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Stanford AI May Have Discovered a Natural Ozempic Alternative for Weight Loss

With a monthly course of the synthetic weight loss drug, Ozempic costing upward of $1,000 per month without insurance, news that researchers at Stanford harnessed AI to locate a natural compound that could lead to new drugs is welcome news. But what exactly what is this molecule, and how did AI help to identify it? The discovery of the organic compound was first unveiled as the results of a March 2025 study , which looked at peptide hormones and the effects on energy regulation. During the study, experts programmed AI to map peptide fragments and found that a 12-amino-acid molecule, labeled “BRP” acted in a distinct, but similar way to semaglutide, potentially offering an even more targeted approach to dropping fat. “The receptors targeted by semaglutide are found in the brain but also in the gut, pancreas and other tissues,” explained Katrin Svensson, PhD , who is an assistant professor of pathology at Stanford, and was the lead author of the breakthrough study. “That’s why Ozempic ...
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2026 Romania Muscle Fest Pro Results: Ahmed Juraybi Wins Men’s Open

Ahmed Juraybi reigned supreme in Romania, topping a packed Open category in Bucharest, and qualifying for the 2027 Mr. Olympia final in Las Vegas. Here are your winners from a busy weekend in Bucharest. The 2026 IFBB Pro Romania Muscle Fest Pro and expo took place November 7-8 and was presented by Wings of Strength. Winning his first title since turning pro , the Saudi Arabia-born Juraybi  proved that he is now a force to be reckoned with on the world stage, as he bested the packed 15-man Open category to stamp his ticket to Sin City. Juraybi, who also works as a dentist, was understandably elated to be Olympia bound. “No chance to beat me,” said Juraybi of his participation at next year’s Olympia In fact, he is the first bodybuilder from Saudi Arabia ever to qualify for a shot at becoming Mr. Olympia, so he has already made his way into the history books. The up-and-coming star impressed the judges with a combination of dense muscle and superior conditioning to beat the rest in  Bu...
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Can Shaun Clarida Top Mass Monsters in the Open Division?

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On Episode 309 of The Menace Podcast, host Dennis James was joined by Milos Sarcev and Jose Raymond, and the panel discussed Shawn Clarida’s bright potential in the Open bodybuilding category. Clarida is currently dipping his toes into the Open waters to great success. The man they call “The Giant Killer” stands a just 5 feet and 2 inches tall, but his lofty achievements include two Olympia titles in the 212 division. In 2026, Clarida qualified for both the Open and 212 divisions at the ‘O.’ But while he decided to stick with 212 and came second, he went on to win in 212 at the Italy Pro on October 25. He has also continued his ambitions in the Open division, placing first at the recent Poland Pro on October 31. “Shinn is like almost perfect, in that little frame, in that little body,” said Raymond, discussing Clarida’s victory in Poland. “I would have given it to Shaun too,” agreed Dennis James. “Because he was the most complete guy in the stage. These other guys were taller and bi...
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Are Your Gains Stalling? Here’s Why Your Training Needs to Keep Evolving

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Some guys have training logs so old they ought to be registered as historic relics. Monday is chest, Tuesday is back, and somewhere in there are three sets of ten with the same dumbbells they’ve been using since the Clinton administration. They sweat, they grunt, they look in the mirror, and they wonder why nothing much changes. Two studies published this month have given that old problem another going-over. Both looked at progressive overload, the practice of increasing resistance as you adapt to training. Not exactly a revolutionary concept. Six-hundred years ago, Milo of Croton slung a calf over his shoulder and walked the hills behind his farm every day until the calf became a bull. Guess what happened to Milo? He grew. Six-hundred years later Joe Weider called it his progressive overload system. The new research doesn’t prove the legend. It does suggest that the basic idea is still worth considering. Workout Tips Understanding Th...
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Why the Spanish Squat Can Help Build Quads without Using a Barbell

The traditional back squat has long been the staple of those who want to crush their quads, but standing under a heavy barbell is not for everyone. Mature gym goers, or anyone with mobility issues, may find that the downward force of carrying a heavy bar across the shoulders leads to stress on the spine. Fortunately, IFBB Pro and physique transformation coach, Tanya Johansen swears by the Spanish squat. “Try a Spanish squat,” recommends the Bikini Pro competitor. “It fries your quads… when done correctly.” Here’s what you need to know. What Is a Spanish Squat and How Do You Do It? The Spanish squat is a popular movement utilized for rehabbing the knees, but it also pounds the quadriceps, providing the perfect environment for muscle growth. To try it for yourself, stand in front of a cable station or power rack and anchor a resistance band around the support, looping around the back of your knees. You can stand inside a single loop, or loop the band around each knee, as demonstrate...
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Fitness Influencer Liam Fitzgerald Passes Away After Fatal Motorcycle Accident

Liam Fitzgerald, a popular online coach and fitness influencer has passed away at just 29 years of age after injuries sustained during a fatal motorcycle accident. Tributes have poured in for the star, and his family have hailed him as an inspirational figure. Fitzgerald, who was born in Evansville, Wisconsin, and was a social media influencer and OnlyFans creator, died on October 30, per announcement by his girlfriend Jamie Lyn Rinaldi. “It is with the heaviest heart that I share the devastating news that Liam passed away following a motorcycle accident on October 30th at approximately 2 AM,” she wrote via Instagram.  “He suffered severe injuries, and despite the efforts of those who tried desperately to save him, they were unable to bring him back. There are no words to describe the heartbreak of this loss.” Fitzgerald was an athlete before becoming an influencer and after a move to Washington state, his teenage years were highly active. Fitzgerald played football as a quarterback...
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Svetlana Fedkina Speaks on Her Top Six Finish in the New Fit Model Olympia

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There were many reasons to be excited about the 2026 Olympia Weekend in Las Vegas, NV , but one that got a lot of attention was the new Fit Model Olympia category. This inaugural show meant that every athlete who graced the stage was a part of bodybuilding history. One of those competitors was Svetlana Fedkina, and she feels that fate and hard work were what led her to that moment. “I remember when (IFBB Pro League Vice President) Tyler Manion announced the new Fit Model division in December 2024. My first thought was, ‘This is my chance. Maybe this is my path to the Olympia.’ Of course, I didn’t know that I would actually make it there, but for the first time in a long time, I saw a division where I felt I could truly show who I am as an athlete.” Svetlana Fedkina From Bikini to Fit Model Fedkina said that competing in bodybuilding shows felt like a natural continuation of her sports life, which included ballet for most of her childhood. She discovered the Bikini division in 2013...
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Science Has Zeroed in on Why Lifters Need Cardio for Heart Health

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Every gym (real gym) has a dude like this—we used to call them “fire plugs” (if you’re not from New York, that means fire hydrant). He has arms like sewer pipes, a chest like a gun safe, zero degrees of V-taper, and he’d probably be proud of the fact that he has a squat rack in his living room in case he needs some extra sets—your basic Midwestern corn-fed Jethro type. The exact guy you would never imagine seeing on a treadmill. Cardio? That’s what people do when they don’t have huge muscles to worry about. Besides, he can see his abs (ab, actually, but it’s like a rock). What more evidence of health could anybody possibly need? That depends on how long Jethro wants to live. A study recently published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise looked at 562,234 adults who had undergone clinical treadmill testing. Researchers wanted to know whether measuring cardiorespiratory fitness improved predictions of who would die over the following decade, beyond the usual suspects: a...
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Ilona Maher Now Looking to Take Rugby—and Girls’ Fitness—to the Next Level

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During the 2024 Paris Olympics, USA women’s team rugby player Ilona Maher suddenly became a household name. “I think for some people when they get famous, maybe it changes who they are and who they believe themselves to be,” Maher tells Muscle & Fitness . “I just never found that to be me.I think I’m kind of a similar person I was before the Paris Olympics.” But that was merely just the beginning. Ilana Maher The bronze-medal winner posed on the cover of Sports Illustrated shortly after the games wrapped. From there, Maher went on to compete on Dancing with the Stars, launch a successful podcast, and secure major partnerships with brands like Maybelline New York, Adidas and Burn Boot Camp. Although it seems like all eyes are on Maher, very few of her fans are watching her while she’s on the field that made her a celebrity. “Honestly, it doesn’t frustrate me because we don’t have enough places for them to watch rugby,” Maher says. “So I would tell you to watch rugby. I cou...
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JASON AVELAR AND GARRETT BEAL SHARE THE STORY OF PRESCOTT JUNIOR HIGH’S LEGACY OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION EXCELLENCE

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President Donald Trump announced the re-establishment and restoration of the Presidential Fitness Test on July 31, 2025, when he signed an Executive Order revitalizing the test along with the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition. Since then, the Trump administration also announced the Presidential Fitness School Innovation Challenge, a competition which invites “schools, districts, and youth-serving organizations to design and execute creative, repeatable models that inspire student participation, teamwork, and enthusiasm for the Presidential Fitness Test (PFT).” One school that could serve as an example for others to follow and may be a top contender should they enter that challenge would be Prescott Junior High School in Modesto, California. The school overall has a great reputation, but it is best known for their P.E. program. Current teachers Jason Avelar and Garrett Beal are two of the teachers for this program, but its legacy as a fitness-focused juggernaut goes...
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