From a marathon runner to the 2023 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) and 2024 Strongest Man on Earth, Mitchell Hooper knows how to get big and strong at the elite level. In early January 2024, the Canadian ... Continue Reading
Hafthor Björnsson’s New Training Program To Deadlift 505 Kilograms
In his return to competitive strongman in 2024 after a three-year hiatus, Hafthor Björnsson claimed second place at the 2024 Strongest Man on Earth, 2024 Rogue Strongman Invitational, and 2024 Arnold ... Continue Reading
Derek Lunsford’s Mindset and Diet Leading to the 2025 Arnold Classic
“I want to show that I’m Mr. Olympia. God told me you must do the Arnold [Classic]," 2023 Mr. Olympia champion Derek Lunsford said in a recent YouTube video. After losing the Mr. Olympia crown to ... Continue Reading
Answering Our 6 Burning Questions About the 2024 CrossFit Games Season and Affiliate Community
Additional reporting by Joe Genetin-Pilawa Each season, we start with some key questions that we hope to answer in the coming year. Then, once the dust has settled and the calendar has turned over, we ... Continue Reading
Nick Walker’s Leg Training Updates Heading Into The 2025 Season
Men’s Open bodybuilder Nick Walker is working meticulously with his new coach, Kyle Wilkes, and trainer, Jared Feather, to improve upon his 2022 third-place Mr. Olympia finish. He needs to enter ... Continue Reading
29-Year-Old CrossFit Coach Who Suffered Two Strokes Is Recovering — But His Medical Bills Are Growing
On December 9, 2024, Anna Gray came home after doing a class at CrossFit Lynchburg in Lynchburg, VA, to find her 29-year-old husband with a facial droop, unable to use the right side of his body. Her ... Continue Reading
Jay Cutler Guides Mike Sommerfeld Through Leg Training
“It feels unreal; since I was 11 years old, I dreamt of being on that Olympia stage, and now I’m really close.” The 2024 Classic Physique Olympia runner-up Mike Sommerfeld opened up recently during a leg ... Continue Reading
Jamal Browner To Step Away From Powerlifting To Focus On Bodybuilding
World-record-setting powerlifter Jamal Browner has announced that he will take a break from competing in his current sport to focus on bodybuilding. Browner, who has not competed since April ... Continue Reading
Hypertrophy Coach Joe Bennett’s 5-Step Program For Shredding Fat Fast
As 2025 begins, many seek quick and effective ways to shed fat. Achieving a healthier body fat percentage and weight significantly benefits physical performance and overall well-being. (1) Given ... Continue Reading
Men Can Gain More Muscle Mass Than Women But Lean Mass Is What Matters
Does gender affect muscle mass outcomes, provided training volume and regime are consistent? The answer is yes, but not without caveats. An April 2024 meta-analysis in Research Gate suggests that men ... Continue Reading
2x Olympia Champ Erin Stern’s Quick 3-Step Pull-Up Improvement Tips
Pull-ups are among the most challenging foundational exercises, demanding strong lats, biceps, and forearms. They’re exceptional for back development and a benchmark of strength assessment, all while being ... Continue Reading
What Is “MainGaining” and How Is It Different From Bulking?
Can you maximize muscle gains without the extra calories? Fitness influencer Paul Carter believes you can. “Bulking doesn’t seem to be beneficial for growth,” Carter concluded in a video posted on social ... Continue Reading
Should You Fear or Befriend Seed Oils?
Seed oils like sunflower, linseed, grapeseed, and canola are vegetable oils extracted from plant seeds. They’re widely used for cooking and various other purposes. However, some argue that seed oils may ... Continue Reading
Soluble Vs. Insoluble: The Fiber Debate
The benefits of fiber are no secret. Plenty of research supports the positive effects fiber provides people, including overall metabolic health, insulin sensitivity, cardiovascular disease, colonic health, ... Continue Reading
The Morning Chalk Up Staff’s Favorite Stories From 2024
It’s become something of an annual tradition here at the Morning Chalk Up to gather our staff for a roundup of their favorite stories of the year — and, of course, 2024 was no exception. Below, ... Continue Reading
Bodybuilder Matt Greggo’s 2025 Arnold Classic Shredding Diet
“I wasn’t going to do the Arnold, then…two days later, I was like, why am I not going to do the Arnold?” The 2024 Classic Physique New York Pro champ Matt Greggo’s coach, Chris Aceto, endorsed ... Continue Reading
TYR Wodapalooza: A Love Letter
Working in CrossFit media, we have an obligation to remain as unbiased as possible when reporting on breaking news, amplifying community stories, profiling athletes, and covering competitions. That ... Continue Reading
Try Bodybuilder Dana Linn Bailey’s Go-To Food Prep Meal
“Meal prep doesn’t have to be boring; it doesn’t have to taste bad,” says former Women’s Physique Olympia champion Dana Linn Bailey. With the new year upon us, Bailey shared her favorite low-fat, ... Continue Reading
The Rationale for More Reps Per Set for Muscle Growth
A common question in training is whether low, medium, or high reps are best for maximizing hypertrophy. A survey of 127 competitive bodybuilders revealed that most trained within the seven- to 12-rep ... Continue Reading
2024: A CrossFit Year in Photos
We have all the respect in the world for the photographers and videographers who bring us closer to the CrossFit action that we cover every year. Our words come alive with the images they create, and ... Continue Reading
The Best Beginner Workout Plan To Start Your Fitness Journey
Nothing worth having comes easy. This is as true in your career as it is in the gym — the latter of which can be extremely daunting if you’ve never been before. If you’re new to exercise, hitting the ... Continue Reading
How to Lose Weight Fast, According to Science
What do a bride-to-be, a couple booking a long-overdue cruise, and a career powerlifter with an upcoming competition have in common? Oftentimes, they all want (or need) to lose weight — fast. If you’re ... Continue Reading
Six Science-Backed Tips to Stick to Your New Year’s Fitness Resolution
The fittest people on the planet once struggled with their first push-up. No one is born in pristine physical condition; they’ve committed to getting themselves there. If you’ve decided to take the plunge ... Continue Reading
Should You Deadlift on Leg or Back Day?
Designing your workout routine can, at times, be as challenging as the workouts themselves. This becomes especially true if you want to tackle multiple fitness goals at once or enjoy performing ... Continue Reading