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Carlos Thomas Jr. Says He’ll Beat Andrew Jacked & Hunter Labrada at 2023 Texas Pro for Olympia Entry
American bodybuilder Carlos Thomas Jr. is one of the fastest-growing names in the fitness industry. He’s set to make his pro debut and has gained a ton of attention already. In a recent video uploaded on Olympia TV’s YouTube channel, Thomas Jr. backed himself to join the Mr. Olympia roster by defeating Hunter Labrada and Andrew Jacked at the upcoming 2023 Texas Pro.
Carlos Thomas Jr. first rose to prominence for his insane muscle mass, size, and symmetry after dominating the competition at the 2021 NPC National Championships. He emerged as one of the most promising prospects after his victory in the super heavyweight division and overall. The win earned him his pro card. However, he has been on the sidelines in preparation since.
Although Thomas Jr. intended to participate in the 2023 New York Pro, which concluded with Tonio Burton taking home the top prize two months ago, he was forced to pull out of the contest due to a major issue with his ulcer colitis. He did not let the setback hold him down and plans to finally make his highly anticipated pro debut at the upcoming 2023 Texas Pro.
There has been a surge in budding talent in the Men’s Open division over the last few years. Legacy competitor Hunter Labrada, son of Lee Labrada, established his place in the mix of title contention with a fourth-place finish in only his second Mr. Olympia appearance in 2021. He received a lot of praise for his jacked frame and posing skills going into the 2022 Mr. Olympia.
Along with Labrada, rising sensation Andrew Jacked made waves with his aesthetic package. He turned in one of the best rookie seasons last year, scoring back-to-back gold medals at the 2022 Texas Pro and 2022 Arnold Classic UK.
In the end, Labrada missed the mark on the Olympia stage last December. He dropped out of the top six and settled for seventh place. As for Jacked, he turned in an impressive performance and cracked the top ten in his Mr. Olympia debut, finishing eighth.
Both competitors are on the hunt to secure their entry for the 2023 Mr. Olympia and will face Carlos Thomas Jr. at the nearing Texas Pro.
Carlos Thomas Jr. Confirmes He’ll Do 2023 Texas Pro
In a recent YouTube video, Carlos Thomas Jr. confirmed his plans to compete at the upcoming 2023 Texas Pro.
“Yes, I’m doing the Texas Pro,” said Thomas Jr. “Less than five weeks they’re going to see something that’s going to be brand new and it’s going to shock a lot of people. We’re going to be bringing some enthusiasm to the sport for the rest of the year.”
Thomas Jr. opened up on his reasons for pulling out of the New York Pro due to ulcer colitis.
“Issues we had going into New York with the ulcer colitis, that kind of put a damp on everything. We chose the show kind of far this out because I wanted to take things a little bit slower and make sure that I didn’t incur any flare-ups from the stress of trying to force the body to get ready. We were just kinda going like when it’s ready, it’s ready. So far, it’s been going in a smooth and consistent pace, barely any hiccups. That’s why we chose Texas because it was one of the ones that was farthest out and allowed us to make manipulations and not stress my body out.”
Thomas Jr. opened up about his struggles with heartburn in the past and argued he would’ve won the New York Pro if he competed.
“I used to get a lotta heartburn as a teenager and young adult so in my early 20s. But I’ve been on my gut health regimen for a while now making sure I’m taking my salad and meat, but I’m also doing aloe Vera juice, apple cider vinegar, mushroom root extract, lemon juice, things like that to help with the acidity of my stomach and help break down food. I haven’t been getting any heartburn now for a while.”
“Yeah, I think it’s a show I would have been able to win. I love my boy Tonio, Beef Stu, great guy, but I think bringing in the package that we’ll bring in coming into Texas, it would have been one that I could’ve easily won.”
Flex Wheeler, Bob Cicherillo & Olympia Judge Shower Praises on Thomas Jr. for his immense potential
Bodybuilding legend Flex Wheeler and IFBB Pro League athletes’ representative Bob Cicherillo lauded Carlos Thomas Jr. to be a top-five contender at the 2023 Mr. Olympia.
“Yep, if he nails the condition,” said Wheeler.
“Top 5? Absolutely! He’s going to have a chance to prove it because the front-runner, expected favorite as he should be coming up is Hunter Labrada. Everybody knows that. You’re going to take on a guy who’s been as high as fourth place in the Olympia. If Carlos can bring it and beat Hunter Labrada and knock him out of contention and put yourself in there, you got to be feeling really good about your chances of making that top six at the O.”
Thomas Jr. reacted to receiving praise from four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler.
“It’s still shocking to hear. He told me, ‘hey man, you have the potential to go all the way.; That to me was like blown away. I’m just always blown away even to hear you guys talk about me in this way. I still kind of see myself as a middleweight from back in 2017 so I’m always just humble and gracious.”
Cicherillo believes Carlos Thomas Jr. has everything it takes to become a superstar. Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy and Cicherillo both agreed his side chest post could stand with the best in the game.
“As we talk physiques, and Flex and I have been talking physiques for many many years, we’re always looking at the same first things,” said Cicherillo. “You’re looking at symmetry, proportion, and shape. He checks all those boxes. He ain’t missing nothing. You’re looking for muscularity and conditioning follows up, you got to have everything. Every box has to be checked. But we’re looking for the basics here. Does he have any weak points? Not really. Yes, the back needs to come up, gotta keep that midsection tight, the legs are tremendous. He’s got more quad sweep than anybody we’ve seen come along in a long long time. His back can be eeasily brought up. His thickness from the side can literally hang with anybody right now at the Olympia level. He checks every box to be a superstar. Now the only thing you got to do is actually do it okay.”
“That pose is incredibly. You can put it next to Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan and he looks incredible here,” said El Guindy.
Wheeler and Cicherillo debated whether Men’s Open now prefers shorter contenders over taller ones.
Wheeler: “It went back to a short men’s game. It’s not a tall guy’s game right now. Look at number one and number two in Mr. Olympia.”
Cicherillo: “Wait a minute. I’m going to challenge you on that one big time because you’ve got Samson and Jacked who are both big men coming up and I don’t know if it’s a short man’s game.”
El Guindy backed Thomas Jr. as the best amateur competitor of the last decade.
“In my opinion, he’s the best amateur we have seen in the last decade. He has the thickness and he has the front and side poses to go against some of the top Olympians. If his back is improved, we might just be seeing the future of bodybuilding.”
Thomas Jr. Says He’ll Beat Andrew Jacked & Hunter Labrada at 2023 Texas Pro, Will Take the Year Off Otherwise
Carlos Thomas Jr. explained why he’s confident he’ll beat Hunter Labrada at the show.
“Great physique and this dude is former top four. I feel like my side poses, I have the thickness from top to bottom thickness, hamstring, quads, that’s front to back, I’ll have everything that pose but better. From the front, I feel like I have a better taper, better legs. He has tremendous arms but I feel like my arms match up just as well. From the back, he may have more maturity but as far as muscle wise, I’ve picked that up as well. And conditioning, we’re going to be right on the money comparable. From the glutes and hams, I’ll be strong in that standpoint as well. Ab and thigh, I got that one too.”
He made the case for himself to beat Andrew Jacked at the event.
“He’s awesome but honestly, I remember seeing him at the Arnold. I was there in person. He looked great, tremendous. However, I do feel that in certain poses I just fare better. If we’re talking front double, he has a great front double, great taper but I feel like I have one just as well and I’m thicker than him in certain areas; my legs, my arms, I have better lat thickness. I honestly feel like my front lat spread would bode well against his. Mine is just a more complete pose from top to bottom.
“I really fill in a lot of gaps in that pose. You’ll barely see any. Then, same thing from the side, leg thickness, arm thickness, chest thickness, I feel like I bode well in all those shots. The back poses too, top to bottom, hamstrings, glutes, arms, and everything. I just honestly think that all these poses I just edge them out in certain areas such as in muscularity, symmetry, so I would bode well against them because their weaknesses are my strengths and if anything, you can toss them up one shot, the back double maybe.”
If Thomas Jr. doesn’t come out on top, he will likely take to the sidelines for the year.
“Yeah, I would probably shut it down most likely, I would say I’m about 85 percent sure. I’m no stranger to going back and doing the work.”
Fans will be excited to see Carlos Thomas Jr. inject some fresh blood into the Men’s Open class when he faces Andrew Jacked and Hunter Labrada on stage in less than five weeks at the 2023 Texas Pro.
You can watch the full video below.
https://www.youtube.com/live/k6hTimnQTvo
Published: 21 July, 2023 | 7:50 AM EDT
Peptides for Muscle Growth
Peptides for muscle growth and enhanced performance has led bodybuilders and athletes to explore various supplements, including peptides. Peptides are short chains of amino acids that play crucial roles in cellular communication and metabolic processes. These naturally occurring compounds can stimulate muscle growth, increase protein synthesis, and promote recovery. In this article, we delve into…
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Nick Walker Shares ‘The Only 10 Exercises You Will Ever Need to Build Muscles’
Leading 2023 Mr. Olympia contender Nick Walker took a break from preparations to discuss exercise selection. In a recent YouTube video, Walker revealed the top movements he would perform if he could only choose ten.
Nick Walker is easily one of the most exciting stars in the sport, especially within the Men’s Open division. In 2021, he catapulted into the deep end of the category, having claimed gold at back-to-back contests at the New York Pro and Arnold Classic. Walker’s huge arms combined with mass and conditioning stole the show in his first Olympia appearance, as he finished fifth.
In 2022, Walker used the off-season to add size while still keeping his waist narrow. He routinely tipped the scales at over 300 pounds last year and when it was time to step on the Olympia stage, ‘The Mutant’ seized the moment. He battled with contenders Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan in the finals. Walker would settle for third while Choopan went on to become the first Iranian-born Mr. Olympia.
Having shown improvements on the sport’s biggest stage, Walker rolled the dice and entered the 2023 Arnold Classic. He was unable to defeat Samson Dauda, who won the show with size, balance, and symmetry. Despite the loss, Walker is highly confident ahead of Olympia. He doesn’t believe Choopan or Dauda will be in the running for gold.
Many believe Walker’s quads held him back from gold on the Olympia stage, including judge Terrick El Guindy. He predicted that Walker could one day win the Olympia title if he’s able to bring the same level of quad conditioning displayed by retired mainstay Branch Warren.
Nick Walker Lists His Top 10 Exercises for Muscle Growth
A few weeks ago, reigning four-time Classic Physique Olympia Chris Bumstead started a craze by offering his ten most crucial exercises. Now, fans can compare Cbum’s workout list with Walker’s, which can be found below:
Incline dumbbell press
Smith squat
Cable Curls
Pull-ups
Push-ups
Romanian deadlifts
Leg Press
Barbell rows
Rope push downs
Seated Hamstring Curl
Incline dumbbell press
“First on my list is the incline dumbbell press. I just think those are a very great movement for the chest. I like to incorporate that to build the upper chest.”
Smith squat
“I would choose a Smith squat over a free weight squat. I know what they say about the free weight squat but I think as a bodybuilder you get a better connection with a Smith squat versus a free weight squat, that’s just my opinion.”
Cable Curls
“Cable curls. I’m a big fan of the cables and I think cable curls for biceps is a very good exercise to have in there just because of the constant tension full range of motion, squeezing, never lose tension throughout the whole thing. Dumbbells you can kind of lose it somewhere in there. I think cable curls are a great one,” Walker shared.
Pull-ups
“100% pull-ups. I think pull-ups is one of the most underrated exercises that people just don’t utilize it enough. In my opinion, pull-ups, if you’re doing it assisted or free weight, that to me is what builds the ultimate back.”
Push-ups
“Push-ups, again, I think push-ups are a very underrated exercise. This isn’t an exercise I necessarily want to start a workout with but it is something I would end with to really burn it out and put as much blood volume into the muscle as possible. I think, I’ve been doing that or dips, dips are tricky. Push-ups I feel at the end of the workout can really be utilized and very effective.”
Romanian deadlifts
“I would do RDLs, whether it’s a dumbbell or a barbell – I think either or can be very effective but some sort of RDL. I choose this over a deadlift just simply because I feel deadlifts, the ego, again, can get in the way a little too much. I know when I deadlift, I’m like let’s lift some fucking heavy shit. When you’re doing an RDL, you’re more prone to concentrate on hitting the hamstring and focusing on that primary muscle.”
Leg Press
“I would choose a leg press. To me, I’ve done leg press the majority of my entire career. I think between those and the Smith squat, they build extremely good quads.”
Barbell rows
“Next, a barbell rows. I need barbell rows for a big back, it’s very beneficial. I’m not going to be specific, whether it’s free weight or Smith. Whatever works best for you. But some sort of row, whether it’s chest supported, Smith or even a free weight. I incorporate all three.”
Rope push downs
“Pushdowns. I think some sort of rope push down. It’s not necessarily a mass builder but I think it can be. It’s a good shaping movement for a tricep without hindering the joints so much. I do a rope push down every tricep workout that I have pretty much whether I start with it or end with it.”
Seated Hamstring Curl
“Last, seated leg curls. Probably one no one thinks about. I’m going to go with a seated leg curl for the hamstrings. I feel for me these have built my hamstrings the best. The seated leg curl. I contract with them the best. I feel I get a full stretch with them the best. I can contract with them the best. The last I’m going to pick is seated hamstring curl.”
Walker wasn’t the only person from the fitness community to give his rendition of Bumstead’s list. ATHLEAN-X’s Jeff Cavaliere also tackled the subject. He agreed with the majority of Cbum’s exercise selections except for his choice to include a close-grip flat bench press.
Aside from exercise selection, Nick Walker has been an open book about his progress. During an off-season push day workout, he offered secrets for building a bigger chest. Then, in a Mutant and the Mouth Podcast appearance, Walker revealed that his quads have grown considerably since his last competition in Ohio.
With less than four months until 2023 Olympia, Walker is eager to get back on stage and prove himself as one of the best. Fans look forward to seeing him rematch Lunsford, Choopan, and Dauda later this year.
RELATED: Nick Walker on 2023 Olympia: ‘Samson Dauda’s Back is Shit, Big Ramy Is Done & Andrew Jacked Won’t Make Top 5’
Watch the full video from Nick Walker’s YouTube channel below:
Published: 20 July, 2023 | 9:29 PM EDT
Lee Priest on Training Legs w/Tom Platz: ‘I Was so Fuc**ng Fried, Thought I Was Having a Heart Attack’
Australia’s Lee Priest remains enamored with the sport following a decorated career. He competed for decades en route to cementing his name as one of the best. In a recent Jujitoine Podcast on YouTube, Priest, joined by Milos Sarcev, opened up about training legs with bodybuilding legend Tom Platz.
While he might have lacked stature, Lee Priest made up for it on stage with granite conditioning, huge arms, and freaky fullness. In addition to winning multiple Pro titles, Lee Priest pushed some of the sport’s most elite at prestigious competitions like the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia. He gave eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman, Dexter Jackson, Kevin Levrone, Chris Cormier, and many others tough battles during his tenure.
Before settling into retirement, Priest claimed a pair of victories in 2006 at the NOC New York and the PDI Night of Champions. He came back in 2013 for his final competition, which saw Priest leave the sport on top with a big win at the NABBA Mr. Universe. Priest remains a beloved figure in the sport despite his controversial nature.
Tom Platz, on the other hand, is a golden era bodybuilder known for his remarkable lower body strength and defined legs. His intense workout methods have been lauded for generations. Platz helped shape many competitors after him, such as six-time Olympia winner Dorian Yates, who attended some of Tom’s teaching seminars years ago.
‘He Was Demented & You Had to Go With Him’ – Lee Priest Looks Back on Training Legs with Tom Platz
Priest, a popular member of the Gold’s Gym in Venice Beach, distinctly remembers a gruesome leg training session with Platz. Hours after the workout, Priest said he thought he was having a heart attack in the middle of the night.
“When I trained with Tom, Tom Platz, we would always mainly stick around four or five plates and just really rep them out. You know, Tom was crazy on static holds, whether it be leg press, hack squat, go halfway, hold it, then he would start pulling on the fucking thing, saying, ‘Go back up Lee, come back down.’ I’m thinking, fucking hell, have you ever trained with Tom, Milos?
When he went to that place in his mind, you’re like, ‘Oh fucking hell.’ He just went demented and you had to go with him. I’d get home that night and wake up in the middle of the night thinking I’m having a heart attack because my nervous system is so fucking fried from doing legs with Tom. I’d wake up in a sweat at 1 o’clock, like, ‘I’m having a heart attack, this is it, I’m fucking dying,’” shared Priest.
Sarcev shared his experience training with Platz as well. He said Platz eventually jumped on top of the machine he was using to make the workout more difficult.
“One time, he was coming to the Coliseum Gym and I was finishing calves. Here it is, from the door, he’s coming in. He saw me, okay. I’m on the seated calf. He didn’t even say hello right? ‘You’re doing my set, he says. I’m doing your set, what is it?’ I had two plates on the seated calf, he put another one, then put another one, put another one, as many as – shit – then he jumps on it, you know,” shared Sarcev.
“Something as simple as dumbbell laterals. I’ll do my set, Tom does his, he’d be like this and get lower and lower five minutes later, [he’s barely moving] he’s still going,” added Priest.
Priest remembers asking Tom to make a comeback, but Platz would always say he couldn’t compete again because he’d have to adopt a ‘crazy’ mindset.
“I used to say to Tom make a comeback, he said, ‘Oh Lee I couldn’t. If I got in that mindset I’d just go crazy.’ I couldn’t do it,” said Priest.
“He was doing with Monica Brant some cover shoot. Legs, were exactly like they were back in the day,” said Sarcev.
“In Gold’s Gym he had his green belt on doing squats. His legs had the shape, but as soon as he flexed them, they doubled in size, it’s like what the fuck?” Priest said.
Priest on Being Marked Down for Bloated Stomachs in Bodybuilding: ‘Certain People Were, Other People Weren’t’
According to Priest, the IFBB Pro League announced a rule discouraging bloated stomachs and bubble guts back when he was competing.
“Remember, because we were all competing back then when the judges brought out that rule, ‘If you have a bloated stomach, you’re going to be marked down, you’re going to be marked down.’ Certain people were marked down other people weren’t. To be bigger, everyone was like I got to get bigger, I got to get bigger.
So really, back then, there were a lot of great Classic Physique bodybuilding, the judges just let it go too far and ruined it. So, if they just judged how they are meant to judge, they would have gone to those grotesque bloated stomachs and shit. If someone has a bloated stomach, and you put him in seventh, that’d be like, ‘Fuck. I got to fix this problem. I can’t come in like this or I’m not going to place well.’ But if you give them first or second, they’re not going to change how they look,” said Lee Priest.
“Think about this: how can you let yourself as a bodybuilder get the bubbly gut, big stomach, how can you let yourself? It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to get bigger because once you see this is coming up, I say you have to do something about it,” said Milos Sarcev.
Even at 68 years old, Tom Platz hasn’t slowed down his leg training. He still pushes at the gym with the same principles he adopted as a bodybuilding star. Earlier this month, Platz showed why age is just a number with a jacked quad physique update.
Platz’s energy and training techniques are difficult to replicate, as was his iconic 525-pound squat record for 23 reps. However, reigning World’s Strongest Man and Arnold Strongman Classic champion Mitchell Hooper broke Tom’s record in May by a single rep.
To this day, Tom Platz remains an influential figure in bodybuilding. His attention to detail and tenacity inside the gym turned him into a one-of-a-kind talent. Priest, who had the benefit of learning from Platz, was blown away by his training practices.
RELATED: Lee Priest Says Remove ‘Useless’ Divisions & Backs Arnold Schwarzenegger Over Chris Bumstead
You can watch the full video from the IFBB AMA YouTube channel below:
Published: 20 July, 2023 | 6:50 PM EDT
Watch: Bodybuilder Suffers Death After Snapping Neck Attempting Massive Squat
Working out can serve an array of functions, some of which include looking good and feeling strong. While many of us look forward to decompressing after a busy week of work, others train with a passion to push themselves in the gym. However, lifting heavy comes with its own set of risks and doesn’t always go according to plan even when a spotter is available. In sad news revealed by Bali Discovery, bodybuilder Justyn Vicky has passed away following a gruesome gym accident while squatting at a gym in Bali, Indonesia.
Training is encouraged for its wide-ranging health benefits. When you see results over time, achieving the pump can be an addictive and even enlightening process. Many of us like to test our limits with heavy weights, though it’s important to safeguard our bodies for the sake of injury prevention and longevity.
When it comes to taxing workouts, leg workouts are among the best. However, they come with risks. In Sep. 2021, powerlifting sensation Larry Wheels picked up a quad injury performing heavy squats on leg day.
Joseph Whittaker, a powerlifting veteran, had a close call squatting as well. He encountered problems trying to squat 400-kg (881.8-lb) in the training room. He appeared to struggle with the weight and rolled the barbell over his head to the front. Fortunately, his spotter jumped in quickly and helped him avoid a major injury.
Social media fitness influencer Bradley Martyn found himself on the wrong end of a gnarly gym accident last September. He was recording himself pressing a woman before she fell on his face. The fiasco resulted in Martyn needing a visit to the ER. He received 10 stitches inside his mouth.
Bodybuilder Dies of Neck Injuries after Gruesome Squat Blunder in Bali
Bodybuilder Justyn Vicky lost his life after suffering a horrific mishap in the gym in Bali, Indonesia. The 33-year-old was a popular figure in the local community and offered his expertise as a personal trainer and diet coach.
According to Bali Discovery, the incident took place at The Paradise Gym on Saturday morning, July 15. Vicky attempted to squat 180-kg (396.8-kg). He struggled to complete the exercise and fell to the front. The barbell rolled a bit forward on his shoulders, resulting in his neck and head snapping forward. Although he had a spotter behind him, it didn’t help. The spotter also didn’t appear to be in an ideal position to help with this accident.
Vicky was taken to a local hospital for emergency surgery and died shortly after from neck and spinal injuries. The cause of death is reportedly a broken neck.
Check out the video below:
YouTube star Darren Watkins Jr., popularly known as IShowSpeed, narrowly avoided injury on the bench press in a live stream earlier this year. He was stuck under the barbell while performing the exercise and had to slide the weight to one side to get out.
Bodybuilder Charles Griffen escaped a potentially serious chest injury while performing dumbbell bench presses three months ago. In the end, he suffered a torn pec and was sidelined for four to six weeks in recovery.
Deaths in bodybuilding have been all too common lately. Just in the span of a few months, three athletes have turned up dead. First, popular YouTube streamer Jo Lindner died at 30 years old. Then, Catalin Stefanescu passed away at 30 following a confusing boating trip where he drowned in a shallow river. Then, the community grieved the loss of prolific 2000s bodybuilder Gustavo Badell.
RELATED: Jay Cutler Talks About Competing vs Gustavo Badell & Longevity: “All My Markers Are Good”
No matter how confident you may feel lifting on your own, it’s always a smart idea to have a spotter assist you when lifting heavy. Our prayers and condolences go out to the family and friends of Justyn Vicky.
Published: 20 July, 2023 | 5:24 PM EDT
Mitchell Hooper Shares Intense Blood Flow Restriction Workout for Strength
Canadian strongman Mitchell Hooper has quickly made a name for himself as one of the strongest athletes on the planet despite being in only his second year of competing. While a lot of factors helped him reach this point, in a recent video uploaded on his YouTube channel, Hooper shared some tips and an intense workout using blood flow restriction to boost strength.
Mitchell Hooper emerged as one of the fastest-growing strongman competitors last year and quickly claimed his place among the best. He got the opportunity to participate in the 2022 World’s Strongest Man after Rauno Heinla withdrew from the contest. Hooper proved his potential by dominating the qualifying stages of the event, beating the likes of iconic Strongman Brian Shaw in the process.
Following a strong debut, Hooper scored back-to-back bronze medals at the 2022 Shaw Classic and Rogue Invitational. Then, he made his way to the 2022 Giants Live World Tour Finals and placed on top of the podium. His next outing saw him secure the 2023 Arnold Strongman Classic title just a few months ago.
Hooper earned the biggest win of his career against a stacked lineup at the 2023 World’s Strongest Man three months ago. He turned in an impressive performance and defeated former champions Shaw, Novikov, and Tom Stoltman. The 27-year-old then called for the development of a comprehensive ruleset for the athletes after winning the 2023 WSM. He recalled his experience and identified problems he faced given the ambiguity in the show’s guidelines.
Hooper offered his ‘non-negotiable’ supplements and opened up on using alcohol and sugar for recovery two months ago. He encouraged his fans to add creatine and protein supplements.
Mitchell Hooper crushed a challenging endurance workout where he performed a 465-pound squat for 20 reps around two months ago. He followed up by breaking bodybuilding veteran Tom Platz’s 1992 legendary squat record. Platz set the bar high at 23 reps but Hooper managed to squeeze out 24 reps to get ahead of the original record. He followed up by challenging himself to strongman legend Eddie Hall’s notorious ‘Death by Deadlift’ set.
Hooper gave fans a look into his supplement stack last month. Along with the supplements, he detailed the protein shake he consumes for gaining muscle and the pre-workout slushy that gets him energized for training.
Mitchell Hooper Shares Intense Blood Flow Restriction Workout for Strength
In a recent YouTube video, Mitchell Hooper explained the benefits of using blood flow restriction training for muscle endurance.
“It’s simply restricting how much blood can get out,” said Hooper. “It’s not saying no blood out because no blood out means that your arm will literally start to explode but it means limiting how much can get out, meaning that we are going to start starving our muscles of oxygen. Why would we want to do that? Every time we put a stimulus into the body, we agree going to get a response. In this case, the response to starving the muscle, is going to be the adaptation to improved capacity in the absence of oxygen.
“We are going to increase the number of oxidative enzymes pulling the oxygen from the bloodstream into the muscle. A great way to work with the cuffs is you could have your session finish, as a finisher if you will, and you have up regulated enzymes for the next time you go do a session. You’re going to be capable of more thanks to the up regulation of those enzymes.”
He suggested using a Saga arm cuff in order to restrict blood flow to the muscles.
Moreover, Hooper laid out an intense blood flow restriction workout for building strength.
“First and foremost, I would never use these on a set below five. Anything heavy, these are not going to be appropriate. But these are going to be very good for building muscular endurance so I would do this towards the end of a session when I’m doing higher volume accessory work. These are also very useful to get a stimulus from the muscle with lower weight. This is a way to handle more volume with lower neural fatigue and handle more volume if you’re recovering from injury. So, something I would do to build a little bit of muscular endurance and capacity or into a competition where we had high volumes of, say an overhead press, is I would set up a little circuit with lighter weights to get a stimulus local to my arms.”
“We’ve got two 50-pound dumbbells and two 25-lb dumbbells. I’m going to do a set of 15 bench press, set of 15 curls, set of 15 skull crushers. I’m going to repeat that three times and take a 30 second rest between each round. Without these guys on, this would be absolutely no problem for me, it wouldn’t even qualify as a workout.”
Hooper’s blood flow restriction workout:
Flat Bench Dumbbell Press
Standing Dumbbell Curl
Skull Crushers
*Perform 15 reps of each and repeat for 3 sets with 30 seconds of rest in between rounds.
Blood flow restriction exercise is a great option for folks who may not be able to do high-intensity workouts or prefer a different approach. It’s a safe way to enhance muscle strength, power, and function, while also boosting aerobic endurance
Mitchell Hooper provided fans with a look into his day about three weeks ago. There he revealed his regular training and diet regimens, as well as how he balances out his workouts with his work. He opened up about his mental health challenges and suicidal thoughts days later on a podcast with Flex Lewis.
Hooper recorded a huge 463-lb bench press PR for three reps while in prep for the upcoming 2023 Shaw Classic last week. Then, he joined forces with seven-time Men’s 212 champion, Flex Lewis, for a grueling shoulder workout.
Based on the latest update, it’s clear Hooper utilizes a range of training methods to stay ahead of the game and fans will be excited to see him perform at the Shaw Classic later this year.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 20 July, 2023 | 4:01 PM EDT
Chris Bumstead Teams Up With Iain Valliere For A ‘Big Boi’ Shoulder Workout
Chris Bumstead teamed up with longtime friend and former head coach Iain Valliere for a ‘big boi’ shoulder and arms workout.
Bumstead is the finest active professional bodybuilder to come from Canada. He is the face of IFBB Pro League’s Classic Physique division and has helped put it on the must watch list of bodybuilding fans. Since dethroning former champion Breon Ansley at the 2019 Olympia, Chris Bumstead has remained the Classic Physique Olympia champion by successfully defending the title at the 2020, 2021 and 2022 Olympia.
He has pushed through some adverse situations like injuries and coaching changes to achieve this success. CBum was trained by fellow Canadian bodybuilder and longtime friend Iain Valliere for the majority of his bodybuilding career and achieved greatness under the latter’s tutelage. However, the duo decided to end the coach-client relationship before 2022 Olympia for Valliere to be able to focus on his own career.
Bumstead appointed Hany Rambod as the head coach after Valliere’s departure and still managed to secure the third successful defense of his Classic Physique Olympia title at the 2022 Olympia. He is now looking forward to winning a few more Olympia titles before calling it a career.
Meanwhile, Iain Valliere is also a top Men’s Open contender from Canada. After starting out the 2022 competitive season with a dominant win at the 2022 Vancouver Pro, he wrapped it up with a 11th place finish at the 2022 Olympia. Valliere worked hard after the show to bring his best version to the stage and qualify for the 2023 Olympia. After a closely-contested battle against Hassan Mostafa at the 2023 Toronto Pro Supershow, Iain Valliere earned the victory and direct qualification to the 2023 Olympia. He now aims to bring best triceps to the Olympia stage.
Chris Bumstead and Iain Valliere push through a shoulder workout
Chris Bumstead and Iain Valliere recently teamed up for an intense shoulders and arms workout as a part of their off-season training routine. The workout included several free weight and machine exercises and the duo ensured to get the most out of their training. So without further delay, let’s check out how the former client and coach stimulated their muscles for off-season growth.
Cable Lateral Raises
The duo started the training session with cable lateral raises to work the lateral deltoid muscles and also to warm up the shoulder joint. Using a cable machine keeps the muscles under tension throughout the range of motion. Also, this helps with sufficient warming up of the muscles at the very beginning of the session. The duo performed a few sets of this isolation exercise to set the tone for the rest of the workout.
Seated Shoulder Press
This served as the first heavy compound exercise of the training session. CBum and Valliere performed seated shoulder press on a plate-loaded machine next to primarily target the anterior deltoid muscles. However, this compound exercise also targets the upper pecs and triceps as well, resulting in overall upper body strength and muscle gain.
After doing away with some heavy sets of the exercise, the former coach-client duo turned up the heat with a superset.
Superset – Seated Dumbbell Lateral Raises and Reverse Pec Deck Flyes
Supersets are a great way to work different muscle groups simultaneously. Additionally, they reduce the overall workout time. Bumstead and Valliere next took to this superset that included lateral and posterior delt-specific exercises.
Seated dumbbell lateral raise is an isolation exercise that targets the lateral deltoid muscles. It is essential for achieving a broad shouldered look that caps the upper body neatly. Doing the exercise from a seated position eliminates the role of stabilizing muscles. Therefore seated lateral raises help focus more on the lateral delts.
The duo superset lateral raises with reverse pec deck flyes. This exercise helps isolate the posterior deltoid muscles. It is a small muscle group on the rear side and extremely difficult to isolate with most other shoulder exercises.
Valliere and Bumstead performed all the sets within this superset at a fast pace. They kept the aerobic intensity of the workout high and jumped into another shoulder exercise next.
Standing Barbell Overhead Press
Barbell overhead press is an excellent compound movement that can yield muscle and strength gain. Although anterior deltoid is the primary target muscle of the exercise, it also engages the clavicular head of the pectoralis major muscles, triceps, serratus anterior, and triceps during various phases.
Bumstead and his former coach annihilated a few solid sets of overhead press using a barbell and took to a tricep exercise next.
EZ Bar Skull Crushers
Most gym-goers are creative about choosing biceps, chest or back exercises. However, they stick to basic movements like pushdowns or overhead extensions when it comes to triceps. Skull crushers work the triceps through a wide range of motion and stimulate all three tricep heads.
Valliere and Bumstead annihilated some good sets of skull crushers using an EZ bar next to work the triceps and moved on to the next exercise.
Standing Dumbbell Curls
The duo next took to the standard dumbbell curls to stimulate the biceps further. Before moving further, they got a few sets of the exercise under their belts.
Triceps Dips
This bodyweight compound exercise served as the final triceps movement of the day. Triceps dips work all three triceps heads effectively. Additionally, they engage the pectoralis major, anterior deltoid, and latissimus dorsi muscles to a great extent. As a result, they are an effective strength and muscle builder for the entire upper body.
The training partners pushed through a few sets of triceps dips to absolute failure before taking up the finisher of the day.
Machine Preacher Curls
Preacher curls are probably the most efficacious way to stimulate the biceps. Also known as Scott curls, it is a great way to engage brachialis and brachioradialis as the secondary muscles. Performing this movement on a machine means keeping the muscles under tension for a longer duration. As a result, it gives greater hypertrophy benefits.
Bumstead and Valliere wrapped up the training session with a few sets of preacher curls to add the last bit of stimulus to the biceps.
Overall, the workout included:
Chris Bumstead and Iain Valliere are not training together officially. However, the duo pledged their support for each other while ending their coach-client relationship last year. If they continue to push each other, the Canadians can definitely elevate their careers to even taller heights.
You can watch the full workout video here, courtesy of Chris Bumstead’s personal YouTube channel:
Published: 20 July, 2023 | 2:04 PM EDT
Hunter Labrada & Andrew Jacked Share Ripped Updates Weeks Before 2023 Texas Pro Showdown
The pressure is on Men’s Open Pros Hunter Labrada and Chinedu Andrew ‘Jacked’ Obiekea as they aim to secure their passage to this year’s Olympia competition. In a pair of Instagram posts, Labrada and Jacked teased their physiques weeks before stepping back on stage.
Hunter is the son of bodybuilding veteran and perennial Olympia contender Lee Labrada. Having followed in his father’s footsteps, it didn’t take long for Labrada to find his calling inside the gym and on stage. Fans took notice of Labrada’s potential in 2021 when he won the Chicago Pro title and placed fourth at the annual Olympia.
Labrada was considered a frontrunner heading into 2022 Olympia in light of his impressive showing. Instead of laboring through a busy season, Labrada had the luxury of time, which allowed him to cultivate mass and build extra muscle. However, when it was time to perform on the sport’s biggest stage, Labrada encountered problems with the prep/peak. He finished seventh, though he promised to return better than ever.
Hunter Labrada plans to test himself at two shows: the 2023 Tampa Pro and the Texas Pro. In May, Labrada reiterated his commitment to the sport and underlined that he’s still ‘one of the best’ with plans to ‘prove it’ later this year.
Andrew Jacked meanwhile, jumped into the upper echelon of the division last year with a historic rookie season. With symmetry, proportions, and flexibility like his former mentor Flex Wheeler, Andrew’s stage presentation and aesthetics made him a dangerous opponent for anyone.
In 2022, he secured his IFBB Pro card at the 2022 Arnold Classic Amateur before winning the Texas Pro and Arnold Classic UK consecutively. In his debut on the Olympia stage, Jacked trailed one spot behind Hunter in eighth place. Both men are on the hunt for Olympia invites and are likely to face each other at the upcoming 2023 Texas Pro.
Hunter Labrada Checks In w/ Physique Update: “Best I’ve Ever Been With 16 Days to Go”
Labrada looked huge in his latest physique update under three weeks from performing at the 2023 Tampa Pro.
“Best I’ve ever been with 16 days to go?? One last push and then it’s time to freshen up and do the damn thing! Excited is an understatement??” Hunter Labrada wrote.
“The Goal Is To Beat My Previous Self” Andrew Jacked Teases Physique Weeks from 2023 Texas Pro
Jacked is also looking monstrous in his latest progress video, which you can find below:
“I’m not in Competition with Anybody but Against the Person I See in The Mirror. The Goal is to always beat my previous self!@psychofitness21 @therealtechnicianThe Hoodie is Still On. Few Weeks left to Unveil the upgraded MonaLisa.
Yesszzziirrr !!!” Andrew Jacked shared.
Aside from physique updates, Andrew has shared numerous training sessions in the lead-up to his next competition. The last time fans saw him in action, Jacked showcased a back-density workout that he’s been using to give himself the illusion of a more 3D physique on stage.
Whether it’s nutrition or coaching changes, Andrew is willing to take the necessary steps to evolve as an athlete. Last year, he forged a new partnership with trainers Chris ‘Psycho’ Lewis and Chris Aceto. With another season to build, Jacked is hopeful about his Olympia chances down the road.
As for Hunter Labrada, he’s also taken a calculated approach to his season. In addition to physique updates, Labrada has shared gut health hacks, guest posing appearances, training sessions, and started incorporating vacuum poses to help him exercise more control over his midsection.
RELATED: Hunter Labrada Shares Full Day of Eating, Physique Update & Push Day Workout for 2023 Tampa/Texas Pro
Should Labrada and Jacked succeed in their respective missions, they will have the opportunity to face off against the reigning Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan, who took the crown from the former two-time champ Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay in a shocking upset last year.
Published: 20 July, 2023 | 11:04 AM EDT
Strongwoman Lucy Underdown Pulls Three Deadlift Reps With Current World Record Weight of 300-kg (661.4-lb)
There is no greater female deadlifter currently than Lucy Underdown, since the British Strongwoman is revolutionizing the event. She is currently the only Strongwoman to have deadlifted 300 kilograms (661.3 pounds) and thus holds the current World Record. However, Lucy also seems to be the only woman who can break that record, and judging by her recent training session, she might do it very soon. On July 19th, Lucy shared a video on her Instagram displaying a deadlift equal to her World Record, but this time she performed three reps with the humongous 300 kilograms (661.4 pounds).
Lucy Underdown loaded up 300 kilograms (661.4 pounds) on the barbell and wondered just how many reps she could lock out with it. She put on her lifting belt and lifting straps before setting up her conventional stance deadlift. After everything was set, Lucy started pulling the weight and locked out three reps with relative ease, which is mind-blowing considering how no other Strongwoman has deadlifted as much for a single rep at least.
Moreover, Lucy Underdown pointed out that she is currently not peaked, meaning that she will be able to lift even more weight in the future. Regardless, it is clear that Lucy has improved a lot since setting the 300-kilogram (661.4-pound) Deadlift World Record in a guest appearance at the 2021 UK’s Strongest Man competition.
“Reps at the current Strongwoman World Record!!
Crazy! ?
300kg/661lbs for 3 reps. And I’m not even peaked yet ?”
Watch Lucy Underdown’s lift here:
Related: Strongwoman Lucy Underdown Crushes 280-kg (617.3-lb) Deadlift Four-Rep PR In Training
Lucy Underdown will be very active this summer, as she is set to make two appearances in the next two months. Hopefully, we will see her break this deadlift World Record in at least one of them.
Lucy Underdown will first compete at the 2023 European Championships on August 11-13, and then focus on the 2023 Britain’s Strongest Woman competition, which is scheduled for September 30th.
However, Giants Live organization has made an interesting remark on Instagram following Lucy Underdown’s 300-kilogram (661.4-pound) deadlift for three reps. They shared her video and hinted that they might invite her to the World Deadlift Championships. This competition will take place on September 2nd, so it remains to be seen if Lucy will be added to the 15-man roster.
“Should @lucyunders_strongwoman be invited to the World Deadlift Champs?” wrote Giants Live.
Lucy Underdown hasn’t spent much time in Strongwoman sport yet, but she is definitely already one of the greatest athletes ever. She has already won two major competitions in the form of 2022 Arnold’s UK Strongwoman Pro and 2022 England’s Strongest Woman, while also finishing on the podium at some other events.
Just a few weeks ago, Lucy deadlifted 305 kilograms (672.4 pounds) on a Kratos Barbell, which is longer and more flexible than the standard one. So, this lift was also a World Record on that variation of the deadlift.
Related: Lucy Underdown Pulls a 302.5-kg (667-lb) Unofficial Strongwoman Deadlift World Record in Training
Not too long ago, many people thought that a 300-kilogram (661.4-pound) deadlift could not be performed by a woman, but then came Lucy Underdown. She did what seemed humanly impossible and is now continuing to raise the bar with her mind-blowing lifts. Her recent three rep deadlift with the current World Record weight might be one of the greatest feats of strength in the history of Strongwoman, but there is certainly more to come from Lucy.
Published: 20 July, 2023 | 9:14 AM EDT