Interview With Powerlifter & Strongman Isaac "Dr Size" Nesser by Paul Becker of Truly Huge
Isaac "Dr Size" Nesser has the worlds largest muscular chest and arms
in the world..
...
according to The Guinness Book of World Records! 74 inch
chest, 29 arms, he weighs 362lbs, bench presses 825lbs and he is
completely drug free. He would like to get the word out to as many
people as he can, that its possible to achieve great things without drugs.
Isaac Nesser's measurements:
HEIGHT: 6 ft
WEIGHT: 362 lbs
NECK: 23 and half Inches
CHEST: 74 and half Inches
FOREARM: 22 inches
BICEPS: 29 Inches
WAIST: 44 Inches
Q: Isaac, you have the world's largest muscular chest (over 74") and arms
(29"). You have bench pressed over 800 pounds. Could you tell us some
more about your feats of strength?
Isaac: I've benched 820lbs. I work out with barbell curls up to 315 lbs for
5 reps. Not a so-called cheat curl either. I do one-arm tricep extensions
with up to 180lbs. I've lifted truck engines over 700lbs and carried them.
Lifted and carried 500lbs stones. Lifted station wagons off the ground with
my back in the front where the engine is. Carried 100-gallon drums filled
with gas. Those are just a few feats of strength I've done.
Q: When did you set the records? Do you think you can improve upon them?
Isaac: Set the records in 1989, and improved upon them in 1994 where they
stand now. I don't think I'll be able to improve upon them. It takes a
tremendous amount of work to just maintain. And the body can only take so
much punishment on the joints and ligaments.
Q: You have made it very clear that you do not use and never have used
drugs to enhance your performance. Could you tell us more about why you
have chosen to remain drug-free?
Isaac: I don't believe in using drugs. In my view that is just plain cheating
and the easy way out. I've worked too hard to abuse my body with drugs. I
have no respect for people who use drugs - champion or no champion. To
me using steroids or other muscle enhancing drugs is the same as using
heroin or cocaine.
Q: Do you feel that there have been any disadvantages of remaining
drug-free? Do you think you could have improved your performance with
drugs?
Isaac: No. I don't feel there have been any disadvantages in being drug
free because I've built the biggest muscles in the world - even getting
bigger then any other men who have used the drugs. The only
disadvantage, in my view would be, that I've had to lift harder and more
and longer hours to achieve my goal. But it is well worth it.
Q: Are there people in the strength community that do not believe that
you haven't used drugs? If so, how would you respond to them?
Isaac: Yes. I believe there are people and lifters who don't believe I
haven't used drugs, or I'm as massive as I am. My response is that I
workout for myself, against myself. It's immaterial to me what they think.
I know I can match anyone in the world in an overall strength contest,
and I know I'm bigger than anyone. And if anyone has something to say
about it, if they have big enough balls, say it to face. Yes. A lot of people
make comparisons, but they shouldn't because every person is unique.
No two people alike. One needs to take what they have and develop
that to the best of their ability.
Q: With your size and strength, you would seem to be a natural for
competing in the World's Strongest Man competition. Have you ever
been contacted to participate? If "yes," why haven't you accepted? If
"no," why do you think that is?
Isaac: Yes I have been contacted to compete in world strongman
competitions, and the reasons I didn't were the drugs I believe
everyone is using. Not that they would be stronger then me because
of it, because they wouldn't, but again because I don't associate myself
with people who use drugs. And one competition I was contacted like a
week before the event with no time to train for it, or anything. I believe it
was done intentionally that way. Don't get me wrong. If there are some
competitors out there that are drug free, and accomplished their size
and strength naturally, I have all the respect in the world for them. It
takes a lot of hard, hard work, and I say "more power to them."
Q: If you were to enter the WSM competition this year, how do you think
you would do? How do you think you would do if there were drug testing?
Isaac: If I entered, there is no doubt in my mind I would win - unless of
course there were some unforeseen things like an injury.
Q: To what do you credit your tremendous size? Genetics? Hard work?
Good eating? All of the above?
Isaac: I credit my massive size to very, very hard work. I've been working
out for almost 30 years now with weight, from 4 to 6 hours a day, not
missing more then one consecutive week at anytime during that period.
One week was the longest time I didn't work out, and it was because of a
bad bout with the flu. Yes, some genetics are involved, only to a certain
extent. I was not a bony kid, but was not husky - just built average. Also,
good living, getting my rest, and very little late night outs, and staying
away from any types of drugs.
Q: You have said that you started lifting when you were eight years old.
There was a fifteen-year period where you worked out for five to six hours
per day. Now, you're at four hours a day. How do you find the time to do
this? What sacrifices have you had to make?
Isaac: Yes, I work out for long hours, and I also own 2 businesses, so I do
sacrifice. Usually I workout at night, between 6 and 10. The biggest
sacrifice is probably my social and personal life. I find time for it, but
never enough.
Q: Could you give us some detail on your training routine?
Isaac: Well, I have a unique training regimen, Most "so called experts"
would say to work on one muscle part one day, and then rest it the next.
Well, what has worked for me is lifting on the same muscle parts, for 8 to
10 days straight, then taking 2 or 3 days off for the muscle to heal and
grow. I believe in working the muscle really hard for days, then letting
them rest afterwards. Now I caution to young people reading this, just
because this works for me, doesn't me it's right for you. Everyone
needs to go through a trial and error process with routines to see what
their body best responds to.
Q: A lot of the the subscribers to this newsletter are young and just
getting started in lifting. If you had to give them three pieces of advice,
what would they be?
Isaac: To start out slow, and to find out what your body responds to.
Just because one person is doing a certain routine, doesn't mean it
will work for you too. One needs to try different routines to see what
their body best responds to! And always use good form. Using bad
form can cause injury. And never try to lift heavier weights then you
can handle to try to impress someone. That can only lead to injury
and humiliation.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to say?
Isaac: I think a common mistake a lot of people make is comparing
themselves to others. One needs to understand everyone is unique.
No one looks exactly like you in the World. One strives for
uniqueness but forgets they already possess that. Take what you
have and develop it to the best of your ability and you're already a
winner! I also want to let other Athletes know if they are drug free,
they get all my respect and admiration for working hard and getting
where they want to be. More power to all of you!!