🏋️ arnold schwarzenegger's hot take on modern bodybuilding

Need some last-minute inspiration for tonight's Festivus feats of strength? Well, you opened the right newsletter, because that's pretty much what we're all about. (You'll have to go elsewhere to learn how to improve your airing of grievances, though.)

When Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks, the fitness world listens. And the “Austrian Oak” recently had some harsh words for the state of Men’s Open bodybuilding.

CrossFit fans need to have the name Matilde Garnes on their radar. Just check out the 26-year-old’s elite performance at the iF3 World Championships.

You don’t always need equipment to make gains. Learn how to hit your fitness goals with nothing but your body weight.

Bodybuilding

Arnold's a Classic Physique Guy

In the aftermath of the 2022 Mr. Olympia, Arnold Schwarzenegger took part in a YouTube interview with the channel Nick’s Strength and Power, where the legend shared some of his thoughts on the state of modern bodybuilding.

Among the more notable tidbits was Schwarzenegger's critiques of the Men’s Open division, which he believes puts too much emphasis on mass over aesthetics. In the Oak’s opinion, the true spirit of bodybuilding can be found in the more proportional and leaner Classic Physique division today.

“I think it is crazy, in a way, to have a Classic Physique category simply because that should be the Mr. Olympia," Schwarzenegger said. "Because what is it that we’re celebrating? [In the] classic days, we looked for proportion, and now we don’t give a [expletive] about it anymore? Is that what we’re saying?”

CrossFit

Matilde Garnes' Standout Month

Norwegian athlete Matilde Garnes just put a bow on an incredible 2022. Last weekend, she had a dominant performance against an international field en route to a victory at the International Functional Fitness Federation (iF3) World Championships in Hermosillo, Mexico. Just weeks before that, she placed second at the Dubai Fitness Championship.

With nine in-person competitions under her belt, the iF3 title concludes one of the busiest seasons by a CrossFit athlete in recent history. It solidifies Garnes as one of the top European athletes heading into 2023, and there’s a good chance we’ll see her at next year's NOBULL CrossFit Games.

Exercise Tips

We Don't Need No Stinkin' Machines

The first image that comes to mind when you think about getting stronger may well be of barbells and squat racks. That’s certainly one way to do it. You can also get absurdly strong with (almost) no equipment at all, thanks to bodyweight training.

True, you will have to use external resistance like weight plates if you want to build the strength to pull 500 pounds off the ground. But if you’re only working out with your body weight, you can still get plenty strong, powerful, cardiovascularly fit, and muscular. Bodyweight training develops an elite form of strength that you just can’t develop with a barbell.

And if you want to learn more about bodyweight training, we’ve put together a guide that breaks down everything you need to know.

Everything Else

The Stale Whey Blues

• Has a dust-covered jug of double fudge protein been sitting on top of your fridge since Christian Bale was Batman? Before you scoop some into a shaker bottle, find out if protein powder actually expires.

• Brian Shaw and Eddie Hall recently headed to Costco to recreate Shaw’s former strongman diet. After spending a hefty $628.99, the duo left with more than 100,000 calories in their cart.

• Get your daily vitamin and nutrient intake with the best greens powders on the market.