Tag: Bodybuilding

2023 Musclecontest International Ireland Pro Results – German Pastor Wins

2023 Musclecontest International Ireland Pro Results – German Pastor Wins

The 2023 Musclecontest International Ireland Pro is one of four major bodybuilding contests taking place this weekend. Competitors from the Classic Physique category gathered in Limerick, Ireland, where they battled for gold and an invitation to this year’s Mr. Olympia competition. 
Unlike last year’s show in December, the 2023 Mr. Olympia event kicks off in November, leaving athletes less time to qualify for the prestigious contest. The top three Olympia finishers from Classic Physique are automatically invited back to this year’s Olympia. It should be noted that the point system has been removed. With that in mind, athletes must earn their way to Olympia by winning a pro show. 
This year’s Olympia competition is headed for Orlando Florida. Athletes have until October 9 to qualify. In addition, the winner of this weekend’s event will have a chance to face four-time Classic Physique Olympia Chris Bumstead. 
2023 Musclecontest International Ireland Pro Results 
Classic Physique

Winner — German Pastor
Second Place — Andreas Fotiadis
Third Place — Emanuele Ricotti
Fourth Place — Piotr Wojtowicz-Pitek
Fifth Place — Piotr Borecki
Sixth Place — Mehmet Emin Baydilli
Seventh Place — Ali Emre
Eighth Place — Adeyemi Adefioye
Ninth Place — Genadi Lyaev
Tenth Place — Hubert Kulczynski

2023 Musclecontest International Ireland Pro Scorecards

Fitness Volt congratulates the winners! 
Published: 13 May, 2023 | 6:26 PM EDT

Dana Linn Bailey Joins Jay Cutler, Defends Natural Status, Talks Health Scares & Thyroid Issues

Dana Linn Bailey Joins Jay Cutler, Defends Natural Status, Talks Health Scares & Thyroid Issues

Dana Linn-Bailey is a pioneer of the growing Women’s Physique division. In a recent Cutler Cast podcast, Linn-Bailey discussed a number of topics including breast implants, competing drug-free, thyroid issues, and Kai Greene’s influence on her posing routines. 
Despite struggling to find her footing in the IFBB Pro League, Dana Linn-Bailey would eventually carve out a successful career, having graced the stage with a unique balance of muscularity, conditioning, and detail. Her striated chest and shoulders helped her reach the pinnacle of bodybuilding in 2013 when she claimed her lone Olympia title in the newly created Women’s Physique category. 
While she would surrender gold to Juliana Malacarne in 2014, Dana continues to prove herself in the training room and online. Since stepping away from the sport, she’s built a successful empire, boasting over 2 million followers on Instagram and half a million on YouTube. 

Dana’s ability to create engaging content online has only bolstered her name recognition within the bodybuilding and fitness communities. She has taken part in brutal workouts with four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler, as well as Hany Rambod, who coached Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan to first and second at last year’s 2022 Olympia. 
Sitting down with Cutler, DLB spoke about breast implants and whether or not she uses steroids. In addition, she discussed health problems stemming from a Rhabdomyolysis infection and a thyroid condition. 
Dana Linn-Bailey Looks Back on Breast Implant Pressures and Talks ‘Natty or Not’ Status

Linn Bailey ultimately decided that she didn’t want the procedure despite what it could have done to further her career. 

“As a competitor, you want – your wanting to do, like what if I stopped training the way I trained and I became a pro Figure girl, I wouldn’t have been the first Physique winner; I followed what I wanted and I just think it’s such a weird decision to even think, just not getting boob implants.” 

“We sat down because I wanted to do this thing, and I wasn’t doing well. I thought, ‘Cool, I’m not going to get sponsored, none of this is going to be happening, I won’t be there unless I do well in this sport.’ So I sat down, ‘Do I get them so I actually do well?’ He’s like [her husband] he just asked me, ‘Do you want them?’ I’m like, ‘Not really.’ Because again, I went back to, ‘How am I going to bench?’” said Bailey. 

“We just sort of moved forward with it [not getting implants], he’s like, ‘You’re perfect the way you are, you’re getting attention no one else is getting by being you. So there’s something there.’” 

According to Dana, she suffers from hyperthyroidism. Having considered a comeback, Dana said if she followed through, she would prove her natural status by receiving drug tests in the weeks leading up to the show. 

“If I travel a lot my labs will be off because stress messes with your thyroid, the thyroid messes up everything. It’s something I have to regulate all the time. Every year, I was always like, yeah, I was like maybe I’ll come back, I feel like I need to do something. And Rob’s always been the one like, ‘No don’t do it.’ He’s so… I just felt like it would be great for business.” 

“There’s a part of me that just wants to see what the heck I would look like on stage but I don’t want to see myself next to the girls that are winning now,” laughs Bailey. 

“Cool, I’m going to use this, if I’m going to compete, I’ll get drug tested every single week leading up to the show to just be like, ‘Suck it guys.’ They’ll probably just say I had a doctor alter it, it’s okay I’ll never win it’s fine. That was going to be my, ‘Okay, if I do compete I’m going to do it at a different angle.’ Only to prove, that hey you can do this. It takes 30 weeks for me [a prep drug-free].”  

Linn-Bailey Details Health Struggles, Names Kai Greene As Biggest Posing Inspiration

In addition to problems with her thyroid, Dana revealed that she contracted Rhabdomyolysis and said it caused her liver to fail. 

“Usually with Rhabdomyolysis it affects your liver your pee will be like brown a brownish, it will be discolored because it’s breaking everything down, but my pee was fine, and she thought that was so weird and but she said, ‘I’m pretty sure you have rhabdo.’ Like, ‘You shouldn’t have done the GHDs it’s a huge no-no in the CrossFit world, they shouldn’t have let you do that.” 

“I went to the doctor probably by Friday, they took my labs, Saturday or finally got them back a day or two, this is like a week later, my labs were astronomical. I can only imagine what they probably were on Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday. So literally, my liver was not – I was in liver failure.” 

Even though she didn’t have a lot of female bodybuilding idols, Dana was inspired by the detail and artistry of Kai Greene’s posing skills. 

“I’m such a meathead. All my favorite bodybuilders were all men, I never looked at women. Like Kai [Greene] as far as posing and stuff – like a lot of my routines I used to just watch videos of him posing and a lot of the moves and lot of my poses are from him.”

Given her decorated career and active lifestyle, there’s a lot to learn from DLB. From building bigger biceps to her three favorite squat tips, she makes her fans feel included. She also shares her personal struggles and achievements, inspiring others to overcome their own challenges and pursue their goals.

Unafraid to speak her mind, Dana Linn-Bailey is a trailblazer of the sport who paved the way in helping make the Women’s Physique division one of the most exciting in the IFBB Pro League. 
Watch the full video below, from the Cutler Cast YouTube channel: 

Published: 13 May, 2023 | 11:50 AM EDT

Keone Pearson Takes Up A 3500-Calorie Diet, Getting Ready For The 2023 Texas Pro

Keone Pearson Takes Up A 3500-Calorie Diet, Getting Ready For The 2023 Texas Pro

Keone Pearson is getting ready to make a statement in the 2023 competitive season. The prodigy is set to return to the stage and has a new diet plan that will take his physique to the next level. The 28-year-old has enjoyed a certain degree of success in the Classic Physique as well as the 212 division of the IFBB Pro League throughout his career. His first ever Olympia appearance came in the Classic Physique division at the 2019 Olympia where he finished fourth. However, Pearson decided to make the 212 division home for the rest of his career.
The divisional debut saw him take home the 2020 Chicago Pro trophy which ultimately qualified him for the 2020 Olympia. Unfortunately, Pearson had to pull out of the competition owing to personal troubles.
He returned the following year and finished 14th at the 2021 Olympia. A dominant win at the 2022 Tampa Pro gave Keone the fourth opportunity to prove his mettle at the grandest stage of bodybuilding. The bodybuilding community was impressed by his progress and many expected him to give top contenders like Shaun Clarida and Kamal Elgargni a lot of issues. Pearson put up a fierce fight and surged into the top seven, finishing sixth at the 2022 Olympia.

The Prodigy will compete at the 2023 Texas Pro that is scheduled to take place on August 18-19. 16 weeks out of the show, his competition prep has officially started. On the first day of prep, Keone shared what he would be eating throughout the day to get the right body composition for the show. So let’s see how Keone Pearson is fueling his body to rock the 2023 competitive season.
Keone Pearson’s full day of eating for 2023 Texas Pro competition prep
Meal 1
A usual day during the competition prep starts with a 45-minute cardio session in a fasted state. An abs workout followed it on the day of recording the video. Pearson then rushes back home to fuel his body after the calorie-intensive activity and eats the first meal. It consists of:

Oats – 80 grams
Banana – 1 full
Beef – 100 grams
Whey Protein – 30 grams

Approximate Nutritional Values
Energy – 718 cal, Protein – 66.6 grams, Fats – 18.1 grams, Carbohydrates – 83 grams
Tip: Find your daily protein intake
Meal 2
As a couple of hours pass by, it’s time to go and train hard in the gym. But before that, Pearson has to fuel his body with a good pre-workout meal. His current diet plan has him consume a rice and chicken-based meal before hitting the gym. The 2022 Tampa Pro winner’s pre-workout meal includes:

Chicken – 200 grams
Jasmine Rice – 75 grams

Approximate Nutritional Values
Energy – 426 cal, Protein – 64.8 grams, Fats – 7.6 grams, Carbohydrates – 20.8 grams
While Keone Pearson likes to eat rice in 75-gram portions, he is not opposed to varying them according to personal preferences.
“Honestly, you can do it however you want it. If you wanna eat it in one sitting for your one meal or three just do it as you get the same food,” he said.
Keone savors the meal and then heads over to the kitchen to prepare his pre-workout and intra-workout drinks.

Pre-workout and intra-workout shake
As a professional bodybuilder, Keone Pearson has to ensure that his workouts yield the best results. To fuel the workout and get the most pump out of the training, the 212 competitor consumes a pre-workout drink that has the following ingredients:
Pre-Workout Drink

Stimulant-free Pump Pre-Workout Supplement with 5 grams L-Citrulline, 3 grams GlycerPump, 1 gram Agmatine Sulphate, 1 gram L-Tyrosine – 2 scoops
Caffeine – 1 scoop
Sea Salt

Related: Best pre-workout supplements ranked
Intra-workout drink that keeps the energy high during the training session consists of:

EAA + BCAA formula

On the day of recording the video, Keone trained chest and it was his high day where his caloric intake was higher than it is on a leg day.
“Today is actually considered a high day because I have a high day for chest and back, not on legs, which is pretty surprising. Those are my low days. I guess he wants me to push harder for that…” Pearson stated.
After pushing through an intense workout in the gym, Pearson returns home to have the post-workout meal.

Meal 3
To enable muscle recovery and growth in the arduous training routine, Pearson downs the protein shake and fruits. The post-workout meal is a hefty one and comprises of:

Whey Protein Isolate – 1 scoop / 30 grams
Pineapple – 50 grams
Jasmine Rice – 75 grams
Lean Ground Beef – 200 grams

Approximate Nutritional Values
Energy – 756.7 cal, Protein – 80.9 grams, Fats – 18.3 grams, Carbohydrates – 35.8 grams
Meal 4 and 5
The next two meals in Pearson’s full day of eating consist of high-quality protein sources like chicken and Salmon complimented with cream of rice and Potatoes.
Meal 4 consists of:

Cream of Rice Cereals- 75 grams
Chicken – 200 grams

Approximate Nutritional Values
Energy – 588 cal, Protein – 67.2 grams, Fats – 3.9 grams, Carbohydrates – 58.5 grams
The next one, meal 5, is the last meat/fish based meal that includes:

Salmon – 200 grams
Potatoes – 200 grams

Approximate Nutritional Values
Energy – 598 cal, Protein – 49 grams, Fats – 24.2 grams, Carbohydrates – 42 grams

Meal 6
This bedtime snack is the final bit of food that Pearson puts in his body every day. Rich in protein, healthy fats, and Complex carbohydrates, it keeps late night hunger pangs at bay and promotes muscle growth. Additionally, nut butters like peanut butter or almond butter contain tryptophan which can promote sound sleep.
The meal includes:

Oats – 50 grams
Whey Protein Isolate – 30 grams
Almond Butter – 30 grams

Approximate Nutritional Values
Energy – 466 cal, Protein – 41.2 grams, Fats – 22.3 grams, Carbohydrates – 41 grams
Total caloric intake and macronutrient profile for the day

Energy – 3509 calories
Protein – 303.2 grams
Fats – 81.7 grams
Carbohydrates – 390.4 grams

Keone Pearson has found his footing in the 212 division after a successful 2022. While he has to prove his mettle against the likes of reigning champion Shaun Clarida and former champ Kamal Elgargni, he still has a lot of mileage left. If he shows patience and focuses on making incremental gains, the 28-year-old can dominate the 212 division in the years to come.
Watch Keone Pearson share the diet here, courtesy of his personal YouTube channel:

Published: 13 May, 2023 | 9:19 AM EDT

Workout Split For Women: The Ultimate Guide To Get Fit and Fabulous

Workout Split For Women: The Ultimate Guide To Get Fit and Fabulous

Over the last decade, women have been cozying up to weight training. However, this has led us into a unique situation; the ladies look like deers caught in headlights as soon as they enter the weight room. 
Although girls no longer need to be convinced to start lifting weights, only a handful of these women follow a structured workout split. Performing a few dumbbell curls one day, a couple of sets of squats the next day, and a little of everything every other day isn’t going to do you any good. 
Finding the right workout split can be daunting. Furthermore, stepping inside the free-weight section of a gym for a newbie can be overwhelming, especially if they have no idea what they are doing. 
A balanced training program is key to achieving your dream figure. Furthermore, the ideal workout regimen for an individual can change depending on their preferences, schedules, goals, and experience levels. Following an incompatible training split increases your risk of injury. 
In this article, we dive into the meaning of workout splits, the factors and tips to consider while choosing a workout split for women, its benefits, and the five best workout splits for women at different experience levels. We have a lot to cover. So, sit tight. 
What are Workout Splits?

A workout split refers to how you divide your training into different muscle groups or body parts. Many exercisers avoid picking a workout split as they find it too restrictive. Although a workout split requires you to train a specific muscle group on a particular day of the week, you are free to choose the exercises you perform in each training session. 
Notably, programming a workout is best left to advanced lifters or personal trainers. Each muscle consists of different heads that must be trained from multiple angles for optimal growth. Performing similar movements can lead you to a muscle and strength plateau. For example, the deltoid muscle has three heads — anterior, lateral, and posterior. If you only perform shoulder press and front raise exercises in your training regimen, you’ll have substandard lateral and posterior deltoid head development. Does this sound like too much work? Don’t worry; we have included a sample workout plan for overall muscle and strength development with each workout split. 
Many people think the ‘bro split’ is the only workout program. A bro split includes training chest on Mondays, back on Tuesdays, shoulders on Wednesdays, and so on. While there is nothing wrong with this split, most exercisers can get better results by following a more focused workout split. 
For example, ladies with lagging lower bodies would want to train their legs twice a week. However, the bro split has no provisions for accommodating a second leg workout. An upper and lower body workout split will be a better fit in this case. 
Benefits of Following a Structured Workout Split For Women
Here are the advantages of selecting a structured workout split for women:
Makes Your Workouts More Efficient
Many lifters treat the gym as a restaurant, and their training split as an à la carte menu. They enter the iron paradise without a plan and tackle their workout on the fly; these lifters perform the exercises that feel the most comfortable and put the least strain on their muscles. As you could have guessed, these folks see little to no progress and are most likely to drop off. 
A structured workout split leaves nothing to chance. Here, you plan your workouts weeks in advance. Everything from the exercises, sets, and reps is determined before entering the gym. Having an action plan ensures you make the most of your time in the gym. 
Built-in Progressive Overload
Progressive overload is indispensable if you want to make strength or muscle gains. It includes placing ever-increasing stress on your muscles by increasing the intensity and volume of your workouts. You could achieve this by doing more sets, reps, and exercises, reducing rest between sets, or incorporating advanced training principles in your workouts, such as super sets, drop sets, intra-set stretching, etc. [1]
A balanced workout split will help progressively overload your muscles and reduce your risk of hitting a plateau by shocking your muscles with varying training intensity and volume. Furthermore, an efficient workout split also allows your muscles to rest and recuperate between workouts, reducing your risk of injury. 

Fix Muscle and Strength Imbalances
An effective workout split can aid in fixing muscle and strength imbalances by allowing you to work on your weaknesses multiple times a week. At the same time, it will help you polish your strengths. 
Monitor Progress
You must stick to a workout split for at least 12 weeks before arriving at conclusions about its effectiveness. Since you’ll perform the same exercises, number of sets, and reps in each workout for the entire duration, it’ll make it convenient for you to track your progress. 
Additionally, following a workout split and tracking your progress will help you stay accountable. Sharing your progress with your friends and family can be a potent motivator. 
Keeps You Interested
Choosing a workout program is like choosing a life partner — you want someone who compliments your strengths and weaknesses. 
Although the workout splits below define the exercises you’ll perform in each training session, you are free to perform their variations instead. You must, however, ensure that the replacement exercises target the same muscle groups. For example, you could do the cable side lateral raise instead of the dumbbell side lateral raise. You must, however, not replace side lateral raises with shrugs. 
Knowing the exercises you’ll perform in a workout in advance can allow you time to prepare for a workout, which can improve your performance. Plus, tracking your progress will keep you hooked to your workout split. 
5 Best Workout Splits For Women
Depending on your current physique and experience level, you can choose a workout split that aligns with your goals. Each workout split has its unique benefits and allows you to focus on particular muscles to fix imbalances and take you to your objectives. 
Below, you’ll find five workout splits for women that involve training up to three muscle groups per training session twice a week. 
Full-Body Workout Split For Women

The basic full-body workout split for women is a two-day-a-week training regimen. It is perfect for beginners and ladies with busy schedules who can only make time for a couple of weekly training sessions.
In the full-body training split, you could work all your muscle groups in a single workout or divide them into two sessions. 
Since this workout split involves training most of your muscle groups in a single workout, you must follow a HIIT (high-intensity interval training) method for these workouts to get a lot of work done in a short period. Women aiming to shed weight must engage in full-body cardio exercises. 

Day 1
Full-Body Workout

Day 2
Rest

Day 3
Rest

Day 4
Full-Body Workout

Day 5
Rest

Day 6
Rest

Day 7
Rest

As you gain more experience, you could go from performing two weekly full-body training sessions to doing four weekly workouts. Perform variations of the exercises listed in the sample workout below on the two additional days to add variety to your training regimen. 
Full-Body Workout 1:
Beginners must seek expert help to drill the movements. It will help you make the most of the exercises while limiting your risk of injury. 

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Barbell Bench Press
3
8-12

Barbell Bent-Over Row
3
8-12

Dumbbell Shoulder Press
3
8-12

Barbell Biceps Curl
3
8-12

Cable Triceps Extension
3
8-12

Barbell Squat
3
8-12

Crunch
3
8-12

Full-Body Workout 2:
Since these workouts are programmed to induce hypertrophy, avoid resting for more than 60 seconds between sets, as it can significantly hamper your training intensity. 

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Dumbbell Chest Fly
3
8-12

Dumbbell Deadlift
3
8-12

Barbell Skull Crusher
3
8-12

Dumbbell Side Lateral Raise
3
8-12

Dumbbell Hammer Curl
3
8-12

Barbell Sumo Squat
3
8-12

Hanging Leg Raise
3
8-12

Full-Body HIIT Cardio Workout
The HIIT cardio workout below includes nine exercises; perform two rounds of this circuit. You must perform each exercise for 45 seconds. Rest 15 seconds between exercises. Plus, you are allowed a two-minute rest after completing a round. 

Exercise
Time (in seconds)
Rest (in seconds)

Lunge 
45
15

Push-Up
45
15

Burpee
45
15

Star Jump
45
15

Leg Raise
45
15

Squat Jump
45
15

Bicep Curl
45
15

Lateral Shuffles
45
120

Use appropriate dumbbells for exercises like bicep curls and lunges. Feel free to use additional resistance in the squat jump. However, you must ensure you are not compromising your form to lift heavy weights. 
Benefits of Full-Body Workout Splits
Here are the advantages of doing a full-body workout split for women:

The full-body workout split is excellent for beginners as it helps them acclimatize to weight training.
This workout regimen is great for ladies on a tight schedule, as the most basic version of the full-body split requires hitting the gym twice a week.
Since you’ll do only one exercise per muscle group, we’ll mostly stick to compound lifts for this workout program. Besides helping you build muscle and strength, multi-joint exercises improve your overall functionality.
Training twice weekly gives your body enough time to rest and recuperate between workouts.

Drawbacks of Full-Body Workout Splits
Here are the cons of doing a full-body workout split for women:

As you’ll be training all your muscles in a single workout, it can be incredibly exhausting, especially as you graduate to training four days a week.
Full-body strength training workouts can take longer to complete. Expect to spend 60-120 minutes in the gym.
The full-body workout split is not the best for fixing strength and muscle imbalances unless you want to boost your training volume significantly.

Upper Lower Body Workout Split For Women

The upper lower body is the perfect next step for ladies wanting to move up from a two-day training regimen. It is a four-day workout split that involves training half of your body on a single day. 
Notably, you should ideally start the training week by training your weaker half. Lifters with lagging lower bodies should start the week with a leg workout instead of hitting an upper body training session. 
Many lifters go all-out on their stronger muscle group training day, leaving them tired and sore for their weaker muscle group workouts. Since this is a four days a week workout split, you can also rest after each workout to allow your muscles enough time to rest and recuperate between training sessions. 

Day 1
Upper Body

Day 2
Lower Body

Day 3
Rest

Day 4
Upper Body

Day 5
Lower Body

Day 6
Rest

Day 7
Rest

As this workout regimen involves training all your muscles twice a week, you shouldn’t add more training days to this training split. Instead, you could increase your training volume and intensity to get the best bang for your buck. 
A study found that an upper and lower body workout split is more effective at helping you build muscle strength and size over 10 weeks than a full body workout regimen done thrice a week. [2]
Upper Body Workout:
The upper and lower body workouts primarily consist of functional (multi-joint) exercises to maximize your muscle and strength-building potential. Focus on contracting your muscles with each rep to induce hypertrophy. 

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Barbell Bench Press
3
8-12

Dumbbell Bent-Over Row
3
8-12

Arnold Press
3
8-12

Barbell Biceps Curl
3
8-12

Close-Grip Bench Press
3
8-12

Russian Twist
3
8-12

Lower Body Workout:
You could change the order of the exercises depending on your preferences. If you have lagging calves, we recommend starting your leg workout with the standing calf raise. Use a weight that helps you achieve muscle failure between the eighth and 12th rep.

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Barbell Squat
3
8-12

Walking Lunge
3
8-12

Romanian Deadlift
3
8-12

Goblet Squat
3
8-12

Leg Curl
3
8-12

Standing Calf Raise
3
8-12

Benefits of Upper Lower Body Workout Splits
The pros of the upper-lower body workout split include the following:

It allows you to train all your muscle groups twice a week.
Training your upper and lower body muscles separately can help you fix muscle and strength imbalances, improving your overall physique proportions and symmetry.
The upper-lower body workout split will help you build a solid foundation. You could easily pivot to a powerlifting or bodybuilding-focused workout program after following this workout split for 12 weeks.
This workout split for women allows sufficient recovery time between workouts, which can fast-track results and reduce your risk of injury.
Training four days a week allows you the flexibility to program your workouts according to your schedule. You could take an off day after each workout or reshuffle the training days.

Drawbacks of Upper Lower Body Workout Splits
The cons of the upper-lower body workout split include the following:

The upper-lower body workout split is volume heavy since you’ll be training all your muscles twice weekly, which is not the best for newbie lifters.
On the other hand, although you’ll be training all your muscles twice a week, the training volume for each muscle group can be limiting.
Since you’ll be training half of your body in a single workout, these workouts can take a lot of time to complete. Expect to spend 60-120 minutes in the gym during your upper-lower body workouts.

Push-Pull Workout Split For Women

The push-pull workout split for women is the perfect middle ground between full-body workouts and upper-lower body workouts. Gym exercises can be broken into two main categories — push and pull. 
As the name suggests, the pushing exercises involve pressing weights away from your body, for example, the bench press, overhead triceps extension, and leg extension. On the flip side, the pulling exercises include pulling the weights toward your body, such as the deadlift, biceps curl, and seated cable row. 
Push-pull workouts are popular among bodybuilders and powerlifters as they help focus on a single movement pattern. This workout split can help you achieve muscle-ripping pumps and ensure you’ve got nothing left in the tank by the end of a workout. 

Day 1
Push

Day 2
Pull

Day 3
Rest

Day 4
Push

Day 5
Pull

Day 6
Rest

Day 7
Rest

Although the push-pull workout split is a four-day training program, you could increase your training volume by adding a couple of workout sessions to the split — one for each movement pattern. Also, you could increase your training volume gradually by alternating between an additional push and pull workout for the initial 4-6 weeks.
Push Workout
In the push-pull workouts, the first two exercises of the training schedule are the big lifts. The remaining four to six exercises are considered accessory lifts, which help improve your performance in the main lifts. 
The ladies training for hypertrophy should stay in the 8-12 rep range and perform three sets with a moderate weight. On the other hand, lifters trying to maximize strength should do 3-5 sets of 1-5 reps with 80-90% of their one-rep max. [3]

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Squat
3
8-12

Bench Press
3
8-12

Cable Triceps Extension
3
8-12

Dumbbell Chest Fly
3
8-12

Machine Shoulder Press
3
8-12

Seated Calf Raise
3
8-12

Keep the main lifts, such as the squat, bench press, and deadlift, constant throughout the 12 weeks. However, you could change the accessory lifts each week to keep your workouts interesting. 
Pull Workout
The deadlift is the main lift in the pull workout. All the other movements in this workout are accessory lifts. We recommend using weightlifting accessories, such as a weightlifting belt, lifting straps, wrist wraps, and knee sleeves, in these workout splits, as they help maximize your performance and reduce your risk of injury. 

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Deadlift
3
8-12

Wide-Grip Lat Pulldown
3
8-12

Barbell Biceps Curl
3
8-12

Lying Leg Curl
3
8-12

Dumbbell Romanian Deadlift
3
8-12

Dumbbell Side Lateral Raise
3
8-12

Benefits of Push-Pull Workout Splits
Using the push-pull workout split entails the following benefits:

The push-pull workout split for women is great for building strength and muscle mass. Change the number of reps on the three big lifts (squat, bench press, and deadlift) to 1-5 and the number of sets to five to focus on building strength.
Training a specific movement pattern can help you achieve a better mind-muscle connection, improving hypertrophy.
Since this workout split involves training the same muscle group at least twice, the high volume will speed up your results.
This training split is great for powerlifters that want to improve their performance on the big three lifts.
It allows you to further boost your training volume by doing up to two more weekly workouts.
The push-pull workouts involve a healthy balance of compound and isolation exercises, which can help develop a balanced, proportionate, and conditioned physique.
The four-day push-pull training split allows you ample time to recover between workouts.

Drawbacks of Push-Pull Workout Splits
Using the push-pull workout split entails the following disadvantages:

Since this workout split involves compound and isolation exercises and requires training multiple muscle groups, the push-pull workouts can take longer to complete than the conventional workouts.
The push-pull split is not ideal for beginners.
This training split can be exhausting, as the push workouts include high-demanding exercises, such as the bench press, squat, and overhead shoulder press in the same workout.

Push, Pull, Legs Workout Split For Women

This training split takes the push-pull workout program up a notch. Although the push-pull routine was originally designed for powerlifters, many lifters didn’t appreciate training for the bench press and squat on the same day; hence, the push, pull, and leg workout split was born. 
The push, pull, and leg split is a six-day workout program. It increases the training volume of the basic push-pull regimen by a massive 50%. This training split is best suited for advanced female lifters, as the trainers will only get one day to recover from their workouts. 
Although you could do the push, pull, and leg split three days a week, you would have to increase the volume and intensity significantly, which will not only make the workouts more exhausting but would also considerably increase your risk of injury. 

Day 1
Push

Day 2
Pull

Day 3
Legs

Day 4
Push

Day 5
Pull

Day 6
Legs

Day 7
Rest

Since you have two training sessions in this workout split for each muscle group, you don’t have to do the three big lifts in each workout. Do them at the beginning of the training week and resort to accessory movements for the remaining three workout sessions. 
Pay close attention to the number of sets and reps in the workouts below. 
Push Workout 1
The first exercises of the first three training days of the week will be strength-focused, meaning you’ll be doing one to five reps of the exercises for three to five sets using 80-90% of your one-rep max. You must only perform these big lifts with a spotter.

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Bench Press
3-5
1-5

Incline Dumbbell Press
3
8-12

Cable Crossover
3
8-12

Behind-the-Neck Shoulder Press
3
8-12

Weighted Dips
3
8-12

Lying Leg Raise
3
8-12

Rest for three to five minutes for the strength-focused exercises. You must, however, limit the rest between sets to 60 seconds for the remaining lifts to ensure optimal training intensity for inducing hypertrophy. 
Pull Workout 1
You are allowed a five-minute rest after the strength-focused exercise to reset and prepare for the high-rep workout. Track your workouts (sets, reps, and weights) in a journal to ensure you’re hitting your goals and are progressively overloading your muscles in each training session. 

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Deadlift
3-5
1-5

Dumbbell Curl
3
8-12

Lat Pulldown
3
8-12

Bent-Over Barbell Row
3
8-12

Dumbbell Side Lateral Raise
3
8-12

Upright Row
3
8-12

Leg Workout 1
You could rejig the exercises in this workout if you prefer doing quad-focused accessory lifts before the hamstring-focused movements. 

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Squat
3-5
1-5

Leg Extension
3
8-12

Leg Curl
3
8-12

Romanian Deadlift
3
8-12

Leg Press
3
8-12

Leg Press Calf Raise
3
8-12

Push Workout 2
Use advanced training principles, such as super sets, drop sets, and intra-set stretching in the second half of the push, pull, and leg training split to push up your training intensity. You must use a weight that allows you to perform each exercise with a picture-perfect form. 

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Dumbbell Bench Press
3
8-12

Decline Barbell Press
3
8-12

Pec Deck Fly
3
8-12

Arnold Press
3
8-12

Barbell Skull Crusher
3
8-12

Cable Crunch
3
8-12

Pull Workout 2
We encourage using different hand grips on these exercises each week (supinated, pronated, and neutral) to train your muscles from different angles. It will help induce hypertrophy and keep your workouts interesting. 

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Dumbbell Deficit Deadlift
3
8-12

Cable Biceps Curl
3
8-12

Seated Cable Row
3
8-12

Inverted Row
3
8-12

Dumbbell Front Raise
3
8-12

Barbell Shrug
3
8-12

Leg Workout 2
Feel free to swap the accessory exercises in the second workouts for the week to address any lagging muscle groups. 

Exercise
Sets
Reps

Box Squat
3
8-12

Walking Lunge
3
8-12

Leg Curl
3
8-12

Stiff-Legged Deadlift
3
8-12

Hip Thrust
3
8-12

Standing Calf Raise
3
8-12

Benefits of Push-Pull-Legs Workout Splits
Performing the push-pull-legs training split has the following pros:

It is one of the best workout splits for powerlifting enthusiasts. Furthermore, bodybuilders can use this 12-week program to improve their overall strength without compromising on their muscle mass.
This six-day training split allows you to focus on each muscle group twice a week.
A high-volume and intensity training regimen that is incredibly effective for breaking through plateaus.
The push-pull-legs training split can accommodate many modifications to suit the lifter.

Drawbacks of Push-Pull-Legs Workout Splits
Performing the push-pull-legs training split has the following cons:

A six-day training regimen that is best left to advanced lifters.
Not enough recovery time, especially for lifters pushing their limits on this training regimen.
The push-pull-legs workout split can take longer to complete than all the other training splits listed in this article.

Bro-Split Workout Split For Women

We know what you are thinking. Yes, we were kind of dissing the bro-split at the beginning of this article. However, if your goal is to build muscle mass, you cannot go wrong with this training split.
The standard bro-split is a six-day training program that includes training each muscle group once weekly. It allows you to train each muscle with ample volume and intensity to induce hypertrophy. 
You could modify the workout split depending on your personal goals and preferences. For example, ladies with weaker lower bodies should begin their training week with a leg workout instead of a chest session. Restructure your workouts according to your needs. 

Day 1
Chest

Day 2
Back

Day 3
Shoulders

Day 4
Biceps

Day 5
Triceps

Day 6
Legs

Day 7
Rest

Avoid training two large muscle groups on consecutive days, such as legs and back. Have at least 48 hours between large muscle group workouts to ensure optimal rest and recovery. It also reduces your risk of injury. 
Chest Workout
Many lifters leave gains on the table by following a restricted range of motion. It limits your muscle fiber engagement and leads to suboptimal gains. Use a weight that allows you to follow a full ROM. 

Exercises
Sets
Reps

Barbell Bench Press
3
8-12

Incline Dumbbell Press
3
8-12

Decline Dumbbell Fly
3
8-12

Dips
3
8-12

Cable Crossover
3
8-12

Decline Crunch
3
8-12

Back Workout
During your back workouts, focus on driving through your elbows. Pulling the weight using your biceps can remove tension from your back and put it on your guns. Use a false (thumbless) grip where possible to limit biceps engagement. You could also experiment with using lifting straps to limit forearm stimulation. 

Exercises
Sets
Reps

Deadlift
3
8-12

Bent-Over Barbell Row
3
8-12

Lat Pulldown
3
8-12

Seated Cable Row
3
8-12

Hyperextension
3
8-12

Seated Calf Raise
5
8-12

Shoulders Workout
You must include exercises for all three shoulder heads (anterior, lateral, and posterior) and the trapezius muscle to ensure overall growth. 

Exercises
Sets
Reps

Military Press
3
8-12

Dumbbell Side Lateral Raise
3
8-12

Barbell Front Raise
3
8-12

Bent-Over Rear Delt Fly
3
8-12

Barbell Shrug
3
8-12

Cable Crunch
3
8-12

Biceps Workout
You’ll use pronated, supinated, and neutral grips in the biceps workout to ensure optimal biceps brachii, brachialis, and brachioradialis development. The forearm exercises at the end of the workout ensure you don’t leave any stone unturned. 

Exercises
Sets
Reps

Barbell Biceps Curl
3
8-12

Alternating Hammer Curl
3
8-12

Cable Reverse Curl
3
8-12

Machine Preacher Curl
3
8-12

Concentration Curl
3
8-12

Wrist Curl
3
8-12

Reverse Wrist Curl
3
8-12

Triceps Workout
The triceps workout in the bro-split targets all three triceps heads (long, lateral, and medial) for building horseshoe triceps.

Exercises
Sets
Reps

Cable Triceps Pushdown
3
8-12

Dumbbell Overhead Extension
3
8-12

Dumbbell Kickback
3
8-12

EZ Bar Skull Crusher
3
8-12

Reverse-Grip Triceps Pushdown
3
8-12

Cable Wood Chopper
3
8-12

Legs Workout
Since this training session involves performing the squat and deadlift, you’ll have to go extra hard on this one. Ensure your pre-training nutrition is on point to make the most of these workouts. 

Exercises
Sets
Reps

Barbell Squat
3
8-12

Leg Extension
3
8-12

Leg Curl
3
8-12

Barbell Walking Lunge
3
8-12

Romanian Deadlift
3
8-12

Standing Calf Raise
5
8-12

Benefits of a Bro-Split Workout Regimen
Sticking to the bro-split allows you to:

This workout split for women allows you to focus on a single muscle group in a training session, which can help boost your strength and muscle mass gains.
The bro-split is highly customizable and allows you to modify it according to your needs.
Since this workout focuses on a single muscle, it requires lesser time to complete than the multiple muscle group training sessions.
This is a versatile training split that can be used by beginners and advanced athletes alike.

Drawbacks of a Bro-Split Workout Regimen
The bro-split regimen has the following cons:

Since you’ll be training six days a week, it gives your muscles limited time to recover.
Folks with a busy schedule might have difficulty sticking to the six days a week training split.

Factors To Consider While Choosing a Workout Split For Women
You must consider the following factors before choosing a workout split:
Experience Levels
You must always choose a training split that is fitting for your experience level. For example, beginners should stay away from the push, pull, and leg training split and instead favor the full-body training regimen. 
Further; you must adjust your training intensity and volume based on your experience. Choosing a training split based on your experience level helps streamline your progress and reduces your risk of injury in the gym. 
Goals
Setting a goal before starting a training program gives you a road map. Lifters that want to build strength should opt for the push, pull, and legs training split, ladies that want to build a chiseled figure should go for the bro-split, and the women that want to hit the gym for overall fitness should stick to the full-body workouts. 
Time
You should choose a training program that will fit into your lifestyle. Choosing a workout split that necessitates you to go to the gym six times a week, but you can only fit in four workouts per week is a recipe for failure. You will likely lose motivation and drop out before achieving your fitness goals.
Focus Muscle Groups
Many exercisers join a gym to improve a particular muscle group. Some ladies want a bigger booty, whereas others might want shapely arms. If you want bigger muscles, you’ll be better off choosing a training split that allows you to focus on a particular muscle group, like the bro split. 
Other training splits that involve training a muscle group twice weekly, such as the push-pull regimen, can also come in handy for fixing muscle and strength imbalances. 
Tips For Workout Split For Women
The following tips will help you maximize your results:
Be Open to Trial and Error
Even after you spend days reviewing the pros and cons of a workout split, the program you choose might not work for you — which is perfectly fine. Choosing the right workout split requires trial and error. Give your training split 12 weeks to work its magic. If you’re unhappy with your results, move on to something different. Ensure that you implement the learning from the previous workout split into the new one. 
Nutrition and Recovery

Whether you want to build strength or carve a Greek goddess-like figure, you must back up your workout regimen with a balanced and proven nutrition and recovery program. Follow a macronutrient-focused diet to ensure you are meeting your daily protein, carbs, and fat goals. Ladies trying to gain muscle should stay in a calorie surplus, whereas those trying to shed the spare tire should be in a calorie deficit. 
Plus, you must ensure you are giving your muscles enough time to rest and recuperate from your workouts. Sleep seven to eight hours each night to ensure you are properly rested for your upcoming workouts. We recommend using sports nutrition supplements to speed up your recovery process between workouts. Alternatively, you could lower your training frequency if you experience chronic muscular fatigue or soreness. 
Seek Guidance
Starting a workout split can be intimidating, especially for beginners. Plus, performing the exercises with an incorrect form can increase your risk of injury. Hiring a personal trainer can help shorten your learning curve and fast-track your progress. 
Stay Consistent
Consistency is key in any training program. You must stick to a suitable workout split for at least 12 weeks to achieve your desired results. Avoid skipping training sessions unless absolutely necessary. 
Warm Up and Cool Down
Spend 5-10 minutes performing a mix of dynamic and static stretching exercises before each training session. It helps improves your flexibility and mobility and reduces your risk of injury. Furthermore, spend 5-10 minutes cooling down after a workout to kickstart your recovery process.
More Workout Splits:

FAQs
What is the ideal workout split for women?The ideal workout split will depend on your training goal, experience, time availability, and if you have any muscle groups that you want to focus on. With that said, beginner trainers will be better off starting with a full-body workout regimen; intermediate lifters can try the push-pull workout split, and advanced lifters should go for the push, pull, and legs regimen.
Can you alter a workout split?You could switch the exercises in the workout splits mentioned above to better suit your training needs. However, we advise against tinkering with the foundations of a workout split. For example, you should not combine the push and pulls workouts in the push, pull, and leg routine.
Which workout split for women is best for weight loss?Ladies trying to shed excess body fat should opt for the full-body HIIT workout listed in this article. HIIT workouts force your body to use energy from fat instead of carbs, making losing fat more efficient.

Wrapping Up
Congratulations, ladies! You are now equipped with everything you need to know to pick the most effective workout split for yourself and begin your journey to get fit and fabulous. We have also included a sample workout with each workout split, making starting your workout regimen as frictionless as possible. 
Nonetheless, fine-tuning a training split to fit your needs might require some trial and error. Stay patient and consistent; work hard, and the results will follow. Best of luck!
References

Yue FL, Karsten B, Larumbe-Zabala E, Seijo M, Naclerio F. Comparison of 2 weekly-equalized volume resistance-training routines using different frequencies on body composition and performance in trained males. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2018 May;43(5):475-481. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2017-0575. Epub 2017 Dec 7. PMID: 29216446.
Lasevicius T, Schoenfeld BJ, Grgic J, Laurentino G, Tavares LD, Tricoli V. Similar Muscular Adaptations in Resistance Training Performed Two Versus Three Days Per Week. J Hum Kinet. 2019 Aug 21;68:135-143. doi: 10.2478/hukin-2019-0062. PMID: 31531139; PMCID: PMC6724585.
Krzysztofik M, Wilk M, Wojdała G, Gołaś A. Maximizing Muscle Hypertrophy: A Systematic Review of Advanced Resistance Training Techniques and Methods. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019 Dec 4;16(24):4897. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16244897. PMID: 31817252; PMCID: PMC6950543.

2023 Pittsburgh Pro Results and Scorecards (Live Updates)

2023 Pittsburgh Pro Results and Scorecards (Live Updates)

One of the most celebrated contests on the IFBB Pro League schedule, the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro, takes place on May 12-13 in Pittsburgh PA. This show holds special significance due to NPC President and IFBB Pro League Chairman Jim Manion’s name being attached to it. 
The Pittsburgh Pro serves as a qualifier for 2023 Mr. Olympia, taking place Nov. 2-5, in Orlando, Florida. Six divisions were featured at the event this weekend: Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, Women’s Physique, Figure, Bikini, and Wellness. 
There are a number of returning champions eager to prove themselves once again. Among them is Natalia Abraham Coelho, the current 2022 Women’s Physique Olympia who recently dethroned Sarah Villegas.
Bikini legend Ashley Kaltwasser will look to make it four titles in Pittsburgh. She recently placed third at 2022 Olympia and is a three-time Olympia Bikini titleholder. Fans also expect an exciting performance from Kassandra Gillis, who is the current Arnold Classic Wellness champion. 
A comprehensive preview of the event can be found here. With a star-studded guest-posing lineup on deck, this weekend promises to be a memorable one.
Check out the results of the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro below: 
2023 Pittsburgh Pro Winners

Classic Physique:  Michael Daboul 
Men’s Physique: Coming Soon!
Women’s Physique: Natalia Abraham Coelho
Figure: Cherish Richardson
Bikini: Coming Soon!
Wellness: Gisele Machado

2023 Pittsburgh Pro Results 
Classic Physique
During prejudging and finals, Michael Deboul and Eric Wildberger Lisboa cemented themselves as frontrunners. Both men brought exceptional upper body development and top-notch conditioning. While many fans online deemed it a toss-up, the judges awarded Michael Daboul with the victory. 

Winner —  Michael Daboul 
Second Place — Eric Wildberger
Third Place — Alexander Westermeier
Fourth Place — Daniil Famponte
Fifth Place — Camilo Diaz
Sixth Place — Tomas Adame-Hernandez
Seventh Place — Brandon Cooper
Eighth Place — Rob Van Sant
Ninth Place — Kendahl Richmond
Tenth Place — Munkhsaruul Altangerel

Women’s Physique

Winner — Natalia Abraham Coelho
Second Place — Emily Schubert
Third Place — Amandine Kolly
Fourth Place — Joseli Schoenherr
Fifth Place — Marie-Solange Essoh
Sixth Place — 
Seventh Place — 
Eighth Place — 
Ninth Place — 
Tenth Place — 

Figure

Winner — Cherish Richardson
Second Place — Natalia Soltero
Third Place — Maria Luisa Baeza Diaz Pereira
Fourth Place — Erika Morales Morgan
Fifth Place — Madison Dinges
Sixth Place — Manon Dutilly
Seventh Place — Jennifer Zienert
Eighth Place — Ashley Howells
Ninth Place — Ashley Radiance Fuller
Tenth Place — Paula Ranta

Wellness

Winner —  Gisele Machado
Second Place — Kassandra Gillis
Third Place — Lili Dong
Fourth Place — Tefani-Sam Razhi
Fifth Place — Jennifer Zollars
Sixth Place — 
Seventh Place — 
Eighth Place — 
Ninth Place — 
Tenth Place — 

Men’s Physique
Coming Soon!
Bikini
Coming Soon!
2023 Pittsburgh Pro Scorecards
Coming Soon!

Fitness Volt congratulates the winners on their major victories!
Published: 12 May, 2023 | 9:42 PM EDT

2023 Pittsburgh Pro Preview, Athletes to Watch & Guest Posing Teaser

2023 Pittsburgh Pro Preview, Athletes to Watch & Guest Posing Teaser

The 2023 Pittsburgh Pro, one of the most prestigious contests on the IFBB Pro League calendar, will kick off its festivities on May 12-13 in Pittsburgh PA. Historically, this show has become a major attraction and is backed by NPC President and IFBB Pro League Chairman Jim Manion. With six bodybuilding categories competing for gold, the winners will guarantee their right to contend on this year’s Mr. Olympia stage. 
A number of returning champions have taken to the east coast looking to stake their claim as the best. Natalia Abraham Coelho, the reigning 2022 Women’s Physique Olympia, three-time Olympia Bikini legend Ashley Kaltwasser, and Wellness Arnold Classic winner Kassandra Gillis will be in attendance eager to nail down another major bodybuilding title. 
Fans are also looking forward to a star-studded lineup of Open class guest posers, who are set to light up the stage on Saturday. You can find the complete roster of athletes competing at the 2023 Pittsburgh Pro below: 
Official 2023 Pittsburgh Pro Athletes Roster & Preview
Classic Physique
In the Classic Physique category, a few names jumped out on paper in the lead-up to the event. Michael Daboul is a two-time Arnold Classic UK champion and known for bringing consistently shredded packages. Daboul capped off his season last year finishing 10th at 2022 Mr. Olympia.

Camilo Diaz also has ambitious plans to assert himself as a title contender in his Pittsburgh Pro debut performance. Fans expect a strong showing from Danili Famponte as well after he won the 2023 Charlotte Pro and took third at the Fitworld Pro. He’s qualified for the 2023 Olympia, so he’s aiming to take a invite away from his competition.

Tomas Adame-Hernandez
Munkhsaruul Altangerel
Edgard John Augustin
Brandon Cooper
Luca Corrado
Michael Daboul
Camilo Diaz
Daniil Famponte
Callum Hinze
Eric Wildberger Lisboa
Eddie Lusk III
Dion Merrill
Jason Orellana
Kendahl Richmond
Rob Van Sant
Randy Watson
Alexander Westermeier
Jay Yount

Men’s Physique
The evolution of the Men’s Physique category will be on full display this weekend. Fans have highlighted a few frontrunners, like Ryan Terry. Terry turned in a seventh-place finish at 2022 Olympia, where Erin Banks won his first Men’s Physique title. Meanwhile, Ali Bilal will look to win in Pittsburgh after securing ninth behind Terry in Las Vegas. Benquil Marigny is also riding momentum after picking up gold at the 2023 St. Louis Pro a few weeks ago. 

Dustin Alvis
Michael E. Anderson
Christopher Barr
Lucas Basilio
Michael Bell
Ali Bilal
Stevelon Dennis
Furkan Er
Matthew Gelia
Brett Mario Jackson
Melvin Keihn
Jacques Lewis
Benquil Marigny
Joseph Mencel
Gage Moran
Corey Morri
Vincenzo Palescandolo
Sidy Pouye Spain
Nathaniel Presley
Puwanat Putoya
Jamil Rogers
Leon K. Smith
Ryan Terry
Marcus L. Wesley

Women’s Physique
Fans look forward to seeing Natalia Abraham Coelho back in action, who upset Sarah Villegas for the Women’s Physique Olympia title last December. Given her ability to come in shredded to the bone, fans expect a dominant package from the reigning champ. 

Sabrina Berish
Candice Carr
Natalia Abraham Coelho
Sarah Crail
Marie-Solange Essoh
Ann Gruber
Carrie Hughes
Amandine Kolly
Diana Schnaidt
Joseli Schoenherr
Emily Schubert
Becky Short
Michele Steeves
Jennifer Taylor
Kasia Topor
Patricia Watson

Figure
In the Figure category, Natalia Soltero hopes to deliver fireworks. She placed fifth at the 2022 Figure Olympia contest, which saw Cydney Gillon secure her sixth consecutive title. Soltero also finished fifth at last year’s Arnold Classic Figure International. 

Lynn Centino
Madison Dinges
Manon Dutilly
Ashley Radiance Fuller
Sandy Hill
Ashley Howells
Erika Morales Morgan
Nina Paulus
Maria Luisa Baeza Diaz Pereira
Paula Ranta
Cherish Richardson
Paige Sabedra
Natalia Soltero
Jennifer Zienert

Bikini
Ashley Kaltwasser is a winning machine and hopes to add another trophy to her collection this weekend. At the 2022 Olympia competition, she took third place, proving that she’s still a viable contender and very capable of stringing together high-quality performances. Kaltwasser enters this competition having won the Pittsburgh Pro title four times (2013,2014,2016,2019). 

Marnie Al-Saraf
Vania Auguste
Romina Basualdo
Aimee Delgado
Malu Duarte
Valerya Fedorenko
Karene Gonzalez
Brittany Hamilton
Nicole Hermanson
Peyton Hunton
Ashley Kaltwasser
Priscila Leimbacher
Lexus Redmond
Kathy Seitz
Nedjie Thompson
Petra Voldanova
Jessica Wilson

Wellness
Arnold Classic Wellness International titleholder Kassandra Gillis plans to continue her success on Saturday. She’s already won a contest this year at the 2023 Vancouver Island Showdown Pro and earned her Olympia invite. With that in mind, she hopes to win her first Pittsburgh Pro title this weekend. 

Emily Azzarello
Anna Banks
Claire Cochet
Rayanne Collins 
Lili Dong
Kassandra Gillis
Gisele Machado
Tefani-Sam Razhi
Jaqueline Huescas Rios
Alyssa Serna
Jennifer Zollars

2023 Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing Lineup 
On top of six contests, some of the sport’s best Men’s Open competitors will guest pose in Pittsburgh this weekend. The stage will feature 2021 Arnold Classic winner, Nick Walker, former two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay, former 212 Olympia Derek Lunsford, reigning two-time 212 Olympia Shaun Clarida, 2022 Arnold Classic winner Samson Dauda, and Hunter Labrada. 

Last year, Walker and Lunsford stole the show guest posing at the Pittsburgh Pro. Lunsford served as a backup replacement for Big Ramy who no-showed the event. At the gathering, fans enjoyed exciting performances from Brandon Curry and Hunter Labrada. It also laid the foundation for Lunsford to receive a special invitation to compete in the Open class for the 2022 Mr. Olympia competition, which he followed through on with a second-place finish. 
RELATED: Hany Rambod Teases Big Package from Derek Lunsford at 2023 Pittsburgh Pro Guest Posing
Fans are counting down the hours until Jim Manion’s Pittsburgh Pro show. In addition to contests, the elite athletes in the Open class will also showcase their skills through guest posing. This will allow them to gain momentum and attract attention before they compete in the 2023 Mr. Olympia later in November.
Published: 12 May, 2023 | 1:26 PM EDT

Kali Muscle Gets Honest About 13 Years of Heavy Gear Use: ‘I Really Didn’t Stop Till the Heart Attack’

Kali Muscle Gets Honest About 13 Years of Heavy Gear Use: ‘I Really Didn’t Stop Till the Heart Attack’

Fitness influencer and former bodybuilder Chuck “Kali Muscle” Kirkendall continues to issue warnings about the dangers of steroids. In a recent YouTube video, Kali Muscle discussed performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) and the repercussions that follow sustained abuse. 
Over the last three years, the foundation of the bodybuilding community was rocked by multiple deaths. In 2021, former Mr. Olympia Shawn Rhoden suddenly passed away from suspected heart troubles. Meanwhile, George Peterson, a standout 212 bodybuilder, also met his untimely fate face down in a hotel room, once again, from heart complications. 

Last April, less than one month before the 2022 Arnold Classic, Cedric McMillan died at 44. In addition to the former Arnold Classic champion, the sport mourned the deaths of IFBB judge Jerry Ward and German IFBB pro Andreas Frey. 
Considering the trend, multiple bodybuilding personalities have underlined the dangers associated with PEDs. Among them was Kali Muscle, who shared a cautionary tale that saw him suffer a heart attack around the same time Rhoden passed away. In an effort to deter PED abuse, Kali Muscle is again highlighting the dangers in a recent YouTube appearance. 
Kali Muscle Reflects on 13 Yrs of Steroid Abuse, Takes ‘Small Dose’ Now to ‘Sustain’ Physique
Kirkendall admits he ignored warning signs from doctors regarding his use of PEDs. 
“You clogging everything up then I was getting warnings… doctors would be telling me, ‘Your blood pressure elevated for years.’ I’m like, ‘Man, look at me I’m fine.’ Then would use the electrical blood pressure machine, I’m like, ‘No you have to use that manual,’ right? I kept on just putting it off.” 
“My feet and ankles swelled up and would just stay swollen, I’m talking abnormal. So I would wear compression socks and all that, just my right foot, so I’m like, I blamed it on Vegas, it’s got to be the heat or something in this air man. I lived in Vegas four years going through this.” 
In addition to blood pressure issues, Kali Muscle noticed his body was retaining extra water only on his left side. 

“When we did IBF, I went to the doctor and got a physical and all that, they told me that blood pressure is elevated and I just shunned it off. I’m like, but I was always scared of that; I knew something was wrong with my body because I was puffy. 

Even when I did bodybuilding shows I would take diuretics and my left side would dry out but my right side was still holding a film of water. So, I was always weary of that, you know. Always scared of that. Yeah, I just didn’t take action on the signs,” said Kali Muscle. 

Kali Muscle states that he’s used steroids for 12-13 years straight but finally stopped following his heart attack. He listed trenbolone as the worst compound he’s used but also said ‘deca, anadrol, and dbol’ clogged up his arteries over time. 

“When I was 34 I started, 34… to when did I do my last show, no, so I really didn’t stop until the heart attack. Yeah, but all those years I would get off three to four months. So I caught myself cycling off and I’m thinking I’m not doing what these other guys are doing because I was already genetically gifted but you had times bro – that’s why that HGH, IGF fuc**ng Insulin, bro that’s clogging you up. They tell you, you know what I mean, that hardens your arteries or whatever they used to say.” 

“Yeah, 34 till when I had my heart attack, so 13 years off and on… 12 years off and on,” added Kali. “If you don’ty get a EKG or a PET scan to look at your arteries, you don’t know what’s going on. That’s what I recommend to everybody. Getting an EKG, a PET test at least once a year when you’re hitting 40 at least once a year.” 

“Tren is the worst. Tren, deca, anadrol, dbol, they the worst. They clog you up so fast. Insulin will kill you! I remember I tried that and damn-near died. You got to eat like a 1,000 grams of carbs on it. I was about to fall out and have a diabetic coma. Just experimenting too, don’t know what the hell you doing. It’s all an experiment, that’s what I tell people in videos, you’re giving data to my kids’ generation on what to do and what not to do.” 

According to Kali Muscle, steroids have value in society because they can help people suffering from AIDs and cancer. He specified that he’s taking a small dose of testosterone which amounts to 250 milligrams per month. 

“Roids help people, AIDs, cancer patients — it helps them. But when you abuse it, that’s when the problems arise,” added Kali. “A small dosage [is what I take now] I do a half a CC every other week. So, you’re looking at I do about 250 migs a month. That’s just to sustain.”

“I don’t do it for big muscles or nothing because I want to live bro. I’d get off totally if they tell me to. Yeah [testosterone], just some test. I feel great.” 

Looking ahead, Kali Muscle is excited about new anti-aging measures. 

“Keeping people young… they have a lot of new research. I love it. I look at it like this, if we didn’t have what we have in place now, I would be dead. Back in the day, they wouldn’t of been able to figure out as fast as they did what was wrong with me. By that time, the blood would of shut down to my brain and organs.”   

Kali Muscle isn’t the only former bodybuilder keen on reversing the anti-aging process. Recently, 1990s Open athlete Rich Gaspari took to Instagram and revealed a peptide stack he uses to preserve his health. He’s also taken aim at Open bodybuilders today who he believes are overusing drugs instead of utilizing proper training. 

Given the consequences he’s endured from years of steroid abuse, Kali Muscle hopes to inspire safer practices, especially for those who intend to pursue a career in bodybuilding.

Watch the full video below from the Escape Fitness YouTube channel: 

Published: 12 May, 2023 | 11:21 AM EDT

Michal Krizo Builds Shredded Chest And Shoulders Six Weeks Out

Michal Krizo Builds Shredded Chest And Shoulders Six Weeks Out

Michal Krizo is all set to dominate the 2023 competitive season with a massively improved physique. The Slovakian mass monster recently tackled a shoulder and chest workout. Interestingly, he also named the show he will next compete in.
Michal Krizo grabbed the imagination of the bodybuilding community because of his muscular physique and insane size. After dominating the competition in the IFBB Elite Pro League for years, he decided to switch over to the NPC in late 2021 to kick start the Olympia campaign. He soon turned into a hot prospect as bodybuilding experts like4-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler spoke highly about his chances in the Men’s Open division.
Krizo earned the IFBB Pro Card with a clean victory at the 2022 Amateur Olympia Italy. He returned after a few weeks to compete at the 2022 EVLS Prague Pro and emerged victorious, earning a direct qualification to the 2022 Mr. Olympia.

In spite of a win, the 32-year-old was heavily scrutinized for the lackluster conditioning. However, he continued to push himself day after day. Although he brought a much improved physique to the Olympia contest, Krizo failed to break into the top tier of the division and had to be content with the 12th place finish on the grandest stage of bodybuilding.
Having gained the experience and knowledge of his own limitations, Krizo is busy sculpting his physique the right way for taking on the big names in 2023. His recent chest and shoulder workout was a part of this effort and Krizo went through some heavy exercises with grit and determination of a champion six weeks out of the show. So let’s take a closer look at the proceedings of this training session and hear from Krizo about his next show.
Michal Krizo’s Chest and Shoulder Workout
Incline Barbell Bench Press
The Slovak’s training began with incline barbell bench press. This compound movement works all the pushing muscles in the upper body. However, the incline position puts more emphasis on the clavicular head of the pectoral muscles or simply put, the upper pecs. Krizo did a few solid sets of the exercise using the progressive overload principle and took up a shoulder exercise next.
Cable Front Raises
This anterior deltoid movement followed next and the 2022 EVLS Prague Pro winner used a rope attachment to do it. Cable machine variations of exercises keep the muscles under tension for a longer duration and help bring about hypertrophy. After doing a few sets with slow and controlled motion, the Slovakian bodybuilder jumped into a free weight exercise next.

Flat Bench Dumbbell Chest Flyes
Building the adduction strength of the upper body muscles is as important as building the pushing strength. This is where chest flyes come into play. The next exercise in Krizo’s training session was the flat bench dumbbell fly. He cranked out some meaningful sets of the exercise using incrementally heavier dumbbells.
Dumbbell Lateral Raises
The 32-year-old bodybuilder continued the work in the dumbbell segment and got a few sets of dumbbell lateral raises under his belt. This exercise focuses on the lateral/medial deltoid muscles. 
Machine Chest Press
After working the chest and shoulders with free weight movements for the most part, the rising contender called a stop to the workout with the machine chest press. He did the exercise on a plate-loaded machine. After cranking out a few sets with controlled movements, the 2022 EVLS Prague Pro winner wrapped up the training session.

Overall, the workout consisted of following exercises:

2023 Empro Classic Pro Spain to Mark his Return
In a physique update a couple of weeks ago, Michal Krizo had hinted at competing at a surprise contest in eight weeks. However, he had not revealed the details of the contest. At the end of his chest and shoulders workout, the Slovak stated that he will return to the stage at the 2023 IFBB Pro League Empro Classic Pro Spain.
“Michal Krizo, when are you competing next?” The videographer asked Krizo.
“In Spain… Empro Classic…” Krizo replied.
The event is an Olympia qualifier and it will take place on June 18, 2023. While the 2022 edition of the show did not have the Men’s Open competition, this year will be a different story. Competitors from Men’s Open, Classic Physique, Women’s Physique, Figure, Bikini, and Wellness categories will attempt to take home the Empro Classic trophy.

Krizo’s rise in the Men’s Open division has been quick as he made his Olympia debut within six months of earning the IFBB Pro card. If he wins the Empro Classic Pro and secures a direct qualification to the 2023 Olympia, he can dedicate sufficient time to improve his physique and break into the top echelons of the division this competitive season.
You can watch the full workout video here, courtesy of Michal Krizo’s personal YouTube channel:

Published: 12 May, 2023 | 9:11 AM EDT

65-YO Bodybuilder Reflects on 36-Year Long Career Ahead of 2023 Masters Olympia

65-YO Bodybuilder Reflects on 36-Year Long Career Ahead of 2023 Masters Olympia

The 2023 Masters Olympia is set to return this year after a lengthy 11-year-long break on Aug. 25-27 at the Arena in Cluj Napoca, Romania. It will provide a platform for the older bodybuilding competitors to compete on stage. In a recent video uploaded on YouTube, Michelle Brent reflected on her 36-year-long career in bodybuilding ahead of her appearance at the 2023 Masters Olympia.
The Masters Olympia was first introduced in 1994 to allow the competitors of yesteryears among other older bodybuilding professionals to showcase their talents in front of fans. Bodybuilding veteran Robby Robinson emerged as the inaugural champion. The event continued annually till 2003 and returned for a single edition in 2012, where bodybuilding legend Dexter Jackson took home the top prize.
It is set to make a comeback this season. While many are excited about the show’s return, others are not on board with the decision. Renowned bodybuilding coach Milos Sarcev dismissed the possibility of his participation and pushed back against the competition due to concerns surrounding athletes’ health earlier this year.
On the other hand, Australian bodybuilder Lee Priest expressed his excitement at the event but ruled out his participation as well. Although Priest would’ve liked to sign up for the contest, his chest atrophy would keep him on the sidelines.
Victor Martinez indicated his interest in potentially competing at the show three months ago. However, he was still on the fence about throwing his name in the hat as he wanted to check whether the prize money would justify his efforts. The organizers announced the overall prize money at $229,000 for all the divisions at the 2023 Masters Olympia weeks later.

Being the last winner, there was a lot of speculation about whether Dexter Jackson would join the roster. He added fuel to the fire with an insane workout update showing off his huge biceps two months ago. Along with Jackson, iconic bodybuilder Jay Cutler generated a lot of buzz for potentially returning to competition. Coach Chris Aceto argued against the return of the four-time Mr. Olympia and the show itself last month.
Japanese 212 and Open competitor Hidetada Yamagishi declared his comeback to competition for the 2023 Masters Olympia weeks ago. He would take to the stage at the age of 50 with the belief he could win one final title. Last month, he left the fans stunned with a ripped physique update 18 weeks out of the event.
Cutler and IFBB head judge Steve Weinberger revealed the full roster for each of the 10 divisions of the show two weeks ago.
65-YO Bodybuilder Reflects on 36-Year Long Career Ahead of 2023 Masters Olympia

In a recent YouTube video, Michelle Brent opened up about her nearly four-decade-long career going into the 2023 Masters Olympia at the age of 65.
“This is actually into my 36th year,” said Brent. “In 1985 I did an unsanctioned NPC show so technically I started in 1986 when I won the San Jose Super Bowl. It was Paul Love the promoter back then. Technically it would really be 37 but it would really be 38 if you count 1985.”
“I was always an athlete, did every sport. In 1985, I joined a gym and then my first husband had noticed me. There was a couple that used to come at the time and it was when the couples were popular. They noticed me and said hey you could get into bodybuilding, do shows, these things. I tried for three weeks and it was my start.”
Brent discussed how she manages to compete into her mid-60s along with how dancing helped refine her posing skills.
“Finally my little dream will come true. 25 years it took me to turn Pro. Crazy with only three years off in that 25 to get it. I get seconds, thirds, so I went to the Universe. I trained smart, never trained beyond getting a tweak or twinge. I never would go do 10 more reps or whatever. Literally never injured myself in the gym, nutrition wise always been pretty good. I didn’t get too crazy in the off-season, ate good, never had metabolic damage. I’ve just been very blessed.”
“I love to dance. If I didn’t discover bodybuilding I always wanted to be one of those troop dancers like a background, the whole learning, the steps, and all that but so I just love to dance. Ironically the first show in 1985, they had said you get this one minute to do whatever you want but you have to put some poses in bodybuilding poses really. I had the best time ever. It was like I found my niche. I know well I could be muscular and work out but yeah that could be entertaining and do what I love to do ‘part dance.’”

She’s targeting her first trophy at the 2023 Masters Olympia and revealed it would mark her last year in competition.
“I knew it was in the works, it wasn’t just a rumor. I knew Jake had wanted to get the Masters. But I never thought there was going to be some point there was going to be a championship for our Masters. All these people are able to turn pro now. Jake Wood came up with bringing back the Masters National Olympia but let’s make it all the divisions. Let’s make it legit, not just the men. I just kept on hanging in there hoping that at some point I was going to be able to end my career with at least one championship under my belt.”
“I truly have to admit that this is thank the Lord that I got this because I really truly believe this is my last year because I do have a little bit of just old age. I’d say old age but wear and tear, things my wrist is really bothering me, my hip joints so it’s starting to tell me and I’m smart.”
Brent called for a change in the qualification criteria of the contest.
“I think they need to at least bring it back to say 45 and then in the qualification if they do a qualifying thing at the show. This is my criteria. They always do something when you scratch your head. It needs to be 45 and over division is the only division you could get that qualification. If there’s an over 50 and 60, fine and dandy but you just get prize money but that 45 and over is the only class. If I want to take the chance I would add 65 go into that 45 and over to get the qualification for 2024 and no crossovers because there’s so many. It doesn’t make it legit. You have to pick your division because if you want to do a crossover fine but that division doesn’t get a qualification that’s how I see it clear and cut for qualifiers.”
Lee Priest voiced a similar sentiment as Brent in urging the organizers to bump up the minimum age for qualifying to 50 and above last month.
IFBB Pro League athletes’ representative Bob Cicherillo believes all eyes would be on former 212 Olympia champ Kamal Elgargni as he enters as the betting favorite to win the 2023 Masters Olympia later this year.
You can watch the full video below.

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Published: 11 May, 2023 | 10:17 PM EDT

Jose Raymond Shares the Biggest Mistakes to Avoid in Contest Prep

Jose Raymond Shares the Biggest Mistakes to Avoid in Contest Prep

Bodybuilding veteran Jose Raymond has a ton of experience based on years of competing professionally. Although he excelled in the Men’s 212 division, Raymond also made a splash in the Men’s Open category. In a recent video uploaded to YouTube, Raymond shared some of the biggest mistakes competitors and coaches make while in prep for contests.
Jose Raymond first rose to prominence for his incredible muscle shape, definition, and lower body development as a Men’s 212 competitor in the early 2010s. He turned in a strong performance at the 2011 Mr. Olympia, where he cracked the top three and proved himself to be one of the most consistent and disciplined athletes in the game. Being a regular feature of the 212 Olympia, Raymond never placed outside of the top five in any of his eight appearances from 2011 to 2018.
Raymond came close to picking up the ultimate title but eventually took silver after falling short of legendary 212 competitor Flex Lewis in 2015. He also battled with the likes of Hidetada Yamagishi, former champions Derek Lunsford and Kamal Elgargni as well as Ahmad Ashkanani.
In April 2021, Raymond and bodybuilding legend Flex Wheeler teamed up for a collaborative training session with Egyptian IFBB Pro Hassan Mostafa. The pair mentored the budding Men’s Open prospect through a tough workout to get him ready for the New York Pro contest.

‘The Boston Mass’ chimed in on the passing of former Mr. Olympia Shawn Rhoden in Nov. 2021. Raymond expressed his disappointment that Rhoden wasn’t able to clear his name in a legal matter. He also argued Rhoden should have won more Mr. Olympia titles following the first victory.
Jose Raymond shares the biggest mistakes to avoid in prep
In a recent YouTube video, Jose Raymond shared some of the biggest mistakes to avoid while in preparation for bodybuilding contests.
Raymond started by highlighting the error of pushing too hard in an attempt to get striated glutes.
“What I realized is that people push and push like oh don’t have striated glutes yet, got to keep pushing, two hours on the step mill, zero carbs, keep going, and then the body disappears,” said Raymond. “Well, maybe he just doesn’t have genetics to have striated glutes. Maybe he’s got small muscles, there’s not a whole lot of muscle there to strike but they keep pushing and pushing thinking that it was going to help. He’d end up 20 pounds to light just all in the search of getting striated glutes.
“Now next week this kid won’t have striated glutes but he’ll be the hardest guy in the show. He’ll have separation, lines in his hamstring, striated lower back, lats everything, crazy abs, midsection. He just doesn’t have striated glutes. Is he going to go on to win the Olympia or the Nationals or New York Pro? I don’t know maybe he can make some adjustments but right now he’s at the best his body can be. That’s a mistake that not only competitors do but coaches do by pushing too far in the holy grail of striated glutes and you’re destroying a guy’s physique in that quest for glutes.”
Raymond argued against following a low-carb diet for long periods of time.
“They hit panic mode and try to overdo everything. They’ll overdo the fat burners, low carb or zero carb days like if your coach tells you to have zero carbs for three to five days straight and three hours of cardio, you gotta question their motive like what is going on here. There’s no way that can be beneficial.”

The 48-year-old dismissed some common myths that prevail in the sport.
“In the last three weeks, I’ve had at least four clients say to me and they’re relatively new to competing but they are like hey should I bring honey, jam, and peanut butter backstage for my rice cakes? Backstage is not a time to binge. They think they are supposed to eat a ton backstage. No, you get up early, eat your breakfast, have another small meal and get on stage. If you’re back there like at the Olympia for four or five hours, yeah have your meal or some granola or rice cakes or something ready to go just in case.
“I’m like no don’t pay attention to those people. Do not listen to them lathering up big scoops of peanut butter. Then they go on stage, get a bloated stomach, ripping farts backstage like it’s disgusting. There’s no benefit to that.”
Jose Raymond offered his experience of coaching competitors who refuse to follow instructions. 
“I get these weird messages like when you’re prepping someone and for six to eight weeks you’re not seeing the progress you think you should be really. Then they’ll see that and be like can I keep drinking the Yoo-hoo that I have with my last meal? I’m like wait what? When did I tell you to do that?
“They’ll be like I don’t know I’ve always been doing that. But I wrote you up a diet exactly what I want you to have and you’re adding a Yoo-hoo. That’s what your physique looks like, a Yoo-hoo.”
“I just say I don’t know under what context your coach is having you do this so I can’t guess to tell you what to do. They may have you doing this for a certain reason so I have no idea and I don’t want to know. If you want help from me, you talk to your coach and next show or off-season, we’ll get together and have a discussion. But I’m not going to get into this. I just tell people hit me up at some other time but you gotta trust your coach until it’s over and see how that goes.”
“You can’t just put everyone on the same plan with tons of fat burners, tons of cardio, and low carbs. It’s not going to work. It’ll work for the select few that are freaks but the rest of the people, you’ll literally ruin their physique or worse and then they’re completely wasted and exhausted by the time the show comes. It’s important to have enough fuel to be able to train like an animal all the way up to the show.”
Jose Raymond weighed in on the scuffle between Shawn Ray and Dominic Nicholls, son of renowned bodybuilding guru Chad Nicholls, recently. He criticized Ray for his role in the incident and labeled him as a bad guy in the industry.
RELATED: All 212 Olympia Winners Since 2008 (and History of the Division)
You can watch the full video below.

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Published: 11 May, 2023 | 6:14 PM EDT