Bodybuilder Chris Bumstead Leaves No Weight Unlifted With Punishing Leg Workout

It takes a whole lot of power to win bodybuilding’s most prestigious competitors as soon as, not to mention three consecutive occasions. For Chris “CBum” Bumstead — who’s chasing his fourth straight Basic Physique Olympia title (2019-2021) — it’s important to search out moments for a psychological break earlier than pushing it once more.

That appears to be the plan of the 27-year-old bodybuilder. Bumstead lately took a five-day coaching reprieve earlier than leaping again in full steam forward with a leg workout he shared over his YouTube channel on June 23, 2022.

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With roughly 1.9 million subscribers on his YouTube channel, Bumstead doesn’t appear shy about sharing his coaching progress or insights into his thought course of. A few of the extra notable movies CBum has shared lately heart on how he avoids burnout, one in all his arm workouts, and a meal-by-meal walkthrough of a day’s worth of nutrition.

This newest leg exercise follows Bumstead’s obvious sample of meticulously documenting a possible journey to the highest of the Basic Physique Olympia podium once more.

Bumstead’s Brutal Leg Day

Earlier than Bumstead begins the exercise, he notes an essential disclaimer. The bodybuilder says it’s been roughly two weeks since he final educated his legs. Because of this, he needs to ease again in step by step. Nonetheless, your entire routine doesn’t seem any much less difficult.

StairMaster

Units and Reps: Warmup for an undisclosed time

Whereas stepping slowly on a StairMaster machine — which Bumstead says helps heat up his knees — he explains the place his well being stands after his time away from the health club.

“I don’t know why, however taking break day ought to often depart you feeling rested, nevertheless it leaves me feeling drained, tighter, and extra damaged than I used to be earlier than,” Bumstead says. “However I’m certain it’s nonetheless good for my nervous system to take a break.”

Alternating Single-Leg Extension

Units and Reps: 2 x 20-plus

Within the first a part of his weight coaching, Bumstead locks out some single-leg extensions, alternating units on every leg. Earlier than shifting on, the bodybuilder elaborates that this a part of his exercise isn’t about exhaustive weight.

That’s a whole lot of cardio … I hit 23 on the primary set, 21 on the second, simply making an attempt to get a whole lot of quantity.

Hip Adduction Machine

Units and Reps: Undisclosed

As he prepares to hit the back squat, Bumstead maintains he likes to first loosen his hips up on the hip adduction (or shifting a physique half towards the center of the physique) machine. He says the hip motion “helps you get deep into the squat.”

Analysis affirms Bumstead’s sentiments as one examine confirmed that tighter and infrequently, in flip, weaker hips led to much less stability and muscle activation throughout a deep again squat rep. (1)

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Smith Machine Again Squat

Units and Reps: 2 x 11-12

As soon as he warms up his hips, Bumstead shifts to a few working again squat units on a Smith Machine. The athlete notes he prefers an in depth stance on this occasion — the place the toes are shoulder-width aside and even narrower — as a result of it permits him to attain extra depth.

“I used to be making an attempt to do virtually like a front squat closed stance to actually emphasize my quads,” Bumstead says whereas barely breathless. “So second set was simply excessive quantity, closed stance, making an attempt to burn my quads.”

Alternating Single-Leg Leg Press

Units and Reps: 2 x 7-10

After ending his major compound motion of the day, Bumstead does single-leg leg presses, alternating units on every leg. In line with the bodybuilder, he primarily enjoys the single-leg leg press as a result of it permits him to take care of a stability in energy in each legs.

“… I can get slightly bit extra vary of movement to stop one from being lopsided,” Bumstead says. “Particularly as a result of I’ve a good erector on my proper facet proper now, which might trigger me to favor my left leg. So, [I’m] avoiding that, by doing one leg at a time.”

Seated Calf Increase

Units and Reps: 5 x 8-10

To complete his exercise, Bumstead makes use of what seems to be left of his power on some seated calf raises.

“Muscular endurance appears to drop rapidly after taking break day,” Bumstead says after a calf-raise set. “However my knees harm extra at the start and harm much less now.”

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Again within the Saddle

With Bumstead pushing himself again to his traditional excessive capability, it appears the bodybuilder didn’t miss a beat in his brief time away from the health club. Judging by how seamless his leg exercise appeared, a fourth consecutive Basic Physique Olympia title may quickly come into the athlete’s purview.

The 2022 Mr. Olympia will happen on December 16-18, 2022, in Las Vegas, NV.

References:

1. Si-Hyun, Okay., Oh-Yun, Okay., Kyue-Nam, P., In-Cheol, J., Jong-Hyuck, W. (2015) Decrease Extremity Energy and the Vary of Movement in Relation to Squat Depth. Journal of Human Kinetics. 2015 Mar; 45: 59–69.

Featured picture: @cbum on Instagram