Tagged with 'evan centopani'

While maintaining good mental health has always been important for our overall wellbeing, it's more relevant now than ever due to current events derailing many of our normal routines. There are many strategies that we can employ to help ourselves keep our heads "screwed on straight." Evan Centopani, one of Animal's most grounded and logical athletes, highlights some ways we can make sure our brains and thought processes are operating optimally.

Preparation is fundamental to anyone hoping to attain their physique related goals. The word “prep” has become so overused that it’s actually easy to forget that it is short for preparation. Take food prep and contest prep, for example. We set aside time to prepare food in advance. Why? Efficiency is part of it, but it’s mainly so that we can repeat day after day of proper eating with no missed or imperfect meals. The entire concept of contest preparation is based on having what you need come the day of the show: a dialed in, competitive physique. Ultimately, preparation is about having what you need when you need it.

There is often a great deal of confusion surrounding how to approach the process of getting in shape. Whether you’re starting preparations for a contest or want to get yourself in shape, the most challenging part is simply getting started. An evolving approach is best. Just as you wouldn’t go from being single to completely changing your life by moving in with someone you don’t know, I think it’s foolish to make grandiose plans to commit to a diet that is a huge departure from what you currently follow. What if that diet is just not right for you? To go from a diet that you have been following for a significant period of time, regardless of how good or bad it may seem, to one that is radically different is usually a mistake.

Hand two motivated individuals the same hammer and neither will create the same thing. But how do you find that motivation to build? Whether we understand it or not, are aware of it or not, discontent often lies at the heart of change. For me, feelings of inadequacy coupled with an irrepressible need for self-improvement got me motivated pretty early in life. A bench and barbell set that could serve as a heavy-duty clothing rack and dust collection unit for one guy, allowed me to transform myself both physically and mentally. This is for the one who helped me get started. Thanks, Dad.

Bodybuilders are arguably one the most rigid athletes around. The attention to detail needed to become successful results in a monotonous and repetitive life. But what happens over the holidays? Are they supposed to forget what they're doing and go off the rails, or do they just completely avoid social gatherings? We got the Animals together to discuss what they do and do not do when it comes to holiday eating.

Getting started in any endeavor is oftentimes the hardest part. This certainly holds true in bodybuilding. New bodybuilders are almost always more confused than they are confident. Even with the overabundance of information available on various websites and on social media, most beginners will walk away with more questions than answers, especially regarding nutrition.

Circumstances aren't always perfect. As a bodybuilder, you have to make do with what you've got and roll with the punches. Evan shows you how to do an entire arm workout in only 15 minutes—don't let life stand in your way of getting it done.

Derek Lunsford has been Mr. Worldwide of late. After landing in Germany for FIBO in April, Derek found himself wandering around Birmingham, England for the BodyPower Expo. Take a look at what went down in Derek's world as he flew across the pond to England.

In your quest to get big, don’t overlook the importance of digestion. If you cannot digest the amount of food you need to take in, you will spin your wheels. There are many foods (and supplements) that support proper digestion. Listen in as two of the most health conscious athletes in the sport, Evan Centopani and John Jewett, discuss their favorite digestive aids.

You can train with maximum intensity or you can train with high frequency, but you can’t do both. For years, trainees have landed on either side of the debate with some being disciples of the high intensity school and the rest being advocates of increased training frequency.

One of the greatest perks of being a pro bodybuilder is being able to travel the world, see new sights, and experience different cultures. Follow along as Evan Centopani hit the markets of Dubai.

Most new lifters instinctually gravitate toward the bench press because it has been a gauge of strength for athletes across all disciplines. If you’d like to bench like a pro though, Evan Centopani has a few tips. Check it out.