Tag: nEWS
Guy Cisternino: Love For Social Media Is Replacing Love For Training In Bodybuilding
[embedded content]
Guy Cisternino shares one of the biggest things he hates about bodybuilding today.
Guy Cisternino is a pro bodybuilder who is not afraid to speak his mind – even if it’s not what people want to hear. That’s why we asked him to share one thing he loves about modern bodybuilding… and one thing he hates about modern bodybuilding. In our latest GI Exclusive, Guy Cisternino details how he loves the camaraderie of bodybuilding but hates how social media has changed training.
In our first GI Exclusive segment with Guy Cisternino, we discussed the viral video showcasing him confronting people at the gym. He was in the middle of a set and was angry due to younger gym patrons filming aggressively close to the current exercise machine Cisternino was using. Ultimately, he was able to explain himself and patch things up with the young gym-goers.
But the problem that started it, filming constantly in the gym during training, is the biggest thing that Guy Cisternino dislikes about modern bodybuilding. In his own words, he believes that, “the love for training is becoming more a love for social media.” What he means by this is that young bodybuilders see training more as “content” rather than a means to improving their physique.
This is, of course, a very generalized statement. But it tracks with what Guy Cisternino was telling us in a previous segment as well. Cisternino loves hardcore focused bodybuilders. Branch Warren is one of his biggest inspiration. Today, he sees less of that and more young bodybuilders constantly filming their training and filming random content in between sets. Cisternino worries that young bodybuilders are trying to skip the line and become famous before they accomplish major victories as a competitive bodybuilder.
Social media has also proved that you can be successful without ever competing. Influencers like Rich Piana, Bradley Martyn, and Craig Golias find success through social media without having to compete on the pro level. Guy Cisternino argues that those individuals are the outliers. The problem is everyone wants to be the outlier instead of doing the hard work of becoming a successful pro.
“They’re trying to be in our shoes as professionals before even stepping on stage. And it’s frustrating,” Guy Cisternino states in our interview. He continues:
“And yeah, in my eyes, and I don’t think it’s bad to say But for me to say it’s not disrespectful to think that a 20 year old kid has a camera crew filing himself working out because he thinks… he’s trying to be somebody on the same level as somebody like me? What I do? It’s crazy. It’s like, I would never act like I’m a professional football player on social media because I’m not a professional football player. But you’re going to act like you’re a professional bodybuilder or professional trainer and you’re 20 years old and have a camera crew? Like work for what you have.”
This is a divide between generations that exists beyond bodybuilding. A portion of millennials and Gen Z grew up a world where it feels like anyone can become famous because sites like YouTube and Instagram have a low bar for entry. Namely, it’s free to upload and broadcast content. Once that content became monetizable – newer generations discovered there was money to be made via influencer success.
But much like fame in any era – it can only be a small percentage who actually achieve it. Now with the bar for entry lower, it at least seems like more individuals are attempting to pursue it. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this. But when it enters tried and true traditions or public spaces – it can clash with the old way of doing things.
Is one inherently worse than the other? Time and reflection on an entire generation will be the true teacher. But for Guy Cisternino, it’s simply something he hates about the current state of bodybuilding. It’s not wrong. It’s not right. But it’s something that clashes with what he loves about bodybuilding – the passion for training above all else.
You can watch Guy Cisternino explain his full comments in our latest GI Exclusive interview segment above!
Are “Stretching Intervals” the Secret to Better Fitness?
What role does stretching play in your workout routine?
Most people in the health and fitness community will tell you that stretching is good for you, but the agreement ends there. In terms of anything more than that — how often should I stretch? What types of stretches should I be doing? Should I stretch before or after a workout, or both? — you will find thousands of camps, each with thousands of equally legitimate-sounding studies backing up whatever their personal belief is about the role of stretching in the workout.
We did a quick roundup online of what the research is really saying about stretching. Some experts even suggest that taking time to stretch during your workouts, rather than before or afterwards, is the most beneficial type of stretching you can be doing for your body.
Certified Pilates instructor Sarah James recently spoke with Well+Good to discuss her “stretch intervals” method, which consists of taking time to stretch in between reps during strength training: “It’s using time while you’re resting to get energy for your next exercise—you might as well be stretching, because you’re [using] every second of your time in a smart way.” Basically, since most of us just about collapse from exhaustion in between sets anyways, her view is that doing light stretching instead is a great way to maintain the body’s equilibrium.
The goal when working out is always to keep yourself as consistently active as possible for the duration of the workout. So, if you stretch between sets instead of lying on the floor like a beached whale, you’re doing a much better job of keeping your body fluid and in motion for as long as possible.
Another universal truth of stretching is that it increases flexibility. In the bodybuilding world, we tend to minimize flexibility as a way of thinking about the body in favor of traits we might prefer: strength, muscle mass, definition, etc. But here’s why it does matter to us: flexibility means durability.
Flexibility isn’t just useful in helping you touch your toes; flexibility helps your body heal faster, acclimates your muscles to change, and, most importantly, flexibility significantly reduces your chances of sustaining a serious injury in the gym. (At least, if you’re working out correctly, it does.) The range of motion you have in your joints shouldn’t be overlooked, whether your lifting weights or doing squats. Injuries like torn muscles, rotator cuff injuries, and even sprained ankles can keep people out of the gym for weeks or even months. So, flexibility is not only one of the core principles of fitness, it’s also an important preventive health measure.
Harvard Health gathered data from the American College of Sports Medicine on the perfect way to stretch. Their panel concluded that stretching is necessary at least two or three times a week, even for those who are not athletic, as a healthy part of body maintenance. So, for those of you who are working your bodies hard in the gym every day, stretching should be an every day thing as well, otherwise you’re not maximizing your workouts.
How do you stretch when you do your workouts? Let us know in the comments below!
Sarah Robles Wins Bronze At 2020 Olympic Games
American weightlifter Sarah Robles took home the bronze medal in Tokyo.
Sarah Robles went into Monday’s final in the Women’s +87-kg category at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo looking to return to the medal stand. After a strong performance, Robles earned bronze for the second-straight Olympics and became the first U.S. woman to win two Olympic weightlifting medals.
It was a competition full of storylines, headlined by Laurel Hubbard and her journey to become the first transgender athlete to compete in the Olympic Games. By the end of the day, Robles had stole the show.
Robles successfully completed five of her six lifts to total 282-kg (621.7lb). She went three-for-three on snatches, with her final attempt being 128-kg (282.1lb). Robles then completed a clean & jerk of 154-kg (339.5lb). She missed on her sixth and final attempt of the day. This allowed British weightlifter Emily Campbell to erase a deficit and earn silver. China’s Li Wenwen took home gold in the competition.
Sarah Robles has been one of the best powerlifters for the U.S. for nearly a decade. At 33 years old, Robles became the oldest American woman to medal at the Olympics and the second-oldest to compete. She finished sixth at the 2012 London Olympics and earned bronze during the 2016 Rio Games.
The success for Robles has not just taken place at the Olympics. Since 2009, she has represented America at the World Weightlifting Championships. This includes three gold medals in 2017 in the snatch, clean & jerk, and total. Robles has also seen great success at the Pan American Championships, where she has won overall four years in a row from 2017-2020.
Robles took to Instagram to celebrate her medal. Her performance came just one day after her birthday.
This victory solidified Sarah Robles as one of the all-time greats in American powerlifting. It is unknown if she will compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris but if this performance was any indication, it looks like there are plenty of good years of competing left in the tank for Robles.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
After Being Silent for Most of The Year, Big Ramy Reveals Incredible Physique
Big Ramy reveals an incredible physique in recent progress update.
Mamdouh “Big Ramy” Elssbiay recently revealed some incredible physique updates. The reigning Mr. Olympia shared some progress pics on his Instagram story that show a champion ready to defend his title.
Let’s face it, Big Ramy hasn’t been that vocal of an Olympia champion. Ever since his victory at the 2020 show in December, Big Ramy hasn’t made many public appearances. He hasn’t hyped up his comeback nor has he declared that he will dominate the competition. That could be because the Egyptian powerhouse has always been extremely humble. The 2020 Mr.Olympia has never been one to brag or make boastful declarations.
That said, it has been a bit interesting to have an Olympia champion who hasn’t promoted his return to the stage. Like always, Big Ramy appears to be of the mind that his actions will speak louder than any words he can muster.
Champion Level Physique
But that doesn’t mean Big Ramy has completely left the bodybuilding world hanging. The defending Mr. Olympia recently took the time to post a physique update to his Instagram story. In the story it’s pretty clear that Big Ramy is in some pretty incredible condition. In fact, if he’s able to maintain this form we could easily see him repeat this year.
From what we can make out in these progress pics, Big Ramy has been able to not only maintain his size, but improve his conditioning. His shoulder to waist ratio is truly astonishing to behold. The 2020 Mr. Olympia has built the kind of physical form that will put the division on notice for this October.
The biggest question about these photos is when they were taken. There’s no telling if these progress pics are current or if they were taken months ago. It’s a recent trend during this social media age. Bodybuilders are releasing “physique updates” that don’t represent their current forms. It throws their competition off the scent and gives them a false depiction or their current progress.
If Big Ramy is following the trend then it could be possible that the defending champion is in even better shape than we realize.
What do you think of Big Ramy and his recent progress pics?
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
Laurel Hubbard Out Of Olympic Games But Continues to Make History
Laurel Hubbard put on a groundbreaking performance and made history at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. She became the first transgender athlete to complete at the Olympics but her journey came to an end on Monday.
Hubbard failed to complete a single lift in her three attempts during the 87-kg finals. The New Zealand weightlifter failed her first attempt of a 120-kg snatch when the bar went over her head and behind her neck. Hubbard then completed what she thought was a successful lift of 125 kg but the judges did not agree. They ruled it a no-lift and Hubbard was down to her final attempt. The bar went over her head once again on attempt three and Hubbard was eliminated.
Laurel Hubbard did not earn a medal at the Olympic Games but she was still a major topic of conversation. There was plenty of debates about whether or not she should be able to compete.
In the end, the International Olympic Committee believed that Hubbard met all requirements for trans athletes and fair competition. The debate continued throughout the games but Hubbard was able to compete in Tokyo without any further issues. Before making her exit, Hubbard made sure to gesture to the crowd and did so by patting her chest and making a heart with her hands to show appreciation.
“I would particularly like to thank the IOC, for I think really affirming its commitment to the principles of Olympism and establishing that sport is something for all people, that it is inclusive and is accessible,” Hubbard said the the media.
Laurel Hubbard began her gender transition at the age of 35. She did not compete as a weightlifter at the international level up until this point. At 43 years old, Hubbard was able to make it to the Olympic Games. Hubbard’s testosterone levels were still greater than the standard for biological women but the IOC gave her approval and she was able to make a statement with her performance.
“I see the Olympic Games as a global celebration of our hopes, ideals and values and I would like to thank the IOC for its commitment to making sport inclusive and accessible,” Hubbard said in a statement provided by the IOC on Friday.
Hubbard was the oldest competitor in the finals. Sarah Elizabeth Robles was the closest to Hubbard in age at 43. Before going through her transition, Hubbard took some time away from lifting. What she was able to do will spark plenty of conversation but Hubbard is hoping to be an inspiration to many and make a change moving forward.
George Farah: How To Travel Before A Competition Without Ruining Your Physique
[embedded content]
Traveling takes away from a normal bodybuilding routine. Here’s how to avoid ruining your physique.
While a bodybuilder might first compete in their local state pro shows, eventually all pro bodybuilders must travel to compete. This presents an interesting challenge. Competition prep is a very delicate and specific time for pro bodybuilders. Traveling can disrupt that routine. So how do pro bodybuilders prevent ruining their physique while traveling to a pro show? In our latest GI Exclusive, George Farah explains how to properly travel without ruining your bodybuilding physique.
At some point or another, a successful bodybuilder will have to jump onto a plane to compete at a major pro show. It might be the New York Pro, Chicago Pro, Arnold Classic, or Olympia. In either case, long term travel will be involved. How do bodybuilders successfully travel so close to a competition without disrupting their prep diet and training?
We asked this very question to legendary bodybuilding coach and guru George Farah. His advice, while aimed at competitive bodybuilders, can also be very insightful for anyone looking to travel living a bodybuilding lifestyle. A massive and shredded physique requires a very strict diet and training. That goes out the window when you’re stuck on a plane for six-twelve hours being fed airline food. It’s never perfect – but George Farah has key tips to keep you on point.
While it may seem the biggest challenge is not getting the proper diet, the truth is that water weight is your biggest enemy while traveling. This is due to staying still for so long in one place sitting up. Whether it’s a car, a plane, or a train – sitting still for so long will cause your body to look “soft” due to water weight. That’s why George Farah stresses the importance of getting up and walking every 45 minutes of traveling.
It’s essential to getting blood flowing and preventing your water weight from going out of whack. In addition to this, if you are going to a show or someplace to showcase your physique – make sure to arrive 48 hours beforehand. This give you extra time to adjust once you land if anythings starts to look off.
It should also be noted that George Farah’s walking advice is a great tip for anyone traveling long distance – not just bodybuilders. Taking some time to stretch and walk every 45 minutes helps prevent the possibility of blood clots. While rare – if this does form it can eventually dislodge and flow to vital organs such as your heart. That can ultimately cause serious damage.
So George Farah’s advice is powerful on two fronts. It helps maintain your physique while traveling and also can help prevent blood clots. It’s a win/win situation. So make sure to take Farah’s advice seriously. It may sound simple and ineffective – it can actually make a big difference.
You can watch George Farah go into more detail about the key rules of traveling without ruining your physique in our latest GI Exclusive interview above!
2021 Vallarta BodyFit Contest Results
Complete results from the 2021 Vallarta BodyFit Contest.
The 2021 Vallarta BodyFit Contest saw two competitors gain qualification to the 2021 Mr. Olympia. On Saturday in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Noel Adame and Francesca Stoico finished at the top of their respective divisions and will have a chance to compete at the biggest event of the year.
Adame will prepare for his second Olympia appearance. The first came in 2019 where he finished 16th. Adame gained qualification by winning the Indy Pro 212. For Stoico, this is her fifth victory since 2018. She will also be making her second-straight appearance at the Olympia.
There were two divisions at the 2021 Vallarta BodyFit Contest that allowed winners to qualify for the Olympia. The full results have now been announced. Check out our full breakdown of the 2021 Vallarta BodyFit Contest results below.
Vallarta BodyFit Contest: All Division Winners
A quick breakdown of the winners in each division from the 2021 Vallarta BodyFit Contest. All winners are now automatically qualified to compete in the Olympia 2021.
Men’s 212: Noel Adame
Bikini: Francesca Stoico
Vallarta BodyFit Contest Breakdown
Men’s 212 Results
First Place – Noel Adame
Second Place – Esteban Bravo
Third Place – Leonardis Cardoza
Fourth Place – Victor Eric Lopez Garcia
Fifth Place – Christyan Gomez
Bikini Results
First Place – Francesca Stoico
Second Place – Eli Fernandez
Third Place – Jasmine Gonzalez
Fourth Place – Pricila Rodrigues
Fifth Place – Jodie Yunker
Generation Iron wishes to congratulate all the great athletes who earned a win at the Vallarta BodyFit Contest. Make sure to check out our full IFBB Pro results page from this year and previous years right here to catch up on any action you may have missed!
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.
Phil Heath Shows Off An Incredibly Improved and Ripped Midsection
Phil Heath has revitalized his midsection.
Phil Heath isn’t quite ready to hang up the trunks yet. In a recent post to his Instagram, Heath showed off an incredibly improved abs ripped midsection. He is shoring up his weaknesses no doubt to make a return at a future date.
To be a competitive athlete is to understand that your window of opportunity is short. No one can compete at the highest levels for all time. It takes a certain of dedication, experience, and, for some, youth. There comes a time when a competitor’s advanced age can prove to be their undoing.
Apparently Phil Heath missed the memo on that one.
Just one you think Phil Heath may be calling it quits, he reaffirmed that he still has plenty of fight left in him. The seven-time Olympia champion isn’t quite done with competitive bodybuilding yet. On the contrary, Heath appears to be putting in tremendous amount of work on shoring up his weaknesses while improving his strengths. One weakness in particular is his midsection.
Midsection Improvements
During the tail end of his title reign, Phil Heath was constantly criticized for his midsection. But a recent progress pic shows that Heath has that issue well under control now. Heath took to social media to show off some incredibly ripped abs that no doubt put the rest of the division on notice.
When you really focus on being your best, it doesn’t come from dabbling. It comes from hard work, sacrifice, victory and defeat but within it all one thing remains…it is YOU VERSUS YOU!!!
Wanna prove others wrong?
Go for it, but I suggest starting with proving yourself RIGHT FIRST!!! Bet on yourself, do the hard work for YOU, stop comparing yourself to others. There is only ONE of you, make it count and give a damn about your success!
Happy Friday y’all! Have a great, safe weekend! Much love ~PH ??
With this kind of improvement you can be certain that Phil Heath will be back in action at some point in the future. This was a clear message to the division that he’s not quite done yet. Things could get pretty interesting in the near future.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
2021 Asian Pro Grand Prix Results
Complete results from the 2021 Asian Grand Prix.
There were more automatic qualifications to the 2021 Olympia handed out on Saturday. The 2021 Asian Grand Prix took place over the weekend in Seoul City, Korea. The division winners will now have a chance to compete in the biggest competition of the year.
There was plenty of talent in this competition and it was led by the likes of Dongsik Shin and Simoon Kim. Shin has been a force in the Men’s Bodybuilding division and will now have a chance to compete at the 2021 Olympia.
These five divisions at the Asian Pro Grand Prix handed out qualifications to winners for the Olympia. The full results have now been announced. Check out our full breakdown of the competition results below.
2021 Asian Pro Grand Prix: All Division Winners
A quick breakdown of the winners in each division from the 2021 Asian Grand Prix. All winners are now automatically qualified to compete in the Olympia 2021.
Men’s Bodybuilding: Dongsik Shin
Men’s Physique: Simoon Kim
Classic Physique: Dongho Kim
Figure: Jiyoon Seo
Bikini: Yuna Kang
2021 Asian Pro Grand Prix Breakdown
Men’s Bodybuilding
First Place – Dongsik Shin
Second Place – Yonghan Yoo
Third Place – Beom Oh
Fourth Place – Seungjong Park
Fifth Place – Sundown Lee
Men’s Physique
First Place – Simoon Kim
Second Place – Jinwoo Jung
Third Place – Gyesu Jeong
Fourth Place – Seongjae Lee
Classic Physique
First Place – Dongho Kim
Second Place – Dogeom Hong
Third Place -Seungmoo Lee
Fourth Place -Yongseung Lee
Fifth Place – Ikjin Park
Bikini
First Place – Yuna Kang
Second Place – Songhee Han
Third Place – Nayoung Choi
Fourth Place – Jaein Song
Fifth Place – Dabin Yoon
Figure
First Place – Jiyoon Seo
Second Place – Youngju Han
Third Place – Youngsuk Choi
Generation Iron wishes to congratulate all the great athletes who earned a win at the 2021 Asian Grand Prix. Make sure to check out our full IFBB Pro results page from this year and previous years right here to catch up on any action you may have missed!
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.
2021 Battle of the Bodies Results
Complete results from the 2021 Battle of the Bodies.
There are still plenty of automatic qualifications left to be handed out for the 2021 Mr. Olympia. This continued on Saturday with the 2021 Janet Layug’s Battle of the Bodies. This competition was held in Coral Springs, FL and competitors from eight divisions were able to qualify for the biggest competition of the year.
Janet Layug is one of the stars of the bikini division in women’s bodybuilding. She is the reigning Olympia Bikini champion and this is just one of her many accomplishments. Layug burst onto the scene in 2013 and since then, she has totaled five victories and 15 top-five finishes.
Maureen Blanquisco took home the victory in this competition and will have a chance to compete at the 2021 Olympia. This is her fifth victory since 2018. Blanquisco qualified for the 2019 Olympia with a victory at the Tampa Pro 2019. She finished ninth in the bikini division and will have a chance to return this season.
There were a total of 30 competitors at the Battle of the Bodies with the winner vying for a qualification to the Olympia. The full results have now been announced. Check out our full breakdown of the 2021 Battle of the Bodies results below.
2021 Battle of the Bodies Breakdown
Bikini Results
First Place – Maureen Blanquisco
Second Place – Daraja Hill
Third Place – Cristobalina Pajares
Fourth Place – Reijuana Harley
Fifth Place – Ivanna Escandar Fernandez
Sixth Place – Carolina Collazos
Seventh Place – Erin Stern
Eighth Place – Danielle Combs
Ninth Place – Isha Barrow
Tenth Place – Alecia Verrone
Generation Iron wishes to congratulate Maureen Blanquisco, who earned a win at the 2021 Battle of the Bodies. Make sure to check out our full IFBB Pro results page from this year and previous years right here to catch up on any action you may have missed!
Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.