Tag: Chris Bumstead
Larry Wheels on Chris Bumstead & Move to Classic Physique: ‘My Coach Said I Can Be Competitive With Just TRT’
Powerlifting icon Larry Wheels is a man of many talents with experience in multiple fitness sports, such as strongman, powerlifting, and arm wrestling. In a recent Bradley Martyn’s Raw Talk, Wheels discussed his transition to Classic Physique and how he’d stack up against reigning four-time champ Chris Bumstead.
Larry Wheels is one of the most popular figures in the fitness space, boasting over 4.4 million followers on Instagram. He first gained attention for his muscle-bound physique and crazy strength. Larry has proven himself already as an aspiring bodybuilder. He earned gold in his amateur debut at the NPC Gold Coast Muscle Classic in Feb. 2018.
Wheels redirected his focus after a sudden training mishap. He picked up an injury while preparing for the 2022 Middle East’s Strongest Man contest and decided to quit steroids. Since he had been using performance-enhancing drugs for about a decade, he tapered off slowly and with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
Earlier this year, Wheels opened up about the origins of his steroid use. He credited using TRT at the age of 17 instead of delving further into the world of illicit drugs. He revealed TRT helped him pack on over 32 pounds in two months.
After abstaining from steroids, Wheels began tracking his strength. He conducted a powerlifting mock meet to measure his lifts on the squat, bench press, and deadlift. While he did not record his all-time best lifts, he managed to pull off some spectacular lifts.
Larry Wheels teamed up with fitness influencer Lexx Little for a heavy lower-body strength training session. He crushed a massive set of 505-lb (229-kg) squats for a 16-rep AMRAP (as many reps as possible). Then, Wheels pushed Lexx to achieve a new PR on the squat after two years of stalled progress.
The 28-year-old was enlisted to help IFBB Pro Joe Mackey achieve his goal of lifting 1,000 pounds (453.6 kilograms) on the deadlift. Mackey targeted becoming one of the strongest IFBB Pros in history and used Wheels’ expertise to get closer to his goal.
Wheels left the fans stunned with his insane strength two months ago. He smoked past a huge 200-lb dumbbell bench press for three reps. Additionally, he showed off his jacked physique while performing 100-lb hammer curls for reps.
Wheels declared his plan to switch to bodybuilding as a Classic Physique competitor last month. He gave fans a look into his preparations for making the transition and even received help from William Bonac and Andrew Jacked with posing instructions.
Larry Wheels backed himself to be competitive in Classic Physique, ruled by Chris Bumstead
In a recent YouTube video, Larrry Wheels shared his thoughts on pursuing a run in the Classic Physique division and his chances of challenging four-time Olympia champ Chris Bumstead.
“Classic bodybuilding because since 18, I went on Open bodybuilding stage,” said Wheels. “I was just too small for my height not competitive whatsoever but now that you know CBum really took the division to new heights. The division is more popular than ever and I don’t have to be on even more than TRT to be as big as him right now meaning I can actually be competitive according to my coach.
“From what I can see on just TRT and the absolute bare minimum so without a major compromise to my health like Open bodybuilding being a mass monster or pursuing what records in powerlifting where I can shrink down to 230 which is the cut off for my height on stage, look phenomenal and have content ready.”
Wheels said he felt burned out in powerlifting and expressed his excitement about fulfilling his potential in bodybuilding.
“I believe I can be competitive in Classic but I want to see if I really dedicate myself as I am now the last couple months I’ve been here, the next couple of years, how my physique can transform because training as a powerlifter gave me a very different physique to I was training all this time. I want to see what that looks like. I’m not saying I’m going to be next Mr. Olympia but at the very least I want to get my Pro card, win overalls, and see a transformation within myself. I want to see what it looks like a couple years of bodybuilding.
“Now that I’m focusing on bodybuilding, I just don’t care about putting how many plates, whatever on the bar, I just want to change my physique, so it is not an obsession like it was with powerlifting but the fire is there whereas the power thing I’ve been burned out.”
Larry Wheels provided an insanely ripped physique update while preparing for his Classic Physique debut last month. If his track record is any indication, Wheels will dedicate 100% effort into bringing his best package possible.
RELATED: Larry Wheels Shares Shocking Physique Comparison Using 175 mg of Testosterone vs 500 mg
You can watch the full video below.
Published: 13 April, 2023 | 12:14 AM EDT
Bodybuilder Chris Bumstead Shares His Revamped Off-Season Diet for 2023
Reigning Classic Physique Olympia champ Chris Bumstead has won four consecutive titles from 2019 to 2022. Of course, besides the stellar posing this division requires, his diet has also played a massive part in garnering those victories.
In a full day of eating video uploaded to his YouTube channel, the champ shares how he’s changing his diet for the off-season in order to be better than ever for the 2023 Olympia. Check it out below:
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Chris Bumstead’s 2023 Off-Season Diet
Since this video was filmed at the beginning of Bumstead’s off-season, he’s currently eating a relatively low amount of calories — around 3,500 a day — compared to the later stages of the season. He says he weighs around 253 pounds consistently at the moment, so he plans to increase his daily calories by about 400 in a few weeks if his weight doesn’t change.
That being said, he intends to keep his calorie intake lower overall this off-season compared to previous years — he upped his calories to 5,000 in 2022 — to stay lean and avoid gaining fat.
Below is how a full day of eating for the four-time Olympia champ looks during the 2023 off-season:
Breakfast/Meal 1
Bumstead’s typical breakfast is a fruit smoothie during the weekdays, while weekends include waffles made by his fiance, Courtney King.
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The weekday smoothies contain protein, fruits, fiber, and healthy fats. Here’s the full rundown:
Bumstead also has toast with butter and honey for breakfast. All in all, it includes:
Two slices of Ezekiel sprouted grain bread
Ghee butter
Honey
The total nutrition targets for the food above are:
Calories — 1,073
Protein — 59 grams
Fat — 47 grams
Carbs — 101 grams
Meal 2
His second meal combines complex carbohydrates, protein, and (of course) ketchup for flavoring:
Sweet potato — 250 grams
Ground turkey — 180 grams
Ketchup
In the champ’s opinion, ground turkey tastes better with sweet potatoes, and chicken goes better with rice. The total calories and protein for his second meal of the day are:
Protein — 40 grams
Calories — 481
Meal 3 — Pre-Workout Meal
Bumstead gets his third meal of the day from MegaFit Meals. This is a pre-workout meal designed to give him a boost before training. It contains:
Beef — 180 grams
Brown rice pasta
Marinara sauce
“It’s the easiest way to get in a bunch of calories,” Bustead says of the meal. “The perfect way to build in the off-season and a beautiful pre-workout meal.”
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The total calorie and macronutrients for Bumstead’s pre-workout meal are:
Protein — 40 grams
Carbs — 74 grams
Fat — 14 grams
Calories — 600
Meal 4 — Post-Workout Meal
Bumstead’s post-workout meal contains 706 calories, and it’s one that he enjoys because he says it reminds him of eating a burger without indulging in too much fat. Though Bumstead didn’t list the exact macros for this meal, here’s what it included:
Ground Bison Patties — 200 grams
White Rice — 250 grams
Ketchup
Meal 5
Bumstead notes that he used to have protein shakes before bed, but they caused too much bloating. So instead, his final meal of the day is a mix of protein, complex carbs, and healthy fats:
Chicken breast — 180 grams
White rice — 200 grams
Olive oil — 20 grams
Bumstead’s Total Calories
Here’s the macro breakdown of Bumstead’s entire day of eating:
Carbs — 369 grams
Fat — 121 grams
Protein — 240 grams
Calories — 3,559
Even though he’s still early into the off-season, Bumstead acknowledges that he’s eating these meals every day and rarely strays into junk food territory.
In closing, he left viewers with one simple piece of advice: “The moral of the story today is to eat healthy foods and give your body the fuel it needs to thrive.”
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Featured Image: Chris Bumstead on YouTube
Chris Bumstead And Hadi Choopan Annihilate A Quads Workout As 2022 Olympia Prep Continues
Chris Bumstead recently trained with Hadi Choopan to be stronger and ‘not be a skinny b**ch’. Bumstead is one of the most successful competitors in the Classic Physique division of the IFBB Pro League. The Canadian phenom won the Classic Physique Olympia title by dethroning former champion Breon Ansley at the 2019 Olympia. He then went on to defend it at the 2020 and 2021 Olympia. CBum has dealt with a number of challenging situations in his preparation for the 2022 Olympia, and he is one of the favorites heading into the competition. Iain Valliere, an open-division bodybuilder, and close friend has been coaching Bumstead so far. However, the duo announced the end of their ‘coach-client relationship’ a few weeks back. Although difficult, both men understood it was a wise decision for Valliere’s career.Bumstead is now training under famed bodybuilding coach Hany Rambod and recently partnered with Hadi Choopan, who is also training under Rambod. Choopan is a top contender in the Men’s Open division. He last competed at the 2021 Olympia and finished third behind champion Mamdouh ‘Big Ramy’ Elssbiay and runner-up Brandon Curry. ‘The Persian Wolf’ has managed to pull off excellent performances in spite of travel restrictions and language barriers. Choopan arrived in the USA seven weeks out of the 2022 Olympia to train with Rambod. He will attempt to dethrone the reigning champ and stake claim at the Mr. Olympia title in 2022.Chris Bumstead and Hadi Choopan went through the legs workout in Southlake, Texas on November 19th under Hany Rambod’s guidance. The video of this session was posted on Bumstead’s personal YouTube channel. Let’s check out how the duo nailed leg day.Chris Bumstead and Hadi Choopan crush a leg workoutLeg ExtensionsCBum and Choopan started the workout with leg extensions to isolate the quads and warm up the knee joints. While it is one of the most common quad isolation movements, leg extension can be harsh on the knees if not done properly. It is advisable to avoid locking out the knees completely during this movement. The duo got a few sets of this exercise under the belt and took to the first heavy compound movement of the day.Smith Machine SquatsThe quad-focused workout continued with Smith Machine squats. Weights on the Smith machine move along a fixed trajectory and this reduces the need to control the weights significantly. Coach Rambod instructed Hadi to do the front squats while CBum did the back squats.“Because I want you to work on your hips a little bit and we’re going to do back squats… Because that’s going to be easier for you and that’s how your biomechanics are dialed in,” Rambod told Bumstead.The duo performed all the sets under Coach’s watchful eye with slow and controlled movement and jumped into the next one.Hack SquatsCBum and his Persian friend worked the quads further on the hack squats machine. Hack squats are a compound movement that works all the major muscles in the lower body. However, quadriceps are the primary focus while hamstrings and glutes take up a more supporting role. After doing a few warm-up sets, they increased the load on the machine and cranked out heavy working sets of hack squats to fire up the quads.“This is the point in my prep where I’m still moving heavy weights but I’m trying not to kill myself. Hany is really trying to stress not to kill myself here. It’s trying to control the reps and not go super heavy. I’m going like a plate or two lighter than I normally would…” Bumstead said.While speaking about how training with Hadi Choopan feels, CBum said:“I trained my whole life with Iain (Valliere). So I always train like an Open bodybuilder. I’m training for the Open as always. But training with Hadi reminds of training with Iain who’s stronger than me. So they’re actually doing the same weight on front squat as I do on the back squat. So it really pushed me to actually be stronger and not just be a skinny b**ch!”Leg PressCoach Rambod then took his pupils to the leg press machine and instructed to perform a few heavy sets to stimulate the quads. Hany explained the mechanics of the machine used here and said:“This is an older leg press machine and it has a very steep angle. So it’s naturally much heavier than a regular leg press machine that does not have such a steep angle. Therefore when you start to fatigue, it just ends up becoming absolutely much much heavier than the normal because you have a very steep angle…”Walking LungesCBum and Choopan worked their quads with the walking lunges. Being the bigger and stronger of the two, Choopan did lunges with barbell while Bumstead did lunges with dumbbells. After doing a few sets of this exercise, the duo did some hamstrings, quads, and adductor muscles work.Seated Leg CurlsThe Persian Wolf and Bumstead took to the seated leg curls to work the hamstrings next. Seated leg curls offer a better range of motion and are thus more effective for inducing hypertrophy compared to lying leg curls. The duo did a few sets of this movement and took to another movement.Standing Calf RaisesChoopan and Bumstead sprinkled a little bit of calf work in the mix and did the standing calf raises. This exercise works the gastrocnemius muscle in the calves. After performing some quick sets, the duo took to the final exercise of the day.Hip Adduction MachineThe adductor muscles are a group of muscles that adduct (bring together) the thighs. Some of the adductor muscles also extend or flex the hips and stabilize the pelvis and trunk while standing on one leg. The duo did a few sets of this movement and wrapped up the training session.Overall, the workout included:Chris Bumstead and Hadi Choopan have a similar goal at the 2022 Olympia but their path to victory and the stakes are completely different. CBum will attempt to create history by winning the fourth consecutive Mr. Olympia Classic Physique title. He has to defeat formidable opponents like Terrence Ruffin, Urs Kalecinski, and Ramon Rocha Queiroz to achieve this. However, Bumstead is looking absolutely jacked in his recent physique updates and experts believe he will be the biggest guy in the division at the 2022 Olympia.On the other hand, Choopan has to beat veteran bodybuilders and hungry up-and-comers to wear the 2022 Olympia crown. Irrespective of how the results turn out, it is going to be fierce competition to reach the top spot.You can watch the full workout video here, courtesy of Chris Bumstead’s personal YouTube channel:
Chris Bumstead Does Brutal Leg Workout, Explains Current Training Approach
Chris Bumstead thrashed his legs in recent brutal workout.
Reigning Classic Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead recently shared an intense leg day workout. The dominant champion is looking to pull out all stops as he prepares himself to defend his Olympia crown.
With so many tough challengers waiting in line to secure the title of Classic Physique Olympia champion, Chris Bumstead has his work cut out for him. He cannot afford to rest on his laurels and take his foot off the gas. If he wishes to repeat at the 2022 Olympia, Bumstead will have to turn over every stone to ensure the gap between himself and the rest of the division remains a chasm.
Training Approach
In order to achieve his goal of remaining champion Chris Bumstead is taking stock of his training regimen and looking to fine tune things as much as possible. In a recent post to social media Bumstead explained his approach to the game and how he conducts his training currently.
Some current training thoughts?
1. Find new ways to to change tempo and duration of movements, ideally to create more time under tension. I get super comfortable in movements and love being strong and explosive (which is great), BUT I can get carried away with that and start moving too fast. This can decrease TUT, cause accessory muscles to take over too much, and not put enough emphasis on the eccentric. Be more intentional with every rep.
2. Find new or forgotten exercises that push me out of my comfort zone, literally. Again getting too comfortable I tend to stick to certain exercises while neglecting others that my body feels to tight to get into. Obviously this makes my body adapt even more and decrease mobility further. I’ve been finding and doing exercises where my mobility holds me back before my strength does and over time slowly increasing the weight as my mobility increases as well.
Chris Bumstead also recently put himself through a pretty brutal leg day workout. No stranger to thrashing his wheels, the Classic Physique Olympia champion put himself through a number of intense exercises that left him completely wrecked after the session. The full leg day workout exercises are as follows.
Chris Bumstead Brutal Leg Day Workout
You can see the entirety of his leg day workout here.
What do you think of Chris Bumstead, his training methods, and his brutal leg day workout?
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News and Editorial Writer at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
Chris Bumstead Discusses Retirement, Taking “Year-By-Year” Approach: ‘My Answer Always Is That I Want One More Olympia’
Chris Bumstead admits it was “a little foolish” to try and predict when he will retire.
Chris Bumstead has created a brand for himself and has become one of the biggest stars in bodybuilding, despite of his division. Classic Physique continues to grow and Bumstead has a lot to do with it. In a recent interview, Bumstead explained how he has changed his views a bit on retirement and is now taking a “year-by-year” approach.
Bumstead was able to take the Classic Physique Olympia title from Breon Ansley in 2019 and has not relinquished it since. He is the reigning three-time champion and will be looking for his fourth in a row come December.
On social media, Bumstead has shared many videos of diets and workouts that he uses during his prep for the biggest show of the year. In the past, Bumstead has discussed retirement but he recently changed his tone and has taken on a different approach.
Chris Bumstead Taking “Year-By-Year” Approach
Chris Bumstead was asked about his retirement during a recent interview with Muscular Development Magazine. He admitted that he is not putting a timeline on his career.
READ MORE: Why Does Chris Bumstead Take Multiple Ice Baths Per Week?
“You talked a couple years ago about retiring by 30…You’ve got a good handle on your health now. Three titles already. You’re still only 27. Do you still think ‘I need to retire by this with this many titles’ or is it more year-by-year?” Bumstead was asked.
“I’m definitely taking it more year-by-year, for sure. I think it was a little foolish to try and predict the day that I would be ready to be done. I think it’s more something now, where I’m more genuinely, my answer always is ‘I want one more Olympia.’ So people will say ‘oh, so you’re done this year?’ And I’m like ‘no. I just want one more.’”
Then depending how this year goes and I feel, mentally and physically, and afterwards if I’m excited and hungry for more, I’m going to do another. If I don’t, I won’t,” Bumstead said.
Chris Bumstead continued to explain how this mindset has allowed him enjoy competing and enjoying the moment rather than setting goals and limits.
“Having that kind of detachment that I don’t have to do it has allowed me to fall into a mindset where I get to compete and I’m more excited to. It’s something that I’m grateful for being able to do instead of something that I have to do saying ‘I have to compete and be a five-time, six-time champion.’ I get one more year at least. I’m going to give it my all. Depending on that, I might give it another one. Just enjoying the minute.”
Chris Bumstead leads the way for a division in bodybuilding that is growing, both in size and in talent. The expectations from the public can put pressure on competitors and Bumstead believes that this is one of the biggest challenges each year.
“It’s more of a mental challenge to continuously stay on top and keep doing things, and when there’s a lot of outside noise coming in constantly, the eyes are on you, expectations are on you, and that can change things for sure.”
What we do know is that Chris Bumstead will be on stage come December looking for his fourth consecutive title. Following the 2022 Olympia, we will learn a bit more about the future of Bumstead on stage.
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Ramon Rocha Queiroz Says Chris Bumstead Is “Going To Get Surprised” At The 2022 Olympia
Ramon Rocha Queiroz believes he can compete with the three-time champion.
The Classic Physique division is growing year by year and it is because of the level of competition that keeps emerging. Chris Bumstead is the reigning three-time Olympia champion and one of the biggest stars in the sport. Bumstead believes he is destined for his fourth title but Ramon Rocha Queiroz has other plans.
Bumstead took the Olympia title away from Breon Ansley in 2019 and has not relinquished it since. Over the last three years, Bumstead has taken his brand to the next level and created something special. Queiroz is one of the fastest rising stars in the division and showed it off during recent competitions.
Arnold Schwarzenegger has referred to Classic Physique as “the future of bodybuilding.” This is because the preparation is different than Men’s Open. If the competition continues at this pace, Schwarzenegger might be right and that will show during the Olympia.
Photo via @ramondinopro INSTAGRAM
Ramon Rocha Queiroz Plans To “Surprise” Chris Bumstead
On a recent episode of OlympiaTV, Ramon Rocha Queiroz spoke on Bumstead’s comments that competitors are fighting for second place. Terrick El Guindy translated the statement from Queiroz that responded directly to the champ.
“Ramon said he disagreed with Chris Bumstead’s statement that all these guys are fighting for second, and he’s going to get surprised at the Mr. Olympia.
I’ve always been extremely strong with my arms, and that’s why my arms over developed, but right now he’s being a little more conscious of hitting the proper body parts.”
Terrence Ruffin is the reigning two-time Arnold Classic champion and has solidified himself as the No. 2 behind Bumstead over the last few years. This comes after Ansley reigned in the division, winning the Olympia two times. Queiroz is one of the up-and-coming talents in the division, along with Urs Kalecinski.
“The Classic Physique is still very volatile, and no one in that lineup can even win a show now besides us three. So even myself, you know, has to focus on yourself and stay on your game,” Terrence Ruffin said.
The 2022 Olympia will once again be an entertaining show in the Classic Physique division Ramon Rocha Queiroz has a strong physique and will be looking to surprise the field and upset Chris Bumstead.
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Rich Gaspari Speaks On Chris Bumstead’s Brand, Physique Compared To Open Bodybuilding: ‘Their Physiques Are Unattainable’
Rich Gaspari favors Chris Bumstead’s brand and physique over that of Open bodybuilding.
Rich Gaspari is a bodybuilding veteran who remains up to date on the comings and goings of different athletes in the sport. Recently, he sat down for a conversation with John Romano about the current state of bodybuilding and how Chris Bumstead has been able to build such a big brand.
Bumstead is the reigning three-time Classic Physique Olympia champion. He is approaching 10 million followers on Instagram and has even more on other social media platforms, such as YouTube. He has built such a following sharing different content, such as workouts and diets during his preparation for shows.
Gaspari, who joined Romano on Dragon Slayer Media’s YouTube, credits Bumstead for what he has been able to build and compares Classic Physique and Open Bodybuilding.
“Well first of all, Chris Bumstead gets credit that he really grew his popularity. He grew during the time of Instagram when it first started. You can gain followers very quickly,” Gaspari said.
“He’s got three million followers on TikTok. 9.5 plus three million on TikTok. Then, he’s very popular on YouTube. What he’s done is he’s used the vehicle of YouTube to show his training, his progress, how he eats. That has gone into his Instagram that’s grown tremendously, at 9.5 million. He’s become really really popular.”
READ MORE: Rich Gaspari Answers How A Bodybuilder Can Use Posing To Beat A Superior Physique
Rich Gaspari continues to tell a story about a show he attended in New York. The store where the show was taking place gave fans the chance to meet their favorite celebrities. Gaspari recalls the line to meet Bumstead being “just incredible.”
“He has his own brand. I mean, he’s really smart. He’s one of the few competitive bodybuilders that also has a business and a brand.”
Rich Gaspari on Open Bodybuilders: “It Takes Them A Lot Longer”
Rich Gaspari is not the first to make the comparison of Classic Physique to Men’s Open. There are many who believe Classic Physique is the future of the sport, and competitors like Chris Bumstead are a big reason why.
When discussing the current state of Open Bodybuilding, Gaspari comments on how long it takes to attain this type of physique.
“You look at these guys and their physiques are unattainable. It takes them a lot longer. I can’t say that for Nick Walker. Normal guys that are in the Olympia are in their 30s to 40s. It takes that long to gain all that muscle.”
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Gaspari highlights Nick Walker as the exception because of the size he has been able to put on at such a young age.
“Nick Walker is in his 20s and is that big,” Gaspari said.
There is no doubt that Chris Bumstead is one of, if not the most, popular bodybuilders on the planet today. He is preparing to win his fourth consecutive Olympia title and this will only continue to build his reputation and brand.
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Chris Bumstead Hits Raw Quad And Hamstring Workout That Will “Toast Your Legs”
Chris Bumstead continues to improve for the Olympia and recently attacked a leg day.
Chris Bumstead is preparing to potentially win his fourth consecutive Classic Physique Olympia title. He has been sharing different workouts and diet plans over the course of his preparation. This time, Bumstead shared a killer quad and hamstring workout to build more size.
Bumstead struggled with COVID-19 earlier in the year and recently hurt his lower back. He has been taking care of the injury with a chiropractor so he can get back to full strength in the gym. In order to have the muscles recover quickly, Bumstead has also been receiving Mesenchymal Stem Cell injections.
Chris Bumstead took to his YouTube page for viewers to see. In the video, he went into detail about his different movements.
Chris Bumstead: Full Quads and Hamstrings Workout
Walking backward on elliptical machine – Warmup
Lying leg curls and Hip Abduction machine
Leg Press on Cyber Squat Press Machine
Back Extensions
Leg Extensions and Sissy Squat
Standing and seated calf raises
Warmup on Elliptical
The reigning two-time Olympia champion knows just how to hit workouts in order to succeed on stage. This warmup came about because Chris Bumstead put stress on his knees while playing basketball. There were other options that Bumstead could have hit, like sled pulls, but he did not want to put more stress on his knees.
Lying leg curls and Hip Abduction machine
Once Bumstead got his legs warmed up, he began hitting different exercises to target the hamstrings and quads. It began with lying leg curls. This is an exercise to hit the hamstrings and calves. Bumstead stayed on this machine for two sets and hit the hip abduction machine for one.
“We used to always start with quads but I’m starting with some hamstrings now. It’s easier to warm up my knees that way. It’s harder than it is to curl.”
Leg Press on Cyber Squat Press Machine
Chris Bumstead moved onto leg presses but decided to do it in a different way. He used the cyber squat press machine, which will help target the quads while avoiding stress elsewhere. He explained why he opts for this machine at times when performing the exercise.
“I’m using the Squat press because it recreates the motion of the squat a little bit naturally. But obviously, it’s a leg press so a little less stress on the joints, lower back and everything.”
Back Extensions
Back extensions were next on the list once Bumstead worked his legs hard. This is a movement that works the lower back but also gives a great stretch in the hamstrings. Bumstead explained how he makes sure to activate the gluts and hamstrings during this exercise so he does not injure his lower back on the way up.
Leg Extension and Sissy Squat Machine
The final workout for quads and hamstrings is a superset. Chris Bumstead laid out the goal of this superset was “to make these that aren’t that hard, as hard as possible, and try not to die.”
Bumstead began with leg extensions before hitting 60 sissy squats with his body positioned on the machine where his feet were locked under the pads of the machine. Bumstead makes sure to pull his body down from his quads and use the glutes to push himself all the way up.
“This is one of those things too where when you get to the end of the prep, and you’re trying to build like detail to your legs and not just size – this will help make you crispy and detailed because you have to focus too much on the mind-muscle connection.”
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Chris Bumstead Hits 140Lb Dumbbell Shoulder Press PR in Off Season Training
Chris Bumstead shows incredible strength in recent shoulder training.
Classic Physique Olympia champion Chris Bumstead recently broke a personal record with 140lb dumbbell shoulder press. The reigning Olympia champion showed supreme strength in a recent training session ahead of the 2022 show.
Looking to defend his Classic Physique Olympia title once again, Chris Bumstead has been pulling out all stops in training. From consuming specific muscle building meals to taking stem cells to help heal his body, Bumstead has been doing everything in his power to ensure that he will once again be classic physique king. This mindset is also translating over to his training.
Strength is on the up, body feelin good, still working on not being a skinny b****.Last nights chest workout:– Dumbbell Press: 2 working sets, 8-10 reps.– Dumbbell Flies: 2 working sets, 8-10 reps.– Chest Press Machine: 2 working sets, drop set on both. Start second set on same weight as drop set from first set.– Pec Deck: 3 working sets, ~15 reps.– Push Ups: 2 sets, to failure.
In order to build new muscle and bring something new to the table at the 2022 Olympia, Chris Bumstead is pushing himself in his offseason training. As such, the reigning classic physique Champion has set a new personal record in the dumbbell shoulder press.
In a recent video uploaded to his YouTube channel, Chris Bumstead showcased a full shoulder workout that saw the Olympia champion soar to new heights. Below is the full list of his shoulder workout.
Full Shoulder Workout
Dumbbell Shoulder Press
“I will train shoulder press, like 140 pounds. We’ll see. I feel like I can do it. If you believe, you can achieve.”
It was clear from this statement that Chris Bumstead was looking to push himself harder during his training. It clearly paid off.
“Three weeks into my off-season hitting PRs in shoulder press… shoulders feel good.”
Machine Shoulder Press
Bumstead moved on to the machine shoulder press where he stated that he’s working on volume. The more training you do the more volume you’ll need to see continued progress.
“Alright, so, new routine. I’m trying to do more volume, so I did really heavy two sets of shoulder press and just one set here. Now, I’m going to do a slow-drop set, I guess you could call it – four, three, two, one. I’m going to do a 30-second rest between the four plates and three plates. 20-second rest between the three and the two, and 10-second rest between the two and the one. I’m just going to do a drop set where I move a little slower and try to get a little volume in here.”
Dumbbell Lateral Raise w/ Single-Arm Cable Rear Delt Fly Superset
Chris Bumstead goes on to state that he’s five pounds away from being the heaviest he’s ever been. It appears that the goal is to put on more mass ahead of the 2022 Olympia.
“Still skinny, but we’re getting somewhere. I was 259 [lbs] this morning. So, weight’s coming back. I feel like if I put on five more pounds, I’ll be at the heaviest I’ve ever been. This is the leanest I’ve been in an off-season.”
Machine Lateral Raise w/ Reverse Pec Deck Fly Superset
Captain’s Chair Leg Raise
“If anyone has any tips on how to do abs, please let me know. I just did two sets of 10 and the cramp I get in my abs, it literally curls in and sticks out.”
See the full shoulder workout here.
What do you think of Chris Bumstead crushing shoulder training?
WATCH: Chris Bumstead Discusses Benefits Of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy
Chris Bumstead went through the benefits of these injections before a massive hamstring workout.
Chris Bumstead is killing it in the gym as he prepares for what could be his fourth consecutive Classic Physique title at the Olympia. It is clear that he is treating his body in other ways outside of the gym as well. In a recent video, Bumstead discussed the benefits of stem cell therapy followed by a hamstring workout.
Bumstead took the reins as Classic Physique champion in 2019 and has not been able to be defeated. At this point, it is unknown if he will be taken down if he can keep his physique at this level. Bumstead is extremely active on YouTube sharing different workouts and diet plans. Now, he shared another method used to keep his physique in shape.
This summer, Bumstead shared his bulking diet that is being used to put on some more size heading into the fall. Then, he will work on getting shredded heading into the Olympia. Aside from ice baths, which Bumstead is a big promoter of, he also goes through different stem cell injections that produce different benefits.
READ MORE: “Bulking For The Olympia:” Chris Bumstead Shares 4,133-Calorie Full Day Of Eating
Chris Bumstead Shares Benefits Of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy
Chris Bumstead begins by explaining he has done stem cell before but will be taking on a new one. He explains how it helps heal different areas of the body and has different regenerative benefits.
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“I’m going to be doing stem cell in a different way than before. I’ve done stem cell in my shoulder because it has a lot of regenerative benefits. It can help heal, bones, cartilage, ligament tears, anything like that. So, I’ve injected into my shoulder before, but doing something new today.”
The new stem cells that Bumstead is using are mesenchymal. These come from the umbilical cord of a newborn baby. This is a treatment that Bumstead has not tried before but wanted to attempt a new cell.
READ MORE: Why Does Chris Bumstead Take Multiple Ice Baths Per Week?
“I’m using something called mesenchymal stem cells, which comes from the umbilical cord of a recently birthed baby. They test them, make sure the mom and the baby are healthy before taking them.
There’s been a lot of studies that show this helps a lot with autoimmune diseases. It helps modulate your immune system so that it doesn’t shut down your immune system. So, you can’t actually tackle off stuff you need to like infections and all that kind of stuff, but it stops your autoimmune disease from impacting itself negatively, which mine does on to my kidneys.”
Chris Bumstead has an autoimmune disorder called IGA Nephropathy, which is a kidney disease that happens when immunoglobulin gets into the kidneys. This is an antibody that attacks the organ. Bumstead believes that stem cells might be a way to help fight infections in his kidneys.
As we creep closer to the Olympia, it is clear that Bumstead is in championship shape once again. He will be the favorite to win his fourth consecutive title when December rolls around.
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