Home Blog Page 511

Hunter Labrada Looks Huge and Hasn’t Even Started Official Off Season

Hunter Labrada looks huge headed into the off season.

Hunter Labrada is looking massive headed into his off season. With his current physique it’s clear that Labrada has what it takes to potentially become a future Olympia champion.

The off season is when a bodybuilder puts the pedal to the metal. Off season is when a bodybuilder can really push themselves and their physique to the next level. Whether it’s adding pounds of muscle to their frame or working on their weaknesses, the off season is a time of opportunities for athletes to prep for the coming competitive season. The up and coming and talented Hunter Labrada appears to be pushing himself to the limit.

After coming in fourth place at the 2021 Olympia it’s clear that Hunter Labrada has the goods. He could easily break into the top three with a strong showing at the next Olympia. In order to achieve that however Labrada will have to focus on improving on his weaknesses while building upon his strengths.

Spent the last day of 2021 getting a head start on one of my 2022 resolutions:

Build a Mr. Olympia quality back

Bodyweight is 270-272 fasted right now, still another 4 weeks to go in my current health/recovery phase before we begin this offseason push. Very happy with my composition and how much tissue I’m holding on to.

Early dinner tonight with the homies, and then home for a night of games and going to bed early-ish so instead of being brutally hungover for the first session of 2022, I’m primed and ready????????

Massive Gains

Now headed into 2022 Hunter Labrada is throwing down the gauntlet and bringing his all. He hasn’t even entered into his official off season yet Labrada is looking like he’s added a ton of muscle to his frame.

Day 1 of 349 was won today.

Why 349 and not 365? Because that’s how many days there are until the 2022 @mrolympiallc. Planning on spending the rest of the year celebrating after that????????

Happy new year everyone! Wishing all of y’all blessings and success in 2022????????????????

And yes, I am in Birkenstock’s…. It was arm day????????????

Hunter Labrada has what it takes to go to the next level. If his current physique is any indication Labrada has clear intentions of conquering the bodybuilding world.

For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


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.

Instagram Athlete of the Week – Julian Smith

Instagram Athlete of the Week - Julian Smith

Julian Smith – The Quad Guy

Internet fitness celebrities don’t get any more humble and genuine than Julian Smith. Smith had a humble beginning in the fitness industry but has now amassed a mind-blowing 1 million followers on Instagram.

If you have been living under a rock and don’t know about Julian, let us introduce you to him. Julian Smith calls himself The Quad Guy and we would go as far as to say he should put this name on his driver’s license.

After Tom Platz, if someone comes to mind for having monstrous muscle mass on their legs, its Julian Smith. Just like Platz, Smith swears by the squats and consider all the other leg exercises secondary.

Julian isn’t your typical bodybuilder. Smith puts out original content with a lot of exercise variations which you could try in your workouts. The exercises Smith shares on his timeline will surely ignite some new gains in your muscles.

 

Smith trains at his personal gym. The Arms Race gym has great lighting and is a paradise for the selfie queens. Julian holds regular open gyms and you should check them out if you live around the area.

It’s Okay to be a Sissy

Notice that Julian doesn’t use any weights on some of his exercises. The size of his legs should be proof you don’t need to be lifting big weights to add muscle mass. Proper form and a complete range of motion should do the trick.

Julian Smith shares his daily workouts on his website as the “Daily Pumps”. Going by his Instagram stories, Smith has been getting a lot of love for the results his clients have been getting following his workouts routines.

Julian leaves no muscles untouched. He trains his neck, calves, and forearms (what others might think of as accessory muscles) the way he workouts all his other muscles. When was the last time you trained your neck?

The Golden Boy

Smith is a fan of the golden-era bodybuilding and trains for the old school aesthetics. Symmetry and muscle proportions are the cornerstones of Smith’s training. Smith with his golden-era V-taper has all the qualities of a classic physique.

You don’t have to perform the same exercises every time you train a muscle. You can come up with numerous new exercise variations with the same old machines in your gym. Smith will push you to think outside the box.

Julian Smith is a Bodybuilding.com sponsored athlete and can be seen promoting their products on their websites and expos. One thing which separates Smith from many other athletes is that he only recommends the products he uses.

If you’re pumped up to train your legs after seeing all those quad shots, this is the video you should watch before you head out the door. Always remember, fads come and go, but the golden aesthetics stay forever.

Who is your favorite Instagram fitness celebrity? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.


*All images courtesy of Instagram

Year In Review: The Biggest Bodybuilding Stories Of 2021

Biggest Bodybuilding Stories 2021

Here are the biggest bodybuilding stories from this past year!

As 2021 comes to an end, it seems like as good a time as any to look back on some of the top stories from bodybuilding over the last year. There was plenty of action this year and it was highlighted by some of the top competitions.

The 2021 Olympia and Arnold Classic took place two weeks apart after being pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nick Walker was victorious in his first Arnold Classic competition and ended up fifth at the Olympia. For Big Ramy, he made it two titles in a row down in Orlando. Brandon Curry finished as the runner-up once again followed by Hadi Choopan and Hunter Labrada.

Outside of the world of bodybuilding, there have been many huge stories in powerlifting and boxing. This sets up what could be an extremely exciting 2022. Let’s take a look at some of the top stories and moments from 2021.

Top Stories of 2021

2021 Olympia Weekend Brings New & Repeat Champions

The 2021 Olympia was moved to October in Orlando because of COVID-19. This came just two weeks after the 2021 Arnold Classic. Big Ramy was able to win his second consecutive title and proved that he is the competitor to beat. Derek Lunsford upset Shaun Clarida in Men’s 212 while Chris Bumstead made it three victories in a row in Classic Physique.

READ HERE: 2021 Mr. Olympia Bodybuilding Results For All Divisions

World's Strongest Man 2021 Tom Stoltman

Tom Stoltman Wins 2021 World’s Strongest Man

Tom Stoltman is one of the top strongmen in the world and he showed it on the biggest stage this year. Stoltman was able to edge out Brian Shaw, who finished second, and Maxime Boudreault to take home the title. There was 10 total competitors vying for the title and Stoltman was able to come out on top.

READ HERE: World’s Strongest Man 2021 Finals Results

Flex Wheeler COVID-19 hospital

Flex Wheeler Diagnosed With COVID-19 & Recovery

COVID-19 has impacted the entire world but especially for those who have contracted it or lost someone from it. In October, legendary bodybuilder Flex Wheeler was diagnosed with the virus and it was a long journey back. Wheeler remained active on social media giving updates on his condition through his battle. He was released in November but not before he received well wishes from many.

READ HERE: Flex Wheeler Has Been Diagnosed With COVID-19: “I Will Defeat The Virus”

Michal Krizo Mr. Universe Pro 2021Michal Krizo Wins Mr. Universe Pro & Draws Comparisons To IFBB Pro Athletes

Michal Krizo has become a huge name in the Elite Pro League and he solidified his legacy by winning the 2021 Mr. Universe Pro. This victory brought much attention to Krizo and his work as a bodybuilder. Krizo’s popularity has caused many fans to call for his switch to the IFBB league. That might happen in the future but for now, he continues to dominate the Elite Pro League.

READ HERE: Michal Krizo Wins Mr. Universe Pro 2021

Martyn Ford vs Iranian Hulk

Martyn Ford vs. Sajad Gharibi

One of the most anticipated of the year will take place on April 2nd. Martyn Ford and Sajad Gharibi have agreed to terms on a boxing match and it has been building since October. Not only will these two duke it out in the ring, there is some personal issues between the two. The fight will be under the banner of celebrity boxing promotion BoxStar.

READ HERE: Martyn Ford Will Fight “Iranian Hulk” Sajad Gharibi In Boxing Match Face Off

Hafthor Bjornsson vs. Eddie Hall Boxing Match Transformations

Hafthor Bjornsson and Eddie Hall have both made the transition from powerlifting to boxing. The two were set to meet in September but Hall was forced to back out because of an injury. There is no official date set just yet but it is likely that it will take place early in 2022. Since their transition, both Bjornsson and Hall have made incredible physique transformations.

READ HERE: Eddie Hall vs. Hafthor Bjornsson: Who Has Had The Most Significant Transformation In 2021?

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Freedom Comments & Industry Reaction

Arnold Schwarzenegger received a lot of backlash after stating his opinion on anti-maskers during the COVID-19 pandemic. ‘Screw your freedom’ were the words used by Schwarzenegger and it was not received well. Many stated their opinions publicly and some decided to cut ties. Brian Shaw went as far as to remove posters of the bodybuilder from his gym to show that he is against his comments.

READ HERE: Brian Shaw Takes Down Poster Of Arnold Schwarzenegger In His Gym

Ryan Crowley Tears Pec During Training

Ryan Crowley has been putting on some serious size and gaining strength because of huge workouts. He joined Larry Wheels, who thrives performing massive lifts, for a training session back in March. Crowley suffered a torn pectoral while performing a heavy bench press.

READ HERE: Video Of Ryan Crowley Pec Tear While Training With Larry Wheels

George Peterson bodybuilder RIP

Remembering Those Who We Have Lost

The bodybuilding world has been hit hard by a string of deaths by some of the top athletes in the sport. Shawn Rhoden passed away at the age of 46 in November after suffering a heart attack. Rhoden took home the Olympia title in 2018 and was one of the biggest name in bodybuilding since earning his Pro card in 2010.

George Peterson was preparing to compete at the 2021 Olympia before passing away in his hotel room in Orlando. There has not been a cause of death revealed for Peterson. He was 37 years old. Renowned bodybuilder and coach John Meadows passed away at 47 years old in August. Meadows dealt with health issues during his time as a bodybuilder. Following his retirement, he stayed active in the sport as a coach and nutritionist.

Odalis Santos Mena was an up-and-coming name in bodybuilding after becoming a sensation on social media. In July, Mena underwent an operation to fix her constant sweating and passed away due to a complication with anesthesia. She was just 23 years old. Generation Iron remembers those who we have lost in the sport of bodybuilding this year and sends condolences to family and friends.

Sadly, there were many more lost this past year than detailed here – drawing much attention to the state of health in competitive bodybuilding. While there has been no proven direct through line between all of these deaths, many hope that health becomes a bigger focus in the future of the sport. Generation Iron would like to pay tribute to those we have lost and wish for a stronger and safer year moving ahead.

Some bodybuilders that passed away in 2021 include:

For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on FacebookTwitter, and Instagram.

Why You Should Be Doing Full-Body Workouts

Why You Should Be Doing Full-Body Workouts

Reasons For Performing Full-Body Workouts

If you’ve been following a program where you train a single or double muscle group 5-6 days a week but can’t see desired results, it’s time you consider switching to a full-body training routine.

When we say ‘a full-body workout’, we’re referring to a workout where you train at least three muscle groups in a single training session which should include both your upper and lower body.

Break The Plateau

Performing the same workouts over and over again can lead you to hit a plateau. If you know anything about muscle plateaus, you’ll know it’s better to avoid one rather than finding ways of breaking it.

Following a full-body training routine can help you break and/or avoid a plateau. You should add variety to your full-body sessions so that your muscles never get used to your training program.

Improves Your Cardiovascular Health

Many serious lifters dismiss the full-body training programs calling them some CrossFit WOD fad which will go away soon. The high-intensity training style isn’t given its fair share of credit when it comes to its testosterone boosting, cardiovascular, and CNS health improving benefits.

Most resistance training approaches don’t put your cardiovascular system under stress as there is plenty of time to recover between exercises. The full-body workouts can improve your overall health by using HIIT routines.

Burn Fat

If you’ve ever performed a full-body workout, you’ll know that it can be exhausting. The good news is, the annihilation after a full-body training session can be incredibly effective in melting your body fat like butter.

If your primary goal is to shed weight and lose some inches from your waist, you should follow a full-body program. The HIIT workouts are also great for bros who’re prepping for a contest or want to improve their muscle definition.

Hit Failure Every Time

Leaving the gym without a pump can be depressing. While following a low-moderate intensity workout, variables like mind-muscle connection, rest between sets, form come into play which can hamper your muscle pumps.

On the other hand, you’re almost guaranteed to get (and maintain) a nasty pump during your full-body workout because of the sheer intensity of the training style. If you shy away from hitting failure in every workout, the full-body workouts are sure to cause a paradigm shift.

Shorter Workouts

Many people never get on the fitness bandwagon because they can’t take out 2-3 hours for a workout every day. Following a full-body workout is the perfect solution to this problem as you’ll wrap up your workouts within 45-60 minutes.

Since the full-body workouts have ample bodyweight exercises, you’ll never have an excuse for missing a training session. You could train in the comfort of your home early in the morning, late at night or anytime in between.


Do you train on Sundays? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.

Natural Bodybuilder’s Transformation After Doubling Calorie Intake

Alice Jncharles - Eating More

Alice Jncharles shows her transformation after doubling calorie intake from 1300-1800 calories per day to over 3k calories daily. 

Contrary to the belief that you want to eat less to build the body of your dreams, you’ll want to eat more. Often, people tend to undereat when working on their fitness goals. Not consuming enough calories puts you in a catabolic state and makes building muscle hard and losing body fat even harder. That’s because the more muscle you have, the faster your basal/resting metabolic rate (BMR) will be, which means you’ll burn more calories at rest. Of course, eating enough calories is essential to build muscle since you’ll need to be in a caloric surplus to maximize muscle growth. 

Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association (PNBA) pro competitor Alice Jncharles proves this concept. She doubled her caloric intake and went from eating 1300-1800 calories per day to over 3k calories daily and gained a whopping 7 pounds of pure muscle! On Instagram (IG), Jncharles claimed:

“The main difference between these pictures, my food intake, and a coach. From 1300-1800 to 3066 calories daily. You have to eat big and lift heavy to grow.”

You can see her complete statement and transformation pictures below.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYDXh5YrJWK/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Alice Jncharles’ nutrition change made a massive impact on her 2021 performance. She placed in the top 3 of the world in the Figure Masters division at 2021 Natural Olympia. 

Natural Bodybuilding and Nutrition

Alice Jncharles_Competing_Doubling Calorie Intake

Athletes in natural bodybuilding have to strategically structure their training regimen and nutrition since they don’t get to use any PEDs unless they want to end up on the Hall of Shame, of course – for all INBA/PNBA competitors. 

With that being said, they’ll need to have their nutrition targets on point to match their training volume. This natural bodybuilder ranked the top 4 restaurants to hit your nutrition targets (click the link). 

Importance of a Caloric Surplus

In the sport of natural bodybuilding, building muscle naturally is essential. However, to build muscle, you must be in a caloric surplus – e.g., doubling calorie intake. As Jncharles said in her IG above post, “You have to eat big and lift heavy to grow.”

How much protein you eat is critical as well. We recommend you eat between 0.7g – 1g of protein per lbs of body weight for maximal muscle growth. Research shows that 0.82g is what you want for maximal muscle growth. (1)

Now, that’s not to say that you don’t want to cut calories at some point to lose weight and fat. That’s because being in a caloric deficit is vital for weight loss. However, it’s better to build muscle and focus on a caloric surplus first, so your metabolism is working more efficiently. Furthermore, not eating enough calories will wreak havoc on your metabolism, making weight loss and fat loss near to impossible. Therefore, we recommend you eat more and build muscle, then slowly cut your calories back to cut weight. 

Generation Iron would like to congratulate Alice Jncharles on her third-place finish in Figure Masters at 2021 Natural Olympia. We hope 2022 brings you success! 

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to stay updated with PNBA/INBA athletes! 

Reference

  1. Phillips, S. M., & Van Loon, L. J. (2011). Dietary protein for athletes: from requirements to optimum adaptation. Journal of sports sciences, 29 Suppl 1, S29–S38. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2011.619204

Tristyn Lee Joined Frank McGrath For A Massive Arm Workout

Frank McGrath led Tristyn Lee in a huge arm day workout.

It is not easy to develop an incredible physique at a young age but for some, this is exactly what happens. Tristyn Lee is a bodybuilder who has built an impressive physique at just 18 years old. He has become known for his build and has gained plenty of attention on social media because of it. Recently, Lee joined Frank McGrath for an arm-day workout.

This was a special workout for Lee, who grew up watching McGrath. The 43-year-old bodybuilder was one of the biggest names in the sport in the 2000’s but was forced to cut his career short due to injuries. McGrath was known for his massive size and vascular look on stage. Since retiring from competitive bodybuilding, McGrath has continued to inspire and encourage young athletes to take on their fitness goals.

This video was shared to Tristyn Lee’s YouTube page for his 1.35 million subscribers to see.

It is no surprise that Frank McGrath led an arm workout for Tristyn Lee. McGrath was known for his arms and huge forearms during his time on stage. This is a workout that consisted of bicep/tricep supersets.

McGrath began the workout with triceps pushdowns and preacher curls. Lee admitted that arms are the weakest part of his workout but this is something that McGrath wanted to change. He led the intense workout from the beginning. This superset was to get warmed up a bit and the two quickly moved onto another.

For their second superset, McGrath and Lee took on biceps cable curls and skull crushers with an EZ bar. The two discussed their differences in reps. Lee usually does fewer reps per set while McGrath always tried to reach a certain number. Up next, preacher curls and triceps workout on preacher curl machine. McGrath always uses preacher curls as a go-to exercise for him and he learned the tricep exercise from Dexter Jackson.

After three supersets for arms, Frank McGrath showed Tristyn Lee one for forearms. This consisted of wrist curls and wrist rolls. This was the final workout of the day for the two and it featured an area where McGrath shined during his competition days.

This is an arm workout that anyone can try and take on at any point. McGrath has always been interested in sharing workouts for others to try and challenge themselves. This has been a goal of his since retiring from competition and it shows in this particular workout with an up-and-coming star like Lee.

For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on FacebookTwitter, and Instagram.

Iain Valliere Answers: Are Romantic Relationships Kryptonite For Bodybuilding Success?

Iain Valliere debunks the concept of a romantic partner or spouse distracting from bodybuilding greatness.

Iain Valliere is a bodybuilder who is happily married. He’s also a successful pro bodybuilder – a sport that demands quite a bit of time. So much time, in fact, that many legendary pro bodybuilders have claimed that romantic relationships and families are too distracting for bodybuilding success. In order to become a champion, you need the kind of full focus that would either destroy the relationship or destroy your champion chances. But for Valliere, he finds the exact opposite to be true. In our latest GI Exclusive, Iain Valliere explains how his wife is a vital part of his bodybuilding success – instead of a distraction.

During our time interviewing a wide variety of bodybuilding legends and champions. We’ve seen a common sentiment among elite competitive bodybuilders. Dating, romantic relationships, and marriage are too challenging of a dedication to coincide with bodybuilding success. Most notably, 8x Mr. Olympia Lee Haney stated this during the filming of Generation Iron 2.

The idea here is that bodybuilding on a pro level requires so much focus and time – it’s impossible to share it with a romantic partner. During our conversation with Iain Valliere, we decided to ask him for his take on this concept. Valliere is happily married to Chris Bumstead’s sister – Melissa Valliere. She is a competitor in her own right – and according to Iain – has been a vital part of his success. Not a detriment to it.

Iain Valliere acknowledges that bodybuilding is a major time commitment both mentally and physically. But he also points out that kind of commitment is very challenging to do alone. Having a partner by his side through the ups and down of bodybuilding prep is a major support. It helps him remain more focused and achieve better results.

Iain Valliere uses an example to drive this point home. In 2020, Valliere competed in the Tampa Pro and reveals that during this contest prep he had a “mental breakdown” in his own words. He attributes this to his wife not being by his side for that particular competition.

“I had a mental breakdown. I really couldn’t handle all of the pressures and the stress being by myself,” Iain Valliere states in our interview – speaking of the Tampa Pro 2020. He continued:

“And you know, I was running around trying to get food. And worried about doing this, and worried about doing this. As well as, you know, when you are alone in your thoughts too much, you’re looking at social media and all of these things and I really got in my head.”

Iain Valliere goes on to say that having his wife by his side alleviates these issues. She is his support system. Being a fellow competitor, she can also provide much more pointed and empathetic support as she is more than familiar with the process.

And perhaps that is another key element for Iain Valliere’s success in both bodybuilding and marriage. If not a fellow competitor, finding someone who fully understands what the bodybuilding process really entails is key. If not, resentment can grow. Stress can come from resentment. And then both a bodybuilding career and a relationship can implode.

Iain Valliere also shares some tips and tactics that have worked to keep his marriage a focus while also putting his all into pro bodybuilding. Perhaps some of these tips can be helpful for those looking to find balance in the hectic life of competitive bodybuilding and relationships.

You can watch Iain Valliere’s take on relationships and bodybuilding – as well as tips to finding balance – in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.

How Dennis ‘The Menace’ James Works Out For Upper Body Gains

Dennis James

Get a great pump like Dennis James himself and see serious gains.

Dennis James is a former professional bodybuilder from Germany who is well-known for his personality and successful bodybuilding career. With a big following on social media, he uses his platform to post new photos, throwbacks of his bodybuilding days, and those posts to inspire others to make their own desired changes.

For many of us, finding the right workout can be a challenge and one we may not be up for. We live busy lives, deal with a lot. The last thing we want to do is take time to sit and decipher who online is telling the truth and who is just plain lying. But it doesn’t have to be that hard. With professional bodybuilders and other athletes who now having larger platforms, we can take their workouts and what drives them to succeed and apply to our own routine and lives. Use these pros for they have done it before and know exactly what needs to be done to succeed at the highest of levels.

Dennis James has had a long and accomplished bodybuilding career and is definitely one to take notes from. He has competed against some of the best in the world and it wasn’t just by chance. His approach to training and nutrition is top notch and has served him well throughout his career.

Full Name: Dennis James

Weight Height Date Of Birth
255-265 lbs. 5’8’’ 05/31/1966
Profession Era Nationality
Bodybuilder 1990, 2000, 2010 German, American

This upper body workout from Dennis consists of chest, arms, and shoulder exercises to give you a well-rounded and massive physique. By targeting this muscle groups individually, you can pay more attention to building each of them, working on mind-muscle connection, and seeing the gains you want most.

Dennis James

About Dennis James

Dennis James is a former professional bodybuilder born in Germany. He was always active and started training at a young age. But when he was 18-years old, he started bodybuilding and his training went to a whole new level. He began competing in junior competitions and would eventually grow his name more and more until he finally began competing on the biggest stage. He competed at Mr. Olympia seven times and proved he had what it took to be the best in the world.

He has been featured in many magazines and his social media presence is massive. His relationship with two-time Olympia Champ Big Ramy also brings increased notoriety as he continues to promote the sport of bodybuilding while inspiring others so they can succeed as he has.

Dennis James

Dennis James Training Routine

Dennis focuses on those heavy movements, and with his training partner as two-time Olympia champ Big Ramy, their workouts are simple but highly effective at seeing results. Dennis created an approach to lifting called the Menace Time Under Tension. Essentially, this involves lifting the weight slower, really involving the full range of motion and then returning to the starting position at a normal speed. It helps reduce injury and only adds to your gains.

Let’s take a look at these chest, arms, and shoulder workouts so you can start to see serious gains and a massive physique you want most. A mix of machine and free weight exercises, as well as mixing in those compound and isolation exercises, gives you a well-rounded and versatile workout, leaving room for alternatives if need be. The nice part is that many of these exercises can be changed out for others to provide for muscle confusion and offer the best for gains.

Chest

Exercises Sets Reps
Incline Machine Press 3 10
DB Chest Fly 3 10
Push Press 3 8
Cable Chest Fly 3 10
DB Press 3 10
Incline DB Fly 3 8

Arms

Exercises Sets Reps
Triceps Pushdowns 3 12
Machine Preacher Curls 3 12
Skullcrushers 3 10
One Arm Preacher Curl 3 10
One Arm Triceps Pushdown 3 10
Concentration Curls 3 12
Seated Hammer Curls 3 8
Incline Triceps Extensions 3 8

Shoulders

Exercises Sets Reps
Lateral Raise 3 10
Front Raise 3 10
Upright Row 3 10
Reverse Pec Deck 3 10

Dennis James Nutrition

Dennis focuses on a rather simple plan but makes sure he eats plenty of calories and tons of protein. When he would be in the offseason, his carb intake would increase, but his meals would still consist mainly of protein, like lean meats, and carbs, like brown rice. Following a simple diet allowed him to eat well, eat the foods he needed to, and make life easy when it came to preparing and cooking food.

Dennis James

Why Upper Body Workouts Are So Important

Working our upper bodies makes a lot of sense. For those us bodybuilders, building that massive upper half physique is what everyone sees. But when it comes down to building real gains, the benefit of a strong upper body plays into all aspects of our training and performance, as well as physical health. Working to strengthen muscles around those supporting joints limits injury and we tend to use our upper body muscles for many functional movements. Posture, imbalances, and developmental support are just some of the key benefits associated with building a strong, stable, and massive upper half as you seek the best for your gains.

Along with these great workouts from Dennis James, consider upper body workouts like the close grip lat pulldown for back and bis, hanging leg raises for a stronger core, and kettlebell rows for a versatile exercise to boost pulling movements.

Wrap Up

This workout from Dennis James is one to certainly fire up your muscles to grow so you only see the best in terms of growth and overall gains. Dennis has had an amazing career and knows just what it takes to compete with the best. Using his workouts and other advice to better ourselves and our routines can help see gains as great as his as we seek to embark on our own bodybuilding or fitness journey. Give this workout a try, get the right supplements to help you, and see those gains you want most in no time.


Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

*Images courtesy of Dennis James Instagram

Juan Morel Sets Intensions for 2022 and 2023, Vows to Get Shredded

Juan Morel sets intentions for 2022 and 2023.

After some time away from the stage Juan Morel has set intentions for a return to form in 2022. The veteran bodybuilder took to Instagram to speak on his extended off time and what he wishes to accomplish in the new year.

In this day and age it’s all go, go, go. So many individuals believe that pushing themselves nonstop is the key to success. In one way this is undoubtedly true. In order to achieve a goal you have to continue at it, keep working consistently and be determined and disciplined. But some times, when success has been achieved, taking time to relax and recover is genuinely necessary. But sometimes relaxation can go a bit too far. That’s where Juan Morel recently found himself.

A veteran pro who’s been competing for well over ten years, Juan Morel has constantly been in training camp. Morel has competed at show after show over the years. That is until he took time away from competition.

After coming in 16th place at the 2020 Olympia Juan Morel has taken a break from competition. The veteran bodybuilder decided to take some time off from the stage. But while he’s enjoyed his downtime, complete with eating tons of cookies apparently, Morel has declared that he’s ready to jump back into action.

Declaration of Shred

In a recent post to Instagram Juan Morel stated his intentions for not only 2022 but potentially 2023 as well.

Here is my goal for 2022 is to get back in shape and getting ripped.

I have not been following any type of diet. It has been more of whatever I get my hands on and 95 percent of the time it’s cookies haha. And I’m not complaining it has been the best diet to follow ????????

But I want to get back to looking shredded so comes New Years it will be time to cut down from 4-5 cookies a day to just on the weekend.

And before you guys ask am I going to compete 2022 well that answer to that is if I can get in a schedule that allows me to train the way I need to get back in competitive shape that YES. if I can’t find the time and I’m to busy I won’t be competing. The good thing is I’m still young only 39 and if I don’t compete 2022 there is always 2023.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by juandieselmorel (@juandieselmorel)

Juan Morel has always been a top bodybuilder. At 39 years of age he still has some time to get in lean and shredded form. Perhaps he can draw inspiration from Dexter Jackson.

For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.


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.

Ronnie Coleman Discusses Recent Weight Gain Up To 285 Pounds

Ronnie Coleman

Ronnie Coleman has added 30 pounds of mass recently.

Ronnie Coleman is one of the best bodybuilders of all time and remains an influential voice in the sport. The eight-time Olympia champion still holds the record for most victories, along with Lee Haney, and this is one that might stay for a long time. Coleman remains active in the gym to this day despite suffering some injuries over the years.

Coleman has underwent many surgeries for different injuries in his career. This has changed as of late. Coleman has been enduring less surgeries and receiving stem cell treatments. In a recent YouTube video, Coleman credits these treatments for his recent weight gain. The legendary bodybuilder has been able to put on 30 pounds of mass recently.

“I got a lot more energy than I used to have. I have put on about 30 pounds. I went from like 255 pounds to 285 pounds, somewhere in there. I had to weigh myself about ten times to be sure,” Coleman explained.

Ronnie Coleman credits stem cell treatments for his weight gain but he has also been back in the gym in a big way. Coleman is working out six days a week and this is clearly a factor in his growth. At the same time, treatments have helped his recovery and less surgeries means that Coleman does not have to work his way back to normal.

“You know, I’ve had 13 surgeries the last five years and I was going and I had three in one year. so I was always in the hospital for awhile. I had back-to-back surgeries all the way up to 2020. That was the last time I had one.”

Coleman continued to explain that his diet has not changed overtime. This is a huge factor for bodybuilders when training and preparing for competition. Coleman is not competing anymore but remains active in the gym. This is the reason for his growth and progression in the gym, not his diet.

“I’ve always eaten the same thing. It’s not the diet.”

“me being able to workout consistently, you know, for almost two years straight…also that the stem cell had to do a lot because i used to be in a lot of pain all the time. now it’s like, you know, it’s a pain that i can take.”

Ronnie Coleman seems to be in tremendous shape since he has been able to get back to a consistent training regiment with no surgery holding him back. Coleman seems to be overcoming his injuries and strength is coming back. Weakness became a problem for Coleman in his life but doctors said that it could take two years for his nerves to improve. This is what happened and Coleman is back to crushing the gym each day.

For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on FacebookTwitter, and Instagram.

NEWSLETTER

REVIEWS

RECENT POSTS