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Blessing Awodibu Pulls Out of Cali Pro, Squashes Beef with Nick Walker
Blessing Awodibu has decided to go back to the drawing board.
Blessing Awodibu won’t be competing at the California Pro. While he was set to step on stage at the show, Blessing has decided to pull out of the show. At the same time, it appears that he has squashed his beef with Nick Walker, giving the NY Pro winner a ton of credit for his dominant performance.
Blessing Awodibu got a pretty huge wake up call at the NY Pro. The popular bodybuilder looked to cement himself as an athlete to watch in his first two IFBB Pro League appearances. Instead it became obvious that Blessing still has some work to do before he can challenge the best of the best.
Pulling Out of the California Pro
A response to a post on social media confirmed that Blessing has decided to get back in the lab and work on his physique.
Blessing Awodibu will NOT be doing the upcoming California Pro.California is scheduled to take place in 2 weeks on the 29th.
After asking him if he plans on competing at Cali Pro, Blessing commented insinuating that he’s not competing anytime soon, perhaps taking a long off-season.“I’m going to take a little break and go back to school, I got work to do.”
While Blessing Awodibu had some high aspirations, it seems that he has decided to take some time off and regroup. Coming in at sixth place at the NY Pro has humbled him immensely it would appear. It was no doubt a learning experience for the popular bodybuilder.
The Beef is Over
Speaking of humbleness, it also appears that Blessing Awodibu has put his beef with Nick Walker to bed. The two had some pretty heated exchanges on social media during the lead up to the NY Pro. After Nick Walker dominated the competition at the show, Blessing felt compelled to give his rival praise.
Just cuz I’m a fan ?
@nick_walker39 aka the #mutant truly lived up to his name this past weekend at the #NYPro.Very honoured to have shared same stage with himWe went back n fourth at each other for the whole 10 weeks straight leading up to the NY pro show, to create hype, interest and excitement for the show. We had everyone talking and glued to bodybuilding for the whole 10 weeks which also allowed myself and Nick to work extra harder in the gym!
I was able to get in the best condition I’ve ever been only to have it all turn upside down a few hours before Indy Pro while Nick dashed to the finish line in style. This isn’t the end. Sometimes by losing a battle you find a new way to win the war and we will battle again! Round 2 is going to be ? Bodybuilding is in good hands. This is the new era!
This was pretty big of Blessing Awodibu to squash the beef with Nick Walker. It takes a level of humbleness and self awareness to not only realize when you’re beat, but that you have work to do.
While he may not have won the NY Pro, the future is still bright for Blessing Awodibu. We will see how he adapts in the future.
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Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
Danny Hester: Stop Calling Bodybuilding A Selfish Sport
Danny Hester debunks the persistent myth that bodybuilding and bodybuilders are inherently selfish
Danny Hester is a top level bodybuilder who has been around for a long time. He’s lived and competed through multiple eras of the sport, eventually earned an Olympia title, and trained numerous celebrities on the side. It’s safe to say that he has an in-depth perspective on bodybuilding over the past few generations. That’s why he is angered when people consider bodybuilding a selfish sport. Sometimes even bodybuilders themselves make this statement. In our latest GI Exclusive, Danny Hester explains why bodybuilding is not a selfish sport and how debunking this thinking can lead to more success for aspiring bodybuilders.
On the surface, bodybuilding on a pro level seems to be a passion of vanity. It’s about obsessing over each and every inch of your body and perfecting it. While that may be true, there is also a deep comradery and spirit between bodybuilders who compete in the sport. Not only that – but a bodybuilder is made up of a team – dietitians, trainers, and coaches.
This is the point Danny Hester wants to get across during our new video conversation. He is tired of people, even fellow bodybuilders, calling the sport selfish. Being a niche sport, Hester sees a true connection and togetherness among bodybuilders. Though he does understand where the “selfish” sentiment first came from.
Our discussion started off specifically discussing money in bodybuilding. How hard is it to make a living as a full time bodybuilder? Is it easier today than it was in the past due to online and social media? Ultimately, Danny Hester believes it evens out. It’s not better or worse – just very different.
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Check out our latest GI Exclusive segment with Danny Hester above!
So when it comes to bodybuilders leaving their hometowns, coming to California, and trying to start a life as a bodybuilder – it can be financially hard. This is where the selfish part comes into play. For bodybuilders starting out, the sport and lifestyle can seem selfish. The coast of supplements, gym memberships, and sacrifice in a traditional social life can all amount to an isolated life.
The reality, though, is that bodybuilding is a close knit community. When starting out and facing tough times – it might be easy to become isolated and see selfishness in the sport. So what Danny Hester wants young bodybuilders to know is this. Ask for help more than you do. Don’t be afraid to connect and put yourself out there with other bodybuilders. Don’t assume they all have it figured out because they look successful on social media.
Social media can be a trick. A classic, grass is always greener, scenario. The truth is behind the photos are more real lives with deeper problems than they are letting on. So Danny Hester wants to promote the comradery of bodybuilding. He wants to inspire young bodybuilders to connect more and see the non-selfish side of the sport.
It can be a real revelation. It can help bodybuilders from burning out. It can change the entire perception of bodybuilding at a time when it’s most important. Ultimately, it can make you a better bodybuilder.
You can watch Danny Hester go into more detail in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
How to Drink Alcohol and Still Hit Your Fitness Goal
It’s possible to get into the best shape of your life all while enjoying your favorite drinks. You may have heard the notion that alcohol is horrible for your health — especially for your fitness goal —, and well, while that’s true to an extent, alcohol is fine in moderation, won’t impact your fitness goal, and even has some health benefits.
Fitness should enhance your lifestyle not consume it. If reaching your fitness goal makes you sacrifice your favorite foods and activities, it’s not worth it. Sacrifices including social activities and enjoying your favorite alcoholic beverages with your family, friends, or significant others are still possible while hitting your fitness goal.
Like Jame Bond himself, you can still have a physique that’s athletic with strength and endurance that’s capable of fighting off a beer all while being able to throw back some beer with your friends on the weekend.
If you enjoy drinking, but also want to build the best physique of your life, learn how you can make alcohol a part of your diet below.
Too Much Alcohol is Bad for You
Drinking alcohol isn’t inherently bad for you. Of course, if you drink too much, then yes, alcohol is detrimental to your health, body, and fitness goal. Before diving into the positive effects of alcohol, it’s first important that we cover why you shouldn’t drink too much.
Alcohol can cause several negative effects if you don’t drink with caution. Below is a list of the negative side of alcohol if it isn’t controlled.
Negative Effects of Alcohol
High blood pressure and other heart diseases.
Cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and colon.
Weaker immune system.
Impaired memory and cognitive functioning.
Mental health issues.
I know all these side effects sound daunting, and they are and shouldn’t be taken lightly. However, these are only the effects of drinking TOO much alcohol. If you drink responsibly and in a controlled manner, it can be beneficial for you and still allow you to hit your fitness goal.
Moderate Drinking is Healthy
Aside from the long-term consequences of drinking too much alcohol, alcohol in moderation isn’t unhealthy for you, and in fact, can have some benefits and help you reach your fitness goal. Let’s take a look at some of them below.
Positive Effects of Alcohol
Healthy for your heart.
Prevents kidney stones.
Increased testosterone.
Better brain health.
Improve blood sugar levels.
Better Health
Light to moderate drinking lowers your risk for heart disease. It can raise your “good” HDL cholesterol in your bloodstream and decrease your blood pressure (1). Also, it reduces your stress and temporarily decreases stress and anxiety (2). Moderate drinking keeps your immune system strong and lowers your risk of catching the common cold (3). Moderate drinkers are also 23 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer’s diseases (4).
This study found that moderate drinking is linked to a reduced risk of dementia (5). Studies show that drinking 1-2 glasses a day decreases your chance of developing type 2 diabetes (6).
Increases Testosterone
A low dose of alcohol — approximately 4-5 drinks — actually increases men’s testosterone (7). Interestingly, a 2009 study published by the Journal of Sexual Medicine found that the chances of erectile dysfunction were reduced by 25 to 30 percent among alcohol drinkers (8).
Drinking Doesn’t Impair Your Muscles
A common myth is that alcohol diminishes your muscular gains in the gym, however, that’s only true if you overdrink. Moderate drinking does absolutely nothing to your muscle gains, so if building muscle is your fitness goal, you don’t have anything to worry about (9). (Of course, drinking too much alcohol decreases your muscle’s ability to regenerate, hindering your muscle growth potential.)
Funny enough, bodybuilder, Ronnie Coleman, won his first 1997 Grand Prix Russia after sharing a few drinks (vodka) with bodybuilding legend, Kevin Levrone. What this did is that it made his physique stand out further by making his muscles pop out more. That’s because his muscles were dehydrated, so he looked leaner, more muscular, more chiseled, and more of the freak of nature that he was.
Needless to say, Coleman went on to become one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time after sharing a few drinks that night with Levrone.
Alcohol Isn’t Fattening
Alcohol isn’t fattening, calories are. There’s not a single food in the world that makes you more fat than others, as long as the calories are equal. What it comes down to is how many calories you’re consuming. If you’re in a caloric deficit while enjoying a few drinks, you’ll continue to lose fat. On the contrary, if consuming alcohol puts you in a caloric surplus, you’ll gain fat. So as long as the amount of drinks you have is still within your nutritional targets, it will be fine. In fact, this study shows that moderate drinking leads to a reduction in weight gain (10).
How Much Alcohol is Too Much?
Now, you may be wondering just how much alcohol is considered “moderation.” Well, there’s no one size fits all answer for that since everyone is built differently and has a different tolerance for it. In general, most experts agree that one drink a day for women or two drinks a day for men won’t affect you negatively. However, it’s safe to say that for most people it will be 4-5 drinks for men and 2-3 drinks for women (drunken over a long period though, not all at once, of course).
Drinking Guide to Reaching Your Fitness Goal
If you want to have your cake and eat it too when it comes to alcohol and reaching your fitness goal, there are some rules and guidelines you’ll want to adhere to.
For one, research indicates the red wine is the healthiest for your heart since it’s high in antioxidants (11). Although red wine is deemed the healthiest by researchers, the main thing you’ll want to monitor is how many calories you’re consuming when drinking (besides making sure you’re drinking in moderation as well).
If you’re only planning on having a drink or two, then it’s fine to get a beer, some wine, or a cocktail because that will only end up being around 200-300 calories. With that said, if you intend to have 3-5 drinks, you’ll want to stick to low-calorie drinks.
This would be your favorite liquor of choice (vodka, whiskey, gin) and some water — or you could drink it straight — however, having some water with your drink helps keep you hydrated since alcohol dehydrates you.
Below, are some options for low-calorie drinks.
Lower Calorie Alcoholic Beverages
Light beer – Miller Lite, Bud Light, Michelob
Vodka soda with lemon
Coke zero and whiskey
Mojito (without syrup)
Light bloody mary
Dry Champagne
Diet gin and tonic
Vodka Martini (James Bond’s favorite)
Fat Loss and Building Muscle
At the end of the day, losing fat and building muscle comes down to your training regimen and the number of calories you consume. As long as you drink in moderation — and your alcohol intake is still within your nutritional targets — you’ll still be able to hit your fitness goal and drink like James Bond too.
Conclusion
If you enjoy a drink or two from time to time, you can still get into stellar shape and reach your fitness goal. As long as you adhere to the guidelines laid out in this article, you won’t have to worry about any negative impacts of alcohol and will even reap some extra health benefits alcohol can provide.
What’s your favorite drink? Let us know in the comments below and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
References
1 – Ronksley, P. E., Brien, S. E., Turner, B. J., Mukamal, K. J., & Ghali, W. A. (2011). Association of alcohol consumption with selected cardiovascular disease outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 342, d671. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.d671
2 – Nielsen, N. R., Truelsen, T., Barefoot, J. C., Johnsen, S. P., Overvad, K., Boysen, G., Schnohr, P., & Grønbaek, M. (2005). Is the effect of alcohol on risk of stroke confined to highly stressed persons?. Neuroepidemiology, 25(3), 105–113. https://doi.org/10.1159/000086352
3 – Cohen, S., Tyrrell, D. A., Russell, M. A., Jarvis, M. J., & Smith, A. P. (1993). Smoking, alcohol consumption, and susceptibility to the common cold. American journal of public health, 83(9), 1277–1283. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.83.9.1277
4 – Loyola University Health System. (2011, August 19). Moderate drinking may protect against Alzheimer’s and cognitive impairment, study suggests. ScienceDaily. Retrieved April 14, 2021 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/08/110816112134.htm
5 – Mukamal, K. J., Kuller, L. H., Fitzpatrick, A. L., Longstreth, W. T., Jr, Mittleman, M. A., & Siscovick, D. S. (2003). Prospective study of alcohol consumption and risk of dementia in older adults. JAMA, 289(11), 1405–1413. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.289.11.1405
References Cont’d
6 – Lando L.J. Koppes, Jacqueline M. Dekker, Henk F.J. Hendriks, Lex M. Bouter, Robert J. Heine
Diabetes Care Mar 2005, 28 (3) 719-725; DOI: 10.2337/diacare.28.3.719
7 – Sarkola, T., & Eriksson, C. J. (2003). Testosterone increases in men after a low dose of alcohol. Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research, 27(4), 682–685. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.ALC.0000060526.43976.68
8 – Chew, K.‐K., Bremner, A., Stuckey, B., Earle, C. and Jamrozik, K. (2009), ORIGINAL RESEARCH–ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION: Alcohol Consumption and Male Erectile Dysfunction: An Unfounded Reputation for Risk?. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 6: 1386-1394. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2008.01115.x
9 – Steiner, J. L., Gordon, B. S., & Lang, C. H. (2015). Moderate alcohol consumption does not impair overload-induced muscle hypertrophy and protein synthesis. Physiological reports, 3(3), e12333. https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.12333
10 – Wang, L., Lee, I. M., Manson, J. E., Buring, J. E., & Sesso, H. D. (2010). Alcohol consumption, weight gain, and risk of becoming overweight in middle-aged and older women. Archives of internal medicine, 170(5), 453–461. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinternmed.2009.527
11 – Micallef, M., Lexis, L., & Lewandowski, P. (2007). Red wine consumption increases antioxidant status and decreases oxidative stress in the circulation of both young and old humans. Nutrition journal, 6, 27. https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2891-6-27
Bare Feet Training: Good or Bad?
Many bodybuilders and athletes that used to train bare foot decided to stop this procedure. There are several reasons for that. Feet are highly complex structures. Foot defects are very common, and a defect affects how stresses placed on the feet are borne by the feet and the rest of the body. When forces on … Read More →
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History About Steroids
While the modern history about steroids is still relatively young, the complete history about steroids can be traced back to ancient Greece. This part of the history about steroids is when Olympic athletes were thought to have used plant derivatives, all meat diets and animal testicles as performance enhancers. The more modern history about steroids … Read More →
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Steroid Pictures
When people are researching steroids, steroid pictures can give them a lot of useful information. There are many different types of information that can be communicated through steroid pictures. The first type of information that can be communicated through steroid pictures is how steroids can affect an athlete’s or bodybuilder’s appearance – in both the … Read More →
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BuySteroids.WS Reviews
BuySteroids is an American online steroids store that sells anabolic and androgenic steroids and its accessories. BuySteroids was first started in July 2009 and has since bloomed into one of the most popular steroid stores in the US. If you are a bodybuilder and you are looking to purchase and try out different anabolics and … Read More →
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GoAnabolics.com Reviews
GoAnabolics.com is an online steroid store for athletes and bodybuilders. It offers anabolics of such a diverse range that it will definitely meet the requirements of any customer’s needs. It also sells a small range of peptides, and other ancillaries. Due to its content, the site only appeals to people who are adept at bodybuilding, … Read More →
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RoidsMall.to Reviews
RoidsMall.to is your one stop shop for every type of brand possible within the steroid industry. With their easy to navigate website, they offer an A-Z list of products to be easily found by you on your search. They have some of the top brands such as: Kalpa Pharmaceuticals 7Lab Pharma Balkan Pharmaceuticals Axiolabs Dragon … Read More →
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Steroid Stacks
When athletes and bodybuilders use steroids, they do what they can to get the maximum results with the least possible side effects. One of the methods used to reach this goal is called steroid stacks. Steroid stacks are related to steroid cycles in that the steroid stacks or combinations are taken for cycles of a … Read More →
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