Tag: GI News
Dangerous Chemicals Discovered In Wrappers At Major Fast-Food Chains And Grocery Stores
Many big-name restaurants might have certain chemicals in their food wrappers.
The dangers of fast food have been discussed and studied for years now but a recent report decided to take a look at the packing instead.
A dangerous level of PFAS chemicals were found in food wrappers at many popular fast-food chains and grocery stores. Consumer Reports found these chemicals in products used by Burger King, Chick-fil-A, Nathan’s Famous, Cava, Arby’s, Stop & Shop, and Sweetgreen.
PFAS are often referred to as “forever chemicals.” This is because they do not break down in the environment. In food packaging, such products are used to keep grease and water from soaking through the wrappers and cups at these restaurants. Outside of the food industry, PFAS are found in stain-resistant furniture and carpet treatments. At these restaurants, PFAS are found in the ink used to print logos onto wrappers and cups.
“There is evidence from human and animal studies that PFAS exposure may reduce antibody responses to vaccines,” stated the CDC and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. “More research is needed to understand how PFAS exposure may affect illness from COVID-19.”
Full Investigation Into Packaging
Consumer Reports tested 118 food packages by 24 different companies in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. During these tests, the investigation targeted organic fluorine, which is a marker for PFAS. These samples were sent to an independent laboratory where specific tests could be performed.
In the US, there are no federal limits on how much PFAS can be found in food packaging. This means that it is up to the individual states to create their own mandates when it comes to limiting PFAS in restaurants. There are certain states that have banned intentional use of these chemicals. This includes Connecticut, Maine, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington.
During the testing period, this report found that two bags from Nathan’s Famous contained the highest amount of PFAS — 876 ppm (parts per million) and 618 ppm. Chick-fil-A also had a high amount found in sandwich wrappers while fiber bowls from Cava were also contaminated.
There are certain studies from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry that have found links between PFAS chemicals and an increase in cholesterol levels, a higher risk of kidney or testicular cancer, small reductions in infant birth weights, and an additional risk of high blood pressure in pregnant women.
These PFAS chemicals can make their way from the wrappers to the found although it would not be 100%. One way to limit exposure to such chemicals is to simply limit the number of times you take out food per week. Also, when you do take out, it should be from companies that have decided to take PFAS out of their products and avoid the chemicals all together.
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Olympia Legend Flex Lewis Comments On Will Smith’s Oscar Slap
Will Smith’s slap has taken the world by storm following the Oscars with many weighing in on the incident.
The show was stolen during the Oscars when Will Smith took great offense to a joke made by Chris Rock during the show and ended up slapping him in the face. This is an incident that has caused many to weigh in and that includes those in the bodybuilding world.
Flex Lewis is one of those who decided to share his opinion on social media. Lewis took to Twitter on Monday following the moment on Sunday night.
“Funny how Will Smith wants (friend) Chris Rock “to keep his wife’s name of out his mouth” but cool to allow his wife’s mouth to put different names of mens in her? Oh Hollywood”
Funny how Will Smith wants (friend) Chris Rock “to keep his wife’s name of out his mouth” but cool to allow his wife’s mouth to put different names of mens in her? ??♂️ Oh Hollywood pic.twitter.com/jp1NVXoS7F
— Flex Lewis (@Flex_Lewis) March 28, 2022
Flex Lewis, like many others, is likely referring to the romance between Jada Pinkett Smith and August Alsina. This was an affair that happened when Smith and his wife were separated. The public has questioned why Smith reacted this way toward Rock but did not with Alsina.
Chris Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, like happens many times during award shows.
“Jada, I love you; G.I Jane 2, can’t wait to see it”
This was the comment that prompted Will Smith, who was seen laughing on screen, to leave his seat and approach Rock. Because of his reaction, viewers were unsure if this was a legitimate stunt or if it was a setup for television purposes. Nothing has come out to make anyone believe that this was scripted.
Flex Lewis remains a huge name in bodybuilding. The seven-time 212 Olympia champ still has to qualify for the 2022 competition. He has yet to receive a special invitation like he did in 2020. Lewis was forced to miss the event with an injury and did not compete in 2021. Since he might be looking to make a change into Men’s bodybuilding, Lewis could require qualification rather than another invitation.
No matter what area you are focused on, the incident between Will Smith and Chris Rock was put on display on Sunday night.
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Nick Walker Olympia Prep Continues With Huge Back Workout
Nick Walker shared a massive back workout recently as he prepares for the 2022 Olympia.
Nick Walker has had his sights set on the 2022 Olympia competition. The Mutant has continued his training and recently shared a massive back workout on social media for viewers to try.
Walker finished fifth at the 2021 Olympia after winning the Arnold Classic just two weeks prior. Following his finish, Walker decided to focus all of his energy and training power on the 2022 event. At this point in the offseason, Walker is beginning to focus on how his body feels and he explained the method in his latest YouTube video.
Nick Walker his a huge back workout during his latest trip to the gym. It began with three sets of one-arm cable pulldowns. Walker lowered the weight after the first set to make sure that there was the proper stretch at the bottom of the lift. He continued with smith machine barbell rows. This is an exercise that Walker prefers over free weights.
“I do like these over a free-weight barbell. I can track harder. I can feel my lats engage better. And again, that’s the point of bodybuilding. It’s not about weight. That comes with time. It’s about contracting the muscle and this is where you can do it the most.”
Nick Walker continued by putting his back through some different rows. It began on a row machine completing single-arm sets before going over to a different machine and super setting different grips. Before the workout ended, Walker made sure to hit some calves with machine raises.
During this workout, Walker focused on lower volume and bigger weight. He explained how his body felt a bit sore so he decided to take on a different approach during this workout.
“The body was feeling a little beat up so I wanted to do a little lower volume but I went heavier on the weight. It sounds contradictory but I don’t feel as beat up. I was able to go a little heavier, contract the muscle still, and do lower volume. I got what I needed to get out of it.”
“I don’t think you should always need to feel destroyed after a workout. It does not mean that you did not train hard.”
At this point in the offseason, Nick Walker is incorporating more off days to ensure his body is recovered properly. This included two days on, one day off training. Walker admitted he will take two days off at times if he needs some more rest. This is the point in the offseason where Walker feels it is important to keep his body as conditioned as possible.
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Jim Stoppani Answers: Should You Lift Light Weight Or Heavy Weight For Optimal Muscle Growth?
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Jim Stoppani explains the light weight vs heavy weight debate and which is best for optimal muscle growth.
For those who first start weightlifting, it might seem obvious that the more weight you lift the more muscle you gain. But that’s not necessarily true. There are various ways to build muscle and in today’s age of exercise science the tactics have become even more varied. But in the bodybuilding world, the biggest debate often comes down to light weight vs heavy weight. Aka – do you lift light weight with high reps or heavy weight and low reps? Both tactics are used by successful pro bodybuilders – proving their validity. But is one truly better than the other? In our latest GI Exclusive, Jim Stoppani explains the light weight vs heavy weight debate and breaks down which is best for ultimate muscle growth.
For those who love bodybuilding and weightlifting, there is nothing more exciting than seeing someone lift an insane amount of weight (or performing it yourself). It’s the ultimate proof of your ability in the gym. A showcase of just how strong you’ve become with your years of training. From an outward glance, it then seems that lifting hardcore heavyweight is the most inspiring and motivational tactic a bodybuilder can commit to.
However, other bodybuilders have shown time and time again that light weight can be an effective tactic as well. Dexter Jackson, for example, is a former Mr. Olympia champion and also the most decorated bodybuilder in the history of the sport. He has always promoted light weightlifting at high reps over heavy weight. In fact, he claims it is the reason he was able to continue his pro career into his 50s.
So what’s the science behind this? Can we scientifically prove that one style of training is more effective than the other? We turned to Jim Stoppani to help answer the question.
Comparing muscle protein synthesis of light weight vs heavy weight
Jim Stoppani starts off by mentioning and study that compared two lifting tactics. One group of individuals lifted 30 reps of light weight. The other group lifted five reps of heavy weight. The study was focusing on muscle protein synthesis – a key factor in muscle growth.
What the study concluded, Jim Stoppani explains, is that both groups achieved the same amount of protein synthesis. But there was a catch. This was only true if the individual trained to failure. This study further cements the statements made previously on Straight Facts by Jerry Brainum. Particularly for lifting light weight, training to failure is necessary for optimal muscle growth.
This is easier said than done. Many individuals who lift light weight at high reps often believe they are hitting failure but are actually missing the mark. The mind is very powerful and can psych a person out from achieving the true limit of their strength abilities. More often than not, those who struggle building mass muscle with lightweight tactics simply aren’t training to failure enough.
So does this mean light weight and heavy weight training are equal?
With this study, it seems that training light weight or heavy weight comes down to personal preference – as it yields the same results. Jim Stoppani points out that this isn’t necessarily true. Stoppani explains that protein synthesis is not the only factor in muscle growth.
For example, Jim Stoppani explains how lifting heavier weight leads to increased strength. That increased strength allows for lifting even more weight. This all compounds to allow for increased muscle growth. This is like compound investing in the stock market rather than paying the same regular payment into a savings account.
On the flip side, Jim Stoppani explains how light weight at high reps is more effective at increasing blood flow. This bring more nutrients to the muscle – which helps bring benefits towards increased muscle growth.
Conclusion: combine light weight and heavy weight for best results
Ultimately, this is why Jim Stoppani always recommends a combination of both tactics. Not only does a change up to your routine every 4-6 weeks help prevent plateaus, but the mix of light weight and heavy weight will bring added benefits that would not be found in sticking only to one tactic.
Weightlifting and bodybuilding progress is never about finding one routine and sticking with it forever non-stop for the rest of your life. It requires constant variety, adaptation, and change to keep growth from plateauing.
You can watch Jim Stoppani go into full detail about light weight vs heavy weight training in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above. Make sure to stick around each Monday for new episodes of Jim Stoppani’s explainer videos.
Julius Maddox Continues Pursuit of 800lb Bench Press By Destroying 735lb Lift During Training
Julius Maddox has had his eye on 800 pounds for quite some time and seems to be making progress.
It is only a matter of time for Julius Maddox.
A matter of time for what exactly? The powerlifter has had his sight set on being the first person to ever complete an 800-pound raw bench press. After taking some time off from training, Maddox loaded up 735 pounds on the bar and made it look easy.
Maddox laid on the bench with nothing to aid him but wrist wraps. After a lift from his spotter, Maddox took care of the rest. There was a slight pause at the bottom of the lift before Maddox drove it up to the sky. If it looked effortless, it’s because it might have been and he expressed that in his caption on Instagram.
“It’s only a matter of time.. This prep has had a lot of ups and downs. First time I’ve touched over 700 in almost 5 months. When I say this 735 felt like a empty bar is an understatement, It scared me when it come off my chest. Glory to GOD!”
Julius Maddox still holds the raw bench press world record of 782.6lbs from his lift at the Hybrid Showdown III back in February of 2021. Danial Zamani has been on his heels and looks determined to take over the world record.
Zamani recently completed an 804.7lb lift in training. While it does not count as an official world record, Zamani completed the lift with relative ease and it shows that he is determined to take over the title. The 800-pound mark has been a level that both lifters have been working to achieve. It is something that Maddox has failed in the past and it determined to make it official.
Julius Maddox attempted 800 pounds in 2020 but the bar was miscoded and caused an unsuccessful attempt. In August, Maddox prepared for his second attempt at the historic lift after a Chicago Cubs’ game at Wrigley Field. This was another unsuccessful attempt that has given Maddox some motivation.
As if he needed anymore, Maddox has the lift from Zamani to watch and use as a push. If this recent training video is any indication of the work that Julius Maddox has been putting in, he could reach the elusive 800-pound milestone in no time.
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WWE Legend Triple H Announces Retirement From In-Ring Competition, Details Heart Failure Scare
Triple H was a 14-time World Champion during his legendary career.
Triple H built a career in WWE that spanned several decades. He is one of the best professional wrestlers of his time but that has officially come to an end. Speaking with Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s First Take, Triple H announced his retirement from in-ring action.
Triple H, whose real name is Paul Levesque, made his debut in 1995. His last televised match came on June 7, 2019 when he took on Randy Orton in Saudi Arabia. During his career, Triple H became a 14-time World Champion.
On ESPN, Levesque explained how he went into heart failure in September following a battle with viral pneumonia.
“I will never wrestle again,” Levesque said. “First of all, I have a defibrillator in my chest, which, you know, probably not a good idea for me to get zapped on live TV.”
Doctors told Levesque that he was not close to full strength and that he was in “bad” heart failure. This is what led to the decision to hang it u in the ring for good.
“I was nose-diving and sort of at the 1-yard line of where you don’t want to be really, for your family and your future,” Levesque said Friday. “There’s moments in there when they’re putting you out for stuff and you think, ‘Is this it? Do you wake up from this?’ That’s tough to swallow and makes you think differently.”
Triple H was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2019 along with his former group, D-Generation-X. He was known for his work alongside Shawn Michaels terrorizing the WWE. Triple H also saw plenty of success as an individual known as “The Game.”
Triple H was a staple of the company during the Attitude Era and Ruthless Aggression Era. He won the WWE Championship nine times, World Heavyweight Championship five times, and Intercontinental Championship five times. During his career, Levesque also held the World Tag Team title, along with Stone Cold Steve Austin, and European title.
Levesque still acts as an executive Vice President with WWE. He is married to Stephanie McMahon, who is WWE’s chief brand office and daughter of Vince McMahon.
Triple H was known for his shredded physique, athleticism, and personality on the microphone. He will remain a part of the WWE and will forever have a legacy known as one of the top personalities the company has ever had.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
2022 Caribbean Grand Prix Bermuda Pro Results
Here are the full results from the 2022 Caribbean Grand Prix Bermuda Pro!
The 2022 Caribbean Grand Prix Bermuda Pro took place over the weekend with athletes looking for qualification to the 2022 Olympia. Hamilton, Bermuda was the place where Bikini and Wellness competitors got a chance to show what they can do. It was highlighted by victories from Eli Fernandez in Bikini and Barbara Cesar in Wellness.
Casey DeLong highlighted a small group of Wellness competitors in this event. She competed at both the 2021 Olympia and 2022 Arnold Classic. They both ended in top-10 finishes setting up for a big 2022 season. Lorena Ragusa were also considered contenders in this small but talented division.
In Bikini, it was Alessia Facchin who was expected to perform well. She finished sixth at the Arnold Classic at the beginning of March. This would give her a chance to compete at the Olympia and test her physique against some of the best in the world.
The full results from the show have been announced. Checkout the full breakdown from the show below and find out who earned qualification to the Olympia!
2022 Caribbean Grand Prix Bermuda Pro: All Division Winners
Bikini: Eli Fernandez
Wellness: Barbara Cesar
2022 Caribbean Grand Prix Bermuda Pro Breakdown
Bikini
First Place – Eli Fernandez
Second Place – Ashlyn Little
Third Place – Alessia Facchin
Fourth Place – Elisangela Angell
Fifth Place – Nittaya Kongthun
Sixth Place – Samantha Kucera
Wellness
First Place – Barbara Cesar
Second Place – Lorena Ragusa
Third Place – Mariela Peres Carvalho
Fourth Place – Casey DeLong
Fifth Place – Nerilde Garcia Strey
Sixth Place – Celeste Morales
2022 Caribbean Grand Prix Bermuda Pro Official Scorecards
Generation Iron wishes to congratulate all the great athletes who earned a win at the IFBB Caribbean Grand Prix Pro. Make sure to check out our full IFBB Pro results page from this year and previous years right here to catch up on any action you may have missed!
Hafthor Bjornsson Shares Full Day Of Eating During Boxing Diet
Hafthor Bjornsson recently shared what he eats per day while preparing fo fight against Eddie Hall.
Hafthor Bjornsson quickly built a reputation as one of the best strongmen in the world. He has been making the transition to boxing and is preparing to fight Eddie Hall on Saturday night. Since making the move to the ring, Bjornsson has changed his diet plan significantly and recently shared a full day of eating.
Bjornsson is a former World’s Strongest Man who has the world record deadlift with a 501kg lift. He used to eat many meals consisting of different fats in order to keep weight on and be able to compete at a high level during competition. Since switching over to boxing, Bjornsson has lost nearly 100 pounds and has built a shredded physique.
Bjornsson joined Men’s Health for an interview taking viewers through a full day of eating.
Meal 1
8 ounces beef tenderloin
2 whole eggs
110 grams oatmeal
150 grams berries
1 glass orange juice
Meal 2
8 ounces beef tenderloin
100 grams green veggies
140 grams white rice
Meal 3
8 ounces codfish
300 grams potatoes
100 grams green veggies
Meal 4
8 ounces salmon
140 grams white rice
100 grams green veggies
Meal 5
Bjornsson wanted to make sure that his final meal of the day felt like a dessert but still had the necessary benefits to his diet. He has found a way to do so and this is a recipe many others could get on board with.
Thor’s Skyr, a prebiotic similar to Green yogurt.
100 grams berries
30 grams peanut/almond butter
Despite his strict diet, Hafthor Bjornsson admits to indulging in a cheat meal every now and then. His favorite dessert is an Icelandic dish called bragoarefur. This is a type of ice cream that is mixed with different candies. There are other ways that Bjornsson likes to include cheat meals into the week.
“On a cheat day, I would eat anything that my stomach desires. Sometimes it’s ice cream, sometimes it’s Pizza. Sometimes burger, sometimes Sushi. Whatever I desire, I eat.”
It is no surprise that Hafthor Bjornsson was able to make this incredible transition once he began boxing. Aside from the different training methods, he has completely changed his diet plan and found one that works for him. As he prepares to take on Hall on Saturday night, Bjornsson has made sure to build the right physique and it has been an incredible transformation.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Tony Pearson: Uniqueness Is Missing From Pro Bodybuilding Physiques Today
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Tony Pearson picks his top 5 bodybuilders of all time and laments the lack of uniqueness in modern bodybuilding physiques.
What started as a discussion about the greatest bodybuilder physiques of all time pivoted into a conversation about modern bodybuilding vs past eras. Tony Pearson has a hard time picking the top 5 greatest bodybuilders of all time – because so many classic bodybuilding legends held truly unique physiques. It’s a kind of stamp of originality that Pearson doesn’t see as much in pro bodybuilding physiques today. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Tony Pearson explains how uniqueness is the missing X factor in modern bodybuilding.
During our conversation with Tony Pearson, we asked him to list his top 5 favorite bodybuilding physiques of all time. He started listing off names such as Sergio Oliva, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Frank Zane, and Franco Columbu. We noticed one commonality in his list – they were all Golden Era bodybuilders with a bigger focus on aesthetics rather than mass monster size.
We pointed this out and asked him about more modern legends such as Ronnie Coleman, Dorian Yates, and Phil Heath. Tony Pearson acknowledges that they are true legends – but perhaps due to primarily competing in the 70s and 80s, Pearson has a particular taste for the more aesthetic golden era.
That being said, he also believes that the most current era of bodybuilding is missing a certain x-factor. Tony Pearson isn’t criticizing modern bodybuilding’s work ethic or skill. Rather, he believes that there is simply a lack of uniqueness in the pro bodybuilding physiques we see on stage today.
“I mean you can’t say who’s the top five because everybody is unique,” Tony Pearson states in our interview. He continues:
“And that’s what we are missing I think today – is the uniqueness of the pros. Because in those days you can cover the face and hold a picture – you know who that is. You know who’s back that is. You know who’s bicep that is. You know who’s legs those are. You know. You know’s abs. Who does that vacuum. We know. And that’s unique. You’re a unique piece of work.”
Tony Pearson goes on to mention Kai Greene, seemingly the most recent pro bodybuilder he can think of that felt unique in his physique as well as his posing. In fact, a lot of the uniqueness can also come in the form of posing. Something that the modern bodybuilders are stuck living in the shadow of from previous legends.
Tony Pearson doesn’t seem to be blaming today’s pro bodybuilders for lack of trying. When it comes to posing, modern bodybuilding simply suffers from being compared to so much that came before. He explains:
“Everyone is copying everyone else now. The guys in the Classic Physique – I can say oh that’s Shawn Ray’s pose or that’s Flex Wheeler’s pose or that’s a Zane pose. I can recognize all the poses from the old time guys”
Tony Pearson has an interesting point. There are now points of reference to other famous bodybuilders. For example, Nick Walker is often being compared to the likes of Dorian Yates and even Ronnie Coleman do to his similar humongous physique. He’s not just “Nick Walker: The One and Only.” He’s “Nick Walker: The Second Coming Of Dorian Yates.” That changes the conversation and perspective on today’s athletes.
Tony Pearson acknowledges this. “It’s hard work,” he goes on to say in our interview. It’s in some ways harder work than the older generations. The Golden Era was pioneering bodybuilding as we know it today. Is there any room left for something truly new in the sport? Or will today’s athletes always be compared in some way, shape, or form to a previous legend?
You can watch Tony Pearson go into full detail on this topic by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Joey Swoll Uses Video Of Ego Lifter To Show Example Of Toxic Gym Culture
Joey Swoll has been speaking out against toxic gym culture and shared another example of it here.
Joey Swoll has continued to discuss toxic gym culture on social media in many ways. This is something that he feels strongly about and has made it a point to call out gym-goers who either make fun of or show up someone else trying to better themself. In his recent video, Swoll speaks on a video of an ego lifter taking over a lift.
In Swoll’s TikTok video, a gym-goer is seen attempting a new PR and struggling with the weight. Another lifter goes over and begins working with the weight in different ways. Rather than helping and encouraging, the ego lifter feels the need to show up the person who was initially working with the bar.
This is something that Swoll does not condone and explains that it is just another example of toxic gym culture.
““One of the things that upsets me most in the gym is people thinking they’re better than others simply because they’re bigger or stronger, you’re not. Just because you can lift more, doesn’t give you the right to treat people poorly.
You saw an opportunity to shame him and embarrass him for likes and attention on social media. This is toxic gym culture. You could have done two things, you could have gone over, helped him, encouraged him, and helped him with form or, you could have simply minded your own business. Be better than that.”
This is an instance where Joey Swoll believes help should have been offered. There are many examples of toxic gym culture and TikTok has turned into a platform where users call some out.
Primarily, there have been call-to-actions on the social media platform urging males to behave better in the gym and not make females uncomfortable. This was a word to gym-goers and even in some cases employees. Swoll’s account is a bit different as he explains the correct techniques of lifts if they are being made fun of.
In previous videos, Joey Swoll has shown gym-goers being called out for performing unorthodox lifts, such as drag curls and partial reps of lateral raises. Swoll quickly explains the lift and how it is not wrong just because it looks strange.
This has been extremely popular as Joey Swoll is calling for behavior in the gym to be better. This can happen in all ways beginning with all lifters focusing on themselves and not the interest of others.
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