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Personal Training Should Be A Strict No And This Is Why
These Are The Reasons Why You Should Never Sign Up For Personal Training
Personal training is one of the biggest profit making services for a gym and its trainers. This is the reason the staff at the gyms push people to sign up for personal training (PT) programs. The newbies are the most prone to the PT sales pitch.
If you’ve just got a gym membership, working out can look intimidating. The trainers at your gym know this and will try to push you into signing up for a PT. No matter how hard they try, you should stay away from it.
1. Not For The Long Run
Staying with a personal trainer forever can be hard even if you want to compete in pro bodybuilding shows. Most people tend to stop taking the personal training services once they get the knack of things in the gym.
While this might be the obvious next step for you, there are chances your personal trainer will not be happy with your decision. Don’t expect help or spot from the trainers at your gym once you’re off the personal training program.
2. Cross Selling
Once you sign up for PT, you’ve established you’re ready to spend handsomely on your health. Many gyms recommend and sell supplements to their customers and make a fat commission on every sale.
Cross selling doesn’t end at supplements. It can even extend to gym gear and any other thing related to fitness and working out. Don’t be surprised the next time your personal trainer finds something extraordinary and wants you to try it.
3. Over Dependence
Getting a personal trainer for yourself is like outsourcing the tension about your health. This can be a good and a bad thing. Over-dependence on your trainer for your training and nutrition plans can be harmful.
Your trainer will love to do all this work since it will keep you dependent on him. You should be actively involved in building your diet and training plans. Make sure you’re questioning and learning from your trainer with every single passing day.
4. No Custom Training Programs
Personal training isn’t as personal as you might think it is. Look at it from the business point of view, the more clients the trainer services, the more he earns. Training clients for the entire day can leave little to no time to work on individual client training programs.
The trainers end up building a generic training plan which all their trainees follow. In worse cases, people follow plans which are available on Bodybuilding.com for free. If you decide to opt for personal training, see to it your instructor builds a custom plan for you.
5. Getting A Wrong Match
No two people are the same. You can’t go with any fitness trainer. You need someone who matches your personality and style and understands where you lack. Your fitness instructor will be with you for the entire time you’re in the gym, choose someone you can jell well with.
Hiring a wrong match can act as a demotivation. You might start skipping your workouts because of your trainer. The best way to avoid this is to ask the trainer for a trial and only finalizing if he is a good fit for you.
Have you ever opted for personal training? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
Margarita Ventura’s Top Finish At NPC East Coast Cup 2021
After months and months of prep, strict dieting, and grueling workouts, Margarita Ventura had a great showing this past weekend.
The 2021 NPC East Coast Championships concluded this weekend with a great showing from high-class bodybuilders seeking that top spot, including Generation Iron’s very own, Margarita Ventura. East Haven, Connecticut was a great host and this national qualifier saw athletes competing in 8 events: Bodybuilding, Classic Physique, Figure, Fitness, Bikini, Men’s Physique, Women’s Physique, and Wellness.
One of Generation Iron’s athletes, Margarita Ventura, had a phenomenal showing this weekend, making great use of her preparation and using her experience to her advantage. A dedicated athlete and professional, one of Margarita’s goals as a professional bodybuilder is to show others that you can be an educated, career-oriented athlete, breaking down stereotypes and taking care of your longevity and health. Honestly, after this past weekend, there is no better example.
Margarita competed in two events at the NPC East Coast Cup Championships, being Women’s Bikini Open Class B and Women’s Bikini Masters 40+. Facing some tough competition in both categories, she finished 6th place in Women’s Bikini Open Class B, but took home the top prize in 1st place in the Women’s Bikini Masters 40+. An awesome showing from one of Generation Iron’s own.
Margarita Ventura Preparation Recap
Before this event, we covered Margarita’s preparation. From training, to nutrition, and her mental prep, diving into the whole picture and learning how a true professional manages her contest prep is invaluable for those of us looking to do the same. While of course everyone is different when it comes to their approach, listening and learning from professional bodybuilders and other athletes can provide insight into certain things you may not have known before. Through this, you only maximize your training and get the best results possible.
With all that was said, the last time we spoke with Margarita, one of the most important points she made was that it is possible to train hard, eat strict, and prioritize your health and fitness while still living a fun and healthy life. For those of us wanting to get into bodybuilding at a high level, it is certainly a balancing act. And sometimes that wire can feel pretty thin. But taking your health and longevity into account will only serve you in the long run so you can keep doing what you love for longer.
NPC East Coast Cup Championships
Let’s dive right into Margarita’s routine in the hours shortly before she walks on stage. The process is almost complete, the workout hours are logged, the calories have been counted, but now it’s time to put it all into action against competitors all hoping for the same.
The Night Before
The night before the show is as relaxed as it can be. Margarita sticks to her meal prep protein but works with an adjusted carb intake (if any). Vegetables are replaced with almonds and her water intake is reduced to ½ gallon for that day so whatever is left is finished. One unsalted rice cake and 1 tsp. of no salt, no sugar peanut butter is the snack of choice if she is still hungry.
For rehab work, a Theragun or spot massage ball can hit her lower back, upper back, and shoulders. Some lighter shoulder and glute exercises get thrown in the mix and final rollouts for optimal relief.
Now comes the planning. The night before is when competitors get a spray tan, so keeping that intact is vital. Long sleeves and loose pants will do. To wrap up, organizing all show day materials makes the morning go much smoother. Everything from her bikini, jewelry, heels, make-up, meals, water, supplements, hair products, and whatever else is needed all gets laid out. And of course, resistance bands or free weights for a pre-show pump.
Margarita’s mindset going into these events is one of nostalgia, gratitude, empathy, and compassion. All the people who helped get her to where she is are on her mind and with the work done, she tells herself that she’ll dominate. Win or lose, she gave it her best and to go out and have fun makes those who carried her here proud.
The Morning Of
The morning of is hopefully as seamless and stress-free as possible. Prepping, planning, training, and practicing her poses are all something done well in advance so the morning goes as smoothly as possible. For Bikini competitors, the mornings tend to be a bit hectic with hair, make-up, and tanning touch-ups, so she does her best ahead of time to make it relaxing.
Typically a morning meal is white meat, fish protein, or egg whites with 1/3 cup of oats, 1 cup of water, and a water pill.
Competition Time
Margarita feels most at home on stage. From her early days of dance and acting, the only times nerves have a chance is if she is ill-prepared. Now a seasoned professional, she knows exactly to do to make those final few moments before stepping out on stage as relaxed as possible. Whether it be listening to music or chatting with fellow competitors and offering words of encouragement, once she steps on stage, feels out the audience, and knows she’s prepared, the rest is all easy.
When results come out, there’s quite a bit of adrenaline and gratefulness as she tries to stay in that moment. With both a win or a loss, sportsmanship and respect are huge pillars for her and her desire to make those around her proud of immense. It takes a village for an athlete to succeed and that can be a big weight.
Regardless, you win some and you lose some. Greatness is earned, not given and without a sense of urgency, desire loses its value. Margarita has never forgotten the words someone mentioned to her years ago; hard work can beat talent. Even when you win, someone is always just one step behind you.
What’s Next For Margarita Ventura
After coming off this amazing event with great finishes, Margarita Ventura plans on taking some time to prepare for next season. With intentions on competing in early November, she plans on taking some time, focusing on training, and working on shooting some content, moving competitions to next year. It’s been a long but great year for Margarita and she only hopes to continue this momentum heading into the new year.
Margarita is also teaming up with Generation Iron for a series with more details coming soon. Stay tuned!
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 Margarita Ventura
2022 OQS Rules
The IFBB Professional League, along with Joe Weider’s Olympia Fitness & Performance Weekend, is pleased to announce the 2022 Olympia Qualification System (“OQS”).
The 2022 OQS qualifies athletes for the 2022 Olympia. The qualification period starts on September 13, 2021 and ends on November 20, 2022.
The OQS awards points to competitors placing 2nd to 5th. The top 3 athletes with the highest point totals at the end of the qualification period qualify to compete at the Olympia. Ties are broken in favor of the athlete with the better placings (the tier levels are also taken into consideration). Athletes are not moved up if a position becomes vacated.
As of September 13, 2021, only the division winner at the Europa Pro Championships and only the winner at each Wellness contest qualifies for the 2022 Olympia.
Athletes who qualified for the 2021 Olympia but who could not compete due to COVID-related visa restrictions will receive 5 points towards the 2022 Olympia.
WHO QUALIFIES?Top 5 from the 2021 Mr. OlympiaTop 3 from all other 2021 Olympia divisionsWinner of each contestTop 3 in the Point Standings
POINT STANDINGS
OLYMPIA(for all divisions except the 2021 Mr. Olympia)4th – 12 points5th – 11 points
TIER 1 CONTESTS:
Arnold Classic (USA), Rising Phoenix (does not include Arizona Pro)2nd – 10 points3rd – 9 points4th – 8 points5th – 7 points
TIER 2 CONTESTS:
Arnold Classic Australia,Arnold Classic Brazil, Arnold Classic UK,Pittsburgh Pro, New York Pro, Tampa Pro,Toronto Pro, Japan Pro,Europa Pro Championships2nd – 8 points3rd – 7 points4th – 6 points5th – 5 points
TIER 3 CONTESTS:
Chicago Pro, Portugal Pro, Romania Muscle Fest Pro,Legion Sports Fest Pro, Puerto Rico Pro2nd – 6 points3rd – 5 points4th – 4 points5th – 3 points
TIER 4 CONTESTS:
All other contests*2nd – 4 points3rd – 3 points4th – 2 points5th – 1 point
*Ben Weider Natural: MBB 1st place awarded 5 points
To view the 2022 OQS list of qualified athletes and point standings, please visit the OQS section of www.IFBBPRO.com, www.NPCNEWSONLINE.com or www.MROLYMPIA.com. Questions regarding the 2022 OQS may be directed to Tony Blinn at [email protected].
Big Ramy Celebrated Upon Arrival In Egypt Following Olympia Victory
Big Ramy received the proper welcome upon returning to Egypt after winning the Olympia.
Mamdouh Elssbiay, better known as Big Ramy, is now a couple weeks removed from successfully defending his title at the Olympia. This was his second-straight victory which now has him solidified at the top of bodybuilding. Big Ramy recently returned home to Egypt and was welcomed back in a big way.
Big Ramy took to Instagram to show off the welcome he received when he arrived at the airport. The EgyptAir crew setup a display of balloons welcoming him back. He was then asked to hang around for some pictures with a crowd that was gathered to see him.
This welcome was no surprise given the level that bodybuilding has risen to around the world. The sport is becoming huge in other countries and this includes Egypt. In fact, this is one area where bodybuilding is beginning to really take off. To have a competitor the level of Big Ramy represent the country means a lot and it shows.
The welcome he received this year is similar to what Big Ramy was greeted with a year ago. In 2020, Big Ramy took home his first Olympia title by defeating 2019 champion Brandon Curry. He has now topped Curry in each of the previous two competitions and he will continue to defend his title.
Big Ramy was greeted by the pilot and staff once they landed. He had to be escorted through the airport because of the crowds that gathered to see him. This continued once he left the airport and went outside. He has become a hero in Egypt and it has shown with the attention he has been receiving.
Last week, it was announced that Big Ramy’s hometown of Kafr El Sheikh would have a square named after him. It is clear that there will continue to be recognition for Big Ramy’s accomplishments and rightfully so.
There was a bit of controversy following this year’s competition. There were many that believed Hadi Choopan was the best conditioned athlete on stage. This might have made some question the victory but that should not be the case. He entered the competition at 305 pounds of muscle. Big Ramy continued to be the perfect blend of mass and conditioning.
Big Ramy has made it clear that he will continue to defend his title for years to come. His reputation is solidified and he has a chance to build on it. Either way, he is already a hero in his home country and that is worth plenty.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
2021 Rogue Invitational Preview & Athletes To Watch
Here are some of the top competitors to watch at the 2021 Rogue Invitational.
The 2021 Rogue Invitational is the next strongman competition that will feature some of the top names in the sport. Elite competitors will gather in Dell Diamond Stadium in Round Rock, TX from Oct. 29-31 to see who will take home the gold in this event.
This competition will be a chance for some of the top athletes to get back into the swing of things. Martins Licis, who won the 2019 World’s Strongest Man competition, will return to action along with Rob Kearney. Mateusz Kieliskowski will be back on stage for the second time since returning from an injury.
There will be $130,000 given out to the winner of the 2021 Rogue Invitational. There will be four World’s Strongest Man champions competing along with plenty of world-record holders. Here are some of the top competitors that are expected to make an appearance at the event.
List of Competitors
Brian Shaw
Tom Stoltman
Luke Stoltman
Martins Licis
Mateusz Kieliszkowski
Robert Kearney
JF Caron
Mikhail Shivlyakov
Jerry Pritchett
Oleksii Novikov
Brian Shaw
Shaw will enter the competition as the oldest competitor at 39 years old. This does not mean that he is out of the running for a podium finish — quite the opposite actually. Shaw was the runner-up at both the 2021 World’s Strongest Man and 2021 Shaw Classic. There is plenty that should motivate Shaw heading into this competition. That includes the prize money and the fact that he is going up against all younger competitors. Shaw has made 13 straight appearances in the WSM competition.
Tom Stoltman
Stoltman is the reigning World’s Strongest Man champion and is looking to make an impact at the Rogue Invitational. He received a positive COVID test that kept him out of the 2021 Europe’s Strongest Man competition but this did not slow him down. Stoltman finished second at the 2021 Giants Live World Tour Final. Stoltman is one of the top competitors in the Atlas Stone event. He will be difficult to defeat if he comes in at his peak and performs the way he is expected.
Martins Licis
Licis has not competed in two years because of different injuries. This is a chance for the former champion to get back in the field of competition and prove that he is still one of the best. Licis is the perfect combination of elite strength and technique when performing in different events. Licis has shared many training videos recently which shows his work getting back to competition. Licis is always a contender to finish on the podium. It will be interesting to see how he competes in his first competition back.
Mateusz Kieliszkowski
Kieliszkowski is another strongman coming off an injury. This is his second competition back since suffering a triceps injury that forced him to miss some time. He is another podium contender if he enters in tp shape. There are five events in this competition and Kieliszkowski will have to finish near the top of the final three or four. In his first competition back from injury, he finished second to Novikov at the 2021 World’s Ultimate Strongman contest. He is still one of the competitors to beat. The fact that he has one competition under his belt since returning from his injury is a huge factor.
Oleksii Novikov
Novikov might be viewed as the competitor to beat in this competition. The 2020 World’s Strongest Man did not qualify for the 2021 finals but has been on a roll since then. Novikov took home the prize during the 2021 Strongman Classic, 2021 World’s Ultimate Strongman contest, and the 2021 World’s Ultimate Strongman Strength Island competition. This is not included a runner-up finish at the 2021 Arnold Strongman Classic UK. Novikov is not the biggest competitor but he has become one of the best competitors. He recently posted a video training with a heavy dumbbell and referenced the Rogue Invitational. He will look to keep his streak going next weekend.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Is It Better To Eat Treats In Moderation Or To Avoid Them Completely
What is the best way to approach snacks and treats?
The fitness and nutrition industry is full of extremes. One moment, it says breakfast is the most important meal. The next, it says fasting and skipping breakfast will turbocharge you into a fountain of youth.
The true answer usually lies somewhere in the middle. Processed foods, junk food, or treats are a similarly polarizing topic. They have so many terms to them that I will use interchangeably, but we all know what they are. They’re the super fun high calorie foods that everybody loves. You know, foods like donuts, ice cream, acai bowls, nachos, pizza, onion rings, cheesecake, and lasagna. The list goes on.
These fun foods can have some nutritional value, but they are often highly caloric for a small volume. They also taste so good that they stimulate further consumption. It’s easy to stop eating after one apple. It’s much harder to stop after eating one cookie.
And because these foods are so relevant in our culture, everyone has an opinion on how to handle them. And as usual, the extreme voices reign the loudest.
You’ll have people who say that you don’t need any restraint and that you can include these foods into your diet all the time as long as you make it work. And if you can’t, well who cares, body image, food relationship, keep being flexible, blah, blah, blah.
Conversely, you’ll also have people who say these foods are demons that ruin your health, give you cancer, and must never touch your lips or else you’re a despicable person. Only losers eat chips right?
You’ve probably heard both extremes above. Let’s find a more appropriate middle ground to things while applying context to the many different types of people that may be reading.
What Flexible Dieters Got Right
Flexible dieting has many definitions and variations. Generally, flexible dieters track their calories and macros, ensuring they stay within their macros limits. As long as these targets are met for protein, carbs, and fat, they can eat whatever they want.
The beauty of flexible dieting is that it helps you understand energy balance which is basically the law of thermodynamics that dictate human’s long term weight loss/gain. If you eat more energy aka calories than you can burn off over time and you’ll gain weight. This is called an energy surplus.
Contrarily, if you eat less energy aka calories than you burn off over time and you’ll lose weight. This is called an energy deficit.
Tracking holds you accountable to the energy balance you set whether your intentions are to gain, maintain, or lose. It doesn’t restrict your food choices which is huge breath of fresh air, especially if you’ve yo-yo dieted on needlessly restrictive diets. In fact, if you look at the terrain of common diets out there, the restriction makes you feel like dieting jail.
Vegan: No animal products which means no meat, fish, eggs, dairy, honey, etc.
Keto: Practically, there’s no starch or fruit sources which means you can’t eat grains, potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, flour, sweeteners, any traditionally made dessert, and most fruits.
Paleo: No dairy, grains, bread, legumes, sugary sweetener, zero calorie sweetener, processed foods, protein powders, etc.
Carnivore: No plants, fruits, vegetables, grains, or anything that’s not meat
Somehow, the American public was like, “Let’s make the dumbest, most arbitrary rules we can come up with to create diets. Then let’s popularize those diets to turn eating from a pleasurable experience to a miserable one.”
It sounds absurd, but that’s basically what we’ve done and guess what? The vast majority has bought into all these diets. It seems the more extreme the diet is, the more novelty it presents which causes people to chase them.
So flexible dieting literally smashes all of these rules. Want fatty meat? Make it fit your macros.
Want carbs? Make it fit your macros.
Want chips? Make it fit your macros.
It’s great, but even flexible dieting has it’s pitfalls.
What Flexible Dieters Got Wrong
There’s an inherent level of flexibility with flexible dieting which is great, but in some cases, a degree of freedom that is mishandled. You technically can eat whatever you want, but not everyone can and should.
Some flexible dieters don’t seem to grasp this concept as they’re obsessed with eating their daily pop tart or having a few squares of chocolate from time to time. That’s because these people are usually moderators instead of abstainers.
Moderators are people who can eat high calorie, high rewarding foods in moderation. They’re able to fit it into their macros and stop at appropriate points. Abstainers on the other hand can’t. They have trigger foods where certain treats will inevitably cause them to overeat despite them being aware of their macro limits.
Like if you gave me a dozen of assorted Krispy Kreme Donuts and put on a good show for me, that dozen would be gone within the opening intro. Repeat the same scenario with 2 dozens and I’d smash that too. You might be the same way. It doesn’t mean you’re broken or not good enough to have complete food flexibility.
It simply means you’re wired differently. In fact, the deck is often stacked against you. What do I mean? Well, think about food processing. We live in a time, where we can engineer food every which way. Many food and restaurant companies do rigorous testing to create not just good food, but irresistible foods. Foods that are so good, every bite makes you want more.
So despite how often you hear that you can just cut portions and have whatever you want, it doesn’t always play out that way in a world of mind blowing foods that our ancestors didn’t have. These should be labeled trigger foods and they can be different for everyone who has trigger foods.
Finding a Balance
When you’re dieting, especially if your calories are low, you simply can’t have anything and everything. Furthermore, life stress and personal responsibilities make it difficult to simply have whatever all the time. Your food menu is not an endless streaming service like Netflix.
Unless you have a personal chef, you have to plan ahead, pick your battles, and repeat certain meals.
This doesn’t mean flexible dieting is bad. It simply means many people out there don’t understand the true essence of it.
Flexible dieting is successful not because you do eat whatever, but because you can eat whatever. The option is there. It nurtures a mindset of being able to swap things out and allows you to be in the driver seat. Thus, your mind should be flexible. If you mess up, you should be flexible. If your circumstances change, you should be flexible.
But despite all this flexibility, you should also have structure, meal planning, and for abstainers, you also need a clear game plan on how to avoid certain foods. The key point is that when you abstain, you’re choosing to abstain to be wise about your goals. You’re not forced to abstain. That’s how you set up clear structure while still having a flexible mindset.
How to Avoid Treats
So once you get real with how to make your diet practical. You’ll realize, it’s in your best interest to eat mostly whole nutritious foods and repeat the same meals often. Furthermore, there’s not always enough practicality to fit certain treats in.
To identify these treats, you need to ask yourself, can I fit this in daily, weekly, or within the week in portions that allow me to maintain my diet? If the answer is yes, figure out which frequency works best for you, so you don’t feel deprived, but also don’t overconsume.
However, if the answer is not, that’s a trigger food. Continually attempting to fit in trigger foods will make you run in circles and never see the scale drop.
So the first step is to maintain your flexible mindset. Understand that this trigger food is only gone for a little bit while you diet. It’s not gone forever. It will exist till the end of time.
Next is to setup your environment. If it’s a trigger food, it has no business being in your house. Having trigger foods in your pantry is like saying I have no intentions of getting back with my ex, but I’ll invite them over tonight.
Extremely illogical.
Once your environment is rid of the trigger food, you’ll need to buy foods that you do intend to eat. Research finds that when cafeterias cut back on vending machines and have more stations for healthier options, workers naturally eat healthier and cut back on processed food purchases without even knowing about the experiment.
Your environment is everything. This brings me to my next point.
Avoiding Triggers at Social Events
Unfortunately, you’re not home 24/7. You enjoy going out as every human does. However, outside environments can quickly sabotage your diet. Many social events have lots of free tasty food. Your flesh wants to take advantage, but your spirit is intending not to.
Here’s how to outsmart the environment and stick to your goals.
Come well satiated. If you are fuller, cravings are less noticeable.
Bring your own dish if you can. Bring a lower calorie dessert too if you can.
Avoid looking at any trigger foods and don’t hang around them. People who hang by the snack table, snack all night. Don’t be that person.
Have someone hold you accountable. This could be a spouse or a friend at the party.
If you get hungry or bored, bring zero calorie sparkling water and gum to munch on. It’ll keep your mind and tastebuds occupied, so it does wander towards that bowl of chips. Better yet, socialize and play games. Find enjoyment with people as opposed to food. If you have to eat to have fun, is the party even worth attending anyways?
How to Reintroduce Trigger Foods
Remember, trigger foods may trigger you now, but they may not do that forever. That’s some light at the end of the tunnel. To understand how to reintroduce such rewarding foods, it’s important to understand the model of why we’re abstaining in the first place.
You’re ultimately choosing to abstain because the food is not worth it’s cost of calories and the fact that your self control won’t hold up to your intended portions.
However as you starve away certain foods, you crave them less. You will even start enjoying more nutritious foods more than before. The brain’s reward response is being rewired.
Once you’ve gone long enough without a certain treat and have finished dieting, you can reintroduce your previously triggering food. It’s also best to reintroduce it when you’re full. Being hungry increases your reward response which we don’t want to reintroduce to your brain to associate with that food.
Nuanced
So the world of nutrition is not as simple as this food is good and this food is bad. It’s also not as simple as all foods are good, so eat whatever. There is lots of individualizing to be done when it comes to specific food choices, proximity, location, and the brain’s response to certain flavors.
Ultimately, it comes down to, will I be able to succeed in my diet with this food and will this food not make me feel deprived? If so, then include that food.
But if that food is more like a, “If this exist in my life, I will fail continuously and never lose weight,” it’s probably best to abstain from it for a while.
Best Fat Burner For Intermittent Fasting & Fat Burning
For those into intermittent fasting, this is the best fat burner to see gains.
Maybe it’s because you’ve found yourself with more time on your hands to cook, or you’re no longer up and out the door at 6 AM. Maybe you haven’t been able to go to the gym as usual, or you’re just ready to kick off a new, healthier lifestyle.
Whatever your case, you’ve come here with intermittent fasting in mind.
Completely revamping your diet takes courage, discipline, and preparation. We all come into it with a certain expectation or end goal. Inevitably, that means you’ll experience both frustration and jubilation along the way. If your goal is fat loss, intermittent fasting is a huge first step. It can control insulin levels, regulate your body’s natural cycles, reduce unnecessary snacking, and, in the end, restrict caloric intake.
But that’s just one piece of the puzzle. You probably understand that what you eat, not just when you eat it matters too. And that brings us to fat burners.
If you want the quick answer, then go straight to our #1 Fat Burner For Intermittent Fasting…
Burn Lab Pro
Burn Lab Pro is a great all-around fat burner with an innovative design and research-backed benefits. It is 100% natural, safe, and caffeine free giving you the best option on the market.
As an oft-touted supplement for instant results, do they really work? Could/should you take the best fat burner for intermittent fasting?
That depends. Combined with a well-adjusted diet, fat-burners accelerate fat loss by enhancing metabolism, reducing cravings, and increasing intra-workout energy. The best ones even go the extra mile to protect against muscle breakdown.
The right fat burner can:
Accelerate metabolism
Increase mobilization of stored body fat (to be used as energy)
Fight against hunger and cravings
Reduce muscle breakdown
Improve lean body mass
Keep you healthy overall
Unfortunately, the wrong fat burner is loaded with stimulants such as caffeine, substandard ingredients, and flat out lies. Buyer beware of anything that guarantees completely unrealistic results. While, on the surface, these fat burners might sound good and make you feel like they’re working, they’re not necessarily effective at the cellular level. Sometimes, they can even make matters worse.
So, what should you look for?
Well, here’s the hard truth. There is no magic pill.
You’re going to have to work for it – and that means combining daily exercise with a healthy dose of lean proteins, lots of fiber, good fats, and fruits and vegetables. 8 hours of sleep. Lots of water, especially during a fast. You know the drill. A good fat burner simply accelerates those efforts, making your life a little easier. It’s like hopping on a bike vs running somewhere. You still have to pedal, but you’ll get there faster than if you just ran.
With that being said, how do you pick through the weeds to find one that works during intermittent fasting? Fortunately, we did the hard work for you.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the science behind both fat burners and intermittent fasting, and how combining the two could work for you, including:
A brief overview of intermittent fasting
The science behind combining fat burners and intermittent fasting
Which ingredients to look for
….AND ultimately, our pick for the best fat burner for intermittent fasting
A Short Overview Of Intermittent Fasting
What’s the point of intermittent fasting?
Everything in our body runs on some sort of rhythm, including our sleep/wake cycles [1], thermoregulation, hormones, and more. If you think about it, even without intermittent fasting, your digestion does as well. That’s how breakfast got its name – you’re not eating for hours while you sleep.
However, how often do you sleep in on weekends, or go to bed later than you planned, finishing up work? Even if our sleeping hours remain the same, sometimes we skip breakfast or eat a big lunch and miss dinner. Eating affects all of our activity, energy levels, hormonal responses, and sleep included. By restricting our feeding to a specific window, we gain better control of our function. Optimal function leads to optimal results.
To be honest, most people are already intermittently fasting, even without trying. Eight hours of not eating? If you’re getting even close to enough sleep, you’re likely already fasting at night. Hence the term break-fast. By simply extending that fast, you’ll not only spend fewer hours eating but add more hours of activity to counterbalance it. The simple awareness of when and what you’re eating compared to your activity is enough to make a difference at the start.
How it works
As mentioned briefly, diligence and an eating schedule prevent snacking or unintentional overeating. The main takeaway from intermittent fasting is as simple as any other diet – caloric restriction.
Even a slight calorie reduction, over the long-term, will yield results. But, since “eat less, move more” isn’t enough for most people, we’ll introduce another smaller, yet still significant, benefit of IF.
Even if you were to eat the same amount of calories (just shrunk to a certain window), IF hacks your hormonal response. This patterned eating works along with existing cyclical patterns, such as insulin, ghrelin, and leptin release. It also affects cortisol and other endocrine regulators. Normally, when you eat something, your insulin spikes in an attempt to move sugars from the bloodstream into the cells. However, when we’re not immediately working out (and our glycogen stores are full), that spike in blood sugar is useless for energy. So we’re left with a ton of elevated insulin with no job to do.
Eventually, your cells start resisting insulin, as it’s basically the hormonal version of crying wolf. Insulin resistance is associated with obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Science has shown that intermittent fasting [2] raises insulin sensitivity to stave off weight gain and other more serious conditions.
To make matters worse, you can also become leptin resistant. Leptin, a hormone secreted from adipose tissue and other areas, actually decreases hunger. Yay! Good sign if you’re concerned with fat loss, right? Well, the problem is the more fat you have, the more leptin you make. And, much like the insulin case above, with too much overeating, especially of processed foods and fructose [3], your brain just ignores it. On the contrary, lean body mass helps you burn calories without leptin resistance, but we’ll get to that a bit later.
Leptin’s counterpart, ghrelin, increases hunger. As the two represent opposite ends of the scale, you need a healthy dose of both for balance. They should be released, do their job (signal “eat now” when you’re low on energy or “stop eating” when you’ve had enough), and that’s the end of it.
Now, it’s worth mentioning that this is a vastly oversimplified explanation [4] of a small piece of the endocrine system. Which brings me back to the point – the main benefit of intermittent fasting is that it helps you eat less. And, instead of wasting away muscle like you were on a deserted island, there are a few tricks to get that lean look you’re looking for. One of them obviously, is weightlifting and bodybuilding. Another is proper macronutrient balance.
And finally, there are fat burners.
The Science Behind Fat Burners & Intermittent Fasting
Fat burners (the ones that work, at least) mobilize fat from adipose tissue to metabolize for energy. Supplement companies design fat burners with ingredients to trigger certain enzymes and hormones. For example, the enzyme adenylate cyclase increases the concentration of cAMP, a compound that regulates metabolism and activates downstream fat breakdown. Good fat burners include natural compounds that turn on these keys to weight loss.
But before we get into the science behind combining a fat burner and intermittent fasting with exercise, let’s get one thing out of the way…
…The myth that a specific diet burns more fat than anything else.
This may be hard to hear, given that we’re talking intermittent fasting. Yes, intermittent fasting can help immensely with cravings control, lowering caloric intake, timing nutrients around activity (and therefore postprandial hormonal response), and more.
Yet no diet actually burns fat. By definition, eating adds nutrients and calories to your body. How you control that intake relative to your activity and overall health makes the real difference. Often when utilizing intermittent fasting, you have to literally fight through signals of “I’m actually starving” for long periods of time, somehow function at work and as a family member, and keep it that way. It can work for those who are willing and able, but it’s absolutely not necessary for fat loss.
Remember back above?
Your body is already burning fats during regular existence. The real trick is limiting intake. Sure, you might be able to extend the threshold of exercise during which you burn fat. But you could also just eat clean, control portions, build some muscle, and actually enjoy food every once in a while.
Fancy names like “intermittent fasting” confuse people into thinking it’s a magical fat burning solution. While it can shift the energy source toward actual utilization, it can also limit muscle growth at the start. It works for some, and it doesn’t for others. It’s all about working with your lifestyle instead of battling against it. And that’s where a fat burner can help.
Taking Fat Burners While Intermittent Fasting
For intermittent fasters, one of the most important roles of a fat burner isn’t even torching fat. It’s muscle preservation. Molecules like beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate work to prevent the aforementioned protein breakdown during fasted training. Beta-oxidation [5], a big step in fat metabolism, occurs within the mitochondria. As muscle cells are chock full of mitochondria, it’s pretty important to keep your muscle tissue in order to lose fat. Not to mention that most of us want to be toned as well as lean.
When the powers combine – fasted training
If you haven’t caught on by now, a good combination of Intermittent fasting, sleep, and regular exercise is your best bet. But once you have all of those ducks in a row, if you want to maximize fat loss/lean body mass, there’s fasted training.
Again, this goes back to our friend insulin. When fasted, insulin levels are low and so is blood sugar. That means your body will go hunting for fuel, often in the form of fat. Training at the end of your fast both helps your body use fat for energy during a workout and refeeds your hungry muscles immediately afterward. In an absence of elevated blood sugar, you’ll dig into other resources to generate ATP. Then, after you get a great workout, it’s time for a meal. Eating elevates blood sugar and spikes insulin, moving the much-needed nutrients directly to your tired muscles. That way you’re not only restricting calories, but you’re building muscle while burning fat as well.
In summary, experts recommend training on an empty stomach for two primary reasons:
For one, most people don’t feel great working out just after eating, BUT…
It’s a hormonal hack that allows you to burn fat. Since there’s not any food in your bloodstream, the body goes looking into the fat stores for energy. You need lots of energy for a tough training session, so that’s where the fat-burning effect arises.
Unfortunately, there’s another source of energy during a perceived metabolic emergency – muscle tissue [6]. Yes, you can generate blood sugar from protein in a process called gluconeogenesis. Through catabolizing existing proteins within muscle, you can recreate usable glucose to feed your mitochondria.
Yet most of us would like to keep our muscles, thank you, and a good fat burner can help.
Benefit Of Fat Burners
1. They Help Preserve Muscle
We’ve already been over the benefits and drawbacks of training in a fasted state. Yet supplemental fat burners can work against the enzymes that catabolize muscle so that you can focus on the benefits part.
Research confirms that taking HMB, an ingredient in some fat burners, before a workout decreases muscle cell damage.
As a leucine metabolite, it’s a big trigger for muscle protein synthesis. However, even if you haven’t just eaten a bunch of leucine-rich foods, taking HMB combats muscle degradation, leaving you free to train hard on an empty stomach. Then, when it’s time to eat again, you can pack on the physique.
2. They Mobilize Fat
Ideally, a good fat burner stimulates lipase, a protein that helps us absorb fats.
As the “essential worker” in fat transportation, it catalyzes the breakdown of triglycerides, AKA the building blocks of body fat.
Ingredients such as capsaicinoids release adrenal hormones, shown to promote fat mobilization and oxidation for energy. You could also achieve this result from synthetic stimulants, but those come with a whole host of side effects.
3. They Make Eating A Workout
There’s one more target of fat burner supplements that we haven’t mentioned – thermogenesis.
As the name would suggest, thermogenesis involves creating heat. That heat has to come from somewhere, and why not your fat?
Studies have shown that thermogenesis [7] is associated with weight loss.
Thermogenesis becomes even more important in cases of intermittent fasting. That’s because food has its own thermic effect [8].
It takes energy to digest food and distribute nutrients across the body. During a fast, we miss that signal altogether. That’s why a fat burner can make a difference.
Top Fat Burning Supplements During Intermittent Fasting
One charred hot red chili burning fire isolated on black glass. Now that you understand how they work, which supplements should you look for in a fat burner? Here’s a list of research-backed ingredients to help you avoid snake oil.
HMB (ß-Hydroxy ß-Methylbutyrate)
When the branched-chain amino acid leucine is broken down for use within the body, part of it becomes HMB. BCAA’s like leucine are found in dairy products, eggs, poultry, meat, and fish. HMB is also present in other foods, such as avocado, grapefruit, and cauliflower. Unfortunately, whether a byproduct or food ingredient, it’s not enough to cause any noticeable, immediate effects.
However, when researchers started investigating larger quantities of HMB directly, things got interesting. They found that HMB in larger doses can itself exercise recovery, muscle mass retention, muscle strength, and more. By skipping the leucine phase and extracting HMB, supplement companies and consumers alike were able to capitalize on one of the more potent compounds.
Cayenne pepper
More than just a spice, cayenne pepper is a superfood. Featuring compounds called capsaicinoids, cayenne pepper is a powerful biological stimulant. By working its magic, cayenne pepper consumption can put you in a negative caloric balance.
Research shows that capsaicin intake stifles appetite and reduces intake. It also helps mobilize lipids by activating hormone-sensitive lipase [9], an enzyme that breaks down fat. Finally, in one of its most well-known benefits, it enhances thermogenesis, or the production of heat within the body. A calorie is a measure of heat, so the more heat you use, the more calories you lose.
Overall, adding cayenne pepper (and all of the capsaicinoids within) to your diet helps increase energy expenditure and reduce caloric intake.
Hailing from black pepper, piperine adds its own little kick. It, too, increases metabolism through thermogenesis, without triggering insulin secretion and breaking your fast. But what’s even cooler about piperine is its bioenhancement qualities [10]. Essentially, adding piperine to other supplements and foods helps your body to absorb them. Rather than literally tossing half of your fat burner down the toilet, piperine makes sure it gets into your body where it belongs
Another natural ingredient, forskolin [11] comes to the supplement shelves from an herb called Coleus forskohlii. If you’ve never heard of it, you’re not alone. Its popularity has just started to rise in the West, but it’s been used in ayurvedic medicine for centuries to lower blood pressure.
However, another one of its benefits is activating adenylate cyclase, an enzyme that mediates metabolic reactions. It gives the green light to stimulate cyclic AMP and lipolysis. For best results, combine forskolin with other fat-burning agents, as well as regular exercise and a controlled diet.
…And you’ve already got that diet part down, thanks to intermittent fasting.
Our #1 Fat Burner During An Intermittent Fasting Diet
Here’s the thing – just by reading this article, by showing interest in intermittent fasting, and by making it to the bottom of this page, it shows you’re invested. You could have fallen prey to any random, synthetic fat burner on the internet, but you didn’t. Instead, you invested in taking something that’s effective, healthy, and targeted. You value things that combine high-quality ingredients with a proven track record. Why would you scrape the bottom of the barrel when you could have the best?
Without further ado, we recommend…
Burn Lab Pro
Burn Lab Pro is a great all-around fat burner with an innovative design and research-backed benefits. It is 100% natural, safe, and caffeine free giving you the best option on the market.
The company rules the supplement game as far as purity, quality, and safety go.
They third-party test their supplements within a lab to ensure you only get what’s on the label, and nothing more.
More importantly, their individual ingredients are all-natural, free of synthetics or additives, and come in plant-based capsules.
It’s also more potent than most. Performance Lab Burn contains 1000mg of HMB, which has been tested to be the minimally effective dose for fighting muscle breakdown.
Look for a supplement that offers HMB as a free acid (some companies attach a calcium salt). Studies show that our bodies absorb the free acid version better, and quicker results follow. And most importantly, understand why you’re taking it. It’ll definitely limit protein breakdown, but that’s only one piece of the puzzle.
HMB might be able to help, but it won’t reach your goals on its own. Fat burning supplements can feature a supporting cast of ingredients, more catalysts to speed up your own hard work.
In theirs, Burn Lab Pro includes black pepper AND cayenne pepper to maximize uptake of capsaicinoids and piperine. The full list of ingredients in their fat burner is as follows:
1500 mg of ß-Hydroxy ß-Methylbutyrate
3.75 mg Black Pepper Extract, standardized for at least 95% piperine
75 mg of Cayenne Pepper Extract, with a minimum of 2% capsaicinoids
90mcg of Chromium
375 mg of Coleus Forskohlii, at least 10% forskolin
These ingredients can definitely help you lose weight during intermittent fasting on their own. Just scroll back up to get a reminder. But by combining them, Burn Lab Pro becomes four times as powerful, without having to add any harmful synthetics.
PLUS – they include chromium, a natural mineral found in foods such as broccoli, whole grains, poultry, milk, and more.
Research shows that chromium enhances insulin for a healthy metabolism, thus staving off insulin resistance. As such, it can also reduce appetite and promote a lean body composition. While it isn’t a huge factor on its own (read: you don’t need to go out now and stock up on chromium pills), it makes a difference as part of a powerful stack.
Final Thoughts
Intermittent fasting can be hard, especially at the start. But a little fat burner supplement can go a long way to make sure your efforts aren’t in vain. Remember – a disciplined diet and hard work in the gym are the foundation, but a fat burner is the cherry on top. A fat burner with HMB and thermogenic ingredients can work well with intermittent fasting and regular exercise.
Overall, fat burners can be effective… if you choose the right one. Beware the gimmicks and false promises. Choose natural ingredients that will enhance your body’s natural ability to breakdown fat. And continue to train! Again, nothing works unless you do.
Try Burn Lab Pro Today
Generation Iron may receive commissions on purchases made through our links. See our disclosure page for more information.
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 Burn Lab Pro and Envato
References:
[1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3375033/
[2] https://professional.diabetes.org/abstract/intermittent-fasting-increases-peripheral-not-hepatic-insulin-sensitivity
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2584858/?tool=pmcentrez
[4] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12727973/
[5] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/beta-oxidation
[6] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7380688/
[7] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16652130/
[8] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8561055/
[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5414451/
[10] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30817985/
[11] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17345261/
Ryan Terry: How To Prepare For Long Distance Travel Before A Bodybuilding Competition
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Ryan Terry shares the tips and tricks of preparing for long distance travel without ruining your bodybuilding diet and retaining too much water.
Ryan Terry is a pro bodybuilding competitor in the United Kingdom. Due to this – he often has to travel long distances for the biggest competitions of the year. The Arnold Classic and the Olympia, two of the biggest bodybuilding shows each year, both are held in the United States. This creates a mandatory 10 hour flight for Terry anytime he wants to compete at a major show.
This kind of long distance travel does not fit in with the structure needed for the daily bodybuilding lifestyle. When trying to look perfect for a competition – one 10 hour flight can throw off your peak timing right before a show. So how does a pro bodybuilder prevent disaster before appearing on stage? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Ryan Terry breaks down his tactics for maintaining the necessary bodybuilding diet during long distance traveling before a competition.
It can’t be emphasized enough, a pro bodybuilder runs his or her body like a well oiled machine. Just like a machine, or say a car engine, everything must be kept in perfect condition to prevent issues down the road. This comes down to a daily level for bodybuilders – especially during the final weeks of contest prep. One wrong move can throw off peak timing. This means the athlete’s physique is off and a year of hard work is thrown out the window.
So when it comes to travel, a long flight can be a death knell for a pro bodybuilder right before a competition. Unfortunately, many pro bodybuilders must travel, sometimes across the globe, in order to compete in the best shows of the year. This is certainly true for Ryan Terry – who must usually travel at least 10 hours via plan to arrive in the states. During our video conversation, we asked for his personal tactics on maintaining his pinpoint diet and training alongside a flight throwing a wrench in traditional daily planning.
Ryan Terry acknowledges that a long flight can be disastrous for a bodybuilder. The 10 hours sucks up any time he could have been training and food options are limited. Also – staying seated on a flight for 10 hours can build up water retention in the body. This is the worst thing that can happen to a pro bodybuilder right before a show. That’s why Terry works backwards from landing in the United States – and plans out every single step of his travel plans well in advance.
It’s important to arrive early before a show – so that any problems that arise can be dealt with once settled in the competition location. Beyond this, Ryan Terry plans out his meal prep and his actions after landing off the plane by the minute. He looks up where nearby grocery stores are that fit his diet needs (usually Whole Foods), and plans out his trip step by step. He knows when he will land, when he will arrive at the grocery store, when he can get his first training session in a nearby gym.
By working backwards, he can then plan out the necessary meals to bring on the plan with him. Know if he needs to squeeze in a meal right before getting on a flight. He ensures that he eats the right kind of food to avoid water retention on the flight as much as possible. If it sounds like a lot – that’s because it is. The day of traveling requires the laser focus of a bodybuilder diet cranked up to 11.
You can watch Ryan Terry break down his travel prep in even more detail by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Former World’s Strongest Man Mariusz Pudzianowski Will Fight at KSW 64 This Weekend
Mariusz Pudzianowski returns to battle at KSW 64.
Former World’s Strongest Man champion Mariusz Pudzianowski is ready to make his return to action at this weekend’s KSW 64. The strongman and mixed martial artist is set to make his return after a fifteen month lay off against the undefeated Serigne Osumane.
MMA has always been a wild and crazy world. Filled with fighters from all walks of life, you can always expect to see something different in the cage or ring. Athletes from a myriad of different backgrounds all come together to see who is superior on the night of the fight. It may be the only sport where you can see a high level athlete from a totally unrelated background compete at a high level.
Enter former World’s Strongest Man champion Mariusz Pudzianowski. The Polish strongman made the transition to mixed martial arts back in 2009 and has never looked back.
Mariusz Pudzianowski possesses the kind of otherworldly strength that has put the world on notice. You don’t win five World’s Strongest Man titles simply by luck. Mariusz clearly has always been a hard worker and his strongman victories prove that much.
Now twenty-three matches deep into his MMA career, we can firmly say that Mariusz Pudzianowski is a combat sports veteran.
Preparation
The former strongman competitor is now looking to compete for the twenty-fourth time at KSW 64. With hopes of dominating his foe, Senegalese heavyweight Serigne Ousmane, Mariusz has been putting in some serious training.
*Via Google Translate
Evening training fun done 60 minutes and you can go back to the cottage. Old Pudzian still gives advice. Well, experts are waiting for criticism ????? push the punches-I know, I am free, I know. I don’t know how to box – I know too??? and what else ???? ???
Well, I am old and it has been for a long time.
The two powerhouses set to clash at KSW 64 were supposed to meet at a prior event, but the fight was scrapped. Now both men will have the opportunity to battle it out at this weekend’s event. Take a look at the preview below and get hyped for this heavyweight showdown.
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Will Mariusz Pudzianowski be victorious or will Serigne Osumane maintain his undefeated record?
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.
Achieve Mind Boggling Shoulder Gains With These 4 Exercises
A Complete Shoulder Workout
Broad shoulders are a sign of strength and power. Imagine what would Superman look like with tiny shoulders. A study from the University of Albany found that a woman’s sexual satisfaction is strongly linked to her partner’s attractiveness and shoulder breadth.
Going by this research, who wouldn’t want to have a nice set of shoulders. This is easier said than done. Shoulders are one of the hardest muscle groups to develop. Building round shoulder caps requires a combination of compound and isolation exercises.
Shoulders consist of three heads; medial (middle), anterior (front) and posterior (rear). Most people have lagging shoulders because they fail to train all the three heads equally. The rear deltoids are usually the most stubborn among the three.
We have designed this workout keeping in mind an overall development of your shoulders. If you’re stuck on a plateau, you should also experiment with advanced training techniques like supersets, drop sets, rest-pause sets, etc.
1. Military Presses – 3 Exercises 12 Reps
Military presses are a compound exercise which works the medial and the anterior shoulder heads. You should start your shoulder workout with the military presses as they are one of the most taxing exercises.
Since this is an overhead movement, you need to be extra careful while performing it. Ask someone for a spot if you’re going for a PR. You should also be using lifting equipment like a weightlifting belt and wrist wraps for support.
2. Dumbbell Front Raises – 3 Exercises 12 Reps
Dumbbell front raises work the anterior (front) deltoids. Most people make the mistake of going too high while performing this exercise. Raise the dumbbells to your eye level without using any momentum.
Negatives are an important part of the dumbbell front raises. Don’t drop the weights like a bomb, keep the negatives slow and controlled. If you want a better pump, perform unilateral sets. Unilateral sets are when you perform all the reps on one side before moving on to the other.
3. Pec Deck Rear Flyes – 3 Exercises 15 Reps
Most people lack in the rear delt department. They make it even worse by not training their rear deltoids often enough. Since your rear delts are at your back, it is hard to establish a mind-muscle connection with them as you can’t see them in the mirror.
Pec deck rear flyes are an isolation exercise. Using cables help in maintaining constant tension on your rear delts throughout the movement. Pause for a second at the top of the movement and squeeze your rear delts.
4. Cuban Presses – 3 Exercises 12 Reps
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Cuban Presses are an incredibly effective exercise which helps in building overall muscle mass. Hold dumbbells in both hands and place them in front of your quads. Perform an upright row and at the top of the upright row, switch to the shoulder press position.
Complete a shoulder press and return to the starting position by performing a negative on the upright row. Use moderate weights while performing this exercise as it is more brutal than it might look like.
5. BONUS: Barbell Shrugs – 3 Sets 15 Reps
Don’t leave out your traps while training your shoulders. The trapezius is one of the major muscles of the back and is responsible for moving, rotating, and stabilizing the scapula (shoulder blade) and extending the head at the neck.
While performing the barbell shrubs, most people put more weights on the bar than they can handle. Bring your shoulder to your ears and hold them there for a second. You can also perform this exercise using dumbbells.
What day of the week do you train your shoulders? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
