Matt C. interviews Layne Norton.

[unracked]

He has great size and I think there is nothing unhealthy about being Layne's size.  He says he is 5'10.5" but looks more like a full 5'11 in person.  I'm not sure, but I think his weight was around 200 or so.

Today - One week out from IFPA Cape Cod Pro:

Seems to live in a questionable neighborhood.

[dr.chimps]

Good that MattC actually got to meet the subject of his obsession.

[StanZoLOL]

LOL Matt bro, your bench is close to Layne's? Dude...  

Props to Layne for not laughing.

[The True Adonis]

You SchmoeHawk.

I wasn`t HAPPY that he tore his pec. I just wasn`t surprised that he did so and figured it inevitable given his goofy training style and intense delusion at the time.  Why on earth would anyone put elastic bands on a Bench Press and then proceed to load it with 400-500 pounds when you can only bench in the 300s?  That is what he did and he paid the price.  Stupidity and Delusion collided and a torn pec was the shattering aftermath left in wake.

I also wasn`t unhappy that he tore his pec.  I was indifferent.  

Furthermore, you cut the footage of your interview as Layne does not have anything negative to say about me nor will he ever.  I am quite sure it came off as awkward as your lead in about me did as well.

You should have asked Layne about his beliefs in the magical Jesus in the sky.  That would have proved more interesting and amusing.  Also you could have asked about his parents and family background a little more.  There are events in his past that perhaps many might find interesting surrounding his upbringing.

[TrueGrit]

[BIG ACH]

Layne's a great guy helped me out a lot after one of my worst showings.  Took the time to really talk to me and explan things for me and give me some new ideas.

Good for him for all his achievements.

I for one believe he is natural, and those that are accusing him of juicing are really just fueling him further and really just complimenting him!

[Earl1972]

great interview

E

[Matt C]

LOL Matt bro, your bench is close to Layne's? Dude...  

Yes it is.  I've posted videos to confirm that.  At this exact moment it might not be as close as it usually is, but I've only had one chest workout in the past six weeks.  My best ever was 345 and Layne's best ever was somewhere in the range of 350-370, so our bench is close.  Layne is way stronger than me overall and I would never deny that.

Layne tore his pec as some on here know and has not been benching as heavy since then.  But to compare Layne at his best and me at my best, our bench max was within around 20 pounds of one another.  Also, I was around 180 at the time of my max bench and Layne was around 210-220, so it's safe to say it was pretty close.

great interview

E

Hey thanks Earl!!!  Layne is an interesting dude and has a lot to say.

[California Muscle]

Yeah, I believe he's natural.  Just look at his legs.  Serious statement.

[Matt C]

Yeah, I believe he's natural.  Just look at his legs.  Serious statement.

Yes, his legs could stand to be bigger to match his upper body although he has brought them up since 2004.  Layne is right that his progress has been slow and steady.

What I meant in the interview by "rapid progress" is that it seemed like Layne was cranking out one PR after another in the past year or two.  Even though the lifts were only marginally higher than the previous ones, to make PR after PR is still pretty rapid in powerlifting terms I would say.

[California Muscle]

Yeah, that's one of the nasty truths about bodybuilding.  If you want big legs, you'd better be using something good.  Someone with genetically freaky legs can get away without it, maybe, but most guys simply have to have something extra.  It's difficult to create solid, true bodybuilder-like muscle on your legs and your upper body at the same time without hormones. 

[California Muscle]

Judging by the pictures, he's made some good progress on his adductors.  Nothing suspicious about this guy's build.  I wouldn't doubt his claims of being natural at all.

[Captain Equipoise]

He has great size and I think there is nothing unhealthy about being Layne's size.  He says he is 5'10.5" but looks more like a full 5'11 in person.  I'm not sure, but I think his weight was around 200 or so.

Today - One week out from IFPA Cape Cod Pro:

For sure, dude looks great.. I'm guessing he gets to around 245 off season if he competes around 200

[Matt C]

Judging by the pictures, he's made some good progress on his adductors.  Nothing suspicious about this guy's build.  I wouldn't doubt his claims of being natural at all.

I can't speak for everyone, but I can say that where I live there are no juicers who carry as much lean muscle as Layne given his height.  There are a couple of guys [literally maybe two] where I am who have more mass, but they both juice heavily.  Natural or juiced, I think Layne carries a respectable amount of mass.

For sure, dude looks great.. I'm guessing he gets to around 245 off season if he competes around 200

I think Layne gets into the 230s but not sure if he has hit 240 yet.  I remember in 2007 he told me that at close to 230 he was feeling noticeably less comfortable than say at 215 or less.  It's funny how pros his height are well over 300 pounds.  How does Markus Ruhl walk around at up to 335-345 in the off-season?  He must feel horrible.

[Captain Equipoise]

You could tell by the video he's not on hormones, he didn't have that constant pop to his muscle that gear gives you. I don't know if he uses insulin, gh and other peptides, but for sure he doesn't use anabolic steroids.

[Matt C]

You could tell by the video he's not on hormones, he didn't have that constant pop to his muscle that gear gives you. I don't know if he uses insulin, gh and other peptides, but for sure he doesn't use anabolic steroids.

Some people seem to be able to distinguish a steroid vs. non-steroid look, although personally I can't tell the difference.  Layne is 200 and is pretty tall for a bodybuilder and has been at it for quite some time.  But on that note, most people who have a build like Layne's are using.

[Captain Equipoise]

Let's put it this way, if he is using , it's small amounts and nowhere near as blatant or obvious as Skip La Cour

who is clearly using

[#1 Klaus fan]

Yeah, that's one of the nasty truths about bodybuilding.  If you want big legs, you'd better be using something good.  Someone with genetically freaky legs can get away without it, maybe, but most guys simply have to have something extra.  It's difficult to create solid, true bodybuilder-like muscle on your legs and your upper body at the same time without hormones. 

It can be done. You just would have to squat every day. Serious.

[pellius]

What is Layne's PHd in?

[Parker]

What is Layne's PHd in?

Lying...

[Tito24]

phd in bodybuilding competitions

[JP_RC]

He has great size and I think there is nothing unhealthy about being Layne's size.  He says he is 5'10.5" but looks more like a full 5'11 in person.  I'm not sure, but I think his weight was around 200 or so.

Today - One week out from IFPA Cape Cod Pro:

The more pics I see posted of this guy, the more I can't understand why you guys doubt he is natural.

[California Muscle]

It can be done. You just would have to squat every day. Serious.

Hmm...I'm not going to question your experience here, but that could definitely cause a person to lose anything he's built on his upper body, and in most cases it wouldn't do much for progressing with legs, either.  You may well be different, but in general terms...

The only way I could see that even coming close to working would be if the person had extremely unusual genes and was fully within his prime.

[Kim Jong Bob]

got to hand it to matt, good job on the intervues. good quality and sound to

[Tito24]

got to hand it to matt, good job on the intervues. good quality and sound to

hi matt