Throughout the pandemic, Americans have found creative ways to maintain their physical fitness through sports or other forms of physical activity. During National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, we renew our commitment to staying active and encourage all Americans to participate in activities that improve their well-being and lead to healthier lifestyles.
Thanks to our dedicated health care professionals and millions of Americans who have gotten vaccinated and boosted, schools, gyms, and businesses across the country have reopened. Stadiums are, once again, filled with fans cheering on their favorite sports teams and athletes.
But for the past few years, rates of physical activity have decreased — especially among groups at high risk for COVID-19. Socioeconomic disparities, including a lack of opportunities to participate in sports and fitness programs, have exacerbated the problem. The environments where people live, learn, work, and play also affect physical activity. Other barriers to regular physical activity, such as time, money, safety, and accessibility, impact the health and well-being of children and adults in every community. We must seek out equitable solutions to ensure that all Americans can live a more active, healthier lifestyle.
Fitness and sports are not only good for our physical health, they also improve the quality of our lives overall. Experts agree that even small amounts of physical activity can make a significant difference in a person’s physical and mental health. For example, it can reduce the risk of chronic diseases, blood pressure, and anxiety while improving sleep — among other health benefits.
Every sector has a role to play in removing barriers and increasing opportunities for Americans to participate in physical activities. That is why I issued an Executive Order to renew the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition, focusing on the importance of mental health related to physical fitness and nutrition. Through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s “Active People, Healthy Nation” initiative, we are providing an evidence-based blueprint to help 27 million Americans become more physically active by 2027. Additionally, the Department of Health and Human Services’ “Move Your Way” campaign is informing Americans about activities they can do to stay healthy through the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.
This month, let us all find ways to become more physically active in our daily lives. Take a walk, hike in your favorite park, try a new fitness class, join a local sports team, or volunteer at a community race. Whatever physical activity you choose, fitness will lead to better and healthier lives for all Americans.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2022 as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. I call upon the people of the United States to make daily physical activity a priority, to support efforts to increase access to sports opportunities in their communities, and to pursue physical fitness as an essential part of healthy living.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-sixth.
A simple barbell in a squat rack may not seem like a piece of modern-day technology, but it kinda is. Up until a few decades ago, lifters were either making their own racks by hand from scrap metal and wood, or they were figuring out how to get the bar lifted by any means necessary.
One popular method was created by Ed Zercher, a St. Louis-based weightlifter from the 1930s. Rather than get the bar onto his back, he developed a technique to get the bar from the floor into the crook of his arms so he could squat while clutching the weight to his torso.
This type of squat was dubbed “the Zercher squat.” Even if you’re a full-fledged 21st-century lifter, you can benefit from this old-school exercise.
How to Do the Zercher Squat
While the Zercher squat was originally intended as a solution for lifters without a squat rack, this approach does require the bar to begin either in a rack or set on benches, blockers, or another elevated surface. A Zercher movement for the rack-less lifter will be explained later in the Variations section.
Step 1 — Unrack the Bar
Credit: BarBend / Youtube
Set a barbell between your belly button and your chest, either in a rack or supported on benches, steps, or blocks. Stand as close as possible, with your feet directly under the bar at shoulder-width. Keep your shoulders back. Squat down just low enough to get your elbows under the bar.
Cradle the bar in your elbows, between your forearms and biceps, and curl both hands as close to your shoulders as possible. The palms of your hands should be pointed towards your face and your elbows should be tight to your ribs. Lift the weight by standing up. Lock your legs and stabilize your entire body. Take one full step backwards. Step one foot sideways to set your stance outside of shoulder-width.
Form Tip: For many lifters, physical discomfort from holding the bar in position is the biggest challenge. Wrapping the bar in a towel or bar pad (often meant to cushion the neck during back squats) is a solution as your body adapts to the pressure. Keeping your hands palms-up, not thumbs-up, will also help to disperse stress onto the muscles of the forearm instead of the bones of the forearm.
Step 2 — Squat Down
Credit: BarBend / Youtube
Maintain a stable and wide stance, beyond shoulder-width. Take a breath into your belly and tense your abs. Shift your hips backwards to squat down until your elbows or the barbell (depending on arm length) barely touch your thighs. Keep your torso as upright as possible throughout the movement.
Don’t allow the weight to pull your elbows forward or your arms to straighten. Your hands should remain near your shoulders or your chin during the movement. Pause very briefly in the bottom position.
Form Tip: Maintain full-body tension in the bottom position. Don’t relax your legs, core, or arms. Don’t allow the weight to “unload” onto your legs, which decreases muscular tension and increases overall joint strain.
Step 3 — Stand Up to Lockout
Credit: BarBend / Youtube
From the bottom position, keep your feet flat while pressing upwards to a standing position. Keep your shoulders back and squeeze your elbows into your sides to encourage upper body tension. As your legs lockout, squeeze your glutes to increase tension and ensure a strong standing position.
Form Tip: Pause very briefly in the locked out position to ensure total-body tightness. Don’t rise explosively to prevent the bar from bouncing in your arms; move with steady power and control.
Zercher Squat Mistakes to Avoid
Because the Zercher squat involves a unique and often unfamiliar bar position, there are several common mistakes many lifters may make which can reduce effectiveness and increase the risk of injury.
Leaning Forward
Much like the front squat, the Zercher squat supports the barbell in front of the body. This requires an upright torso position during the entire movement. Leaning forward shifts your center of gravity and pulls your upper body into a weakened position.
Credit: BarBend / Youtube
When the upper body falls forward, either the bar will roll out of your arms or you’ll manage to keep control of the weight while grinding out a rep with a serious leverage disadvantage, exposing your lower back to potential injury.
Avoid It: Maintain a vertical torso by keeping your shoulder blades pinched back and, even more importantly, by keeping the bar as close to your body as possible. Create tension through your arms, abs, shoulders, and back to hold the bar in position.
Short Range of Motion
The lower one descends into a squat position, the more glute and hamstring muscles are recruited. (1) Squatting to a relatively higher position may offer specific benefits, such as competitive powerlifters who only need to reach a parallel-thigh position and not any lower.
Credit: BarBend / Youtube
However, when a lifter unknowingly squats high or deliberately squats high as an “easier” option, they shortchange their overall results. Partial rep squatting can also increase stress on the knee and hip joints compared to squatting to lower depths. (2)
Avoid it: Because the bar is held relatively low on the body during the Zercher squat, the barbell acts as a built-in boundary, offering an unwavering target for depth. Make sure the bar reaches your thighs at the bottom of each rep.
Bouncing Off Your Legs
Maintaining control of the weight during an exercise is essential for developing muscle and power. Uncontrolled, explosive movements also open the door for unexpected injuries.
Credit: BarBend / Youtube
While a guideline for proper Zercher squat technique is to reach the bar to the tops of your legs, some lifters descend so quickly that the bar impacts their legs and rebounds upwards. Clearly, smashing your thighs with 100-plus pounds at a fairly high rate of speed isn’t the best idea.
Avoid it: Lower yourself under control, don’t free fall. Imagine your phone resting on your legs and touch the bar as softly as possible without breaking it.
The Zercher squat allows the legs to move significantly heavy weight with a stable and engaged core, reducing potential lower back strain (compared to other squat variations). Power output is optimized due to overall leverage, making the legs the primary mover and the most significantly recruited muscle group.
Leg Size
The Zercher squat has been shown to activate the quadriceps comparable to several popular squat variations, while also activating the glutes and hamstrings to a higher degree. (3) This increased muscle activation can directly lead to more muscle growth.
Upper Back Strength
While the upper back isn’t worked through a significant range of motion, it is heavily activated to keep your shoulders back while maintaining a stable upper body position. This constant work, resisting the barbell’s forward and downward pull, leads to a stronger upper back.
Core Strength
The abs and lower back are essential for preventing your upper body from collapsing forward under the stress of the weight. Coordinating the abs and lower back in this type of supportive role is essential for building total core strength.
Sport-Specific Training
The front-loaded barbell position of the Zercher squat can offer direct carryover for strength athletes who compete in similar front-loaded events. In strongman/strongwoman contests, this would include atlas stones, stone carries, and, most specifically, the “Conan’s Wheel” event.
Training Around Lower Back Pain
All types of squats can help to build lower body strength, but many squat variations require intensive lower back stress which can be a limiting factor for some lifters. Due to the unique bar position and increased overall core recruitment, the Zercher squat doesn’t significantly strain the lower back, allowing lifters to target their legs with reduced back pain.
Muscles Worked by Zercher Squat
The Zercher squat is predominantly a lower body exercise, but it involves multiple large muscles in the upper body as well.
Quadriceps
The quads are significantly recruited during any squat, particularly as you reach the bottom position of the Zercher squat. The quads are responsible for straightening the leg and extending the knee, which helps you rise from the bottom position and get to a standing position.
Glutes
The glute muscles play a key role to “extend” the hips and bring the legs directly under the upper body. Performing a complete lockout in the top position allows the glutes to maximally contract.
Hamstrings
The hamstrings consist of several different muscles heads, each of which coordinate to flex or bend the knee. The hamstrings are recruited and act as “brakes” while lowering yourself into the bottom of the squat position.
Upper Back
The upper back (consisting of the trapezius, rhomboids, rear deltoids, and other smaller muscles) is highly activated from the moment you unrack the barbell until the set is completed. The upper back works to keep your shoulder blades retracted (pinched together) and prevents your upper body from rounding forward into a dangerous position.
Spinal Erectors
The spinal erectors, or technically “erector spinae”, are more commonly referred to as the “lower back” although they’re a pair of muscles which run the entire length of the spine. They work primarily to prevent the rounding of the back and to maintain a straight upper body posture.
Abs
The abdominal muscles are responsible for more than just flexing or “crunching” the upper body. They control all basic movement from the hips up, including rotation, bending to either side, and to prevent bending backwards.
Biceps
The biceps, like the upper back, aren’t worked through any significant range of motion during a Zercher squat but they are highly activated to maintain a static position while holding the bar in place. It’s not uncommon for a lifter to feel muscular fatigue in their biceps after a set of hard Zercher squats.
Who Should Do the Zercher Squat
The Zercher squat can offer specific benefits for any lifter who can overcome or acclimate to the initial physical discomfort of the bar position.
Strength Athletes
Competitive strength athletes who perform front-loaded events can benefit directly from the Zercher squat. Athletes in any strength sport can benefit from the Zercher squat’s carryover to overall strength and core stability. Because of its significant upper back recruitment, it’s well-suited as an accessory exercise for either the squat or deadlift.
Training for Muscle
The Zercher squat isn’t a common exercise for muscle-building purposes, but it can serve as an effective squat variation to target the legs without excessive strain on the back.
How to Program the Zercher Squat
The Zercher squat can be programmed in line with multiple goals, but lower rep ranges are typically preferred to prevent fatigue as a limiting factor.
Heavy Weight, Low Repetition
The classic set and rep scheme of three to five sets of three to five reps is a reliable approach to build strength in any big lift, like the Zercher squat. The key to moving heavy weights is taking the time to adjust to the physical pressure at the elbows in the support position.
Moderate Weight, Low Repetition
Slightly reducing the weight while maintaining a lower rep range can shift the focus from leg strength to strength in the core and upper back. Two to four sets of four to six reps is an efficient way to train these total-body stabilizer muscles.
Zercher Squat Variations
Lifters may progressively work towards a full Zercher squat while adjusting to the bar position. Here are the most comparable options.
Goblet Squat
The goblet squat is a similar front-loaded squat variation, holding a dumbbell or kettlebell in the hands near chest-level. It offers reduced lower back stress, making it ideal for any lifter with back issues.
The goblet squat also allows for a complete range of motion, letting the lifter squat as deep as their hip and ankle mobility will allow. While the goblet squat is sometimes used by beginner lifters, it can be progressed heavily and can benefit even the most advanced lifter.
Sandbag Zercher Squat
Training with a sandbag offers countless benefits ranging from increased core stability to overall calorie-burning. It’s also an excellent callback to homemade training equipment, in the true spirit of Ed Zercher.
Using a sandbag instead of a barbell does compromise on potential load, since you don’t often find 300-pound sandbags, but the thicker diameter makes the support position extremely more comfortable, which allows you to focus on basic exercise technique and intensity.
Zercher Carry
The Zercher carry removes the squat portion and swaps it for a nice, long walk. Anytime you move while carrying a load, your core activation will light up. Zercher carries, in particular, will also involve your upper back (specifically the traps) to a very high degree.
A word of warning: Be sure to pay attention to your surroundings when Zercher carrying a barbell. You’ll be moving a wide load and the last thing you need is to have the seven-foot long barbell clip an object on one side and throw yourself into a spin.
Zercher Deadlift
The literal granddaddy of all Zercher lifts, the Zercher deadlift starts with the barbell on the floor rather than a rack, just the way Ed did them.
Sometimes called a “full cycle Zercher,” this movement is a multi-step process requiring you to deadlift the weight, hold the bar in position while squatting your body down, rest the bar on your legs, take the bar into the crooks of your arms, and then squat up.
This drawn-out technique involves so many moving parts, literally, that many lifters may not find it efficient for their goals. It is, however, a purebred piece of weightlifting history and is worth an experience, if only with an empty barbell.
Zercher Squat Alternatives
Not all lifters may need to incorporate the Zercher squat into their routine. There are several exercises which can offer similar benefits.
Front Squat
The front squat may appear to be a “Zercher squat while holding the bar higher on your body.” That’s a fair assessment. By using a “rack position,” the front squat keeps the weight in front of the body, supported across the front of the shoulders.
This allows the legs to be trained with drastically reduced lower back stress. The wrist and shoulder mobility needed to achieve a strong rack position can be relatively quickly trained with minimal direct attention.
High-Bar Squat
A simple variation of the basic back squat, placing the bar high on the shoulders and traps allows the lifter to maintain a more vertical torso, which reduces lower back strain.
This squat variation also offers much more direct carryover to competitive powerlifters, compared to the Zercher squat, because the bar is placed nearly identical to their contest lift. (Though, many competitive powerlifters opt to use a low-bar squat position, which places the bar more on the middle traps.)
Safety Bar Squat
The key benefit of the safety bar squat is the hand position, which accommodates lifters whose shoulder problems prevent holding a bar across their back.
A significant secondary benefit of the safety bar squat is increased upper back recruitment, due to the way the specialized handle offsets the barbell from your center of gravity. This upper back recruitment can offer comparable benefits to Zerchers.
FAQs
The bar hurts my arms. What’s the solution?
Probably the single most common issue with Zercher squats is the initial discomfort of holding the barbell in the elbow-supported position. There are a number of very effective workarounds that allow you to gradually adapt to the feeling while working on the exercise.
You can cushion yourself by wearing long-sleeve shirts and/or elbow sleeves (some lifters wear knee sleeves on their arms because the knee sleeves are larger and more comfortable). You can also cushion the bar with a bad pad typically used when the bar’s on your neck, or by wrapping a towel around the barbell.
Increasing the diameter of the bar also reduces the direct pressure. If your gym has thick barbells or axles, those work very well. Attaching removable thick-grip handles can also work.
Lastly, if you don’t feel that adapting to the movement is a good investment of your time in the gym, and presuming you’re not a competitive athlete performing Zercher-type movements in competition, it’s entirely acceptable to simply choose a different exercise.
Will the barbell crush the tendons in my elbows?
No, it won’t. Biceps tendon injuries at the elbow are relatively rare in the gym and, even then, they most often occur at the shoulder, not at the elbow. (4)(5)
While the biceps tendon does attach to the elbow joint, it’s not being strained in the Zercher position because it’s under a static contraction. Biceps tendon injuries typically occur when the tendon is “overstretched” with too much weight, too much speed, or too much range of motion. During a Zercher squat, the tendon isn’t put through any of those conditions.
However, if you have pre-existing elbow pain or inflammation issues, the exercise becomes a different scenario. In that case, as with any exercise, you should choose movements which do not aggravate your condition or affect recovery.
References
Kubo, K., Ikebukuro, T., & Yata, H. (2019). Effects of squat training with different depths on lower limb muscle volumes. European journal of applied physiology, 119(9), 1933–1942. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-019-04181-y
Hartmann H, Wirth K, Klusemann M. Analysis of the load on the knee joint and vertebral column with changes in squatting depth and weight load. Sports Med. 2013 Oct;43(10):993-1008. doi: 10.1007/s40279-013-0073-6. PMID: 23821469.
Erdağ, Deniz & Yavuz, Hasan. (2020). Evaluation of Muscle Activities During Different Squat Variations Using Electromyography Signals. 10.1007/978-3-030-35249-3_114.
Golshani K, Cinque ME, O’Halloran P, Softness K, Keeling L, Macdonell JR. Upper extremity weightlifting injuries: Diagnosis and management. J Orthop. 2017;15(1):24-27. Published 2017 Nov 7. doi:10.1016/j.jor.2017.11.005
Lavallee ME, Balam T. An overview of strength training injuries: acute and chronic. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2010 Sep-Oct;9(5):307-13. doi: 10.1249/JSR.0b013e3181f3ed6d. PMID: 20827099.
Boxing sessions, gym work and running have kept Dustin Martin in tip-top shape during his absence from the AFL and the Richmond superstar is a ‘certainty’ to return against Collingwood next weekend.
Martin returned to training last weekend after a five-week hiatus, with the 30-year-old taking time out to come to terms with the death of his father, Shane.
Despite his lengthy stint on the sidelines, Martin has hit the ground running since coming back to Punt Road and has impressed coaches in a number of training sessions.
Dustin Martin is reportedly a ‘certainty’ to make his AFL return against Collingwood next week
Damien Hardwick opted not to take Martin west for the Tigers’ game against the Eagles, but the Herald Sun reports that the midfielder dazzled in a training session with the VFL side in Melbourne and insiders have decided he can return next week.
‘He (Martin) trained with us on Wednesday and it briefly came up (whether he would play against West Coast) and we said let’s not take him to Perth,’ Richmond performance manager Peter Burge said.
‘He trained on Friday in a big session with the other guys who have a VFL bye and then we can look at him again next week. He has got through pretty much everything as planned which has been great and we look forward to him training again next week. We will revisit it next week.’
The 30-year-old has kept in shape with boxing and running while taking time out of the sport
While out of the game, Martin has been ticking over with boxing sessions, runs and gym work and has benefited from that work since coming back.
‘We won’t declare if he is in or not but he is a very, very good player and as ‘Dimma’ (Damien Hardwick) put it yesterday, even if he is not 100 per cent fit as long as he is safe to play from an injury point of view (we will consider it).
‘He did about 11km of work and all the varying intensities we throw at the guys with a football component and a fair conditioning element, too.’
Club officials are confident he faces no risk of injury if he returns against the Pies next week
Burge said the club was never surprised by Martin’s conditioning after 260 games in 12 completed seasons as well as round 1 this year.
‘He is low maintenance, he is very good with recovery and his communication,’ Burge said.
‘We know how his body responds. He likes his boxing, he is more amenable to going for a run these days than 10 years ago and he’s been maintaining speed and strength markers in the gym.’
Working out from home became the ‘new norm’ as a result of the pandemic, but now there is a new fitness trend sweeping the nation.
New research suggests 40 per cent of Australians have turned to hybrid workouts —looking to simultaneously reap the benefits of gym memberships and at-home workouts at the same time.
After two years of lockdowns, gym closures, varying restrictions and the impact that had on peoples’ exercise routines, it seems many are keen to embrace a new era of mix-and-match memberships.
The pandemic has changed our fitness routines. (iStock)
TheRaise The Barresearch, conducted by Peloton ahead of the launch of its newest product the Peloton Guide, showed that since gyms and group fitness centres reopened their doors, Australians have maintained their at-home workout routines thanks to the plethora of online fitness options now available.
According to the report, 5.5 million Australians (32 per cent) work out at-home as their main form of exercise, compared to outdoor exercise (20 per cent) and traditional gyms (13 per cent).
When it comes to returning to the gym, the report revealed nearly a third (30 per cent) were nervous to commit to a long-term contract and are not comfortable having to share equipment that has been used by others (26 per cent).
“As a result of the past two years, Australians are seeking more flexibility and choice in every aspect of their daily lives, so they don’t have to compromise on their lifestyle needs, and can work – as well as workout, from anywhere,” Peloton Australia Country Manager Amanda Gilmore said of the report.
“Australians are now considering what works best for their schedules and are enjoying the flexibility that comes with mixing up their routines.”
Over 5 million Australians are working out at home. (Getty)
However, Australians continue to casually frequent the gym, to get the best of both worlds, with many pointing to some of the key drawbacks of at-home workouts including not being held accountable (31 per cent) and lack of a trainer when exercising (18 per cent).
Peloton instructor Ben Alldis says Australians have been quick to embrace digital, or what they call “connected fitness”, turning their living spaces into functional areas to workout.
“While exercising at a traditional gym, you may use different types of equipment in one session, some of which can be really bulky and expensive to purchase and store at home,” Ben says.
“But don’t let this stop you from achieving your fitness goals! A set of dumbbells and a yoga mat can still help you break a sweat.”
Bringing your pet along on excursions is a great way to bond with your adventure pup, but you need to ensure you’ve got the right dog gear for camping, hiking, fishing, and more. Just like the right essentials keep you comfortable, well-fed, and prepared for the unexpected, so does specialized dog gear for camping and outdoor adventures.
From sleeping bags and life vests to multi-function leashes and protective goggles, there’s a whole assortment of cool gear designed specifically to help your dog get the most out of any outdoor experience. We selected some of the newest products to chase any adventure.
Best Dog Gear for Camping, Hiking, and Outdoor Adventures
Courtesy Image
1. Wilderdog Sleeping Bag
Durable and water-repelling on the outside, soft and micro-fleecy on the inside, Wilderdog’s canine-specific sleeping bag will help you get a good night’s sleep by giving your dog a dedicated space that’s cozy and warm without being confining. The sleeping bag unzips flat and zips three-quarters of the way around so your pup can snuggle inside. Loops hang the bag for drying and airing out. And when it’s not in use, the extra short sleeping bag packs into a stuff sack.
This three-in-one travel bed, quilt, and sleeping bag will keep your canine comfy on cold nights. The baffled quilt is stuffed with synthetic insulation and attaches to a durable base with plenty of options to stick a head or paw out. Size it to fit your curled-up pup, and slip a pad into the base for extra insulation.
Kurgo’s backcountry-ready dog harness’ molle and Velcro attachment system lets you attach panniers, a hydration pouch, a dog treat dispenser, a first aid kit, and more. The base harness has a padded back and a broad chest to disperse weight and minimize strain. Dual haul handles give you options for grabbing your pup in case you need to give a boost.
Losing a dog on the trail is stressful. Garmin’s compact Alpha 10 tracker and TT15X collar keep tabs on your pup if it takes off. The nine-mile-range Alpha is a phone-compatible GPS that also shows your dog’s precise location and can recall it remotely. The TT15X collar has 80 hours of battery and easy-to-spot LEDs.
The most innovative dog leash on the market, Ruffwear’s Hitch Hiker is a 12-foot-long line for your pup that stores in a mini-hip pack. When you want to give your dog room to roam, squeeze the belay device-like camming mechanism to let the lead out. And when you need to bring Rover back to base, pull the cord, which locks like a climbing rope in an auto-belay device.
Designed to offer a bunch of options for hooking your dog up to you to keep them safe and secure, the Magic Link can be worn as a belt or shoulder bandolier, used as a wrist-strap and it simply convert to a slip-on collar with leash, or just be set up as conventional leash that you attach to a collar or harness. It’s made from an industrial strength cord that’s waterproof, mold-proof, and strong—it’s rated up to 350 pounds of pull force. High quality, matte black aluminum hardware handsomely sets off the nine available colors.
Ruffwear’s Float Coat, a buoyant harness/life jacket, helps your dog feel safe and confident in the water, and it gives you total control. The foam-filled PFD has an adjustable neck, and easy-to-operate buckles that won’t irritate your pup and a sturdy haul handle for lifting your dog out of the water. The well-padded jacket will easily keep a 75-pound dog afloat—attach a light to the loop on the back to make your pup visible in low light.
Rex Specs’s curved lens goggles will protect your canine’s corneas from snow blindness and irritants like bugs, dust, sand, and wind so they can comfortably accompany you on adventures. The goggles come with easily changeable clear and smoke lenses, and have better fit, greater stability, a wider field of view, more streamlined design, and better range of motion than previous versions. There’s a learning curve, and your dog will look like an astronaut wearing them, but they work.
Conserve the water you’re carrying with Vapur’s 0.7 oz. BPA-free, wide-mouth “anti-bottle.” Flip open the three-layer flask’s dust cap and an oversized roller reminiscent of a gerbil water bottle lets your dog get a drink without drips or spills. An integrated clip keeps it convenient, and the roller clicks off for cleaning. And as the dishwasher-safe flask drains, it folds to take up less room in your pack. Also available as a pet and owner two-pack.
Make your dog visible for six hours on a charge with this Nite Ize ultrabright collar. Push a button for glow or flash, and two ultra-bright LEDs illuminate an integrated optical fiber that’s consistently bright all around the dog’s neck and easy to spot. The rest of the time the highly water-resistant, metal belt buckle-close collar is low chafe, secure and an all-around great collar. The collar recharges in 1.25 hours via micro-USB.
Keep your pup organized on their next play date, car trip, or visit to the grandparents with Orvis’ Chuckwagon. With everything your dog needs in one spot, you can grab the bag and go for impromptu adventures without forgetting a thing. The Cordura Eco tote comes stocked with dog-on-the-go essentials—collapsible food and water bowls, a zippered food carrier held in place with removable internal dividers, and stretchy pockets for toys, meds, and more. Poop pickup bags live on a dispenser cord in an outside pocket, while treats are easy access when stored in the outside pocket on the other side. The tote has a reinforced bottom that’s also water-repelling and zippered opening makes everything inside easy to reach.
We’re not kidding when we say carrying groceries into your home is a fully-fledged workout — especially if you’re one of those types who believes everything must be done in one trip.
Depending on what you buy, carrying groceries up the front steps can burn an incredible 111 calories in just 15 minutes.
To supercharge your workout, try catching the bus to the supermarket and walking home from the bus-stop — it’s annoying, but it will tick off your daily workout in one go.
The 2022 World’s Strongest Man (WSM) is set to occur on May 24-29, 2022, in Sacramento, CA. The premier event in the strongman sphere will yet again see some of the world’s top strength sports athletes vie for the legendary Barry Frank Trophy. On April 27, 2022, the WSM organization revealed this year’s competition’s respective event format.
2022 World’s Strongest Man Event Schedule
Here is the full lineup and schedule of events, including the Qualifying Stage and a two-day Finals:
Qualifying Round, Day 1 — Tuesday, May 24th, 2022
Loading Race
Deadlift Ladder
Qualifying Round, Day 2 — Wednesday, May 25th, 2022
Car Walk
Log Lift
Qualifying Round, Day 3 — Thursday, May 26th, 2022
Wrecking Ball Hold
Stone Off
Final, Day 1 — Saturday, May 28th, 2022
Final, Day 2 — Sunday, May 29th, 2022
Bus Pull
Reign Total Body Fuel Power Stairs
Atlas Stones
At the time of this writing, WSM has not announced which athletes will be in their specific Qualifying Groups. Notably, the 2021 WSM saw different, random draws for the various events. This year, every Qualifying Group will take on the same events.
The 2022 WSM format will consist of five groups with six athletes each. The respective winner of each group advances to the Final, while the second and third-place finishers will clash in a Stone Off to notch a spot in the Final. The fourth, fifth, and sixth-place athletes will leave the competition.
In the Stone Off, the onus is on the third-place finisher — who has the first crack at lifting the stones and risks elimination if they fail to complete a lift. That result will hold even if they raise the same number of stones as their competitor. The five respective winners of the Stone Off will take the remaining spots in the Final.
Here are more specifics on the events that the competitors can expect in Sacramento.
Loading Race
One of strongman’s customary events, the Loading Race will make another appearance at the 2022 WSM. It was an event that every Qualifying Group took part in during the 2021 WSM.
The 2021 respective Loading Race winners are reigning WSM Champion Tom Stoltman, Maxime Boudreault, Konstantine Janashia, Kevin Faires, and Robert Oberst. Each of these competitors has a place in the 2022 lineup save for Oberst.
Deadlift Ladder
Meanwhile, the Deadlift Ladder event makes its debut during the 2022 WSM. Competitors will start their deadlifts with 650-pound barbells and eventually work their way up to 750 pounds. The athletes have an extra incentive to finish their pulls quickly, which will reward them with more points.
Car Walk
Another event making a return after an absence, the Car Walk will see the athletes strap a Volkswagen Bug to their shoulders as they attempt to walk it down a 25-meter path. 2019 WSM Champion Martin Licis is a competitor to watch here.
Licis typically excels with the Yoke Walk — which is similar to the Car Walk, albeit with the car being more unwieldy. The strongman crushed a Yoke Walk during the 2021 Rogue Invitational when he carried a 455-kilogram yoke (1,000-pound) 50 feet in just over 44 seconds. That mark was enough to have Licis lap the next best competitor by almost six seconds and garner a second-place finish to Mateusz Kieliszkowski (41.74 seconds) — who recently withdrew from the 2022 WSM competition.
Log Lift
The Log Lift should be a spectacle to watch. Many of the featured athletes fare pretty well with their overhead strength.
Bobby Thompson in particular will be under the microscope as he holds the American log lift record with a 217.5-kilogram press (479.5 pounds) from the 2021 Clash on the Coast. The 2021 Europe’s Strongest Man (ESM) Luke Stoltman should also be someone to keep an eye on. Stoltman holds the British log lift record with a 221-kilogram press (487-pound) from the World Ultimate Strongman’s “Feat of Strength” series.
The Wrecking Ball Hold is making its first-ever appearance at the WSM competition. Athletes will have the task of lifting a massive wrecking ball and holding it for as long as possible.
Stone Off
The Stone Off will be no surprise to the competitors who are intimately familiar with the famed Atlas Stones. Tom “King of the Stones” Stoltman might be the favorite. He won the final Atlas Stones event (five lifts in 20.21 seconds) during the 2021 WSM — a major factor in his eventual victory.
Two of the athletes, Trey Mitchell and 2022 ESM Champion Oleksii Novikov, should also make easy work of the stones. The two strongmen had a Stone Off for the ages during the 2019 WSM when Mitchell’s 14 successful staggering reps beat Novikov’s 13.
Including his recent ESM victory, Novikov has qualified for the podium in 13 of his last 14 sanctioned competitions. He is assuredly seeking redemption after not advancing from the 2021 Qualifying Round.
Giants Medley
The KNAACK® Giants Medley is comparable to the Loading Race, save for a structure that features a box carry and super Yoke.
Deadlift
At the time of writing, the WSM organization hasn’t confirmed whether the deadlift event is for a one-rep max or for reps. After tying for first (10 reps each) during the 2021 WSM, Mitchell and Adam Bishop are the reigning winners. Mitchell just barely missed out on an 11th rep before time expired.
Flintstone Barbell
Yet another event making a comeback, the strongmen will lift a pair of giants stone on each arm sleeve in what is functionally a behind-the-neck press. They will take turns attempting to lift the same weights, with that number successively increasing in each round.
Bus Pull
The Bus Pull will see the athletes pull a Sacramento Regional Transit bus that weighs roughly 40,000 pounds in a race against the clock. The ground’s surface and the tires’ traction should undoubtedly play a role for the eventual victor.
Power Stairs
The Power Stairs asks the athletes to carry an anvil-esque implement up a flight of stairs as fast as they can.
This event was the wheelhouse for five-time WSM Champion Mariusz Pudzianowski — who partly won his fifth WSM title in 2008 on the strength of a stellar Power Stairs performance.
Atlas Stones
As is the tradition, the competition will close with the Atlas Stones. While Tom Stoltman will be favored, a number of the other athletes like Licis, Mitchell, Novikov, and Brian Shaw share a similar proficiency with the Atlas Stones. As a result, the event may once more likely decide this year’s champion.
2022 World’s Strongest Man Lineup
Here’s the current list of athletes set to compete during this year’s event:
Tom Stoltman (United Kingdom) — Reigning WSM Champion
Several potential storylines lie in wait for this year’s competition. While Tom Stoltman is seeking a repeat, it could be the year of an upstart who surprises and takes home the hallowed WSM title.
Featured image: @theworldsstrongestman on Instagram
On April 26, 2022, Olivares showed why he’s someone to watch in the powerlifting sphere when the 23-year-old locked out a 417.3-kilogram squat (920-pound) with ease during a training session.
Takes 100% effort to make something look effortless.
Olivares wore wrist straps, a lifting belt, and knee sleeves for the lift. The athlete also had three spotters on hand as a precaution, though, given how easily he completed the squat — their direct intervention was unnecessary.
Check out the casual, staggering lift below, courtesy of Olivares’ Instagram profile:
Olivares may be in his early 20s, but he’s been competitive powerlifting in some capacity for almost a decade. A Texas native, Olivares began his career as a teenager with the Texas High School Powerlifting Association (THSPA) in 2013. After getting some experience and meets under his belt, he managed to win the 2014 THSPA Mustang Invitational — his first-ever victory.
From there, it’s been mostly smooth sailing for the stellar young powerlifter.
Of late, Olivares has won six straight competitions and hasn’t lost an event since 2015. To date, his peak career achievement might be a first-place finish in the 2021 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Classic Powerlifting Championships while competing in the 120-kilogram-plus weight class. That has also been Olivares’ competition weight during his ongoing winning streak.
Here’s a rundown of some of the more notable results from Olivares’ ongoing career:
Jesus Olivares Notable Career Results
2019 USA Powerlifting (USAPL) Winter Iron Open — 1st place
2020 USAPL Capital City Classic — 1st place
2020 USAPL Collegiate Cup and Texas Open — 1st place
2021 USAPL Raw Nationals — 1st place
2021 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships — 1st place
2022 AMP Classic Open Nationals — 1st place
Olivares recently notched an unofficial world record for the 120-kilogram-plus weight class, among other feats. During the 2022 AMP Classic Open Nationals, the powerlifter pulled a 402.5-kilogram deadlift (887.3-pound) — which would’ve been the world record if achieved at an international competition. Ray Williams still holds the official all-time IPF mark with a 398.5-kilogram pull (878.5-pound) during the 2018 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships.
In addition, Olivares also scored a 1,110-kilogram total (2,447.1-pound) during the meet. It is the second-heaviest raw total for the 120-kilogram-plus weight class in the history of IPF powerlifting. According to Open Powerlifting, Daniel Bell holds the all-time top spot with a 1,182.5-kilogram total (2,607-pound) from the 2021 World Raw Powerlifting Federation (WRPF) Hybrid Showdown III.
Here are Olivares’ stats from his recent meet, where he broke multiple competition records in the 120-kilogram-plus weight class:
Jesus Olivares | 2022 AMP Classic Open Nationals Stats
Olivares will continue to plug away with his training as he looks to defend his 2o21 IPF title. Considering his recent string of staggering results, he may become a repeat champion and officially log a world record or two.
The 2022 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships will take place on June 6-12, 2022, in Sun City, South Africa.
Two new Bell & Ross BR V2-92 watches bring new meaning to the phrase “see and be seen.” Although they accomplish the feat in different ways, the BR V2-92 Orange and BR V2-92 Full Lum are both head-turners from afar and up close: The former wears a sunny dial color, and the latter is fully coated with lume for excellent visibility, even when it’s dark.
The watches are limited-edition versions of Bell & Ross’s BR V2-92 model, part of the brand’s collection of vintage-styled timepieces. Both the Orange and the Full Lum feature a 41mm stainless steel case with a grooved crown and prominent crown guard; the metal wears both satin and polished finishes. The dial displays the hour, minutes, and seconds with three hands, and there’s a small circular date window tucked in between 4 and 5 o’clock. The date display itself wears the same color as the surrounding dial—a nice aesthetic touch that keeps the face of the watch from looking too cluttered.
Both watches feature a bidirectional rotating bezel with a notched edge for good grip, and the dial is capped with domed sapphire crystal. Flip them over, and the see-through case back gives a view of the inner mechanicals. They’re also water resistant down to 100 meters, so they have plenty of durability for everyday wear, even if your daily routine includes a dip in the pool.
Bell & Ross BR V2-92 Full LumCourtesy Image
The Full Lum model is all about superior visibility in low light. It achieves that goal thanks to a fully lumed dial, a feature that Bell & Ross first rolled out in its lineup in 2019. The BR V2-92 is the fourth watch to get this treatment. The dial has a unique “water green” lume color; the hands and indices are adorned with pale yellow Super-LumiNova. In the daytime, the watch has a subtle green color, but the real show starts after dark. In low light, the entire watch face glows blue, and the hands and indices illuminate in a light green hue.
Bell & Ross BR V2-92 OrangeCourtesy Image
The BR V2-92 Orange might not light up at night like its lumed sibling, but it’ll certainly catch your eye during the day. As the name implies, the big draw with this limited-run model is the bright dial color, which Bell & Ross initially released on its BR 03-92 Diver Orange timepiece back in 2020. While this isn’t a dive watch, the color suits the BR V2-92 well, and gives this vintage model an attractive pop. You can pair it with a rubber strap in a braided pattern or a steel bracelet—perfect for giving this watch a slightly dressier look.
Both watches are powered by Bell & Ross’s BR-CAL.302 automatic movement for consistent timekeeping.
Want to add one of these tickers to your collection? Don’t wait—just 500 of each will be made.
[Bell & Ross BR V2-92 Full Lum, $3,800; bellross.com]
On April 26, 2022, powerlifter Jessica Buettner made waves again when she deadlifted 245.4 kilograms (541 pounds) for two reps during training — a new double PR. For the pull, Buettner used a mixed grip, worked from a conventional stance, and wore a lifting belt.
Check out Buettner’s set below, via her Instagram profile:
This display of power and volume is nothing unusual for Buettner in progressions lately. She recently deadlifted a staggering 230 kilograms (507 pounds) for six reps during a training session in April 2022.
That said, Buettner’s new deadlift double PR is noteworthy for two reasons. First, it’s only 6.1 kilograms (13.4 pounds) off her all-time competition best — a 250-kilogram pull (551.1-pound) from the 2020 Canadian Power Union (CPU) Nationals. Second, Buettner has Type 1 diabetes. She maintained that this obstacle added a challenging dimension to her recent training session.
“I am happy I was able to move this because my blood sugars weren’t too good,” Buettner wrote in the caption of her Instagram post.
It’s a testament to Buettner’s strength and perseverance that she managed to push through with a PR lift anyway.
Around The Corner
Buettner’s schedule is about to get quite busy.
In the near term, the powerlifter will compete at the 2022 CPU Nationals, which will take place from May 9-14, 2022, in St. Johns, Canada. Following that event, after a relatively short reprieve, she will take the stage at the 2022 International Powerlifting Federation (IPF) World Classic Powerlifting Championships, which occur on June 6-12, 2022, in Sun City, South Africa. The athlete will compete in her usual 76-kilogram weight class in both events.
Buettner should enter these competitions as an anticipated contender. As the reigning IPF World Classic Powerlifting Champion in the 76-kilogram weight class, she’s assuredly seeking a repeat. As for the CPU Nationals, it’s been two years since she last competed at the respective event.
Nevertheless, it would undoubtedly be a mistake for anyone to overlook the prolific powerlifter and what she brings to the table as an athlete.
To date, in 17 sanctioned competitions during her career, Buettner has 15 wins and two second-place finishes, according to Open Powerlifting. She’s also on a hot streak. The powerlifter has won three straight competitions, last coming in second during the 2019 IPF World Classic Powerlifting Championships.
Buettner’s continued diligence with her training is undoubtedly a significant factor in her ongoing success. When she steps onto the lifting platform in the coming weeks, she might be in a favorable position to notch wins and vaunted records at the same time.
