Tag: nEWS
JF Caron On Future After Injuries: ‘I Think Strongman Is Really Done’
JF Caron suffered lower-body injuries that might have ended his strongman career.
JF Caron was forced to withdraw from the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic on day two after sustaining injuries to his lower body. After the recovery process, Caron recently explained how his days in strongman might have come to an end.
Caron suffered two torn quads and an ankle injury during the competition. These are injuries that have forced him to basically learn to walk again. In an interview on “Big Los Official” YouTube page, the strongman revealed how he might have to step away from competition.
“I do not want to risk it. It’s what the doctor said because if you broke one more time, it would be very hard to come back 100% from that. You have to think, also, the life after strongman…You have to think when you are in this position that you are lucky to compete at this level and keep going and the body follow. We have a great time but you can not do that for 30 years.”
During this recovery process, JF Caron has lost nearly 60 pounds since the Arnold Strongman Classic. This is because of his loss of appetite from medications that he has been on. At the same time, this has helped in the recovery process because carrying extra weight could prolong it.
“I just restarted to walk, you know, with the helping machine. It was like a restart from point zero. I have to learn to walk, it was very hard. I did not think that it would be that hard but the thing thing is I lost a lot of weight. It was good advice the surgeon gave me. When you are in bed and on medication, you do not have many appetite and I do not eat so much.”
Caron also took some time to discuss his life after strongman. He believes that it is important to think about his quality of life after competition even though this is something that fans might not have in mind in the present day.
“It’s not easy but I always told myself it was part of the sport. I was likely to this point that I never had a serious injury. Just muscle tear and normal stuff for strongmen. It’s probably possible that it could happen one day and that will happen and you have to stop. It was just an accident and you have to stop…I will recover from that and continue the normal life.”
JF Caron has built a career that will put him up there with some of the all-time greats in strongman. He has competed in the World’s Strongest Man competition 12 times in his career beginning in 2008. The highest finish in the show came in 2020 when he placed third. While he has never won a WSM title, Caron turned in a career that was extremely consistent and spanned into three different decades.
Caron kept a positive mindset throughout the entire interview with Big Loz. He has taken the time to exhaust all options and have discussions with different doctors to make a decision on what would be best for him moving forward.
JF Caron did explain that he might do something again in some capacity because of the desire to compete but it seems as though his best days of strongman could be coming to an end.
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Eddie Hall “Eats Humble Pie”, Congratulates Thor Bjornsson, Addresses Bets
Eddie Hall is eating humble pie.
Eddie Hall recently congratulated Thor Bjornsson on the victory in their boxing match. Hall also finally addressed the issue surrounding a number of bets he made ahead of his match with Thor.
It appears that Eddie Hall is owning up to a few things. Bets were made ahead of his bout with rival Thor Bjornsson, a tattoo bet and a monetary one with Larry Wheels. Many people have been addressing these bets on socials and it appears that Hall has finally decided to speak on the subject.
The bout between Eddie Hall and Thor Bjornsson certainly lived up to the hype. In fact it perhaps exceeded expectations. Hall was able to land some hellacious blows in the early parts of the fight. Thor was able to take over however through use of his superior technical ability. He was even able to drop Hall a number of times securing his victory.
Now that everything is said and done Eddie Hall and Thor Bjornsson appear to have buried the hatchet. The vitriol and hatred they once had for each other appears to have subsided. There’s nothing like some good ol’ fisticuffs to settle a feud. Since then it appears that Hall and Thor are singing different tunes.
Humble Pie
Eddie Hall was actually quite congratulatory of Thor Bjornsson in a recent video. In a short clip posted to Instagram Hall addressed the fact that it was time to eat humble pie and address some lingering issues.
Time to eat some humble pie!!!Featuring money to charity and tattoo wager ??
Eddie Hall had even more to say in the full video. Hall addressed the bets he made with Larry Wheels as well as Thor Bjornsson and explained that it will be some time before payment for the bout is settled. He did seem keen on the idea of owning up to the bets and paying his dues. You can see the full video here.
It’s great to see Hall taking ownership of his past promises and setting his intentions to make good on them. A man who can stick by his word is one everyone can respect.
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News and Editorial Writer at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
Martyn Ford “Leaving Nothing To Chance” Preparing For Battle With Iranian Hulk
Martyn Ford is not taking his upcoming bout with Iranian Hulk lightly and showed it off once again in training.
The original fight date for the battle between Martyn Ford and Iranian Hulk is just four days away. Right now, both fighters would be putting the finishing touches on their preparation but instead, they are still able to get some serious work in to improve. That is exactly what Ford is doing as he continues to share some of his methods in the gym.
Ford took to Instagram recently to show a simple method used to train his feet. He is seen bouncing around a bosu ball going foot-to-foot on top. While his feet look quick, the impressive part is that Ford is around 320 pounds in the video. He expressed how he is “building a new beast” and is “leaving nothing to chance” as he prepares for his battle.
Martyn Ford and the Iranian Hulk are set to meet on April 30 at the O2 Arena in London. The fight was pushed back in order to give both men some extra time to recover and prepare. This is to ensure that fans see both men at their best. If Ford’s social media in any indication, he should be right there.
“Changing my narrative, building a beast from scratch, leaving nothing to chance …. moving well for 145kg, BUT we can always be better ….”
Martyn Ford has been taking time training with some of the best fighters in the world. This includes sessions with Rico Verhoeven. He is an athlete who has trained in many areas such as Brazilian jiu-jitsu and MMA. Because of his recent training, Ford is the favorite heading into the fight with Iranian Hulk.
This does not mean that Sajad Gharibi is going to go quietly. He has also shared some training methods that he has been using. Gharibi is not as active on social media but he has taken some time to share physique updates and live action during workouts.
This is a battle that is going to see two men settle their differences in the ring. There is expected to bd a crowd of 20,000 people in attendance to see the match take place at the end of April. After seeing what both Martyn Ford and Iranian Hulk have been putting their bodies through, it should be nothing short of exciting.
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Davide Donati’s Natural Bodybuilding Training and Diet Regimen
INBA PNBA Italian natural bodybuilder Davide Donati shares his natural bodybuilding competition training and nutrition routine.
Have you ever wondered how the elite natural physique’s on the planet train and eat? We gathered some info from one of the top International Natural Bodybuilding Association (INBA)/Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (PNBA) Men’s Bodybuilding Grand Masters athletes, Davide Donati. Donati shared with us his complete natural bodybuilding training and nutrition routine he does to prep for competition.
Davide Donati’s training paid off as he placed in the top five of the Men’s Bodybuilding Grand Master’s class at Natural Olympia. Although, this was no easy task. Donati reflected on having 200 beats per minute heart rate moments before walking on stage.
Donati stated the statement below regarding his training routine (translated from Italian to English):
“My split training routine is divided into:
1st day, push muscles: Chest, shoulders, triceps, abdomen
2nd day, Legs and Calves
3rd day, traction muscles: Back, biceps, abdomen
4th-day rest, cardio liss only.”
According to Donati, he follows a push/pull/ split routine training three days in a row, followed by a rest/cardio day. He also noted that depending on if it’s a training day or rest day, he’ll load up on more carbs (training day). And on his rest days, he’ll consume fewer carbs but more fat. He keeps his protein intake constant.
When it comes to the foods Donati eats, he stated:
“My foods are:
PROTEINS: chicken, turkey, codfish, mackerel, salmon, eggs, dairy products.
CARBOHYDRATES: Rice, Pasta, Bread, Oats, Spelled, Barley, Buckwheat
FATS: EVO oil, Omega 3, Egg yolk, Almonds, Walnuts, Linseed oil
DRINKS Water, Coca Cola Zero
SUPPLEMENTS: Vit. C, Vit. B, Multivit. and Minerals, Zinc, Magnesium, EAA, Cyclodextrins, Creatine, Melatonin.
My pre-workout: Caffeine Anhydrous and Arginine.
Intra-workout: Cyclodextrins, Creatine, EAA”
Davide Donati acknowledges that his peak weak is extremely important. He says that he loads up on salt and water. And for three consecutive days before the competition, Donati will reduce his carb intake, increase his fat intake to 1g/kg body weight, and keep his protein constant – 2 g/kg of bodyweight. Next, Donati will reuptake carbohydrates to about 300-400g/day, decrease his fat to 20-30g, and slightly reduce his protein intake to 1.5g/kg body weight.
Donati says that he’ll remove the water and salt from his nutrition the evening before the event. But the day of the event, he’ll consume simple and complex carbs such as biscuits, jam, and honey. And before he goes on stage, he’ll have some salty fries.
Although peak week helps Donati prep for performing on stage, he admits that it’s no miracle and that it just helps make your striated muscles look fuller.
Natural Athletes
Natural athletes solely rely on their training and nutrition when competing since drug usage is prohibited. Of course, performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) such as steroids can vastly enhance your physique, but they have potential adverse side effects. Also, using drugs gives competitors an unfair advantage against natural athletes.
Natural bodybuilding leagues such as the INBA PNBA – the most prominent natural bodybuilding league – make competition fair since all competitors are drug tested. Moreover, this makes competing in the sport of bodybuilding safer.
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Jordan Shallow Answers: What Is Cardio’s Place In Men’s Open Bodybuilding?
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Jordan Shallow comments on different cardio tactics in Men’s Open Bodybuilding.
Bodybuilders hate cardio. At least, that’s the stereotype you often see within the sport. And this makes sense. Men’s Open competitors weigh in at around 250+ pounds. That’s a lot of weight, muscle or not, to move around with aerobic movement. That being said, all serious bodybuilders understand that cardio is a necessary part of training – whether they like it or not. The question is – how much cardio is too much? And how much is too little? What is the proper tactic for cardio in mass monster categories like Men’s Open bodybuilding? In our latest GI Exclusive, Jordan Shallow shares his advice on how to properly utilize cardio in a Men’s Open training program.
The biggest fear bodybuilders have about cardio is that it could burn away some of that hard earned muscle. Muscle, of course, is the key factor in sculpting a perfect physique and the lifeblood of a competitive bodybuilder’s career. However, a bodybuilder also needs to go through a cutting phase during contest prep to be as conditioned and shredded as possible on game day. Cardio is a part of that equation. On top of this, cardio has universal health benefits for your heart and lungs that should not be ignored.
So what’s the right answer here? We’ve heard of some successful pro bodybuilders who do zero cardio and others who do two hours of cardio during contest prep each day. What is the truly best tactic for including cardio into a Men’s Open bodybuilding program? The Muscle Doc Jordan Shallow gives his take on this very topic in our latest interview segment.
How to properly use cardio in a Men’s Open bodybuilding training program
Jordan Shallow believes that the days of a Men’s Open bodybuilder doing two hours of cardio during contest prep are over. The reason? Because more athletes are understanding that cardio during the offseason is not taboo but in fact vital towards building the proper core for contest prep later.
Shallow believes that a part of this shift is happening because competitors are wising up to the health risks of modern bodybuilding. Unfortunately, we had a tragic year of bodybuilding deaths in 2021 that has continued to bleed into the beginning of 2022. While we cannot directly correlate this to any specific aspect of the bodybuilding lifestyle – athletes are becoming more self aware of their health.
Jordan Shallow believes that doing three days of light cardio per week during the offseason is a huge benefit for a competitive athlete. It helps manage physical stress and also helps manage the emotional stress that comes with the competitive bodybuilding lifestyle.
Over time of building that simple cardio base during the offseason, a bodybuilder will require much less cardio during contest prep. If you combine this with thoughtful and tactical weight training that has cardio elements – you have a much more balanced training program and run less of a risk that you will burn muscle away.
Jordan Shallow points out Milos Sarcev’s giant sets as an example. Here’s what Shallow had to say in this example:
“You do a Milos giant set, that’s cardio. You’re running a marathon with your lats. You’re running a Milos lat marathon. But if you have a strong aerobic base you’ll be able to derive a more muscle building benefit in the actual duration of the set as well as have a greater toolbox to pull from to recover from that stimulus.”
Wrap Up
While Jordan Shallow is not a Men’s Open bodybuilder himself, he sees these kinds of changes happening on the inside of the industry. He believes that the taboo behind cardio is starting to lose its grip – which is beneficial for all in both terms of overall health and better contest prep.
You can watch Jordan Shallow’s full comments in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above. He also talks about how the general public can learn to count their macros for fat loss.
Blessing Awodibu Vows To Be In Best Shape Heading Into Competition: ‘I Feel Like This Is The Year’
Blessing Awodibu shared a massive leg day workout where he said he will be at his best.
Blessing Awodibu is planning to return to the stage at the 2022 Indy Pro. He has made some improvements to his physique and has vowed to show up in his best shape. Awodibu recently shared a massive leg day and spoke on entering competition at his very best.
During his rookie year, Awodibu finished third at the Indy Pro before heading into the New York Pro. He wanted to earn qualification to the Olympia but finished sixth in New York with Nick Walker winning the show. This is when a feud began between the two competitors but they have since started training together.
Heading into the 2022 season, Awodibu knew some improvements that he had to make and has been focused on training. Recently, he took to YouTube to share a leg day workout that targets one area that Awodibu has been able to improve.
The 2022 Indy Pro will take place in May and Blessing Awodibu wants to make sure that he is at his absolute best.
“10 weeks out for the boogie man. I feel likes this is the year. You know, I’ll finally be able to give you guys what you guys deserve. I will finally be at my best. I truly believe it. This year, I will be at my best. My very best,” awodibu said.
I feel like my very best is an extremely dangerous look. I feel like it’s totally different from a lot of the people that you guys see now. I’m super excited man. The work goes on.”
Blessing Awodibu Leg Day
Awodibu explains that he was focusing on quads and gluten during this particular leg workout. His hamstrings were still feeling effects from last week and he wanted to take some time to recover.
“They still sore, they not fully recovered yet so I don’t really think it’s wise enough to train them today.
I’m not going to do hamstrings today. I’m going to push them to Friday. So that’s the end of my quad workout. Now, I’m going to blast a little bit of the glutes and then we’ll call it a day.”
This workout began with leg adductors and leg extensions. This was a way for Blessing Awodibu to pump blood into the legs before hitting 10 sets of 15-20 reps squatting on the Smith Machine. He then continued with four sets of 15-20 on leg press to continue heavy work on his quads. Awodibu finished with sets of flute extension, hip extension, and leg abductors.
Blessing Awodibu continues to be a rising star in bodybuilding and he is ready to show it on stage this year.
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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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Natural Bodybuilder Amanda Martin Debunks Biggest Fitness Myths
Image via Instagram @xx_amandamartinfitness_xx
INBA PNBA bikini pro Amanda Martin reveals everyday fitness and nutrition myths.
Because of the internet and boundless information, much fitness and nutrition misinformation floats the web. Unfortunately, many people aiming for a fitness goal still follow many fitness and nutrition myths, hindering them from reaching their goals. International Natural Bodybuilding Association (INBA)/Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (PNBA) bikini athlete Amanda Martin details common fitness and nutrition misconceptions.
On a social media post from December 20, 2021, Amanda Martin shared these fitness myths and responses below:
“You cannot consume Carbs after 6 pm -Your body does not just magically start storing carbs when the clock strikes 6 pm. What matters is that over the course of a day/week, your calories are being met.
Intermittent fasting is the key to Weight Loss – It’s not magic, it’s just a way of shortening your eating window to increase adherence when in a deficit.
You can spot reduce fat loss – Sorry to tell you, but you cannot spot reduce where you lose body fat from.
The latest Detox, Skinny Tea, Fit Tea to help you lose weight faster – What will get you more results is focusing on your current nutrition. Start by reducing processed foods & Take Away, & look at increasing your intake of Protein, Fruit, and Vegetables.
Weights will make you bulky – As females we do not produce enough Testosterone to turn into the Hulk. So unless you use the ‘special’ juice, YOU WILL NOT GET BULKY
The Magical 1200 Calorie Diet – Now whilst some people MAY need to diet on 1200 Calories, for most this is severely too low.”
According to Amanda Martin, some everyday fitness and nutrition myths are:
You can’t consume carbs after 6 pm.
Intermittent fasting is the key to weight loss.
You can spot reduce fat loss.
Detox, skinny tea, and fit teas help you lose weight faster.
Lifting weights will make you bulky.
Martin goes on to debunk these myths. Martin says that it doesn’t matter what time of day you eat carbs. She states that it’s your daily/weekly calories that matter.
Moreover, Amanda Martin states that intermittent fasting is not magical. It’s just a tool to help you stick to eating fewer calories in a caloric deficit since it shortens your eating window. Martin also claims that you can’t choose where you reduce or store body fat. She then acknowledges that most women store fat in their hips and glutes.
Furthermore, she said that weight loss teas would not make you lose fat faster. Your nutrition is what matters. Martin says that lifting weights will not make women bulky since they don’t produce enough testosterone.
Lastly, Martin says that a 1200 calorie diet isn’t appropriate for everyone. And it’s better to start a caloric deficit on the higher end to prevent stagnation and sustainability.
You can see Amand Martin’s complete statement on Instagram below.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CXuM_BvhWV1/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Recap
Many fitness and nutrition myths are floating around, and this article named some of the most common ones. Your daily weekly nutrition targets are what matter when it comes to nutrition. You can’t control where you lose/store fat, and lifting weights won’t make women bulky.
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