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Stanimal Answers: Has Pro Bodybuilding Become More Competitive In Recent Years?
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Stanimal De Longeaux reflects on the current crop of talent competing in pro bodybuilding and if the sport has become more competitive.
There was a time not too long ago where fans of pro bodybuilding felt that surprise was missing from the sport. Reigning champions maintained such talent and power – that it was easy to predict who would win big shows like the Arnold Classic or Mr. Olympia. Flex Lewis won every show he competed in. So did Phil Heath. Their reign felt impossible to overcome. Since then something changed – and now the outcomes of pro bodybuilding competitions have become more unpredictable. There have been many upsets and the Mr. Olympia title has seen four different champions over the past five years. Has the talent pool become more even and competitive? In our latest GI Exclusive, Stanimal De Longeaux compares the sport when he started vs today and whether or not it’s truly become more competitive.
There’s a big reason why the Classic Physique division has garnered so much attention for such a relatively young category. Yes, the personalities and physiques on display are top notch. But more than that, the level of competition has been thrilling and truly unpredictable. With exception of Chris Bumstead in recent years – it’s nearly anyones game at every major Classic Physique competition. In fact, it’s become so popular that the Boston Pro 2022 ended the night with Classic Physique rather than the typical Men’s Open.
This is something Stanimal De Longeaux is very well aware of. He’s right there in the middle of it as a competitor. Suddenly more doors are open as he continues to improve and perfect his physique.
Stanimal has also noticed that it seems this level of competition is starting to make its way into Men’s Open as well. Big Ramy is starting to get a foothold with two wins in a row – but we’ve had four different champions in quick succession at the Mr. Olympia. The old guard are slowly stepping down and young talented competitors are finally coming into their own. The patterns have shifted. things have become unpredictable.
While that might not be the reason Stanimal moved from Classic Physique to Men’s Open – we can assume it certainly was a factor. As Stanimal continues to discover what division is a best fit for his genetic frame, he is finding that there is no longer single guaranteed repeat champions in either Classic Physique or Men’s Open.
On one hand, this leads to more opportunity. There is no longer a Phil Heath who will shut out the competition and change the battle for everyone to see who gets second place. However, this increased competition simply means the battle becomes more barbaric – so to speak. There are more close calls, more hungry competitors with an actual shot for first place. It’s thrilling to see on stage – and it helps the athletes push each other to great new heights.
Stanimal believes that, for Classic Physique, this is natural for a new division. The first few years were athletes learning what defines the division. Now that it’s grown from its infancy – we are still with that first generation of athletes. Nothing is fully set in stone
On the other hand, Stanimal notes that the Men’s Open division is simply going through a transitionary period that is finally blooming. Gone are the yesteryears of Phil Heath, Kai Greene, and Dexter Jackson. New names such as Nick Walker, Hunter Labrada, and Hadi Choopan are finally coming into their own. It’s an exciting time and leading to more heated battles on stage. This is great not only for the athletes but also for the fans.
Where will Stanimal’s place be during this competitive time? During our interview, he explains that he’s started working with a new coach for his off season prep. He wants to take his health and his physique to the next level and enter into the Men’s Open division as a true threat among the new generation of athletes. Only time will tell how he will fair in such a hungry crop of athletes.
You can watch Stanimal De Longeaux discuss the growing competitive nature of modern bodybuilding and his new contest prep plans for Men’s Open in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Hafthor Bjornsson Responds to Eddie Hall Rematch Talk, Logan Paul and KSI Fights
Hafthor Bjornsson gives a response to Eddie Hall.
It appears that Hafthor Bjornsson is dropping his grudge with Eddie Hall. After their intense boxing match Bjornsson and Hall shared something only combatants who’ve traded blows can understand. A mutual respect between the two has been forged and has been forged in blood. There’s truly nothing quite like hand to hand combat to get rivals seeing eye to eye.
“So a special thanks to Eddie,” said Hafthor Bjornsson. “I want to also say that he’s a great athlete. There’s things he did in his career that are that a lot of people that were impossible. For example lifting 500kg back in 2016 I believe it was. Doing that then, was to many people impossible.
“Even to people like myself but he because he did that, he opened a lot of doors for many people. He inspired a lot of people. He even inspired me. He made me An a believer that pulling more than 500kg was possible. He opened those doors. I want to say thank you to Eddie.”
Hafthor Bjornsson also took the time to address the charities he and Hall agreed to contribute to. Both men had causes they wished to donate to and Bjornsson cleared up that issue in his response.
“Let’s talk about the charity as you guys know, me and Eddie are both going to give away $200,000, $400,000 total for charity that I’m going to pick. I’ll be making a special YouTube about that when the time is right and when I have received the money from the fight. I can’t wait. I cannot wait. I feel blessed to do a very nice thing.”
The Bet
Hafthor Bjornsson also went on to address their tattoo bet. Bjornsson and Eddie Hall agreed that if the other lost they’d have to get a tattoo of “World’s Strongest Man: winner’s name” on their body. Since Hall lost he would have to get the tattoo “World’s Strongest Man: Hafthor Bjornsson” placed somewhere on his body.
Hafthor Bjornsson addressed the issue and stated his thoughts and opinions.
“Anyways, let’s talk about the tattoo. It’s nice that you’re going to honor your bets Eddie. It’s nice you’re going to give away $200,000 for charity. It’s nice to hear that you want to get the tattoo but I got a bit confused from your video. I want to refresh my memory, you said you’re going to get the tattoo if I sign the rematch clause?
“Well, you lost the fight and you’re supposed to get the tattoo. I know you want to take your time and I respect that. Do it on your own time, but don’t take too long. Let’s get this done in a month at least.
“I’ll give you time but let’s not drag it out too long. You need to get this tattoo done. Where, I don’t care. The size? I don’t care. Just get it done. The color, I don’t care. Just get it done. At least (make it) readable. I don’t care if it’s on your foot, on your calf, or on your ass, under your hair, just as long as you can show people that you’re getting the tattoo. Just honor your words. Like you have said, you are a man of your word.”
Future Fights
The Eddie Hall rematch isn’t the only fight Hafthor Bjornsson has on his mind. After being called out by YouTuber and rapper KSI and with Logan Paul being thrown around as an option it’s given Bjornsson much to consider. From the sounds of things the massive strongman isn’t taking those fights too seriously.
“I saw KSI was calling me out a little bit. Saying that I’m slow, and this and that. I’ve heard those claims before but believe me KSI even though I’m slow I can punch you in the head quite hard. I heard some poeple say ‘oh, you should fight Logan Paul’. Even take Paul, there’s a reason for weight classes guys.”
See the full video response below.
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So what do you think of Hafthor Bjornsson and his response to the latest issues?
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.
Iranian Hulk Says Family Disowned Him Following Face-Off With Martyn Ford
The Iranian Hulk had a difficult time discussing his family’s reaction to the face-off incident with Martyn Ford.
Both the Iranian Hulk and Martyn Ford are putting the finishing touches on their preparation ahead of their scheduled boxing match. The fighters are expected to meet in the ring on April 30 at the O2 Arena in London. The match was originally scheduled for Saturday but was pushed back. In February, the two met face-to-face and there were some fireworks.
Ford and Iranian Hulk attempted to get the better of each other during the face-off. First, Sajad Gharibi went low in an attempt to takedown Ford but the two were separated. Next, it was Ford who shoved Gharibi to the ground before security stepped in once again. According to the Iranian Hulk, this is an incident that is still impacting him.
Th Iranian Hulk recently spoke during a television interview about his family’s reaction to the incident with Ford. This apparently impacted the relationship that Iranian Hulk has with his family.
“I cannot call my family. When I returned I didn’t go to my family. I can’t talk to my father and my mother, when I spoke to her, she said: ‘The person in this video that I saw was not my son, my son is way stronger than this’. Gharibi said.
“It hurts my heart when I can’t talk to my family. I have lost my pride and I am destroyed. How can I explain?”
The Iranian Hulk has been training in many ways to prepare for this fight. This includes some unique tactics that have seen him take punches and wooden boards to the midsection. Gharibi is also significantly slimmed down since training began for this fight. Despite being the underdog heading in, Iranian Hulk is not backing down.
This was an isolated incident during the face-off but it continues to impact Gharibi. He explained how his mother denounced him and it has affected his sleep schedule and more.
“They deceived me and I fell to the ground. My family said that you will go there and finish him. They expected the other way around.
“How can I sleep or get any rest? I personally feel very bad and I cannot sleep but I am now taking sleeping pills.”
Iranian Hulk feels like he let his family down during this incident. With the calendar turning to April, there are just a few weeks left before both fighters can settle their differences in the ring. This will be the chance for Iranian Hulk to take a real shot at Ford without being separated.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Jay Cutler On Mike O’Hearn And The Rock Not Discussing Natural Status: ‘For A Long Time, I Did The Same’
Jay Cutler has been open about bodybuilding in retirement and recently discussed Mike O’Hearn and The Rock being natural.
Since retiring from competition, Jay Cutler has been open and honest about the sport of bodybuilding. It does not matter whether it is about his own career, the status of the sport, or other topics gaining attention. In a recent interview, Cutler took the time to discuss the natural status of Mike O’Hearn and The Rock.
Both O’Hearn and Dwayne Johnson are figures that carry great attention when it comes to building an elite physique. O’Hearn is a former Mr. Universe champion who has been featured on the cover of many fitness magazines. The Rock made a great career for himself in the WWE before becoming a star on the big screen. Over the years, he has continued to work on his physique and is larger than life now.
On The Michael Sartain Podcast, Jay Cutler discussed the notion that both Mike O’Hearn and The Rock are natural. This is a topic that Cutler knows well and understands why it is not discussed.
“You know those things I don’t really comment as much on because I understand the positioning. Everyone has their own position and if they choose not to talk about it, I respect that because for a long time I did the same right. I didn’t come out and say I take this or that and I kind of went into interviews knowing that many weren’t going to ask and the ones that I thought might, I was protected where, ‘hey don’t blatantly ask me hey do you take this or that, don’t put me on the spot’ and that’s why I was limited on where I put my publicity.”
Jay Cutler is a four-time Olympia champion and one of the best bodybuilders of all-time. During his career, Cutler dealt with plenty of noise in solving steroids in the sport. This is something he did not discuss when he was competing but it has come out since he is done on stage.
Cutler also discussed how the Olympia was covered and the vibe around the reporters. Steroids and bodybuilding are linked and it was kind of understood heading into shows.
“All the local news stations before the Olympia covered the event but they didn’t touch on that and I think it was kind of known, hey don’t ask these kinds of questions but you have to prepare yourself.”
Jay Cutler did not accuse either The Rock or Mike O’Hearn of using steroids. Nor did he acknowledge the claim that they are all-natural. Cutler simply said that it is not his place to comment on the alleged use of steroids by others. This is a stance that many around the sport should take until the athlete themself wants to come out and discuss it.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Pre-Workouts Vs. Fat Burners: How Weight Loss Happens With Both
Whether you prefer pre-workout or a fat burner, weight loss can happen with both.
Some of us have debated on pre-workouts vs. fat burners before, however, we neglect that both are great for weight loss. We want to pick and choose and debate, but all that time could be spent in the gym and seeing gains.
Our gains are important and while supplements can get expensive, it is important to realize that it isn’t impossible to find great products. With ones like pre-workouts and fat burners, the choice to see great gains has never been easier.
Let’s take a look at pre-workouts vs. fat burners and see if one is better for weight loss. Since both have great properties, the results may be surprising.
Pre-Workouts: Benefits, Weight Loss & More
A pre-workout supplement, as most of us know, is a great way to boost energy and provide for muscle pumps for increased strength and size. We often find ourselves struggling to find the energy to get up and get moving and with a great supplement like pre-workout working for our benefit, it is entirely possible to really benefit from this supplement.
Some people often debate that pre-workouts are just loaded with caffeine and that you are better off drinking a cup of coffee before your workout. However, it is the other ingredients packed into a great formula that can make a pre-workout a worthwhile supplement.
Benefits
Benefits of pre-workout supplement include:
Better focus and energy: Offers more intense workouts while being locked into every exercise so nothing interferes with a good workout. Plus, it can offer that energy given our busy schedules (1).
Reduce fatigue: Allow for longer training sessions and the chance to burst through fatigue while reducing muscle soreness and unwanted pain for improved performance.
Muscle pumps: Allow blood to flow through your muscles and really increase strength and size for those muscles you wish to see grow (2).
Enhanced recovery: Bounce back faster and promote better growth while recovering more effectively for faster turn arounds.
When & Why Use Them
It is best to use a pre-workout around 30 minutes before your workout. This allows those ingredients to hit you and provide the best effect for your gains. Using pre-workout is worth it for those who want to boost energy, get the blood flowing, and work for the best muscle growth possible.
How They Affect Weight Loss
Pre-workouts can affect weight loss by getting your heart rate up and giving you the energy needed to perform a great workout. With a better mindset, more energy and focus, and the physical feeling of wanting to workout, you can work harder and burn more calories for that intended weight loss affect. Plus, by pushing through fatigue, you can workout longer for increased calorie burn.
Check out our list of the Best Pre-Workouts for more great pre-workout products!
Fat Burners: Benefits, Weight Loss & More
Fat burners are perfect for those who may struggle to lose fat and find that stubborn belly fat just doesn’t want to leave. A fat burner is great for it is packed with ingredients that have been studied for their affects on your metabolism, weight loss, and cravings all in efforts to help you see your desired physique unfold.
There is some debate about if fat burners actually work or not but with the right supplement produced by an honest company, it is entirely possible that these are effective. Like all supplements, it takes having the right ingredients to have the product work as intended.
Benefits
Boost your metabolism: Power your metabolism to burn that stubborn fat and extra calories, offering more energy for whatever workout comes your way and not allowing fat the chance to be stored (3).
Suppress appetite: Eliminate those hunger sensations that lead to cravings and snacking to rid your diet of unwanted and wasted calories.
Increase energy and focus: By burning more fat for fuel, you can increase those energy levels.
Maintain lean muscle: Work to keep on that lean muscle while shedding fat so you don’t lose your gains and start to see that desired physique actually come to life.
When & Why Use Them
It is best to follow the directions on the respective fat burner for when to use it. Some require it with food and others say without food. Plus, there are some that advise to take a certain amount of time before a meal so the ingredients can start working.
Using a fat burner is a great way to help lose fat for those struggling. When working in tandem with a good diet and training plan, these supplements can be highly effective.
How They Affect Weight Loss
Fat burners affect weight loss by working to suppress your appetite to eliminate cravings, boost your metabolism so it works for efficiently, and keep your body working to burn calories so you have a better chance at fat loss.
Check out our list of the Best Fat Burners for more great fat burning products!
Is One Better For Weight Loss?
When it comes down to it, this is a tough question to answer. Yes, a fat burner is literally designed to assist with weight loss, but this works better when paired with a healthy diet and training plan. On the other hand, a pre-workout is giving you that boost to have an effective and worthwhile workout, so considering this option isn’t a bad deal at all.
Is one better for weight loss? That is up to the individual. If you can afford to and you feel it is best for your body and your goals, consider a regimen that includes both so you can capitalize on those great gains and get the most out of your workouts and overall routine.
Wrap Up
When it comes to pre-workouts vs. fat burners and their intended goals for weight loss, you need to consider the fact that both are great for it. While fat burners are intended for weight loss, pre-workouts have the ability to work for our benefit in a number of other ways. When paired together, these supplements can create all the difference for your gains.
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
Ellerbroek, Anya C.; Antonio, Jose (2019). “Effects of Pre-Workout Supplements on Strength, Endurance, and Mood”. (source)
Kedia, A.; Hofheins, J.; Habowski, S.; Ferrando, Arny; et al. (2014). “Effects of a Pre workout Supplement on Lean Mass, Muscular Performance, Subjective Workout Experience and Biomarkers of Safety”. (source)
Jeukendrup, A.; et al. (2011). “Fat burners: nutrition supplements that increase fat metabolism”. (source)
Gym Hacks and Tricks for Bigger and Stronger Muscles
Get Bigger and Stronger With These Gym Hacks
If you’re like most people, you weight train to get stronger and muscular. Sticking to the vanilla training techniques might work in the long run but why stick to the slower path when you can speed up the progress by making a few tweaks in your training?
As you incorporate the hacks in your workouts, you’ll feel an instant effect on your muscles. With the tips mentioned in the article, you can train smarter and make your workouts more effective.
Use Fat Grips
Fat grips can add to the bar width which can make it harder to hold. The difficulty in holding onto the bar recruits your forearms which can spark arm development. Although most people use the fat grip for their arm workouts, you can throw them onto the bar in almost every bar exercise like the bench press, rows, side lateral raises, etc.
A thicker bar can result in an even distribution of pressure throughout your palm which could mean lower stress on joints like the shoulders and elbows. You’ll have no choice but to acknowledge the pump using thicker grips has on your muscles.
Tweak Your Deadlifts
If you’re tall or have longer legs, deadlifting with the orthodox stance might not be the most effective technique for you. While training, you need to remember there is no “one technique fits all”. You need to experiment with the form until you find the one which works the best for you.
A tall person has to bend more as compared to a shorter guy while deadlifting. For people with longer legs, a normal deadlift might feel like what deficit deadlifts are for average height people. Performing sumo squats or using a trap bar is a better alternative for the normal deadlifts for tall people. The two variations of the deadlift are also great for people with lower back problems.
Go Beyond Failure Every Day
Most people misunderstand the concept of “overtraining” and don’t push the boundaries when it comes to training to failure. If a person is overtrained, his nervous system breakdowns, and he’ll have problems recovering from workouts or an illness.
Most people will never be able to reach the “overtrained” state even if they wanted to. While hitting failure in every workout is important, you don’t need to do so in every working set. You can train to failure in the last set of an exercise. So you’ll be hitting failure in five sets if you’re performing five different exercises in a chest workout.
Perform Pin Presses
Pin presses are one of the most effective and yet underutilized training techniques. People with shoulder rotator problem or stiff shoulder blades will have a problem in performing the compound pressing movements like bench press, military presses, etc.
Performing pin presses can reduce the tension on your joints as you can limit the range of motion to your liking. Pin presses can also help you lift heavier weights without the risk of an injury. You can also perform the pin presses on the leg exercises like barbell squats.
When in Doubt, Go Heavy
If you are a weight room regular, chances are that you regularly find yourself in a position where you don’t know how much weight to lift. In such a situation, most people make the mistake of using lighter weights in their first set.
Using weights that are too easy to lift can mean you have wasted your first set. You should always go for the challenging (read intimidating) weight. If you fail to perform the exercise with heavier weights only then you should drop down the weight. In case your first set was too easy, consider the set to be a warm-up and have a go at it again with heavier weights.
Have you ever tried pin presses in your workouts? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Announces He Will Compete In A Bodybuilding Show This Year
Former pro wrestler and jacked action movie star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has officially announced that he will step onto the competitive bodybuilding stage in 2022.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has always been known for his incredible mass monster physique put on display in countless Hollywood action movies. He has also been known to be a lover of competitive bodybuilding – even planning the Athleticon event set to feature a star studded IFBB Pro show (it is unknown if this will still happen after many setbacks). Now it seems that the muscle-bound actor has built up enough passion to actually step onto the competition stage. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson officially announced that he plans to compete in a bodybuilding competition before the end of 2022.
The announcement comes via an interview with the UK-based outlet Bodybuilding Today – who interviewed The Rock during his recent stay in Hawaii. However, he has yet to make the announcement on any of his official social media channels.
The Rock has given no specific information, such as what league he plans to compete in or when exactly we can expect to see him on stage. His only promise was to prepare to step on stage before the end of the year. He went on to state that he has been a life long fan of bodybuilding and respects the dedication and lifestyle required to be an elite competitor. They have long been the same kind of tenets he lived by (giving him one of the most muscular physiques in modern Hollywood).
The Rock continued by stating there would be “no greater honor” than to at least compete on the bodybuilding stage at least once in his life. After many setbacks with his own attempt to start a pro bodybuilding competition and expo (Athleticon) he believed that now was the right time – as he is “not getting any younger.”
The announcement comes just days before Wrestlemania 38 – with many fans and outlets suspecting that The Rock is planned to make an appearance. Most recently, he has been staying in Hawaii, where many WWE fans believe he is preparing for the event. If The Rock does, in fact, appear at Wrestlemania – perhaps it will be during this event that he makes a broader announcement of his competitive bodybuilding plans.
Beyond his previous attempts to kick start a new big budget pro bodybuilding show with Athleticon, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson had long been involved with pro bodybuilding in some indirect form. He helped produce the 2016 Mr. Olympia with Dany Garcia and his production company Seven Bucks Productions. He has also occasionally appeared behind the scenes at some NPC/IFBB Pro events.
As it stands, the Rock is 49 years old, so it remains to be seen what category of bodybuilding competition he will attempt to compete in. Will he receive some sort of special invitation by a major league such as NABBA or the IFBB Pro? Or will he choose to simply compete in an amateur competition or masters competition? Despite his age, he’s displayed an incredible physique – should he choose to focus even more squarely on competitive bodybuilding for even just one show, we may see something truly exciting step on stage.
At this moment, little more information is available. Generation Iron will continue to update this story as more updates are announced. Until then, you can see more information in Bodybuilding Today‘s official post below:
APRIL FOOLS!
Natural Bodybuilder Michael Boyle Explains When You Should Take a Deload Week
INBA PNBA athlete Michael Boyle says this is when you should take a deload week.
Taking a deload week can be beneficial for your workout progress. It’s when you back off the intensity and volume you do when you work out. Deload weeks will help you build muscle and is a form of active recovery. The question is: how often should you do them? International Natural Bodybuilding Association (INBA)/Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (PNBA) natural bodybuilder Michael Boyle shares his experience on when you should reduce your workout intensity and volume.
Michael Boyle is a 2x British natural bodybuilding champion. And he earned a bronze medal in the Men’s Bodybuilding Master’s division at 2021 Natural Olympia – this year, he plans to win it all!
Michael Boyle shared his perspective on social media regarding the best time to take a deload week. According to Michael Boyle, the proper time is:
“There is no rules when to take a deload week. I’m finding it’s every 3rd week for me. Listen to your body. Talk to your coach. Find what works for you.”
Boyle acknowledged that he just hit a new personal best on deadlifts after coming off a deload week. You can see Boyle deadlifting below:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CbDEu3-jdKc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Deload Week Benefits
Michael Boyle has found that taking a deload week every three weeks works best for him. Of course, as he acknowledges, this may not be the case for everyone. Some people will only want to once every 6-12 weeks.
Benefits
Gain strength and muscle
Faster recovery
Improve joint health
Reduce stress
Listening to your body is a critical factor in determining when the right time to take a deload week. For example, if you’ve plateaued in the gym, are suffering from delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), or are chronically tired, it may be time for you to back off on your workload and intensity.
Furthermore, the higher your intensity and volume are, the more often you’ll want to take a deload week. As a natural bodybuilder like Boyle, he’ll train with high intensity and high volume workouts, so he benefits from taking a deload week every three weeks. On the other hand, a regular everyday gym-goer may not need to deload as often because their volume and intensity will be lower than a top natural bodybuilder’s training regimen.
Natural Bodybuilders Vs. Enhanced Lifters
Moreover, natural bodybuilders cannot exploit steroids. Their bodies can’t do as much volume and intensity as consistently as an enhanced lifter (lifter doping). That’s because drugs such as steroids will allow your body to do so more than it’s capable alone. Therefore, steroid users may be able to forgo them or do them less often.
How to Implement a Deload Week
You’ll want to back off the volume (sets, reps, and exercises) you do, combined with doing them at a lower intensity. Unfortunately, there’s no carved-in-stone way to do this. However, we recommend cutting back each set by 1-2 per exercise and using a weight that’s 40-60% of what you would typically lift.
Recap
Deload weeks can help you hit new records on lifts and help your body recover. Unfortunately, there is no standard time to add a deload week. It’s best to listen to your body but do them periodically.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for more workout tips from the top INBA PNBA athletes!
19-Year-Old Liam Newell Sets New American Record With 777-Pound Deadlift
Liam Newell might be new to powerlifting but he has already set a new record in deadlift.
Liam Newell is a powerlifter who has been training for quite some time but is new to sanctioned competition. It did not take the 19-year-old lifter long to make an impact and set a new American record with a 777-pound deadlift.
Newell competed in the 90kg division during the 2022 USAPL Collegiate Nationals from March 27-30. Newell highlighted an incredible performance over the course of the week by attacking a massive deadlift — and making it look easy. This beat a record that stood for over a decade.
In 2011, Ian Bell claimed the American record during the USAPL Southside Classic. This was a record that was not approached in 11 years until Newell was able to get over the hump. Not only did he break the record, but Newell did so by 5.5 pounds.
“19 88kg. American record. Unofficial world record maybe idk. Thank you to @joe_wee_ @johnny__kaufman @deadlift_lord868@sanjeevteelucksingh_ for the perfect call love you boys. Will post full recap eventually.”
Liam Newell has competed just three times. His debut competition came in January of 2021 and there have been two since. Newell has already notched two victories and an American record. At Collegiate Nationals, he was able to set new PRs in each lift.
This began when Newell completed a 556.7-pound squat on his third and final attempt. Newell continued by completing a 308.6-pound bench press and of course, his record deadlift. All together, Newell totaled 1,642.4 pounds, which was a new PR as well.
“555squat308bench777deadlift1640 9/9 day4th placeConservative on bench and probably had a little more on squat but really wanted to be 6/6 going into deadlift. Fun time. Time to get a little less chubby and get stronger.”
At 194 pounds, Newell was able to pull four times his bodyweight. The 777-pound triumph was also the second heaviest lift all time in the 18-19 division. There is clearly a bright future for Newell when looking at what he has already accomplished.
At 19 years old, Liam Newell has made a huge impact on the sport of powerlifting and he still has plenty of developing left. With one record under his belt, Newell has a chance to break many more in future competitions. Considering his age and numbers already, there is a chance that Newell continues to rise and becomes of the sports’ elite lifters before long.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Calum von Moger Aims to Bounce Back From Legal Issues: ‘I Learn From My Mistakes And Become A Better Person’
Calum von Moger will learn from his mistakes and believes that he will prevail in the end.
Calum von Moger is a promising bodybuilder who has a chance to make an impact on stage if he can get certain issues straightened out. The Australian bodybuilder has found himself in some legal trouble recently and this has halted his career. Now, he vows to get everything in line and become a better person on and off the stage.
von Moger ran into some trouble in Australia recently. First, he was put in headlines for an alleged road-rage incident that involved the bodybuilder chasing down the other driver after threatening him with a machete. Also recently, von Moger was arrested for possession of drugs.
Every athlete, and person, has their own demons and Calum von Moger vows to learn from his mistakes in the past. He took to Instagram to share a message about how he will turn it around.
“Everyone has a past. We’ve all been through hard times. I admit, I messed up bad many times. But I don’t care about dwelling on negative thoughts of the past. 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.The Media will always focus on the negative news to get our attention and start gossips. But the positive achievements I’ve done in my life far outweigh the muck-ups I had along the way ⚖️ That I can swear on ?Anyway, All I can ask is for your forgiveness so I can keep moving forward on the right path again ?”
Calum von Moger burst onto the scene in 2020 when he won Classic Physique at the NPC Mr. Universe competition. This performance earned him an IFBB Pro card but he has been unable to get on stage to make his debut.
Aside from the legal troubles, von Moger suffered a bicep tear while attempting a massive 400-pound barbell curl. This workout came during a session with Chris Bumstead. If von Moger is looking to emerge in the IFBB in Classic Physique, there is no one better to train with than the reigning three-time Olympia champion.
There are still charges pending against Calum von Moger. Once these are taken care of, the bodybuilder can focus on keeping his work and bettering himself in his career. When looking at his physique, von Moger has a chance to make a name for himself at the next level and this is what fans have been waiting for.
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