Tag: GI News
2022 Puerto Rico Pro Preview: Will Hassan Mostafa Avenge Last Year’s Performance?
Who will take home the title at the 2022 Puerto Rico Pro?
The 2022 Puerto Rico Pro is the next big show of the bodybuilding season. There will be 10 divisions present in San Juan, Puerto Rico fitting for that automatic qualification to the 2022 Olympia. The show will take place from June 17-19 with many exciting events on the schedule.
The Olympia is set for Dec. 16-18 in Las Vegas. Winners of shows will be automatically entered while others will gain points toward the Olympia Qualification System. In this particular show, the athletes who finish second through fifth will earn Tier 3 points.
The Men’s Open division will once again be the highlight of the show and there are a few big names who could take home the prize. Below, check out a breakdown of some of the top competitors, along with the full roster for each division.
2022 Puerto Rico Pro: Men’s Open Roster
Maxx Charles
Marc Arthur Dautruchee
Jonas Giatras
Theo Leguerrier
Hassan Mostafa
Andrea Muzi
Hassan Mostafa
Many eyes will be on Hassan Mostafa, who finished third at this event last year. He is the highest returning finisher and will look to take the next step. Mostafa did not win a show last year but earned enough points to qualify for the Olympia, where he finished 13th. This season, Mostafa seems to have made major improvements, including adding size and is more conditioned. Heading into Puerto Rico, Mostafa might be considered the favorite.
Maxx Charles
Maxx Charles has been busy this season thus far. He has competed five times with two top-three finishes. Charles finished third at the New York Pro and Indy Pro in back-to-back weekends. He has put himself in a strong position regarding qualification points but would like to earn a victory and skip that process. It will be interesting to see how Charles continues on if he does not win this show, considering he has competed many times already. If he can pull it out, there will still be some time to rest and prepare for December.
Theo Leguerrier
Theo Leguerrier continues to gain momentum in Men’s Open. He finished as the runner-up during the Toronto Pro just two weeks ago, which was his highest as a pro. Leguerrier can be considered a dark-horse to win this show if he shows up in his best shape. Andrea Muzi also appeared in this show last year looking to improve on his finish.
Men’s 212
Abdullah Alsaif
Oswaldo Gonzalez
Dectric Bo Lewis
Flipe Fierro Lobos
James Ortiz
Emmanuel Rodriguez
Rachid Souki
Wilfredo Victoria
Ryan Walters
Classic Physique
Chris Barnes
Luis Colon
Marco A. Corchado
Joey Decaminada
Anthony Diaz
Camilo Diaz
Darius Dillon
Carlos Dommar
Kelvin Hinde
Miguel G. Sanchez Lopez
Carlos S. Marchand
Emanuele Ricotti
Ruben Stouth
Stephen Thames
Men’s Physique
Peter Burnett
Rhyan Clark
Daniele D’Onofrio
Anthony Gilkes
Alex Hessam
Alejandro Landeros G.
Luis Alonzo Leon
Daniel Leone
Steven Lopez
Clarence McSpadden
Andrea Mosti
Chevy Phillips
Giovanni Randazzo
Edward J. Romero Sanchez
Women’s Bodybuilding
Reshanna Boswell
Erika Dankova
Julia Foery
Women’s Physique
Tamara Gourley
Ann Gruber
Claudia Gabriela de Leon Pardo
Takeela Reddrick
Marianne Von Gierke
Fitness
Cong Mou
Tamara Vahn
Figure
Melissa Brodsky
Kim Clark
Sh’Nere Mattise Deas
Samantha Jerring
Hiromi May
Katlyn O’Neil
Danielle Rose
Roberta Visintainer
Bikini
Giuss Abbate
Kim Gutierrez
Janine Herrera
Natasha Hopkins
Liana Martinez
Stephanie Mickens
Jessica Miller
Gabriella Mohamed
Angela Ruscilli
Anna Setlak
Francesca Stoico
Jodie Yunker
Wellness
Normarie Fonseca
Jossiemar Rosado Galindo
Andrea Hrenko
Alejandra LaFonseca
Giselle Machado
Jasmine Payne
Julia Rene Pensiero
Leslie Reyes
Zelma Santos
Nerilde Garcia Strey
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Joey Swoll Defends Gym Worker Who Is Called A Pervert By Female TikToker
Joey Swoll continues to speak on toxic gym culture and defended a worker in his latest video.
A trend has emerged of gyms becoming a place that could have a toxic culture, especially toward females. This is something that Joey Swoll has spoken out against using TikTok. There are many videos shared of this on the platform. In a recent video, Swoll defended a gym worker who was accused by a female of being a pervert for staring.
The interaction got heated when the female thought that the worker was staring. She asked the worker multiple times “do you need something?” The worker eventually threatened to call the police and have her removed from the gym.
The video was deleted from her account but still blew up on social media. This is when Joey Swoll stepped in and decided to make a video on the incident.
I could of swore the dude sitting down was looking hard & dude turned to see afar he was looking at. pic.twitter.com/QgBy23Pw8r
— Ricky Davis (@Champagneriqo1) June 12, 2022
Joey Swoll Spoke To Gym Worker
Joey Swoll has made it a point to speak for others who may not have the platform that he does. In this case, he defends the worker for making a quick glance at the female.
“Just because somebody glances at you briefly when you’re taking your pump cover off doesn’t give you the right to post a video on social media labeling them as a pervert. This has consequences. This can have a serious effect on someone’s livelihood, their reputation, their family. It’s not something to take lightly.”
Joey Swoll continued to explain how he spoke to the worker following the incident and believes that he was not in the wrong.
“I had the privilege of having a conversation with this young man last night. He’s a good kid, a kind-hearted young kid and he told me more about what happened.”
“First off, he’s not a trainer. He wasn’t training that man. He’s an overnight gym attendant managing operations of the gym. This is about one in the morning and if somebody gets out of line or acts like this, he absolutely has the power to call the police or ask you to leave. So, he was not wrong in doing so. Also, he never said ‘oh damn’. If you watch the video closely, he briefly glanced at you when his friend looks.”
Swoll acknowledged that there are instances where men have harassed women in the gym but this was not one of those cases.
“He’s the father of two beautiful young girls, working overnight to help support them and you tried to take that away from him. You need to do better than that and mind your own business.”
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Phil Heath Meets With Dan Solomon: Is An Olympia Comeback In The Works?
Phil Heath recently got back into business with Dan Solomon. Will he return to the stage?
Phil Heath already has seven Olympia titles under his belt. Could he be coming for an eighth?
This has been a topic of conversation ever since Heath stepped off the stage following his third-place finish at the 2020 Olympia. The legendary bodybuilder has not officially retired and this is why there has been talks of a return. On Saturday, Heath was in South Florida to meet with Dan Solomon.
The Olympia President shared a post on Instagram detailing his office move to South Florida and hinting at some projects that Heath is working on.
READ MORE: Phil Heath Discusses A Possible Comeback To Accomplish 10x Mr. Olympia Goal
“To help celebrate my recent move into my new South Florida office space, Phil Heath stopped by for a visit today. — Phil has some big projects in the works and he’s fast becoming a powerhouse motivational speaker!! Incredibly proud of Phil and all the opportunities that are coming his way. We’ll have some announcements for you guys soon. @philheath“
What Is Next For Phil Heath?
Phil Heath commented on Solomon’s post expressing his excitement in sharing news with bodybuilding fans.
“A great office and even better conversation today @dansolomon_official as it’s always great having a solid meeting of the minds. Excited to share more with you soon ?”
Heath first appeared in the Olympia in 2008 and reached the pinnacle in 2011. This was the first of seven consecutive victories. In 2018, Heath finished second to Shawn Rhoden before missing the competition in 2019.
READ MORE: Phil Heath Shows Off Chiseled Midsection In Recent Update
Since stepping off stage, Phil Heath has continued to train and look massive in physique updates. It is clear that he still has a passion for fitness and has kept his physique in championship shape.
Phil Heath has discussed the possibility of returning to the Olympia and it has not sounded like there is a plan anytime soon. With that being said, there is clearly something in the works between Heath and Solomon. Fans will have to wait until it is announced to look forward to Heath’s next venture — whatever it may be.
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Dante Trudel Speaks Out On PED Use: ‘I Am Frustrated In People’s Short Outlook On Life’
Dante Trudel shared all of his frustrations when it comes to steroids in bodybuilding.
The issue of steroids in bodybuilding is not one that is going away anytime soon. In fact, many figures around the sport and industry are speaking out sharing their opinions and ways to improve. In a recent Instagram video, Dante Trudel decided to weigh in on the problem.
Trudel began bodybuilding at 20 years old and spent time around the sport in the 1990’s. He decided to get out and has since started many businesses, including being the creator of DC Training. Despite being active in the fitness industry, Trudel does not agree with the way PEDs and different substances are being used.
Dante Trudel and Hardcore Muscle
Dante Trudel explains in his caption that he is frustrated with this topic because of the messages and attention that it has been getting. Early in the video, Trudel references a newsletter that he began in the 90s called “Hardcore Muscle.”
READ MORE: Bodybuilders Are Dying: An Investigation Into Modern Bodybuilding, Health, & PED Use
In the newsletter, Trudel would often discuss and reference information around different areas of bodybuilding from sources such as Curtis Leffler, Tom Prince, Mike Mattarazzo, Phil Hernon. Trudel used these men to reveal an unfortunate truth.
“Those guys, what’s common? They’re all dead. Every single one of them.”
“There’s no one dying in natural bodybuilding. There’s no one dying in professional golf. There isn’t a preponderance of football players dying in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. There are a lot of professional bodybuilders, pro wrestlers dying young. People can make all the excuses they want but what’s the common occurrence? You guys can figure it out.”
Dante Trudel discussed bodybuilders dying early because of substances that are being taken. After pointing out this fact, Trudel continued to discuss how life does not end early.
Dante Trudel: “It’s Just Not Worth It”
Trudel continued his video by discussing how some young people might believe that life ends at a certain age. Trudel used himself as an example. He was married in his late 30s, had kids in his 40s, and started multiple businesses. Because of this, he wonders why people believe that bodybuilding is worth it.
Dante Trudel went onto discuss the late John Meadows. He explained how Meadows made money in many ways off the stage, including his YouTube page. Trudel says how only the top few bodybuilders in the sport actually make money and that others could be doing it for a trophy or vanity.
“The sad truth of the matter is that there is going to be a boatload of people watching this video right now that are going to die young. Because they are going to get done watching this video and forget about it because it doesn’t fit their agenda. Some of you are going to walk out to your mailbox at 45 years old and drop dead in front of your three-year old son. And for what? A Trophy? the vanity? That’s worth it?”
This topic gained plenty of attention over the last year or so because of the deaths that have hit the community hard. Both Shawn Rhoden and George Peterson passed away at the end of the 2021 season. Cedric McMillan passed away suddenly in April and this sparked the issue of steroids.
According to Dante Trudel, he does not believe that it is worth it. He ends his video with a call to action for some young users to sit back and wonder what they are exactly doing.
“I really think some of you guys need to sit back and think where you want to be in 10-20 years…I just think some of you need to think this stuff out. It’s not worth a $15 trophy. It just isn’t.”
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Mark Wahlberg Displays Intense Quad Workout During Leg Day
Mark Wahlberg continues to build a well-rounded physique at 50 years old.
Mark Wahlberg is a figure that can do it all in the entertainment business. As we have seen over the years, the 50-year-old is also dedicated to his fitness and can crush the gym with the best of them. Recently, Wahlberg shared a video on social media of a quad workout during leg day.
Wahlberg took to Instagram to share this post on Monday for his 18.9 million followers. Wahlberg burst onto the scene in the 90s with Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch but has since made a huge jump to the big screen.
Since arriving in Hollywood, Wahlberg has not been shy about showing off his shredded physique in many different roles. Wahlberg has appeared in comedies such as the Ted series and The Other Guys. He is also known for his incredible roles in action, such as The Italian Job and Lone Survivor.
Mark Wahlberg Crushes Leg Extensions
Recently, Mark Wahlberg has been showing off his sculpted abs on social media. This time around, he decided to get on the leg extension machine and pump up the quads. He is wearing blood flow restriction straps on his hamstrings to gain an extra pump during the workout.
“Day off!!?? Sorry @municipalis fueled by Performance Inspired Nutrition #inspiredtobebetter!! @bstrongtraining#MunicipalPartner“
Blood flow restriction is a training method that restricts the blood supply and venous supply to working muscles during physical activity. There are many advantages to this method and one major one is preventing muscle damage when lifting heavy weights.
READ MORE: Mark Wahlberg Appears Shredded Once Again After 14-Week Transformation
Mark Wahlberg has been through many transformations for different roles over the course of his career. One of the most eye-opening was when he had to put on a large amount of weight to play a struggling boxer turned priest in Father Stu. He was eating over 7,000 calories per day to prepare. Since then, he has lost the weight and is back to looking his best.
It is no secret that Wahlberg knows a thing or two about training. He is able to hit his home gym whenever he wants and will share different tips and tricks to his fans. If you want to see some results like Wahlberg, he suggests trying out the blood flow restriction method used when pumping his legs.
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Ronnie Coleman Trains Legs Twice A Week, Hits Calf Raises With Feet “Totally Numb”
Ronnie Coleman continues to train in the gym despite some physical limitations.
Ronnie Coleman put together a legendary career that will keep him up there with the best bodybuilders of all-time. The eight-time Olympia champion is tied for the most victories ever with Lee Haney. Despite his retirement and some physical limitations, Coleman has continued to train in the gym and recently showed off a leg day.
Coleman underwent many surgeries during his decorated career. In 2019, Coleman explained that he had went through back surgery 10 or more times. This left him needing some assistance to walk but the bodybuilder made sure to remain active in the gym.
In an Instagram post, Coleman shares a calf raise exercise and explains the importance of hitting leg day each week.
Ronnie Coleman: “It’s About How Bad You Wanna Do Something”
Ronnie Coleman went to MetroFlex Gym in Arlington, TX to take down this leg day. In the video, Coleman is seen on a seated calf raise machine attacking reps. Despite his feet going numb, Coleman continues the workout and does this to keep other levels where they need to be.
“Trying my very best to do calf raises with both of my feet being totally numb. Sometimes it’s not about how hard you try do something, it’s about how bad you wanna do something. Shout out to my friends over at Frontline Alternatives for helping me keep my liver, kidney and heart levels on point. #yeahbuddy“
This post comes a week after Ronnie Coleman revealed that he still trains legs twice a week. He is unable to squat anymore and says that this is what he misses the most but Coleman still has strength in his legs and likes to keep them in shape.
Coleman has remained active and influential in the sport of bodybuilding. He has discussed the issue of PEDs in the sport and believes that the “sport is not worth dying for.” This came after he went over a near-death experience of his own prior to the 2001 Olympia.
Ronnie Coleman continues to be an inspiration to all and this is why he was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2021 Arnold Classic. Workouts and videos like this calf raise venture is the big reason why.
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Jay Cutler Believes Derek Lunsford Can Thrive In Men’s Open: ‘He’s Young Enough Where I Think He’s Very Dangerous’
Jay Cutler believes Derek Lunsford could be a top-three finisher at the Olympia.
There has been plenty of discussion abut Derek Lunsford making a move to Men’s Open after his guest posing appearance at the 2022 Pittsburgh Pro. While nothing is set in stone, the idea remains in the mind of many around bodybuilding. Recently, Jay Cutler weighed in on the topic and believes that the 212 champion could thrive in Open bodybuilding.
Cutler might be done on stage but he remains extremely active in the gym and in the sport of bodybuilding. In a recent interview on Muscle and Fitness’ YouTube page, Cutler discussed his impression of Lunsford in Pittsburgh.
“This [Derek] Lunsford guy is the real deal. If you asked me who I was most impressed with, for sure Lunsford because I hadn’t seen that before. I never saw him guest pose like that. I saw him in the gym that day. He’s got the width, but he also has separation that, and he’s young enough where I think he’s very dangerous.”
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Jay Cutler and Chris Cormier continued to discuss the Olympia competition. After two consecutive titles, Big Ramy might be the competitor to beat but both former athletes believe that is might be Brandon Curry’s show to lose.
“He’s won second or first for how many? He won Arnold, second, first. He has the best track record. How do you not put him as a contender right? He’s been right there. He either won it or been second for a few years so nothing against the other guys,” jay cutler said.
Should Derek Lunsford Make The Move?
Derek Lunsford was able to get over the hump during the 2021 Olympia and win the 212 title. This has been his goal for years and was able to reach the pinnacle of the sport. It is clear that his goal at the moment is to defend his title but this does not mean that he will not make the move eventually.
Lunsford stepped in for Big Ramy, who was unable to get to Pittsburgh to be a guest poser at the show. He stepped on stage next to other elite competitors such as Curry, Hunter Labrada, and Nick Walker. This gave Lunsford a chance to compare his physique to those at the top of Men’s Open.
“He had told me honestly that he of course wants to defend 212. But I agree with you, I think it’s going to come down to let’s see how his body is coming together as he gets into August and September, see where he’s at. Remember, Hany keeps his food down. For that guest posing, he was on 150 grams of carbs a day. Think about if he actually ate. He was definitely over 250-pounds, I don’t know exactly how much over.”
Men’s Open continues to be the biggest division in bodybuilding. This means there is more publicity and a larger prize pool. A change for Derek Lunsford might not be coming this year but it could be in the cards moving forward.
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Daniella Melo Breaks American Bench Press Record In Raw-90kg Division With 304.2-Pound Lift
Daniella Melo continues to make noise in the powerlifting game.
Daniella Melo added to her long history at the USAPL Nationals over the weekend. She appeared in Las Vegas to compete in the 2022 USAPL Mega Nationals, where she was able to win the raw-90kg division. On her way to victory, Melo also set a new American bench press world record with a 138kg (304.2lb) lift.
Melo has won at the USAPL Nationals five times before. Her last one came in 2018 and this was the last time she appeared at the competition. Melo is back on top at the event and is continuing to put up eye-popping numbers within the division. This record was previously held by LeAnn Ramirez. She completed a 137.5kg (303.1lb) lift during the 2021 USAPL TBS Summer Open.
Melo’s lift can be seen below, courtesy of GOOD LIFT!’s YouTube page:
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Daniella Melo at Nationals
Daniella Melo entered the competition with high hopes and was able to complete all nine lifts she attempted. She weighed in at 193.7 pounds at the time of the competition allowing her to remain in her division. At the end of the event, she finished 15.5kg (34.2lb) over the second-place lifter.
Melo’s performance began with her squat reaching 457.5 pounds on her final attempt. This is less than her competition PR of 507 pounds, which was set during the 2019 IPF World Classic Championships. This is also where she set her deadlift competition PR of 542.4 pounds. On her third attempt, Melo was able to reach 496 pounds.
Daniella Melo shined on the bench press setting a new world record on her third and final lift. She added 12.1 pounds onto the bar from her second lift and completed it to set a new mark. Obviously, this was also a competition PR for Melo.
“6x National Champ ?”
Daniella Melo continues to impress in powerlifting and made a statement by winning Nationals for the sixth time. After setting a bench press record, Melo could have other numbers in mind to reach next time she steps on stage.
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Joe Rogan Opens Up About “Everything He Takes” Including TRT and Peptides
Image courtesy of Flagrant 2 Podcast & Instagram @joerogan
Joe Rogan speaks candidly about Testosterone Replacement Therapy and Peptides in order to maintain his physique.
Joe Rogan holds nothing back describing “everything he takes” in order to keep his physique in shape – including Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) and peptides. But while Rogan is best known for being open and honest on his own podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, Rogan’s comments come from being a guest on the Flagrant 2 podcast.
The Flagrant 2 podcast is hosted by comedian Andrew Schulz and Akaash Signh. During the over three hour conversation – the topic of getting shredded and fit came up. The hosts turned to Joe Rogan and asked him to detail “everything he takes” to maintain his physique at 54 years old.
Singh specifically, wanted advice on how to transform his physique into something more massive and conditioned. When challenged to break down everything he takes, Rogan laid it out bare:
“The big results come from testosterone replacement, so there’s that, and then there are peptides that increase your body’s ability to grow hormones like growth hormones and IGF-1 and all… “There’s BPC-157, ipamorelin, thymosin… What these things do is they help your body produce the hormones that it should have when you’re younger, and your body works better.”
While Joe Rogan is extremely open by naming the exact peptides he takes – he also makes an effort to focus on the importance of training and exercise. No amount of testosterone or peptides are going to magically make you stronger. They are not magic pills or injections that transform you into a physique god.
In fact, Joe Rogan continues further by saying that the single most important thing a person can do to slow down aging is to exercise. Regardless of any supplemental substances utlizied.
“Regular exercise is the biggest thing. If there’s ever one thing that someone can do to stop aging is to lift weights and don’t stop.”
Rogan even takes this a step further. He warns that those who want to he healthy, fit, and capable at older ages must focus on training for function and less for vanity. Training to just look good – or be the biggest in the room – will lead to burning out, injury, and long term problems.
“Don’t do it for vanity. Do it because you want to keep your tissue. Age is like a little demon that is slowly robbing you of your tissue. Your ability to walk upstairs, your ability to open up jars, your ability to open the car door when it’s frozen… The only way to stave that off is weight lifting.”
While Joe Rogan isn’t going to be blowing anybody’s minds in the bodybuilding space with these comments – it’s refreshing to see such a mainstream figure speak openly about subjects such as TRT and peptides. For many in the mainstream world – it’s unknown what kind of substances go into sculpting impressive physiques – particularly at older ages.
Many also are not aware of the toll substance use can lead to in the long run. It’s been well spoken about by bodybuilders and doctors like The Anabolic Doc that TRT becomes necessary after going through many steroid cycles for sports such as bodybuilding (and other pro sports despite testing).
Joe Rogan isn’t a bodybuilder – but his comments here bring some insight to those who might not otherwise have heard it elsewhere. Even some of the other guests on the podcasts joked that they would need to “google it” afterwards to better understand the substances he was listing off.
You can watch the full episode of Flagrant 2 below. The topic about TRT and peptides begins around the 2 hour and 7 minute mark.
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Larry Wheels Explains The Biggest Deadlift Mistake… And How Fixing It Made Him A Lifting Beast
“One of the biggest mistakes I made when I first started work with coach Gaglione was I wouldn’t set my back position before I lifted. I had a bad habit of yanking the weight off the ground when I lifted as a teenager… Before I got any coaching in the deadlift, I was so focused on my floor speed; I never actually got tight and my back would round when pulling off the floor.”
You can see his full post and explanation in the post below:
RELATED: Larry Wheels Discusses “Healthier Approach” To PEDs: ‘I’m Trying My Best To Send The Right Message To Those Using’
For many newcomers, the deadlift can be one of the more intimidating exercises to perform. Or, for those more cocky, they can see it as a simple maneuver – you just pull the weight off the floor, right?
But performing a perfect deadlift is far more complex than it may seem. It’s also a powerful compound exercise making it worthy of the popularity and praise it receives as a bodybuilding, powerlifting, and strongman staple. Correct posture, controlling your core, and ensuring that you push your feet through the floor is essential. All of this must be done without becoming too tense and over-focusing on form and psyching yourself out.
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ABOVE: Larry Wheels breaks down his worst ever lifting injury in our exclusive Geneartion Iron interview.
Larry Wheels goes into surprising detail (for an Instagram post at least) explaining how bracing properly before a lift is essential for optimizing the deadlift. It’s what separates a good lifter from an elite lifter. It’s the kind of advice that was a game changer for Wheels – and likely helped him rise up to the hardcore lifter we know today.
Larry Wheels breaks down how any aspiring lifter can try along at home:
“This may sound confusing at first yet you can try yourself at home.
Find your hip bones And place one hand there
Then find the bottom your rib cage.. the big fellas may need to do a little digging lol
Arch your back and notice the distance increases
Round over and you will notice the distance gets shorter
Now find that middle ground
This is a great way to learn how to position your back properly which is extremely important in both the squat and the deadlift”
The kind of advice for positioning your back properly that Larry Wheels gives here is a very helpful alternative to trying to find your middle position in the mirror. Different body types, shapes, and sizes all have a different “neutral” – making finding the position challenging until you’ve mastered it for yourself.
Ultimately, this is what is best about Larry Wheel’s post and advice. It’s one coming from experience and admitting past mistakes – rather than a generic catch all instruction manual that you can often find online. By making spine alignment more personal to his experience – and sharing tips on making it personal for anyone watching – Wheels proves that a few “secrets” to better lifts really do exist.
You can review his full post and breakdown of deadlift back and spine alignment above. And make sure to stick around the Generation Iron Fitness Network for news and updates on all things bodybuilding, fitness, and strength sports.