🏋️ who had the best movie physique of all time?

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Who had the best big-screen physique of all time? We polled readers on that very question recently, and, no surprise, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s role as Conan the Barbarian came out on top.

Give the back squats a rest for a bit and embrace the hack squat machine as a surefire way to build muscle and strength. Here’s how to get the most out of it.

In one minute, powerlifter Jamal Browner squatted, benched, and deadlifted a total of 2,002 pounds. Oh, and he did it all while dressed as The Grinch.

Fans React

Conan Reigns Supreme

GIF: Giphy

There are some seriously competition-worthy physiques throughout movie history, but which one stands out as the best?

We decided to put that question to the test in a newsletter poll from earlier in the year, and the results were as clear-cut as they come. Of the 226 readers who weighed in on this meaty issue, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s role as Conan the Barbarian flexed the most with a landslide 40.5 percent of the vote, beating out the likes of Sylvester Stallone in Rambo III and Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

And while Arnold’s look defined macho ‘80s cinema, director John Milius initially thought the perennial Mr. Olympia champ was a little too ripped for the part and told him to pack on a little more body fat before filming. Apparently, Barbarians aren’t into the whole aesthetics thing.

Exercise Tips

Hack Your Way to Better Legs

Image: MAD_Production / Shutterstock

Fun fact: The hack squat machine wasn’t named for its rule-breaking potential in the weight room. While you can’t hack through the firewalls of physiology (you still need to eat well, recover properly, and train hard if you want to build muscle), you can use the hack squat machine to build a mighty-impressive pair of wheels.

The machine’s name originally comes from famed strength pioneer George Hackenschmidt, known for his ingenuity with the barbell. The modern-day hack squat machine puts a practical twist on Hackenschmidt’s barbell-based acrobatics of ages past.

The good news is that most gyms have a hack squat on hand — and if you’ve never given it a whirl, it’s time to change that. In the article below, you'll learn everything you need to know about this machine.

Powerlifting

A Festive Feat of Strength

Image: @jamal_b15 on Instagram

On Christmas day, world record-holding powerlifter Jamal Browner headed to the gym dressed as the Grinch from Dr. Seuss’ famed story “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” However, rather than steal Christmas, Browner stole a 2,002-pound total in less than a minute and posted the whole thing to Instagram.

Here’s how Browner’s lifts broke down:

  • Squat — 306.2 kilograms (675 pounds)

  • Bench Press — 205 kilograms (452 pounds)

  • Deadlift — 396.9 kilograms (875 pounds)

  • Total — 908.1 kilograms (2,002 pounds)

As Dr. Seuss’ (adjusted) quote goes: “And what happened, then? Well, in Whoville, they say – that the Grinch’s powerlifting total grew three sizes that day. And then – the true meaning of powerlifting came through, and the Grinch found the strength of 10 Grinches, plus 2,002 [pounds]!”

Everything Else

The Incredible Shrinking Strongman

Image: @biglozwsm on Instagram

  • The 2016 Europe’s Strongest Man champion Laurence “Big Loz” Shahlaei looks like a different human being after his 102-pound weight loss transformation.

  • Getting enough fiber every day is absolutely essential to your overall health. It’s also really tricky to do. Lucky for you, we just made it a lot simpler.

  • How does Cydney Gillon celebrate after yet another Figure Olympia win? By taking part in something called a "food festival" where she eats whatever she pleases!