Since its Arnold Classic debut in 2003, the Figure division has seen 11 champions. Figure — which showcases shape, symmetry, and muscle development over sheer size — is ripe with strong competitors, many ... Continue Reading
These 10 Athletes Are Among the Strongest Bodybuilders Ever
The main goal of a bodybuilder is to look their best when they take the stage. The weights they use on the bench, squat, or other exercises are completely irrelevant when they step in front of the judges' ... Continue Reading
Athletes To Watch at the 2022 North American Open Series 1 & National University Championships
After a long and eventful 2021, a new Olympic qualification cycle and competitive season of weightlifting are kicking off in the United States with the first American Open Series (NAO) event. Both NAO ... Continue Reading
Jon Call “Jujimufu” Hits a 318-Kilogram (701-Pound) Squat PR (Raw w/Wraps)
Jon Call — also known as Jujimufu — is known for his incredible feats of strength and flexibility. On Feb. 18, 2022, Jujimufu jolted the powerlifting world with his monster 318-kilogram (701.1-pound) squat ... Continue Reading
What’s the Deal With Blood Flow Restriction Training?
Maybe you’ve seen that one bodybuilder in your gym always crushing workouts with a cuff on their arm while they do preacher curls. Or maybe you’ve heard the rumor that blood flow restriction (BFR) training ... Continue Reading
Transparent Labs 100% Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate Review (2025): Expert-Tested and Approved by RDs
While Catherine Kruppa, MS, RD, CSSD, LD states, “It can be preferable to obtain your daily protein counts from whole foods in order to consume additional vitamins and minerals,” a high-quality ... Continue Reading
REP Fitness Rubber Hex Dumbbells Review
The REP Fitness Rubber Hex Dumbbells are super reliable — they’re nothing fancy, but can offer weights ranging from 2.5 pounds on the low end to 125 pounds on the higher end, so you won’t be limited in how ... Continue Reading
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB Review — What Does HMB Do?
Transparent Labs Creatine HMB is 5,000mg of creatine monohydrate per serving, plus an additional dose of hydroxy methylbutyrate (HMB). Creatine is very strongly linked with increased ... Continue Reading
The United States Has a “Fitness Debt” of 14.9 Hours
When you're in the gym, your programming might call for an hour-long resistance training with some cardio afterward, totaling an hour-long workout. Perhaps you prefer to hit the yoga studio, hike a ... Continue Reading
6 Fascinating Stats About the Arnold Strongman Classic
The 2022 Arnold Strongman Classic (ASC) is scheduled for March 4-5, 2022, and the energy leading up to it is surging. On Feb. 15, 2022, 2016 Europe's Strongest Man (ESM) Laurence Shahlaei took a break from ... Continue Reading
How to Do the Dumbbell Rear Lateral Raise for Bigger, Stronger Shoulders
The dumbbell rear lateral raise is an isolated movement that many lifters use to help build themselves “boulder shoulders.” It increases shoulder hypertrophy by engaging one of the smallest — and often ... Continue Reading
5 Classic Physique Athletes to Watch at the 2022 Arnold Classic
The IFBB Pro League’s Classic Physique division has emerged as one of the most popular divisions in bodybuilding. These athletes have a look that resembles the physiques of Golden-Era bodybuilders such as ... Continue Reading
Ample Meal Replacement Review — Big On Gut Health, But What About Vitamins?
Ample Meal Replacement is made entirely from whole foods. According to their website, this product has three goals: to reduce inflammation, to improve gut health, and to minimize insulin ... Continue Reading
How to Prevent Bloating — Science-Based Solutions & Foods to Avoid
When you’re about to step onto the platform, you want to feel eager, excited, and ready to tighten up your lifting belt. But if you’ve ever experienced bloating, you know that it can seriously interfere ... Continue Reading
Powerlifter David Ricks Squats a Staggering 325-Kilogram (716.5-Pound) Raw Double PR At Age 62
The world as we know it is bound by the laws of physics. Every action requires an equal and opposite reaction. The gravitational pull of the earth is why objects, such as barbells and weight plates, weigh ... Continue Reading
Updated: 2022 Boston Pro Bodybuilding Show — Full Rosters and Men’s Open Athletes to Watch
The 2022 Arnold Classic — one of the most prestigious shows in bodybuilding — marked the first show of the pro Men's Open schedule. One week later, 59 pro athletes take the stage in the Bay State for ... Continue Reading
7 Benefits of the Prowler Push Your Training Needs Today
In the gym, barbells and dumbbells are popular pieces of equipment for strength. On the other hand, treadmills and ellipticals are popular for cardio. But you don't have to get in your cardio and strength ... Continue Reading
Workout Finishers Are the Intensity Booster You Didn’t Know You Needed
Some days, you’re exhausted when you finish your last working set and feel like you can’t push any harder. Then you catch your breath, and you find that you’re ready to go again. When you get that second ... Continue Reading
Tackling 600Sixty with Fergus Crawley
Today I’m talking to a repeat guest on the BarBend Podcast, Fergus Crawley. Fergus is a multi-discipline endurance and strength athlete known for combining the two into unique physical challenges. His ... Continue Reading
Clean Sweep — Strongman JF Caron Wins 2022 Força Bruta
Nine-time Canada's Strongest Man champion JF Caron has done it. He headed to Cotia, Brazil, to compete against three other elite strongmen in the 2022 Força Bruta competition, and emerged victorious in all ... Continue Reading
The 15 Best Smith Machine Exercises and How to do Them
The Smith machine may be one of the most reviled pieces of equipment in the gym — but if you're a Smith machine troll, you may want to reconsider your position. There is a place for it in your ... Continue Reading
Are You Making these Five Clean & Jerk Mistakes? Here’s How to Fix Them
The movements in weightlifting are an art unto themselves. The clean & jerk involves catching the barbell at your shoulders, then extending it overhead. Total body power is used in the lift to maximize ... Continue Reading
Meditation for Athletes — How to Start, Benefits, Types of Meditation
When strength athletes think about gains, the first thing that comes to mind tends to be picking up heavy weights and putting them back down. Lifters — perhaps especially bodybuilders — also tend to ... Continue Reading
The Story of John Grimek, the Renaissance Man of Fitness
John Grimek is one of the greatest athletes to ever touch a barbell. That is a big claim, but one which the "Monarch of Muscledom" most surely deserves. Born in New Jersey in 1910, Grimek represented the ... Continue Reading