Who is Jose Raymond?
The Boston Mass, Jose American bodybuilder Raymond is an IFBB professional from Massachusetts.
He is well-known for his size and strength, which have frequently brought him to the Olympia stage.
Short Career of Jose Raymond
Jose Raymond didn’t have the best start in life because he and his other 7 siblings were orphaned when he was a small child.
He was raised in a wonderful environment with his brother Tito and became hooked on bodybuilding while lifting weights to relieve tension.
He entered the bodybuilding scene as a young adult and qualified four times for professional status before accepting his pro card in 2009. Jose continued to pursue his goal of dominating the sport after that.
Today, Jose has established a professional bodybuilding career for himself. He never lost his original enthusiasm, which helped him develop an internationally renowned physique. Here is his account:
Body Measurements of Jose Raymond
| Full Name: | Jose Raymond |
| DATE OF BIRTH: | December 29, 1974 |
| ERA: | 1990, 2000, 2010 |
| PROFESSION: | IFBB Professional Bodybuilder, Sponsored Athlete |
| NATIONALITY: | American |
| AGE: | 47 |
| HEIGHT: | 5’4″ (162.5cm) |
| WEIGHT: | 205 – 215lbs (88.5 – 93.0kg) |
| ALIAS: | The Boston Mass |
Accomplishments
Competitions
- 1998 NPC Team Universe Championships, 11th
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1999 NPC Team Universe Championships, 2nd
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2000 NPC Team Universe Championships, 2nd
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2000 NPC USA Championships, 1st
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2001 NPC Team Universe Championships, 2nd
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2001 NPC USA Championships, 8th
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2001 NPC Team Universe Championships, 2nd
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2002 NPC USA Championships, 4th
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2005 NPC USA Bodybuilding & Figure, 1st
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2007 NPC National Championships, 1st
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2007 NPC National Championships, 1st
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2007 NPC USA Bodybuilding And Figure Championships, 1st
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2009 IFBB Atlantic City Bodybuilding, Fitness & Figure Championships, 2nd
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2009 IFBB Europa Super Show & Supplement Expo, 9th
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2009 IFBB New York Pro, 8th
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2009 IFBB Mr. Olympia (Pro 202 and Under), 6th
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2010 IFBB Sacramento Pro, 2nd
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2010 IFBB Olympia, 4th
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2010 IFBB Europa Battle of Champions, 1st
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2010 IFBB Pro Bodybuilding Weekly Championships, 1st
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2010 IFBB New York Pro Bodybuilding & Bikini Championships, 2nd
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2010 IFBB Europa Show of Champions, 3rd
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2011 IFBB Olympia, 3rd
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2011 IFBB New York Pro Bodybuilding, Figure & Bikini Championships, 1st
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2012 IFBB British Grand Prix, 3rd
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2012 IFBB Sheru Classic, 2nd
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2012 IFBB Olympia Weekend, 4th
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2012 IFBB New York Pro, 3rd
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2012 IFBB Optimum Classic, 1st
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2013 IFBB Europa Phoenix Pro, 7th
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2013 IFBB Olympia Weekend, 4th
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2013 IFBB Toronto Pro Supershow, 1st
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2013 IFBB New York Pro, 1st
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2014 IFBB Europa Phoenix, 1st
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2014 IFBB EVLs Prague Pro, 3rd
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2014 IFBB Korea Pro, 2nd
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2014 IFBB Olympia Weekend, 3rd
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2014 IFBB New Zealand Pro, 1st
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2014 IFBB Arnold Classic, 5th
Biography of Jose Raymond
Young Years
Jose was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1974. Of his eight siblings, who were all taken away by the state, he is the youngest.
He and his brother Tito had a very happy childhood after being adopted by the Raymond family in Wakefield, Massachusetts.
He and his sibling both excelled in school athletics. They would engage in a variety of sports, including baseball, track, football, and soccer. At the time, their social worker advised them to lift weights to relieve some stress.
Jose gave it a try and took to the sport right away, adoring the lifestyle, the methods, and the nourishment.
Starting A Regular Exercise Program
He started regularly lifting weights at age 12 and was “growing like a plant.” Jose claims that despite being only 5 feet 4 inches tall, he was a big lifter and, by the time he was 13, weighed 150 pounds.
He was benching 315 pounds frequently as a sophomore in high school, which was more weight lifting than anyone else in his institution.
His gym teacher didn’t think a teen could lift so much weight naturally at this point, so he was really taken out of class and tested for steroids.
Jose was made aware of the problem that steroids posed in bodybuilding by this incident, and he made the decision to switch to a natural regimen moving forward.
First Competitions
At the age of 18, Tito, his brother, persuaded him to enter the New England Bodybuilding Championships. He ultimately prevailed in the teenage group and thoroughly enjoyed posing and flaunting his muscular improvements.
Looking back on the event, he notes that there were probably just a few hundred attendees, but it appeared to him as though there were “a few thousand.” He had found the rush of adrenaline he was looking for and was now addicted.
Getting Ready for Nationals
Jose began competing in important shows in 1998. His initial competition was the NPC Team Universe Championships, where he placed eleventh.
Jose felt that this was insufficient and returned the next year to take home the same prize.
He finished in a strong second place in the 1999 competition, just behind the accomplished bodybuilder Derik Farnsworth.
He was pleased with his performance even though he had preferred to win the competition. He felt motivated to work harder when he realized the progress he was making.
Four Times of Professional Status Eligibility
Jose wanted to start moving up in the pro ranks in the 2000s. He easily won the 2000 NPC USA Championships to get his pro card. He met the requirements for pro status four times between 2001 and 2009.
In the history of the NPC events, he became the lone bodybuilder to achieve pro status in three weight classes (Lightweight, Welterweight, and Middleweight).
Before placing second at the IFBB Atlantic City Bodybuilding, Fitness & Figure Championships, he eventually accepted his pro card at the 2009 NPC USA Bodybuilding And Figure Championships.
Participating In The Olympia
Jose competed in the Mr. Olympia weekend’s “Pro 202 and Under” division in 2009. He went on to finish in sixth place at this competition, demonstrating that he possessed the physical attributes needed to compete against the best in the field.
A year after this victory, he finished fourth in the same competition. After that, he took first place in the Europe “Battle Of Champions,” his first IFBB professional show. At this point, Jose completely dedicated himself to realizing his Olympia ambition.
Training of Jose Raymond
Jose’s Training Split
- Sunday: Light back and chest
- Monday: Heavy quads, light hams, and calves
- Tuesday: Morning – Cardio, abs, posing Afternoon – Chest and triceps, 8-10 supersets of lateral raises and rear delts
- Wednesday: Back and biceps
- Thursday: Shoulders and abs
- Friday: Heavy hams, light quads, and calves
- Saturday: Arms
Hard Chest Workout
- Pec Flye Machine or Cable Crossovers: 5 sets x 12-15 reps
- Incline Barbell Press: 4 sets x 15, 12, 10, 10 reps
- Hammer Strength Decline Press: 3 sets x 12, 1 triple drop set of 10, 10, 10 reps
- Incline Dumbbell Flyes: 4 sets x 12 reps
“For years and years, I never liked flyes because I couldn’t figure out how to get the right feeling in my pecs from them. But I persisted and mastered them, and now I love flyes.”
Extremely Intense Shoulder Workouts
Jose concentrates on slapping his shoulders as forcefully as he can. The deltoid muscles are among the most crucial ones in the body for lifting weights.
Jose places a high emphasis on his shoulder strength because it is employed in many crucial exercises, such as the upright row and the bench press.
Many bodybuilders decide to stop after just one or two shoulder workouts, but Jose neglected his delts for the most of his career. He thought the bench press would adequately encircle his shoulders, and for a while it did.
But eventually, he realized how crucial the aesthetics of the shoulder were in professional tournaments. As a result, he started introducing the exercises below.
Defense Press
Jose Raymond starts his shoulder program with a seated barbell military press. This exercise, which he places at the start of the session because it strikes the muscles hard right away, is his “bread and butter,” according to him.
He positions his hands narrower than usual in an effort to concentrate on his front delts.
This exercise is considerably more than just a warm-up option, according to his brother Tito, who said he has seen Jose lift to 315 pounds with sets of 12.
Lateral Dumbbell Raise
Another crucial workout in Jose’s regimen is dumbbell lateral raises. He stops the movement before his traps start to take over, choosing to stop before raising the dumbbells to ear height (a popular option for many).
He values the option to focus on the burn in his medial delts (the middle region of the shoulder) alone.
Hammer Strength Behind-The-Neck Press
Jose’s body is being attacked by the behind-the-neck press machine with hammer strength.
He presses the enormous weight forward while allowing his elbows to move slightly forward. He decides not to lock out the reps in order to keep the strain in his delts.
Jose has reportedly been witnessed by his brother lifting enormous amounts of weight without a spotter. He finishes sets of 12 iron plates weighing 135 pounds, 225 pounds, 315 pounds, and finally 405 pounds.
Front Lift
Jose enjoys doing a front raise workout while he is getting ready for a performance. In many other pressing exercises, his front delts are worked very hard, but he prefers to isolate them to increase their tone.
He performs the maneuver, which is challenging to accomplish, using barbells, dumbbells, or a 45-pound plate.
Back Laterals
Jose Raymond never neglects his rear laterals even when the front raise is optional. He claims that in order to locate an exercise that was the most effective for him, he “messed around” over the years.
As a result, he made the decision to create his own dumbbell exercise, which resembles a hybrid of the rear lateral raise and the two-arm dumbbell row.
He states that “nobody should merely accept that there is one technique to conduct an exercise that is ideally suited to everyone’s structure” when talking about the workout.
Shrugs
Jose’s body is undoubtedly unusual, and the 600-pound shrug he used to end the session demonstrates how diligently he works to develop his physique. When he hasn’t been deadlifting that week, he adds the shrug because he doesn’t want to bulk up his trap too much.
Jose’s Alternate Workout
Jose doesn’t stay on the same routine for too long. He values changing exercises regularly, to stimulate new areas, as opposed to sinking into a rhythm.
- Icarian Seated Lateral Raise Machine: 30 pounds x 15 reps, 50 pounds x 20 reps, 80 pounds x 20 reps, 100 pounds x 20 reps
- Seated Barbell Presses to Front: 45 pounds x 15 reps, 135 pounds x 11 reps, 135 pounds x 8 reps (warm-ups)
- Dumbbell Lateral Raises: 225 pounds x 8 reps, 275 pounds x 8 reps, 225 pounds x 12 reps
- Front Raise: 30 pounds x 12 reps, 40 pounds x 11 reps, 45 pounds x 12 reps, 50 pounds x 12 reps
- Hammer Strength Behind-the-Neck Press: 135 pounds x 12 reps, 225 pounds x 12 reps, 315 pounds x 12 reps, 405 pounds x 12 reps
- Rear Delt Machine: 185 pounds x 12 reps, 200 pounds x 15 reps, 255 pounds x 12 reps, 255 pounds x 12 reps
Nutrition of Jose Raymond
The Off-Season Diet
Jose Raymond enjoys filling up on as much food as he can during the off-season. He drastically increases the amount of carbohydrates he consumes, including a lot of sweet potatoes and brown rice in each meal.
He consistently chooses chicken, turkey, beef, steak, and bison as his meat of choice.
Since protein is essential for his muscle development, he takes sure to include about 8 eggs along with lean bison and ground beef every morning for breakfast.
Jose occasionally follows his egg and bison meal with cream of rice, oats, and sugar-free jam.
Off-Season Diet Plan
Meal 1
- 8oz lean ground beef/bison
- 1 cup egg whites
- 1 cup oats
Meal 2
- 10 oz chicken breast
- 10 oz rice
Post Workout
- whey protein shake
Meal 3
- 10 oz chicken breast
- 10 oz sweet potato
Meal 4
- 10 oz white fish
- Green leaves
Before Bed
- whey shake with glutamine
In Season Diet
Jose prioritizes protein-based meals with fewer carbohydrates before competing, as opposed to the off-season carbohydrate splurge. He continues to have his breakfast of eggs and bison, but excludes oats and other types of carbohydrates.
For added energy in the gym, Joe also enjoys eating fruit during this time. He consumes a range of foods, including melon, papaya, and banana.
Influences and Idols
Jose’s wife loves to assist him with his meals before competitions because she is a fitness model herself. She frequently cooks for Jose as he poses with his coach and support team in a hotel room close to the competition site.
Along with his wife’s affection and support, he places a great deal of weight on his relationship with his brother Tito.
Growing up, Tito was more than simply a brother to me. I’d even go so far as to say that he served as a father figure in certain aspects for me. He was also my best friend and protector.
People from our previous neighborhood claim to have seen him carrying me about when I was a baby when he was only 5 or 6 years old.
“Tito would have been around 225 or so but would have looked considerably bigger if he had pursued bodybuilding to the fullest extent possible.
Out of the two of us, he has always had the better overall shape and structure. Now that I see Ronny Rockel, I believe that’s pretty much how he would have appeared if he had desired to.
What Jose Raymond can teach us?
Jose’s tale demonstrates the value of passion in the pursuit of fitness. He has enjoyed weightlifting ever since his social worker permitted him to use the gym as a stress reliever. He hasn’t put the weights down since that day.
This commitment is demonstrated by his professional career, which has seen him stand on the Mr. Olympia platform more than once.