said that bodybuilding is harder than any other sport he has ever participated in, and he has tried many.
“Bodybuilding is harder than any sport I’ve ever done and I’ve done a lot of sports,” Greg stated during the interview. “It’s by far the hardest. I’ve made videos on this. I’m comparing to powerlifting, bodybuilding – I’m like I’ve done all the sports, it’s so hard because what other sport do you have to do it like 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? You’re hungry, tired, it’s so difficult.”
Greg’s athletic background gives weight to his assertion. Having competed in triathlons for 13 years, starting at age 13 and continuing until 26, he later transitioned to professional bodybuilding where he competed in 42 shows as a natural athlete before eventually turning professional. His experience spans multiple disciplines, making his comparison particularly noteworthy.
The key distinction Greg draws between bodybuilding and other sports lies in the comprehensive lifestyle commitment required. While cycling might demand a grueling 5-hour bike ride, athletes in that sport can eat as much as they want to fuel their performance.
Bodybuilding, however, presents the opposite challenge: “Try doing two hours of cardio and not allowed to eat or have such a low-calorie diet that you have no energy the whole time,” he explained.
Greg identified energy depletion as his biggest struggle with competitive bodybuilding. “My biggest struggle with bodybuilding was the lack of energy. It wasn’t really the hunger, it was having a hard time waking up in the morning, having a hard time getting out of the bathtub to stand up – like just being that tired. I was dead. Once I get down to say 7% body fat, my energy levels are nothing. I can hardly function as a human being.”
The most challenging phase comes in the final weeks before competition. “I always would want to compete like 5% body fat or less, just get shredded, and so those last six weeks to me, the hardest things I’ve ever done in my life,” Greg revealed. This period combines extreme caloric restriction with maintaining intense training schedules, creating what he describes as an almost unbearable physical and mental burden.
Unlike seasonal sports that allow for recovery periods, bodybuilding demands year-round discipline across multiple facets: training, nutrition, sleep patterns, and mental fortitude. The sport requires athletes to maintain strict dietary protocols while simultaneously pushing their bodies through demanding workout regimens, all while operating on minimal energy reserves due to caloric restriction.
Greg’s perspective challenges the common perception that bodybuilding is simply about lifting weights and building muscle. His assertion highlights the unique combination of physical endurance, mental discipline, and lifestyle sacrifice that competitive bodybuilding demands. It is a 24/7 commitment that distinguishes it from sports with more defined training and competition windows.
