From the BarBend Podcast Classic archives: Jen Widerstrom rose to the national spotlight as a star on "American Gladiators," but after the show was canceled, a career in the fitness industry didn't ... Continue Reading
Build a Vice Grip With the Axle Deadlift
The deadlift is one of the most effective strength and muscle-producing movements in all of sport. And fortunately for you, the ways to train your deadlift are just as varied and numerous as the benefits ... Continue Reading
2021 Legion Sports Fest Results & Recap — Shaun Clarida Wins Men’s Open
Shaun “The Giant Killer” Clarida continues to live up to his nickname. The 2020 Olympia 212 champion, who recently declared that he would step into the Men’s Open category, made bodybuilding history by ... Continue Reading
Tom Stoltman Wins 2021 Britain’s Strongest Man
2021 World’s Strongest Man Tom Stoltman added another title to his already impressive resume by winning the 2021 Britain’s Strongest Man (BSM) contest at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield, England on Oct. 23, ... Continue Reading
Why Iris Kyle is Undoubtedly in the Bodybuilding G.O.A.T Conversation
Iris Kyle is arguably the greatest bodybuilder the sport has ever seen. That's a big claim, sure, but a claim that can be backed up. Case and point: Kyle is the only bodybuilder in any division — man or ... Continue Reading
This Was Chris Bumstead’s Cheat Meal Day After Winning The 2021 Classic Physique Olympia
One week after winning his third consecutive Classic Physique Olympia title, Chris Bumstead veered off his diet momentarily for one of his well-known "epic cheat meal days." Before the 2021 Olympia, ... Continue Reading
The 10 Best Posers in Men’s Bodybuilding History
The sport of bodybuilding isn’t just about moving weight — it’s about artfully displaying muscular size, shape, and proportion. To earn high marks from the judges and roaring applause from the fans, ... Continue Reading
Blast Your Abs With the 10 Best Kettlebell Core Exercises
Kettlebells are used across most strength, power and functional fitness sports to increase mobility, address asymmetries, and offer athletes a way to develop a stronger core without sacrificing training ... Continue Reading
2021 Legion Sports Fest Pro Bodybuilding Preview
The focus of bodybuilding fans will be on Reno, Nevada during the weekend of Oct. 23-24, 2021, for the 2021 Legion Sports Fest bodybuilding show. It features six IFBB Pro League divisions including the ... Continue Reading
Here’s How the 2022 Mr. Olympia Qualification System Works
Every year, the IFBB Pro League releases the Olympia Qualification System (OSQ) rules, which serve as the process to determine how the bodybuilding and physique competitors can qualify or earn a position ... Continue Reading
Watch Strongman Rob Kearney Eat 10,500 Calories of Boneless Wings
Strongman Rob Kearney is uniquely positioned in the sport of strongman. At five-foot, 10-inches tall, and sub-300 pounds, Kearney has referred to himself as "small" compared to other premier athletes he ... Continue Reading
Powerlifter Joseph Whittaker Dumps 400-Kilogram Squat Over His Head, Avoids Injury
When training with heavy weight in the gym, safety should always be the priority for the lifter and the spotter. Powerlifter Joseph Whittaker's recent 400-kilogram (881.9-pound) training squat is an ... Continue Reading
Get Your Hands Dirty With the 10 Best Grip Exercises
You need to train your grip. If you can’t hold onto your barbell in the first place, how can you expect to make gains in the gym long-term? A strong grip will help you pull better on rows, cycle faster in ... Continue Reading
Super Heavyweight Powerlifter Ahmed Hassanin Squats 490 Kilograms Equipped in Training
Super Heavyweight powerlifter Ahmed Hassanin is lifting staggeringly heavy squats in the gym lately. His preparation for the 2021 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Open Championships ... Continue Reading
Kick Your Own Ass With the 10 Best Bodyweight Glute Exercises
A steel-forged booty looks good on everyone. What's more, smart glute training is a key component of any solid exercise program. Without focusing on your glutes, you might not be able to really maximize ... Continue Reading
Powerlifter Daniel Clements (66KG) Deadlifts 12 Kilograms Over Raw World Record In Training
Daniel Clements is one of the best powerlifters in the world in the 66-kilogram weight class. At 24 years of age, he lifted the second heaviest ever raw deadlift of 297.5 kilograms (655.9 pounds) at the ... Continue Reading
What Are Good Vegan Protein Sources? (Brought to You by Kaged Muscle)
Floating in the hivemind of the fitness world is the adage that those who follow a vegan-friendly diet are unlikely to get the protein they need without consuming meat. That’s not true. There are plenty of ... Continue Reading
Kaged Muscle C-HCl Creatine Hydrochloride Review — Quality Control?
Creatine has hundreds of studies backing its effectiveness when it comes to athletic performance and body composition. Creatine can help increase your ability to improve power output in the gym, in turn, ... Continue Reading
The 5 Best Quad Workouts for Forging Bigger and More Explosive Legs
The legs are the pillars of performance in the gym. From sled pushes to sprints, box jumps to bench pressing, everything you do in training demands strong legs in some way. Therefore, training your quads ... Continue Reading
Strongman Athletes to Watch at the 2021 Rogue Invitational
The countdown is on for the inaugural strongman contest at the 2021 Rogue Invitational. Ten of the world's top strongmen will compete on Oct. 29-30, 2021, at the Dell Diamond stadium in Round Rock, TX, for ... Continue Reading
2020 212 Olympia Winner Shaun Clarida to Compete in the Men’s Open Division
On Oct. 18, 2021, the IFBB Pro League released the Men's Open lineup for the 2021 Legion Sports Festival contest, taking place on Sunday, Oct. 24, in Reno, Nevada. One of the names on the roster is the ... Continue Reading
The Secret to Strength Commentary (w/Big Loz)
Today I’m talking to legendary strongman competitor Laurence Shahlaei, better known in the strength community as Big Loz. Loz has a storied strongman career, having competed in more than 10 World’s ... Continue Reading
Six Benefits of Inverted Rows That’ll Turn Your Workout Upside Down
Pulling movements are important for building your back, biceps, and forearms while increasing your overall upper body strength. Although sometimes neglected because the more popular pressing movements like ... Continue Reading
The 8 Best Bench Press Variations to Try on Your Next Chest Day
The bench press may be one of the most popular exercises in the gym. It may also be the exercise that gym-goers plateau on the most. Progress starts quickly as one learns the basic technique, but many a ... Continue Reading