Flex Lewis Unfiltered Interview: Training Motivation, Workouts & Bodybuilding for Mr. Olympia | E107

In Search Of Excellence

Welcome to another episode of In Search of Excellence! My guest today is the incredible Flex Lewis. Flex is a serial entrepreneur, coach, motivational speaker, and one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. He has won 7 consecutive Mr. Olympia titles.

He's also the co-owner of Arsenal, strength gym equipment, the fastest-growing fitness equipment company in the world and the owner of the famous Dragon's Lair Gym in Las Vegas.

Time stamps:

00:55 Flex’s family and background

• Grew up in a loving home in Wales
• His father was a steel worker and his mother a nurse
• Decided to be a millionaire as a kid

03:52 Born with a rugby ball in the mouth

• He started playing rugby at the age of 6
• His full name is Steven James Lewis
• Flex is a nickname he got as a kid

06:27 The pressure to better himself

• A pressure to become better
• His first entrepreneurial moment
  • Delivering papers on his bike
• Learned responsibility and dealing with money

13:22 Investing the money he earned

• Bought a male and female finch
• Started breeding and selling them

15:57 Starting a moving company

• Powerlifting and starting a moving company
• Bought his first truck and developed the business
• Went an extra mile to do a good job

22:05 Learning from the Quadfather

• Spent weekends at his grandparents
• Discovered a book by Tom Platz at 12
• The book changed his life
• Found weights and started doing squats

26:23 His parents’ worries

• His parents were afraid it would stunt his growth
• Stayed away from training weights for a number of years
• Funny story about his father catching him squatting

28:30 Steve Naylor and his influence

• Flex had a lot of admiration for Steve
• He was drawn by his humility
• Started training with Steve
• Bodybuilding is all about mind-muscle connection

32:19 Elbow injury and getting a tattoo

• Spent the whole summer building his motocross bike
• Had an accident and broke his elbow
• After removing the plaster cast, his arm was dead
• Had to make it stronger by himself
• A tattoo on the weakened arm

38:53 Working in silence and achieving things

• Didn’t like school but liked PE teachers
• He had dyslexia or ADHD, was labeled stupid
• How schools were failing kids by discouraging them
• Practicing a handstand and the first day at school

47:26 The first powerlifting competition

• From high-level rugby to powerlifting show
• Bodybuilding in Wales is a big thing
• The competition was held in the Royal Princess Theatre

51:59 Getting on a bodybuilding stage

• Was drawn by a free gym membership
• Changed his diet and watched a lot of VHS videos
• The competition and the alter ego
• Performed great and won the show
• Deciding to prepare for British nationals
• A 20-year relationship with his coach
• The importance of loyalty

1:01:40 Chasing dreams and making sacrifices

• Winning the British Nationals
• Got an invitation from Gol

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1. Flex Lewis Unfiltered Interview: Training Motivation, Workouts & Bodybuilding for Mr. Olympia | E107 (00:00:00)

2. Flex’s family and background (00:00:55)

3. Born with a rugby ball in the mouth (00:03:52)

4. The pressure to better himself (00:06:27)

5. Investing the money he earned (00:13:22)

6. Starting a moving company (00:15:57)

7. Learning from the Quadfather (00:22:05)

8. His parents’ worries (00:26:23)

9. Steve Naylor and his influence (00:28:30)

10. Elbow injury and getting a tattoo (00:32:19)

11. Working in silence and achieving things (00:38:53)

12. The first powerlifting competition (00:47:26)

13. Getting on a bodybuilding stage (00:51:59)

14. Chasing dreams and making sacrifices (01:01:40)