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Unbound Unbent Beyond Pump Review
Work for the best pumps, endurance, and performance with Unbent.
Product Overview
We all hit the gym expecting to get the best pump, right? Every single time we toss on a tank, we expect others to envy that hard work and serious size we’ve spent hours packing on. So, we take a pump product, in particular one that claims to provide the best muscle pumps for serious energy and focus. But how many of those actually live up to the expectation that we so highly put on them? It’s rare. Unbound has created a seriously effective and incredible pump product called Unbent, designed to give you uncompromising effects to your pumps, endurance, and performance, making you an athlete to fear every time you hit the weights.
Any good product will contain effective ingredients and hold some truth to their claims of being the “best” in the sports supplement game. But any great supplement will give you clean and high-quality ingredients, a transparent and fully disclosed label, and uncompromising results every single time you use it. Unbound Unbent does that and more and after careful research and an impressive formula, they’ve made something that rivals just can’t match.
Shop at Unbound
Unbound is on a mission to help those self-starters get the gains they want most. They seek those who set the highest standards, not follow them, and whose demand for greatness is unparalleled by others. Unbound wants their athletes to be unequaled in a world of mediocrity and by designing and creating high quality supplements, they understand that those seeking to be the best, need the best when it comes to fueling their bodies and driving towards the top. A sister company to the amazing and top tier company NutraBio, their honesty and transparency shows through with every product.
Unbound Unbent Highlights
Unbound Unbent is an incredibly unique supplement designed to offer the best ingredients to boost serious pumps, endurance, and overall performance. With ten premium and high-quality ingredients, this supplement is meant for those athletes who want uncompromising results as they push themselves to the absolute limit. With an advanced and incredibly effective formula, Unbound works to bring nothing but the best pumps for serious power and a high amount of nitrates to give you energy even without stimulants. With Unbent’s insane effectiveness, you’ll leave the gym with the biggest pump you’ve ever received.
Unbent is meant to be stacked with other Unbound products for it will enhance all areas of your training and performance when paired with these stellar supplements. For those looking to beef up their resistance training, stack this with their pre-workout, Unload. If you are someone looking to really boost your cardio, stacking the fat burner Unlock is the product for you to see those desired gains.
Ingredients
L-Citrulline: Provides for greater nitric oxide production and vasodilation while promoting better blood flow for bigger pumps (1).
Betaine Anhydrous: Studies have shown it may enhance endurance and your total amount of reps while also increasing peak power and strength output for maximum gains (2).
Arginine & Betaine Nitrate: Nitrates work in the body by converting to nitrite and then turning into nitric oxide. This conversion helps reduce blood pressure, improve blood flow, and increase oxygen circulation and cell metabolism.
HydroPrime: A highly concentrated form of glyercol that works for cell-suturing, hydrating, and volumizing your muscles.
Taurine: An essential amino acid stored in the brain, heart, and skeletal muscle tissue, this will encourage muscle cells to absorb more water, enhance stamina, and delay onset fatigue (4).
VasoDrive-AP: Can promote greater blood flow, arterial elasticity, and healthy blood pressure.
Grape Seed Extract: Contains potent bioactive compounds know to support nitric oxide production and vasodilation for better oxygen and blood flow. It will also help optimize nutrient delivery to work muscles so your body gets the maximum benefits (4).
Himalayan Pink Sea Salt: Provides the body with a premium source of sodium to optimize absorption and help lead to better muscle contractions.
AstraGin: Great for increasing bioavailability and absorption of key nutrients to promote better muscle growth and recovery.
Other Ingredients
Citric acid, natural flavors, malic acid, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, anti-foam (maltodextrin, canola oil, silicon dioxide)
Stim Or Non-Stim
Non-Stim
Servings Per Container
20
Serving Size
1 scoop (14.67g)
Flavors
Grape Lychee, Mojito, Tangelo
Best Way To Take
Take 1 scoop with 12-16 oz. of water.
Price, Flavors & Effectiveness
Unbound Unbent is that perfect pump supplement to offer a serious boost to all your muscle pumps, endurance, and performance goals. With 20 servings per container, 1 scoop will pump you with clean and effective ingredients to give you everything you want most out of a great supplement. With three awesome flavors in Grape Lychee, Mojito, and Tangelo, you will never grow bored with the taste.
Pros
Clean and effective ingredients
Amazing benefits for muscle pumps, endurance, and performance
Transparent and fully disclosed label
From a reputable company in Unbound
Cons
Contains some artificial flavoring
Not available for purchase online
Price: Unbound supplements are only available at brick and mortar retail stores. Check out their Where To Score finder to find the closest store to you!
Featured Unbound Athlete
Erik Ramirez
Erik Ramirez is an IFBB pro bodybuilder and Unbound athlete who uses their supplements to enhance his absolutely shredded aesthetic. With many competitions under his belt, he was crowned the 2015 North American Overall Champion and has competed in other events including the New York Pro, Toronto Pro, Tampa Pro 212, and the 2020 Chicago Pro Men’s Bodybuilding contest. Working with Unbound, Ramirez uses their high quality supplements to fuel his workouts and recovery given their innovative formulas, clean ingredients, and advanced results for maximum gains.
Overall Value
Unbound Unbent is that perfect pump product to give you serious muscle pumps, enhance endurance, and boost performance to make you a threat in any gym you enter. With high-quality ingredients, a transparent label, and a hardcore company backing it, Unbent is the best supplement around for offering the best pumps. What you are really getting is an amazing pump product with an effective formula, great flavors, and an awesome and honest company backing you. Check out Unbound Unbent today and see your muscle pumps exceed all your expectations.
Try Unbound Unbent Today
Generation Iron may receive commissions on purchases made through our links. See our disclosure page for more information.
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 Unbound
References
Gonzalez, Adam M. (2020). “Effects of Citrulline Supplementation on Exercise Performance in Humans: A Review of the Current Literature”. (source)
Trepanowski, John F.; Farney, Tyler M.; McCarthy, Cameron G.; Schilling, Brian K.; et al. (2011). “The effects of chronic betaine supplementation on exercise performance, skeletal muscle oxygen saturation and associated biochemical parameters in resistance trained men”. (source)
Waldron, Mark; Patterson, Stephen D.; Tallent, Jamie; Jeffries, Owen (2018). “The Effects of an Oral Taurine Dose and Supplementation Period on Endurance Exercise Performance in Humans: A Meta-Analysis”. (source)
Gupta, Madhavi; Dey, Sanjay; Marbaniang, Daphisha; Pal, Paulami; et al. (2020). “Grape seed extract: having a potential health benefits”. (source)
Hall, Harriet (2017). “Pink Himalayan Sea Salt: An Update”. (source)
Logan Paul Thinks He Could Beat Mike Tyson in a Boxing Match
“You can’t tell me I can’t beat Mike Tyson. Bro, he’s old, old.”
Here we go again. It appears that Logan Paul is intent on trying to box all the modern day boxing legends. First he targeted the smaller Floyd Mayweather and fought him to a draw. Now it appears that Logan Paul is looking to goad Mike Tyson into a match.
You would think that Logan Paul would have learned his lesson by now. In facing Floyd Mayweather we saw that Paul had some modicum of skills in the ring. But what we ultimately saw was a larger man unable to hurt or damage the much smaller, more experienced boxer. Now Logan Paul has his sights set on Mike Tyson, a much larger man and a bigger puncher than Mayweather.
While Mike Tyson may be at an advanced age, what he was able to show against Roy Jones Jr. during their exhibition bout was impressive. Tyson still had pop on his punches and he still had the kind of footwork and agility of a man years his junior. Make no mistake that Mike Tyson is still an absolute beast.
Paul vs Tyson Next?
So where did this notion of a Logan Paul vs Mike Tyson showdown comes from? Well it appears that on Paul’s podcast, Impaulsive, the question was posed.
“Someone mentioned Mike Tyson, like how funny is it?” said Paul. “One great at a time. Or is it like you can only fight one? My lawyer mentioned it and he was like, ‘No, Tyson will rip your head off, you don’t stand a chance’.
“I’m like ‘bro, I literally just went through all of this, you can’t tell me I can’t beat Mike Tyson. Bro, he’s old, old.”
There’s certainly nothing wrong with confidence. It will take that kind of confidence for Logan Paul to actually go for broke and beat Mike Tyson in the ring. But despite his age, Tyson would be no walk in the park and would likely give Paul all he could handle.
Would you watch a Mike Tyson vs Logan Paul match?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Managing Editor 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.
Blessing Awodibu Full Interview | Trash Talk, New York Pro, & The Future Of Bodybuilding
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Watch the full uncut GI Exclusive interview with Blessing Awodibu
Blessing Awodibu blew up on the pro bodybuilding scene in 2020 through to this year. This was due to two reasons. First, his physique updates on social media showcased a threatening package. Second, his personality and trash talk online spawned a rivalry with another up and coming bodybuilder in the spotlight – Nick Walker.
Since then, Blessing has competed in the Indy Pro and the New York Pro. While he didn’t win either of those competitions – his physique shows true promise. He placed third at the Indy Pro and sixth at the New York Pro. Disappointing compared to the hype behind him – but a respectable start for his pro career to be sure.
Over the past few months we’ve released multiple GI Exclusive segments from our interview with Blessing Awodibu. Now we’re releasing the full length interview including topics such as his online hype & trash talk, the New York Pro, and how he plans to transform the future of bodybuilding.
Listen To Our Blessing Awodibu Interview On The Generation Iron Podcast
Our full length interviews are now also in podcast form! Subscribe to the Generation Iron Podcast for candid, full length interviews with the biggest names in bodybuilding, fitness, combat, and strength sports.
Listen to the full Blessing Awodibu interview here:
Blessing on trash talk and his rivalry with Nick Walker
True to character, Blessing embraced the entire rivalry with Nick Walker in the lead up to the New York Pro 2021. He believed that this kind of beef is simply part of the entertainment of bodybuilding. He is doing it because he wants to put on a show. He thinks that the New York Pro would have the “highest pay-per-view streams” than any other IFBB show. He thinks this is solely due to the hype he helped create.
He also thinks that Nick Walker might have taken everything a bit too personally. Blessing believes that athletes understand an unspoken contract as pros – that the trash talk and rivalries are nothing personal. It’s simply the mindset of a confident athlete looking to win.
“I don’t think Nick understands it. He took it too personal, you know?”
Blessing expresses the importance of bodybuilders bringing entertaining personality to the sport.
Blessing Awodibu thinks the sport of bodybuilding has one major problem. It has nothing to do with the physiques or bubble guts. Blessing thinks we have a crisis of personality in bodybuilding. More specifically, he thinks that bodybuilding has stopped being entertaining.
Of course, Blessing is not referring to the actual competitions themselves. He understands that the drama of the Olympia or Arnold Classic or any other major IFBB pro show is still there with the quality of physiques on display. The problem is everything in between. There are not enough personalities, rivalries, and hype building up into the competitions.
Blessing Awodibu is already someone who is making headlines in the industry. Not only due to his massive physique but also due to his outspoken nature leading up to the New York Pro 2021. He’s called out Nick Walker and built anticipation with a temporary rivalry between the two leading up to the show.
Beyond that, Blessing Awodibu, has been making viral content online for years. He’s been dubbed the funniest bodybuilder in the sport. During our conversation, we asked him what other bodybuilders look to be matching him in terms of entertainment and personality. Blessing had a hard time coming up with any names.
That’s the problem. For every Kai Greene or Bradley Martyn, there are dozens of other bodybuilders that simply stay quiet. What makes this most frustrating for Blessing, is that he knows that there are tons of great bodybuilding personalities in the sport. He thinks there is a lot of talented bodybuilders who can create great hype and content. But in Blessing’s opinion – they are being lazy.
Of course, Blessing means this only on the personality or entertainment front. In fact, he points out that these pro bodybuilders are so good at training, dieting, and sculpting their physique – that they don’t make time to entertain the fans.
Wrap Up
Our conversation with Blessing Awodibu lasted just about an hour – so there are many other topics that we can’t discuss in full within this article. That’s why you can check out the full uncut GI Exclusive interview with Blessing above!
How to Lean Bulk – The Ultimate Guide
How to Lean Bulk – The Ultimate Guide
Before we get to to the million-dollar question, let’s talk about “bulking”. Lean bulking is such a misunderstood concept that most people who start a bulk end up gaining a belly. For a few minutes, forget everything you’ve been told about bulking by the bros.
Bulking cycle is a period of time where you eat surplus calories to gain muscle mass and strength. The sad and inevitable part of a bulking program is that an aggressive caloric surplus state will invariably lead you to put on body fat.
In an effective bulking plan, you should be increasing your training intensity and frequency. Adding more load and volume will provide ample stimulation to your muscles and will make sure you’re not adding too much to your fat reserves.
Like all good things, a bulking period has to come to an end. In the “cutting” phase you will cut the fluff from your body by adding HIIT cardio to your training program and by cutting the carbs and fats from your diet.
Pre-Requisites of a Lean Bulk –
Don’t Eat Like It’s The Last Meal of Your Life
Some people think that a bulking diet is synonymous with cheat meals. You can’t and shouldn’t eat anything you can get your hands on. Just like any other bodybuilding program, you’ll have to follow a strict diet plan for a lean and clean bulk.
A Bulk is Not For Everyone
Probably the biggest misconception about bulk is that anyone can do it. If you’re a newbie or don’t have any gains to show, forget lean bulking. The first goal should be to put on quality muscle mass.
You should only consider bulking if your current body fat percentage is at or around 10-12%. If you’re around 15-20% body fat, you’re already too bulky to start a new lean bulking program.
Calculating Your Caloric & Macronutrient Needs For Lean Bulking
Starting a lean bulking program without knowing the exact amount of calories and macronutrients you need is a recipe for disaster. As someone rightly said, “If you fail to plan, you’re planning to fail.”
If you don’t follow a strict diet, you’ll most likely end up stuffing yourself with empty calories and saturated fats. Ask anyone on a bulking schedule about his exact daily calorie goals and they might tell you that the whole point of a bulking program is to put on size without fussing too much about tracking calories.
Designing Your Diet
The first step in designing the bulking diet is to calculate your BMR. BMR (basal metabolic rate) is the amount of energy required by your body while resting in a temperate environment when the digestive system is inactive. Calculating your BMR is equivalent to figuring out how much gas your idle car consumes while parked.
After calculating BMR, it’s time to compute your TDEE (Total daily energy expenditure) with this formula:
TDEE is the exact number of calories your body needs to maintain itself. In a bulking program, you need to add a surplus to put on some muscle mass. Most people make the mistake of adding too many calories to their diet. In a bulking program, you don’t need more than 200-300 calories to be in a healthy and effective surplus state.
Finding Your Daily Macronutrient Needs
While this might feel a little complicated but learning these steps will put you in total control of your body, and you won’t need a dietician ever again to help with your transformations.
Each macronutrient has a certain amount of calories per gram. While fats contain nine calories per gram, protein and carbs contain four calories per gram each. We won’t get into the roles of each macronutrient as it is out of the scope of the article but each macronutrient is indispensable to the success of your lean bulk.
Starting with Protein
Protein is the muscle’s building block and arguably the most important macronutrient when it comes to gaining muscle size. According to some studies, you need 1 gram of protein per pound of bodyweight to put on muscle mass.
After you calculate your daily required calories using TDEE, you need to gauge your daily protein need. 40:30:30 (carbs: protein: fats) is a dependable macronutrient split for bulking. If your total required calories are 2400kcal, you’ll need 960kcal (2400X40%) coming from protein. You need to be eating 240 grams (960/4) of protein every day to put on muscle mass.
Carbs & Fats Come Second
Calculate your required fats the same way. You’ll need 720 calories (2400X30%) and 80 grams (720/9) of fats. Carbs are calculated by adding the required calories from protein and fats and deducting them from the total amount of required calories.
In this case, you’ll need 720kcal [2400-(960+720)] and 180 grams (720/4) of carbohydrates. The next step would be to use an app like MyFitnessPal to design your meal plan as per your macro goals.
Now that you know this system, you never have to consult a nutritionist for designing a diet plan, your welcome.
Three Main Kinds of Bulks
The Relaxed Bulk
The relaxed bulk is probably the most common type of bulk. It doesn’t require any calorie or macronutrient tracking. You eat the usual food (in higher quantities) and gain a decent amount of muscle mass. People also run the risk of gaining a higher amount of fat in the process.
The Lean Bulk
The lean bulk is what most people want to do but end up doing the relaxed bulk because of a lack of knowledge. It is the structured approach to bulking where you track your calories and macronutrients. In the lean bulk, you gain maximum muscle and minimum fat.
The Maintenance Bulk
Maintenance bulk is very similar to lean bulk. The only difference here is that you won’t be eating the surplus 200-300 calories. Eating right around the maintenance level will in theory only make you gain muscle mass and no fat.
Tracking Your Progress
Tracking progress is one of the most overlooked aspects of lean bulking. You need to know the realistic rate of muscle growth to be able to track and compare your progress. Your bulk progress will depend on your training experience.
Training experience can be categorized in a few different ways, with the most popular one developed by Lyle McDonald. His method is based on years of proper training:
Have you ever tried lean bulking? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
Best Non-Dairy Protein Supplements To Build Muscle (Updated 2021)
These non-dairy, plant-based protein supplements are perfect to build muscle and boost weight loss.
When it comes to a protein supplement we all know we need one, but non-dairy and plant-based products are perfect for that lean protein source while still allowing us to build muscle and promote weight loss. The vegan lifestyle is more popular than ever and that means there are a lot more plant-based supplements on the market.
If you follow the vegan lifestyle then your reasons for avoiding dairy-based whey protein are obvious. But you don’t even have to be vegan to opt for a plant protein. For many people, it’s better on the stomach and ideal for those with dairy sensitivities in general. Now, many people may be skeptical about the completeness of plant-based protein sources. But you can rest assured; the products we’ve chosen contain complete protein sources.
This list of the Best Non-Diary Protein Supplements is perfect for all of your goals, whether it be to build muscle, promote weight loss, or continue to pack on that muscle with lean protein.
Best Non-Dairy Protein Supplements For 2021
Best Non-Dairy Protein Overall: National Bodybuilding Co. Full Prep Vegan Protein
Calories
117
Protein
20.5g
Carbs
2g
Fat
3g
Sugar
0g
Flavors
Chocolate
Number Of Servings
20
National Bodybuilding Co. Full Prep Vegan Protein is a premiere product from a company with a focus for bodybuilders to experience the true power of plant based nutrition while also boosting all of their physique goals. Designed to maximize gains while also reducing body fat, this protein has a high quality formula to reduce bloating and help digestion. A lean and clean protein, this will really work to enhance protein synthesis for optimal muscle building. With 20.5 grams of protein in each serving, this top tier vegan protein is sure to keep you full and seeing great gains with high-quality lean protein.
Pros
100% organic and naturally flavored
Designed for cleaner and faster absorption
From a reputable company who meets all standards
Cons
20 servings is a touch low
Only available directly from their website
Chocolate is the only flavor
Price: $40.00
Click here for the best price
Check out our individual review for National Bodybuilding Co. Full Prep here!
Best Vegan Protein Ingredients: Performance Lab SPORT Protein
Calories
100
Protein
20g
Carbs
2g
Fat
1.2g
Sugar
1g
Flavors
Chocolate
Number Of Servings
20
Performance Lab SPORT Protein comes in as one of the world’s cleanest and most effective protein powders around. Made with organic brown rice protein, it enhances strength, growth, and performance by performing as effective as whey while also being vegan friendly and a great lean protein source. The ultramodern design allows for quality, cleanliness, and taste with no added synthetic processing or flavors. Clinically shown to be as effective as whey, this protein will work to enhance all aspects of your performance while also supporting natural appetite control and weight management. Naturally flavored and sweetened, you can be sure this great tasting protein is only working for your benefit.
Pros
Good, clean formula
Organic and vegan friendly
Great ingredients and benefits
Amazing taste
Cons
Only uses single source protein
Chocolate is the only flavor
Only available directly from their website
Price: $59.00
Click here for the best price
Check out our individual review for Performance Lab SPORT Pre here!
Best For Protein Amount: Transparent Labs ProteinSeries Organic Vegan
Calories
130
Protein
24g
Carbs
3g
Fat
2g
Sugar
2g
Flavors
French Vanilla, Chocolate
Number Of Servings
30
Transparent Labs ProteinSeries Organic Vegan is a 100% vegan and protein free of artificial flavors and sweeteners that is USDA Organic Certified. With a protein base ratio of 2:1 rice to pea protein, this packs a punch with 24 grams of protein that is easy on your digestive system. With 4 grams of fiber per serving, this protein will help you feel full longer for optimal weight control and management. Free of all artificial coloring, additives, and preservatives, this is one vegan protein you can trust from a company who prides themselves on transparent and honest labels. This is great for vegans but also anyone looking to really optimize their overall health with lean protein.
Pros
No artificial ingredients and transparent label
Very low carb and high protein
Easy on your digestive system
Cons
Premium priced option
Only available directly from their website
Price: $49.00
Click here for the best price
Use the promo code GENIRON10 for 10% off! Also, check out our individual review for Transparent Labs ProteinSeries Organic Vegan here!
Best Tasting Vegan Protein: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard 100% Plant-Based Protein
Calories
130
Protein
24g
Carbs
3g
Fat
2g
Sugar
0g
Flavors
Chocolate, Vanilla, Unflavored
Number Of Servings
19
Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Plant Based Protein is a solid protein for immune support and muscle recovery while also aiding in muscle growth. Each serving has 24 grams of protein, 140 calories, 2.5g of fat, 6g of carbs, 2g fiber, and 1g sugar. The protein sources are pea, brown rice, and sacha inchi protein which is a rainforest seed loaded with good protein and amino acids. And there’s a healthy amount of B12 (cell health DNA health), iron (hemoglobin health), and Vitamin C (immune system health and antioxidant). There are no artificial flavors or sweeteners which make this a really great and clean vegan protein.
Pros
Solid ingredients and three lean protein sources
Packed with protein and health benefits
From an honest and transparent company
Cons
Amount per serving does get expensive
Slightly high in carbs
Price: $27.85
Click here for the best price
Best Pure Plant-Based Protein: Staunch Vegan Protein
Calories
130
Protein
24g
Carbs
3g
Fat
2g
Sugar
2g
Flavors
Organic Chocolate, Organic Vanilla
Number Of Servings
30
Staunch Vegan Protein comes from bodybuilder Calum von Moger’s supplement company Staunch which offers this great tasting, quality vegan protein. Offering 24g of protein per scoop, as well as 3g net carbs and 2g of fat, Staunch Vegan Protein is a vegan protein that you’ll want to add to your supplement stack. A mix of rice and pea protein along with natural organic flavors and organic stevia for sweetness. With two great flavors in chocolate and vanilla, this protein has a great profile everyone will love.
Pros
Clean protein and great taste
Good blend of rice and pea protein
Organic sweeteners is a plus
Cons
Price is okay
More flavors would be nice
Price: $39.00
Click here for the best price
Check out our individual review for Staunch Vegan Protein here!
Non-Dairy & Plant-Based Protein Vs. Whey Protein
When it comes to the differences between vegan protein and whey protein, the evidence seems to point to them being fairly equivalent. When it comes to things like changes in body composition, weight loss, muscle growth, and recovery, both proteins seem to get the job done, which is great to hear. Other studies and ideas around these two seem to suggest that while plant-based proteins don’t offer any extra advantages, there are no disadvantages either (1), making this a very solid option for those seeking a non-dairy approach. This means you don’t lose out on any gains simply because you choose a non-whey product.
But one nutrient to be mindful of is B12 which is an essential vitamin for cell and DNA health. Plant-based diets often lack sufficient amounts so B12 fortified products are always recommended. Otherwise, supplementation is important if you cannot get enough through plant sources so that is something to keep in mind.
Benefits Of Non-Dairy Protein Supplements
Like all protein supplements, non-dairy proteins can pack you with all that protein while still giving you some plant-based love. The benefits of these protein supplements can greatly enhance your gains and offer the chance to see progress in your health and fitness journey.
Aid in valuable growth: We all seek that valuable muscle growth so look to non-dairy proteins to still achieve that much desired increase in strength and size.
Enhance recovery: Work to recover and support muscle recovery with fast-acting and effective protein sources to aid in growth and to bounce back faster.
Reduce digestive stress: Protein sources with whey tend to cause digestive stress in those sensitive so eliminate that bloated feeling and work to help yourself.
Promote weight loss: Don’t waste caloric space and work to lose or maintain that weight so your desired physique becomes reality.
Add variety to your diet: Non-dairy alternatives offer great vitamins and minerals to enhance your health and wellness so look to achieve proper nutrient intake with a great plant-based product.
Environmentally friendly: Use less water, fuel, and land than with animal proteins and be more environmentally friendly and ethical.
Key Sources Of Plant-Based Proteins
The many different plant-based sources of protein all have something unique to offer regarding their nutrient profile. We’ve listed the more common protein sources you’ll find in most supplements and all have great potential to build muscle, aid in weight loss, and boost your other top goals with a lean protein source.
Made from yellow peas, this source of protein is one of the more common ones. One study found no statistical difference between pea and whey protein regarding the muscle and strength-building benefits. Therefore, pea is a very viable source of protein, although it contains 8 out of 9 essential amino acids (2). And another study showed a decrease in blood pressure for both rats and humans when taking pea protein supplements (3).
Brown Rice
One study compared rice protein and whey protein by giving 24 young, resistance-trained males 48g of either source for 8 weeks along with a training plan (4). Well, there were no differences whatsoever, and both forms of protein elicited the same results. So, brown rice is a powerful protein source, although, it’s still one amino acid (lysine) short of being complete.
Soy is the most commonly used source of plant-based protein which comes from the soybean. Now, not all plant-based proteins are complete sources. But soy actually contains all nine essential amino acids which are the building blocks of human tissue (5). That’s why many prefer to have a soy source, plus there is also heart health, obesity, and even menopause benefits from consuming soy. Popular soy food items for vegetarians and vegans include tofu and Tempeh but soy is also a viable plant-based meat alternative (6).
Chia seeds are the richest plant source of omega 3 fatty acids which are necessary for heart health and cell membrane health. However, chia seeds contain the plant-based fatty acids linoleic and alpha-linolenic (ALA) which are not sufficient alone. We also need plenty of the fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (7). Chia also has plenty of protein and fiber too, while containing all nine essential amino acids. But research also suggests chia seeds can stave off illness which is enough reason alone to include them in your diet (8).
Other Potential Plant-Based Protein Sources
Hemp: Has moderate levels of protein but is packed with fiber for a real boost to digestive health.
Sunflower Seed: A new form, it has BCAAs to offer the benefits of quality protein and is combined with others to optimize effectiveness.
Pumpkin Seed: High in antioxidants, it also contains good protein and fats with many other essential vitamins and minerals.
Sprouts: Highly nutritious and are popular for their protein content and many essential amino acids.
How We Choose
When it comes to choosing a great non-dairy protein source, we look to many options to really boost your gains. For this list, we sought the best products in a number of categories including quality of the product, reputation of the brand, effectiveness of the ingredients, and the price. Your product and the brand representing it should be a reflection of what you want to put into your body. These companies on this list work hard to produce great products to boost all of your gains. With top tier ingredients that are GMO-free, these powders are effective and will work to boost all areas of your muscle growth, recovery, weight loss needs, and lifestyle changes. We know how expensive a protein supplement can be so we sought to find the best products at the right price. You can still have a top ranked powder without totally breaking the bank.
FAQ Section
What is the best non-dairy protein?
National Bodybuilding Co. Full Prep Vegan Protein. This protein is a premiere product with the true power of plant based nutrition while also boosting all of their physique goals. Designed to maximize gains while also reducing body fat, this protein has a high-quality formula to reduce bloating and help digestion. A lean and clean protein, this will really work to enhance protein synthesis for optimal muscle building so you build muscle effectively.
Are organic protein powders better to use than non-organic?
Like anything, those that are organic don’t use pesticides or anything involved with the actually processing. Organic products may have better nutritional value so it is best to consider that and look for a powder you know is GMO-free and can enhance your goals to build muscle and promote weight loss.
Can I use a vegan protein powder if I’m not vegan?
Plant-based and vegan protein powders can be used by anyone. For those with dairy sensitivities, or for those who just want to avoid dairy, a non-dairy protein is a great option for you to still get all the benefits of a lean protein without the potential stomach problems or discomfort. Plus, added benefits like being GMO-free are great for your overall health.
Will I lose out on gains if I use a plant-based powder over whey?
Plant-based powders tend to have similar traits to those whey products so you will not lose any gains. For those looking to build muscle and aid in those weight loss goals, while also enhancing recovery, you can’t go wrong with a non-dairy and lean protein.
Wrap Up
Non-dairy and plant-based proteins are great sources of lean protein to help build muscle and aid in your weight loss goals. While whey protein tends to be more popular, there are a host of reasons why someone would use a vegan protein as opposed to a whey product. With similar benefits and no real obvious disadvantages, having a non-dairy protein in your diet can add variety and shake things up for the better. Check out a good plant-based protein powder today and see what it can do for all your goals.
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Let us know what you think in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
References
Lynch, Heidi; Johnston, Carol; Wharton, Christopher (December 1, 2018). “Plant-Based Diets: Considerations for Environmental Impact, Protein Quality, and Exercise Performance”. Nutrients. 10 (12). doi:10.3390/nu10121841. ISSN 2072-6643. PMC 6316289. PMID 30513704.
Babault, Nicolas; Païzis, Christos; Deley, Gaëlle; Guérin-Deremaux, Laetitia; Saniez, Marie-Hélène; Lefranc-Millot, Catherine; Allaert, François A. (2015). “Pea proteins oral supplementation promotes muscle thickness gains during resistance training: a double-blind, randomized, Placebo-controlled clinical trial vs. Whey protein”. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 12 (1): 3. doi:10.1186/s12970-014-0064-5. ISSN 1550-2783. PMC 4307635. PMID 25628520.
Li, Huan; Prairie, Natalie; Udenigwe, Chibuike C.; Adebiyi, Abayomi P.; Tappia, Paramjit S.; Aukema, Harold M.; Jones, Peter J. H.; Aluko, Rotimi E. (September 28, 2011). “Blood pressure lowering effect of a pea protein hydrolysate in hypertensive rats and humans”. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 59 (18): 9854–9860. doi:10.1021/jf201911p. ISSN 1520-5118. PMID 21854068.
Joy, Jordan M; Lowery, Ryan P; Wilson, Jacob M; Purpura, Martin; De Souza, Eduardo O; Wilson, Stephanie MC; Kalman, Douglas S; Dudeck, Joshua E; Jäger, Ralf (June 20, 2013). “The effects of 8 weeks of whey or rice protein supplementation on body composition and exercise performance”. Nutrition Journal. 12: 86. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-12-86. ISSN 1475-2891. PMC 3698202. PMID 23782948.
Boston, 677 Huntington Avenue; Ma 02115 +1495‑1000 (August 6, 2018). “Straight Talk About Soy”. The Nutrition Source. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
Montgomery, Kristen S. (2003). “Soy Protein”. The Journal of Perinatal Education. 12 (3): 42–45. doi:10.1624/105812403X106946. ISSN 1058-1243. PMC 1595159. PMID 17273351.
“Essential Fatty Acids”. Linus Pauling Institute. April 28, 2014.
Boston, 677 Huntington Avenue; Ma 02115 +1495‑1000 (March 19, 2018). “Chia Seeds”. The Nutrition Source.
These Are the Right Times To Take Your Supplements
The Right Times To Take Your Supplements
Once you get all the supplements you need, the next question that arises is, what is the right time to take the supplements? Supplements have a tendency of getting better results when taken at specific times during the day.
Each supplement has a time window where your body absorbs and makes the most of it. Following a planned approach towards your supplementation, nutrition and training will get you the best results.
Whey Protein
Whey protein is arguably one of the most popular bodybuilding supplements. Protein is the building block of muscles and helps your muscles grow bigger and stronger. You can’t expect to build muscle mass while being on a protein deficient diet.
While you can take the whey protein supplement at any time throughout the day to meet your daily protein needs, whey protein (especially in its isolated form) is best absorbed by your muscles right after a workout.
Pre-Workout
Pre-workout supplements are self-explanatory. You need to take these supplements 30-45 minutes before your workouts. Some people make the mistake of taking them too close to their workouts and so the supplements end up being ineffective.
Pre-workout supplements these days have a lot of stimulants and ingredients in them. These stimulants can take up to 45 minutes to enter your bloodstream. You’ll only feel the kick of a pre-workout after the stimulants are carried all over your body through blood.
Glutamine
Many people don’t know the uses of glutamine and give up on it too soon. Glutamine is a building block of protein and forms a critical part of the immune system. Glutamine is an α-amino acid which is used in the biosynthesis of proteins.
Some people take glutamine as a pre, post or intra-workout supplement. Glutamine is a great supplement for recovery and is best taken before bed at night. Taking glutamine helps in improving the intestinal system, immune system, muscle mass gaining, and exercise performance.
BCAAs
BCAAs (or Branched Chain Amino Acids) are made up of three essential amino acids: leucine, isoleucine, and valine which are not produced by the body naturally. These amino acids need to be taken as supplements or through food to help in protein synthesis which results in muscle growth.
While you could sip on BCAAs throughout the day, the best time to take them is intra-workout. Taking BCAAs during your workouts will help delay fatigue, reduce muscle soreness, prevent muscle breakdown and eventually result in muscle growth.
Creatine
Creatine is one of the most controversial and researched supplements. Many people falsely believe creatine causes liver and other health-related problems. Creatine has been proven to help build muscle mass and strength without any side-effects.
There are two ways of taking creatine. You could do a loading and maintenance cycle in which you take 20 grams of creatine for 5-7 days and then lower down to a 2-10 gram maintenance dose. In the second method, you could take 5 grams of creatine pre-workout on a regular basis.
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Which supplements do you take? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
Fitness Model Diet: How To Eat To Get Ripped And Shredded
If you ask most people on the street about their opinion on getting shredded and muscular, chances are that their response will something the lines of “go to the gym and workout.” They’d be correct to an extent, but the reality is far more complicated than that. While hitting the gym with a relish and determination is absolutely necessary to building a powerful and impressive physique, working out alone simply isn’t going to cut it. You have to put way more work into it than that.
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Now, we know what you’re thinking. “Working out isn’t enough?! Then how am I supposed to get into the shape that I want?!” Well, there’s a fairly simple answer. Diet. If you want to get into absolutely shredded condition, you need to eat right for the occasion. Many people have this fantasy of looking like a fitness model, but they never understand that getting to the form requires them to push themselves both physically and mentally. Luckily, we’ve got you covered with our own approach to what we call the fitness model diet.
1. The Mentality
You would think a program about a fitness model diet would just be about what you put into your mouth and stomach, but the reality is that diet is more than just thinking about what foods you have to eat. You need to be in a positive mental space to be able to not only start a diet, but adhere to one as well. With dieting you want look at things from a different perspective.
This is not something you’ll just be doing for a certain period of time, but rather something thing that you want to stick to. Think of a diet as a lifestyle and sticking to a program will be far simpler. So put down that Big Mac and get your mind right. If you want to look good, you have to be mentally want it.
2. Understanding Macros
Carbs, fats, and proteins. These macronutrients are important to ensuring that you make the gains you need and lose fat to reveal the muscle underneath. Carbs and fats are primary energy sources while protein is your muscle building or muscle maintenance nutrient. Having your macronutrients balanced is absolutely paramount to attaining the body your want. You want to eat the proper percentage of carbs, fats, and proteins to give your body the best chance at body recomposition.
3. Methods
A fitness model diet is very much like a bodybuilding diet. Everyone of you out there has to realize that you’re all different and foods are going to effect you differently. For some people carbs can cause them to hold onto way too much water. Others eat carbs and simply get an energy boost from the macronutrient. That’s why following a classic program may not work for some, but may work for others.
The classic approach would be to get 40-50% of your calories from carbs, 25-30% of your calories from fats, and another 25-30% of your calories from protein. Obviously this means keeping your sodium and sugar intake at a reasonable number, avoiding saturated fats, and eating an overall clean diet. But for some individuals this classic approach will do little to effect their body recomposition.
Another great approach is the keto or ketogenic diet. This diet is a bit more strict and could be more difficult for those who are in love with carbs, which, let’s face it, who isn’t? The idea is to consume a higher amount of good fats like avocado and nuts, a moderate amount of lean protein like chicken, fish, and lean steak, and a lower amount of carbs, no more than 30 grams in fact.
This will put your body in a fat burning mode or ketosis where your primary energy source is coming from fats. After following this keto diet for most of the week, allow yourself one refeed day where you consume a higher amount of carbs, just be sure not to binge on too many unhealthy options. Remember, the goal at the end of the day is to get absolutely shredded.
4. The Supplements
These supplements will give you an edge when it comes to getting your physique lean and stage ready. Offering a boost to metabolic rate, decreased appetite to make that calorie deficit more comfortable and even some recovery and energy benefits for your athletic performance.
5. The Diet
So finally the coup de grâce, the foods you should be eating to get you in prime condition. This fitness model diet isn’t something you necessarily need to stick to, this is just an example of the foods you can eat that can be beneficial to your gains. Remember, there tons of great food options out there for you, this is just an example for you to start with.
Classic Style: This is all about balance. Don’t be afraid to mix and match with this approach, but be sure to avoid too many carbs at night before bed.
Breakfast: Oatmeal, side of bacon, black coffee
Lunch: Sweet Potatoes, chicken breast, salad with olive oil (for dressing)
Dinner: Salad, chicken breast and rice
Keto/Low Carb Style: This is a low carb alternative to the classic approach. Be sure to aim for higher, good quality fat content with moderate protein.
Breakfast: Bacon (pork or turkey) and eggs
Lunch: Steak, chicken or turkey with avocado, and asparagus
Dinner: Salmon in pesto sauce
Remember, think of this is just a starter kit. Get creative with your macronutrient intake and be sure to continue to research other great recipes. Jump start your fitness goals by following this simple plan, then begin to explore.
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What do you think of this fitness model diet? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.
The 4-Step Process For Treating Common Gym Injuries
How to Treat Common Gym InjuriesA tweak here and there in the gym is common amongst regular gym-goers or newbies. The human body is fragile and gym injuries are bound to happen at some point or another. Sometimes this may prevent you from pushing yourself to your fullest capability, or you’re afraid if you injure yourself you’ll lose all your progress.
Don’t panic though! There’s a healing methodology that is effective in treating minor gym-related injuries to get you back to hitting personal records (PRs) and coming one step closer to your dream physique.
If you’ve recently had a tweak, sprain, or strain in the gym or want to know what to do in case that happens, below covers the acronym, RICE (rest, ice compression, elevation), which is used to treat various injuries.
R.I.C.E.
R.I.C.E. is a common methodology used for treating diverse sprains and strains. It stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Below, you’ll learn how to follow each approach to get you back to hitting PRs.
Rest
As it sounds, the first step in the RICE process to begin the healing of your injury is to rest your injured area. To do this, simply avoid using the muscle that you injured at all costs. In general, you’ll want to rest your entire body as well to speed up the healing process. Make sure you don’t put any weight on your injury.
Resting your injured area is especially vital during the first two days after the injury. Any activity, especially to the injured muscle, can delay your body’s ability to heal it, or worse, exacerbate it. So if there’s ever a time to take a rest day, now’s the time if you’ve injured yourself!
Ice
For the first 24-48 hours after you’ve injured yourself, you’ll want to ice the injured area for 10-20 minutes every couple of hours. This will reduce pain and swelling by allowing more blood flow to the injured area. (1)
To do this, apply an ice pack covered in a towel (to reduce frostbite and irritating your skin).
*Tip: if you don’t have an ice pack use a frozen bag of vegetables. These easily form into the shape of your muscle to fully ice your injured area. After about 48 hours, you can begin alternating icing and heating your injured area.
Compression
Compressing your injured area is important to prevent swelling. You’ll use an elastic bandage to wrap around your injury. You want the compression to be tight enough to be effective but not tight enough that it interrupts blood flow. If you feel any numbness, tingling, or your skin turns blue or feels cold, that means the bandage is too tight, and you’ll need to loosen it.
Elevation
The final step in the RICE method of treating injuries is to elevate your injured area above your heart rate. This will help you reduce any pain, throbbing, and swelling. For example, if you have a sprained ankle, you’ll lie supine (on your back) on a couch, and prop your ankle and leg comfortably on a pillow at an incline.
*Tip: Taking a pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Ibuprofen, e.g. Advil) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (Naproxen, e.g. Naprosyn) can help reduce pain as well until your injury is fully recovered.
Common Gym-Related Injuries
When you’re in the gym, there are certain injuries that are common to happen likely at least some point in your weightlifting career. You’re only human after all. Below, is a list of common gym-related injuries.
Muscle sprain – pecs, lats, quads, hamstrings
Sprained ankle
Shoulder injury
Knee injuries
Shin splint
Tendinitis
Wrist pain or dislocation
When Can You Use the RICE Method?
Anytime you have a soft tissue injury, such as an injury to your muscle, tendon, or ligament, you’ll practice RICE.
Soft tissue injuries are musculoskeletal injuries, including sprains, strains, and contusions (bruises) which RICE has been shown to be very effective for. However, if you’ve broken a bone or have a serious injury, you’ll need to see a doctor since often medication, surgery, or physical therapy may be required.
How Long Does an Injury Take to Heal?
Depending on the injury will determine how long injuries take to heal; some muscles will take longer to heal than others. A minor sprain or strain can feel almost fully healed after two weeks, however, you may want to avoid running or strenuous activities for up to 8 weeks to decrease your chances of further damaging the injury.
Below, you’ll find a general timeline of common gym injuries to follow to determine how long each injury may take to heal.
Moderate ankle sprains – 3-4 weeks
Severe ankle sprains – 3-6 months
Wrist sprain – 2-10 weeks
Mild muscle strain – 3-6 weeks
Severe muscle strain – several months
Mild hamstring strain – 3-8 weeks
Severe hamstring strain – 3 months
Mild pulled chest muscle (strain) – 2-3 weeks
Severe chest muscle tear (strain) – several months
In general, sprains will take longer to heal than strains since sprains are injuries to your ligaments. Although there is no exact amount of time it will take for each injury to heal since each injury is different and everyone’s body differs.
What Causes Sprains and Strains?
Sprains happen when you overextend or tear a ligament while severely stressing a joint. For example, if you’re doing dumbbell jumping squats and land awkwardly.
Strains occur when you suddenly or unexpectedly tear your muscle from injuries or trauma, including not warming up before physical activity, poor flexibility, and overtraining. For example, if you’re doing barbell bench press and used the most weight you’re capable of using without a proper warm-up. Chronic strains can also occur from repetitive movements, such as rowing, tennis, and golf.
Preventing Injury
Light Cardio
Now, even though getting injured in the gym is common, you can take preventative measures to reduce your risk of getting injured. For one, partaking in a proper warm-up will drastically reduce your chances of getting injured. Warming up your muscle’s body temperature primes them for the workout, meaning an increased workout performance because if your muscles temperature is increased, the less likely you are to get injured. That’s why you see athletes warm up before playing their sport.
The best way to increase your body temperature before working out in the gym is to hop on the treadmill, elliptical machine, or recumbent bike for 5-10 minutes. You’ll keep the intensity low. Don’t go overboard on trying to get a cardio workout in, or you’ll just decrease your workout performance for your actual workout.
Warm-up Sets
Secondly, getting a couple of warm-up sets on the first exercise of the muscle group you’re working with will prevent injury as well. That’s because you’ll be warming up your muscles for the movement and the rest of the workout you’re doing. This will also allow you to use heavier weight during your “real” sets since you’re prepping your body for the movements. (2)
Making sure you’re hydrated is also important to prevent injury in the gym or while playing a sport. So make sure you’re drinking plenty of water and getting in electrolytes. (3)
Cooling Down
Allowing your body to cool down after working out is imperative to return to homeostasis. This will ensure you don’t have illnesses or faint when you’re ready to carry on with your day.
Stretching
Stretching will increase your range of motion (ROM), which will decrease your chances of injury since you’ll be more mobile for exercises. The ideal time to static stretch — holding a stretch for a period — is after a workout and cooling down though. Plus, it’s best to stretch your muscles after working since your muscles will be more elastic.
Stretch for at least 5 minutes and hold each stretch for 20-30 seconds for the best results.
Conclusion
Getting injured in the gym is common amongst all levels. Whether you’re an advanced athlete or a newbie, injuries can happen to all of us. If you have a minor sprain or strain, which are fairly common when working out, following the RICE injury treatment method may help you recover faster, reduce your chances of exacerbating your injury, and reduce pain.
Have you ever injured yourself in the gym before? If so, let us know what happened and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
References
1 – Mac Auley D. C. (2001). Ice therapy: how good is the evidence?. International journal of sports medicine, 22(5), 379–384. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2001-15656
2 – Fradkin, Andrea J1; Zazryn, Tsharni R2; Smoliga, James M3 Effects of Warming-up on Physical Performance: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research: January 2010 – Volume 24 – Issue 1 – p 140-148 doi: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181c643a0
3 – Von Duvillard, S. P., Braun, W. A., Markofski, M., Beneke, R., & Leithäuser, R. (2004). Fluids and hydration in prolonged endurance performance. Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.), 20(7-8), 651–656. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2004.04.011
World’s Strongest Man 2021 Day Three Results & Recap
A complete breakdown of the World’s Strongest Man 2021 Day Three Qualifier
After day two of the World’s Strongest Man 2021 Brian Shaw maintained his lead. Shaw dominated Fingal’s Fingers which pushed him further ahead of the competition. Today saw the final round of qualification rounds and the selection of the finalists moving onto the final two days of the competition. WSM 2021 runs from June 15-20th in Sacramento, California.
With Friday being an off day before the finals, only 10 athletes will move into the weekend finals. Day Three of the World’s Strongest Man 2021 was made up of two events – the Overhead Medley and the Pickaxe Hold. In addition to these two events – second and third place athletes in each group moved onto a face off in the Atlas Stone Off.
To move onto the finals, the top scoring athlete in each group would move into the next round. Those who won the Atlas Stone Off also earned qualification into the two day finals set for this weekend.
What started as a group of 25 strongman athletes dwindled even before the final qualification for finals. Graham Hicks dropped out before the World’s Strongest Man even began and was replaced by Ervin Toots. Shortly after the events began, Luke Richardson and Terry Hollands suffered injuries and had to withdraw. Finally, on Day Two, Chris van der Linde also dropped out.
Qualifying Round — Day Three
Overhead Medley
Pickaxe Hold
Atlas Stone Off
2021 World’s Strongest Man Finalists
Brian Shaw
Trey Mitchell
JF Caron
Konstantine Janashia
Bobby Thompson
With day three of the event coming to a close, here are the results and current standings.
WSM 2021 Leaderboard
*Note: official results are still pending as the train pull event is still in progress.
Rank
Name
Points
Group 1
1
Brian Shaw
19.5
2
Maxime Boudreault
17
3
Aivars Smaukstelis
16.5
4
Gavin Bilton
12
5
Travis Ortmayer
10
Group 2
1
Trey Mitchell
19
2
Tom Stoltman
18
3
Mark Felix
14
4
Evan Singleton
13
5
Johnny Hansson
11
Group 3
1
JF Caron
17
2
Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted
17
3
Robert Oberst
16
4
Mikhail Shivlyakov
1
5
Luke Richardson
2 (withdrew)
Group 4
1
Konstantine Janashia
20
2
Adam Bishop
18
3
Jerry Pritchett
15
4
Chris van der Linde
7 (withdrew)
5
Terry Hollands
3 (withdrew)
Group 5
1
Bobby Thompson
18
2
Luke Stoltman
15
3
Oleksii Novikov
15
4
Kevin Faires
13
5
Ervin Toots
4
WSM 2021 Day Three Qualifier Results
Overhead Medley
Strongman athletes needed to overhead press a 210 pound dumbbell, 220 pound dumbell, 342 pound circus barbell, and a 260 pound axle barbell. The athletes were scored for time.
Group One
Brian Shaw – 4 in 0:34:72
Maxime Boudreault – 4 in 0:37:19
Gavin Bilton – 4 in 0:49:84
Aivars Smaukstelis – 3 in 0:19:87
Travis Ortmayer – 1 in 0:06:90
Group Two
Trey Mitchell – 4 in 0:29:77
Evan Singleton – 4 in 0:32:08
Tom Stoltman – 4 in 0:38:02
Johnny Hansson – 3 in 0:29:02
Mark Felix – 1 in 0:06:42
Group Three
JF Caron – 4 in 0:33:72
Mikhail Shivlyakov – 4 in 0:38:18
Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted – 4 in 0:39:77
Robert Oberst – 4 in 0:52:25
Luke Richardson – withdrew
Group Four
Adam Bishop – 3 in 0:27:74
Konstantine Janashia – 3 in 0:48:42
Jerry Pritchett – on in 1:15:00
Terry Hollands – withdrew
Chris Van Der Linde – withdrew
Group Five
Oleksii Novikov – 4 in 0:24:83
Luke Stoltman – 4 in 0:25:63
Kevin Faires – 4 in 0:29:23
Bobby Thompson – 4 in 0:43:43
Ervin Toots – 2 in 0:21:88
Pickaxe Hold
Back for the first time since 1992, strongman athletes had to hold a large pickaxe with both hands, arms straight out and fully extended for as long as possible. The pickaxe weighed approx. 60 pounds. Athletse were scored for time.
This even is currently still in progress. Some points have been reported but final times have not yet been revealed.
Group One
Aivars Smaukstelis – 5 points
Gavin Bilton – 4 points
Maxime Boudreault – 3 points
Travis Ortmayer – 2 points
Brian Shaw –
Group Two
Trey Mitchell – 5 points
Mark Felix – 4 points
Tom Stoltman – 3 points
Evan Singleton – 2 points
Johnny Hansson – 1 point
Group Three
Robert Oberst – 5 points
JF Caron –
Mikhail Shivlyakov –
Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted –
Luke Richardson – withdrew
Group Four
Jerry Pritchett – 5 points
Adam Bishop – 4 points
Konstantine Janashia – 3 points
Terry Hollands – withdrew
Chris Van Der Linde – withdrew
Group Five
Bobby Thompson – 5 points
Kevin Faires –
Luke Stoltman –
Oleksii Novikov –
Ervin Toots –
Atlas Stone Off
Strongman athletes who ranked second and third place in the previous two events of the day moved on to the Atlas Stone Off. This determined the final qualified athletes that would move on to the two day finals.
Facing each other, just inches apart, the strongman athletes must lift six atlas stones ranging from 310-465 pounds over a series of four foot bars until one athlete fails to clear a stone.
This event is currently in progress and will be updated as soon as points are announced.
Group One
Maxime Boudreault
Aivars Smaukstelis
Group Two
Tom Stoltman
Mark Felix
Group Three
Eythor Ingolfsson Melsted
Robert Oberst
Group Four
Adam Bishop
Jerry Pritchett
Group Five
Luke Stoltman
Kevin Faires
More to come for 2021 The World’s Strongest Man
Now that the qualifiers are complete, all that is left are the two-day finals. We can expect a lot more exciting events to take place.
Day 4 (Finals Day 1) – Finals Day 1: Saturday, June 19th
GIANT’S MEDLEY
TITAN’S TURNTABLE
REIGN KEG TOSS
Day 4 (Finals Day 2) – Finals Day 2: Sunday, June 20th
LOG LIFT
KNAACK DEADLIFT
ATLAS STONES
2021 SBD WSM AWARDS
Full WSM 2021 Coverage Recap
Below are the previous days of results, coverage, and recaps from the World’s Strongest Man 2021.
Continue to tune in to our coverage of the 2021 World’s Strongest Man event for more updates. For more news, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
*Photo credit: Joe Martinez / World’s Strongest Man
Danny Hester: Chris Hemsworth Can’t Use Muscle As An Excuse For Lack Of Acting Respect
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Danny Hester reacts to Chris Hemsworth’s statements of not being taken seriously as an actor due to his muscular physique.
Last month, Chris Hemsworth went on the record stating that he was taken less seriously as an actor due to his impressive physique. Of course, there’s no doubt that Hemsworth is beloved across the world due to his Hollywood roles – it seems here he is talking about more diverse and in-depth acting beyond Hollywood action roles. He feels typecast as the muscular action hero. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, pro bodybuilder and celebrity trainer Danny Hester reacts to Chris Hemsworth’s statements.
Danny Hester is not just an Olympia champion pro bodybuilder, he has also trained a select group of celebrities for their roles in major movies. He’s trained Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler among other notable names. So we thought he was the perfect person to ask about the recent statements made by Chris Hemsworth.
Chris Hemsworth went on record to claim that he is being typecast. He’s only seen as a muscular action hero for Hollywood and isn’t offered more meaty acting roles. While being typecast is certainly something that has happened to actors throughout the history of movies – is it the muscle to blame? Or more so the actual risks the actor is willing to take?
Danny Hester believes that Chris Hemsworth’s statements are simply an excuse. This isn’t to say that Hester believes Hemsworth to be a poor actor. Far from it. He simply believes that Hemsworth made his career path choices. He focused on action films first and hoped that it could be a platform to eventually get into more diverse roles. If that’s not happening now – it’s not the muscular physique to blame. It’s his career path and acting roles he took.
Danny Hester points towards Sylvester Stallone. He has been nominated for multiple Oscars among other awards. Yet in the pop culture space – he is known less as an amazing actor and more for his action films and muscular physique. Despite this – he has earned accolades and nominations for prestigious awards. To Danny Hester, this is proof that the movie industry will recognize talent despite stereotypes.
Danny Hester also pulls from his personal experience training celebrities. He recalls training Mickey Rourke before his career was revived by his role in The Wrestler. Rourke was building up muscle and his manager was worried. The reason? His manager thought that if Rourke kept getting larger and more muscular that he would have even more against him for being cast in serious roles.
Danny Hester pushed back and stated to Rourke’s manager that his obsession with fitness is saving his life from other vices. Over a year later, Mickey Rourke got cast in The Wrestler. While not simply due to his new muscular physique – it helped. He was able to act seriously and fulfill the role required for the store. The movie ultimately won Rourke some major awards and put himself back on the map.
Ultimately, Danny Hester points out that luck and timing have a lot to do with success in the film industry. He thinks that one single thing – like being too muscular – cannot be the sole excuse for failure. Hester thinks that Chris Hemsworth still has an entire future ahead of him to obtain more diverse and deeper roles. Perhaps the timing just hasn’t been right yet. Either way, Danny Hester refuses to believes it’s because of his physique.
You can watch Danny Hester’s full comments on Chris Hemsworth and muscle in Hollywood in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.