Discussion of Bump to Rump Video Series Exercise #10 – The Canadian Deadlift

Several months ago Ian Lauer IFBB Pro and I developed the Bump To Rump Series as a follow up to the Glute Series videos, and decided to open the series with a relatively unusual exercise called the Canadian deadlift. Though I explain the movement thoroughly in the video, I will describe it here for clarification. To begin this exercise, you will stand with feet shoulder width apart, holding a barbell or EZ curl bar at your hips with arms fully extended. Bend at the waist until the bar is at the floor, then bend at the knees fully so that you are crouched with bar on floor. Straighten out knees, then slowly straighten out torso so that you return to standing position.

Due to the complex nature of this movement, you should use a relatively light weight. For example, with regular barbell stiff-legged deadlifts, I use 40 to 50 pounds, but with Canadian deadlifts, I only use 20 pounds. This is a great deadlift variation if you are getting tired of regular stiff-legged deadlifts and want a change in your routine.

Discussion Of Booty Blast Video Superset #4

In this superset we will target the gluteal region from multiple angles and positions in order to create a rounder, fuller look. When you perform one legged side lying presses, don’t worry about doing a very heavy weight. Instead, focus on using proper form, driving your heel into the plate and squeezing the glute as you press the plate up. You should feel an intense stretch in the back of the leg and in the glute during this move.

When you perform plie dumbbell squats, stand with feet very wide apart and toes pointed slightly outward. As you crouch into the squat, avoid leaning forward and instead sit into the movement, almost like you are trying to sit in a chair. When you come up from the squat, only come up part of the way and then immediately go into the next repetition.

The last exercise in this superset is barbell good mornings. Start by standing with the barbell on your shoulders and feet close together. Bend at the waist but keep your back straight as you move, stopping when your upper body is parallel with the floor. Maintain back alignment as you return to standing position.

Discussion Of Booty Blast Video Superset #3

This superset has two very challenging moves which will improve balance and coordination and which will blast your glutes. The first exercise is one-legged dumbbell deadlifts which can be performed with either one or two dumbbells (I prefer using two dumbbells). Holding dumbbells, you will bend at the waist while lifting one leg straight back and keeping your other leg straight but with a soft knee. The next move is one-legged cable kickbacks in which you will kick one leg straight behind you while squeezing the glute and keeping the rest of the body stationary.

Discussion Of Booty Blast Video Superset #2

There are a number of guidelines for this superset combination which will maximize gluteal muscle recruitment, so I am listing them here.

Butt Blaster: When you move the footplate back during extension of your leg, push with your HEEL instead of your toes.

Prone Leg Curl: The key to making this move effective is to use a weight that challenges you but does not force you to lift your body off the bench or arch your back. The only body parts which should be moving during this exercise are your legs as you bend your knees to bring the cushion towards your glutes. As you do this, squeeze your glutes to emphasize the movement.

Walking Dumbbell Lunge: This move is excellent for developing balance while also blasting the glutes. When you step forward, you should feel not only a stretch in the back of the leg moving forward, but also a squeeze in the glute of the other leg.

Discussion of Booty Blast Video Superset #1

Here are some tips for each of the exercises in this superset to ensure good form and maximum gluteal muscle recruitment. When you perform jump squats, try to get as low as possible without straining your knees, then jump explosively into mid-air. When you land from the jump, you will immediately jump again. Also make sure to sit more into the movement, as this will hit more of the glute muscles. When you have completed your jump squats, you will go immediately into stiff-legged dumbbell deadlifts. Stand with feet close together and hold the dumbbells so that your palms face your body, then bend forward at the waist so that dumbbells are almost touching the floor. You should feel a good stretch in the back of the legs when you do this.

The trickiest move in this superset is the bench crossover jump. If you crouch somewhat during the movement, you will have better stability. Do NOT rest when your feet are at the top of the bench! In fact, when you plant one foot on the bench for your jump, that foot should already be lifting off the bench when your plant your other foot on the bench during your jump. This is an explosive and powerful move!

Team Bombshell Poster From NPC Team Universe

Congratulations to Team Bombshell four NEW Masters Bikini Athletes who earned their IFBB Pro Cards at the 2013 NPC Team Universe! From (Left To Right);
Stacey Naito from California (Over 40 Overall Champion, also took 1st place in Over 35 B Class), Lindsay Oxford from Texas (2nd place Team Bombshell New IFBB Bikini Pros!Over 35 B Class), Maria Chase (Over 35 C Class Champion) and Amira Lamb from NYC (Over 35 A Class Champion)

http://www.bombshellfitness.com

The Team Universe Spell Has Finally Been Broken

Team UEvery year the NPC Team Universe awards IFBB Pro Cards to a large group of deserving athletes, so it is an extremely enticing National level bodybuilding contest for competitors who qualify at that level. I was certainly enticed and ended up competing at Team U four years in a row, with this year’s showing culminating in attaining the IFBB Pro Status I had coveted for many years. But I will admit that I almost did not enter the contest this year as a result of a lackluster performance in the three previous years. I used to refer to the “Team U Curse” when discussing Team Universe as a result of some very odd and disconcerting coincidences. Thank goodness the spell was broken this year!

When I competed at Team U in 2010 I was not “on the map” with respect to competing at the national level and as a result I was hardly given a glance by the judges. I competed against one of my dear friends who ended up winning her Pro card that year. Then in 2011 I once again found myself competing against a dear friend and watched as she won her Pro card while I had a decent but less than stellar performance. Not easily deterred, I competed at Team U in 2012 and found myself once again competing against a dear friend who got her Pro card. I was thrilled for every one of my friends, but it was a bit distressing to feel like the bridesmaid but never the bride for three consecutive years. Added to this was my intense dislike of driving around south New Jersey, the threat of rain looming over my freshly applied spray tan, and numerous other stressors and mishaps. It is no surprise that I began to think that it wasn’t a good idea for me to ever compete again at Team U.

Then this year I just decided that I had to get up onstage in New Jersey despite the pattern which had defined the last three years. Thank goodness I did! In the weeks leading up to this year’s competition, I FELT different. I was no longer concerned about who was going to beat me in New Jersey. I focused on my training, kept my nose to the grindstone and trained harder than I ever have. When I flew to Newark, there were no flight delays or mishaps, and I didn’t get lost when I drove to the hotel. There were a couple of glitches during my trip, but they were minor, and I didn’t get rattled. When I was deciding on what suit to wear, the one I chose just GLOWED and I knew it was the winning suit. My tan, my conditioning, my makeup and my hair were just right, and it was truly as if the planets aligned.

I ended up taking two First Place finishes when I only needed one to win my Pro card, plus I took an Overall win.

Don’t EVER give up on your goals. You never know when the Universe will grant you that precious wish.