🏋️ best bodybuilding workouts for all experience levels

The word January comes from the Roman god Janus, who symbolizes new beginnings. A few strength folks seem to be channeling that meaning well so far in 2023. Let's explore a few, shall we?

After entering the 2022 Olympia with lofty ambitions, bodybuilder Hunter Labrada took a disappointing seventh place at the biggest show of the year. As he reflects on what's next, he vows it won't happen again. 

In CrossFit, Luka Đukić recently enjoyed a dominant, all-around performance in Riyadh, the capital of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

You don't have to be a bodybuilder to train like a living, breathing Hercules. Our guide on the best bodybuilding programs will jumpstart you regardless of experience. 

Bodybuilding 

Hunter Labrada's Quest for Redemption

After finishing in fourth place at the Mr. Olympia in 2021, bodybuilder Hunter Labrada hoped to stand on top of the podium in Las Vegas last month at the 2022 edition of the show. Instead, he dropped off to seventh in a performance that apparently shook him enough to take a measured step back. 

Now, without an automatic berth to the 2023 Olympia, Labrada promises to return better than ever as he maximizes some upcoming contests. 

“How you respond to adversity is what really makes you,” Labrada said in a recent YouTube video. "[I’m] going to show you a much different Hunter at the two Pro shows I do and at the Olympia because I am going to qualify this year.”

It's rare to get such personal insight from a top-tier competitor, and something tells us that Labrada's journey will be something to keep an eye on throughout the year.

CrossFit

Luka Đukić Puts on a Show Halfway Around the World

Some enter the new year figuring out their goals as they come, under no apparent rush. And some want to hit the ground running, wasting absolutely no time reaching new personal heights. After a dominant performance at the 2023 Sports For All (SFA) SandClash last weekend, CrossFitter Luka Đukić undoubtedly fits in the latter category. 

During the contest, Đukić managed to win four of six events in the Elite division. Now, okay, you might be thinking: "Oh, I've seen a solid CrossFit performance like that before." Dearest Reader, you could not be more wrong. Đukić's dominance came at a competition featuring over 800 athletes (!) from 40 different countries (!) across seven different divisions. 

Is there any doubt that Đukić would be our CrossFit Performance of the Week? He had it in the bag the moment he finished his last muscle-up. 

Training Tips

Find the Right Bodybuilding Program

We get it. It's easy to look at some of the seemingly impossibly ripped titans around professional bodybuilding and think you could never, ever follow in their footsteps. But what if we said you didn't have to stand on stage with some of the fittest people in the world in order to train like them?

Huh? Feel free to wipe that confused look off your face. That's right — we found a loophole!

Whether you're deep in the weeds of refining your pecs and legs or you just want a starting foundation, our handy guide on the best bodybuilding programs will have you covered. Trust us. You don't need to be an expert to build your physique the way you want.

Everything Else 

Train Like a (WWE) Superstar

• WWE Superstars Bayley and Sheamus recently teamed up for a full-body workout that tested strength, speed, and explosiveness. If you're up to the task, you can follow along here.

• Speaking of star bodybuilders who want more out of 2023, Nick Walker is coming back to the 2023 Arnold Classic. "The Mutant" wants a second title in three years.

• A big year might lie ahead for strongman Mitchell Hooper, too. But first, he taught a lucky group of gym-goers how to properly lift an Atlas Stone.