Joe Baena possesses a classic bodybuilder\u2019s physique. That\u2019s no longer a matter of strict opinion, either. He\u2019s got hardware to prove it.<\/p>\n
On March 28, Baena\u2014son of seven-time Mr. Olympia, former California governor, and revered actor Arnold Schwarzenegger<\/a>\u2014took home the top prize at the NPC Natural Colorado State bodybuilding competition, including the gold medal for Men\u2019s Classic Physique. The \u201cnatural\u201d part of the contest refers to the bodybuilders\u2019 training methods, which is all natural, meaning without the aid of steroids, peptides, or other performance enhancers. Baena, who only decided to seriously pursue bodybuilding this year, obviously had the help of some legendary genes. But he also developed a juice-free training regimen that was accessible and fun to even his non-bodybuilder friends.<\/p>\n Pumping iron on the hallowed grounds of Gold\u2019s Gym in Venice Beach, California\u2014the same place his father got swole in the \u201970s\u2014Baena was able to sculpt a body that also recently earned him a pro card on the International Natural Bodybuilding Association circuit. (He\u2019s also worked out with his famous father, something that meatheads everywhere are surely jealous of.) It\u2019s been a whirlwind period for the 28-year-old, who also dabbles in real estate and cooking when he\u2019s not dominating the gym. Baena took some time to tell us all about his protein-packed desserts, his feelings on the Make America Healthy Again movement<\/a>, and where to get his favorite breakfast burrito in LA.<\/p>\n GQ: What have these few weeks been like for you? What does it feel like to go viral?<\/p>\n Joe Baena: I mean, it\u2019s fun! But the main thing is doing something that was challenging and that was originally very scary for me. Competing in a bodybuilding<\/a> competition was something that I had always feared, and bodybuilding\u2019s always been something that I\u2019ve loved. I\u2019ve been very passionate about lifting weights<\/a>, and posing, and all this kind of stuff for the last eight or so years since I started lifting. To actually step on stage, it\u2019s nerve-wracking. You\u2019re putting yourself on stage to get judged by not only the judges, but the crowd. Of course, with the family ties that play into the sport, there\u2019s a lot more room for judgment. So it was super exciting to finally get over it, step on stage, compete, and do really well.<\/p>\n Bodybuilding is like its own art form. You\u2019re building your own body, and putting the metaphorical clay on your body to build the shape and size that you want to present. There\u2019s three categories in bodybuilding for men: physique, classic physique, and open bodybuilding. I competed in the classic physique, got first place in that one, and then also competed in open bodybuilding and got second place in that. There\u2019s different criteria and different shapes that they\u2019re looking for. The little nuances are fun to get into.<\/p>\n You\u2019ve been interested in bodybuilding for a long time, but when did you decide, \u201cOK, I actually want to do this now?\u201d<\/p>\n