Tag: All GI Exclusives
Matt Jansen: The Real Way To Burn Stubborn Fat Areas Without Ruining Strong Points
Matt Jansen shares the brutally honest truth behind the myth of spot reducing stubborn fat areas.
Losing weight can be hard. It can become especially hard when you’re trying to build up muscle and maintain a sculpted physique at the same time. Each body is different. We are all familiar with having trouble areas. Spots on the body that carry more weight than the rest. How do you spot reduce those fatty areas without burning too deep into your muscle tissue? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, trainer Matt Jansen debunks the myth of spot reducing stubborn fat and how to really bring in trouble areas.
You’ve likely seen headlines and ads online all the time that claim to provide the secret to spot reducing stubborn fatty areas on your body. Whether it is a supplement promising a cure or simply a certain workout – the myth of spot reducing fat has persisted for decades.
Unfortunately, here’s the real truth. There is no way to spot reduct stubborn fat areas. It is physically impossible to target certain points of the body to burn stubborn fat. Crunches do not burn more fat in your stomach. Specific diets cannot hold the secret to burning fat in problem areas.
The general truth is this – when you burn more calories than you consume, you will lose fat. Since every body is different genetically – some areas might take longer to lose fat than others. But if you stay persistent, it will all drop off eventually.
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Check out our GI Exclusive with bodybuilding coach Matt Jansen above!
When it comes to bodybuilding, however, this poses an interesting challenge. What happens if a bodybuilder has strong areas of their physique but carry extra fat in other specific problem areas? How do you burn stubborn fat without diminishing the hard earned muscle and taper?
We asked Matt Jansen this very question during our video interview. As we mentioned, he makes it very clear that you cannot target fat loss in certain areas. So if an athlete has a problem area, Jansen’s tactic is to plan a longer period of dieting leading up to a competition.
As Matt Jansen explains it, if a bodybuilder doesn’t carry fat evenly, then it’s a delicate balancing act to burn off fat in the problem areas and keep strong areas on point. This balancing act will be trial and error. That’s why a bodybuilder should plan a more extended time than usual during contest prep dieting.
This additional time allots for the athlete to cut fat from the problem areas and also then work on fixing any strong areas that might have been diminished through the fat loss diet plan. It’s almost like balancing a scale. You fall too much to one side, so now you put more weight on the other. Then it teeters too far to the other side, so you keep balancing until it evens out perfect.
Unfortunately, this simply requires more time and effort to accomplish. That’s the rub when it comes to having “less ideal” genetics. More work, consistency, and time need to be put in to perfect the athlete’s physique.
You can watch Matt Jansen talk in more detail about burning stubborn body fat in our latest GI Exclusive interview above!
The Reason Kevin Levrone Drank Jack & Coke And Improvised Posing Routines At Shows
Kevin Levrone describes his unusual tactic for “feeling the mood” just moments before competing on stage.
Kevin Levrone is known for being one of the best bodybuilders of the 90s and perhaps even of all time. Beyond his impressive physique, part of his fame came from his stellar posing routines. Bodybuilders traditionally practice their posing routine for weeks on end. But Levrone would completely improvise his posing. He didn’t even pick his music until just minutes before stepping on stage.
That tactic might seem reckless. But Kevin Levrone put extreme importance on “feeling the mood” of the audience and the venue location. Syncing in to that mood would help him elevate his posing routine. It’s likely part of what made him so legendary to this day. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Kevin Levrone goes into detail about his last minute posing routines and his tactics for connecting with the audience.
During our video conversation with Kevin Levrone, we touched briefly on the topic of alcohol and bodybuilding. Can a bodybuilder drink alcohol and be successful on a pro level? This question quickly spiraled into an interesting discussion about Levrone’s posing routines and his tactics on the night of a competition.
Kevin Levrone admits that he never prepared his posing routines in advance. In fact, he would bring multiple tapes of music and not submit them until just moments before he stepped on stage. The reason? He wanted to “feel the mood” of the audience and the venue location.
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Check out our latest GI Exclusive with Kevin Levrone above!
This is where the alcohol comes in. By no means did Kevin Levrone drink alcohol as part of his regular bodybuilding diet. But on the night of a show, he would make himself a Jack and Coke backstage. Levrone states that this was simply to help loosen him up. This, in turn, would help him feel out the vibe being emitted from the audience.
Kevin Levrone believes that every single competition venue has a different atmosphere and feeling. Vegas is different than New York. New York is different than a competition in Europe. Each night is different due to the energy of the audience. Levrone wanted to tap into that energy so he could be fully in-sync with the judges and the crowd.
So Kevin Levrone would make himself a Jack and Coke, relax, and feel the vibe. He would bring multiple tapes of music and then decide his song last minute based on that vibe. This would often get him in trouble and even fined for submitting his music so late. But to Levrone, this was a small price to pay to elevate his routine to the next level.
This tactic is quite different than the usual messaging you receive from pro bodybuilders. Posing is certainly important. It can create an illusion through angles and flexing that makes your physique look even more impressive that it really is. This vital when being judged.
Due to this, many pro bodybuilders stress the importance of consistent training and practicing of posing routines before a show. While Kevin Levrone most likely still practiced his mandatory poses – his improvised posing routines seemed to give him an edge. Living in the moment helped showcases his physique more than prepping in advance and getting too stuck in his head.
Of course, that’s simply what worked for Levrone. It’s part of what makes him a rare and legendary athlete in the sport. It’s not a tactic that might work for everyone. It might not even work for most.
You can watch Kevin Levrone go into full detail about his competition tactics in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Brad Castleberry Explains: Is 24 Hour Intermittent Fasting The Key To A Shredded Physique?
Brad Castleberry explains how 24 hour intermittent fasting can be an extra tool to create a lean and conditioned physique.
Brad Castleberry has his fair share of controversies but one thing that can’t be denied is his fantastic and consistently lean physique. He’s the kind of bodybuilder that maintains great conditioning all year. This can be a true challenge given the twists and turns life throws our way every single day. So how does he do it? We asked Castleberry that very question. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Brad Castleberry details his tactics, including intermittent fasting, for maintaining a shredded physique year round.
Brad Castleberry is the kind of bodybuilder who can throw off his shirt any day of the week at any point of the year and look shredded. While genetics play a big part of that ability – Castleberry doesn’t want to be written off just for good genetics alone. The truth is that maintaining a consistent conditioned physique takes a lot of work. The kind of work you can never take a break from.
In our new video conversation with Brad Castleberry, we asked him how he stays shredded all year round. He explained that it’s all in the diet. Most importantly, it’s about being extremely strict in your diet every single day, 365 days a year. That’s the part that’s a challenge for almost everyone. There’s no days off. There’s no breaks. There’s no turning on and off the diet. If you want to look like Castleberry throughout the year – you need to work throughout the year.
Of course, this isn’t the answer people want to hear. They want to know tips and tricks to make that hard work easier. Or how to optimize their diet habits to make the goal more obtainable. For Brad, his key additional tactic is 24 hour intermittent fasting.
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Check out our latest GI Exclusive with Brad Castleberry above!
Brad Castleberry details how he fasts for a full 24 hours one day per week. Absolutely no food or carb filled drinks for a full day. He swears by it and he claims it’s a helpful tool to bringing in your physique to truly shredded levels. Though he does warn that this is just a cherry on top. It’s not the end-all be-all way to become shredded. If you’re eating like a slob but intermittent fasting – it won’t work.
Beyond helping his physique – Castleberry also shares the benefits of doing a full 24 hour fast once per week. He claims that it actually helps your energy levels rather than depletes them. Many people think that fasting will make you drained and tired. But the opposite is true if you do it intermittently. It detoxes your system and the hunger can help keep you focused. That focused energy can help you stay on track with your goals. This includes eating healthy and keeping your strict diet the rest of the week.
While this advice is purely anecdotal, it’s no secret that intermittent fasting has been proven to help with weight loss (if paired with a healthy diet). Fasting for a full 24 hours is not the only way to intermittently fast. You can also fast for 16 hours and eat within an eight hour window every single day. There are a variety of intermittent fasting tactics available. They all work. For Castleberry, going all in on a 24 hour fast works best for his lifestyle.
If you’re the kind of person who already eats well but has trouble getting your physique to that next level of shred. Consider intermittent fasting as a helping hand to your routine. It might just be the edge you need to become a lean mean bodybuilding machine. Just don’t use it as an excuse to scarf down an extra cheat meal after you fast.
You can watch Brad Castleberry breakdown his full tactic for staying as lean as possible all year in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
‘Strength Wars: The Movie’ Clip – Anabolic Horse Vs Terron Beckham
Strength Wars: The Movie – A neck and neck battle between two vastly different athletes.
Strength Wars: The Movie is officially available on digital. You can order the film today right here. In this clip, Anabolic Horse battles against football athlete Terron Beckham. Both athletes vary widely in training discipline but the competition is close as these two swing back and forth for victory.
Strength Wars: The Movie released on April 16, 2020 and quickly became one of the top sports films on digital in the United States. That’s thanks in large part to the elite cast of athletes who agreed to compete in one of the most grueling strength competitions currently in action.
You can currently watch the film on all major digital platforms. But if you haven’t had a chance to see the film – we have a brand new exclusive clip to give you a look at just how intense the battles become.
In this clip, Strength Wars veteran Anabolic Horse squares off against Terron Beckham. Anabolic Horse describes himself as a powerbuilder while Beckham is a former football player and still maintains that style of training. Looking at both of their physiques and training disciplines – the two couldn’t be farther apart. But both are masters in their respective field.
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Check out Anabolic Horse vs Terron Beckham in this Strength Wars: The Movie clip above!
This is exactly where the excitement of Strength Wars comes into play. Two totally different training methods battling in a course designed to put them both to the test. Which will win out in the end? Powerbuilding or Football athletics? We won’t ruin that here – you’ll have to watch the movie for that.
But what you can see is that the battle is truly neck and neck. This clip showcases only one section of the course – but the two swerve back and forth for the lead. With each passing rep and each new section of the course – endurance fads. Who will outlast the other for ultimate victory?
More About Strength Wars: The Movie
Introduced in 2012, Strength Wars pits two muscle and strength athletes from different sports such as Bodybuilding, Powerlifting, Strongman, and Cross Fit against each other, by competing in a collection of strength exercises to determine an ultimate winner. Now in 2020, Strength Wars gets the feature film treatment with the biggest strength tournament in the competition’s history.
Welcome to Strength Wars: The Movie.
Directed by Vlad Yudin (Generation Iron series, The Hurt Business, Dorian Yates The Original Mass Monster) and produced by Edwin Mejia Jr., the film will feature an all-star cast including Larry Wheels, Anabolic Horse, Terron Beckham, Jerry Pritchett, Blaine Sumner, Big Neechi, Leonidas Arkona, and NDO Champ. The film will increase the stakes, transforming the 2v2 battles into an eight person tournament where only one can stand tall as champion. The film will also dive deep into the lives of each competitor across the globe as they train and prepare for the Strength Wars tournament.
Strength Wars: The Movie is available now on digital. You click here or the banner below to order today.
Melle Mel: “Frank Zane Is Hands Down The Best Bodybuilder Ever”
Melle Mel explains why he thinks Frank Zane stands tall as the greatest bodybuilder of all time.
During our Generation Iron interviews, we always make sure to ask who the top five bodybuilders are of all time. Each person has a different list that reveals something about how they view bodybuilding. This held true for rapper and bodybuilding aficionado, Melle Mel. He not only picked a diverse top five – he placed a wild card for the very top of his list. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Melle Mel details why he believes Frank Zane is the greatest bodybuilder ever – even above the likes of Ronnie Coleman.
Frank Zane is truly a legendary athlete. This much is known throughout the bodybuilding community. But if you were to start discussing the greatest bodybuilder of all time, Zane might not be at the very top of the list. That is usually reserved for the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Ronnie Coleman, or Lee Haney among perhaps a few others.
Melle Mel thinks it’s time for Frank Zane to get his due. Again, there is no one who undervalues Zane as a whole. He has gone down in history as a true legend in the sport. But for Melle Mel – that’s not enough. Zane should be noted as the single greatest bodybuilder of all time.
Of course, this comes back down to the debate of size versus aesthetic. Bodybuilders like Dorian Yates and Ronnie Coleman changed the game. The limits were pushed into inhuman levels and created the term mass monster. Ever since then, the broader and heavier look has reigned supreme.
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Check out our latest GI Exclusive with Melle Mel above!
For Melle Mel, Frank Zane represents a perfect physique before the world turned towards mass monsters. His aesthetic, conditioning, and size all came together into something perfect. More reminiscent to a Roman statue than The Hulk. It showcased a true mastery of bodybuilding without the bigger health risks.
Melle Mel believes that health should still be more of a consideration in pro bodybuilding. He prefers classic physiques of yesteryear because they still mastered muscle without taking it to extremely unhealthy places. It’s an opinion that he shares with a sub category of fans. Their outcry eventually led to the creation of the Classic Physique division.
Melle Mel even draws direct comparisons to Ronnie Coleman. Typically, Coleman is placed as a contender for the greatest bodybuilder of all time. Melle Mel thinks this is misplaced. Coleman certainly is one of the greatest but the sacrifice he paid for that physique promotes unhealthy choices. To Melle Mel, that’s not what bodybuilding should be about.
“Everybody loves Ronnie Coleman. He’s a great guy. I met him, I love him,” Melle Mel states in our interview. He continues:
“The difference between him and Frank Zane is like… I could look like Frank Zane… But you’re never going to look like Ronnie. And if you do there’s a price to be paid to look like Ronnie. And he’s paying the price and he’s a great man because he don’t shy away from it… but there’s a price to be paid because to look like Ronnie Coleman you will pay the price.”
You can watch Melle Mel list off his top five bodybuilders of all time and go more in-depth on Frank Zane by checking out our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Jose Raymond Breaks Down His Bodybuilding Comeback Training Routine
Jose Raymond shares insight into his comeback training claiming it’s the first offseason he’s ever had in his life.
In our previous interview segment, Jose Raymond confirmed that he’s planning on making a comeback to Men’s 212 bodybuilding. Or at least, he’s training to compete again to see how his body reacts. If he’s happy with the results, he will pick a show to compete in and re-ignite his journey. But after many years away from tried and true contest prep, what is Jose’s tactic to get back on the saddle? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Jose Raymond breaks down his bodybuilding comeback training routine.
Jose Raymond had a series of unfortunate situations that prevented him from competing over the past few years. But after full recovering from surgery, he’s ready to jump back into action and return to a competitive level of training. During our recent video conversation, we asked him to share what that comeback training looks like and how it differs from his past tactics.
“This is the most different I’ve ever been in my life”
Right off the bat, Jose Raymond makes a point to say that this training process is different than he’s ever experienced before. More specifically, he claims it is the first true off season he’s ever had in his life. Throughout his career, he’s always competed in so many shows – that he never had time for a real off season. He always had to stay in a contest prep level of conditioning due to a competition right around the corner.
So perhaps for the first time since he originally started bodybuilding, he is going into a true offseason bulk phase. Meaning that he can focus purely on building size without worrying about strict conditioning.
In terms of diet, Jose Raymond is currently eating 100 grams of carbs per day. He’s not the kind of bodybuilder to eat sloppy – but he’s also using this opportunity to really focus on building size and worrying less about conditioning at this moment. That means allowing for more heavy foods and carbs in his diet.
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Check out our latest GI Exclusive with Jose Raymond above!
Lower weight with high volume… with a few exceptions
Jose Raymond also dives into his training regimen. He’s doing very little cardio. This is again because he’s focusing on building mass at the moment. He does about 30 minutes of cardio, very light, on a treadmill or stepmill.
Being a bit older and wanting to prevent injury, Jose Raymond is focusing less on heavy weight and more on high volume. In a traditional set he aims for approximately 12, 15, or 18 reps. Though he admits sometimes he will feel energized and try and go all out with some truly heavy weight.
He also does, in a sense, drop sets. Thought perhaps not as strict as a traditional drop set would be. After he gets to a point with his high volume sets where he can only do six to eight reps. He will do one extra set. He lowers the weight and tries to do as many reps as possible. Sometimes reaching up to 20 or 22 reps. This is to make sure that he’s truly exhausted the muscle.
Wrap Up
Ultimately, Jose Raymond is excited to be able to focus on building as much size as possible. He’ll see how his body reacts. And then will evaluate his options and decide what show he wants to compete in. Once he decides that, of course, real contest prep begins. He’ll go back to what he knew for most of his career – focusing on conditioning. We can’t wait to see what show he’ll appear in and how he’ll compare to the new era of competitors.
You can watch Jose Raymond go into even more detail about his bodybuilding comeback training regimen in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Arash Rahbar: The Best Pump You’ll Ever Get Is From Sodium
Arash Rahbar reveals the misconceptions behind sodium for bodybuilders.
For the average person interested in fitness, one of the biggest things you’ll hear is to avoid sodium in your diet. Sodium can lead to high blood pressure and weight gains. If unchecked, it can lead to some serious heart problems long term. While this is true, removing sodium completely from your diet is also not the answer. Like many things, it’s all about moderation. This becomes even more complicated, though, for bodybuilders. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Arash Rahbar details the misconceptions people have about sodium in a bodybuilding diet.
In the modern world, everything has added sodium. According to Arash Rahbar, this is for two reasons. The first is as a preservative. It helps keep food longer which is essential for our current era of canned goods and instant meals. The second reason for sodium is more simple – it makes things taste better. You’d be surprised how many processed foods actually contain sodium – even sweet food. It’s a key ingredient to making things taste better.
Of course, we know that relying too much on processed foods is bad for you. It all contains too much sodium and when eaten consistently can lead to high blood pressure, weight gain, and long term heart problems. But when it comes to bodybuilding, things get a little more complicated.
A competitive bodybuilder’s main goal is to appear as dry and conditioned on stage. This is to show off the massive muscle they have built. But sodium plays a key role in that process. If a bodybuilder were to remove sodium completely, not only would they feel worse, they would also appear “flat” on stage.
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Check out our latest GI Exclusive with Arash Rahbar above!
Without getting into the science or technical details, Arash Rahbar explains how sodium essentially regulates your blood pressure. This is why too much gives you high blood pressure (also known as hypertension). In fact, having high sodium is the best way for a bodybuilder to achieve the pump during a workout.
It might sound backwards, but it’s true. Arash Rahbar keeps himself on a high sodium diet. But he makes sure to stay as healthy as possible in his overall diet. His sodium isn’t coming from chips and snacks. Much like anyone, balanced sodium in your diet is important. For bodybuilders – what is considered “balanced” might be a bit different than the average person.
Arash Rahbar admits that he is no doctor or scientist. But he does know from years of experience and experimentation that no sodium in your diet is also bad for you. For bodybuilders it’s even worse. It can lead to bloating and when combined with fasting – can make your muscle look flat.
Of course, too much sodium can also lead to more water retention, which will make a bodybuilder’s muscle puffy and soft. It’s all about balance. What that balance is might be different for each bodybuilder.
You can watch Arash Rahbar go into even more detail about sodium in bodybuilding by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!