The 2023 bodybuilding season was full of tight competitions and standout moments that gave fans plenty to discuss over the past 12 months. We saw long-running dynasties continue on, others end in ... Continue Reading
Romark Weiss Journeys to Hawaii To Explore Its History of Stone Lifting
Strongman Martins Licis' YouTube series "Strength Unknown" covers his worldwide journey into ancient strength cultures. While Licis continued his journey across East Asia, his friend and videographer ... Continue Reading
Are There Foods That Burn Fat? The Science Behind the Weight Loss Claim
It’s happened to plenty of strength athletes. You’re scrolling your social media feed and come across posts listing out foods that burn fat — read: green tea and and apple cider vinegar — promising to shed ... Continue Reading
Does Training for the Pump Build Muscle?
Nothing hits like a good pump. Your shirt drapes over your chest after a few high-rep sets of pec flyes. Your shoulders, engorged with blood, stretch wider than usual and accentuate your V-taper. Leaving ... Continue Reading
2024 Arnold Classic UK Rosters Revealed
The 2024 Arnold Classic UK contest is slated for March 15-17, 2024, in Birmingham, England. It is set to take place two weeks after the Arnold Classic US edition in Columbus, OH, marking a big kickoff to ... Continue Reading
The 9 Best Running Apps of 2025, Tested and Approved
You’re ready to log some miles outdoors on a scenic trail, through busy city streets, or maybe you’ve got one of the best treadmills beckoning you from your home gym. Whether you’re a seasoned racer, or ... Continue Reading
The 8 Best Online Personal Trainers of 2025, Approved by Our Team of Certified Trainers
Working with a personal trainer can be a huge boost to your workout regimen, but also a huge hit to your wallet. The best online personal trainers offer some of the benefits of an in-person trainer, but ... Continue Reading
Samson Dauda’s Adjusted Leg Training 12 Weeks Out From the 2024 Arnold Classic
After winning the bronze medal at the 2023 Mr. Olympia and attacking a robust rebound diet, Men’s Open bodybuilder Samson Dauda is preparing to defend his title at the 2024 Arnold ... Continue Reading
Does Lifting Weights Burn Fat? Here’s What You Need to Know
Losing weight is simple, but not necessarily easy. When you boil it down to the most basic biology, losing (or gaining) body weight is mostly about balancing your calories: Create a deficit by burning more ... Continue Reading
Vegan or Omnivore Diets – Which Is Better for Cholesterol Levels?
In November 2023, a randomized control trial delving into different types of diets and their impacts on cholesterol levels was published in the JAMA Network Open. Specifically, it ... Continue Reading
Best Budget Home Gym Equipment of 2025, Start Your Home Gym with Our Picks
If you’ve thought about building your own home gym, you’ve likely had that wallet-draining feeling that potentially scares you away from the blueprints. Yes, you can spend too much on the best home ... Continue Reading
4 Ways Stress Is Killing Your Gains
You're hitting the gym religiously, progressively overloading your lifts, and you're on top of your protein intake. But the muscle gains still aren't coming through. So what gives? While it's ... Continue Reading
Bulking vs Cutting: Are Higher or Lower Reps Better?
Sports Physiologist Dr. Mike Israetel is the go-to training expert on the Renaissance Periodization YouTube channel, often dissecting what the latest research suggests for resistance training. On Dec. 12, ... Continue Reading
Renu Stoic 2.0 Cold Tub Review
If you’ve spent some time in the fitness space, you’re probably no stranger to the benefits of cold water immersion, like reduced inflammation and decreased stress levels. (1) While you can enjoy those ... Continue Reading
What Is Barbell Knurling? Plus, Other Barbell Features to Know About
Today is the day. After weeks and months of hard training, your strength training program finally calls for a new 1-rep max in the deadlift. You’ve got the gym to yourself, your favorite song pounding in ... Continue Reading
2024 IFBB Pro League Schedule Revealed
The 2024 IFBB Pro League contest schedule was released on Dec. 18, 2024. The 2024 season is already underway — it began on Oct. 9, 2023 — with several contests having already occurred and awarded division ... Continue Reading
The BarBend Staff’s Favorite Stories of 2023
The team at BarBend produces a lot of content. Our news and editorial staff work tirelessly, week after week, to bring you the latest developments and most interesting stories in the worlds of strength and ... Continue Reading
How Samson Dauda Diets During a Post-Show Rebound
Bodybuilder Samson Dauda had a successful 2023 season, winning the Arnold Classic in March, the bronze at the Mr. Olympia, and a pair of pro competitions overseas, including ... Continue Reading
Do Cold Showers Burn Fat? Everything You Need to Know About Weight Loss and Cold Water Exposure
Your experience with fitness may well take you through some unique lifestyle changes. From dialing in your nutrition to finally locking in that eight-hour sleep window, what you do in your downtime has a ... Continue Reading
Shaun Clarida’s Back Training Leading Into His 2024 Off-Season
Two-time 212 Olympia champion Shaun Clarida relinquished the 212 Olympia throne in 2023 to Keone Pearson, who improved from his sixth-place finish in 2022. On Dec. 11, 2023, Clarida shared a video on his ... Continue Reading
Dana Linn Bailey and Kristen Nun’s Leg Day Superset Tips
On Dec. 7, 2023, the 2013 Women’s Physique Olympia champion, Dana Linn Bailey, published a video on her YouTube channel wherein she partnered with bodybuilder Kristen Nun for a lower body workout. The duo ... Continue Reading
Jesus Olivares Raw Deadlifts 10 Kilograms Over IPF World Record In Training
Elite super heavyweight powerlifter Jesus Olivares has had a good 2023. He only competed twice but made those performances count, winning the inaugural Sheffield Powerlifting Championships in March 2023 ... Continue Reading
Marcela Mattos Wins 2023 Musclecontest International Nacional Pro Wellness Show
The 2023 IFBB Pro League calendar is complete, with its final contest, the 2023 Musclecontest International Nacional Pro Wellness show, taking place on Dec. 16, 2023, in Campinas, Brazil. Fourteen Wellness ... Continue Reading
How to Do the Sumo Deadlift, According to a Personal Trainer
The sumo is the dark horse of deadlifting. The first time you saw someone split their legs in the gym and yank a bar-bending amount of weight, you were probably more than a little puzzled. It may have even ... Continue Reading