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This ‘Diabolical’ Hanging Leg Raise Challenge Might Be the Hardest Ab Workout on Instagram

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Professional pole dancer and fitness influencer, Laura Verberne has set a new bar for ab challenges after combining the hanging leg raise with a variation on “Ball in a Maze.” The result? An epic workout for the abs , and a ton of respect earned via social media. Verberne, who has over 100k IG followers under the handle “ x.hellnokitty, ” describes herself as a professional pole dancer and a calisthenics athlete, and is never afraid to throw herself into the latest fitness challenge. “POV: You found the most diabolical way to train your core,” wrote the fit female in an accompanying caption, crediting fellow Instagrammer, Emanuela,  for the inspiration. Workout Routines Escalate Your Abs Progression With This Core Worko... Our fitness expert takes you through another difficult but rewarding finishing move. Read article View this post on Instagram How Do You Do the Tenni...
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 US Soccer Sisters Alyssa & Gisele Thompson Share Their Strategies for Handling Big-Stage Pressure

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Sisters Alyssa and Gisele Thompson know first-hand about the pressures of playing on the World Cup stage, so they empathize with what the U.S. men’s team is feeling as they take the field on American soil, advancing to the Round of 32. “I think when you think about pressure, not letting it affect you because you can rely on your practice and what you’ve done before is really important,” Alyssa, 21, says to Muscle & Fitness exclusively while partnering with Verizon for their enhanced loyalty program, Verizon Shine, giving customers a chance to win once-in-a-lifetime experiences like seeing the World Cup finals. “And I think the men are super prepared for what’s ahead of them.” Both stars agree that pressure is inevitable at this level, but it’s how you respond to it that can define a performance. “I feel like it’s always a lot of pressure playing for your country because you do want to win,” adds Gisele, 20. “You’re pressed with honor and you want to win, and I think every game...
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What Happens When an IFBB Pro Bodybuilder Trains With His Wife? The Results Speak for Themselves

Working out with a life partner can be a rewarding experience, but what happens if that partner is an IFBB Pro and a bodybuilding icon? Shani Sommerfeld recently shared the experience of taking on an upper body workout with her husband Mike, and proved that quality time with the other half can be accomplished via quality reps. While Shani is an amateur bodybuilder and experienced coach in her own right, this loving wife illustrated that differing abilities are of no consequence to crushing a couple’s workout. While Mike “The Bad Ass” Sommerfeld is the reigning Arnold U.K. Classic Physique champ, he doesn’t have the monopoly on building muscle, so they both embarked on an upper body routine designed to top the 2026 Olympia. Mike and Shani Sommerfeld’s Complete Upper Body Workout       Machine Flyes       Incline Press Machine       Lateral Raise Machine       Single Arm Machine Row       Rear Delt Machine       Bicep Curl / Overhead Cable Triceps Extension / Triceps Dips (...
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Cold Plunges and Pushups Became Part of Trey Lewis’ 100‑Pound Platinum Country Comeback

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Life keeps moving at a swift, solid pace for singer Trey Lewis. The good news is he’s finally built up enough stamina to keep up with all the success that keeps piling on.   When Lewis runs the stage this weekend in Bristol, TN, fans might even catch him banging out a few pushups or dropping into an impromptu legday routine between guitar riffs.  While not a permanent part of his setlist—yet—old-school exercise has become a new wrinkle in Lewis’ newfound commitment to fitness, an impressive physical and mental transformation for the once self‑described high school “fat kid” who could only manage to walk around the track while classmates lapped him during gym‑class miles.   “I was out there one time squatting onstage and jumping all around,” he recalls. “Now I can hit all my notes and still jump around. It’s pretty amazing.”   Now, not only is Lewis running several miles a day as part of his workouts, he’s also running his own show—and never intends to look back. In June, the Alab...
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Dylan Scott and Alyssa McElheny Crowned 2026 HYROX World Champions in Stockholm

The HYROX Elite 15 World Championships, held in Stockholm, Sweden, saw two new champions crowned as Dylan Scott and Alyssa McElheny, who are both U.S. athletes, won their respective categories on June 18, 2026. Dylan Scott Captures His First HYROX World Championship Title Dylan Scott completed the course with an official finish tie of 53 minutes and 47 seconds , while Belgium’s Louis Osselaer came a close second with 54 minutes and 2 seconds, just  in front of Germany’s Tim Wenisch, who made third with 54 minutes and 4 seconds. The course itself was comprised of a race to the Ski Erg, followed by a run between sled pushes, sled pulls, burpee broad jumps, rowing machine, farmers carry, sandbag lunges, and wall balls. And those wall balls would prove pivotal as Wenisch appeared destined for first place going into the final test, but was pipped at the post by Scott, who overtook the 2025 champ and upped his own 2025 position from third to first. “I got punished by the sled early but ne...
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USMNT Makes World Cup History: Team USA Secures First Back-to-Back Wins Since 1930

The United States national soccer team broke a 96-year streak at the World Cup on June 19 after beating Australia and earning its first back-to-back win in the tournament since 1930. What the Victory Over Australia Means for Team USA The historic performance against Australia at Seattle Stadium saw team USA follow up on its 4-1 thrashing of Paraguay with a sound 2-0 victory against the Aussies. And there was more to this victory than a single win, because the result marked the first time since the inaugural World Cup, back in 1930 , that the team had enjoyed consecutive wins.  The double victory places the host nation at the top of Group D, and sends them to the knockout stages, whatever the outcome against Turkey in their final group game. View this post on Instagram What’s Next for the USMNT Against Turkey? While Team USA is celebrating a brilliant start to its 2026 World Campaign, they will be well aware that those back-to-back victories i...
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Can Ronaldo End His World Cup Goal Drought Against Uzbekistan?

At age 41, Cristiano Ronaldo has proven his doubters wrong many times as an elder statesman on the pitch, but a lackluster start to his World Cup campaign means that a much-needed  goal for Portugal is pivotal to his footballing future. The Portuguese player is of course one of the most decorated footballers in history, winning five Ballons D’or,  an unparalleled three UEFA Men’s Player of the Year Awards, and four European Golden Shoes. FIFA have named him the world’s best player five times, but a recent dry spell is raising questions that have only been amplified by a less than satisfactory start to Portugal’s participation in the 2026 World Cup. Portugal had been one of the tournament favorites in the run up to their first game, but a lethargic 1-1 draw against DR Congo appeared to expose Ronaldo, who failed to score despite being on the pitch for the full 90 minutes. “We know that he isn’t the same as before, He’s a bit older now,” said DR Congo Midfielder Ngal Ayel Mukau,” in ...
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Intermittent Fasting for Weight Loss: New Research Shows It May Rewire Your Brain and Reduce Cravings

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The idea that intermittent fasting may help in the fight against unwanted flab is nothing new, but pioneering studies appear to show that timed energy restriction is boosting brain function while making positive changes to the gut’s microbiom e. Healthy Eating Whats The Best Time Window for Intermittent Fastin... Participants lost weight and had better glucose regulation during this time frame. Read article New Research Suggests Fasting May Rewire the Brain A groundbreaking study  in China, conducted in 2023, has been backed up by promising follow-up work ever since, including a 2024  project that showed how fasting and protein pacing doesn’t just help with weight loss, but also improves the presence of positive gut bacteria. The theory is that fasting doesn’t just torch fat, it also tweaks your body’s ability to handle cravings, even going so far as to reconfigure the brain. “The gut microbiome is thought t...
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Pec Deck vs Bench Press: Why This Overlooked Chest Exercise Could Be the Secret to Bigger Pecs

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In a weight room full of benches and barbells and other new-age training hardware, the pec deck rarely gets as much love as it deserves. Because the exercise is too isolation-focused , many lifters don’t take the move as seriously as other heavy iron-moving chest staples. Or they just think of it as something you toss in as a finisher after the “real work” is done. But the pec deck isn’t meant to replace the bench—instead it’s meant to complement it. It gives you a chance to add chest-specific volume while minimizing the involvement of the front delts and triceps. For lifters chasing chest growth, that is not fluff. That is useful. Like many maligned exercises, the pec deck gets no love for not looking the part. But muscle doesn’t care about your preferences. It cares about tension and effort. Here’s why.   Why the Pec Deck Is One of the Most Underrated Chest Exercises The pec deck gets frowned upon because there’s no barbell to load or dumbbells to press with. There is no “It’...
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Mitchell Hooper Wants a Bigger Conversation Than Just Performance Enhancement

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For most fans, Mitchell Hooper is known simply as “The Moose,” the reigning World’s Strongest Man capable of lifting weights that seem almost impossible for the average person to comprehend. But long before he stood atop the strongman world, Hooper was an entirely different type of athlete: He tried golf, marathon running, football, even endurance sports, but nothing that would signal any indications that he would one day become one of the strongest humans on the planet. That perspective may be what makes Hooper one of the most compelling voices in strength sports today. While many athletes define themselves solely by their accomplishments, Hooper speaks openly about his own mental health struggles, along with fatherhood and the evolving purpose behind his pursuit of greatness. It’s a mindset that was on full display following his appearance at the Enhanced Games, where he narrowly missed a historic 505kg deadlift, but emerged as one of the event’s most thoughtful ambassadors. The...
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