Jay Cutler hasn’t lost his leg fullness or detail since stepping away from the stage. In a September 7 video, his former coach Hany Rambod pushed him through his 2009 comeback quad stomp workout.
For years, Cutler watched Ronnie Coleman win the Mr. Olympia crown. After mimicking ‘The King’s’ high-volume training principles, Cutler finally caught him slipping in 2006. However, Cutler’s reign was cut short. Dexter Jackson peaked perfectly to win the 2008 Mr. Olympia.
Cutler returned to the 2009 Mr. Olympia counted out but he made history. He avenged his loss and showcased dramatic improvements to his legs. Despite settling into retirement, he hasn’t abandoned the exercises that transformed his lower body.
Hany Rambod Guides Jay Cutler Through Old-School Leg Workout
Find their workout list from the video below:
- Seated Leg Curl Machine
- Kneeling Single-Leg Curl Machine
- Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift
- Leg Extension Machine
- Hack Squat Machine
- Belt Squat Machine
- Hip Abduction Machine
Seated Leg Curl Machine
Cutler began the workout reflecting on his 2009 comeback. He revealed that much of his progress at that time stemmed from correcting a leg imbalance:
“I always had this indifference. We started manipulating the leg training to make that difference. In ’09, obviously, that quad stomp, I mean listen, I always had great legs, but besides being defined from the step mill and extra diet principles and training different, it was great to have the size back in the legs evenly in that sense.”
Kneeling Single-Leg Curl Machine
The four-time Mr. Olympia explained that he kicks off every leg workout with hamstrings first.
“I always start with hamstrings, guys,” he said. “Always do the back side, and obviously, my quads are super dominant. I get a crazy pump in my hamstrings and glutes. I have this crazy fear about losing my glutes.”
Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift
Rambod shared that Cutler’s physique looks more defined in retirement at a lighter weight:
“Yeah, he’s always shredded. He’s actually more shredded now because he’s lighter,” said Rambod.
Leg Extension Machine
During leg extensions, Cutler revealed that he sticks with the same workouts from week to week now.
“For me, when I just exercise now, it’s not about – I don’t need specialized equipment. I do the same workouts every day. Every workout. So if I do legs, it’s the same order, same machines.”
Hack Squat Machine
Rambod thought Cutler had more to offer on the hack squat machine, but the champ kept it controlled.
“Always sandbagging,” said Rambod.
“I don’t want to be sore,” replied Cutler.
Belt Squat Machine
Due to a past foot injury, Rambod broke down how Cutler sets up the belt squat to avoid aggravation.
“If you notice, Jay’s right heel tends to lean inwards on this because that’s the foot he injured. So, his heel, and many of you do this, when you lose a little bit of that flexibility, is your heel goes in. He sets his heel on the inside of that right leg to compensate for it. If you have that issue, you have to constantly think try to bring it back out.”
Hip Abduction Machine
He finished off with the hip abduction machine, maintaining tight squeezes during each rep. Rambod showed Cutler how to adjust the angle to tax different parts of the glutes.
“Chest up,” said Rambod. “As you lean forward, you’ll feel a slightly different area of the glute. When you sit up, you’re going to feel it a little higher up.”
Above all else, Cutler credits one exercise for helping him build quad-stomp-worthy legs. He explained that the hack squat machine was critical for building the outer sweep of the quads and said it also brought muscle striations to the surface.
Beyond the stage, Cutler is still committed to training seven days a week. He continues to inspire bodybuilding fans from around the world with impressive longevity.
RELATED: 4x Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler Busts the Biggest Misconception Around Pro Bodybuilding
