The 2023 Masters Olympia victors will also earn Olympia qualifications.
The 2023 Masters Olympiais officially set to return this year. It was previously announced that the show would take place in Romania from Aug. 25-27. The official prize of $229,000 for the winners, which was announced by organizers on social media in February. Now, the payout split has been shared.
The Masters Olympia ended in 2012 after Dexter Jackson was crowned champion. This wold be the last time that the show took place and after 11 years, Olympia President Jake Wood decided to bring back the show. Robby Robinson won the first-ever competition while Vince Taylor continues to be the competitor with the most wins with five.
The official rosters for the event have been announced and competitors can begin kicking into high gear. After the announcement of the payout splits, there is an official goal for winners to reach for.
Masters Olympia Announces Payout Splits
On Wednesday, the official Masters Olympia Instagram page shared a post confirming payouts for each division. Along with prize money, the bodybuilders who take home first place in each division will earn qualification to the 2023 Olympia.
The Masters Olympia has many legendary competitors returning to the stage across every division. This will give competitors a chance to return to doing what they love while also fighting for a chance to return to the biggest stage in the sport.
Some bodybuilding legends, such as Milos Sarcev, spoke out against the Masters Olympia returning. Nonetheless, there will be an event and there is now an official prize split. It will be interesting to see how the show plays out, and if its success impacts others to make a return.
In August, the 2023 Masters Olympia competition will return for the first time since 2012. All eyes will be interested to see who has been able to create a championship physique once again.
Jeremy Buendia will return to the Olympia stage in 2023, battle Erin Banks in June.
Jeremy Buendiadominated Men’s Physique Olympia at his peak and has officially announced that he attempt to regain his title. After months of hinting at a comeback in 2023, Buendia shared a post on Instagram announcing that he will compete on the biggest stage. Also, the four-time Men’s Physique Olympia champ will go head-to-head with reigning champ Erin Banksin June.
In 2014, Buendia reached the top of the division and won his first Olympia title. Over the next three years, he was unbeatable and logged four consecutive wins. He defended his title once again in 2018 but was bested by Brandon Hendrickson. This began a stretch of three wins in four years for Hendrickson before Banks won his first in 2022.
On Instagram, Buendia’s announcement also promoted an “Olympia Battle” with Banks on June 8. The two Men’s Physique champions will compare on OlympiaTV.
“I’m all in 🎲 we are only 6 months away from the comeback!
–
Olympia Battle June 8th be sure to tune in to OlympiaTV”
There were rumblings about Jeremy Buendia making a return in 2020 as well but nothing came to fruition. Now, it seems as though the long wait is over for fans who want to see one of the top Men’s Physique competitors of all-time back on stage.
In March, Buendia shared that he is “hovering around 210 pounds.” He has been open about his use of testosterone replacement therapy recently and how this has helped his progress. Fans have been able to keep up with Buendia via his social media pages, sharing different physique updates and diet plans.
The Men’s Physique division has seen three different Olympia champions over the last four years. Banks is coming off a win in 2022 and followed it up by winning the Arnold Classic in March. Buendia will add a bit more excitement and another threat to the title in 2023.
The 2023 Olympia is scheduled for Nov. 2-5 in Orlando after spending last year in Las Vegas. The top bodybuilders in the world will be present for for the first time since 2018, this includes Jeremy Buendia.
Larry Wheels reveals impressive biceps as he continues to work towards competing on stage in Classic Physique.
Larry Wheelsis one of the biggest fitness stars in the world and has been successful in many avenues. Now, he is preparing to return to bodybuilding in the Classic Physique division. Wheels continues to work toward this goal and is showing off his biceps and progress on social media.
This is not the first time that Wheels has set his sights on bodybuilding. In 2018, Wheels made his bodybuilding debut by competing in the NPC Gold Coast Muscle Classic, where he won gold. Now, a return could be on the horizon after a successful run in many other fitness ventures. This includes dabbling in arm wrestling.
In a recent interview, Wheels discussed his overall size and use of steroids. He has weened off certain steroids and is only taking TRT for a year now. After getting checked out by doctors, Wheels wanted to live healthier and began getting off gear. Wheels has work to do on his conditioning in order to compete with the best in the division but claims that he does not need more than TRT to be big enough.
Wheels continues to show off his progress and different workouts on his Instagram page, including a recent physique update.
Larry Wheels Shows Off Insane Biceps
Larry Wheels hit an arms workout with fitness model Fafa Araujo, including a posedown in the gym. In the post, Wheels shows off his insane bicep peak while he continues to prepare for Classic Physique.
In March, Wheels shared his goal to compete on the bodybuilding stage once again. Since getting off certain steroids, Wheels has downsized but maintained his crazy strength and conditioning. This got the ball rolling on competing in bodybuilding. While Wheels would not be able to put on enough size to compete in Men’s Open, he believes that he has what it takes for Classic.
If Larry Wheels were to join Classic Physique, it would draw even more attention with another fitness star in the division. Of course, Chris Bumstead is arguable the most popular bodybuilder in the world and just won his fourth Classic Olympia title in December.
There is no official plan on when Wheels wants to hit the stage but it is clear that he is hard at work preparing. Also, his progress is clear when he shares physique updates. It will be interesting to see when it is time for Wheels to hit the stage.
“He’s more bodybuilder than man… twisted and evil.”
In honor of Star Wars Day, we are republishing our editorial piece of the body behind the Darth Vader suit. David Prowse was a former bodybuilder who brought a small connection between the world of bodybuilding and the world of Star Wars. Original story follows below.
Many people often ask the question of whether or not bodybuilders can make it into popular culture. It’s something that has been a constant since Arnold Schwarzenegger’s star making role in the classic bodybuilding documentary Pumping Iron. The movie propelled Arnold from talented bodybuilding champion to the man he’s become today: actor, politician, and generally an all around successful entrepreneur.
It’s truly an astounding accomplishment especially when considering most bodybuilders never end up securing crossover success. But did you know there was a bodybuilding connection to Star Wars in the form of actor David Prowse?
For many people bodybuilding is such a niche sport that the likelihood of turning from an athlete who poses on stage in a pair of trunks into a celebrity hailed worldwide is highly unlikely. But with the advent of the internet the general public is learning more and more that the trend of turning from bodybuilder to Hollywood superstar wasn’t so far fetched. In fact, it seems like it was one of the many avenues that current Hollywood royalty utilized to attain fame and fortune.
Actor David Prowse during his bodybuilding years (above).
Besides Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sean Connery was a man who broke into acting through being discovered at a bodybuilding competition. You could say that there would have been no James Bond without bodybuilding (though that could be stretching it a little bit). But Connery wasn’t as seasoned a competitor as Arnold was. But before the Austrian had the opportunity to become a household name with his portrayal of the T-800 in The Terminator, there was another accomplished bodybuilder that reached the silver screen to great acclaim.
With the new trilogy completed – we were happy to find this amazing nugget of information. When most people think of Star Wars they think of Darth Vader. When most people hear the name Darth Vader they think of James Earl Jones. But Jones wasn’t the man wearing the iconic black suit that so many fans have grown to associate with the character.
The man within that black leather suit was none other than former bodybuilder David Prowse. When people think of imposing figures in everyday life they think of a massively muscled and particularly tall individual. When looking for someone to play Darth Vader the producers needed a man who could be a terrifying physical presence and they found that in the bodybuilder Prowse.
Prowse’s physical presence was as important to making Darth Vader as memorable a presence on the big screen as James Earl Jones’ voice was to breathing life into the dynamic character. The combination proved to be beneficial to the franchise and made Darth Vader one of the most recognizable and popular characters to ever hit the silver screen.
Jones made have had the voice, but it was a bodybuilder inside the suit that help made Vader into one of the most beloved characters in film history. Too bad in the end only the mask comes off – and we didn’t get to see any of that powerful muscle.
Sadly, David Prowse passed away in 2020 at the age of 85. But the way his bodybuilding lifestyle contributed to one of the most enduring pop culture and movie franchises of all time will always be remembered.
Know of any other bodybuilders that used their massive muscle to become film stars? Let us know in the comments on our social channels. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
*Header image courtesy of The-JMG under the CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 license. It was modified with an image courtesy of Instagram.
The Slovak IFBB Pro utilizes pyramid training to grow his legs.
Michal Krizo has garnered a recent buzz around the bodybuilding community, and his remarkable physique has been turning heads. This 32-year-old Slovak is toned and symmetrical, and his YouTube channel is filled with inspiring workout videos. Krizo competed in his first Mr. Olympia last year and is in the off-season bulking to prep for the 2023 Olympia. This article will review his leg hypertrophy workout.
Born in Slovakia, Krizo started his sports journey playing football but only went to the gym when he was 15. His bodybuilding journey began in 2016 with training from Alexandar Hlobik, with his first bodybuilding competition in 2017. Krizo has won the IFBB Pro 13 times.
To qualify for his Mr. Olympia debut, Krizo won his pro card with a dominant win in the Amateur Olympia Italy of 2022. He also competed in the EVLS Prague Pro 2022 and finished first place. Krizo believes in working hard and is a promising Slovakian bodybuilder.
After a disappointing first Mr. Olympia outing which he attributes to fatigue, the Slovak contender is looking to make some changes. One of those is building his massive legs during the off-season. Building strong leg muscles is essential for balance, strength, and stamina (1). In a recent YouTube video, Krizo shows us what he’s doing to grow his legs.
We’ll tell you ahead of time Michal Krizo’s leg workout routine for hypertrophy are brutal. The Slovakian bodybuilder doesn’t play around when building leg muscle; you can see the results with his massive legs. Krizo followed standard pyramid training throughout his leg workout. Pyarmaid training starts the set with light weight and more reps and increases the load and reduces the reps each subsequent set. Here’s an in-depth look into the off-season leg workout load of this Men’s Open Slovak.
Hack squats are a great way to build your glutes, hamstrings, quadriceps, hip flexors, and calves. While the quadriceps are the main targets of any squat, your glutes and hamstrings do the work too. Even your core muscles are affected because they help with stabilization.
The hack squat is a lower-body mass builder that is a favorite for many lifters because it’s less stressful for the spine. With this movement, the weight passes through the body’s center of mass, and as a result, you can lift more weight leading to more hypertrophy. In addition, you won’t have to focus too much on stabilizing the weight as with the barbell squat.
Start light when doing the hack squat, and gradually increase the weight as you get stronger. It would be best to do some warm-up sets before going heavy.
Leg Extensions
Leg extensions are an isolation exercise that targets the quads. Building your quads helps improve your posture and can benefit your squats. You use a machine for leg extensions, a great strength exercise that gives you massive quadriceps.
Leg extensions are essential in bodybuilding because they allow you to slow down and engage your quads, encouraging hypertrophy in the anterior leg muscles. However, this is one exercise where you should use less weight. While you’ll feel the work in your quads, it could stress your knee over time, and you should avoid that.
Leg extensions should be combined with other leg routines to avoid imbalances. Building your quads, hamstrings, glutes, and other leg muscles is essential as a bodybuilder.
Leg Press
Leg presses are seated multi-joint exercises that build your quads, glutes, and hamstrings. You can also adjust which leg muscle you’re working on by changing your foot position on the footpads. For example, placing your feet higher will target your hamstrings, and lower will favor your glutes more.
To get the best out of leg press, it’s better to prioritize a range of motion and form overweight. You could also work your stronger leg more as the machine will move whether both legs are pushing equally. To avoid this, you can do single-leg presses but watch out that you don’t pile on more weight than one leg can carry.
Leg presses are a safe way to build the muscles in your legs. You don’t need a spotter for this, as the machine supports your back. Krizo did one set of single-leg presses for 15 reps on each leg and two sets of bilateral leg presses for 12 reps. He then rounded up the routine by doing one set of 15 reps with both legs simultaneously.
Lying Leg Curls
Lying leg curls, or hamstring curls, build your hamstrings, quads, glutes, and calf muscles. The lying leg curl is considered an isolation exercise because it targets the back of your legs. A 2015 study showed that lying leg curls are a better way to build your hamstrings than stiff-legged deadlifts(2).
To get the best out of your lying leg curl, do it slowly and under control; you can also vary the tempo of each rep. However, proper form is crucial as you won’t get good results if you swing the weight with momentum or push your butt in the air as you lift the weight.
When doing leg curls, you should ensure the machine’s joints align with your knees. This makes the machine suit your body to avoid injury. To finish his brutal leg hypertrophy workout day, Krizo headed to a calf workout.
Seated Calf Raises
Seated calf raises are a great way to build mass in your calves and reinforce soft tissues like the Achilles. They’re an isolation exercise that targets the gastrocnemius and soleus of the calves. In addition, seated calf raises strengthen your lower body as a whole.
Seated calf raises are better with lighter weights and more volume (sets and reps) than heavier weights. Your calf muscles benefit more from time under tension, so doing this exercise slowly is excellent for muscle hypertrophy.
Raising your shins when doing a seated calf raise will shift the impact from your calves to your quads. So let your foot and ankle be the primary source of motion.
You can watch Michal Krizo’s leg hypertrophy workout that he uploaded to his YouTube channel below:
Wang, H., Ji, Z., Jiang, G., Liu, W., & Jiao, X. (2016). Correlation among proprioception, muscle strength, and balance. Journal of physical therapy science, 28(12), 3468–3472. https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.28.3468
Schoenfeld, B. J., Contreras, B., Tiryaki-Sonmez, G., Wilson, J. M., Kolber, M. J., & Peterson, M. D. (2015). Regional differences in muscle activation during hamstrings exercise. Journal of strength and conditioning research, 29(1), 159–164. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000000598
Running is one of the cornerstones of fitness, but are you sure you’re doing it correctly?
Cardio has so many benefits for your gains. It seems like something almost too obvious to point out, but it’s true. Even though everybody runs, there are easy ways to maximize your cardio and make sure your burning the maximum amount of calories and giving your muscles the best chance to develop. Sometimes we brush off the simple things as not needing any explanation.
The truth is, it’s important for any bodybuilder or person who’s serious about fitness to understand the basic mechanics of exercise. There are lots of ways you can improve even the most basic of exercises because the way we generally move isn’t always geared to burn the most calories. Let’s dive in.
Benefits of Cardio
Many people will equate cardio to taking away gains, but that truly is not the case. It actually can help achieve your goals more so than you think. For someone who is a bodybuilder, it makes the on-season a whole lot easier when you do not put on excess fat in the off-season. Also, when you are cutting, the cardio is a big player in getting rid of that fat to get you stage ready.
People looking to get absolutely shredded, but refuse to utilize cardio are essentially handicapping themselves and ensuring that they never get the defined and aesthetic form that they constantly seek. Cardio burns away excess fat and jump starts your metabolism. If you have the right diet plan it won’t affect your muscle gains at all.
Besides keeping you from getting overly fat, what else does cardio do for you? Well for starters, the obvious answer would be cardiovascular benefits (hence the name “cardio”). You should always want your heart to be as healthy as it can be. Taking care of your ticker is something that should always be a priority, so you know, it keeps ticking properly.
Lowering blood pressure and strengthening the immune system are some more benefits brought to you through cardio workouts. Whether you are bodybuilding or just trying to stay in shape through exercising, you have to remember to take care of everything. Getting big, strong, and shredded are all great, but do not forget about all of the other factors that quite literally keep you waking up every day.
Cardio Gone Wrong
As stated before, cardio brings numerous benefits to people who utilize it on the daily. However, people still tend to view it as something that is like a punishment, and this can result in skipping it, or performing lackluster cardio exercises. When your cardio is not optimal, you will not see the results you so desire. So, what exactly can you do? Don’t worry, we have some tips for you.
Here are five easy tips that will help you improve the quality of your cardio workouts.
1. Listening to music can help you run faster.
Processing auditory input distracts our brain from the “burn” we associate with gaining muscle mass. If you want to maximize your endurance, try listening to music on a jog or watching your favorite TV show while you’re on the treadmill. You will be shocked at how much longer and harder you can run for when you’re paying attention to something you’re listening to.
2. Training variety is more important that pushing yourself
One massive blowout cardio session is not going to give you the huge gains of a bodybuilder. Increasing the intensity of your workouts is what helps you gain mass, and in the case of cardio, that means training variety is key. That means running on the treadmill, running uphill at the park, running on a mild hike, and running flat laps around a track. The variety in terrains, textures, and inclines will prevent your leg muscles from “getting used” to your workouts and you will increase muscle mass every time.
3. Cardio is most effective on an empty stomach.
Fasted cardio is the simpler term here, and this may seem like an obvious one, but you would be surprised at how many people ignore this. You burn the most fat and allow your body to gain the most muscle when you work out on an empty stomach. So, if you’re looking to make serious gains, make sure to hit the gym before breakfast, not after.
4. You have to stretch before cardio. Every time.
The elasticity of your muscles makes a huge difference in your workout. Your chances of injury are much higher if you don’t stretch. Injuries aside, if you don’t stretch before cardio you are putting yourself at a huge disadvantage because your muscles will not be able to fully extend. Your ability to really push yourself to make gains will be limited, not to mention you’ll be a lot more sore afterwards.
5. Always put cardio after weight training when organizing your workouts.
Cardio burns a ton of calories, so if you do it before weight training, you have essentially eaten up your body’s entire store of calories that were going to help it work out. This can result in less than ideal workouts and muscle gains.
Always do cardio after weight training, and with a decent interval in between. If you jump straight into intense cardio after weight training you will most likely pass out. Make sure to take time in between the two to fuel yourself for your next workout. Some people like to split up the times of day they do cardio and lift into two separate sessions. If you have that time to spare, why not give it a try?
Cardio Wrap Up
Overall, cardio is something that a lot of people tend to dread, treadmills, elliptical trainers, rowing machines, there are so many options to choose from. While it may not be the most fun thing to do, it also does not have to be a punishment. There are so many benefits to doing it, if done correctly. Cardio can actually make or break your fitness goals, and it also is a good way to stay in shape and have a healthy heart. Maximize the effectiveness of your cardio routines.
Team, H. and V. (2021, November 16). From head to toe: The benefits of a cardio workout. Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved December 23, 2022, from (Source)
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, February 17). 10 great reasons to Love aerobic exercise. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved December 23, 2022, from (Source)
How To Tell If You’re Getting Phony Protein Powder
When you have a product that many people love and purchase, there are bound to be duplicates of it that are just flat out fake. Often times we see fake luxury watches, handbags, clothing, and believe it or not, even fitness supplements. Yes, there are fake supplements, and unfortunately our beloved protein powders are subject to being faked as well. There have been numerous instances where fake protein powders were being sold in through underground channels.
Are Fake Supplements Even a Risk?
You’re more prone to fake supplements if you live in developing countries where most of the supplements are imported from countries like USA and Canada, but that does not mean they do not sneak their way into other corners of the world. Consuming fake supplements for prolonged periods not only hinders your gains and progress, but can also have a negative impact on your body.
This may not be something you have ever really thought of. “Who would make fake supplements?” However, it is more common than you may have thought, and there is a possibility that you’ve been using fake supplements for a long time without knowing it. If you’ve just started using protein powders, chances are you won’t know what they should be like. There are a lot of things to look out for when it comes to your supplements.
This is the complete guide to know if your protein powder is fake.
1. Solubility
Bad solubility not only makes for the protein powder to be disgusting and hard to get down, but also is a sign of your powder being fake. Keep in mind, fake supplements aren’t designed to improve your muscle mass, the only goal behind them is making the smugglers rich. These smugglers use the cheapest materials to make the protein supplements which leads to hard insoluble powders.
If you’ve ever used a genuine protein supplement, you would know how easy it is to dissolve in water, or even milk. You also can typically mix a flavorless product, like creatine in with no issues. Fake protein supplements are the opposite of this. You won’t be able to mix fake protein powder in water with a spoon. You will need a blender bottle and some hard shakes of the wrist to dissolve the powder in the water.
2. Texture
If you’ve ever seen a protein supplement before this point, you know the powder has a constant texture. This might not be the case with fake supplements, and you can expect to find irregularities in the powder.
These irregularities can be anything from vitamin powders to crushed chalk, and crushed chalk especially is something you wouldn’t want to consume. It is recommended you buy supplements which have a unique flavor. Basic flavors like chocolate and vanilla, although they are typically cheaper than the more uncommon flavors, are the most common to be tampered with.
3. Taste
When you tamper with the ingredients of a supplement, it will surely affect its taste. The best way to check if a protein is fake or not is to check its taste. If you know someone who is using the same protein powder, exchange one serving with them, see if they match up.
This taste test will be enough to reveal if you have the real thing. Fake protein supplements are also known to have a pungent smell and leave a bad aftertaste in your mouth, so it may not just be a bad flavor you bought, you could’ve gotten something fake. Yes, some protein powders do taste pretty bad, but if it is absolutely foul then it may be fake.
Also, check if your supplement has the same taste throughout. If the taste is changing after every serving, you more than likely have a fake supplement.
4. Side Effects
Since fake supplements have cheaper ingredients or substitute elements, they can have a negative effect on your body. If you see any ill effects on your body after switching to a new supplement, it’s a sign of a fake protein powder.
The most common side effects of fake supplements are the formation of acne and marks on your back and arms, and hair loss. Side effects like these are the same that you risk when you are utilizing anabolic substances (PEDs) and they surely are unwanted. Some companies have been caught slipping substances like “SARMs” into their products so the buyers get results, and then continue to buy. Stop using the supplements when any of these signs start appearing, as they can cause more health issues.
5. Packaging
The product packaging of these fake supplements can be the biggest giveaway. Smugglers might use a substandard quality of jars, tubs, bags, or labels to save cost and maximize their profits. If you have seen the original packaging, you would be able to tell the difference without a problem, but if it is a product you have not bought before, you may not know exactly what to look for.
There are some cases where these crooks use the disposed and intact boxes, tubs, and bags of supplement to repackage their fake supplements. It can be hard in such situations to tell the difference between the real and the fake. Much like with prescription medication containers, it is always advised to crush your containers after you’re done using them to prevent piracy.
Fake Supplements Wrap Up
You may honestly have never thought that fake supplements were an issue, and that is fine because a lot of times the smugglers are very convincing with their products, that’s their whole job. The truth is, with all of the new supplement brands and products coming up in the world, the higher the risk for running into fake products is.
We are not saying to avoid trying anything new, because if you continue using the same products over and over then how will you ever find something you might like? What we do advise, is to really look into each brand you are buying from. Check out reviews, ingredients, shipping locations, and all of that.
Stay safe.
Have you ever used a fake supplement? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
Liver King marked 120 days steroids-free with a physique update photo looking absolutely ripped.
In his latest Instagram post, Liver King shared an impressive physique update while claiming he has been 120 days off steroids. This update comes after the controversial reveal that Liver King, aka Brian Johnson, had been lying about his natural status. He admitted to using steroids after private emails were exposed to the public proving he had been using anabolic substances.
After Liver King was exposed for using steroids, he made a vow to truly come off steroids and become a real natural bodybuilder. After making this claim, he posted various milestones along his journey coming off PEDs and provided physique updates. While the earlier updates were less informative, due to being so close to his steroid use. It seems that his latest update can provide a closer look into how his physique has changed – now about four months off steroids.
Most impressively, his physique is still incredible massive, showcasing muscle mass and shredded abs. You can see the post, originally shared via Instagram Story below:
Liver King also made a cheeky post via Instagram celebrating 120 days. You can see the post and the transcription of his comment below:
“Happy 120 days of being a top f*cking King… oh wait, that’s me.
It could be you, Primal… if you stopped making so many goddam excuses.
If you were willing to sprint towards hard sh*t… to lift heavy sh*t… to stop looking like relative sh*t.
Remember, how we look and speak is an outward expression of what we believe.
Liver King believes in getting to work… to fight for something meaningful… to overcome real struggle…
That’s why I look (and sound) like a savage beast.
FYI you still look (and sound) like a docile mouse.
We can, and we must change that.”
While it can be questioned as to whether or not he’s kept up with his promise due to his previous deception, his comment implies that he is focusing on what originally drew him to bodybuilding – the accomplishment from putting in hard work.
As it’s been stated by many pro bodybuilders, experts, and athletes in the past – steroids don’t magically make you a bodybuilder. The hard work always needs to come first. Regardless of whether or not Liver King is 120 free of steroids, the hard work must be maintained to have this kind of shredded physique.
The rise and fall… and rise of Liver King
Liver King exploded onto the scene in 2021, seemingly out of nowhere. He was recognized for his incredible physique and also his “ancestral” way of living – often eating raw liver and showcasing incredible feats in nature. He quickly gained a massive following of over 2 million on Instagram.
Liver King also claimed he was all natural. Of course, he had to be, since he was showcasing an ancestral all-natural lifestyle. Many fans were skeptical due to the massive size of his physique. Much like Mike O’Hearn, many believed it was impossible to obtain what he showed in his posts without the help of PEDs.
So questions began to be asked, and even high profile media personalities like Joe Rogan weighed in on the mystery – was Liver King natty or not? This led Liver King doubling down and speaking very frequently about his all-natural status. He made joke posts on Instagram and seemed to enjoy pushing those who questioned him to bring more attention to himself and the whole conversation.
Then suddenly, everything came crashing down. Private emails were leaked seemingly exposing Liver King’s steroid cycle. Shortly after the leaks, Liver King admitted that the emails were real and that he had, in fact, been using steroids.
While the decision to take steroids is a personal choice, the reveal and admission to guilt sparked at least one lawsuit from a New Yorker – who claimed that Liver King had used his natural status to promote his supplements. The argument stated that Liver King knowingly misled consumers by using his physique to promote his products without disclosing his steroid use. That lawsuit was filed for $25 million dollars.
So now the question becomes – is Liver King telling the truth now about his post-steroids journey? Skeptics will look towards his deceptive past as reason enough to not believe him. However, without evidence to prove otherwise, perhaps he is simply showcasing how far hard work can take you and further proving that he has truly made a change in his life.
Disclaimer: Generation Iron team are not medical professionals and are not advising for or against the use of any performance enhancing drugs, rather stating the facts surrounding these substances.
Mark Wahlberg has remained in great shape and determined as ever at 51 years old.
Mark Wahlbergcontinues to show off his dedication and motivation in the gym on social media. Recently, the mega star did another early-morning workout, showing off his shredded abs.
On Instagram, Wahlberg has started his own fitness group that he calls the “4 a.m. club.” Whether it is in his home gym or at a public gym, Wahlberg is a fan of early workouts. He has used this as his first session when performing two-a-days as well.
Wahlberg starred alongside Kevin Hart in the Netflix movie Me Time. In his opening scene, Wahlberg encounters Hart, who is his longtime friend, while skinny dipping with others. This is one of the movies that Wahlberg was able to show off his sculpted physique.
Of course, Mark Wahlberg is used to getting his physique in, or out of, shape for a role. Of course, he was forced to add some weight when he played a boxer-turned-priest in Father Stu. Wahlberg quickly did a transformation lost that extra fat and was able to get his abs back.
Mark Wahlberg Shows Off Abs During Workout
The current workout for Mark Wahlberg included a 45-pound weight plate. He was performing V-ups with the weight before hopping up and showing off his insane progress.
In April, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Mark Wahlberg would be producing both a documentary and feature film about the life and impact of fitness icon and legend Jack LaLanne – slated to start production in 2024. This is not the first time that Wahlberg has been linked to bodybuilding.
In 2013, he played an amateur bodybuilder turned criminal alongside Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in the film Pain & Gain. Now it seems that he will be dipping his toes back into the bodybuilding and fitness world as a producer.
Mark Wahlberg continues to maintain a shredded physique at 51 years old and it is because of his insane work ethic at all hours of the day.
Hadi Choopan was able to win his first Olympia in 2022 and William Bonac believes No. 2 is coming.
William Bonacannounced that he will not compete again in 2023 but remains up to date with the biggest stories in the sport. During a recent interview, Bonac discussed the potential for the 2023 Olympia and believes that Hadi Choopan will repeat as champion.
Bonac competed during the 2022 Olympia show but was unhappy with his performance. He finished ninth before returning to the stage a few months later during the 2023 Arnold Classic. After finishing seventh, he announced that he would take some time off and return to Columbus in 2024.
Choopan has been one of the top competitors in Men’s Open in recent years but could never get over the hump. In 2022, Choopan was able to reach the top of the sport and win his first Olympia title. He will look to go back-to-back this year.
Once again, the Men’s Open division will be extremely deep with many talents. During an appearance on The Menace Podcast, Bonac broke down some of the top threats to the crown.
William Bonac: “I Think Hadi Can Repeat, Definitely”
After discussing his performance at the most recent Olympia, William Bonac touched on prospects for the 2023 show.
“He’s next level. Even with the pump up, when you stop pumping up, then he will come alive. The more he pumps up the freakier he gets. So, you know, I think honestly, last year or the year before the Olympia that he didn’t win, he looked way better…I’m sure he’s going to take another title.”
Bonac believes that if Choopan comes in with his usual conditioning, he will be extremely difficult to beat.
“I think definitely Hadi can repeat it, definitely. I think as you see… a lot of 212 guys are doing very good in the Open class. That’s something that I’ve noticed. They’re extremely good, maybe because they don’t look as big as Big Ramy, those mass monsters. I think they’re trying to go away from that. Not to say they are little guys, you understand. I also see that they are rewarding the taller guys.”
Bonac Breaks Down Other Top Competitors
William Bonac began to discuss other top competitors for the 2023 Olympia. Brandon Curry is a former champion that has an Arnold Classic title from 2022 under his belt as well. Bonac claims that he “hopes” Curry can win once again but believes he cannot lose size, and needs to maintain muscle density, especially in his legs.
“Brandon is my dude, man. I hope he can fight for the title, like the direction that they are going I think, I don’t think so. No because if he does that, he will lose the size then he doesn’t look so impressive. They have to play the size game a little bit because when he dials in too much, he will lose the size of his legs again.”
The panel, including Chris Cormier and Milos Sarcev, agreed that Nick Walker needs to improve his quad sweeps if he wants to take home the Olympia title. Walker is one of the biggest mass monsters in the sport but many believe his legs cost him the Arnold title in March.
“It’s just the legs, the sweep of the legs,” Bonac said.
“I would try to utilize my legs differently in those poses. The way he’s doing them is not helping him right now,” Cormier said.
William Bonac will focus on his family and other business ventures for the rest of the 2023 season while also improving his physique. Fans will be excited to see him back on stage in Columbus come 2024.
