Tag: powerlifting

Larry Wheels Transformation Program To Become The Strongest Version of Yourself

Larry Wheels Transformation Program To Become The Strongest Version of Yourself

Larry Williams aka Larry Wheels is an American strongman, bodybuilder, and powerlifter. He is best known for his incredible strength and muscle mass.
Larry Wheels has fast become one of the most popular faces in the bodybuilding and powerlifting world. The guy lifts a shit ton of weight like it ain’t nothing but a peanut. Wait, I think I’ve heard this somewhere before, but I digress. 
Wheels has been getting a lot of eyeballs for his crazy lifts. In fact, Ronnie Coleman, an 8X Mr. Olympia and one of the strongest bodybuilders of all time, went on record to praise the powerlifter’s strength. 

Larry Wheels Stats

Name: Larry Williams
Height: 6’1″ 
Weight: 245–255 pounds
Birthday: 3 December 1994 
Profession: Powerlifting 

Larry Wheels Powerlifting Record

Raw 2,275lbs total (810 lbs squat, 610 lbs bench press, 855 lbs deadlift) at 275 lbs of body weight

The numbers mentioned above are from a 2017 powerlifting meet. Larry has since bested his PRs. His current best numbers are:

Squat: 950 pounds
Bench Press: 675 pounds
Deadlift: 937 pounds

Wheels’ Instagram feed is nothing short of a work of art. Like a fine painter, he tries to outdo his masterpiece every time he has a go on the canvas.
Larry has a tendency to push himself too hard. Although we have seen Larry Wheels lift insane weights without a care in the world, it has not gone so well for his training partners.
In the recent past, Ryan Crowley and Mike Edwards have met with accidents on the bench press while training with Larry Wheels. On top of that, Wheels himself has suffered an injury while benching. 
Statistically speaking, a majority of Larry Wheels’ injuries occur on the bench press. 
We have advice for people training with Wheels; do not hit the bench!

The Larry Wheels Story
Wheels grew up in extreme poverty in Bronx, New York. He started training for personal safety. He wanted to look bigger and stronger so nobody could bully him.
Since Larry could not afford a gym membership initially, he began doing push-ups, pull-ups, and sit-ups every day at home. With the help of his mother, he later built himself a basic weight set consisting of two 40 lbs concrete blocks and a broomstick.
Fast forward several years and training at a gym, Larry Wheels is now a professional powerlifter. He also made two powerlifting world records in 2017, making a name for himself in the sport in the process.
“Because cinder blocks were so heavy, I’d have to swing the weight up. It wasn’t pretty, but I did manage to do three sets of curls and military presses.” – Larry Wheels
Related: Larry Wheels Shares Throwback Video Before He Had Any Muscle

Larry Wheels Diet
Growing up, Wheels did not have the resources to find himself a professional coach who could help him with his training and nutrition program. But that did not push Larry to give up his passion for lifting weights.
He learned everything about the sport through trial and error. Going by his physique and strength, it would be safe to say that Wheels has his shit figured out. 
Larry Wheels Diet Plan
Wheels eats 8-9 meals every day. When trying to bulk up, he consumes around 5,500 calories a day. Beef, rice, and avocados are the staples in Larry’s high-calorie diet.
However, when cutting down for a show, Larry Wheels limits his calories intake to 4,400 calories a day. The staples for his shredding diet include salmon, chicken, sweet potatoes, and rice.
Must Read: Larry Wheels Accepts And Completes Hafthor Bjornsson’s Bench Press Challenge
It should be noted that Larry’s cutting diet can be an average bodybuilder’s bulking diet. Larry William’s bulking diet looks something like this:
Meal 1

Eggs 
Oatmeal 
Fruit Juice

Meal 2

Whey Protein

Meal 3

Cookie Crisp Cereal
Milk

Meal 4

Whey Protein

Meal 5

Grilled Chicken Burger
French Fries

Meal 6

Lasagna 
Yogurt

 Meal 7

Whey Protein

 Meal 8

Larry Wheels Workout Program
Since Wheels came from humble beginnings, he could not afford a gym membership in his early years. After landing a job, the powerlifter paid for his first gym membership and started seeing dramatic progress in his physique.
Although he was getting bigger and stronger, Larry lost interest in bodybuilding after six months of joining a gym and decided to train for strength instead. 
Training Principles
Larry Wheels’ workout routine revolves around the following principles:
1. Train Like a Powerlifter
Wheels is more jacked than most powerlifters and stronger than most bodybuilders. He is one of the few successful powerbodybuilders. To achieve his incredible strength and muscle size, Larry alternates between powerlifting and bodybuilding programs.
We will be breaking down his training part into two sections:

Larry’s Powerlifting Program
Larry’s Bodybuilding Program

By the end of this article, you will have a concrete plan of how to build size and strength like Larry Wheels.
Related: Larry Wheels Strict Curls 231 Lbs, Closes in on World Record
2. Rest is Key
In his initial lifting days, Larry barely took any rest. He believed that the more he trained, the bigger and stronger he is going to get. Although it worked for him initially, Larry soon hit a plateau. 
According to him, he was stuck at 190 lbs, and the needle on the weighing machine would not budge no matter how hard he trained or how much he ate.
He started seeing progress in his strength and size only after he reduced his workout frequency.

Larry Wheels Powerlifting Program
Wheels follows a three-day powerlifting training program. Traning heavy three days a week and taking the remaining four days off allows him enough time to recover from his intense training sessions.
Here is what his training routine looks like:

Monday: Squat
Wednesday: Bench Press
Friday: Deadlift

After lifting heavy on the big 3 in his powerlifting program, Larry performs a few assistance exercises for his upper and lower body.
As per Larry, he squats and bench presses once per week and deadlifts on alternate weeks. The low-frequency training program gives his body the optimal time it requires to recover from his workouts. It also puts less wear and tear on his body and helps him avoid injuries.
Check Out: Larry Wheels Hits Massive Deadlift PR and Bleeds from His Neck!
Monday: Squat

Reverse band back squat: 3 sets of 1 rep
Plank: 3 sets to failure
Glute ham raise: 3 sets to failure

Larry Wheels performs this workout a few weeks before his powerlifting meets. The Instagram icon goes super-heavy on squats.
Note: we would not encourage beginners or intermediate lifters to emulate what he does in the gym.
Larry likes the reverse bands as they let him get used to the feeling of an ultra-heavy weight on his back, and they take some of the pressure off his back and legs in the bottom position.
Watch: Larry Wheels Sets New Personal Best With Massive 950lb Squat
Wednesday: Bench Press

Bench press: 3 sets of 1 rep
Super yolk push press: 3 sets of 5 reps
V-handle Seated cable row: 3 sets of 10-15 reps
Standing cable external rotation: 3 sets of 10-15 reps

Larry begins his second workout with a 1RM (one rep max) on the bench press. 
Remember: Wheels performs a thorough warm-up routine before starting his workouts. Do not make the blunder of attempting a 1RM without your joints properly warmed up.
Watch: Larry Wheels Sets PR With 44 Reps Of 308 Pounds On Bench Press
Friday: Deadlift

Deadlift: 1-10 reps

For his deadlift workouts, Larry does not perform any accessory exercises. He works up to a heavy set of 1-10 reps on the deadlift and then calls it a day.
As we said earlier, Larry Wheels only performs the deadlift every alternate week. On the weeks he does not deadlift, Larry does other upper body exercises.
Watch: Larry Wheels Sets Deadlift PR With 7 Reps of 347kg

Larry Wheels Bodybuilding Program
When Larry trains like a bodybuilder his goal is to build muscle size while maintaining his overall strength levels. His bodybuilding training split includes:

Day 1: Chest
Day 2: Back
Day 3: Shoulders
Day 4: Legs
Day 5: Arms
Day 6: Off
Day 7: Off

Wheels is a freak of nature. He currently weighs around 300 lbs and usually sports a six-pack throughout the year. You could not say the same thing for most pro athletes.
Larry trains each muscle group on a separate day so he can perform more volume per muscle. 

Day 1: Chest Workout

Incline dumbbell bench press: 3 sets of 5-10 reps
Standing cable fly: 3 sets of 10-15 reps
Incline bench press: 3 sets of 10-15 reps
Rope cable pushdown: 3 sets of 10-15 reps

Wheels stays true to his powerlifting background even in his bodybuilding-style workouts. He does incline bench press with 200+ pound dumbbells. 
Day 2: Back Workout

Barbell row: 3 sets of 5 reps
Wide-grip Lat pull-down: 3 sets of 10-15 reps
Pull-up: 3 sets to failure
Hammer strength low row: 3 sets of 10-15 reps

Why just five reps on the barbell row, you ask?
Larry being Larry, performs barbell rows with almost 600 lbs. Now, do not load up your barbell with the same weight. Be mindful, and use a weight that can help you reach failure around five reps, safely.
Wheels does pull-ups in the middle of his workout. For this exercise, perform as many reps as you can with just your bodyweight. However, if you can still do more than 20-reps, feel free to add resistance by using a dip belt.
Check Out: Larry Wheels Shares Exercise To Build A Massive Back
Day 3: Shoulders Workout

Seated barbell overhead press: 3 sets of 1 rep
Machine Viking press: 3 sets of 10-15 reps
Seated dumbbell overhead press: 3 sets of 10-15 reps
Standing dumbbell lateral raise: 3 sets of 10-15 reps

To kick off his shoulder workout, Larry performs seated military press with almost 500 pounds. He limits the first exercise to a 1RM and does not perform 5-10 reps as he does in his other workouts.
For the next three exercises, Wheels pumps up the volume and performs a higher number of reps for a better pump and muscle fiber recruitment and activation. 
If you never heard of the Viking press before, you are not alone. Larry Wheels picked up this exercise while training with the professional strongman competitor, Hafthor Bjornsson aka Thor. 
Next Read: Larry Wheels Sets New PR With 140lb Shoulder Press For 17 Reps
Day 4: Legs Workout

Machine leg extension: 3 sets of 8-12 reps
Squat: 3 sets of 15 reps
Leg press: 3 sets of 10-15 reps
Seated leg curl: 3 sets of 10-15 reps
Walking lunges: 3 sets of 10-15 reps (each leg)

If you did not already know, Larry Wheels has incredible squatting strength. He likes to pre-exhaust his wheels with the leg extensions at the beginning of his workouts so he does not have to go super heavy on the squat (see what we did there?).
Follow the same workout with the same intensity, and you will surely be limping around for a few days. 
Day 5: Arms Workout

V-handle Cable pushdown: 3 sets of 10-15 reps
Seated dumbbell French press: 3 sets of 10-15 reps
Incline skull crusher: 3 sets of 10-15 reps
Incline EZ-bar spider curl: 3 sets of 10-15 reps
Unilateral machine preacher curl: 3 sets of 10-15 reps

Although Larry Wheels has mountains for arms, he rarely goes heavy on arm day. He believes that since his arms are a secondary muscle group in his chest, shoulder, and back workouts, he does not need to push himself too hard on his arm day. While working his guns, Larry likes to train for muscle pumps. 
Day 6: Rest Day
Day 7: Rest Day

Training Advice
Training like Larry Wheels is no joke. The Instagram sensation has endured many injuries on his way to stardom. You can check out some of his injury videos here, here, here, here, here, and here. Also, he faced a medical emergency while filming for Strength Wars: The Movie.
These are an awful lot of injuries for a single athlete. That tells you something about Larry Wheel’s training style. We recommend not going too hard on yourself, especially if you are a beginner. 
If you are a newbie, you would be better off starting with a beginner’s training routine and then progressing to Larry Wheels’ training and diet program under the guidance of a professional. 
Next Read: ‘Strength Wars: The Movie’ Clip – Larry Wheels Vs NDO Champ
Supplements
You certainly cannot lift the way Larry Wheels does without using supplements. Not only do sports supplements support your workouts, but they also help you recover post-training. Wheels’ supplement stack includes:

Creatine: Improves strength, increases lean muscle mass, and helps your muscles recover more quickly during exercise.
BCAA: Helps in building and repairing muscles throughout the day.
Multivitamin: Fills nutritional gaps and makes sure people get their daily allowance of under-consumed nutrients.
Whey Protein: Helps improve muscle protein synthesis and promote muscle growth.
Pre-workout: Psyches you up for your workouts, helps you recover and delays the onset of fatigue.

Who is your favorite powerbodybuilder? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.

Graham Hicks Will Miss 2022 Britain’s Strongest Man Due To Groin Injury

Graham Hicks Will Miss 2022 Britain’s Strongest Man Due To Groin Injury

Graham Hicks will be forced to miss some time after suffering a groin injury.
Graham Hicks is no stranger to the Britain’s Strongest Man competition. He was victorious in 2019 but has been dealing with injuries since. The strongman will be forced to miss the 2022 Britain’s Strongest Man with a groin injury. 
Hicks suffered the same injury prior to the 2021 World’s Strongest Man contest and was sidelined. He shared an explanation on his YouTube page. This is the reason Hicks will miss the show and you can even see when the discomfort began.

Graham Hicks explained that it was difficult to go through any of the movements necessary to a strongman. He quickly went to a doctor to check out the injury and figure out just how serious it was.
“At the moment, I’m not able to train in any of the events without significant discomfort.
I’m going to do everything that Stuart [the doctor] said, I’m going to really try to train smart and be patient, and hopefully it will pay off.”
This is a nagging injury that Hicks has been dealing with for over a year now. He has discovered different ways to train around the injury and has competed through it. Because the injury has not completely healed, Hicks will be forced to miss time while the groin strengthens.

After being victorious at the 2019 Britain’s Strongest Man event, Hicks missed the 2020 show with an undisclosed injury. In 2021, he won bronze and finished behind Tom Stoltman and Adam Bishop. Stoltman is the reigning champion while Bishop won the event in 2020. Both competitors will be present at the 2022 show and will highlight a group of 10 competitors.
2022 Britain’s Strongest Man Roster

Gavin Bilton
Adam Bishop
Andy Black
Mark Felix
Shane Flowers
Desmond Gahan
Pa O’Dwyer
Paul Smith
Luke Stoltman
Tom Stoltman

Graham Hicks was one of the contenders to win this event heading in. With his name out of the lineup, there will be another spot open for someone to slide into.
There is no timetable on Hicks’ return or when he will be able to compete again. It is likely that he will do what it takes to return quickly, especially since he has been training with the injury for a year now. The 2022 Britain’s Strongest Man competition is set to take place on Feb. 26 at the Utility Arena in Sheffield, England.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Luke Stoltman Sets New PR Squat Double With 738-Pound Lift

Luke Stoltman Sets New PR Squat Double With 738-Pound Lift

Luke Stoltman continues to impress and put up huge numbers in the gym preparing for competition.
The Stoltman Brothers have made a huge impact as strongmen in their career and have only improved over the last year or two. Luke Stoltman is the reigning Europe’s Strongest Man champion and could have his eyes on some more prizes in 2022. In a recent training session, Stoltman set a new PR squat double by dominating 355kg (738lbs) for two reps.
Stoltman was joined by his brother Tom, reigning World’s Strongest Man, and Dr. Dan Managi of The Strength Game. He is joining the Stoltman brothers to help them during training. Both Luke and Tom have been announced as competitors in multiple competitions already. It begins with the 2022 Britain’s Strongest Man competition, which will take place on Feb. 26 in Sheffield, England.

Just a week after, both brothers will appear at the 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic. The max squat will be the first lift and it looks like Luke Stoltman is doing all he can to get his numbers up.
The Stoltman brothers went through a squat workout that was meant to feature working sets and heavy doubles. It began when they added 75kg (165lb) pounds on the bar and increased by 50kg each set. Both Luke and Tom added knee straps before attempting the 225kg (496lb) lift. From then on, the weight just kept increasing.

Luke Stoltman began his heavy squat doubles with a 315kg (694lb) attempt. These two reps were effortless, just like the two with 325kg (716lb) on the bar. This is when he decided to try and hit a new PR.
“It felt good, it was the same weight as last week, but for a double… We’ve ordered a couple of single ply suits… We’ll see if that adds an extra bit.
“We’re trying to get everything working properly, and these are a safe way of really f***ing yourself up.”
The massive leg day ended with hamstring curls and a variety of calf exercises. The max squat is an event that is important during events and Luke Stoltman is preparing to take down some of the competition. Both Stoltman brothers continue to be a force and will be top competitors at each event they take place in. This could be a special year if all goes right.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

New USPA Rules Ban Trans Athletes And Competitors Taking “Any Hormone” From Tested Meets

New USPA Rules Ban Trans Athletes And Competitors Taking “Any Hormone” From Tested Meets

This new set of rules began on Jan. 1 and will not allowed hormones, even prescribed, in tested divisions.
The United States Powerlifting Association has implemented some new rules that will impact who can compete in drug-tested divisions. The USPA will no longer allow trans athletes or competitors who are using “any hormone” to compete in tested divisions. This set of rules began on Jan. 1.
The full set of rules can be seen in the USPA’s rulebook. New rule 1.8.19 is the one with a new standard.

“Transgender athletes are not eligible to compete in the drug-tested division and must compete only in the non-tested division.
“The USPA/IPL does not allow any therapeutic use exemptions. This means no lifter using any hormone, regardless of medical necessity or choice, or other banned substance (see sec. 12), is allowed to compete in the drug-tested division.”
The USPA does not just prevent transgender competitors from competing if they are taking fender-affirming treatment, it also bans those who are taking hormonal birth control. This also includes diabetes and thyroid conditions that require hormonal treatment.
This new rule reared its head on Jan. 4 when Angel Flores shared an Instagram post about how she was not allowed to compete in a USPA event. The 22-year-old powerlifter was planning to compete at the Violet Crown Classic, which took place in her home gym in Austin, TX. Instead, Flores was unable to compete in the drug-tested competition because she is a trans athlete.
“This was going to be my very first meet alongside my cisgender peers. Since the announcement of the new 100 kilogram weight class, I was excited at the chance to maybe hit some nice records for my age group. On January 4th, the owner of LBC (my close friend @lauriebjj) received a call telling her that I would be disallowed from competing in this tested meet.
If any athlete has ever had competition taken away from them, you’ll understand how I felt that night. We’ve kept it quiet since to not only preserve my mental health, but also preserve the sanctity of training for all my wonderful friends at liberation. I would say that most of the anxiety I’ve been feeling for this meet stems from this.”

““The USPA rule book [previously] stated [that there is] ‘no distinction between transgender and cisgender lifters,’ and ‘prescribed hormones’ was understood as only those on the banned substance list. Since many of us have been on the hormones for years, and none of us were using any banned substances, several peers were able compete,” Flores said.

Many powerlifters have commented on Flores’ post. There have been instances where trans athletes have competed alongside cisgender peers. Olympian Laurel Hubbard is the most famous after her performance this year.
There have been many governing bodies that have adopted trans-inclusive policies. It will be interesting to see if the USPA becomes one eventually.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Daniel Bell Crushes 1,036-Pound Squat In Recent Training Session

Daniel Bell Crushes 1,036-Pound Squat In Recent Training Session

Daniel Bell continues to impress in training with some massive lifts.
Daniel Bell has been one of the strongest lifters in the 140+kg category over the course of his career. He continues to show this, both in training and competition. Most recently, Bell showed off his brute strength by successfully taking down a 1,036-pound squat.
Bell shared the lift on Instagram and captioned it with the weight — 470kg (1,036 pounds. He was seen wearing knee wraps and a lifting belt when completing the lift. Bell also added wrist wraps and elbow sleeves. This could have been due to the incredible weight that he had to control during the course of his movements.

While the weight exceeded 1,000 pounds, Bell did not seem to have any trouble keeping incredible form.

Daniel Bell has put together an impressive career as a raw powerlifter. He has set many world records since competing in his first sanctioned competition in 2005. Following this appearance, he did not appear in another until 2014. This is when he really began opening eyes during competitions.

During the 2020 RPS Sarasota Showdown, Bell set many career bests in competition. He completed a 455kg (1,003.1lb) squat followed by a 410kg (903.9lb) deadlift. All together, this event saw Bell total 1,127.5kg (2,485.7lb). His competition-best bench press came during the 2021 WRPF Kern US Open when he lifted 275kg (606.3lb).
Daniel Bell was seen using knee wraps in his recent video on social media. It is not surprising that he has compiled higher totals in the wraps category. During the 2021 Kern Open, Bell took down a 505kg (1,113.3lb) squat. This was an all-time full power world record. He also set another world record with a total of 1,182.5kg (2,607lb) at the 2021 Hybrid Showdown III.
During the Hybrid Showdown III in 2021, Bell became the first man to total over 1,179kg (2,600lb) raw with wraps. This was just one of the competitions where Bell made heavy lifts look routine.
When the time comes for Daniel Bell to take the stage again, it will be must-see action because of what he is capable of accomplishing. By the looks of his most recent squat, Bell could have his eye on taking down another record, whether it be in a specific lift or total.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

2022 World’s Strongest Man Officially Scheduled For May 24-29 In Sacramento

2022 World’s Strongest Man Officially Scheduled For May 24-29 In Sacramento

Strongmen will gather to Sacramento in May to attempt to be crowned the new World’s Strongest Man.
The 2022 World’s Strongest Man competition officially has dates and a location. The event will take place from May 24-29 in Sacramento, CA. This will be the 45th edition of the competition.
On Thursday, the announcement was made on the SBD World’s Strongest Man Instagram Page. A video was posted that shared some of the best strongmen in the world.

“????????: When the world needed the strongest man most… ⚡?‍♂️”

There will be a total of 30 athletes taking part in the competition. There has not been an official roster or event list released just yet. There were a total of five strongmen featured in the video posted and it was highlighted by 2021 World’s Strongest Man Tom Stoltman.
Martins Licis, who won the 2019 WSM competition, and two-time bronze medalist Terry Hollands were also featured. The video continued with Maxime Boudreault and 2021 Arnold Strongman Classic UK champ Evan Singleton.

This is the second year of a three-year deal that the WSM competition has with the Visit Sacramento Sports Commission. In 2021, the show was held at the Old Sacramento Waterfront. This was an outdoor event where competitors had to perform in incredible heat.
While we do not know who will appear at the competition, we do know that former champions have a lifetime invitation. In 2021, there were five champions who were active and are likely to be on the official list. Stoltman will likely defend his title. Oleksii Novikov won the competition in 2020 and was a force after returning from injury. Brian Shaw and Zydrunas Savickas have four titles each and remain active in powerlifting.
Before the strongmen flock to Sacramento, there will be two significant contests that take place. It begins with the 2022 Britain’s Strongest Man contest. This will take place on Feb. 26 in Sheffield, UK. Stoltman is the reigning champion looking to make it two in a row. The 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic is shortly after from March 4-5 in Columbus. 
Now that there is an official time set for the 2022 WSM competition, lifters can begin to train accordingly and prepare for the show. The official roster and event list will be released at a later date.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Bill Gillespie Officially Sets Equipped Bench Press World Record of 1,129.9 Pounds

Bill Gillespie Officially Sets Equipped Bench Press World Record of 1,129.9 Pounds

Bill Gillespie decided to retire from powerlifting after completing this lift.
Bill Gillespie has been vying for the all-time world record bench press for quite some time now. On Friday, the 62-year-old powerlifter finally reached the pinnacle. Gillespie completed a massive 512.5kg (1,129.9lb) equipped bench press during the 2022 365Strong New Year Power Bash.
Many powerlifters flocked to Charlotte to compete and show what they can do. Gillespie stole the show by taking down the bench press world record. Following the accomplishment, Gillespie shared a video to Instagram and announced his retirement from powerlifting.

“1129 All Time World Record! Praise God for an incredible 50 year journey and all of the great lessons I have learned about life and my relationship with God. Today is my last competition and on my last attempt I have been blessed with the honor to stand on top of the mountain.
I want to thank so many people for their support and help because I know that things like this doesn’t happen on your own. I am done competing now at 62 years old and I’m going to lose weight and use the journey that I have been through to help enrich other peoples lives.#sorinex#legendarystrengthgym“

Over the last year, this record has changed hands many times. In June 2021, Jimmy Kolb set the mark at 508kg (1,120lb). Kolb was able to complete this lift in the 140kg weight class. Just five months later, Tiny Meeker took the record with a 510.2kg (1,125lb) lift at the 2021 International Powerlifting Association Nationals. Now, Gillespie has taken over the title.
Bill Gillespie has announced his retirement but his career spanned over four decades. He made his powerlifting debut in 1981 when he finished fourth during the USPF Virginia Open. Over the early portion of his career, Gillespie was a complete powerlifter but beginning in 1997, he began strictly performing the bench press during competitions.

Since 1997, Gillespie competed in 75 competitions performing bench press only and placed top three in 47 of them. It took some time for Gillespie to reach the 500kg mark but he was able to get there and then some. On the third and final attempt in Charlotte, Gillespie was able to set a new record.
Bill Gillespie will now be remembered for his massive bench press during the 365Strong New Year Power Bash. This will be a mark that is difficult to beat but there are always lifters that try to get there. For Gillespie, the final lift of his career resulted in a world record and this is how you go out on top.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Danial Zamani Announces 800-Pound Bench Press Attempt

Danial Zamani Announces 800-Pound Bench Press Attempt

Danial Zamani announced his plan after crushing a 350kg bench press.
Danial Zamani has been a threat to the bench press world record for awhile. The current record is set at 355kg (782lb) held by Julius Maddox. In a recent Instagram post, Zamani completed a 350kg (771.6lb) bench press with ease and announced his plan to attempt 800 pounds.
Zamani completed this attempt raw a she was seen wearing just a lifting belt and wrist straps. In his caption, Zamani made it clear that he has his sights set on a number that has never been done before.

“God’s power is above all other powers. I can feel my dear coach Babak @babak_ghazbaniknowledge and Gods power both in my life and in my strength and progress. And positive energy I receive from all over the world I feel in my life , this lift is presented to all my fans all over the world. I am grateful of all my seniors and pro athletes who support me all over the world.
God’s willing in 15 days I will attempt world record my 100 percent power attempt will be on 800 lbs weight.”

The 800-pound mark has been the goal for both Zamani and Maddox. This is a number that no one has ever bench pressed before. Maddox has attempted this lift twice. The first came in June 2020 but the bar was miscoded and led to a failed attempt. In August, Maddox followed up a Chicago Cubs’ game with his second attempt at 800 pounds at Wrigley Field. 
While the elusive 800-pound mark has not been reached, there are now two powerlifters on its heels. Zamani made this 350kg lift look easy and it is not even his personal record. In August, Zamani crushed a 352.5kg (777lb) bench press. He has been chasing the record and keeps inching closer to it.

After sharing his recent lift, Danial Zamani received praise from some of the other top lifters in the world. This includes Maddox, who has a strong relationship with Zamani. Larry Wheels stated “The throne is at risk! Congrats Boss!” CT Fletcher and Milos Sarcev also appeared in the comments’ section of the video.
It is clear that Danial Zamani is preparing to beat the bench press world record but he seems to be interested in reaching 800 pounds. It will be must-see actin the Zamani takes on this challenge.
For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

These 5 Exercises Will Boost Your Libido And Give You Massive Gains

These 5 Exercises Will Boost Your Libido And Give You Massive Gains

Boost Your Libido
Working out can improve your life in more ways than it is credited for. It’s time people start looking at working out as more than just working on the muscles. Pumping iron can have both physiological and psychological benefits.
Spending some time in the weight room can improve your sex drive. Working out can even help you if you don’t feel any sexual desire. Feeling asexual can be caused by many reasons including stress, exertion, mental exhaustion, etc.

While lifting weights can help boost your libido, there are some exercises which work better than the others. Make these five exercises a part of your training routines to boost your libido –
1. Squats

Squats are a complete leg builder. This exercise can also help you with your low sex drive. Legs are the biggest muscle group in your body and working them by squatting can improve your testosterone levels.
Squats increase your overall muscles mass, strength and sex drive. There are enough variations of this exercise, so you’re never bored of it. Make squats a part of your workout routine to improve your libido.

2. Barbell Hip Thrust
No other exercise comes close to barbell hip thrusts when it comes to mimicking a sexual position. This exercise also happens to be one of the most effective in improving your sex drive. It also adds muscle mass and strength to your lower body, especially glutes.
It can be incredibly hard to not think about sex while performing this exercise. Tip: avoid making eye contact with the opposite sex while you’re doing this exercise if you don’t want to end up sending the wrong signals.
3. Bench Press
Compound (multi joint) exercises are the most efficient in helping you improve your testosterone levels and sex drive. Bench press has been the poster exercise for manhood for a long time.
This exercise helps broaden your chest which, for many men, can lead to increased confidence. We hope you make it count and put this raised confidence to good use with women. Incline and decline bench press can work different areas of your chest.
4. Deadlifts
Deadlifts work your entire body. There are only a few other things as badass as lifting some heavy weights off the ground. Deadlifting regularly can improve your libido and make you stronger at every other exercise.
Deadlifts can also help you in adding lean muscle mass. Avoid heavy deadlifts if you’re suffering from a back injury. You can also try different versions of this exercise like sumo deadlifts or dumbbell deadlifts to keep your body guessing.
5. Clean and Press
Clean and press primarily work your shoulders, but secondary muscles like your upper and lower back, traps, hamstrings, quads, glutes, and calves are also involved. It is a full body exercise which can improve your physique and sex drive.
Clean and press is also a compound exercise which will help you put on muscle mass and definition. You can perform this exercise in a hypertrophy workout or a strength workout. All you need to do is adjust the number of sets and reps.
Which according to you in the best exercise to boost your sex drive? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow Generation Iron on Facebook and Twitter.

Larry Wheels Spots, Powerlifter Mike Edwards Not Injured After Failed Bench Press

Larry Wheels Spots, Powerlifter Mike Edwards Not Injured After Failed Bench Press

Larry Wheels helped Mike Edwards escape injury during bench press accident.
The importance of a spotter while attempting a heavy lift cannot be overlooked. There have been countless times where a lifter has escaped injury because of the help of a spotter. Recently, there was another incident when powerlifter Mike Edwards had a barbell slip out of his hands while attempting a bench press. Larry Wheels was there for the spot.
During a heavy training session, both Wheels and Edwards were seen hitting some big lifts. Edwards set a new PR with a 530-pound bench press before the incident occurred. Edwards racked up four plates on each side and had the barbell slip out of his hand. On the way up, the bar slipped and slammed into the chest of Edwards. Wheels was there for a quick save and there was no injury.

Larry Wheels shared the video on his Instagram page.
“Can you believe he escaped from this injury free?@edwards_strong@teampersonalrecord“

Right after the incident, both lifters took to social media to confirm that there was no injury. Mike Edwards even commented on Wheels’ post.
“IM OKAY EVERYONE?,” Edwards wrote.

During this bench press session, both lifters accomplished goals. Edwards hit a new PR while Wheels took on another challenge that was offered.
Hafthor Bjornsson commented on a recent video of Larry Wheels and offered a challenge. This was for Wheels to complete 20 reps on bench of 440 pounds. Wheels wasted no time attempting the challenge and completed a total of 23 reps. This beat Bjornsson’s PR with this weight by 13 reps. This is just another feat for Wheels to add to his personal achievement list, which has grown significantly in recent months.
When these powerlifters hit the gym, there is a massive amount of weight being moved and there is always the danger of an injury. This was seen back in April when Ryan Crowley joined Wheels for a session. He was attempting a heavy incline bench press and suffered an injury to his pec. It was seen tearing in the video and this is a career-threatening injury for a powerlifter.
Mike Edwards and Larry Wheels accomplished many feats during this session and that includes escaping injury. This just solidifies that spotters should be present when attempting a heavy lift or one that you have never done before.
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