Hassan Mostafa Looks Massive In Physique Update Preparing For 2022 Orlando Pro
Hassan Mostafa has been making improvements to his physique 13 weeks out of the Orlando Pro.
Hassan Mostafa looks hungry to take the next step during the 2022 season. In a recent physique update on social media, Mostafa is looking massive as he prepares to take the stage during the Orlando Pro.
The Orlando Pro will take place on July 2. With 13 weeks to prepare, it looks as though Mostafa is focusing on his conditioning in training. This is something that impacted his results in 2021 and it is clear that he is looking to make the necessary changes needed to get back on the podium.
“13 weeks out. Everything going as planned ?”
Hassan Mostafa finished fourth during the 2020 New York Pro and this is when he caught the eye of many in the bodybuilding world. Following the show, Mostafa was forced to take some time off after being hospitalized with an infection. This impacted his overall physique but Mostafa was able to get back on stage seven times in 2021.
Mostafa earned qualification to the 2021 Olympia despite not winning a competition. He was able to total enough points in the standings to earn his spot that way. Mostafa finished 13th at the Olympia and ninth at the 2021 Arnold Classic, which took place just two weeks prior. With the bodybuilding season back to its normal schedule, Mostafa is preparing to attack Orlando before anything else.
During the 2021 season, Mostafa’s conditioning was the main talking point about his physique. He is an extremely muscular bodybuilder and has plenty of mass needed to compete in Men’s Open. Now, he needs to work on the details and that has been his method of training. In recent physique updates, he has stated his goals and they are all leading up to Orlando.
The Egyptian bodybuilder has a chance to make some noise if he is able to make these changes to his physique. Hassan Mostafa has been working out frequently with Rafael Brandao at Flex Lewis’ Dragon Lair Gym. This has been motivation for all involved to give it their all while training.
For Mostafa, this is an important season to get back on track and all signs point to major improvement during competition. Fans have plenty to be excited about after looking at some recent updates.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Natural Bodybuilder Marc Cheatham Names 3 Reasons You Aren’t Losing Belly Fat
INBA PNBA natural bodybuilder Marc Cheatham lists some of the top reasons you aren’t losing body fat.
Losing body fat is hard, and losing belly fat is especially hard. Many men struggle with losing stomach fat since men store the most fat in their abdominal region. But International Natural Bodybuilding Association (INBA)/Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (PNBA) up-and-comer natural bodybuilding star Marc Cheatham has some tips. He lists three reasons you aren’t losing belly fat on Instagram (IG).
Marc Cheatham is a breakout natural bodybuilder who made a mark in the sport of natural bodybuilding in 2021. In his first year of professional natural bodybuilding, he placed in the top six of his category at Natural Olympia.
On IG, Cheatham stated:
“these are some of the top reasons that get over looked
1) Constantly Snacking all day
2) Drinking Calories
3) Overeating on “healthy foods”
You can see his full IG post and clip explaining this in detail below:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CbLesTglhFk/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Belly Fat
For most men, belly fat is the hardest to get rid of. Men will lose body fat in all areas of their bodies before they have a flat stomach.
A lot of men think that doing more ab exercises is the answer. And while core workouts do strengthen your abdominal muscles, they won’t make your abs visible. The key to your abs showing is low body fat levels.
And as Cheatham stated, three top reasons men can’t seem to get rid of their belly fat are: constantly snacking all day, drinking calories, and overeating healthy foods.
Snacking will make the calories add up. It’s recommended to start with a 300-500 caloric deficit below your maintenance calories to lose weight. And snacking on junk food can easily hit those numbers. For example, two servings of a back of chips will put you around 300 calories.
And drinking calories is an easy way to consume a couple to a few hundred extra calories, depending on how many servings you have. For example, Cheatham stated that 12 fluid ounces of juice are 200+ calories. He also noted that drinking calories don’t make you feel full, so it’s a waste of calories. Moreover, although healthy foods are healthy, if you are in a caloric surplus, it doesn’t matter if you’re eating healthy foods. You still won’t lose body fat.
Body Fat and Natural Bodybuilders
Of course, the top natural physiques on the planet have extremely low body fat levels when they walk across the stage. But natural bodybuilders don’t maintain these low levels of body fat year-round. Because it’s not healthy or sustainable. Plus, they go through a bulking phase to pack on muscle.
When male natural bodybuilders compete, they can have as low as 3-6 percent. And although they train with high intensity and a lot of volumes compared to regular gym-goers, they also have very rigid diets – which is the key to their extremely low body fat levels.
Furthermore, natural bodybuilders have to be even more on point than enhanced physiques since natural athletes only rely on nutrition and training to build their bodies. Of course, doping is prohibited in natural bodybuilder leagues.
Recap
Avoid snacking throughout the day, consuming beverages with calories, and eating too many calories even if the foods are healthy to get rid of stubborn belly fat.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for more fitness tips from the top natural physiques globally!
Promescent VitaFLUX For Men Review To Enhance Libido & T Levels
This triple power formula of VitaFLUX can enhance libido, maintain healthy T levels, and more!
Product Overview
Are you someone who often finds themselves too drained for sex? That it feels more like a chore than the pleasurable act it should be? It can be debilitating and not only affect your love life, but also your confidence. Enough floundering around and feeling sorry for yourself, because VitaFLUX is a great nitric oxide supplement to boost libido, increase testosterone, and enhance overall energy so you feel your best, especially in bed.
The company is Promescent and this product is marketed as a nitric oxide supplement. Nitric oxide is produced by most, if not all, your cells and plays a role in increasing blood flow and overall better blood vessel health. It is what is called a vasodilator, meaning it widens the blood vessels to allow for better blood flow. One of the benefits of VitaFLUX is increased erectile functioning, and as we know, increased blood flow allows for better…Well, we know you know the rest.
VitaFLUX is a great nitric oxide supplement perfect for increasing your sexual health in the bedroom and daily life outside of it.
Promescent is a company who believes that everyone should be able to find the right products at the right prices to better their sex life and feel stress-free. They believe sex should be pleasurable and empowering, while also safe and comfortable, and with their great line of supplements and products, Promescent works hard, along with their team of doctors and other experts, to produce the best for all consumers.
VitaFLUX Highlights
VitaFLUX is a clinically proven nitric oxide supplement designed to improve sexual health, but also provides benefits “beyond the bedroom”, as Promescent duly notes.
When it comes to sexual health, VitaFLUX can help to:
increase erectile functioning
improve libido and satisfaction
support testosterone regulation
As for beyond the bedroom, it may:
boost energy
increase mental clarity throughout the day
improve cardiovascular health
Clinical Study Results
Studies on VitaFLUX did yield promising and worthwhile results, noting that erectile function and sexual desire both increased in men, and in the longer term, it reduced androgen deficiency and improved mood substantially (1). Third party tested for accuracy and made with premium ingredients and the consumer’s health in mind, VitaFLUX is one of those supplements designed for men that can prove to be a game changer in daily life and in the bedroom.
Ingredients
L-Arginine: Responsible for the production of nitric oxide and may support blood pressure regulation (2).
L-Citrulline: May help boost L-arginine’s bioavailability, therefore potentially being a vital component to nitric oxide production and vasodilation (3).
L-Carnitine tartrate: Can enhance blood flow and oxygen supply into the muscle tissues (4).
Magnesium: Can increase free and total testosterone levels (5), while also having a positive influence on anabolic hormone levels in general (6).
Zinc: Has an important role in modulating and supporting testosterone levels in men (7).
Other Ingredients
Gelatin, Maltodextrin, Silica, Magnesium Stearate
Number Of Ingredients
5
Number of Servings
30
Serving Size
6 Capsules
Highest Dosed Ingredient
L-Arginine (2000mg)
Best Way To Take
Take 3 capsules in the morning and three capsules at night with or without food.
Price & Effectiveness
VitaFLUX is that nitric oxide supplement perfect for improving your overall sexual health and beyond. With great ingredients and a powerful formula, what you will find is better erectile functioning, improved libido, supported testosterone regulation, more energy, and better cardiovascular health. With 30 servings per container, 6 capsules is a serving size.
Pros
Great ingredients with a powerful formula
Proven benefits to erectile function, sexual desire, and mood
Third party tested for accuracy and transparency
Cons
6 capsules are a large serving size
A little pricey considering the number of servings and serving size
Price: $49.95
Who Should Use VitaFLUX & Best Way To Take?
VitaFLUX is great for men who feel they struggle in bed. It can be debilitating, maybe even embarrassing if you have a tough time during sex. But with VitaLFUX, you know exactly what you are getting since this is third party tested and created from only the best ingredients.
It is best to take VitaFLUX twice per day, 3 capsules in the morning and 3 capsules at night.
Overall Value
VitaFLUX is that nitric oxide supplement perfect for improving your sexual health and giving you that boost in your daily life as well. Perfect for those looking to increase erectile functioning, improve libido, support testosterone regulation, and a host of other benefits. What you are getting is a high-quality and clinically proven nitric oxide supplement with great ingredients, third party testing, and a company behind it that cares.
Try VitaFLUX and increase your sexual health so your sex life stays stress-free.
Try VitaFLUX Today
Generation Iron may receive commissions on purchases made through our links. See our disclosure page for more information.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of VitaFLUX and Envato
References
Vascoe, J.; et al. “Oral Supplementation with VitaFLUX Improves Male Erectile Function and Female Sexual Function”. (source) VitaFLUX Clinical Study[12518].pdf
McRae, M. (2016). “Therapeutic Benefits of L-Arginine: An Umbrella Review of Meta-analyses”. (source)
Gonzalez, A.; et al. (2020). “Effects of Citrulline Supplementation on Exercise Performance in Humans: A Review of the Current Literature”. (source)
Fielding, R.; et al. (2018). “L-Carnitine Supplementation in Recovery after Exercise”. (source)
Cinar, V.; et al. (2011). “Effects of magnesium supplementation on testosterone levels of athletes and sedentary subjects at rest and after exhaustion”. (source)
Maggio, M.; et al. (2014). “The Interplay between Magnesium and Testosterone in Modulating Physical Function in Men”. (source)
Prasad, A.; et al. (1996). “Zinc status and serum testosterone levels of healthy adults”. (source)
Best Testosterone Booster Supplements 2022 For Masculine Vitality
Testosterone boosters are everywhere. They’re all over the supplement market with a lot of claims, but not a lot of studies. So, what are the best masculinity booster supplements for vitality with quality ingredients?
In this article, we examine the top testosterone boosters for masculine vitality, energy and that help the most with production of testosterone: what works – and why. These are nutrients that can help balance your hormone levels that are backed by clinical studies to prove their efficacy as testosterone supplements.
How Do Testosterone Boosters Help Testosterone Levels?
Natural testosterone boosters help testosterone levels by supplying your body with the natural nutrients it needs to encourage more of the masculine hormone body state.
For example, a good testosterone booster can optimize your body to:
Ramp up Testosterone Production
Increase Masculine energy
Increase Muscle Mass and Muscle Growth
Support Athletic Performance
Act as a mild inhibitor of the T-diminishing hormone prolactin
Lower Body Fat
Enhance Sex Drive
Masculine Vitality and Fights Estrogen
Balance Hormone Levels
However, not every T booster is capable of this. In this article, we look closer at the most effective boosters on the market.
These are products and supplements which are backed by clinical studies, well-dosed, provide masculinity in a capsule and are the best options out there for bodybuilding, low testosterone, older men and more.
Best Testosterone Booster 2022
#1. Testo Lab Pro | Best Overall Ingredients
Testo Lab Pro is the strongest testosterone booster on the market. Hands down.
It is an all-natural testosterone booster which contains 10 clinically-proven ingredients which all help in some way to help improve testosterone levels.
These natural ingredients can help increase testosterone levels by being:
Well-Dosed – In-line with clinical studies to offer the best effects.
Clinically Backed – Seen in clinical studies to help testosterone boosting
Clean and High Quality – Third-party tested, vegan, gluten-free, Non-GMO and more!
Proven Forms – Uses exactly the same branded ingredients as clinical studies (i.e. KSM-66 Ashwagandha)
And as we’ve mentioned, it’s not only the strongest testosterone booster on the market – it’s also the cleanest. There are no dyes, artificial fillers, or synthetic additives in this product unlike other testosterone boosters.
It’s natural all the way down. An all in one masculine enhancer for testosterone. Highly absorbable and very effective.
Each order of Testo Lab Pro comes with a 30 day money-back guarantee. Not seeing the results? Send it back for a full refund.
You can even save some money by buying in bulk. If you buy 3 boxes of Testo Lab Pro you get an extra one free. That’s 4 boxes for $51.75 each – instead of $69.00. This also includes worldwide shipping in the price. If you live in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia or anywhere – Testo Lab Pro can delivered to you.
Testo Lab Pro is an ultramodern test booster making this a strong option. Great for improving masculine vitality and muscle mass, this is a great natural option.
Best Testosterone Booster 2022 (Bodybuilding and Muscle Mass)
Looking to build muscle mass, boost energy levels, and take your lifting career to the next level? Don’t worry – we compiled a list of the best testosterone booster supplements that:
Boost Muscle Mass
Increase Endurance
Speed Up Recovery
Improve Physique
And more
Below are the top options that work the best for bodybuilding and muscle mass. They’re back by clinical studies and are the best natural options to give you the biggest return from all your hard work in the gym.
Here’s our top picks:
#2. D-Aspartic Acid in Testosterone Boosters
TL;DR: DAA has been seen in multiple studies to raise testosterone. One study shows it to raise test by 42% over 12 days. Another shows it boosting T levels by an average of 30 – 60% over 90 days. It rocks.
D-Aspartic Acid is an amino acid which is ideal for natural testosterone boosting and muscle mass. It works well because it can help promote your body’s levels of the Luteinizing Hormone (LH).
LH is your body’s precursor to both growth hormone and testosterone. The more of this that you have in your system, the more support your testosterone levels have to rise.
So, to get this amino acid in a testosterone supplement is always a good sign that you’re in for an effective ride.
But just how effective is D-Aspartic Acid compared to other testosterone boosters? Is it the best to boost testosterone?
In one study, men aged between 27 and 37 took D-Aspartic Acid for a period of 12 days. At the end of the study, 20 out of the 23 men that were supplementing DAA had an average increase of 42% in overall testosterone.
Three days later, without using any D-Aspartic Acid, their testosterone was still 22% higher than it had been at the start of the study.
In a similar study, men aged between 27 and 43 took D-Aspartic Acid over a period of 90 days. At the end of the 90 days, there was an average growth of 30 – 60% in overall testosterone.
D-Aspartic Acid is one of the more potent testosterone boosters and a great option for those who are looking to maximize their T levels and improve muscle mass for bodybuilding. One of the better testosterone boosters.
#3. Zinc (Best Mineral for Testosterone Production)
TL;DR: Studies indicate low Zinc levels appear to go hand-in-hand with low testosterone. Not only that, supplementing Zinc can help boost testosterone that has been lowered by intensive training and other factors.
Zinc is one of the most useful testosterone boosters for helping your testosterone levels with bodybuilding and muscle mass.
One of the main advantages that Zinc has, like DAA, is that this mineral can help to raise your overall levels of LH – the Luteinizing Hormone. As we’ve mentioned, fueling your LH can help with increased production and release of your growth hormone and testosterone.
The most notable study is from 2006, where a group of wrestlers were experiencing temporary low testosterone levels from training to exhaustion. When supplementing Zinc it seemed to reverse this effect and restore their T back up to their optimum levels – so they could keep training hard without the downsides.
Another study saw that supplementing Zinc can help to raise serum testosterone levels, in those who had experienced a drop in T from dialysis.
Other studies have indicated a connection to low zinc levels and low T levels. By helping to keep you Zinc intake at an optimum level, you may be able to maintain steady and healthy T and better muscle mass.
It’s a great mineral for free T and one of the main testosterone boosters to help T levels in a man. Another one of the top-tier testosterone boosters.
#4. Vitamin D3 + Vitamin K1 and K2 (Best Vitamins for Testosterone Production)
TL;DR: Numerous studies show that long-term supplementation of Vitamin D3 can help raise your levels of testosterone. Vitamin D is technically a hormone and closely linked to boosting testosterone levels – and experts believe up to 1 billion people are deficient in it!
Vitamin D is an essential vitamin to your body – and it’s also technically a hormone. It’s a potent, natural resource that has been linked to promoting your testosterone level. Especially with Vitamin K2 and K1.
Why do we need to supplement it for bodybuilding and muscle mass?
Because your body naturally absorbs it through your skin via the sun’s rays – and considering that we spend most of our time indoors, that’s not a whole lot of Vitamin D.
Experts actually believe that up to 1 billion people are deficient in Vitamin D. Not only that, studies have also found that there is a link between deficiencies in Vitamin D3 and low testosterone.
In one study, participants were made to spend more time outdoors in the summer sun. In doing so, there was a large spike noticed in their overall testosterone.
A yearlong study, involving participants supplementing Vitamin D supplements daily noticed a 20% increase in testosterone levels on average.
As it is technically a hormone – and one that most of us are deficient in – supplementing vitamin D3 can be huge for promoting your overall testosterone.
It’s always good to supplement Vitamin D3 with Vitamin K2 and K1. Vitamin K2 and K1 can help guide the added calcium to your bones, for a healthier skeleton and joints, as well helping to increase testosterone levels.
Best Testosterone Booster For Males Over 40 (Top Ingredients)
As you start to get older, your testosterone levels begin to drop. This typically begins after 30, with your testosterone levels declining around 1% every year.
At first, it’s not that noticeable – but sooner or later the effects start to show. Couple that with the lifestyle changes you face at that age – running a family, more responsibility and generally stress, stress, stress! It’s a cocktail of disaster for your T levels.
However, there are natural ingredients out there which can help with testosterone production, as well as managing your levels of stress. Combined this can give you a testosterone boosting supplement which can not only help your T levels – but can also help your mindset as well. Helping to promote better hormonal balance and more effective lifestyle management.
#5. Ashwagandha (as a Testosterone Booster)
TL;DR: Ashwagandha is arguably one of the most potent herbs when it comes to raising testosterone levels. KSM-66 Ashwagandha is the best and can help raise testosterone, muscles mass and even lower stress.
There are numerous ways that this herb can help improve your levels of T. It can help both directly and indirectly. Personally, we see it as one of the best testosterone boosters.
Indirectly, Ashwagandha can help lower cortisol, your body’s stress hormone. When your cortisol levels are higher, your testosterone levels drop. This is how your body manages the hormones. Ashwagandha has been seen in clinical studies to help reduce levels of the stress hormone, and by extension increase testosterone.
Lowering stress is ideal for the over 40s as this is typically a harder point in your life with children, work and more factors that create low testosterone levels.
In another study, Ashwagandha was seen to promote muscle mass and even reduce body fat by 3.5% compared to the placebo group.
The best form of Ashwagandha is definitely KSM-66. There’s an endless list of clinical studies supporting the KSM-66 strain. It’s seen to help stress, low testosterone levels, endurance, strength, sex drive, weight management, memory, anti-aging, sleep and more.
It’s one of the finest natural testosterone boosting supplements.
#6. Magnesium (for Free T Levels)
TL;DR: You should be looking to get a good amount of Magnesium in your testosterone booster. It’s effective for protecting your free testosterone and maintaining your overall T levels.
Magnesium is one of the better minerals out there for men over 40 for testosterone. It’s effective for helping raise your levels of free testosterone.
Free testosterone is the amount of T that is freely circulating throughout your body. The threat to this type of testosterone is Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG). SHBG binds to the free testosterone in your system, and strips it of its anabolic potency. The result is that it reduces your overall levels of free testosterone.
Supplementing Magnesium can help to minimize this problem. Studies show that taking Magnesium can help to reduce the impact of SHBG. Magnesium does this by inhibiting the SHBG, which helps stop it from binding to your free flowing testosterone.
#7. Mucuna Pruriens (Leans out Chest Muscle)
TL;DR: Mucuna Pruriens can help raise testosterone, lower stress, fight man boobs and even raise dopamine. What more could you want?
Mucuna Pruriens are a great testosterone booster for males over 40. The main active ingredient that matters most in Mucuna Pruriens is L-DOPA.
L-DOPA can raise your brain’s level of dopamine which can offer a combination of good effects including reducing levels of the stress hormone cortisol, erections, masculine sex drive and generally making you feel better.
What it can also do is increase your levels of GnRH – that’s gonadotropic-releasing hormone. This can help to raise your body’s levels of the Luteinzing Hormone. As we’ve mentioned this is your body’s precursor to both growth hormone, and testosterone.
Another benefit of L-DOPA in Mucuna Pruriens is that it can help reduce your overall levels of prolactin in your body. Prolactin is the hormone in your body which is linked to causing soft breast tissue – or man boobs – which is more of a risk as you get older.
By getting a good supply of L-DOPA, you can help reduce your levels of that hormone, and help create a leaner and meaner chest. It can also help in areas such as stress management and sex drive.
Best Testosterone Booster For Men Over 50 (Best Ingredients)
Lower testosterone is an issue in older men. It’s natural – but that doesn’t mean you have to settle for it. There are plenty of natural options out there which can help to fight the process and allow you to maintain (and in some cases raise) as much testosterone as possible at over 50.
However, testosterone isn’t the only problem. Another factor from being older men is a rise in estrogen – the female hormone. This can unbalance your hormones and create more issues for your overall masculine health and improve sex drive.
Below, we have compiled a list of what we believe to be the best testosterone boosters for men over 50. These can help if your testosterone levels are low, or even if you are struggling from a rise in estrogen.
#8. Boron (Top Mineral for Fighting Estrogen)
TL;DR: Boron is great for both raising testosterone, and lowering estrogen. This is ideal as those are big factors that need support as you get older.
Boron makes our list of the top testosterone boosters for men over 50 because it has been clinically proven to do 2 things: boost testosterone, and lower estrogen.
A full review of Boron in 2015 in the IMCJ covered a lot of the mineral’s overall effects, with the main takeaways being that it can help increase free testosterone by nearly 25%. It can also almost have the amount of estradiol (estrogen) in your system, and even allow more free testosterone to bond with proteins in your blood which can help as you age.
With all that considered, this makes it a great choice as a testosterone booster for men over 50. It can tackle many of the age-related factors that affect T as you get older. Including allowing for more protein binding and reducing growing levels of estrogen.
Boron has even been seen to help in these areas with subjects who are suffering from low testosterone. It’s an effective, natural mineral for T levels.
#9. Luteolin (Top Nutrient for Fighting Estrogen)
TL;DR: Luteolin can help lower estrogen – which becomes a much bigger problem as you get older.
The final testosterone booster that we’ll be covering in our list is Luteolin. It is an antioxidant found in citrus fruits like lemons and oranges.
Luteolin is technically not a testosterone booster – but it is a great natural aromatase inhibitor.
The aromatase enzyme is an enzyme in your blood which converts your testosterone into estrogen. As you get older, this enzyme becomes more active, converting more T into estrogen. This is definitely not what you want for hormone optimization.
Studies have shown that supplementing luteolin can potentially inhibit estrogen biosynthesis – which could in turn reduce your overall levels of the female hormone.
As you get older and your estrogen levels rise, and your T levels decline – it’s smart to get all the help you can get. Luteolin has some promising studies behind it and a great tool to help deter a rise in estrogen.
Best Natural Testosterone Booster Supplements 2022
As you can see, there are plenty of good options out there when it comes to maximizing your overall testosterone and hormone levels.
When it comes to which test booster is the most effective though – we have to give it to Testo Lab Pro.
Individually, many of the ingredients we’ve covered here are great for boosting testosterone – however, together, they are on another level. That’s what you get with Testo Lab Pro.
You get solid, clinically-backed, well-dosed ingredients all together in one stacked out supplement. It even uses KSM-66 Ashwagandha, which is the most clinically proven form of the herb.
The vitamins and minerals in Testo Lab Pro are also NutriGenesis – making them nature-identical and super easy for your body to absorb.
The clinical studies for all the ingredients in Testo Lab Pro are off the charts. The health benefits range from boosting muscle for a bodybuilder, to giving an energy boost to older men.
It hits all the marks, and we recommend to anyone looking for a natural, and above all, effective test booster.
You can find out more by visiting the Testo lab Pro site below:
Testo Lab Pro is an ultramodern test booster making this a strong option. Great for improving masculine vitality and muscle mass, this is a great natural option.
Testosterone Boosting Foods / Not Supplements
Testosterone boosters aren’t everything. Eating right and exercising goes a long way too. Below, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best testosterone boosting foods out there that you should add to your diet to maximize your overall progress.
Here’s a shortlist of the foods that could help you the most.
Tuna as a Testosterone Booster
Tuna contains a rich source of Vitamin D. Vitamin D, as you’ll know by now, is technically a hormone which has close links to raising testosterone levels.
Due to the mercury content, moderation is key with a food like this. Two to three servings a week should be enough for you to get a healthy supply of this vitamin from your food.
Other fish options that contain good amounts of this vitamin would be salmon or sardines. There’s plenty of options.
Milk as a Testosterone Booster
Milk is another good source of Vitamin D. Mostly touted for it’s ability to help bones and muscles through its high calcium and protein content, many people forget that it also contains a good amount of Vitamin D.
Again, with a nice amount of D in here, milk can help support a rise in your testosterone levels.
Pro-tip: Opting for a lower fat milk like skimmed or semi-skimmed may be a wise idea to avoid saturated fat content.
Egg Yolks as a Testosterone Booster
Again, another rich source of Vitamin D. Eggs can help raise testosterone levels by offering a good amount of this natural vitamin.
Not only that, eggs are also an effective source of healthy cholesterol. This can help support the leydig cells in your body to promote overall testosterone.
An egg a day is a good way to get the health benefits from this food, without overdoing it.
Fortified Cereals as a Testosterone Booster
Cereals that have been fortified with Vitamin D can be ideal for helping low testosterone. Getting fortified cereals into your diet can help increase your overall vitamin D and increase testosterone levels.
These types of cereals also pack vitamins and minerals that offer general health benefits to keep you going.
Oysters for Low Test
Unlike most of the other food we’ve mentioned, oysters are good for testosterone due to their level of zinc.
Zinc is a great example of testosterone boosting supplements, as it can increase your levels of the luteinizing hormone (LH), which is your body’s precursor to both growth hormone and testosterone.
Beef is a red meat that you shouldn’t over-consume. However, in moderate amounts it can be fine for your health – and even beneficial to your testosterone.
Beef contains a good amount of Zinc and Vitamin D, which can both contribute as testosterone boosting supplements.
Finally, a nice plant-based testosterone booster in our list of T boosting foods. Beans, lentils, chickpeas and more all contain a good amount of Zinc.
It’s a nice natural testosterone booster and an easy one to have with numerous meals to improve your low testosterone levels and give yourself a good amount of protein.
Conclusion: What Are The Best Natural Testosterone Boosters?
The best natural testosterone boosters are a mix of numerous clinically proven herbs, vitamins and minerals. These are all options which have been seen in studies to help tilt the hormonal balance in your body in favor of testosterone.
Ideally, you want a supplement that combines all of these natural ingredients into one easy stack. That’s why we’ve put Testo Lab Pro at the top of our list.
Testo Lab Pro contains all of these natural ingredients in high dosages with patented branded options that were featured in the original studies (like KSM-66 Ashwagandha).
Not only that, it’s aggressively clean with no artificial additives, or synthetic ingredients. It’s also totally vegan, and uses nature-identical vitamins and minerals to maximize absorption and effectiveness.
If you’re wondering what the top testosterone booster on the market at the moment is – let us answer it for you: It’s Testo Lab Pro.
Solid nutrient profile, clinically-effective dosages, and clean as a whistle. What more could you want? You can learn more by visiting their website below:
Visit Testo Lab Pro Here
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Envato
References
D-Aspartic Acid Studies
Topo E, Soricelli A, D’Aniello A, Ronsini S, D’Aniello G. The role and molecular mechanism of D-aspartic acid in the release and synthesis of LH and testosterone in humans and rats. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2009 Oct 27;7:120. doi: 10.1186/1477-7827-7-120. PMID: 19860889; PMCID: PMC2774316.
D’Aniello, S. Ronsini, T. Notari, N. Grieco, V. Infante, N. D’Angel, F. Mascia, M. Fiore, G. Fisher and A. D’Aniello, “D-Aspartate, a Key Element for the Improvement of Sperm Quality,” Advances in Sexual Medicine, Vol. 2 No. 4, 2012, pp. 45-53. doi: 10.4236/asm.2012.24008.
Zinc Studies
Kilic M, Baltaci AK, Gunay M, Gökbel H, Okudan N, Cicioglu I. The effect of exhaustion exercise on thyroid hormones and testosterone levels of elite athletes receiving oral zinc. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2006 Feb-Apr;27(1-2):247-52. PMID: 16648789.
Jalali GR, Roozbeh J, Mohammadzadeh A, Sharifian M, Sagheb MM, Hamidian Jahromi A, Shabani S, Ghaffarpasand F, Afshariani R. Impact of oral zinc therapy on the level of sex hormones in male patients on hemodialysis. Ren Fail. 2010 May;32(4):417-9. doi: 10.3109/08860221003706958. PMID: 20446777.
Fallah A, Mohammad-Hasani A, Colagar AH. Zinc is an Essential Element for Male Fertility: A Review of Zn Roles in Men’s Health, Germination, Sperm Quality, and Fertilization. J Reprod Infertil. 2018;19(2):69-81.
Vitamin D Studies
Sizar O, Khare S, Goyal A, et al. Vitamin D Deficiency. [Updated 2020 Jul 21]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan-.
Wehr E, Pilz S, Boehm BO, März W, Obermayer-Pietsch B. Association of vitamin D status with serum androgen levels in men. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2010 Aug;73(2):243-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2265.2009.03777.x. Epub 2009 Dec 29. PMID: 20050857.
Pilz S, Frisch S, Koertke H, Kuhn J, Dreier J, Obermayer-Pietsch B, Wehr E, Zittermann A. Effect of vitamin D supplementation on testosterone levels in men. Horm Metab Res. 2011 Mar;43(3):223-5. doi: 10.1055/s-0030-1269854. Epub 2010 Dec 10. PMID: 21154195.
Ashwagandha Studies
Chandrasekhar K, Kapoor J, Anishetty S. “A Prospective, Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Safety and Efficacy of a High-Concentration Full-Spectrum Extract of Ashwagandha Root in Reducing Stress and Anxiety in Adults.” Indian J Psychol Med. 2012 Jul-Sep;34(3):255-262. DOI: 10.4103/0253-7176.1060
Wankhede S et al. “Examining the effect of Withania somnifera supplementation on muscle strength and recovery: a randomized controlled trial.” JISSN. 2015;12:43. DOI: 10.1186/s12970-015-010
Magnesium Studies
Excoffon L, Guillaume YC, Woronoff-Lemsi MC, André C. Magnesium effect on testosterone-SHBG association studied by a novel molecular chromatography approach. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2009 Feb 20;49(2):175-80. doi: 10.1016/j.jpba.2008.10.041. Epub 2008 Nov 5. PMID: 19095394.
Mucuna Pruriens Studies
Gandhi KR, Saadabadi A. Levodopa (L-Dopa) [Updated 2020 Oct 27]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482140/
Müller T, Muhlack S. Acute levodopa intake and associated cortisol decrease in patients with Parkinson disease. Clin Neuropharmacol. 2007 Mar-Apr;30(2):101-6. doi: 10.1097/01.WNF.0000240954.72186.91. PMID: 17414942.
Shukla KK, Mahdi AA, Ahmad MK, Shankhwar SN, Rajender S, Jaiswar SP. Mucuna pruriens improves male fertility by its action on the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis. Fertil Steril. 2009 Dec;92(6):1934-40. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.09.045. Epub 2008 Oct 29. PMID: 18973898.
Shukla KK, Mahdi AA, Ahmad MK, Jaiswar SP, Shankwar SN, Tiwari SC. Mucuna pruriens Reduces Stress and Improves the Quality of Semen in Infertile Men. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2010;7(1):137-144. doi:10.1093/ecam/nem171
van der Gugten AA, Sahuleka PC, van Galen GH, Kwa HG. Prolactin inhibition test with L-dopa: decrease and restoration of plasma prolactin levels in the rat by a peripheral process. J Endocrinol. 1976 Mar;68(3):369-81. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.0680369. PMID: 1255091.
Boron Studies
Pizzorno L. Nothing Boring About Boron. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2015;14(4):35-48.
Shea JL, Wong PY, Chen Y. Free testosterone: clinical utility and important analytical aspects of measurement. Adv Clin Chem. 2014;63:59-84. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-800094-6.00002-9. PMID: 24783351.
Naghii MR, Mofid M, Asgari AR, Hedayati M, Daneshpour MS. Comparative effects of daily and weekly boron supplementation on plasma steroid hormones and proinflammatory cytokines. J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2011 Jan;25(1):54-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2010.10.001. Epub 2010 Dec 3. PMID: 21129941.
Luteolin Studies
Lu DF, Yang LJ, Wang F, Zhang GL. Inhibitory effect of luteolin on estrogen biosynthesis in human ovarian granulosa cells by suppression of aromatase (CYP19). J Agric Food Chem. 2012 Aug 29;60(34):8411-8. doi: 10.1021/jf3022817. Epub 2012 Aug 20. PMID: 22838964.
Nordeen SK, Bona BJ, Jones DN, Lambert JR, Jackson TA. Endocrine disrupting activities of the flavonoid nutraceuticals luteolin and quercetin. Horm Cancer. 2013;4(5):293-300. doi:10.1007/s12672-013-0150-1
Bruce Willis Diagnosed With Speech And Language Disorder Aphasia, Will Step Away From Acting
The family of Bruce Willis made a statement after his diagnosis.
Bruce Willis will be stepping away from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia, a condition that impacts speech and language.
Willis’ daughter, Rumer, took to Instagram on Wednesday to make a statement on behalf of the family. Rumer is the eldest daughter of Willis and his ex-wife, Demi Moore.
“To Bruce’s amazing supporters, as a family we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities. As a result of this and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, aphasia is a contrition that can affect a person’s ability to speak, write, and understand language, both verbal and written. There are different types of aphasia and it typically occurs after a stroke or head injury. It can also also come on slowly from a slow-growing brain tumor or disease that causes progressive damage.
At this point, it is unclear what led the the diagnosis of Bruce Willis but he will be forced to take some time away from his extremely successful acting career.
“This is a really challenging time for our family and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion and support. We are moving through this as a strong family unit, and wanted to bring his fans in because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him.As Bruce always says, “Live it up” and together we plan to do just that.Love,Emma, Demi, Rumer, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel, & Evelyn”
Bruce Willis has appeared in many classic movies over the years including Die Hard, Pulp Fiction, and The Sixth Sense. His career dates back to the 1980s when he first burst onto the scene as an actor.
Aphasia is a condition that robs a person of their ability to communicate. Once diagnosed, the best treatment for the disorder is speech and language therapy. This is where a person can relearn how to communicate and practices language skills. Family members are often a big part of the process as the person learns new ways to communicate.
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Straight Facts: Is Intermittent Fasting Effective For Fat Loss? Does It Lead To Muscle Loss?
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Jerry Brainum breaks down the pros and cons of intermittent fasting and whether it can fit into a bodybuilding lifestyle.
Intermittent fasting is one of the most popular diet trends of the moment. Perhaps it is even more than a simple trend. The intermittent fasting diet lifestyle has been talked about for nearly a decade at this point and has failed to lose steam. But is it really a more effective way to lose weight? And more importantly for bodybuilders, can it lead to burning away muscle? In our latest episode of Straight Facts, Jerry Brainum goes into detail about the pros and cons of intermittent fasting.
Jerry Brainum has in depth knowledge about many aspects of the diet and nutrition world. He has written countless articles on both in magazine publications and in his Applied Metabolics newsletter. Yet the one he keeps seeing most people asking for is more information about intermittent fasting. That’s how popular this dieting concept has become in modern health and fitness.
Despite Jerry Brainum having already written extensively on the subject – he decided to break down this full explainer video overviewing the pros and cons about intermittent fasting. A definitive recap of his past writings for those who are interested in understanding if this diet is right for them. Let’s jump into it.
What is intermittent fasting?
Jerry Brainum explains that intermittent fasting is short term regular fasting, typically for weight loss but also containing other health benefits. This typically takes the form of fasting for a period of time between 16-48 hours in regular intervals. Not only can this tactic put you into a caloric deficit depending on which intermittent fasting strategy you choose, it’s also designed to speed up your metabolism for the periods of time you do eat food (1).
Types of intermittent fasting
Jerry Brainum details various different intermittent fasting strategies that have gained popularity over the years. Which version an individual decides upon depends on the person’s goal and also what works best for their life schedule and psychological relationship to food and eating.
Here is a quick list of the most common intermittent fasting schedules:
16/8 – This is when you fast for 16 hours and then eat your full meals within an 8 hour period. This is done every day.
2 Day Weekend Fasting – this is when you eat normally Monday through Friday. On the weekend, you limit your calorie intake to 400-500 calories.
24 Hour Fasting – This is when you skip a full 24 hour of eating, once or twice a week.
Alternating Fasting – This is when you fast for a full 24 hours, then eat normally for a day, then fast for another 24 hours. This alternates every day of the week.
Does intermittent fasting improve weight loss?
Jerry Brainum also looks into past studies conducted on intermittent fasting and weight loss. Overall, intermittent fasting is seen by the public as a much more successful way to lose weight (2). However, studies have shown that intermittent fasting rarely improves weight loss compared to “traditional” calorie restriction diets.
Despite the fact that there is no scientific weight loss benefit to intermittent fasting, Jerry Brainum points out that it can be a more effective strategy psychologically. Sticking to counting calories every day for, basically, the rest of your life is very challenging for most individuals. Depending on a person’s mindset, intermittent fasting may be an easier way to achieve the same results. Thus leading to less failure scenarios where someone relapses into old eating habits.
Does intermittent fasting lead to muscle loss?
So the biggest question for bodybuilders is whether or not intermittent fasting will lead to burning muscle on top of the fat. Bodybuilders spend the entire year building massive muscle. To lose that in an attempt to cut down and get shredded would be devastating – especially for competitive bodybuilders looking to impress on the stage.
Jerry Brainum understands this concern but ultimately debunks this myth. Intermittent fasting is too short to lead to serious muscle loss. A fasted period would need to last at least 48 hours in order for muscle degradation to occur. The typical intermittent fast usually ranges between 16 and 40 hours at a time, preventing this issue.
However, it should be noted that trying to build muscle while intermittent fasting would be challenging. This is common sense, as usually muscle growth needs a caloric surplus to help build and repair muscle after serious training each day. At best, intermittent fasting should be utilized by bodybuilders during contest prep.
Health benefits of intermittent fasting
While intermittent fasting might only have the slightest advantage for losing weight, it has a more encouraging outlook in terms of improving overall health. Jerry Brainum explains that studies have shown intermittent fasting provides about 95% of the health benefits of traditional calorie restriction. So if intermittent fasting is easier for you than traditional dieting – this might be the perfect solution to improve your overall health.
Jerry Brainum lists through a wide range of health benefits from decreasing high blood pressure (3), preventing certain metabolic conditions, and also helping to potentially prevent certain degenerative diseases such as Alzheimers and dementia (4).
Jerry Brainum also points out that certain studies have found that intermittent fasting helps with easing the downsides of aging. In fact, this is the most key benefit studies have found in an intermittent fasting diet above all else.
Wrap Up
Jerry Brainum goes into extreme detail for just over thirty minutes about nearly every aspect of intermittent fasting. How it can be beneficial for the general public but also how it might intersect with a more hardcore bodybuilding lifestyle. You can watch him go into even more detail than we discuss in this article by watching the latest episode of Straight Facts above. Make sure to stick around every Wednesday for new episodes of Straight Facts starring Jerry Brainum!
References
Patterson, R.; et al. (2017). “Metabolic Effects of Intermittent Fasting”. (source)
Welton, S.; et al. (2020). “Intermittent fasting and weight loss”. (source)
Erdem, Y.; et al. (2018). “The effect of intermittent fasting on blood pressure variability in patients with newly diagnosed hypertension or prehypertension”. (source)
Zhang, J.; et al. (2017). “Intermittent Fasting Protects against Alzheimer’s Disease Possible through Restoring Aquaporin-4 Polarity”. (source)
JF Caron On Future After Injuries: ‘I Think Strongman Is Really Done’
JF Caron suffered lower-body injuries that might have ended his strongman career.
JF Caron was forced to withdraw from the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic on day two after sustaining injuries to his lower body. After the recovery process, Caron recently explained how his days in strongman might have come to an end.
Caron suffered two torn quads and an ankle injury during the competition. These are injuries that have forced him to basically learn to walk again. In an interview on “Big Los Official” YouTube page, the strongman revealed how he might have to step away from competition.
“I do not want to risk it. It’s what the doctor said because if you broke one more time, it would be very hard to come back 100% from that. You have to think, also, the life after strongman…You have to think when you are in this position that you are lucky to compete at this level and keep going and the body follow. We have a great time but you can not do that for 30 years.”
During this recovery process, JF Caron has lost nearly 60 pounds since the Arnold Strongman Classic. This is because of his loss of appetite from medications that he has been on. At the same time, this has helped in the recovery process because carrying extra weight could prolong it.
“I just restarted to walk, you know, with the helping machine. It was like a restart from point zero. I have to learn to walk, it was very hard. I did not think that it would be that hard but the thing thing is I lost a lot of weight. It was good advice the surgeon gave me. When you are in bed and on medication, you do not have many appetite and I do not eat so much.”
Caron also took some time to discuss his life after strongman. He believes that it is important to think about his quality of life after competition even though this is something that fans might not have in mind in the present day.
“It’s not easy but I always told myself it was part of the sport. I was likely to this point that I never had a serious injury. Just muscle tear and normal stuff for strongmen. It’s probably possible that it could happen one day and that will happen and you have to stop. It was just an accident and you have to stop…I will recover from that and continue the normal life.”
JF Caron has built a career that will put him up there with some of the all-time greats in strongman. He has competed in the World’s Strongest Man competition 12 times in his career beginning in 2008. The highest finish in the show came in 2020 when he placed third. While he has never won a WSM title, Caron turned in a career that was extremely consistent and spanned into three different decades.
Caron kept a positive mindset throughout the entire interview with Big Loz. He has taken the time to exhaust all options and have discussions with different doctors to make a decision on what would be best for him moving forward.
JF Caron did explain that he might do something again in some capacity because of the desire to compete but it seems as though his best days of strongman could be coming to an end.
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Eddie Hall “Eats Humble Pie”, Congratulates Thor Bjornsson, Addresses Bets
Eddie Hall is eating humble pie.
Eddie Hall recently congratulated Thor Bjornsson on the victory in their boxing match. Hall also finally addressed the issue surrounding a number of bets he made ahead of his match with Thor.
It appears that Eddie Hall is owning up to a few things. Bets were made ahead of his bout with rival Thor Bjornsson, a tattoo bet and a monetary one with Larry Wheels. Many people have been addressing these bets on socials and it appears that Hall has finally decided to speak on the subject.
The bout between Eddie Hall and Thor Bjornsson certainly lived up to the hype. In fact it perhaps exceeded expectations. Hall was able to land some hellacious blows in the early parts of the fight. Thor was able to take over however through use of his superior technical ability. He was even able to drop Hall a number of times securing his victory.
Now that everything is said and done Eddie Hall and Thor Bjornsson appear to have buried the hatchet. The vitriol and hatred they once had for each other appears to have subsided. There’s nothing like some good ol’ fisticuffs to settle a feud. Since then it appears that Hall and Thor are singing different tunes.
Humble Pie
Eddie Hall was actually quite congratulatory of Thor Bjornsson in a recent video. In a short clip posted to Instagram Hall addressed the fact that it was time to eat humble pie and address some lingering issues.
Time to eat some humble pie!!!Featuring money to charity and tattoo wager ??
Eddie Hall had even more to say in the full video. Hall addressed the bets he made with Larry Wheels as well as Thor Bjornsson and explained that it will be some time before payment for the bout is settled. He did seem keen on the idea of owning up to the bets and paying his dues. You can see the full video here.
It’s great to see Hall taking ownership of his past promises and setting his intentions to make good on them. A man who can stick by his word is one everyone can respect.
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News and Editorial Writer at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
5 Ways To Lose Fat Without Losing Muscle
How To Shed Weight Without Losing Muscle
Most people, especially the experienced lifters, are paranoid to shed their winter weight because they think it’ll result in a loss of muscle. On the other hand, some people always end up skinny, or worse, skinny fat when they try to lose fat.
You don’t have to be a physicist to figure out that if you can lose fat while keeping your muscle mass, you’ll look great. Since the summer is right around the corner, we’re here to bust the fat loss myths and tell you how you can achieve the almost-impossible feat of losing weight without losing muscle.
Use Heavy Weights
This is a big one. If we got a dollar for every time we heard someone say that lifting lighter weights and performing a higher number of reps help you lose weight, we’d be throwing parties as big as Dan Bilzerian.
A study conducted by the Obesity Research Center proves that strength training significantly reduced the loss of FFM (fat-free mass) i.e. muscle during dieting. If your body thinks that it doesn’t need the extra muscles, it starts using them as a source of fuel. Lifting heavy weights is the most effective way of holding onto your muscle mass.
Lower Training Volume & Frequency
When most people decide that they want to shed the extra kilos, they become obsessed. They start spending long hours in the gym. And when they’re not training, they’re day-dreaming about it.
You should prefer a 3-4 day training split. This will allow you to work out on non-consecutive days whilst also not training the same muscle groups within 48-72 hours of the previous workout. Anything more than this will push you into a catabolic state.
Don’t Use More Than a Moderate Calorie Deficit
It’s not unnatural that people think about cutting their diet when they plan to lose excess weight. The more calories you cut from your weights, the more weight you’ll use. In the hopes of achieving more in a shorter period, people overdo the calorie reduction.
Your calorie cut should be moderate (20 – 25% below maintenance calories) at the most. It’ll ensure that you don’t start losing weight faster than the recommended rate of 1-2 lbs per week.
Fill-Up On Protein
Protein is a macronutrient and is the building block of muscle mass. Your protein intake should be higher when eating a calorie deficit diet to help preserve muscle mass than when eating at maintenance or in a calorie surplus.
You should consume 0.6-1 grams of protein per pound of bodyweight if your goal is to build or maintain muscle mass. Stick closer to 1 gram when eating in a calorie deficit and closer to 0.6 grams when on a calorie surplus diet.
Take it Easy on the Cardio
Lastly, for the love of God, stop with the cardio obsession. Truth be told you can get lean without doing any cardio at all. If you’re following a calorie deficit diet, you’ll be losing weight regardless of if you’re doing cardio.
Since your goal is to lose weight without dropping your muscle gains, you should be doing 10-minute HIIT (high-intensity interval training) sessions for your cardio. Anything more than this will be an overkill.
Are you planning to lose weight? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
Best Dumbbell Exercises For Building Muscle & Toning
Build muscle and tone your physique with a great pair of dumbbells.
Using dumbbells in your routine seems to be a staple now. With so much equipment to use, we often stick to those exercises we know will build muscle and help us tone so we see only the best gains. However, with dumbbells, you will find you can really enhance every muscle with the wide variety of exercises available to you.
Dumbbells are not foreign to us, as they are a staple piece of equipment. But we often neglect to realize that dumbbells can help us tone and shape our physique. By working to counter act muscle imbalances, dumbbells are great for giving us a symmetrical aesthetic and a well-rounded physique, on top of building worthwhile muscle.
As we get into these exercises below, you may disagree with our “best of” list. That’s okay because certain exercises work better for others. If you find you ever want to change up your workouts for better growth and gains, then definitely check out some of these awesome exercises.
Let’s jump into dumbbells and take a look at what exercises really make dumbbells work to our advantage. These exercises are the best for each muscle group and will definitely take your workouts to new heights.
Benefits Of Dumbbells
The benefits of using dumbbells in your workouts are too hard to ignore. Great for training and for small spaces, dumbbells can be a game changer when it comes to building muscle and toning your physique. As convenient and versatile pieces of equipment, what you will find is something that cannot be replaced easily for what it can do for all your gains.
Benefits of dumbbells include:
Perfect for building muscle: Dumbbells are perfect for increasing muscle growth by creating time under tension and adding nice resistance to your workouts. Plus, you can always increase in weight for continued gains (1).
Adjust for strength and symmetry: You can work one arm or one leg at a time with dumbbells and this will be perfect when it comes to strength and symmetry for the ideal physique. This helps avoid any muscle imbalances (2).
Add variety and versatility to workouts: With dumbbells, you get the best of all worlds as they can be used for a variety of workouts and different exercises to challenge you. If you don’t feel like a barbell or kettlebell, then use dumbbells!
Best For Each Muscle Group
Let’s take a look at these exercises and explore what we think are the best dumbbell exercises for each muscle group. What you will find is that maybe you have different ones you enjoy best. Let us know and maybe you will change our minds.
Quads: Goblet Squat
The goblet squat is the perfect exercise to replace the barbell squat and can improve strength, mobility, and build mind-muscle connection when you do transfer over to the back squat. You will find you can really work your range of motion with this exercise.
Biceps: Alternating Bicep Curls
Of course, the alternating bicep curl is a classic exercise and one that has stood the test of time. By working each arm independently you start to build each arm to its respective size while working on symmetry. These are great during your workout, or for an end of the workout punisher to push through fatigue and build real strength.
Triceps: Triceps Kickbacks
A great triceps isolation exercise, kickbacks allows you to build strength and size effectively and with ease. Not only does this build muscle and strength, but it also will enhance stability in your shoulders and arms to assist sport specific and functional movements. And you need a great triceps workout to develop that horseshoe-shaped arm.
Chest: DB Bench Press
This exercise gives you a chance to work towards chest growth in a slight variation of the traditional bench press. If anything, this exercise makes it a bit more challenging because you have to balance two dumbbells as opposed to the even feel of one barbell. You won’t lift as much weight, but you will certainly still build muscle.
Back: Renegade Rows
Renegade rows work to build upper back and lat size while improving stability. With you in the push-up position working to row each dumbbell from that fixed point, you will find your core will be challenged as well as your lats. It is important to keep your feet planted on the ground and to not rotate your trunk so as to avoid injury and also get the most out of this exercise.
Shoulders: Arnold Press
The Arnold press is one of those shoulder exercises that you must know about for it can create those boulder shoulders in no time. What you will find with this exercise is a great movement perfect for developing arm strength and size while working to achieve a nice physique. This exercise is effective, but with the twisting of the dumbbell and the load on your shoulders, stretching and being careful are essential.
Hamstrings: Romanian Deadlift
The Romanian deadlift is one to build functional ability while also building up those hamstrings so they perform better overall. A real test of balance and stability, what you will find with this exercise is something to challenge you but also be rewarding in the end. A great way to target muscle imbalance, RDL’s are your one stop shop for hamstring gains.
Check out our list of the Best Dumbbells for more great muscle building and toning products!
Wrap Up
Dumbbells and their ability to boost our workouts are not to big ignored. A necessary piece of equipment in our workouts, what you will find is serious gains can be made to each muscle group. These exercises are the best of each, in our opinion, but let us know if you have a different one. The best part is, what works for one may not work for another, but with so many options out there, we can certainly try to find them all.
Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Images courtesy of Envato
Resources
Saeterbakken, A.; Tillaar, R.; Fimland, M. (2011). “A comparison of muscle activity and 1-RM strength of three chest-press exercises with different stability requirements”. (source)
Franettovich, M.; Hides, J.; Mendis, M.; Littleworth, H. (2011). “Muscle imbalance among elite athletes”. (source)
