All Posts By Presser
Iain Valliere Answers: Are Romantic Relationships Kryptonite For Bodybuilding Success?
[embedded content]
Iain Valliere debunks the concept of a romantic partner or spouse distracting from bodybuilding greatness.
Iain Valliere is a bodybuilder who is happily married. He’s also a successful pro bodybuilder – a sport that demands quite a bit of time. So much time, in fact, that many legendary pro bodybuilders have claimed that romantic relationships and families are too distracting for bodybuilding success. In order to become a champion, you need the kind of full focus that would either destroy the relationship or destroy your champion chances. But for Valliere, he finds the exact opposite to be true. In our latest GI Exclusive, Iain Valliere explains how his wife is a vital part of his bodybuilding success – instead of a distraction.
During our time interviewing a wide variety of bodybuilding legends and champions. We’ve seen a common sentiment among elite competitive bodybuilders. Dating, romantic relationships, and marriage are too challenging of a dedication to coincide with bodybuilding success. Most notably, 8x Mr. Olympia Lee Haney stated this during the filming of Generation Iron 2.
The idea here is that bodybuilding on a pro level requires so much focus and time – it’s impossible to share it with a romantic partner. During our conversation with Iain Valliere, we decided to ask him for his take on this concept. Valliere is happily married to Chris Bumstead’s sister – Melissa Valliere. She is a competitor in her own right – and according to Iain – has been a vital part of his success. Not a detriment to it.
Iain Valliere acknowledges that bodybuilding is a major time commitment both mentally and physically. But he also points out that kind of commitment is very challenging to do alone. Having a partner by his side through the ups and down of bodybuilding prep is a major support. It helps him remain more focused and achieve better results.
Iain Valliere uses an example to drive this point home. In 2020, Valliere competed in the Tampa Pro and reveals that during this contest prep he had a “mental breakdown” in his own words. He attributes this to his wife not being by his side for that particular competition.
“I had a mental breakdown. I really couldn’t handle all of the pressures and the stress being by myself,” Iain Valliere states in our interview – speaking of the Tampa Pro 2020. He continued:
“And you know, I was running around trying to get food. And worried about doing this, and worried about doing this. As well as, you know, when you are alone in your thoughts too much, you’re looking at social media and all of these things and I really got in my head.”
Iain Valliere goes on to say that having his wife by his side alleviates these issues. She is his support system. Being a fellow competitor, she can also provide much more pointed and empathetic support as she is more than familiar with the process.
And perhaps that is another key element for Iain Valliere’s success in both bodybuilding and marriage. If not a fellow competitor, finding someone who fully understands what the bodybuilding process really entails is key. If not, resentment can grow. Stress can come from resentment. And then both a bodybuilding career and a relationship can implode.
Iain Valliere also shares some tips and tactics that have worked to keep his marriage a focus while also putting his all into pro bodybuilding. Perhaps some of these tips can be helpful for those looking to find balance in the hectic life of competitive bodybuilding and relationships.
You can watch Iain Valliere’s take on relationships and bodybuilding – as well as tips to finding balance – in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
How Dennis ‘The Menace’ James Works Out For Upper Body Gains
Get a great pump like Dennis James himself and see serious gains.
Dennis James is a former professional bodybuilder from Germany who is well-known for his personality and successful bodybuilding career. With a big following on social media, he uses his platform to post new photos, throwbacks of his bodybuilding days, and those posts to inspire others to make their own desired changes.
For many of us, finding the right workout can be a challenge and one we may not be up for. We live busy lives, deal with a lot. The last thing we want to do is take time to sit and decipher who online is telling the truth and who is just plain lying. But it doesn’t have to be that hard. With professional bodybuilders and other athletes who now having larger platforms, we can take their workouts and what drives them to succeed and apply to our own routine and lives. Use these pros for they have done it before and know exactly what needs to be done to succeed at the highest of levels.
Dennis James has had a long and accomplished bodybuilding career and is definitely one to take notes from. He has competed against some of the best in the world and it wasn’t just by chance. His approach to training and nutrition is top notch and has served him well throughout his career.
Full Name: Dennis James
Weight
Height
Date Of Birth
255-265 lbs.
5’8’’
05/31/1966
Profession
Era
Nationality
Bodybuilder
1990, 2000, 2010
German, American
This upper body workout from Dennis consists of chest, arms, and shoulder exercises to give you a well-rounded and massive physique. By targeting this muscle groups individually, you can pay more attention to building each of them, working on mind-muscle connection, and seeing the gains you want most.
About Dennis James
Dennis James is a former professional bodybuilder born in Germany. He was always active and started training at a young age. But when he was 18-years old, he started bodybuilding and his training went to a whole new level. He began competing in junior competitions and would eventually grow his name more and more until he finally began competing on the biggest stage. He competed at Mr. Olympia seven times and proved he had what it took to be the best in the world.
He has been featured in many magazines and his social media presence is massive. His relationship with two-time Olympia Champ Big Ramy also brings increased notoriety as he continues to promote the sport of bodybuilding while inspiring others so they can succeed as he has.
Dennis James Training Routine
Dennis focuses on those heavy movements, and with his training partner as two-time Olympia champ Big Ramy, their workouts are simple but highly effective at seeing results. Dennis created an approach to lifting called the Menace Time Under Tension. Essentially, this involves lifting the weight slower, really involving the full range of motion and then returning to the starting position at a normal speed. It helps reduce injury and only adds to your gains.
Let’s take a look at these chest, arms, and shoulder workouts so you can start to see serious gains and a massive physique you want most. A mix of machine and free weight exercises, as well as mixing in those compound and isolation exercises, gives you a well-rounded and versatile workout, leaving room for alternatives if need be. The nice part is that many of these exercises can be changed out for others to provide for muscle confusion and offer the best for gains.
Chest
Exercises
Sets
Reps
Incline Machine Press
3
10
DB Chest Fly
3
10
Push Press
3
8
Cable Chest Fly
3
10
DB Press
3
10
Incline DB Fly
3
8
Arms
Exercises
Sets
Reps
Triceps Pushdowns
3
12
Machine Preacher Curls
3
12
Skullcrushers
3
10
One Arm Preacher Curl
3
10
One Arm Triceps Pushdown
3
10
Concentration Curls
3
12
Seated Hammer Curls
3
8
Incline Triceps Extensions
3
8
Shoulders
Exercises
Sets
Reps
Lateral Raise
3
10
Front Raise
3
10
Upright Row
3
10
Reverse Pec Deck
3
10
Dennis James Nutrition
Dennis focuses on a rather simple plan but makes sure he eats plenty of calories and tons of protein. When he would be in the offseason, his carb intake would increase, but his meals would still consist mainly of protein, like lean meats, and carbs, like brown rice. Following a simple diet allowed him to eat well, eat the foods he needed to, and make life easy when it came to preparing and cooking food.
Why Upper Body Workouts Are So Important
Working our upper bodies makes a lot of sense. For those us bodybuilders, building that massive upper half physique is what everyone sees. But when it comes down to building real gains, the benefit of a strong upper body plays into all aspects of our training and performance, as well as physical health. Working to strengthen muscles around those supporting joints limits injury and we tend to use our upper body muscles for many functional movements. Posture, imbalances, and developmental support are just some of the key benefits associated with building a strong, stable, and massive upper half as you seek the best for your gains.
Along with these great workouts from Dennis James, consider upper body workouts like the close grip lat pulldown for back and bis, hanging leg raises for a stronger core, and kettlebell rows for a versatile exercise to boost pulling movements.
Wrap Up
This workout from Dennis James is one to certainly fire up your muscles to grow so you only see the best in terms of growth and overall gains. Dennis has had an amazing career and knows just what it takes to compete with the best. Using his workouts and other advice to better ourselves and our routines can help see gains as great as his as we seek to embark on our own bodybuilding or fitness journey. Give this workout a try, get the right supplements to help you, and see those gains you want most in no time.
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 Dennis James Instagram
Juan Morel Sets Intensions for 2022 and 2023, Vows to Get Shredded
Juan Morel sets intentions for 2022 and 2023.
After some time away from the stage Juan Morel has set intentions for a return to form in 2022. The veteran bodybuilder took to Instagram to speak on his extended off time and what he wishes to accomplish in the new year.
In this day and age it’s all go, go, go. So many individuals believe that pushing themselves nonstop is the key to success. In one way this is undoubtedly true. In order to achieve a goal you have to continue at it, keep working consistently and be determined and disciplined. But some times, when success has been achieved, taking time to relax and recover is genuinely necessary. But sometimes relaxation can go a bit too far. That’s where Juan Morel recently found himself.
A veteran pro who’s been competing for well over ten years, Juan Morel has constantly been in training camp. Morel has competed at show after show over the years. That is until he took time away from competition.
After coming in 16th place at the 2020 Olympia Juan Morel has taken a break from competition. The veteran bodybuilder decided to take some time off from the stage. But while he’s enjoyed his downtime, complete with eating tons of cookies apparently, Morel has declared that he’s ready to jump back into action.
Declaration of Shred
In a recent post to Instagram Juan Morel stated his intentions for not only 2022 but potentially 2023 as well.
Here is my goal for 2022 is to get back in shape and getting ripped.
I have not been following any type of diet. It has been more of whatever I get my hands on and 95 percent of the time it’s cookies haha. And I’m not complaining it has been the best diet to follow ??
But I want to get back to looking shredded so comes New Years it will be time to cut down from 4-5 cookies a day to just on the weekend.
And before you guys ask am I going to compete 2022 well that answer to that is if I can get in a schedule that allows me to train the way I need to get back in competitive shape that YES. if I can’t find the time and I’m to busy I won’t be competing. The good thing is I’m still young only 39 and if I don’t compete 2022 there is always 2023.
Juan Morel has always been a top bodybuilder. At 39 years of age he still has some time to get in lean and shredded form. Perhaps he can draw inspiration from Dexter Jackson.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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.
Ronnie Coleman Discusses Recent Weight Gain Up To 285 Pounds
Ronnie Coleman has added 30 pounds of mass recently.
Ronnie Coleman is one of the best bodybuilders of all time and remains an influential voice in the sport. The eight-time Olympia champion still holds the record for most victories, along with Lee Haney, and this is one that might stay for a long time. Coleman remains active in the gym to this day despite suffering some injuries over the years.
Coleman has underwent many surgeries for different injuries in his career. This has changed as of late. Coleman has been enduring less surgeries and receiving stem cell treatments. In a recent YouTube video, Coleman credits these treatments for his recent weight gain. The legendary bodybuilder has been able to put on 30 pounds of mass recently.
“I got a lot more energy than I used to have. I have put on about 30 pounds. I went from like 255 pounds to 285 pounds, somewhere in there. I had to weigh myself about ten times to be sure,” Coleman explained.
Ronnie Coleman credits stem cell treatments for his weight gain but he has also been back in the gym in a big way. Coleman is working out six days a week and this is clearly a factor in his growth. At the same time, treatments have helped his recovery and less surgeries means that Coleman does not have to work his way back to normal.
“You know, I’ve had 13 surgeries the last five years and I was going and I had three in one year. so I was always in the hospital for awhile. I had back-to-back surgeries all the way up to 2020. That was the last time I had one.”
Coleman continued to explain that his diet has not changed overtime. This is a huge factor for bodybuilders when training and preparing for competition. Coleman is not competing anymore but remains active in the gym. This is the reason for his growth and progression in the gym, not his diet.
“I’ve always eaten the same thing. It’s not the diet.”
“me being able to workout consistently, you know, for almost two years straight…also that the stem cell had to do a lot because i used to be in a lot of pain all the time. now it’s like, you know, it’s a pain that i can take.”
Ronnie Coleman seems to be in tremendous shape since he has been able to get back to a consistent training regiment with no surgery holding him back. Coleman seems to be overcoming his injuries and strength is coming back. Weakness became a problem for Coleman in his life but doctors said that it could take two years for his nerves to improve. This is what happened and Coleman is back to crushing the gym each day.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Front Squat Without Wrist Pain Or The Risk Of The Barbell Sliding
Vital Front Squat Grip Variations
The traditional back squats work your quads, hamstrings, and glutes while the front squats primarily target your quads. The front squats can be harder to perform as compared to the back squats. The front squats can put a lot of pressure on your lower back, wrists, and forearms.
If this wasn’t enough, there is always the possibility of the bar sliding forward while you perform a front squat. There are two variations of the front squat which can put varying degrees of pressure on your wrists and forearms.
The Weightlifter Grip
The weightlifter grip is also known as the full grip. A full grip involves holding the barbell with an overhand grip right outside shoulder-width. You need to keep your elbows pointed up so your upper arms are at least parallel to the floor.
The weightlifter’s grip requires mobility in your wrists, forearms, shoulders and lower back, and is the harder of the two variations to perform. The full grip can help you keep the weights pinned to your shoulders so you can lift heavier weights.
The Bodybuilder Grip
The bodybuilder front squat grip involves holding the barbell with a crossed-arm grip. The crossed-arm grip is used by people who have limited mobility in their wrists and forearms. You can only hold the barbell in place with the bodybuilder front squat grip.
You can’t actively push the bar into your shoulders while you perform a front squat with this grip. It is even more important to keep your elbows pointed up with the bodybuilder’s grip as the chances of the bar sliding forward are significantly higher.
Get Rid of Wrist Pain During Front Squats
If you use the weightlifter’s grip, you can encounter wrist and forearm pain while performing the squats. You will be in a better position if you perform a couple of warmup exercises and stretches for your wrists before going into the squats.
Extended Arm Wrist Stretches
The extended arm wrist stretches are the simplest warmups for the front squats. Extend your right arm with your palm facing the ceiling. Gently pull the fingers of your right arm towards your body with your left hand. Hold the stretch for 10-30 seconds.
Repeat the process with your left arm as the base arm. After you’re done with two sets of this exercise, point your palm towards the floor and repeat the stretching exercise. Doing this will warm up your upper and lower forearms.
Open Chest Stretches
The open chest stretching will help get your shoulders, chest, and wrists get warmed up for the front squats. Stand beside a squat rack with your arm extended and keep your elbow locked out.
Place your fingers on the squat rack and slowly start rotating away from the squat rack. After you’re done with the extended arm and open chest stretch, you’ll feel improved mobility in your wrists, forearms, and shoulders.
Avoid the Risk of the Bar Sliding Forward During Front Squats
Most people avoid performing the front squats because they can’t keep the bar steady on their shoulders. The bar sliding problem persists with both the weightlifter and bodybuilder grips. Before placing the bar on your shoulders, push your shoulders and arms forward so the bar can rest in the hole formed in the shoulder joints.
The best way to get rid of the bar sliding problem is to actively push your elbows upwards while you’re performing a front squat. Doing this will also help you keep your back straight which will put more tension on your quads.
At any point during the front squats, your elbows should not go below parallel to the floor. Looking at the roof while performing the squats can help you in keeping your elbows pointed up and your back straight.
Which grip do you use while front squatting? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
*Header image courtesy of Envato Elements.
The Ultimate Workout for Building Shredded Hamstrings
Build Mass and Definition in Your Hamstrings
Most people have a love-hate relationship with training legs. They love to hate training their legs. Shredded legs are what separate the men from the boys. If you think building quads is hard, wait until you get serious about training your hamstrings.
Hamstrings are hard to develop since they are at the back of your legs. It’s hard to develop a mind-muscle connection with the hamstrings as you can’t see them in the mirror. Get ready to go through the most brutal hams workout of your life.
Exercise 1 – Wide Stance Squats – 3 Sets – 12, 10, 8 Reps
Squats are the king of all the leg exercises and we won’t miss utilizing it in our hams workout. Maintain a wider than shoulder width stance while performing the squats as it helps in recruiting hamstrings more than the quads.
Hip extensions help in activating the hamstrings, meaning your hams are most active as you straighten your legs and extend your hips. The wider the stance you take, the deeper your hips will flex resulting in exaggerating your hip extension and recruiting your hams.
Exercise 2 – Superset
– Leg Press – 3 Sets 30, 20, 10 Reps
– Good Mornings – 3 Sets 10, 20, 30 Reps
While performing the leg presses, place your feet at the top edge of the platform and keep the back support at a 60-degree angle. Keeping your feet at the top of the platform recruits your hams while placing them at the bottom activates your quads.
After performing 30 reps on the leg press, perform 10 reps on the good mornings. Keep your back arched and a slight bend in your knees while performing the good mornings. Don’t try to go too heavy on this exercise as it can lead to recruiting the lower back.
Exercise 3 – Lying Leg Curls – 6 Sets 30, 20, 10, 10, 20, 30 Reps
Lyings leg curls are for the legs what the preacher curls are for the biceps. Think of your hams as biceps and contract and squeeze them with every rep. By the end of the six sets, your hams should be filled with lactic acid and asking for mercy.
Change your feet placement on the pad with every set. Start the exercise with your feet placed wide apart on the pads. With every set, bring your feet closer and on the last set, your feet should be joined. The change in feet placement will work your hamstring from every angle.
Exercise 4 – Dumbbell Stiff Legged Deadlifts – 3 Sets 12, 10, 8 Reps
Dumbbell stiff legged deadlifts are a compound exercise and help in building muscle mass and strength. Keep your knees bent throughout the exercise and pause and squeeze your hams at the bottom of the movement.
Performing the Romanian deadlifts with dumbbells instead of a barbell gives you better leverage and can help with activating your hamstrings. Place your toes on a quarter plate to increase the leverage further by increasing the range of motion.
Exercise 5 – Superset
– Barbell Hip Thrusts – 3 Sets 20, 15, 10 Reps
– Glute Ham Hyperextensions – 3 Sets 10, 15, 20 Reps
The barbell hips thrusts and GHD target the hams and the glutes and can improve the separation between the muscles. Keep your feet shoulder width apart, maintain a full range of motion and pause at the top of the movement while performing the barbell hip thrusts.
Glute ham hyperextensions have been brought into the spotlight by CrossFit athletes. If you don’t have a GHD table at your gym, lie down on a flat bench and ask someone to sit on your calves. You could also perform this exercise on a lat pull-down machine by placing your knees on the seat and inserting your ankles between the seat and the pads.
Do you train your hamstrings and quads on the same day? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
*Header image courtesy of Envato Elements.
Arnold Schwarzenegger And Maria Shriver Officially Divorced After 10 Years
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver will split their $400 million estate.
It has been 10 years since Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver separated. On Tuesday, their divorce became official in Los Angeles Court. The divorce had been mediated by a private judge, who signed off on the divorce at the beginning of December. To be finalized, it had to enter the court system by a sitting judge. This is what happened Tuesday morning.
There have been a few reasons as to why the divorce took so long but a complicated property agreement was at the top of the list. This exact settlement is private but it is estimated to be upwards of $400 million. Schwarzenegger and Shriver did not have any prenuptial agreements but the estate will likely be split right down the middle.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver remained cordial over the last decade. Despite being in different relationships over time, the two have attended gatherings with their four children. Joseph Baena is Schwarzenegger’s son who he fathered with the family’s housekeeper. This is the reason the two became separated.
Baena is now 24 years old and has made headlines for looking just like his father. Banea is in incredible shape and even has ambitions of becoming an actor. If he wants to continue down a fitness path, Baena has a leg up being the son of the greatest bodybuilder of all-time.
Shriver filed for divorce on July 1, 2011 with the intention of keeping the news as quiet as possible. Schwarzenegger claimed that he did not know Baena, who was born in 1996, was his biological son at first. Mildred Baena, the family housekeeper, and her husband also separated shortly after Baena was born.
Maria Shriver is a journalist and member of the Kennedy family. She is the former First Lady of California from when Schwarzenegger was Governor. Shriver and Schwarzenegger were both in politics during their marriage.
Arnold Schwarzenegger made a name for himself in America upon coming from Austria. His incredible size and passion for bodybuilding led to seven Olympia titles. Following his career in bodybuilding, Schwarzenegger became an actor and politician. He remains an influential voice in bodybuilding while hosting his annual Arnold Sports Festival. This began in 1989 when it was named after him.
Both Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver will split the estate and go on with the relationship they currently have. After 10 years apart, the two have made it work and made it clear that their children are most important.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Arnold Schwarzenegger And Maria Shriver Officially Divorced After 10 Years
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver will split their $400 million estate.
It has been 10 years since Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver separated. On Tuesday, their divorce became official in Los Angeles Court. The divorce had been mediated by a private judge, who signed off on the divorce at the beginning of December. To be finalized, it had to enter the court system by a sitting judge. This is what happened Tuesday morning.
There have been a few reasons as to why the divorce took so long but a complicated property agreement was at the top of the list. This exact settlement is private but it is estimated to be upwards of $400 million. Schwarzenegger and Shriver did not have any prenuptial agreements but the estate will likely be split right down the middle.
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver remained cordial over the last decade. Despite being in different relationships over time, the two have attended gatherings with their four children. Joseph Baena is Schwarzenegger’s son who he fathered with the family’s housekeeper. This is the reason the two became separated.
Baena is now 24 years old and has made headlines for looking just like his father. Banea is in incredible shape and even has ambitions of becoming an actor. If he wants to continue down a fitness path, Baena has a leg up being the son of the greatest bodybuilder of all-time.
Shriver filed for divorce on July 1, 2011 with the intention of keeping the news as quiet as possible. Schwarzenegger claimed that he did not know Baena, who was born in 1996, was his biological son at first. Mildred Baena, the family housekeeper, and her husband also separated shortly after Baena was born.
Maria Shriver is a journalist and member of the Kennedy family. She is the former First Lady of California from when Schwarzenegger was Governor. Shriver and Schwarzenegger were both in politics during their marriage.
Arnold Schwarzenegger made a name for himself in America upon coming from Austria. His incredible size and passion for bodybuilding led to seven Olympia titles. Following his career in bodybuilding, Schwarzenegger became an actor and politician. He remains an influential voice in bodybuilding while hosting his annual Arnold Sports Festival. This began in 1989 when it was named after him.
Both Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver will split the estate and go on with the relationship they currently have. After 10 years apart, the two have made it work and made it clear that their children are most important.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
WATCH: Natural Bodybuilder Hip Thrusts 3x Her Weight
Natural bodybuilder hip thrusts 3x her weight for reps.
The final moments of 2021 are underway, and many are spending it unapologetically indulging in food and drinks while lounging around on a La-Z-Boy recliner. But some determined individuals are starting their New Year goals early. Especially natural bodybuilding competitors prepping for 2022 natural bodybuilding shows – including a particular one who hip thrusts 3x her weight!
A perfect specimen of this is April Young, a Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (PNBA) athlete. She’s got big plans in 2022, including earning her pro bikini card at the International Natural Bodybuilding Association (INBA) Battle for Cancer competition in late May of 2022.
On Instagram (IG), her personal trainer shared a video of her hip thrusting weight for reps 3x her weight – 315 lbs! @harrisbrotherstraining said,
“April is 5 months out from the Inba Battle Against Cancer May 28th!! She’s been putting in that work this off-season and is now up to hip thrusting 3 times her body weight for reps!! (315lbs)
Stay tuned as she preps to rock that stage and claim that Pnba Bikini Pro Card!”
You can see the full IG clip below:
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CXy8ZgeJq89/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
You can look at the initial 2022 INBA/PNBA schedule here.
Natural Bodybuilding Bikini Divisions
In natural bodybuilding, the INBA/PNBA has a few Bikini divisions – Bikini Divas, Bikini Mamas, and Bikini Angels. Below is a breakdown of their similarities and differences.
Bikini Divas
Bikini Divas judges tests for a shapely and toned body without overdoing it with muscle mass. Top contenders in this division will have less muscle mass than the Woman’s Bodybuilding category. Presentation and sex appeal are essential criteria as well.
Bikini Mamas
The Bikini Mamas division is looking for the same thing as the Bikini Divas division. However, there’s a catch. As the name suggests, these women are also moms! To compete in this division, athletes must have given birth within the last 1-3 years.
Bikini Angels
This division is open to fitness, bikini, and figure girls with a slight twist: each athlete wears angel wings as part of their attire. Each contestant must display poise and confidence. Your presentation and personality are critical in this class.
We’re not entirely sure which bikini division April Young is competing in this May for the chance to earn her bikini pro card. However, we can assume she may attempt the Bikini Mamas division. According to the IG hashtag – #fitmom – in the IG post above, Young’s a mom. If she wins, she’ll receiver her pro card and have the opportunity to compete at Natural Olympia professionally.
Natural Olympia
Competitors in the INBA/PNBA league compete at each natural bodybuilding competition for a chance of competing at Natural Olympia – The Pinnacle of Natural Bodybuilding. The best drug-testing laboratory tests these natural athletes – World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The INBA/PNBA makes sure to drug test their athletes both in-season and off-season. Athletes who fail a drug test at any time will be banned from competing and stripped of their title.
Generation Iron would like to wish April Young good luck in 2022!
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for the latest news on natural bodybuilding athletes!
Eddie Hall vs. Hafthor Bjornsson: Who Has Had The Most Significant Transformation In 2021?
Eddie Hall and Hafthor Bjornsson have both gone through serious physique transformations.
Hafthor Bjornsson and Eddie Hall have a long history that could finally come to a head in 2022. Both athletes made a name for themselves as powerlifters and saw plenty of each other during their peak. Now, Hall and Bjornsson have made the transition to boxing but have been unable to face each other. That could change in 2022 if both fighters remain healthy.
This was the problem in September. The two were set to meet but Hall suffered a triceps injury that forced him to back out. Now, the two sides are negotiating to fight sometime early next year.
This is a feud that has been present for years. Hall won the 2017 World’s Strongest Man competition with Bjornsson finishing second. The very next year, after three runner-up finishes, Bjornsson was able to take the title from Hall. In 2016, Hall became the first person ever to deadlift 500kg (1,102lb). None other than Hafthor Bjornsson topped this world record by a single kilogram in 2020.
To go from strongman rivals to boxing rivals was an easy transition. The overall physique transformations that both athletes have gone through took a bit more work. They are eye-opening and impressive in their own ways. The question is — who has gone through the better transformation in 2021?
Eddie Hall
Strongman athletes are a different breed. The strength they display is other worldly and this is why they must keep on the weight and take in a hefty amount of calories. For Eddie Hall, his meals would total around 12,000 calories when he was lifting competitively.
Hall admits to eating many times throughout the day and even adding some extra at night to make the calorie intake necessary to obtain strength. This is the biggest difference since transitioning to boxing. Hall now consumes around 6,000 calories, which is half of what he used to do. This includes anywhere from five or more protein shakes per day.
Hall has lost nearly 100 pounds since focusing on his boxing career. His tricep injury did not help but he quickly returned to training with his other arm. Hall begins his day with a mile and a half, run or walk, in the morning before he hits the ring for training. His overall passion for boxing and dedication to get in the ring has been incredible and makes for an exciting year in 2022.
Unlike Bjornsson, Eddie Hall has not stepped in the ring just yet. He has not appeared in any exhibition bouts and does not plan to at the moment. His September fight with Bjornsson was set to be the first of his career. It still will be but just a few months later. The work and overall transformation that Hall has made is as impressive as it gets.
Hafthor Bjornsson
Hafthor Bjornsson is called “The Mountain” and for good reason. He is a former World’s Strongest Man champion who also has three Arnold Strongman Classic victories. Bjornsson even appeared on “Game Of Thrones” starring as big beast because of his incredible size. Since moving to the boxing ring, Bjornsson has slimmed down significantly and is as shredded as ever.
Bjornsson’s most recent fight came against Devon Larratt, who stepped in for Hall following his injury. The 6-foot-9 athlete entered the fight around 328 pounds. This was significantly less than the 450-pound mark that Bjornsson would remain at when lifting competitively.
While lifting, Bjornsson would eat up to seven meals a day that totaled around 10,000 calories. Since making the transition to boxing, Bjornsson has cut down to about 3,000 calories and four or five meals. Training has also changed as he was lifting heavy for fewer reps leading up to a competition. In the offseason, Bjornsson would add more reps to his sets.
Now, Hafthor Bjornsson has been focusing on boxing technique and endurance. This is necessary to last in the ring for the duration of a fight. This includes little to no weight training. Bjornsson focuses on his work in the ring while still performing push-ups and sit-ups.
Hafthor Bjornsson completed two exhibition fights against Steven Ward and Simon Vallily before taking on Larratt in his first professional fight. Bjornsson is now 1-0 in his career with his next fight looking like it will be against Hall in 2022.
Who is the winner?
So who has had the best transformation in 2021?
Both Eddie Hall and Hafthor Bjornsson have made incredible progress and looking shredded in preparation for their boxing match. What we do know is that both fighters will be ready after months of tension building up.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.