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Dexter Jackson Captures His Fourth Arnold Classic Title

March 3, 2013 By Leave a Comment (Edit)

We arrived at the 25th Anniversary edition of the Arnold Classic with one main question in mind – will anybody prevent Dexter “The Blade” Jackson from tying “Flex” Wheeler for the all-time record for most Arnold Classic titles (4)? Personally, I was expecting Toney “X-Man” Freeman to at least take second place and potentially challenge for the title, but it appeared that nothing was going to stop “The Blade” from winning on this night! On a Saturday evening in Columbus, Ohio, Dexter was in top form, riding some great bodybuilding competition momentum from recent major wins in recent months. You can’t deny the motivation and hard work that Dexter puts in between competitions. This competition was his to lose, and he showed up in good form.

Dexter Jackson wins 2013 Arnold Classic

Photograph by Edward Sanders

Thoughts on the X-Man!

Living in Atlanta since 2009, I’ve had the privilege to meet Toney and workout out beside him. He is no joke. At a young age of 6, he appears ageless.  I really want to see the X-Man capture this title, but [apparently] it was not in the cards. In fact, even though he grew stronger as the competition and evening went on, Toney somehow slipped down to third place. But, he continues to have a positive attitude as he refocuses on the rest of the competitive season. Then again, the $50,000 third place paycheck doesn’t hurt, huh?

Disappointment in the Field…

While I am not here to take away anything from the strong field of competitors, it was a bit shocking to see only a few of the top elite bodybuilders vying for this title. Branch Warren (2-time and defending Arnold Classic champion) pulled out – as did a bunch of others. It seems like the top three guys (Phil Heath, Kia Greene, and Jay Cutler) are holding out for Mr. Olympia each year. Certainly, I understand the importance of that for them, and they still put on a number of guest poses . They do not want to have to peak more than once per year and hence risk losing placement at the Mr. Olympia, but that is very frustrating as a bodybuilding fan. I’m now wishing that the powers that may be would somehow tweak the point system a bit more to sway other top bodybuilders to step on stage at the Arnold Classic. I mean… this is the ARNOLD!

Recap!

Well, it was a great weekend of bodybuilding. Unfortunately, I was not in attendance, but I did monitor many of the blogs, social media accounts, and the free webcast to get the latest scoop. This year, Elaine and I watched the last few moments of the Arnold via a laptop at our favorite local Barnes & Noble, but we hope to make it up to Columbus, Ohio for the 2014 edition! Until then, we will look forward to the competitions between now and the Mr. Olympia contest!

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The 2013 Arnold Classic Is THIS Weekend!

February 26, 2013 By Leave a Comment (Edit)

Wow! Time flies by faster with each new year. I can hardly grasp that it is almost March. For those in the fitness industry and for those fitness fanatics, that can only mean one thing; this upcoming weekend marks what many consider to be one of the (if not THE) best fitness expos in the world. Are you ready for the Arnold Classic? Do you plan to attend the festivities?

Everything… and More!

The Arnold Classic has everything. For starters, the Arnold Classic is home to bodybuilding competitions. Outside of the Mr. Olympia contest, this is the top bodybuilding contest that everybody watches, attends, and shoots for! Next, the expo fills up with thousands of fans and numerous fitness celebrities. All of the major supplement and fitness-related companies will be in attendance. Outside of fitness and bodybuilding competitions and the expo, this event offers gymnastics, powerlifting, Zumba, CrossFit competitions, weightlifting competitions, mixed martial arts, and so much more!

The entire event, known as the Arnold Sports Festival, kicks off on Thursday night with the Expo opening its doors the following morning (March 1, 2013). As the weekend arrives, the competitions will commence, and champions will be crowned, including a new Arnold Classic champion. Will Dexter “Blade” Jackson win his fourth Arnold Classic? Or will Toney “X-Man” Freeman or Cedric McMillan steal the show? Even though he recently broke a wrist, Hidetada Yamagishi will be competing!

Arnold Classic 2013 logo

My Hopes!

Personally, I have never attended this event, but I hear great things about it. Unfortunately, I will not be attending the events at the Arnold this year, but I look forward to checking this event out soon! As for the namesake competition, I’m hoping for a competitive battle between the “Blade” and “X-Man!” Lastly [if you are attending the events], I hope that you take the time to check-in to the two main venues [Arnold Expo & Arnold Classic Competition]! And be sure swing by Cellucor’s booth – tell them that Dwayne sent you! Well, the 25th Arnold Sport Festival [and Arnold Classic] will be another great hit. If you are going, I’d love to hear your plans for the event. If you have gone in the past, what parts of this event did you like the best? As for me, I plan to watch it unfold live on the free webcast!

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What Is The Best Protein To Eat? [Recent Controversial YouTube Debate]

November 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment (Edit)

Recently, I was perusing the various fitness-focused YouTube channels that I subscribe to, and I found some back-and-forth debate (aka drama) about the topic of protein sourcing and which is truly the very best. According to Livestrong.com, “Whey protein supplies amino acids for muscle recovery and contains high amounts of the branched-chain aminos leucine, isoleucine and valine. Due to its high calcium and cysteine content, whey protein may enhance bone strength, increase fat burning and elevate antioxidant levels in the body!” I will get to my personal thoughts, but first, let’s discuss the online drama surrounding this topic.

Whey Protein Powder

The YouTube Drama

Just prior to the Thanksgiving Holiday, three of the popular fitness-related YouTube channels sounded off on the topic. It all started with the Hodge Twins. Apparently, one of their viewers emailed them a question about which protein source is the best. Of course, the Hodge Twins tend to add some laughter to their videos, and they are typically pointing out things that they find odd or dumb. The channel features them going back and forth on various fitness topics. Sometimes, I find a good laugh out of their videos. So, here is the video. I must warn you that they go off on a tangent about evolution for a minute in this video, and they use some profane language at times in their videos. So, here’s what kicked off the drama…

After that, Ian McCarthy (from popular YouTube Channel, LiftForLife) feels the need to provide his two cents. My biggest beef here is that, while he does take the time to go into more specifics about protein sources and that advantages of Whey, he takes just as long (or longer) to discuss how the Hodge Twins have it all wrong when it comes to The Big Bang Theory and Evolution. I was interested in his take on protein (something that he appears to be somewhat knowledgeable in) but not with his ideas about evolution and the Big Bang Theory; I would have done a search for those if I wanted to sharpen my knowledge about those concepts.

Lastly, I turned to Campbell Fitness’ YouTube Channel, and Brandon said it how it was. It appears that he shares my frustration with online drama. I got a good chuckle out of it, and then I moved on to watch his latest video or two! He is his thoughts on the matter [regarding online fitness YouTube drama].

My Personal Take… On Protein [Not Evolution]

I try to vary my protein sources a little bit, but I tend to stick close to the basics. That means that I do not intake a lot of soy protein, but I have my eggs from time in the mornings, and I lean a lot on Whey to do the job. While I am uncertain precisely how much protein I can intake and efficiently/productively digest at a given time, I do use conventional wisdom and spread out my protein intake throughout the day. I always strive to specifically intake Whey Isolate protein right after a workout in order to help ensure that the protein is absorbed very quickly just as the body is craving and needing it. Currently, I am taking Cellucor’s Super Sport or Max Muscle’s ARM protein right after my workouts.  I do my best to limit protein intake to between 30 and 40 grams per sitting, and I strive to get about 1 gram of protein for every pound that I weigh. For many, 1/2 or 3/4 of a gram of protein for every pound of body weight would truly suffice.  I recommend that you find proteins powders that do not have a lot of fillers it, and I normally stick with protein powders that have low amounts of sugar.

Personally, I will typically add some good carbs right after a workout, but I really do not sit there counting carbs. I just use common sense and try to have some carbs with my fats and proteins. Keeping it simple is what helps me keep things in line! And, if you are wondering about a specific diet or protein powder, I recommend that you read more than one source about it to get a better, more-informed decision on the mater. So, there you have it; drama solved… I hope!

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4 Factors To Consider When Buying Weightlifting Gloves

November 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment (Edit)

So, you need some new weightlifting gloves! Or, maybe, you are brand new to training in the gym, so you have no clue about what kind of gloves best fit your needs. Picking the right gloves can make the weight training experience a lot better, adding motivation and comfort along the way. Here are four factors that you should consider before buying gloves.

Glove Type

When it comes to weight training, there are numerous gloves (and other related accessories) out there for gym-goers to select from. It is important to consider your routine and goals when selecting a pair (or two) of gloves. In my case, I find short-fingered gloves to be very comfortable for me. Those protect the critical parts of my hands and fingers while allowing my fingertips to be exposed and free. On the other hand, I resort to no gloves and/or wrist straps when I am deadlifting, one-arm rowing, and shoulder shrugging extra heavy weights. I do that because my grip will go out before my major muscle groups will, and my goal for those exercises is to challenge those muscle groups rather than lower reps even more due to grip fatigue. Now, there are other options available too. For starters, Bionic Gloves makes a full-fingered weightlifting glove; I hear that those gloves add extra grip. Additionally, you may want to look into some gloves with hooks or straps built-in. This option may provide the best of both worlds, allowing you to use a typical glove approach for the bulk of your training while having those built-in hooks or straps for easy implementation during those heavier lift sets.

Bionic Short-finger Fitness Gloves & Harbinger Pro Lifting Straps

Glove Quality

Some people lift a lot of dumbbells and use the barbell a lot while other people tend to rely on lighter weight training using resistance bands and machine equipment. Once you figure out what type of training you are planning on doing most often, you then need to understand how much cushion you may need to properly protect your fingers and hands. For me, I tend to use a lot of dumbbells and various barbells, and I also tend to lift heavier weights, so, when I am concerned that my hands are not fully being protected, I will look for a set of gloves with added comfort and padding. Last year, I switched from a standard, less-padded pair of training gloves to a more comfortable and extra padded training gloves. And, when I go extra heavy, I will tend to use wrist straps in lieu of traditional gloves in order to strengthen my grip (as mentioned above), but, even then, I have determined that higher-quality materials in wrist straps in important to me if I am going to max out and lift heavier. Many times, you get what you pay for, and that leads me to the next factor – price!

Glove Price

You can find cheaper, less comfortable, and primarily feature-basic training gloves for around $10 to $15. Of course, you might even find some cheaper than that when they are on sale. On the flip side of the price spectrum, you could spend $30, $40, or over $50 on a higher-quality pair of weightlifting gloves that have extra cushion and comfort features built in. So, it is best to consider what your budget is and whether you are willing to pay an extra $10 or $20 more for a better pair of gloves. If you are willing to pay more, be sure that you are getting good value for the increased price. Sometimes, you may just be paying for the extra advertising and brand image, so do some comparison shopping, and check out some various reviews!

Glove Warranty

Lastly, if you are about to pay some good money for your new gloves, I’d highly recommend looking into the warranty that you get with that purchase. The Bionic short finger gloves that I bought last time apparently only have 60 days on the warranty, and that surprised me a little bit. I did not think to look into their warranty, and now I have a small tear in my gloves, and it does not appear that it is under coverage, so I have to reinvest YET AGAIN in another pair of gloves. So, the lesson learned here is to do your homework BEFORE you buy!

Conclusion

As you see, there are four main considerations that you have when looking to purchase weightlifting gloves. I recommend determining your workout goals before you go to the store. Then, think ahead [if possible] about what types of routines you have to do in order to achieve your fitness goals. By doing that, you are better prepared to figure out the type of gloves you should be shopping for. Doing some comparison shopping between brands and between retailers can help you find just the right gloves to meet both your needs and your budget!

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Phil Heath Reigns Supreme… Again

October 1, 2012 By 2 Comments (Edit)

Well, the Olympia competition and expo for 2012 has [now] come and gone. This past weekend was jam-packed with lots of top-notch athletes. Some of the bodybuilders have been at this show for a while now with a few others making their first appearance.  Specific to the Mr. Olympia competition, Phil “The Gift” Heath still reigned supreme. After two nights of judging, he edged Kai Greene to retain the title he first earned last year! Heath was very impressive as expected, but I must say that I was still Kai Greene really gave him a run for his money! I guess a little competition doesn’t hurt, huh?

Phil Heath and Kai Greene compete for 2012 Mr Olympia

Photo taken by Flex Magazine… all rights reserved

To Be The Man…

… you have to beat the man! While Kai rocked the stage with solid definition and overall muscle thickness, it was not enough in the eyes of the judges to overtake the current king of bodybuilding, Phil Heath. It would be nice to see Phil have a few more challengers as he tries to march towards many more titles. Luckily, for the fans of bodybuilding, it appears that he has great competition coming straight for him. Kai continues to challenge him for top honors, and new challengers are stepping into the mix. Shawn “Flexatron” Rhodes, who took third place, certainly appears to have what it takes to improve for many years to come. Of course, we cannot forget Dexter “The Blade” Jackson [who took fourth], Branch Warren [who took a disappointing fifth], Dennis Wolf [who took a disappointing sixth], and Toney “X-Man” Freeman [who took seventh].

The Surprises

Overall, the show was great, but there were a few surprises – both good and bad. First, Shawn Rhodes came into the show in top form, but he is basically a rookie by most accounts. In the past, there have been some younger competitors who arguably could have been placed higher at Mr Olympia if not for potential judging bias, etc. [In the eyes of many fans] For some judges, some competitors had to work harder and put their time in to earn their stripes, while giving the benefit of the doubt [and podium placements] to some veteran competitors who could otherwise be viewed less worth of the placement in the final standings. Of course, this is all arguable, but Flexatron came in looking great, and [thankfully] he was awarded accordingly. Kudos to the judges! Second, Branch Warren did not place in the top three. After having to sit out last year’s event due to injury and winning this year’s Arnold Classic! Certainly, he is not happy with the fifth place finish, and I’m sure few people expected him to rank at number five.  Lastly, Dennis Wolf appears to get no respect, or at least that is what some experts and fans proclaim. To many people’s surprise, he dropped all the way down to sixth place. Some find that he seems to fade a bit during the longer, multi-day shows. I’ll leave you to ponder that one!

Question Marks!

This was one of the few years that Jay Cutler did not compete. He had surgery earlier this year and was extra busy with the business side of things. But, he said that he will be back in 2013. So, if he comes back to compete, where will Jay fall in the mix of things? Can he compete for the top spot again? Also, with Branch Warren still coming back from surgery 13 or 14 months ago, how will he do with more [training and] recovery time? I guess we will just have to wait and watch as 2013 unfolds. I know one thing that is for sure – I will do my best to get to Las Vegas to see the results next time! It’s bound to be EPIC! So, are you pleased with the rankings at this year’s Mr. Olympia? Did the judges get it right? And how do you see the near future unfolding as new challengers step up and veterans refine their physiques?

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Mr Olympia – Changing of the Guard

September 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment (Edit)

This past weekend marked what many bodybuilding experts contend is the changing of the guard. In essence, the four time champion, Jay Cutler, passed the torch to good friend, Phil “The Gift” Heath. For those who might not know, every fall (typically in September) the biggest and best bodybuilders from around the world (who qualified) come together in Vegas for the mecca of all bodybuilding competitions, Mr. Olympia. This is a unique 2-day competition that is the SuperBowl or World Series for bodybuilders! For so many bodybuilders, it is the ultimate prize. With Phil Heath winning the title for the first time this year, he becomes only the 13th bodybuilder to ever have earned the title, so, as you can see, this achievement is quite impressive. Congratulations to “The Gift” on the dominating Olympia win!

Phil Heath Jay Cutler Olympia 2011

4-time Mr O Jay Cutler (left) and new Mr O Phil Heath (right) battle it out in the 2011 callouts

Getting back to this past weekend, I must say that Phil “The Gift” Heath was in amazing condition. In what many considered a flashback to the days of symmetry and Flex Wheeler in lieu of just pure mass, Phil Heath brought the complete package to the stage and truly won over both the judges and the fans!  Look at the video embedded below and tell me that his physique is not impressive. Certainly, many will conclude that such a body is not built naturally, and others will remind us that some people are just genetically gifted, but, no matter what, it takes a lot of effort to get to looking like Phil Heath. After taking second in 2010 in what some considered should have been a victory for “The Gift,” he went back to the drawing board and drew up a masterpiece for 2011! It truly appears that the torch has been passed from Cutler, but Jay has yet to announce retirement nor said he would not be back to battle in 2012’s Olympia, so anything is possible. On the other hand, this could very well be the beginning of another Mr Olympia Dynasty. Hopefully, I will be able to be in attendance to see it all unfold in fall of 2012 ~ who wants to take the trip to Vegas with me? Until then, watch this masterful posing performance and grow speechless at his top notch physique.

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