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Keone Pearson Takes Up A 3500-Calorie Diet, Getting Ready For The 2023 Texas Pro

Keone Pearson Takes Up A 3500-Calorie Diet, Getting Ready For The 2023 Texas Pro

Keone Pearson is getting ready to make a statement in the 2023 competitive season. The prodigy is set to return to the stage and has a new diet plan that will take his physique to the next level. The 28-year-old has enjoyed a certain degree of success in the Classic Physique as well as the 212 division of the IFBB Pro League throughout his career. His first ever Olympia appearance came in the Classic Physique division at the 2019 Olympia where he finished fourth. However, Pearson decided to make the 212 division home for the rest of his career.
The divisional debut saw him take home the 2020 Chicago Pro trophy which ultimately qualified him for the 2020 Olympia. Unfortunately, Pearson had to pull out of the competition owing to personal troubles.
He returned the following year and finished 14th at the 2021 Olympia. A dominant win at the 2022 Tampa Pro gave Keone the fourth opportunity to prove his mettle at the grandest stage of bodybuilding. The bodybuilding community was impressed by his progress and many expected him to give top contenders like Shaun Clarida and Kamal Elgargni a lot of issues. Pearson put up a fierce fight and surged into the top seven, finishing sixth at the 2022 Olympia.

The Prodigy will compete at the 2023 Texas Pro that is scheduled to take place on August 18-19. 16 weeks out of the show, his competition prep has officially started. On the first day of prep, Keone shared what he would be eating throughout the day to get the right body composition for the show. So let’s see how Keone Pearson is fueling his body to rock the 2023 competitive season.
Keone Pearson’s full day of eating for 2023 Texas Pro competition prep
Meal 1
A usual day during the competition prep starts with a 45-minute cardio session in a fasted state. An abs workout followed it on the day of recording the video. Pearson then rushes back home to fuel his body after the calorie-intensive activity and eats the first meal. It consists of:

Oats – 80 grams
Banana – 1 full
Beef – 100 grams
Whey Protein – 30 grams

Approximate Nutritional Values
Energy – 718 cal, Protein – 66.6 grams, Fats – 18.1 grams, Carbohydrates – 83 grams
Tip: Find your daily protein intake
Meal 2
As a couple of hours pass by, it’s time to go and train hard in the gym. But before that, Pearson has to fuel his body with a good pre-workout meal. His current diet plan has him consume a rice and chicken-based meal before hitting the gym. The 2022 Tampa Pro winner’s pre-workout meal includes:

Chicken – 200 grams
Jasmine Rice – 75 grams

Approximate Nutritional Values
Energy – 426 cal, Protein – 64.8 grams, Fats – 7.6 grams, Carbohydrates – 20.8 grams
While Keone Pearson likes to eat rice in 75-gram portions, he is not opposed to varying them according to personal preferences.
“Honestly, you can do it however you want it. If you wanna eat it in one sitting for your one meal or three just do it as you get the same food,” he said.
Keone savors the meal and then heads over to the kitchen to prepare his pre-workout and intra-workout drinks.

Pre-workout and intra-workout shake
As a professional bodybuilder, Keone Pearson has to ensure that his workouts yield the best results. To fuel the workout and get the most pump out of the training, the 212 competitor consumes a pre-workout drink that has the following ingredients:
Pre-Workout Drink

Stimulant-free Pump Pre-Workout Supplement with 5 grams L-Citrulline, 3 grams GlycerPump, 1 gram Agmatine Sulphate, 1 gram L-Tyrosine – 2 scoops
Caffeine – 1 scoop
Sea Salt

Related: Best pre-workout supplements ranked
Intra-workout drink that keeps the energy high during the training session consists of:

EAA + BCAA formula

On the day of recording the video, Keone trained chest and it was his high day where his caloric intake was higher than it is on a leg day.
“Today is actually considered a high day because I have a high day for chest and back, not on legs, which is pretty surprising. Those are my low days. I guess he wants me to push harder for that…” Pearson stated.
After pushing through an intense workout in the gym, Pearson returns home to have the post-workout meal.

Meal 3
To enable muscle recovery and growth in the arduous training routine, Pearson downs the protein shake and fruits. The post-workout meal is a hefty one and comprises of:

Whey Protein Isolate – 1 scoop / 30 grams
Pineapple – 50 grams
Jasmine Rice – 75 grams
Lean Ground Beef – 200 grams

Approximate Nutritional Values
Energy – 756.7 cal, Protein – 80.9 grams, Fats – 18.3 grams, Carbohydrates – 35.8 grams
Meal 4 and 5
The next two meals in Pearson’s full day of eating consist of high-quality protein sources like chicken and Salmon complimented with cream of rice and Potatoes.
Meal 4 consists of:

Cream of Rice Cereals- 75 grams
Chicken – 200 grams

Approximate Nutritional Values
Energy – 588 cal, Protein – 67.2 grams, Fats – 3.9 grams, Carbohydrates – 58.5 grams
The next one, meal 5, is the last meat/fish based meal that includes:

Salmon – 200 grams
Potatoes – 200 grams

Approximate Nutritional Values
Energy – 598 cal, Protein – 49 grams, Fats – 24.2 grams, Carbohydrates – 42 grams

Meal 6
This bedtime snack is the final bit of food that Pearson puts in his body every day. Rich in protein, healthy fats, and Complex carbohydrates, it keeps late night hunger pangs at bay and promotes muscle growth. Additionally, nut butters like peanut butter or almond butter contain tryptophan which can promote sound sleep.
The meal includes:

Oats – 50 grams
Whey Protein Isolate – 30 grams
Almond Butter – 30 grams

Approximate Nutritional Values
Energy – 466 cal, Protein – 41.2 grams, Fats – 22.3 grams, Carbohydrates – 41 grams
Total caloric intake and macronutrient profile for the day

Energy – 3509 calories
Protein – 303.2 grams
Fats – 81.7 grams
Carbohydrates – 390.4 grams

Keone Pearson has found his footing in the 212 division after a successful 2022. While he has to prove his mettle against the likes of reigning champion Shaun Clarida and former champ Kamal Elgargni, he still has a lot of mileage left. If he shows patience and focuses on making incremental gains, the 28-year-old can dominate the 212 division in the years to come.
Watch Keone Pearson share the diet here, courtesy of his personal YouTube channel:

Published: 13 May, 2023 | 9:19 AM EDT

Workout Split For Women: The Ultimate Guide To Get Fit and Fabulous

Workout Split For Women: The Ultimate Guide To Get Fit and Fabulous

Over the last decade, women have been cozying up to weight training. However, this has led us into a unique situation; the ladies look like deers caught in headlights as soon as they enter the weight room. 
Although girls no longer need to be convinced to start lifting weights, only a handful of these women follow a structured workout split. Performing a few dumbbell curls one day, a couple of sets of squats the next day, and a little of everything every other day isn’t going to do you any good. 
Finding the right workout split can be daunting. Furthermore, stepping inside the free-weight section of a gym for a newbie can be overwhelming, especially if they have no idea what they are doing. 
A balanced training program is key to achieving your dream figure. Furthermore, the ideal workout regimen for an individual can change depending on their preferences, schedules, goals, and experience levels. Following an incompatible training split increases your risk of injury. 
In this article, we dive into the meaning of workout splits, the factors and tips to consider while choosing a workout split for women, its benefits, and the five best workout splits for women at different experience levels. We have a lot to cover. So, sit tight. 
What are Workout Splits?

A workout split refers to how you divide your training into different muscle groups or body parts. Many exercisers avoid picking a workout split as they find it too restrictive. Although a workout split requires you to train a specific muscle group on a particular day of the week, you are free to choose the exercises you perform in each training session. 
Notably, programming a workout is best left to advanced lifters or personal trainers. Each muscle consists of different heads that must be trained from multiple angles for optimal growth. Performing similar movements can lead you to a muscle and strength plateau. For example, the deltoid muscle has three heads — anterior, lateral, and posterior. If you only perform shoulder press and front raise exercises in your training regimen, you’ll have substandard lateral and posterior deltoid head development. Does this sound like too much work? Don’t worry; we have included a sample workout plan for overall muscle and strength development with each workout split. 
Many people think the ‘bro split’ is the only workout program. A bro split includes training chest on Mondays, back on Tuesdays, shoulders on Wednesdays, and so on. While there is nothing wrong with this split, most exercisers can get better results by following a more focused workout split. 
For example, ladies with lagging lower bodies would want to train their legs twice a week. However, the bro split has no provisions for accommodating a second leg workout. An upper and lower body workout split will be a better fit in this case. 
Benefits of Following a Structured Workout Split For Women
Here are the advantages of selecting a structured workout split for women:
Makes Your Workouts More Efficient
Many lifters treat the gym as a restaurant, and their training split as an à la carte menu. They enter the iron paradise without a plan and tackle their workout on the fly; these lifters perform the exercises that feel the most comfortable and put the least strain on their muscles. As you could have guessed, these folks see little to no progress and are most likely to drop off. 
A structured workout split leaves nothing to chance. Here, you plan your workouts weeks in advance. Everything from the exercises, sets, and reps is determined before entering the gym. Having an action plan ensures you make the most of your time in the gym. 
Built-in Progressive Overload
Progressive overload is indispensable if you want to make strength or muscle gains. It includes placing ever-increasing stress on your muscles by increasing the intensity and volume of your workouts. You could achieve this by doing more sets, reps, and exercises, reducing rest between sets, or incorporating advanced training principles in your workouts, such as super sets, drop sets, intra-set stretching, etc. [1]
A balanced workout split will help progressively overload your muscles and reduce your risk of hitting a plateau by shocking your muscles with varying training intensity and volume. Furthermore, an efficient workout split also allows your muscles to rest and recuperate between workouts, reducing your risk of injury. 

Fix Muscle and Strength Imbalances
An effective workout split can aid in fixing muscle and strength imbalances by allowing you to work on your weaknesses multiple times a week. At the same time, it will help you polish your strengths. 
Monitor Progress
You must stick to a workout split for at least 12 weeks before arriving at conclusions about its effectiveness. Since you’ll perform the same exercises, number of sets, and reps in each workout for the entire duration, it’ll make it convenient for you to track your progress. 
Additionally, following a workout split and tracking your progress will help you stay accountable. Sharing your progress with your friends and family can be a potent motivator. 
Keeps You Interested
Choosing a workout program is like choosing a life partner — you want someone who compliments your strengths and weaknesses. 
Although the workout splits below define the exercises you’ll perform in each training session, you are free to perform their variations instead. You must, however, ensure that the replacement exercises target the same muscle groups. For example, you could do the cable side lateral raise instead of the dumbbell side lateral raise. You must, however, not replace side lateral raises with shrugs. 
Knowing the exercises you’ll perform in a workout in advance can allow you time to prepare for a workout, which can improve your performance. Plus, tracking your progress will keep you hooked to your workout split. 
5 Best Workout Splits For Women
Depending on your current physique and experience level, you can choose a workout split that aligns with your goals. Each workout split has its unique benefits and allows you to focus on particular muscles to fix imbalances and take you to your objectives. 
Below, you’ll find five workout splits for women that involve training up to three muscle groups per training session twice a week. 
Full-Body Workout Split For Women

The basic full-body workout split for women is a two-day-a-week training regimen. It is perfect for beginners and ladies with busy schedules who can only make time for a couple of weekly training sessions.
In the full-body training split, you could work all your muscle groups in a single workout or divide them into two sessions. 
Since this workout split involves training most of your muscle groups in a single workout, you must follow a HIIT (high-intensity interval training) method for these workouts to get a lot of work done in a short period. Women aiming to shed weight must engage in full-body cardio exercises. 

Day 1
Full-Body Workout

Day 2
Rest

Day 3
Rest

Day 4
Full-Body Workout

Day 5
Rest

Day 6
Rest

Day 7
Rest

As you gain more experience, you could go from performing two weekly full-body training sessions to doing four weekly workouts. Perform variations of the exercises listed in the sample workout below on the two additional days to add variety to your training regimen. 
Full-Body Workout 1:
Beginners must seek expert help to drill the movements. It will help you make the most of the exercises while limiting your risk of injury. 

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Barbell Bench Press
3
8-12

Barbell Bent-Over Row
3
8-12

Dumbbell Shoulder Press
3
8-12

Barbell Biceps Curl
3
8-12

Cable Triceps Extension
3
8-12

Barbell Squat
3
8-12

Crunch
3
8-12

Full-Body Workout 2:
Since these workouts are programmed to induce hypertrophy, avoid resting for more than 60 seconds between sets, as it can significantly hamper your training intensity. 

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Dumbbell Chest Fly
3
8-12

Dumbbell Deadlift
3
8-12

Barbell Skull Crusher
3
8-12

Dumbbell Side Lateral Raise
3
8-12

Dumbbell Hammer Curl
3
8-12

Barbell Sumo Squat
3
8-12

Hanging Leg Raise
3
8-12

Full-Body HIIT Cardio Workout
The HIIT cardio workout below includes nine exercises; perform two rounds of this circuit. You must perform each exercise for 45 seconds. Rest 15 seconds between exercises. Plus, you are allowed a two-minute rest after completing a round. 

Exercise
Time (in seconds)
Rest (in seconds)

Lunge 
45
15

Push-Up
45
15

Burpee
45
15

Star Jump
45
15

Leg Raise
45
15

Squat Jump
45
15

Bicep Curl
45
15

Lateral Shuffles
45
120

Use appropriate dumbbells for exercises like bicep curls and lunges. Feel free to use additional resistance in the squat jump. However, you must ensure you are not compromising your form to lift heavy weights. 
Benefits of Full-Body Workout Splits
Here are the advantages of doing a full-body workout split for women:

The full-body workout split is excellent for beginners as it helps them acclimatize to weight training.
This workout regimen is great for ladies on a tight schedule, as the most basic version of the full-body split requires hitting the gym twice a week.
Since you’ll do only one exercise per muscle group, we’ll mostly stick to compound lifts for this workout program. Besides helping you build muscle and strength, multi-joint exercises improve your overall functionality.
Training twice weekly gives your body enough time to rest and recuperate between workouts.

Drawbacks of Full-Body Workout Splits
Here are the cons of doing a full-body workout split for women:

As you’ll be training all your muscles in a single workout, it can be incredibly exhausting, especially as you graduate to training four days a week.
Full-body strength training workouts can take longer to complete. Expect to spend 60-120 minutes in the gym.
The full-body workout split is not the best for fixing strength and muscle imbalances unless you want to boost your training volume significantly.

Upper Lower Body Workout Split For Women

The upper lower body is the perfect next step for ladies wanting to move up from a two-day training regimen. It is a four-day workout split that involves training half of your body on a single day. 
Notably, you should ideally start the training week by training your weaker half. Lifters with lagging lower bodies should start the week with a leg workout instead of hitting an upper body training session. 
Many lifters go all-out on their stronger muscle group training day, leaving them tired and sore for their weaker muscle group workouts. Since this is a four days a week workout split, you can also rest after each workout to allow your muscles enough time to rest and recuperate between training sessions. 

Day 1
Upper Body

Day 2
Lower Body

Day 3
Rest

Day 4
Upper Body

Day 5
Lower Body

Day 6
Rest

Day 7
Rest

As this workout regimen involves training all your muscles twice a week, you shouldn’t add more training days to this training split. Instead, you could increase your training volume and intensity to get the best bang for your buck. 
A study found that an upper and lower body workout split is more effective at helping you build muscle strength and size over 10 weeks than a full body workout regimen done thrice a week. [2]
Upper Body Workout:
The upper and lower body workouts primarily consist of functional (multi-joint) exercises to maximize your muscle and strength-building potential. Focus on contracting your muscles with each rep to induce hypertrophy. 

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Barbell Bench Press
3
8-12

Dumbbell Bent-Over Row
3
8-12

Arnold Press
3
8-12

Barbell Biceps Curl
3
8-12

Close-Grip Bench Press
3
8-12

Russian Twist
3
8-12

Lower Body Workout:
You could change the order of the exercises depending on your preferences. If you have lagging calves, we recommend starting your leg workout with the standing calf raise. Use a weight that helps you achieve muscle failure between the eighth and 12th rep.

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Barbell Squat
3
8-12

Walking Lunge
3
8-12

Romanian Deadlift
3
8-12

Goblet Squat
3
8-12

Leg Curl
3
8-12

Standing Calf Raise
3
8-12

Benefits of Upper Lower Body Workout Splits
The pros of the upper-lower body workout split include the following:

It allows you to train all your muscle groups twice a week.
Training your upper and lower body muscles separately can help you fix muscle and strength imbalances, improving your overall physique proportions and symmetry.
The upper-lower body workout split will help you build a solid foundation. You could easily pivot to a powerlifting or bodybuilding-focused workout program after following this workout split for 12 weeks.
This workout split for women allows sufficient recovery time between workouts, which can fast-track results and reduce your risk of injury.
Training four days a week allows you the flexibility to program your workouts according to your schedule. You could take an off day after each workout or reshuffle the training days.

Drawbacks of Upper Lower Body Workout Splits
The cons of the upper-lower body workout split include the following:

The upper-lower body workout split is volume heavy since you’ll be training all your muscles twice weekly, which is not the best for newbie lifters.
On the other hand, although you’ll be training all your muscles twice a week, the training volume for each muscle group can be limiting.
Since you’ll be training half of your body in a single workout, these workouts can take a lot of time to complete. Expect to spend 60-120 minutes in the gym during your upper-lower body workouts.

Push-Pull Workout Split For Women

The push-pull workout split for women is the perfect middle ground between full-body workouts and upper-lower body workouts. Gym exercises can be broken into two main categories — push and pull. 
As the name suggests, the pushing exercises involve pressing weights away from your body, for example, the bench press, overhead triceps extension, and leg extension. On the flip side, the pulling exercises include pulling the weights toward your body, such as the deadlift, biceps curl, and seated cable row. 
Push-pull workouts are popular among bodybuilders and powerlifters as they help focus on a single movement pattern. This workout split can help you achieve muscle-ripping pumps and ensure you’ve got nothing left in the tank by the end of a workout. 

Day 1
Push

Day 2
Pull

Day 3
Rest

Day 4
Push

Day 5
Pull

Day 6
Rest

Day 7
Rest

Although the push-pull workout split is a four-day training program, you could increase your training volume by adding a couple of workout sessions to the split — one for each movement pattern. Also, you could increase your training volume gradually by alternating between an additional push and pull workout for the initial 4-6 weeks.
Push Workout
In the push-pull workouts, the first two exercises of the training schedule are the big lifts. The remaining four to six exercises are considered accessory lifts, which help improve your performance in the main lifts. 
The ladies training for hypertrophy should stay in the 8-12 rep range and perform three sets with a moderate weight. On the other hand, lifters trying to maximize strength should do 3-5 sets of 1-5 reps with 80-90% of their one-rep max. [3]

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Squat
3
8-12

Bench Press
3
8-12

Cable Triceps Extension
3
8-12

Dumbbell Chest Fly
3
8-12

Machine Shoulder Press
3
8-12

Seated Calf Raise
3
8-12

Keep the main lifts, such as the squat, bench press, and deadlift, constant throughout the 12 weeks. However, you could change the accessory lifts each week to keep your workouts interesting. 
Pull Workout
The deadlift is the main lift in the pull workout. All the other movements in this workout are accessory lifts. We recommend using weightlifting accessories, such as a weightlifting belt, lifting straps, wrist wraps, and knee sleeves, in these workout splits, as they help maximize your performance and reduce your risk of injury. 

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Deadlift
3
8-12

Wide-Grip Lat Pulldown
3
8-12

Barbell Biceps Curl
3
8-12

Lying Leg Curl
3
8-12

Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift
3
8-12

Dumbbell Side Lateral Raise
3
8-12

Benefits of Push-Pull Workout Splits
Using the push-pull workout split entails the following benefits:

The push-pull workout split for women is great for building strength and muscle mass. Change the number of reps on the three big lifts (squat, bench press, and deadlift) to 1-5 and the number of sets to five to focus on building strength.
Training a specific movement pattern can help you achieve a better mind-muscle connection, improving hypertrophy.
Since this workout split involves training the same muscle group at least twice, the high volume will speed up your results.
This training split is great for powerlifters that want to improve their performance on the big three lifts.
It allows you to further boost your training volume by doing up to two more weekly workouts.
The push-pull workouts involve a healthy balance of compound and isolation exercises, which can help develop a balanced, proportionate, and conditioned physique.
The four-day push-pull training split allows you ample time to recover between workouts.

Drawbacks of Push-Pull Workout Splits
Using the push-pull workout split entails the following disadvantages:

Since this workout split involves compound and isolation exercises and requires training multiple muscle groups, the push-pull workouts can take longer to complete than the conventional workouts.
The push-pull split is not ideal for beginners.
This training split can be exhausting, as the push workouts include high-demanding exercises, such as the bench press, squat, and overhead shoulder press in the same workout.

Push, Pull, Legs Workout Split For Women

This training split takes the push-pull workout program up a notch. Although the push-pull routine was originally designed for powerlifters, many lifters didn’t appreciate training for the bench press and squat on the same day; hence, the push, pull, and leg workout split was born. 
The push, pull, and leg split is a six-day workout program. It increases the training volume of the basic push-pull regimen by a massive 50%. This training split is best suited for advanced female lifters, as the trainers will only get one day to recover from their workouts. 
Although you could do the push, pull, and leg split three days a week, you would have to increase the volume and intensity significantly, which will not only make the workouts more exhausting but would also considerably increase your risk of injury. 

Day 1
Push

Day 2
Pull

Day 3
Legs

Day 4
Push

Day 5
Pull

Day 6
Legs

Day 7
Rest

Since you have two training sessions in this workout split for each muscle group, you don’t have to do the three big lifts in each workout. Do them at the beginning of the training week and resort to accessory movements for the remaining three workout sessions. 
Pay close attention to the number of sets and reps in the workouts below. 
Push Workout 1
The first exercises of the first three training days of the week will be strength-focused, meaning you’ll be doing one to five reps of the exercises for three to five sets using 80-90% of your one-rep max. You must only perform these big lifts with a spotter.

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Bench Press
3-5
1-5

Incline Dumbbell Press
3
8-12

Cable Crossover
3
8-12

Behind-the-Neck Shoulder Press
3
8-12

Weighted Dips
3
8-12

Lying Leg Raise
3
8-12

Rest for three to five minutes for the strength-focused exercises. You must, however, limit the rest between sets to 60 seconds for the remaining lifts to ensure optimal training intensity for inducing hypertrophy. 
Pull Workout 1
You are allowed a five-minute rest after the strength-focused exercise to reset and prepare for the high-rep workout. Track your workouts (sets, reps, and weights) in a journal to ensure you’re hitting your goals and are progressively overloading your muscles in each training session. 

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Deadlift
3-5
1-5

Dumbbell Curl
3
8-12

Lat Pulldown
3
8-12

Bent-Over Barbell Row
3
8-12

Dumbbell Side Lateral Raise
3
8-12

Upright Row
3
8-12

Leg Workout 1
You could rejig the exercises in this workout if you prefer doing quad-focused accessory lifts before the hamstring-focused movements. 

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Squat
3-5
1-5

Leg Extension
3
8-12

Leg Curl
3
8-12

Romanian Deadlift
3
8-12

Leg Press
3
8-12

Leg Press Calf Raise
3
8-12

Push Workout 2
Use advanced training principles, such as super sets, drop sets, and intra-set stretching in the second half of the push, pull, and leg training split to push up your training intensity. You must use a weight that allows you to perform each exercise with a picture-perfect form. 

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Dumbbell Bench Press
3
8-12

Decline Barbell Press
3
8-12

Pec Deck Fly
3
8-12

Arnold Press
3
8-12

Barbell Skull Crusher
3
8-12

Cable Crunch
3
8-12

Pull Workout 2
We encourage using different hand grips on these exercises each week (supinated, pronated, and neutral) to train your muscles from different angles. It will help induce hypertrophy and keep your workouts interesting. 

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Dumbbell Deficit Deadlift
3
8-12

Cable Biceps Curl
3
8-12

Seated Cable Row
3
8-12

Inverted Row
3
8-12

Dumbbell Front Raise
3
8-12

Barbell Shrug
3
8-12

Leg Workout 2
Feel free to swap the accessory exercises in the second workouts for the week to address any lagging muscle groups. 

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Box Squat
3
8-12

Walking Lunge
3
8-12

Leg Curl
3
8-12

Stiff-Legged Deadlift
3
8-12

Hip Thrust
3
8-12

Standing Calf Raise
3
8-12

Benefits of Push-Pull-Legs Workout Splits
Performing the push-pull-legs training split has the following pros:

It is one of the best workout splits for powerlifting enthusiasts. Furthermore, bodybuilders can use this 12-week program to improve their overall strength without compromising on their muscle mass.
This six-day training split allows you to focus on each muscle group twice a week.
A high-volume and intensity training regimen that is incredibly effective for breaking through plateaus.
The push-pull-legs training split can accommodate many modifications to suit the lifter.

Drawbacks of Push-Pull-Legs Workout Splits
Performing the push-pull-legs training split has the following cons:

A six-day training regimen that is best left to advanced lifters.
Not enough recovery time, especially for lifters pushing their limits on this training regimen.
The push-pull-legs workout split can take longer to complete than all the other training splits listed in this article.

Bro-Split Workout Split For Women

We know what you are thinking. Yes, we were kind of dissing the bro-split at the beginning of this article. However, if your goal is to build muscle mass, you cannot go wrong with this training split.
The standard bro-split is a six-day training program that includes training each muscle group once weekly. It allows you to train each muscle with ample volume and intensity to induce hypertrophy. 
You could modify the workout split depending on your personal goals and preferences. For example, ladies with weaker lower bodies should begin their training week with a leg workout instead of a chest session. Restructure your workouts according to your needs. 

Day 1
Chest

Day 2
Back

Day 3
Shoulders

Day 4
Biceps

Day 5
Triceps

Day 6
Legs

Day 7
Rest

Avoid training two large muscle groups on consecutive days, such as legs and back. Have at least 48 hours between large muscle group workouts to ensure optimal rest and recovery. It also reduces your risk of injury. 
Chest Workout
Many lifters leave gains on the table by following a restricted range of motion. It limits your muscle fiber engagement and leads to suboptimal gains. Use a weight that allows you to follow a full ROM. 

Exercises
Sets
Reps

Barbell Bench Press
3
8-12

Incline Dumbbell Press
3
8-12

Decline Dumbbell Fly
3
8-12

Dips
3
8-12

Cable Crossover
3
8-12

Decline Crunch
3
8-12

Back Workout
During your back workouts, focus on driving through your elbows. Pulling the weight using your biceps can remove tension from your back and put it on your guns. Use a false (thumbless) grip where possible to limit biceps engagement. You could also experiment with using lifting straps to limit forearm stimulation. 

Exercises
Sets
Reps

Deadlift
3
8-12

Bent-Over Barbell Row
3
8-12

Lat Pulldown
3
8-12

Seated Cable Row
3
8-12

Hyperextension
3
8-12

Seated Calf Raise
5
8-12

Shoulders Workout
You must include exercises for all three shoulder heads (anterior, lateral, and posterior) and the trapezius muscle to ensure overall growth. 

Exercises
Sets
Reps

Military Press
3
8-12

Dumbbell Side Lateral Raise
3
8-12

Barbell Front Raise
3
8-12

Bent-Over Rear Delt Fly
3
8-12

Barbell Shrug
3
8-12

Cable Crunch
3
8-12

Biceps Workout
You’ll use pronated, supinated, and neutral grips in the biceps workout to ensure optimal biceps brachii, brachialis, and brachioradialis development. The forearm exercises at the end of the workout ensure you don’t leave any stone unturned. 

Exercises
Sets
Reps

Barbell Biceps Curl
3
8-12

Alternating Hammer Curl
3
8-12

Cable Reverse Curl
3
8-12

Machine Preacher Curl
3
8-12

Concentration Curl
3
8-12

Wrist Curl
3
8-12

Reverse Wrist Curl
3
8-12

Triceps Workout
The triceps workout in the bro-split targets all three triceps heads (long, lateral, and medial) for building horseshoe triceps.

Exercises
Sets
Reps

Cable Triceps Pushdown
3
8-12

Dumbbell Overhead Extension
3
8-12

Dumbbell Kickback
3
8-12

EZ Bar Skull Crusher
3
8-12

Reverse-Grip Triceps Pushdown
3
8-12

Cable Wood Chopper
3
8-12

Legs Workout
Since this training session involves performing the squat and deadlift, you’ll have to go extra hard on this one. Ensure your pre-training nutrition is on point to make the most of these workouts. 

Exercises
Sets
Reps

Barbell Squat
3
8-12

Leg Extension
3
8-12

Leg Curl
3
8-12

Barbell Walking Lunge
3
8-12

Romanian Deadlift
3
8-12

Standing Calf Raise
5
8-12

Benefits of a Bro-Split Workout Regimen
Sticking to the bro-split allows you to:

This workout split for women allows you to focus on a single muscle group in a training session, which can help boost your strength and muscle mass gains.
The bro-split is highly customizable and allows you to modify it according to your needs.
Since this workout focuses on a single muscle, it requires lesser time to complete than the multiple muscle group training sessions.
This is a versatile training split that can be used by beginners and advanced athletes alike.

Drawbacks of a Bro-Split Workout Regimen
The bro-split regimen has the following cons:

Since you’ll be training six days a week, it gives your muscles limited time to recover.
Folks with a busy schedule might have difficulty sticking to the six days a week training split.

Factors To Consider While Choosing a Workout Split For Women
You must consider the following factors before choosing a workout split:
Experience Levels
You must always choose a training split that is fitting for your experience level. For example, beginners should stay away from the push, pull, and leg training split and instead favor the full-body training regimen. 
Further; you must adjust your training intensity and volume based on your experience. Choosing a training split based on your experience level helps streamline your progress and reduces your risk of injury in the gym. 
Goals
Setting a goal before starting a training program gives you a road map. Lifters that want to build strength should opt for the push, pull, and legs training split, ladies that want to build a chiseled figure should go for the bro-split, and the women that want to hit the gym for overall fitness should stick to the full-body workouts. 
Time
You should choose a training program that will fit into your lifestyle. Choosing a workout split that necessitates you to go to the gym six times a week, but you can only fit in four workouts per week is a recipe for failure. You will likely lose motivation and drop out before achieving your fitness goals.
Focus Muscle Groups
Many exercisers join a gym to improve a particular muscle group. Some ladies want a bigger booty, whereas others might want shapely arms. If you want bigger muscles, you’ll be better off choosing a training split that allows you to focus on a particular muscle group, like the bro split. 
Other training splits that involve training a muscle group twice weekly, such as the push-pull regimen, can also come in handy for fixing muscle and strength imbalances. 
Tips For Workout Split For Women
The following tips will help you maximize your results:
Be Open to Trial and Error
Even after you spend days reviewing the pros and cons of a workout split, the program you choose might not work for you — which is perfectly fine. Choosing the right workout split requires trial and error. Give your training split 12 weeks to work its magic. If you’re unhappy with your results, move on to something different. Ensure that you implement the learning from the previous workout split into the new one. 
Nutrition and Recovery

Whether you want to build strength or carve a Greek goddess-like figure, you must back up your workout regimen with a balanced and proven nutrition and recovery program. Follow a macronutrient-focused diet to ensure you are meeting your daily protein, carbs, and fat goals. Ladies trying to gain muscle should stay in a calorie surplus, whereas those trying to shed the spare tire should be in a calorie deficit. 
Plus, you must ensure you are giving your muscles enough time to rest and recuperate from your workouts. Sleep seven to eight hours each night to ensure you are properly rested for your upcoming workouts. We recommend using sports nutrition supplements to speed up your recovery process between workouts. Alternatively, you could lower your training frequency if you experience chronic muscular fatigue or soreness. 
Seek Guidance
Starting a workout split can be intimidating, especially for beginners. Plus, performing the exercises with an incorrect form can increase your risk of injury. Hiring a personal trainer can help shorten your learning curve and fast-track your progress. 
Stay Consistent
Consistency is key in any training program. You must stick to a suitable workout split for at least 12 weeks to achieve your desired results. Avoid skipping training sessions unless absolutely necessary. 
Warm Up and Cool Down
Spend 5-10 minutes performing a mix of dynamic and static stretching exercises before each training session. It helps improves your flexibility and mobility and reduces your risk of injury. Furthermore, spend 5-10 minutes cooling down after a workout to kickstart your recovery process.
More Workout Splits:

FAQs
What is the ideal workout split for women?The ideal workout split will depend on your training goal, experience, time availability, and if you have any muscle groups that you want to focus on. With that said, beginner trainers will be better off starting with a full-body workout regimen; intermediate lifters can try the push-pull workout split, and advanced lifters should go for the push, pull, and legs regimen.
Can you alter a workout split?You could switch the exercises in the workout splits mentioned above to better suit your training needs. However, we advise against tinkering with the foundations of a workout split. For example, you should not combine the push and pulls workouts in the push, pull, and leg routine.
Which workout split for women is best for weight loss?Ladies trying to shed excess body fat should opt for the full-body HIIT workout listed in this article. HIIT workouts force your body to use energy from fat instead of carbs, making losing fat more efficient.

Wrapping Up
Congratulations, ladies! You are now equipped with everything you need to know to pick the most effective workout split for yourself and begin your journey to get fit and fabulous. We have also included a sample workout with each workout split, making starting your workout regimen as frictionless as possible. 
Nonetheless, fine-tuning a training split to fit your needs might require some trial and error. Stay patient and consistent; work hard, and the results will follow. Best of luck!
References

Yue FL, Karsten B, Larumbe-Zabala E, Seijo M, Naclerio F. Comparison of 2 weekly-equalized volume resistance-training routines using different frequencies on body composition and performance in trained males. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2018 May;43(5):475-481. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2017-0575. Epub 2017 Dec 7. PMID: 29216446.
Lasevicius T, Schoenfeld BJ, Grgic J, Laurentino G, Tavares LD, Tricoli V. Similar Muscular Adaptations in Resistance Training Performed Two Versus Three Days Per Week. J Hum Kinet. 2019 Aug 21;68:135-143. doi: 10.2478/hukin-2019-0062. PMID: 31531139; PMCID: PMC6724585.
Krzysztofik M, Wilk M, Wojdała G, Gołaś A. Maximizing Muscle Hypertrophy: A Systematic Review of Advanced Resistance Training Techniques and Methods. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Dec 4;16(24):4897. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16244897. PMID: 31817252; PMCID: PMC6950543.

Quadriceps Stretch Guide: How-To, Muscles Involved, Benefits, and Variations

Quadriceps Stretch Guide: How-To, Muscles Involved, Benefits, and Variations

Pesty tight quads can wreak havoc not just on the front thigh but the effects can also be felt in the lower back, knees, and even the hip flexors. It’s an issue that many of us ignore but the good news is the quadriceps stretch is one way to prevent, combat, and reverse those ailing pains and aches.
Consisting of five individual muscles, the quadriceps are a complex, yet powerful muscle group crucial for performance, posture, and well-being. So you don’t want to be caught with stiff quads, and it’s even more imperative with our modern minimally active lifestyles.
Check out our prime quadriceps example, and the best variations for all experience levels. 
Muscles Involved During Quadriceps Stretches
While not a muscle-building or strengthening exercise, the goal of quadriceps stretch is to create healthier and more functional leg muscles. Here’s some anatomy on the quadriceps thigh muscles.

Quadriceps 
The quadriceps is a significant muscle group covering the front part of your upper leg between the hips and knees. Although, the quad fibers cross both of the aformentioned joints, of which the quads muscle group performs functions such as knee extension and hip flexion. 
It was previously believed that the quadriceps was made up of four individual heads, hence the word ‘quad’. However, more recently, a fifth muscle was identified as part of the quadriceps. 
Five quad muscles

Rectus femoris
Vastus lateralis 
Vastus medialis
Vastus intermedius
Tensor of the vastus intermedius

How To Do The Quadriceps Stretch
While it may appear easy in a video instructional, or seem simple in your mind, the quadriceps stretch is actually a little challenging, but worth the effort. 
Below we’ll show you one version of the quadriceps stretch, but keep in mind there are several ways to achieve a nice stretch in your anterior thigh muscles. 
Steps 

Drop down on your knees and keep your body tall and upright (tall kneeling position). 
Keep one knee down, then bring the other leg forward at a 90-degree angle, and plant your foot flat on the floor. 
Reach behind and grab your rear foot, then pull it into your butt. Keep your body upright, and don’t lean forward. Hold this position for 10 seconds, then relax and repeat a few more times. You should feel a nice stretch in your quadriceps!

Don’t forget to alternate your leg position, and make sure to stretch both sides equally. 
Watch the following video example to see a demonstration of the quadriceps stretch. 

Tips

Use a looped resistance band, belt, or similar object if flexibility is an issue. 
Try to keep your body upright or only slightly leaned forward, but do not lean too far forward. 
If this variation doesn’t suit you, try some of the other variations. 

This Exercise

Target Muscle Group/s: Quadriceps
Type: Stretch
Mechanics: Isolation
Equipment: Cushioned surface, exercise mat
Difficulty: Beginner/Intermediate

Benefits of Quadriceps Stretch
Stretching, in general, has many proven benefits. In fact, it’s necessary that we all do some form of stretching. 
Reverse tight quads from prolonged sitting
With our modern, tech heavy lifestyles, we do more sitting than ever before. Too much and we risk the quads becoming tight and even shortened. This can cause injuries, and will most certainly affect maximal physical performance. 
Prevent or fix lower back and knee pain
Tense front thigh muscles can cause lower back as well as knee pain. In fact, not stretching often causes many issues that people have, but they never realize what’s causing it. Better to stretch regularly to stave off future problems. 
Avoid or correct muscle imbalances
You probably didn’t know that tight quads can weaken the opposite hamstring muscles on the rear thigh, creating muscle imbalances that affect both function and appearance. This will also ramp up the chance of injury, and limit mobility. You may also notice discomfort in your hips like tightness and pain. 
Stronger legs 
Muscle tightness can lead to muscle weakness. When it comes to the quadriceps it’s not only the quads that are affected but so are the hamstrings on the rear thigh. 
Maintain healthy posture
Tight muscles can limit our ability to maintain a good posture for obvious reasons. It limits our natural range of movement, and how we move and perform. The muscles in our bodies flex and move the joints, allowing us to move. 
Drawbacks of Quadriceps Stretch
Here are some potential negatives of the quadriceps stretch. 
More challenging than meets the eye 
Even people who exercise regularly may underestimate the quads stretch. In fact, if it’s not something you do often, get down on the floor and try it… not so easy eh? That’s because the quads stretch requires a little balance, and flexibility. It may even feel a little painful, if you have tight quads, or do the movement on a hard surface. 
Of course, as suggested, you can also use a looped resistance band, which is always handy to have around anyway!
Should follow warm-up activities 
While it’s shouldn’t be a huge deal, we do always recommend warming up your muscles before stretching. That means 5-10 minutes of light activity such as walking at a decent pace, or doing your workout first before stretching. This could be an inconvenience for those who want to hop right into stretching. 
Common Mistakes When Performing Quadriceps Stretch
There are lots of things you can do wrong when performing a quadriceps stretch. Here are some quick tips on technique dont’s.
Stretching cold quads
Many health publications agree that it’s better to stretch a muscle, especially intensively, following warmup activities (1, 2). A cold muscle that’s suddenly and intensely stretched could cause injury. So it’s better to do some walking, or workout first, then stretch your quads. 
Pulling the leg out
While it may not be dangerous, and you’ll still stretch the quads, it’s better to pull the leg straight back, not out sideways to your body. You’ll also get a deeper stretch in the meatier part of the quads this way, and it’s just the recommend technique. 
Arching your lower back
While you may get the same depth of stretch if you arch your back, this just places a lot of unnecessary stress on your lower back. It may not be intentional, but you want to avoid doing this. 
Not stretching evenly 
You should take stretching seriously, as you would other forms of training techniques. That means you should aim to stretch each leg with the same pressure, and duration. So, if you stretch one side for twenty seconds, make sure to do the same on the other side. And apply an equal amount of pressure. 
Bounce stretching
Also known as ballistic stretching, we don’t recommend bouncy, jerking stretch motions for the quads, or any muscle. There’s too much injury risk and it’s not necessary for general stretching. Instead, static stretching is a better option, pulling the muscle into a stretched position, and holding it there (3). 
Quadriceps Stretch Variations
If you don’t like the quadriceps variation shown as the primary example for this guide, or if you like to change things up, check out these other options. 
We also included this top 5 quads stretch video below that demonstrates and explains many of the variations in this section.

Standing Quadriceps Stretch
Perhaps the most popular variation, the standing quadriceps stretch is also the most convenient. It’s a great way to stretch between workout sets, while you’re moving about, after a run, or during sports play. You can do it wherever you’re standing, which we can’t say about the following quad stretch exercises.
Steps

Stand up straight with your feet close together. You can hold onto something for balance support, if needed. 
Lift one foot up behind you and grab it with the same side hand. You should be standing on one leg. 
Pull straight back and feel the stretch in your quads!
Switch and repeat.

Side Lying Quadriceps Stretch
If balance is a problem, or you just prefer to stretch in a more relaxed position without thinking, the side lying quads stretch is best. It basically replicates the standing quads stretch except you’re on the floor now. 
Steps 

Grab a foam roller, pillow, or something to rest your head on for neck support. 
Lie on your side with your head propped up, and bottom arm in a comfortable position, not laying on it.
Bend the top leg, reach back and grab your foot and pull it back. 
Turn to the other side and so the same thing. 

Prone Quads Stretch
This time we’re going face down to get a soothing thigh stretch. Sometimes, changing your body position can be therapeutic in itself, encouraging regular stretching, or being the preferred quadriceps stretch method. 
Steps

Grab a light resistance band, belt, dog leash, sheet, or something similar that’s long enough to wrap around your foot while holding the other end in a prone position. 
Get down on your knees, then loop the band around the top of one foot. Hold the other end of the band in the same side hand, then as you lie face down, pull the band over your shoulder and hold it there. 
Pull the band to stretch your quads, using both hands if needed. Hold the position for 10 seconds, relax, and repeat a few more times. 
Repeat the previous steps on the other leg, wrapping the band around the opposite foot. 

Make sure to alternate sides to stretch both legs. 

Quads Wall / Couch Stretch
To hit more of the rectus femoris quad muscle, this hip flexor stretch commonly performed against the wall or on a bench height object works great. 
Steps

Set up in front of an object about level with the lower part of your butt. A bench, stacked mats, couch, box or even a wall can work. 
Assume a half kneeling position with one knee on the floor and the same side foot propped up on the object. Place your other leg in front of you with your foot flat on the ground. 
Keep your body tall and upright, and simply feel the stretch. The closer your knee is to the object, the more pronounced the stretch in your anterior thigh. 

Wrapping Up
If you read through this training guide, you’re probably in need of a good quadriceps stretch. But you’ve also learned about the benefits, what causes tight quads, side effects of tense thigh muscles, and how to maximize the stretch to become a healthier and more functional individual. 
Stretching is a non-negotiable form of body maintenance and we all need more of it to keep doing what we enjoy whether that’s performing, or maintaining physical mobility. 

2023 Pittsburgh Pro Results and Scorecards (Live Updates)

2023 Pittsburgh Pro Results and Scorecards (Live Updates)

One of the most celebrated contests on the IFBB Pro League schedule, the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro, takes place on May 12-13 in Pittsburgh PA. This show holds special significance due to NPC President and IFBB Pro League Chairman Jim Manion’s name being attached to it. 
The Pittsburgh Pro serves as a qualifier for 2023 Mr. Olympia, taking place Nov. 2-5, in Orlando, Florida. Six divisions were featured at the event this weekend: Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, Women’s Physique, Figure, Bikini, and Wellness. 
There are a number of returning champions eager to prove themselves once again. Among them is Natalia Abraham Coelho, the current 2022 Women’s Physique Olympia who recently dethroned Sarah Villegas.
Bikini legend Ashley Kaltwasser will look to make it four titles in Pittsburgh. She recently placed third at 2022 Olympia and is a three-time Olympia Bikini titleholder. Fans also expect an exciting performance from Kassandra Gillis, who is the current Arnold Classic Wellness champion. 
A comprehensive preview of the event can be found here. With a star-studded guest-posing lineup on deck, this weekend promises to be a memorable one.
Check out the results of the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro below: 
2023 Pittsburgh Pro Winners

Classic Physique:  Michael Daboul 
Men’s Physique: Coming Soon!
Women’s Physique: Natalia Abraham Coelho
Figure: Cherish Richardson
Bikini: Coming Soon!
Wellness: Gisele Machado

2023 Pittsburgh Pro Results 
Classic Physique
During prejudging and finals, Michael Deboul and Eric Wildberger Lisboa cemented themselves as frontrunners. Both men brought exceptional upper body development and top-notch conditioning. While many fans online deemed it a toss-up, the judges awarded Michael Daboul with the victory. 

Winner —  Michael Daboul 
Second Place — Eric Wildberger
Third Place — Alexander Westermeier
Fourth Place — Daniil Famponte
Fifth Place — Camilo Diaz
Sixth Place — Tomas Adame-Hernandez
Seventh Place — Brandon Cooper
Eighth Place — Rob Van Sant
Ninth Place — Kendahl Richmond
Tenth Place — Munkhsaruul Altangerel

Women’s Physique

Winner — Natalia Abraham Coelho
Second Place — Emily Schubert
Third Place — Amandine Kolly
Fourth Place — Joseli Schoenherr
Fifth Place — Marie-Solange Essoh
Sixth Place — 
Seventh Place — 
Eighth Place — 
Ninth Place — 
Tenth Place — 

Figure

Winner — Cherish Richardson
Second Place — Natalia Soltero
Third Place — Maria Luisa Baeza Diaz Pereira
Fourth Place — Erika Morales Morgan
Fifth Place — Madison Dinges
Sixth Place — Manon Dutilly
Seventh Place — Jennifer Zienert
Eighth Place — Ashley Howells
Ninth Place — Ashley Radiance Fuller
Tenth Place — Paula Ranta

Wellness

Winner —  Gisele Machado
Second Place — Kassandra Gillis
Third Place — Lili Dong
Fourth Place — Tefani-Sam Razhi
Fifth Place — Jennifer Zollars
Sixth Place — 
Seventh Place — 
Eighth Place — 
Ninth Place — 
Tenth Place — 

Men’s Physique
Coming Soon!
Bikini
Coming Soon!
2023 Pittsburgh Pro Scorecards
Coming Soon!

Fitness Volt congratulates the winners on their major victories!
Published: 12 May, 2023 | 9:42 PM EDT

2023 Pittsburgh Pro Scorecards

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Strongman Brian Shaw Shows Off Superhuman Strength By Rolling Up Frying Pan

Strongman Brian Shaw Shows Off Superhuman Strength By Rolling Up Frying Pan

Legendary Strongman veteran Brian Shaw is nearing the end of his professional career after making his final appearance at the 2023 World’s Strongest Man last month. During his career which has lasted over a decade, Brian has displayed some incredible feats of strength. However, he just decided to play around with some cooking utensils and amaze everyone with his strength once again. So, in a recent post made on Instagram, Shaw showed off his incredible power by banding and folding a frying pan with his bare hands.
Brian Shaw is one of the most successful athletes in the history of Strongman competition. However, it all started on the regional circuit in late 2005. Following this, Brian continued to work his way up, finally qualifying for the World’s Strongest Man show in 2008. His debut was not particularly successful, but Brian turned in a strong performance at his second WSM in 2009 having taken the bronze medal. Just two years later in 2011, Shaw cemented his place in the record books as the first man to win both the Arnold Strongman Classic and the WSM contest in the same year. He repeated the feat by winning both trophies once again in 2015. To this day, only Hafthor Bjornsson and Mitchell Hooper have managed to replicate this feat.
Brian Shaw (Courtesy of World’s Strongest Man)
In July 2022, Shaw unveiled the humongous gym he designed to train for Strongman events. The facility consisted of custom-made equipment to allow for the larger athletes to fit into the machines. Another purpose of the custom machinery was to be able to add more weight as well. While he made space for cardio equipment, he favored spending more time working on the weights. Then, after some practice, he left the fans in awe of his crazy strength by pushing a 2,000 pound (907.18-kg) car on the leg press in preparation for the 2022 Shaw Classic.
Shaw switched gears to test out a vegan diet last September. He managed to devour over 9,000 calories solely from vegan food items in a single day. Since he had been consuming a red meat-based diet, he reported trouble digesting the different plant-based items.
Earlier this year, Brian Shaw announced that the 2023 World’s Strongest Man would mark his final WSM appearance. He was confident going into the show and targeted adding another title under his belt to equal the record for the winningest athlete in the history of the competition. Then, he declared he would step away from professional competition after competing at the 2023 Shaw Classic.
Brian Shaw / Courtesy of World’s Strongest Man
Unfortunately, Shaw revealed he suffered a harsh leg injury while gearing up for the 2023 World’s Strongest Man last month. He had picked up a severe infection that risked him losing his leg. Fortunately, the infection got operated on in time before it spread too much.
Eventually, Shaw finished seventh at the WSM, which concluded with the win of Mitchell Hooper. Shaw, however, set a new record on the stone-offs and appeared content with the performance.
Brian Shaw rolled up a frying pan with his bare hands
In a recent Instagram post, Brian Shaw destroyed a frying pan using only his bare hands. Brian performed this feat of strength in front of a bunch of school kids, hoping to inspire them to chase their goals. In addition, judging by the caption of his post, Brian folded multiple frying pans and gave them to the kids as a souvenir.

Brian Shaw opened up on completing his last WSM showing last week. He gave his experience of going through each event and urged the organizers to change the standards for refereeing.
Published: 12 May, 2023 | 6:25 PM EDT

6x Fittest Woman On Earth Tia-Clair Toomey Announces Arrival of Baby Girl

6x Fittest Woman On Earth Tia-Clair Toomey Announces Arrival of Baby Girl

Although it appears that Tia-Clair Toomey just announced her pregnancy yesterday, many months have passed since that announcement. Toomey grew increasingly excited with each passing month leading up to this moment, and now she has finally reached what many consider to be the best day of their lives. On May 9th, 2023 Tia-Clair Toomey gave birth to a beautiful baby girl and became a mother.
Tia-Clair Toomey shared the exciting news on her Instagram on May 12th alongside a picture of her newborn. She revealed that the baby girl’s name is Willow Clair Orr and pointed out how much of her father’s facial features she already has. In addition, Tia-Clair pointed out just how emotional she got while holding her daughter for the first time.
“On Tuesday, the 9th of May, our lives were forever changed as we welcomed our precious baby girl, Willow Clair Orr.
From the moment we held her in our arms, we were overwhelmed with emotions. The joy and awe we felt are indescribable. Yes, there were moments of pain during the labor stage, but as the saying goes, nothing great comes without pain.”

Related: Tia-Clair Toomey Unveils Full Day of Eating During Pregnancy
Tia-Clair Toomey’s Future In CrossFit
Shortly before announcing her pregnancy, Tia-Clair Toomey made it clear that she wants to get her seventh CrossFit Games title. So, that had to be put on pause, but many hope that Tia-Clair will continue chasing this goal next season.
While she did not confirm anything yet, judging by the caption of her Instagram post, Tia-Clair Toomey seems even more inspired after giving birth to her daughter.
“This remarkable experience has brought about a newfound clarity and an extra drive within me.
Her arrival has filled my heart with an overwhelming love and renewed purpose, igniting a fire within me to pursue my goals with even greater determination.”
It’s clear that Tia-Clair Toomey is now entering a new chapter in her life as a parent. She’ll need some time to adjust and focus on her new role, so it may be a while before she can make plans for her athletic future. Parenthood can be a demanding and rewarding journey, and we wish her all the best in this new adventure.
Tia-Clair Toomey At a Glance
When Tia-Clair Toomey has her baby girl by her side, she may become even more driven, and her performances will undoubtedly be a magnificent sight to behold. She has already won six Individual CrossFit Games titles and was thus crowned the Fittest Woman On Earth. No one has ever managed to achieve this before her in either women’s or men’s divisions, as Mat Fraser was the closest with 5x Individual CrossFit Games titles.
Tia-Clair Toomey’s performances in the Rogue Invitational serve as further evidence that she is one of the greatest female athletes to ever compete in CrossFit. This is a new competition, established in 2019, but it is already one of the biggest in the sport. So, Tia-Clair has managed to win the 2019, 2020, and 2021 editions of the competition. However, she did not appear in 2022 and her title was claimed by Laura Horvath.
In addition, Tia-Clair appeared in the Rio Olympics back in 2016 in the sport of Olympic Weightlifting. So, it is obvious that there is nothing she can’t do and that she will also succeed in being a great mother.

Related: Tia-Clair Toomey Crushes a CrossFit Workout While Pregnant
Now that Tia-Clair Toomey won’t be competing this season, we will have a new women’s CrossFit Games champion for the first time since 2016. The athletes know this and are giving their all to seize the opportunity. The best one so far seems to be Mal O’Brien who won the 2023 CrossFit Open and Quarterfinals. Tia-Clair is not the only woman to withdraw from the 2023 season due to pregnancy, as Kara Saunders is also expecting a baby.
The Fitness Volt team congratulates Tia-Clair Toomey on becoming a mother and wishes her the best as she embarks on a new chapter in her life.
Published: 12 May, 2023 | 2:47 PM EDT

2023 Pittsburgh Pro Preview, Athletes to Watch & Guest Posing Teaser

2023 Pittsburgh Pro Preview, Athletes to Watch & Guest Posing Teaser

The 2023 Pittsburgh Pro, one of the most prestigious contests on the IFBB Pro League calendar, will kick off its festivities on May 12-13 in Pittsburgh PA. Historically, this show has become a major attraction and is backed by NPC President and IFBB Pro League Chairman Jim Manion. With six bodybuilding categories competing for gold, the winners will guarantee their right to contend on this year’s Mr. Olympia stage. 
A number of returning champions have taken to the east coast looking to stake their claim as the best. Natalia Abraham Coelho, the reigning 2022 Women’s Physique Olympia, three-time Olympia Bikini legend Ashley Kaltwasser, and Wellness Arnold Classic winner Kassandra Gillis will be in attendance eager to nail down another major bodybuilding title. 
Fans are also looking forward to a star-studded lineup of Open class guest posers, who are set to light up the stage on Saturday. You can find the complete roster of athletes competing at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro below: 
Official 2023 Pittsburgh Pro Athletes Roster & Preview
Classic Physique
In the Classic Physique category, a few names jumped out on paper in the lead-up to the event. Michael Daboul is a two-time Arnold Classic UK champion and known for bringing consistently shredded packages. Daboul capped off his season last year finishing 10th at 2022 Mr. Olympia.

Camilo Diaz also has ambitious plans to assert himself as a title contender in his Pittsburgh Pro debut performance. Fans expect a strong showing from Danili Famponte as well after he won the 2023 Charlotte Pro and took third at the Fitworld Pro. He’s qualified for the 2023 Olympia, so he’s aiming to take a invite away from his competition.

Tomas Adame-Hernandez
Munkhsaruul Altangerel
Edgard John Augustin
Brandon Cooper
Luca Corrado
Michael Daboul
Camilo Diaz
Daniil Famponte
Callum Hinze
Eric Wildberger Lisboa
Eddie Lusk III
Dion Merrill
Jason Orellana
Kendahl Richmond
Rob Van Sant
Randy Watson
Alexander Westermeier
Jay Yount

Men’s Physique
The evolution of the Men’s Physique category will be on full display this weekend. Fans have highlighted a few frontrunners, like Ryan Terry. Terry turned in a seventh-place finish at 2022 Olympia, where Erin Banks won his first Men’s Physique title. Meanwhile, Ali Bilal will look to win in Pittsburgh after securing ninth behind Terry in Las Vegas. Benquil Marigny is also riding momentum after picking up gold at the 2023 St. Louis Pro a few weeks ago. 

Dustin Alvis
Michael E. Anderson
Christopher Barr
Lucas Basilio
Michael Bell
Ali Bilal
Stevelon Dennis
Furkan Er
Matthew Gelia
Brett Mario Jackson
Melvin Keihn
Jacques Lewis
Benquil Marigny
Joseph Mencel
Gage Moran
Corey Morri
Vincenzo Palescandolo
Sidy Pouye Spain
Nathaniel Presley
Puwanat Putoya
Jamil Rogers
Leon K. Smith
Ryan Terry
Marcus L. Wesley

Women’s Physique
Fans look forward to seeing Natalia Abraham Coelho back in action, who upset Sarah Villegas for the Women’s Physique Olympia title last December. Given her ability to come in shredded to the bone, fans expect a dominant package from the reigning champ. 

Sabrina Berish
Candice Carr
Natalia Abraham Coelho
Sarah Crail
Marie-Solange Essoh
Ann Gruber
Carrie Hughes
Amandine Kolly
Diana Schnaidt
Joseli Schoenherr
Emily Schubert
Becky Short
Michele Steeves
Jennifer Taylor
Kasia Topor
Patricia Watson

Figure
In the Figure category, Natalia Soltero hopes to deliver fireworks. She placed fifth at the 2022 Figure Olympia contest, which saw Cydney Gillon secure her sixth consecutive title. Soltero also finished fifth at last year’s Arnold Classic Figure International. 

Lynn Centino
Madison Dinges
Manon Dutilly
Ashley Radiance Fuller
Sandy Hill
Ashley Howells
Erika Morales Morgan
Nina Paulus
Maria Luisa Baeza Diaz Pereira
Paula Ranta
Cherish Richardson
Paige Sabedra
Natalia Soltero
Jennifer Zienert

Bikini
Ashley Kaltwasser is a winning machine and hopes to add another trophy to her collection this weekend. At the 2022 Olympia competition, she took third place, proving that she’s still a viable contender and very capable of stringing together high-quality performances. Kaltwasser enters this competition having won the Pittsburgh Pro title four times (2013,2014,2016,2019). 

Marnie Al-Saraf
Vania Auguste
Romina Basualdo
Aimee Delgado
Malu Duarte
Valerya Fedorenko
Karene Gonzalez
Brittany Hamilton
Nicole Hermanson
Peyton Hunton
Ashley Kaltwasser
Priscila Leimbacher
Lexus Redmond
Kathy Seitz
Nedjie Thompson
Petra Voldanova
Jessica Wilson

Wellness
Arnold Classic Wellness International titleholder Kassandra Gillis plans to continue her success on Saturday. She’s already won a contest this year at the 2023 Vancouver Island Showdown Pro and earned her Olympia invite. With that in mind, she hopes to win her first Pittsburgh Pro title this weekend. 

Emily Azzarello
Anna Banks
Claire Cochet
Rayanne Collins 
Lili Dong
Kassandra Gillis
Gisele Machado
Tefani-Sam Razhi
Jaqueline Huescas Rios
Alyssa Serna
Jennifer Zollars

2023 Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing Lineup 
On top of six contests, some of the sport’s best Men’s Open competitors will guest pose in Pittsburgh this weekend. The stage will feature 2021 Arnold Classic winner, Nick Walker, former two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay, former 212 Olympia Derek Lunsford, reigning two-time 212 Olympia Shaun Clarida, 2022 Arnold Classic winner Samson Dauda, and Hunter Labrada. 

Last year, Walker and Lunsford stole the show guest posing at the Pittsburgh Pro. Lunsford served as a backup replacement for Big Ramy who no-showed the event. At the gathering, fans enjoyed exciting performances from Brandon Curry and Hunter Labrada. It also laid the foundation for Lunsford to receive a special invitation to compete in the Open class for the 2022 Mr. Olympia competition, which he followed through on with a second-place finish. 
RELATED: Hany Rambod Teases Big Package from Derek Lunsford at 2023 Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing
Fans are counting down the hours until Jim Manion’s Pittsburgh Pro show. In addition to contests, the elite athletes in the Open class will also showcase their skills through guest posing. This will allow them to gain momentum and attract attention before they compete in the 2023 Mr. Olympia later in November.
Published: 12 May, 2023 | 1:26 PM EDT

2023 CrossFit Individual Semifinals Tests Revealed

2023 CrossFit Individual Semifinals Tests Revealed

The 2023 Individual CrossFit Semifinals will begin on May 18th, just a couple of days from now. Once the Semifinals begin, they will take place for three consecutive weeks across different continents. The 2023 Individual CrossFit Semifinals will consist of seven competitions, all of which will feature seven workouts. So, the Tests (Workouts) for the Individual division have just been released.
The 2023 Individual CrossFit Semifinals will feature seven Tests (Workouts) to determine who the fittest athletes in the world are. This is also the last obstacle before the 2023 CrossFit Games which has space for only 40 of the greatest athletes. Thus, only a few athletes from each Semifinal will go through to the Games.
Each semifinal has its own number of qualifying spots for the 2023 CrossFit Games, which was determined by CrossFit’s new ranking system. This system has evaluated the strength of the rosters in all seven Semifinal competitions and attributed the qualifying spots accordingly.
The 2023 CrossFit Open and Quarterfinals featured some insane displays from multiple athletes who are now likely to be dominant in the Semifinals as well. The young Mal O’Brien proved to be the greatest female so far, topping the overall leaderboards in both previous stages of the season. On the other hand, the 2x Fittest Man On Earth, Justin Medeiros, looks to be the favorite this year as well.

Related: Ricky Garard Out of the 2023 CrossFit Season Following Shoulder Injury
2023 Individual CrossFit Semifinals Tests
TEST ONE
For time:

3,000-meter Echo Bike
Hand-Over-Hand Pull (84 feet)
2,000-meter Assault AirRunner
Hand-Over-Hand Pull (84 feet)
1,000-meter SkiErg
Hand-Over-Hand Pull (92 feet)

Time cap: 30 minutes
Women: 180 poundsMen: 225 pounds
TEST TWO
As many reps as possible in 3 minutes of:

5 Ring Complexes (1 Toe-To-Ring, 1 Muscle-Up, 1 Ring Dip)
20 Single-Leg Squats
Max Burpees Over Box

*Complete 3 rounds, resting 1 minute between rounds.
*Score is total reps across the 3 minutes.
Women Wear a 10-pound ruck, 24-inch boxMen Wear a 20-pound ruck, 30-inch box
TEST THREE
For time:
Semifinals Linda — 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 reps of:

Deadlifts
Dumbbell Bench Presses
Squat Cleans

Time cap: 17 minutes
Women: 220-pound deadlifts, 60-pound dumbbells, 105-pound squat cleansMen: 295-pound deadlifts, 90-pound dumbbells, 145-pound squat cleans
TEST FOUR
For load:

Run 800 meters
Max Snatch

Time cap: 6 minutes
After the time cap for test four clocks out, the athletes will have just two minutes to rest before initiating Test Five.
TEST FIVE
For time:

8 Snatches
Run 800 meters

Time cap: 6 minutes
Women: 125-pound snatchMen: 185-pound snatch

TEST SIX
For time:

20 Overhead Squats
500-meter Row
Three Handstand-Walk Pirouettes
Two Seated Legless Rope Climbs
20 Strict Chest-To-Wall Handstand Push-Ups
Two Seated Legless Rope Climbs
Three Handstand-Walk Pirouettes
500-meter Row
20 Overhead Squats

Time cap: 15 minutes (Men) — 16 minutes (Women)
Women: 125-pound SquatMen: 185-pound Squat
TEST SEVEN
Three rounds for time of:

Echo Bike Calories (Men: 15 calories / Women: 10 calories)
20 Toes-To-Bar
60-Foot Sandbag Bear-Hug Carry

Women: 150-pound SandbagMen: 200-pound Sandbag

Related: Tia-Clair Toomey Unveils Full Day of Eating During Pregnancy
2023 Semifinals Schedule & CrossFit Games Qualifying Spots
All of the seven 2023 CrossFit Semifinal competitions listed below will consist of two divisions. The first one is the Individual, while the second division is the Teams. It is important to note that these two divisions do not have the same Tests (Workouts). In addition, the Teams division will feature six workouts and they were revealed a few days ago as well.
Below are the dates for each Semifinal competition along with the number of Individual qualifying spots available for the 2023 CrossFit Games in each competition.

North America East Semifinal: May 18-21 (11 Women / 12 Men)
Africa Semifinal: May 19-21 (1 Woman / 1 Man)
North America West Semifinal: May 25-28 (10 Women / 9 Men)
Oceania Semifinal: May 25-28 (3 Women / 3 Men)
South America Semifinal: May 26-28 (2 Women / 2 Men)
Europe Semifinal: June 1-4 (11 Women / 11 Men)
Asia Semifinal: June 1-4 (2 Women / 2 Men)

The 2023 CrossFit Games will take place shortly after the Semifinals. The exact date will be August 1-6, while the action will be happening in Madison, Wisconsin once again.
Published: 12 May, 2023 | 12:44 PM EDT

Kali Muscle Gets Honest About 13 Years of Heavy Gear Use: ‘I Really Didn’t Stop Till the Heart Attack’

Kali Muscle Gets Honest About 13 Years of Heavy Gear Use: ‘I Really Didn’t Stop Till the Heart Attack’

Fitness influencer and former bodybuilder Chuck “Kali Muscle” Kirkendall continues to issue warnings about the dangers of steroids. In a recent YouTube video, Kali Muscle discussed performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) and the repercussions that follow sustained abuse. 
Over the last three years, the foundation of the bodybuilding community was rocked by multiple deaths. In 2021, former Mr. Olympia Shawn Rhoden suddenly passed away from suspected heart troubles. Meanwhile, George Peterson, a standout 212 bodybuilder, also met his untimely fate face down in a hotel room, once again, from heart complications. 

Last April, less than one month before the 2022 Arnold Classic, Cedric McMillan died at 44. In addition to the former Arnold Classic champion, the sport mourned the deaths of IFBB judge Jerry Ward and German IFBB pro Andreas Frey. 
Considering the trend, multiple bodybuilding personalities have underlined the dangers associated with PEDs. Among them was Kali Muscle, who shared a cautionary tale that saw him suffer a heart attack around the same time Rhoden passed away. In an effort to deter PED abuse, Kali Muscle is again highlighting the dangers in a recent YouTube appearance. 
Kali Muscle Reflects on 13 Yrs of Steroid Abuse, Takes ‘Small Dose’ Now to ‘Sustain’ Physique
Kirkendall admits he ignored warning signs from doctors regarding his use of PEDs. 
“You clogging everything up then I was getting warnings… doctors would be telling me, ‘Your blood pressure elevated for years.’ I’m like, ‘Man, look at me I’m fine.’ Then would use the electrical blood pressure machine, I’m like, ‘No you have to use that manual,’ right? I kept on just putting it off.” 
“My feet and ankles swelled up and would just stay swollen, I’m talking abnormal. So I would wear compression socks and all that, just my right foot, so I’m like, I blamed it on Vegas, it’s got to be the heat or something in this air man. I lived in Vegas four years going through this.” 
In addition to blood pressure issues, Kali Muscle noticed his body was retaining extra water only on his left side. 

“When we did IBF, I went to the doctor and got a physical and all that, they told me that blood pressure is elevated and I just shunned it off. I’m like, but I was always scared of that; I knew something was wrong with my body because I was puffy. 

Even when I did bodybuilding shows I would take diuretics and my left side would dry out but my right side was still holding a film of water. So, I was always weary of that, you know. Always scared of that. Yeah, I just didn’t take action on the signs,” said Kali Muscle. 

Kali Muscle states that he’s used steroids for 12-13 years straight but finally stopped following his heart attack. He listed trenbolone as the worst compound he’s used but also said ‘deca, anadrol, and dbol’ clogged up his arteries over time. 

“When I was 34 I started, 34… to when did I do my last show, no, so I really didn’t stop until the heart attack. Yeah, but all those years I would get off three to four months. So I caught myself cycling off and I’m thinking I’m not doing what these other guys are doing because I was already genetically gifted but you had times bro – that’s why that HGH, IGF fuc**ng Insulin, bro that’s clogging you up. They tell you, you know what I mean, that hardens your arteries or whatever they used to say.” 

“Yeah, 34 till when I had my heart attack, so 13 years off and on… 12 years off and on,” added Kali. “If you don’ty get a EKG or a PET scan to look at your arteries, you don’t know what’s going on. That’s what I recommend to everybody. Getting an EKG, a PET test at least once a year when you’re hitting 40 at least once a year.” 

“Tren is the worst. Tren, deca, anadrol, dbol, they the worst. They clog you up so fast. Insulin will kill you! I remember I tried that and damn-near died. You got to eat like a 1,000 grams of carbs on it. I was about to fall out and have a diabetic coma. Just experimenting too, don’t know what the hell you doing. It’s all an experiment, that’s what I tell people in videos, you’re giving data to my kids’ generation on what to do and what not to do.” 

According to Kali Muscle, steroids have value in society because they can help people suffering from AIDs and cancer. He specified that he’s taking a small dose of testosterone which amounts to 250 milligrams per month. 

“Roids help people, AIDs, cancer patients — it helps them. But when you abuse it, that’s when the problems arise,” added Kali. “A small dosage [is what I take now] I do a half a CC every other week. So, you’re looking at I do about 250 migs a month. That’s just to sustain.”

“I don’t do it for big muscles or nothing because I want to live bro. I’d get off totally if they tell me to. Yeah [testosterone], just some test. I feel great.” 

Looking ahead, Kali Muscle is excited about new anti-aging measures. 

“Keeping people young… they have a lot of new research. I love it. I look at it like this, if we didn’t have what we have in place now, I would be dead. Back in the day, they wouldn’t of been able to figure out as fast as they did what was wrong with me. By that time, the blood would of shut down to my brain and organs.”   

Kali Muscle isn’t the only former bodybuilder keen on reversing the anti-aging process. Recently, 1990s Open athlete Rich Gaspari took to Instagram and revealed a peptide stack he uses to preserve his health. He’s also taken aim at Open bodybuilders today who he believes are overusing drugs instead of utilizing proper training. 

Given the consequences he’s endured from years of steroid abuse, Kali Muscle hopes to inspire safer practices, especially for those who intend to pursue a career in bodybuilding.

Watch the full video below from the Escape Fitness YouTube channel: 

Published: 12 May, 2023 | 11:21 AM EDT