Tag: GI News
Bodybuilder Reza Rezamand Wins First Show After Ladybird Bite Caused Sepsis
Reza Rezamand returned to the stage in victorious fashion.
Reza Rezamand has completed one of the most incredible and unique returns that you will ever see.
In November of 2016, Rezamand was taken to the hospital after being bit by a ladybird. The bite triggered a reaction that caused his foot to swell and turn black. The bite became infected and Rezamand contracted sepsis. He was given a 30% chance of survival after the infection caused a chain reaction all over is body.
Reza Rezamand made his return during the Natural Bodybuilding Federation competitions held in London over the weekend and put on a show. He competed in four events wining one gold, two silver, and one bronze medal. Rezamand was able to get down to his desired weight of 84kg and 4% body fat so he felt comfortable competing.
“Big Thanks to @2brospro_events for this Amazing show and seeing so many great athletes and great atmosphere ??❤1st, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, sorry tried but next time even stronger and better? ??@npcworldwideofficial ❤,’ rezamand wrote on instagram.
“These preps were an amazingly spiritual experience. Bodybuilding is a subjective and difficult sport .
I would never recommend anyone do a bodybuilding prep that isn’t doing it for the challenge of self development. But if that is the mindset, not only will you become the best version of yourself, but you will learn so much about your mind, and spirit along the way that it will improve your self awareness for life. The iron temple… ■INVEST IN YOU■”
Reza Rezamand gained an interested in fitness at an extremely young age. He began Muay Thai kickboxing classes at the age of 12 and this caused his passion to grow to exponential heights. He grew up as a huge fan of Arnold Schwarzenegger and this led him down the path of bodybuilding. Rezamand began competing in natural bodybuilding but had to put it on hold in 2016.
Rezamand began feeling discomfort in his hand and neck after being bitten. This is when he drove himself to a hospital, where they admitted him for the night and was given antibiotics. The medicine did not work and his foot began to swell. This is when he was moved to another hospital and this is where they determined that the bite had caused sepsis.
The doctors did not give him a great chance but Rezamand was able to defeat the infection and return to the stage. The 37-year-old bodybuilder will not be able to compete moving forward and train at his usual level.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Talking Huge With Craig Golias | EP 21: Is The Iranian Hulk Photoshopped?
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Craig Golias thinks Iranian Hulk is photoshopped and shares his thoughts on photoshopping in bodybuilding.
Welcome to another episode of Talking Huge – a weekly digital series in which Craig Golias talks in-depth with Vlad Yudin on the latest trending topics in bodybuilding. Raw, honest, and uncut – Craig Golias shares his opinions on all things bodybuilding. In this episode, Craig Golias reacts to the death… and then not death of legendary bodybuilder Victor Richards and also discusses where the line is drawn regarding substances in natural bodybuilding.
Craig Golias is a man who is extremely large – being HUGE is part of his entire persona. It’s very obvious to anyone who met him that he’s truly large in real life. But there are many people who think that Golias’ photos are edited or photoshopped to look more impressive. Craig claims that he never photoshops his images – but admits to using extreme angling to create the illusion that he’s bigger than he really is. In either case, there’s no denying that Craig is an extremely massive person physically.
But photoshopping in bodybuilding is a very real thing. In fact, it’s very real beyond bodybuilding as well. Whether it’s filters on Instagram or airbrushing models in magazines and commercials – the human body is constantly being altered to look “perfect.” For the bodybuilding industry, this is almost always seen by fans as a betrayal. Bodybuilding is about perfecting the body into something larger than life. To fake that is essentially a cheat.
That’s why in this week’s episode of Talking Huge we discuss about a variety of different topics that all tie into one theme – photoshopping. The discussion springboards first from a discussion about the Martyn Ford vs Iranian Hulk boxing match and snowballs into various stories involving photoshop scandals and the very concept behind photoshopping in bodybuilding. Let’s jump into it.
Is The Iranian Hulk Photoshopped?
The Martyn Ford vs Iranian Hulk boxing match was a sudden an unexpectedly popular announcement. Set to take place in April 2022, seeing one of the tallest bodybuilders face off against one of the largest bodybuilders is a sort of freak show fans are excited to see. But Craig Golias thinks that Iranian Hulk uses photoshop to appear more shocking than he actually is. Specifically, Craig believes that the Iranian Hulk’s waist is being tapered in with photo editing.
There’s of course no proof – but Craig Golias being a 300+ pound man himself finds it unlikely that the Iranian Hulk could have such a tight waist. He also points out that beyond certain photos – he’s often seen with a baggy hoodie on.
Can Photoshopping Be Acceptable In Bodybuilding?
This leads into the bigger conversation about photoshopping. Vlad Yudin and Craig Golias debate about whether or not photoshopping can be acceptable in certain situations for bodybuilders. Craig admits that angling in photos is basically a form of photoshop. It’s using illusion to look more impressive. Photo editing is just the next step of that.
That being said – Craig Golias thinks that to photoshop heavily is misleading and goes against the very goal of bodybuilding. A bodybuilder wants to look larger than life and make people see the impossible. To use photo editing to fake that is to defeat the goal of bodybuilding in and of itself.
But Craig Golias also looks back at the Devin Physique Shredz scandal and wonders of the photoshopping criticism was over-exaggerated. Craig points out that Devin is clearly shredded and muscular in real life. But he used photoshop to alter the smaller details to look more perfect. This doesn’t mean he doesn’t have an impressive physique. It just means that he tightened up the small lagging details – like many people do outside of the industry these days with filters.
That being said – it should be noted that Devin Physique was using his photos to sell training programs. So altering his image in an effort to promise those kinds of results are certainly misleading. Which was a part of the scandal at the time.
Wrap Up
You can check out the full conversation in the latest episode of Talking Huge above. There were far more topics than could be covered in this article – including Craig deciding his favorite physique between Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler. Make sure to check out Talking Huge every week on Friday – only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network!
2021 Toronto Pro Supershow: Top Competitors To Watch
Here is a preview of the 2021 Toronto Pro Supershow!
The 2021 Toronto Pro Super Show is among us. It will take place on Dec. 5 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This is the biggest event of the year that takes place in Canada and is an honor for any competitor to win. This will also earn winners qualification to the 2021 Olympia.
This is the first event of its kind since 2019. The Toronto Pro last year was cancelled to the Covid-19 pandemic. Now that it is back, competitors are as motivated as ever. This event will feature competitors from the Men’s Open, Men’s 212, Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, and Women’s Bodybuilding divisions.
When taking a look at the field, it is highlighted by Men’s Bodybuilding. The field is smaller than usual but still features some talent that will put on an exciting show. Let’s take a look at some of the top competitors that will be present in Toronto.
Quinton Eriya
Eriya will be one of two returning competitors from the 2019 event. This was his professional debut and finished sixth in Men’s Open. Since then, Eriya has competed in three big shows and finished in the top-10 in all of them. This includes the 2020 New York Pro and 2021 Romania Muscle Fest Pro. At 26 years old, Eriya has a chance to punch his ticket to the Olympia by winning a show he is familiar with. He recently returned to stage after having surgery to treat Gynecomastia in 2020. Now, he can continue to make a name for himself.
Joseph Seeman
Seeman returns to the stage in Toronto after placing fourth in 2019. This was one of the best finishes of his career. Since then, Seeman has made an appearance at th 2020 California Pro and 2020 Chicago Pro. Seeman also has two sixth-place finishes this season at the Arnold Classic UK and Legion Sports Fest Pro. Seeman continues to improve each time he steps on stage. As a returning competitor in Toronto, he is a name that can be considered to win it all.
Joel Thomas
Hailing from Tallahassee, Thomas makes frequent appearances during the Tampa Pro. This year, he finished seventh, matching the best finish of his career. The time has come for Thomas to qualify for the Olympia and it can be done with a victory here. He is one of many competitors with a chance to win in Toronto as the field is as even as ever.
Victor Rea Cano
Rea Cano has not competed much this year but he put together a strong campaign back in 2018. This is where he finished sixth at the Vancouver Pro before making appearances at the Tampa Pro and Prague Pro. A native of Mexico, Rea Cano recently made the trip to Bucharest to compete in the Romania Muscle Fest Pro back in November. This gave him a chance to see where he stacks up against similar competition. That is what he will do again heading into this show in Toronto.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Nick Walker Shares Full Day Of Eating A Total Of 4,567 Calories
Nick Walker took viewers through a typical, six-meal day.
Nick Walker continues to be one of the fastest-rising stars in bodybuilding after what was an incredible rookie year. He has built one of the most monstrous physiques and it cannot be done without elite offseason training. Walker knows how to plan his diet, along with training and supplements, to get the best out of himself.
Walker frequency posts workouts on his YouTube page for viewers to try out themselves. Recently, the 27-year-old bodybuilder took us through a full day of his diet plan. This included six meals the totaled 4,567 calories.
It is not surprising to see Walker take his diet as seriously as he does. This is essential as he continues to gain nutrients and build a physique that is needed to accomplish great things. Walker was champion of the Arnold Classic back in September and finished fifth in his first Olympia.
Let’s take a closer look at a full day of Walker’s diet. It begins with his morning supplementation. This includes a multivitamin, Vitamin C, tumeric, revive heart, revive prostate, revive blood pressure, revive liver, revive kidney, omegas, Vitamin K2 & D3, and bergamot.
Meal One (Pre-Workout)
Chicken
Onions
Peppers
75 grams of grains
80 grams banana
100 grams blueberries
20 grams almond butter
One hour after eating, Walker takes more supplements. This time it is 20 grams RAW AA, RAW BUMP, RAW Intro Workout formula, and creatine.
Meal Two (Post-Workout)
Chicken
2 eggs
Meal Three
Steak
Jasmine rice
Onions
Peppers
2 eggs
Meal Four
Chicken
Peppers
Onions
Jasmine rice
Cinnamon
Garlic spices
Meal Five
Chicken
Peppers
Onions
Jasmine rice
Meal Six
Steak
Onions
Peppers
Brownie
Almond buter
Before the night is over, Nick Walker takes RAW sleep, magnesium, Pepsin GI, vitamin C, and Glucose all after his last meal. Throughout the day, Walker admitted that it is a bit tough around meal five. This is why he likes to use different spices to shake things up a bit. This will avoid getting bored with the same blend of spices and flavors.
Walker has three consistent parts of his meals — rice, onions, and peppers. He believes that cream of rice is especially optimal for meals. Walker also admits that the peppers and onions are an important way to flavor proteins.
Throughout the video, Nick Walker lets viewers into what he eats and how he prepares his meals. It is always interesting to see how the best of the best prepares and trains on a day-to-day basis. Walker is coming off an enormous year and there could be plenty more to look forward to in the future.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Tiffany Chapon Beats Squat World Record During Training Session
Tiffany Chapon completed a squat slightly over the world record in a recent training session.
A new wave of powerlifters is coming and Tiffany Chapon is one of the up-and-coming athletes to watch. The 20-year-old lifter already has a strong resume and continues to impress. In training, the 47kg competitor keeps putting up big numbers and this could lead to something special in competition.
Most recently, Chapon shared a video on Instagram showing a 153.5kg (338.4lb) squat. It is important to note that this is one full kilogram more than the current world record in the 47kg division.
“Squat: 153.5 kg (unofficial wr). I failed this bar 5 minutes before but I’m slowly learning to understand and listen to myself. I’m happy the technical adjustments are paying off.”
While Chapon’s lift cannot be officially recognized as a world record, it is noteworthy that she was able to top it in training. This is a lift that is more than three times her bodyweight at the time. Chapon admitted that she failed the first attempt but was able to make adjustments to succeed the next time around. This means that she is learning each day and it a scary thought for opponents.
Chen Wei-Ling of Taiwan holds the current world record but Chapon could be coming for it soon. This is not the first time that the French powerlifter has put up big numbers in the gym.
Tiffany Chapon also topped the world record total of 408kg (899.5lb) in a training session. This record is held by Heather Connor. Unofficially, chacon added a 96kg bench and has totaled 411kg in total. She has put in some serious work since beginning her career at age 19.
This is when she made her debut during the 2020 FFForce Silent Worker Meet. Since then, Chapon has appeared in six sanctioned events and has won four of them. She now competes at 47kg but has multiple world records in the 43kg division. These include raw squat (122.5kg), deadlift (146.5kg), and total (339kg).
During the 2021 FFForce Girl Power competition, Chapon put up her best day. She posted a total of 402.5kg, which is currently the this heaviest total on record in IPF competition. Wei-Ling and Connor are the only two competitors to log a heavier total.
Tiffany Chapon has already logged plenty of world record lifts in her young career. As she matures a bit in the sport, there are more to go down. Chapon could have her eye on the squat record next given her recent lifts and is learning the technical side of the sport. This means she is going to improve and gain strength rapidly.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
The Anabolic Doc Answers: What Do Bodybuilding Fans Really Want? Natural Or Enhanced?
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The Anabolic Doc debates with Vlad Yudin: Will fans really abandon pro bodybuilding if strict drug testing were applied to all leagues?
There’s no doubt that natural bodybuilding leagues such as the INBA/PNBA have been growing over the past decade. But the IFBB still holds strong as the most watched and widely seen league in competitive bodybuilding. While they don’t condone drug use – the IFBB differs from natural leagues by not conducting drug tests. This is true of many pro leagues that do not hold the term “natural” in their title. This begs the question – are untested pro leagues more popular because of the drug use? Will fans abandon these leagues if they were to start strict drug testing? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, the Anabolic Doc shares his thoughts on fan reactions to natural bodybuilding.
Generation Iron: Natty 4 Life was a film that dove deep into the world of natural bodybuilding – revealing a collective of passionate athletes and passionate promoters who want to dedicate their love of bodybuilding to fair drug tested competition. This dedication feels more prescient than ever due to the recent too-soon deaths of many competitive bodybuilders in the sport. While nearly all of these deaths have no announced cause at the moment – the conversation about health for athletes has reached an all time high.
That’s why during our conversation with Dr. Thomas O’Connor, aka the Anabolic Doc, we asked for his opinion on the bodybuilding fanbase as a whole. Namely, do bodybuilding fans want a safer more natural version of bodybuilding? It’s no secret that, while growing, natural leagues still fall behind the IFBB when it comes to mainstream attention. Fans seem to want a safer sport – but not want to sacrifice the mass monster size that has come with PEDs.
The Anabolic Doc thinks that this hypocritical separation comes from a base need in our DNA. Ever since the earliest times of history – humans have been entertained by violent spectacle. The Roman gladiators are used by an example by the Anabolic Doc. Fans separate the men and women from the spectacle – and desperately want to believe that the drug use isn’t the main cause for health issues.
Of course, the Anabolic Doc had dedicated his life to anabolic research. So he knows that continued drug use on a scale seen in pro bodybuilding is definitely dangerous. Despite this, the bar has been set too high in terms of expectations for physiques. It can come at a cost for athletes – but so long as they are willing to take that risk, fans will be enamored with the results.
That being said, the Anabolic Doc also believes that the dislike for natural bodybuilding is overstated. He thinks that the online world has created a loud hateful minority that takes all the spotlight. Perhaps as natural bodybuilding leagues such as the INBA/PNBA continue to grow – we will see a shift in terms of health. But that shift will happen slowly. Perhaps the recent deaths in bodybuilding will be the first chapter in a long book of change.
You can watch the Anabolic Doc’s full comments on natural bodybuilding vs untested bodybuilding in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Kai Greene Reveals Recent Physique Update
Kai Greene showed off some poses on social media recently.
It has been an ongoing question of whether or not Kai Greene will be returning to the stage. While there might not be a plan in place, the 46-year-old bodybuilder continues to show off a shredded physique and intense training regiment.
Greene often takes to social media to show off a big workout or physique update. On Thursday, he did just that. Greene posted a few pictures on Instagram showing off some poses and getting some input from his 6.7 million followers. In his caption, Greene kept it short and sweet.
“Character Development.”
“Which pose ya’ll FEELIN the best ?,” greene then wrote in the comments.
It is no surprise that Kai Greene is looking as big as ever. He is a monstrous man that has seen great success on stage. Greene has developed a huge fanbase over the years and these are the people wondering if he is going to make a comeback. This is something that Greene has flirted with over the years, especially with a rivalry with seven-time Olympia champ Phil Heath.
While a return has not been announced and it is unknown if it ever will, Kai Greene continues to crush the gym.
Since turning pro in 2005, Greene has been a force in bodybuilding and quickly became a fan favorite. He has never won an Olympia but finished as the runner-up three times in 2012, 2013, and 2014. All three second-place finishes came to Heath, which is where the rivalry comes from. Greene is a three-time champion at the Arnold Classic. He won back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010 before adding his third in 2016.
Kai Greene grew a passion for fitness and bodybuilding at a young age and turned it into a successful career. He continues to work as a personal trainer and provide insight to the next generation looking to better themselves.
It is clear that Greene can still get it done in the gym. In all his physique updates, Greene is hitting some poses and that shows he still has a passion for bodybuilding. As time goes on, keep an eye on if he decides to make a return to the stage. It will be extremely intense if Greene makes that move.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Vote Now In The Generation Iron Bodybuilding Awards 2021
The judges have made their picks. Now it’s time for the fans to decide the best bodybuilders of the year.
On October 10th, 2021 – the best bodybuilders of the year faced off at the Mr. Olympia competition. While not the complete end of the season – it marks the moment that all bodybuilders shift gears and start focusing on qualifying for the next Olympia competition the following year. It is the event that all bodybuilding athletes strive towards winning.
Now that the Mr. Olympia has concluded and the judges have picked their champion winners, it’s time for the fans to decide their favorite and best bodybuilders of the year. Enter the 6th Annual Generation Iron Bodybuilding Awards.
How To Vote In The Generation Iron Bodybuilding Awards 2021
The GI Bodybuilding Awards contains 15 categories breaking down the best athletes of the year. Based off of a nominee list selected by industry experts, the final vote is decided by the fans. We may already have a Mr. Olympia champion in the form of Big Ramy – but who will the fans proclaim the best athlete of the year?
The GI Bodybuilding Awards do not only have options for the best overall athletes of the year. It also has the best in specific categories such as Most Improved, Best Up-And-Comer, and Best Posing Routine.
We’re also proud to announce two new categories this year – Strength Athlete of the Year and Pro Fitness Performance of the Year.
You can see the full list of categories below:
Best Male Athlete
Best Female Athlete
Best Arms
Best Legs
Best Chest
Best Back
Up-And-Comer Of The Year
Most Improved
Best Posting Routine
Most Shredded Bodybuilder
Strength Athlete of the Year
Pro Fitness Performance of the Year
Guru Of The Year
Personality Of The Year
Influencer Of The Year
The voting system is simple. Simply sign up to the 6th Annual Generation Iron Bodybuilding Awards and get exclusive access to our voting page. On the voting page you have a multiple choice selection for the nominees across all thirteen categories in the awards.
If you need a reminder on the 2021 bodybuilding season, you can check out our official recaps for the biggest events of the year below:
How To Vote
Sign up below and get exclusive access to cast your vote and have your voice be heard on the best bodybuilders of the year across 15 different categories.
Cast your votes today through December 31, 2021 to decide the FAN CHOSEN winners of 2021! After we tally the votes – the winners will be announced in January!
The Rock’s ‘Red Notice’ Is Now The Most Watched Movie On Netflix
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson now has the most watched film on Netflix.
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson quickly turned into one of the highest-grossing movie stars when he burst onto the scene. The former WWE superstar made an immediate impact when he began making movies and that is continuing over the years. Now, The Rock has transitioned to Netflix as well.
It was recently announced that The Rock’s most recent movie ‘Red Notice’ is now the most viewed film on Netflix. This movie has brought in 328.8 million viewing hours. This easily tops the previous record, which was held by Sandra Bullock’s ‘Bird Box’ at 282 million viewing hours. It took this movie just 18 days to break the previous record compared to the four weeks it took ‘Bird Box’ to reach the number.
At the moment, 50% of Netflix’s subscribers around the world have viewed the film. ‘Red Notice’ stars The Rock, Ryan Reynolds, and Gal Gadot. It was produced by Johnson’s Seven Bucks Productions and debuted on Netflix at the beginning of November. It is one of the top-10 films on Netflix in 94 countries.
This film was directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber. This is the third movie that Johnson and Thurber have worked on together, joining ‘Central Intelligence’ and ‘Skyscraper.’ Johnson plays an FBI agent who teams up with an art thief in order to catch a bigger criminal. Reynolds plays the part of the art thief and they are attempting to catch Gadot, who is the bigger criminal.
The action comedy was extremely successful out of the gate. It remained consistent throughout the month of November and will likely continue to put up some big numbers on the platform.
The Rock took to Instagram to celebrate the accomplish and thank all who have viewed the film.
“Holy shit ?Breakin’ out the @teremana ???
RED NOTICE is now the most watched film in @netflix history, officially making it the #1 ALL TIME MOVIE in streaming.
Previous record held by BIRD BOX in 2018 with 282 million hours viewed.With still 11 days to go, RED NOTICE has been viewed for a staggering 328 MILLION HOURS.
With an INCREDIBLE 92% GLOBAL AUDIENCE SCORE!!?????
And we have almost two weeks left of our global run to tally up these extraordinary and ground breaking metrics.
Love U guys and THANK YOU!!! ??”
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Derek Lunsford Reveals The Machine-Like Specificity Of Training With Hany Rambod
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Derek Lunsford On Hany Rambod’s Intense Training: “It Was Almost Like I Had To Count The Breaths In A Day”
Derek Lunsford has been on top of the world in 2021 – specifically due to his epic win at the Men’s 212 Olympia. As a true passionate man of bodybuilding, his excitement has been infectious since winning the Olympia. And it seems that excitement and passion is matched by his extremely focused training ethic that earned him the victory. A big part of his training and diet routine came in the form of legendary trainer Hany Rambod. The two linked up just 10 months before the Olympia 2021.
In our latest GI Exclusive, Derek Lunsford goes into great detail his experience working with Hany Rambod. In particular, he reveals the machine-like specificity behind Rambod’s program. In no way meant as an insult, he expresses that nearly every single second of his life was calculated towards the final weeks before the Olympia. It was that level of detail, matched with his passion, that helped him break through to the next level and win the biggest show of the year.
Hany Ramod is well known as a legendary guru and trainer for many decades. His FST-7 program has been much touted in the industry. He’s also best known for coaching seven time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath. That same magic and talent was lended to Derek Lunsford. It was a typically shorter lead up time that Rambod is used to – but the two worked together to pull off an amazing feat by the time Olympia 2021 rolled around.
“He coached my mind just as much as he coached my physique,” Derek Lunsford stated in our interview. He continued, “That was actually the first thing he said was, ‘I’m a trainer first. I’m going to coach you and train you first – not just give you a meal plan.’”
Derek Lunsford then went on to explain just how hands on and detailed Hany Rambod was as they drew closer to the Olympia 2021:
“At the very end, I think that’s the biggest thing, the very last week things were very, very specific. The last two to three weeks I was taking notes, being very diligent, on everything I was doing. It’s almost like I had to count the breaths in a day it felt like. Not literally but it just felt like – every time I went to the bathroom or took a nap or did cardio or ate this meal or whatever… I was writing it down. Everything that went into my body or everything that I did physically was being calculated.”
What’s most inspiring about hearing Derek Lunsford talk about his intense contest prep, is how much he seemed to be loving it. Bodybuilding contest prep can be very grueling and bring out the worst in people’s moods during those final weeks. While this may have happened to Lunsford – in retrospect he speaks so lovingly and passionately about the entire experience.
That mentality is the kind of outlook needed to become a champion. It’s no wonder he was able to become the Men’s 212 Olympia victor. Lunsford speaks later in our interview about how excited he is for 2022. His successes this year was simply after 10 months working with Hany Rambod. As he noted earlier, Rambod typically takes more time with his athletes. So in Lunsford’s mind – there is no where to go but up from here.
You can watch Derek Lunsford go into extreme detail about his Olympia 2021 training regimen by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview above!