Tag: GI News
Nick Walker: Bodybuilding Bubble Guts Were Likely Just As Big Of A Problem In The 90s
Nick Walker reacts to the criticism against bodybuilding today vs bodybuilding in the 90s.
One of the biggest trends over the past year was the criticism of today’s bodybuilding physiques. While the criticism of bubble guts have been steadily rising over the past decade – it seems to have come to a head in 2019 into 2020. Beyond even bubble guts, many fans have decreed this new era of bodybuilders less impressive than the 90s and early 2000s. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, rising star Nick Walker explains how he thinks criticizing modern bodybuilding vs the 90s is unwarranted.
In the final few years before Phil Heath lost, fans criticized his lack of control of his midsection. Then after he lost to Shawn Rhoden and took a year off, fans and athletes criticized the conditioning of nearly the entire Olympia 2019 Men’s Open lineup. A narrative has been forming that today’s modern bodybuilders are not living up to the eras of the past. Particularly the 90s and early 2000s. We’ve been asking a variety of bodybuilders, coaches, and experts whether or not they agree in our GI Exclusive interviews.
Which brings us to our recent conversation with Nick Walker. A up and comer bodybuilder that rose to fame quickly due to his impressive physique and progress this year, Nick Walker is as modern as you can get in the sport. He’s a young athlete with incredible promise. So what does he think about the criticism of modern bodybuilding compared to the 90s?
Nick Walker finds this criticism overblown and unwarranted. But he has a reason for exactly why so many fans feel that there has been a decline in bodybuilding physiques. He finds it less to do with the athletes and more to do with how technology has changed the sport as a whole.
Specifically, he’s referring to social media, digital technology, and the internet in general. Back in the 90s, most fans only saw professional photographs of the athletes on stage. Perhaps they saw a broadcast on TV. There were rarely any behind the scenes photos. There was certainly no candid offseason gym photos. Most fans only saw athletes at their very best on the stage.
Today with social media, bodybuilders are able to give updates daily. Fans are able to snap photos on the fly and plaster them all over the internet. Even the leagues themselves can provide more up to date coverage and behind the scene looks at the athletes.
For the most part, this is fantastic, it provides more content for fans who are passionate about the sport. It allows bodybuilding as a whole to grow even bigger. But there is a downside.
That downside is a subconscious belief that bodybuilding has gotten worse – because they are seeing more angles of athletes on stage and because they see more behind the scenes shots that might appear unflattering.
Nick Walker goes on to discuss how many of the 90s bodybuilders had huge guts and looked soft and massive off season. They also might have showed more of those relaxed guts if the cameras took different side angles like the livestreams of Olympia today do.
You can watch Nick Walker talk about it in more detail by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Nick Walker Reacts To Being Called The Next Dorian Yates
Nick Walker is on a fast rise into pro bodybuilding stardom. Does he feel the pressure?
Nick Walker seemingly came out of nowhere. Just over a month ago, Walker received his pro card by winning the NPC North American Championships on September 7, 2020. In that short amount of time, he has already set himself up to compete at the Chicago Pro in hopes of getting an Olympia qualification. If he wins, he plans to compete at the Mr. Olympia this year. His incredibly freaky physique has gone viral with his physique being favorably compared to Dorian Yates in his prime. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Nick Walker reacts to his sudden rise to fame and being called the next Dorian Yates.
Typically, the same lineup of pro bodybuilders make it into the top spots at Olympia year after year. It’s the reason we only have 15 Mr. Olympia champions over the course of 55 years. Only a select few can become so great that they shine on the Olympia stage.
That’s why whenever a young bodybuilder turns head with a freaky physique, people instantly get excited. The prospect of a young bodybuilder rising through the ranks and threatening the status quo brings vibrant energy into the sport. A few of these bodybuilders come through every year, some of them become consistent top pros. Others fade swiftly.
Nick Walker is the latest bodybuilder to turn pro and instantly go viral and for good reason. His physique is nothing to slouch at. He has been dubbed the next hardcore freak in the sport similar to the links of Big Ramy when he first entered the public consciousness.
But the person Nick Walker is being compared most to is Dorian Yates in his prime. If you’re a young bodybuilder looking to become a superstar pro – that’s one of the greatest compliments you can receive.
We connected with Walker via video chat to dive into his bodybuilding origins and how he’s been reacting to the sudden viral attention he’s been receiving for his physique. Does this bring added pressure into his contest prep? Once an athlete is burdened with expectations – it can have large affects on how the world sees his next appearance on stage.
As of right now, Nick Walker is not letting the hype add pressure to his contest prep. He admits that he loves the hype but tries his best to not let it give him an inflated ego. Instead he uses it as excitement to further drive his passion. If he can prove the hype right, that’s the greatest gift he can give himself.
And what about being compared to Dorian Yates? For Walker, it’s simply a humbling experience. Walker goes on to explain that Yates was always one of his favorite bodybuilders growing up. He was part of the inspiration towards becoming a bodybuilder himself. So to hear his name in the same breath as Dorian is “unreal” as he heads towards his first pro show.
You can watch Nick Walker’s full comments in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
Nick Walker Details His Secret To Bulking Like A Mass Monster Freak
Nick Walker is known for his freakish massive size. Here he shares how to bulk up to mass monster levels without gaining too much fat.
Nick Walker has been turning a lot of heads this year in the bodybuilding industry. This is mostly due to his freakishly gigantic size. He’s bringing the kind of mass monster physique that is rarely seen in the industry. Think Big Ramy levels of size and you’ll have an idea of what Walker looks like when he steps on stage. What’s even more promising is his age. At only 25 years old he’s already showing impressive size. Just imagine what time will bring. In our latest GI Exclusive interview, Nick Walker shares insight into his daily routine and his secret to bulking up.
When it comes to bulking in bodybuilding – the biggest fear is putting on too much fat and not enough lean muscle. The last thing a bodybuilder wants is to appear too soft when he appears on stage. That’s why the cutting stage before a show is crucial. If you’ve put on too much fat, then cutting becomes more challenging.
We previously spoke with Fred “Biggie” Smalls about his tips for bulking up without gaining too much fat. But we wanted to get a well rounded opinion from different pros across the board. Nick Walker is a young pro bodybuilder that is building up hype due to his massive size. He’s nicknamed as The Mutant because he truly puts the freak factor into mass monster bodybuilding.
So what are Nick Walker’s tips for bulking up and not gaining fat? Nick Walker thinks it’s all about paying strict attention to your food intake. While that is vague and might seem obvious, Walker continues by using some specific examples. He mentions that a lot of bodybuilders eat way too much food after the compete in a show. They see it as the opportunity to treat themselves and have a little break. In Walker’s opinion, that break lasts too long for a lot of competitors.
Furthermore, Nick Walker rarely believes in indulging a cheat meal. While he very rarely will cheat on a weekend – he mostly doesn’t allow himself a cheat day at all. Instead he takes eating like a job and stays on a strict routine. He works with his trainer to monitor weight consistently to make sure all is going according to plan. But even beyond that, he works with his trainer to monitor how his physique looks.
The look of your physique can show telltale signs of what is happening to your body – even if your weight seems to be in the correct place. Every single week he has his physique look analyzed and then adjusts his diet accordingly. This is the important part. A bodybuilder must stay vigilant and adapt every single week. You can’t just pick a plan and follow it blindly for months expecting amazing results. It’s about tweaking constantly and adapting to how your body adjusts.
You can watch Nick Walker explain more of his daily diet and training routine in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above.
How To Watch The IFBB New York Pro 2021 (Online Stream)
A complete guide on how to watch the 2021 IFBB New York Pro online.
Tonight, May 15 2021, the IFBB New York Pro 2021 takes place. It is one of the biggest bodybuilding events of the year – holding nine divisions all fighting for first place victories and qualification into the Mr. Olympia 2021. The even is being held in Tampa, Florida. But if you’re not in the area, we have a full breakdown on how to watch the event online and the schedule for pre-judging and finals.
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Do You Need To Be A Fan Of Bodybuilding To Be A Bodybuilder?
Is it possible to be a passionate pro bodybuilder but not be a fan of the sport?
Competitive bodybuilding isn’t something you just pick up as a hobby. It’s a lifestyle that changes every single aspect of your being. Every single habit and every choice you make goes through the lens of bodybuilding. Since bodybuilding is so focused on the self – it brings up the question – do you have to be a fan of the sport in order to be a competitive bodybuilder? In our latest GI Exclusive interview, we asked that very question to Jamie LeRoyce McTizic – who went through long stretches of hating bodybuilding as he continued to compete.
Jamie LeRoyce McTizic has already detailed his rollercoaster of a career in bodybuilding. He became pro all natural, then turned towards steroids to improve his game, this led to a downward psychological spiral that nearly destroyed him. It also destroyed his love of bodybuilding as a fan. At least for a short period of time. He eventually regained stable footing, went all natural again, and returned to competing in the IFBB.
This entire experience made us wonder – do you have to be a fan of bodybuilding to be a pro bodybuilder? The experience of being a bodybuilder can often be isolated and lonely. There are also many people who focus on building a sculpted physique but avoid the sport all together. So if you actively compete – can you also not be a fan?
We asked this question to Jamie LeRoyce McTizic and he answered honestly from his own experience. “Absolutely, I’m a bodybuilder without being a fan of bodybuilding,” Jamie stated in our interview.
“I like the bodybuilding process. I like the process personally of building the muscle and… what you learn from it. People’s different aspects of how they lifted. And I really liked what Arnold Schwarzenegger and Ronnie Coleman had to say… I was a fan of theirs and their training styles. But as far as bodybuilding as a whole and watching it. It was never really like that for me.”
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Check out our latest GI Exclusive segment with Jamie LeRoyce McTizic above!
Jamie LeRoyce McTizic makes a specific but vital distinction here. He is not a fan of the sport. As in, watching the competitions, going to the expos, or caring about who wins and who loses. But he is a fan of the process and learning how to improve that process. He can be a fan of Arnold Schwarzenegger or Ronnie Coleman – without caring about how many Mr. Olympia titles they won.
In fact, perhaps it’s harder to be a fan of bodybuilding while you are actively competing. The desire to improve and the desire to win might take the fan experience away from the sport. The person is now an athlete competitor – not a fan. The amount of extreme focus and dedication might suck the enjoyment out of simply being a fan.
Of course, this is certainly not true for all bodybuilders. But Jamie LeRoyce McTizic brings up interesting points that are rarely talked about. Bodybuilding is a discipline beyond simply being a sport. If a person is passionate about sculpting their physique – that doesn’t mean they are passionate about the sport overall. Perhaps they only compete because it’s a way of making a living doing what they love.
You can watch Jamie LeRoyce Mctizic go into more detail by watching our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
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.
IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Lawrence Marshall Dies At 58 Years Old
Marshall was notable for being the second bodybuilder from Trinidad to turn professional in the IFBB pro league. He was an iconic athlete in the local community for his impressive physique, local wins, and kind personality.
Lawrence Marshall held a wide array of local wins under his belt throughout the 1990s and early 2000s – eventually earning his IFBB Pro card. He had even qualified for the Mr. Olympia and placed 15th in his one and only showing.
Initial rumors began to spread that he had died due to losing a battle with COVID-19 but those reports have been debunked by his family. They have stated they are waiting for an autopsy for confirmation and cause of death.
Lawrence Marshall clearly had a massive impact on the bodybuilding community due to the outpour of support for his family and friends during this time. Despite not being a household name in the mainstream of the IFBB, he was an athletic icon and considered a hero in Trinidad representing the country on the world stage in bodybuilding.
You can watch the D’Dial Fitness Club tribute video and post below:
Unfortunately, this news comes after a series of other bodybuilding deaths have been reported including Mr. India Senthil Kumaran Selvarajan and 212 Olympia Competitor Fahd Zaid Hazzazi. Though this series of events is simply due to chance, it has been a devastating blow for fans of bodybuilding.
Generation Iron sends sincere condolences to the friends and family of Lawrence Marshall during this time. For more news updates in bodybuilding, fitness, and strength sports – stay tuned to the Generation Iron Fitness Network!