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Bakhar Nabieva Workout For The Perfect Legs
Bakhar Nabieva is a 23-year old Ukranian. Nabieva arguably has the most shredded legs you will ever see on a girl. If you’re a guy and you’re reading this, you might feel a tiny bit ashamed of your wheels on seeing her.
Nabieva is the dream girl for guys who dig chicks with shredded legs and a perfectly shaped butt. Bakhar’s leg workout could easily be one of the hardest lower body routines you will go through.
Bakhar Nabieva Workout For Killer Legs
Squats – 3 Sets 12 Reps
It shouldn’t be a surprise to see squats on this list. Squats are a complete leg builder. If you have skinny legs and want to add size to them, squats are your best bet. Squats are a compound (multi-joint) exercise and will help in shaping your quads, hams, and glutes.
Squatting will add size to your legs and will make you stronger at other exercises as well. The range of motion is the key while squatting. ‘Ass to the grass’ is the way to go while squatting. Bakhar uses 80 kgs for warming up, we don’t expect the same from you.
2. Romanian Deadlifts – 3 Sets 12 Reps
Bakhar is big on training hamstrings. Hamstrings were her weakest muscle group when she started working out. Deadlifts are a compound movement and recruit multiple muscle groups.
While performing the Romanian deadlifts, maintain a slight bend in your knees and keep your back arched. While on the concentric movement, push back your glutes so all the tension is on your hamstrings.
3. Walking Lunges – 3 Sets 12 Reps
Walking lunges are an incredibly effective exercise at building the tear drop in your quads. Nabieva uses a barbell while performing the lunges. You don’t need to take long strides while performing this exercise, keep your strides normal.
While performing a lunge, the quad of your rear leg should be parallel to the calf of your front leg. Your front leg’s quad and calf should be forming a right angle. Your rear leg should be only an inch from the floor at the bottom of the movement.
4. Unilateral Hamstring Curls – 3 Sets 12 Reps
Bakhar Nabieva loves doing the unilateral hamstring curls. Hamstring curls on a machine is an isolation exercise. Using a machine helps in maintaining constant tension on the muscle throughout the exercise.
Unilateral hamstring curls involve training one leg at a time. Unilateral exercises are great at fixing muscle imbalances and building strength. You can even have a better mind-muscle connection with your hamstrings while doing the unilateral curl variation.
5. Hack Squat Good Mornings – 3 Sets 12 Reps
Hacks squat good mornings are one of Bakhar’s favorite exercises. Performing good mornings on a hack squat helps in isolating the hamstrings as compared to performing them with free weights.
You need to make sure you don’t put on too much weight on the machine while performing this exercise. Keep the reps slow and deliberate and squeeze the living hell out of your hams at the top of the movement.
What do you think of the Bakhar Nabieva workout for building an iron butt? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
*Header image courtesy of Instagram
How To Reduce Muscle Imbalances For Bodybuilders
Although inevitable, there are ways to prevent and fix unfortunate muscle imbalances.
Our bodies are designed to move and that movement is reciprocal by nature. With so many muscle groups working together to coordinate our movements and ensure efficiency, muscle imbalances are bound to happen. Whether by natural development or working one side more than the other in the gym, these imbalances can interfere with proper movement, lifting technique, or just sheer aesthetic. Working for a healthy balance of muscle length and strength between opposing groups is the end all goal for all of us.
If you look in the mirror and see one muscle is bigger than the other, or find one muscle is stronger than the other on the opposing side, then you are suffering from a muscle imbalance. There are a host of reasons why a muscle imbalance can occur from natural development, athletic activity requiring specific movements, poor exercise form, or an unbalanced workout plan.
Two types of muscle imbalances can occur. The first could be the result of neglecting and not properly training a muscle as completely as its opposing side, or there can be insufficient activation during certain compound exercises.
For bodybuilders, a muscle imbalance is absolutely debilitating. In a sport where aesthetic and symmetry are the goals, even the slightest muscle imbalance can throw your whole physique out of whack. Three types of symmetry exist when it comes to the muscular balance of the human body. Visual muscle symmetry is the correct ratios between length, circumference, and muscle shape. Functional symmetry is anything that aids in the proper motor patterns for the human body including good posture, joint mobility, flexibility, and strength. Strength symmetry is the ability to have all around similar strength, but for athletes who specialize in certain movements and muscle developments, this can be challenging (1).
If you do suffer from a muscle imbalance, or multiple muscle imbalances, it is not too late to correct it. Through modified training and attention, you can change the aesthetic of your body and work to improve whatever imbalances are there. See great progress with these tips and work to get back on track with your physique and fitness goals.
Why Fixing Muscle Imbalances Matter
For bodybuilders looking to maintain a solid, toned, symmetrical physique, muscle imbalances can of course cause discouragement especially after all of the hard work put in. Although this is a surface reason for why muscle imbalances matter, for those preparing for competition or those who just want to look great, it is understandable that this would be disappointing. But fixing muscle imbalances is important for more than just the surface reason of a symmetrical physique.
If a muscle imbalance is too big, then certain muscles have to work harder to overcompensate to correct form or lift that heavy weight which can lead to injury and pain. Even still, those weak muscles that are asking for help from others are vulnerable and can become injured themselves (2). Muscle imbalances can be a real double-edged sword for hurting those stronger muscle as well as the weaker muscles are two possibilities no one wants.
How To Fix It
You’ve identified you have a muscle imbalance and have made the choice to fix it. Working diligently with a workout plan and correct form is the first step to getting your physique and fitness to where you want to it to be.
Find Out Why It Occurred In The First Place
This may be challenging especially if it just a natural imbalance, but really think of your workouts, your form, and any everyday tasks you may do more of. If you’ve noticed one side is particularly stronger than the other in workouts and you still powered through, we’ll show you ways to fix that. If it is more occupational and something unavoidable because it is your livelihood or something you don’t want to give up, we’ll show you how to fix that too (3). But identifying the cause, if possible, is a great start to tackling muscle imbalances.
Start with Your Weaker Side
Starting with your weaker side will allow you to take note of just how imbalanced the muscle is. It will also serve as a benchmark for down the line as you progress because you will notice the once weaker side now getting stronger. While it is frustrating, do not lift more than you can on the weaker side. With time, the imbalance will fade, but avoiding injury and unwanted pain off the bat is equally as important.
Add More Single-Side Exercises
Adding more single-side exercises will allow for great isolation of muscle groups and allow you to train each one separately while also working both sides in the same workout. Single-side exercises will target certain muscles that may be imbalanced and will also allow you to focus more on form. Using resistance bands or cables with lighter weight will be great for mind-muscle connection and improving muscle imbalances (4).
Add Volume
With adding volume, it is important to not go crazy with the amount of reps. This can simply be adding in an extra set or two of just the weaker side arm. That way, you still work the dominant muscle, but the weaker one gets slightly more attention as you build the strength back up.
Focus On Form
Form, form, and form. Working on form and technique will ensure you exercise properly and not rely on certain muscles to compensate for weaker ones. Alongside a trainer or a coach, or even just looking in the mirror, will aid in proper form to keep you lifting big, looking great, and staying balanced.
Wrap Up
Muscle imbalances can be an unfortunate part of our training. With so much going into our mission for big gains and a toned physique, these imbalances can be discouraging for our overall goals. But preventing them and fixing them comes down to hard work and determination while really focusing on the weaker muscles. Through changes in your workout plan and technique, you can identify where these imbalances come from and work to look and feel great.
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
Palmieri-Smith, R. M.; Lepley, L. K. (2015). “Quadriceps Strength Asymmetry Following ACL Reconstruction Alters Knee Joint Biomechanics and Functional Performance at Time of Return to Activity”. (source)
Franettovich, M.; Hides, J.; Mendis, M.D.; Littleworth, H. (2011). “Muscle imbalances among elite athletes”. (source)
Lee, Dong-Eun; Seo, Sang-Min; Woo, Hee-Soon, Won, Sung-Yun (2018). “Analysis of body imbalance in various writing sitting postures using sitting pressure measurement”. (source)
Tzur, Adam; Roberts, Brandon (2017). “Scientific Recommendations for Strength and Hypertrophy Training from 150+ Studies (part 1 of 3)”. (source)
Build A Six-Pack With These 6 Moves
6 Exercises For A Shredded Core
A shredded midsection is what separates the men from the boys. You need to have your diet and exercise on point if you want to build solid abs. While it’s true abs are made in the kitchen, you need to train your core optimally to get the desired definition in your midriff.
Most people rely on a few exercises to build abs. Your core is divided into three parts; upper, middle and lower. You need to have exercises in your workouts which train all the three sections of your midriff.
1. Cable Crunches – 3 Sets 20 Reps
Using cables helps you maintain constant tension on your abs throughout the exercise. The problem with free weight exercises is, you have tension on your muscles on the concentric motion but have no tension on the eccentric motion.
Cable crunches focus on your upper abs. Make sure you keep your core tight throughout the movement. Exhale and squeeze your abs at the bottom of the movement to make the most of this exercise.
2. Crunches – 3 Sets 20 Reps
Crunches are the gold standard when it comes to ab training. The range of motion is the key while performing this exercise. You should be touching your knees at the top of the movement and lie flat on the floor at the bottom of the movement.
If body weight crunches are too easy for you, feel free to add resistance by using weights. Most people just go through the motions when doing crunches. You should keep your core tight and contract your abdominal muscles with every rep.
3. Hanging Leg Raises – 3 Sets 15 Reps
Hanging leg raises can be a brutal exercise if done correctly. This exercise work on your middle and lower abs. Fat on the lower belly can be the hardest to lose and this exercise can help you see results.
While performing this exercise make sure you’re not swinging your body. You need to keep your upper body stable and only have movement in the lower body. Hold your legs at the top of the movement and bring them back slowly.
4. Decline Crunches – 3 Sets 15 Reps
Decline crunches will set your lower abs on fire. While doing decline crunches, keep your hands on either side of your head. Don’t lock your fingers at the back of your head. Avoid using momentum to lift yourself up.
Maintain a mind-muscle connection with your abs. Exhale, contract and squeeze your abs at the top of the movement and pause at the top for a second. Slowly lower your body to the starting position and repeat.
5. Russian Twists – 3 Sets 15 Reps
Obliques are one of the most overlooked muscle groups while training abs. A midriff can never be deemed shredded if it doesn’t have ripped fish-gills like obliques. Russian twists are an incredibly effective exercise in developing your obliques.
Lie down on the floor with your knees bent and your feet four inches off the ground. Your quads and upper body should be forming an imaginary V-shape. Hold a weight plate in front of your chest while locking out your elbows. Rotate to your right side, exhale and squeeze your obliques, repeat for the left side.
6. Planks – 3 Sets 1 Minute Each
Planks have earned a name for themselves when it comes to building a strong core. Your abs will already be smoked by the time you reach this exercise. Planks can strengthen your core which will not only help in building abs but will also make you stronger at other exercises.
While performing the planks, make sure your body is in a straight line. Your hips shouldn’t be hanging low or be forming a bridge. Keep your core tight throughout this exercise and your head and neck in line with your body.
Which is your favorite ab exercise?
Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
Lose 10lbs Within a Month Using This Cardio Technique
The Best Cardio Technique For Losing 10lbs In A Month
Many people quit the fit lifestyle when they can’t seem to lose weight even after hitting the gym for a couple of months. There are a few reasons for their inability to lose weight of which unawareness of the right techniques is the biggest one.
In this article, we’ll be presenting a cardio technique which can be followed by beginners and pros alike to lose 10lbs of fat within a month. You can perform this technique if your gym has limited cardio equipment or even if you don’t have a gym membership.
Pre-Requisite – Diet
Before we begin, you need to have a customized diet plan in place to see the desired results. You need to be on a calorie-deficit diet plan if you’re looking to lose weight. A calorie deficit diet means that you’ll be expending more calories than you eat.
Your daily caloric intake should be made up of 40% carbs, 30% protein, and 30% fats. You’re setting yourself up for failure if you’re relying solely on cardio to lose weight and not following a customized diet plan.
If you want to lose 1lb of weight every week, you should reduce 500 calories from your existing daily calorie intake. We don’t recommend shaving off more than 1,000 calories from your diet in a single week.
Different Cardio
In this technique, you’ll be performing cardio twice a day. Don’t worry, you don’t need any fancy equipment (or any machines at all) while following this system. The two cardio sessions would consist of –
LISS – First Workout
LISS or Low-Intensity Steady State cardio is a form of cardio exercise where you maintain the same low-intensity cardio pace for a set amount of time. The LISS cardio session is to be done first thing in the morning after waking up, and on an empty stomach.
The low-intensity steady-state cardio is a form of aerobic exercise where your body uses oxygen as a form of energy to burn fat. Some examples of LISS are road biking a walk in the park or on the treadmill, swimming.
Your LISS cardio session would range between 30-45 minutes. If you’re a beginner, LISS is a great way of building up your fitness level. Adding LISS to your fitness routine can help your body metabolize fat.
HIIT – Second Workout
Your second cardio session should be HIIT (high-intensity interval training). You need to do the HIIT workout in the evening, ideally after your weight training workout. In a HIIT workout, you focus on quick bursts of high-intensity cardio followed by a rest period.
An example of a HIIT workout is – sprinting all-out for 30 seconds, followed by a short period of rest or walking before sprinting again. This cycle of work-rest periods is repeated for 10-15 minutes.
HIIT is an anaerobic exercise and uses the stored ATP and glucose in your body as fuel to burn fat. Performing the HIIT after the LISS workout will help you in burning the metabolized fat.
Each of the cardio techniques has its benefits. Using both of them in your training program will help you get the best results.
Header image courtesy of Envato Elements
How often do you do cardio?
Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Hafthor Bjornsson Defeats Devon Larratt By Technical Knockout
Thor Bjornsson defeated Devon Larratt and this is how you can watch!
2018 World’s Strongest Man Hafthor “Thor” Bjornsson will do battle this weekend against multiple-time arm wrestling champion Devon Larratt. It’s a showdown of strength athletes that no one thought they’d see.
In what was supposed to be a battle between strongman rivals Eddie Hall and Thor Bjornsson has now taken a different turn. After suffering a bicep injury, Hall was forced to withdraw from the match leaving Thor without an opponent for their proposed September showdown. That is until arm wrestler Devon Larratt stepped up to the plate.
The battle set to take place in Dubai should be a battle of heavy hitters. Thor Bjornsson has been working on his boxing skills with consistency for over a year and a half now and has made some great strides. The skills he’s been able to build have been truly impressive and show that he has more than enough talent to acquit himself well against professional boxers. Devon Larratt on the other hand has little to no boxing experience.
The champion arm wrestler recently admitted he’s a terrible boxer ahead of his match with Thor Bjornsson. While arm wrestlers are known for their immense strength, you need more than power to be able to be a successful boxer. Devon Larratt certainly has a uphill battle ahead of him.
Here’s How You Can Watch The Match
The match, including eight other bouts, is available on pay-per-view on CoreSports.world for $9.99 plus tax. Take a glimpse at the full fight card below.
Who won the battle of the strength sport giants?
Thor Bjornsson and Devon Larratt went to war this past Saturday. The two fought admirably, but as time went on Bjornsson showed the difference in skill with his sharper technical ability.
Thor Bjornsson defeated Devon Larratt by TKO in round one.
Thor Vs. Larratt Quick Results:
Hafthor Bjornsson vs. Devon Larratt — Bjornsson def. Larratt by TKO in Round OneJacob Heppner vs. Josh Bridges — Heppner def. Bridges by unanimous decisionAnthony de Bruijn vs. Giorgi Gachechiladze — de Brujin def. Gachechiladze by unanimous decisionMartin Bakole vs. Haruna Osumanu — Bakole def. Osumanu by KO in Round OneStefi Cohen vs. Marcela Nieto — Majority drawAvril Mathie vs. Jesca Mfinanga — Mathie def. Mfinaga by unanimous decision
Did you tune in for the fights?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Editorial writer at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is also a martial arts instructor and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
Hafthor Bjornsson Vs Devon Larratt Fight Crashes Core Sports Website
Core Sports website suffers outages seemingly due to popularity of Thor Bjornsson Vs Devon Larratt boxing match.
We are mere hours away from the much anticipated Hafthor Bjornsson vs Devon Larratt boxing match. And it seems that users who have purchased the PPV are not able to view the stream – at least, not on the Core Sports official website. The Core Sports website has crashed for many users – citing a database error.
What originally started as a Hafthor vs Eddie Hall strongmen-turned-boxers mega fight – the premiere event suffered some setbacks and a few lineup changes. This was largely due to Eddie Hall suffering an injury and needing to drop out of the match. With the strongman match postponed for now – Bjornsson agreed to match up with Devon Larratt. The title fight is to take place today at 4pm EST.
But it seems those who wish to Hafhtor Bjornsson fight are now facing another hurder – as the official website of the live stream is currently suffering outage issues. At the time of this writing no official statement has been made by Core Sports. It seems as if the overwhelming popularity of the fight has caused the website to crash.
Technically, the PPV event has already begun – with other fights on the card leading up to the headliner match of Hafhtor Bjornsson vs Devon Larratt. With a mere hours away, fans are hoping the issue is resolved in time.
In the latest promotional Instagram post made by Core Sports – many fans have flooded the comments stating that they cannot watch the stream or even load the website without an error message:
Hafthor Bjornsson vs Devon Larratt: The Story So Far
Leading up to the fight, Thor Bjornsson has been working on his boxing skills with consistency for over a year and a half now and has made some great strides. The skills he’s been able to build have been truly impressive and show that he has more than enough talent to acquit himself well against professional boxers. His transformation weight loss and shred has also garnered much attention in both the strongman and boxing worlds.
Devon Larratt on the other hand has little to no boxing experience. The champion arm wrestler recently admitted he’s a terrible boxer ahead of his match with Thor Bjornsson. While arm wrestlers are known for their immense strength, you need more than power to be able to be a successful boxer. Devon Larratt certainly has a uphill battle ahead of him.
This kind of website overload isn’t necessarily a new story in the history of popular streaming events. HBO’s massively popular Game Of Thrones series often suffered website and streaming outages during series finales and premieres – due to the overwhelming popularity of the show.
Unlike Game Of Thrones, however, this is a PPV event with fans paying specifically for this one singular stream. As a live sporting event – this kind of outage is painfully frustrating to those looking to see the fight live – and those looking to get their money’s worth.
Some fans have commented that the Core Sports app has faired better with logging into the stream. If you are set to watch and having trouble connecting to the website – try visiting app.coresports.tv and logging in with your account. Generation Iron has not confirmed that this technique works – but it may be helpful for those worried of missing the headlining event.
This story is still developing – so stay tuned to Generation Iron Fitness Network for more updates and results for the match as they become available!
Monster Leg Workout With Klaus Myren Riis
Check out this mean but effective leg workout from bodybuilding pro Klaus Myren Riis.
Leg day. We all know we need it, but too often we make an excuse and jump over to the bench press. It’s easy to spot who in the gym has skipped a leg day (or two), and for those of us who take pride in working out our legs, sometimes we find ourselves struggling for diversity. Some people argue the basics work best and that going back to fundamental movements and exercises will increase muscle growth. Others preach more complex workouts to target many muscles at once to promote big gains. But which one is best?
Professional bodybuilder Klaus Myren Riis says that the basics are just as effective as anything else. As a coach, fitness instructor, and personal trainer, Riis has helped so many people find their niche and see those big gains they thought would never come. Starting out as a fitness model and partaking in fitness competitions, Riis became known for his generosity and knowledge by those looking for guidance when it came to their own health and fitness. As Denmark’s first professional bodybuilder, he has competed in many different competitions and amassed a large following.
His work as a coach and personal trainer has done wonders for so many looking to progress in their own lives. He has helped so many competitors on the national and international level as coach of Team Riis Physiques take home the top prize and his 18 years of experience has given him great clout amongst fitness enthusiasts and athletes seeking a healthier lifestyle.
As a spokesmodel for health and fitness, he loves traveling the world and meeting fans from his massive social media following. For Riis, “Being fit, working out, and living a healthy lifestyle is what I love and live for. It has gotten me to experience different, exciting and challenging jobs and activities all around the world.”
This basic but effective leg day workout is a great way to improve your overall performance and see huge muscle growth. Give this routine a try and take advice from one of the best in the business.
Leg Extensions
Leg extensions are great for targeting the quads and are considered an open chain kinetic exercise, meaning the chain of movement is open and your legs are free to move. A strong quad can have great benefits to strengthen key attachments at the knee joint (1).
How to: Place your hands on the bar and your knees will be on the pad at 90 degrees. Lift your legs until they are extended straight, but do not lock them out. As you lower your legs, exhale to the starting position.
Total: 4 set of 15 reps each. On the last set, do 10 reps, drop the weight, do 10 more reps, drop the weight again, and do 10 more reps plus 10 partial reps.
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Seated Leg Curls
Seated leg curls are a great hamstring exercise that move the weight through the knee. At the starting position, your hamstrings are relatively stretched, but as the weight starts to move, they contract to move the weight. The longer the muscle length, the more resistance can be applied to the muscle.
How to: Your back will be against the pad and your thighs under the leg pad. Your legs will be fully extended out in front of you and parallel to the starting position. Bending your knee, begin to lower your legs to a 90-degree angle. After a slight pause, raise your legs to the starting position.
Total: 4 sets of 10 reps. With each set, do 10 reps leaning forward off the back pad and 10 reps leaning back.
Good Old Squats
The squat is a great leg exercise that many of us already incorporate into our leg day. Squats can strengthen your core which provides benefits to posture and can increase balance. By strengthening the muscle of your lower body, squats will allow for better execution of full body movements to reduce the risk of injury (2).
How to: Place the bar just below shoulder height and rest it on the top of your back. Your feet should be slightly wider than shoulder width apart. Lower so your hips are below your knees and on the way up, drive through your feet and push your hips back to the starting position.
Total: 10 sets of 10 reps pyramiding up in weight on each set.
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Sissy Squats
Sissy Squats are an underutilized exercise and a great way to supplement a quad exercise because they don’t put excessive pressure on your joints. These are great for those with a bulge in the back of the thighs because they work out your quads without any involvement from the glutes or hamstrings.
How to: With your feet slightly closer than shoulder-width apart, maintain a flat back and tight core and sit back as if a chair was under you. Maintain a constant breathe and stay moving at a gradual speed.
Total: 4 sets of 15 reps.
Lunges
Lunges are great quad builders with the added benefits of strengthening your knees and increasing high leg muscle activity (3) while toning your glutes. They can also increase hip flexibility, core strength, and improve balance.
How to: Maintaining a tight core, step one foot forward slightly off center and bend to the ground. Alternate each leg and do so in a continuous movement.
Total: 4 sets of 30 reps.
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Tips From Riis
Too often does Riis see people in the gym not pushing themselves, either by texting or talking on the phone and not going back to the BASICS. A lot of influencers on social media will try and make money by inventing new, complex ways to work out, but all you need are the basics to see big gains. If you push yourself to your limit, your legs will be trembling and burning and you will feel the effect of this monster leg workout.
Instead of relying on hashtags like beastmode, nodaysoff, or workhard to get you there, use correct form to maximize intensity and these basic workouts will prove to be more than effective. Riis says, “You can’t sculpt something if there’s no clay on there to begin with”, and he could not be more right. Rely on the basics for foundational strength and let your hard work show by the effort you put in.
Instead of excuses year after year, build muscle faster and more efficient by pushing your limits and having fun doing so. Try this monster leg workout for big gains and take advantage of this amazing advice from an all-time pro and champion coach in Klaus Myren Riis.
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 Klaus Myren Rys Instagram
References
Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy (2014). “Knee Pain: Safely Strengthening Your Thigh Muscles“. (source)
Case, Marcus J.; Downey, Darcy L.; Knudson, Duane V. (2020). “Barbell Squat Relative Strength as an Identifier for Lower Extremity Injury in Collegiate Athletes”. (source)
Jakobsen, Markus D.; Sundstrup, Emil; Andersen, Christoffer H.; Aagaard, Per; Andersen, Lars L. (2012). “Muscle activity during leg strengthening exercise using free weights and elastic resistance: Effects of ballistic vs controlled contractions”. (source)
Top 4 Things All Lifters Should Be Capable Of Doing
Are you a real lifter?
Many bodybuilders think it’s simply good enough to get themselves in tip top shape. You build massive muscle, cut away fat to reveal that exceptional musculature, and everything is golden, right? At least it is if you’re satisfied with simply looking the part of an athletic behemoth. But it shouldn’t be good enough to simply look the part, you should want to be just as strong and capable as your physique would suggest.
You’ve seen plenty of those kinds of bodybuilders. Men and women who look amazing, but when they’re put to the test they’re all closer to weak kittens than to what their physiques would suggest. If you’re hoping to not only build a physique that looks superhuman, but have the attributes of a truly athletic lifter, then you’re going to want to aim for these specific goals while traveling the road of a bodybuilder.
1. Bench Press Own Body Weight
First thing’s first, if you want to be considered a lifter with any merit then you should be able to bench press your own body weight. While many are incapable of doing so because of lack of strength, the vast majority who can’t usually have the trouble because they lack the technical fortitude to pull off the lift. If your grip is too wide you won’t have the leverage to complete the lift, if your grip is too narrow then your arms won’t be in the position to optimize your strength and push the weight up from your chest. The benefits are lifting your own body weight on the bench press means building functional power and strength that can be translated over to other pushing movements such as push ups and even punching power.
2. Deadlift Double Own Body Weight
For any of you that may not know this, deadlifting twice your body weight is a fairly standard goal that many fitness trainers set for their clients. So it should definitely be on your list of goals to accomplish as an athletic lifter. Obviously you won’t start out being able to lift twice your body weight, but it’s a goal to be set and a fairly common one at that. Being able to perform a deadlift of this nature translates over to overall athletic performance. You become more explosive and powerful and eventually once you’ve hit your goal of lifting double your body weight it will be only natural that you’ll look to achieve greater numbers. But even if you don’t, the benefits are extremely apparent and you’ll be as strong as an ox.
3. 30 Second Bodyweight Squat and Hold
Why should this be one of your goals as a lifter? Well, if you know anything about training then you’ll know that the squat is the king of all exercises. Being able to hold a deep and static squat for thirty seconds without using your hands of falling will certainly offer some insight into how athletic your lower body is. If you’re unable to perform this movement then it means there’s still work to be done in order to strengthen the lower half of your body.
4. Farmer’s Walk Own Bodyweight
Being able to farmer’s walk your own body weight is pretty telling of your overall athletic ability. A farmer’s walk can build functional strength throughout your arms, particularly your forearms, as well as the rest of your body. It strengthens the stabilizers and also helps to improve your overall conditioning. It’s definitely a goal that should be aimed for. There’s nothing more important than functional strength after all and like the other goals on this list, being able to not only lift but carry your own body weight for a distance is highly beneficial.
What are your fitness and bodybuilding goals?
Mike O’Hearn Returns Full Interview | Health & Bodybuilding, Macho Mentality, & More
That’s why in our follow up full length interview with Mike O’Hearn – we dig deep into the health side of bodybuilding. Is it possible to be a mass monster without taking health risks? Does the sport demand a base level of danger? O’Hearn has been dedicated to being all natural his entire career. He brings the kind of insight that’s rare in this industry.
Over the past few months we’ve released multiple GI Exclusive segments from our interview with Mike O’Hearn. We are now releasing the full length interview including additional topics such as – how to be healthy in bodybuilding, the macho complex in lifting culture, and how having a baby changed O’Hearn’s bodybuilding lifestyle.
Listen To Our Mike O’Hearn Interview On The Generation Iron Podcast
Our full length interviews are now also in podcast form! Subscribe to the Generation Iron Podcast for candid, full length interviews with the biggest names in bodybuilding, fitness, combat, and strength sports.
Listen to the full Mike O’Hearn interview here:
Mike O’Hearn Answers: Is A Bodybuilding Lifestyle Bad For Your Heart & Blood Pressure?
Is that fully possible when carrying mass monster levels of muscle? We asked this question to Mike O’Hearn, specifically in regards to heart health and blood pressure. Vlad Yudin states that he had a conversation with a cardiologist claiming that heavy weightlifting and massive muscle is ultimately bad for your heart in the long term. The reasoning behind this is two fold. On one hand, you are still carrying a massive amount of weight on your body. This is harder for the heart to pump blood through. On the other hand, the heart can actually grow like a muscle. Heavy weightlifting can increase hearts size (this is ultimately a bad thing).
When asked about this, Mike O’Hearn had his own rebuttal. He recently visited a cardiologist for a routine check up. Not only is O’Hearn incredibly healthy for his age. He also discussed overall heart heath when it comes to heavy weightlifting. His conversation with a doctor revealed the opposite opinion. Lifting weights helps make the heart stronger. Mix that with a healthy diet and you avoid high blood pressure as well.
So what is the correct answer here? Two different doctors with two different opinions on bodybuilding and heart health. Mike O’Hearn chooses to then look at anecdotal evidence. O’Hearn looks back at pro bodybuilders from the golden era and what we know about their health now in their twilight years. According to O’Hearn, many of these older former bodybuilders are healthier and more able bodied than many people their age. This makes O’Hearn believe bodybuilding, when done correctly, is ultimately healthy for your heart.
Mike O’Hearn puts an important caveat on that statement. It’s very easy for a bodybuilder to abuse the techniques to make up an ultimately unhealthy lifestyle. Bodybuilders can eat crap to bulk up muscle. These “dirty” foods can lead to high blood pressure and ultimately heart problems. Heavy lifting can also go too far. Going hardcore each session in the short term does not look forward towards health in the long term.
O’Hearn also makes one more statement in regards to bodybuilding and heart health. Ultimately, there is a randomness to health as a whole. Some people smoke their whole lives but live to be 100. Some people are incredibly healthy-minded but die in their thirties. This doesn’t mean it’s not worth focusing on health – but it does mean that we shouldn’t accidentally assume coincidence is evidence of an actual statistical trend.
Mike O’Hearn: How Being Macho In Bodybuilding Can Backfire
Mike O’Hearn is an extremely focused and proactive person. It’s been well documented and discussed how seriously he takes his bodybuilding lifestyle in Generation Iron Natty 4 Life. He gets up at the crack of dawn to train every single morning. He never misses one day. On top of that, he’s stuck to an incredibly strict diet to obtain a physique that many think is impossible to build without steroids. O’Hearn has stayed consistent in his all natural claims. With the kind of intense routine he follows – he just might be one of the few to really pull that kind of natural physique off.
But behind all of that focus and strict routine – how does he deal with anxiety and depression? What does Mike O’Hearn do when life throws a tragic curveball? We asked this very question to O’Hearn during our latest interview.
Mike O’Hearn reflects back on two times in his life that were very painful. It was the moment his mother and father passed away. Both deaths occurred separate from each other. His father passed first. At the time, O’Hearn decided to push his emotions and grief down. He wanted to be strong and macho. The kind of strong man that mentally to mach his massive muscle.
It wasn’t until after Mike O’Hearn’s mother passed away that the pain and grief he was suppressing all poured out. Everything that he had avoided during his father’s death boiled up to the surface on top of his new grief upon his mother passing. O’Hearn spiraled into a depressed state. The only thing that brought consistency into his life was his ongoing training and nutrition schedule. It was the only thing he had control over.
Ultimately, Mike O’Hearn slowly recovered and pulled himself out of the hole. By facing his emotions and admitting to others that he was facing emotional struggles – he was able to finally face a series of grief that he had been avoiding for years.
Mike O’Hearn tops off the conversation with advice for others who are facing anxiety or depression. Speak out about it. Be open and don’t be afraid to reveal the pain you are going through. Whether that’s speaking to a family member, a friend, or getting professional help.
Many bodybuilders entered into the bodybuilding lifestyle because they wanted to be strong. Perhaps because they were bullied as a kid or simply unhappy with the way they looked. This creates a sort of macho mentality down the road. Bodybuilders will do anything possible to appear strong – not just physically but emotionally.
Mike O’Hearn wants the world to know that it’s okay to open up. That there is actual strength in admitting to grief or anxiety or depression. Instead of hiding behind muscle and a tough guy persona – be honest with not only yourself but also others. It will make you stronger in the end. It will also hopefully make you a happier and more fulfilled person in the big picture.
Wrap Up
Mike O’Hearn provides a unique insight into the world of natural bodybuilding – making this full conversation a must watch. There are far many more topics we discussed in our hour plus interview that could be vital for anyone looking for insight into optimizing bodybuilding training. So make sure to watch our latest full length GI Exclusive interview with Mike O’Hearn above!
Best Personal Blenders For Bodybuilding & Shakes (Updated 2021)
The best personal blender for protein shakes can influence your bodybuilding goals for the better as you look for the best bodybuilding blender to maximize your gains.
Choosing the right blender can be extremely difficult for many reasons. Cheap blenders can be $20 while high-end models run anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000. But not every blender has the same features, or is as good at the same thing. Blenders vary on everything from height and weight to controls, to engine power to type of rotary blade. There’s an overwhelming amount of factors to consider, so, if you’re having trouble, let us break it down for you so you can maximize growth and recovery.
We’ve put together a list of the Best Personal Blenders for 2021 so you can make the best protein shake and get the most out of your bodybuilding goals. The right blender will allow for serious gains and the right nutrients to hit your body as best they can.
Best Personal Blenders For 2021
Best Blender Overall
The best blender overall will work to create the best smoothies or desired beverage with power and quality while being at an affordable price to not totally break the bank.
Ninja Personal Blender
Ninja Personal Blender is a powerful 700-watt blender with pulse technology designed to extract all nutrients from whole fruits and vegetables. For those frozen blending needs, this can crush through ice and frozen fruit with ease to add a nice chill to your smoothie or desired beverage. This blender set comes with 2 16-oz. cups, 2 sip and seal lids, and a 30 recipe inspiration guide so you can experiment and try many smoothies that you may thoroughly enjoy. Dishwasher and a high-quality blender, this is perfect for all your needs.
Ninja Personal Blender is a powerful 700-watt blender perfect for blending your desired beverage while extracting all those key nutrients.
Pros
700 watt provides for great power and blending
Dishwasher safe and easy to clean and use
Plastic cups it comes with are durable and perfect additions to this blender
Cons
If overused, may need new blades sooner than expected
Price: $49.99
Best Bodybuilding Blender
Bodybuilders need a quality blender for those post-workout routines as they seek the best nutrients possible to build that shredded and desired physique.
Cincred Personal Countertop Blender
The Cincred is an affordable option that is just as portable and easy-to-use despite being available at a much lower price point. This is definitely the most budget-friendly option for those of you who aren’t looking to spend too much money on a personal blender for protein shakes. This protein shake blender has high consumer reviews and is widely praised for its ability to chop ice, coffee beans, and recently thawed frozen veggies and ingredients without stalling or breaking down like cheaper models which suffer from too much blending. It’s the most effective blender for protein shakes in the most affordable bracket.
Cincred Personal Countertop Blender is affordable and portable able to blend any ingredients into a great shake.
Pros
Offers a big serving of smoothies perfect for snacks or meals
Very convenient to use and take on the go
Easy to clean for hassle free clean-up
Cons
May not be great at blending very dense things at once
May leak if the lid is not properly adjusted and it can be hard to adjust
Price: $29.99
Best Portable Blender For Protein Shakes
A portable blender can be taken anywhere so you can have accessible protein shakes to maximize growth and recovery without the fear of missing out on key nutrients.
La Reveuse Personal Size Blender
The La Reveuse is a 250-watt personal blender that has the horsepower and level of blades necessary to chop, blend, mix, grate, grind, and even purée making this a top choice for best blender. It’s great for blending smoothies, shakes, and protein mixes with other ingredients. The design of the La Reveuse is extremely easy to use and the bowl easily detaches to become a cup. It comes with an extra mug for those of you looking to drink your protein shake or smoothie around the house.
La Reveuse Personal Size Blender is a 250-watt blender with great blades able to chop, blend, grind, and puree anything you want with ease.
Pros
Powerful and compact while being easy to use
Decent amount of watts for certain beverages
Durable and reasonably priced
Cons
It could have more watts compared to others on the market
Price: $29.99
Best Personal Shake Blender
A personal shake can greatly influence gains and having a great grab-and-go option will most certainly help with all those bodybuilding and other sport performance needs.
NOW Sports Nutrition Personal Blender
NOW Sports is known for supplying some high quality supplements in the bodybuilding industry, but their domain also includes equipment like personal blenders. The NOW Sports Personal blender is GMP-quality assured, meaning the blender has excellent durability and material for high quality and is unlikely to break or stall even during heavy use making this a top choice for best blender. It has three speeds and a powerful 300-watt motor — one of the highest levels of horsepower on this list to make the best protein shake with great blending.
NOW Sports Nutrition Personal Blender is a high-quality and durable blender great for heavy use and protein blending.
Pros
Works well for blending and is reasonably powerful
Good durability and can handle heavy use
Easy to use and easy to clean
Cons
300 watts could be more compared to others for blending capabilities
The rubber gasket/seal may not be as secure as it should be
Price: $24.95
Best Protein Blender
A blender to pump you with protein for whatever beverage you choose will help keep you full and aid in growth and recovery, vital components to increased gains and weight loss.
La Reveuse Smoothies Blender
The larger model of the La Reveuse has a 300-watt motor and 4-pronged stainless steel blades. It’s a great choice for those of you who tend to gulp down massive protein shakes in the morning or a protein shake before bed. It’s also 3 pounds, which is on the heavy side for a smaller blender designed to be carried with you. However, it’s extremely efficient, has high horse power, and can easily blend and purée tough materials like ice and coffee beans to save you time and make a large and simple shake for performance.
La Reveuse Smoothies Blender is a 300-watt motor with 4-pronged stainless steel blades for easy blending and great shakes.
Pros
Decent power and 4-pronged blades are perfect for easy blending
Good size and doesn’t take up too much space
Great for blending protein and those who make protein shakes often
Cons
Some durability concerns with the twist and locking in portion before use
Price: $23.99
Benefits Of Personal Blenders
The benefits of the best portable blender for protein shakes can greatly affect your bodybuilding goals and allow for those vital nutrients to hit you easier with a great smoothie or shake. The benefits of a personal blender include:
Makes great smoothies and shakes: With awesome blending abilities, these can mix a great shake in no time for a delicious meal or snack.
Maintains nutrients: This won’t get rid of any of the vital nutrients you add. It will only blend them together in a tasty way.
Easy to use: Blenders are easy to use and easy to clean to make your life and simple as possible.
Quick and efficient blending: The right blender will work to mix all of your ingredients well to avoid clumping.
How We Choose The Best Bodybuilding Blender
Our editorial team used five key factors to help determine which blender works best for athletes, or even just anyone looking to have a high-powered blender that gets the job done in the kitchen. Our lineup of blenders was evaluated on the basis of value, durability, horsepower, variety of function, and design. Here’s how we applied those terms:
Value: We determined the value of the best protein blenders by weighing its price against its variety of features. This means that the cheapest blender won’t outrank the most expensive blender just because it technically costs the least so for those on a budget, that is something to consider. Each blender’s price is carefully weighed against the number of features it has and how well people who own the blender say it works.
Durability: A common complaint about the best protein blenders, especially cheap models, is that they break easily. Blenders were also ranked on their durability because you don’t just want a product that works, you want a product that lasts.
Horsepower: Probably the most obvious factor in your blender decision is the horsepower, which is the literal power the blender engine has to do things like crush, cream, mix, and purée. Obviously, having a higher horsepower is more desirable in a blender for convenience and time.
Variety of Function: How many things can your blender do? Basic models can probably crush ice and make a lumpy smoothie. But there are lots of blenders that have many functions and can do incredible things, like mill grains to your exact specifications, or create homemade butters, jams, and sauces.
Design: Finally, how easy is it to use your blender? Does the lid stay firmly on while you’re using it? Is it easy to empty the bowl when you’re done? The physical design of a blender is obviously important because using a poorly designed blender is extremely frustrating.
FAQ Section
What is the best blender?
Ninja Personal Blender. This is a powerful 700-watt blender with pulse technology designed to extract all nutrients from whole fruits and vegetables. For those frozen blending needs, this can crush through ice and frozen fruit with ease to add a nice chill to your smoothie or desired beverage making this the best protein blender and most powerful personal blender.
What is the difference between a personal blender and a shaker bottle?
A shaker bottle is great for those on-the-go needs to quickly mix a protein shake or other supplements for easy nutrient access. A personal blender allows you to add fruit and other foods so you get a smooth and creamy shake for any occasion.
Are blenders easy to clean?
Blenders are relatively easy to clean, but it is important to make sure the blade comes off easily. Also, some blenders are dishwasher safe to make cleaning as easy as possible.
Wrap Up
The best personal blender for bodybuilding and protein shakes can greatly influence your gains and work to give you all those vital nutrients in a delicious way. By working with the most powerful personal blender, and one that you can easily use and clean, your gains are sure to happen in no time with a quality smoothie or shake. Check out our list of the best blenders above and see what these amazing products can do for you.
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