Written by Team MD
07 October 2020

 

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Relentless Pursuit

 

By IFBB Pro Josh Wade

Presented by Allmax Nutrition

Bodybuilding Is Truly an Art!

 

 

If only we could pick the shape and structure we were born with then we would have the perfect width of clavicles, the perfect muscle insertions, round muscle bellies, perfectly balanced and proportionate limbs, etc. Unfortunately, we can’t. We are given a canvas that might not be the perfect shape but as bodybuilders and embracing the concept of bodybuilding, we can work our asses off and put the work in to make it the most balanced, symmetrical shape that we possibly can. I always say, “If it was easy, everyone would do it.” It’s not easy, but the pride you get from working hard for something is the most valuable thing you can achieve. Still, as a bodybuilder I think you can be happy with what you’ve achieved, and I think you should be happy. Otherwise what are you doing it for if you can’t appreciate how far you've come? That doesn’t mean you become content or else you’ll become complacent, and then there’s no more improving possible. You won’t push yourself the same way anymore and like I said, “If it was easy, everyone would do it”!

 

The art is about bringing up weak points and improving strengths. I’ve been competing 14 years and finally I’m happy with the physique I’ve built but I’m not done yet either! I’ve brought up weak points through an extensive amount of hard work and absolute dedication to my craft, which takes complete focus on feeling the muscle work and making sure you work it until it doesn’t work anymore, then rest and repeat over and over again. But you can’t neglect your strengths either. I feel my density is my strength. After so many years of beating up the muscle tissue it has gotten really dense, which relates to that graininess that I show up on stage with. I’m still putting a lot of effort into mid-back thickness, which I think a lot of bodybuilders are lacking in due to neglect or just being unable to connect with.

 

Here is a recent back workout I did focused on pre-exhausting the lats, similar to what Dorian Yates used to be able to get a great connection with his mid-back and lower lats. Give it a try and I hope you get the same outcome as I did, which was a nasty pump/tightness in the mid-back area!

 

Cable Rope Pullovers

5x12

Superset with

Dumbbell Pullovers

5x12

 

Reverse-grip Cambered Bar Rows

5x12

 

Prone Two-arm Dumbbell Bench Rows

(After last set, allow your arms to hang while opening up your mid-back to stretch the attachments for 15-20 seconds)

 

Overhand Machine Rows

(Firing elbows back and really squeezing mid-back)

 

Medium Neutral Grip Pulldowns

4x12

 

After pumping blood in the lats with the rope pullovers, the dumbbell pullover stretch felt amazing and pumped the lats like crazy! Then the reverse-grip rows pulling to the belly button crushed the lower lats. That was followed by the prone dumbbell rows lying facedown on an incline bench, which hits more of the upper mid-back between the scapulae. After all that blood is in the mid-back, then I feel a great contraction squeezing the shoulder blades with the machine row. Last but not least, I like a medium neutral grip pulldown to be able to keep the elbows in tight to the body, which helps contract the lats because you can sink the shoulder girdle deeper as opposed to a wider grip.

 

Phil Heath’s Return: Hell Yeah!

 

Q: What are your thoughts on Phil Heath announcing he’s doing the 2020 Olympia?

 

A:My first thought is fingers crossed the Olympia happens with all the uncertainty of this year, and hoping the supplement companies that sponsor the event haven’t been hurt too badly with the gyms closed down and therefore hurting their product sales. Next, I say hell yeah! While I personally idolize guys like Jay Cutler and Lee Haney that are all-around great guys and amazing ambassadors of the sport, you can’t not respect the physique of seven-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath! People knock Phil Heath because he is named “The Gift” and there is always a jealousy when people want what you have but can never achieve it. He has superior genetics, a small waist and amazingly round muscle bellies. Not to mention the condition he comes in which you have to respect, as we all know condition is the hardest thing to truly achieve but the one thing we are always in control of!

 

When people bagged on him for his stomach distension at the 2018 Olympia even after he gave the reasoning of the umbilical hernia surgery gone wrong, I understood it as someone who also had the same surgery. Ever since then, I haven’t been able to feel my lower abdomen the same and it’s harder for me to keep that lower abdomen drawn in and therefore takes much more focus on vacuums and control to keep it tight. I don’t believe missing a year or his age (40) is a factor at all, knowing Phil is about six months younger than me with far superior genetics and I’m still improving. No doubt he can be his best ever, with some rest and recovery from the downtime.

 

No matter what, it has brought an excitement for this year's Olympia to see what Phil can bring and can he match Ronnie and Lee’s record with eight Olympia titles? Who knows, but I can say I’m truly excited for it whether I’m in it or not!

 

Strengthening the Immune System

 

With the COVID-19 situation, I’ve been getting a lot of inquiries as to which supplements can strengthen the immune system and help prevent infection. These are the supplements that I take every day year-round for immune system function and antioxidants, but they are even more beneficial at times of stress or sickness.

 

Allmax Immune-Boosting stack

 

Glutamine: 10g 3x day, upon rising, post-workout and before bed.

R+ALA: 2 caps (300mg) with first and last meal.

CytoGreens: 1 scoop upon rising. 

Vitastack: 1 multipack with first meal.

Omega 3: 2g with first and last meal.

 

Please send questions for this column to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: www.teamwadefitness.com

 

Instagram:

@ifbbprojoshwade

@teamallmax

@allmaxtraining

 

For more information, visit allmaxnutrition.com

 

 

 

 

 

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