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Chris Bumstead Shares New Bulking Diet For 2022 Olympia

Chris Bumstead shares new bulking diet for Olympia prep.
Reigning Classic Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead recently shared his update bulking diet ahead of the 2022 show. Bumstead hopes to reign long as Olympia king. With that in mind he’s decided to try a different approach to his bulking diet. Bumstead has chosen to implement more carb cycling this time around and cut out a few foods that were throwing him off.
Experimenting With New Concepts
Sometimes a little experimentation can go a long way. Athletes who are rigid, who unable to view the game from a different angle, usually get left in the dust. Why? In order to evolve to the next level you can’t be afraid of trying new things. Those who reach the top regardless of the endeavor understand that in order to see continued growth you have to have great habits. They also understand when to keep things the same and when to experiment with a new approach.
According to reigning Classic Physique Olmypia champion Chris Bumstead, that’s exactly what he’s leaning into now.
With the 2022 Olympia ahead of him, Chris Bumstead is looking to try a different approach to his off season diet. While he is still intending to bulk and pack on new muscle ahead of the show, the champ has been considering carb cycling as apart of his bulking strategy.
Chris Bumstead touched on this in a recent YouTube video. The video delves into his new approach to eating and how his 5000 calorie diet is shaping up these days.
“I’m not eating as much food as I always do in my off-season, so I’m testing long-term carb cycling. I ate a lot to get up to what I wanted, and I brought it down slightly, and my body maintained that weight, but I felt a lot better.”
The New Approach
Chris Bumstead mentions in the video that he’s been avoiding eggs as they’ve been giving him stomach issues lately. As such he’s taken them out of his diet and he reports that he’s feeling better. Experimentation with food is key for anyone looking to pack on muscle.
Meal 1: Breakfast

Organic bagels, cinnamon raisin remix (Dave’s killer bread, 2 toasted bagels) — 540 calories
Ghee butter, Himalayan pink salt (4th & heart, 5 tsp) — 225 calories
Vanilla oatmeal cookie iso-protein dietary supplement (CBUM, 2 scoops, 70 grams) — 220 calories

Total Calories: 985
Meal 2: Lunch
“I was eating like 350 grams of rice, and it was kind of hard to eat. So I decided to put olive oil in and a little bit of less rice… It honestly helped a lot with my digestion, and it also helped with my energy. If I ate 400 grams of rice, I’d be falling asleep.”

Ground turkey (185 grams) — 274 calories
Boiled white rice (300 grams) — 390 calories
Olive oil (15 grams) — 133 calories

Total Calories: 796 
Meal 3: Pre-Workout
Chris Bumstead has a pre-made frozen steak meal for his third of course of the day. This meal consists of a 7 ounce steak as well as 2.5 cups of sweet potato for a whopping 700 calorie meal. After this Bumstead goes to training.

Meal 4: Post-Workout

Brown rice elbow pasta (Tinkyada, 180 grams) — 668 calories
Ground beef (100 grams) — 179 calories
Ground turkey (100 grams) — 148 calories
Marinara sauce tomato (STEFANO, 250 ml) — 160 calories
Peanut Butter Bar — 340 calories

Total Calories: 1,494
Meal 5: Dinner
For his final meal of the day Chris Bumstead once again has some ground turkey (120 grams) with rice (290 grams). Bumstead indicated that he eats less meat in this meal since its right before bed and would prove difficult to digest through the night.
To see Chris Bumstead go through his full day of eating check it out here.
What do you think of Bumstead’s new bulking diet?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

News and Editorial Writer at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.

By Presser
4 min read

2022 Musclecontest Ireland Pro Results

Robert Taylor wins Men’s 212 at the Musclecontest Ireland Pro!
The 2022 Musclecontest Ireland Pro took place over the weekend and was highlighted by the Men’s 212 division. This gave competitors a chance to earn a trip to the 2022 Olympia. Robert Taylor came out victorious and will have a chance to compete on the biggest stage in the sport.
Taylor was able to pickup his first victory in his only competition of 2022. Last season, Taylor appeared on stage twice. He finished ninth during the Europa Pro Championships and eighth at the Yamamoto Cup Pro. Now, Taylor has earned a trip to Las Vegas to compete at the Olympia in December.
Derek Lunsford was able to pull off an upset of Shaun Clarida during the 2021 Olympia in the 212 division. Clarida has since made the jump to Open Bodybuilding and earned a spot at the Olympia after his victory at the 2021 Legion Sports Fest Pro.
The full results from the small show have been announced. Check out the full results, along with the official score card, from the 2022 Musclecontest Ireland Pro!
2022 Musclecontest Ireland Pro Breakdown
Men’s 212

First Place – Robert Taylor
Second Place – David Henry
Third Place – Pasquale D’Angelo
Fourth Place – Giuseppe Zagarella

2022 Musclecontest Ireland Pro Official Score Card

Generation Iron wishes to congratulate all the great athletes who earned a win at the IFBB 2022 Musclecontest Ireland Pro. Make sure to check out our full IFBB Pro results page from this year and previous years right here to catch up on any action you may have missed!

Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.

By Presser
2 min read

Calum Von Moger Received Spinal Surgery Following Fall From Second Story Window, Currently In Stable Condition

Calum Von Moger is recovering from surgery to fix fractures in his spine.
It is nearly two weeks after Calum Von Moger suffered a fall after jumping out of a second story window. Now, he is in stable condition after undergoing spinal surgery to fix fractures in his back, according to the New York Post.
Von Moger was in a coma following his fall because of free fluid in the brain and swelling. Doctors believed it was dangerous to pull him out of this coma because of the trauma that was suffered. After the fall, Von Moger received a large number of cuts from the glass and suffered spinal injuries due to the impact. He was rushed to the ICU where he spent time before surgery.
According to the report, Von Moger is in stable condition but has a long road of recovery ahead. He is not paralyzed to this point and will require a large amount of physical therapy to be able to get strength in his spine.

The Journey of Calum Von Moger
Calum Von Moger earned his pro card in bodybuilding in 2020 but has not competed in a show to this point. The 31-year-old had allegedly been battling an issue with methamphetamines following a troubled past.
Von Moger suffered a bicep tear that almost ended his career. He was also arrested following a road-rage incident where he threatened another driver with a weapon in Melbourne. Following his legal troubles, Von Moger shared an Instagram post where he apologized for his actions and vowed to become a better person and work toward recovery.

“All I care about is that I learn from my mistakes and become a better person. I’m trying my hardest to stay strong but I have my days too,” von Moger said in an Instagram caption.
Calum Von Moger is a former NPC Mr. Universe champion. This is a show that he was able to win in 2018 after suffering a torn quad. He has battled adversity over the course of his career and will have to do it once again. This is a developing story and Generation Iron will continue to provide updates on the status of Calum Von Moger.
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For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

By Presser
2 min read

How To Increase Testosterone Naturally For Explosive Gains

Boost those T levels naturally and see great gains!
When it comes to building quality muscle, the devil’s in the details. So many people focus simply on lifting heavy weight as if that was the only ingredient needed to attain bodybuilding greatness. Sure, it’s an important component and has a ton of different benefits, but it shouldn’t be your sole focus in building up your physique.
Nutrition is also an important factor to be on top of, but even more than that the production of testosterone is important to excel and grow muscle. A lot of newbies and even some experienced lifters think the only way you’re going to up your testosterone fast is to take steroids. But rather than take the needle or load up on pills, here are some simple things to keep in mind in order to produce more testosterone.

Building testosterone naturally is not only an effective way to see gains, but also a safe way. Using PEDs and other drugs to artificially enhance a natural process can lead to poor health and can put you in danger. Knowing what to look for and how best to increase testosterone naturally can go a long way especially as you look to see explosive gains.

Why Testosterone Matters
Testosterone matters because this is a vital sex hormone when it comes to men and their bodily functions. Increasing testosterone can lead to better body composition, more energy, increased bone density, enhanced sex drive, and improvement in cognitive function. What you will find is that your muscle development and overall strength gains will also improve and that can lead to better gains, even as you age. Testosterone matters because it affects you and your daily functioning in a number of ways and without really taking testosterone seriously, you will ultimately hurt your overall growth and development.

Top Ways To Increase Your Testosterone Naturally
Let’s take a look at some of the top ways to increase your testosterone naturally so you see the best gains. With the right approach and at least knowing what to look for in terms of increasing testosterone and those vital T levels, it can go a long way in your desired goals for muscle growth and overall gains.
1. Reduce estrogen levels with fiber
If you want to produce more testosterone then obviously you’re going to want to lower the other hormone that hampers it’s production: estrogen. Lowering estrogen levels are a major ingredient to increasing testosterone. Increased estrogen can make you weak and keep body fat on your physique. One great and easy way to lower estrogen is by consuming foods high in fiber such as beans and vegetables. By doing so the body can flush out estrogen producing agents leaving room for testosterone to increase (1).
2. Get rid of body fat with HIIT cardio
Having excess body fat means your body is holding onto more estrogen. As such, diet is going to be the first line of defense. After that, exercise is going to be required. Besides lifting heavy weight which naturally produces testosterone, doing HIIT cardio is going to do a number of things for your physique. For one it’s going to eat away at body fat. It’s also going to increase testosterone by putting the body under stress which is a natural reaction to pushing yourself hard (2).

3. Eat healthy fats
Another great way to increase testosterone with nutrition is by eating healthy fats. A huge mistake that many people seem to make is restricting their fat intake. While this may be great in terms of consuming certain saturated fats, avoiding unsaturated healthy fats can spell your doom. Foods with healthy fats are loaded with testosterone producing ingredients that can make growing muscle a breeze. Try eating avocados, nuts, and salmon to get a great boost in testosterone.
4. Consume more zinc
Last, and perhaps the most under utilized method of increasing testosterone in the body naturally is by consuming zinc. Whether it’s through foods like oysters or a supplement of some kind, getting zinc into your body will ensure the production of testosterone. To go more in depth, zinc helps your body stop converting muscle building testosterone into estrogen, a common issue with men of a more advanced age. Keep your zinc levels up and watch your body turn from soft and weak to hard and strong (3).

5. Get The Right Strength Training Workouts
Focusing on the right strength training workouts can also increase testosterone naturally. Great strength training exercises to focus on are the squat, deadlift, bench press, push-up, and pressing movements, all of which use multiple muscle groups, increase strength, and require power to perform. With the right approach to this you can see great gains to your physique and also your desire to increase testosterone naturally.
6. Consider Supplements
Supplements are always helpful if they come from a reputable company. Being able to have a product that can work for your benefit while also being clean and effective is your number one priority. And with companies now knowing that people are only looking for the best, it is absolutely possible.
A testosterone booster is a common supplement to take that can work to increase your T levels while providing for the benefits of optimal testosterone levels. Since this is affecting your health and performance, it is important the ingredients are effective, but also sourced in a natural way.
Check out our list of the Best Testosterone Boosters for more T boosting products!
Wrap Up
Increasing testosterone naturally is important and you shouldn’t use PEDs and other drugs to do so. Having negative effects on your health can hurt you in the long run and you should absolutely not put yourself at risk when it can be done naturally. Knowing the best ways to go about this can put you at an advantage when looking to make this happen and with the right process in mind, you can take your health and performance as seriously as possible.

Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 
*Images courtesy of Envato

References

Oliwenstein, L. (2004). “USC cancer researchers report fiber-estrogen link”. (source)
Roy, M.; et al. (2018). “High-Intensity Interval Training in the Real World: Outcomes from a 12-Month Intervention in Overweight Adults”. (source)
Prasad, A.; et al. (1996). “Zinc status and serum testosterone levels of healthy adults”. (source)

By Presser
6 min read

2022 Musclecontest Ireland Scorecard

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IFBB PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE®, IFBB PRO LEAGUE®, IFBB PRO® and the IFBB Professional League logo are registered trademarks owned by the IFBB Professional League.The IFBB Professional League logo cannot be altered in any way, shape or form without the expressed written approval of the IFBB Professional League. Where such approval is granted, the IFBB Professional League will provide the altered logo.

2022 Indy Pro Results

Blessing Awodibu wins the 2022 Indy Pro!
The 2022 Indy Pro took place on Saturday and featured some of the top competitors in the sport. There were three divisions present at the Indiana Convention Center with hopes of earning qualification to the biggest show of the year. In the end, it was Blessing Awodibu who was victorious in Men’s Open.
The show was highlighted by the return of Awodibu. He finished third at this competition last year before appearing at the New York Pro the very next week. Awodibu decided to take the rest of 2021 off in hopes of putting on size and making improvements.
The battle between Awodibu and reigning champion Justin Rodriguez was the battle to watch coming in. Rodriguez continues to be an up-and-coming talent in Men’s Open. He was looking to build off his performance at the Arnold Classic, where he took fifth place.
Maxx Charles and Charles Griffen were also viewed as dark-horse competitors entering Indianapolis. Bryan Balzano picked up a victory in Men’s 212 while Theresa Ivancik was victorious in Women’s Bodybuilding.
The results from the show on Saturday night have been announced. There were three divisions that saw winners earn qualification to the 2022 Olympia. Checkout which divisions have named winners and the official score cards below!
2022 Indy Pro: All Division Winners

Men’s Open: Blessing Awodibu
Men’s 212: Bryan Balzano
Women’s Bodybuilding: Theresa Ivancik

2022 Indy Pro Breakdown 
Men’s Open

First Place – Blessing Awodibu
Second Place – Charles Griffen
Third Place – Maxx Charles
Fourth Place – Justin Rodriguez
Fifth Place – Brent Swansen
Sixth Place – Dorian Haywood
Seventh Place – Walter Martin
Eighth Place – Slavoj Bednar
Ninth Place – Ross Flanigan
Tenth Place – Ray Short

Men’s 212

First Place – Bryan Balzano
Second Place – Noel Adame
Third Place – Enmanuel Rodriguez
Fourth Place – Yumon Eaton
Fifth Place – Abdullah Alsaif
Sixth Place – LeLand DeVaughn
Seventh Place – Teddy Gray
Eighth Place – Boas Oliveira
Ninth Place – Broderick Credell
Tenth Place – Peter Castella

Women’s Bodybuilding

First Place – Theresa Ivancik
Second Place – Stephanie Fisher
Third Place – Lisa Kudrey
Fourth Place – Donna Salib
Fifth Place – Jada Beverly

2022 Indy Pro Official Score Cards

Generation Iron wishes to congratulate all the great athletes who earned a win at the 2022 IFBB Indy Pro. Make sure to check out our full IFBB Pro results page from this year and previous years right here to catch up on any action you may have missed!

Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.

By Presser
3 min read

2022 Indy Pro Scorecards

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.tdi_86{
color: #eaeaea;
}
IFBB PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE®, IFBB PRO LEAGUE®, IFBB PRO® and the IFBB Professional League logo are registered trademarks owned by the IFBB Professional League.The IFBB Professional League logo cannot be altered in any way, shape or form without the expressed written approval of the IFBB Professional League. Where such approval is granted, the IFBB Professional League will provide the altered logo.

Natural Olympia Reigning Champ Paul Krueger Exhibits Favorite Exercise for Monster Shoulders

2021 Natural Olympia champ Paul Krueger explains why the hammer strength shoulder press is one of his favorite shoulder exercises to build monster shoulders.
Building monster shoulders is imperative in the judge’s eyes for bodybuilding. Broad shoulders increase your shoulder-to-waist ratio, which is key to a V-taper and aesthetic physique. However, since your shoulders are one of your most mobile joints, it’s easily injured. Therefore, you have to find the proper exercise to allow you to grow your shoulders and prevent injury simultaneously. Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (PNBA) athlete Paul Krueger says the hammer strength shoulder press is one of his favorite shoulder exercises. He says it allows you to overload your shoulder muscles with minimal chance of injury. 
Paul Krueger is the reigning champion (Pro Men’s Bodybuilding Open) of Natural Olympia. And he plans to seize the crown again this year. Paul Krueger released a video explaining why he loves the hammer strength shoulder press on social media. Krueger stated:
“Growing big ass shoulders hammer strength plate loaded shoulder press. Here we go! This is one of my favorite exercises for shoulders as I get the most out of it with minimal risk of injury. It’s a very powered-based move.”
You can see his complete statement and video explaining how to do the exercise below. 

Natural Olympia Vs. Olympia 
Natural Olympia is the Super Bowl of all natural bodybuilding competitions hosted by the INBA PNBA – the most significant natural bodybuilding organization with competitors representing over 60 countries. It’s similar to the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Pro’s Olympia. The difference is that athletes that participate in Natural Olympia are drug tested. Each INBA PNBA competitor is subjected to the most thorough drug testing standards – the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which the Olympics use. 

Denny Kakos (founder) hopes to bring bodybuilding to the Olympics via natural bodybuilding. The Olympics prohibit drug use and most bodybuilders who aren’t competing in natural bodybuilding dope. 
There are many categories at Natural Olympia, including Men’s Sport Model, Men’s Bodybuilding Masters, Women’s Physique, and Bikini Angels. However, the Men’s Bodybuilding category is the main bodybuilding category and offers the largest cash payout. 
Natural Olympia Champions
The first Natural Olympia champion dates back to 1998, with John Hansen becoming the first ever to win the Pro Men’s Bodybuilding Open in Corinth, Greece. Since then, many other athletes have won, including Philip Ricardo Jr. (2007, 2008, 2015, 2019), Kiyoshi Moody (2009-2014), and now, Paul Krueger (2021). 
John Hansen is a three-time Natural Universe champion and wrote for Iron Man Magazine. And he wrote the book Natural Bodybuilding in 2005. Philip Ricardo Jr. is still competing to this day, and he’s the reigning Men’s Bodybuilding Grand Masters champion. Ricardo Jr. also hosts the Pro/Am Philip Ricardo Legends International show. Today, Paul Krueger is the champ and has high hopes for the future. 
2022 Natural Olympia will be filled with competitive competition ranging in all categories. For example, Alondra Chatman (Figure 2021 champion) and Derek Joe (Classic Physique 2021 champ). 
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for more workout tips from the best natural physiques on the planet!

By Presser
3 min read

East Coast Mecca: Flex Lewis’ Gym Philosophy Deleted Scene

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With the recent news of Flex Lewis’ retirement from competitive bodybuilding, we decided to honor the 7x Olympia champion by republishing our East Coast Mecca deleted scene focusing on Flex Lewis and his gym philosophy. This episode originally aired on October 20th, 2015. Original story below:

What does it take to be Flex Lewis?
Welcome to East Coast Mecca Dropsets – a new spinoff series revealing extended and deleted scenes from our latest show – East Coast Mecca. We ended up shooting so much at The Bev Francis Powerhouse Gym that not all of it could make it into the episodes, but why keep it all to ourselves? We’re giving you an all-access inside look at everything that went down inside one of the best gyms in bodybuilding today – The East Coast Mecca.
Flex Lewis has just proven himself to again be the best 212 bodybuilding competitor out there with his 2015 Mr. Olympia win. But how did he become the standout champion bodybuilder we all know and love today? In this never before seen clip from East Coast Mecca Flex describes the deep rooted philosophies he takes into every single workout session he performs. While there may be no one special secret to greatness – getting inside the head of the current reigning 212 Olympia champ might be a good place to start.
James “Flex” Lewis is an IFBB-certified pro bodybuilder from Llanelli, Wales. He grew up participating in athletics and was a rugby player at his high school. The nickname “Flex” actually predated his involvement in bodybuilding; he was given it by his rugby teammates for his extraordinary flexibility and speed with the ball.

Lewis found that he enjoyed weight training and exercising the most and gradually phased out rugby in favor of bodybuilding. At age 16 he entered the Junior Mr. Wales where he placed 1st. He went pro in in 2007 at the British Nationals and has gone one to place first at several IFBB pro events.
Who is Flex Lewis?
James “Flex” Lewis is an IFBB-certified pro bodybuilder from Llanelli, Wales. The “Welsh Dragon” grew up participating in athletics and was a rugby player at his high school. The nickname “Flex” actually predated his involvement in bodybuilding; he was given it by his rugby teammates for his extraordinary flexibility and speed with the ball.
Lewis found that he enjoyed weight training and exercising the most and gradually phased out rugby in favor of bodybuilding. At age 16 he entered the Junior Mr. Wales where he placed 1st. He went pro in in 2007 at the British Nationals and has gone one to place first at several IFBB pro events.
Watch his rise above! Missed the latest season of East Coast Mecca? Catch the entire episode featuring Flex Lewis right here:
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By Presser
3 min read

Blessing Awodibu Shares One Final Physique Update Looking Crazy Impressive Before Indy Pro

Blessing Awodibu continues to improve right up to his scheduled appearance at the Indy Pro.
The 2022 Indy Pro is set to take place on Saturday and Blessing Awodibu continues to show his progress — right up until the final moment. Awodibu is considered one of the favorites to win on Saturday. He shared one final physique update on Thursday where he is looking extremely impressive heading into the show.
Awodibu burst onto the IFBB scene in 2021. He finished third at this very competition last season before coming in sixth place during the New York Pro. Awodibu took the rest of the season off in order to make the necessary improvements, including adding size. By the looks of his recent physique updates, Awodibu is ready to hit Indianapolis hard.

“It’s almost time to danceLOADING⏳”

The Indy Pro will include last year’s champion Justin Rodriguez. This gives Blessing Awodibu a chance to see how he stacks up against some of the other top competitors in the world. Maxx Charles will also be present looking to make an impact and earn qualification to the 2022 Olympia.
Blessing Awodibu Preparation

Blessing Awodibu has stayed active on social media sharing physique updates and there is a clear secret to his success this offseason. Awodibu has tailored his workouts around volume training and it seems to be working.

“VOLUME VOLUME VOLUME.
IF YOU REALLY WANT TO BUILD MUSCLE, YOU NEED TO IMPLEMENT VOLUME IN YOUR SETS. DOING 8-12 REPS IS A GOOD RULE OF THUMB FOR BODYBUILDING MOVEMENTS,” Awodibu said on a podcast appearance with Mark Bell.

Blessing Awodibu shared his offseason meal preps as well, highlighted by steak. It is a diet plan meant to add size while keeping his shredded physique. Awodibu has also been training with Nick Walker, who he developed a bit of a rivalry with following the New York Pro last season.
Awodibu continues to be one of the biggest up-and-coming names in bodybuilding. That is going to continue as he improves his physique and adds size. He has been unable to make it to the Olympia just yet but has a chance to qualify if he can win the Indy Pro.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

By Presser
2 min read