Tag: Bodybuilding
5 Reasons Why You Should Never Squat
Reasons Why You Should Not Squat
Squats are one of the most popular and despised exercises. Squats are a compound exercise which utilizes multiple muscle groups and joints. While the benefits of squats are widely known, they aren’t for everyone.
Back Injuries
People with back injuries should avoid squatting. Squats can put a lot of tension on your lower back and can lead to an injury if performed with an improper form. Squatting with back problems is asking for trouble.
No weightlifting belt or spotter can save your back from poping if you use an incorrect form or go too heavy on the squats with a back injury. Stretching and warming up your lower back before a leg workout is always a good idea whether you have a back problem or not.
Weak Knees
For some people, squats can cause knee pain. If you feel an uncomfortable joint pain every time you squat, you should probably avoid the squat rack for the time being and consult a physician.
Joint pains can be fixed by using supplements. Supplements like glucosamine and chondroitin have been proven to bring relief from joint pains. There also have been cases where people have developed old man knees by squatting with improper form.
Unusual Physical Characteristics
Not all of us were born to squat. People with unusual physical characteristics like long legs or torso can face genuine problems while squatting. People with long legs, tight calves or ankles might have relatively poor mobility and can find it hard to squat with proper form without recruiting secondary muscles like the lower back.
Alternatives Might Be Better
The ultimate goal of performing squats is to build stronger and muscular legs. You don’t have to be fixated on squats if you can reach this goal through other exercises. Everyone’s body works a little differently and some exercises might target your quads better than old-school squats.
While the squats are complete leg builders, if you want to focus primarily on your quads exercises like extensions and lunges might target the muscles more effectively. You should focus on what works better than following the herd into the squat rack.
Machines Can Be More Efficient
Some people complain of never getting a pump while performing the barbell squats. Using machines can put constant tension on the muscles. Isolation exercises like the leg extensions and leg curls can help you get a muscle-ripping pump.
Squatting on the smith machine or performing hack squats can be a great alternative for people who find it hard to maintain a straight back on the barbell squats. Other barbell squat alternatives are dumbbell goblet and dumbbell sumo squats.
Squats can be overlooked but training legs can’t be. If any of the above-mentioned reasons ring true for you, work around these problems and try getting comfortable with squats. Working with a coach on your form can help fix your problems with the squats.
How often do you squat? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
Michael Boyle on Natural Bodybuilding Future: “Time to Improve”
Michael Boyle plans to win the Master’s division at Natural Olympia.
Michael Boyle is a two-time natural bodybuilding British champion – United Kingdom Drug Free Bodybuilding Association (UKDFBA) 2020 and 2021 – who has high hopes for the future. He finished third in the Master’s class at Natural Olympia 2021. In an Instagram (IG) post, Boyle stated:
“The @inbapnbaglobal_official Olympia pics are in. I know where I need to improve and the goal has been set. Can’t wait till I’m back at peak strength lifting heavy and building more tissue. It’s been an awesome season. One that I will never forget. Time to improve!!!”
You can see the full post below:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CW3tgFlLgb_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
With the work Michael Boyle plans to do, he believes it will be enough to secure a first-place victory in Men’s Bodybuilding Master’s at Natural Olympia.
In an IG post published on Nov 17, 2021, Boyle said:
“36 weeks of diet come to an end and what an end to the season. It’s time to go off season and get fluffy. ? Can’t wait to get them heavy dead’s back in. Operation top masters pro spot in a couple of years ? xxxxxx
Michael Boyle isn’t the only competitor that believes there is room to grow. The 2021 Natural Olympia Men’s Bodybuilding Grand Master’s winner, Philip Ricardo Jr., also believes there’s work to be done.
Road to Natural Olympia
Although there are many natural bodybuilding events throughout the year, each competitor’s primary goal is to earn a spot at Natural Olympia – The Pinnacle of Natural Bodybuilding. It’s the biggest event of the year for natural bodybuilders, and it’s equivalent to Mr. Olympia if you’re familiar with the International Federation of BodyBuilding and Fitness (IFBB).
Generation Iron was reporting the 2021 Natural Olympia, and we had a camera crew on the ground recording key moments. You can watch a full breakdown of the 2021 Natural Olympia below:
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To compete professionally in the International Natural Bodybuilding Association/Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association INBA/PNBA – most major natural bodybuilding league – league, you’ll have to win the Overall in an Open’s or Master’s category.
Now, you can start entering INBA/PNBA competitions to earn your stripes to quality for Natural Olympia. To qualify for Natural Olympia, athletes with a pro card need to compete in at least one PNBA show. However, champions of the previous year, such as Paul Krueger – Mr. Natural Olympia – and Hall of Fame Inductees (not Hall of Shame inductees), receive a “Golden Ticket” – automatic entry.
Below is a full schedule for the initial 2022 INBA/PNBA season.
Training and Coach
Michael Boyle focuses on lifting heavy weights and high reps on significant compound movements to prep for the years to come. Below is a video of him deadlifting.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CXHDK5rAiNW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Boyle is also a coach and helps men and women reach their fitness goals and sustain them at MTB Total Fitness. He has over ten years of experience in the fitness industry and a background in Muy Thai and swimming.
Generation Iron would like to congratulate Michael Boyle on his third-place finish at 2021 Natural Olympia and wish him the best of luck in his endeavors in the future!
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Ryan Terry: There Should Be A Weight Limit On The Men’s Physique Division
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Ryan Terry muses that a weight limit on Men’s Physique would help prevent physiques from growing bigger each year.
In a previous interview segment, Ryan Terry lamented the way Men’s Physique has changed over the past decade. Specifically, he believes that the physiques have gotten larger with each year – and it’s starting to look less like the original goal of the division. With the relatively recent introduction of Classic Physique, Terry believes the divide between Men’s Physique and Classic Physique is shrinking. His solution? Add a weight limit system to Men’s Physique similar to Classic. Ryan Terry discusses why he believes a weight cap on Men’s Physique would benefit the future of the division in our latest GI Exclusive interview.
Early into our conversation, Ryan Terry admits he may be a bit biased on his opinions of the direction Men’s Physique is moving towards. Terry sees himself as a smaller sized athlete in his division – and he believes that Men’s Physique as a whole has gotten too large. But in trying to be as objective as possible, Terry worries that Men’s Physique is growing too large in comparison to where the division started.
Classic Physique is a relatively new division that was introduced in late 2016. It was an answer to many fans worrying that Men’s Open has gotten too large compared to the Golden Era of the sport. This new division imposes weight limits based on height to ensure the physiques cannot grow too large. This kind of strategy is attractive to Ryan Terry. He believes that if Men’s Physique adapted to this ruleset (but on a smaller size scale), it would help prevent the division from losing sight of it’s original vision.
It’s almost inevitable that every division’s physiques grows in size over time. As each athlete tries to one up each other, they push the boundaries of size while trying to still match the aesthetic of the division. Over time, the slow change shifts the bar of expectation for judges and fans. Suddenly, a decade later, the physiques of a division look completely different.
This happened to Men’s Open – which is why slowly over time new divisions such as Men’s 212 and Classic Physique entered the sport. But now with so many divisions, Ryan Terry worries that Men’s Physique will start to look too close to Classic Physique. In his opinion, changing the Men’s Physique rules to include a weight limit based on height will fix this problem.
Of course, there are already other factors in place to differentiate Men’s Physique from other divisions. The board shorts change the overall areas that judges look at for scoring. Also the posing rounds are different. A big part of Men’s Physique posing is a “natural standing” pose – as opposed to the more showy mandatory poses found in Classic Physique and above. While seemingly small these are vital differences.
Does Men’s Physique need a change? Is the division growing too large in terms of physique size? Watch Ryan Terry’s full comments in our latest GI Exclusive segment above and then decide for yourself!
9 Things Perpetually Fit People Do Which Unhealthy People Don’t
9 Things Which Separate the Fit from the Unfit
Fitness is a lifestyle and not something you can do for a couple of days and expect to see results. There is a stark difference between the lifestyle of a fit and an unhealthy person. There are a few things which the fit people do that the unfit don’t which make all the difference.
The term ‘fit’ is subjective and can mean different things to different people. In this article, we will be talking about how to stay in good shape and health for life by making small changes to your lifestyle.
1. Workouts
If you want to stay in shape, you have to get your body moving. The human body was made to hunt and gather, and yet most of us use it to sit on a chair and order food online. Do a 30-45 minute workout daily. You don’t have to hit the gym to do this workout. Go for a walk, hike or a swimming session.
2. Diet
Planning your meals can make a big difference in how you look and feel. Eating 4-6 small meals a day will keep your metabolism rate high and will help you burn fat even when you’re sitting ideal.
3. Sleep
Sleep is where all the magic happens. If you are working to build muscle or lose weight, you need to give your body time to rest and recover from your workouts. You should be sleeping for 6-8 hours every night to see the best results.
4. Discipline
Transforming your physique and staying that way needs military-like discipline. You need to be working out, sleeping and eating at the same times every day. Following a disciplined approach helps your body to subconsciously get ready for what you’re about to do.
5. Tracking
Most fit people have a habit of tracking their workouts, diet, sleep and many other things. The habit of tracking helps in setting targets and comparing them with the final results. Apps on your phone make it easier to track your most important metrics.
6. Planning in Advance
If you’re failing to plan, you’re planning to fail. Planning your workouts, meals, rest and your day in advance will make you more productive. You might be a spontaneous individual but planning in advance will pay its dividends in the long run.
7. Visualization
Arnold Schwarzenegger made the technique of visualization popular. You should visualize having achieved your goals even when you’re just starting out. Visualize your days, workouts, and you will eventually turn thoughts into things.
8. In it for the Long Run
There are no overnight successes, especially in the world of fitness. If you’re looking to transform your physique, you need to commit for the long run. There are no shortcuts, hacks or cheat codes. You will need to put in the hard work.
9. Accept Failures and Setbacks
You will face failures and setbacks as you get on the journey of transformation. There might be days when you don’t feel like working out or following a routine. You might incur an injury and be out of the game for weeks. No matter what happens, you should never think about giving up.
What is your fitness goal? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
*Header image courtesy of Envato Elements.
6 Ways To Build Shoulder Strength, Size and Conditioning
Tips To Build Boulder Shoulders
If you think about it, all the aesthetically appealing physiques have one thing in common – they have big and round shoulders. Boulder shoulders are the foundation of a solid V-Taper.
Bodybuilding is a game of illusions and having big and round shoulders can make your waistline look smaller. Apart from all the aesthetics, every woman wants a man who can lift her on his shoulders, and this should be enough motivation to get you working on your delts.
Learn How Your Training Affects Your Muscles
Most people don’t understand how the exercises they perform affect their muscles. If your goal is to build size and strength you should focus on compound lifts. On the other hand, performing isolation exercises improves muscular conditioning.
Since we’re talking about building shoulder size, strength, and conditioning, you’ll be following a workout program that maintains a balance between the compound and isolation exercises.
Re-Structure Your Training
You can’t take a one training program fits all approach if you want to build boulder shoulders. You need to break down your shoulders into smaller muscle groups and train them as per your weaknesses.
If you have weaker rear delts, you should train them at the beginning of your workouts hitting them first with compound and then isolation lifts. Arriving at the perfect training split will take a lot of trial and error on your part.
Club Your Shoulder Work With Other Muscle Groups
If you have weaker shoulders, you should consider training them at the end of other muscle group workouts. Make sure you have at least a couple of days rest before training your shoulders again. Think of these kinds of workouts as accessory work for your delts.
Shoulders are one muscle group that can fit perfectly with your other muscle workouts. As an example, you can train your traps and rear delts when you’re working your back. Exercises like the shoulder presses can be performed as supersets with incline chest presses.
Make Compound Lifts Your Go-To
Shoulders are recruited in almost every exercise you perform. You have to be trying hard to keep them out of action. If you want your shoulders to bulge ASAP, you should perform compound exercises as often as you can in every workout.
So, the next time you have an option between wrist curls and farmer’s walk, you know what to choose. Making these small (but hard) adjustments will pay you big dividends in the long run.
Use Advanced Training Principles
You can’t expect to see major changes in your physique if you’re following a vanilla training program. You need to do better than performing 5 exercises with 3 sets of 8-12 reps in your workouts.
Advanced training principles like drop sets, supersets, intraset stretching, BFR training, etc. are your best bet at shocking your muscles into growing. You can also tweak your rep scheme – the time taken to lift and lower weights – to add a new dimension to your results.
Just Lifting Weights Isn’t Going To Cut It
Most people overlook the variety factor when it comes to their workouts. Bodybuilding exercises aren’t the place to practice monogamy. Take your gains to the next level by incorporating bodyweight exercises like handstands, handstand pushups, and resistance band work.
While strength, size, and conditioning are important, they shouldn’t come at the price of flexibility, endurance, and mobility. Always be on the lookout to try new things to keep your muscles guessing.
Who do you think has the best shoulders in the bodybuilding world? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
*Header image courtesy of Envato Elements.
2021 Toronto Pro Supershow Results
Here are the results from the Toronto Pro Supershow!
The 2021 Toronto Pro Supershow took place over the weekend with victors earning qualification to the 2022 Olympia. Competitors from 10 divisions gathered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada to put on an exciting show.
The Men’s Open division was the highlight of the show. Quinton Eriya entered the show as one of the competitors to watch. He is one of two returning competitors from this show back in 2019. The 2020 competition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic but fans were excited to have Canada’s biggest show back once again.
Joseph Seeman is the other returning competitor. He finished fourth at the competition and was looking to make another impact. Seeman has been making improvements over the last two years and has a physique that can compete in certain shows. Joel Thomas and Victor Rea Cano also entered as dark-horse competitors to win the division.
There were a total of 10 divisions that show winners gain qualification to the Olympia. The full results have been announced from the event. Checkout the full results from the show including the official score cards!
2021 Toronto Pro Supershow: All Division Results
Men’s Open: Joel Thomas
Classic Physique: Anthony Casado
Men’s 212: Douglas Connor
Men’s Physique: Davide Mazzolari
Women’s Bodybuilding: MayLa Ash
Women’s Physique: Ivie Rhein
Figure: Angelita Lopez
Fitness: Andrea Glass
Bikini: Danielle Phelps
Wellness: Kassandra Gillis
2021 Toronto Pro Supershow Breakdown
Men’s Open
First Place – Joel Thomas
Second Place – Quinton Eriya
Third Place – Joe Seeman
Fourth Place – Eiren Gauley
Fifth Place – Stan de Longeaux
Sixth Place – Carlos Longoria
Classic Physique
First Place – Anthony Casado
Second Place – Roman Ramassamy
Third Place – Romane Haye
Fourth Place – Blake Course
Fifth Place – Duqann Hinton
Sixth Place – Soo Min Yoon
Men’s 212
First Place – Douglas Connor
Second Place – Adolph Quoida
Third Place – David Henry
Fourth Place – Stephanie Didoshock
Fifth Place – Murat Gonul
Sixth Place – Luis Santa
Men’s Physique
First Place – Davide Mazzolari
Second Place – Sharif Reid
Third Place – Ikenna Amaliri
Fourth Place – Evan Kanu
Fifth Place – Charles Paquette
Sixth Place – Zheyu Zhang
Women’s Bodybuilding
First Place – MayLa Ash
Second Place – Lisa Kudrey
Third Place – Michelle Jin
Fourth Place – Tananarive Huie
Women’s Physique
First Place – Ivie Rhein
Second Place – Alexis Sullivan
Third Place – Lisa McLean
Fourth Place – Maria Redman
Fifth Place – Eve Gagnon
Sixth Place – Nathalee Thompson
Figure
First Place – Angelita Lopez
Second Place – Maryam Bamdad
Third Place – Katerina Aninao
Fourth Place – Tereza Linhartova
Fifth Place – Her Eun
Sixth Place – Rachel Killan
Fitness
First Place – Andrea Glass
Second Place – Abby Bolton
Third Place – Daniella DaCosta
Fourth Place – Corina Harkelorad
Fifth Place – Terra Plum
Sixth Place – Maria Laura Cerbelli
Bikini
First Place – Danielle Phelps
Second Place – Adair Libbrecht
Third Place – Karen Wall
Fourth Place – Diane Brunet
Fifth Place – Laura Ziv
Sixth Place – Julia Schroeder
Wellness
First Place – Kassandra Gillis
Second Place – Celeste Morales
Third Place – Emily Azzarello
Fourth Place – Alexis Rosalia
Fifth Place – Brooke Donnelly
Generation Iron wishes to congratulate all the great athletes who earned a win at the 2021 Toronto Pro Supershow. Make sure to check out our full IFBB Pro results page from this year and previous years right here to catch up on any action you may have missed!
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.
2021 Battle Of Texas Results
Jennifer Ronzitti wins Bikini at the 2021 Battle Of Texas!
This weekend, Saturday December 4th 2021, held the Battle Of Texas Supershow bodybuilding competition at the Irving Convention Center. The pro show solely featured an epic battle in the Bikini division. The results have finally been announced – and pro competitor Jennifer Ronzitti won first place a the 2021 Battle Of Texas.
The 2021 pro bodybuilding season “officially” ended on October 8th with the Mr. Olympia 2021, with all following pro shows providing qualification and points towards the following Olympia in 2022. The Battle of Texas falls under this category during what is usually a sleepy month for the sport of bodybuilding. 17 Bikini competitors fought for top placings in Texas – but only one winner was able to stand tall in the end.
While Jennifer Ronzitti earned first place – other highlights include Alessia Facchin landing in second place and Mahsa Akbarimehr following in third place. Landing in the top three spots at a pro competition is not only important for possible points towards Olympia qualification – it also provides a highlight for athletes within the bodybuilding community.
Could these relative unknown competitors one day become household names vying for ultimate champion status at an event like the New York Pro, Arnold Classic, or even Olympia? Perhaps we will see this coming year in 2022.
The official results and score cards have been released. Check out the entire results breakdown of the 2021 Battle Of Texas Supershow below.
2021 Battle Of Texas Breakdown
Bikini
First Place – Jennifer Ronzitti
Second Place – Alessia Facchin
Third Place – Mahsa Akbarimehr
Fourth Place – Marisa Woo
Fifth Place – Lawna Dunbar
Sixth Place – Rachel Linares
Seventh Place – Mary Ann Parks
Eighth Place – Aimee Leann Velasquez
Ninth Place – Lucia Malavaze
Tenth Place – Samantha Houle
Official 2021 Battle Of Texas Scorecard
Generation Iron wishes to congratulate all the great athletes who earned a win at the 2021 Battle Of Texas. Make sure to check out our full IFBB Pro results page from this year and previous years right here to catch up on any action you may have missed!
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.
Read This To Get A Shredded Midriff In A Week
Easy Steps For Getting A Sculpted Midriff
Men and women through the centuries have desired a chiseled midsection. It’s no coincidence that thousand-year-old sculptures of Greek gods, emperors, and fierce warriors were made to have washboard abs.
If your motivation wears out a week into training abs, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Achieving a shredded midriff isn’t as hard as some people make it out to be. You can achieve your goal in a week if you do the right things.
Fix Your Diet
First and foremost, abs are made in the kitchen. There is no one diet fits all approach. A lot of trial and error goes into designing the right diet program. Building abs usually involves getting rid of a few extra kilos which can require you to be in a calorie deficit state.
In a calorie deficit diet, you’re burning more calories than you’re consuming. Since you’re on an ab building crash course, if you don’t know how to build your diet program, it’s better to take the help of a professional. It can save you a lot of time and effort.
Switch-Up Your Core Training Approach
Most people follow a vanilla training program where they perform a couple of ab exercises at the end of their workouts. No wonder you can’t see any results following this approach. If you usually train your core at the end of your workouts, you should begin your training sessions with an ab workout.
Your core training needs to have variety. Utilize free weights, cables, and resistance bands in your core workouts apart from the usual bodyweight exercises. Train your core the same way you train all the other muscle groups.
Ramp Up The Cardio
If you have a layer of fat you want to get rid of, there is arguably nothing more effective than cardio. We recommend doing two cardio sessions a day to kill the excess body fat. You’ll be doing a LISS and HIIT session each.
The LISS or low-intensity steady-state cardio should be done first thing in the morning in a fasted state for 30 minutes. The HIIT or high-intensity interval training should be done for 10-minutes post resistance training.
Train Your Abs Every Day
Most people are scared to train their abs every day. They have been told training abs every day can lead to overtraining. Abs are a small muscle group and can recover relatively quickly after a workout.
You shouldn’t worry about overtraining because every person doesn’t have the capability of training their abs with the intensity required to achieve the state of overtraining. A rule of thumb should be to train your abs every day if they’re not sore.
No Cheating!
Since you’re on a deadline, you can’t afford to throw off your progress by feasting on junk food. You’ll have to say no to eating out, cheat meals or going out for a couple of drinks. You’ll have to stick to your diet plan.
Not cheating isn’t limited to your diet, you’ll have to follow your training and cardio programs religiously. Cutting out the junk food for a few weeks is an incredibly effective way of controlling your waistline.
How often do you train your abs? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
*Header image courtesy of Envato Elements.
How To Pick Up Girls In The Gym
How Not To Pick Up Girls In The Gym
Let’s face it, many of us get a gym membership so we can get in shape and impress some girls. Some of us take it even further by starting the search for our soul mate in the gym. Don’t deny it, you know who you are.
While some people have a game when it comes to picking up girls, the majority sucks at it. The risky part about hitting at girls at your gym is, you have to see them every day. So, if things go wrong you won’t be walking around with the same confidence you do now. Before you go embarrass yourself in front of pretty girls, this is a list of what you should and shouldn’t do.
Show-Off
You might be a pro bodybuilder with a ripped chest and shredded abs, but women don’t really care. You don’t want to be labeled a show-off. It’s a direct ticket to women’s blocklist and since you’re reading this article, you don’t want to end up there.
On the other hand, you should mind your own business. If you’re good at working out, work out as if no one is watching. There is something about guys who don’t give a shit which attracts girls.
Draw Attention By Doing Stupid Things
Every gym has a guy who starts grunting out loud when there are chicks around him. We get it, you have muscles and everything, but why do you want to sound like you’re going into labor?
If you think dropping heavy weights to the floor is badass, you’re mistaken. It’s considered to be douchebaggery rather than badassery. Doing nothing has a better chance of getting you noticed as compared to doing these things.
How To Pick Up Girls In The Gym
Offer Help
Helping can never go out of fashion. If your gym crush needs a spot, find a way to get there first and offer help. Make sure you’re not too buggy. Don’t give her tips on every exercise she is performing.
Don’t just limit your help to her. Your dream girl will appreciate you more if she sees you helping other people as well. Most gyms are full of broscientists and jerks, being there for everyone will definitely make you stand out.
Start A Conversation
You can never be short on opportunities to talk to your lady love when you’re in the gym. You can talk to her at the water coolers or during one of her rest breaks between sets. If you’re afraid that she will walk away, you can strike up a conversation when she is using the cardio equipment.There is nowhere she can go if she is on the treadmill.
When you walk up to her, you need to be on your A-game. Look straight into her eyes and don’t be scared or shy. Also, strike up a meaningful conversation. “How much do ya bench?” will not be a good ice-breaker in this case.
Ask To Go Out For A Quick Snack
When you become acquaintances, and if you’re not in the ‘no-talk’ list already, you stand a chance to take her out. Take it slow, you shouldn’t ask her out for a dinner date straight away. Since you’re in the gym, you can ask her out to a smoothie bar right after your workout.
Who isn’t hungry after a workout? This is the best time to get to know each other and figure out if you’re a good fit. The door to future dinner dates is wide open after this. This is all you need to know to pick up girls in the gym.
Have you ever picked up chicks in the gym? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
*Header image courtesy of Envato Elements.
Colin Congo Comments on How He Represents More Than Himself on Stage
Colin Congo may be on stage by himself, but he represents an army.
Colin Congo is one of the most notable faces in natural bodybuilding. He competes in Men’s Physique and was Mr. Natural Olympia in 2018. He’s also featured in our Generation Iron: Natty 4 Life film. Although winning trophies and prizes is something Congo indeed loves, he expresses that the memories and relationships he creates he holds dearly. While on stage, Congo knows he’s alone, but he brings a support system with him in his heart.
In an Instagram (IG) post on October 11, 2021, Congo said:
“When I’m on stage I’m by myself but I’m representing a whole lot of people who may not understand the sport but still support me and pray for my success because they know how passionate I am about it. I appreciate you all.”
In another post-Congo, said,
“Getting on stage at my very best is the goal of every contest, but the support I get from my girlfriend, friends, family, and even on social media is what really makes it worth it!”
Below, you can see more of what he said in the IG post and him flexing his 4th place medal in the Men’s Physique at Natural Olympia 2021.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWWwfpUPDaY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Colin Congo has to be one of the most passionate and hardworking bodybuilders out there. He loves the sport for what it is, but he’s not shy to express his worrisome about recent bodybuilding deaths and how drug use shouldn’t be counted out as a probable cause.
Alleged Drug Use in Bodybuilding
The dividing line in natural bodybuilding leagues such as the International Natural Bodybuilding Association/Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (INBA/PNBA) versus other bodybuilding leagues like the International Federation of BodyBuilding and Fitness (IFBB) is that the INBA/PNBA drug tests competitors from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) – the summit of professional drug testing.
However, Colin Congo admits that no drug test is 100% accurate. In a GI Exclusive interview with Colin Congo, he stated, “I know there are dudes out there that are 100% natural that just have absolutely gifted physiques. And they are going to look enhanced and they are going to just look like that. I’m not the gatekeeper for who’s natural and who’s not. I know I get up there and put my best physique on the stage. And I’m counting on the organization to hold those guys to the same standard that I’m holding myself to.”
Here’s a clip below on Congo explaining how drug tests can be beaten:
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Many natural bodybuilders in the INBA/PNBA league have been busted for drug abuse and ended up on the Hall of Shame. Of course, with WADA in place and the Hall of Shame, the chances of drug use in the INBA/PNBA league are drastically reduced.
Collin Congo wears his heart on his sleeves in bodybuilding. And he’s a leader in the sport who spreads nothing but love. He’s also an active FBI agent and avid aviator.
Generation Iron would like to wish Colin Congo success in the upcoming 2022 INBA/PNBA year. On social media, Congo stated, “We’re really bringing the heat in 2022.”
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