Page 27 - Muscle & Fitness (February 2020)
P. 27
STEVE COOK
The surprising physique he do need to create a new division.’ life, something was still missing.
wanted to aspire to? That of pro And that’s what came about.” The Biggest Loser filled that void.
bodybuilder Steve Reeves, who Cook was chosen as the champ. “I kind of got away from this one-
crossed over into Hollywood as “It was like a flood of emotions. on-one connection,” he says. “But
a sword-and-sandal star—most All the hard work, the sacrifices. when you’re helping people where
notably, in 1958’s Hercules. Cook I felt validation.” The victory this is literally life-or-death to
would wake up at 6 a.m. every opened up doors of opportunity. lose weight, it really gave me kind
day, come home at 11 p.m., and “A few months later, I won the of a renewed sense of purpose.
then train for the competition and Bodybuilding.com spokesmodel It’s not about how we look, but
work toward finishing his biology/ search, signed up with Optimum how healthy we are mentally,
psychology degree. “I had no Nutrition, traveled the world, and physically, and emotionally.”
social life,” he says. “But I had a my fitness career at that point in You’ll have to tune in to The
sense of purpose.” time just exploded.” Cook became Biggest Loser on USA Network
The M&F Male Model Search an IFBB Pro League competitor to see whether Cook or Lugo
was essentially a testing ground the following year and competed coach the eventual winner, but
for men’s physique, Cook says. “It in the newly created men’s phy- he does promise cool new team
was the first time you had 250 sique division at the Mr. Olympia challenges, heartfelt stories, and
guys onstage, wearing board- in 2013 and 2014. Around this amazing transformations. And
shorts. There was no bodybuilding time, he also landed a cover with Cook himself was transformed by
poses. The NPC and the IFBB Pro Muscle & Fitness in 2013. the experience. “I’ve also learned
League were gauging how popular He parlayed that into a success- to love myself the same,” he says.
it would be, and when they saw ful online coaching business. But “Health is not a destination but a
the turnout, they’re like, ‘Oh, we a decade after M&F changed his state of mind.”
In the past 10
years, Cook, who
is the newest
trainer on The
Biggest Loser,
has trained
more than 2,000
people.
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 0 / M U S C L E & F I T N E S S 2 5
