Tag: nEWS
Eddie Hall Shows Off Abs at 385 Lbs in Latest Physique Update: ‘The Cut Starts in 8 Weeks’
Strongman legend Eddie Hall is determined to make a statement in his 2024 bid as a bodybuilder. In a recent Instagram post, Hall shared a cement-cracking 385-pound physique update with visible abs and revealed he will start to cut weight in eight weeks.
Eddie Hall is a man of many talents. He held the heaviest deadlift world record before his rival Hafthor Bjornsson took the honor from him in 2020. Looking to settle their differences, Hall and Bjornsson agreed to a boxing match in 2022. It was a strange but exciting affair that saw Bjornsson get his hand raised via unanimous decision.
Hall, who is known for his eccentric personality and competitive nature, decided to try out bodybuilding. Following the performances of four-time Classic Physique Olympia Chris Bumstead and former two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay at 2022 Mr. Olympia, Hall was inspired to compete.
In preparation for his big debut, Hall has taken part in various training sessions and posing seminars. In May, the famed strongman joined professional posing coach Emma Heineman for a routine. And judging by some of his updates, Hall plans to bring a beastly package to the Classic Physique division soon.
Eddie Hall Tipping Scales at 385 Lbs, Says ‘Cut’ Starts in 8 Weeks: Fans React
The strongman-turned-bodybuilder Hall revealed he was weighing 385 pounds and shared that he will start cutting weight in two months.
“The Cut starts in 8wks⏰ 385lbs@theposingpro ?” Eddie Hall shared.
Fans were immediately taken aback by Eddie’s update, especially considering that he has visible abs at almost 400 pounds.
@eddiehallwsm via Instagram
Surprisingly, Eddie Hall isn’t the only famous strongman to give bodybuilding a try. Larry Wheels will also test the waters in the Classic Physique division. Despite his inexperience in the new sport, Larry’s coach mentioned that he believes Wheels can be competitive against the world’s best using only testosterone replacement therapy.
Eddie Hall has taken calculated measures before stepping on a bodybuilding stage. Earlier this year, he teamed up with seven-time 212 Olympia Flex Lewis for a rare bodybuilding versus strongman collaboration. They trained arms together and shared respective physique updates afterward.
Aside from bodybuilding ventures, Eddie Hall is known for his massively successful YouTube channel and social media presence. He reacts to painful gym fails, and teams up with other fitness influencers. One of the last times fans saw ‘The Beast’ in action, Jesse James West pranked him by pulling a ton of fake weights.
RELATED: 76-YO Sylvester Stallone Launches Eddie Hall Over Bar in ‘Expendables 4’ Trailer
While it certainly looks like an uphill climb for Eddie Hall as far as bodybuilding goes, a competitor of his stature and determination should never be counted out or underestimated. Fans will have a better idea of his targeted physique in eight weeks when he begins cutting weight.
Published: 23 June, 2023 | 4:55 PM EDT
Watch How This Man’s Body Changed After Running 5km for 30 Days Straight
Running is an effective way to get some exercise in, lose weight, and level up your fitness game. Although many people tend to use some form of cardio in training, running often gets a bad rap in bodybuilding. In a recent YouTube video, fitness influencer Tom Morley shared results after he took on the challenge of running 5 kilometers for 30 days straight.
When it comes to bodybuilding, weight training usually takes priority over everything else as it helps build muscle through resistance and hypertrophy. Cardio is another essential element of most training programs to ensure progress and gains.
From brisk walking to high-intensity interval training (HIIT), there are several ways of doing cardio based on your needs. Regular cardio training may help boost fat loss and strengthen heart health. Since it helps burn calories, there’s a fear of losing muscle among those looking to pack on the pounds. While many practice low-intensity cardio, other more challenging forms like running often get neglected due to similar concerns.
In Aug. 2022, social media sensations Buff Dudes embarked on a mission to run 10k every day for 30 days in a row. The brothers did not change their weight training regimen and simply added cardio workouts on top of their usual sessions. By the time the 30 days were over, the duo reported positive results and lost a pound each. They disproved the myth that running would cut down muscle mass and instead showed how it benefits health.
Timing your cardio sessions are another hot topic. Doing cardio in a fasted state has gained a ton of popularity for its fat-burning benefits over the last few years. Bodybuilder Hunter Labrada argued that fasted cardio is not optimal and recommends doing it post-workout to maximize the results while in prep for contests.
Legendary bodybuilder Jay Cutler gave his take on the best ways to do cardio earlier this month. He encouraged his fans to incorporate cardio sessions either first thing in the morning or after weight training. He also stressed the importance of prioritizing training above all else.
RELATED: Calories Burned Running Calculator
Man Shows results of running 5k for 30 days straight
In a recent YouTube video, Tom Morley shared his experience of running 5 kilometers every day for 30 days in a row.
He clocked in at 33 minutes on the first day. His performance continued to decline due to his body experiencing more stress and pain. Eventually, he got used to it and recorded a new PR of 28:02 in his third week. However, he was forced to quit the challenge after suffering a broken leg.
Having done the routine for 22 days, Morley reported losing nine pounds and improving by about five minutes. He did not get the chance to complete the challenge this time but will attempt again once he’s recovered fully from the broken leg.
“I know it’s going to be a hard challenge, and I know I’m gonna want to quit at times, but if I can give it my all, if I can throw everything into this, I really think I can do it,” he continued. “Unfortunately, getting a bit slower each day was the pattern for about a week. The pain just got so bad in my calves and my knees obviously because I hadn’t been doing this level of intensity interns of cardio probably ever. My legs were starting to struggle with that.”
“It’s just so annoying when you try so hard and put so much time and so much energy into something and then something like this happens and it completely kills it.”
Morley’s detailed account of running every day will educate fitness enthusiasts on what they can expect if they try it out for themselves. While he initially intended to make the run for 30 days straight, an injury sidelined him for the time being. Nevertheless, the results of just 22 days is quite impressive.
You can watch the full video below.
RELATED: Fasted Running Explained: Benefits and Precautions
Published: 23 June, 2023 | 4:52 PM EDT
Jay Cutler Says He’s Gained 15 Lbs During ‘Fit-for-50’ Challenge, Reveals New Physique Goals
Bodybuilding legend Jay Cutler continues to prove why he was such a dominant force in the IFBB Pro League. Having captured four Mr. Olympia titles, his legacy is set in stone yet he still offers fans engaging content on a regular basis. In the latest Cutler Cast Podcast, Jay discussed his physique goals for 2023 and talked about his diet and training en route to turning 50 years old.
During his tenure, Cutler was one of the sport’s biggest faces. When no one thought it was possible, Cutler managed to dethrone the great eight-time Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman in 2006. His accolades are on par with some of the best bodybuilders to ever compete. While Cutler was knocked off the throne by Dexter Jackson in 2008, he regained it a year later. He’s the only Men’s Open competitor to win back a Mr. Olympia title.
Cutler retired in 2013 after a decorated career. However, his love for training, dieting, and bodybuilding persists. Late last year, Jay Cutler announced that he planned to undergo a physique transformation. Immediately, fans suspected that a comeback was on the table but Cutler said he was taking on the challenge for personal fulfillment.
From physique updates to training sessions, Cutler has offered fans a consistent look into his transformation process. In a previous Cutler Cast Podcast, the 49-year-old stressed that he would only use testosterone replacement therapy. In addition, he said he planned to avoid more powerful compounds like Trenbolone.
Jay Cutler Reflects on ‘Striving to Be Known,’ & Discusses Diet/Training for 2023 Body Transformation
As of right now, Cutler’s focus is on getting big and lean.
“But at the same time, I always said I was going to get in my best shape in 10 years since I retired in 2013. I was 40. I’ll be 50 here in August. I was kind of contemplating whether I wanted to be super shredded, smaller… I just wanted to have the best version of me with what’s on hand. It’s kind of changed to be honest.
I just want to be able to say I can take my shirt off when I get up on a podium and speak or whatever, and people are like damn that’s an impressive physique which is right now there’s no question but I still wanted to have a point where it’s like okay, my condition is great, the water retention is not super, and the body fat is lower. The whole position is going to be as big and lean as possible but not to have – not to say I won’t, even now I have some striations, but not like toned down, ripped for a contest,” explained Jay Cutler.
According to the bodybuilding icon, he’s gained 15 pounds since starting the fit-for-50 challenge. He specified that his food and training have been consistent. In addition, Jay is incorporating 40-60 minutes of cardio daily, which he says has made his skin feel different.
“I’ve put on 15 pounds, almost 15 pounds of weight,” said Cutler. “I’m getting rounder but you know, remember, I’m still seven and a half weeks, so this is really when the body, I want to start bringing in the shoulders. The training has been super consistent. The food, I ate six meals a day but I honestly missed when we were traveling some. It was very difficult.
As you know, I didn’t train for like four days in a row. I did cardio two of the four days but I realize now how important it is for everyday, especially when you eat six meals, you can’t take four days off in a row or my metabolism just doesn’t keep up.”
“I feel my skin sits differently. I feel – I’m doing cardio twice a day now the last two days I’ve done double. This started at the eight-week point. I started twice a day. So I do at least 20 minutes twice a day or I’m trying for like 30 minutes two sessions plus the training weight sessions so these are separate. Yes, I feel more healthy because I’m more on track.”
As for sustainability, Cutler doesn’t think he can maintain six meals a day for much longer.
“I just don’t think I’ll be able to be that committed to the food to be truthful. The food, six meals a day at 50, I mean, is it healthy long-term eating that much? I’m eating eight ounces of protein and at least 50 grams of carbs for meals, a lot of meals on certain days I cut down on the food. But I still have the carbs pretty much except for the last meal, well I add avocado to my egg whites. I have a strict schedule that I follow. Like I said, I was always cooking the Trifecta.”
Lastly, Cutler emphasized to anyone watching that in order to achieve fame, one must strive for excellence and triumph in their pursuits.
“I remember when I was striving to be known and it wasn’t about being known, it was about being successful competition-wise. What was the only way to get there? It was winning. Right? You had to have a talent where today, now… your voice, your opinions sometimes can be how you gather people’s attention.”
Aside from his own fitness endeavors, Cutler is a huge source of knowledge for those eager to learn training techniques. With summer here, Cutler recently showcased useful tips for sculpting abs. He also named his top three exercises for conditioning the muscle instead of building it.
Fans hope to see Jay Cutler guest pose at the upcoming 2023 Masters Olympia competition. Even without competing, Cutler has inspired millions with his relentless passion for bodybuilding.
You can watch the full video from the Cutler Cast YouTube channel below:
RELATED: 4x Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler Shares Arm-Building Hypertrophy Workout
Published: 23 June, 2023 | 11:51 AM EDT
Nick Walker Teams Up With Tristyn Lee And Jared Feather To Build A Thick Back
Bodybuilder Nick Walker is all set to start his competition prep for 2023 Olympia and get ready take on the top contenders. He revealed the update during a back training session with Tristyn Lee and Jared Feather.
New Jersey native Nick Walker is one of the most talented bodybuilders in the IFBB Pro League’s Men’s Open division. After earning the IFBB pro card by winning the 2020 North American Championships, achieving the Olympia goal has been the singular focus of Walker’s professional life. He made the pro debut with a fourth place finish at the 2020 Chicago Pro. However, 2021 saw him elevate his career to a whole new year. The Mutant earned a direct qualification with a win at the 2021 New York Pro and also won the 2021 Arnold Classic shortly after. Interestingly, both wins came within a year of him earning the Pro card.
Walker surged past many top contenders en route to a fifth place finish at the 2021 Olympia. However, top five was not good enough for him and he took an extended break from competition to improve his physique further. The results showed when Walker dominated the stage alongside Derek Lunsford and Hadi Choopan to secure a third-place finish at the 2022 Olympia. He made a quick turnaround and competed at the 2023 Arnold Classic, finishing second. He is now all set to start the 2023 Olympia prep and go after Hadi Choopan for the most prestigious professional bodybuilding title.
For his recent back training session, Walker Partnered with fitness influencer Tristyn Lee. The 20-year-old shot to fame as a teenager. The shredded physique and immersive social media content have made Lee a popular figure in the YouTube fitness community. In recent weeks, Lee shared an insane 17000-calorie Carnivore Big Mac recipe and also appeared on Seth Feroce’s podcast where he teased bodybuilding ventures in 2024 and also reiterated the claim that he has been natty all his life.
Tristyn Lee and Nick Walker went through the back workout under coach and IFBB Pro Jared Feather’s guidance. So let’s see how this passionate trio of bodybuilders tackled the workout.
Nick Walker goes through a back workout with Tristyn Lee
Walker gave a glimpse of his training routine and spoke about the plan of action before starting with the workout. He said:
“This is almost the start of my Olympia prep. Travelling is now done, to my knowledge at least…”
“I was at the Canada tour, I took about four days off, did like two deload days before so now the body’s nice and fresh. So now we’re just gonna ease our way up in training, progress each week as we do it.”
With that, the team jumped right into the workout and performed every exercise with perfect technique and range of motion.
Cable Pullover
Walker and Lee started the training session with a cable lat pullover to get a ‘good nice stretch, nice warm-up’ for the back muscles before delving into the heavier and complex movements. Jared Feather also performed the workout but he watched others carefully to ensure the duo performed each rep with correct technique.
Feather prefers to be in the most disadvantageous position for the lats at the top of the movement. Therefore he bends down more than usual and lets the arms go high above at the beginning of the rep. He does not allow the elbows to sink down to compensate for the lats either.
“Take a bicep curl for example. People will say you should curl here (slightly closer to the body than perpendicular) because you are in the most advantageous position to produce force because the joints are stacked. But you actually get more out of it (the exercise) when you’re in a disadvantageous position. So it’s very similar to this,” He added.
After demolishing some solid sets of the exercise, the trio moved on to the next exercise.
Smith Machine Rows
The trio next took to the Smith machine variation of bent over barbell rows. Considered as the king of back building exercises, bent over rows primarily target the latissimus dorsi, rhomboids, spinal erectors and trapezius muscles. However, they also engage the entire posterior chain of muscles and help with strength and muscle gain. Using the Smith machine eliminates the need to control the weight as the barbell moves along the fixed trajectory. Walker, Lee and Feather performed the exercise with slow and controlled motion. Walker started out light and worked his way up to 275 lbs weight for the top set. Following this, the training partners took to another rowing movement next.
Machine Seated Rows
Walker and team jumped into seated rows on the M-Torture plate-loaded machine next. Seated rows target all the back muscles like latissimus dorsi, spinal erectors, rhomboids and traps. They are an essential exercise to build a thick back. Additionally, seated rows are beneficial in improving the upper body posture. The training partners performed the movement unilaterally to focus on the movement. Feather instructed Walker to move slowly through the eccentric phase of the movement to keep the muscles under tension for a longer duration. After pushing through a few heavy sets of rows, Walker and company wrapped up the training session.
Overall, the workout consisted of following exercises:
The back workout with Tristyn Lee and Jared Feather had relatively fewer exercises than we are used to watching him perform traditionally. However, Walker shed light on Feather’s contribution to his training and spoke about his learnings about training volume.
“Jared helped me a lot with technique again today. Helped me more, you know, in getting the stretch, making sure I’m feeling it in the areas which is, cool. It’s like you realize you don’t need a ton of volume to wreck the muscle. If you directly hit the muscle the way you should be, one or two sets really, you’re good to go,” Walker said after the workout.
Nick Walker has a proven track record of advancing his physique every time he steps on the stage. As he gets ready to start the competition prep for the 2023 Olympia, one can’t help but wonder if this is the year when The Mutant wears the Olympia crown.
You can watch the full workout video here, courtesy of Nick Walker’s personal YouTube channel:
Published: 23 June, 2023 | 12:26 AM EDT
8x Mr. Olympia Ronnie Coleman Gives Health & Mobility Update: “My Walking Is About the Same”
Ronnie Coleman, a bodybuilding legend known for his strength and muscle mass, has prioritized his health and well-being in retirement. In a recent Muscular Development interview, Coleman discussed his mobility, his stem cell treatments, leg training, and selling his house in Texas.
During his reign of eight years, Coleman was the undisputed king of the Men’s Open division. He won the Mr. Olympia contest from 1998-2005 and at that time, established himself as an all-time great. His massive physique and near-flawless definition saw him defeat formidable mainstays of the IFBB Pro League such as Flex Wheeler, Jay Cutler, and Kevin Levrone.
After stepping away from the sport, Coleman has remained an ambassador for bodybuilding. In addition to receiving prestigious honors like the Arnold Classic Lifetime Achievement Award, Coleman is held in high esteem for his contributions to the sport both on stage and off.
Whether he’s taking part in a training session with influencers or reacting to epic gym stunts, Coleman is a beloved figure in the fitness community. He’s been subjected to over 10 back surgeries which have left him unable to walk without assistance. Nevertheless, Coleman doesn’t use the setback as an excuse as he still trains regularly.
Ronnie Coleman Says ‘Something Is Off’ with His Quad/Hamstring Atrophy: ‘I Can’t Put My Finger On It’
Coleman feels less pain after the stem cell treatments, but they have not improved his mobility.
“That’s why I was going there [stem cell therapy] because my pain was really high, it was keeping me up at night. I go there every four months and it pretty much alleviates all my pain,” Ronnie Coleman said. “No [it hasn’t helped me walk] I didn’t notice anything, I’m still on the crutches pretty good… my walking is about the same. He was saying maybe it might help regenerate some nerves but nothing yet… you know.”
‘The King’ specified that some of his muscles are not ‘activating’ due to fused discs and hopes a chiropractor will help him fix this problem. Coleman trains his legs twice a week but shared that he loses his pump 15 minutes post-workout.
“I was talking to a chiropractor about a couple weeks ago, he was saying something that I have some muscles that are not activating and he knows a way to help me activate those – but he’s not coming down here until August to help me with that. He was saying that would help my mobility a lot if I can get some of these muscles activated that are de-activated right now, he said that’s probably why I’m having the mobility problems. After all these surgeries and stuff you go through, they fuse your discs, it kind of de-activates some of the muscles.”
According to Coleman, his walking hasn’t gotten any better and he’s concerned with atrophy in his quads and hamstrings.
“I kind of got an idea of what he’s talking about because I have a lot of atrophy in my quads and hamstrings. Something is not right. Something is off. But I just can’t put my finger on it because I train legs twice a week. It ain’t doing hardly nothing. It’s stayed the same. So something is not activating that I need to turn on.”
“Stem cells take a while to activate some of the nerves too. He said maybe a couple of years. But I should be coming up on a couple of years in about another six months or so. I think I’ve been there for about a year and a half now. He said I’ve been down there three times and like I said, I go every four months.”
Even though he deals with numbness in his extremities from time to time, Coleman said his max leg press at 59 is 360 pounds for 15-20 reps.
“I’m not that strong, for sure. The most I can leg press is like 3-4 plates for like 15-20 reps. That’s nothing compared to what I used to do. I can feel – every now and then I feel a little tightness [a pump] but it doesn’t last hardly no time. It goes away really quick. Well, when I say tightness I’m trying to say a pump. I can get a pump in my quads for about maybe 15 minutes or so, 20 minutes maybe. But it goes away really quick. Like I said, something is not activating there.”
Coleman Reflects on Selling Texas House and Upgrading to Bigger Home
Recently, Ronnie Coleman sold his Texas home of 26 years, which was listed at $495,000. He also sold all of the gym equipment and plans to move into a bigger and more kid-friendly house.
“Yeah, it’s [gym equipment from his home] all gone now,” said Coleman. “This house was pretty good for me when I was by myself. It’s five bedrooms, 3,000 square feet, it’s got the gym – another 1,000 square feet. The reason why I’m selling the house is because the kids are getting older. They’re getting where they need their own bedrooms, their own space, their own bathrooms, that’s why I’m moving to a bigger house.”
“The house we found is about 6,000 square feet. It’s got an acre of land. It’s got a pool and everything. Stuff kids really like. This house doesn’t have hardly no land, no pool or nothing. Like I said, it’s 3,000 square – it’s kind of small for a family of what six, seven of us living here now. So that’s kind of small for family of seven people.”
He said there was no point in keeping his old weights as he recently opened a MetroFlex Gym in Tampa, Florida.
“There wasn’t no need to hold on to all this [gym] equipment when I have brand new stuff coming in. I bought that gym back in 2001 and that’s back when I got all that equipment. So it’s pretty old but it’s still in good condition though.”
This isn’t Coleman’s first health update of 2023. In Feb., former two-time Mr. Olympia Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay’s stem cell doctor, Dr. Khan, began treating Coleman. He was quite optimistic about Coleman’s chances of walking again soon. At the time, he said he was confident he could ‘fix’ Coleman’s issues. However, judging by Ron’s recent update, it doesn’t appear the icon is close to walking without assistance or help.
As one of the strongest bodybuilders to ever compete, many have taken inspiration from Coleman’s career. Even though he faces challenges in retirement, he still shows the same passion for the sport that he had when he was champion.
RELATED: Ronnie Coleman Reacts to Chris Bumstead’s Biggest Feats of Strength
You can watch the full video on the Muscular Development YouTube channel:
Published: 22 June, 2023 | 6:49 PM EDT
2023 Britain’s Strongest Woman Lineup Revealed
The sport of Strongman has been on a higher level for over a decade now, but its female counterparts have been struggling to break onto the scene. However, anyone who has watched a Strongwoman competition can testify that their performances are nothing short of mind-blowing. So, Giants Live, arguably the biggest Strongman organization in the world, has decided to give a platform to these impressive women and arrange the 2023 Britain’s Strongest Woman competition. It will take place on September 30th in Doncaster, England. With three months left until the competition, Giants Live has revealed the 12-woman lineup for the competition.
This 2023 Giants Live Britain’s Strongest Woman competition will feature numerous World’s Strongest Woman champions, as well as World Record holders. This comes due to the fact that Giants Live has one of the greatest reputations in the world. In order to maximize the excitement of this event, they have selected 12 of the strongest women available.
2023 Britain’s Strongest Woman Lineup
Donna Moore
Andrea Thompson
Rebecca Roberts
Rhianon Lovelace
Claire Myler
Ayshea Ullah
Lucy Underdown
Emmajane Smith
Chloe Brennan
Annabelle Chapman
Katie Smith
Kate Connolly
Related: Strongwoman Nadia Stowers Lands 690-lb Long Bar 13-Inch Deadlift PR
2023 Britain’s Strongest Woman Preview
Standing at 6-foot 4-inches tall, Rebbeca Roberts is usually the tallest Strongwoman in the lineup, which can prove to be useful on some events. The Welsh Wonderwoman was crowned as the 2021 World’s Strongest Woman. In addition, Rebecca recently won the 2023 UK’s Strongest Woman, but this competition was not organized by Giants Live.
Another woman that has recently put up a performance was Lucy Underdown who competed at the same competition as Rebecca Roberts. Although she lost by one point, Lucy did set a new 305-kilogram (672.4-pound) Deadlift World Record at the 2023 UK’s Strongest Woman competition.
Andrea Thompson is another favorite for the title at the 2023 Britain’s Strongest Woman competition, as she is no stranger to winning major titles, having won the 2018 World’s Strongest Woman.
An interesting, but realistic title contender at the 2023 Britain’s Strongest Woman competition will be Rhianon Lovelace. Known for record-breaking feats of strength, Rhianon will be competing against much heavier opponents. She usually competes in the 64-kilogram weight class, which is where she won two World’s Strongest Woman competitions.
Although every single one of the 12 competitors could push through to the top, Donna Moore is still rounding up the top five picks for the competition. However, these picks are in no specific order, so Donna could easily become the champion of the 2023 Giants Live Britain’s Strongest Woman competition. Donna is one of the most iconic Strongwoman athletes in history, which she justified with three World’s Strongest Woman titles.
Related: Strongwoman Rhianon Lovelace Hits 320-kg (705-lb) 15-inch Axle Deadlift; 5x Her Bodyweight
It is nice to see that Giants Live is making an effort to improve the sport of Strongwoman, as this could truly be the beginning of something amazing. This sport was also featured at the Arnold’s Sports Festival alongside Strongman and turned out to be one of the most exciting title shows of the year. So, hopefully, something similar will happen at the 2023 Britain’s Strongest Woman competition.
Published: 22 June, 2023 | 5:58 PM EDT
Brett Wilkin Eyes Top 10 Olympia Debut, Nick Walker Reveals Plans to Downsize Post-Retirement
American bodybuilder Brett Wilkin is one of the fastest-rising stars in the IFBB Pro League. In a recent appearance on The Mutant and The Mouth, Wilkin shared his ambitions for his maiden Olympia appearance. Fellow competitor Nick Walker opened up about his plans to downsize after retirement and Guy Cisternino revealed the truth behind understanding calcium scores.
Brett Wilkin started out in the Classic Physique division in the early days of his career under the NPC. He earned his IFBB Pro Card as a Classic Physique competitor after a win at the 2018 NPC Junior Nationals. However, he chose to switch to the Men’s 212 class for his Pro debut at the 2019 IFBB Puerto Rico Pro. Then, he made his way to the 2019 Toronto Pro Supershow to make his second and final appearance in the 212 category.
Following the underwhelming performances, Wilkin took to the sidelines and worked hard in the training room to level up his physique. After a two-year hiatus, he returned and switched divisions to make a splash in the Men’s Open group. The decision worked wonders for him as he narrowly missed out on the top prize to Hunter Labrada and placed runner-up at the 2021 Chicago Pro.
Wilkin kicked off his run with a sixth-place finish at the 2022 Arnold Sports Festival. He gave fans a look into his gigantic 6,000-calorie diet and supplement stack he utilized to pack on the pounds in the off-season last August.
‘The Butcher’ joined forces with Shaun Clarida for an intense push-day workout in Aug. 2022. He followed that up by partnering with rising sensation Nick Walker for a fierce lower-body training session where they targeted quads weeks later.
Although Brett Wilkin did not earn an invite for the 2022 Mr. Olympia, he continued to work his way up the ranks. He laid out the 4,000-calorie diet he was using to get ready for his next appearance. Then, he collaborated with Hunter Labarda for a sleeve-busting arm workout to get ready for their guest-posing appearance at the 2022 Colorado Cup.
Wilkin amped up his training with a challenging shoulder workout in preparation for earning an invite to the Olympia last October. His hard work paid off as he turned heads with his impressive physique at the 2022 Romania Muscle Fest Pro, where he scored the silver medal. Wilkin finally secured his place in the lineup for the 2023 Mr. Olympia by defeating the competition at the 2022 Bigman Weekend Pro.
Brett Wilkin Shares Positive Update, Says He Never Eats More than 8oz of Protein per Meal
In a recent YouTube video, Brett Wilkin and Nick Walker agreed on their preferred host city for Mr. Olympia contests.
Walker said, “I like Vegas. Now that I’ve done both, Florida and Vegas, I prefer Vegas.”
Wilkin shared positive updates about his health as he gets back to training full force. He revealed he limits protein to 8 oz per meal and detailed his cheat meal philosophy.
“I took the whole week off and now I actually, my body feels good,” said Wilkin. “I went back to the gym today first time. Now going to start doing another push into July and then going down from there.”
“I still do [dirty shakes] just to keep the calories high. It’s not really that dirty. I’m not hungry in the morning even after I do cardio in the morning and stuff. I do a shake in the morning I’ll do like 130 grams of quick oats, 150 grams of blueberries, 35 grams of almond butter, protein powder, water, and then literally just a couple squirts of chocolate to give it more taste. Then the rest of the day is whole foods.”
“I’ve never gone higher than 8 oz of a protein, meats is the highest I’ll go. Just because like my body starts rejecting the protein part of it. So, what I’ll adjust always in the off-season is protein usually stays the same as prep and then I’ll just adjust carbs and fats, just increase those, more so carbs.”
“I’ve never done the cheat day thing. I can’t be somebody that eats like 15,000 calories a day. I would hate that. What I do is I’ll end up having like three or four cheats a week so I just do them on my legs day or my back day. That’s usually like just get Five Guys or some Mexican or something. It’s just I have to stay in caloric surplus.”
Brett Wilkin highlighted the importance of working around the risk of getting injured.
“We also gotta look at injury prevention, not being an idiot, keeping the weight at the point so we can continue to do this week to week because that’s an easy way to shut down the career fast. We’re not Superman anymore.”
Guy Cisternino shares how to understand calcium scores & talks running with Nick Walker
Guy Cisternino shared the truth behind understanding calcium scores properly. He claimed the scores are not a concrete method of predicting issues and explained how the process worked.
“It’s so crazy how the calcium scores go up and down based on… it’s all genetic because I asked my doctor flat out. I’m like doc, listen, is there anything that I’m taking that’s causing the calcium to possibly like, this to happen with bodybuilding drugs and he goes no. He goes, it’s genetic. I asked him if there’s anything I took bodybuilding wise that affected my calcium score, he said no. And I went to two different doctors. Calcium score is not covered under insurance because it’s not a very well-known test. There’s not a lot of research done, it’s a newer test, and they don’t know a lot about it.
“The analogy the doctor gave me, he goes, the problem with the calcium score is we don’t know if the straw is up or down, meaning you could have calcium building up an artery wall but trickling down the side and it could never cause a blockage. Or you could have calcium building straight up that actually is causing a blockage but there’s no real way to tell. That’s the problem. So, the calcium score or the number doesn’t really give any significance.”
Nick Walker revealed his plans to stay around 220 pounds post-retirement. Cisternino recommended he downsize, especially the lower body, to make running easier.
Walker said, “I would like to get more active when I retire.”
“I started running for about three weeks,” replied Cisternino. “I was following a running program, just running a little bit every day. The amount of weight I was dropping just running was f**king absurd. I couldn’t keep weight on just running like intervals in the morning. The weight was flying off me it’s insane. Not only that, trying to run [with big legs] sucks. You’re going to have to downsize a lot if you want to run, run.”
“I’d like to be 220 (pounds),” said Walker. “That would be my goal weight.”
Wilkin targets top 10 finish in Olympia debut
Brett Wilkin expects to go up against a stacked lineup in his first Mr. Olympia appearance and would be content with a top-10 placing.
“Being around long enough now that I’ve learned you also gotta pay your dues man,” said Wilkin. “I can name two guys, probably a few more out there, but I can name two guys that are ever top five in their first Olympia, that’s Phil Heath and Nick Walker recently. It’s one of those things that I got to be realistic and think about last year, Andrew Jacked got what, eighth or ninth place in his first Olympia, things like that. You gotta work your way up. I’m going to prepare. I’m just excited to complete again, go through the diet and then this lineup’s going to be crazy. I don’t think people realize. Last year was what I think 28 to 30 guys. This year there’s only going to be 16 or 17 guys. Think about the shows ahead of us, Chicago, Tampa, Texas, these are going to be stacked. It’s going to be a battle. There’s going to be a lot of guys missing out.”
“I would love to get into the top ten that would be a huge goal for this lineup, first Olympia. I’m not going to be disappointed either way,” continued Wilkin. “It’s just about I need to make a footprint where judges are like oh sh*t, he brought it. And I gotta build from that. First year is about making that footprint, showing that I’m serious, and then I gotta build from that.”
Brett Wilkin collaborated with reigning four-time Classic Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead for a grueling leg workout two months ago. He followed that up by smashing a heavy back workout with renowned coach Joe Bennett last month.
You can watch the full video below.
RELATED: Bodybuilders Brett Wilkin and Iain Valliere Go Through A Killer Quad Workout
Published: 22 June, 2023 | 5:52 PM EDT
Elon Musk & Mark Zuckerberg ‘Dead Serious’ About Fighting in UFC: Dana White
Celebrity boxing matches have gained a ton of popularity with the rise of social media influencers and former athletes testing out their abilities inside the ring in the last few years. A new kind of showdown appears to brewing between two of the richest men on the planet. In a recent interview with TMZ, UFC president Dana White confirmed Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk are serious about competing against each other in a cage fight.
Celebrity boxing matches have gained a ton of popularity with the rise of social media influencers and former athletes testing out their abilities inside the ring in the last few years. A new kind of showdown appears to brewing between two of the richest men on the planet. In a recent exchange on Twitter, Mark Zuckerberg accepted Elon Musk’s challenge to a cage fight and UFC president Dana White got involved too.
Business mogul Elon Musk is the richest man on the planet and maintains a packed schedule managing his businesses. He first rose to prominence for creating Zip2, an online city guide software firm that was acquired for $307 million in 1999. He helped shape the financial technology company PayPal through X.com.
Musk embarked on his passion project of making a spaceflight services company called SpaceX in 2002. Having invested early in electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla, he became the CEO in 2008 and also co-founded the artificial intelligence research company, OpenAI.
In Aug. 2022, Musk admitted he was not in the best shape he could be. Although he doesn’t enjoy working out, he understands its importance and indicated plans to fit time for the gym into his busy routine. Then, Musk followed up with a positive health update revealing he dropped 20 pounds after incorporating fasting into his lifestyle.
Mark Zuckerberg found success after he co-founded the social media giant Facebook in 2004. The platform quickly gained momentum and skyrocketed in popularity to become the largest online networking service in the world with over 2.94 billion monthly active users. He regularly features on the lists of the wealthiest persons in the world with a net worth exceeding $85 billion.
Zuckerberg opened up on his newfound passion for Brazilian jiu-jitsu last August. He expanded his presence in mixed martial arts by partnering with UFC champions like Alex Volkanovski for the launch of his virtual reality line. He was also in attendance cage side with his wife for UFC Vegas 61 to support Mackenzie Dern.
Last month, Zuckerberg put his grappling abilities to the test and scored gold and silver medals in his first BJJ tournament contest.
Dana White says Elon Musk & Mark Zuckerberg are serious about fighting in UFC
In a recent interview, Dana White confirmed Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are serious about fighting each other inside the UFC octagon.
White shared updates after talking to both Mark and Elon about the possibility of a potential bout. He’s confident the super fight would handily overtake the crossover match between Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor as the biggest event in combat sports history.
Zuck proved his fighting skills with medals in a BJJ contest weeks ago. According to White, Musk informed him he had been in “plenty of fights growing up in South Africa.” The UFC head honcho expects the pay-per-view to cost $100, a $20 bump up from the regular $80 for UFC events. All proceeds from the match would go to charity.
“Talked with Mark and Elon last night, both guys are absolutely dead serious about this,” White told TMZ. “The biggest fight of all time was Floyd and Conor, I just think it triples that — it triples what that did, there’s no limit on what that thing can make.”
Musk floated the idea of fighting Zuckerberg
On Jun. 21, Elon Musk expressed his willingness to compete against Zuck in a cage match. Zuck came across the tweet and issued a fiery response back, invoking the spirit of legendary UFC fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov.
“I’m up for a cage match if he is lol,” wrote Elon.
“Send Me Location,” Zuck replied.
This is Zuck’s story on insta right now.
Simulation confirmed ✅
??? pic.twitter.com/Vu0vrihFIV
— Penny2x (@imPenny2x) June 22, 2023
Musk agreed to the possibility and laid out his training experience. He followed up by revealing his secret move.
“If this is for real, I will do it,” wrote Musk. “I almost never work out, except for picking up my kids & throwing them in the air.”
“Vegas Octagon,” he added. “I have this great move that I call ‘The Walrus’, where I just lie on top of my opponent & do nothing.”
Musk concluded, “The most entertaining outcome is the most likely.”
If this is for real, I will do it ??
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 22, 2023
Nurmagomedov, former UFC lightweight champion, weighed in with a brief message following the exchange between Zuck and Musk.
“Dagestan,” wrote Nurmagomedov.
via Instagram/ @khabib_nurmagomedov
Zuckerberg crushed the brutal Murph workout challenge on Memorial Day earlier this month. He performed 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, and 300 squats, and ran 2 miles in under 40 mins all while wearing a 20-pound vest.
As unexpected as it may seem, Dana White’s comments solidify that a clash between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg is brewing and there’s a good chance it might be on the horizon.
Published: 22 June, 2023 | 3:44 PM EDT
Dave Castro Takes Over as Leader of CrossFit Sport Team Following Justin Bergh’s Departure
The 2023 CrossFit Games are just around the corner, as the competition is set to be held from August 1-6 in Madison, Wisconsin. The CrossFit team is currently fully occupied with preparing for their biggest competition of the year. In addition, the CrossFit administration has now experienced a few changes as well. This news comes as Justin Bergh has left CrossFit Inc. Thus, it was time for a new Sports Team Leader to be appointed and who better to pick up the role than Dave Castro, who is a familiar face on the scene.
The news of Justin Bergh’s departure was revealed through an internal email by the CEO of CrossFit himself, Don Faul. However, he did not reveal what the reason for this decision was, but instead just thanked Bergh for his dedication
“After 13 years, Justin Bergh will be leaving CrossFit. JB has done so much for our community and we’re incredibly grateful for the role he’s played in making CrossFit what it is today.”
With a natural leader needed to take Bergh’s place and Dave Castro fit in perfectly as the new CrossFit Sport Team leader.
Related: CrossFit Issues Statement On Dave Castro Firing, Pegs Him As The “The Founder Of The CrossFit Games”
Justin Bergh was a part of the CrossFit team for 13 years, practically being one of the most important people in the development of what the sport looks like today. The large portion of his mandate was spent addressing day-to-day business operations, everything regarding the CrossFit Games, media coverage, and more. So, Dave Castro looks to take up a lot of work with his new position.
Dave Castro already has experience in high positions, previously serving as Director of Competition in CrossFit. However, Castro who was laid off back in 2022.
Despite losing his job, Dave Castro got himself another position in CrossFit just five months later. This time he took an advisory role, but also aimed to secure a higher one. So, just a month back, Castro revealed that he was taking over the Education Team. However, that did not last long, as Castro will now be the leader of the Sport Team.
Related: Dave Castro Fires Back At Mat Fraser’s ‘Blatant Lies’ About Him On JRE
Currently, it is unclear whether Dave Castro will continue to lead the CrossFit Sport Team permanently or only until the 2023 CrossFit Games. Regardless, Dave will look to do as good of a job as possible and make the biggest event of this year enjoyable for everyone. Only six weeks remain until the competition takes place and it is hoped that they will be as entertaining as every other stage of this season has been. One is certain, a new women’s champion will be crowned after a six-year reign of Tia-Clair Toomey.
Published: 22 June, 2023 | 3:14 PM EDT
Rafael Brandao Flaunts Massive Physique After Destroying Heavy Back Workout with New Coach
Rafael Brandao, one of Brazil’s hottest names in the Men’s Open, has decided to take the year off to transform his body. In a recent YouTube video, Brandao, joined by his new coach Neil Hill, showed off his monstrous off-season physique after completing an arduous back workout.
“It’s not going to happen overnight. What I will say is: next year we will bring the new generation of Rafael to the stage which will be much improved,” Rafael’s coach Neil Hill shared.
The potential of Brandao was evident from the moment he began his bodybuilding career in 2017. However, he became the talk of the town after finishing third in 2020 at the Europa Pro. It didn’t take long for fans to take notice of his unique build on stage. Brandao sports a slim waist, a defined x-frame, and mass on par with his contemporaries in the Open.
In 2021, Rafael’s season was short but sufficient as he proved himself in first place at the Romania Muscle Fest Pro. This victory saw him surpass the now-2023 Mr. Olympia contender Samson Dauda and Quintin Eriya. While it appeared he would test himself at the 2022 Arnold Classic, Brandao pulled out due to health concerns. He made up for lost time at the Arnold Classic South America contest instead, where he handily took first.
Having qualified for the 2022 Mr. Olympia show, Brandao, led by former coach Chris Aceto, brought an impressive look. In his debut, he outperformed nearly 20 competitors to take tenth place. Now, with improvements being his top priority, Brandao decided to suspend his contest plans until 2024 in hopes of bringing his best look ever in the future.
Rafael Brandao Gets Pushed Through Brutal Back Workout By Trainer Neil Hill, Shows Off Huge Physique
Before he began the punishing back workout, Neil Hill talked about the pressure he’s under to bring the best Rafael Brandao to the stage next year.
“Brazil is a very passionate country. There’s so much passion in the fitness industry as well as all of the other industries within health and fitness. There’s a lot of enthusiasm, right… not everybody has that little bit of magic alright? There’s a genetic element, but Raphael has that genetic element and he also has got those lines. For me, shape and structure – it’s something that always draws my attention, do you understand? I’m super excited. I appreciate the opportunity to work with him. He’s going to get so much time and so much of my attention,” said Neil Hill.
Find the full workout list below:
Lat Pulldown Machine – 4 sets
Hammer Strength Front Lat pull Down – 4 sets
Hammer Strength Plate-Loaded Iso-lateral Row – 4 sets
Bent Over Dumbbell Rows – 4 sets
Neil Hill offered Brandao some guidance on each exercise as well as tips on improvements and recovery.
Lat Pulldown Machine
“As I said, your arms have to be straight otherwise it’s all biceps. You’re stretching out your lats but you’re also – those bounces are letting you get momentum to pull it here. If you stop, it’s like pulling it dead. So what you’re doing is able to get extra reps and stretch out the lats.”
Hammer Strength Front Lat Pull Down
“The thing is as well while you’re training while we’re trying to force your weight up, recovery is harder as well right. It’s because we’re fighting the weight, you’ve got to this sickness, you’re fighting off, yes. You take the rest.”
Hammer Strength Plate-Loaded Iso-Lateral Row
“Your fat levels are okay for the off-season. Not bad, yeah,” Hill shared. “I don’t think you’re going to come in your prime until you’re about 35-37. Then you’re just going hold it hold it and refine refine. As long as your body is healthy and fresh. I don’t think you’re going to hit your peak till 35-37. But when I say hit your peak, you could probably hold your peak for 3-5 years.”
Bent Over Dumbbell Rows
“On average for back, probably four different exercises. Four different exercises, four sets, that’s 16 sets. That doesn’t sound like a lot but when you’re putting everything into working sets, 16 sets is more than enough believe you me. It’s more than enough.”
In a show of transparency, Neil Hill explained that turning Rafael Brandao into a Mr. Olympia winner could take up to ten years. Though, he does expect Brandao to look at his all-time best in two or three years.
“I feel like I’ve got the whole of Brazil looking down on me. This is going to be a work in progress. I personally feel the work that I want to do with Rafael I feel will be a 10-year process. I feel it’s going to take 2-3 years to bring that look where everyone says what the fuck have we just witnessed? Do we understand? It’s not going to happen overnight, it’s going to take time. If you look at some of the greatest athletes of all time.
Okay, Dorian Yates was a one-off, look at Ronnie Coleman, look at Jay Cutler – these guys just to name a few. They didn’t hit the industry in the Mr. Olympia in their first Mr. Olympia and get a top 10 finisher. But they went on to win multiple Mr. Olympias right. Rafael has that ability to win the Olympia but it’s going to take time.”
Brandao’s 2023 bodybuilding season has not been without its fair share of obstacles. In May, the top Men’s Open Pro revealed that he was hospitalized due to a severe case of Dengue fever. The disease, which spreads from the bite of a mosquito, can cause debilitating headaches, diarrhea, body aches, and nausea.
Despite the setback, Rafael appears to be in good spirits given the momentum he picked up at the last Mr. Olympia. Since that fateful night, judges, fans, and bodybuilders alike have suggested that size is no longer being awarded by judges. Even Olympia judge Terrick El Guindy has mentioned that the new wave of aesthetic talent is trouble for athletes who rely on size and freak factor, like Nick Walker.
While Rafael Brandao won’t be competing this year, fans are excited about the next chapter of his career. Under the tutelage of Neil Hill, Rafael hopes to bring his biggest and freakiest physique to the stage in 2024.
RELATED: Bodybuilders Flex Lewis and Rafael Brandao Join Hands For An Intense Back Workout
You can watch the full video from the Rafael Brandao YouTube channel:
Published: 22 June, 2023 | 1:37 PM EDT