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Big Ramy Discusses Mental State Ahead of 2023 Mr. Olympia: ‘I Can’t Take a Year Off, I Need to Give It Everything”
Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay looks to be in a good place ahead of his probable comeback to the 2023 Mr. Olympia stage. In a recent The Menace Podcast, Ramy discussed a range of topics including his ambitions to improve, his relationship with fans, and the mentality he’s adopted in the lead-up to November.
Elssbiay reached the pinnacle of the sport, having claimed back-to-back Mr. Olympia victories in 2020 and 2021. Last year, he put his title on the line against a fierce roster of bodybuilders. Ramy was dethroned by Hadi Choopan, who defeated Derek Lunsford in a close show.
After dropping to fifth at 2022 Olympia, fans, and even some bodybuilders argued that Ramy wasn’t given a fair look on stage. Steve Weinberger, who served as the head judge of the prestigious contest, suspected that Ramy was plagued by injuries as many observed issues with his lats, triceps, and lower back.
The former two-time champ made a quick turnaround at the 2023 Arnold Classic. Given the show’s proximity to December’s Mr. Olympia, many fans were impressed by Ramy’s ability to improve. However, the judges saw him in fourth.
At the end of May, Weinberger joined Dennis James to discuss the Egyptian’s future. He made it clear he thought Big Ramy needed a break from competition. This sentiment was also shared by Bob Cicherillo, who insists Ramy needs time to revitalize the body parts preventing him from placing higher.
Big Ramy Takes Aim at Oppinionated Fans, Talks 2023 Ambitions: ‘I Can’t Take a Year Off’
As of late, Ramy noticed fans online can’t make up their minds about his physique.
“I respect everyone but what’s the meaning of someone is saying something is wrong when they’re talking about something they’ve never [done]. Sometimes they say okay, Ramy is too big, and second day they say Ramy is small. I don’t know what, am I big or am I small?” asks Ramy.
“Every day, someone says Ramy comes too big and second day they say Ramy is too small, not like before. Before when Ramy was big you say he must come small, then when he’s smaller, he must come bigger than before. Be honest guys.”
While he appreciated Steve Weinberger’s criticisms, Ramy doesn’t plan on waiting one year to compete again.
“Yeah, you come from that place, but okay. Dennis knows that because he’s close to me. You know how I respect Steve. First show, him in New York and he’s always nice to me. But the problem, it’s important to give people support to compete. I feel bad when somebody tells me you have to stop. The only thing you can tell someone competing is yeah, you can do it.”
“Maybe that [a break] is the best thing for me. But I’m still finding my head to compete, not today not tomorrow. I can’t wait for one year,” added Ramy.
Before moving on, Sarcev underlined that Ramy should decide his own destiny.
“Ramy, don’t ever let anybody tell you not to compete. You are the only one that chooses if you want. What is your profession? You’re a pro bodybuilder and you’re passionate about this and you want to compete, you’re healthy, your blood results are perfect,” said Milos Sarcev.
Ramy Talks ‘Weak Points, 2023 Mr. Olympia, and Fans Calling for Him to Take a Break
Ramy believes coming in flat has caused some of his body parts like his triceps to appear diminished.
“When you come so flat, you’re weak points, they go up. And when you’re full, you never had that. I will tell you what happened actually between Olympia and the Arnold. I think like two or three weeks off because I needed to think about what I needed to do.”
“Yes we talked about that, with Chad, we scared to get too much flat because we know everyone know when you get smaller, the weak points come. It’s my week, I don’t have all things complete,” said Ramy. “We’ve talked about the triceps, I’ve lost a lot of size from my triceps. But the shape for my body has not changed.”
“In my opinion, and I respect all the competitors but I believe I had some of the best arms on the stage. They’re not small. My side chest is not smaller than my shoulder. It should look nice, maybe it’s not too big, but it’s not small like it’s thinning, no.”
Sarcev called Big Ramy a ‘shapely monster’ and said his lower lat insertions are holding him back on stage.
“When Ramy said, okay, Ramy you said Arnold Classic was your best ever. I think you improved dramatically from the Olympia to the Arnold. I’ve seen you a couple of times when you won Olympia, 2020, 2017, even in 2013 with Dennis when you guys did the New York Pro, ’14, yeeh, that’s formidable. You are one of a kind. You are a shapely monster. You are an x-framed, v-tapered monster.
“At Arnold on stage, I was 307. And when I saw it I was scared, it never happened to me,” added Ramy. “I think 282 [pounds for 2022 Mr. Olympia].”
The only issue that could penalize you is that lower lat insertions and it improved at the Arnold Classic really. Whatever you did, it’s going lower, it’s a big improvement. I don’t know if it’s stem cells,” Milos Sarcev shared.
“If Ramy goes flat, he loses some parts right away,” said Dennis James.
Despite the setbacks, Ramy is treating 2023 Mr. Olympia like his first show, and plans to “give it everything.”
“I’m still the guy, I’m still firing to compete tomorrow, it’s like my first show I need to give it everything,” said Big Ramy.
“Fix the issues, if you can fix the issues, go back and be at your best, says Dennis James.
Ramy said he doesn’t care if he’s in first place or 20th, as long as he shows the world he can make improvements.
“I will train. He asked me if I will compete in 2023, I said I will train and if I make myself big and grow, I will compete in Olympia. If I’m not, it will be next show, I will need to come have a big improvement. I still feel like I can do that. I need to say one more thing.
I’m 10 years right now in professional [bodybuilding] I competed with a lot of guys, I respect a lot of them all this time. I try to be a good person, nice person. I try. I make a lot of mistakes because I’m a human. I try to make the best for me all the time. I never hate anyone,” said Big Ramy.
“I don’t like to be number one. I came to Arnold and when you asked me Dennis about it, I said I’m happy because I improved. That’s my message. I come to Columbia this year [for stem cells] I’ll try to compete this year and make big improvements. I don’t care if I’m Mr. Olympia or number 20, I need to come better because that’s my message.”
This wasn’t Big Ramy’s first update regarding the 2023 Mr. Olympia competition. The last time he opened up on the matter, the former champion shared that he was training angry and motivated to make a successful comeback.
Ramy’s plans are still materializing, but he appears fired up to make a return. Despite ongoing talks about him taking a break, he appears energized to prove the naysayers wrong at 2023 Mr. Olympia this November.
You can watch the full podcast from the Muscle and Fitness YouTube channel below:
Published: 12 June, 2023 | 1:27 PM EDT
16-YO Morgan Nicholls Scores Huge 525-lb (238.1-kg) Raw Bench Press PR In Training
The young prodigy, Morgan Nicholls, got recognized as one of the strongest teenagers in the world during the past years, and he continues to cement his status at 16-years-old. Morgan is extremely versatile which allows him to train American Football and push the limits in the gym. So, most recently, he scored a brand new personal record (PR) in the bench press event having lifted 525 pounds (238.1 kilograms). Morgan accomplished this astonishing feat during a training session.
The video of Morgan Nicholls’ 525-pound (238.1-kilogram) was shared by his father, the legendary Chad Nicholls. Chad is one of the greatest bodybuilding coaches in history, having worked with Ronnie Coleman, Big Ramy, William Bonac, and other elite athletes as well. He was also largely impressed by his son’s bench press which he performed with just a pair of wrist wraps.
“kid is just a working machine and it is very impressive to see him balance training, and all of his football work together – pushing speed, fast twitch, and power all together to do that you have to be very dedicated. – Very proud of him.” wrote Chad.
Watch Morgan Nicholls’ lift here:
Related: 16-Year-Old Morgan Nicholls Demolishes a 515-lb (233.6-kg) Raw Bench Press PR in Training
Morgan Nicholls suffered an ACL tear near the end of last year and underwent surgery on January 6th. Luckily, his recovery was very successful, so he is now able to chase more PRs in the gym and other types of success in American Football.
Apart from his new 525-pound (238.1-kilogram) bench press PR, Morgan Nicholls has done impressive numbers in other events as well. According to him, his heaviest squat to date is 545 pounds (247.2 kilograms), while his deadlift PR is 635 pounds (288 kilograms).
Despite his impressive abilities in lifting heavy weights, Morgan Nicholls does not seem interested in competing in powerlifting. He has, however, taken part in one competition to test the waters and was very successful. He competed in the 2020 SPF GP Summer Smash, where he was only 13-years-old. Despite the young age, Morgan managed to lock out some surreal numbers.
Squat (wraps): 204.1 kilograms (450 pounds)
Bench Press (Raw): 147.4 kilograms (325 pounds)
Deadlift (Raw): 206.3 kilograms (455 pounds)
Total (Raw W/Wraps): 557.9 kilograms (1,230 pounds)
Related: 15-year-old Morgan Nicholls Suffers A Nosebleed During An Insane 585 lbs (265 kg) Deadlift PR
Powerlifting features a 16-17 Years Old age division and the current All-Time World Record for the bench press stands at 501.5 pounds (227.5 kilograms. So, if Morgan Nicholls did cross over to powerlifting once more, it looks like he would set a new World Record with ease. This just proves how impressive his 525-pound (238.1-kilogram) bench PR actually is. In addition, there is no doubt that Morgan will add a few more pounds to the barbell in the near future.
Published: 12 June, 2023 | 9:18 AM EDT
5 Best Natural Bodybuilding Supplements: Sculpt Your Body Into a Work of Art
Let’s be real. Bodybuilding is hard. You must train hard, eat a nutrient-dense diet, sleep seven to eight hours a night, and then use other recovery methods to ensure your body is primed for building muscle and strength.
Doing all of this can be overwhelming, especially for beginners. You’ve probably found yourself in a position where you wished there was a supplement that could turn you into a swole superhero. Lo and behold, you are scrolling through Instagram one fine day, and there it is, the versatile supplement that can help fix all your transformation voes staring you in the face.
I am sorry to break the news, but most of the fancy supplements you find online are nothing but fads. Sports nutrition companies have become really good at making up new supplements, advertising unproven benefits, and selling them to their loyal clientele.
These brands rope in some of the most popular bodybuilding and fitness social media influencers to push their products. The only bottom line these products push is that of these companies, whereas the returns on the user’s investment are close to zero.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to paint sports nutrition companies in a bad light. Some of these companies are doing a commendable job and delivering high-quality third-party tested products that deliver on their promises. However, I’m skeptical about some products that are pushed as the holy grail of natural bodybuilding but have no scientific research backing them.
Beware of Fad Supplements
If you have been following the fitness and bodybuilding space, you’ve probably heard of (or even tried) glutamine, arginine, and Tribulus. These supplements were promoted as the real deal until they were all disproven and lost their flair.
Remember, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate sport nutrition supplements. You must be extremely careful with how you proceed while buying bodybuilding supplements and only choose the ones with scientifically-proven results.
In this article, we dive into what it means to be a natural bodybuilder and reveal the best natural bodybuilding supplements that will help take your physique to the next level. We also shed light on some popular supplements that are on the banned substances list of popular natural bodybuilding federations. There is a lot to cover, so sit tight, and read on.
What is Natural Bodybuilding?
It depends on who you ask. Different people have varying definitions of natural bodybuilding. Armchair bodybuilding experts expect natural bodybuilders to reject any and every supplement. It means that if a product comes in a box, you cannot have it. However, this definition is half-baked.
According to the general bodybuilding consensus and drug-tested bodybuilding federations, a natural bodybuilder can use supplements containing ingredients that are found naturally. However, an athlete must abstain from using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs).
Performance-enhancing drugs go by different names, such as steroids, gear, juice, and super supplements. Anabolic steroids are synthetic substances that mimic the effects of testosterone. These super supplements significantly boost the user’s muscle and strength gains.
Notably, virtually every bodybuilder on the Mr. Olympia stage (the most prestigious competition in pro bodybuilding) uses steroids. You could interpret this as if you want to make a living as a pro bodybuilder in the IFBB Pro League; you would have better chances of succeeding on gear.
Trivia: The eight-time Mr. Olympia champ, Ronnie Coleman, competed as a natural athlete in his first two Olympia competitions.
That said, it doesn’t mean that natties cannot build a fitness magazine cover photo-worthy physique; far from it. You can build a muscular, chiseled, diced, shredded, peeled, jacked, ripped, whittled, cut (you get the point) while staying natural.
At this moment, I must point out that building a Greek god-like physique requires much more than supplements. You must follow a balanced diet, training, and recovery program to carve a chiseled body and achieve your objectives.
How Do You Compete as a Natural Bodybuilder?
Drug use in bodybuilding is more widespread than most people think. Chances are, many jacked bodybuilders in your local gym are on juice. Interestingly, the bodybuilders that swear on being nattys usually aren’t.
But why do I bring this up, you ask?
I have nothing against people that use steroids. In fact, I think starting a gear cycle requires a different level of dedication and commitment.
However, when it comes to competitive bodybuilding, folks using roids have a significant advantage. Natural supplements are no match for the results of synthetic testosterone. All other factors being equal, nattys have no chance against enhanced bodybuilders in a competition.
Enter Natural Bodybuilding Federations
The INBA/PNBA, WNBF, and ANBF are the most popular natural bodybuilding organizations that hold drug-tested contests.
These drug-free federations use the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) guidelines that include 10 years drug-free of prescription/pharmaceutical hormones and two years free of over-the-counter hormones, pro-hormones, or banned substances listed or their chemical counterparts.
These guidelines ensure that no enhanced athletes can compete against a natural bodybuilder; putting the nattys on a level playing field and giving them much-needed recognition.
The WADA guidelines are very stringent. They also prohibit cannabinoids use. Although CBD oil is not prohibited, some products contain THC and other cannabinoids that could result in a positive test for a prohibited cannabinoid. You must be 100% sure of what you put in your body if you are a competitive bodybuilder.
Must Read: The Ultimate Guide To Natural Bodybuilding: Best Training and Diet Tips
Best Natural Bodybuilding Supplements
The sports nutrition market is flooded with supplements. There are supplements that claim to boost muscle mass by improving your sleep and supps that are supposed to enhance your muscle-building potential by improving your gut health and immune function.
Bodybuilding supplements can burn a hole in your pocket if you go down the rabbit hole of everything the sports nutrition companies offer and their extravagant claims. To be honest, most of these supplements are nothing more than placebos.
This article aims to reveal the most effective natural bodybuilding supplements. I have no intention of pushing inconsequential supplements down your throat. As you’ll soon learn, the most effective muscle and strength-building supps are relatively inexpensive and will help you meet your training objectives without breaking the bank.
Without any further ado, here are the supplements that should be a part of your stack:
Whey Protein
Protein is the building block of muscle. You break down muscle tissue during your workout; they grow back bigger and stronger during rest and with proper nutrition intake. A whey protein supplement contains all the nine essential amino acids (EAAs), which help build bigger and stronger muscles. Your body cannot produce the EAAs naturally; you must consume them through food.
Whey protein supps are the cornerstone of muscle-building supplements. They come in different forms (concentrate and isolate) and flavors. Because of their fast-digesting nature, most lifters prefer consuming protein shakes right after their workout.
Bodybuilders trying to build muscle mass and strength should consume 1.6–2.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight for optimal results. [1]
Check Out: Awesome Whey Protein Powders Reviewed
Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs)
BCAA supplements consist of three essential amino acids — valine, leucine, and isoleucine. This supplement promotes muscle protein synthesis, reduces muscle breakdown, and supports quicker recovery. [3]
Like all amino acids, your body uses BCAAs to make protein, which can help build bigger and stronger muscles. Most lifters sip on a BCAA supplement intra-workout, as it can help kickstart recovery. Plus, they can reduce fatigue during exercise by lowering serotonin production in your brain.
Check Out: Best BCAA Supplements on the Market
Creatine
Creatine is one of the most studied and safe bodybuilding supplements. This compound occurs naturally in the body. It can boost muscle mass, strength, and endurance and is abundant in seafood and red meat. [2]
There are two ways of supplementing with creatine — loading and maintenance. The loading phase requires you to consume 20 grams of the supp for 5–7 days and then switch to a 3–5 gram dosage. On the other hand, the maintenance phase requires you to take 5 grams consistently.
Creatine is one of the most budget-friendly supplements on the market. A high-quality creatine supplement can cost you $0.15 per serving. This supplement is incredibly versatile and can be consumed with other supps.
Check Out: Best Creatine Supplements (Reviewed & Ranked)
Beta-Alanine
Beta-alanine is a non-essential amino acid — and a godsend for endurance athletes. This supp boosts exercise endurance by delaying lactic acid buildup, which can help you maintain a high training intensity. [5]
Besides its performance-enhancing abilities, beta-alanine has been shown to improve body composition by promoting lean muscle mass build-up. Plus, beta-alanine has anti-aging and immune-enhancing properties. [6]
Check Out: 10 Best Beta-Alanine Supplements
Although this article lists the five best natural bodybuilding supplements that will help you achieve your training objectives, you don’t have to take all of them at once. Use your discretion to select the supplements that fit your lifestyle and fill the voids you cannot achieve through your whole-food diet. Furthermore, you can start with one supplement and add more supps if needed.
Caffeine
Caffeine can significantly boost your exercise performance by increasing energy, focus, concentration, and alertness. Furthermore, it can delay the onset of fatigue, which can help you do more quickly. [4]
You could consume caffeine in the form of coffee or tea before a workout for optimal results. On the flip side, you can use a stimulated pre-workout supplement, which can deliver additional benefits like mental clarity, enhanced endurance, faster recovery, and better blood flow for insane muscle pumps.
Check Out: Best Caffeine Pills Reviewed
Banned Substances in Competitive Bodybuilding
Although most drug-tested bodybuilding organizations follow the WADA doping guidelines and prohibited list, some have additional rules that the bodybuilders must follow. Here are a few substances banned by the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation (WNBF):
All anabolic steroids
Human growth hormone
IGF
Peptides
Prohormones and steroid precursors
Diuretics
Ephedrine, ephedra, and most stimulants
Cannabinoids (including CBD)
How do I know if a product or ingredient is on the WADA prohibited list?
If you have to ask this question, chances are that the product in question is probably on the banned list. You must always check the WADA and relevant bodybuilding organizations’ prohibited list before starting a new supplement, especially if you are a competitive bodybuilder.
Beyond Bodybuilding Supplements
Building your dream physique requires much more than a few daily scoops of magic powder that are supplements. Here are the four factors that you must consider:
Diet
Follow a nutrient-dense whole-food diet to build a chiseled physique. Determine your daily caloric intake goal and break it into a suitable macronutrient split to fast-track your strength and muscle gains. You can use a whey and casein protein supplement to fill the protein void in your diet.
Training
Most lifters make the mistake of following a cookie-cutter training program, which leads to suboptimal results. You must follow a personalized training regimen to fix your weaknesses and polish your strengths. Drinking a cup of coffee or using a caffeinated supplement before a training session can boost your performance. Beta-alanine supplements also increase your endurance, which can help you get more done quickly.
Recovery
Sleep at least seven to eight hours each night to give your body enough time to rest and recuperate from your workouts. Self-myofascial release, massages, and cold plunges are excellent ways to boost your recovery. Whey protein and BCAA supplements also help in this regard.
Lifestyle
Switch to an active lifestyle to build a shredded physique. Take the stairs instead of the elevator and bike to work when possible. These lifestyle habits will help keep your metabolism high, which will help you burn calories throughout the day.
FAQs
Do I need supplements to build a chiseled physique?
No. You can build a jacked body by following a balanced training, diet, and recovery program. Use supplements to fill the voids in your diet.
Can I become a pro bodybuilder without using supplements?
Bodybuilding requires much more than supplements and steroids. Your genetics will dictate your potential as a pro bodybuilder. Plus, the organization you choose to compete in will also dictate your performance if you stay natty.
You can turn pro in the IFBB Pro League (non-tested) while staying natty. However, it is highly unlikely that you will ever win the coveted Mr. Olympia title. On the other hand, natty bodybuilding organizations are reserved for natural athletes.
Which supplements should a beginner start with?
It will depend on your starting physique and training objective. Assuming the individual already consumes caffeine in some form, they should start with a whey protein supplement and stick with it for six to eight weeks. They can add more supplements to their arsenal after assessing their progress.
Note: The content on Fitness Volt is for informative purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice to diagnose, prevent, or treat health problems. If you’re suffering from a health issue, are pregnant, or are under 18 years old, you should consult your physician before starting any new supplement, nutrition, or fitness routine.
Wrapping Up
The initial progress as a natty is usually slow, which pushed many bodybuilders to go the steroid route. However, the risks of using gear are not worth the reward for most lifters.
Contrary to what most people think, you don’t need a cupboard full of supplements and a sponsorship to build a natural physique. Following a balanced diet, training, and recovery program, and using natural bodybuilding supplements, such as whey protein, creatine, BCAAs, caffeine, and beta-alanine, might take some time to work their magic, but it should be the way to go for you if you lift to improve your overall health, well-being, and longevity. Best of luck!
References
Stokes T, Hector AJ, Morton RW, McGlory C, Phillips SM. Recent Perspectives Regarding the Role of Dietary Protein for the Promotion of Muscle Hypertrophy with Resistance Exercise Training. Nutrients. 2018 Feb 7;10(2):180. doi: 10.3390/nu10020180. PMID: 29414855; PMCID: PMC5852756.
Antonio J, Candow DG, Forbes SC, Gualano B, Jagim AR, Kreider RB, Rawson ES, Smith-Ryan AE, VanDusseldorp TA, Willoughby DS, Ziegenfuss TN. Common questions and misconceptions about creatine supplementation: what does the scientific evidence really show? J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2021 Feb 8;18(1):13. doi: 10.1186/s12970-021-00412-w. PMID: 33557850; PMCID: PMC7871530.
Khemtong C, Kuo CH, Chen CY, Jaime SJ, Condello G. Does Branched-Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs) Supplementation Attenuate Muscle Damage Markers and Soreness after Resistance Exercise in Trained Males? A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Nutrients. 2021 May 31;13(6):1880. doi: 10.3390/nu13061880. PMID: 34072718; PMCID: PMC8230327.
Paluska SA. Caffeine and exercise. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2003 Aug;2(4):213-9. doi: 10.1249/00149619-200308000-00008. PMID: 12834577.
Hoffman JR, Emerson NS, Stout JR. β-Alanine supplementation. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2012 Jul-Aug;11(4):189-95. doi: 10.1249/JSR.0b013e3182604983. PMID: 22777329.
Kendrick IP, Harris RC, Kim HJ, Kim CK, Dang VH, Lam TQ, Bui TT, Smith M, Wise JA. The effects of 10 weeks of resistance training combined with beta-alanine supplementation on whole body strength, force production, muscular endurance and body composition. Amino Acids. 2008 May;34(4):547-54. doi: 10.1007/s00726-007-0008-3. Epub 2008 Jan 4. PMID: 18175046.
Wide Legged Forward Bend Prasarita Padottanasana – Muscles Worked, Benefits, Common Mistakes, and Variations
One of yoga’s many fold poses, the sangskrit name prasarita padottanasana describes five elements of the wide legged forward bend:
“Prasarita” – Spread
“Pada” – Foot/leg
“Ut” – Intense
“Tan” – To stretch
“Asana” – Pose
Putting the sequence into action, the yogi takes a wide, straddle stance which requires foot and thigh strength, hip flexibility, and core strength. Moving up the chain, the hips hinge the upper body forward, until the torso is inverted or folded over, and the head is upside down.
Wide legged forward fold is a common yoga pose, and it benefits everything from the feet (strengthening), to the head (increased blood flow to the brain which may yield some benefits).
In this guide, we detail how to perform this pose, with a short video demonstration, tips, common mistakes to avoid, and some arm variations.
Muscles Worked During Wide Legged Forward Bend
While wide legged forward bend isn’t working muscles to increase their strength and size (primarily although you may get a little of that), you can expect a phenomenal stretch, and to recruit muscles in a way they’re not usually.
Hamstrings
The most obvious muscles stretched during a forward bend are the hamstrings. On the back part of your upper leg strung between the hips and thighs, most ham stretches involve hinging the hips forward, to really lengthen the three sections of fibers that make up this muscle group.
Your hamstrings are athletic muscles, that can help us to perform explosive movements, acting as a rubber band being stretched, and released. They’re also key to the gait or walking cycle.
Glutes
Butt muscles that form a large portion of the hips, you have a large maximus, smaller medius, and smallest minimus muscle in your backside. Maximus is the largest, strongest, and most notable, creating most of what is your hips size and shape. Consequently, the role of maximus is controlling movements at the hip such as extension, and external rotation of the thigh.
Abdominal core muscles
You may not realize it, but when you hinge forward at the hips, and stand back up after the wide legged forward bend, your core muscles have to step into decelerate the descent, and extend the spine, respectively. It’s your deeper core muscles, transverse abdominis that stabilize the spine, while the erector spinae muscles by the spine, stand you up from a bent over position.
How To Do Wide Legged Forward Bend
Considered a beginner yoga pose, for many who attempt it for the first time, there’s nothing beginner about it. But the key is having the right setup, being patient, listening to your body, and keeping at it.
Before you thrust yourself into the wide legged forward bend, we recommend checking out the short video demonstration below, and using the written instructions below for reference and tips.
Steps
Note: The first four steps are to prepare your body for the full movement.
Choose a surface where your feet will not slide.
From a standing position, spread your feet apart into a wide stance, creating roughly 4-5 feet of space in between. You want a wide stance but not so wide that you lose stability and balance.
Point your toes forward or slightly inward to activate the inner thighs and glutes, keep your legs straight and engaged, and focus your weight on your outer feet. Place your hands on your hips.
Now hinge forward at the hips, and lower your torso until your upper body is roughly parallel to the floor. Make sure to keep your back straight. Then, slowly stand up straight.
Repeat step 4, but now stretch your arms down to the floor and touch it with your fingertips.
Walk your hands back until your fingers and toes are in line, and press your palms flat on the floor.
Lift your head up and gently stretch toward the sky.
Then drop your head and body down toward the floor, while bending your elbows. Try to relax your upper body.
Gently rest the crown of your head on the floor. Hold this position for a few seconds, trying not to exceed 10 seconds at first.
Now come up onto your fingers, walk your hands forward, and bring your hands on your hips, one at time, then slowly stand up in the starting position.
Tips
Make sure to perform this pose on an appropriate, non-slip surface, such as a yoga mat. Do not try it using socks on a slick floor, as it’s very difficult, and is not good for the groin, and knees.
If you’re not ready to rest your head on the floor in the full wide legged forward bend pose, then simply use your arms to keep your head up, and practice being in this position.
If your head touches the floor too easily, narrow your stance a little.
You can bend your knees slightly if you have tight hamstrings.
Do not try to rush the process. The body usually takes time to open up so that you can move into deeper positions.
You can also use yoga blocks under your hands to help decrease the range of motion, if you can’t reach the floor just yet, or if its uncomfortable.
This Exercise
Target Muscle Group: Hamstrings, glutes, core
Type: Yoga
Mechanics: Isolation
Equipment: Yoga mat
Difficulty: Intermediate
Benefits of Wide Legged Forward Bend
There are the most obvious and then there are some of the not so obvious benefits of folding yoga poses. Let’s see what they are…
Target your thigh and adductor muscles
One of the poses that involves a forward hip hinge, wide legged forward bend favors a hamstrings and adductors stretch. If you play sports or are regularly involved in resistance training or other activities, it’ll benefit you to keep these muscles loose and active. You’ll also help prevent injuries, and the hamstrings are so important for mobility.
Stretch the neck, back and shoulders too!
We hold lots of tension in our necks, shoulders, and backs, especially being slumped over in front of our devices for most hours of the day. Stretching is helping to reduce the long term negative effects of muscle tightness from prolonged inactivity.
Potential benefits of inverted position
It’s important to note that evidence for the potential benefits of inversion training are not conclusive.
However, hanging upside down does create changes in blood flow which may enhance circulation to the brain. Many believe this can enhance cognitive performance. Inversion type training does decompress the spine though, which is said to create more space between the vertebra, allowing better disk hydration and hence greater spine mobility and reduced risk of injury.
The advantages may extend further though, reaching as deep as the lymphatic system, possibly helping to drain the body of toxins. This process is said to only be able to occur via the movement of muscles, and breathing.
Build patience and mental fortitude
One of the most valuable tools in life is patience. The rewarding things require patience, and mental grit. Wide legged forward bend isn’t just picking up a dumbbell and doing a barbell curl, or sitting down in a squat or performing a push-up.
It requires a bit of many things to be able to maintain a wide stance, bend forward, and set your head on the floor. And for many, it won’t be possible the first few attempts.
Common Mistakes During Wide Legged Forward Bend
Here are some common mistakes that may make for a frustrating or painful experience attempting the wide legged forward bend.
Not spreading your feet wide enough
While it is called the forward fold, most people are not contortionists and will need to spread their feet wide enough to reach their head to the ground. Two to three and even four foot of distance between your feet won’t cut it for most. It’s perfectly normal to have a very wide stance, that way you can decrease the distance your head needs to travel.
But… if you’re just starting out, you could assume a narrower stance, and it’s fine if the head cannot yet touch the floor. Give your hips time to open up and then you can get lower and lower.
Forcing yourself into the pose
Forcing the body to do something is hardly ever recommended. In this case, you can pull tight muscles, or increase risk of injuries in the future.
A common and wise piece of yoga advice is to take it slow, and allow your body to open up when it’s ready. That’s why you’ll typically see professionals perform warmup steps before attempting the full pose. With that said, this pose requires decent flexibility.
Variations of Wide Legged Forward Bend
While the basic wide legged forward bend is a phenomenal practice to get into, here are some fun variations to try and challenge yourself while getting additional benefits.
Wide legged forward bend with hands behind your back
It’ll require more balance, and core control, but it’s just one progression that’ll prove you’re ready for something more challenging. Most people should be able to easily reach behind their body and interlock their fingers. It’ll give you a sweet stretch in the delts too!
Steps
Get into a wide stance as explained in the original instructions.
Bring your arms behind your body and interlock your fingers with the palms facing each other.
Slowly drop your torso under control, and then gently rest your head on the floor. If you cannot yet, place an object such as a yoga block between your feet to rest your head on and reduce the range of motion.
Grabbing your toes
For this variation, you’ll grab your big toes with your pointer fingers on each side as you’re dropping into the folded position resting on your head.
Steps
In your straddle stance, hinge forward at the hips, and hook your pointer fingers over and around your big toes.
Keep your elbows bent, pointed up, and try to squeeze your shoulders blades together. Hold this position for the desired time.
With rotation
Like wringing out a wet rag, including a twist in the forward bend will stretch out your oblique muscles that help us to rotate, and bend laterally. It’s also a good technique to help maintain coordination and mobility in the upper body.
Steps
From a bent over position, extend one arm toward the floor and place your palm flat directly in the center between your feet.
Now rotate your torso in the opposite direction of your arm, and reach the free arm straight up toward the sky with the fingers straight.
Now bring the top arm down and switch positions with the other arm, placing your arm in the exact same spot. Then reach up in the opposite direction with the free arm. Repeat for 3-5 repetitions.
Holding the opposite leg
Challenge flexible endurance and stretch your torso by gripping the opposite leg and holding for a static count.
Steps
From the forward fold position, grab your right ankle with your left hand, and bend the right arm behind your lower back. Breathe in, and then breath out as you release and change sides.
Now grab the left ankle with the right hand, and place your left arm behind your back. Hold, and repeat by alternating sides.
Seated forward bend pose
Otherwise called Paschimottanasana, the seated forward fold pose trains a similar technique but with the inversion.
Steps
Sit on the floor with your legs stretched out in front of you. Sit up tall, and pull your toes in toward you.
Inhale, and reach both arms overhead, then exhale and bend forward at the hips.
Reach toward your toes. Stop where you’re able too. If you’re flexible enough, grab one wrist with the other hand and your arms in front of the bottom of your feet.
If you’re flexibility allows, lie face down on your your shins.
Unlock your grip, and with both arms extended past your feet, inhale and sit up to the original position.
Exhale and lower the arms.
That’s the seated forward bend yoga pose.
Here’s a progression technique that you can do if you cannot perform the full pose yet. Use a strap of some type to wrap around the balls of your feet, and slowly try to stretch forward, grabbing the straps closer to your feet as you reach forward.
Wrapping Up
While yoga should incorporate various elements of mental and physical fitness, the wide legged forward bend is a swift and much needed change up from your usual exercises. Combining inversion, stretch, and strength, it’s a pose you should hang-up for the next day and bring it out because of the range of benefits it offers.
How Long Does Alcohol Stop Fat Burning?
Drinking alcohol is a popular pastime. A lot of people like to unwind at the end of the day with an alcoholic drink or two, and wine is a common accompaniment to meals. A beer with friends can often lead to a fun night out, and what celebration is complete without champagne?
Moderate alcohol consumption, i.e., 1-3 drinks a couple of times a week, is generally considered healthy. However, binge drinking or drinking too often is not. The list of the possible side effects of alcohol consumption is long and quite sobering – pardon the pun.
The risks of long-term and excessive drinking include:
Accidents and injuries
Alcohol dependence
Alcohol poisoning
Anxiety
Brain damage
Congenital disabilities
Dehydration
Dementia
Depression
Digestive problems
Heart disease
High blood pressure
Infertility
Liver disease
Malnutrition
Osteoporosis
Pancreatitis
Stroke
Various cancers, including mouth, throat, liver, and colon
Weakened immune system
Alcohol can also lead to weight gain and interfere with weight loss. Unfortunately, many dieters fail to appreciate just how much drinking can affect fat burning.
In this article, we discuss how alcohol makes it harder to burn fat and lose weight.
How Alcohol Affects Weight Loss
It’s easy to think that a couple of beers or glasses of wine won’t cause any harm. And, from a health perspective, that’s probably true. But even the occasional drink can make losing weight far harder than it needs to be.
Reasons for this include:
1. Alcoholic beverages contain a lot of calories
Protein contains four calories per gram, as do carbohydrates. Fat has nine calories per gram. Alcohol contains seven calories per gram, so close to double that of carbs and protein and only slightly less than fat.
As such, a couple of alcoholic drinks could easily wipe out your calorie deficit for the day, making weight loss slow, if not impossible.
Here is a chart showing the caloric value of some of the most popular alcoholic drinks. Bear in mind that these are standard bar measures, and people who drink at home may pour more generous amounts:
Beverage
Serving size
Calories
Beer
Beer (light)
12 oz (355 ml)
103
Beer (regular)
12 oz (355 ml)
153
Beer (strong)
12 oz (355 ml)
170 to 350
Distilled Alcohol
Gin
1.5 oz (45 ml)
116
Rum
1.5 oz (45 ml)
116
Vodka
1.5 oz (45 ml)
116
Whiskey
1.5 oz (45 ml)
116
Liqueurs
Coffee liqueur
1.5 oz (45 ml)
160
Coffee liqueur with cream
1.5 oz (45 ml)
154
Crème de menthe
1.5 oz (45 ml)
186
Mixed Drinks
Bloody Mary
4.6 oz (136 ml)
120
Cosmopolitan
2.75 oz (81 ml)
146
Daiquiri
2.7 oz (80 ml)
137
Highball
8 oz (235 ml)
110
Hot buttered rum
8 oz (235 ml)
292
Mai Tai
4.9 oz (145 ml)
306
Margarita
4 oz (120 ml)
168
Mimosa
4 oz (120 ml)
75
Mint Julep
4.5 oz (135 ml)
165
Mojito
6 oz (177 ml)
143
Pina colada
6.8 oz (200 ml)
526
Rum and Coke
8 oz (235 ml)
185
Tequila sunrise
6.8 oz (200 ml)
232
Vodka and tonic
7 oz (207 ml)
189
Whiskey sour
3 oz (89 ml)
125
White Russian
8 oz (235 ml)
568
Wine
Burgundy
5 oz (145 ml)
122
Cabernet Sauvignon
5 oz (145 ml)
122
Chardonnay
5 oz (145 ml)
128
Chenin Blanc
5 oz (145 ml)
129
Claret
5 oz (145 ml)
122
Dry dessert wine
3.5 oz (90 ml)
157
Merlot
5 oz (145 ml)
122
Muscat
5 oz (145 ml)
129
Pinot Grigio
5 oz (145 ml)
128
Pinot Noir
5 oz (145 ml)
121
Red dessert wine
3.5 oz (90 ml)
165
Red table wine
5 oz (145 ml)
125
Riesling
5 oz (145 ml)
129
Sauvignon Blanc
5 oz (145 ml)
128
White table wine
5 oz (145 ml)
128
Depending on your chosen beverage, “going out for drinks” could easily add up to several thousand additional calories, leading to weight gain rather than fat burning and weight loss.
2. Alcohol can contribute to belly fat
While it is impossible to spot-reduce fat from your abdomen, drinking alcohol can cause you to spot gain. Go to any bar, and you’re sure to see at least a few beer bellies.
Excess calories from alcohol have a nasty habit of migrating toward your stomach, even if the rest of your body is relatively slim. Belly fat is not just unsightly, but it’s a leading cause of diabetes, heart disease, gallbladder disease, and premature death (1).
A lot of exercisers want to lose belly fat but sabotage their progress by consuming too much alcohol. It’s almost impossible to get six-pack abs if you regularly put away a six-pack of beer, or any other alcoholic beverage, every night.
3. Alcohol makes it harder to make good nutritional decisions
Even a small amount of alcohol can impair your judgment, making good nutritional decisions harder to make. For example, if you have wine with dinner, you may also have a dessert when, sober, you would have sent the sweet trolley away.
While the occasional treat probably won’t hurt your weight loss too much, habitual cheating will wreak your diet and make it impossible to lose weight.
Alcohol can also cause carvings, especially for salty and savory food. A few drinks often lead to a bag of chips, a plate of French fries, a burger, or some other high-calorie indulgence.
Add the calories from your dietary slip-ups to the calories in the booze, and it’s easy to see why alcohol and dieting don’t make good bedfellows.
4. Alcohol can interfere with your workout routine
Eating less is only one part of the fat and weight loss equation. You also need to burn more calories, which most people do through exercise.
Drinking alcohol can rob you of the energy, motivation, and willpower you need to work out regularly and consistently. A night of drinking can make getting up the next day a challenge, let alone dragging your tired, hungover butt to the gym!
In addition, alcohol can interfere with muscle protein synthesis, or MPS for short (2). So, even if you DO manage to make it to the gym, your workouts will be less effective, and you won’t recover as well as you would if your body was alcohol-free.
Related: Does Alcohol Affect Muscle Growth?
5. Alcohol reduces sleep quality and duration
While alcohol can make you drowsy and even fall asleep quicker, the duration of quality of your sleep will probably be lower than usual (3).
As such, when you wake up, you’ll still feel tired. Feelings of tiredness can make it harder to stick to your diet and workout regimen. Your body will drive you to fuel up on fast-acting carbs because it needs energy and doesn’t care that you’re supposed to be on a diet and cutting down on sugar.
Alcohol-induced sleep deprivation, like anything else that stops you from getting a restful night of sleep, is not conducive to weight loss and fat burning. In fact, not getting enough sleep is often linked to weight gain (4).
6. Alcohol puts the brakes on fat burning
Your body views alcohol as a priority fuel and will burn it before using fat for energy. So, if you have a drink and have alcohol in your system, fat burning stops until all the alcohol is metabolized and used up (5).
The duration of this fat-burning stoppage depends on how much alcohol you have consumed, your body size and weight, and your gender.
However, it can take as long as 24-48 hours for fat metabolism to return to normal. During this time, you won’t be burning much, if any, fat for fuel, and your weight loss progress will grind to a halt.
Unfortunately, and contrary to many old wives’ tales, there is nothing you can do to make your body burn alcohol faster. Drinking lots of coffee or eating a meal to “soak up the alcohol” doesn’t work. You’ll just have to let nature (and your liver) take its course.
And if blocking fat burning wasn’t a big enough problem, during this time, your body also increases lipogenesis, which is the act of creating and storing more fat (6). Food consumed during this time is much more likely to be converted into and stored as fat.
So, no fat burning but increased fat storage – talk about a lose-lose situation!
In summary, consuming alcohol makes it harder to lose weight because:
It contains a lot of empty calories
It can lead to increases in belly fat
It makes it harder to make good nutritional decisions
It interferes with your workout routine
It reduces sleep quality and duration
It blocks fat burning
How To Drink Alcohol and Still Lose Weight
Even though drinking alcohol can interfere with fat burning and weight loss, it is still possible to reach your weight loss and body composition goals while sensibly enjoying alcohol.
Here are some tips on how to drink alcohol and still lose weight:
1. Drink in moderation
Small, occasional quantities of alcohol should not impact too greatly on weight loss. So, if you want to enjoy a drink or two a couple of times a week, there is probably no reason not to indulge. It’s generally best not to drink every day, and you should also avoid binge drinking.
However, you still need to account for the calories in your alcoholic beverages when calculating your calorie intake. You may have to forgo a snack to maintain a calorie deficit. Considering that a glass of wine contains about 150 calories, and a large beer has as many as 300, you may prefer to eat your calories instead of drinking them.
2. Choose lower-alcohol beverages
The lower the alcohol content of your drink, the shorter and less pronounced its fat-burning blocking effect will be. As such, you should avoid strong beers, fortified wines, and most cocktails. Instead, choose light beers and regular wine. Lower alcohol beverages will have less of a negative impact on your fat-burning efforts.
3. Avoid high-calorie mixers
In some instances, most of the calories in a drink come from a non-alcohol mixer rather than the alcoholic beverage itself. For example, many drinks also contain full-sugar Coke or lemonade, sweetened fruit juices, sugar syrups, or even cream.
Make sure your drinks contain as few high-calorie extras as possible. Ask for diet Coke in your vodka or rum, have soda water instead of lemonade, and skip the sweet or creamy cocktails.
4. Alternate alcoholic drinks with water
Nights out can involve consuming many alcoholic drinks over several hours. This can lead to consuming a large quantity of alcohol and a lot of calories. You can half your caloric intake simply by alternating between things like beer or wine and water.
Water is calorie-free, and halving your alcohol intake means you’ll imbibe far fewer calories. Diet sodas also have the same effect. Water is also hydrating and will help counter the dehydrating action of alcohol. The lower alcohol intake will also have a less detrimental effect on fat burning.
5. Be mindful of what you eat while drinking
Alcohol can increase your appetite. It causes your blood glucose levels to drop, making you feel hungry. Alcohol also tends to lower your inhibitions and willpower, making you more inclined to give in to that hunger. Cravings can be a problem, too.
So, be extra mindful of what you eat when you are drinking. Do your best not to give in to hunger and cravings. Combined with the calories from alcohol and its fat-burning blocking effect, breaking your diet will surely derail weight and fat loss.
6. Weigh up the pros and cons before drinking
Getting fit and losing weight involves making a lot of choices. You need to choose between going to the gym and staying at home watching Netflix, eating a salad or binging on pizza, and going to bed early or staying up all night playing Call of Duty.
Ultimately, it’s these decisions that determine your weight loss success.
In the same way, you can choose to drink or choose to abstain in the name of fitness and weight loss.
So, consider the pros and cons of drinking and decide if you want that beer or glass of wine. After a few minutes of contemplation, you may discover that you can do without a drink and would rather be lean and healthy instead.
FAQs
Do you have a question about alcohol and fat loss? No problem, because we’ve got the answers!
1. Will I lose weight if I quit drinking?
You will lose weight if you quit drinking if doing so creates a calorie deficit that forces your body to burn more fat for fuel.
For example, suppose you currently drink three beers a night, and your weight is stable. In that case, ditching those beers will probably create a 400-500 calorie shortfall, leading to weight loss. However, if you eat more to compensate, you won’t lose weight and could even gain it if you create a calorie surplus.
4. I want to drink less, but I feel pressured by my friends to drink more. What can I do?
Peer pressure can be hard to resist. It’s often easier to go along with the crowd than go your own way. If you find yourself in a group of friends who drink more than you want to, try the following strategies:
Volunteer to be the designated driver
Avoid buying rounds of drinks and just buy your own
Drink smaller measures
Alternate alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
Suggest alternative activities where alcohol is not available
Arrive late and leave early to shorten your drinking window
Ask your friends to be more supportive of your choices
Get new friends
While the final point may seem drastic, if you are serious about not drinking but your friends continue to pressure you, they clearly don’t have your best interests at heart.
3. Which alcoholic drinks have the least calories?
Alcohol contains seven calories per gram, and most alcoholic drinks also contain sugar. As such, the best alcoholic drinks are both low in ethanol and sugar. You can find a comprehensive list of calorie values for popular drinks elsewhere in this article. However, five of the least calorific alcoholic beverages are:
Light beer
White/red table wine
Gin
Vodka
Whisky
4. Is there anything wrong with drinking every day?
The negative effects of alcohol increase the more you drink. So, in theory, you could just have 1-2 drinks a day without affecting your health. Daily, moderate drinking is usually considered healthier than consuming the same amount of alcohol in one session, i.e., binge drinking.
Remember, too, that alcohol contains calories and blocks fat burning. So, when you’re trying to lose weight, you’re better off minimizing your alcohol intake.
Finally, if you feel you must have a drink each day, maybe to unwind, you may have a dependency even if you don’t drink excessively. Try going dry for a few weeks to see how you feel. If you crave alcohol, you may need help to overcome your dependency.
5. Isn’t moderate alcohol consumption good for you?
For many years, it was thought that consuming alcohol in low to moderate amounts offered protection against heart disease and other chronic illnesses. This, in part, was due to something called the French Paradox, which describes how France has a lower incidence of heart disease despite a somewhat less healthy diet.
More recent studies have dismissed the French Paradox, suggesting that no amount of alcohol will improve health, and that drinking should not be recommended as a health intervention (7).
So, while the occasional drink or two probably won’t hurt you, it can’t be considered healthy or necessary.
Closing Thoughts
Drinking alcohol can undermine your fat-burning and weight-loss efforts. Alcohol contains almost twice as many calories per gram as protein and carbohydrates. It is treated as a priority fuel, meaning it will always be metabolized before fat for energy.
Giving up alcohol could make losing weight and keeping it off easier.
That said, many people enjoy drinking and don’t want to quit. In that case, it’s worth limiting your intake to 1-3 drinks a couple of times a week and mainly consuming low-calorie beverages. Light beer and refined spirits are good choices, as is red and white wine.
However, even small amounts of alcohol can interfere with fat burning, so if you do decide to drink, you’ll also need to accept that you might not lose weight as fast as you’d like.
References:
Pi-Sunyer X. The medical risks of obesity. Postgrad Med. 2009 Nov;121(6):21-33. doi: 10.3810/pgm.2009.11.2074. PMID: 19940414; PMCID: PMC2879283. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2879283/
Parr EB, Camera DM, Areta JL, Burke LM, Phillips SM, Hawley JA, Coffey VG. Alcohol ingestion impairs maximal post-exercise rates of myofibrillar protein synthesis following a single bout of concurrent training. PLoS One. 2014 Feb 12;9(2):e88384. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088384. PMID: 24533082; PMCID: PMC3922864. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24533082/
Roehrs T, Roth T. Sleep, sleepiness, and alcohol use. Alcohol Res Health. 2001;25(2):101-9. PMID: 11584549; PMCID: PMC6707127. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11584549/
Cooper CB, Neufeld EV, Dolezal BA, Martin JL. Sleep deprivation and obesity in adults: a brief narrative review. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2018 Oct 4;4(1):e000392. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000392. PMID: 30364557; PMCID: PMC6196958. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6196958/
Cederbaum AI. Alcohol metabolism. Clin Liver Dis. 2012 Nov;16(4):667-85. doi: 10.1016/j.cld.2012.08.002. PMID: 23101976; PMCID: PMC3484320. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3484320/
Baraona E, Lieber CS. Effects of ethanol on lipid metabolism. J Lipid Res. 1979 Mar;20(3):289-315. PMID: 87483. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/87483/
Chiva-Blanch G, Badimon L. Benefits and risks of moderate alcohol consumption on cardiovascular disease: current findings and controversies. Nutrients. 2019 Dec 30;12(1):108. doi: 10.3390/nu12010108. PMID: 31906033; PMCID: PMC7020057. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7020057/
Heather Connor (47KG) Scores 200-kg (440.9-lb) Raw Deadlift World Record at 2023 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships
Day one of the 2023 IPF World Open Classic Powerlifting Championships proved to be extremely interesting, mostly due to the women’s 47-kilogram weight class. This division gathered some amazing competitors and the battle for the title was set to be fierce. Most notably, Heather Connor and Tiffany Chapon were both aiming to claim their third title. Unfortunately for Heather, she was unable to put out her best display on the squats and bench, which cost her the title. She did, however, set a new 200-kilogram (440.9-pound) IPF Deadlift World Record to make up for it.
At the start of the competition, that is during her squat attempt Heather Connor felt a pop in an unspecified part of her body. This disrupted her flow completely as thoughts of injury rushed through her mind. Consequently, Heather performed significantly worse than what she wanted to.
By the time that the deadlift portion of the competition started to take place, Heather Connor was already out of the title race. However, she gathered herself and reached a huge milestone on the deadlifts. So, she set a new U47KG IPF World Record.
The previous record belonged to Heather Connor as well, but it stood at 185 kilograms (407.9 pounds). Heather set the record at the 2022 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships, which was almost exactly one year ago from now.
Watch the deadlift here:
Related: Powerlifter Heather Connor Lands a 202.5-kg (446.4-lb) Unofficial Raw Deadlift IPF World Record & PR
Heather Connor weighed in at only 46.4 kilograms (102.3 pounds) for the 2023 IPF World Championships. So, her IPF Deadlift World Record was 4.31x heavier than her bodyweight was.
Heather Connor missed her first two squat attempts, but luckily succeeded in her third attempt. If she had missed all three attempts, Heather would have been disqualified. She then moved onto the bench press where she missed only one attempt, finishing with a result of 75. kilograms (165.3 pounds). Her deadlift session was perfect, as she successfully completed all three attempts.
Heather Connor’s Full Performance
Squat: 132.5 kilograms (292.1 pounds)
Bench Press: 75 kilograms (165.3 pounds)
Deadlift: 200 kilograms (440.9 pounds) — U47KG IPF World Record
Total: 407.5 kilograms (898.4 pounds)
Heather Connor finished in third place of the 47-kilogram weight class at the 2023 IPF Worlds, only behind Tiffany Chapon and Jessica Espinal. The winner, Tiffany Chapon, also set a World Record in the bench press event with a lift of 99.5 kilograms (219.4 pounds).
Watch all Heather’s lifts here:
Related: Powerlifter Heather Connor Annihilates a 152.5-kg (336.2-lb) Raw Squat PR
Heather Connor’s Competition History
Personal Bests
Equip
Squat
Bench
Deadlift
Total
Dots
Raw
315.3
165.3
315.3
903.9
551.29
Competition Results
Place
Fed
Date
Competition
Division
Total
Dots
2
AMP
2023-02-24
Classic National Championship
FR-O
870.8
520.55
Location
USA-TX
Competition
Classic National Championship
Division
FR-O
Age
31
Equipment
Raw
Class
103.6
Weight
102.8
Squat
292.1
303.1
-308.6
303.1
Bench
148.8
154.3
-159.8
154.3
Deadlift
396.8
413.4
-426.6
413.4
GLP
110.31
1
FFForce
2022-10-15
Girl Power
Open
892.9
532.79
Location
France
Competition
Girl Power
Division
Open
Age
31
Equipment
Raw
Weight
103.1
Squat
292.1
-308.6
308.6
308.6
Bench
154.3
159.8
165.3
165.3
Deadlift
402.3
418.9
-429.9
418.9
GLP
112.84
2
IPF
2022-06-06
World Classic Powerlifting Championships
Open
876.3
524.26
Location
South Africa
Competition
World Classic Powerlifting Championships
Division
Open
Age
31
Equipment
Raw
Class
103.6
Weight
102.7
Squat
292.1
308.6
-314.2
308.6
Bench
143.3
154.3
159.8
159.8
Deadlift
-407.9
407.9
-425.5
407.9
GLP
111.13
1
AMP
2022-04-01
Classic Open Nationals Presented by SBD
FR-O
887.4
536.01
Location
USA-TX
Competition
Classic Open Nationals Presented by SBD
Division
FR-O
Age
30
Equipment
Raw
Class
103.6
Weight
101.4
Squat
281.1
297.6
314.2
314.2
Bench
154.3
-159.8
-159.8
154.3
Deadlift
396.8
407.9
418.9
418.9
GLP
114.02
4
Ireland-UA
2021-11-27
ABS Pro
PRO Female
903.9
541.61
Location
Ireland
Competition
ABS Pro
Division
PRO Female
Age
30
Equipment
Raw
Weight
102.5
Squat
286.6
308.6
314.2
314.2
Bench
154.3
159.8
165.3
165.3
Deadlift
402.3
424.4
-435.4
424.4
GLP
114.87
1
USAPL
2021-06-14
Raw Nationals
FR-O
899.5
551.29
Location
USA-FL
Competition
Raw Nationals
Division
FR-O
Age
30
Equipment
Raw
Class
103.6
Weight
99.5
Squat
286.6
303.1
315.3
315.3
Bench
148.8
159.8
-165.3
159.8
Deadlift
410.1
424.4
-440.9
424.4
GLP
117.91
1
USAPL
2020-09-26
Palmetto Classic
FR-O
870.8
535.71
Location
USA-SC
Competition
Palmetto Classic
Division
FR-O
Age
29
Equipment
Raw
Class
103.6
Weight
99
Squat
286.6
303.1
308.6
308.6
Bench
154.3
-159.8
-159.8
154.3
Deadlift
374.8
391.3
407.9
407.9
GLP
114.74
1
USAPL
2019-10-16
Raw Nationals
FR-O
866.4
530.31
Location
USA-IL
Competition
Raw Nationals
Division
FR-O
Age
28
Equipment
Raw
Class
103.6
Weight
99.6
Squat
281.1
292.1
303.1
303.1
Bench
148.8
154.3
159.8
159.8
Deadlift
363.8
385.8
403.4
403.4
GLP
113.36
9
Ireland-UA
2019-08-17
ABS Pro
F-O
826.7
494.58
Location
Ireland
Competition
ABS Pro
Division
F-O
Age
28
Equipment
Raw
Weight
102.7
Squat
275.6
286.6
297.6
297.6
Bench
148.8
154.3
-159.8
154.3
Deadlift
358.3
374.8
-391.3
374.8
GLP
104.84
1
IPF
2019-06-04
World Classic Powerlifting Championships
Open
834.4
509.47
Location
Sweden
Competition
World Classic Powerlifting Championships
Division
Open
Age
28
Equipment
Raw
Class
103.6
Weight
100
Squat
-281.1
281.1
292.1
292.1
Bench
148.8
154.3
-159.8
154.3
Deadlift
369.3
380.3
388
388
GLP
108.8
1
USAPL
2018-10-11
Raw Nationals
FR-O
826.7
504.34
Location
USA-WA
Competition
Raw Nationals
Division
FR-O
Age
27
Equipment
Raw
Class
103.6
Weight
100.1
Squat
-281.1
281.1
292.1
292.1
Bench
148.8
154.3
-159.8
154.3
Deadlift
358.3
380.3
-385.8
380.3
GLP
107.67
1
USAPL
2018-03-03
The Arnold SBD Pro American
FR-O
876.3
546.54
Location
USA-OH
Competition
The Arnold SBD Pro American
Division
FR-O
Age
26
Equipment
Raw
Class
103.6
Weight
97.2
Squat
286.6
303.1
314.2
314.2
Bench
148.8
-159.8
159.8
159.8
Deadlift
358.3
385.8
402.3
402.3
GLP
117.71
1
IPF
2017-06-14
World Classic Powerlifting Championships
Open
821.2
496.3
Location
Belarus
Competition
World Classic Powerlifting Championships
Division
Open
Age
26
Equipment
Raw
Class
103.6
Weight
101.3
Squat
292.1
303.1
-308.6
303.1
Bench
143.3
-154.3
-154.3
143.3
Deadlift
352.7
369.3
374.8
374.8
GLP
105.59
4
NAPF
2017-03-04
Arnold Grand Prix
Open
827.8
495.8
Location
USA-OH
Competition
Arnold Grand Prix
Division
Open
Age
25
Equipment
Raw
Class
103.6
Weight
102.6
Squat
297.6
-308.6
-308.6
297.6
Bench
143.3
-154.3
-154.3
143.3
Deadlift
347.2
369.3
386.9
386.9
GLP
105.14
1
USAPL
2016-10-13
Raw Nationals
FR-O
814.6
488.89
Location
USA-GA
Competition
Raw Nationals
Division
FR-O
Age
25
Equipment
Raw
Class
103.6
Weight
102.3
Squat
264.6
276.7
287.7
287.7
Bench
137.8
143.3
155.4
155.4
Deadlift
347.2
369.3
371.5
371.5
GLP
103.75
2
IPF
2016-06-19
World Classic Powerlifting Championships
Open
771.6
461.91
Location
USA-TX
Competition
World Classic Powerlifting Championships
Division
Open
Age
25
Equipment
Raw
Class
103.6
Weight
102.6
Squat
242.5
259
270.1
270.1
Bench
137.8
-148.8
-148.8
137.8
Deadlift
341.7
363.8
-392.4
363.8
GLP
97.94
1
NAPF
2016-03-05
Arnolds StartingStrength.com Pro Raw Challenge
Open
755.1
449.58
Location
USA-OH
Competition
Arnolds StartingStrength.com Pro Raw Challenge
Division
Open
Age
24
Equipment
Raw
Class
103.6
Weight
103.4
Squat
237
-259
259
259
Bench
126.8
137.8
143.3
143.3
Deadlift
325.2
-352.7
352.7
352.7
GLP
95.14
1
USAPL
2015-12-12
South Carolina State Championship
FR-O
729.7
433.8
Location
USA-SC
Competition
South Carolina State Championship
Division
FR-O
Age
24
Equipment
Raw
Class
103.6
Weight
103.6
Squat
237
253.5
-270.1
253.5
Bench
126.8
132.3
137.8
137.8
Deadlift
308.6
319.7
338.4
338.4
GLP
91.75
1
USAPL
2015-12-12
South Carolina State Championship
FR-O
137.8
81.91
Location
USA-SC
Competition
South Carolina State Championship
Division
FR-O
Age
24
Equipment
Raw
Class
103.6
Weight
103.6
Bench
126.8
132.3
137.8
137.8
GLP
66.24
2
USAPL
2015-10-15
Raw Nationals
FR-O
722
447.2
Location
USA-PA
Competition
Raw Nationals
Division
FR-O
Age
24
Equipment
Raw
Class
103.6
Weight
98.1
Squat
237
259
-275.6
259
Bench
132.3
-143.3
-143.3
132.3
Deadlift
308.6
330.7
-347.2
330.7
GLP
96.04
1
USAPL
2015-05-30
North Carolina State Championships
FR-O
712.1
433.68
Location
USA-NC
Competition
North Carolina State Championships
Division
FR-O
Age
24
Equipment
Raw
Class
103.6
Weight
100.3
Squat
231.5
248
-253.5
248
Bench
-121.3
132.3
-149.9
132.3
Deadlift
275.6
314.2
331.8
331.8
GLP
92.53
1
USAPL
2015-03-21
Battle on the Border IX
FR-Jr
733
415.44
Location
USA-NC
Competition
Battle on the Border IX
Division
FR-Jr
Age
23
Equipment
Raw
Class
114.6
Weight
110.7
Squat
253.5
Bench
143.3
Deadlift
336.2
GLP
86.6
1
USAPL
2014-11-01
Fall Festival of Power
FR-Jr
551.2
306.37
Location
USA-NC
Competition
Fall Festival of Power
Division
FR-Jr
Age
23
Equipment
Raw
Class
114.6
Weight
113.8
Squat
242.5
Deadlift
308.6
DQ
USAPL
2014-11-01
Fall Festival of Power
FR-Jr
Location
USA-NC
Competition
Fall Festival of Power
Division
FR-Jr
Age
23
Equipment
Raw
Class
114.6
Weight
113.8
Data Source: Open Powerlifting. Last Updated: April 12, 2023
Analyze Lifts
The 2023 IPF World Open Classic Powerlifting Championships was Heather Connor’s 25th sanctioned powerlifting appearance. She previously won two editions of the IPF Worlds, one in 2017 and another in 2019. Heather hoped to reclaim the title after four years, but luck was once again not on her side.
Heather Connor made impressive progress leading up to the 2023 IPF Worlds, setting personal records in her training. However, her performance in the squats affected her chances against Tiffany Chapon, who proved to be a tough opponent. Despite this setback, Heather’s potential suggests that she could have a strong opportunity to secure the top spot in the 2024 IPF Worlds.
Published: 11 June, 2023 | 5:08 PM EDT
Tiffany Chapon (47KG) Sets 99.5-kg (219.4-lb) Bench Press World Record at 2023 IPF World Championships
The 2023 IPF World Open Classic Powerlifting Championships are taking place from June 11-18, in Valletta, Malta. It did not take long to see the first World Records fall, as Tiffany Chapon put up a record breaking performance on day one. The French representative took part in the 47-kilogram weight class, set a new bench press World Record, and claimed her third consecutive title. So, it was a very successful outing for the 22-year-old Tiffany.
The IPF World Record that Tiffany Chapon set was in the bench press event. She walked confidently onto the stage and locked out 99.5 kilograms (219.4 pounds), thus setting a new record. It was also raw, since the 2023 IPF World Open Classic Powerlifting Championships only featured the raw division.
The previous U47KG IPF Bench Press World Record was also held by Tiffany Chapon and it stood at 96 kilograms (211.6 pounds). She set the record at the 2022 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships. So, in just one year Tiffany managed to further improve the record by 3.5 kilograms (7.7 pounds).
Watch the lift here:
Related: Powerlifter Tiffany Chapon Squats 166-kg (366-lb), 13-kg (28.7-lb) Over The IPF Raw World Record
Tiffany Chapon put up solid performances in other events as well, but the bench press was the only World Record she managed to set. She opened up her performance with a 157.5-kilogram (347.2-pound) squat, and then impressed everyone with her bench. However, she then added a 167.5-kilogram (369.3 pounds) deadlift to secure the title.
In the end, Tiffany Chapon’s Total came out to 424.5 kilograms (935.9 pounds), which is just 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) shy of her last year’s result.
Tiffany Chapon’s Full Performance
Squat: 157.5 kilograms (347.2 pounds)
Bench Press: 99.5 kilograms (219.4 pounds) — U47KG IPF World Record
Deadlift: 167.5 kilograms (369.3 pounds)
Total: 424.5 kilograms (935.9 pounds)
Tiffany Chapon was significantly ahead of her rivals, as Jessica Espinal was the second-place finisher with a Total of 412.5 kilograms (909.4 pounds). Finishing in third-place was Heather Connor with a Total of 407.5 kilograms (898.4 pounds).
Watch all Tiffany’s lifts here:
Related: Powerlifter Tiffany Chapon Hits 352.7 Lbs Raw Squat in Training, 3X Her Competition Bodyweight
Tiffany Chapon’s Competition History
Personal Bests
Equip
Squat
Bench
Deadlift
Total
Dots
Raw
364.9
211.6
364.9
949.1
564.25
Competition Results
Place
Fed
Date
Competition
Division
Total
Dots
7
IPF
2023-03-25
Sheffield Powerlifting Championships
Open
944.7
564.25
Location
UK
Competition
Sheffield Powerlifting Championships
Division
Open
Age
~21.5
Equipment
Raw
Weight
103
Squat
336.2
-354.9
354.9
354.9
Bench
209.4
-219.4
-219.4
209.4
Deadlift
363.8
380.3
-391.3
380.3
GLP
119.54
1
EPF
2022-11-25
European Classic Powerlifting Championships
Open
898.4
534.48
Location
Poland
Competition
European Classic Powerlifting Championships
Division
Open
Age
21
Equipment
Raw
Class
103.6
Weight
103.5
Squat
308.6
330.7
-341.7
330.7
Bench
198.4
209.4
-215
209.4
Deadlift
358.3
-377
-377
358.3
GLP
113.08
3
IPF
2022-09-23
Arnold Sports Festival
Open
937
556.55
Location
England
Competition
Arnold Sports Festival
Division
Open
Age
21
Equipment
Raw
Class
114.6
Weight
103.7
Squat
336.2
-352.7
352.7
352.7
Bench
203.9
-215
-215
203.9
Deadlift
363.8
380.3
-385.8
380.3
GLP
117.69
1
FFForce
2022-07-02
Silent Worker Meet
Prime Time
903.9
522.3
Location
France
Competition
Silent Worker Meet
Division
Prime Time
Age
~20.5
Equipment
Raw
Weight
107.7
Squat
319.7
341.7
-358.3
341.7
Bench
198.4
-209.4
-209.4
198.4
Deadlift
363.8
-380.3
-380.3
363.8
GLP
109.48
1
IPF
2022-06-06
World Classic Powerlifting Championships
Open
940.3
559.84
Location
South Africa
Competition
World Classic Powerlifting Championships
Division
Open
Age
~20.5
Equipment
Raw
Class
103.6
Weight
103.4
Squat
336.2
353.8
-359.4
353.8
Bench
198.4
211.6
211.6
Deadlift
352.7
369.3
374.8
374.8
GLP
118.48
1
FFForce
2022-05-14
Championnats de France Jeunes de Force Athlétique
Juniors
949.1
544.97
Location
France
Competition
Championnats de France Jeunes de Force Athlétique
Division
Juniors
Age
~20.5
Equipment
Raw
Class
114.6
Weight
108.7
Squat
330.7
352.7
364.9
364.9
Bench
198.4
209.4
-220.5
209.4
Deadlift
352.7
374.8
-388
374.8
GLP
114.02
1
FFForce
2022-03-19
Championnats de France Élite de Force Athlétique
Open
921.5
548.68
Location
France
Competition
Championnats de France Élite de Force Athlétique
Division
Open
Age
~20.5
Equipment
Raw
Class
103.6
Weight
103.4
Squat
325.2
341.7
-352.7
341.7
Bench
192.9
205
-211.6
205
Deadlift
341.7
363.8
374.8
374.8
GLP
116.12
1
EPF
2021-12-03
European Classic Powerlifting Championships
Open
888.5
534.07
Location
Sweden
Competition
European Classic Powerlifting Championships
Division
Open
Age
20
Equipment
Raw
Class
103.6
Weight
102.1
Squat
325.2
337.3
-339.5
337.3
Bench
181.9
192.9
-198.4
192.9
Deadlift
341.7
358.3
-369.3
358.3
GLP
113.4
2
FFForce
2021-10-30
Girl Power
Open
887.4
532.73
Location
France
Competition
Girl Power
Division
Open
Age
20
Equipment
Raw
Weight
102.3
Squat
314.2
325.2
-330.7
325.2
Bench
181.9
192.9
198.4
198.4
Deadlift
330.7
352.7
363.8
363.8
GLP
113.07
1
IPF
2021-09-23
World Classic Powerlifting Championships
Open
876.3
525.1
Location
Sweden
Competition
World Classic Powerlifting Championships
Division
Open
Age
20
Equipment
Raw
Class
103.6
Weight
102.5
Squat
314.2
330.7
-337.3
330.7
Bench
-181.9
-181.9
181.9
181.9
Deadlift
330.7
352.7
363.8
363.8
GLP
111.37
1
FFForce
2021-07-16
Championnats de France Jeunes et Élite de Force Athlétique
Open
815.7
507.15
Location
France
Competition
Championnats de France Jeunes et Élite de Force Athlétique
Division
Open
Age
~19.5
Equipment
Raw
Class
103.6
Weight
97.6
Squat
281.1
292.1
-304.2
292.1
Bench
165.3
176.4
181.9
181.9
Deadlift
319.7
-341.7
341.7
341.7
GLP
109.09
2
FFForce
2021-07-03
Silent Worker Meet
Prime Time
832.2
510.94
Location
France
Competition
Silent Worker Meet
Division
Prime Time
Age
~19.5
Equipment
Raw
Class
103.6
Weight
99.3
Squat
281.1
292.1
-308.6
292.1
Bench
170.9
181.9
187.4
187.4
Deadlift
319.7
341.7
352.7
352.7
GLP
109.35
1
FFForce
2021-02-13
Test Match Eleiko
Juniors
747.4
475.81
Location
France
Competition
Test Match Eleiko
Division
Juniors
Age
~19.5
Equipment
Raw
Class
94.8
Weight
94.7
Squat
270.1
-286.6
-286.6
270.1
Bench
148.8
154.3
-159.8
154.3
Deadlift
303.1
314.2
323
323
GLP
103.39
1
FFForce
2020-09-12
Silent Worker Meet
Open
617.3
408.93
Location
France
Competition
Silent Worker Meet
Division
Open
Age
19
Equipment
Raw
Class
94.8
Weight
90
Squat
209.4
220.5
226
226
Bench
115.7
126.8
132.3
132.3
Deadlift
248
259
-284.4
259
GLP
90.58
Data Source: Open Powerlifting. Last Updated: April 12, 2023
Analyze Lifts
This was Tiffany Chapon’s 15th sanctioned powerlifting appearance and her 11th victory. Furthermore, she is now a 3x IPF World Champion and a 3x EPF European Champion. Tiffany also holds a number of Open and Junior World Records.
Tiffany Chapon was once again quite dominant, having easily won the title. In addition, she further improved her own World Record, as well as brought the first gold medal for France at the 2023 IPF Worlds. She will now hope to defend her European Title in a few months as well, which looks like the most realistic outcome currently.
Published: 11 June, 2023 | 2:38 PM EDT
2023 Northern California Pro Results and Scorecard
Competitors from the Figure category met in Sacramento, California for the 2023 Northern California Pro over the weekend on June 10. This show served as an Olympia qualifier, as athletes have until October 9 to secure their respective invites.
The 2023 Mr. Olympia competition takes place November 2-5 and has moved from Las Vegas, Nevada to Orlando, Florida, inside the Orange County Convention Center. Over the last few weeks, competitors have taken it to each other for an Olympia invite.
Whoever should emerge victorious this weekend will have not only a pro win under their belt but a chance to face the champion of the Figure division – the super dominant six-time winner Cydney Gillon. She’s held the title since 2017.
A few threats stood out as names to watch this weekend, like Jossie Becerra who served as a shocker at the 2022 Figure Olympia, where she took fourth place. However, if she wants a shot at gold, she’ll have to get through two-time Figure Olympia runner-up Natalia Soltero. Soltero also took second at the Pittsburgh Pro and New York Pro, so she’s eager to finally lay claim to a gold trophy. Lastly, Wendy Fortino is another top name who aimed to cement herself as a title contender.
2023 Northern California Pro Figure Results
Winner — Natalia Soltero
Second Place — Jossie Nathali Alarcon Becerra
Third Place — Ericka Morales Morgan
Fourth Place — Ashley Radiance Fuller
Fifth Place — Gina Palma
Sixth Place – Wendy Fortino
Seventh Place — Desiree Alferes
Eighth Place — Ashley Garcia
Ninth Place — Aksana Yukhno
Tenth Place — Jessica Baltazar
2023 Northern California Pro Scorecard
2023 Northern California Pro Scorecard
Fitness Volt congratulates the winner!
Published: 11 June, 2023 | 2:17 PM EDT
Arnold Classic UK Set for Relaunch Under US-Based Management of Arnold Schwarzenegger
The Arnold Classic UK was founded by the organizers of the Arnold Sports Festival in 2021 after the Columbus, Ohio event got pushed back due to COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions. In a recent post made on Instagram, the organizers of ASF announced the relaunch of Arnold Classic UK with the management of the US-based team under the ownership of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Legendary bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger dominated the IFBB Pro League Men’s Open division with his insane muscle mass, size, and symmetry in the 1970s. He triumphed at the Mr. Olympia contest in 1970 to secure his first Sandow trophy and went on to become a seven-time champion. He reached new heights in the sport and was the first competitor to break into the mainstream with his leading role in the bodybuilding docudrama Pumping Iron (1977) alongside fellow icon Franco Columbu.
Following a decorated career at the highest level, Schwarzenegger turned into a revered figure in the community. He teamed up with the late Jim Lorimer to found the Arnold Sports Festival, widely regarded as the second most prestigious fitness showcase in the world next to only the Mr. Olympia competition. Since the show’s inception in 1989, it has provided a platform for budding talent across bodybuilding, strongman, powerlifting, and more.
Bodybuilding veteran Rich Gaspari created history by winning the inaugural edition. The show often features athletes who go on to contend for the Mr. Olympia title. Legendary bodybuilder Jay Cutler and Dexter Jackson made a name for themselves with wins at the Arnold Classic before finding glory at Mr. Olympia.
Arnold Classic UK was held for the first time after the original event got delayed in the US in Oct. 2021. Men’s Open standout Nathan De Asha emerged as the first champion of the event and punched his ticket to the Mr. Olympia contest ahead of Samson Dauda.
For the second edition of the show, the organizers disclosed that Arnold Schwarzenegger would not be in attendance to crown the champion due to financial challenges related to prize money and his attendance fee in Sep. 2022. Without the man himself, the event was rebranded to Experience With Sports Festival UK.
ASF’s Brian Powers vocalized Schwarzenegger’s disappointment in the change of plans and pinned the blame on promoters failing to meet their financial commitments. Eventually, the IFBB Pro League and organization president Jim Manion stepped in to guarantee the prize money for the winners. Andrew Jacked came out on top of the 2022 Arnold Classic UK with Patrick Johnson taking silver and James Hollingshead rounding up the top three.
Arnold Classic UK set for a relaunch under US-based management of Arnold Schwarzenegger
In a recent Instagram post, the organizers of the Arnold Sports Festival announced the Arnold Classic UK is set to relaunch next year under the US-based management team of Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The 2024 Arnold Sports Festival UK is scheduled for Mar. 15-17 in Birmingham, England.
“The US-based management team is happy to announce the relaunch of the 2024 Arnold Sports Festival UK,” wrote the organizers. “Join us in Birmingham, England, March 15-17, 2024 as next years Arnold will boast the biggest names, brands and prize money in Europe — EVER.
“Having now said ‘hasta la vista’ to the event’s former ownership, brands can now expect reliable and responsible leadership from the US management team under the ownership of the man himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Act swiftly to secure your spot now. It’s a chance to elevate your brand to new heights and leave an indelible impression on the fitness world.”
The 2023 Arnold Classic wrapped up with Samson Dauda taking home the top prize in Columbus three months ago.
With the Arnold Classic UK set to head in a new direction under the original team, regional fans will be excited to witness some of their favorite bodybuilders battle it out on stage in hopes of securing qualification for the Mr. Olympia show. Meanwhile, competitors might be better placed and not have to worry about the issues that plagued the previous edition.
Catch full coverage of the 2023 Arnold Classic, including pre-judging, event recaps, analysis, and final and full results at our Arnold Classic coverage hub: FitnessVolt.com/arnold-classic
Published: 11 June, 2023 | 12:15 PM EDT
4x Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler Shares Arm-Building Hypertrophy Workout
Jay Cutler’s workout intensity has seemingly ramped up judging from his latest training session. In a JayCutler TV YouTube video, Cutler smashed an eight-exercise arms workout focused on hypertrophy as he continues making strides toward a better physique.
During his respective tenure, Cutler set himself apart from his peers with massive arms, a full chest, and some of the most defined quads in the sport’s history. His consistency and grit guided him to an Olympia title in 2006 after he dethroned the eight-time champion Ronnie Coleman. Despite their rivalry, Cutler admits some of his workouts were inspired by Coleman’s high-volume heavy weight strategy.
Having sailed off into the sunset with four Mr. Olympia victories, Cutler remains one of the best to ever throw on a pair of posing trunks. Even though he hasn’t appeared on stage in 10 years, fans continue to call for his return. While he won’t compete on stage, Cutler has made it clear he’s transforming his physique before his 50th birthday.
Fortunately for fans, he’s documented the process. In addition to sharing training sessions, Cutler underlined why nutritional demands have been so crucial to his goal. And now with August approaching, Cutler shared an exhausting arm workout.
Jay Cutler Shares Arm Workout for Hypertrophy
1- Triceps Press Down – 2 or 3 warm-up sets, 3-4 working sets2- Triceps Extension Machine – 3 sets as many reps as possible3- Seated Overhead Dumbbell Extension – 3 working sets of 12 reps4- Rope Press Down – 3 sets 12 reps5- Machine Biceps Curl – 3 working sets 12 reps 6- Standing Dumbbell Curl (alternating) – 3 sets 12 reps7- Preacher Machine Curls – 3 sets8- Cambered Bar Curl (wider grip) – 4 sets
Following the arms training session, Jay Cutler discussed some of his workout habits and goals. He aims to weigh 250 pounds in eight weeks.
“That was my arm workout. I’m not trying to overdo it a lot, I’m really just trying to get the benefit of each workout, not trying to change the game. Anything I do now and moving the tissue around, moving the food through, I’m going to grow. And that is the goal. I would love to hit 250 by the time we get to eight weeks. And we’ll see where we’re going to end up. I’m about four meals deep today. I’m eating about six meals a day right now.”
And then at eight weeks out, I’ll evaluate and maybe I’ll start throwing in a little cardio exercise but I’ll tell you the cardio is going to be a lot different from the past because I’m going to stick to less intense cardio. I’m going to do more bike work, I don’t know if I’ll get on a step mill because I’m not necessarily trying to get striated glutes with this kind of come down with my body weight. But I’m kind of touch and see. Remember, I’m going for the best shape I’ve been in 10 years.”
Cutler clarified that his physique goal doesn’t involve being shredded. Instead, he plans to showcase a balance of fullness, hardness, and roundness.
“Now that means I’m going to be full, hard, and round. I’m not trying to get super shredded. Okay, on my birthday I’m actually going to be dried out, diuretics and everything else, I’m just going to be in a walk-around best shape. So, that means if I take my shirt off at a show which possibly could happen by the way, I’m going to look a lot better than I did on the original video.”
“What I’m trying to do is get the workouts in later so I can get the fullness and really, like I did in 2010 and 2011 when Hany kind of trained me and put me on this whole different mindset that you should train after if you want to come in bigger, you need to train later and have at least four meals. Your body performs better guys. If you’re trying to get bigger, you’ll stay home and focus on eating those meals and your output will be a little less so when you go to the gym you’re utilizing all those calories,” Cutler said.
This is far from Cutler’s first progress update regarding his ‘fit-for-50’ physique transformation. In a previous JayCutlerTV episode, Cutler argued against bulking up. He shared that his goal was to keep his metabolism guessing while becoming ‘bigger and leaner’ at the same time.
Cutler’s latest physique challenge is a testament to his determination and willpower. In the months to come, bodybuilding fans around the world hope to see him guest pose at the upcoming 2023 Masters Olympia contest, taking place in Cluj Napoca, Romania.
Watch the full video on the CutlerCast TV YouTube channel below:
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Published: 11 June, 2023 | 10:45 AM EDT