Tag: Bodybuilding
Bodybuilder Hunter Labrada Shares Detoxifying ‘Gut Health Drink’ for Optimal Digestion
Men’s Open bodybuilder Hunter Labrada is back with another Tuesday Tip for fans. In a recent YouTube video, Labrada revealed a gut-health drink recipe he’s using to keep his waistline down in preparation for his next bodybuilding contest.
Labrada is seeking redemption following his seventh-place finish at the 2022 Mr. Olympia show. Having reflected on his performance, Labrada highlighted a few areas that held him back on stage. Most notably, he and his coach Ben Chow encountered problems with the peaking process for the contest.
Hunter’s father, IFBB Pro League Hall of Famer Lee Labrada, announced that his son would be participating in two shows before the Olympia this year. Hunter later confirmed the news and specified that he’ll be taking his talents to the Tampa Pro and Texas Pro. Should he follow through in Texas, he’ll have the opportunity to compete against the reigning champ Andrew Jacked.
Aiming for back-to-back victories, Labrada has kept fans updated on his training progress. He said he’s not chasing size this year and plans to minimize his waistline. The Open standout intends to accomplish this goal by implementing vacuum poses and a new diet. In his latest endeavor, he offered fans a recipe for a go-to gut health drink he’s using for digestion benefits.
Hunter Labrada Shares ‘Gut Health/Digestion Drink’ for Keeping Tight Waist
Maintaining a near-300-pound physique requires a substantial diet, and Labrada says he’s taking this gut health drink every morning to aid with digestion.
“Gut health/digestion and what I am doing for it in the morning. So, it’s no secret after last year’s competitive season that I wanted to do everything in my power to minimize my waistline and a lot of that comes down to how well your body is digesting its food. That process starts before you’re taking digestive enzymes with each and every meal. Before you’re paying attention to what food sources you’re eating and this that and the other.
It starts with what you do when you get out of bed in the morning and what first hits your stomach. I wanted to go over what I do every single morning and have been doing for quite some time I’ve come to really enjoy this not because of how it tastes, I’m not going to lie it doesn’t taste that great but because of how it makes me feel and how its left my stomach feeling. As I do this the longer and longer that I do it, the flatter and flatter I feel I’m waking up in the morning in terms of any kind of bloat or distention and I just feel better throughout the day. At the end of the day, it’s not what you eat, it’s what you’re able to digest and assimilate.”
Labrada’s Signature Gut Health Drink
Labrada shared the contents of his gut health beverage, which you can find below:
“That is the morning digestion drink. I’m going to shake this up and throw it in the fridge. I like to make it — the night before sometimes if I’m not being lazy then I get to roll out of bed and be lazy in the morning. Throw this in the fridge. Anyways, that is the Tuesday Tip on my digestion/gut health drink,” added Labrada.
Start with 16 ounces of water to hydrate the body.
Add 2 ounces of Aloe Vera gel to soothe and heal the intestines.
Squeeze juice from one whole lemon for taste and detoxification benefits.
Add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to create an acidic environment in the stomach and aid in detoxification.
Include 10 grams of glutamine powder to boost immune system function, promote recovery, and heal intestinal damage.
Finish with a quality greens powder for added nutrients.
In addition to nutrition, Labrada has consistently offered useful tips via YouTube. The last time fans heard from the 30-year-old, he shared a guide on how to grow weaker calves. Labrada underlined the importance of training intensity, emphasizing the difference between training to pain versus total failure.
RELATED: Hunter Labrada on Gym & Bodybuilding Mindset: ‘It’s a Practiced Skill’
The 2023 Tampa Pro kicks off August 3-5, where Hunter Labrada will aim to earn an invitation to the Mr. Olympia event. If he’s successful, he’ll have the chance to face off against the reigning champion Hadi Choopan.
You can find the full video below from Hunter Labrada’s YouTube channel:
Published: 3 May, 2023 | 9:01 AM EDT
The Rock Shares Abs Workout for Building Strength & Gains
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is one of the most popular names in the entertainment industry. He started out as an athlete before becoming a prolific actor who prides himself on his insane work ethic. In a recent post made on Instagram, Johnson shared a challenging abs workout to build strength and gain muscle.
The Rock grew up playing football with ambitions to make it big in the NFL. After missing the 1995 NFL draft, Johnson decided to follow in the footsteps of his father Rocky, and explore the world of professional wrestling. He joined the infamous WWF/WWE banner in 1996 and quickly established himself as a leading talent with his sharp wit and charismatic personality.
Johnson got signed to make his acting debut in The Mummy Returns (2001). Although he continued wrestling infrequently, Johnson switched to acting full-time following the role. His extraordinary discipline helped him find success in the new venture. He quickly gained over 377 million followers on the photo-sharing platform and racked up several blockbuster films under his belt.
His last appearance came in the DC comic book film adaption of Black Adam in Oct. 2022. Johnson gave fans a look into a brutal legs workout he used to get his quads ready for portraying the superhero one month before the release. Then, he joined forces with NFL standout Aaron Donald of the LA Rams for a tough back workout last October. They started the session by demolishing a taxing superset of one-arm dumbbell row.
The Rock offered a laborious workout finisher routine for leg day training sessions last November. He crushed five monster sets of four exercises that were to be performed without any rest in between. He followed up with another crazy leg workout using squat variations a few weeks later.
The 51-year-old has drawn allegations of steroid use due to his humongous build. UFC color commentator Joe Rogan called on Johnson to admit his alleged gear use after social media fitness influencer Liver King got exposed for lying about using steroids last December. Strongman icon Eddie Hall weighed in on the debate by theorizing Johnson was likely on TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) and argued in his favor.
Two months ago, The Rock provided a challenging upper body workout for maximizing pump. The workout routine targeted chest and back muscles by only using supersets. He continued to motivate his fans with another effective superset routine fit for building muscle on leg day. He gave another intense late-night superset workout session to feel the burn in lats last month.
The Rock shares abs workout for building strength & gains
In a recent Instagram post, The Rock shared a tough abs workout to build core strength and muscle.
“i’m the last dude to give abdominal advice, but after I tore my abdomen wall during a wrestling match (fun pain) I had to really concentrate on ab exercises that strengthened my entire wall and core again ~ over the years I’ve found that a strong core/tight abdomen wall is super beneficial to your gains,” he wrote.
The Rock laid out a brutal chest and back workout last week. He stressed the importance of doing controlled movements and being careful about the range of motion to minimize stress on shoulders.
Given Johnson’s massive influence, his latest offering will certainly encourage fitness enthusiasts to get a stronger midsection.
Published: 3 May, 2023 | 12:30 AM EDT
Chris Cormier & Olympia Judge Discuss Potential of Iain Valliere, Michal Krizo, And ‘Good Vito’
The 2023 bodybuilding season is underway, prompting Terrick El Guindy and Chris Cormier to discuss the potential Mr. Olympia lineup. In a recent episode of Prime Time Muscle, Cormier and El Guindy assessed the Olympia-winning potential of Iain Valliere, Michal Krizo Križánek, and Good Vito (Vitaliy Ugolnikov).
As a consistent top-seven finisher at Olympia, Iain Valliere came up short at the event last December. He earned 11th place though pushed through adversity during prejudging and finals. Reflecting on his last show, Valliere admits some mistakes were made regarding his nutrition, posing, and training. When the dust settled, Hadi Choopan claimed gold, and Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay was knocked down to fifth.
Fellow mass monster Krizo made his way to the Mr. Olympia stage following a historic bodybuilding season. He switched to the NPC, won a pro show, and earned his Olympia invite in the span of a few months. He proved himself in his Olympia debut with a 12th-place finish, just one spot behind Valliere.
Vitaliy Ugolnikov, well known as ‘Good Vito,’ continues to grow in popularity among the bodybuilding community. He boasts an impressive level of size and conditioning. Fans have also praised his biceps and flaring quads. Last November, Good Vito earned his IFBB Pro card after winning the Musclecontest International Brazil Nationals.
Chris Cormier and Olympia Judge on Iain Valliere: ‘He Needs to Bring Up His Calves & Back’
When all is said and done, El Guindy is convinced Valliere will be considered an all-time great Canadian bodybuilder.
“He’s a great bodybuilder. Iain is a great bodybuilder. He’s won plenty of pro shows. He’s going to go down in history as one of the best Canadian bodybuilders of all time; I got to give him credit for that. Was this performance his best performance? No. It wasn’t a good performance, he’ll be the first one to tell you, ‘I missed my peak, I’m going to be better next time.’”
El Guindy advised Valliere to improve his back and calves.
“The biggest issue here is his back. His back double biceps, his back lat spread, because look at this: this is one of his best poses [side triceps] this is how he won in Texas; this is how he won a lot of shows. Look at the hamstrings, the legs, he’s massive on top, he’s a mass monster. From the back here, this is not a good back double biceps,” said Terrick El Guindy.
“Let me tell you then: he needs to bring up his calves, his back, here’s the thing, I had a chance to talk to Iain Valliere. Sometimes, we look at the posing and maybe he needs to practice his back posing. I’m not saying he’s pinching his back on the back double biceps but on the back lat spread, I just don’t like it. He needs to fix that. If he fixes that and he becomes as good as that side chest, this guy is formidable.”.
Cormier on Michal Krizo: ‘Everything About Him is Raw, But He Has So Much Upside’
Chris Cormier believes Michal Krizo is still ‘raw’ or inexperienced in many aspects of bodybuilding such as posing. Given his mass and conditioning, Cormier predicted that the Slovakian native will give competitors problems on the horizon.
“He wanted to go up against the big boys, he wanted to be considered the best or one of the best in the world and I mean… he could have placed better but I was really impressed when he took that shirt off and hit that crab [during the presser]. The big old arms, he’s very raw as I noticed, very raw. Everything he does, from the posing, the training, everything is raw with him but he has so much upside. I think he’s going to give some people some real headaches pretty soon. I’m really impressed with what he can bring in the future. Those arms — they are gigantic,” said Chris Cormier.
“He might have some of the biggest arms in the history [of the sport]. To make it more disproportionate, he doesn’t have a big head. His head is kind of small so his arms look even bigger,” said El Guindy. “He’s just so impressive.”
‘He’s Another One That Will Shock A Lot of People’: Cormier Talks Good Vito’s Potential
According to ‘The Real Deal,’ Good Vito also has the capabilities to make major waves in the Men’s Open this year.
“Good Vito, he’s very young, big flaring quads. The back is not too bad for his age. I mean, at that age, you don’t expect someone to have that type of back development. I had a tough time building it for a long time. Just his depth to his body is pretty good,” said Chris Cormier.
“When that comes, you got to get around someone that’s actually done that shit [bodybuilding]. But he has so much upside, I was looking forward to trying to see if he was going to be able to get into a pro show and try to get to the Olympia but you know, there’s always time for that. He’s a young guy. He has a lot of road ahead of him. As long as he stays doing everything smart — I think he’s another one that can shock a lot of people pretty soon.”
El Guindy said he heard a rumor that Good Vito plans to compete at the 2024 Arnold Classic South America contest.
“I think he is in his late 20s. So, he’s a guy that was with the other federation,” El Guindy said. “I was able to connect him with some guys in Brazil who were looking for a bodybuilder [to sponsor]. He’s been training in Brazil. He’s massive. Now, the thing about [him], we have not seen him compete in the IFBB Pro League. Rumor has it he’s going to make his pro debut at the Arnold Classic in Brazil.”
In addition to those mentioned above, Andrew Jacked is another new contender who recently emerged as a Men’s Open threat. He recorded a spectacular season last year, where he claimed victories at the 2022 Texas Pro and Arnold Classic UK shows. He finished eighth in his debut at Mr. Olympia and earned third place in a close affair at the 2023 Arnold Classic.
It should be noted that this video and an Instagram post promoting this episode were initially deleted after offending fans online. They used words like ‘failure’ and bust’ to describe a few of the Men’s Open competitors that were unable to find success on the Olympia stage. In response to the backlash, El Guindy issued an apology and stressed he’d be more careful with his word choice in the future.
RELATED: Iain Valliere on Next Show: ‘I’m Not in A Big Sluggish Off-Season, I Could Go from 285 to 265 in 4 Weeks’
With such a talent-rich division, fans are excited to see which athletes earn invites to compete later this year. El Guindy and Cormier are confident Valliere, Good Vito, and Krizo have the potential to shake up the 2023 Mr. Olympia assuming they earn qualifications.
You can watch the full video below courtesy of the Olympia TV YouTube channel:
Published: 2 May, 2023 | 6:52 PM EDT
Ronnie Coleman Reacts to Brian Shaw’s Most Insane Strongman Lifts: ‘Holy Sh*t’
Legendary bodybuilder Ronnie Coleman was renowned for lifting insanely heavy weights during his career. Following the retirement of Strongman legend Brian Shaw, Coleman shared his reaction to some of Shaw’s most impressive lifts on YouTube.
Ronnie Coleman is widely regarded as one of the greatest bodybuilders of all time. He presented a jacked package with freakish muscle mass, size, and conditioning in the Men’s Open division. In addition to his look, Coleman made a name for himself with his brutally heavy workouts. He took home the top prize at the 1998 Mr. Olympia and went on a dominant run that saw him win eight Sandow trophies against the likes of four-time champ Jay Cutler, Flex Wheeler, Chris Cormier, and Kevin Levrone.
Given the intense nature of his training, Coleman would eventually suffer from a string of injuries. He needed multiple back surgeries and had trouble walking properly. Fortunately, Coleman made great progress in recovery after getting stem cell treatment. He credited the therapy for helping him recover earlier this year.
As of late, Coleman joined social media fitness sensation Jesse James West for a powerlifting style workout a few months ago. West pranked Coleman by using fake weights to exaggerate his lifts. Coleman conceded he was stunned to see West seemingly lift 700 pounds on the squat with ease.
‘The King’ gave fans a look into four of the greatest bodybuilding poses he incorporated in his performance routine on stage two months ago. He detailed how each pose brought out his strongest features and overall package in the best way possible.
He teamed up with former 212 Olympia champ and Men’s Open standout Derek Lunsford for a grueling back and biceps workout last month. Both men discussed their training philosophies as Coleman mentored him through the session. A few weeks later, Coleman extended his support for Lunsford again by backing him to dethrone reigning Mr. Olympia Hadi Choopan at the next event.
The 58-year-old credited fellow legend Flex Wheeler for his immense success in the sport last month. He revealed Wheeler connected him to prolific bodybuilding guru Chad Nicholls, who led him to his first Mr. Olympia victory.
Two weeks ago, the 2023 World’s Strongest Man contest concluded with the win of Mitchell Hooper and the exit of Brian Shaw, widely considered to be one of the greatest strength athletes ever. The four-time WSM winner had announced it would be his final appearance in the build-up to the show.
Brian Shaw is one of the most accomplished strongmen in history. He has won the World’s Strongest Man title four times, in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016. He has also won the Arnold Strongman Classic three times, in 2011, 2015, and 2017. He is the only person to win both competitions in the same year twice. He has set numerous world records in events such as the Atlas Stones, the Hummer Tire Deadlift, and the Rogue Elephant Bar Deadlift.
Shaw was a regular feature of the WSM events with 16 participations in total. He stands as the fourth-winningest Strongman of all time with 26 international contest wins under his belt. During his decorated career, Shaw battled it out against fellow legends Eddie Hall, Hafthor Bjornsson, and Zydrunas Savickas.
Ronnie Coleman reacts to Brian Shaw’s insane Strongman lifts
In a recent YouTube video, Ronnie Coleman shared his reaction to some of Brian Shaw’s jaw-dropping lifts in Strongman contests.
Coleman started by commenting on Shaw performing the Tire Carry.
“Running with them big old heavy ass tires. Running like it ain’t nothing to it and it wasn’t nothing to it.”
Then, he weighed in on Shaw lifting a 530-lb (240.4-kg) bench press and a 1,091 pounds (494.8 kilograms) deadlift.
“530 pounds like it’s 330 pounds easy to lift.”
“1,000-pound deadlift like it ain’t nothing to it but to do it. Pull it, lightweight baby. That’s how you do it. Make the thousand pounds look like a hundred pounds.”
The next clip was Shaw’s 2016 deadlift of about 980 pounds followed by a lower body exercise.
“That was easy, lightweight. Go ahead and put another 45, 50 pounds on there.”
“I don’t know how much weight that is but I see it’s got to be pretty heavy. I don’t know what kind of contraption that is but ain’t nothing easy about what he’s doing.”
Coleman was astonished by Shaw’s crazy strength on the Kettlebell Toss and Overhead Press.
“Those awesome big ass kettlebells and he tossed them like they peanuts. Those are 60-pound kettlebells, holy sh*t!”
“This is one of the hardest I think I’ve seen. He’s just hopping it like it ain’t nothing.”
Finally, Coleman wrapped up by lauding Shaw for his insane Car Deadlifts and Truck Pull.
Recently, Ronnie Coleman made headlines for selling his home of 26 years for $495,000 in Texas over a week ago. He utilized the home gym during his days of competing on stage, making it a great piece of bodybuilding history.
RELATED: Ronnie Coleman On ‘Comical’ Biceps Comparison with Nick Walker: ‘I Shouldn’t Even Be In This Conversation’
Coleman gave his take on iconic bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger’s strongest lifts last week. He offered to train with Schwarzenegger following the reaction video.
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 2 May, 2023 | 5:31 PM EDT
Phil Heath Gives Definitive Answer on Return in 2023: Not This Year; I’m Sitting Around 255 Pounds’
Bodybuilding icon Phil Heath dominated the Men’s Open stage during his run at the top from 2011-2017. The seven-time Mr. Olympia champion stepped away from professional competition years ago but remains in love with fitness and training. In a recent Instagram post, Heath shut down rumors of his anticipated comeback this year and revealed he’s tipping the scales at 255 pounds.
Phil Heath grew up playing sports at a young age. He explored his interest in basketball before switching over to professional bodybuilding in the mid-2000s. He made waves across the community after placing runner-up to fellow legend Dexter Jackson at the 2008 Arnold Classic and took third in his Olympia debut the same year. In 2011, Heath dethroned four-time winner Jay Cutler to secure his maiden Sandow trophy. He established himself as a commanding champion, defending the title successfully six times in a row.
Earlier this year, Heath hinted at the possibility of making a comeback. He seemed interested in the prospect but added the caveat that he would need to test his body in a prep before committing to anything concrete. ‘The Gift’ teamed up with bodybuilder Regan Grimes for a training session a few months ago. Heath looked massive in the workout update, which led fans to wonder again about a possible comeback.
Heath possessed some of the best shoulders of all time with 3D muscularity. He opened up about his experiences using steroids as a competitor as well. Heath managed to win shows without pushing gear too hard and focused on maximizing muscle stimulation instead of focusing on heavy weights.
As of late, Phil Heath showed off his significantly leaner midsection in an update. He started incorporating cold plunge routines and laid out the benefits he reaped from the new practice. Three months ago, Heath gave fans a look into one of his favorite injectable stacks that he utilized with TRT.
As one of the most recognizable names in the industry, Heath indicated that prize money of $1 million could potentially lure him out of retirement. Jay Cutler has also mentioned the idea of returning to a competition for $1 million.
Phil Heath won’t make a comeback in 2023
Phil Heath ruled out a return to competition this year. He revealed he weighed 255 pounds and feels more confident than ever about his physique post-retirement.
“Everyone’s dying to know if yours truly will grace the bodybuilding stage,” said Heath. “Once again, not this year. But this summer I do plan on looking as if I am doing one if that makes anyone happy, just going to let nature takes its course. I’m sitting around 255 pounds right now. I’ve been a lot leaner and I feel like everything has been working really well.” shared Heath.
Phil Heath gave his breakdown of the upcoming 2023 Mr. Olympia last month. He picked reigning champion Hadi Choopan to retain the title while recognizing the danger presented by top contenders Nick Walker, Derek Lunsford, and Samson Dauda.
RELATED: Jay Cutler ‘Pushing’ Phil Heath to Return at 2023 Mr. Olympia: ‘He Could Do Some Damage’
Some fans might be disappointed by Heath’s latest update but it’s important to note that he did not shut the door on his return completely and could change his mind at a later date.
Published: 2 May, 2023 | 3:53 PM EDT
Bodybuilding Icon Robby Robinson Defies Age: Astonishingly Shredded at 76!
Turns out that veteran bodybuilder Robby Robinson never lost the eye of the tiger and continues to train hard at 76 years of age. The Black Prince partnered with natty Greek god Mike O’Hearn for an arms workout and his incredibly shredded physique stole the show.
Mike O’Hearn posted Glimpses of the veteran bodybuilder’s training session on his YouTube channel. Robby Robinson is seen performing barbell preacher curls in the video. The 76-year-old looked incredibly shredded and rock solid during the workout. You can see the video below, courtesy of Mike O’Hearn’s YouTube channel:
Robby Robinson performed a drop set of barbell preacher curls in the session after a warm-up set. For the drop set, he started with a 70 lbs barbell and pumped out seven solid reps with a great form. Mike O’Hearn handed him a 50 lbs barbell and the former Masters Olympia champion cranked out five more reps to close the show.
“Look at this… The fibers, the striations, insertions…That is what we do this for,” Mike O’Hearn marveled as Robinson flexed to show his pecs and arms.
Robby Robinson responded:
“I’m working, working, working all the time.”
“You’ve gotta put in the work. If you’re not willing to put in the work like you see myself and Mike, seriously, just go home,” He added.
Mike O’Hearn obviously knows a thing or two about maintaining the body at an age where it is supposed to fall apart. Him being astonished by Robbinson’s physique says a lot about the latter’s commitment to maintaining a shredded physique at 76.
Robby Robinson’s bodybuilding career at a glance
Robinson proudly belongs to the golden era of bodybuilding. He took his first steps in competitive bodybuilding in the early to mid 1970s. As an African-American born in the deep south, Robinson had a tough path leading up to the stature of a legendary bodybuilder. However, he competed successfully for nearly 27 years and left a lasting legacy in the sport.
Mr. Lifestyle started out as an amateur in 1974, winning the AAU Mr. Southeastern USA and Mr. Southern States competitions. Robby won four titles in 1975, the Mr. World title being the most prominent of those.
IFBB Pro League’s Mr. Olympia contest turned out to be the real proving ground for the Georgia native bodybuilder. He took home the Heavyweight title at the 1977 and 1978 Olympia and finished third in the Lightweight division at the 1979 Olympia. Unsurprisingly, Robinson was the runner up to Mr. Olympia overall winner Frank Zane in 1977 and 1978.
The 1981 NABBA Mr. Universe Pro turned out to be his only victory in the winless stretch of nearly seven years. However, The Black Prince never stopped working and emerged victorious at the 1988 IFBB Niagara Falls Pro Invitational. In the later stages of his career, Robbie became a Masters Olympia mainstay. He has his name etched on the 1994 Masters Olympia as well as the 1997 and 2000 Masters Olympia 50+ trophies.
Robby Robinson’s contribution to the sport is undeniably important. Fitness Volt wishes him good health and a fulfilling life.
Published: 2 May, 2023 | 1:00 PM EDT
Hadi Choopan Looks Massive in 2023 Off-Season, Shares Brutal Row & Leg Press Workouts
Hadi Choopan is determined to repeat the success he enjoyed last year. In two posts published on Instagram, Choopan showed off his strength with leg presses and t-bar rows in preparation for the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest.
Choopan made history last year at 2022 Mr. Olympia and became the first man from Iran to win the prestigious title. The show was filled with surprises as Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay surrendered his throne in fifth whereas Derek Lunsford, a former 212 Olympia winner, cashed in his special invite for the Open with a second-place finish. Meanwhile, Nick Walker secured third in addition to earning the Olympia People’s Champ Award.
After Samson Dauda defeated Walker at the 2023 Arnold Classic in March, fans refocused their attention to the Olympia contest set for November 2-5 in Orlando, Florida. Veterans and active competitors have taken to social media to back their respective favorites. Bodybuilding legend Ronnie Coleman has stated Derek Lunsford will defeat Choopan in their next outing.
Nick Walker also said Choopan won’t repeat as champion this year. He believes the show will be determined after a showdown between himself and Derek Lunsford. Other notable voices in the community, such as Bob Cicherillo, believe Choopan at ‘100%’ beats everyone in the show. William Bonac shared a similar prediction recently and suspects Choopan will win another Sandow.
Hadi Choopan Sends Warning Shot to Open Class with Heavy Training Sessions
Check out Choopan’s t-bar row workout below:
“My ears are damaged and I love this blessing of God because it helps me to think only about my goal and not on the idle words of others. A warrior’s place is on the battlefield, not among weaklings.” Hadi Choopan wrote.
Then, Choopan powered through a set of heavy leg presses.
“We are together, move but don’t cheat, I’ll see you”
In a rare off-season update, Choopan gave fans a glimpse into his latest progress. Fans were taken aback by his striated chest and overall conditioning levels so far out from his next show. Choopan’s opponent, Lunsford, is guided by the same trainer Hany Rambod. They made it clear that Derek’s current focus is to bring more detail to his chest, arms, and legs moving forward.
Looking at the potential 2023 Olympia lineup, Bob Cicherillo laid out who believes could feasibly take out Choopan. Given Dauda’s improvements at the Arnold Classic, he named him and Derek Lunsford as equal threats to the reigning champ’s title.
RELATED: Chris Cormier, Terrick El Guindy on Hadi Choopan: ‘This Guy’s Stakes Are Higher Than Just Winning a Title’
Fans expect another unpredictable Mr. Olympia contest this fall as competitors have until October 9 to secure their invites. Considering his consistent nature, defeating Choopan will take a massive and calculated effort.
Published: 2 May, 2023 | 11:02 AM EDT
5 Back Workouts for Women: Bring the SexyBack!
Most women want an hourglass figure. However, some girls mistake an hourglass figure for a tennis racket figure. These ladies spend considerable time working on their booties but almost always overlook a vital aspect of achieving their dream figure — a shapely back. Ladies that want to rock a strapless dress or tank top must prioritize training their backs. Plus, a shapely back can add to your physique aesthetics by making your waist look smaller.
To build a curvy figure, you must incorporate back workouts into your training regimen. Your back workouts should have a balance of rowing exercises, such as barbell rows, dumbbell rows, seated cable rows, and horizontal pulling movements, such as lat pulldowns, pull-ups, etc.
After your legs, your back is the second-biggest muscle group, meaning your back workouts will be as brutal as your lower body training sessions. Plus, since it is a large muscle group, it will help burn more calories than the small muscle group workouts. If you feel fresh and energetic after a back workout, know that you didn’t go all-out in that training session.
Unlike smaller muscle groups like the biceps, which have only two muscle heads, your back consists of several muscles, such as the latissimus dorsi, rhomboids, teres major and minor, trapezius, posterior delts, and erector spinae. Furthermore, your back is divided into two portions — upper and lower. You must train your back from different angles, using different grips for overall posterior chain development.
In this article, we go over the back anatomy, the five best back workouts for women, the importance and benefits of building a strong back for women, and tips to make the most of your workouts.
Back Anatomy
Understanding your back anatomy can help you program an effective back workout and ensure there are no weak areas in your back. Here are the back muscles you should know about for building an eye-catching backline:
Back Anatomy Muscles
Latissimus Dorsi
Latissimus dorsi, or lats, are the biggest back muscle. A pair of developed lats can accentuate your V-taper. They are located on both sides of the middle and lower back and are responsible for moving your arms down and toward the body.
Teres Major and Minor
These are present at the back of the shoulder and are responsible for rotating the arm and stabilizing the shoulder joint.
Rhomboids
They are located on your upper back underneath the trapezius muscle and between the shoulder blades. They help maintain a good posture and stabilize your shoulder blades.
Erector Spinae
These are a group of muscles present on both sides of the spinal column. As their name suggests, they help maintain an erect spine and allow for bending and twisting movements. The erector spinae is also referred to as the lower back.
Posterior Deltoids
Although the posterior or rear delts are located on your back, they are mostly trained in a shoulder workout. They help move your arm backward.
Trapezius
The trapezius muscle is located over the back of the neck and shoulders and extends down to the middle of the back. It helps moves the head and shoulder blades. Many people train their traps in a shoulder workout.
Best Back Workouts For Women
Our goal with these workouts is to build a toned back that looks amazing and improves your overall health and fitness. We have included five workouts in this article for ladies at different experience levels. The resistance band back workout is perfect for when you don’t have access to a gym.
Beginner Back Workout For Women
Women that are just starting their fitness journey should perform foundational exercises that will help them build a solid base and improve their mind-muscle connection. Your focus with this workout will be to drill each movement until you know them, like the back of your hand.
Seek expert advice to learn the correct technique for performing these exercises. Hiring a personal trainer can expedite your learning process, lower your risk of injury, and fast-track your progress.
Advanced Back Workout For Women
Ladies with at least a few months of lifting experience should graduate to the advanced back workout. Use an assisted pull-up machine or a spotter if you cannot perform bodyweight pull-ups.
You’ll also be doing rear delt flyes for the rear delts and barbell shrugs for the trapezius muscle in this workout. Expect this workout to take between 45-60 minutes. However, keep your rest durations between sets limited to 30-60 seconds to maintain a high training intensity.
Machine-Only Back Workout For Women
Machines follow a fixed movement trajectory, which can help you focus on establishing a mind-muscle connection and achieve muscle-ripping pumps. Plus, machine workouts take less time than free-weight workouts, which is a boon for lifters on a tight schedule.
You can swap the GHD back extension with a conventional back extension if you lack the posterior chain strength to perform the exercise. Focus on contracting your muscles with each rep to get the most out of this workout.
Resistance Band Back Workout For Women
The resistance band back workout is an excellent place to start for beginners and when you are traveling. Contrary to what most people think, you don’t always need free weights or machines to build a chiseled physique. Resistance bands help maintain constant tension on your muscles throughout the motion, helping induce hypertrophy.
We recommend using loop bands for this workout; grab the heaviest bands you can find. Furthermore, you’ll be performing a higher number of reps in this workout than in the other workouts to ensure you’re not leaving anything in the tank.
HIIT Back Workout For Women
HIIT, or high-intensity interval training, workouts consist of short periods of high-intensity exercises followed by periods of rest or lower-intensity exercises. A HIIT workout aims to push your body to its maximum capacity in a short period. It is a great training protocol for breaking through strength and muscle plateaus. Furthermore, it is perfect for folks that can only dedicate 30 minutes to a training regimen.
You’ll perform five rounds of this HIIT workout. Do each exercise for 30 seconds and rest for 10 seconds after completing a movement. You are allowed a 60-second rest after completing each round.
Read more: HIIT Workouts for Women: 6 Best Workout Plans, Benefits, and Pro Tips
Back Workout Tips For Women
Follow these tips for carving a head-turning back:
Focus on Form
Beginners must prioritize lifting with the correct form instead of chasing heavy weights. Using a picture-perfect form maximizes an exercise’s muscle and strength-building potential and reduces the risk of injury.
Plus, focus on contracting your target muscles with each rep. Going through the motions for the sake of it won’t cut it. Slow down your rep tempo if you have trouble establishing a mind-muscle connection.
Progressive Overload
Progressive overload is the name of the game when it comes to building muscle mass. You could make your workouts harder and increase your training volume and intensity by lifting heavier, doing more sets and reps, shortening your rest duration between sets, or incorporating advanced training techniques like super sets, drop sets, intraset stretching, rest-pause sets, etc.
You must gradually increase the demands placed on your muscles. It will challenge your muscles to adapt and improve, leading to gains in strength, muscle size, and overall fitness.
You Don’t Have To Reinvent The Wheel
Many exercisers tend to do too much too soon. These people think that doing out-of-the-box exercises will speed up their progress. However, this is not the case. You don’t have to join a cult or follow a charlatan to build a chiseled back. The exercises mentioned in this article are all you need to develop a shapely back.
Nutrition and Sleep
You cannot out-train a bad diet and recovery program. You must back your workouts with a balanced diet to optimize muscle growth. Further, a seven to eight-hour sleep is a must as it allows your body enough time to rest and recuperate between workouts.
Since the back is a large muscle group, perform one of the workouts mentioned in this article weekly. As you gain more experience, you could perform two weekly back workouts to expedite your back growth. However, avoid doing more than two back workouts a week as it increases your risk of overtraining.
Change Grips
Performing the same exercise with a different hand grip can target your muscles differently. For example, you could do a barbell bent-over row with an underhand or overhand grip. You could also perform the seated cable row with a supinated, pronated, or neutral grip to train your back from different angles.
Why Building a Strong Back is Important For Women?
Incorporating back workouts into your training regimen entails the following advantages:
Improves Aesthetics
Building a bigger back can add to your physique aesthetics. It can create an illusion of a smaller waist and broader shoulders, which are essential features of an hourglass figure. A diced back will also make you look stunning in backless dresses and tank tops.
Promotes a Better Posture
Most of us spend the majority of our days hunched over a computer or phone screen. Training our backs can help improve our posture by strengthening the muscles responsible for maintaining a proper upright position. Plus, back exercises can increase back flexibility and mobility, which can help pull the shoulders back, open up the chest, and align the spine in its natural S-shape curvature.
Helps Burns Calories
Your back is the second-biggest muscle group. Performing an intense back workout that involves compound (multi-joint) exercises can spike your heart rate, helping you burn a decent amount of calories. Plus, back workouts help increase overall muscle mass and boost metabolism, both of which lead to a higher calorie expenditure even when you are physically inactive. However, if your goal is to burn more calories, you should follow the HIIT back workout listed in this article.
Boosts Functionality
Most back exercises are functional movements that improve overall strength, mobility, and stability. Your back plays a crucial role in many everyday activities, such as lifting, carrying, and bending, as well as in sports and other physical activities. Balanced back workouts improve your performance in all these activities while reducing your risk of injury.
Help Alleviate Lower Back Pain
Training your spine-supporting muscles (erector spinae) in your back workout can help alleviate and reduce the risk of lower back pain, especially in women with large breasts or those that remain seated for most of the day.
FAQs
How can women build a toned back?
Building a chiseled back requires following a balanced back workout focusing on building muscle mass and strength. Perform one of the workouts given in this article weekly for 12 weeks to see noticeable back development. You could also switch between the workouts to add variety to your training regimen.
Should men and women follow different back workouts?
No exercise is gender specific. The workouts in this article can be used by men and women alike. With that said, girls don’t need to worry about building a cobra back like their male counterparts. The ladies don’t produce enough testosterone to build the same amount of muscle mass as men.
How to program a back workout for hypertrophy and strength gains?
The number of sets, reps, and exercises you perform and your workout intensity will depend on your training goals. Perform 3 sets of 8-12 reps of an exercise and rest 60-90 minutes between sets if you want to build muscle mass. On the other hand, do 3-5 sets of 1-5 reps of an exercise with 2-5 minutes of rest between sets if you want to maximize strength. [1]
Wrapping Up
To carry the heavy burden of the world, you must have a strong back. The five back workouts for women listed in this article will help improve your posture, boost your functional fitness and calorie expenditure, and enhance your physique aesthetics.
These workouts are apt for women of any experience level. Furthermore, the HIIT back training session is great for ladies on a tight schedule. Pair these workouts with a balanced recovery program for optimal results. Best of luck!
References
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.
William Bonac: ‘Hadi Choopan Will Repeat as 2023 Mr. Olympia, He’s Going to Take Another Title’
William Bonac continues to deliver as a Men’s Open bodybuilder, competing twice in four months. In a recent The Menace Podcast, Bonac predicted Hadi Choopan would win 2023 Mr. Olympia and discussed what measures Nick Walker needs to take to become champion.
The Men’s Open division has endured major changes since 2022 Mr. Olympia. Hadi Choopan won his first title after outlasting a slew of threats in prejudging and the finals. Shockingly, Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay was unable to retain his throne in fifth whereas Derek Lunsford and Walker found themselves in second and third. Bonac, however, finished ninth, respectively.
At the 2023 Arnold Classic, Bonac redeemed himself with an impressive package, showcasing a blend of fullness and conditioning. While Bonac hoped to secure his third title in Columbus, Ohio, the veteran settled for seventh, proving himself against a lineup that saw Samson Dauda come out on top.
In light of his last two performances, Bonac suspended his current season. He set his sights on 2024 and plans to focus on rest and recovery. Looking ahead, ‘The Conquorer’ said his next show would likely be the Arnold Classic. Refusing to dismiss his Olympia ambitions, Bonac stated if he ‘brings his all,’ he could still retire with a Sandow trophy in the next two years.
In his latest endeavor, Bonac laid out who he believes might win the 2023 Mr. Olympia contest, scheduled for November 2-5, in Orlando Florida. Additionally, Bonac touched on what improvements Walker needs to make to reach the next level in his career.
William Bonac Says League ‘Going Away from Mass Monsters,’ Expects Hadi Choopan to ‘Repeat’ as 2023 Mr. Olympia
According to William Bonac, he’s ‘sure’ Hadi Choopan will win another title and believes he can definitely repeat at 2023 Mr. Olympia.
“I think definitely Hadi can repeat it, definitely. I think as you see… a lot of 212 guys are doing very good in the Open class. That’s something that I’ve noticed. They’re extremely good, maybe because they don’t look as big as Big Ramy, those mass monsters. I think they’re trying to go away from that. Not to say they are little guys, you understand. I also see that they are rewarding the taller guys. The few taller guys we have with beautiful aesthetics. That’s a good thing as well. No bloated guts you know, that’s what I see,” said William Bonac.
“We’ve seen him [Hadi Choopan] on the stage and he’s ripped to pieces. How are you guys backstage, you see more than we do. When you see Hadi, he is next level right?” asks Sarcev.
“He’s next level. Even with the pump up, when you stop pumping up, then he will come alive. The more he pumps up the freakier he gets. So, you know, I think honestly… last year or the year before the Olympia that he didn’t win — he looked way better. If he came even with that shape even now, that wasn’t even his best shape and he won it. So, I’m sure he’s going to take another title. If he brings the condition that he brought the year before, yeah,” Bonac shared.
Can Brandon Curry Regain the Mr. Olympia Title? Bonac Says ‘I Don’t Think So.’
Bonac believes his rival Brandon Curry will struggle to regain his Mr. Olympia title because he loses size in his legs when he shreds down before a contest.
“Brandon [Curry] is my dude man. I hope so [he takes another title]. I hope he can fight for the title like the direction that they are going — I think – I don’t think so,” Bonac added. “No because if he does that, he will lose the size then he doesn’t look so impressive. They have to play the size game a little bit because when he dials in too much, he will lose the size of his legs again.”
Bonac Says Nick Walker Needs Improved Quad Sweeps to Contend for 2023 Mr. Olympia Title
Milos Sarcev, Dennis James, and William Bonac agree that Walker needs more outer quad sweep for 2023 Olympia.
“Bigger legs, bigger chest, and I think his chest improved dramatically already,” said Sarcev.
“It’s just the legs, the sweep of the legs,” clarified Bonac.
“That quad sweep, that could be a genetic thing. I’m sure it’s not because he’s not working hard enough or he’s not doing what he’s supposed to,” Dennis James said.
Chris Cormier and Bonac also shared that Walker would benefit from some posing adjustments.
“From the side, he looks good, from the back he looks good, it’s just from the front or maybe maybe the way he stands on his legs, maybe he should turn it more like Brandon does, so you get more of the inner thighs [in the abdominals and thighs pose].”
“I would try to utilize my legs differently in those poses. The way he’s doing them is not helping him right now,” Chris Cormier explained.
Before confirming his one-year hiatus from the sport, questions about Bonac’s retirement circulated online. Bob Cicherillo, who serves as the announcer of the Arnold Classic and Mr. Olympia shows, said he would like to see Bonac receive a special invite for 2024 Mr. Olympia so he could retire on top.
As for Nick Walker, he recently argued that Choopan wouldn’t be able to successfully defend his title later this year. He believes the 2023 Olympia winner will be determined following a battle between himself and former 212 Olympia Derek Lunsford.
RELATED: William Bonac ‘Taking Measures’ for Inflamed Kidneys, Stops Oral Steroids In Prep for 2023 Arnold Classic
The 2023 Pittsburgh Pro takes place May 12-13 and serves as a teaser for bodybuilding’s ultimate destination. Given how unpredictable 2022 Olympia was, fans are looking forward to seeing their favorite competitors make a play for Hadi Choopan’s title.
You can watch the full video below from the Muscle and Fitness YouTube channel:
Published: 1 May, 2023 | 7:32 PM EDT
Michal Krizo Shuts Down Photo-Editing Accusations After Guest Posing: ‘I Don’t Do Any Photoshops’
Slovakia’s Michal Krizo is clapping back at fans who accused him of photoshopping a recent picture while guest posing at the NPC Balkan Grand Prix. In an Instagram post, Krizo denied all photo-editing allegations and said he shared the picture because he appreciated it.
Michal Krizo’s ascent as a Men’s Open competitor has been nothing short of impressive. Last year, he switched to the NPC from the IFBB Elite Pro League. The 32-year-old wasted no time in procuring his IFBB pro card at the 2022 Amateur Olympia Italy event. After claiming yet another victory at the EVLS Prague Pro, Krizo earned his right to compete on the Mr. Olympia stage.
Heading into Las Vegas, Krizo was dubbed a notable threat despite it being his first Olympia. There was added excitement to see Krizo perform given the rivalries he sparked with Nick Walker, Blessing Awodibu, and Iain Valliere. In the end, Krizo proved he was more than just hype with a 12th-place finish.
Krizo was initially targeting September’s Arnold Classic UK show (now known as Experience With Sports Festival UK). However, he hinted at a surprise contest in two months after showing off a massive physique update. To sharpen his presentation skills, Krizo guest posed at last weekend’s NPC Balkan Grand Prix, where fans called him out for having seemingly modified quads.
Michal Krizo Defends Himself After Edited Photos Go Viral: This is My Profile, I Can Post Whatever I Want’
Krizo took to social media after fans accused him of photoshopping his quads to look bigger.
“I have to defend myself here. I don’t do any photoshops, I shared because I liked the photo. That is all. I’m actually a 20-kilo midget, that is all. Thanks for your understanding,” Michal Krizo wrote on Instagram.
“Ok man send me original photo. Are u done with your hates? i think this is my profile and i can post what i want” Krizo shared in a different post.
You can find the pictures below, which fans argue have been heavily edited.
This isn’t Krizo’s first guest posing obligation of the 2023 season. In April, Krizo displayed his 300-pound physique posing in Colmar, Alsace, France. Given the well-known critiques of his presentation and posing, Krizo is determined to correct any and all areas that held him back from success on the Olympia stage.
RELATED: Singer Jessie James Decker Fires Back At Fans Who Say She Photoshopped Abs on Her 3 Children
From the Iranian Hulk (Sajad Gharibi) to the ‘Notorious’ Conor McGregor, fans take photo-editing allegations seriously. While Krizo may have reshared an edited photo of his physique, he maintains his innocence and says he doesn’t use Photoshop to enhance his image.
Published: 1 May, 2023 | 1:12 PM EDT