Steve Cook YouTube

The Steve Cook Story: Men’s Physique, IFBB Professional Athlete, YouTuber

When it comes to Steve Cook, we’re sure you’ve already heard of him.

But whether you have, or you haven’t, you won’t want to miss today’s article.

IFBB Professional Athlete Steve Cook is one of the biggest names in the fitness industry right now, and has had a career spanning Fitness, Health, Bodybuilding, Modelling to name just a few.

Only at Protein Hunter are we are going to break down Steve’s journey for you from the beginning to present day.

Keep reading to follow this epic journey…

Steve Cook: Building a Brand & Earning Sponsors

Steve Cook is an IFBB professional athlete who has appeared in various bodybuilding and Men’s Physique shows across the years, his most notable competitions are competing in the 2013 and 2014 Men’s Physique Olympia Showdowns.

Steve’s main sponsor is Optimum Nutrition, but he promotes a number of other things such as the fitness clothing company Gymshark.

Currently a contributing writer for Bodybuilding.com, Steve got started with Bodybuilding.com when he won the website’s Fit Body Competition in 2010 which really kick started his career.

Since then, Steve has appeared on many covers of popular magazines such as Muscle and Fitness and Iron Man.

He is also well known for his popular YouTube channel Steve Cook Health/Swoldiernation which has over 540,000 subscribers at present.

As you can see, he’s doing pretty well.

Can you imagine if you had this lifestyle?

Let’s look at how he got there.

Early Life & the Bodybuilding Journey

Steve Cook was born on the 10th of December 1984 in Boise, Idaho USA.

During his early days at school, Steve was always a competitive, athletic man.

As the middle child of 7, born to a father who served as a coach and athletic director, Steve has mentioned before that his father was a big influence in why he began being so athletic and competitive from an early age.

It was because of this attitude and upbringing that he played American Football for his school and held various weightlifting records in the school gym, some of which are still records today.

Can you imagine being one of 7 kids?

Anyway…

After marrying early, Steve turned to his fitness and healthy lifestyle after his relationship broke down, using is to overcome the divorce from his then wife.

Steve felt in a low place at that time and he explained how weight training and a clean diet got him through his struggles.

To begin this fitness journey, Steve began researching weight training through videos and books and he felt lifting was a good way to take his mind off the pending divorce.

He started his own Bodyspace account on Bodybuilding.com to see others going through the journey of building muscle and give him the motivation he needed to push himself further.

Because of this, Steve contacted a local bodybuilder who put him through an 8 week training program at a local gym.

But here’s the best part:

Steve then went on stage and won his class! This made him feel like ‘a new man’ and he felt that training and going through contest preparation gave him the confidence to handle anything.

After this, Steve was back enjoying life on his own…

He entered a couple more competitions winning one and coming runner up in the other and it was during this time that he won his IFBB Pro card.

Steve then entered a fit competition at a Bodybuilding.com expo in his hometown, which again, he won.

This is when Steve had the desire to become a fitness model.

Not wanting to forget his studies and the fact that he enjoyed the science behind health and fitness, Steve concentrated on his studies for awhile, earning himself some of the best grades of his life.

But:

That wasn’t enough and he quite certainly wasn’t going to stop there.

Steve then entered the Muscle and Fitness male model search at the Olympia weekend…

This was a big stepping stone which changed his life forever…

Appearing in the Muscle and Fitness magazine as the prize this opened the doors for new opportunities.

Steve then competed in the annual Bodyspace bespoke model search at Bodybuilding.com.

And yep, you guessed it… he won!

Steve described this as life changing, being able to be a spokesmodel for the website which changed his life was a dream come true for Steve.

Steve at the Muscle and Fitness male model search, 2010.

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=151091263

How Life Has Changed for Steve Cook

Now this is why we were so sure you would have heard of him before this article!

As you probably know:

Steve is an icon in the fitness industry, he is one of the most popular and well known faces out there.

Queues at expos roll on for hours just to get a picture with him.

However:

He’s not your typical celebrity type person. Steve Cook genuinely loves all of his fans.

A lot of people across the world are inspired by his approach to living and healthier and better lives are main factors for this inspiration.

Part of this popularity has been gained through YouTube…

Steve regularly uploads Youtube videos under the name Swoldiernation and his channel has become a huge success worldwide.

Through this, he has his own clothing brand of Swoldiernation.

His training videos are in depth, on point and cover everything from the basics right through to advanced training…

So:

There’s something for everyone no matter what stage of training you are at.

He has also collaborated with other fitness icons such as Mike O’Hearn, Rob Riches and Calum Von Moger to name a few.

These cross-collaborations with other YouTube fitness icons has massively boosted his popularity and appeal.

He has various training programmes which bodybuilding.com users can sign up to, such as ‘Big Man On Campus’ and ‘Modern Physique’, or his latest program, ‘Big’, all of which have rave reviews.

Steve travels all over the world mainly with his sponsors Optimum Nutrition, he attends various expos and events reaching out to fans across the globe giving them advice and tips along the way as well as thousands of selfies!!

You won’t want to miss his #runningmanchallenge from Bodypower Expo 2016!

Steve Cook Contest History

As you can see below Steve has competed in nine events on record some bodybuilding and some Men’s Physique.  He was one of the founder members of the Men’s Physique division and became one of the first IFBB pros in the division.

Steve’s main contests he has competed in are the Men’s Physique Olympia Showdowns in both 2013 and 2014.  His best position has been 4th.  However Steve has won many other contests throughout his career which are displayed below.

  • 2010 ABFF 5th Annual Golds Classic Treasure Valley Natural Bodybuilding, Fitness Championships – 1
  • 2010 Bodybuilding.com Fit Body Competition – 1st
  • 2011 NPC Iron Man Magazine Naturally Bodybuilding, Figure and Bikini Championships – 1st
  • 2011 NPC Junior USA Championships – 3rd
  • 2011 NPC Junior National Championships – 1st
  • 2012 IFBB Houston Pro – 1st
  • 2013 IFBB Mr. Olympia Physique – 8th
  • 2014 IFBB Dallas Pro – 1st
  • 2014 IFBB Mr. Olympia Physique – 4th

Steve looking in great shape here at the 2014 Men’s Physique Olympia Showdown.

An Example Of Steve’s Workout Routine

This routine is what Steve used to gain his IFBB pro card in the Men’s Physique division.

Mondays: Chest/Back/Abs:

(AM – Chest/Back, PM – Abs/30mins LISS)

  • Incline (DB or BB) Bench Press – 4 sets 8-15 reps
  • Wide Grip Pull Ups or Lat Pulldown – 4 sets 10-15 reps

Superset:

  • Incline DB Fly – 3 sets 10-15 reps
  • Supported T-bar Row – 3 sets 10-15 reps

Superset:

  • Bench Press (DB or BB) – 3 sets 8-12 reps
  • Close Grip Cable Row – 3 sets 10-15 reps

Superset:

  • Dips (for chest) or Decline Hammer Press – 3 sets failure
  • Close Grip Pulldown – 3 sets to failure
  • Pull Overs (DB or Cable) – 3 sets failure

(Giant set 3 rounds – failure)

  • Hanging Knee Raises
  • Rope Crunch
  • Broomstick Twist
  • Decline Bench Leg Raises
  • Swiss Ball Crunch

Tuesday: Delts/Traps/Arms/Calves

(AM – Delts/Traps, PM – Arms/Calves)

  • DB or Military Press – 3 sets 8-12 reps
  • Lateral DB or Cable Raise – 3 Set 8-12 reps
  • Bent over DB Lateral or Pec Deck – 5 sets 10-15
  • Front Raise – 3 sets 10-15
  • Upright Row (wide grip) – 3 sets 10-12

Superset:

  • Skull Crushers – 3 sets 8-14
  • Barbell Curl – 3 sets 8-12

Superset:

  • Weighted Dips – 3 sets to failure
  • Incline DB Curl – 3 sets 8-12

Superset:

  • Rope Extension – 3 sets 12-15
  • Concentrated Curl – 10-15

(Giant set 3 rounds)

  • Standing Calve Raises – 10-25
  • Seated Calve Raises – 10-25
  • Donkey Machine – 10-25
  • Reverse Tib Raise – 20-30

Wednesday: Quads/Hamstring/Abs

  • Stiff Legged Deadlift – 3 sets 8-12
  • Back or Front Squat – 3 sets 12-20
  • Standing Leg Curl – 3 sets 10-15
  • Leg Press (preformed slow) 3 sets 10-15
  • Lying Leg Curl 5 drops sets each to failure
  • Leg Extensions – 5 drop sets each to failure

(Giant set 3 rounds – failure)

  • Hanging Knee Raises
  • Rope Crunch
  • Broomstick Twist
  • Decline Bench Leg Raises
  • Swiss Ball Crunch

Thursday – HIIT Cardio

  • HIIT Sprints or Swimming (30-45mins)

Friday – Chest/Back/Abs/Cardio

(AM – Chest/Back, PM – Abs/30 min LISS)

  • Incline (DB or BB) Bench Press – 4 sets 8-15 reps
  • Wide Grip Pull Ups or Lat Pulldown – 4 sets 10-15 reps

Superset:

  • Incline DB Fly – 3 sets 10-15 reps
  • Supported T-bar Row – 3 sets 10-15 reps

Superset:

  • Bench Press (DB or BB) – 3 sets 8-12 reps
  • Close Grip Cable Row – 3 sets 10-15 reps

Superset:

  • Dips (for chest) or Decline Hammer Press – 3 sets failure
  • Close Grip Pulldown – 3 sets to failure
  • Pull Overs (DB or Cable) – 3 sets failure

(Giant set 3 rounds – failure)

  • Hanging Knee Raises
  • Rope Crunch
  • Broomstick Twist
  • Decline Bench Leg Raises
  • Swiss Ball Crunch

Saturday: Delts/Traps/Arm/Calves

(AM – Delts/Traps, PM – Arms/Calves)

  • DB or Military Press – 3 sets 8-12 reps
  • Lateral DB or Cable Raise – 3 Set 8-12 reps
  • Bent over DB Lateral or Pec Deck – 5 sets 10-15
  • Front Raise – 3 sets 10-15
  • Upright Row (wide grip) – 3 sets 10-12

Superset:

  • Skull Crushers – 3 sets 8-14
  • Barbell Curl – 3 sets 8-12

Superset:

  • Weighted Dips – 3 sets to failure
  • Incline DB Curl – 3 sets 8-12

Superset:

  • Rope Extension – 3 sets 12-15
  • Concentrated Curl – 10-15

(Giant set 3 rounds)

  • Standing Calve Raises – 10-25
  • Seated Calve Raises – 10-25
  • Donkey Machine – 10-25
  • Reverse Tib Raise – 20-30

Sunday – Cardio

  • 30 minutes HIIT intervals

http://www.simplyshredded.com/ifbb-pro-fitness-model-steve-cook-talks-with-simplyshredded-com-2011

Break from Competing

Following the 2014 Mr Olympia Physique Steve decided to take a break from competing.

After years in the business already, he had his reasons…

However:

It came across that he was maybe not too keen on how the division was heading and how it was being judged.

Instead he decided to take on other challenges aside from bodybuilding…

Whilst still heavily involved in weight training, Steve decided to get out there and experience other disciplines of fitness, such as crossfit and competing at Tough Mudder in 2014.

The Cook Effect Nutrition Guide

During this break from competing, Steve released his own book around nutrition, The Cook Effect Nutrition Guide.

This has been a success with many people wanting their own copy!

The Cook Effect Nutrition Guide is designed to make transforming your body as easy as possible.

Of the 40+ recipes that are included in the Cook Effect nutrition guide, each one is custom tailored to transform your body, whether your goal is fat-loss or muscle gain.

It states that:

“instead of staring at the ingredients or calculating the calories on your own, each recipe is designed to meet a specific purpose. Included with each recipe is a unique “cheat sheet” that will not only make finding the perfect meal that fits your nutrition program a breeze, but it will also let you know when is the best time to enjoy that meal”

Steve has also recently announced a FREE ebook named ‘BIG’.

This is described as “The Foundation To Reaching Your Peak Performance”.

Get your copy today over at www.stevecookhealth.com

The Future Of Steve Cook

Steve recently has reported that he is missing competing…

So:

It’s possible we will see him on stage once again. He is definitely considering getting back in it in the near future.

He recently posted an old image on Twitter when he was prepping for a competition asking his fans what division he should compete in.

In our opinion Steve is over 200lbs year round and very lean.

He has very developed legs, therefore we feel Steve may be well suited the the Classic Physique division, however only time will tell what Steve decides to choose.

Aside from getting back into competing, Steve’s continues to grow his legacy as one of the main people in the fitness industry.  Who knows what’s next for Steve, anything at present seems possible in our opinion!!


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