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More in Events

Better Bodies athlete Calle Bolund held a workshop with his competition team ”Team Flex” together with our athlete Carina Isaksson (international judge and probably the Swedish athlete with best record in gold medals from Swedish-Nordic-, European and World Championships). We supported the workshop with goodie bags from Better Bodies. His team are also equipped with Better Bodies track suits.

Calle Bolund's Athletes athletes will compete in different competitions throughout this year within the different divisions.

Calle wants to give everyone a chance who wants to experience this sport (fitness & bodybuilding) and lifestyle. Calles vision is to help his athletes in all ways to create the best opportunities for them in this sport. Not only nutrition and a workout plan - but everything around that, that can help and support them in their goals towards and after stage.

We are really looking forward to follow Calle (who just competed himself this year

at the Diamond cup and has the European Championships next up) and his team and we are excited for the opening of his new gym Flex Fitness Gym in July!

Team Flex By Calle Bolund

More in Motivation

Divine is quickly becoming known for his fresh take on pro bodybuilding and living life in the moment.

4 days before winning the Pittsburgh Pro he visited an outdoor music festival aka a rave. Most cases in the professional ranks, when someone is preparing for a contest they prioritize that contest above everything else.

This approach, needless to say, is not Divine's approach. He went to a 2 day rave and had the time of his life as he explains why in this video, and then went on to win his competition and qualify for the 2021 Mr. Olympia.

Check out what Divine has to say about trying new things and keeping an open mind to new cultures, new people and the importance and FUN of seeking new experiences.

Live Life & Still Win On Stage - Divine Master

More in Lifestyle

Johnnie Jackson in classic full throttle mode at the Original Metroflex in Arlington shows out a bit with his shoulder training with Branch Warren. Competition always gets Johnnie fired up and there is something great in the works for this year.

Johnnie finishes the workout and explains why he values competition and deadlines that competition creates to zone in on his target, eliminate noise and distractions and to keep him ultra accountable for what he is busting his ass for.

"Competition helps me to get to my goal faster. You end up leaving all the noise outside and allows me to better control my environment and atmosphere and focus on the things I really want in life. Set that competition as your goal and it'll help you focus and study and figure out the things you have been missing to make you better than ever before."

Put some pressure on yourself and set deadlines in any way you can.

Competition Accelerates To The Goal - Johnnie Jackson

We have a global panel here for this "How's Your Training" update. From Hunter in Texas to James Hollingshead in England, Ivana in Colorado, USA and Sara and Ashkan in Sweden.

Direct from all these athletes is an update on their training, what business and life ventures they are tackling along with gym specific details and what is coming up on their own competitive horizons.

How's Your Training - Hunter, James, Ivana, Sara, Ashkan

We have an international panel again with USA, Spain and Sweden representing with the likes of Guy Cisternino, Brett Wilkin, Victoria Nyberg, Christina Heath, Cezar Zulewski, Henrik Lindh and Redir Nerway.

This is a personal update of what's happening with each athlete in their part of the world.

How's Your Training - US and Europe

An online fitness coach, content creator and aspiring pro bodybuilder, Taylor McGehee is a young entrepreneur who's building muscles and building a business. Determined to build a career around his passions, Taylor recently caught traction on the app TikTok, where he posts workout tutorials and helpful training tips.

"Three to four months ago I decided to put my all into social media, specifically Instagram and TikTok and that has been quite the journey. I've had to teach myself different programs, sitting six to seven hours in front of a computer screen failing constantly...I've just learned so much. I'm consistently putting out the kind of content I enjoy and I'm starting to get recognition for it."

Taylor says he still has much more to accomplish on his journey, but it starts with making sure he wins at the end of the day and crossing off those daily goals.

Keep up with Taylor's journey on social media: @McGeezy_Fit (Instagram & TikTok)

Center Stage | Taylor McGehee

Nearing the end of her prep, Christina Heath shares the highs and lows from her journey to the Pittsburg Pro.

"My most favorite thing about what I do is the transformation. I love seeing my body go from one physique to another physique, but also seeing where all my hard work and effort is showcased."

Addicted To The Shreds | Christina Heath

"I think it's all about consistency, coming in day in and day out and doing the work. That's the same thing in life, with relationships. Marriage takes work, it takes consistency. Dealing with your children takes work, takes patience, takes consistency."

Bo Jones is staying consistent during his prep for his upcoming show at the New York Pro. Now just 4 weeks out till he steps on stage, he's feeling eager to continue taking the stage at the Milwaukee Pro, and then finish up the tour at Dallas Europa.

It's All About Consistency | Bo Jones

More in Ambassadors

Meet Carina Isaksson - one of Sweden's perhaps most prestigious fitness athletes of all time! Carina talks about distance and balance and how this is the key to sticking to things in the long run - both mentally and physically. And especially when you live the fitness lifestyle.

Carina has been with us since 2002. During these years we have been in Carina's life in various ways with everything from competitions, workshops, work and in her active everyday life, to the fact that she has been with us at fairs and events, photography and athlete activities and more.

Known as a bodyfitness athlete, but started the career in Atletic Fitness and Bodybuilding

Carina has been active all her life and trains to feel good. As a young woman, she was riding horses and found her way to the gym at the age of 18. After six years of training, she made her debut in bodybuilding at the Norrland Championships in 1990.

A win in the -52 kilos class and silver at the Swedish Championships a few weeks later really whetted her appetite. Carina has competed almost every year during her career except for the years her children were born and today Carina can be proud of her track record.

 10 SM Gold, 2 SM Silver, 3 Nordic Gold, 2 EC gold, 2 EM silver, 2 World Cup Gold, 2 VM silver, 1 EM bronze

Routines are crucial to get the life together and to feel good!

Without children, you could spend all your time on yourself, the gym and your goals. But when the first son was born in 1995, Carina realized that it was necessary to adapt. You yourself were no longer the first priority. Routines and habits became extra important to put together the puzzle of life, something that Carina believes in and sticks to. For example, to train before the children woke up and use the lunch break or in the evening when the children had gone to bed to get their cardio done.

For Carina, it has always been important to have her own time, but at the same time that her own investments have not interfered with family life and everyday life - to have distance. Something she is trying to convey to her clients. Even when she is not dieting, routines play an important role in everyday life. To get everything together and above all to feel good!

Competition or not - Life should have room for strict diet and exercise, but also family, friends and enjoying life!

Likewise, when it comes to diet, Carina always make room for the good things in life every weekend - diet or not! She believes everything is about planning both your training and diet, so that you can invest and be serious, manage your diet a week, and at the same time have room for friends, family and, for example, a three-course meal on Saturday. This "distance and balance" mentality is important in Carina's lifestyle and has almost become her mantra.

“If you live in a family, the weekends are perhaps the only time you are really together. In addition, there must be time and space for some fun, even if it’s in moderate amounts."

To have a genuine passion for training to succeed in fitness and bodybuilding

Another thing that is important for success in this sport and industry in the long run is that you must first love to train and then comes the competition, not the other way around where you only train to compete. It is easy to lose all joy for the lifestyle, exercise and everyday life which can result in ending up in imbalance or that you're questioning what you do.

Exercise is a natural part of life, to train to feel good. I have trained all my life and life also becomes easier to handle if you have that lifestyle. When you exercise, endorphins are released which gives a joy and kick mentally. But the body also feels so much better!

"Distance and balance" have been the one that worked in the long run for me and many of my clients. It's about finding your own philosophy that works, this concept with distance and balance to everything in life and routines has worked for me and many clients (the majority of them being career women and mothers of young children) finally get the life puzzle together, get their own time and training done and feel so much better. Whether you are a competitive athlete or a person who just wants to feel good, this thinking works.

Feeling responsible for the new generation and to encourage people to acquire knowledge for themselves

With her solid experience and being active in the industry for more than half her life, Carina is passionate about, and feel a responsibility for the new generation. She believes that, for example, there are many "coaches" who have damaged more than they have helped. And she encourages people to acquire knowledge about everything - not just coaches but themselves and their own body. This way you can always criticize and reason about what is right and wrong. She also stresses the importance of competing for the right reason as well as pointing out the danger of not getting critical and honest feedback in the process to avoid disappointment on stage.

Distance and Balance - Carina Isaksson

More in Training

"I think its pretty prevalent in all of bodybuilding - an underdeveloped posterior chain including back and hamstrings and even glutes."

Martin Fitzwater is of the mindset to have no weak links in his physique. Martin turned pro by winning the heavyweight class at the North American championships last year. The feedback he got at one of his earlier competitions was to really work on his back development as it was a bit underdeveloped than his other muscle groups. Now he is committed and focused on the IFBB Tampa pro but is heading there with back and hamstrings being a major strong point for him.

Here Martin again delves into how he establishes connection with his hamstrings, the variety of curls he uses and some of the intensifier techniques he uses to get the most out of every lift.

We have one more day with Martin here at destination before he heads back to Denver so tune in when he trains with Jon Irizarry who is preparing to take on the NPC USA's.

Can't Have Half A Leg 

Going out to clubs and enjoying some night life fun is rarely talked about in the same discussion as pro bodybuilding.

Most people cannot partake in "enjoying themselves" on weekends and experience substantial world class success in bodybuilding.

Divine Master believes in balance and enjoying life while on his bodybuilding journey instead of letting life, fun and experiences pass him by.

Do You And Be Unapologetic

Ever since I learned to stand up I've been an active person and I have always wanted to stay active in some form or fashion. When I was 6 years old I got interested in horseback riding. I fell in love with it and I quickly became a dedicated horseback rider who my mother had to drag out of the stable.

How long were you horseback riding and on what level?

Already at 10 years old I was competing, and shortly thereafter all my spare time consisted of riding several horses per day, working in the stable, training other riders, and competing around the country.

I was training, competing and riding all my free time until I was 20 years old when it all just stopped.

I didn't quit because I was injured or due to anything specific that made me quit. I just lost the motivation to keep doing horseback riding on the same level.

How did you become interested in gym training?

When I was 16 years old I stared at an elite athlete high school with focus on horseback riding. We had extra training hours for practicing with the horses, but they were scheduled the middle of the day and I couldn't make it to the stable, take care of the horses, ride, home to shower, and be back within the time we had allocated. Instead I ended up at the schools basement gym among all the big power-lifters and hockey- and soccer guys. It was simply me and all the dudes. I liked it and I got stuck there.

I liked the atmosphere, the masculine and a little tougher attitude, the performance aspects of the training, and the feeling of being strong. And I was always strong, because there weren't many girls to compare myself with down in the cave.

We had this community feeling that is hard to explain if you haven't experienced it. The ones who were older welcomed me and taught me a lot both about weight training and myself. I found a new side of myself that I didn't know existed.

Rumors say you once competed in Bench Press, how was that experience?

The national coach in power-lifting brought me to the district championships in Bench Press. They needed a girl in the "flyweight" class. I was the only girl small enough training at the gym so I didn't have much choice other than to be of good sports and participate.

I had never bench pressed until the day I was asked to participate in the competition and I only had a few weeks to become friends with the bench and prepare. I did it, but I'll never do it again!

It wasn't a bad performance, I think I even got a medal. But that tight suit I had to wear... what was that???!! OMG, I was hiding like the bull Ferdinand when it was my turn.

When they announced my name I ran out to the bench, laid down, pushed the weight up, ran out, threw the suit off and headed home. The coach called the day after, asking where I had gone since I had won a medal. Thanks, but no thanks. Never again.

You live fitness, how did your career start?

My interest for the gym had become a part of me and I continued training in parallel with the horseback riding until I was 20.

At that age I traveled abroad and it was hard to bring the horses. Naturally the focus shifted to the gym.

Back in Sweden again I stared studying at GIH (The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences). In parallel with that I also added other courses for further education, which are a big reason for being where I am today career wise.

How did you get in contact with Better Bodies?

At the same time as I was studying I started my own company and started working as a Personal Trainer.

I did a ”test diet” on myself to help my clients get in shape the best possible way, and all of a sudden I ended up on the Bodyfitness (now figure) stage at Luciapokalen 2015 where I placed 3rd. .

The same weekend I was voted as one of the finalists in Better Bodies Model Search, which I surprisingly won!

i dare to say that this weekend was the starting point for the rest of my fitness career. The Bodyfitness competition made me long for more since I wanted to improve myself and win. The model search gave me a big model contract with Sweden's most successful clothing brand in the industry, Better Bodies.

How has the journey been from 2005 until today?

After this everything has just spun further. Competitions and photoshoots all over the world have succeeded each other and my own company Forever Fit Sweden has grown in the same pace.

13 years and 17 competitions later (of which 5 gold, 4 silver, 3 bronze, and 2 finalist spots) I can feel that I am done with the stage, heels and bikini for a while.

I've had the opportunity to compete all over the world, been lucky enough to place well at big championships (Worldcup, EM, Excalibur LA, Extravaganza San Antonio, Arnold Classic Amateur Ohio, Olympia Marbella, Oslo GP, Sweden GP, Swedish Championships etc.) and I have always had fun along the way. The happiness, experiences, and memories will always last and enrich my life. There is nothing I would've rather done and nothing I regret.

I got to a point where I felt like I needed a new challenge, a push forward, something that lights the fire within again... and there it was; CrossFit!

As a crazy competitive person who always looks for new challenges, who always strive to win, always wants to improve and try new things, CrossFit was the perfect match. I fell in love with it and got hooked.

There is nothing that'll give me as much adrenaline as CrossFit, nothing that makes me feel so good, and nothing that fills me with as much endorphins as a CrossFit workout.

There are always new things to learn within CrossFit, it is hard and almost impossible to ever say that you know it all. If I am to mention a sport where you're really all around conditioned it would be CrossFit.

You'll need strenght, range of motion, speed, explosivity, endurance, lactic acid tolerance, gymnastic skills, mental strength, balance... the list is long and keeps going.

I am not saying that I've retired from Bodyfitness (Figure) forever, but my heart currently beats for CrossFit and I want to see ho far I can get.