Tag: Bodybuilding
The Mike O’Hearn Show: Gunnar Peterson On Training Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, & Pro Athletes
Mike O’Hearn and iconic trainer Gunnar Peterson dive deep into training history, techniques, and the secret to transforming into a fit life like Sylvester Stallone.
Gunnar Peterson is an iconic personal trainer best known for his work with celebrities and professional athletes. He’s been known to train Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and was the trainer for The Lakers. There is a reason why so many high profile individuals seek out Peterson. He has truly valuable insight into strength training and fitness. That’s why in this week’s episode of Generation Iron’s and Barbend‘s The Mike O’Hearn Show, Gunnar Thompson shares stories of training Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, and how anyone, regardless of money or genetic talent, can transform via fitness.
A gym membership, fancy gym equipment, and a personal trainer are all valuable resources you can invest into for optimizing your fitness. There’s no doubt about that. But it’s not necessary to succeed in the fitness world. In fact, the greatest thing about strength and fitness is that it can be done by all walks of life – at zero cost. It’s clear that Gunnar Peterson is a high profile celebrity and pro athlete trainer. But he wants the general public to understand that just because you can’t afford a trainer like him, doesn’t mean you can’t live and look like Sylvester Stallone.
And that’s what this entire episode’s conversation is all about. Mike O’Hearn sits down with Gunnar Peterson to discuss the true secrets behind living a fit life. What can the general public learn from the insights of Peterson? And what can they take with them from this conversation to transform their life? Let’s jump into it.
The Human Body Is Very Forgiving: It’s Never Too Late To Start Being Strong And Fit
One inspiring conversation topic that Gunnar Peterson touches upon with Mike O’Hearn – is on the forgiving nature of the human body. Yes, the body can be very fragile and fall victim to injury or illness. But on the other hand, it’s also very resilient and forgiving. A fit lifestyle can start at twenty, thirty, or even in your forties and fifties. You can’t turn back time and stop the damage you may have done from an unhealthy lifestyle. But no matter what you’ve done, you can always start to become fit in the present.
“I was a fat kid,” Gunnar Peterson states during our interview conversation. He continues:
“When I learned about this and I saw, ‘Wait if I do that and then I do that and I tacked on this and I didn’t need that.’ I start looking different. Which means I start feeling different. Which means I start carrying myself differently. Which means I start seeing myself differently. People see me differently. I want to share that.”
Gunnar Peterson experienced the limitless transformative powers of fitness directly. And he wanted to share it with the world. To him, the biggest travesty is the idea that fitness is for a select elite few group of people. That you need to be athletically gifted to be good at fitness.
That’s not true – and Peterson wants the world to understand just how forgiving and flexible the human body can be no matter what point in your life you start. Peterson explains:
“It’s never insurmountable… the body is so forgiving. You can be a meth head, undernourished, not sleeping and start making some changes and you come out of that and you go, ‘I can turn into a physically fit, healthy, contributing member of society…’ to me that’s super powerful.”
Sylvester Stallone’s Fitness Secret… And It’s Not His Money
When people look at action star celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, and The Rock – they may think that their physiques are only possible due to the untold riches they’ve accrued from their films. The general excuse is that someone like Stallone can still have abs over 50 because he has the money to invest in a trainer like Gunnar Thompson.
While we will not pretend that money doesn’t afford more time, flexibility, and resources – it’s also unfair to assume money is the only way to look like Stallone well past his 50s and into his 70s.
In fact, Gunnar Peterson explains that Stallone’s success might be directly related to a work ethic he had from the start. This includes his dedication to fitness. So what’s the secret? How can a person who finds fitness a chore learn to be motivated and dedicated like Sylvester Stallone?
Gunnar Peterson explains that it comes down to never giving up, even in the face of multiple failures. Easier said than done right? Well, one secret Peterson realized about himself and in successful action celebs like Stallone was this – always make time for fitness even in the face of failure.
What does Peterson mean by this? Here’s an example. If life throws a curveball at you and takes away your free hour usually dedicated to a workout. Don’t just throw that entire day’s workout away. First try to find another time to squeeze in your planned training. If that doesn’t work – still attempt any sort of workout. Even if it’s just for a spare 15 minutes.
This may not be your planned hour workout. And no – training for 15 minutes will not majorly improve your strength or fitness levels. However, it does continue to train your mindset. If you squeeze 15 minutes here and 30 minutes there because life has become too hectic, you are still building a second-hand subconscious focus on fitness and bettering yourself.
That’s the hardest part. And if you can eventually make working out second nature to every single week of your life – then the mental battle becomes easier. Then the scheduling a full workout becomes less stressful. Suddenly, everything feels easier and you are more motivated to prioritize fitness in your life.
“I was with him on Rocky Balboa, the sixth installment of the original Rocky series,” Gunnar Peterson states. He goes on:
“It was more like, when can we get the workout in? He’s never going to miss it. And it might be the morning, it might be before shooting, maybe he’s not there for the first couple shots, maybe he’s there late. And it’s just going to be wherever he is, let’s just get it, let’s get this done.”
Sylvester Stallone was directing, acting, and producing in Rocky Balboa. So time to train was very limited. But it was also important. Not only because he values fitness in his personal life but because his role in the film required a boxer’s physique.
So he would squeeze in a workout, no matter how long or short, whenever he had a window of opportunity. Peterson explains:
“So I’m in my gym and I get a text… from his right hand guy who would say, ‘Sly is on his way to you.’ And always knew there was a break in his day and he would drive from downtown, knock out a workout, and then go back and finish shooting.”
Wrap Up
There is rarely a life circumstance or personal deficiency that prevents an individual from being fit. We might not all be able to look like The Rock but we can still dedicate ourselves to fitness like The Rock. It’s never too late, you’re never too old, your genetics are never too flawed. The hardest part is to train your subconscious to always find room for fitness. Once you do that – the hard part is over and the real transformation begins.
Gunnar Peterson goes into far more detail about his training philosophy, workout tips and insights, as well as more stories of training celebrities and pro athletes. You can check it all out in our full interview on The Mike O’Hearn Show above. Make sure to watch new episodes every Friday. Only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network or wherever podcasts are downloaded.
Horse MD Makes Move To Men’s Open Following Weigh-In Issue
Horse MD will make the jump to Men’s Open at his current weight.
Marcello De Angelis, known as Horse MD, is one of the up-and-coming talents in bodybuilding. He has been competing in Classic Physique but recently announced his intention to move to Men’s Open after controversy surrounding his weigh-in at his most recent show.
De Angelis earned his Pro Card last year and has been anticipated ever since. Horse MD was hospitalized with a virus a few weeks ago that left him severely dehydrated. The virus itself is unknown but he was treated with a Saline drop to help with the dehydration. Following this stay in the hospital, De Angelis failed to make weight in Brazil when he was scheduled to appear on stage.
Horse MD was slated in Classic Physique in the Musclecontest Brazil but came in too heavy for his height. He needed to be under 101kg but came in at 104.8, which is nearly seven pounds more than needed. This left many wondering if Horse MD would drop the weight or make the move up.
Horse MD Announces Move To Men’s Open
On Thursday, Horse MD took to Instagram to announce his move to Men’s Open. This was a decision that was put into the universe following his weigh-in controversy at his most recent show.
“Go to open. This whole period of transition to Classic taught me a lot, unfortunately the difficulties in losing weight affected my immunity, physical and mental health before I could finish the first competition and God knows I tried until the end with all my strength, putting goal and expectation above my health.
My coach and wife were not in favor of me choosing Classic in the beginning because they both know my facilities and difficulties, and so during the journey people who really like me, when they saw me degrading myself in search of weight, changed their minds, so as after the virus I was advised to stop there, I was wrong once again to go all the way.”
Horse MD is a former Mr. Universe champion with plenty more to accomplish. He also took home the Panamericano title, along with two Sulamericano titles and four Brasileiro gold medals.
De Angelis continued to explain that his family was not on board with cutting weight, especially following the virus. Now, he expects the best from this switch to Men’s Open.
“I never wanted to disappoint, I always go to the end. But I was also disappointed in myself for letting all this happen and I will never put anything against my health (not just once again). My happiness is in the Open. I really appreciate those who are by my side and trust me, I also appreciate all the good energies of those who accompany my work. The best is yet to come, I will strategize with the right people who care about me and dedicate myself to bringing the best physique of my life.”
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
PNBA Michael Boyle’s Drinking Tips for Bodybuilders Dieting
PNBA athlete Michael Boyle shared what you can drink and what alcoholic beverages to avoid when dieting.
Drinking alcohol and reaching your fitness goals seem to contradict each other. But with the right strategies, you can enjoy a few drinks and build the physique of an elite natural athlete. Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (PNBA) athlete Michael Boyle gave some tips on how you can drink while dieting.
Michael Boyle placed well at 2021 Natural Olympia in the Men’s Bodybuilding Masters category, earning third place. He’s also a 2x UK natural bodybuilding champion. He said:
“When dieting especially down the way, it is important to consider that alcohol contains calories, and sadly not a little amount.
My lifestyle clients, don’t stop drinking completely but majority like to opt out or decrease the amount to “occasionally” than every week.
To compare I put together few of the drinks I enjoy—swipe right. Especially Espresso Martini, even in such a little drink there is a meal size amount of calories.
When dieting and drinking, you better off with spirits + Diet Pepsi, and watching the amount than going for a beer or coctails [sic] which are most calorific! [sic]”
You can see his full Instagram post below.
Alcohol and Fitness
Ultimately, if you’re trying to lose weight and body fat, it comes down to calories in vs. calories out. As long as you’re in a caloric deficit, you’ll lose weight, no matter what you eat–or drink! You can still sip on a martini as the pounds shed away. The caveat is that it’s essential not to go overboard on calories. That’s because alcohol has calories. Although, compared to fat, alcohol contains fewer calories per gram (fat has 9 calories per gram, and alcohol has 7 calories per gram). However, alcohol has more calories per gram than protein and carbs (4 calories per gram).
That said, sticking with low-calorie beverages is the best approach to take to drink and shred fat. However, if you consume too many calories (sugary margaritas), the calories will add up, leading to weight gain. For example, as Boyle indicated on his Instagram, 500ml of Budweiser beer has 200 kcal, but 25ml of whisky only has 59kcal.
Check out this guide for a complete breakdown of how you can drink like James Bond and still build the body of your dreams.
Ronnie Coleman’s Bodybuilding Drinking Story
Ronnie Coleman, 8x Mr. Olympia champ and regarded as one of the greatest International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Pro Bodybuilders of all time, shared a drink with another all-time great, Kevin Levrone, at the 1997 Grand Prix Russia bodybuilding competition. After Coleman had a few glasses of vodka the night before, he appeared on stage with more vascularity. That’s because alcohol dehydrates you, so Coleman’s muscles popped more.
Recap
You can still drink and reach any fitness goal, but the drinks you consume (and the amount) are essential. So stick to low calories drinks and moderation. And you’ll be well on your way to building an elite bodybuilder’s physique while enjoying a drink like James Bond.
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Chris Bumstead Shares Huge Shoulder Workout Followed By ‘Anabolic’ Post-Gym Meal
Chris Bumstead continues his Olympia prep this offseason.
Chris Bumstead is not only the top competitor in Classic Physique, he is quickly turning into one of the most popular figures in bodybuilding. The reigning three-time Olympia champ is preparing to win title No. 4 in December and shared a massive shoulder workout during his preparation.
Bumstead has built a physique with incredible size, symmetry, and conditioning over the years. He has fine-tuned his prep and is at the top of his game over the course of the summer. As we enter July, Bumstead continues to put on some size and shares his workouts on his YouTube page.
Below, you can find Chris Bumstead’s full shoulder workout followed by a post-workout meal he has been using after these brutal gym sessions.
Chris Bumstead “Big, Fat” Shoulders Workout
Seated Dumbbell Shoulder Press
Band Shoulder Internal Rotation
Shoulder Press Machine
Seated Dumbbell Lateral Raise
Machine Reverse Fly
Standing Lateral Raise Machine
“I’m trying to figure out what my goals will be for this year. I mean strength-wise, not for competing. I feel like I got to be able to shoulder press 140-pounds, so 10-12 weeks out, 140. I have to wait to go heavier.”
Chris Bumstead has been trying to figure out what his goals are in the gym. This is where workouts like this come in handy during preparation.
The workout begins with seated dumbbell shoulder presses followed by band shoulder internal rotations. This was used as a bit of a workout to loosen up his muscles in the shoulder.
READ MORE: Chris Bumstead Discusses Recent Cycle, Health In Bodybuilding: ‘Very Low Dose On My Supplements That I’ve Been Using’
Bumstead continued with the shoulder press machine and performed three sets of 8-10 reps. This came after a warmup set. Bumstead did not disclose the amount of sets and reps for the entire workout but some can be judged by what is shown in the video. Following this exercise, Bumstead explains how he might have to log his weight in the gym.
“I can never remember the weights I’m doing now. I’ve never done that in the past but I think this year I have to stop being a little bi**h and try and actually get strong.”
The workout ended with machine reverse flys and standing lateral raises. This is how Bumstead fries his delts toward the end of the workout. Following his time in the gym, Bumstead shows his viewers the latest post-workout meal he has been making.
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Chris Bumstead “Anabolic” Meal
The post-workout meal usually consists of high protein in the form of a shake. Chris Bumstead shared the recipe that switches it up a bit. He takes Raw Nutrition protein and combines it with cocoa-flavored brown rice crisps. This meal consists of 110 calories and 23 grams of carbs.
“I used to do this with cookies and cream and using cocoa flavored brown rice crisps but I’ve been using these ones because they have less sugar.”
The liquid Bumstead uses is cold or frozen milk because it gives it a better taste. He believes that it is not worth it any other way.
“You should just throw that in the garbage if you have warm cereal milk. Cold cereal milk is the way to go. Frozen cereal milk is even better.”
Chris Bumstead is preparing to win his fourth consecutive Olympia title and is doing it with massive workouts and diets like this.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
INBA Sep Pouresa Showcases 4-Year Natural Bodybuilding Back Transformation
Image via Instagram @dr.spouresa
INBA athlete Sep Pouresa displays his 4-year natural bodybuilding back transformation.
A shredded back is an essential part of placing well in bodybuilding shows. It enhances your physique’s muscularity and increases your shoulder-to-waist ratio, which gives you a more vivid aesthetic appearance. Building a strong and ripped back naturally takes time, though. International Natural Bodybuilding Association (INBA) athlete Sep Pouresa showcased his 4-year back transformation on Instagram.
Sep Pouresa resides in San Francisco, California, and is a resident dentist. He competes in the Men’s Physique division. In the INBA competition held in San Leandro on May 21, 2022 (Silver & Black), he placed 2nd place in the Novice class and 3rd place in the Men’s Physique Open division. He also competed at the Pro/Am Battle Against Cancer competition on May 28, 2022, in Corona, CA. Pouresa stated:
“4 year natural back transformation. Was repeatedly told that it wouldn’t be possible to balance dental school and residency with bodybuilding…I guess those 4am mornings paid off… “
You can see his complete 4-year back transformation on Instagram below.
3x Natural Olympia Argentinian competitor who placed in the top ten at 2021 Natural Olympia in the Classic Physique category, Matias Scopinaro, shared his astonishing 13-year natural back transformation.
Natural Bodybuilding Back Workout
It’s essential to do the right movements to build a muscular back. 2x Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (PNBA) Figure Open Natural Olympia champ Alondra Chatman shared her back workout.
Alondra Chatman’s Back Workout
Below is what a typical back workout looks like for Alondra Chatman.
Dumbbell Bent-over Row: 3 sets x 12 reps
Stability Ball Hyperextension: 3 sets x 12 reps
Heavy Barbell Row: 3 sets x 8 reps
Cable Seated Row: 3 sets x 12 reps
Banded Barbell Row: 3 sets x 6 reps
Dumbbell Single-arm Row: 3 sets x 6 reps
Nutrition
Of course, the workouts are only half the battle. Your diet is crucial to building a back like an INBA PNBA athlete. In a Generation Iron interview, 3x PNBA Natural Olympia Classic Physique champ Brandon Lirio shared his complete macronutrient breakdown. Lirio maintains a high protein diet–1.75g of protein per pound. Protein is essential for building muscle and repairing muscle tissue.
Natural Bodybuilding Competitions
The INBA PNBA has had many shows this year thus far. Although all shows are essential, some hold more weight than others. For example, this weekend’s past competition–INBA PNBA World Championships, which took place in Florence, Italy on June 25, 2022–was a competition that’s part of the “Road to Natural Olympia” series of shows. Competitors competed for a spot at Natural Olympia, and amateurs who placed well can obtain their pro card.
Some top INBA PNBA contenders entered this show, including Kayla Rowling (3x Bikini Divas Natural Olympia champ), Veronica Malloy (2x Natural Olympia champ), and Tommi Thompson.
The next show will be this weekend, July 2, 2022, in Dallas, TX–INBA PNBA Pro/AM Mr & Ms USA. This show will be a pro qualifier, have prize money payouts, and is a Natural Olympia qualifier for professionals and amateurs.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for more natural bodybuilding inspiration!
Who Has Bigger Biceps? Ronnie Coleman Shares Video Comparing Arms With Jay Cutler
Ronnie Coleman turned back the clock showing off a video comparing biceps with Jay Cutler.
There is plenty of history between Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler, including 12 Olympia titles and many legendary battles on stage. Boasting two of the best physiques of all-time, it is natural for the duo to want to see who has the bigger biceps. Coleman shared an old video of the two measuring arms outside the gym.
The video was shared to Coleman’s YouTube page on Wednesday afternoon but it is clear that it is an older video taken while the two were still competing on stage.
Ronnie Coleman has eight Olympia titles, which is tied for the most all-time with Lee Haney. Coleman began his run of consecutive victories in 1998 and it ran all the way to 2005. In 2006, Coleman had to settle for silver as Jay Cutler was able to win his first title. He would go back-to-back twice, winning consecutive titles in 2006-2007 and 2009-2010.
Cutler might have taken the crown from Coleman in 2006 but this was not the first time they met on stage. From 2003-2005, Cutler finished as the runner-up to Coleman as he won the latter of his eight championships. During the early part of the 2000s, it was clear who was at the top of bodybuilding.
Ronnie Coleman or Jay Cutler: Who Had Bigger Biceps?
Ronnie Coleman had a physique that was marveled at for many years because of his pure size and conditioning. Whether it is back, chest, or arms, Coleman is on the list of best ever. Here, Jay Cutler decided to measure his arms up against his biggest foe during their time on stage.
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In the video, there is a trainer using a measuring tape to take the size of Cutler and Coleman’s biceps in inches. It is revealed that Coleman is around 23.3 inches while Cutler comes in at 22.5. These are massive biceps for two competitors who perfected their physiques over the years.
Ronnie Coleman was the star of the 2018 film Ronnie Coleman: The King. This film went in-depth about one of the greatest’s upbringing and career in bodybuilding. Jay Cutler has also been featured, making an appearance in Generation Iron 3.
Since retiring from the stage, both athletes remain active in the gym. Jay Cutler often shares different workouts for viewers to try as he trains in a different way than he used to. Coleman is active on social media posting workout videos and working on other projects to remain in shape. Both athletes are still influential in the sport of bodybuilding and this is something that is never going to change.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
How CBD Roll On Prevents and Aides Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)
CBD roll ons are an excellent option for providing instant relief after a workout to prevent and help delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
Muscle soreness is not only uncomfortable and makes everyday tasks, such as getting up out of a chair or walking up a flight of stairs, difficult. But it also makes going to the gym unbearable and hinders your ability to make strength progressions and build muscle. Fortunately, Mother Nature’s provided you with a natural remedy for treating and preventing muscle soreness. This herb is cannabidiol (CBD). Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties, CBD effectively treats muscle soreness, aka delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). The right CBD product will help you alleviate muscle soreness and help prevent it from occurring in the first place. That way, you can continue building muscle and sculpting your dream body.
What Is CBD?
Cannabidiol (CBD) has become mainstream for the use of many ailments. CBD is a natural herb derived from the cannabis plant, Cannabis sativa. Tetrahydrocannabidol (THC) is found in Cannabis sativa as well, and both THC and CBD support health benefits. However, CBD does so without causing the mind-altering effects THC does. THC is known for making people high. Conversely, CBD provides ample health benefits leaving you in a sober state.
RELATED: Best CBD Roll-On Supplements For Recovery & Relief
Benefits of CBD
CBD offers many benefits, such as preventing and aiding delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), alleviating anxiety, providing pain relief, and improving sleep.
DOMS Prevention and Aid
DOMS is caused by the body working to repair the microscopic damage to muscle tissue. As the body works to restore your muscles, inflammation occurs, causing muscle soreness. DOMS is common after intense exercise, for beginners, or when you change your workout plan. It’s when your muscles become sore and typically commerces 24-48 hours after a workout. DOMS isn’t necessarily harmful to you, but it can prevent you from working out, cause pain for daily tasks, and impede your recovery process, hindering your fitness goals.
This 2021 study suggests CBD is an effective remedy for helping with muscle recovery after intensive squatting (1).
Anxiety
Anxiety is prevalent in the world and can be caused by many things, including stress, work, relationships, or financial difficulties. As a result, anxiety can negatively affect your everyday life and even your sleep quality. However, CBD is an effective remedy for improving anxiety (2).
Pain Relief
Besides the pain of DOMS, it’s common to have pain after working out due to injury such as spraining or straining a muscle. Or pain in general from a medical condition or accident. And the research found that CBD effectively reduces pain (3).
Sleep
Sleep is imperative for your health and fitness goals. In addition, your recovery will suffer if you’re not getting enough sleep or quality sleep. CBD may help alleviate insomnia, and since it relaxes you, it can do wonders for your sleep quality.
This study of patients with poor sleep and anxiety demonstrated that CBD effectively improved the majority of patients’ sleep scores (4).
What Are CBD Roll Ons?
CBD roll ons is a topical you apply to an affected area to receive therapeutic benefits. Unlike a cream, roll-ons are a stick that uses gel to apply CBD over your body. CBD roll ons have potent ingredients that help prevent and alleviate muscle soreness. CBD roll ons are prominent for athletes since they’re quick, convenient, and don’t provide any mess like creams.
Why CBD Roll Ons Are Necessary to Prevent Muscle Soreness
CBD roll ons are effective for treating DOMS and helping with post-workout recovery. CBD roll ons are great after a workout since they can be applied directly over your muscles, which will be more effective than taking CBD oil or gummies–must go through your digestive system. In addition, CBD roll ons provide an instant cooling sensation that your skin immediately absorbs to soothe your muscles after a rigorous workout.
How to Use CBD Rolls to Prevent DOMS
Of course, first and foremost, you’ll want to follow the directions of the CBD roll on product you purchase. Generally, you’ll want to apply the CBD roll on soon after your workout. Depending on the muscle group you worked out will determine where you use the CBD roll. For example, if you target your arms, you’ll want to roll the CBD roll on to your triceps and biceps to prevent post-workout inflammation. We recommend rubbing it in a small circular motion to help your skin’s receptors best absorb the product.
Is CBD Safe for Athletes?
CBD is considered safe and legal and is not on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) list. However, research is limited since marketing CBD is relatively new. And some side effects are possible, including diarrhea, dry mouth, reduced appetite, drowsiness, and fatigue. Also, be wary of CBD and THC products–not all CBD products are THC-free. That’s why it’s important to buy CBD from reputable companies.
Featured CBD DOMS Topical
Many different CBD products are available on the market, but we only recommend trusted brands that will improve your fitness and bodybuilding journey. The CBD roll on below is our CBD pick for DOMS. It’s got all the ingredients you need to alleviate muscle soreness and prevent it from happening.
Level Select CBD Level 3 Sports Roll-On is a high concentration CBD massaging roller supplement with 1,800mg of high-quality CBD for those muscle soreness needs.
The massaging roller ball is perfect for applying to any affected area of your body after an intense workout. It’s mess-free and fast-absorbing. Besides the CBD, it also has cooling menthol for relief after a workout. Applying this CBD roll on will give you a cooling sensation and a fragrant mint scent. It fits perfectly in your gym bag and is convenient for travel.
Level Select CBD 3 Mint Roll On Properties
1800mg of CBD
2.5 oz.
Cooling mint scent
Massaging roller
Mess-free and fast-absorbing
0.0% THC
1800mg of CBD is ideal for maximal relief from rigorous physical activity.
Price: $49.99
Do CBD Roll Ons Work for DOMS?
Research is pretty straightforward that CBD is effective in treating and parenting muscle soreness, pain relief, and post-workout recovery, among other things. However, using quality CBD from creditable companies such as Level Select CBD 3 Mint Roll On is recommended.
Wrap Up
CBD will relieve your body from working out, aid muscle recovery, and prevent DOMS–without the mind-altering effects THC causes. Level Select CBD 3 Mint Roll On is our number one picked CBD for muscle soreness. Its massage roller is mess-free and fast-absorbing. Also, it’s blended with premium properties and 1800mg of CBD and leaves your body with a cooling sensation, providing instant relief from lifting weights.
Generation Iron may receive commissions on purchases made through our links. See our disclosure page for more information.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and let us know what you think after trying the product!
References
Isenmann, E., Veit, S., Starke, L., Flenker, U., & Diel, P. (2021). Effects of Cannabidiol Supplementation on Skeletal Muscle Regeneration after Intensive Resistance Training. Nutrients, 13(9), 3028. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13093028
Blessing, E. M., Steenkamp, M. M., Manzanares, J., & Marmar, C. R. (2015). Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders. Neurotherapeutics : the journal of the American Society for Experimental NeuroTherapeutics, 12(4), 825–836. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13311-015-0387-1
Argueta, D. A., Ventura, C. M., Kiven, S., Sagi, V., & Gupta, K. (2020). A Balanced Approach for Cannabidiol Use in Chronic Pain. Frontiers in pharmacology, 11, 561. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.00561
4. Shannon, S., Lewis, N., Lee, H., & Hughes, S. (2019). Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series. The Permanente journal, 23, 18–041. https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/18-041
Straight Facts: Best Ways To Avoid Training Injuries In The Gym
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Jerry Brainum explores the top ways to improve your training and prevent injury in the gym.
When performing resistance or weight training in the long term, an injury will most likely occur in your future. It’s simply part of the risk of lifting heavy weight and pushing the body to new limits. However, injuries can be largely mitigated and reduced to less serious damage. How? In our latest episode of Straight Facts, Jerry Brainum breaks down the key tips, techniques, and tactics to reduce your chance of injury during training.
Sometimes a weight training injury is unavoidable. But many times, the injuries we see in the gym can be avoided if better focus and care was taken during a workout. Some of these factors are invisible and health related. Others are direct tactics that can be employed during a workout. In either case, it’s important for lifters to be vigilant about weight training safety. After all, a person could be one serious injury away from never being able to lift weight seriously again.
Let’s break down Jerry Brainum’s key tips and techniques for avoiding injury in the gym below.
Always Use Proper Technique
Form and technique are vital aspects to focus on when you are weightlifting. While some bodybuilders may “bend” technique and form to push their bodies harder, this is the exception and not the norm. Performing an exercise with incorrect form can lead to eventual injury.
Jerry Brainum believes that today’s gym-goers are far less focused on technique. He considers this a shame as technology has provided more resources than ever before right at the tip of our fingers. Yet despite these resources, distractions seem to actually be making form worse.
While this is just an anecdotal observation by Brainum, it’s still important to remain focused, do your research, and always ensure you have perfected exercise form before moving up to heavier weight. If you sacrifice form just to feel proud about moving up to the next weight – you are heading straight towards eventual injury. This leads us into our next tip…
Don’t Lift Too Much Weight, Too Soon
There is a sense of pride in breaking new PRs and lifting more weight than your friends or colleagues in the gym. However, that pride can drive us to lift too heavy, too soon. Typically when we push too far, we sacrifice form. But even beyond this, if your body is not ready to take on such an increased load of weight – the body can bend too far and lead to serious injury.
Don’t Forget To Warm Up & Stretch
Warming up might sometimes seem boring. Especially the more often you exercise and lift. However, warm ups are vital to preventing injury. Before a workout, your muscle tissue will be more “stiff.” A warmup helps flex and loosen the tissue. If you jump straight into heavy weight – that stiffness might lead to your muscles being unprepared for weight you can typically handle. Thus leading to an injury.
Jerry Brainum also discusses the concept of stretching between sets. Is it necessary to keep the muscle tissue flexible? There are two schools of thought on this. Some studies have shown that stretching between sets can actually increase muscle growth. While other studies have questions the validity of those claims.
Jerry Brainum’s suggestion? Stretching between sets will not harm you but it might have a slight chance of improving your workout. So if you want to give it a shot – go for it!
Avoid Bad Spotters At All Costs
A selection of exercises in the gym may require a spotter. A spotter is someone who watches the weight and provides a helping hand when you have maxed out or made an error in your lift. It’s important to ensure that your spotter takes it seriously and pays attention. One distracted moment can lead to an injury.
Don’t Overtrain
Some lifters are so focused on making gains that they hit the gym seven days a week for multiple hours a day. This is a mistake. Muscle does not grow during a workout. It grows during rest and recovery. If you do not provide your body time to recover you are not only denying optimized muscle growth – but putting yourself into a situation where you are not fully recovered and therefore may become more easily injured.
RELATED: Top Signs Of Overtraining And How To Avoid It & Tackle Fatigue
Don’t Slack On Nutrition
While this will be less of a problem for competitive bodybuilders, general lifters must be aware of how important nutrition is to fitness. If you are not getting the proper nutrition, your muscle tissue might be weakened. Thus more open to injury. The same can be said for recovery. If vital nutrients for recovery are missing from your diet – then your recovery becomes less optimized. This, of course, means you may not be fully recovered by your next workout and become injured.
Don’t Get Distracted By Your Phone
Unlike the past, there are little computers in our pockets that can now distract us no matter where we are. This includes the gym. But just like how you shouldn’t text and drive, you also shouldn’t text and lift weight. Bother are essentially “operating heavy machinery” and should be treated as such.
Being distracted by your phone can lead to slacking on form, or perhaps slacking on spotting a friend. It can, essentially, lead to lack of focus on the other tips listed in this video and article. So when you come to the gym, put the phone on silent and focus on the workout.
Wrap Up
You may notice that many of the items on this list are common sense. But distractions, overeager intentions, and lack of research can lead to these simple techniques being ignored. That’s why Jerry Brainum decided to break down his best tips and techniques for avoiding injury. Once they become second nature – they hardly feel like a task at all.
You can watch Jerry Brainum go into full detail in our latest episode of Straight Facts above. Don’t forget to catch new episodes every Wednesday. Only on Generation Iron and wherever podcasts are downloaded!
Hassan Mostafa Shares Physique Update Three Days Out Of Orlando Pro Championships
Hassan Mostafa is looking to pick up another victory over the holiday weekend.
Last year, Hassan Mostafa had plenty of expectations and was able to remain busy over the course of the season. This time around, Mostafa looks to be taking his physique to the next level. On Wednesday morning, Mostafa revealed a physique update as he prepares to take the stage for the second time in 2022.
Mostafa competed six times prior to the Olympia last season. He earned four top-five finishes and three in the top three. Mostafa finished third during the New York Pro and California Pro. He was able to earn enough qualification points to appear in the Olympia, where he finished 13th, despite not winning a show. Mostafa will not have that problem this season.
During the Puerto Rico Pro, Mostafa looked superior and was able to take home the gold. He might be qualified for the biggest show of the year in December but he wants to keep the momentum going this weekend.
Hassan Mostafa Looks To Dominate Orlando
Hassan Mostafa has been active on social media over the previous two days sharing physique updates as he prepares to take the stage during the 2022 Orlando Pro Championships.
Hassan Mostafa has made significant improvements this year. He is bringing a leaner package to the stage with better conditioning. Mostafa is looking shredded in his physique updates. This gives Mostafa a chance to improve upon his position in the Olympia this time around.
In Orlando, Mostafa will be up against some of the same competitors that he was able to bear in San Juan. Jonas Giatras finished third and will look to take down Mostafa in Orlando. Maxx Charles will also return to the stage this weekend. He has already competed six times, including back-to-back third-place finishes at the New York Pro and Indy Pro.
If Hassan Mostafa is able to pick up another victory in Orlando, he will solidify his standing this year and be a threat over the course of the season. If his recent physique updates are any indication, it is clear that Mostafa has taken the next step and is the real deal in 2022.
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Kevin Levrone Explains Olympia Winners Might Have Been Hand Picked: ‘I Learned To Not Take It Personal’
Kevin Levrone recently reflected on a conversation he had with Joe Weider.
Kevin Levrone has recently stepped back from the sport of bodybuilding but his history cannot be erased. During his career, Levrone had some great battles on stage against some other elite competitors. In a recent interview, he reflected on a conversation that he had with Joe Weider about Olympia champs being hand picked.
Levrone went head-to-head with the likes of Flex Wheeler, Kai Greene, and Dorian Yates. He finished as the runner-up in the Olympia four times over the course of his career. He retired in 2017 but participated in just one more show in the 2018 Arnold Classic Australia.
Despite never reaching the Sandow Trophy, Levrone enjoyed plenty of success and was one of the best in the world. He recently discussed how bodybuilding is a business and there might be other reasons why he was never able to reach the top of the Olympia.
Kevin Levrone Discusses A Conversation with Joe Weider
In a recent interview on the Muscle and Fitness YouTube page, Kevin Levrone discusses how he asked the founder of the Olympia why the award kept going to the same competitor.
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“I’ve learned not to take it personal, your placings because I remember asking Joe, ‘well why is it that none of us can never win the Mr. Olympia and you always keep giving it to the same guy?’
His answer to me at the time was ‘if I take my top-four guys that finish second, third, fourth and I shuffle you around, and I put you in first, and Shawn whatever it is, then I’m still going to make the same amount of money. Nothing is going to change but if I keep Dorian where he’s at, he opens up a whole completely different market.”
Dorian Yates won the Olympia a title of six times and was at the top for years. Because of the business side of bodybuilding, it was beneficial to keep awarding the Sandow Trophy to Yates.
After the conversation Kevin Levrone had with Weider, he was included in the Muscle and Fitness magazine cover.
“I really didn’t take it personal because he says, ‘hey, you know, just look at it as a business. That’s when I started saying, you know what, if I’m not going to win Mr. Olympia, then I’m going to try to win everything else that I can, so I can market myself the best way I can. I didn’t take it personal.”
Levrone remembers Weider explaining that he was good enough to win the Olympia but the other factors would get in the way. This is when he took the opportunity with Muscle and Fitness.
“He said, ‘it’s not that you’re not good enough to be Mr. Olympia, you certainly are good enough. I respect what you did. Then, he put me on, I think it was a 60-second edition of Muscle and Fitness, that’s when he decided to put me on the cover.”
Kevin Levrone has remained in great shape in retirement. He has clearly kept his physique in top shape proving that he is one of the best to ever do it despite not claiming an Olympia title.
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